Chapter 38: Ghost Mountain Villa 38 Part 2
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The recent days in the show’s production team were indeed challenging.
After the rescue operation in Gui Mountain was completed, the official statement immediately addressed the rescue incident after consulting with Haiyun Temple.
It stated that the “Heart-Pounding Journey of Ninety-Nine Days” program is a travel variety show and did not encounter any reported supernatural beings or distress calls from internet users. Instead, the production team encountered unscrupulous individuals seeking fortune in the deep mountains. Fortunately, the production team managed to drive them away, but in the process, some live broadcasting equipment was damaged, leading to the loss of the live signal. Although there were injuries among the production team, all team members were currently in stable condition, and everyone was safe. They reassured the public.
At the same time, the authorities of Binhai City and the Video Review Bureau ucontacted Zhang Wubing and issued a stern warning against allowing unhealthy content in the program. They emphasized the need to promote positive scientific thinking. This time, due to the intervention of Haiyun Temple’s Taoists, they decided to let it slide temporarily. However, they made it clear that there could be no next time, or immediate sanctions would be imposed.
Zhang Wubing was thrilled and nodded vigorously in agreement.
However, he still included his friend named Song Ci in the list of guests for the next schedule, thinking it would be more reliable.
“In that case, there are still three guest spots and one tour guide vacancy. If you also leave, it will be even more difficult to find replacements……”
Zhang Wubing said, shifting his gaze from his notebook to Yan Shixun.
Yan Shixun looked at Zhang Wubing in silence, understanding what he wanted to do. “Wasn’t our initial agreement that I would replace the guest who broke the temporary contract and participate only until the end of the first trip of the journey? You said it was settled.”
Zhang Wubing tried to argue, “No, it’s not until the end of the first trip; it’s until you are eliminated in the popularity vote!”
“What’s the difference? I’m not even part of the entertainment industry. Do you really think my popularity can surpass others’?” Yan Shixun asked.
Zhang Wubing: “It can! The popularity vote hasn’t happened yet. What if, by some chance, viewers like you a lot and vote for you? What if you make a comeback and surpass everyone else in popularity? It’s all uncertain. The karmic debt from your previous commitment isn’t settled yet. You’ve often told me before, even though heaven and earth are ruthless, there’s always room for change, right? There might be a change!”
Yan Shixun: “…What nonsense are you talking about? Who would like someone who catches ghosts?”
Zhang Wubing: “QAQ”
Yan Shixun: “…”
Under Zhang Wubing’s tearful attack, Yan Shixun felt extremely uncomfortable. He reluctantly pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and threw it at Zhang Wubing.
“Quickly wipe your tears and snot. It’s about to drip. Are you a three-year-old in kindergarten?”
“Fine, let’s wait for the popularity vote,” Yan Shixun agreed with a sigh.
—After all, it’s just one more day to wait, the outcome won’t have any change.
Zhang Wubing immediately turned his tears into laughter and began to contemplate potential guest candidates again.
“These people they want to send as replacements don’t seem to have much fan following… No, not this one, too much negative publicity, it will ruin the travel atmosphere of the show. This one won’t work either, their personality is terrible…”
Hearing Zhang Wubing’s mumbling, Yan Shixun, with his keen hearing, rolled his eyes. “Consider yourself lucky that anyone even wants to come to your lousy show, and you’re still picky?”
When it came to the show, Zhang Wubing didn’t hold back, saying confidently, “This is the starting point for my dream. Of course, I have to choose carefully. What if those people ruin the good reputation of my show? I have dreams and persistence as a good director.”
Yan Shixun:, “…Then good luck to you.”
……
Yan Shixun had no knowledge of the entertainment industry, and Zhang Wubing knew even less.
These two outsiders in the entertainment world were completely unaware of the high level of discussion about the show happening on social media platforms and in meeting rooms of various entertainment companies and economic agencies.
Not only those second and third-generation rich kids who had good relations with Zhang Wubing were trying to use their connections to get their own artists into the show.
But now, every entertainment and talent agency was trying to push their artists into the mix.
The relatively unknown and once disregarded newcomer director Zhang Wubing had suddenly become a hot commodity. Every talent agent was desperately searching their contact lists, trying to establish a connection with Zhang Wubing.
This contrasted starkly with the situation before the show aired when Zhang Wubing had begged and pleaded with everyone, where no one was willing to join.
In the largest entertainment company in the industry, inside a meeting room, leaders and department heads were nervously discussing the show. The meeting table was filled with talent agents and artists.
An Nanyuan sat at the front of the conference table, his arms crossed in front of him, eyes closed, refusing to look at the scattered analysis reports on the table or listen to the enthusiastic discussions of others. He appeared defensive and resistant.
