Chapter 58: 2025, Welcoming The New Year With Joy!
“I’m just like a clown!”
Yang Zi was genuinely dumbfounded.
How much kung fu did he put in, how much effort did he expend, just to get on the hot search this time?
He didn’t even care about his old face anymore.
And now you’re telling me that several people from Rise got into a fight at the doorway!
Isn’t this purely treating me, Yang Zong, like a sandbag?!
Chi Ye looked at his appearance, feeling a bit reluctant: “Don’t worry, you’ll surpass them eventually and get the establishment.”
Yang Zi: “?”
Chi Ye sincerely: “No need to rush, didn’t your sister-in-law just not agree to your proposal this time?”
“Propose again next time, and it’ll be another wave of popularity!”
Yang Zi: “…”
His small eyes started turning, suddenly feeling that the sky wasn’t so dark after all.
The way he looked at Chi Ye also softened.
As expected of the “friend across generations” he acknowledged, one word from that little mouth, and it’s casually a nasty trick!
Is this what a talented player is like?
…
On the other side.
Mango TV director group.
With Shen Qing Yu, Yang Zi, Jiang Mou and others making such a fuss, not only did it drag Yang Zi down, but Mango TV’s New Year’s Eve popularity was also affected.
Fortunately, all of this happened off-site, just as that teacher said, not in the main venue.
Otherwise, that would really be explosive.
Of course, even so, for Rise and Jian Ni these two “organizations,” Mango TV was already apprehensive.
“Peng Chen hasn’t made a move, right?”
“Peng Chen seemed like he wanted to go out earlier…”
“What? Peng Chen did it too?!”
The chief director was shocked: “Did Chi Ye do it?!”
Assistant: “…No, it’s not that, it’s because of competing for the grand finale spot with Chu Han Zhou…”
Chief director: “…”
“No, for male artists as grand finale, I remember it’s Yu Yan, right? For the New Year’s Eve show close to midnight, at the end all guests go on stage for the count down… Who can compete with him? Not afraid of being cursed to death by fans?”
“Yeah.” The assistant nodded: “So they’re competing over their order, Chu Han Zhou’s movie for the Spring Festival slot is coming up, he’s eager to promote it.”
“I remember that movie’s film crew wasn’t this proactive, just him promoting everywhere he goes.”
“First big production, partnering with a movie emperor, very normal.”
The chief director nodded: “Oh, like that, then let them compete among themselves, as long as it doesn’t affect the program… Who’s next? No more trouble, right?”
“Next is Teacher Hua.”
“Oh, that’s professional match.” The chief director was delighted: “Perfect to do a ritual to dispel the bad luck!”
Assistant: “…”
…
Around 11 p.m., the New Year’s Eve gala gradually reached its climax.
After the “Shen Yang” incident, Mango TV urgently needed to dispel bad luck, so they invited the number one mage in the national server, Hua Yichen.
On-site ritual to drive away bad luck.
Chi Ye and others sat in the audience, looking at the dim greenish stage setup, the “ghostly” BGM, and the figure on stage scratching ears and cheeks, frantically shaking his body, muttering incantations, and they remained silent.
After a long time, Chi Ye sighed: “After watching this program, I always feel like this year can’t be crossed.”
Everyone: “…”
“It really feels a bit underworld, what’s up with Mango TV? Who did this stage setup? Hell style?”
Yang Zi nodded: “That kid on stage too, so young and already has a side job.”
Chi Ye gave him a sideways glance: “Funeral industry, professionally handling funerals.”
Behind them, the director teacher giving a distant shot to Hua Yichen on stage: “…”
Just because Teacher Hua is from Yue Na, your mouth is this vicious?
Couldn’t hold back, defended: “This is Teacher Hua’s own chosen style, said it fits the song better.”
Everyone: “…”
“Aaaah~~~~!”
Suddenly, the body on stage trembled violently, letting out a wail from the depths of hell, stirring everyone’s souls.
Chi Ye shuddered, instinctively turning back to check if the Empress Dowager was scared, but then remembered the Empress Dowager had gone backstage to see her aunt again, her show was at 11:30.
Turning back, just about to continue sharp critique, his gaze suddenly paused, landing on Peng Chen not far away at the backstage doorway, who was gloomily talking to Mango TV staff.
What’s up with Lao Peng? His expression worse than after drinking fake wine?
…
“It’s written in the contract, we’re after Chu Han Zhou for the grand finale, why was it temporarily changed to put us before him?”
