Chapter 183: Chi Ye: Yu Yan? Beat Him
Inside a top-tier recording studio.
Yu Yan took a sip of water, moistened his throat, then turned back to his agent and asked, “What did you say? Quality Idol?”
The agent sneered, “Ah, it’s the immature idol now.”
“……Whatever.”
Yu Yan went back to looking at the sheet music.
The agent nodded: “Exactly, no matter how much of an idol he is, he can’t out-idol you… By the way, haven’t we been too gentle with him lately? I feel like we should hit harder.”
She was referring to the anti-explosion matter with Chi Ye.
Yu Yan’s Team was almost purely motivated by “personal grudge” in the anti-explosion Chi Ye matter, because if it was said that Yu Yan was afraid of Chi Ye stealing his traffic market, it would absolutely make people laugh their heads off.
Not to mention the current Chi Ye, even if he took another step forward, in terms of traffic, he still couldn’t see Yu Yan’s exhaust fumes.
At the peak of unrivaled top streamer status, that’s the kind of confidence—confidence recognized by both the industry and outsiders.
“Let’s discuss the release date for the new album. It’s good that there’s no singer this time, it’s just… a pity for these songs.”
Yu Yan glanced at the several “confident style” songs that the team had invested heavily to tailor for him… and felt that after 《Dragon Scales》 came out, songs of this type seemed so superfluous.
Money wasted.
Chi Ye is really disgusting, too nauseating.
The agent glanced at him and chuckled lightly: “You, haven’t you always said you don’t care? But deep down, you’re more disgusted by him than anyone, right?”
“I just feel like I’ve been bitten by a dog.” Yu Yan said expressionlessly: “I can’t bite back, and then the dog will smugly show off to others.”
Yeah, for Yu Yan, among all the traffic young male stars in the internal entertainment circle, except for Si Zi, none of them caught his eye.
And even Si Zi, purely in terms of traffic, could he compare with him?
Chi Ye, Peng Chen, even the likes of Chu Han Zhou—if given one more glance, their teams would be so thrilled they couldn’t sleep for three days. What’s the difference from “dogs”?
Of course, Yu Yan looked down on Chi Ye’s current “small traffic,” but the market and industry insiders would all have to withstand the impact from the rise of a “new top streamer.”
“Four major double hits dual top streamers.” After the Golden Eagle Festival, some questioned if Chi Ye was a top streamer, but after 《Dragon Scales》, the vacant spot for dual top streamers—no one had the strength or ability to compete with him anymore.
So, is Chi Ye one of the dual tops now?
Whether he is or not, the market recognizes it now.
……
On the night of Singer episode seven, Chi Ye crushed the votes without suspense, defeating that second-tier star from overseas, then Teacher Shi sang another insert song from 《Xing Ni》.
The publicity and distribution for 《Xing Ni》 has already started. Before the program ended, Chi Ye proposed the idea of “leaving” to the chief director of 《Singer》.
The program team and guests like Sister Qianzi who happened to hear the news were all dumbfounded.
Meanwhile.
Tomato TV New Year’s Eve Concert program team.
“Add Chi Ye’s name to the tentative guests list… um… announcement fee ranked above Hua Yichen.”
The director instructed the staff: “He’s been on our channel’s program before. Have the director of 《Voice of Nature》 contact him.”
“Okay… um… that.”
The staff hesitated: “It’s no problem to have the announcement fee higher than Hua Yichen… but what about the performance order?”
The director paused, then said very decisively: “If he agrees to come, let him be the grand finale this year!”
Tomato TV New Year’s Eve Gala grand finale.
Last year, Tomato TV’s grand finale was Ji Hemming.
The staff was stunned, then nodded quickly: “Understood.”
After he left, the general person in charge who hadn’t spoken finally frowned: “Do you think we can snatch him over?”
The director smiled bitterly: “Not sure… mainly his relationship with Mango TV is too good, but… speaking of which, Mango’s grand finale last year was Chu Han Zhou, but Yu Yan has a new drama this year, so they’ll probably invite Yu Yan, then…”
He didn’t finish, but the meaning was obvious.
Mango TV is undoubtedly the leading king among local channels, the king of local satellite TV, and its relationship with Chi Ye is well-known to everyone.
Chi Ye’s turnaround 《Jian Ni》 was on Mango TV, Chi Ye’s 《Confession Balloon》 was on Mango TV, and now, does the boost from 《Singer》 for Chi Ye need any more explanation?
But, just one problem: for a gala as big as Mango TV’s, if Yu Yan goes, Chi Ye absolutely can’t be the grand finale.
To put it bluntly, Mango can’t give you the best treatment, but we at Tomato can!
