Chapter 237: Whatever Happens, Happens

The "she" in Li Zhenzhen's mouth, besides Meng Li, had no second candidate.

Lu Yan He and the others were all stunned when they heard that Meng Li also wanted to leave.

Li Zhibai immediately said: "She can leave if she wants, I'm leaving if I want."

"Wait a moment, don't be anxious." Lu Yan He said.

Li Zhibai looked at him suspiciously.

He didn't expect Lu Yan He to stop him from leaving at this time.

Mainly because of his temper, Lu Yan He and Yan Liang both knew that he rarely went against them when his temper flared up.

Lu Yan He said to Li Zhenzhen: "Sister Zhenzhen, you go see Meng Li first. Li Zhibai won't leave for the time being. You deal with that side first."

Li Zhenzhen showed gratitude, nodded at them, and finally said to Li Zhibai: "Zhibai, really don't be in a hurry to leave. If there is anything, talk about it properly. Our program started recording on the first day. If you want to leave, and she wants to leave, our program won't be able to be recorded."

She looked at Li Zhibai seriously.

Lu Yan He knew that Li Zhenzhen's last sentence must have softened Li Zhibai's heart.

Li Zhibai was just like this. If you were hard with him, he would be harder than you, but if you were soft with him, he would have fewer ways to deal with it.

Once Li Zhenzhen left, Lu Yan He turned back to look at Li Zhibai.

"The conflict between you and Meng Li this noon has been laid on the table. Everyone knows it. If you leave at this time, not to mention the few people recording the program, when the program airs, what will the audience think? Will they think you left because you were bullied?" Lu Yan He persuaded, "You signed a contract with the program team. If you quit temporarily, you might not be afraid of paying money at the time, but your reputation cannot be saved. Are you afraid of that?"

Li Zhibai took a deep breath and looked at Lu Yan He impatiently.

Li Zhibai always said that it was a big deal to quit the entertainment industry, but if he really had no attachment to this place, he would have quit long ago. Why would he stay until now?

Li Zhibai must love the job of an artist. He fought with Zhou Ping'an, they hated each other, and after a few years, he still stayed in this place.

If he didn't really like it, with Li Zhibai's family background, he wouldn't have to struggle in this line of work at all.

Therefore, although Li Zhibai was impatient, he listened to what Lu Yan He said.

Yan Liang also persuaded Li Zhibai, saying: "Little Lu is right. If you leave now, we know you left because you didn't want to record the program with Meng Li, but those who don't know about this will think you were driven away by Meng Li. Can you accept that?"

Li Zhibai immediately stared and said: "She doesn't have the ability to drive me away."

"Isn't that it?" Yan Liang said, "You don't want others to see it that way either, so how can you leave?"

With Lu Yan He and Yan Liang cooperating, Li Zhibai was finally appeased.

On the other side, Meng Li was glaring angrily at the few program team staff members who were blocking her, flying into a rage.

"Why are you blocking me? Are you interfering with my personal freedom? Get out of the way, get out of the way!" She stomped her feet and shouted, full of anger.

When Li Zhenzhen rushed over, this was the scene she saw.

Chaos.

"Miss Meng, I'm here. If there's anything, tell me." Li Zhenzhen took a deep breath and gave a signal to the few staff members, letting them leave first and go outside the door.

Li Zhenzhen walked up to Meng Li, lowered her voice, and said: "Miss Meng, let's sit down and talk, okay?"

Meng Li glanced at Li Zhenzhen and turned her head, "We have nothing to talk about. Agreeing to record this shitty program of yours is the decision I regret most this year."

"Why do you say that?" Li Zhenzhen said nicely, "Is it because you had a conflict with Li Zhibai before? If there is a conflict, we can also talk about it properly and see if we can resolve the conflict."

"Director, this is my own business with Li Zhibai. Why do you think you can resolve the conflict?" Meng Li looked at Li Zhenzhen impatiently and said: "If I had known your program had Li Zhibai, I would definitely not have participated."

Li Zhenzhen had ten thousand grass-mud horses galloping in her heart.

Other guests are fine, but you knew the entire lineup before signing the contract!

