"Wow, her crying scene is absolutely incredible. How can a woman cry like that?"
"After watching this part, I can't help but want to become her fan."
"Sister, comparing you to her, you cry with snot running and spit flying everywhere, like you're slaughtering a pig."
"Ouch... Sis, sis, let go, hurry and let go, I know I was wrong!"
The smelly little brother's ear was grabbed by the pretty older sister, and he grimaced in pain, repeatedly begging for mercy.
The short video spread like wildfire, from ten to a hundred, a hundred to a thousand, and a thousand to ten thousand. In less than a day, it had gone viral.
Those viewers whose eyes had been almost ruined by Jiang Ling's previous terrible performances turned from haters to casual observers, and then into fans, once again paying attention to Jiang Ling.
Jiang Ling's fan base also surged by millions overnight, and they were all genuine fans, not the zombie fans previously bought by her agency.
At the same time, driven by Jiang Ling, who was a magnet for trending topics, the viewership of "Tian Long" soared.
As "Tian Long" continued to air, the scenes featuring the Childlike Immortal (Tianshan Tonglao) were gradually revealed. The audience's surprise grew, and their perception of Jiang Ling underwent a complete transformation.
Sister Sa was as happy as a marmot, pointing at the phone screen and laughing uncontrollably, "Lingzi, look, if this popularity continues, you'll be able to return to your peak and become even more famous before you know it."
Jiang Ling, however, said calmly, "It's not as good as you think. According to my estimation, to completely turn things around, it will take at least two more likable roles."
The entertainment industry is fiercely competitive.
If you really think about it, it's much easier for male stars to get by than for female stars.
This isn't because people in the industry favor men over women, but because celebrities serve an audience with a skewed gender ratio.
Due to differing preferences, the younger generation of boys tends to favor playing games and watching anime, while girls prefer watching dramas.
Like repels like, and opposites attract. In a circle dominated by female fans, male stars are destined to be more popular than female stars.
For a male celebrity to become wildly popular, all it takes is one well-timed drama to potentially make them a top star.
Take, for instance, the two dramas with "Ling" in their titles that featured brotherhood. One touched a sensitive nerve and was banned, while the remaining three became incredibly popular, securing lucrative endorsements from high-end luxury brands.
In contrast, for a female star to reach the same heights as a male star, it requires at least three phenomenally popular hit dramas, or the strong push of capital and financial power.
There's no way around it, considering that the vast majority of drama viewers are women.
The products endorsed by businesses, especially high-margin beauty products, also have women as their primary consumer base.
Female fans are the lifeblood of a celebrity's career. Yet, some male artists, ungrateful for their good fortune, fail to pay their taxes, engage in affairs they shouldn't, and ruin their own futures, breaking the hearts of their devoted fans.
"Tian Long" allowed Jiang Ling to shed the label of "terrible acting."
Even though many viewers, scarred by her previous string of bad movies, were reluctant to admit she was a talented actress, they were no longer as resistant to her dramas.
And for her die-hard fans, who had always remained loyal, it was a cause for celebration, as if it were Chinese New Year.
"Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river, do not bully a young man for being poor."
Look at my darling Lingling, how great is her acting, how beautiful are her crying scenes, which of the dazzling show-offs in the industry can compare?
Jiang Ling's superb acting skills helped her win a major comeback battle, and it also put her former agency, Sparkle Media, in a very awkward position.