Chapter 282: Is He Really Li Xiaoyao?

Xu Guan carefully placed the first data chart for "Celestial Sword 5" on the table, took a deep breath, and then fixed his eyes on the second data chart and report.

"0.84!" After seeing this figure, Xu Guan was stunned all over again.

"It actually has 0.84!?"

This meant that the majority of the audience had been retained.

It is normal for data to decrease; if a show is truly not good to watch, many people will simply stop watching and drop it halfway through.

And the fact that the viewership rating did not decrease much is also because perhaps a portion of the audience tuned in halfway through.

"This viewership retention is terrifying!" Xu Guan thought to himself.

As for the kind of situation where everyone finishes the first episode and then spreads the word, recommending it to friends around them to watch the second episode, leading to a reverse growth in viewership... that is completely unrealistic.

Because in such a situation, most people would choose to watch it directly on an online platform; why would they watch it starting from the second episode on a television station?

Xu Guan paced back and forth in his office, and from time to time, he would take a few glances at the viewership rating report.

"I've struck gold, this time I've really struck gold!"

What he hopes for most right now is that "Celestial Sword 5" does not collapse halfway through.

If the viewership rating can remain stable at around 0.8, then it is a hit show!

"Wait!" Xu Guan suddenly remembered something.

"I need to go and compare the viewership data of other satellite channels!" Xu Guan thought to himself.

Previously, because Octopus TV was truly a bit of a flop, there was simply no confidence to compare viewership with the three major satellite channels.

But now it is different!

"Our average viewership rating for this time slot is 0.855!" Xu Guan shouted in his heart.

He recalled that among the three major satellite channels recently, it seemed that only one modern drama on Changhu TV focusing on urban men and women around the age of 30 was very popular, called "Thirty Only".

For some time, its viewership rating had been stable above 0.9, and occasionally it would even break 1.

This show has already aired two-thirds of its run and is in the final stages.

In the past, the final stages of a television drama were always a period of explosive viewership.

These days, it is already good enough if a show doesn't have a bad ending or collapse.

Therefore, for Changhu TV, they only hoped that this "Thirty Only" would remain stable all the way to the end.

After all, some of the emotional entanglements within it always focus on social issues, causing great discussion and controversy on the internet, with everyone holding their own opinions.

Before the grand finale comes out, everyone follows it to watch, curious about the outcome.

Once the result is out, it is absolutely impossible to satisfy everyone.

In other words, apart from "Thirty Only", currently all local satellite channels—there isn't a single one that can compete!

"We are very likely the second!"

For a second-tier local satellite channel, this is already a viewership miracle!

………

……….

The viewership data of major satellite channels is published uniformly on the internet; there is a place called 【Television Network】 that updates the data every day at noon.

Once the data came out, people from other satellite channels were instantly stunned.

"We guessed that the premiere of 'Celestial Sword 5 Qixia Zhuan' would be a hit."

"But it is actually this much of a hit!?"

"Being a hit is one thing, but it actually held steady for the second episode!"

The number one in viewership ratings is still Changhu TV's "Thirty Only", which had an average viewership rating of 1.07 yesterday, performing very stably.

Such a brilliant achievement should have been the center of attention.

But today, everyone will inevitably focus most of their attention on "Celestial Sword 5".

All of this is too unexpected.

A Newcomer Actor, acting in a television drama for the first time, started writing, directing, and starring in it himself, and then it became a hit on the very First Day... this was unthinkable in the past!

"This makes no sense! Is this person a monster?"

The top brass of the three major satellite channels all fell into regret.

Especially the station head of Changhu TV.

Because after watching "Celestial Sword 5", the head of acquisitions at Changhu TV felt that this show was worth buying and had repeatedly stated in meetings that they could buy "Celestial Sword 5 Qixia Zhuan" and then have it follow "Thirty Only".

But the station head of Changhu TV did not agree with this idea, because the creative team of "Thirty Only" had filmed three dramas in one go; the three dramas could be said to be sister pieces, focusing on three age groups, filming the twenties, thirties, and forties.