“Anyway, we’ve shown the greatest sincerity. Hope the other channels react slower.”
—The reactions from the other major satellite TVs weren’t slow.
Blueberry TV, one of the producers of 《Actors Please Take Place》.
The New Year’s Eve Gala chief director said straightforwardly: “Revise the list, put Chi Ye in the first-tier tentative guest list… we can give him two stage opportunities, one being the last program before New Year’s Eve midnight.”
“Be quick, or the other channels will definitely snatch him first.”
“Got it!”
……
Jiangsu Satellite TV.
“Director, we really don’t have that much money… and I just checked, Tomato and Blueberry are throwing money and giving top treatment… we don’t have that competitiveness.”
The assistant director in charge of tentative guests was sweating profusely, thinking the director’s idea of inviting Chi Ye for grand finale was a bit naive.
Compared to top-tier big satellite TVs like Mango, Blueberry, and Tomato, although Jiangsu has ranked first-tier in recent years, its popularity and stage still fall short of the “Imperial Three Families.”
In previous years, their New Year’s Eve Galas always invited many old singers… “has-been” kings of singers to come sing a song, and that would achieve the goal.
But this year, the director actually wanted to tentatively invite Chi Ye…
A year ago, the assistant director would have sneered and firmly believed the director was bought off by Yue Na with big money to give Chi Ye a chance to ride on popularity.
But now…
They want to ride on Chi Ye’s popularity.
That’s the entertainment industry, very realistic and very fantastical, fantastical enough to make the person involved yearn for it.
“I know we can’t compete with the others.” The chief director had already thought it through, so he took out a planning proposal: “But I can let him sing continuously for 40 minutes on our New Year’s Eve Gala… string together his entire album!”
“Ah?”
The assistant director was dumbfounded. Other singers would be overjoyed with one segment on a New Year’s Eve Gala, but Chi Ye gets to “dominate the stage” for 40 minutes straight?
What kind of unprecedented paternal-level treatment is this?
“Is… is that necessary?”
“You don’t get it.”
The director shook his head: “You think everyone is just riding on popularity? Chi Ye’s new album is coming out, who isn’t paying attention? Pulling out a few songs—that’s ratings, that’s achievements.”
Upon hearing this, the assistant director instantly realized something and nodded quickly: “Okay… I’ll go arrange it right away.”
“Be quick.”
The director instructed.
The assistant director said “mm,” and only when going out did he vaguely recall that just a year ago, Chi Ye couldn’t even get a tentative invite for Screaming Night…
This damn yet surprise-filled entertainment industry!
……
One week later.
《Big Shot》 film crew.
“All expenses on the house, paid by Young Master Zhao, screams!”
With the final bar exterior chase scene wrapped, the 《Big Shot》 movie officially wrapped up.
Director Chen watched Chi Ye and Teacher Wu hugging and shaking hands in the shot, while the other staff in the crew cheered and threw away what they were holding, celebrating the movie’s wrap-up.
“Chi Ge, caught another fan photographer… what do you think…”
Xiao Liu seized the chaos to squeeze through the crowd and ask Chi Ye.
“Let him go. Can’t exactly call the police, right.”
Chi Ye was already used to this. Ever since his star power rose, fan photographers and even sasaengs about him started surging.
Once an artist encounters this situation, it signals he’s already big or about to blow up.
“Chi Ye, you’re blowing up.”
Teacher Wu rubbed his nose and walked over, giving him a punch: “Drinks later together.”
“Sure, Big Brother.”
Chi Ye nodded.
“Don’t call me Big Brother, I’m a proper guy.”
Teacher Wu corrected helplessly. During the 《Big Shot》 shoot, they had all rival scenes, so after months together, they were very familiar. Chi Ye usually liked teasing Teacher Wu for being like a “Big Brother.”
“Right.”
Seeing Chi Ye was a bit busy, Teacher Wu didn’t linger: “That script I sent you, interested?”
Chi Ye was stunned: “《Border Water Past》?”
“Yeah, this notebook looks good, great team. Wanna join?”
Chi Ye thought about it and shook his head: “We’ll talk later. I really have no schedule now.”
Teacher Wu: “……Blowing up.”
He shook his head with a sigh and turned to leave.
Xiao Liu watched Teacher Wu leave before pulling Chi Ye aside: “《Singer》 sent another message. This time it’s a leader from Mango TV calling personally. Look…”
Chi Ye paused, pulled out his mobile phone: “I’ll call them back.”
After episode seven when Chi Ye communicated with the program team and decided to temporarily leave the 《Singer》 stage, that night not only the outside world but the program team internally experienced massive shock.
