Marry a female star at a bargain price

Friday is here.

This week is the recording period for "Longing for Married Life," and this is the fourth recording session.

As the show entered its second half, the guests, who had gone from greenhorns to seasoned veterans, saw their enthusiasm for the program plummet.

Of course, the reasons for the sudden drop in enthusiasm vary.

Lin Xiao and Han Xixi simply didn't take this show seriously.

One person was using their position for personal gain, ostensibly to participate in the program, but actually to use the program's momentum to promote Xingguang Town and drive industrial and cultural tourism development.

The other one initially accompanied her husband on TV shows.

Later, through the program, I found a new direction in my life and career: developing rural arts education.

Now, I'm busy being a volunteer music teacher for the children every week, teaching vocal music and rehearsing choral pieces, and also managing the establishment of an arts education fund. I'm so busy every day that I don't have the time or energy to think about what kind of persona I should create on the show, whether my image and temperament are sweet enough, or whether my every move will annoy netizens.

In the couple's mind, the show had become a complete vacation spot.

After all, only during the bi-weekly recording period can they completely put down their work and relax for a few days in the rural villa of "Huanxi Residence," which is quite enjoyable.

In contrast to this couple.

The other two groups of guests came with the goal of establishing a persona, gaining popularity, and attracting viewers. From the very first episode, they were giving it their all, afraid of missing out on even a single shot compared to the others.

Unexpectedly, the international film queen, the rock king, the queen of controversy, and the super rich second generation, all of whom are absolute kings in their respective fields, have been completely reduced to background figures in this so-called marriage observation documentary variety show!
This is outrageous, but it's an undeniable fact.

In the first two episodes, this group of people did not realize the seriousness of the problem. They were even quite pleased with themselves because the show became popular as Lin Xiao and Han Xixi gained fame.

After all, if the show becomes a hit, the attention they receive as guests will also increase.

Then they can get a share of the massive online traffic generated by Lin Xiao and his wife.

But as it turns out, their idea was completely wrong.

Once "Longing for Married Life" completely becomes "Longing for Lin Xiao and Han Xixi's Married Life," the presence of the other two groups of guests will only be an eyesore for netizens, to the point that they will skip over them whenever they appear.

There's no way around it; the visual difference is just too great, and the art styles are completely different.

On Lin Xiao and his wife's side, the couple often do nothing but sit there in a daze or chat idly.

But netizens just love watching.

Because they saw the most beautiful expectation for marriage and love: to be willing to waste every second with you.

Compared to them, the other two groups were incredibly fake. The more they tried to show tenderness and affection, the more fake they seemed, and the more they deliberately created various themed activities, the more fake they appeared.

After enjoying the sweetness of fresh fruit, the cloying sweetness of artificial saccharin is simply unpalatable.

This resulted in Lin Xiao and Han Xixi becoming increasingly popular, while the other two groups of guests generated absolutely no buzz.

Even the director-in-chief, Rutgers, was completely helpless in this regard.

She never expected that the popularity and style of the three groups of guests would be so drastically different now that the show has aired.

Although it was she who insisted on inviting Lin Xiao and Han Xixi to the show.

However, she only extended the invitation because she was attracted by Lin Xiao's popularity at the time and the novelty of the collision between his two identities as a musical talent and a grassroots cadre. Her intention was to inject new blood and elements into the program and increase its popularity and appeal.

As a result, the topic gained attention and the highlights were created, but the other two groups of guests were eliminated!

Lutdam was also caught off guard.

The current situation is the worst she has faced in her twenty years in the industry!

However, she doesn't plan to do anything.

After all, the show chose three groups of guests not to cater to each other, but because netizens have different preferences. Some people like this group, and some people like that group. Only when their respective fans and audiences flock to the show can it maximize its popularity.

Now, Lin Xiao and Han Xixi have far exceeded the show's expectations, making the show a new level of popularity.

If we consider this in terms of dynasties, this dynasty could be called a "restoration" or a "golden age"!

With the Emperor and Empress so deeply loved by the people, there is absolutely no need for other forces vying for the throne; they can be eliminated on the spot.

However, Rutgers didn't need to go to such extremes.

She didn't even deliberately reduce the amount of screen time for the other two groups; in the final cut, the total screen time for the three groups of guests was roughly the same.

However, the extended versions on online platforms mostly consist of clips featuring Lin Xiao and Han Xixi.

The combined length of these extra "extended" versions is almost as long as a full episode.

This approach satisfies netizens' affection for Lin Xiao and his wife while preserving the image of the award-winning actress and superstar, aiming to offend no one.

As for the production team...

Hehehe, hands in pockets, you don't have to do anything, just sit and count your money.

This season was definitely the most relaxed one that Rutgers had ever filmed.

The Lin Xiao couple took care of all the traffic and buzz, so the production team didn't have to worry about any data.