The station head was thinking of continuing the cooperation directly and had not considered "Celestial Sword 5" at all.

The head of acquisitions said: "We could buy it first, and then we can discuss when to air it later. If we communicate through multiple channels, it shouldn't be a big problem."

But the station head still felt it was too expensive and felt that a drama written, directed, and starred in by Luo Mo was not worth this price.

If Octopus TV wants to be a sucker, let them be one.

We have an endless supply of good dramas in our hands; even if we want to gamble, we shouldn't gamble this big, right?

Nowadays, the top brass of other satellite channels are just thinking of waiting and seeing.

This is only the first day; it can only explain part of the problem, it cannot fully explain the problem yet!

The only thing that makes them more worried is that Penguin Video has already aired 6 episodes, and the ratings on the internet, as well as the view counts, seem to be... equally terrifying!

……….

……….

Octopus TV is just a second-tier television station; its audience base is not good, and its stickiness is also poor.

But Penguin Video is different; it is one of the four major video platforms!

And although Luo Mo currently has high National Popularity, and through the Chinese Style genre, many elderly people have started to like him, his fan base surely still has a larger proportion of young people.

Therefore, the main battlefield for *Sword Fairy* is, in fact, still on the online video platform.

Wei Ge, Wei Ran, happened to have no work on the day *Sword Fairy* premiered.

He and his good buddy Li Ge got together, opened Penguin Video, and started watching the first few episodes of *Sword Fairy*.

His appetite had been whetted by the two songs, *Slaying the Wolf* and *Finally Understand*.

For these two First-line Singers, besides wanting to see Luo Mo's new drama, they also wanted to hear the other insert songs that hadn't been released yet.

As it turned out, these two good buddies started arguing when they were only halfway through the first episode.

The reason was simple: they were arguing about the suspense created in the first episode.

"The one who saved the childhood Zhao Ling'er is definitely Li Xiaoyao's dad!" Wei Ge rolled his eyes at Li Ge.

"Dad my foot, I don't think it is at all," Li Ge retorted irritably.

"How is it not? Didn't the aunt say earlier that Li Xiaoyao's dad was also a great hero of his generation!" Wei Ran felt his guess was reasonable and logical.

"Wanna bet? Let's bet a bowl of hot pot base," Li Ge said.

Whoever loses has to drink a bowl of hot pot base.

"Bet it is! Just wait to rot! Remember to find the best proctologist," Wei Ge said, full of confidence.

"Hilarious, I'll go register for you myself when the time comes, and then call the paparazzi to film you," Li Ge felt he was on safer ground.

By this time, the first episode had already reached the part where Li Xiaoyao goes to Fairy Spirit Island to seek Medicine to save his aunt.

Then, he met a fairy-like young girl on Fairy Spirit Island—Zhao Ling'er.

Zhao Ling'er originally thought he was a petty thief, but after seeing his face clearly, she was immediately filled with Surprise: "Brother Xiaoyao!"

As a result, Li Xiaoyao was completely bewildered.

Wei Ran couldn't help but nudge Li Ge with his elbow and said, "See that? Li Xiaoyao doesn't know Ling'er at all."

Li Ge nudged him right back and said, "What's the rush?"

These two old men liked to nudge each other with their elbows on the stage of *Creating Idols*, and they were the same in private—incredibly childish.

In the video, Zhao Ling'er tells Li Xiaoyao that they met ten years ago.

Li Xiaoyao crouches down and says, "Hey, hey, hey! Ten years ago, I was only this tall."

"Is that so?" Zhao Ling'er is confused.

Li Xiaoyao puts his hat on his head and says, "Oh, no matter what, I have to be taller than you, just a little bit, heh."

Zhao Ling'er smiles slightly, still looking exceptionally cheerful, and says, "Brother Xiaoyao, you really haven't changed; you always make Ling'er so happy."

