"My Time" was a talent show for idol boy groups. Its purpose was to find the most versatile and outstanding idol of the current generation.
Of the 88 trainees selected by major management companies and signed up by individuals, only six of them were able to make their debut with the votes of the audience.
The filming was planned to last for three months, and the whole process was a closed-door training.
There were seven rounds of competition, which would be cut into 10 episodes and two live broadcasts. It would be broadcast at the prime time slot of Dongcheng TV.
The night before the filming, the director of the show held a meeting with the five mentors.
"Thank you for taking the time to come," the director said. "Starting tomorrow, I'll have to trouble you. Now, I'll sort out the process for tomorrow."
At the conference table, the director, Bai Ye, and performance mentor Chen Jiayi sat on one side. Vocal mentor Jung Yuyang, dance mentor Wei Qin, and Qi Xingchen sat on the other side.
From the seating arrangement, one could tell the status and treatment of each mentor.
Chen Jiayi was in her early forties. She was beautiful and had an excellent temperament. She was the teacher of the drama school and was mainly responsible for the physical and performance guidance of the students.
Jung Yuyang was 32 years old. He was a male singer and composer. He was mainly responsible for the vocal and creative guidance of the students.
Wei Qin was 22 years old. He was only one year older than Qi Xingchen. He was the center of the cast of "My Time" two years ago. He was almost an A-list celebrity and was responsible for the choreography of the students.
Bai Ye was the initiator and also the host. He was responsible for the overall situation.
Qi Xingchen was mainly responsible for the objective judgment.
The director continued to explain the rules. "Tomorrow is the first level assessment. The contestants will perform in groups according to their management companies.
What the teachers need to do is to give them a grade from A to F according to their performance.
A is the highest and F is the lowest.
After the level assessment, the contestants will enter the corresponding class for training according to their level. "
During this time, Qi Xingchen had watched the first two seasons of "My Time" and had a general understanding of the rules. He nodded.
"These three." The director pulled out a stack of documents. "During the level assessment tomorrow, please be merciful."
Qi Xingchen's heart skipped a beat.
Although An Ran had warned him that there would definitely be a script for < My Time > before he came.
But he thought that the script was just for show.
Unexpectedly, from the very first round, the production team had already started to adjust the contestants' results and exposure.
After all, those with higher levels would definitely attract more attention than those with lower levels.
The ratings could affect the audience's first impression of the trainees, which was very beneficial for accumulating popularity.
After the five sets of documents were distributed, the instructors looked through them one by one. Qi Xingchen opened them and took a look.
Among the three sets of information, there was one individual trainee and two trainees recommended by management companies.
Dong Cheng probably wanted to sign the individual trainees. As for the other two, the company must have bribed them with money.
If that was the case, there were only three slots left. It was not a 1 in 14 chance, but a 1 in 28 chance.
The world was unfair to begin with. Inside stories and unspoken rules were unavoidable.
As an adult who had stepped into society, Qi Xingchen could understand and cooperate with the production team if they wanted him to make his debut.
But in an instant, half of them had been decided …
Wasn't that a bit too much?
Thinking of this, Qi Xingchen frowned and closed the documents. He deliberately did not take down the names of these people, so that he could review them as he wanted when the recording officially started.
At this moment, his phone buzzed.
Bai Ye sent a WeChat message: [Read the documents carefully.]
Qi Xingchen frowned even harder. Did Bai Ye approve of the script?
He actually … had no principles?
Qi Xingchen looked up at Bai Ye.
Bai Ye put away his phone and ignored Qi Xingchen. Instead, he pushed the documents back to the director.
"I will judge according to my own standards."
Qi Xingchen's frown instantly relaxed.
The director probably knew Bai Ye's character well. He did not argue with him and smiled to smooth things over. "I'll just say this. The three of them are quite good. I won't say much. Teacher Bai will definitely approve of them."
Bai Ye didn't comment and just smiled. This matter was brushed aside.
Next, the director talked about a few things to take note of.
After the meeting, Bai Ye called out to Qi Xingchen. "Xing Xing, come with me."
The director paused in his steps.
Jung Yuyang, who had just finished packing his personal belongings, heard this and asked in surprise, "You know each other?"
"They filmed a variety show together. I even watched it." Chen Jiayi joked. "Yuyang, you spent all your time writing songs, right?"
Jung Yuyang quickly said that he was very busy this year and did not have time to watch variety shows. It was embarrassing that he was ignorant and inexperienced.
