Chapter 19

### Chapter 19: The Survival Tactics of the Entertainment Industry

Hong Fei held a newspaper discussing the recent singing competition. He looked at Ye Ming with great satisfaction and said, "Not bad, not bad. Originally, the company was hoping that after you starred in a Qiongh Yao drama, you would have a chance to create some buzz and maybe break through the new artist wall. But I didn't expect you to be so capable. The original singer competition had such a significant impact. Congratulations, you've truly entered the entertainment industry. But don't get too cocky; this is just the beginning. You still have a lot to face."

Li Dachuan, standing nearby, said in utter despair, "So, according to you, I don't even have the qualifications to break through the new artist wall? Brother Hong, I won't end up that badly, will I?"

Hong Fei mercilessly shot down Li Dachuan, "Qualifications? You don't have them. Work hard, kid. Not everyone has the qualifications to break through the new artist wall. Only a few lucky ones get that chance. Without a certain level of fame, you're not even considered a new artist. Many people remain unknown, watching the new artist wall pass them by."

To truly break through the new artist wall, you need a special notice from a TV station. As a new artist, if a TV station gives you a special notice for an interview, do you have that kind of topic?"

Li Dachuan, feeling utterly defeated, lay on the sofa and complained about the unfairness of the world.

Hong Fei threw down the newspaper and said, "Ye Ming, the Entertainment New World program from Beijing TV has issued you a notice to do an interview, hoping you can clarify the recent incident. They will cover your travel expenses and pay you 500 yuan. I've already agreed. Tomorrow morning at 9 o'clock, Tian Chun from Beijing TV will conduct a special interview with you to discuss the incident. You need to arrive an hour early to review the script and avoid any mishaps."

Li Dachuan, jumping up like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, said, "Why should Brother Ming go to clarify things? It was their fault in the first place. The champion should have been Brother Ming."

At this point, Li Dachuan was clearly indignant on Ye Ming's behalf.

Before Hong Fei could speak, Ye Ming explained, "This topic has been hyped for a week, and it doesn't have much value left. Since Beijing TV has extended this goodwill, we don't need to offend them. Otherwise, being blacklisted by the TV station would be a bad thing. It's actually good for me to clarify things. It might bring some new topics and show our magnanimity. It's a win-win situation."

Hong Fei nodded in satisfaction and glared at Li Dachuan, "Do you see the difference? You're both new artists, but Ye Ming understands more. In this industry, you need to be more flexible and remember two things: don't offend people if you don't have to."

At this point, Li Dachuan, being a bit of a smart aleck, asked curiously, "Brother Fei, you said two things. What's the other one?"

Hong Fei gritted his teeth and said, "The second point is that once you offend someone, you must crush them completely and give them no chance to recover. Otherwise, you'll be the one who suffers."

He had seen many cases where people who didn't finish off their enemies ended up suffering the consequences, so he was giving his two subordinates a stark lesson.

Ye Ming was a promising talent in his eyes, and although Li Dachuan seemed a bit of a troublemaker, with proper training, he could also become a good actor.

The next morning at 8 o'clock, Song Jun arrived at the TV station early. Hong Fei didn't accompany him because Li Dachuan had to go to a production for an audition. Hong Fei wasn't very confident in Li Dachuan, so he gave Ye Ming a few instructions and let him go on his own, believing that although Ye Ming was a new artist, he was very experienced in dealing with people and situations.

Of course, Hong Fei also warned Ye Ming to be careful and not to cause any trouble, or he would deal with him severely.

Tian Chun, the host of Entertainment New World, was a third-year student at the Communication University, and she still had a bit of a youthful air about her. Her long, lustrous black hair and delicate features made her look like a porcelain doll, very appealing on camera.

Perhaps because of this host, Entertainment New World was quite popular among young people.

Ye Ming, of course, didn't have a private dressing room; he wasn't at that level yet. In a large dressing room, a makeup artist quickly styled his hair, applied some powder, and after a quick check, snapped her fingers and said, "All done. Try to stay calm, or your makeup might smudge easily."