Even more surprisingly, the couple didn't have a script, and there wasn't even any planning involved; they relied entirely on their own improvisation.

This saved the production team half of their manpower.

All you need to do is have the cameraman carry the equipment and film them non-stop for three days and two nights, then edit the best parts into the main film, and the less exciting parts into an extra episode, and just show the audience the simple and unadorned version.

Then the money came pouring in.

Now that the show is halfway through filming, brands are still coming in to offer money to advertise on the show, specifically requesting that the ads appear in segments featuring Lin Xiao and his wife.

Rutgers couldn't be driven away, and for the first time, he felt that making too much money could also be a problem.

The same program, but different people on and off screen, experiencing different joys and sorrows.

However, not both of the other two groups of guests were furious or felt that appearing on the show was a complete waste of time.

Actually, in those two couples, it was only the two women who were truly angry.

The two men, both surnamed "Jiang," thoroughly enjoyed the trip.

Jiang Xiaofei, a second-generation rich kid, goes without saying. He comes from a prominent family in Beijing's elite circles. Although he hasn't made it onto the rich list, his assets of over 10 billion yuan are enough to live comfortably for several lifetimes.

This guy has an older brother who's more than ten years his senior, and he was arranged to take over the company a long time ago, keeping him incredibly busy every day.

With his older brother supporting him, Jiang Xiaofei, the youngest son, only had time to eat, drink, and have fun.

He wasn't particularly intelligent growing up, and his parents didn't have high expectations for him. Plus, he had an older brother who was both a brother and a father to keep him in check.

Even if Jiang Xiaofei wanted to live a life of debauchery and squander his wealth, he wouldn't have the opportunity. As a result, he developed into a rich but idle rich fool who had never seen much of the world and found everything new and exciting.

Before coming to "Rebirth", Jiang Xiaofei had never even seen crops or vegetables.

Fu Hanhan really had a blast on this trip.

Jiang Xiaofei's excitement is understandable, but the journey of another rock king, Jiang Feng, was somewhat arduous.

At first, he didn't want to participate in such a program, feeling it would be beneath him.

He's the King of Rock and Roll after all!
Given their status, they must maintain a certain level of vision and style.

It's already embarrassing to appear on a variety show, especially one that has absolutely nothing to do with music, and features a so-called musician who wrote such a cheesy song as "Little Apple."

Jiang Feng felt as if his face, that of a superstar, had been rubbed into the ground, rubbed until his cool sunglasses shattered into pieces.

Unfortunately, his wife insisted on going, and even the Heavenly King had to consider the Actress's opinion.

He could only grit his teeth and sign the contract.

He was already in a bad mood when he recorded the show, and on his first recording, the male guest he disliked the most acted like a diva, arriving late and leaving early.

How could Jiang Tianwang tolerate this?

He lost his temper when the six guests gathered on the spot.

All of these factors made Jiang Feng's impression of the show so bad that he was ready to quit at any moment.

The turning point of the story occurred on the last afternoon of the first recording session.

Lin Xiao and Han Xixi played with the children on the ridges of the fields, while Jiang Feng and his wife Zhang Yi took advantage of the cooler weather to go for a walk and enjoy the undeveloped, rustic countryside scenery.

Upon seeing Lin Xiao from afar, Jiang Feng's face immediately turned cold, and he grabbed his wife's hand to leave.

But he only took two steps.

A melodious piano tune, accompanied by a free and unrestrained singing voice, reached his ears on the evening breeze through the rice paddies.

Jiang Feng stopped in his tracks immediately.

Then, his musician instincts kicked in, and he threw all his disgust and aversion to Lin Xiao to the back of his mind. He abandoned his wife Zhang Yi and ran towards where Lin Xiao and Han Xixi were.

He stood there and listened to Lin Xiao's song in its entirety, and immediately felt as if he had been hit over the head with a blunt object.

It's not that the quality of this song "Rice Fragrance" is so amazing that it would make even a rock king feel ashamed.

This song is just a pop song.

In terms of quality, it can only be considered above average, and it doesn't even reach the level of a fine product.

Jiang Feng has several songs in his own repertoire that are more popular and classic than this one.

What truly shocked him was the contrast between "Rice Fragrance" and "Little Apple," and how deeply moving the lyrics of this song were.

Jiang Feng has dedicated himself to rock music for many years and has indeed achieved unparalleled success, a fact recognized by the entire music industry and all listeners.

But only he himself knows.

He always wanted to break through his limitations and try something beyond rock and roll, but he had neither inspiration nor direction, and the songs he wrote were either shouts or howls.

The problem is that he's too old now; he can't shout or howl anymore.

This is why the rock 'n' roll wanderer chose to settle down and get married.