Unlike other artist guests, because Meng Li debuted early and had the highest status among these young people, plus her personality and topic popularity were very high, Li Zhenzhen and Chen Biqiu finally made an exception and let Meng Li know the list of artists who would participate in this program—this person had to know who was recording the program together before she would come, otherwise she absolutely wouldn't.

In order to handle her, Chen Biqiu and Li Zhenzhen even "visited three times." Now, this person really lived up to expectations and showed a distinct personality, and also caused a lot of things, but now it seems it's not just that, it's almost ruining the program. If Meng Li and Li Zhibai really quit the program on the first day of recording, then this program can be declared dead in advance.

Li Zhenzhen took a deep breath and persuaded herself to be calm, not to be angered by Meng Li's attitude, and just do what should be done.

She said to Meng Li: "Miss Meng, in this world, there is no conflict that cannot be reconciled. You and Li Zhibai also cooperated in *Accompany You to the End of the World*, right? Everyone is mixing in the entertainment industry, and they will see each other when they look up. Moreover, I personally think that you two definitely haven't reached the point where you can't even get along peacefully, right? Otherwise, you would have left on the first meeting this morning."

Meng Li looked at Li Zhenzhen with a strange expression and said: "You are really interesting. Do I have to tear my face with Li Zhibai as soon as I meet him to be considered really not getting along? I'll tell you directly, for this program, either Li Zhibai goes, or I go. I will absolutely not stay here and record this program with him. You make the decision yourself."

After Meng Li finished speaking, she waved her hand and said to Li Zhenzhen: "Alright, you don't need to stay here and tell me anything anymore. I've said everything I want to say. If you can't solve this problem, I will definitely leave. It's useless for you to force me to stay here. You don't need to worry about the breach of contract fee, I will definitely pay it."

Li Zhenzhen has also dealt with quite a few artists. There are quite a few artists with personality and temper, but Li Zhenzhen has really never seen anyone as difficult to deal with as Meng Li.

She found that she couldn't communicate with Meng Li normally. No matter what you said to her, she was immersed in her own world and logic. Once what you said didn't fit her wishes, she would think there was something wrong with you.

Li Zhenzhen saw the determined expression on Meng Li's face and guessed that whatever she said would be useless, so she didn't say anything more and left.

"What did Meng Li say?"

As soon as she returned to the workroom, Chen Biqiu asked her.

Li Zhenzhen briefly explained the situation, and Chen Biqiu smiled immediately, saying: "Meng Li is pretending to leave, Li Zhibai is really leaving."

Li Zhenzhen looked puzzled and asked: "Why?"

Chen Biqiu said: "You have to learn to listen to what these people say, which sentence is what they really want to say. Look, Li Zhibai said he wanted to leave, did he talk to you about any conditions? He just packed his suitcase himself, ready to leave, without saying a word, and didn't make trouble. Look at Meng Li again, making a big scene, letting everyone know she wants to leave, and finally said, either Li Zhibai goes, or she goes. She is really making conditions with you."

Once Chen Biqiu said this, Li Zhenzhen understood Chen Biqiu's meaning instantly.

Thinking about it, it really is like this.

Li Zhenzhen frowned and said: "Why is Meng Li doing this? I don't understand. She just wants to force Li Zhibai away?"

"Forcing him away is of course very good, but if he isn't forced away, she can also establish her status in this program, between her and Li Zhibai, who is the top artist." Chen Biqiu said, "The two most popular people in our program are them. Old hatred plus new competitive relationship, it's not hard to understand why she is going crazy like this."

Li Zhenzhen asked: "Then what should we do?"

"Li Xia is on the way, let her agent negotiate with her later." Chen Biqiu said, "For this kind of artist who became famous at a young age, don't expect to be able to communicate with them rationally. To put it bluntly, they have all been spoiled by the company and team to the point that their brains are not normal. In their world, the whole world revolves around them. They are typical of those who have never suffered the beatings of life. You just find their team. Let the team communicate the artist's problems."

Li Zhenzhen asked: "What if the team can't handle it?"

