Preparing to Fight the Entire World

The recording for the third season of "Talent Show" was in full swing.

However, the show's director was feeling a bit troubled. While the ratings for the first two seasons were excellent, no contestant had yet emerged this season who truly blew him away.

These standout contestants weren't limited to any particular style; they could be someone who played the piano with their feet, a stunt performer, or even someone who danced on a pole in a nightclub.

What mattered wasn't the performance itself, but its ability to attract viewers and spark discussion.

It didn't matter if it was a pleasant surprise or a shocking one.

Unfortunately, this season's episodes so far had been too conventional.

But today, half of his troubles were resolved.

Because someone who shocked him had appeared.

Yet, this also brought new dilemmas.

In his office, the show's director looked hesitantly at Bai Youlou, seemingly caught in a dilemma.

After smoking two cigarettes in a row, he frowned and asked, "You're just going on stage to sing, and it's okay if you get eliminated?"

"Yes, you can arrange it however you want," Bai Youlou confirmed.

"Then can you accept sharp criticism? Our judges might be a bit..."

"Please, be as sharp as possible. But if I argue with them, can you guarantee some screen time?"

"As long as you don't curse too much, we won't cut anything!"

Cut it? How could they possibly cut it? This was a guaranteed ratings booster!

The director knew what he was doing.

He didn't care what Bai Youlou and the bald, ugly guy next to him were going to sing.

As long as it could generate buzz for the show, they could sing whatever they wanted.

"Scandalous Idol, who's been blacklisted online, tries to make a comeback on Talent Show but is ruthlessly criticized by the judges and leaves in disappointment." The thought of this topic alone promised plenty of discussion.

After realizing this, the director's attitude towards Bai Youlou improved significantly, as if afraid he would change his mind and not want to go on stage.

"Kid, you're a good person!"

"Sacrificing yourself to illuminate others. If the ground weren't a bit cold, I'd definitely kowtow to you!"

After leaving his office, Long Ziqiang summarized a key issue, "Director, how should we promote the movie? Should we just say it during our self-introduction?"

Bai Youlou shook his head, "Saying it directly has a high chance of being cut. Don't overestimate these people's integrity. Old Zhou should have the props ready."

Props?

The word felt both familiar and strange.

He was very familiar with props when filming before, but Long Ziqiang couldn't imagine what props would be needed for singing.

Not until he saw the white T-shirt printed with "Whiplash, releasing October 1st."

This advertisement was way too blatant!

"Will they censor it?" Long Ziqiang asked foolishly.

"Don't underestimate the curiosity of netizens."

Censor it?

If the production team really blurred out his shirt, the hashtag #WhatWasWrittenOnBaiYoulou'sShirt# would likely trend.

This was also one of the marketing tactics he'd grown tired of in his previous life.

Those girls who wore very little clothing, with important parts subtly revealed, were much more attractive than those who were completely naked.

"Hiding half of it, like playing the pipa," they learned this in school.

Humans are just like that.

"Talent Show," "The Voice," "Singer," "Tomorrow's Star Show"...

It took a few days, but Bai Youlou, like someone who hadn't eaten for three days and three nights, took Long Ziqiang and went through the entire list of shows Old Zhou had given him.

His approach was "starving and not picky," wanting them all.

The result was that ninety percent of the shows were willing to let him make an appearance.

It wasn't that Idol Bai Youlou was too expensive to hire, but rather that Fallen Idol Bai Youlou offered better value.

He didn't ask for appearance fees; he was willing to be a "Clown" for free to grab attention. Who wouldn't take advantage of such a deal?

During this process, Long Ziqiang also intensified his practice of the songs Bai Youlou had given him.

This was something he had dreamed of before filming.

Bai Youlou hadn't disappointed him; the songs he gave could fill two albums.

He couldn't practice them all, not at all. He could only pick a few to practice first, as "Old Master Bai" was generous and allowed him to sing different songs on every show.

All original! It was opening the eyes of the music industry!

But... Long Ziqiang soon discovered something was wrong.

Before Bai Youlou started filming, the songs he performed were the kind that made you want to pack your bags and see the world.

Long Ziqiang absolutely loved those songs about freedom and dreams.

However, the songs he was given could be generously described as full of energy and upbeat, almost catchy.

To put it bluntly, they were a bit cheesy, and some even had DJ accompaniment.

These were the types of songs Long Ziqiang wouldn't even bother singing when he busked at bars.

Long Ziqiang bravely raised this issue, and he was quite bold about it.

However, Bai Youlou's answer hit him like a ton of bricks.

"You'll be famous singing this stuff."

"Huh?"

Long Ziqiang looked utterly bewildered, as this was truly a blind spot for him.

That was until Bai Youlou handed him a mirror.

Then he understood.

Bai Youlou: "You've got such a 'street' look, it would be a waste not to have people rocking out to your songs."

Besides, if Long Ziqiang didn't sing them, Bai Youlou wasn't going to sing them himself, right? He didn't really like them either.

It was all because he'd scrolled through too many short videos in his past life, inexplicably learning a bunch of "weird" things.

Yet, he remembered them with astonishing clarity. It made no sense.

Seeing that Long Ziqiang seemed to be eyeing his "Three Hundred Children's Songs," Bai Youlou didn't give in.

Want to peek at the "ultimate secret manual"? Get a handle on the "basic sword techniques" first.

Then, he turned and handed "Three Hundred Children's Songs" to Zhang Xiaorong. "Pick a few. I've marked the ones I've done the accompaniment for."

Zhang Xiaorong took it directly, showing no hesitation in accepting from Bai Youlou.

However, before she started flipping through, she said, "I need to get leave from school first before I can join you on the show."

"Director, you're letting Teacher Zhang come along to get yelled at too?" Bai Youlou hadn't even had a chance to speak before Long Ziqiang blurted out.

"Get lost and go practice your singing!"

After scolding the annoying guy away, Bai Youlou turned back to Zhang Xiaorong.

Before he could say anything, Zhang Xiaorong thoughtfully spoke up, "It's okay, I don't use the internet much, so I'm not afraid of being criticized."

"You don't have to be criticized. Who said you would be? You're like my insurance."

"Huh?" Zhang Xiaorong blinked, not quite understanding his meaning. She guessed, "You mean I'll go after you guys finish the show?"

"No, you can be on the same episode as us, but don't say the songs are mine, and don't stick together."

"I can't do that!"

Zhang Xiaorong, usually so elegant and composed, suddenly became exceptionally firm, almost forcefully so.

Perhaps because she was fair-skinned, Bai Youlou clearly noticed that the area from her neck to her ears had turned a bit red.

It wasn't from shyness, just from the sheer force of her conviction.

Such a physique... so translucent.

"You didn't understand what I meant." Bai Youlou wanted to tease the girl a bit more, to see how agitated she could get, what she would look like when fully agitated, and what "scenery" she might present. But ultimately, he gave up under Zhang Xiaorong's serious and determined gaze.

In the end, he just said, "When I'm going up against the whole world, I need some insurance, right?"

"...Me?"

"Are you willing?"