I’m Really a Superstar

The next day.

In the morning.

It was getting rowdy on Weibo.

The ” Immortal by the River ¹ : The Torrents of the Yangtze” by Zhang Ye, along with his selfie with Ning Lan, Dong Shanshan, Jiang Hanwei, Shu Han, and the others had created a huge commotion. There was just too much information within it that could be processed, so much so that it dumbfounded a lot of people as everyone crazily discussed it.

However, Zhang Ye did not care about the online comments. He had come to the Central Publicity Department early in the morning with Wu Zeqing and borrowed a small conference room. The production crew was about to start filming, and the equipment, venue, and actors were more or less set in stone. However, the most important matter of the funding still remained unresolved. They had already done an expense calculation for the initial funding of 30 million RMB that was supposed to cover the cost of filming. However, this did not include the miscellaneous expenses. Unless the actors did not take a single cent for their work, or the accommodation arrangements and packed lunches were done away with, they would barely have enough to spend even if they scrimped and saved. But how could they possibly do that? The Central Publicity Department was also unwilling to use any social funds, so there was only one last option left. Zhang Ye could only turn to using advertisements to get more money.

There was a knock on the door.

Zhang Ye said, “Come in.”

Old Wu’s new secretary pushed open the door and came in. “Brother Zhang, I’ve brought the people over.”

There were around eight advertisers who entered the room. They were all old acquaintances that Zhang Ye had contacted.

After coming into the conference room, the group of them turned very cautious. This was, after all, their first time coming to the Central Publicity Department to discuss a deal.

This was also Zhang Ye’s intention as well. He had to fly the flag of this place since he was no longer as influential and popular. In that case, surely the name of the Central Publicity Department should do the job, right?

“Come, come, have a seat, everyone,” Zhang Ye said with a smile.

Secretary Ci and another supervisor who was in charge of overseeing the project also joined the meeting.

Zhang Ye bluntly said, “There are no outsiders in here. We’ve all worked together before on advertisement projects. I’m sure that every one of you has already heard that the Central Publicity Department is funding an unprecedented, blockbuster, anti-corruption drama. I’ve accepted the job and will be the producer and director. That’s why I’ve invited all of you here to talk about certain collaborations on this project. I tend to take very good care of my old friends, so I did not sell off any advertising opportunities yet. I’ll be leaving that for everyone here.”

The advertisers gave each other a look and seemed to have a lot of concerns, but none of them said anything.

Zhang Ye blinked. “What’s the matter?”

Boss Liu finally spoke up. “Zhang’er, we’ve made a lot of money from our past collaborations with you, and we’ve never suffered a loss whenever we worked with you. We’re all old friends, so now that you’re back, all of us should be showing you some support. B-But this is a political drama we’re talking about, so it’s definitely going to be a little sensitive. It won’t be easy to insert any advertisements.”

Zhang Ye said in amusement, “Why would it not be easy to insert them?”

Boss Li added, “It’d be fine if this were a commercial collaborations. But for a drama like this—” As he spoke, he cast a wary look at both Secretary Ci and Supervisor Ke.

Zhang Ye said, “It’s fine, just speak.”

Boss Li smiled wryly. “For a drama like this, ads definitely won’t be allowed in plain sight, isn’t that right? Our company is currently advertising a product called Great River Medicinal Wine. If it’s just going to be a few covert shots here and there, the advertising is not going to work effectively for us.”

Zhang Ye smiled and said, “How about this? I’ll think up a plan for you.”

Boss Li said with some interest, “Go on.”

Zhang Ye lowered his head and flipped through the script. Suddenly, he banged on the table. “I’ve got it. There’s a scene where a prosecutor was hit by a truck and turned into a vegetable. Lying in a hospital bed, there was nothing that the family could do. At this point, I’ll add a close-up caption for you. It will go like this: Great River Medicinal Wine, Drink Away Your Sickness!”

Secretary Ci was disgusted!

Supervisor Ke nearly fainted!

That guy has turned into a vegetable. How do you expect him to drink away his sickness?

He can’t even drink water by himself. As if he could drink any of that damned wine!

But Boss Li said excitedly, “W-Will that be allowed?”

Zhang Ye smiled and said, “Of course it will.”

Boss Li stood up. “I’ll sign on for it then! I’ll sign on to advertise!”

Boss Liu said in a dumbfounded manner, “Zhang’er, what about our Jiacao brand of cosmetics?”

Zhang Ye flipped through his script again. Very quickly, he snapped his fingers and pointed, saying, “How about this line? I’ll change this line in the script, then get the role Dong Shanshan will be playing to use your cosmetics after washing her face in the morning. She will say after that, ‘For good skin, use Jiacao day and night!'”

Secretary Ci was stunned. “You can change the script just like that?”

Zhang Ye said, “Of course, I’m the screenwriter, so I can change it however I want.”

Boss Liu was very happy. “Good! Good! I’ll accept this ad insert! And we’ll go ahead with the agreed price as spoken over the phone!”

The other bosses were also getting excited.

“What about us?”

“Teacher Zhang, what about us?”

“Give us a product placement as obvious as possible!”

“Right, we don’t want any subtle advertising. We want it to be as obvious as it can be!”