"Huh?" Li Xiaoyao is even more confused.

The two of them just crouched there in the peach blossom forest; the scenery was beautiful, and the peach blossoms were brilliant.

The music started at this moment, and Wei Ran and Li Ge immediately pricked up their ears to listen.

Next, Zhao Ling'er takes Li Xiaoyao to see the Uncle Tree she spoke of.

The insert song playing at this time was *June's Rain*, sung by Luo Mo.

As Luo Mo's singing voice spread, Wei Ran immediately said, "Hey, this one is sung by that kid himself."

This was a relatively quiet song, with a soothing, lyrical melody.

"【A rain, traps me here.

Your cold expression, will make me sad.

June's rain, is the heartless you,

Accompanying every little bit, striking my heart.】"

"This song is good!" Wei Ran praised.

Although the melody was flat, it was extremely pleasant to listen to.

"This kid is making a drama, and the soundtrack is absolutely insane! I haven't seen many dramas these days where the soundtrack is this good," Wei Ran couldn't help but say.

Li Ge nodded and said, "He is Luo Mo, after all; basic operation, basic operation."

Amidst the soothing singing, Zhao Ling'er opens the various silk pouches hanging on the tree, and huge bubbles emerge from them, with the bubbles reflecting the bits and pieces of her life over the past ten years.

She had recorded every scene of her growth, waiting for Brother Xiaoyao to come and see.

It was just a pity that she hadn't nurtured the seed Brother Xiaoyao gave her well, and it never sprouted, which made her blame herself immensely.

She dreamed of the seed sprouting early so that Brother Xiaoyao could come back to see her.

Li Ge and Wei Ran listened to the song while watching the drama, feeling that there were more and more foreshadowings and the suspense was being laid out wider and wider.

After taking Li Xiaoyao to see Uncle Tree, she dragged Li Xiaoyao to get the Medicine to save his aunt.

When the man and woman were locked in the cabinet, that little bit of ambiguity was hilarious.

As it turned out, the two were caught red-handed by Zhao Ling'er's grandmother. Just as the grandmother was about to deal with this little thief, she recognized Li Xiaoyao and immediately knelt down and kowtowed, crying out: "Benefactor, we have finally met you!"

Li Xiaoyao was even more bewildered.

The grandmother and Ling'er also took him to a place filled with portraits painted by Zhao Ling'er, and the person in the paintings looked exactly like Li Xiaoyao.

Li Xiaoyao looked at the room full of paintings, but he couldn't recall when he had ever met Ling'er, let alone them saying "ten years ago" every other sentence.

Zhao Ling'er decided to take him to see that seed; perhaps he would remember something.

"Ling'er, I am not your Brother Xiaoyao," Li Xiaoyao said.

Zhao Ling'er didn't believe him.

Li Xiaoyao looked at the soil and said, "You say you've been taking care of this seed for ten years, so why hasn't it sprouted?"

With the soundtrack playing, Li Xiaoyao began to push aside the soil with his hands.

Wei Ran and Li Ge felt that Luo Mo was worthy of being the person who could write *Confession Night*; all the instrumental music in this drama was quite high-class!

Amidst the sound of the flute, Li Xiaoyao took the "seed" out of the soil.

"A stone?" he couldn't help but say.

"Brother Xiaoyao, did I break the seed?" Zhao Ling'er asked, feeling incredibly self-reproachful.

Li Xiaoyao smiled, stood up, and said, "This is just a stone."

"It is a stone," Zhao Ling'er said.

Li Xiaoyao had told her in her childhood that when the "seed" sprouted, he would come back to see Ling'er.

At this moment, the innocent Zhao Ling'er looked at him and said, "Brother Xiaoyao wouldn't lie to Ling'er. Even if it is a stone, it will definitely sprout!"

Watching this incredibly innocent fairy maiden who held unconditional trust in him, Li Xiaoyao could not help but feel moved.

