Chapter 279

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Main Character:

Shen Yao

Shen Yao did not refuse, which let the rather apprehensive Lu Xian breathe a sigh of relief.

However, before going on the variety show, some preparation was still needed; regardless, content facing the general public must try its best not to spark controversy or trouble.

After the two discussed it, this matter was not attended to again, until Planet Film and Television suddenly received a TV program notification that a TV station crew was coming to scout locations.

By now the weather had turned cold, and light snow was falling thick and fast outside.

Shen Yao, wearing a high-necked cashmere sweater, held a coffee cup and thought the timing was truly perfect.

Today the company was busy reviewing footage; a year had passed, so the accounts had to be tallied first, then the new year's plans arranged.

"Have them wait in the reception room first," the conference room was inconvenient for outsiders to enter; Shen Yao had agreed to Lu Xian going on the show, but only on the premise that it did not affect her work — everything still had to prioritize Planet Film and Television.

The newly hired assistant nodded, turned around to escort the group to the reception room to rest, and on the way did not forget to point out that some places inside the company were temporarily inconvenient to film.

The ambushed cameraman: ……

Beside him followed a segment director carrying a mission; after the assistant left, he turned his head and did not forget to complain to the cameraman that this trip's material wasn't very sufficient.

"Last-minute notice, Planet Film and Television isn't easy to handle, don't provoke them too much."

The cameraman was an elderly person, and his working style was also mainly low-key and mediocre.

Unfortunately, this newly arrived segment director was a fresh university graduate, possessed of a vigorous drive to climb upward.

The cameraman worried this person would be too impulsive and stir up trouble, so he simply gave a quiet reminder or two.

However, the cameraman's good intentions did not make this segment director learn to behave. On the contrary, this person was very rebellious, single-mindedly wanting to make a name for herself.

"Provoke what? We're handling official business impartially; would President Shen really wash her hands of it?"

This President Shen's relationship with Mr. Lu is out of the ordinary; reckoning it up, they're just acquaintances who can be slightly bullied.

A variety show crew is also a place of constant gossip; the people who come all have all sorts of backgrounds. Lu Xian is participating as a favor, so as long as neither side acts too excessively, neither will quibble too much.

The segment director's wishful thinking was beautiful; she didn't feel she should give Shen Yao any special consideration, and she even wanted Shen Yao to feed back into their variety show, to make this show's popularity rise.

Fortunately Shen Yao still didn't know this segment director's inner thoughts, otherwise she would definitely have driven her out — what beautiful delusion, does she think I'm a stupid person who would give benefits to others for nothing? She'd rather feed all the popularity to her own new drama.

After busily finishing the meeting in hand, Shen Yao stood up and went to the reception room to see this group; her face naturally wore a beaming smile that could not be faulted.

"President Shen, can we talk about the matter between you and Mr. Lu? The audience loves to watch it."

The segment director handed over the prepared script; on it were even brief dialogues, including but not limited to some 'warm' daily interactions between her and Lu Xian.

Shen Yao: ……

"President Shen, a variety show needs selling points when produced; the matter between you and Mr. Lu is the most suitable," or rather, the most able to arouse everyone's gossip desire.

The segment director was full of ambition, urgently wanting to demonstrate her capability, so her way of speaking was very unlikable.

Another person might have endured it; after all, popularity — not only the variety show wants it, the people participating in the variety show want it even more.

But Shen Yao is not that kind of person; she belongs to the behind-the-scenes workers in the circle; the segment director's little tricks don't even enter her eyes.

"I heard this is a personal observation variety show; does Mr. Lu know about these?"

Shen Yao did not answer directly, but brought Lu Xian out to block the move.

The segment director was left speechless; Lu Xian indeed didn't know, and Lu Xian even liked to avoid these gossips, trying not to discuss them on the variety show.

The booklet handed to Shen Yao now completely belonged to the segment director's own unilateral decision.

The topic came to a halt, and the whole scene rapidly became awkward.

In the end it was still the seasoned cameraman who stepped in to interject and turn the page on the matter.

Seeing this, Shen Yao did not pursue the fuss; she simply answered a few conventional questions, then had the assistant lead them to film Planet Film and Television's internal environment, and finally confirmed the next recording time before seeing them off.

However, Shen Yao did not forget to complain to Lu Xian; it couldn't be called tattling, but it indeed made her mood unpleasant — who would like being chased and asked about private matters.

Lu Xian guaranteed on the phone that next time absolutely no such tactless person would appear, "I'll have a good talk with the director."

His good temper doesn't mean he's a soft persimmon; this variety show achieving today's status all relies on his contributing people and effort — how can it still come with unpaid labor from family members.

