Director Ding's instructions were clear, precise, and full of incitement.
The propaganda team members seemed to have been injected with a stimulant; their eyes lit up, and they immediately sprang into action.
Soon, on major social media platforms, the official account of "if i were a female special forces soldier" simultaneously released an eye-catching preview.
"When a top star sheds her glamorous clothes and dons military uniform, when her delicate shoulders bear a steel gun."
"Can she challenge her limits and be reborn in the most realistic special forces training camp?"
"Top star Gu Lina Zha confirmed to join 'if i were a female special forces soldier.'"
"Witness with you what it truly means for a woman to be as capable as a man!"
The accompanying image was exactly what Director Ding had requested.
It was a stark contrast between Gu Lina Zha, dressed in an ethereal gown, and the hardcore, solemn military camp background behind her.
As soon as this preview was released, it was like a depth charge, instantly causing an uproar on the internet.
The topic #TopStarBravesMilitaryCamp# rocketed to the top of the trending searches.
Netizens' comments and shares surpassed one million within just half an hour.
"Oh my god! I didn't see that wrong, did I?"
"Naza is going to participate in a special forces program? What kind of insane schedule is this?"
"Is the production team crazy?"
"Letting a female star participate in such a high-intensity program, they must be desperate for attention, right?"
"Don't be jealous, upstairs, our Naza is just amazing, daring to challenge herself!"
"Am I the only one who thinks this Photoshopped image has a great vibe?"
"Beauty and the beast, fairy and the battlefield, absolutely amazing!"
The internet was abuzz with discussions, but the most intense reactions came from Gu Lina Zha's fan base.
In fan groups and super topics, there were cries of anguish and condemnations of her studio.
"Oh my goodness, my heart aches for her!"
"Why did Sister take on such a variety show? She'll get hurt!"
"@Gu Lina Zha Studio Do you have any conscience? Is this something a human would do?"
"To make money, you're going to send our Sister to suffer in the military camp?"
"Sisters, unite! Go boycott under the studio's official Weibo! We absolutely cannot let Naza go!"
"This kind of program is tough and tiring, and it's easy to get criticized. Has the studio's brain been caught in a door?"
Fans felt sorry for their idol, and the overwhelming criticism only fueled the program's popularity even more.
Meanwhile, in a luxuriously decorated apartment, the female star Yang Zi was leisurely scrolling through her phone while applying a face mask.
When she saw the top trending topic, she snorted coldly.
She handed her phone to her manager, saying, "Sister Li, look, Gu Lina Zha really knows how to get attention for herself."
Her tone was filled with undisguised mockery.
Her manager, Sister Li, took the phone and glanced at it, frowning.
"This type of military reality show is a double-edged sword."
"If it's done well, it can attract a wave of fans and establish a good image."
"But if the performance is poor, or if she can't endure the hardship, it's easy to backfire and lose public favor."
Yang Zi sat up from the sofa and tore off her face mask, revealing a face that was equally beautiful but more aggressive.
"Suffer? I'm afraid she doesn't even know what real suffering is."
Her eyes darted around as she stared at her manager and said, "Contact Director Ding for me."
Her manager, Sister Li, was stunned for a moment.
"What do you mean?"
"You… you also want to participate in this program?"
Yang Zi retorted as if it were the most natural thing in the world, "Why not?"
"Gu Lina Zha hasn't she always wanted to portray herself as a cold, resilient, ethereal fairy in front of the public?"
"Doesn't she want to use this program to gild herself with the image of a 'strong, independent new woman'?"
Yang Zi stood up and walked to the huge floor-to-ceiling window, looking at the bustling traffic outside, her voice becoming cold and firm.
"I'm going to go, no matter what."
"I want to see if, under the gaze of the entire nation's audience, when she's rolling in the mud, her pretty face can still keep up the act."
"I'm going to 'torture' her thoroughly in the program and curb her momentum in the entertainment industry."
Inside the office of the "if i were a female special forces soldier" production team, the atmosphere was as lively as a boiling pot of water.
