I'm Really a Superstar

On this Sunday morning, the lyrics of "Ms. Dong" and discussions about it could be seen all over the Internet. All over the country, any lady whose surname was Dong suddenly became popular without any warning! On the music platform that was working with Beijing Television, the single sung on the show, "Ms. Dong," had already broken 10 million plays. And this was merely 12 hours after the broadcast! The song Sunset Glow sang in her match against this "Ms. Dong" had only garnered about 2.1 million plays. It was almost a five times difference!

"Thank you to The Clown for singing such a touching song!"

"This is my favorite song of the year!"

"My wife's surname is Dong!"

"My girlfriend's surname is also Dong. I finally know how I'll be proposing to her. I've already bought a ring, so I'll just sing this song for her tomorrow. Wish me luck, everyone!"

"Congratulations!"

"Good luck, bro!"

"Best wishes!"

Back at home.

Even Zhang Ye found this turn of events a little unexpected. He knew that "Ms. Dong" was a good song that could be easily overlooked, but he did not think that it would be so well-received in this world.

Suddenly, his cell phone's text message tone beeped.

It was from the phone meant for The Clown.

An unfamiliar number. "Hi, this is Sunset Glow."

Zhang Ye was taken aback, but replied: "Hi."

"I got your number from the program team. I just wanted to let you know something. I take back what I said to you yesterday at Beijing TV."

"No worries."

"I'm not being polite here. Rather, I listened to 'Ms. Dong' 7-8 times in a row yesterday. It really is a good song."

"Thanks."

"If the tiebreaker had been decided by audience vote, then you would have been yesterday's Masked King."

Zhang Ye immediately replied: "Not for sure."

"For sure."

"It's really not for sure. That song I sang was never meant to be a competition song."

"A good song is a good song. It has nothing to do with whether it's suitable for a competition."

"Perhaps."

"I'm looking forward to your songs next episode."

"Same here. I'm looking forward to yours too."

Sunset Glow sent: "See you next week."

"See you next week."

Their text message conversation was very simple, but Zhang Ye was starting to learn more and more about Sunset Glow's behavior and character. In his mind, a vague figure was starting to appear that would match Sunset Glow. He had already more or less guessed who Petal Shower and Sunset Glow were. They were both people he knew, and one of them was even a rather close friend of his with whom he had a lot of dealings with. However, Zhang Ye knew that even though he could guess their identities, they would never be able to guess his. He had put up too many smoke screens, so even if there were anyone in the industry who did an extremely detailed analysis, they still wouldn't find out who he was. They would never even start to suspect him.

Zhang Ye chuckled and felt that this was really quite interesting and fun.

In the Celebrity Goof Group, there was a flurry of activity today.

Ning Lan: "@ChenGuang @FanWenli Old Chen, Old Fan, are you two around?"

Chen Guang appeared. "I just woke up." Then he sent a yawning emoji.

Ning Lan: "Do you have any tickets to the live recording of King of Mask Singers? Help me get five of them. A few of my friends who would like to attend the studio recording have approached me for help."

Chen Guang: "Five tickets?"

Ning Lan: "Yep, the more the better."

Chen Guang said: "I might still be able to get one or two tickets, but it's gonna be difficult to get five or more of them."

Huo Dongfang sent a nose-picking emoji. "I want three tickets too. A few relatives from my hometown came to visit and said that they really wanted to attend the live recording. Old Chen, I'm depending on you."

Another movie star said: "I want a ticket too. Are there any left?"

To be a part of this celebrity chat group, everyone had to be at least a B-lister. In the industry, every one of them was more highly revered than the last. If they themselves wanted to attend the recording, Beijing Television would more than welcome them to do so and make all the necessary arrangements for it to happen. But as they wanted to get the tickets for their friends instead, they found it harder to approach the television station. First, it was unnecessary to do so. Second, a favor owed to a television station was not so easily repayable. It just wasn't worth all that trouble to get a few tickets.

Chen Guang: "Do you guys take me for a scalper?"

Fan Wenli spoke: "Hur hur, it's no use approaching Old Chen for help on this anyway. He doesn't have that great an influence. Isn't Zhang Ye in the group as well? Why don't you guys ask him instead?"

Xiaodong: "I'll help to @ZhangYe for you guys."

Ning Lan said: "Oh yeah! I've totally forgotten about Zhang Ye!"

At home, Zhang Ye heard this notification on his cell phone. He opened up the group chat and replied without hesitation: "Sure, I got it. You need around 10 tickets, right?"

Ning Lan: "Correct."

Huo Dongfang: "Will it be a bother? If it is, then forget it."

Zhang Ye: "It's nothing."

Zhang Ye then made a call.

A while later, he typed: "I've arranged for them. I'll leave a number here for you guys. 138XXXXXXXXX. Get your friends to go to the studio on Friday and call this number. Someone will come out to bring them in afterwards."

Ning Lan sent a smiley face. "Thanks, Zhang'er."

Huo Dongfang: "Thank you very much."

In Beijing Television, Zhang Ye could be considered rather influential. Although he did not really take part in the current production run of the show and was really more of an executive producer in name, everyone knew how much Zhang Ye's words were worth with the program team. His words were as important as Executive Director Hu Fei's!

Ning Lan: "King of Masked Singers has gotten really popular these days."

Zhang Ye said with a laugh: "Sister Ning, are you interested in joining the competition?"

Ning Lan: "Haha, forget about me. My terrible voice? I haven't sung in such a long time."

Xiaodong: "Teacher Zhang, you haven't been gaining much popularity recently. You'll soon be replaced if it goes on like this."