The temperature in the studio was higher than outside, making it easy for makeup to smudge.

Although you can't see the host's makeup smudging on TV, most TV programs are recorded, so if the cameraman notices, they will stop and remind the host to touch up their makeup.

If it's a live broadcast, it's more complicated. You can only check during breaks and touch up your makeup quickly if needed.

Therefore, any live broadcast host, male or female, must follow two rules: no cell phones or other communication devices, and always carry a small makeup kit.

There have been instances in Chinese news where a host was seen touching up their makeup, which was actually due to a camera switch error. The host's makeup was a bit smudged, and they were just touching it up.

But when the camera switched, it was considered a minor broadcasting accident at the TV station.

Ye Ming's makeup took less than two minutes, which was almost a joke.

However, this wasn't a TV drama, so a simpler makeup for a man was fine.

When Tian Chun saw Ye Ming, she showed her two little tiger teeth and said with a smile, "I didn't expect Mr. Ye to look even younger in person. Regardless of the competition's outcome, I believe 'I Believe' is the champion song in everyone's hearts."

Everyone has a sense of fairness. The truth will always come to light.

Ye Ming smiled and thanked Tian Chun for her praise. He knew he wasn't there just to hear compliments.

Sure enough, Tian Chun continued, "However, from the TV station's perspective, the competition was fair and just, with no one having special privileges. Here is a script. I hope Mr. Ye can read it carefully and raise any questions."

The script basically thanked the TV station for the opportunity, explained that due to an accident, he changed his performance song, which didn't meet the competition rules, and expressed respect for the competition's rules and a hope for future collaboration.

Originally, Tian Chun had received a task from her superiors to change this episode, which was already a headache for her. She had to rewrite the script and adjust the coordination between each segment.

What worried Tian Chun even more was whether Ye Ming would cooperate.

She had watched the competition and knew that the result was questionable, not just to her as a TV station employee, but even to the audience. Would Ye Ming cooperate with the recording?

However, it seemed that Ye Ming didn't act like a new artist at all. After taking the script, he read it carefully and said, "No problem. I understand the general idea. When do we start? I'm ready."

This surprised Tian Chun. Did Ye Ming have no resistance at all? Such cooperation was not typical of a new artist.

But Tian Chun thought about it. This was a recorded program, so if there were any issues, they could just edit it. She couldn't think of a reason for Ye Ming to cause trouble.

Tian Chun gave a signal to the director, indicating everything was ready.

The lights, sound effects, and cameras were all set.

The recording began, and Tian Chun could feel Ye Ming's calm and composed demeanor. His natural and relaxed aura was not an act.

Ye Ming cooperated fully, expressing his gratitude and blessings for the original singer competition and his hope for future collaboration with the TV station.

Director Fang, who had been watching, finally relaxed. It seemed that Ye Ming was a very sensible new artist. Offending the TV station wouldn't benefit him.

At the end of the interview, as agreed, Tian Chun asked Ye Ming to perform "I Believe" again.

The same fiery red guitar, as if it would ignite with the music.

In Tian Chun's eyes, when the music started, everything brightened. The fiery red guitar seemed to have a magical power, drawing people into the music that flowed from the strings and the fingers that plucked them.

It was a feeling that made your blood boil. Our youth should be like this.

"I Believe" once again captivated everyone present.

As for Ye Ming signing with the Qiongh Yao drama production, that was not something he could announce. The production would release the news first, and then Ye Ming would mention it on promotional programs.

According to the rules, Ye Ming couldn't reveal it until the production did.

Especially as a new artist, he couldn't make such a mistake, or it might be seen as a publicity stunt, and he could be dropped from the production.

After the program was recorded, Tian Chun casually mentioned that Song Kai had been suspended without pay, and according to the rules, he would likely never return.

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End of Chapter 19