I'm Really a Superstar

Chapter 1315: The Spring Festival Gala is timeless!

Translator: Legge Editor: Legge

The next day.

In the morning.

The entrance of Central TV was jam-packed with reporters from television stations and newspaper agencies. All of them had surrounded the entrance with hardly any space to maneuver. No one knew how long they had been waiting for.

Suddenly, a car drove towards them from afar.

“He’s here!”

“It’s the BMW X5!”

“It’s Zhang Ye’s car!”

“He’s arrived!”

“Director Zhang!”

“How do you feel about taking over the Spring Festival Gala job?”

“Can we interview you?”

“What plans do you have to make the Spring Festival Gala good?”

“Do you have the confidence to do well for this year’s Spring Festival Gala?”

“What is the first step that you’ll be taking after getting appointed?”

40 to 50 reporters had surrounded Zhang Ye’s X5, so the car was forced to stop since it couldn’t move forward. A few of Central TV’s security guards immediately came over to disperse the crowd, but to no effect even after shouting themselves hoarse. The reporters from all the major media outlets and newspapers were simply not going to allow Zhang Ye to leave. This was because everyone in the country had their attention on the role of the Spring Festival Gala’s executive director. Furthermore, Zhang Ye was the youngest executive director in the gala’s history. So the news of Zhang Ye’s first day on the job was definitely not going to be missed being reported about by them. Some of the reporters had even been waiting here since midnight!

But unnoticed by anyone, a sedan drove into the premises from a side entrance.

When it stopped in the parking lot, the doors opened. Zhang Ye, Ha Qiqi, Zhang Zuo, and the others got out.

Zhang Ye turned his head back to look. “Good thing you guys were smart.”

Ha Qiqi smiled and said, “Of course. You’re the center of attention, so we definitely have to consider such situations happening. Things are no longer the same as before.”

Zhang Zuo looked up at the television tower. “We’re back again.”

Little Wang sighed. “I kinda miss the days we spent at Central TV.”

Tong Fu blinked. “Does this count as a homecoming then?”

Ha Qiqi said happily, “That’s not the proper phrase to use here.”

“Then what should I have said?” Tong Fu asked.

Zhang Ye stepped forward and went in, saying as he did so, “We’re here to wreak havoc in the Heavenly Palace.”

Tong Fu got a fright. “Director Zhang, please don’t scare me like that.”

Zhang Zuo didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. “Can you not always be saying such terrible things? When those words come out of your mouth, I feel really scared.”

Little Wang giggled, “Pfft!”

Zhang Ye called out to them, “Let’s go.”

Today’s Zhang Ye was somewhat different.

Compared to yesterday, his composure had changed drastically.

…

Upstairs.

At the temporary holding office of the Central TV Spring Festival Gala’s production team.

“Uh…”

“Director Zhang.”

“Good morning, director.”

“Director.”

“Morning, director.”

He was getting looks from everyone along the way. Their eyes shone with a complex swirl of emotions. The look in their eyes was really indescribable.

Was it anxiety?

Speechlessness?

Strife?

Or guilt?

In any case, it was definitely a negative emotion.

The roomful of people on the Spring Festival Gala production team were all experiencing an unmentionable sense of bitterness. Thinking about the day Zhang Ye had come to attend the initial meeting with his act’s script, he was so sarcastic that they couldn’t bear it. None of these people in the room missed out on getting hit with that sarcasm of his and were almost pushed to the brink by him. But now? Just several days later, Zhang Ye had somehow turned from Central TV’s greatest adversary into the executive director of the Spring Festival Gala? He had become their immediate superior?

Where could they go to reason against this!

A few of the those who were in charge came up to him.

“Director, my name is Li Liyi, I’m in charge of the stage setup.”

“I’m in charge of the dance acts.”

“I’m the manager of the screenwriting team.”

“Director Zhang, nice to meet you. I’m in charge of the music.”

Everyone took turns introducing themselves.

There were several dozen staff members on the production team who covered all aspects of the gala’s requirements. It was a very well-rounded team.

