Chapter 12: The Most Desperate Episode Ever Edited by Mango TV!

Late at night.

The Yue Na headquarters remained brightly lit.

The work of the film and television department and the talent management department never knew the difference between day and night.

Chi Ye strode across the spacious lobby, the sneakers on his feet clicking against the reflective marble floor.

Employees working overtime late at night cast strange looks his way.

Clearly, while the internet might have forgotten the "Yue Na infighting" incident that caused such a stir a few days ago, the Yue Na headquarters still remembered it vividly.

Chi Ye ignored these gazes and walked all the way to Ge Shuang's office.

"These are the scripts I've found for you over the past few days. Take a look."

Without pleasantries or tea, Ge Shuang’s eyes held a hint of scrutiny, with a coldness lurking deep within her gaze.

Chi Ye was even less polite, sitting on the sofa and flipping through the so-called scripts.

——And then.

"What kind of trash is this?"

Ge Shuang was expressionless: "It’s not bad that I could find these scripts suitable for you in three days."

"The scripts you say are suitable for me are about a fiancée who is an older sister, a second male lead who is one's own father, and a male lead who ends up with his own stepmother?"

"Ethical dramas, are they?"

Ge Shuang: "Do you think good scripts are just there whenever you want them?"

Chi Ye was silent.

I was just saying that; did you really go and look for them in three days?

How come I’ve never seen you be this obedient before?

Fortunately, he knew that good scripts couldn't be found in just a few days, so his main purpose for coming today was to learn about the "Mango TV hit variety show" Ge Shuang had mentioned on the phone—it was a consensus in the industry that for film and television, you look to the three major platforms, but for hit variety shows, you look to Mango.

"Keep looking. If you throw this kind of trash at me, I don't feel any sincerity at all."

Ge Shuang sneered and tossed another program invitation to Chi Ye:

"A new variety show planned by Mango TV. It was approved half a year ago, and they just finished the investment solicitation two days ago. The production team is the original crew behind big hits like *Singer* and *See You Again*... ahem, *See You, Lover*. They’ve also invited a professional international team to participate in the production."

Ge Shuang stroked her teacup, her tone strange: "To be honest, this show is a guaranteed hit. Too many people want to fight for a permanent spot, including all sorts of big stars. I originally didn't intend to give it to you."

Chi Ye ignored the old witch’s PUA and opened the invitation to take a look.

But with just one glance, he froze.

——Variety show: *Meeting the Real You*

Program type: Social observation reality show.

Program summary: After stepping into society, we put on masks and lost our true selves. Hypocrisy is easy to see, but authenticity is hard to come by.

In this program, we will invite 7 of the most disliked and controversial celebrities in the entertainment industry to participate. The 7 invited guests will live together in a location designated by the production team for 21 days.

During these 21 days of living together, the 7 guests must show 100% of their truest selves and their most authentic states of living. To this end, the program will conduct the country's first 24-hour live broadcast.

Each episode, the 7 guests will be voted on by netizens as the "most disliked guest," and that guest will receive a "punishment."

A "most subversive guest" will also be named to receive a reward.

Closing statement: Break through fixed impressions, emerge from the cocoon as a butterfly, and let the audience understand the "truest you" from a brand-new perspective!

Hmm...

This whitewashing convention... ahem, this variety show...

Which genius mother-f***er came up with this?!

For a moment, Chi Ye didn't know how to evaluate it.

He believed Ge Shuang's words from earlier now; it wasn't PUA, he really was the chosen guest!

For this variety show, who could be more suitable or qualified to participate than him?!

When it comes to being disliked, others are just amateurs; he is invincible!

However, Chi Ye soon realized he was wrong—dead wrong.

"Heh." Ge Shuang observed Chi Ye's expression, guessed what he was thinking, and sneered: "Believe me now?"

"But don't get happy too early. You're only in there to serve as a foil to help whitewash the others."

Chi Ye looked up, disbelieving: "Is there anyone more annoying or with a worse reputation than me, the king of bad luck?"

Ge Shuang smiled without a word.

Chi Ye looked down to read the list of invited guests for the first season of *Meeting You*.

The heavyweight guest from *See You, Lover*, the striver, the "I really want to stay on the trending list for another five hundred years" Yang Zi.

The King of Dads + The Know-it-all.

The number one "coquettish" star in the domestic entertainment industry, blacklisted by the entire internet multiple times, one of the Four Dan Actresses, Jin Xia.

The Drama Queen.

The manager of *Chinese Restaurant*, the Emperor of Grease, the "I don't need what you think, I need what I think" Mr. Lu Xiaoming.

The King of Dads + The Ultimate Stress-Inducer.

The young pop diva who got caught up in a scandal for hitting someone with a cold face.

