Chapter Six: Being a Celebrity Is a Job

"What do you all think?"
On the way back in the car, Feng Gang broke the silence.

Wu Bing smiled, "Better than I imagined. I was worried Lin Xing would be difficult to work with, that he'd have a temper."

"He's quite clever," the deputy director Guo Biao added. "It seems the entertainment industry really does shape people. I remember back then Lin Xing was called the number one illiterate—empty-headed, always messing up interviews. Who would have thought that today, he comes across as mature and composed."

Wu Bing chuckled, "Old Guo, you’re talking about Lin Xing when he was still in the group. 'Starlight Sea' has been disbanded for ten years now—how could he not have grown?"

"It's different," Guo Biao shook his head. "Have you noticed? Lin Xing doesn't act superior to Guan Peng and Hong Fei, who are past their prime, nor to Duan Hai and the other little-known ones. He's actually pretty easygoing. Even though Lin Xing hasn't developed as much as Wu Yao these ten years, he still has a huge fanbase."

"That's true," Feng Gang agreed. "I was worried Lin Xing would get arrogant, especially since he's currently the number one trending topic on Weibo."

Indeed. Who could have expected this?

Wu Yao’s scandal ended up giving Lin Xing a second chance at fame.

Ten years ago, when Lin Xing left the group, the media wrote about him, saying that illiterates like him should be eliminated from the entertainment industry, that letting such a person be popular for five years was a disgrace.

But today, a decade later, the media is writing that Lin Xing was the original heartthrob, the prototype for the new generation—at least he really sang, really danced, truly did charity, and was genuinely handsome.

All thanks to his peers for comparison, in ten years, Lin Xing's reputation has undergone a complete reversal.

More importantly, people are digging up all sorts of small deeds Lin Xing did—things no one usually notices, but now they've all surged to the top of trending topics.

Lin Xing helped someone in danger.
Lin Xing sponsored impoverished students.
Lin Xing went to the mountains to do charity work alone.
And so on.

It's just shy of being called a paragon of virtue and artistry.

Many passersby click into the trending topic and their first thought is, "This must be paid publicity."

Even Feng Gang thought so at first, but after asking around, he realized it wasn’t. Lin Xing truly has been quietly doing these things for years.

Moreover, the person he saved back then even came forward, saying, "If not for Lin Xing, I might not have survived. He even paid all my medical bills afterwards."

That was eight years ago.

If Lin Xing wanted to hype this up, he wouldn’t have waited eight years.

Adding his sponsorship of poor students, trips to the mountains for charity, and annual volunteer work at Dafei Mountain—each thing may seem trivial for a celebrity, but together, they amount to something significant.

Ten years—how many celebrities can persist that long?

Like the actor Wang Ruoan. Everyone thinks he's fake, that his warmth toward fans, kindness to strangers, and support for colleagues are all an act.

But he's kept it up for thirty-five years.

Now, at fifty-five, he still stands up for extras on set, scolding the deputy director for not taking safety precautions when an extra fell.

After thirty-five years, who still calls Wang Ruoan fake?

If you can keep it up for thirty-five years, then you are truly a paragon of both virtue and artistry.

Besides, most celebrities, whether suddenly famous or suddenly revived, tend to put on airs.

In this industry, it's rare for a star to maintain their original sincerity.

That's precisely why Feng Gang found Lin Xing's performance tonight both surprising and satisfying.

"But if we don't let Lin Xing actually work in the field during tomorrow's recording, will it lessen the show's impact?"

Wu Bing voiced her concern, "When we talked about it tonight, Old Guan already seemed a bit dissatisfied."

"If he's not happy, tough," Li Xia sneered. "He’s just a washed-up has-been—what right does he have to complain? What level is he at, compared to Lin Xing?"

"Li Xia's right. What our show needs now is buzz. With Lin Xing willing to participate, the popularity shoots up. I just checked online—thanks to Lin Xing’s surge, people are starting to discuss our show."

Guo Biao chimed in, "I think as long as we have the hype, that's enough. If we really made Lin Xing work in the field, never mind Lin Xing, even his agent would never allow it."

Feng Gang nodded lightly, "Exactly. A temporary compromise. After all, we're the ones asking Lin Xing, so let’s see how tomorrow’s official recording goes."

Clearly, the team of "Farming With the Stars!" never expected Lin Xing to actually work the fields.

If Feng Gang were still at Tan Province Media, still the king of satellite TV, he wouldn’t have indulged Lin Xing.

But times have changed.

A variety show filled with fading stars and unknowns simply won’t cut it.

"Farming With the Stars!" has gone unnoticed for several episodes. When making a show, it’s not criticism that’s scary—it’s silence.

Like scandals: some celebrities’ scandals barely affect anyone, but look at Wu Yao—the destruction is enormous.

Now Feng Gang knew that if Lin Xing didn’t bring some life to this episode, his first variety show since leaving Tan Province Media would end in disaster.

Then, "Feng Gang is nothing without the platform" would become a reality.

"Let’s hope tomorrow goes smoothly," Feng Gang sighed inwardly.

He wasn’t asking Lin Xing to bring overwhelming popularity—just a little improvement would suffice.

Feng Gang wasn’t aiming to hit the jackpot, just hoping for things to go smoothly.

Hotel.

"Xingxing, this time you have to listen to me."

Sister Dao was still earnestly persuading Lin Xing.

What kind of celebrity works in the fields?

She even cited "Leisurely Life" as an example, where stars just did a bit of easy work and called it an experience.

The "Farming With the Stars!" team must be out of their minds.

"Yes, yes, Sister Dao, you’re right," Lin Xing replied cooperatively, then glanced at the clock. "It’s already ten. We have to record tomorrow, so let’s rest."

Fine!

Sister Dao knew Lin Xing hadn’t taken a word of her advice to heart, but she figured it was only three days of recording, and she’d be watching over him herself—nothing major would happen.

Besides, the script seemed fine.

She reminded Lin Xing a few more times, then left with Lin Miaoyin.

Once Sister Dao had gone, Lin Xing reread the script.

It was quite simple—basically a farmhouse holiday.

But the specifics of filming would only be clear on set.

As for Sister Dao’s advice, Lin Xing understood, but didn’t agree.

Being a celebrity is still a job. Maybe not devotion, but one shouldn’t slack off.

The next morning at 8:45, the "Farming With the Stars!" production van arrived to pick up Lin Xing.

Recording began the moment he got in the car.

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