“Don’t get anxious. One by one, everyone will be included!”

Adding captions.

Changing the lines in the script.

Having some writing on the shirts.

Every other idea that they came up with for the advertisements was getting more and more unconventional!

Crooked tricks, wonderful tricks, Zhang Ye was full of them.

In the end, Supervisor Ke really couldn’t keep looking on. “Mr. Zhang, y-you can’t do something like that!”

Zhang Ye said without a care, “Why not?”

Secretary Ci wiped her sweat away. “This is such blatant advertising. You’re just adding in whatever you can think off. Don’t forget that this is an anti-corruption drama. Aren’t you kinda deviating too far from that if you do this?”

They were people from the organization. Regarding such matters, they were definitely going to have more reservations.

But Zhang Ye found this to be very normal. After all, he was very experienced and had been doing such things since many years ago. Was this even considered a big deal? That was how the people from my previous world did it too. You don’t wish to fork out more money nor agree with turning to social funds, yet you’re refusing to allow the advertisers to do some blatant advertising of their products? Does such a good deal exist in the world? They’re the ones forking out the money, so of course we have to handle it well for them.

One advertiser.

Three advertisers.

Five advertisers.

The advertisement contracts were signed one after another.

The lack of funding was finally resolved.

Zhang Ye was very happy that they could finally start their production work.

However, Secretary Ci and Supervisor Ke could not feel happy no matter what. They kept thinking that these advertisements were simply too immoral and had no bottom line. However, when they suddenly remembered the wedding that happened between Zhang Ye and Minister Wu those years ago, they looked at each other and saw the helplessness in each other’s eyes. Thinking back to that time, for someone who could even turn their own wedding into an advertisement and product launch, what bottom line could he possibly have!

Forget it, he can do whatever he wants. In any case, it wasn’t like they could do anything about it either.

The two of them suddenly turned very pessimistic. They felt that the illustrious reputation of their Central Publicity Department was going to be ruined in the hands of Zhang Ye. Having left the entertainment industry for so many years, they couldn’t have expected that the character of Minister Wu’s husband would still be the same as before. He was still as bold and reckless as ever!

…

At the same time.

On Weibo.

“This is so fucking nostalgic!”

“How many years has it been since we’ve seen a poem from Zhang Ye?”

“Hai, it’s a pity that the times have changed so quickly.”

“Why has this bunch of former big names gathered together?”

“Who knows!”

“What’s this In the Name of the People referring to?”

“They’re going to film a show? Of these people, other than Dong Shanshan, aren’t all of the others washed up? And even if it is Dong Shanshan, how can she fight the popularity of those young hunks? Which show these days aren’t headed by a cast of male idols? For them, there isn’t even one stud on board, so what show can they possibly shoot?”

Eventually, the details were revealed on the news.

“Central Publicity Department funds the production of an anti-corruption drama!”

“Zhang Ye’s first job is here!”

“Zhang Ye takes on his first drama series!”

“The title of the drama is confirmed: In the Name of the People!”

“The list of starring cast members is released: Zhang Ye, Yao Jiancai, Ning Lan, Dong Shanshan, Shanshan, etc.”

“Ning Lan’s first return to show business after her marriage?”

“Zhang Ye’s late night post on Weibo: A group of veterans take on the industry again!”

The people were dumbfounded!

“What?”

“The investment amount is only 30 million RMB?”

“Are they really going to film the show?”

“*faints* For a drama based on such a serious topic and with a political message, who would want to watch it?”

“This is going to be dead on arrival!”

“Has Teacher Zhang directed a TV drama before?”

“Like hell he has!”

“For someone who has never directed or acted in a TV drama before, he’s actually leading a group of has-been celebs to take on an anti-corruption drama? Are these people crazy?”

“I’ve come across daring people, but I’ve never come across people as daring as them!”

“Hahahaha, this fellow is still as reckless as ever!”

“Pfft, I wanna see how Face-smacking Zhang will handle this!”

“Can Face-smacking Zhang still be the old Face-smacking Zhang?”

“Hai, who knows?”

“In comparison, my attention is going to be more on hunk Li Shao’s new TV drama!”

“Yeah, I heard that the production has already begun. It’s a big production with an investment of 500 million yuan and is headed by a well-known director.”

“When you put it like that, it really makes Zhang Ye’s drama series feel nonexistent.”

…

At the team office of a male idol.

“Eh?”

“Zhang Ye, Ning Lan, and Yao Jiancai are going to shoot a drama?”

“Looking at the time, I suppose they will be scheduled for the same slot as us?”

“Ignore them. They’re just a bunch of old-timers messing around. There’s nothing to worry about.”

“Hur hur, that’s true.”

…

At Chen Guang and Fan Wenli’s house.

“Ah?”

“Those guys had a party?”

“Haha, it’s gonna be interesting.”

“I’m also looking forward to seeing how the drama’s plot will develop.”

…

At Xiaodong’s house.

Li Xiaoxian was around as well.

“Teacher Zhang has really made his return!”

“That’s great!”

“Looking at them, why do I feel like I’m suddenly wriggling with excitement?”

“Me too.”

…

At his eldest younger sister’s house.

Cao Dan clenched her fists.

“Bro, you can do it! Show them that you’re still relevant!”