The scene switched, and Li Xiaoyao went to find Granny again, wanting to request the medicinal herb to save her.

He had pondered it himself and guessed that the one who had saved Ling'er and Granny back then must have been his father, who had left him when he was a child to venture out into the world.

Hearing this, Wei Ran stood up instantly. He danced and gestured in front of Li Ge, the Rap Singer, and kept mimicking a rapper: "Yo! Yo! Yo!"

It was a good thing he wasn't a transmigrator, otherwise he might have blurted out: "Laozi eats hot pot, you eat hot pot base!"

He looked at Li Ge and said loudly, "See that? I told you it was Li Xiaoyao's father! Let's go! Let's go get a late-night snack, and you finish that hot pot base for me!"

"Hurry, what's the hurry!" Li Ge swallowed a mouthful of saliva and said, "Watch the show first, there are still several episodes left."

"Got cold feet?" Wei Ran sneered and said, "Heh, don't you rappers always have 'real' on your lips?"

"Yo yo yo, someone's already chickened out, yo yo yo." He began to circle around Li Ge.

"Chickened out? Me? I could chicken out?" Li Ge stood up, shouted a few times, then swallowed again and said, "I'm not hungry yet, let's watch one more episode!"

"Heh, fine, I'll let you prepare yourself for a while longer." Wei Ran actually really wanted to watch the next episode too.

Because at the end of the first episode, Granny said the Requirement for giving Li Xiaoyao the medicinal herb was for him to marry Zhao Ling'er.

But halfway through the wedding, Li Xiaoyao himself found it a bit hard to accept.

He felt the woman before him was a bit too wonderful, and he could not bear to deceive her or delay her.

He felt he was just using her, and the marriage was only to trick her out of the Purple Gold Pill.

During their argument, Zhao Ling'er shed tears.

This scene was filmed extremely beautifully, aiming for the legendary effect of a 【Fairy's Tears】.

It had to make the audience feel heartache just by watching it, a feeling that made their hearts ache along with it.

Just then, a tear from Zhao Ling'er fell, landing on the "seed."

The tear was absorbed by this little stone, and it actually sprouted!

Li Ge stood up instantly and laughed heartily.

"I haven't necessarily lost yet! I haven't necessarily lost yet!"

"Li Xiaoyao comes back to see Ling'er, and the seed will sprout! Hahahaha! Gakakaka!" Because of the hot pot base, Li Ge felt that watching the two get married wasn't sweet at all, and his throat felt dry.

At this moment, he saw the possibility of a Reversal!

Wei Ran watched, dumbfounded.

"What is this! Teasing me again!?" Wei Ge was going crazy.

Luo Mo! You're messing with me even while filming a show!

He glared at Li Ge in Anger and said, "It's a xianxia drama, what's there to be so surprised about? Can the words Li Xiaoyao said himself be fake!?"

"You don't know a damn thing! What if there's another Reversal!" Li Ge glared back.

"This is a xianxia drama, open up your imagination, understand? Imagination!" Li Ge spread his ten fingers and said to Wei Ran.

The two began to argue again. By the end, they posted directly on Weibo and tagged Luo Mo, asking Luo Mo and the vast number of netizens to witness their bet.

At the same time, it also served as an indirect advertisement for "Sword Fairy".

Luo Mo was stunned by the actions of these two. He never would have imagined that his two brothers would actually bet on hot pot base.

He asked them on WeChat if they wanted him to give them spoilers, but both of them opposed it.

"Spoilers!? No need!"

"I want to watch it as it airs, don't mess with my state of mind!"

Because Wei Ran had no confidence, and Li Ge had no confidence either, neither dared to know the result for the time being, both fearing it would be their turn to drink the hot pot base.

However, it didn't matter.

No matter what the ending was, the proctologist would at least get one appointment.

(PS: Second update, 4400 words, 8000+ for two updates, begging for monthly tickets!

Also, the first V-group is already full with 2000 people, everyone please join the second group in the bio.)

(End of this chapter)