Wei Qin stood at the side with an indifferent expression, listening to their conversation.
Bai Ye exchanged some pleasantries with everyone and left with Qi Xingchen.
Qi Xingchen followed behind Bai Ye, knowing that he would most likely be scolded.
Sure enough, when they got in the car, Bai Ye said with a straight face, "Sit."
Qi Xingchen braced himself and sat down.
"You were too obvious at the meeting just now."
"They went too far. I couldn't help it," Qi Xingchen explained in a low voice.
Bai Ye pressed his forehead. "I understand what you're thinking, but you haven't established yourself yet. Don't offend people casually.
"Besides, don't you still have me?" Bai Ye sighed. "If you encounter any problems in the future, you can discuss it with me first. Don't act rashly. Can you do that?"
Qi Xingchen suddenly had the illusion that there was someone above him. He lowered his head and said obediently, "Okay, I can do that."
Bai Ye had just released his album and his schedule was busy. After being scolded, Qi Xingchen took the initiative to leave.
He opened the car door and jumped out. Coincidentally, he bumped into Wei Qin who was about to get in the car.
"What a coincidence," Qi Xingchen greeted him.
Wei Qin nodded and then asked Bai Ye, "Brother Ye, do you have an appointment later?"
"Forget it then. I wanted to ask you out for dinner." Wei Qin sounded regretful.
Wei Qin was talented and had a good family background. His career had been smooth sailing, and he was proud and reserved.
Qi Xingchen could understand people like him. He couldn't blame him for being cold to him. He went back to his nanny van.
An Ran was leaning against the front windshield and craning her neck to look outside.
Qi Xingchen was curious. "What are you looking for?"
"Enemy?" Qi Xingchen didn't understand.
"Didn't you see?" An Ran pursed her lips. "Wei Qin is trying his best to get close to Brother Ye."
What did Wei Qin looking for Bai Ye have anything to do with her?
Qi Xingchen was confused.
An Ran sat up straight and explained to him. "At the press conference after his debut two years ago, the reporter asked Wei Qin about his opportunity to enter the entertainment industry. Guess what he said."
"Because he likes dancing and singing?"
"Wrong." An Ran made a big "X" sign. "He said he gave up the opportunity to study abroad for Bai Ye and chose to be a trainee in an entertainment company.
Bai Ye is the direction he is pursuing. "
So Wei Qin was also a fan of Bai Ye?
Qi Xingchen bit his lower lip.
Wei Qin was so outstanding. With Bai Ye's personality of spoiling his fans, he must admire Wei Qin more than himself.
"So I have to keep an eye on him!
I can't let him cause trouble and tear me apart … Um … "An Ran suddenly remembered that her artist was forbidden to be a couple, so she quickly shut her mouth.
Qi Xingchen didn't listen to her. He was replaying Wei Qin's performance on the day of the music festival in his mind.
He didn't notice it when he didn't know, but after knowing that his idol was Bai Ye, Qi Xingchen realized that his stage presence was indeed similar to Bai Ye's.
It was probably as much as his admiration for Bai Ye.
Because the program team required the 88 trainees to be evaluated in one day, Qi Xingchen's nanny van stopped at the entrance of Dongcheng at six o 'clock in the morning.
Nuoya had given Qi Xingchen the lowest level business car because he didn't recognize Mount Tai before.
Now, he didn't dare to neglect Qi Xingchen. He gave him the company's highest level RV and even sent a personal stylist.
The stylist's name was Jiang Jiang. Her name sounded soft, but she was a ruthless woman of few words.
Dongcheng was probably very busy backstage, so Jiang Jiang styled him directly in the RV. Bangs and a military green work shirt. The boy next door turned into a cool guy.
Qi Xingchen was very satisfied. He walked into the studio with a straight face.
Chen Jiayi, who had already done her hair and makeup, gave him a thumbs up when she saw him. "Little Brother Qi, you're amazing today. I'm going to be your big sister fan for a day!"
"Then I'll dress up tomorrow. You can be my fan for a day." Jung Yuyang pretended to be jealous.
"Hahaha, I'm your fan now too.
Little Brother Qi relies on his looks, and you rely on your voice. Perfect. "
Jung Yuyang was anxious and said, "What, are you implying that I'm not good-looking?"
"You got it. Hahahahaha."
The two of them sang the same tune. Qi Xingchen was a little embarrassed by the compliments and laughed foolishly.
