Chapter One Hundred and Two: Market Rating, Bai Ling Waiting in Eager Anticipation

Of course, although there was little activity or discussion under Bai Ling’s latest posts, that didn’t mean she had transformed into a universally adored figure whose charm enchanted everyone. The die-hard critics who never liked Bai Ling still vented their complaints on other social media platforms, accusing her of joining the programs just to cash in. Some even claimed that the presence of Bai Ling was reason enough for them to abandon these shows altogether. In fact, not only Bai Ling, but even both programs themselves were subjected to harsh criticism. Yet all of this was to be expected. Even the most popular stars can’t win everyone’s admiration and affection—how could Bai Ling hope to do so?

As for those accusations of “cashing in,” Bai Ling saw no reason to refute them. She was indeed seeking to profit, but her earnings would come from the pockets of the wealthy, not from her fans. She carried no guilt in her heart.

Soon enough, the day arrived for Bai Ling to participate in the shows. To her surprise, the first to commence was not the singer-based program, but the one for actors. The following day, she would need to rush to the singer program as well. Truth be told, the schedule was tight, especially since the two shows were in different cities. Still, it was nothing she couldn’t handle; Miaomiao and Sister Ge had already arranged everything perfectly. Even the musical accompaniment had been recorded in advance over the past few days.

When Bai Ling arrived in the city where the actor program was being filmed, the crew personally escorted her to the best hotel near the television station. Since they planned to record about ten episodes, many guests required a long-term place to stay. Booking a section of the hotel was a sensible solution. Bai Ling was treated well, given a spacious three-bedroom suite—almost a hundred square meters, comparable to a standard home. Such hotel rooms were far from cheap, and the program’s willingness to cover so many people’s expenses spoke to their considerable wealth.

As for the other guests, Bai Ling only knew a handful so far. Some actors had joined her in promoting the program, and among them were well-known names with impressive bodies of work. It was rumored that she would act alongside these prominent figures, which made Bai Ling all the more eager for the experience.

On the day after checking in, Bai Ling arrived at the recording site.

Although she was highly skilled in makeup herself, the production had arranged dozens of makeup artists—one for each performer—so Bai Ling didn’t need to do it herself. The costumes provided by the show were equally striking. The overall impression was the same: lavish and grand. The greater the investment, the more Bai Ling anticipated the upcoming recordings; only substantial resources could produce a truly outstanding variety show.

What surprised Bai Ling further was that—perhaps envious of the popularity of “Spend the New Year at My House”—this program had also chosen to combine live broadcasting with pre-recorded segments. While this approach was increasingly common for variety shows, it was a bold move for an acting-focused show, which was already a novel concept. The buzz would increase, but if any mishap occurred, it would be an awkward spectacle. Still, such concerns belonged to the production team, not Bai Ling.

Once her makeup and costume were ready, the time had come: seven in the evening, the show’s scheduled start. Before the official opening, Bai Ling checked the live broadcast room on her phone. As expected, the buzz was high. Although the screen was still black, the fans of various actors were already enthusiastically cheering for their favorites. Bai Ling’s own supporters were clearly present, a significant force among them. Even though Bai Ling had only acted in one drama and played a single role, she had found relative success in crossing over to acting.

A staff member led Bai Ling to a corridor. Once the host’s voice came through, Bai Ling would walk down this passage to the main stage, making her debut appearance. This debut was crucial—a chance to display her poise and make a strong first impression. Bai Ling waited patiently.

Soon, she heard the sounds from the main hall.

“Good evening, dear viewers, and welcome to the live broadcast of ‘I Am an Actor’!”
“I’m sure you’re all eagerly anticipating tonight’s show, but before we begin, allow me a few words.”
“This program is brought to you by our sponsors!”
“And now, let’s welcome our four judges!”
“First, please welcome Director Zhao Zhengang!”
“Next, Director Zhou Xuan!”
“And also, the writer-turned-director Zhuge Tianguang!”

“Hm?”
Hearing that name, Bai Ling immediately perked up. Zhuge Tianguang? It sounded closely related to Zhuge Ming. Wasn’t Zhuge Ming also a writer and screenwriter? This Zhuge Tianguang was a writer who moved into directing—perhaps they were relatives? Yet now wasn’t the time to call Zhuge Ming for gossip; she could only keep her curiosity to herself.

“Lastly, please welcome the young writer, director, and screenwriter Wang Dagang!”

The four judges, all directors, were now ready. Next came the actors.

“Now that our directors are seated, I’m sure everyone can’t wait to see the actors take the stage!”
“Behind the directors are forty chairs, arranged from high to low, representing the actors’ rankings—or rather, their market ratings.”
“The production has made a preliminary assessment of all the actors based on their performance.”
“But please, actors and fans alike, don’t worry—these ratings are only temporary.”
“Over the next ten episodes, everyone will have the chance to turn the tide and create their own brilliance.”
“First, let’s start with Class C—please welcome Miao He!”

For the next while, the host called each actor’s name, inviting them to come on stage one by one. None of the guests knew their ranking in advance. Each worried about being called too early, which would mean a lower status in the market’s eyes.

Bai Ling, however, was different. She wished the host would call her name quickly—not for any other reason, but because her calf was about to cramp!

Each actor called had to stand on stage for a while and say a few words. Some seized the opportunity to speak more, gaining extra exposure and winning the audience’s favor. As this process played out, Bai Ling ended up waiting for nearly an hour.

The viewers in the live broadcast room were in no hurry; they watched standing, sitting, lying down, or sprawled out. Only Bai Ling had no chance to slack off—she could only wait anxiously, her eyes fixed on the stage.

(End of chapter)