The Queen of Feminism.

And, his most familiar good friend, the Teacher Huang who became famous for the "poisonous green beans" battle + the girl who loves to eat history, Lin Jingyi.

The King of Dads + The Know-it-all + The Argumentative Personality + The "Old Man" Vibe.

The Cyber-Tech Person + Pica.

Plus him...

OK, no need to keep reading.

Dads, know-it-alls, grease emperors, hitters, drama queens, and bullies!

What kind of f***ing battle royale lineup is this?!

Is Mango TV raising poisonous insects here?

In front of this group of monsters and freaks, Chi Ye suddenly realized he was as innocent as a fresh recruit!

What?

You say this is the most desperate episode for the Mango TV editors?

No, the director says there's no need to edit, absolutely no need to edit—every single frame is f***ing gold!!

Just turn on ten cameras simultaneously and give the domestic entertainment industry a little shock!

"..."

"Why aren't you talking?" Ge Shuang asked curiously: "Is this variety show not high-class enough? This is the top-tier resource in the industry right now. It's already quite good that you managed to snag a spot as a foil."

"That's not it." Chi Ye looked at Ge Shuang: "I'm just wondering why even such a niche track has people fighting me for it."

"It is indeed a bit crowded, huh."

Ge Shuang was also an old master of sarcasm, her words seemingly harmless but full of hidden meaning: "I'm telling you, this show can give you a permanent spot, but the production team and the various teams require that you must recognize your own positioning, understand?"

"I'm going back to prepare. You must give me the film and television resources as soon as possible."

Chi Ye had already stood up, having no desire to bicker with Ge Shuang.

"Wait."

Ge Shuang stared at his back, deliberated for a long moment, and said: "I know you hate me, and honestly, I don't think much of you either."

"But you have been under me for a few years after all, so here is some advice from someone who has been through it."

"Young man, suffering a little bit is nothing. Don't always go for that 'the barefoot aren't afraid of those wearing shoes' attitude. Can you really beat them?"

Chi Ye paused and looked back at Ge Shuang: "No, I think you're the one who should suffer a little more."

Ge Shuang: "?"

Chi Ye was venomous to the bone: "Because only by suffering the bitterest of the bitter can one serve the masters of the masters."

"Good sister, suffer more, and serve more people."

"You!"

Ge Shuang's performance of "staying calm" for the evening failed, her features twisting.

Chi Ye had already strode out of her office and called to Keke, who was sitting in a chair: "Let's go."

"Uh... Brother Chi, how was it?"

"How was what?"

"The resources. What kind of resources did the company give?"

Chi Ye looked down at the invitation in his hand: "This should count as a combat-adventure variety show."

"Huh? Combat? Adventure? Is it a live-action *PUBG*?"

Keke was bewildered.

Chi Ye didn't speak, just kept on adventuring.

The recording for the first season of *Meeting You* was set for a week later.

But the promotional marketing had already begun a month ago.

With Mango TV's professional marketing, the overwhelming heat and discussion were almost suffocating.

The audience had long been looking forward to this heavyweight variety show that pioneered a new path in the country.

Especially after the 7 guests were announced, they couldn't wait for it to start airing immediately!

The trolls and the UP-hosts on major media platforms were all counting on it for their first big hit of the New Year and their KPIs!

In fact, "Meet You" is indeed the top-tier variety show resource currently available in the country.

As long as one gets on it, not to mention anything else, there will certainly be no lack of popularity.

For example—

Before the recording of "Meet You" began, Chi Ye's favorability points successfully broke through to 200,000 due to the official announcement of "Meet You," granting him two opportunities to copy others' intermediate skill talents.

At the same time, he waited for several "Grade A resources" thrown over by Yue Na—but he was not satisfied.

It wasn't that he was picky, but that what he wanted was a script, not a "script"!

Yue Na’s heart to harm me never dies!

"Brother Chi, there’s a script here, it’s not an ethics-themed one!"

"Put it away first, put it in my bag, I’ll take a look tonight."

Inside the bedroom.

Keke was helping Chi Ye pack his suitcase, while Chi Ye checked to see if he had forgotten any daily necessities, then heard the program’s director knocking on the door: "Teacher Chi, it’s time to get on the car."

"Why does it feel like I’m about to head to the execution ground?"

Chi Ye secretly thought it was bad luck, but he had very few things (he was very poor), so there wasn't much to pack; one suitcase was enough to handle it.

"OK, I’m off." Chi Ye instructed Keke: "Remember to keep in touch with Lawyer Zhang at all times, call me if anything happens."

"Brother Chi, do you really not want me to come with you?"

Keke was not at ease with Chi Ye participating in the show alone.

