I spoke with an old fan of Jiang Ling the other day. He said that back in her prime, her salary demands were very high, yet no one complained about the cost because her talent justified it. In contrast, today's top stars have increasingly outrageous salaries but produce increasingly shoddy work.
Every industry has its ceiling; it's normal to be paid top dollar for being at the top. We don't object to actors receiving high salaries, but we do object to them accepting high salaries for bad productions and throwing tantrums. If every popular idol could achieve even a third or a fifth of Jiang Ling's professional competence, let alone her legendary acting, this industry wouldn't be such a mess.
Seeing the comments from the younger generation, many old fans couldn't help but sigh.
After so many years, seeing the goddess play her roles again still fills me with excitement. I really, really miss her!
Me too. Without her, the entertainment industry has no vitality. It's just one scandal after another—infidelity, prostitution, tax evasion, drunk driving accidents—it's all so tiresome.
It's more than just lacking vitality. Twenty years ago, the entertainment industry was also driven by popularity and the pursuit of fleeting entertainment. Young idols would throw tantrums and act out, but as Jiang Ling's acting skills blossomed and she flawlessly portrayed various characters, delivering a decisive blow that caused capital investors significant losses, they dared not casually produce bad films to appease audiences. Fearing exclusion from the market, popular stars also actively improved their professional skills and honed their acting.
Jiang Ling's presence was like the catfish in the "catfish effect," stirring up the survival environment for popular stars, making them afraid to misbehave or act out, thereby invigorating the entire market. It's a shame that after her retirement, the entertainment industry faced a capital winter, and after its subsequent recovery, it returned to an environment where popularity reigned supreme.
The more the old fans spoke, the more their hearts ached. They poured out their longing for Jiang Ling word by word.
Sister Ling, can you see this? We old uncles and aunties haven't forgotten you. When people criticize you, we get so angry we jump out and retort to the haters. Can't you just show up?
Thank you for being there; our youth wouldn't have been tarnished and swallowed by popular stars without you. You left us with beauty, and now we will do everything we can to protect your reputation. Anyone who dares to speak ill of you, we'll grab our keyboards and fight them to the end!
Ling Ling, you probably never imagined that over the past sixteen years, everyone has been thinking of you. Of the fan groups established back then, over 80% are still active. We really want to see you act again, even if it's a five-second cameo like Hailong!
The old fans were frantically posting and boosting topics, hoping to create a trending topic so that Jiang Ling would see it and respond.
Sister Ling, the entertainment industry cannot live without you!
Goddess, fame and fortune never tarnish a noble soul, and time never defeats a beauty. Sixteen years is not a particularly long time. Don't be afraid of getting old and ashamed to be seen. In our hearts, you are still the same stunning, exceptionally beautiful goddess with a charming smile!
Jiang Ling, please come back quickly and use your acting to cleanse the smog in this industry. The younger generation needs you to fix their acting skills that have been blinded by bad movies.
Overcome with emotion, the old fans missed her terribly. The sudden outpouring was like a volcanic eruption, spreading instantly.
#Youth Never Ages, Jiang Fans Never Fall# quickly climbed the trending list.