Not long after, two figures appeared at the door. Accompanied by the sound of rolling cameras, the three of them turned their heads and looked over.
Bai Ye was wearing a black casual silk shirt. The collar and cuffs were lined with dark patterns, which made his already cold and white skin look even fairer.
His bangs were parted in three parts and seven parts. The third part was combed to the back, and the seventh part was left messily hanging in front of his forehead. The overall style was simple and lazy, but dignified.
Wei Qin was wearing a white shirt with bangs parted in the middle. He should have looked fresh, but with a pair of black velvet chocker, he looked pure and sexy.
"Hey." Chen Jiayi was surprised. "You two did your styling together this morning?
One black and one white. Are you the Black and White Demons? "
Bai Ye answered while looking for a young fan. Finally, he found the target on the right side of the stage.
The target was paying no attention to what was going on outside. He was focused on the flow chart.
Bai Ye walked to his table and knocked on it.
Qi Xingchen slowly raised his chin. "You're here … I just saw you."
Bai Ye didn't answer. He put a bottle of milk on his table.
With all the mentors present, the stage director and backstage director reminded them of the flow again. The recording officially began.
The first few groups of trainees were average. They hovered between C and F. The five mentors almost didn't have any disagreement. The progress was fast.
The seventh individual trainee made everyone serious. He was one of the trainees that the director had mentioned. He wanted the mentors to be "merciful."
However, the director wasn't bluffing. His singing and dancing were good. His stage presence was steady.
After the two-minute performance, the mentors unanimously agreed to give him an A grade.
The trainee bowed and left. He walked backstage and asked him, "How was your performance?"
"So-so. I was a little nervous."
"I've been waiting for this stage for too long. I was especially afraid that I wouldn't perform well.
Also, Senior Bai Ye's aura is very strong. When he's serious, it's very scary. I was dancing halfway and inadvertently glanced at him. I thought I was going to break the song. It scared me! "
"Don't worry. The result is good. You got the first A grade." The assistant comforted him and asked, "What about the other mentors? How did they make you feel?"
"Teacher Chen is more gentle. Teacher Zheng has sharp ears. Teacher Wei Qin has very high requirements for dancing. He gave me a few pointers, and every one of them hit the nail on the head. Xing Guang is the observer —"
At this point, he paused, as if thinking about how to say it smoothly.
In the end, he said, "He's very handsome and very serious."
He made it sound nice, but the director behind the monitor understood the deeper meaning behind his words.
The strong trainees didn't need to care about Xing Guang's observer at all.
During the performance, he probably didn't even look at Qi Xingchen. He could only pick out the right words for his evaluation.
The director ordered the editor, "Keep this interview."
The interview went on backstage. The trainees at the front desk came on stage one after another.
After the first A grade, Nuoya Entertainment's logo appeared on the LCD screen.
Chen Jiayi said, "Xing Xing is from your company."
Bai Ye was a senior figure who had accompanied Nuoya's development. He held a part of Nuoya's shares, and his management contract was extremely loose. He was basically half detached from Nuoya. Otherwise, A Lun and the others wouldn't have called him boss.
In this way, Qi Xingchen and the Nuoya trainees had a deeper relationship and were more topics to talk about. Therefore, Chen Jiayi directly cued Qi Xingchen.
Qi Xingchen nodded. In order not to make Han Qing feel disappointed, he didn't say that he was Han Qing's friend.
"Then don't be biased." Jung Yuyang joked.
Qi Xingchen smiled. "With you guys around, I wouldn't dare!"
The Nuoya trainee chose a typical boy group dance song with a strong rhythm. He came from a big company, had a solid foundation, and cooperated well with the group dance. After the song, the mentors all showed satisfied expressions.
In order to avoid suspicion, Qi Xingchen didn't plan to participate in the rating discussion.
However, after everyone expressed their opinions, Wei Qin turned his head. "Observer Xing Guang, what do you think?"
Since he couldn't avoid it, Qi Xingchen picked up his small notebook. "The overall performance is not bad. Number 1 and 3 A or A-. Number 2 and 5 B to C are okay. Number 4's singing is weak, so let's go with a D."
Number 3 was Han Qing. Han Qing was a little happy when he heard this.
For him, his good friend was definitely more important than the other mentors.
"I think number 3 is average."
However, Wei Qin said, "During the whole performance, he was the one who was in charge of lifting. He might not have grasped the technical movements well enough.
I think we should give him a B and observe him later.
I agree with you on the rest. "