Peng Chen’s assistant was aggressive, questioning the person in charge.
The person in charge rubbed his hands, very embarrassed: “Well… It’s our fault for the temporary program list change, but Chu Han Zhou has a new movie to promote, so…”
“He has a new movie, don’t we have works?”
The assistant was even angrier: “Aren’t you just purely toying with us?!”
“What’s Peng Ge’s star power outside? Chu Han Zhou got famous a bit earlier than us, but both first-tier, if you hadn’t promised to let Peng Ge go first this time, we’d have gone to Tomato TV long ago, their treatment is way better than yours!”
The person in charge still smiled: “Understand, understand, we’re in a tough spot too…”
“No, this is really your fault…”
“Forget it.”
Peng Chen interrupted the assistant’s argument, gloomily looking at the person in charge: “I can sing first, but the breach of contract issue, you talk to my studio, that’s it.”
He felt a bit powerless too.
Chu Han Zhou got famous earlier than him, with solid foundation, one of the four great young actors, truly speaking, his star power could stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Yu Yan.
His star power was indeed not as good.
Four great double hits, dual top streamers.
Looking at the ranking order, they bundle with “four great,” he’s “dual top streamers.”
Both first-tier, but with differences.
Fuck, that dumbass illiterate Zhang Yu who can’t even write “to this one tour” right, over thirty and still acting in ancient idol dramas, in a few years, see who laughs last!
New movie, hope it flops!
Just like that, at fifteen minutes past, after the mage, Lao Peng with a grim face took the stage.
And as soon as he appeared, he “blinded” Chi Ye and the others in the audience.
“My god, buddy this is too…”
Chi Ye and their seats were in the frontmost side position, mostly where stars sit when idle, behind them the director group members.
So they could clearly see from the side that after Peng Chen took the stage, the dozen or so dance partners who came up with him all had their legs bent uniformly, seemingly dance moves, but actually “deliberately shorter by half.”
Their uneven heights just happened to be half a head shorter than Peng Chen!
Extremely comical!
“Buddy didn’t use stilts this time, switched to sawing others’ legs.”
Chi Ye sighed: “Lao Peng too, too cautious, Shen Qing Yu is done for, what are you afraid of?”
Everyone: “…”
“Something’s off.” Teacher Huang who just returned frowned: “Xiao Peng’s expression isn’t right.”
Everyone was stunned, then noticed that Peng Chen was singing listlessly, dance moves very perfunctory, and frequently adjusting his headset.
Looked exactly like black-faced slacking on the spot.
What’s this?
Everyone didn’t know the inside story, but from the look, there must be a conflict with Mango side.
Thud!
Suddenly, as the song reached the end, the rising platform just starting to descend vibrated slightly, then stopped motionless in mid-air.
“？!”
Gasps rose from the site.
“What happened?!”
The directors behind jumped: “Problem?!”
“Director, the rising platform is stuck…”
“Fuck! What’s the stage mechanics team doing?! We said to pay attention to safety, you guys eating what?!”
He was really angry.
New Year’s Eve galas have accidents every year, fired so many people, still no change.
“See if it needs support? Don’t have another accident!”
“Not high from the ground, they all jumped down…”
On stage, the stuck position of the rising platform was about 1.6 meters, the backup dancers jumped down one by one easily under program team staff command.
But Peng Chen stayed up there unmoving, awkwardly stuck.
Everyone looked at him puzzled.
Peng Chen’s face was flushed red, after a while he finally squeezed out: “Fuck, I… my legs aren’t long enough, this is too high!”
Everyone: “…”
“Come, everyone lend a hand, make a ‘human ladder’ for Teacher Peng.” The lead backup dancer had everyone extend hands, signaling Peng Chen: “Teacher Peng, jump, we can catch you!”
Peng Chen: “…”
CNM, why so unlucky!
He ground his teeth to bits, face congested, feeling fiery gazes all around, closed his eyes, gritted teeth and jumped down.
“Ouch!”
As a result, because eyes closed, body caught, but one foot still twisted accidentally.
Fuck!
Peng Chen cursed inwardly again, black-faced without looking at anyone, turned and exited to backstage.
The host was still salvaging: “Teacher Peng rest first, come back later, we’ll cross the year together!”
Cross NM year!
“…This gala is run by real talent.”
Chi Ye watched shaking his head, then soon after, Weibo spread two “different” Mango TV program performance lists, one with Peng Chen after, one with Chu Han Zhou after.
Fans from both sides directly tore into each other, Mango TV official Weibo got flooded.
