Page 24

Smack!

Cui Yujin angrily slammed the newspaper onto the table. Tang Shi and Lu Hengzhi sat on either side of it, calmly flipping through their textbooks and doing homework as though nothing had happened. Seeing their attitude, Cui Yujin grew even more furious. He raised his brows and stomped his feet as he said, "People are already slandering you right to your faces, and you still have the mood to do homework? How can you be so unconcerned?"

Tang Shi looked up at the exasperated Cui Yujin, shook his head, and smiled. "Their mouths are on their own faces. If they want to talk, let them talk. There's nothing we can do about it."

"But you can't just let them spout nonsense! They're smearing you and falsely accusing you. How can you put up with that?"

"Do you think everyone believes every rumor they hear, like you do?" Lu Hengzhi put down his pen, looked at Cui Yujin, and shook his head with an amused smile. "Anyone with eyes can tell what happened yesterday. Those tabloids ignored the facts and published those so-called revelations just to grab attention and boost sales. But the people most harmed by this are the TV station and the production team. With Apple TV Station and Emperor Entertainment's strength, do you think they'll just stand there and let those tabloids throw mud at them?"

Cui Yujin froze, then asked thoughtfully, "You mean..."

"Just wait and see. I don't think Emperor Entertainment and Apple TV Station have such good tempers."

And events unfolded exactly as Tang Shi and Lu Hengzhi had predicted. On the afternoon of the third day after the negative reports appeared—when their impact had reached its peak—Apple TV Station and Emperor Entertainment held a press conference to clarify the scandal surrounding the alleged backstage manipulation for viewers across the country. As the parties involved, Tang Shi, Lu Hengzhi, Lin Zhaoran, and Song Lijia were naturally invited to the conference to set the record straight.

Since this matter was also connected to the nationwide fundraising campaign Apple TV Station had launched a few days earlier, many members of the public had been following it closely. At the press conference, the PR staff from Apple TV Station and Emperor Entertainment passionately explained to all the media how Dance Miracle's procedures had been fair and transparent, with no backstage manipulation whatsoever. The contestants in the Southern Division also got along well and would not violate the rules simply to advance. Certain tabloids had carelessly slandered the production team and contestants without verifying the facts just to increase sales. This was irresponsible toward the media industry and an insult to viewers nationwide. Apple TV Station and Emperor Entertainment reserved the right to take legal action over the matter...

As for why the production team had waited three days after the negative reports emerged before holding a press conference to clarify the facts... their official explanation was that they had been busy with the fundraising campaign during those three days. Though the campaign had been somewhat affected by the spread of the negative reports, the production team had still raised two hundred thousand yuan. At the press conference, they personally handed the money to Lin Zhaoran, wishing for his mother's speedy recovery and hoping that his family matters would not affect his performance in the competition.

Together with the two hundred thousand yuan the production team had previously advanced for Lin Zhaoran's mother's surgery, that made a total of four hundred thousand yuan. It was by no means a small sum. At the very least, Lin Zhaoran's mother's post-surgery rehabilitation expenses and the family's living expenses for the coming months were secured. And after Lin Zhaoran repaid Tang Shi, he would still be able to support his younger brother, who had just finished the college entrance exams, through university...

It could be said that the production team's fundraising campaign had saved Lin Zhaoran's family and the rest of his life. Straightforward by nature, Lin Zhaoran burst into tears on the spot and emotionally told the media how compassionate the production team had been and how they had saved his family. At the same time, he once again clarified the rumors regarding the performance order. It had been he, Lin Zhaoran, who broke the rules first. During the competition, he had rushed to the hospital without asking for leave or notifying the production team. If the production team and Sugar Juice Duo had not decided at the last minute to switch the performance order, he would have been considered to have forfeited the competition... and there would have been no rumors afterward about backstage manipulation involving the production team and Sugar Juice Duo.

So the production team and Sugar Juice Duo had been smeared because of him. Lin Zhaoran felt especially guilty about it.

When media reporters asked whether the two sides had harbored any prior grievances, Lin Zhaoran frankly admitted that he had indeed been impulsive and irritated at the time, which was why he had deliberately provoked trouble. But after getting along afterward, he and Sugar Juice Duo had become good friends. Lin Zhaoran also revealed that after his family ran into trouble, the first people he had sought out were Sugar Juice Duo. Knowing they had won the Lottery, he had wanted to borrow money from them. Not only had Tang Shi agreed to his request, he had also taken the initiative to contact the production team and explain the situation for him.

At that point, the production team also presented evidence that left the media with no room for doubt—they produced footage from the day of the Auditions, showing all the contestants in the waiting hall. It clearly recorded the conflict between Sugar Juice Duo and Lin Zhaoran. The unedited footage completely proved Sugar Juice Duo's innocence. And the Three Girls Group, who had personally witnessed the incident, appeared at the press conference as witnesses.

The later incident in which Lin Zhaoran blocked Sugar Juice Duo at the entrance to the TV station building and borrowed money from them had also been faithfully captured on camera. The footage even clearly showed that Tang Shi had indeed taken the initiative to contact the production team staff, which was why the production team arranged the subsequent fundraising campaign...

At this point, the whole truth had come to light. There was no need to elaborate on the production team's subsequent PR work. In any case, after the alleged backstage manipulation scandal, Dance Miracle's production team not only suffered no negative impact but instead established a positive image in the public's eyes: fair, transparent, and compassionate. It also successfully promoted the Southern Division's reputation for contestants being as close as family. This boosted Dance Miracle's ratings and popularity. A blessing in disguise, indeed.

