Chapter 6: Retire from the industry

"Hahaha."

"He Laoshi is truly such a good person."

"Although, having said that, why do I feel like it's so satisfying to watch Chi Ye roast people?"

"Lin Jingyi is a drama queen herself, she's on par with Chi Ye. What kind of status does she have to be worthy of criticizing Chi Ye?"

"Chi Ye was, after all, the former face of Rise. May I ask what works Lin Jingyi has?"

The live comments section boiled over due to Chi Ye's first counter-attack, and the guests on stage, regardless of what they were thinking inside, all covered their faces and let out strange cries at this moment.

He Laoshi is right; "How to Evaluate" was originally a variety show for current affairs commentary and debate.

But... damn it, since the show started, they haven't actually had a real debate (output).

At this moment, Lin Jingyi's pretty face was flushed with a hint of white, which actually made her cosmetic enhancements look somewhat natural. She moved her lips a few times, but couldn't say a word.

Seeing this scene, the director felt his heart go cold.

As the main offensive player, Lin Jingyi was left at a loss for words by Chi Ye in just one round.

It’s not like they could let the highly respected Huang Laoshi step in personally, right?

"Hmm..."

Fortunately, Lin Jingyi was an artist after all; she took a deep breath, stabilized herself quickly, and ground her teeth with almost no attempt to hide it: "As a former member of the boy band Rise, watching former teammates like Peng Chen and Shen Qingyu become more and more popular, how do you feel inside?"

"Peng Chen is a top-tier celebrity now. Netizens dug up your burner account and found that you were using it to curse your teammates every day. They say you are jealous that they became popular. Is that so?"

"She's still attacking!"

"Sister Jingyi, go for it!"

"I can't watch anymore, I really can't watch anymore..."

The people around let out strange howls again. Lin Jingyi regrouped and launched another sharp attack, instantly winning applause from the whole room.

She stared fixedly at Chi Ye: "Are you jealous that Peng Chen is more popular than you?"

"You don't quite understand the relationship between us."

Facing the gazes cast by everyone, Chi Ye shook his head and denied it: "I admit Peng Chen is popular, but no matter how popular he is, he isn't as 'red-eyed' (jealous) as I am."

"What would I be jealous of him for? Aren't my eyes red enough? Do I need to be jealous of him?"

"Pfft, haha."

"This works too?!"

"I'm impressed!"

"Ah..."

The scene exploded again instantly. Chi Ye pointed at his own eyes: "Even if I were to be jealous, I wouldn't just be jealous of Peng Chen. Everyone knows I'm petty; I will be equally jealous of everyone!"

"Chi Chi! Chi Chi!"

Chu Luanyu was already laughing until she was convulsing on the side, yet she didn't forget to frantically cheer for Chi Ye.

"My turn."

Chi Ye didn't give Lin Jingyi or anyone else time to react. He stared at Lin Jingyi and began a turn-based game: "Why don't you like eating stinky tofu?"

Lin Jingyi was stunned, curled her lip, and said: "If I don't like it, I don't like it. Why would there be a reason for that?"

Chi Ye stared at her mouth: "Is it because the stinky tofu isn't 'stinky' enough?"

Lin Jingyi: "...!!!"

Go to hell!!!

"Hahahaha."

"My god..."

"I'm sorry, Teacher Lin... I really can't hold it in anymore."

"The one who should be sorry is Teacher Huang."

Once Chi Ye said this, the power was no less than detonating a nuclear bomb. Whether on stage, off stage, or the audience online, everyone instantly burst into laughter.

What a line: "Is it because the stinky tofu isn't 'stinky' enough?"

He's gone on a rampage, Chi Ye has gone on a rampage!

"Is it?" Chi Ye continued to press.

Lin Jingyi's face turned deathly pale.

Her gaze subconsciously looked toward Teacher Huang. At this moment, Teacher Huang was sitting right next to her, and she had no way to answer.

Seeing this, Chi Ye pursued relentlessly: "Why are you looking at Teacher Huang? Are you hungry again?"

"Ah, help!!!"

"Hahahaha."

Upon hearing this, Chu Luanyu completely collapsed, burying her little head directly into the sofa, not daring to look at anyone.

She couldn't take it anymore; she was really going to laugh herself into a seizure.

"You..."

Lin Jingyi was likewise speechless, and was almost bullied to the point of tears.

Because she really didn't want to carry the reputation of being a "shit-eater"!

How would she even survive in the industry after this?

"Cough, cough, I... I have a question."

Seeing that Lin Jingyi had completely lost the battle, the female resident Xiao Qi, who had received forced instructions from the director through her earpiece, stood up with a mournful face.

Chi Ye glanced sideways, as did the others.

"Chi, Brother Chi, I have also collected a few questions here that everyone is concerned about."

The female resident's voice was even weaker, her tone even softer; she might as well have had "the production team made me do this" written on her face.

Chi Ye was slightly taken aback, then nodded readily: "Go ahead."

"It's just that..." The female resident organized her words and asked while biting the bullet: "Everyone says your current popularity is all from leeching off Teacher Sheng Ning... um... is this allowed to be said? The production team made me say it, teachers, it has nothing to do with me!"

By the end, noticing the gazes of He Laoshi, Chu Luanyu, and even Teacher Huang, the female resident was almost crying and sold out the production team directly.

"Do you like Sheng Ning's popularity that much? I heard Sheng Ning's team and fans have strong opinions... Brother Chi, is it convenient to talk about it?"

"The production team is doing great!"

"It's not just strong opinions, she was leeched off until she had to stop working!!"