Zhang Ye simply sent a "yeah."

Xiaodong: "Why don't you try to release an album? I know a few people in recording companies who could tailor-make some songs for you. You can just release it online since being banned or not won't matter."

Zhang Ye sent a neutral face emoji.

Ning Lan was amused. "He can't even sing!"

Huo Dongfang also said: "I've heard Zhang Ye's 'A Letter to Home' before. It's rather good. But as for cutting an album…uh, I think it's better not to think about that. I think it's pretty unlikely that'll happen. Cough cough." He was already putting it out quite tactfully.

Xiaodong said: "He won't be able to sing live for sure, but it might be worth a try in the recording studio. At worst, he'll have to record a song multiple times. If it doesn't work the first time, try another ten times. If ten times don't work, try twenty times. There'll surely be a few times when it's good enough. Besides, they can also tune his singing to sound better than it is. Technology's so advanced nowadays. They can even fix someone's completely out of tune singing."

Zhang Ye: "Thank you, Xiaodong. But I'll pass."

Xiaodong: "OK, but if you need anything, feel free to ask me. There's always a way no matter how badly you sing, so don't worry."

Zhang Ye was smiling on the inside. "Sure."

Zhang Yuanqi suddenly appeared: "Hello, comrades."

"Whoa, what a rare guest."

"Sister Zhang, hello."

"Sister Zhang is here?"

"You're up this early?"

A few familiar names were joking around with her.

Zhang Yuanqi said: "I'm still in bed right now. Xiaodong just PMed me and suggested that we get the other two members of Spring Garden into this group as well. One of them is Amy, the other is Li Xiaoxian. I'm here to communicate this and see what everyone thinks. We can have a vote to decide."

The Goof Group could be considered a very famous group in the whole of the entertainment industry. Not just anyone could join it, as there were many big names and elites of the industry in it. The group didn't really invite anyone to join, and there were only several dozen people who were members of this group. Zhang Ye was the last person to have joined the group before this.

Xiaodong cheekily said: "Since they're my good friends and my teammates, I'll abstain from speaking."

Although that was what she said, Zhang Ye received a PM from Xiaodong very soon after.

Xiaodong secretly said: "Teacher Zhang, please help!"

Followed by four pitiful expression stickers in a row.

Zhang Ye was amused. "Alright, I know what to do."

Xiaodong sent a crying emoji. "Thank you!"

Zhang Ye then said in the Goof Group: "I'll allow it. Amy's popularity is getting higher and higher these days, and I believe it's also just a matter of time for Li Xiaoxian. With friends as good as these, we must get them into the group ASAP!"

Huo Dongfang said: "I also feel that it's OK."

Chen Guang: "After Amy appeared on those episodes of King of Masked Singers, she indeed became more popular. She also has a great character; I've spoken to her privately a few times. I find her to be quite friendly, so I'll definitely support her. As for Li Xiaoxian, there's even more nothing to say. We already know her identity. I suppose everyone here has realized as well?"

Ning Lan: "I don't have any problems with it either. We can let them join."

Quite a few people gave their opinions and a majority of them felt that it was OK.

Zhang Yuanqi said: "Alright, I don't have any complaints either. So let's invite them in."

Before long, a group notification appeared.

Zhang Yuanqi has invited Amy into Goof Group.

Zhang Yuanqi has invited Li Xiaoxian into Goof Group.

"Let's welcome the newbies!"

"Welcome!"

"A warm welcome to you!"

Everyone was very friendly. Even a Heavenly King appeared to welcome them.

Amy was stunned. "My god, is this the legendary group I've heard about?"

Ning Lan said happily: "It's the Goof Group."

Li Xiaoxian said quietly: "Hello, seniors."

Amy: "Ahhhh, I've finally been admitted into the Goof Group! How exciting! Ah, Sister Zhang! Ah, Sister Ning Lan! Wow, even Teacher Zhang Ye is here!"

In the Spring Garden, the most well-known member definitely had to be their leader, Xiaodong. Compared to her, even though the other two members were very popular as well, they were behind her by quite a bit. As a result, the number of big names in fields other than music that Amy and Li Xiaoxian knew personally could not really be considered that many and their contact with those people was not that great. Xiaodong had pushed for them to join the group mainly because she wanted to help them network some more. If they could become familiar with these people, they would definitely have it easier in the future. Like the time Ning Lan and her team were encircled by the martial artists. Zhang Ye had gone to help her after she sent a message for help in the group. They were all about looking out for one another.

Ning Lan was one of the group administrators and would usually join in the conversation whenever there was one. Zhang Yuanqi and some of the other Heavenly Kings and Queens might have been the most popular celebrities in the group, but as their time was very limited, they didn't usually appear to chat in the group. So a lot of the matters were handled by Ning Lan.

Ning Lan said: "Amy, Xiaoxian, if there's any trouble you girls meet with in the future, just holler at us in the group. Don't be shy."

Amy: "Got it."

Li Xiaoxian: "Thank you, seniors."

Huo Dongfang asked: "Amy, who is The Clown?"

Amy: "Um, I don't know too."

Ning Lan asked: "Does Xiaoxian know?"

Li Xiaoxian said: "I'm not sure either."

Ning Lan: "Old He was asking me today if I knew who The Clown was. I bet he was trying to scoop him up for the company."

Chen Guang: "Old He? You mean the chairman of your company?"

Ning Lan: "Yeah. A lot of people in the industry have now set their sights on the trio of The Clown, Petal Shower, and Sunset Glow. The other two contestants' identities have been more or less confirmed. Only The Clown does no one have any clue about!"

Zhang Ye laughed, then closed the chat app.