At my age, with financial freedom, I no longer have so much cynicism and compassion. All that has accumulated over time is reconciliation with the world and an ever-growing beer belly.

Jiang Feng hasn't released a new song in five years.

It's not that he doesn't have new works, but rather that his new songs lack both breakthrough and originality. They are similar in spirit to his famous songs, but their themes are vastly different.

He himself couldn't stand listening to it, let alone posting it for fans to comment on.

Jiang Feng knew in his heart that he had encountered an unprecedented bottleneck in his creative career.

He had encountered this bottleneck several times before, but he had easily overcome it with his passion and talent. But this time, he had been trying for five years and was at a loss.

Jiang Feng was starting to admit defeat and was considering retiring from the entertainment industry to retire.

After all, given his representative works and status in the music industry, even if he never releases new songs again, it will be difficult for successors to surpass him.

Money is not an issue!
Even if he's absent, there are plenty of shows inviting him to be a judge. If he's willing to lower himself to participate in a music variety show, he'll definitely be in the spotlight. He could easily make tens of millions just by going around in circles.

But Jiang Feng just didn't find it interesting!
It wasn't until he heard "Rice Fragrance" that he felt like a lost traveler who had suddenly found his way by following the sunlight.

The song itself gives people an uplifting and inspiring feeling, and a sense of renewed energy.

Behind this song lies a musician's extraordinary talent and carefree attitude.

Jiang Feng couldn't understand how someone who wrote "Little Apple" could also write "Rice Fragrance".

He never belittled his creative talent.

But asking him to write a song that isn't rock is harder than climbing to heaven; in any case, he hasn't succeeded yet.

He was trapped by rock and roll.

That's why Jiang Feng was instantly struck by Lin Xiao's unrestrained and spontaneous approach to music.

This completely changed my perception of this seemingly arrogant and rude person who, despite his reputation, actually possessed profound wisdom and truly treated music as a toy.

After the first episode was recorded, Jiang Feng began to show interest in Lin Xiao.

But after that dinner party, he deliberately made things difficult for them and strained the relationship so much that he now finds it too embarrassing to ask for reconciliation.

Even superstars have pride!

During the next two recordings, the three groups of guests went about their own activities and did not meet again.

Even if Jiang Feng wanted to discuss music with Lin Xiao, he wouldn't have the chance.

During this time, as the previous episodes aired, Jiang Feng watched TV at home, skipping over the parts about himself and his wife, but repeatedly watching the segments about Lin Xiao and Han Xixi.

He witnessed the little moments of the young couple's relationship.

Seeing Lin Xiao casually express his concerns about people's livelihoods, worries about the harvest, and hopes for development in the fields.

Seeing the couple genuinely trying to teach the children at school, their humble and approachable demeanor made him, a superstar who was held in high esteem, feel ashamed.

Jiang Feng was not born into wealth.

He was also a poor kid from the countryside.

The screams that burst forth in heavy metal represent both his innate musical talent and the nourishment he received from the hardships of his youth.

These qualities led to his heartfelt and soulful songs that moved countless listeners, elevating him, who was otherwise quite ordinary in appearance, temperament, and height, to the throne of rock king.

When Jiang Feng was young, he was truly passionate and always wanted to change the world.

But after he achieved success and fame, that distant and naive initial aspiration was long gone, abandoned by the roadside and can no longer be found.

Now, this sincerity and passion have been rekindled by seeing Lin Xiao, igniting a burning heat within me once more.

The heat made his eyes feel hot.

"Forever young, forever with tears in our eyes?"

Jiang Feng remembered this popular internet meme and suddenly burst out laughing.

"Youth" is the word that appears most frequently in his musical works, but he himself has not experienced it for a long time.

Now, it feels like a bullet that was fired many years ago has hit me right between the eyebrows!

That very day, Jiang Feng made a decision to put aside his superstar status and take the initiative to befriend Lin Xiao.

The recording of the fourth episode is just around the corner.

The production team planned the guests' second gathering since they moved into Dafeng Village, which suddenly made Jiang Tianwang, who initially disliked the variety show, feel incredibly excited.

The last gathering was at Lin Xiao and Han Xixi's house, and this time it happened to be at Jiang Feng and Zhang Yi's house.

Jiang Feng started preparing three days in advance.

He made a list of what food and drinks he needed to prepare in advance, and also found several interactive games online to properly entertain his guests.

Compared to her husband's enthusiasm, Zhang Yi's attitude could only be described as "indifferent".

The couple's current state is completely different from when they first appeared on the show!

It was Zhang Yi who brought Jiang Feng onto the show.

This top actress, known worldwide for her ambition and acting skills, has won numerous awards, but she has never been able to truly penetrate the domestic market. This is simply because women with this kind of temperament are not popular with domestic audiences, and she has few admirers.

In recent years, the film industry has experienced a downturn, and even award-winning actresses have to be picked over by others.