However, whether it was his rapidly rising status in the entertainment industry due to this travel variety show or his current role as one of the program’s guests, it was inevitable that he wouldn’t be ignored by others.
“Nanyuan, what are your thoughts? Do you think this plan is feasible?”
The manager, seated at the top of the table, suddenly called out to An Nanyuan.
With his eyes closed, An Nanyuan didn’t respond, appearing as if he were asleep.
The lively atmosphere in the meeting room cooled for a moment, and an awkward silence hung in the air. The manager, who received no response, frowned and grew somewhat displeased.
Seeing this, An Nanyuan’s agent discreetly nudged him in the waist, signaling him to respond to the manager’s question.
“I’m sorry, Manager. Nanyuan just returned from Gui Mountain and had a rather frightening experience there. He’s also injured. On top of that, he hasn’t had proper sleep or rest these past few days… Please rest assured, I will emphasize the company’s disciplinary issues with him again.”
The agent spoke in a conciliatory manner, trying to defuse the situation and vouch for An Nanyuan.
The manager snorted and gave An Nanyuan an unfriendly look. “I know that some of our artists have tiring schedules, but it shows that the company values you. You won’t be tired during your hiatus. And what’s with this travel variety show? An Nanyuan should be participating in a talent show as a mentor, nurturing the next generation. If it weren’t for this trending topic, I wouldn’t even know that one of our company’s well-cultivated idols wasted time on such a shabby program.”
The meeting room fell into silence.
A faint mocking laugh broke the silence, sounding exceptionally clear in such a quiet environment.
“Ha.”
The manager’s face instantly turned a shade of liver-red, and the look he cast at An Nanyuan was as if he wanted to devour him.
Only now, after hearing the manager’s unabashed attack on that variety show, did An Nanyuan slowly open his eyes, looking as if he had just been awakened from a nap.
“If you say that, I have to doubt your professionalism in the entertainment industry.”
An Nanyuan smiled with an air of indifference. “My decision is final. I cannot withdraw from this show now. Nearly tens of millions of viewers have already seen me on this program. If we suddenly replace me, do you think they won’t question whether our company is foolish or not?”
“My fan count has already reached nearly fifty million after this show. I doubt any idols debuting at the same time have more followers than me.”
An Nanyuan tilted his head back slightly and looked down on the manager as if he were in a superior position. “Even if you want to cultivate newcomers, making me a mentor on a talent show and using my nearly fifty million fans as stepping stones seems a bit extravagant, don’t you think?”
“It might make our colleagues and board members wonder whether you truly have the talent to manage the company.”
The manager’s face changed from pale to red, and he finally burst out in anger. “The company has groomed every generation like this! You, too, had seniors guiding you when you debuted on a talent show, remember? Who do you think you are now? Don’t forget your debt of gratitude and what the company did for you back then!”
“You think you’re so great now that you have nearly fifty million fans? Your wings are strong, huh?” The manager sneered. “The company can make you a star, but it can also bring you down! An Nanyuan, don’t think too highly of yourself. Look around you, who do you know? Which company or consortium is willing to endorse you or be your backing? Who can help you? Don’t be so naive!”
Seeing the suppressed anger on An Nanyuan’s face, the manager nodded in satisfaction and then changed the subject, saying, “However, you are, after all, a talent nurtured by our company, and we hope you can go even further. Since you’re not willing to withdraw, let’s do it this way.”
The manager pointed to a young person on the other side of the table and continued, “You can enter the show with this junior of yours, look after him. It just so happens that he’s planning to debut next year.”
The young man stood up with a cheerful smile, nodding casually towards An Nanyuan, showing no sign of respect for his senior.
“Brother An, please take care of me in the coming two months!”
An Nanyuan immediately tried to refuse, saying, “I don’t…”
“That’s settled then,” the manager pushed his chair back and left, clearly displeased.
As the atmosphere in the room grew more stifled, the others gradually left.
Only the young man, and An Nanyuan remained seated.
“Brother An, please let me introduce myself. I’m Anthony.”
Anthony wore vibrant colors and trendy clothing, giving him a fashionable and energetic appearance. When he smiled, you could even see his small fangs, making him look mischievous like a little devil, but his excellent looks made it hard to find fault with him.
Upon hearing Anthony’s introduction, An Nanyuan snorted and didn’t respond.
Who was he trying to fool? Which of his fans didn’t know his English name was Anthony?
The company wasn’t that clueless, of course, and they knew it as well.
However, even with this knowledge, they still gave this newcomer the name Anthony and made gradual facial adjustments towards his direction.
They thought the company’s little schemes couldn’t be seen through?
Aren’t they trying to replace him with someone more obedient, but they can’t bear to lose the top-tier influence he’s accumulated, so they want to suck his blood? When his blood is squeezed almost dry, that’s when the company will discard him.
