Chapter Twenty-Nine: Official Announcement—What Makes Lin Xing So Special?

Currently, most television dramas are essentially "air-dropped"—some are officially announced just a couple of weeks before their premiere. That's why Lin Xing was so surprised. Still, this wasn't something he dwelled on; after all, he was merely a featured guest.

Meanwhile, Dima Electric Vehicles had already begun building up anticipation online. Typically, when brands announce a new spokesperson, they start by posting a teaser on their official account, inviting the public to guess who it might be. This strategy is meant to maximize buzz and engagement. After all, a brand spokesperson is far more significant than roles such as brand ambassador, brand friend, or event promoter.

For this reason, Sister Dao was especially excited and thrilled when she landed this business deal. It hadn't been easy. For her, it had taken ten years, but finally, Lin Xing had a first-tier endorsement, even if it was for electric vehicles. Still, Dima Electric Vehicles was a major brand—their previous spokesperson was none other than Best Actress Lu Xueling. This was like a golden opportunity falling out of the sky.

The next day, Dima Electric Vehicles posted such a teaser, dropping several key phrases—including "top star"—and soon enough, fans began reposting and speculating.

"Handsome, capable, and a top star—who else could it be but our Chu Chen?"

"Please, who else in the entire entertainment industry is handsome, talented, and tall? Isn't it our Niu Niu?"

"Come on, our idol wouldn't care for this EV endorsement anyway. You can have it."

"I think, perhaps the 'top star' they're hinting at is Li Xingchi, who just soared in popularity thanks to that xianxia drama?"

"Well, you might be onto something. Li Xingchi's previous costume dramas all flopped, and he never did well in urban dramas. Who would've thought a fantasy drama would make him so popular?"

"I agree, Li Xingchi is a likely pick. As for Chu Chen, Niu Xiang, and Bian Pengtao, the three biggest stars—there's no way they'd accept this endorsement, right?"

"Well, you never know. Just pay them more and they might."

The comment section was awash with speculation, and the reposts were just as lively. As for trending topics, Dima Electric Vehicles had bought those, of course—after all, they had money to burn. If you don't spend it now, then when?

The official announcement would come tomorrow; today was all about building hype. Lin Xing didn't need to do anything until the brand made it official, at which point he would share the news. Meanwhile, he continued filming "Farming with the Stars."

Lin Xing drove the tractor to till the land while the others sowed seeds. That was the bulk of the day's work.

At the same time, the production team was already planning the next steps. After all, "Farming with the Stars" couldn't just be about planting corn, wheat, or rice. They had set aside plots for growing vegetables as well—cabbage, radish, mustard greens, lettuce, and even greenhouse crops like fall cucumbers and tomatoes. This meant the scriptwriters had more to consider.

For Duan Hai, Ding Yi, and the other lesser-known participants, today was another day of sowing and fertilizing—another day of hard labor.

At dinner, the group chatted about the day's trending topics.

"When will I get to land a business endorsement?" Duan Hai said, a bit enviously.

"Well, well, Hai, getting a bit confident, aren't you?" Guan Peng laughed. "Remember what Director Feng always says? You need to keep a level head in showbiz. How many artists have shot to fame only to crash right after? It's because they got lost in all the flattery."

"Guan, I know, I was just daydreaming," Duan Hai chuckled.

"Thinking isn't a crime," Hong Fei joked, "I often wonder when I'll be invited to star in a movie."

"Hong, you've got nothing to worry about. You're in your prime, there are so few actors left who know martial arts and can actually act. Lu Nan and the others are getting old—you'll land your breakthrough role sooner or later," Guan Peng encouraged him.

Hong Fei smiled wryly. "Save your comfort. These days, even the horses in movies are fake. Action scenes are just spinning in circles, with editing and special effects doing all the work. No one fights for real anymore."

But Lin Xing shook his head. "Hong, I think Guan is right. The market is always evolving. There will always be a place for genuine talent—once the audience has tasted something truly good, their expectations will rise."

Hong Fei burst out laughing. "Alright, I'll take your good wishes. By the way, Guan, when do you start your next project?"

"Next month. I've already told Director Feng I can film until the 18th," Guan Peng replied. "But my role isn't that big—once I'm done, I'll be back."

To him, "Farming with the Stars" was just starting to gain traction; he'd be a fool to let go of such a promising opportunity.

Director Feng Gang didn't join them for dinner that night—he was too busy. He needed to quickly edit the footage they had shot over the past two days. Filming and airing episodes concurrently was tough, but post-production was even tougher. What kept the editing team going was the promise of extra pay. Money solves everything.

Online discussions about the Dima Electric Vehicles spokesperson continued to rage. The buzz was, of course, paid for. Many marketing accounts, having received their payment from the sponsor, jumped in to discuss the topic with a seamlessness that betrayed no hint of their sponsorship. This is why so many topics trend on social media—because someone paid for the conversation. If you want discussion, you have to pay.

It’s the same reason why even the smallest actions by some celebrities can make it to the trending list—simply because their teams paid for it. Much of what we discuss is just the result of someone else paying to put the topic in front of us.

Take Dima Electric Vehicles, for example—they invested heavily in promotion, and with the help of marketing accounts and influencers, the topic caught fire. Since the brand already enjoyed a strong reputation, some people wondered why they would choose a top star and not a respected veteran. Last time they picked a Best Actress; why not a Best Actor this time?

After a night of speculation, the next day at 10 a.m., Dima Electric Vehicles officially announced Lin Xing as their spokesperson.

At that moment, Lin Xing’s face appeared on the opening ad of the social media platform. He had become the face of Dima Electric Vehicles.

"What the hell? It's actually Lin Xing?"

"Seriously? Why Lin Xing? Since when is he a top star?"

"Ten years ago, before he left his group, maybe. But now? Not a chance."

"Are you kidding me? I thought it would be my idol—turns out it's this guy?"

"No way, Lin Xing is Dima Electric Vehicles' spokesperson?"

"Has Dima Electric Vehicles lost their mind?"

In an instant, the internet exploded with the news. Not only did Lin Xing’s detractors speak out, but even random onlookers and those who disliked celebrity hype voiced the same skepticism.

Why Lin Xing?

And so, the storm of debate raged on.