Actors and singers are not the same.

Jiang Feng's inability to write new songs doesn't stop him from living off his previous works, earning a comfortable amount of royalties every year.

Zhang Yikong has the reputation of being an international film queen, but her previous works were either directed by big-name directors or missed the box office boom of recent years. In fact, the money she has actually earned is less than that of a second-rate actress who acts in soap operas.

In addition, she is a high-profile celebrity and is known for her ambition.

Low-budget films dare not approach her, variety shows dare not reach out to her, and television dramas dare not touch the film stars at all.

This international film star was left in a predicament, in the prime of her life, yet she found herself with no roles to play.

Zhang Yi was extremely anxious.

In order to make money, she had no choice but to force herself to bow her head and try to establish a public image of a virtuous wife by getting married and having children.

Just then, the show "Longing for Married Life" came knocking on our door.

Without hesitation, she seized the opportunity, confident that she could turn her career around with her acting skills, and naturally, she would have a place as the leading lady in various family dramas.

This plan was, undeniably, brilliantly executed, and the market analysis was remarkably accurate and insightful.

Zhang Yi even felt that she had successfully transformed her career.

Unexpectedly, a Cheng Yaojin appeared out of nowhere—no, a pair of Cheng Yaojin.

Lin Xiao and Han Xixi, this couple, not only stole all the attention and popularity, but also completely overshadowed the award-winning actress with their tacit and natural affection, as well as Han Xixi's well-behaved, cute, gentle and sweet image.

Of the three female guests, who best fits the "virtuous wife" persona?
That's definitely Han Xixi.

An international film queen was completely outshone by a young, upstart singer!

Zhang Yi felt an unprecedented sense of defeat. Her attempt to establish a persona and transform her image failed, and she lost face in the industry.

Such a situation.

She had no interest in continuing to record the rest of the show, and even considered breaking the contract.

But she knew that she absolutely could not break the contract.

The current situation is already unfavorable for her. If she suddenly withdraws from the show, she will definitely be heavily criticized by netizens for being petty, unable to take a joke, and acting like a diva.

These negative comments are completely contrary to the image of a virtuous wife that she had worked hard to cultivate in previous episodes.

So even if she's pretending, she has to finish pretending for the remaining episodes.

However, given the lack of popularity and the failure of her career transition, it's no longer possible to get Zhang Yi to take on the role.

She plans to just coast through the next few episodes!

Since the audience won't watch or believe my performance no matter how well I act, I might as well just give up.

Zhang Yi had made up her mind, but she didn't expect that her husband Jiang Feng, who had initially given up, would suddenly become interested.

This is outrageous!
Zhang Yi couldn't understand what this ugly man was up to, and she couldn't be bothered to care.

Since they're going to be the hosts for the next episode, if they don't take care of the arrangements themselves, someone else has to.

Since Jiang Feng is willing to work hard, I'm happy to stay home and relax.

The couple reached their first tacit understanding since getting married.

Soon, the day for recording the program arrived.

Friday passed, Saturday arrived, and noon was the recording time for the three groups of guests.

Jiang Feng started working in the morning. Zhang Yi pretended to be virtuous and helped him a little, but she mostly slacked off.

Jiang Feng didn't bother to pay her any attention.

While preparing a big lunch, she mentally rehearsed how to show her goodwill to Lin Xiao in a way that was both reasonable and natural.

It would be even better if we could glean some musical inspiration from this younger generation!
I haven't decided yet, and it's already 11 a.m.

Two groups of guests arrived with gifts, and Zhang Yi warmly welcomed them in the living room. The lively sounds carried through the warm autumn afternoon sun and extended all the way to the kitchen at the back.

Jiang Feng quickly wiped his apron, a strangely incongruous smile plastered on his cool face, and walked in through the back door.

"Oh dear, we are so sorry for not welcoming our distinguished guest properly..."

As she spoke, she took the initiative to shake hands with the four guests, but her main purpose was to shake hands with Lin Xiao.

Suddenly it occurred to me: Could it be that I shook hands with everyone in order to shake hands with one person?

"Uh... something feels off?"

Jiang Feng's face stiffened slightly.

I'm not good at smiling to begin with, and when this strange thought came to mind, my smile became even more stiff.

Finally, I managed to shake Lin Xiao's hand.

He was preparing to deliver his prepared speech, hoping to leave the other party with an image of reformation, kindness, and generosity, thus ushering in a new chapter of harmonious coexistence between the two musicians.

Before he could even open his mouth...

Lin Xiao, however, took the initiative and said, "Teacher Jiang, I have written a song tailored just for you. Would you do me the honor of giving it a taste?"

Jiang Feng was stunned.

He raised his eyebrows and squinted, completely failing to manage his facial expressions.

"Huh?!" (End of Chapter)