If it was before 《Dragon Scales》, they might have agreed to Chi Ye leaving, but after 《Dragon Scales》 came out and perfectly resolved the storm, how can you Chi Ye leave?!
You’re the traffic code for 《Singer》 now! One person’s topic degree surpasses the total of all other guests combined!
Leaving at a time like this—isn’t that killing us?
But Chi Ye really had no time, as it was already late November. 《Xing Ni》 was airing in less than a month, and even his publicity time was tight. Where’s the time to do 《Singer》?
In music and film, Chi Ye always balanced them, but honestly, at this stage, 《Xing Ni》 was indeed a bit more important.
《Singer》’s popularity had already peaked. Staying longer, to compete for “King of Singers” with Ying Zi?
As fans put it: Insulting Ye Zi.
Chi Ye pulled up the chief director of 《Singer》’s number and dialed.
“Hello? Chi Ye?”
“Yeah, it’s me.”
“Bro, when you coming? We’ve set the rules for you. Come and you can keep first place!”
Chi Ye: “……I really have no time lately.”
The chief director was silent for two seconds, then said “grievously”: “Then… can you come for the finals?”
“Help a buddy out. Front-stage popularity so high, if finals drop, my achievements…”
Chi Ye thought: “Finals is what date again?”
“Which one? Peak Night is later, Finals earlier, but both mid-to-late December.”
“I’ll check the time, try to make it. If I do, I’ll tell you in advance.”
“……Sigh.”
The chief director on the other end sighed, tone inevitably a bit sour: “The kid’s grown up, doesn’t recognize home anymore.”
Chi Ye: “?”
“Chi Ye, you’re a guest on 《Jian Ni》, the soul of 《With You》, and the highest popularity core of 《Singer》… you… remember Mango’s kindness!”
Chi Ye thought for a moment and replied: “I said something on 《Jian Ni》 before.”
The chief director was stunned: “What?”
“I have no morals, don’t morally kidnap me.”
The chief director: “……”
After the call ended, Chi Ye looked at the phone and shook his head: “Sigh, I wish I had a clone.”
“Chi Ge, no one in internal entertainment is handsomer than you. Where’s the clone coming from.”
Xiao Liu said something with explosive emotional intelligence.
Chi Ye glanced at her: “Well said. Later, repeat Ji Zhua Zhang’s edge-riding bit.”
Xiao Liu: “……Chi Ge, you’re not handsomer than Yu Yan.”
“Repeat a hundred times.”
“……”
……
Another week later, end of November.
Chi Ye Studio.
Director Liu, with dark circles under his eyes, meticulously checked the special effects several times, then slapped his thigh: “Done!”
“Ah?”
The surrounding staff, who had been burning the midnight oil and couldn’t tell day from night, looked up, not reacting.
“Done!”
“……”
The room was silent for two seconds, then instantly erupted.
“Ah!! Finally finished!”
“Can’t take it, my brain’s full of big stars and aliens now. Let me recover.”
“Who gets it? Most tiring ever… Pool President not giving bonuses won’t fly!”
“Don’t worry, everyone don’t worry.”
Director Liu reassured: “I’ll go ask for you. If President Chi doesn’t give… I’ll swap his filter, turn 《You Who Came From the Stars》 into 《You Who Came From the Apes》!”
“Hahaha.”
Laughter filled the site, atmosphere relaxed.
That day, Chi Ye learned that 《Xing Ni》 post-production was fully complete and about to be submitted for review.
He turned to glance out the window.
Fine snowflakes poured from lead-gray clouds.
Snow filling the sky, white blanket everywhere.
2025’s first snow.
Finally made it to the end of 2025, the last moment.
So… let’s bring a little storm to the internal entertainment circle at year’s end.
After all, winter is perfect for fried chicken, beer, showing off spicy hot pot, milk tea.
As for what you’re asking… of course, Schrödinger’s perfect!
“Chi Ge.”
Keke pushed the door in, a few snowflakes drifting, cold wind naughtily sneaking in. She hurried to Chi Ye’s side: “Yu Yan new album’s first lead single date is set.”
Chi Ye withdrew his gaze: “When?”
“December 1st.”
Chi Ye was silent for two seconds: “Hit him.”
“……His new drama should also file around New Year’s Day.”
Chi Ye nodded: “Hit him.”
Keke paused. Even knowing Chi Ge’s plan, at the moment, she still felt a bit nervous and “absurd.”
Really…… can we beat him?
It’s Yu Yan.
Yu Yan at his peak.
Chi Ye stood up, put on his coat: “After this year, internal entertainment’s top streamer will be just one.”
