Chapter 99: The Grand Era Begins Its Broadcast

Lin Xi's post set the entire internet ablaze with discussion.

— No way, no way. At a time like this, Lin Xi is actually stepping forward to speak up for some manipulative girl? Is this basically self-sabotage? Publicly inviting insults?
— I believe in Little Xi Xi. The girl she chose must be a good one too. There must be some hidden truth behind this, so everyone should not follow the crowd blindly. As Teacher He said, "Praise can be spoken at once, but slander should be weighed carefully."
— Is Shu Yunyi really so skilled at winning people over? Even Lin Xi is helping her speak.
— I also think that without knowing the full picture, we should not judge. We ought to trust Little Xi Xi; she would never speak up for someone without reason. There must be some unspeakable hardship behind it...

After her post went out, some fans expressed understanding and support, but most still played the part of keyboard warriors, and some netizens dragged Lin Xi into the criticism as well.

Lin Xi had no way to deal with it. She could only stare at the screen and sigh.

Naturally, Lu Yuxiu could not bear to see his girl troubled. He sat beside her, took her little hand in his, and said softly, "Did it hit you hard? Want me to repost it for you?"

Lin Xi thought for only a second before shaking her head. With a sigh, she said, "Forget it. If you post, the netizens will definitely explode. They'll be saying I used some seductive trick to bewitch my patron, and then I'll drag Yunyi into an even worse scolding."

"Haha." Lu Yuxiu was amused by her. He reached out and gently rubbed her little head. "Baby, so you know that too."

"Ah." Lin Xi leaned her head into his embrace. "This world is so cruel to girls."

"No one has it easy. We can only learn to manage our emotions." Lu Yuxiu wrapped his arms around his girl, his voice calm and gentle. "Those keyboard warriors never think they're wrong. On the contrary, they delight in hurting others."

Lin Xi fell silent. She parted her lips slightly as if to say something, but in the end she closed them again.

He was right. Those people hid in the shadows, certain no one would know, and so they picked up their keyboards, imagining themselves as supreme gods, venting all their opinions of others, all the discontent and pressure they had built up during the day, without restraint, onto the internet.

The person in question clearly had done nothing wrong, and they did not even understand what had happened, yet they blindly followed the crowd and hurt others recklessly.

Words became a sharp blade, sinking deep into the hearts of people who had nothing to do with them. Filthy, vicious language sprang forth endlessly, while they bore no responsibility at all, all because of a single line: "You're a celebrity. You enjoy things ordinary people never get to enjoy. You can earn in a day what others can't earn in a lifetime. So what if you're insulted? What's the big deal about calling you names?"

They only knew how to complain, while failing to see the effort and bitterness behind other people's success. The glossy brilliance before their eyes might rest upon ten years of playing minor roles, or eating instant noodles in a basement with no work to be found. Who has not come through hardship? To obtain anything, one must pay with a hundred, a thousand times the effort.

Once again Lin Xi felt grateful that she had so many brothers who cherished her. She had not suffered those trials or endured those pains; from birth she had lived in luxury, her starting point and background far surpassing others. For that very reason, she had to be even stricter with herself, learn gratitude, and do more with the position she now held.

Just a few days into April, one storm after another had already broken. A few days ago it was Fourth Brother and Xiao Jin; these past few days it was Yunyi. Lin Xi treated them as her best brothers and friends, and of course worried over everything.

Fortunately, there was still good news to come.

On April 6, Brilliant Age was scheduled to air that night, and the production team had gone all out in promotion. By noon, many hot searches related to the drama had climbed the charts, which did manage to push Yunyi's matter down a bit. Lin Xi finally let out a slight breath of relief.

Lu Jin even sent a huge red packet in the WeChat group, and everyone in the team got a share. Lin Xi snatched one worth sixty-six yuan and posted in the group, "A successful premiere and soaring ratings," after which everyone else quickly followed suit, and before long the thread was filled from end to end.

Everyone also tacitly promoted the show on Weibo through their characters, each finding a different angle.

Jiang He even tagged Wen Jin with a playful tone.

Jiang He: @Wen Jin, I heard Changge has fallen in love in modern times? Oh dear, how pitiful that Qi Tian is unwanted～～ @Official Brilliant Age Weibo

Wen Jin found it amusing too. Since the drama was being filmed according to the original novel, it did not count as a spoiler, so she replied in the comments: Don't worry, Changge belongs to Qi Tian~

Their exchange drew netizens flocking over for the gossip, and they all started tagging Gu Yao as though stirring trouble.

— @Gu Yao, Yao, come quickly. Our little sister-in-law is about to be stolen! Hurry up and assert your rights!
— Hahaha, Changge belongs to Qi Tian, and Wen Jin belongs to Gu Yao! Love it, love it! Our Jin Bao is showing affection so unexpectedly, a mouthful of dog food all at once.

Gu Yao, of course, did not disappoint either. He gave Brilliant Age indirect promotion on Weibo, posting only this line: @Official Brilliant Age Weibo, I can perfectly handle the role of Qi Tian. @Jiang He, let's settle this one-on-one.

As a result, the comment section was filled row after row with "hahahahahaha."

No one had expected that their Yao, normally so sharp-tongued, could become this humorous for the girl he loved.

The promotional effect for Brilliant Age was maximized. That evening it premiered on Green Orange Channel, with simultaneous online updates. Fans, viewers, and netizens all said they had already set up their little stools and were waiting for a hit drama to begin.

At eight in the evening, Lin Xi and Lu Yuxiu also sat by the television on time to wait. Thinking that her first work was finally about to be unveiled to the world, she could hardly suppress her excitement. It was a work created together with everyone she liked, and that made it all the more meaningful.

Lin Xi and Lu Yuxiu sat on the sofa, watching the lively commercials on television. As the broadcast time drew nearer and nearer, she grew so restless she could scarcely sit still.

Lu Yuxiu watched the little girl beside him with amusement. He shifted closer, his tall frame enveloping her. She was drawn into his arms, leaning against him, and he gently stroked her soft, glossy black hair, the curve of his smile deepening.

Her little face pressed against his chest. Through the thin layer of his shirt, she could hear his steady, powerful heartbeat very clearly.

"Baby, don't be nervous. Everyone is about to see how outstanding you are." His voice was low, carrying a trace of pride, and reached her ears, soothing her uneasy heart.

"Mm..." Lin Xi felt a strong sense of safety, as though even if the sky fell, she would remain untouched. Her heart gradually settled.

At last, as the opening song, "Peerless," sung by Gu Yao in the television, began to play, Brilliant Age officially aired. The opening sequence, with its exquisitely edited clips and Gu Yao's music, filled the atmosphere to the brim, immediately drawing the viewer into that immortal rivers-and-lakes realm.

Lin Xi was not watching on her phone, yet even just the opening song had the bullet comments on screen filled edge to edge with:

"Aaaaaaaaaah!"

"Unbelievable, unbelievable, it is finally here!"

"Oh my god, my Xiu God, my Little Xi Xi, I'm here!"

"Hit drama confirmed! This cast is the kind you only encounter once in a hundred years. How can anyone not start watching right now!"