A week passed quickly.
During this week, the audience finally understood what it meant to eagerly anticipate something.
On the first day, "Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils" achieved over 300 million online views. Discussions about the series were still fervent online, with people actively engaging with memes.
By the second day, many viewers were already demanding more episodes, realizing they couldn't wait much longer.
By the third and fourth days, the comments section for "Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils" on Penguin Video had transformed into a massive催更 (cuī gēng - demand for more episodes) scene!
"Update faster, I haven't slept well in two days!"
"Can I pay for membership if it means faster updates?"
"Who said the weekly update mode was good? Four episodes a week is not enough to satisfy anyone!"
"Haha, it's back, it's all back! The feeling of when Jiangnan used to write web novels!"
"I'll pay any amount, just update faster!"
Since Jiangnan remained unresponsive on Weibo, and Xinghui followed suit.
The催更 (cuī gēng) army even went to Penguin Video's customer service, urging them to discuss with Jiangnan's team about releasing more episodes per week, as the current pace was unbearable.
Meanwhile, Penguin Video was overwhelmed by the audience's enthusiasm.
How could they possibly control Jiangnan's team?
"Mr. Liu, what should we do now?" asked the director of customer service with a bitter expression in the meeting room.
They had never encountered a drama fandom with such high anticipation for more episodes. Many even threatened to pay for advanced viewing if it meant faster updates.
This was especially surprising, considering how much people hated advanced viewing in the past. Most preferred to wait a couple more days and endure more ads for content they could watch for free.
Only Jiangnan's dramas had consistently high member viewing rates.
But now, the drama fans were no longer satisfied with the current release schedule, threatening to pay for more episodes even if it meant the platform had to release them sooner.
"What else can we do? The audience's eagerness to watch more proves the quality of the show. Plus, everyone knows this is being filmed and aired simultaneously, so demanding more episodes is useless, as the production team doesn't have any backlog!" Liu Cheng said with annoyance.
"Does anyone still doubt my decision now?" However, a smile he couldn't suppress crept onto his lips.
As the project director of Penguin Video, his salary and bonuses had increased significantly since the decision to cater to Jiangnan. While everyone at first thought he was lowering the platform's prestige by showing so much deference to a screenwriter, it was different now. Countless competitors envied Penguin Video for securing the exclusive broadcasting rights to Jiangnan's works.
Their monthly user activity and membership numbers far surpassed those of their competitors, to the point where it could be described as a complete domination.
Such outstanding results had led to salary increases for everyone in his department. Having tasted the benefits, Liu Cheng felt his past decision was incredibly brilliant!
"I truly am a visionary leader!"
Liu Cheng thought to himself.
If he hadn't overridden the opposition and insisted that the platform treat Jiangnan with the utmost respect, they wouldn't have achieved such great success, and Penguin Video wouldn't have become the largest video website.
"Mr. Liu, you're brilliant!"
"Mr. Liu's vision is rare in the industry!"
"Under Mr. Liu's leadership, our platform has achieved such brilliant results!"
"Thank you, Mr. Liu, for leading us to make money!"
Everyone immediately started flattering Liu Cheng.
But Liu Cheng didn't get carried away.
He patted the table, interrupting their praise, and then said solemnly, "You shouldn't thank me, but Jiangnan, because he is the benefactor of all of us. Everyone go and promote 'Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils' with more advertising, so our benefactor's work can break through one billion views soon!"
Righteous and impassioned!
The crowd looked at Liu Cheng as if they saw a guiding light in his eyes!
...
Finally.
Under the eager anticipation of everyone.
The second week's episodes of "Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils" were updated!
Almost at the same moment the updates were released, countless viewers clicked the "play" button!
Having been starved for a week, everyone was ravenous.
"Hahaha, first!"
"Finally, I've waited for you!!"
"I'm a fan of Zhang Yang, will Xuzhu appear this week?"
"Will Duan Yu actually do that with his sister?"
"I only refreshed the page once, and it already has five million views. You guys are so fast!"
"Turning off the comments, I want an immersive viewing experience!"
Although the strategy of hunger marketing was old, it was very effective. What was easily obtained was not cherished. The four episodes per week made many viewers eagerly anticipate the next installment.
Even though the theme song "Nan Nian De Jing" had been played on repeat for a week, many viewers still chose not to skip it.
After listening carefully to the theme song, they entered the plot.
Last week's episode ended with the revelation of Duan Yu and Mu Wanqing's sibling relationship, followed by Mu Wanqing falling off a cliff and encountering Duan Yanqing, one of the Four Great Evils, who captured her and brought her to Myriad Tribulation Valley, where she was imprisoned with Duan Yu.
This was why the audience was so eager to see the subsequent events.
The two, having consumed aphrodisiacs, were struggling with their desires.
However, due to their sibling relationship, they were constantly restraining themselves.
Eventually, Mu Wanqing could no longer resist and lunged at Duan Yu.
Unexpectedly, Duan Yu began practicing the Lingbo Weibu (Lightness Skill) inside the stone chamber.
"They taught you lightness skills just for this?"
"Stimulating, but a bit perverted."
"Bone relation warning!"
"I don't know if this is Jiangnan's dark humor, but I can't understand this kind of ethical drama..."
"I thought someone would come to rescue them, and they've filmed this for so long. They are siblings!"
"Jiangnan will eventually ruin his reputation..."
This segment had many scenes, making some viewers uncomfortable. Regardless, their relationship was unusual, and a brief mention would have sufficed. However, it used several minutes to depict their ambiguous interactions.
Some people couldn't stand it and began to preach morality.
Of course, these were a minority of viewers. The majority still trusted Jiangnan's reputation and wanted to see the plot unfold.
The Four Great Retainers dug a tunnel to rescue them, but their physics knowledge was taught by a gym teacher, and a miscalculation led them to the pharmacy, where they coincidentally met Zhong Ling.
They then swapped Zhong Ling.
"There's such a move?"
"Holy crap, 666!"
"So Zhong Ling is the female lead? This girl is so clever and lively, it seems Xinghui is promoting new talent."
With their series of clever maneuvers, the plot took another turn!
Zhong Wanchou invited many martial arts sects to Myriad Tribulation Valley for a ceremony, intending to tarnish the reputation of the Dali Duan clan.
While everyone was watching the spectacle outside the stone chamber, Duan Yu emerged from the chamber with Zhong Ling in his arms.
Mu Wanqing had been replaced by Zhong Ling, enraging Zhong Wanchou, who beat his chest in frustration. Duan Zhengchun, however, was overjoyed and immediately tried to form a kinship with him.
This crisis was resolved, but many observant viewers noticed something amiss.
When everyone returned to the Dali royal palace.
After Mu Wanqing handed over Gan Baobao's birth date to Duan Zhengchun.
"I waited sorrowfully, my heart filled with despair. However, as a child, I cannot be without a father. For sixteen years, I longed for you day and night, waiting for your arrival. Having no other choice, I married into the Zhong family in the fifth month of the Yǐwèi year."
"Zhong Ling is my daughter??"
Duan Zhengchun was stunned!
The audience was equally stunned!!