I am Really a Superstar

Overseas, on an island.

This was a world-famous vacation resort. Today, Zhang Ye had brought his wife and daughter, his parents, his cousins, his parents-in-law, and his staff from the studio here for a vacation. The whole lot of them booked all of the rooms at the only hotel on the island.

Blue skies.

White clouds.

Crystal clear seas.

The sand.

The coconut trees.

Everything was very beautiful.

“Wow!”

“This is so beautiful!”

“Boss, isn’t this a little too extravagant?”

“Haha, everyone, let loose and enjoy yourselves! We’re on vacation for the next few days!”

“Oh yeah!”

“Long live the boss!”

“Director Zhang is so generous! We can finally get a vacation!”

“I love the sea! This is such a nice place!”

“We’re the only ones here! This is so awesome!”

Everybody was intoxicated by the beauty of this place.

Some of them went straight out to sea to swim while others returned to the cottage by the sea to sort out their luggage. Cao Dan, Zhang Ye’s eldest younger sister, even started livestreaming while taking a stroll along the beach. She was fiddling around with her cell phone on a selfie stick as she chatted with her fans on the stream. It was getting really boisterous all around.

Zhang Ye smiled and said, “Dad, Mom, how do you like the place?”

His father nodded. “It’s so beautiful.”

His mother muttered, “Just how much did all of this cost?”

“Aiya, it’s not much,” Zhang Ye said.

Li Qinqin smiled and said, “Sister-in-law, wanna go for a swim?”

His mother immediately said, “Alright, let’s go.”

Wu Changhe said, “I won’t be joining you two.”

Li Qinqin said, “Then play some Go with your son-in-law.”

Wu Changhe rolled his eyes and said, “I’m not gonna play with him.”

Zhang Ye laughed, “Haha.”

His second sister shouted from the sea, “Brother! Come and teach us how to swim!”

Zhang Ye smiled and shouted back at her, “You guys play by yourselves for now. I’ll teach you all in a while. Don’t go out too far into the sea, it’s very deep. Just stroll along the shore for now!”

His third sister yelled, “We’re all waiting for you! Hurry up!”

Wu Zeqing smiled. “Why don’t you go play with them for a bit?”

Zhang Ye laid on the deck lounger not wanting to move. “I’m so exhausted from the past few months, and I have yet to recover. Let me relax a little first.” He gave a lazy yawn and said, “I’m so sleepy.”

Sisi said childishly, “Daddy, I’m going to play with Sister Chenchen.”

Zhang Ye smiled and said, “Go on, go on.”

Chenchen pulled Sisi by her hand, and they headed off together to play.

Zhang Ye was lying down with his eyes closed and felt very comfortable. Seeing his family so happy, he was also very happy. He had been too busy during this period and was hardly home. Most of his days were spent out in the wilderness in order to film the show. Now that the show had ended its run, and he had also risen onto the International B-list Rankings, he was finally able to get some good rest. So he decided to bring his family and colleagues here to the island for a vacation. As they said, there had to be a proper work-life balance.

An hour.

Two hours.

Everyone was enjoying themselves and there was laughter all around.

Soon after, Ha Qiqi and the others came back to the beach.

“Director Zhang.” Ha Qiqi asked, “Are we really going to rest for the entire week?”

Zhang Zuo said, “We’re afraid that you’ll slip off the International B-list Rankings.”

“Yeah.” Little Wang said worriedly as well, “It wasn’t easy getting up there, so we had better not get pushed back down after spending just a few days on it. That would be so embarrassing.”

Zhang Ye said in amusement, “That won’t happen. I’ve already seen the popularity scores on the rankings. Although we’re currently in last place on the B-list, there’s still a significant difference in popularity between me and the number one C-list celebrity. I dare not say that it will remain the same for the next month or two, but we definitely won’t be surpassed by that person in a week. Everyone has been working hard for some time now, so enjoy yourselves while we’re here. Don’t think about work. I haven’t really organized any trips over the years, so now that we have an opportunity to do so, let’s not waste it.”

Ha Qiqi laughed and said, “Sure, we won’t hold back on enjoying ourselves then.”

Little Wang said, “Director Zhang, can we drink the liquor in the hotel?”

Zhang Ye gave the go-ahead and said, “Drink as you like, eat as you like, it’s all on me.”

“Wow!” A few of the younger employees cheered. “Director Zhang is almighty!”

Ha Qiqi said helplessly, “Do the few of you only know how to eat and drink?”

But Zhang Zuo still couldn’t relax. Sometimes, the higher one’s position was, the more stress they had. There were some matters that he couldn’t not think about. “What’s our next step going to be?”

Ha Qiqi also asked, “Do you have any plans?”

Zhang Ye shook his head. “I’m not sure.”

Ha Qiqi said, “The higher we climb, the harder it is to go on.”

“That’s for sure.” Zhang Ye laughed and said, “But the harder it is, the more we have to go on.”

Little Wang said excitedly, “Our next step is definitely to make a push for the International A-list Rankings.”

Wu Yi sighed and said, “The International A-list Rankings, that was something that we didn’t used to dare think about. We’ve actually gotten so close to it already?”

Zhang Ye said, “Actually, it’s still very far away. Getting from the International C-list to the B-list Rankings was still relatively easy. But to get from the International B-list to the A-list Rankings, it’s almost an insurmountable task to complete. Lillian herself is an international A-list superstar, but compared to her, I still lack too much popularity. When we get back, the first task will be to stabilize our footing in the International B-list Rankings. Afterwards, we can start considering what options we have. The main thing we need are the right opportunities.”

Ha Qiqi sighed and said, “The best choice is still to make a movie.”

Zhang Zuo agreed, “Yes, in the international entertainment industry, movies are ranked at the very top. If we want to increase our popularity, the fastest way would be by making a movie. Unfortunately, we have no say in Hollywood. It’s not a place where we can come and go as we please. Although we also recently had quite a few offers from Hollywood to join their productions, most of them are only looking for you to be in a supporting role. Those who can offer you the main lead are the smaller productions with a lower budget, so let’s not even mention your chances of getting approached to direct a movie. They wouldn’t have the guts to do so even though you directed a domestic movie that got close to breaking the global records and a TV show that became very popular around the globe.”

Hollywood?

Movies?

Zhang Ye smiled and said, “Hollywood would be crazy if they really approach me to direct a movie.”

Ring, ring, ring.

Ring, ring, ring.

Zhang Ye’s cell phone rang.

From the caller ID, he saw that the call was coming from the richest man in China.

“Hello? Boss Qian?”

“Teacher Zhang, where are you?”

“I’m on a vacation overseas.”

“I haven’t congratulated you on reaching the international B-list yet.”

“Hai, who knows if I might fall off of it in a few days.”

“You won’t. I have enough faith in you to know that.”

“So what is it, Boss Qian? Is something the matter?”

“What are your plans from here on out?”

“Hur hur, I haven’t thought of them yet.”

“What if I want you to make a movie for me?”

“But I don’t really have a good script for a domestic movie right now.”

“It’s going to be a Hollywood movie.”

“Hollywood? What do you mean?”

“I’m in the midst of acquiring a Hollywood studio, and we’ve entered the final stage of negotiations. The studio isn’t exactly a large one, but it’s also not small. So I’m calling to give you a heads up. When the deal is completed, I want you to make a movie for me. You’ll be the director, and I’ll leave the casting and editing to you as well. I’m not going to interfere with the production at all. Go ahead and film anything you want. Even if the final box office earnings are just OK, it’s fine with me. So how about it?”

“Haha, it’s a deal.”

“Alright then, it’s a deal.”