Lu Xian sneered, feeling some people are just too self-righteously entitled.

Having gently soothed Shen Yao's foul mood, Lu Xian turned his head and talked with the variety show director.

The talk's result was excellent; by the time Shen Yao, in a long dress, rode in the car to record the program, that segment director had already been replaced by a stranger's face.

Shen Yao raised an eyebrow, casually looking at the script the new segment director handed over.

Compared to the previous one, this one was very tactful; not a single question that shouldn't be asked was asked, and what could be written into the script were all normal topics.

There was even a segment about Planet Film and Television's new drama content — whether it was returning a favor or another form of appeasement depended on how Shen Yao herself thought of it.

Shen Yao had no particular thoughts; as long as the script wasn't especially outrageous, she was willing to cooperate a bit.

Signaling the other party that the questions didn't need modification, Shen Yao then asked: this recording, do we still need to stay overnight outside?

The new segment director was surnamed Sun, looked very reliable, spoke and acted crisply; if not for the mismatched specialty, Shen Yao would have wanted to poach her to work for herself.

"Originally it wasn't overnight, but because a few guest pairs have time conflicts, if President Shen's side finds it inconvenient, we can push the recording back."

At that time we'd just record separately and insert it; as for the outdoor location, it's even simpler — set up a simple photography studio.

"My side has no problem, just record normally," otherwise pushing it back, if it happens to clash with other matters on my hand, that would be bad.

During this period, besides being busy with company business, Shen Yao didn't need to leave the capital; staying one extra night for the program recording wouldn't have too great an impact.

The two people simply communicated the recording rules, including what Shen Yao needed to do, until a detached small villa appeared not far away; Shen Yao tidied her scattered hair and walked in unhurriedly.

Inside the villa a group of people had already gathered, either in pairs or in groups of two or three; but no matter how you put it, it looked harmonious and happy, without any awkwardness.

Shen Yao's entrance quieted the villa down, but only for a moment; Lu Xian walked over and took Shen Yao's hand, and the two naturally went upstairs to the second floor, once again stirring up the atmosphere at the scene.

"Why not chat a bit more?" The room they're staying in has no cameras, so neither side worries about being eavesdropped on when speaking.

Lu Xian shrugged his shoulders. "Just polite talk." He didn't want to waste time even more.

Shen Yao thought that if those people downstairs knew they'd be looked down on by Lu Xian like this, they'd probably feel wronged. After all, they were seriously currying favor with Lu Xian.

Compared to the actors and stars downstairs, Lu Xian's capability was even more powerful.

Just that secret-room variety show Lu Xian invested in had quite a few people wanting to come over and rub off on its heat.

Although Lu Xian never intended to invite any celebrities for that variety show, the ones he found were all ordinary people from all walks of life, focusing on being cheap and useful.

"What's the core of this variety show? I saw couples, female best friends, boyfriends and girlfriends downstairs," and some unspeakable confidants.

Shen Yao marveled at how wild the director played. These people gathered together — any random explosive material that came out had the potential to hit the top ten hot searches.

"The core is observation. Outside the video there are also psychology experts analyzing with magnifying glasses." Lu Xian shrugged his shoulders. "Everyone gets what they need. Artists who can come to this variety show have all signed breach-of-contract contracts."

So no need to worry that playing too big will make these artists not dare to film. Perhaps these people are hoping for things to get even bigger, letting hot topics bloom all around, and conveniently absorbing fans for themselves.

Shen Yao blinked her eyes. The temperature in the room was who knew how much higher than outside.

Having already taken off her coat, wearing a slim-fitting turtleneck sweater underneath, Shen Yao decided to try her best not to get mixed up in the downstairs matters for this one night she'd stay here.

She wasn't a regular guest of this variety show. Lu Xian was just here to help make up the numbers. The director's requirements for them were relatively simple — just be qualified background boards.

If the process reached them, they only needed to smoothly take it from there.

"No wonder."

Shen Yao touched her chin. No wonder the new group director gave her such a loose script with no hidden traps. Turns out Lu Xian was marginalized — no need to dig material out of them anymore.

Tsk tsk tsk.

This wasn't bad either. Shen Yao originally didn't like taking her private matters out for the wedding guests to comment on.

Otherwise Shen Yao wouldn't have chosen to enter the entertainment industry by way of capital. Pretty kids with background and backing can just act directly.

The two didn't stay in the room long before someone downstairs called them to eat.

"Little Shen came in a rush. The home doesn't have much preparation. Don't take offense."

This standalone villa was the home of the veteran film emperor before her eyes.

This home is not that home. It's just a temporary house used for filming the variety show, but because of the variety show's setting, it became veteran film emperor Li Changheng's home.

