Chapter 24

The next day, at gctv, the 【nijia－yeye】 production team

Gao Deng: "Today is your first official day of work. I'll introduce you to the crew members so you can get familiar with everyone."

Robin: "Yes." —— respectfully

Gao Deng: "This is Kent, the sound engineer responsible for on-set recording."

Robin: "What? Kent? Didn't you find a satisfactory job in the big city? Why are you here in this production? Working for this old lunatic?" —— surprised

Kent: "It's a long story, plans don't always go as expected..." —— embarrassed

Gao Deng: "Who's the old lunatic? How dare you speak to the director like that? I won't introduce you to anyone else. If you have any problems, you can ask people with your mouth. Now, go do some hard labor and odd jobs immediately." —— suddenly changed his tone

Robin: "Which department? What should I do?"

Gao Deng: "Any department. Do whatever they tell you to do."

Robin: "This is just a way to make me suffer, isn't it? Oh, God."

I (voiceover): "Told you to keep your mouth shut. Now you're in trouble, aren't you?"

—

Three days later

Gao Deng: "Robin, come here, quickly."

Robin: "I'm coming!" —— put down the miscellaneous tasks and ran over

Robin: "I wonder what new trouble the old lunatic has come up with." —— complaining to himself

Robin: "What does the director need?"

Gao Deng: "Go stand there and let the costume designer measure your body size."

Robin: "Measure my body size?" —— confused

Gao Deng: "Yes, to make your costume."

Robin: "Costume? I have a chance to be on camera?" —— incredulous

Gao Deng: "Of course. To save production costs, crew members often play minor roles in the show. We'll measure you now so we're prepared when we need you."

I (voiceover): "Don't make excuses. The audience and I already know your true intentions."

—

Robin: "Yes, yes." —— happily went over

After the measurements, Robin wanted to continue doing odd jobs

Gao Deng: "Robin, stop what you're doing. I have a task for you."

Robin: "Wow, finally no more odd jobs. Director, whatever task you have, I'll do my best to complete it." —— happy

Gao Deng: "Good attitude. This task really requires your full effort. It's a physical job."

Robin: "Physical job? What kind of work?" —— feeling something's off

Gao Deng: "Don't worry, it's not about moving mountains or setting up the background. You need to train for this task."

Robin: "Train? Do I have to go back to school?" —— surprised

Gao Deng: "Not back to school. I want you to train here." —— handed Robin a card

Robin: "【Brother Fitness Club】?" —— confused

Gao Deng: "Yes, I want you to learn competitive bodybuilding there. Learn how to perfectly display every muscle on your body, making them look beautiful."

I (voiceover): "In other words, learn how to pose and show off, right?"

—

Robin: "What does this have to do with the production? I don't want to become Mr. Olympia..."

Gao Deng: "Mr. Olympia? You're dreaming. Look at the gap between you and the governor. I'm telling you, with this card, you can attend the professional bodybuilding crash course at Brother Fitness Club. You'll work in the morning and attend classes in the afternoon. I'll personally evaluate you in a week. If you slack off or skip classes and don't learn anything, wasting the production's money, just wait and see what I'll do to you!" —— fiercely

Robin: "Yes, Robin understands." —— nervous

Gao Deng: "Good, go do your work."

One week later

Gao Deng: "Robin, did you attend the bodybuilding classes properly? According to our agreement a week ago, I'm here to evaluate your progress."

Robin: "Yes, please wait a moment, Director. I'll go apply some oil first." —— preparing

Gao Deng: "Apply oil? No need. Here, put on this tight-fitting suit. It will replace the oil. Then you can perform for me." —— handed Robin a tight-fitting suit

I (voiceover): "Is this the custom-made tight-fitting battle suit you made for Robin? Why are there so many different logos on it? How many factories did you get to weave it?"

—

Robin: "This is..." —— not understanding Gao Deng's intention

Gao Deng: "This is your costume. Put it on, and you can perform for me."

Robin: "Perform bodybuilding in this? Are you making a monkey out of me?" —— angry

Gao Deng: "What do you mean by making a monkey out of you? This is a serious and professional requirement."

Robin: "Serious and professional? (pointing to the logos on the suit) Is this serious and professional?"

Gao Deng: "Don't be so naive. This is called product placement! These merchants have given our production a lot of sponsorship. We have to repay them. They don't want to act like Wayne, so this is the only way."

Robin: "If you want to repay the sponsors, why not just insert ads during the show? Why go for product placement?"

Gao Deng: "Don't mention inserting ads! It makes me angry! Damn it." —— furious, interrupting Robin

I (voiceover): "What made the old man so angry? Did someone take his money? That's like taking food from a tiger's mouth."

—

Robin: "What's bothering the director? Why are you so angry..." —— intimidated, trying to comfort, afraid of being implicated

Gao Deng: "It's that damn TV Administration's new [Ad Limitation Order]. They say starting next year, all TV stations (including CCTV) will no longer insert ads during TV dramas. Our reality show is included. My plan to make money by inserting ads is ruined!" —— gritting his teeth

I (voiceover): "Hahaha, the old man really got robbed. I guessed it right for the first time."

—

Gao Deng: "So, to fulfill our agreement with the sponsors, we have to include these product placements. You need to show off every logo on your body while performing bodybuilding. Make sure the logos are clear in the shots, or the sponsors won't be happy."

Robin: "Bodybuilding should showcase muscles, not logos. This is just making a monkey out of me." —— complaining to himself

Gao Deng: "Why aren't you talking? If you have no questions, go change in the dressing room immediately. Remember, this tight-fitting one-piece costume is worn directly on your body. Don't wear any underwear underneath."

Robin: "What? No underwear? Then what is this black triangle?" —— pointing to a piece of "underwear" in the costume

Gao Deng: "Are you stupid? I told you not to wear it underneath. You're wearing it outside. If you don't know how to wear underwear outside, how can you dream of being a superhero? People will laugh at you."

I (voiceover): "Really? To be a superhero, you have to know how to wear underwear outside? What kind of logic is that?"

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