I am Really a Superstar

A day later.

Beijing, the capital’s airport.

Zhang Ye was all smiles. “We’re finally home.”

Ha Qiqi smiled. “I still like China better.”

“I was terrified each day we spent abroad.” Little Wang giggled and said, “Director Zhang, if you have to go overseas again in the future, please don’t bring me along. We should leave such ‘good opportunities’ to our colleagues at the studio. It’s fortunate that the embassy officials showed up and fished us out of trouble. Otherwise, we really might not have come back.”

Zhang Ye glanced at the two suitcases in her hands. “But it looks to me that you enjoyed the shopping.”

Little Wang blushed. “Not true.”

Ha Qiqi was also a bit embarrassed. “I bought quite a few things too.”

“Come on.” Zhang Ye said, “It’s time to go home.”

It had only been three days since he left, but Zhang Ye was already very anxious to return home.

However, when the three of them exited the arrival gates, they were shocked!

Both ends of the passage were densely packed with people who were here to welcome them home!

A 1,000 people!

5,000 people!

Over 10,000 people!

Some of them were screaming!

Some of them were holding up banners!

—Welcome home, our hero!

—Congratulations, Teacher Zhang, on winning the Nobel Peace Prize!

—Face-smacking Zhang’s glory, shocking the world!

—Zhang Ye, Zhang Ye, I love you!

—Honor for China, glory for us Chinese!

—Annihilate the Indian, a surprise win, congratulations to Teacher Zhang on a safe return!

All of those banners dazzled the eye.

“Zhang Ye has come out!”

“He’s here!”

“How handsome!”

“Teacher Zhang! Look over here! Look over here!”

“You’re the best!”

“We’ve finally gotten a Nobel Prize!”

“Zhang Ye, I want a picture with you!”

“Zhang Ye, I want your babies!”

“Ahhhhh! I’m so excited!!”

“You’re the pride of the Chinese people!”

“Well done! You haven’t embarrassed the Chinese people!”

It was very crowded, and everyone was screaming nonstop. Many reporters were also trying to squeeze their way in with their cameras. This crazy scene of over 10,000 people was spectacular. The situation kept going out of control!

Little Wang exclaimed, “Why are there so many people?”

Zhang Ye was very touched. He quickly hollered, “Thank you! Thank you!”

It was only a short 10-minute walk to the parking lot, but Zhang Ye and company took over an hour to get there. The crowd, reporters, and airport security staff had them surrounded the entire way there. In China, it was a common occurrence for people to come and greet their celebrity idols at the airport. However, such a large welcome party was complete unprecedented. This was no longer something that could be described as greeting a celebrity at the airport. It was more like welcoming a hero back home!

10,000 people!

15,000 people!

The further they walked, the more people gathered around them!

However, the trio of Zhang Ye and company were not angered by this, nor did not they get impatient. They just walked and stopped, and walked and stopped, giving thanks to the people who came to receive them.

In the parking lot.

The three of them finally got into their transportation.

The studio staff were all in the minibus!

Tong Fu exclaimed in surprise, “Director Zhang!”

Wu Yi excitedly went up to give him a hug. “That was so impressive! Impressive!”

Zhang Ye smiled and said, “It was just a happy coincidence, I didn’t expect to win the Nobel Prize either.”

“It’s such a surprise!” Zhang Zuo belly laughed and said, “You might not know how it was here in China since you were in England, but the Internet, streets, and the media were all blowing up over this!”

Zhang Ye said, “Is that so?”

Ha Qiqi laughed and said, “Let’s get going first!”

The driver shouted, “Sit tight, everyone. We’re leaving.”

On the way, everyone was pulling and tugging at Ha Qiqi and Little Wang, asking nonstop about what happened.

Little Wang said without reservation, “You guys didn’t see Director Zhang extend his foot and make the Indian author bleed from his head. Did you watch the live broadcast? Those of you who weren’t there definitely can’t get a sense of the atmosphere. For real, in that instant it happened, the entire hall fell silent, and I saw those foreign reporters staring with wide eyes. Ahem, but of course, Sister Ha and I also broke down mentally on the spot. We thought it was all over for us, that Director Zhang had caused yet another disaster. But in the end, who could have guessed that Director Zhang would go on to win the Nobel Peace Prize!”

Tong Fu got very excited from listening. “Tell us the details!”

Zhang Zuo also said, “Yeah, give us the details!”

Ha Qiqi smiled and said, “What details can there be? Everyone who was there was startled by what happened!”

They were all chatting.

Smiling, Zhang Ye lowered his head to check his cell phone. He had only just turned it on to check the Chinese news and netizen comments. But before he could read much, his phone starting ringing like crazy.

…

It was Fellow Chi.

“Why am I just getting through?”

“I just got off the plane and turned on my phone.”

“Haha, on behalf of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, I offer you our congratulations.”

“Thank you, Fellow Chi.”

