Chapter 24: Celebrity Reality Show

Chapter 24: Celebrity Reality Show

Zhou Run commands immense box office appeal across Asia and is fairly well known in Western countries as well. In this world, Hollywood exists just as it did in the previous life, holding the same status. Hollywood’s films influence the entire globe and dominate the world’s box office charts.

Zhou Run had, in fact, once tried to make a career in Hollywood, but unfortunately, things did not go smoothly. In the end, he returned, crestfallen. This remained a regret in his life.

He is a regular at countless Chinese-language film award ceremonies, and the number of Best Actor trophies he’s won is beyond counting. He’s also received several international Best Actor awards. His acting skills are, without doubt, exemplary.

However, to call him a global superstar is a bit of a stretch. It would be polite, but not quite accurate. Just like in the previous world, breaking into Hollywood seems to be the true threshold of becoming “international.”

After his brief cameo, Zhou Run hurried away, leaving Zhang Le without even a chance to treat him to a meal.

“Waiting for Home” had already left theaters, breaking the five hundred million box office curse and becoming the highest-grossing Chinese film. Yet, it still couldn’t break into the top three on the national box office chart—those spots were still monopolized by Hollywood productions.

Nonetheless, “Waiting for Home” made a significant impact. As the film’s leading lady, Yang Xiner’s own value soared; her appearance fees increased dramatically, and invitations for new projects flooded in.

“When are you leaving?” Zhang Le asked, glancing at Yang Xiner as she ate her boxed lunch beside him.

“Tonight’s flight. I have a commercial to shoot tomorrow,” she replied after swallowing. “There’s something I want to discuss with you.”

“What is it?” Zhang Le asked, a bit puzzled.

“We’ve been invited to join a reality show together,” Yang Xiner said.

“Both of us?” Zhang Le was surprised.

It was only a few months into 2002 in this world, but the entertainment industry here was already far ahead of where it was in his previous life at this point—especially in terms of box office numbers. Blockbusters breaking one hundred million were still rare, but definitely more common than on Earth in 2002, where, domestically, there had been perhaps only a single film that crossed that mark.

It was clear that this world’s domestic film market was much healthier than that of Earth’s at the same time. Yet, variety shows, especially reality shows, had not yet gained high status—they were even less prominent than in his previous life, nowhere near the feverish popularity they would later achieve.

Given Yang Xiner’s current fame, her participation in a reality show struck many as astonishing.

To them, for someone of Yang Xiner’s stature to do a reality show instead of making films was undignified, a lowering of status.

Typically, such shows featured third-tier, maybe second-tier celebrities at best. For a first-tier, even top-tier star like Yang Xiner, it would never be considered.

Reality shows, in particular, attracted far less attention than films or TV dramas—less even than some talk shows. Zhang Le knew that if the invitation had been for Yang Xiner alone, she would never have considered it. But since they wanted both of them, she was tempted.

Though Zhang Le was now quite famous, it was fame by association—his notoriety still came from Yang Xiner, not from his own achievements. To be blunt, variety shows might not be highly valued yet, but Zhang Le himself was not at the level to be invited on his own.

She nodded in response.

“You actually want to do it?” Zhang Le asked in surprise, reading the intent in her eyes.

“I want to do it with you,” Yang Xiner said. “I know you’re a director at heart, and you don’t like being in the spotlight. But you can’t stay behind the scenes anymore. Besides, I want more people to know you. Only when they know you can they accept you, and accept us being together.”

He chuckled. “Then let’s do it. But the film still needs at least another month before we wrap, and as the director, I can’t just step away during shooting.”

A director isn’t like an actor—if an actor leaves, the crew can shoot around them, but if the director leaves, filming grinds to a halt.

Once post-production starts, taking two or three days a week to film something else wouldn’t be a big deal. So Zhang Le’s meaning was clear: if they were to do it, it would have to wait at least a month.

“The show is still in preparation, and the guests haven’t been finalized. Filming probably won’t start for over a month,” Yang Xiner said with a smile. “You’re not even going to ask what kind of show it is? You’re deciding just like that?”

He grinned. “Would you ever set me up?”

Of course, she wouldn’t. Still, he was curious what sort of show could tempt her.

Yang Xiner smiled, then said, “It’s called ‘Always With You,’ produced by Beijing Satellite TV—a couple’s reality show.”

Zhang Le nodded, understanding. Almost no one believed in his and Yang Xiner’s relationship. The opposition, the insults, the curses—they were countless. Far too many people didn’t want to see them together, and nearly all believed that Zhang Le wasn’t worthy of Yang Xiner.

Many couldn’t understand why she’d chosen him, nor could they accept it.

Clearly, Yang Xiner wanted to use this show to let the public see what kind of person Zhang Le was, to let them witness their interactions, hoping that, little by little, people might be moved and gradually accept the reality of their relationship.

Zhang Le understood and appreciated her intentions. Moreover, both of them were busy—using this as an excuse to spend time together was hardly a bad thing.

Filming continued, becoming ever smoother. Meanwhile, Beijing Satellite TV wasted no time. As “Crazy Stone” neared completion, “Always With You” was already being heavily promoted.

Besides Zhang Le and Yang Xiner, the hottest celebrity couple of the moment, there were three other pairs invited. Two of these were married couples, not just romantic partners.

However, all six of the others were second or even third-tier entertainers, nowhere near Yang Xiner’s level. Of the eight participants, the youngest were Yang Xiner and Zhang Le. One of the married couples was over fifty.

Representing their twenties, thirties, forties, and fifties, the four pairs spanned four age groups, likely to appeal to viewers of all ages.

The show hadn’t even begun filming, yet it was already a hot topic.

The furor around Zhang Le and Yang Xiner’s relationship had started to fade as people accepted—or simply resigned themselves to—the fact that they were together, and it could not be changed. Naturally, the attention began to wane.

Celebrity romances are usually kept extremely low-profile. Even when exposed by the media, the usual approach is to quietly let the attention die down. Yet, Zhang Le and Yang Xiner took the opposite path: their relationship, already controversial and tumultuous, was now being flaunted on national television.

With their high-profile participation in the reality show, their relationship was again thrust into the limelight, sparking a media frenzy.

Many found it hard to accept, especially Yang Xiner’s fans, who now hated Zhang Le with a passion. It was bad enough he’d “stolen” their goddess, but now he was flaunting their love on TV—was there no shame?

Of course, even more people were highly anticipating the program, eager to see how celebrity couples and spouses truly interacted—especially Zhang Le and Yang Xiner.

It was a show eagerly awaited by many, and one that, even before filming began, was being fiercely criticized by countless netizens.

This was going to be torture for all the singles! Who would volunteer for that?

And so, under these circumstances, Zhang Le’s first film wrapped production.