Chapter 4: Are You Being Polite?

The wake-up bell echoed through the room where 100 men were sleeping together. Luo Mo, who had already woken up, looked around and a smile quickly appeared on his face.

"Just as I thought," he said in his heart.

100 people, enough to reflect the myriad states of life.

Many trainees were still young and were in a dazed state at this time; some even had a bit of morning grumpiness.

But there were a few who were smarter, or perhaps had been given pointers, who already knew how to face the camera.

For a variety show, one must learn to fight for screen time.

If there is nothing special and the footage is boring, it will naturally be cut by the editors.

Look at this: the little brother sleeping across from Luo Mo clearly didn't have messy hair, but he deliberately used his hands to ruffle it a few times into a bird's nest, then looked around with a confused expression, putting on a dazed and cute look.

"Although expression management is a required course for an Idol, you've even mixed in acting here. Not bad, not bad," Luo Mo smiled knowingly.

He held no likes or dislikes toward this kind of behavior.

For a person to know how to strive for themselves is not wrong.

Even if it is a so-called "reality show," doesn't it still have the word "show" in it?

After filming the footage of the trainees waking up, the staff had to enter to organize things.

Today is the First Day of the official recording of Creating Idols; it will be very busy and very exhausting.

A few staff members greeted Luo Mo when they saw him.

After all, everyone had been colleagues just a few days ago; who would have thought their identities would suddenly change.

There was also a quiet girl wearing Glasses who handed Luo Mo two candies. Later, with a bit of reserve and shyness, she pretended to be thoughtful and handed some to the surrounding trainees, saying she was afraid everyone would be overtired today and suffer from low blood sugar.

In reality, it is estimated that not many trainees actually slept soundly last night.

After finishing the breakfast prepared by the production team, the trainees had to go prepare for the recording, such as changing clothes.

These were things the trainees had to provide themselves.

Luo Mo opened his suitcase, but inside there were only a white short-sleeved shirt and black shorts.

After all, when he first packed his luggage, he hadn't considered himself a contestant.

But he didn't care about that; he was just here to slack off anyway.

After changing clothes, the Prop Department and the staff in charge of costumes came to inspect them. Ning Dan, the General Director of Creating Idols, actually came as well.

Rumor has it that Ning Dan is a director who loves to nitpick details and is exceptionally attentive to her own programs.

Moreover, this woman is a workaholic who seems not to need sleep. This leads to others having a particularly hard time when recording her shows.

Luo Mo had met Ning Dan before and had even chatted with her a few times.

At this moment, the other trainees were somewhat nervous upon seeing the General Director.

After all, a single word from her could potentially determine everyone's fate and future!

Not to mention that she is a big shot in the industry; even the high-level executives of the companies behind them have to treat Ning Dan with deference.

She has made too many people famous and created too many talent show miracles.

Luo Mo's mindset was excellent; after all, he is now a fusion of two souls, and the Luo Mo from Earth had been through so much that his temperament was naturally different.

He is an old hand.

Ning Dan is just 40 years old this year; since she works in the entertainment industry, she maintains herself well.

She cannot be called delicate, but her eyes are different from most women, and her lips are slightly thick; she is not one to smile easily.

Luo Mo felt that the feeling she gave people was somewhat close to a female star from Earth named Yu Nan.

She belongs to the type where if there's no spark, there's really no spark, but if there is a spark, one can see a special kind of sexiness in her.

She walked along like this, looking at the contestants one by one, just like an instructor during military training.

Some trainees didn't dare to breathe and were even sweating; others forced a smile, trying their best to curry favor.

When she passed by Luo Mo, she stopped in her tracks.

There was no helping it; everyone else's outfits were meticulously styled, as the first stage is meant to leave a first impression on the audience.

Later on, all costumes would be prepared by the production team, so you wouldn't be able to play your own little tricks.

Only Luo Mo was in a white short-sleeved shirt and big shorts, as if he were at home.

It was actually very harmonious with the attire of all the staff standing on the other side.

The Prop Department and the costume teacher hurriedly stepped forward to ask.

"Sister Ning, I have a few outfits in reserve here; he should be able to wear them," the costume teacher said.

Ning Dan shook her head and said, "No, no need!"

She looked Luo Mo up and down, and the more she looked, the more satisfied she became.

Ning Dan didn't say much more, nor did she give a reason. After telling the staff a few things about what other trainees needed to change, she left in a rush.

Luo Mo looked at her departing Back Shadow and always felt that the look in this woman's eyes just now was a bit off.

After Ning Dan left, there was about twenty minutes of free time.