“Bring the medal over some time and let me have a look. There are a lot of people at the academy waiting to take a picture with you.”

“Sure thing, no problem.”

…

Grandma Zhang Xia also called.

“Zhang’er.”

“Hey, Grandma Zhang.”

“Congratulations to you.”

“Thank you, and the same to you.”

“You’ve surprised the world this time.”

…

Ning Lan also called shortly after.

“You’re back in the country?”

“I just got off the plane.”

“”You’re really good at surprising people!”

“Haha, I guess.”

“You will definitely break into the international celebrity rankings.”

“Who knows, the international rankings index has not been updated yet.”

…

Dong Shanshan also called.

“Treat us!”

“Pfft, alright.”

“Our old classmates are all demanding that you treat us to a big meal this time.”

“Alright, pick any place you guys like. How have you been lately? Has your movie started screening yet?”

“What screening? It’s been delayed. The news is all over you right now. Your name has been occupying all of the news, headlines, and television shows for the past two days. At this time, who would dare to vie with you for attention? Director Li’s new movie knows to take a step back for now!”

“Are you sure it’s that exaggerated?”

“Just take a look for yourself.”

…

The minibus was still on the road.

Zhang Ye fielded calls one after another.

All of a sudden, Ha Qiqi’s cell phone rang. After taking the call, she took a deep breath and hung up. Then she looked at Zhang Ye and the others. “I’ve just received news!”

Zhang Zuo asked, “What’s the matter?”

Ha Qiqi said nervously, “The international celebrity rankings will be updated soon!”

Zhang Ye, who was still on his phone, also looked over. “When?”

Ha Qiqi said, “In ten minutes.”

Little Wang asked, “Shouldn’t it be at midnight?”

Ha Qiqi said, “It’s not like they follow our Beijing time.”

“Ah, that’s true.” Little Wang facepalmed. “Will we be able to get on the rankings? Will we?”

Zhang Zuo was also getting anxious. This was something that would decide their future developments. “Although Director Zhang hasn’t appeared on the international celebrity rankings yet and is definitely below the international C-list rankings, he must not be too far away from it. Furthermore, there is the attention gained from the global sales of Gone With the Wind and his Nobel Prize win. And then, there’s also that trip that most definitely shocked the entire world so much that the other laureates from yesterday’s Nobel Prize award ceremony combined can’t take the spotlight away from Director Zhang. With this kind of exposure, if he still doesn’t make it into the international rankings, it would be quite strange.”

Ha Qiqi said excitedly, “And there’s also one more thing! The additional percentage to the popularity score from winning the Nobel Peace Prize!”

“That’s right, that’s right, that’s right,” Tong Fu repeated. “This is the most important factor of all!”

Little Wang said, “What’s the percentage?”

Ha Qiqi said, “I’ve checked it. It will be 1.3 times his international popularity score. Even at Director Zhang’s previous popularity score, which had him somewhere in the D-list international rankings, he should be able to get onto the international C-list rankings after this!”

Little Wang clasped her hands. “Please let him get in! He must break into the C-list rankings!”

One minute.

Two minutes.

Three minutes.

It was all quiet in the minibus.

Everyone was both nervous and looking forward to the International Celebrity Rankings Index getting refreshed.

Writing a novel.

Vying for the Nobel Prize.

Everything they did before this was all for this day.

Time slowly ticked by.

All of a sudden, the people in the minibus shouted!

“It’s been refreshed!”

“The International Celebrity Rankings Index has been refreshed!”

“What spot are we?”

“Did Director Zhang manage to get onto it?”

“Hahahaha! Take a look for yourselves!”

Everyone gathered!

On this day, Zhang Ye’s name appeared on the latest international celebrity rankings!

The International Celebrity Rankings Index.

International C-list Rankings.

#67: Zhang Ye (China).

When the studio staff saw it, they shouted in surprise and thrill!

International C-list?

67th place?

How could that be possible!

C-Could they have gotten it wrong?

Little Wang jumped up. “Oh my God! 67th? 67th?”

Tong Fu screamed, “Aren’t there only a 100 people on the International C-list Rankings?”

A lot of them started to anxiously scroll down to check if this was the truth. Indeed, there was no mistake about it. There really were only a 100 people on the International C-list Rankings! What did this mean? This was too terrifying to think about. They had initially thought that it would be enough for Director Zhang to break into the international celebrity rankings. Before this, whether it was them, the people, or the media, all of them thought that if Zhang Ye actually won the Nobel Prize, he would rank last or second to last at the bottom of the international celebrity rankings. A few Chinese celebrities had briefly appeared on the international rankings before, but they were always ranked near the bottom at around 99th or 100th place. So they thought that Zhang Ye would be the same!

But this?

International C-list Ranking of 67th place?

This was fucking near the middle of the International C-list Rankings!

Director Zhang’s international popularity had already reached such a high standard?