Unlike a certain so-called A-lister whose Weibo boasts tens of millions of followers, over half of whom are paid bots.
Although the role of Consort Hua didn't make Jiang Ling as explosively popular, it silently and thoroughly erased the audience's impression of her poor acting.
Why thoroughly?
Because while Jiang Ling's previous dramas were more popular than the last, the buzz around them was fleeting, like fireworks in the night sky – brilliant for a moment, but quickly fading. Once the drama ended and the hype died down, the major and minor actors involved would also fall into obscurity.
"The Legend of Pure Yuan Musk" was different. It was a rare phenomenon in Chinese dramas, achieving higher ratings in reruns than its initial broadcast, and maintaining its popularity for over a decade, becoming a legendary hit.
Entertainers in the entertainment industry are all on a youth-driven path; true stardom usually lasts only a few years. Newcomers emerge, each younger than the last, with the new wave crashing over the old.
"The Legend of Pure Yuan Musk" was rewatched repeatedly for over a decade, with each viewing deepening the audience's impression of Consort Hua. Jiang Ling's acting naturally became ingrained in their minds.
Perhaps this was Jiang Ling's greatest gain from playing Consort Hua.
Jiang Ling could see the sustained, enduring popularity of "The Legend of Pure Yuan Musk."
The various major agencies in the entertainment industry, like sharks smelling blood for profit, could naturally see it too.
In fact, as early as the premiere of "The Legend of Pure Yuan Musk," many agencies were already stunned by the role of Consort Hua.
Unlike her previous roles, Jiang Ling received a system-enhanced acting bonus for this one, reaching a pinnacle of perfection.
They say the layman watches for the spectacle, while the expert observes the craft.
The major companies watching Jiang Ling deeply felt the terrifying power of her acting from her portrayal of Consort Hua.
This subtle, profound realism that seemed to leap off the screen was something even national first-class actors with decades of experience might not achieve.
For a twenty-year-old actress to possess such transcendent acting skills was in itself an incredible feat.
Even more formidable was her possession of immense traffic and popularity, rivaling any top-tier A-lister.
When these two elements converged in one person, their commercial value would soar to unimaginable heights.
Especially since Jiang Ling had not signed with any company after her contract termination two years prior.
This meant…
It meant any company had the chance to turn this cash cow into their own.
When Jiang Ling had previously reignited her career with the role of Li Shengnan, only the old guard Huohua Media and Liuyun Media approached her for contracts; no other companies extended an olive branch.
Firstly, Jiang Ling had starred in too many bad films before, her acting was unstable, and who knew if her acting would falter again after signing her?
Secondly, when Jiang Ling was forcibly promoted by capital, her value had inflated to an extreme. Her actual skill was inferior to even a third-tier artist, yet her asking price was more exorbitant than other A-list stars, with film remuneration ranging from seventy to eighty million, while her acting was as terrible as dog feces. This had left too deep a scar.
Precisely because of this, although major companies had their eyes on Jiang Ling, they hesitated to make a move, fearing they would end up empty-handed, losing everything themselves.
Now, it was different. Over the past two years, with seven hit roles, Jiang Ling had proven her mettle with sufficiently solid performance.
The repeated rewatches of "The Legend of Pure Yuan Musk" would also continue to provide her with popularity and attention.