Chapter 26: First Victory, No Comparison, No Pain

While it is impossible to know the ratings this early, there are other ways to gauge the performance of a show, such as online audience feedback.

"Watching Meteor Shower Together" finally premiered. In fact, this was the first time the cast and crew had seen the final cut prepared by the television station.

"Wow, I never imagined I could look that handsome!"
"Don't flatter yourself, that’s all thanks to Director Chen!"
"Wow, Liying’s look back and smile is just so captivating!"
"But Ruoyun, your one-handed driving of the Ferrari was pretty cool too."

As the episode aired, the cast members began to chatter among themselves, but it was clear they were all relieved. Zhao Liying watched herself on screen, inwardly amazed; she hadn't expected she could look so beautiful. Although she wore a school uniform for her initial entrance in "Watching Meteor Shower Together," the uniform had been custom-made by Chen Mo based on trends from the future, giving it a truly fashionable edge.

Meanwhile, Yu Youde sat in front of his television set, contributing to the show's ratings. However, the more he watched, the worse his complexion became. Even though it was only the beginning, the sheer quality of the production sent a chill down his spine. He desperately wanted to deny it, and he couldn't wrap his head around it, but the reality was that the show's costume design, makeup, and props were completely crushing his own version.

Forget the costumes—even the "prestige" of the sports cars in the show utterly annihilated his version! He felt his face flush with embarrassment. According to the script, the character Murong Yunhai was supposed to be a true top-tier rich kid, yet because of product placement deals, Yu had chosen a "sports car" that cost just over 100,000 yuan. He hadn't cared much before since there was no comparison, and hey, they were paying for it. But now, seeing the competition—a Ferrari!—he realized that was a real luxury sports car. A wave of distress washed over him; there was no comparison. Simply none. He found it hard to believe: how? How could Chen Mo have done this so well?

He became increasingly panicked. The better "Watching Meteor Shower Together" performed, the worse his own situation would become. As for hoping the show would flop? He had completely given up on that. Although the names of the main characters were similar, the plot lines weren't quite the same, suggesting there hadn't been any moles—but now, that didn't even matter.

In fact, the cast of "Watching Meteor Shower" was also watching the show, and the more they saw, the colder their hearts grew. It was a massacre! A landslide victory! There was no comparison at all! Especially the roar of the engines and the cool, over-the-top, swaggering style—how could they compete with that? A car worth a little over 100,000? Was that even a sports car? Could a top-tier rich kid actually drive that thing?

For a moment, they couldn't grasp what Yu Youde had been thinking. Was it really impossible to get a better car for filming? Of course not. They didn't need to buy it; it was just a rental. Even if they couldn't get the same model, they could have at least secured a million-yuan sports car. A car that costs just over 100,000... could a "top-tier rich kid" actually be seen in that? It was beyond belief. They could already imagine netizens turning it into a meme once it aired. And don't give them that "he's a low-key rich kid" excuse—in the show, he was anything but low-key!

It went further: in the plot, the other three members of the F4 were constantly fawning over that car, with the cameras giving it all sorts of close-ups. Was a rich kid really that pathetic? The dialogue was so cringeworthy it made one want to curl their toes: "Promise me, don't get your drool on my car!" Good grief! With a car like that, you're telling people not to drool on it? Even the wardrobe for "Watching Meteor Shower" was laughable, featuring budget brands that left the cast wanting to complain. At this moment, they were almost grateful the show might never air, as the embarrassment would be too much to bear.

Unlike their sighing and moaning, Li Bin was also watching, and he was genuinely happy for Chen Mo. The quality of the production had even surprised him. While the idol drama plot was admittedly a bit cheesy, it was beautifully shot. For an idol drama, that was more than enough.

By the end of the premiere that night, the first wave of online audience feedback began to appear.

"Truth be told, the plot is what it is, but it's shot beautifully!"
"Exactly! The male lead's look, the female lead's look, and the clothes are all so trendy!"
"Am I the only one who noticed that even with a round face, the female lead looks amazing in a school uniform? The stylist deserves a bonus!"
"I thought it would be cringe-inducing, and the plot is still quite cheesy, but compared to the original, it's a huge step up in casting, styling, costumes, and props. It's truly rare!"
"It feels like a fashion show. Where can I buy these outfits? The styling is on point!"
"The four male leads have more distinct personalities than the old version. They're all handsome, and each has a different vibe. It's quite impressive."
"The lead is a round-faced girl. I looked up Zhao Liying’s old roles, and it’s like an ugly duckling turning into a swan. I never realized a round face could be so pretty."
"Exactly, and she’s so petite and delicate, which really makes you want to protect her. No wonder she could charm those handsome guys in the show."
"I came here expecting a joke—you know how it goes when an actor becomes a director—but maybe because my expectations were low, I actually think it's pretty good. There are a lot of highlights!"

While it didn't receive universal acclaim like some classic dramas, for an idol drama and a remake, these reviews were actually quite good. After all, everyone knows what to expect from an idol drama plot. In this era, idol dramas hadn't yet become as oversaturated as they would be in the future, so people's tolerance for such plots was quite high. After all, the original version had plenty of flaws, yet its ratings were still shockingly high.

After reading the comments, Chen Mo felt assured. While filming, he had found some parts of the plot cringeworthy too, but he kept them in—it was a different era, after all. He knew that expecting universal praise was a pipe dream, so these reviews were already a success.

Chen Mo slept soundly that night, but the others didn't. Zhao Liying, for instance, had two dark circles under her eyes, looking like she hadn't slept a wink. It was understandable, as she cared more about the show than any of the male leads.

"Are the ratings out yet?" she asked the moment she saw him. The others were the same, all looking at Chen Mo with eager anticipation.

"Not yet. What's wrong with you all? Did none of you sleep?" Chen Mo scanned the group. Good grief, it was a whole gathering of pandas.