Chapter Ninety: Traffic Explosion, Terrifying Heat!

"Bai Ling, good news, great news!"

"The view count is in—nearly three million views in just the first hour for episode one! This is incredible!"

Ouyang's excitement was unmistakable; his voice crackled with enthusiasm. Through the phone, Bai Ling could hear a chorus of shrill shouting in the background. She waited for him to calm down before speaking.

"Could you explain what three million means, exactly?" she asked.

Ouyang was momentarily speechless. "Don’t kill the mood. Are you seriously telling me you don’t know?"

Bai Ling nodded. "Of course. If I knew, why would I ask?"

Ouyang paused. "I know it’s your first time filming, but I didn’t expect you to be so indifferent, not even bothering to research beforehand."

"Most web dramas run twenty to thirty episodes, and by the time they finish, their total views are around ten to fifteen million. That means an average of thirty to fifty thousand per episode."

"Dramas like that are already considered quite successful. As for big productions, after broadcast on TV, they go online and might reach fifty or sixty million, sometimes even a hundred million views."

"But those big productions often have forty or fifty episodes. After averaging, each episode scores two or three million views."

Listening to Ouyang’s explanation, Bai Ling began to understand.

Though ‘The Rise of the Crown Princess’ was just a web drama, its numbers rivaled those crafted by serious film teams.

"And you might’ve missed another point: this is the first hour of the premiere!"

"One hour! Think how many views in a day? In a month? After word of mouth spreads, how much more will it climb?"

Bai Ling shivered at the thought.

"So, what level do you think this drama will reach?" she asked.

Unfamiliar with the specifics, she couldn’t guess.

Ouyang laughed. "I couldn’t predict it either. There are too many variables, but one thing is certain: we’ve succeeded. We’ve hit it big!"

Bai Ling shook her head. "Don’t you consider the impact of paid hype? They might not let us ride the trend so easily later on."

On the other end, Ouyang’s tone was relaxed.

"Even if all the paid promoters pulled out right now, the Crown Princess is already taking off."

"Bai Ling, rest assured, you’re going to make a fortune this time!"

Web dramas earn revenue too—high clicks mean high income. As an investor, Bai Ling stood to gain a substantial profit.

Bai Ling chuckled softly, comforted by Ouyang’s explanation.

"Ouyang, thank you!"

"If it weren’t for you, things wouldn’t have gone so smoothly."

Ouyang chuckled. "What’s the big deal? It’s only right—you’re my boss, after all."

Bai Ling rolled her eyes. "When we were endlessly reshooting, I didn’t feel much like your boss."

Ouyang laughed awkwardly. "Hey, hey, are you ever going to let that go?"

"I treated you like royalty afterward, didn’t I?"

"Listen, you can’t hold grudges like a woman."

"Anyway, I’m off to celebrate by myself."

He hung up, leaving Bai Ling a little exasperated.

He really did treat her like one of the guys.

But thinking about it, there was nothing wrong with that.

Late at night, the Crown Princess’s launch was sure to stir up a storm.

For the next few days, Bai Ling could enjoy a rare sweet dream.

The next morning, there was a knock at her door.

Opening it, Bai Ling found Sister Ge had come by, bringing breakfast.

"Here, my star performer! I’m here to report good news—and I brought breakfast for you."

Sister Ge shoved a bun into her hands. Bai Ling protested, saying she hadn’t brushed her teeth yet, but then bit into it anyway.

It was her favorite flavor.

Sister Ge knew her well.

"What’s the good news?" Bai Ling asked, though she already had a sense of what was coming.

Sister Ge didn’t hold back. She took out her phone, its screen gleaming with trending topics.

"How would you rate the Crown Princess?"

"An overnight sensation—what’s the magic behind this web drama?"

"Even cringe-worthy dramas can have their day?"

"Bai Ling’s performance is astonishing—is this really a rookie’s acting?"

"I apologize—I’ve decided to become a fan of Bai Ling again..."

Bai Ling’s popularity was truly staggering.

Looking at the flood of trending topics, Bai Ling finally understood what it meant to be ‘controversially famous’—even if she kept a low profile, any movement sent her to the top of the searches.

And the Crown Princess’s performance was extraordinary.

"The first episode already has ten million views—that’s only the first night."

"As we speak, it’s rising by tens of thousands. Bai Ling, we did it."

"This drama is really going to be a hit!"

Sister Ge had no concept of what Bai Ling’s first performance might achieve.

After all, Bai Ling was a genuine newcomer, utterly inexperienced.

She could read scripts well, even write her own, but what manager wouldn’t have doubts?

Bai Ling waved her hand calmly as she ate.

"Relax, relax—it was all within expectations!"

Sister Ge said, "But Ouyang said you seemed totally clueless about what the numbers meant."

Bai Ling was speechless. "You discussed it with Ouyang?"

"Of course. He called last night and talked my ear off for half an hour."

Bai Ling understood—he was simply bursting to share the news.

No doubt, Zhuge Ming had received the same treatment.

Poor Zhuge.

After a silent sigh, Sister Ge continued, "It’s not just trending—you’re getting great reviews."

"Do you know what the hottest topic about you is?"

Bai Ling laughed, "My looks?"

Sister Ge rolled her eyes. "Can you be serious? It’s your acting!"

She didn’t deny Bai Ling’s appearance was a major discussion point—a highlight of the Crown Princess—but what was truly remarkable was the widespread praise for Bai Ling’s acting.

As Sister Ge opened the comments on various trending posts, Bai Ling read some of them:

"Sister Bai Ling’s acting is amazing. Watching her, I really felt like it was a guy in a girl’s skin."

"Stunning red robes and a masculine personality—the combination is perfect. I doubt anyone else could pull off what Bai Ling has done."