Li Changheng was already sixty years old, a famous dedicated actor in the entertainment industry. His wife was a film college teacher. The couple had supported each other through thick and thin for many years, loving each other with no bad rumors at all.

Them choosing to come record the show this time was still because Lu Xian helped connect the lines.

After all, a variety show needs someone to be the red flower, someone to be the green leaves, and even more needs someone who can hold down the scene.

Li Changheng and his wife were exactly the people who could hold the scene. With them there, at least on the surface it wouldn't tear too ugly.

Because Li Changheng and Lu Xian had a good relationship, he appeared close when calling Shen Yao. Shen Yao smiled and complimented a couple sentences, then spoke with Li Changheng's wife for a while, following them to sit on chairs already filled with dishes on the table.

"Everyone coming over wasn't easy. Don't be polite. Eat more."

Li Changheng and his wife were kind and amiable. Their words had no hidden barbs. The wedding guests laughed heartily and responded with a couple polite sentences, then each picked up their bowl and chopsticks to eat.

After eating, the ones clearing the bowl and chopsticks were a pair of sisters who claimed to have been good female best friends for many years.

The two had a good relationship from childhood to adulthood. Despite entering the industry for many years with their respective fans opposing each other, it didn't affect their intimate and loving relationship in the slightest.

Mm, that's how it is on the surface. Shen Yao observed them — even washing dishes they had to dig pits and trip each other up. She felt some words were just said with the mouth. If this counts as good female best friends, that's seeing a ghost.

"Little Yang and Little Liu's relationship is really good. Heard they took a drama, dual female leads."

Someone spoke up. It was an actor's wife, called Deng Jia, also this actor's agent.

The couple's relationship was somewhat qizhi. Because the male actor was remarried, his previous ex-wife had said some ambiguous things during the divorce.

Shen Yao knew thanks to the system gossip. This pair could be called a real-life dog-blood drama, simply more exciting than TV dramas.

"Agent Deng, your Lao Wang isn't bad either. Although he didn't get a Qianhua Award nomination this time, by next year he'll definitely be able to get on the Jinyu Award."

The one responding was a famous host in the circle. Daily conduct was carefree and casual, but because of that had offended quite a few people, privately gossiped about in various ways.

But this host was quite popular. The shows she hosted also had many fans. Therefore the host still acted self-willed, not bringing any fear at all.

Deng Jia's expression wasn't too good-looking. In her heart she thought: Qianhua Award nominations are so watered down yet he couldn't even fight for one, still thinking about next year's more difficult Jinyu Award. Heh, dreams have everything.

"Borrowing Lili's auspicious words. If Lao Wang really can get a Jinyu Award nomination, I'll definitely have to thank you properly." Deng Jia's appearance wasn't outstanding, but she herself was eloquent. Otherwise she wouldn't have hard-generated her own husband up. Although not the most popular, he still had a name.

"Hmph, Agent Deng, what courtesy..." The host continued chatting idly with her. The two got closer and closer. From time to time a few shallow laughs transmitted out, making people unable to help but pay attention.

Shen Yao always upheld the background board demeanor. Some activities she completely didn't participate in.

Of course, her not participating didn't mean other people didn't want to get on good terms with her.

There was always someone wanting to come over and talk to Shen Yao to get close. Lu Xian's side was the same. The two of them couldn't get peace even trying their best to avoid.

When sleeping at night it was even more so. Shen Yao and Lu Xian even personally witnessed a premeditated drunk-and-crazy incident.

Shen Yao:... Ah?

Looking at Deng Jia acting heaven-and-earth, all kinds of noisy, even wrangling with a man. Didn't know what was wrong.

"Said it's related to Chen Qing." Someone explained. Chen Qing was Lao Wang's ex-wife. Back when the two divorced, Chen Qing pointed her sword at Deng Jia, even exposing that Deng Jia had a child out of wedlock related to Lao Wang.

Back then it made a huge uproar, directly occupying the hot search list for half a month, making the three from little transparents directly become famous.

"How long has it been. Isn't it just Chen Qing's Qianhua Award nomination. How can Deng Jia not get over it."

"Chen Qing pressed Lao Wang down at every turn after divorce. Deng Jia's heart-eye isn't big. Would be strange if she could get over it."

Deng Jia having a child out of wedlock is true. The child being Lao Wang's is also true.

In the entertainment industry, things that break through the bottom line like this are too many to count. Shen Yao heard it all and her expression didn't even change.

"With this uproar, the director group side definitely won't cut it." The broad netizens have material again.

Like this kind of crowd-pleasing tearing-and-going-crazy, it's the most popular script.