Of course, those were afterthoughts.
After Lao Peng’s tragic exit, not long after, the Empress Dowager performed a song.
Don’t say, though the Empress Dowager’s natural voice is a bit coquettish, but because she practiced lines hard, in such occasions, she actually performed quite well.
This made Chi Ye look at her in a new light.
—Originally thought your singing skill was as bad as mine, turns out you secretly took lessons?
Hmm… but mine isn’t bad now either, now I’m terrifyingly strong!
The terrifyingly strong Chi Ye, nearing midnight, after Chu Han Zhou and Yu Yan’s final appearances, finally welcomed his first “stage” of this New Year’s Eve night.
Following the Jian Ni family, and a bunch of entertainment industry young, mid, old men on stage, countdown ten numbers for New Year’s Eve!
Because Mango wanted to promote Jian Ni, Chi Ye and others were even arranged in a position closer to center stage.
“Hmm?”
In the “crowded” star cluster, Chi Ye noticed a stranger yet somewhat familiar figure.
—Jiang Cheng.
Erlang’s Crown Prince, the only “outsider” in the #Khan Rallying Troops# incident.
Also Yue Na’s pushed young actor, star power similar to Shen Qing Yu before he collapsed.
He squeezed over, greeted Huang, Lu and others: “Hello teachers.”
Chi Ye gave a sideways glance.
“Teacher Chi!”
The Empress Dowager just changed clothes backstage, ran over nimbly, suddenly spotted Jiang Cheng, little face pulled.
“What’s wrong?”
Chi Ye asked.
“He seems to be joining Jian Ni too, Yue Na side wants to push him.”
“Oh.”
Chi Ye understood.
Jiang Cheng didn’t greet Chi Ye and Jin Xia either, just stuck to the Jian Ni family.
The on-site host was sweating profusely, still directing positions.
“Come, 10! 9! 8……!”
Teacher He controlled the other side, had everyone face the lens, several big stars like Yu Yan, Chu Han Zhou, Shang Youshu, Jin Xia respectively led groups, turning to different lenses at specific numbers, for close-ups, better looking.
“3, 2, 1!!”
“0!”
“New year has arrived, all things renewed! Let’s rush to the sparkling—2025!!”
“2025, hello! May love be like light, illuminating every ordinary day!”
“The bell of the Year of the Snake rings, future stories hotly begin, may you and I in the new year harvest fully, rush to our passions!”
Applause.
On-site audience shouted along, new spring arrived, atmosphere heated.
Chi Ye took the chance to approach “select target,” used his last two advanced scrolls.
【You obtained『Fang Luochuan』’s instrumental foundation（advanced）】
【You obtained『Fang Luochuan』’s superb vocal talent（advanced）】
Chi Ye: “…”
Not bad.
Fang Luochuan is a top creation-type singer, proficient in various instruments, singing skill top-notch.
He originally wanted to draw a single skill like piano technique, but unexpectedly, the other’s instrumental foundation reached advanced.
Truly beyond his expectation.
“Hmm?”
Seemed to notice Chi Ye’s gaze, Fang Luochuan looked over puzzled.
Chi Ye smiled and nodded, the other inexplicably felt seen through, withdrew gaze.
“Hey hey! Hey hey!”
Yang Zi lightly tapped the microphone, frowned: “Why no sound from this microphone!”
Chi Ye surprised: “Really?”
Because promoting Jian Ni, they cleverly got a rare speaking opportunity, after Yu Yan and others finish New Year blessings, it was their turn.
But if the microphone had a problem…
“Use mine first?”
Chi Ye handed his over.
Yang Zi took it, tapped “hey hey” twice, dumbfounded: “Yours has no sound either!”
“But others have sound…”
The two looked at the stars speaking, and those not speaking but with clear subtle microphone sounds.
Not far, the still black-faced Peng Chen heard their talk, suspiciously thought, uncertainly picked up his microphone, “hey hey” tested twice.
No sound either.
“?”
He couldn’t hold back, directly broke defense: “Fuck!!”
Surrounding crowd quieted, all dumbfounded looking at him.
Peng Chen reacted too, but still ugly expression, exploded with anger!
What the fuck does it have to do with me!
They can “specially target” me like this?!
Fans were right, I fucking did nothing, reputation all ruined by Rise!
Backstage, chief director sideways glanced at the three, commanded: “Mute those three first, open when they speak!”
“Remember, focus attention, close immediately after speaking! Prevent accidents!”
“Yes, understood!”
Everyone on high alert.
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