Luo Mo started to zone out at this time.

His soul had just fused, so he was still adapting, and his focus was easily lost.

Besides, he really had nothing to do.

Many of the trainees knew each other; for example, those from the same company were huddling together, and those who had been training for several years might even know trainees from other companies.

You must know that many trainees nowadays are not poor kids struggling; the proportion of second-generation rich kids is very high, and there are some second-generation stars mixed in, all of whom have their own little circles.

Trainees without companies are, after all, in the minority. Talent variety shows are different from a few years ago; today, it is a game of capital and a contest between companies.

Luo Mo was not familiar with any of these people. He only knew a few staff members, but now there were cameras all around, and there was a chasm between the staff and the trainees, making it impossible to chat or joke around.

Just at this moment, Luo Mo felt that a boy had been looking at him.

He wasn't a shy person; if you look at me, then I'll look back.

As a result, when he looked further down, he ended up making the other person shy.

This youth, who looked very delicate and pretty, didn't know how old he was this year, but he looked very young, and his eyes were exceptionally clean. He trotted over to Luo Mo's side and said softly, "Um... hello, actually I have a spare set of clothes, you should be able to wear them, um... um..."

It was clearly a kind gesture to lend someone clothes to wear, yet he spoke in a stumbling manner.

He likely heard the conversation between Director Ning Dan and the costume teacher just now.

Yo, a little angel has arrived!

Luo Mo was stunned for a moment and said, "Luo Mo."

"Ah?" The youth was dazed for a moment before he realized the other person was introducing himself, so he replied, "Tong Shu, my name is Tong Shu."

"Are you an Individual Trainee?" Luo Mo asked.

"Ah, yes, that's right," Tong Shu said.

Luo Mo smiled, patted his shoulder, and said, "Thanks, but I think I won't be needing it."

"Ah, o... okay, um, sorry to bother you," Tong Shu said.

Luo Mo just felt this youth was somewhat interesting; he was clearly here to help out of kindness, yet he looked as if he had done something wrong.

But regardless, this put Luo Mo in a good mood.

The reason was simple: he believed the youth was sincere.

Having struggled and crawled through the entertainment industry, experiencing ups and downs several times, he still had that bit of insight into people.

Interestingly, the conversation between the two attracted the attention of quite a few people nearby.

Soon, someone else walked toward this side.

"Hello, my name is Meng Yangguang. Our heights are about the same, and I also have two spare performance outfits there. You can see if they fit and if you can use them," a man with a buzz cut, a heroic face, and full of vigor said to Luo Mo.

As he spoke, he even flashed a sunny smile at the camera located to Luo Mo's side.

"Interesting," Luo Mo thought to himself.

Not smiling at me, but smiling at the camera.

How does that saying go—"Are you being polite?"

This kind of person is the standard type who uses others as a tool.

All he wanted was this shot of himself looking very warm-hearted; if it got edited in, it could boost his favorability with the audience.

And in fact, for those trainees strictly trained by companies, there are special teachers to teach you—how to smile.

Luo Mo had also practiced this standard smile on Meng Yangguang's face in front of a mirror before.

It's just that he was ugly back then, so when he smiled, he looked both ugly and cheerful.

Luo Mo's gaze began to move downward, looking at the Dr. Martens boots with very, very thick soles on Meng Yangguang.

Even with such shoes on, he was actually still at least two or three centimeters shorter than Luo Mo.

There were most likely height-increasing insoles inside the Dr. Martens, a magical tool that is a must-have for many male artists in the industry.

"It might not be a very good fit."

Luo Mo looked at his Dr. Martens, also not looking at his face, turned slightly to the side so the camera couldn't capture his front profile, and then revealed an equally standard, sunny smile.

On the other side, National Producer Representative Xu Chujing had already sat in the main seat of the screening room.

The other four mentors were seated on both sides respectively.

The program recording had long since officially begun, and the five people started exchanging pleasantries before quickly cutting to the main topic.

The content of this segment was mainly for the five Superstar mentors to watch the contestants' basic profiles together, then discuss them, and build up the audience's anticipation for the trainee contestants.

During the discussion, Xu Chujing was as imposing as ever, appearing as if she didn't have much interest in anyone.

This was also the reason Director Ning Dan valued her; she could highlight the strict side of things.

In reality, besides truly being uninterested, Xu Chujing was also a bit unfocused due to last night's dream.

Once Luo Mo's profile appeared on the big screen, the cameraman in charge of filming Xu Chujing's micro-expressions keenly noticed—the look in this Superstar's eyes had changed!

(End of this chapter)