"Everything is signed in the contract. If they can't handle it, then handle it according to the contract." Chen Biqiu said, "If they really don't cooperate, then quit the program. At worst, find someone else."

In Chen Biqiu's mouth, it seemed that it didn't matter even if Meng Li really wanted to leave.

Li Zhenzhen said: "But if Meng Li leaves, do we need to temporarily find other artists to be guests?"

"Why not?" Chen Biqiu said, "By then, the topic of the first episode will be there. Meng Li and Li Zhibai have a conflict and quit the program. Just these few words, this program will explode."

Li Zhenzhen had a look of wanting to speak but stopping.

"Zhenzhen, don't you want to make a program that truly focuses on young people's cohabitation and social interaction? Arguments and conflicts are also a kind of social interaction. For other variety shows, this is a scene and lens that can be met but not sought. You can run into it on the first day, don't let it down." Chen Biqiu actually said this directly.

This is a statement that is very consistent with Chen Biqiu's style.

Li Zhenzhen fell into silence. After a while, she said: "In this way, this program will be arguing and tearing each other apart from the first episode."

Chen Biqiu asked back: "Why not?"

Li Zhenzhen looked at Chen Biqiu in surprise and said: "But this is different from the program I want to make."

"There is no program that can be made exactly as it was preset at the beginning. In the process of recording, too many unpredictable things will happen. You know this very well." Chen Biqiu said, "Zhenzhen, I know you are an idealist, and I also appreciate this quality in you. However, the program has already started filming, and it is not easy to gather the artists' schedules, and the daily expenses are not small. No matter how low the cost of a variety show is, tens of millions are invested in one filming. This is not the time for you to be indecisive and not make decisions. You are the director of this program now, and you have to be responsible for everyone."

—You have to be responsible for everyone.

This sentence pressed down like a mountain, pressing all the words Li Zhenzhen wanted to say away.

Responsibility is just like this. You think you have mastered power, but in fact, you also bear responsibility.

Zhou Ping'an and Li Xia arrived one after another. What was unexpected was that Chen Ziyan also appeared.

Lu Yan He didn't know that Chen Ziyan would appear and was very surprised.

Li Zhenzhen even asked Lu Yan He if Chen Ziyan was called by him. Lu Yan He shook his head and said no.

As soon as the few agents appeared, they went to the next room to have a meeting with Chen Biqiu and Li Zhenzhen.

Although Li Zhibai and Meng Li made such a big thing, the program still had to be filmed. Not filming is a waste of time.

Except for Meng Li who refused to let the cameraman continue to follow, others were still filming normally.

Everyone inevitably discussed this matter, but they didn't expect that even though it was at this time, the cameraman was still following them.

And where the cameraman didn't follow, there were also fixed camera positions.

Lu Yan He and Yan Liang had been accompanying Li Zhibai on the side.

Peng Zhixing sent a message to Lu Yan He, asking: How is Li Zhibai now? I heard that he and Meng Li are making trouble to leave. Can we continue recording?

Lu Yan He saw the message from Peng Zhixing and said to Li Zhibai: "Brother Bai, you are a responsible person. Even if you want to leave this program, at least finish this recording, what do you think? It's not easy for everyone to gather time together. If you leave so lightly, even if the breach of contract fee is paid, it cannot make up for the loss of the program team."

Li Zhibai was somewhat impatient and said: "Film it, film it. As long as I don't have to film with Meng Li, I will finish this recording before leaving."

Sure enough, Li Zhibai is still the Li Zhibai with a knife mouth and tofu heart.

The staff in the workroom watching the camera screen of Li Zhibai's room heard their conversation and breathed a sigh of relief.

At least one was stabilized for now.

Chen Biqiu and Li Zhenzhen both went to have a meeting with the agents. The workroom was presided over by Zheng Hesong.

Someone inevitably worried and asked: "If Li Zhibai and Meng Li really leave this program, what should we do? Can this program continue to be filmed?"

Zheng Hesong said immediately: "Why can't this continue to be filmed? Even if Li Zhibai and Meng Li don't film, aren't there still Lu Yan He and Song Linxin? They are both quasi-first-tier popular stars now. Besides, if Li Zhibai and Meng Li leave, we can just find other artists. As long as the program is good and has explosive points, we don't have to worry about not having an audience."