It consisted of Central TV’s current executives who were the top experts in the industry, as well as the most outstanding people from the relevant fields. This was likely a gathering of the most elite people for a gala team in the country, with everyone being the best of the best in their own capacities. One would simply not be able to be part of the Spring Festival Gala team if they didn’t have some ability to speak of.

Zhang Ye memorized the names and roles of each of them.

A lot of people wondered what Zhang Ye’s first task would be following his appointment. The answer was actually very simple. It was to integrate everyone so that they would be able to perform as a united front. The waters of the Spring Festival Gala ran too deep. With pressure from the top and the selection of the acts, this was already enough to give them headaches. If the production team was also a mess internally, then it would be impossible to get any work started. Therefore, the first task Zhang Ye had to do was get the production team under his control!

So he decided to say a few words to them.

Zhang Ye said, “Good day, everyone. I’m sure you’ve all received the news that I will be taking over the Spring Festival Gala production team starting today. You all know my temperament too. I’m a very straightforward person, so I’ll say anything as it is. I personally know many of those who are here today, and some of you have had disagreements or quarrels with me in the past, while there are also some who have scolded me on the Internet before.”

Hearing that, quite a few people in the production team looked embarrassed.

Zhang Ye spread his hands. “But that’s OK. All of that happened because of work matters, so I can understand. We’ll let bygones be bygones. You don’t have to get stressed over it since I’m not a petty person. Starting today, we’ll be colleagues. As long as it’s for work, as long as everyone puts in the effort, anything goes!”

“Of course!”

“Don’t worry about it!”

“Definitely!”

“We will listen to your orders!”

There was a scattered response from those in the production team that sounded very good, but their tone did not come across as too enthusiastic.

Zhang Ye looked at them, then said, “Actually to be honest, I did not want to take this job at first. Many of you here have been part of the Spring Festival Gala’s production team many times, with some of you taking part twice, some thrice. But rather than gaining any credit for your work, you all received quite a fair share of the blame. I believe that a lot of you have a very mixed feelings about this like me. Some of you would be hesitating, some would feel quite bitter over it. To put it bluntly, this job that we’re doing can simply be summarized as—a thankless task.”

Everyone smiled wryly.

That’s right.

It might sound very glorious to be on the Spring Festival Gala production team, but it really wasn’t a good job at all.

Zhang Ye continued, “The viewership ratings for the Spring Festival Gala are falling, while the people’s criticism is getting louder and louder. And who is that blame pinned on? It’s always blamed on the Spring Festival Gala production team. At the previous gala, I was also one of those who showed a disgraceful side of me. I led the flaming of the Spring Festival Gala and on you guys, so let me first offer my apologies to you. When the Spring Festival Gala’s organizing committee invited me to take the role, my first reaction was to hide. I had to avoid it as far as I could. I didn’t want to accept the job, I really didn’t.” With a pause, he said, “But as it is, here I am. At first, I was thinking of what a foolish mistake I’d made and why I had accepted the role. Why did I accept it like I had been possessed by a ghost or something?”

Everyone listened on curiously.

Zhang Ye suddenly laughed. “I went to bed very early last night. The moment I opened my eyes this morning, I understood. I suddenly knew why I chose to stand here. It’s because I still have feelings for the Spring Festival Gala. I love it as it is a part of my memories. This is also a beautiful memory that many of us Chinese will never be able to forget. I didn’t want it to meet its end just like that, I didn’t want it to get scolded so terribly by all the citizens and be criticized by everyone on the same day every year!”

A few people were visibly moved.

A few people stayed silent.

How could they not have that same feeling for the Spring Festival Gala?

Zhang Ye said loudly, “I’m someone who doesn’t believe the lies! No one is optimistic about this year’s Spring Festival Gala? Well, I won’t believe that! So all the more I want to create a Spring Festival Gala that will catch the entire world’s Chinese population by surprise! My abilities and standards are limited, but today! I will throw all hundred pounds of myself at the challenge! I will show them all! I want everyone to open their eyes and see it for themselves! The Spring Festival Gala is timeless!”

The Spring Festival Gala is timeless?

Everyone took a deep breath as they felt a certain emotion stirring deep within the recesses of their hearts!