Translator: Ink Hub

Editor: Yoog

By the time the 10th episode of Code 11 aired, its position on the television ratings chart had already climbed to the 6th place.

This was accomplished even under the premise that Sunrise TV’s own viewership base was limited and the online heat had not yet fully transitioned to offline audiences.

At this point, only a single step remained between Code 11 and Code Falcon.

Maple Leaf TV increased the frequency of its promotion for Code Falcon, inviting several familiar drama critics to write positive reviews and encouraging marketing accounts to spread the word. However, the momentum of Code 11 was already unstoppable. The small amount of attention brought by critics simply could not compensate for the narrative weaknesses in Code Falcon itself.

Whether it was the real historical figure Lou Zhi’s life experience, the lead actor Cheng Yuan’s deep understanding of the role, or Chen Cheng’s beyond-expectation performance in the drama, Code 11 simply had too many stories to tell.

By comparison, Code Falcon appeared much thinner and more superficial.

Driven by the high ratings, Cheng Yuan’s Weibo follower count surged. Management agencies looking to sign him were forming a long queue.

A few years prior, he had sent resumes to many agencies only to receive a uniform response: “You are not suited for this industry.” But now, he was a recognized “promising newcomer,” holding a major role with audience approval. His future was visibly bright.

Chen Cheng also shed her reputation for poor acting. Most of the scripts currently being handed to her featured “Queen” or “Alpha Female” type roles. Chen Cheng had originally been considering a transition, and the character Shen Yin allowed her to successfully take the first step.

Of course, the one most scrutinized by the industry remained Lin Ji.

Top-tier screenwriters were a scarce resource. While Lin Ji previously had the viewership of Secretly in Love with You and two short dramas to his name, he was still questioned for having a limited creative range. Now, however, Code 11 made those voices of doubt vanish.

“Sweet romances, spy thrillers, short dramas… I’m starting to wonder now, is there a script Lin Ji can’t handle?”

“How does he manage such a seamless switch between different perspectives? Ji Ning was so bright, youthful, and lively, while Lou Zhi was calm, righteous, and witty. He can do sweet, and he can do intense. It’s divine.”

“Little Lin is truly a god.”

“Gu Lenian was KO’d once more. He released so many press releases ‘pitying’ Lin Ji before; why doesn’t he pity himself? Such a good start, yet he’s going to lose again.”

“We can start betting on where the final ratings for Code 11 will land now. I guess 2% or higher.”

“2% is too conservative, it’s already about to surpass that, right? I guess as long as the plot of Code 11 doesn’t collapse, with this current momentum, the ratings could reach 3% or higher.”

While netizens speculated wildly, the ratings for Code 11 continued to rise.

Just as Qin Yi had predicted, the two shows were in a state of ebb and flow. A large portion of the rising ratings for Code 11 came directly from Code Falcon.

Viewers usually only choose the more worth-watching show.

The total number of viewers was, after all, limited. When the plot of Code 11 was outstanding enough to attract more people, the ratings of other satellite dramas would inevitably be affected. The first to bear the brunt was Code Falcon, which shared the same theme.

When Code 11 reached its 12th episode, it welcomed a minor climax in the plot.

Shen Yin died.

She failed to escape in time after a mission. After delivering the intelligence to Lou Zhi, she was brutally murdered after being tortured by the Japanese forces.

Nie Ou originally thought Chen Cheng’s performance in Episodes 7 and 8 was already her highlight in this show. However, in this episode, during the interrogation scene, Shen Yin, who usually displayed glamorous charms while navigating between the Japanese and the puppet army, showed her most courageous and resolute expression.

She once thought the path she chose was the most correct one. But after meeting Lou Zhi during an operation, she realized that in this world, there were faiths even more steadfast than her own.

“If there is a chance, I’d love to become your comrade.”

These were the actual words Shen Yin uttered as revealed by Lou Zhi himself.

“Waaaah! I didn’t need a blade from Sister Yin to kill me.”

“The acting is too good, right? Sister Cheng is completely transformed in this drama!

“Shen Yin is a comrade, she is a comrade, she is a comrade!”

“!!! I thought the character Shen Yin would live a long time. Lin Ji, you are truly daring. A major traffic star written off in only six episodes [Dog head][Dog head][Dog head].”

Chen Cheng also said goodbye to the character Shen Yin on her own Weibo.

When Code 11 first aired, considering the loud protests from her fans, Chen Cheng had only promoted the series once in a business-like manner. But after Shen Yin went online and was recognized by the audience, she began to promote it more vigorously.

She truly liked Shen Yin. In her eyes, this role witnessed her metamorphosis as an actress.

She first heard about the script for Code 11 when her manager heard Qin Yi’s manager mention it at a dinner table. The other party only said Qin Yi was too kind-hearted; even though the Code Falcon crew had sent an invitation, he was still thinking about Code 11.

The speaker was careless, but the listener was attentive. Given that Maple Leaf TV was stronger than Sunrise TV in every aspect, the fact that Code 11 could make Qin Yi struggle with the choice meant the script would certainly not be bad.

Chen Cheng did everything possible to get a look at the script. Among the many roles, she chose Shen Yin at a glance.

Although Shen Yin didn’t have much screen time, the characterization was too perfect. It was the kind of role every actress dreamed of.