For a variety show, it is really much easier to deal with such things than a film crew.

A film crew cannot modify the script at will, and if an actor quits, it will really cause significant losses. However, variety shows have no established scripts in the first place. If there are guests who leave halfway, just change people if it really doesn't work.

Zheng Hesong was somewhat excited and said: "Think about it, such a thing happened, two popular first-tier stars, and the conflict between the protagonists of the hit drama *Accompany You to the End of the World*. This topic, this popularity, don't even think about it, the first episode will definitely explode."

"Can their team let this segment be aired?"

"The fact that you would ask such a question shows that you underestimate Chen Laoshi's ability. Why can every program Chen Laoshi makes become popular? It's because he dares to film and dares to air, and absolutely does not yield to the unreasonable demands of the artist team. As long as it is material that can become popular, it will definitely be aired." Zheng Hesong said calmly, "Don't look at the director as Li Zhenzhen, the actual helmsman of this program is still Chen Laoshi."

Peng Zhixing gathered everyone downstairs in the group.

He didn't know if Li Zhibai and Meng Li would come downstairs, but he didn't want to watch everyone be affected by this matter and then delay time.

What Peng Zhixing didn't expect was that Li Zhibai actually followed Lu Yan He and Yan Liang downstairs.

To be precise, it was Lu Yan He and Yan Liang who dragged him down.

"Don't do that non-group thing. You are just arguing with Meng Li, not arguing with others. Why do you want others to be affected by your things?" Lu Yan He said to Li Zhibai, "Speaking of which, your things delayed everyone's time and affected everyone's mood. You'd better apologize to everyone."

Li Zhibai had an unbelievable expression, looking at Lu Yan He in disbelief, not expecting him to say that.

Lu Yan He: "Don't look at me like that. Yan Liang, do you think what I said makes sense?"

"You are right." Yan Liang nodded, also looking at Li Zhibai with a firm expression, "You apologize to everyone later."

Li Zhibai had a "why" expression.

But Lu Yan He and Yan Liang were very firm, making Li Zhibai unable to refuse.

As soon as Li Zhibai appeared, the expressions of others were somewhat difficult to describe.

I guess they wanted to ask but were embarrassed to ask.

After Li Zhibai sat down, he shrugged his shoulders and said: "Sorry."

"No, no problem." Xiao Yun probably smiled habitually, but the smile looked awkward, "As long as you and Meng Li are fine."

"Oh, no, I'm not fine with her." Li Zhibai said, "I just apologized to you."

Xiao Yun's eyes widened, and she didn't know what to say.

Her eyes rolled around, looking at others, as if she wanted to ask someone else to speak and save the scene. She didn't know how to pick up.

Lu Yan He helplessly explained for Li Zhibai: "He means that his business with Meng Li is just their own business, and it has nothing to do with us. Please don't worry, and don't be affected by the unhappiness caused by the two of them. Brother Zhixing, what were we planning to do in the afternoon?"

Peng Zhixing said: "I originally thought that everyone would buy some ingredients together in the afternoon, walk around the surroundings, get familiar with the environment, and then we will all make dinner together in the evening."

"Okay." Lu Yan He nodded, "Then why don't we set off now."

Peng Zhixing asked: "Are your agents all here? Don't you need to wait for them?"

Everyone knew that Li Zhibai and Meng Li wanted to leave, and they all thought it was in a pending state, so how could they continue to record them?

Lu Yan He said: "Agents discuss agents' things, we do our things, hmm, we can't just not record as soon as we start recording."

Although Li Zhibai looked reluctant, he didn't refuse.

So, a group of people prepared to go out with different expressions.

Li Zhibai was still responsible for driving.

"The supermarket closest to us is also ten kilometers away." Peng Zhixing said, "Let's set off."

As soon as the voice fell, a burst of rapid footsteps suddenly came from the stairs.

I saw Meng Li running down from downstairs, her eyes red and swollen, pointing at them in disbelief, saying: "Are you just bullying me by holding a group like this?" ===== CHAPTER 238 =====