[Ugh... How did it end so quickly? I have to wait three more days, sob sob, I'm so sad, what should I do? Can you please make the remaining matches pre-recorded? That way I can continue watching tomorrow.]
[Yeah, yeah, it would be so much better if it were pre-recorded! I love watching it! And I discovered so many amazing guys today! They're all so talented, truly hidden gems!]
[I'm so reluctant to leave! I've never felt two hours go by so quickly. But I have to go to work tomorrow, so I'll just wash up and go to bed. I'll come back and yell at Shang Shujue next time!]
As the live stream ended, everyone in the studio breathed a sigh of relief. They stretched their limbs and pretended to be nervous as they went backstage to say goodbye to the eliminated contestants. In reality, they were subtly reminding Shang Shujue to continue watching the drama unfold.
[It's over already? I thought it would be a while longer. But that's fine, I can go back and watch it slowly, hehehe... How can you enjoy a melon without some melon seeds?]
Shang Shujue stood up from his seat, and Chen Jiarui quickly went over and handed him her phone, her tone slightly urgent as she spoke.
" Brother Jue, Sister Zhang just called you. It seems she wants to sign all the eliminated trainees to Shangyu. Shangyu has lost a lot of people recently for no apparent reason, and they're short-staffed right now..."
" Shangyu?"
Upon hearing Chen Jiarui's words, Shang Shujue paused in unlocking his phone, his mind racing as he tried to recall what this Shangyu was.
Shangyu Entertainment Co., Ltd.. is an entertainment company created by his second brother Shang Shuchen, in this world. It mainly produces movies and TV series.
Shang Shuchen was originally a strict director who switched careers to become a boss. He makes TV series and movies purely out of hobby, has high requirements for actors, and never gets involved in training trainees.
The fact that this request was made so suddenly suggests that someone has sabotaged his company; otherwise, how could a perfectly good company possibly experience such a situation of mass resignations and people running away?
"Okay, I understand. Chen Jiarui, you can go home and get some rest. Don't worry about the rest, I'll handle it."
As soon as Shang Shujue finished speaking, she walked towards the dressing room for the eliminated actors, and called Shang Shuchen. The man sitting on the sofa drinking alone heard the phone ring, frowned involuntarily, and answered it without even looking at it.
"If you want to resign, go directly to HR. If your contract hasn't expired, pay the penalty for breach of contract. If your contract has expired and you want to leave, then get out of here..."
Shang Shuchen assumed it was one of those actors who had been poached calling to humiliate him, so his tone was rather harsh. Shang Shujue, hearing this, couldn't help but click his tongue three times.
"Second brother, it seems you're facing quite a bit of trouble. I happen to be able to solve your manpower shortage problem. Do you need any men? If so, I'll send some over tomorrow."
Upon hearing his younger brother's voice, Shang Shuchen glanced at the phone screen with some suspicion. After confirming that it was indeed his younger brother, he couldn't hold back the suppressed resentment and grievances in his heart.
" Xiao Jue, it really is you! I want it, I want it! I don't know what's going on at the company lately. All the actors whose contracts are about to expire aren't renewing them, and some actors whose contracts haven't expired yet have been poached by Chao Ci Entertainment..."
Shang Shuchen poured out his grievances to Shang Shujue, wishing he could vent all the grievances and sadness he had suffered during this period.
Shang Shujue listened quietly, walked to the door of the lounge, and saw that the eight people were still there, sitting on the sofa deep in thought. He didn't think much of it, but when they saw him about to speak, he raised his hand to signal them to be quiet.
Seeing that Shang Shujue was on the phone and couldn't hear his thoughts, the eight people didn't dare to speak. They just sat quietly, waiting for the purpose of his visit to be revealed.
Xu Jiaqiao and the others, who had noticed Shang Shujue going to the eliminated trainees' rest room, quietly followed and hid in a corner to observe. They wanted to know what Brother Jue was going to do next.
"Okay, don't worry, let me ask... Alright, alright, I'll send the person over right now, stop crying."
No one knows what the person on the other end of the phone said to Shang Shujue, but it made his entire face scrunch up, reflecting the old man's incomprehension and frustration while looking at his phone on the subway.
Hong Zhenghua and the others didn't know what Shang Shujue was up to. Seeing his expression, they couldn't help but exchange glances with the people next to them, wondering what was going on.
Fortunately, Shang Shujue didn't keep them waiting too long. He quickly hung up the phone and got straight to the point, "I know you're a little sad about being eliminated, but it's okay. My brother's team is short of actors right now."
"Anyone who wants to try acting but isn't signed with an agency can come with me."
"Of course, if you don't want to continue in the entertainment industry and want to go on to study or get a job after graduation, you can leave your contact information. If you're not comfortable with that, it's okay if you don't."
Shang Shujue's words stunned everyone present. It took them a long time to come to their senses. They were all there to play minor roles and had not signed with any entertainment company.
" Brother Jue, I want to go back to school and take the civil service exam. I don't want to work in the entertainment industry anymore. Thank you so much for giving me this opportunity, but I'm afraid I'll have to let you down."
Le Tianyu was the first to speak. He had figured it out: he wasn't cut out for the entertainment industry, and he should just go home, study, and take the civil service exam.
Shang Shujue paused slightly after hearing his words, but didn't say anything more. She simply nodded and looked at the others, "If he's not going, what about you?"
" Brother Jue, I want to go!" Hu Zhiyuan's eyes lit up. He came to participate in the trainee program because the staff said that if he successfully debuted, he could get scripts and act in movies.
" Brother Jue, I'm not going. I want to go home and take care of my grandpa. I've been practicing here for too long, and I haven't seen him in ages."
Hong Zhenghua also rejected Shang Shujue's suggestion. He wanted to go back and see if he could live to see the day his biological parents came looking for him. Moreover, he wanted to personally deal with that family; some grudges could only be settled by taking revenge in person.
Hong Zhenghua, Le Tianyu, and two other trainees named Baili Wu and Zhou Qiyuan chose to leave together. Hu Zhiyuan, Li Ru, Zheng Jiaye, and Zhou Wangqi chose to go to Shang Shuchen's company. They are all people who love acting.
"Alright, you four get some rest and can leave tomorrow. You four come with me to Shangyu, sign the contract, and then come back to collect your things."
"Okay Brother Jue."
Shang Shujue took Hu Zhiyuan and the others away, Baili Wu and the other person quickly sent a message to Hu Zhiyuan.
If Shang Shujue mentions them, ask him to remember Shang Shujue's thoughts, since these thoughts have a distance limitation; they can't be heard if they're too far away...
After Hu Zhiyuan agreed, the two breathed a sigh of relief. When they looked up at each other, they both wanted to laugh. Hong Zhenghua patted them on the shoulder and asked, "What are you planning to do after you get out?"
The two looked at him, then shrugged and said in unison, "I don't know, let's just take it one step at a time."
That's life, isn't it...?