With their image no longer in any danger, the production team and TV station were finally free to deal with those who had kicked them while they were down. In fact, from the very First Moment the incident occurred, the production team had already investigated the cause—it was nothing more than two contestants who had failed in the Qualifier Round and felt resentful, so they approached tabloids with a scoop in an attempt to gain attention and popularity. But they had not expected that trying to take on the wealthy and powerful Apple TV Station and Emperor Entertainment by themselves was simply idiotic.

Thus, after angering two dragons, it was only natural that they would be jointly blacklisted by the enraged Apple TV Station and Emperor Entertainment. In fact, Apple TV Station and Emperor Entertainment did not even need to do much. As long as word of the matter got out, no agency or TV station would want people who were so foolish and lacking in professional ethics.

As for a contestant who had successfully advanced but was also involved in the matter... the production team had a private talk with that contestant, who obediently stated that they wished to withdraw from the competition for personal reasons. Afterward, they quietly left Apple City, and no further ripples arose.

There were also people who unexpectedly benefited from this incident—for example, the Three Girls Group, who had previously come forward to testify. They had originally been eliminated during the Qualifier Round and had already packed their bags and left Apple City. But when they received a call from the production team asking them to return and testify, they did not overthink it and immediately agreed. At the time, they had merely stepped forward with fair and kind hearts because they did not want Sugar Juice Duo to be falsely accused. Yet they had never expected that the matter would ultimately lead to an advancing contestant being forced to withdraw, and after a revival round, the vacant spot was given to the Three Girls Group by the judges.

The final outcome could be called a happy ending for everyone.

But those were matters for later, so they would not be mentioned for now. After the press conference, Lin Zhaoran and Song Lijia, worried about their mother in the hospital, hurried away after greeting the production team and Tang Shi's group. Tang Shi and Lu Hengzhi were also preparing to return to the dance rehearsal hall and continue practicing.

But before they could move, someone stopped them.

He was a middle-aged man dressed in a smart suit, with fair skin and gold-rimmed glasses. The man had noticed Sugar Juice Duo during the press conference, but he had not had the time or opportunity to approach them then. Now that the conference had ended, the man, who had been holding himself back for quite some time, strode over. With a confident manner that was proud yet polished, he extended his hand and introduced himself. "Hello. I'm Lu Zhengqiao, manager of Emperor Entertainment's Artist Management Department."

Tang Shi and Lu Hengzhi were both startled. After exchanging a glance, Tang Shi reached out his hand and said, "Hello. We're Sugar Juice Duo. I'm Tang Shi."

"I'm Lu Hengzhi."

"Could we find somewhere quieter to talk?" After receiving Sugar Juice Duo's agreement, Lu Zhengqiao brought them to an upscale Western restaurant across from the press conference venue. He had maintained a private room there year-round, quiet and elegant, perfectly suited for conversation.

"Are you interested in becoming contracted artists under our company?" When Lu Zhengqiao asked this question, he had already prepared himself for an affirmative answer. But to his surprise, after Tang Shi and Lu Hengzhi exchanged another look, the question they asked was—

"Isn't it said that contestants can only sign with an agency after the competition ends?"

Lu Zhengqiao smiled. "That is the rule. But because your group's performance has been so outstanding, it is also possible for you to sign early.

After a pause, Lu Zhengqiao went on to discuss Emperor Entertainment's brilliant achievements and future prospects, as well as the excellent conditions it offered newcomers—though this excellence did not refer to financial terms. In fact, the larger the agency, the harsher its financial terms tended to be when signing newcomers. Of course, this did not mean Emperor Entertainment's contracts were harsh. Compared to certain smaller agencies, however, its commission share would certainly be higher. But what Emperor Entertainment could offer newcomers was a smoother path ahead and more opportunities. For example, how many films were made each year, the scale of their investments, how many TV dramas were produced annually, whether they could guarantee broadcast on major satellite channels, what billing they could offer, and even whether they could provide excellent training teams, styling teams, and publicity teams...

After all, whether someone could become a star, and how long they could remain in the industry, was never merely a personal matter.

And the reason Emperor Entertainment had taken the initiative to offer a contract this time was not only because Sugar Juice Duo had performed brilliantly on the show, but also because of Queen Qiao Lin's endorsement. After all, not every newcomer was qualified to take on a role in Queen Qiao Lin's music video, much less capable of designing dance steps for her new song.

Whether in image, talent, publicity, or even luck, Sugar Juice Duo had enough to attract Emperor Entertainment into lowering its stance and taking the initiative to offer them a contract.

But what Lu Zhengqiao had not expected was that Sugar Juice Duo would actually refuse Emperor Entertainment's offer.

Actually, to be precise, Sugar Juice Duo had not completely rejected Emperor Entertainment's interest in signing them. They simply had no desire to sign a contract for the time being.

"You also know that, for certain reasons, our group and the production team were just involved in a scandal regarding 'backstage manipulation.' Although it was ultimately clarified, we think it would be better to be cautious. In any case, everyone who places in the top ten after the competition will be eligible to sign with Emperor Entertainment. It won't be too late for us to sign then."

After a pause, Lu Hengzhi looked at Lu Zhengqiao's expressionless face and said with a smile, "You don't think we lack the ability to make it into the national top ten, do you?"

What Lu Hengzhi did not say aloud was that if they really had the chance to win the championship, the contract terms then would definitely be different from what they were now. Waiting for the right price was a principle every good businessman understood.

Lu Zhengqiao smiled at Lu Hengzhi's words. "With your strength and popularity, making the national top ten should be beyond dispute. But sometimes, competition results may not necessarily correspond to a person's actual ability."