She fought for the opportunity, and entering the Code 11 crew was a logical progression. However, what Chen Cheng didn’t expect was that after being in the industry for so many years, she would have to be taught how to act from scratch.

But feeling the explosion of one’s own acting skills was an exciting thing for an actor. She liked Shen Yin and was willing to pour all her heart and soul into the character.

On Weibo, Chen Cheng thanked the Code 11 crew, Lin Ji, the producer, and the director: “Seeing the script written by Screenwriter Lin, reading Shen Yin’s story, and then step by step acting this role well, I have received praise from many people. But it wasn’t I who made the character; Shen Yin was already radiant to begin with. I was merely fortunate enough to play her, touching her noble soul one step earlier than others.”

Although Lin Ji was cursed for using Shen Yin to “stab” the audience, the ratings for Code 11 soared to a new high that night.

“2.39%!!! Holy crap! Badass!!”

“Ranked 3rd on the ratings chart!!!”

“3rd place!! My god, from 19th to 3rd. While others take planes, Code 11 must be riding a rocket!”

The 3rd place on the ratings chart, which Code Falcon had been eyeing since its premiere, was snatched by Code 11 first.

As the ratings for Code 11 rose, those for Code Falcon inevitably fell. On the day Code 11 broke a 2% rating, Code Falcon dropped to 7th place on the chart with a rating of 1.66%, a decline of 0.3% from its opening.

“In one day, Code 11 grows by one Snow in Early May, while Code Falcon can drop by one and a half.”

Lin Ji & Qinglan TV: “…”

With Snow in Early May becoming a unit of measurement, not only was Lin Ji speechless, but Qinglan TV also really wanted to roll its eyes.

Just forget about Snow in Early May already!

“Sunrise TV taking down Xingzhou TV is truly the first miracle I’ve witnessed since I learned how to surf the web.”

“Lin Ji is badass!!!”

“Now the question is, where will the final ratings of Code 11 rank?”

* * *

On the day the ratings of Code 11 surpassed Code Falcon, Sunrise TV’s official blog released a rare celebratory poster.

The follower count for Sunrise TV was always pitifully low. Combined with the earthy station logo, it was hard to even notice. In fact, the blog rarely posts more than a few times a year, either promoting dramas or reposting major local news.

Only after Code 11 started did the official blog slowly learn how to “act out.”

But even when acting out, Sunrise TV remained low-key. The celebratory poster only featured a still from Code 11 and used a very small font size.

“@SunriseTV, go learn from @QikeVideo next door.”

“@SunriseTV, Little Sun, you won! It would be so much better if this joy were given to @QikeVideo.”

“Dying of laughter. Qike Video reposted it immediately. What kind of schadenfreude is this!”

“Hahahahaha! Qike Video thought the font on the Code 11 poster was too small, so they photoshopped a gargantuan one for them.”

“Qike Video: As long as you take down Gu Lenian, you are my brother from another mother.”

“Powerfully spectating the jumping-up-and-down Qike Video.”

The disastrous failure of Siege Operation led Qike Video down a path of madness. As it turned out, they were a bit too successful, turning Qike Video into a super-influencer among the platforms.

As soon as Code 11 hit the 3rd place, Qike Video posted its first Weibo: “Let me see who’s in 7th today.”

The second post: “Don’t be in a hurry, there’s still plenty of room to drop.”

The third was the gargantuan font poster for Sunrise TV.

The fourth: “I thought it was just me who was incompetent. Turns out we’re all the same @MapleLeafTV.”

Among the netizens following Code Falcon, many were unaware of the grievance between Qike Video and Gu Lenian. This time, they were given a fresh history lesson.

Gu Lenian wanted to refute it. The moment he left a comment in Qike Video’s section, he was blocked by a single sentence: “You’re just a half-finished building.”

“Hahaha, Qike Video is like a jumping badger.”

“I’m very satisfied with this gossip, I’m dying of laughter.”

“The one Qike Video should thank most is Lin Ji, right? Think of Secretly in Love with You, then think of Code 11. He’s practically the Vanguard of Hitting Gu.”

Qike Video felt the netizens’ words were very reasonable, so they posted another Weibo thanking Lin Ji.

Lin Ji reposted this and modestly stated: 【Creation must rely on the soil of reality. Respect reality, respect the era, respect the characters. (verbatim copy)】

“That (verbatim copy) is truly soulful.”

“Translation: Please, Gu Lenian, respect the audience’s brain.”

“@GuLenian, someone is plagiarizing you. Hurry up and call the police!”

“What a boomerang. I deeply suspect Little Lin doesn’t sleep at night and is currently peeking at Gu Lenian’s Weibo.”

Regarding such claims, Lin Ji timely refuted: 【He just blocked me. I remembered these by heart.】

【I think everyone should still be a bit more broad-minded. Don’t just block people whenever you feel like it.】

“…I can’t. All my fun for this month is happening today.”

#LinJiRedefinesBroadMinded#

NOTES

Half-finished building (烂尾楼): Slang for a project that starts well but ends poorly or is never finished.

Badger (猹 – zha): Internet slang referring to netizens who “eat melons” (follow gossip), originating from a Lu Xun story about a badger-like animal.

INK HUB

I replaced Gu Lenian’s “three respects” quote with “verbatim copy” to emphasize Lin Ji’s sarcasm.

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