Helping the Young Master Open His Eyes

Once the agent was settled, everything that followed fell naturally into place.

Choosing an assistant team, a styling team, and so on.

Though the young master had no fame yet, he was not here merely to act. He had come with a mission, so naturally, the more impressive the entourage, the better.

"Given the current landscape, the fastest way to get famous is undoubtedly through variety shows. Based on your ideas and requirements, the acting route is too slow. You can start with variety shows, then move into film and television."

Wen Chengze lightly tapped his fingers against the tabletop. "I understand that, but most variety shows on the major platforms are basically promotional. They aren't a very good choice for me."

Most of those guests had been famous for years. Even if he joined them, he would be overlooked. After all, he was not someone who liked showing off in front of the camera.

"Don't worry. I've already found a suitable variety show."

"What show?" Wen Chengze was somewhat curious. A show capable of spreading his name far and wide at once was certainly worth being curious about.

"It's an actor training variety show that's about to begin."

"Be more specific."

"This show has been in development for a long time. This is insider information from President Cheng. It's also a project jointly produced by Phoenix Dynasty and Best Actor Zhong, so it's bound to become popular. Besides, a competitive variety show like this should help you achieve your goal faster."

To ordinary people, the entertainment industry was an unattainable place. But to capital, it was merely a tool for making money. Whoever they wanted to promote could rise to the top.

Once Wen Chengze made a big enough splash on that show, it would be hard not to attract attention from every side.

Wen Chengze was very satisfied with Zhuo Wenyu's arrangement.

But one thing worried him a little. "Will Phoenix Dynasty or Zhong Mohan be the producer of this show?"

"Phoenix Dynasty." Zhuo Wenyu was not surprised by the question.

After all, sir had said that they needed to keep their distance from Wen Chengze. If necessary, they even had to make outsiders believe they were on opposing sides.

So if Zhong Mohan was the producer, there was a good chance the young master would refuse to choose it.

"Fine, then this one. As for everything else, there probably isn't much to prepare."

He could not guarantee anything else, but acting like a useless rich second-generation heir in front of the camera would be easy enough.

Still, he felt a little sorry for Phoenix Dynasty. If he caused trouble on this show, it would likely affect them considerably as well.

After weighing it over, Wen Chengze said, "We should reach our goal as quickly as possible, then get eliminated. Don't drag the show down too much."

"Understood."

Cheng Liang had only made a suggestion at the time. He had not expected Wen Chengze to actually accept it.

"You can put those worries back where they belong. This show is different from the usual ranking programs. It genuinely intends to train a group of actors." In his office, Cheng Liang personally poured Wen Chengze a cup of warm water.

"Hm?" Now Wen Chengze was genuinely curious. "What, aren't film academy students enough?"

"It's different. Students with formal training have their own path to follow, but there are also plenty without formal training. This show gives talented people a platform. Besides, actor training was something that needed to be done anyway. They're just turning it into a program so viewers can experience the joy of watching people grow."

"I see. So there's no elimination?"

"You can't exactly put it that way. Eliminations are decided randomly. Those who are outstanding, hardworking, or talented won't be eliminated."

"This show sounds like it's doing charity." Wen Chengze rubbed his chin.

Cheng Liang laughed. "How could it be charity? Do you think Phoenix Dynasty and Zhong Mohan are harmless? Every participant this time was carefully selected. They're all undiscovered secret weapons from various companies. To get those people onto the show, those companies gave Phoenix Dynasty plenty of benefits."

"That counts as a trade secret, doesn't it? You're telling me all this?"

"What's there to hide? You're not an outsider." Cheng Liang's gaze on Wen Chengze gradually softened.

Wen Chengze was still reading information about the show and did not notice.

Since they intended to make it a top-tier variety show, Phoenix Dynasty had spared no expense. They had invited eight mentors alone.

There were veteran artists, teachers from film academies, award-winning actors and actresses, and popular young idols.

They had to balance skill and popularity, after all.

It could be said that the mentor lineup was flawless.

There would be a hundred contestants in total. Some had applied themselves and passed the auditions, while others had been carefully recommended by their companies.

After all, connections and resources truly accounted for a major advantage in the entertainment industry.

"Alright, you can look through these materials slowly later. There are only a few days left before filming begins. Aren't you going to relax a little while you can? Every day after that will be a hard battle."

Though someone was looking out for him, wherever there were people, there would be conflict. Cheng Liang worried that Wen Chengze would not adapt to the pace of filming or to the methods those people might use.

"I've been relaxing all this time. I was never nervous."

"That's true. I've never seen much of any other emotion on your face. You were cuter when you were little—soft and delicate."

Wen Chengze shot him a cold glare. "Soft and delicate?"

"Cough, my mistake. It just slipped out, it just slipped out."

"I suddenly remembered that I haven't visited Grandpa Cheng in a while. No time like the present. Let's go see him today. You're coming with me?"

"Oh, ancestor, spare me."

"Hmph." How dare he call him soft and delicate?

Knowing he had touched the little ancestor's sore spot, Cheng Liang hurriedly tried to make amends. "My mistake. I'll take you somewhere that can actually help you relax."

"Where?"

Cheng Liang grinned. "You'll find out tonight."

Wen Chengze frowned. "I'm not going somewhere to fool around with you."

"Even if you lent me the courage, I wouldn't dare take you out to fool around. It's just an ordinary bar. Don't worry, it's absolutely clean. Last time we had dinner together, you slipped away after going to the restroom. We've both been busy lately, and it's been a long time since we got together."

"Fine." Wen Chengze did not refuse this time.

Though he was somewhat cold by nature, he knew perfectly well who treated him well.

Friends really should get together often. Besides, he would not be able to act so freely in the future.

At that thought, Wen Chengze thought of that damned man again. If that man had not caused so much trouble, he would not have needed to go through all this hassle.

The more he thought about it, the more he felt the Wen Household had boarded a pirate ship.

But Cheng Liang's plan was about far more than simply gathering together.

Since he wanted to pursue someone, he naturally had to make his feelings clear. Otherwise, wouldn't all those looks he had been giving go to a blind man?

He knew that men being with men was perfectly normal in the entertainment industry, but the young master did not. Tonight, he had to broaden the young master's horizons.

Otherwise, once the young master entered that cesspool of an entertainment industry and someone else broadened his horizons first, beating him to the punch, where would Cheng Liang go to cry?