After the show ended, the contestants heard that the director was treating them to a meal. Fu Yunyi then added some money and took everyone to a highly-rated hot pot restaurant in the city to celebrate. By booking the entire restaurant, the contestants could eat to their heart's content, and everyone was immediately happy.
The entire production team also went, but they traveled separately from the contestants.
After getting on the bus, the director first exchanged a few pleasantries with the mentors, then pulled Xia Zhiyi aside to talk about the behind-the-scenes footage. "Many people have already seen this. You know how it is with live variety shows like ours; sometimes, collecting behind-the-scenes clips isn't as effective as the audience watching the whole thing."
"Your move will definitely be a highlight, but the focus later on the players will still be on them. If you add this, it will be hard to get the audience's attention back."
"So what we're thinking is to include your performance in the behind-the-scenes footage. What do you think, Teacher Xia?"
Upon hearing this, Xia Zhiyi noticed that the director was somewhat cautious when asking the question, as if he was afraid of upsetting her. She was a little surprised, but after thinking about it, she understood.
He said, "It's nothing, just a small matter. I can just cut it off."
He intervened out of good intentions, not to steal the limelight from others.
Director: "Okay."
After saying that, he added, "I'd always heard that you had a gentle temper, Teacher Xia, and after getting to know you, I've found that you really do. I've never seen you get angry on the show so far."
Xia Zhiyi helplessly, "I haven't encountered anything that should make me angry. Director, do you want to see me angry?"
The director stroked his chin. "It's not that, it's just that, you know, if you never get angry elsewhere, but you get angry while teaching my students, then my show will have some buzz."
Xia Zhiyi silent.
The director waved his hand and chuckled, "Of course, of course, I know. The investors all said they'd strive for authenticity, so our production team won't be playing any tricks."
Anyway, the sponsor doesn't mind, and he's not the kind of person who chases traffic. Since there's no such requirement from above, he can act according to his conscience and feel at ease.
Sometimes you just want a little something exciting, you know?
Xia Zhiyi glanced at the director, then at the group of people in front who were pretending to be indifferent but were clearly eavesdropping, and raised an eyebrow. "Director, if you want a sensational moment, it's not difficult."
Upon hearing this, the director said "Oh," and asked, "Does Teacher Xia have any good ideas?"
Xia Zhiyi: "Didn't we arrange some mini-games for the contestants tomorrow morning? Many contestants have secretly approached me privately, wanting to become my apprentices. If you don't mind, we could team up."
The director was taken aback. "You actually came to our show to find apprentices?"
Xia Zhiyi smiled, "Yes, Director, did you think I was joking?"
The director nodded.
He genuinely believed that Xia Zhiyi was joking when she said that.
There are plenty of people who want to become Xia Zhiyi's apprentices. If he really had that idea, he could just organize an event anywhere, and there would be at least eight or ten thousand people signing up. Wouldn't it be better to carefully select people then than to come to his show?
Xia Zhiyi explained briefly, "I heard that all the contestants participating in this competition have a solid foundation."
The director is confused.
The director suddenly realized.
Director: "I see. Indeed, several contestants have been dancing since they were young. We have several promising talents on our show."
"But they might not want to learn martial arts, right? After all, even I know that learning martial arts isn't something you can master overnight; it's a lifelong endeavor, and it's exhausting."
But debuting through a talent show is different. You can be part of a limited-time group for a year, and after that, you can continue being an idol or transition into acting or becoming a singer.
Although mastering this profession requires personal effort, and those who stray from the right path won't go far, people are inherently lazy, and most people will choose a more comfortable lifestyle when given an easier option.
For example, wouldn't the director himself want to be like Xia Zhiyi, possessing superb martial arts skills and able to fly at will?
The martial arts spirit of the Xia Country is no joke, and when that spirit is combined with flight, it becomes a spirit shared by all humanity—who wouldn't want to soar into the clouds using their own abilities?
But the director was just thinking about it. Even if Xia Zhiyi said it was still not too late for him to learn, the director himself wouldn't learn it.
No other reason than exhaustion.
Xia Zhiyi: "Well, I'm just giving it a try. It's okay if I don't want to."
He came to this show for two reasons. First, at Fu Yunyi's request, he also came to relax; his main purpose wasn't to take on apprentices. Second, he wanted to see the effects of the crackdown on corruption in China over the past few years. Although a talent show can't represent the whole picture, a few years ago, many investors manipulated talent shows to compete for market share and profits.
Fair competition is fine, but if someone tries to do something underhanded, then it's time to see the results.
Speaking of which, in recent years, within the entertainment industry as a whole, it seems that Fu Chi has become the biggest source of capital without anyone even realizing it.
As for the reason... well, while Xia Zhiyi, the root cause is actually Fu Yunyi.
Xia Zhiyi looked at Fu Yunyi and suddenly said, "Perfect timing, Fu Yunyi, why don't you hang out with the contestants tomorrow too?"
"Huh?" Fu Yunyi was taken aback, not expecting the conversation to turn to him. He turned and asked, "What do you want?"
Xia Zhiyi smiled, "You'll find out tomorrow."
The director looked at this, then at that, and nodded. "Okay."
Fu Yunyi: "Wait, I didn't agree."
Director: "It's alright, this is your uncle."
So just listen to Xia Zhiyi.
Fu Yunyi opened his mouth to refute, but when he met Xia Zhiyi's smiling face, he swallowed his words.
Fine, you win.
He wasn't afraid of Xia Zhiyi. After knowing her for so many years, Fu Yunyi knew what kind of person Xia Zhiyi was and wouldn't resort to violence just because she didn't agree.
What he feared was Fu Chi.
So, the next day, as the contestants gradually got up, some still feeling the tension of the previous day, while others were in a daze as if they were on vacation, they heard the production team announce that everyone should gather at the outdoor square.
Yang Linlin: "Hey? Didn't you say we'd meet in the big classroom at 10 a. m. today to play a few games and relax?"
Xu Qianmo stayed up late with his roommates last night and was still a little sleepy when he woke up this morning. He happened to hear Yang Linlin's words and said with squinted eyes, "Before, they only said that it might be arranged this way, but now there are probably some adjustments. But according to the production team's arrangements, today will definitely be mainly about relaxation."
Yang Linlin nodded thoughtfully, "That makes sense, so we're going to play games outdoors?"
Other contestants also had questions. One asked curiously, "By the way, do you know what games we'll be playing? I can guess a few of the indoor games, since we played quite a few last season. I even did a lot of preparation. But now that it's outdoor, I have no idea."
Then, upon arriving at the scene, everyone looked at each other in bewilderment when they saw the plum blossom stakes that had appeared overnight.
What's this?