Gu Entertainment's "The Top Intern" garnered considerable anticipation even before filming began, thanks to its collaboration with the Ministry of Education and a series of official promotional activities.
The news that Dr. Li's daughter would also participate in the filming, at Xia Qingtian's invitation, further fueled the pre-broadcast excitement.
After its premiere, the pairing of Xia Qingtian, who commanded the highest attention in the entertainment industry, with the consistently aloof Mr. Gu, as the "Confused Assistant x Mysterious Tycoon" CP, attracted a significant number of loyal fans, ensuring consistently good viewership ratings.
Wanqing Entertainment's decision to rush filming and broadcast ahead of schedule, though scorned by industry insiders, demonstrated their knack for leveraging trends and marketing, thus attracting a considerable audience.
Furthermore, with "Ace Intern" airing daily compared to "The Top Intern's" weekly schedule, it became a substitute variety show for many fans who enjoyed the genre of "The Top Intern."
During the filming process, Wanqing Entertainment was also generous with its investment, not only providing Wen Shengsheng with ample attention and marketing strategies but also positioning her as Yu Linwan's personal assistant, mirroring Xia Qingtian. This showcased her calm, composed, and capable demeanor, winning her many casual fans.
As for the essential CP element in variety shows, it was none other than the boss and boss lady of Wanqing Entertainment themselves who personally served up sweetness to the audience.
This official, certified CP was more reassuring and enjoyable to ship.
This move also became a major promotional point for "Ace Intern," garnering countless fans. Although the viewership ratings were slightly lower, the buzz it generated was almost on par with "The Top Intern."
However, the fans of "Ace Intern" never imagined that even their official, certified CP would face a scandal.
A mysterious influential user posted a large number of clear, risqué photos under the hashtag of "Ace Intern."
The female protagonist in the photos was Wen Shengsheng, under Wanqing Entertainment, who was currently in the spotlight.
The male protagonist was Gu Yaoqing, the general manager of Wanqing Entertainment, who just the day before had been shown showering affection with Yu Linwan in a broadcast video, leading fans to exclaim, "This is so sweet!"
Fans surely never expected that this would truly lead to them being "so sweet they died."
The set of photos, totaling nine, included the entire process from getting out of the car to getting into bed.
Although sensitive areas were blurred, the explicit poses and clear close-ups of faces still caused viewers on social platforms to exclaim they were an eyesore.
"OMG! Is that underwear? It looks like it's just a single string!"
"Isn't Wen Shengsheng supposed to be pure? How is this pure?"
"I heard CEO Yu returned to the capital. Wow, the wife leaves, and the husband immediately starts messing around with his wife's secretary?"
"'Ace Intern's' most 'capable' person is still Wen Shengsheng. Serving Yu Linwan at the company, and serving Gu Yaoqing at home. Amazing, they really know how to play."
"Damn, this is really an eyesore! What the hell! Is this how internships work? And they claim to show real workplace life better than 'The Top Intern' and offer new job-seeking ideas for fresh graduates. Is this what's training fresh graduates?"
"In a way, they're not wrong. It's very real!"
"Everyone, wake up! Don't be fooled by idol drama tropes anymore. Fake internships: boss appreciates you, colleagues are friendly, the atmosphere is harmonious, and even occasional small mistakes are endearing. In short: mascots. Real internships: exhausted like dogs, working like oxen, eating like birds, and those who are good-looking and will do anything also have to be the CEO's playthings. In short: corporate slave."
"I get what the previous commenter means. Fake internship: Xia Qingtian. Real internship: Wen Shengsheng."
"Damn! Can't stop laughing!"
"Isn't this Yu Linwan lifting a rock only to drop it on her own foot?"
"How... could it not be?"
"Wanqing Entertainment has invested so many resources in Wen Shengsheng this year, directly pushing her into the boss's bed. Yu Linwan must be so green!"
"Can't take it anymore, it's too tragic, I dare not think about it further, sob sob sob... Hahahaha! I'm just pretending!"
...
Amidst the heated online discussions, three trending topics made it to the list.
Ranking sixth was "Ace Intern," third was "Gu Yaoqing Cheats with Wen Shengsheng," and first was "Xia Qingtian's Fake Internship."
It truly was a case of being at home and having trending topics rain down from the heavens.
Initially, seeing the trending topics, Xia Qingtian was extremely worried, thinking one of her segments from "The Top Intern" had been dug up and used for slander.
After clicking to see the whole story, Xia Qingtian was dumbfounded.
What did Gu Yaoqing and Wen Shengsheng's affair have to do with her?
Why was she number one on the trending list, with comments mostly mocking Wen Shengsheng?
Oh dear, her head hurt.
Thanks to this wave of trending topics, "Ace Intern" finally gained some traction, even surpassing the viewership ratings of "The Top Intern's" first episode summary video for that day.
This was precisely what Yu Linwan had been aiming for – to crush "The Top Intern" in various aspects. Yet, at this moment, she couldn't manage a smile.
She vaguely recalled that Gu Yaoqing had suggested they promote Wen Shengsheng.
At the time, Gu Yaoqing had only said he wanted to promote Wen Shengsheng, who had friction with Xia Qingtian, to annoy Xia Qingtian.
But now, Yu Linwan was the one who was disgusted!
Disgusted!
More disgusted than eating a dead fly!
Yu Linwan immediately called Gu Yaoqing, demanding, "Where are you?"
"Did you see what's online? That's all fake P-shopped stuff!" Gu Yaoqing was also at his wit's end. He had always been very careful.
This time, when Yu Linwan went to the capital, he had become a little more unrestrained, only to be unexpectedly photographed.
Moreover, the angle and clarity of the photos indicated a veteran who had been staking out the location for a long time.
The moment he saw the photos, he immediately had people try to handle it, but the heat was far greater than he had imagined. He also contacted acquaintances to investigate who had posted it, but the other party was more cunning than he anticipated; the IP address and information were fake, and it was impossible to trace.
He didn't even know who to contact to get the photos deleted.
Wen Shengsheng was also forced to stay indoors, crying and complaining to him, which only annoyed him.
If he ever found out who the scoundrel was who set him up, he would never let them off.
"P-shopped? Are you lying to me or deceiving yourself?" Yu Linwan's voice trembled. "Gu Yaoqing! Do you have any regard for me?!
For how long I've been married to you, you've seen how I've treated you and the Gu family. How could you get involved with Wen Shengsheng?
How could you do this! How dare you?!"
"Enough! Don't act as if you're so chaste. Do you think I don't know you still have feelings for that useless Gu Yaoyang?" Gu Yaoqing was already extremely annoyed. Hearing Yu Linwan's complaints, he lost control of his emotions. "If Gu Yaoyang didn't despise you, someone I've already played with, you might have cuckolded me multiple times!"