This wasn't just Jiang Ling's self-praise; it was a prediction based on market observation.
After all, people and things are most afraid of comparison.
Comparisons can lead to despair, and merchandise that's compared often gets discarded.
Without comparison, there's no hurt.
The current idol drama market is no longer the vibrant scene of yesteryear; instead, it's filled with the dispirited, decadent atmosphere of everyone trying to outdo each other in mediocrity.
The enthusiastic audience reception for "The Prince Who Turns into a Frog" only further highlights how abysmal the current market is.
Once all episodes are broadcast, this drama will undoubtedly become the pinnacle of idol dramas.
As the saying goes, it's easy to go from frugality to luxury, but difficult to go from luxury back to frugality.
When audiences have watched a drama this well-produced, with leads possessing such high颜值 (yan zhi - attractiveness) and powerful acting, why would they ever accept those crudely made, industrially produced saccharine dramas again?
Therefore, the truly spectacular part of this drama hasn't even begun.
The real climax will arrive after the finale airs.
Let's shift focus.
Given that the elder daughter-in-law, Jiang Yushuang, is in her advanced stage of pregnancy, due to give birth in two months, coupled with the approaching year-end festivities.
Dad Jian and Mom Jian temporarily ended their global tour and returned home to await the birth of their third-generation grandchild.
Seeing that their eldest son and daughter-in-law had a stable relationship and were about to have a child, their lives felt complete, requiring no further worry from the elder couple. They then turned their attention to their younger son.
In this parallel dimension, Dragon Country's economy flourished, leading their previous life by twenty years to become a developed nation.
However, developed nations share a common problem: low birth rates, severe population aging, and a shortage of new labor.
To stimulate childbirth, the government introduced fertility policies, rewarding families with multiple children and providing living subsidies, while simultaneously lowering the marriageable age.
Dragon Country citizens are held criminally responsible at twelve, legally adults at sixteen, and reach the legal age for marriage registration at eighteen.
Jian Zhou has passed this age, being twenty-two in chronological years and twenty-three in traditional Chinese reckoning.
While this age doesn't seem high, it's considered advanced for a single young man in the eyes of the older generation.
The task of the eldest son marrying and having children is resolved; now it's time to unleash the "marriage-pressure cannon" on the younger son.
As soon as Dad Jian finished expressing his concern for the elder daughter-in-law with Mom Jian, he immediately called his younger son, telling him to come home quickly.
They say people fear fame as much as pigs fear being fattened, and a dead pig isn't afraid of boiling water.
Having experienced the explosive popularity of his drama, Jian Zhou truly understood the troubles of being famous.
Recently, there have been an overwhelming number of paparazzi targeting him, with paparazzi photos emerging incessantly. It was simply impossible to guard against them all.
After receiving the call, Jian Zhou put in a great deal of effort to finally shake off these pesky paparazzi.
In the study of the Jian family villa.
Dad Jian looked at his energetic younger son, nodded with a smile, and casually asked, "You're not young anymore. Your elder brother was already married two years ago at your age, but you don't even have a girlfriend. Do you have anyone you're interested in?"
Jian Zhou blinked in surprise, then nodded.
Dad Jian asked, "Whose daughter is she?"
Jian Zhou knew his father was an open-minded parent. After thinking for a moment, he said, "From a common family, but she's a good girl!"
Hearing this, Dad Jian's expression slightly darkened. "A common family? A common family?"
Then, he took a sip of tea and sighed, "This will be difficult. Our family is already extremely wealthy. I wasn't planning for you to have a commercial marriage or a powerful alliance. Regardless of her family background, as long as she has good character, that's fine. The problem is your mother won't agree."