Speaking of sucking blood, An Nanyuan suddenly remembered that day in the wine cellar when they were caught by those skinless monsters, about to be forcibly injected with fresh blood. Yet, it was as if Yan Shixun had descended from the heavens, appearing before all of them and rescuing them from the brink of life and death.
That overwhelming strength and reliability not only left An Nanyuan stunned on the spot, unable to recover for a long time, but it also made him unable to forget that scene to this day.
He originally accepted an invitation from an unknown director and ran to an obscure variety show as a half-hearted escape from the company’s blood-sucking arrangements.
But he hadn’t expected that he would encounter someone like Yan Shixun, a person who stood out from the rest.
Yan Shixun seemed to create his own mysterious world, one that others had yet to explore for its mysteries and bizarre beauty.
However, through Yan Shixun, An Nanyuan could see another world he had never realized before, one that suddenly opened up his previously narrow mindset confined to the entertainment industry.
The world was vast, with boundless possibilities.
So, he wanted to continue following Yan Shixun in the program, to explore a more intriguing world.
While An Nanyuan was lost in thought, Anthony let out a disdainful snort and muttered with a mocking tone, “Is it because you’re getting old? It’s just a playacting script of ghosts and spirits, and you’re scared stiff like this. What a coward.”
An Nanyuan, with his keen senses, heard Anthony’s muttering clearly.
His gaze sharpened as he glanced at Anthony with a smirk that seemed to say it all. Then he got up and ignored Anthony as he prepared to leave.
“Brother An? Aren’t you going to take me with you?” Anthony called out from behind.
An Nanyuan turned slightly and asked him, “Have you ever heard a saying that anyone who has been to school knows? It’s said by a great figure—respect from a distance.”
“When it comes to ghosts and gods, you can choose not to believe, but at the very least, you should respectfully stay away and avoid talking nonsense. Otherwise…”
An Nanyuan didn’t continue but chuckled before turning away.
It was as if Anthony, the newcomer who was supposed to replace him and rise to the top in the company’s plans, wasn’t worth his attention.
The conference room’s door slowly closed.
“What’s wrong with him! Can’t he speak clearly!” Anthony inexplicably cursed, “No wonder he’s such a coward and a fool on live broadcasts, just like that guy surnamed Yan who babbles about supernatural stuff. He thinks acting in a script makes it real? He really thinks he’s someone important, idiot.”
“These old-timers are just no good, talking about ghosts and gods as if they’re the real deal, just like that guy surnamed Yan,” Anthony muttered disdainfully.
Anthony’s angry words seeped through the partially closed door’s gap, into the corridor, and into the ears of An Nanyuan, who hadn’t walked too far yet.
An Nanyuan’s footsteps paused for a moment, but he soon continued walking.
He didn’t want to waste too much time on such an idiot; after all, the entertainment industry was full of people who would naturally be eliminated if they were foolish.
An Nanyuan thought this way, casually took out his phone, and prepared to go online to check for interesting messages on social media while he had been switched off during the meeting.
However, as soon as he logged in, An Nanyuan saw an inexplicable trending hashtag: #YanMaiFighting!#
An Nanyuan: “?”
“Yan Mai? Why are they cheering for Yan Mai?” he wondered as he clicked on the hashtag, unexpectedly coming face to face with a screenshot of Yan Shixun’s handsome face.
An Nanyuan: “!!!”
Suddenly, it dawned on him that Yan Mai probably referred to Yan Shixun. An Nanyuan immediately clicked on other activities in this hashtag.
Then he discovered——
That this show actually had a system of elimination through a popularity vote!!!
Because An Nanyuan didn’t take this show seriously at first and only saw it as a means of escape, he hadn’t bothered to carefully read the rules of the program.
Now, after seeing the discussions and content shared by these so-called Yan Mais, he suddenly realized. Popularity vote, elimination… This meant that Yan Shixun might be eliminated due to insufficient popularity and would have to leave the show!!!
An Nanyuan was instantly anxious.
He had just started to experience a wider world through Yan Shixun. How could he allow Yan Shixun to be eliminated like this? What would happen to his plans to explore the world with Yan Shixun?
Furthermore, Brother Yan was just an amateur, and he didn’t have any plans to sign with a company. After being eliminated, where would he find Brother Yan?
As An Nanyuan watched the fans coordinating their efforts and felt the urgency, a vague plan began to form in his mind.
So, after the program team announced that the popularity vote would take place promptly at midnight, and despite all efforts to gather the required number of votes, the anxious Yan Mais noticed a new post under the Yan Mai hashtag.
@An Nanyuan: My idol is Yan Shixun. If you like me, please vote for Brother Yan.
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