"It’s not that I don’t want you to come." Chi Ye was also speechless: "The show is broadcast live 24 hours a day, the production team doesn't allow assistants to follow, everyone is the same."

"Alright, then you must eat well and drink well, and take good care of yourself."

"Alright, alright, I know, let’s leave it at that."

Chi Ye waved his hand, and under Keke’s motherly gaze, he pulled the suitcase he’d bought on Taobao for 80 yuan and boarded the production team’s camera van.

"Hello, Teacher Chi, welcome to the big family of 'Meet You'."

The van was very spacious, but with all the cameras and microphones, the atmosphere was "menacing."

There were three cameras just for filming, not counting the follow-up PD who would be by Chi Ye’s side for the next 21 days.

Chi Ye found a comfortable spot and sat down: "Are you welcoming me, or are you welcoming the entertainment?"

"……"

Director Li, who was in charge of the questioning, pursed his lips and smiled: "The live broadcast has already started from this moment. In the next 21 days of life, you will be in a state of exposure. Is there anything you haven't handled yet?"

"No."

"Good, then let’s do a simple pre-interview."

They say it’s 100% real; regardless of whether it’s truly real or not, Mango can show you something that looks very "real"!

Therefore, even an interview like this pre-interview has to be broadcast live.

Chi Ye had no objections, looking up and down at the luxurious RV, sighing in his heart: This is the kind of life those 208W-earners should have!

"Do you know what your current 'dislike value' is from the outside?"

Director Li’s words were very blunt; their production team was playing for "reality" this time, and they were here to stir up trouble!

"I don't know."

Chi Ye shook his head.

The dislike value was a default vote for "Meet You." Every episode, netizens would vote to select the "most disliked celebrity."

Since the first episode had just begun, every guest would be given an "initial value."

He subconsciously asked back: "Will you tell me?"

Director Li was stunned, very straightforward: "No."

Then he continued to ask: "What kind of variety show do you think 'Meet You' is?"

Chi Ye: "A Tribulation-Crossing variety show."

"Why... huh?"

Director Li was bewildered.

The assistant girl next to him "puffed" and laughed out loud.

"Why do you say that?" Director Li was amused himself, then pretended to be serious: "Let me reiterate here, we are the most real show on the entire internet."

"Really the most real? Can I say anything?"

Director Li nodded candidly, then hesitated: "But content unsuitable for children cannot be said."

Chi Ye: "Then forget it, I won't say anything."

"……"

Director Li suddenly realized that this little traffic star, whom he had only heard of but never met, seemed a bit different from the rumors.

Interesting.

He continued to ask: "With your current reputation outside, do you feel any pressure participating in 'Meet You'?"

Chi Ye was silent: "……Pressure? I feel like I can’t even squeeze into this track anymore!"

"Um... cough cough!"

Director Li was choked and started coughing straight away.

The people around them also couldn't hold it in.

Because they actually heard a hint of "grievance" in Chi Ye’s tone!

"……Haha, Teacher Chi is very humorous."

The pre-interview continued.

……

At the same time.

Chi Ye’s "live broadcast room," including the rooms of the other 6 guests who were also recording their pre-interviews at this moment, saw their popularity skyrocketing visibly.

#Meet You starts airing#

#Chi Ye and Teacher Huang’s "second collaboration"#

#Lin Jingyi says she hopes to receive an apology from Chi Ye#

#Chi Ye: Lin Jingyi is in this episode too? I didn't recognize her#

Various hot search terms related to "Meet You" quickly dominated the charts, highlighting the terrifying marketing ability and popularity of Mango TV’s top variety show team.

Of course, as the person involved, Chi Ye couldn't see these, and didn't even know how many people were in his live broadcast room right now.

He only knew that the system’s favorability points were growing very slowly, or not growing at all.

This proved that there were hardly any viewers in the live broadcast room who "liked" him.

"What is your first impression of 'Meet You'?"

The pre-interview here had also reached its end.

"My first impression of 'Meet You'..." Chi Ye thought seriously: "I just think this show should change its name; it shouldn't be called 'Meeting the Real You'."

"Oh?"

Director Li became interested: "Then what should it be called?"

Chi Ye hit the nail on the head: "'Gu King Championship', or '21 Days of Survival'."

"Pfft, haha."

The little assistant covered her face with a card, feeling deeply ashamed.

Why is the way this Chi Ye speaks so interesting!

She had actually been one of Chi Ye’s haters.

But now... in just a few short sentences, her perception of Chi Ye had changed slightly.

Director Li couldn't hold it in either, and actually joked: "Since everyone knows this, there’s no need to say it again."

"Last question, you are about to move into the cabin, is there anything you want to say to the other 6 guests? Or any expectations for the 21 days of cohabitation in the future?"

Chi Ye paused: "I hope I can go home safely."