Director Ding was holding his phone, his face flushed with excitement as he scrolled through Weibo.
At the top of the trending list, the topic #TopStarBravesMilitaryCamp# was followed by a bright red "HOT" character.
"Hahaha, good, excellent!"
Director Ding slapped his thigh, excitedly standing up from his chair.
"This is exactly the effect we want!"
He looked at the fans' wailing, the netizens' doubts, and the CP fans' frenzy in the comment section, and the smile on his face grew wider and wider.
The greater the controversy, the higher the popularity.
The higher the popularity, the more guaranteed the viewership ratings.
This deal was a sure win.
Just then, there was a knock on his office door.
A young staff member poked his head in, his expression somewhat agitated.
"Director Ding, I have something to report to you."
Director Ding was in a great mood and waved his hand, "Go ahead, what is it?"
"Just now… Yang Zi's manager, Sister Li, contacted us."
The staff member swallowed and continued, "She said that Yang Zi also wants to sign up for our program."
Director Ding's smile instantly froze, then transformed into an expression of almost ecstatic joy.
Yang Zi?
That sworn enemy who had been battling Gu Lina Zha since their debut?
She wants to come too?
This was simply a viewership goldmine falling from the sky!
He barely hesitated at all.
His voice even rose a few octaves due to excitement.
"Agree! Absolutely agree!"
"Reply to her immediately! Our production team warmly welcomes Teacher Yang Zi's participation!"
One Gu Lina Zha was already enough to ignite the internet.
If Yang Zi were added, two top female stars going head-to-head in a military camp…
Director Ding could already imagine the overwhelming discussion and viewership frenzy when the program aired.
"Go quickly! Reply now!"
After sending the staff member away, Director Ding paced back and forth in his office, excitedly rubbing his hands.
No, he had to quickly finalize Gu Lina Zha's side.
He quickly pulled out Gu Lina Zha's manager's phone number and dialed.
The call was answered quickly.
"Hello, is this Hong Jie? It's Director Ding!"
Director Ding's voice was warm and full of smiles.
"You've seen what's happening online, right?"
"Our Naza's popularity is truly unparalleled!"
At the same time, in Gu Lina Zha's apartment, she herself was much calmer than the fans online who were worried for her.
Her assistant, Xiao Lu, was pacing back and forth in the living room like an ant on a hot pan, holding her phone.
"Sister, look, the internet has exploded!"
"Fans are almost flooding the studio's official Weibo."
"They're all boycotting your participation in this program."
Gu Lina Zha was sitting on the sofa, slowly drinking a cup of warm water.
Upon hearing this, she merely raised her eyelids indifferently.
"Let them make a fuss."
"Controversy brings popularity, isn't that what Director Ding wants to see most?"
Xiao Lu looked worried. "But this program is too tough, I'm afraid you won't be able to handle it physically, and what if you get injured…"
Gu Lina Zha put down her water cup, her eyes showing no hint of backing down.
"What I've decided, I won't change."
Just then, Gu Lina Zha's manager's call came in.
She put it on speaker, and her manager, Brother Wang's slightly anxious voice came through the receiver.
"Naza, Director Ding just called."
"He said he wants you to go to Haining City first to confirm the variety show contract and specific details."
Haining City was the main filming location for this program and also the station of the special forces unit.
Gu Lina Zha's expression remained unchanged, as if everything was within her expectations.
"When did he schedule it?"
"As soon as possible, he said he's free tomorrow and can talk to you in person."
Gu Lina Zha turned her head and looked at Xiao Lu, who was beside her.
"Xiao Lu, book the plane tickets."
Her voice was clear and decisive.
"Book them now, can we get to Haining before tonight?"
Xiao Lu immediately snapped back to attention.
She took out her phone, her fingers quickly sliding across the screen.
"Yes, Sister, there's a flight at 4 PM."
"We can arrive at Haining Airport around 6:30 PM."
"Then book that flight."