"That's more like it! It's almost over, and yet no one dared to output against Chi Ye. What is the point of inviting Chi Ye for this episode?"

The audience off-stage responded enthusiastically, and some of Sheng Ning's fans were even "crying with joy."

Chi Ye has done all sorts of evil; the whole world should know his "wicked deeds"!

But the guests and residents on stage didn't add insult to injury.

Because Sheng Ning's status was indeed high—the No. 1 among the post-95 actresses, the queen of traffic, ranked at the head of the Four Little Dan Actresses, and she herself had already evolved into capital.

Among the young actresses, apart from that one at the very top who is the nation's "white moonlight" and "fairy sister," no one has a higher status than her.

Even Teacher Huang wouldn't dare put on airs as a senior in front of her.

"Sheng Ning, huh."

Chi Ye didn't make things difficult for the little resident, but instead stared at the production team's director off-stage, his words deafening: "Then didn't you invite me here because I leeched off Sheng Ning's popularity? No, I should be the one asking you that."

"Does your production team like Sheng Ning's popularity that much? Do you like leeching off it that much? You couldn't afford to invite Sheng Ning, so you invited me, right?! You guys are really dogs!"

"Hahaha!"

"Ahhh!"

"So unfamiliar, this isn't the beautiful trash Chi Ye I know!"

"Why do I kind of like Chi Ye now..."

"The truth."

The audience off-stage instantly erupted into cheers.

The production team was left dumbfounded by the question, and feeling the heat from the surrounding audience, their faces turned sallow.

The director suddenly felt a wave of regret.

He shouldn't have asked!

"Xiao Qi."

Chi Ye looked back at the female resident: "You must be very tired usually, right? Do you often feel a guilty conscience?"

"Ah? A guilty conscience?"

The female resident was confused: "No, why... why would I have a guilty conscience?"

"No?" Chi Ye scanned the guests and the production team: "Anyway, if I were you, having to speak against my conscience every time I record this show, I would definitely have a guilty conscience."

"OMG!"

The male resident screamed, then realized what happened and signaled to the production team off-stage: "It has nothing to do with me, I didn't say it!"

"Chi Chi, stop talking, if you keep talking you'll have to retire from the industry tomorrow."

He Laoshi was also completely numb.

He realized the show could no longer continue to be broadcast.

If this segment continued, Chi Ye might really drive the show to voluntarily cut the broadcast.

Chi Ye was very self-aware: "It's fine, in my current state, what difference is there from retiring from the industry?"

"I can't take it, my stomach hurts."

"I came here to watch Chi Ye get roasted, why am I laughing like an idiot now..."

"I seriously suspect Chi Ye has been possessed!"

"Let's go, let's go. This episode clearly had a scripted plan to promote Chi Ye. Could he really have such good eloquence?"

"I'm slipping out."

"Is this the mental state of today's young people?"

He Laoshi held the microphone and blocked Chi Ye's path, bowing to the audience and the cameras: "Alright, that concludes today's live broadcast..."

"Hahaha!"

There was laughter from the audience, but the segment originally intended for focused attacks had, by this point, effectively collapsed.

After this battle, Huang Laoshi realized that this minor internet celebrity was not afraid of him and did not want to continue making a fool of himself.

Lin Jingyi was so thoroughly retorted that she was dazed and on the verge of tears.

No one dared to continue firing at Chi Ye, and the rest of the program was bland and flavorless, no different from having already ended.

Twenty minutes later, the live stream was turned off.

The moment the broadcast ended, the previously harmonious studio instantly turned cold.

The audience began to disperse and leave; Huang Laoshi and Lin Jingyi had ashen faces, shot Chi Ye a cold glare, and turned to leave without looking back.

Chi Ye rubbed his waist.

"Sigh, tell me, what happened to you today?"

He Laoshi looked at Chi Ye, shook his head with a sigh, and before Chi Ye could reply, trotted over to Huang Laoshi with the script in hand, whispering something to persuade him.

"Hey, Imperial Brother, you've really offended Huang Laoshi this time."

Chu Luanyu took the thermos handed to her by her assistant, took a small sip, and shook her head: "He is notoriously petty."

"Emperor?"

Chi Ye's attention was on how Chu Luanyu addressed him, and he asked in confusion: "Did I ascend to the throne?"

"It's—Imperial—Brother," Chu Luanyu emphasized seriously: "The brother from 'brother-in-arms'!"

Chi Ye: "..."

"If I've offended him, so be it. If he hates someone as excellent as me, it must be his own problem."

Chu Luanyu's eyes lit up, and she clapped in approval: "Right! That's so right!"

"We 'resource-backed' celebrities have never been well-liked in the industry. You did great today! When you encounter those with ill intentions, you should use the methods of a 'resource-backed' celebrity to fight back!"

"Huh?"

Chi Ye looked at this exquisite and beautiful top-tier 'resource-backed' celebrity in surprise.

Chu Luanyu was still feeling a bit self-moved: "We 'resource-backed' celebrities should stick together so we won't be bullied and can openly use our connections to get resources!"

Chi Ye: ...

Well, how should he put it? He could only say that it was just like her.

"Alright, let's go, let's go to the post-interview together."

Chu Luanyu had already put on a beige long trench coat and waved her small hand at Chi Ye.

"Post-interview?" Chi Ye was stunned: "What post-interview?"

Chu Luanyu was also taken aback: "After recording the show, there's a post-interview to do, and there was a pre-interview segment before recording too. Did no one notify you?"

Chi Ye: "...Oh, they did, but I don't want to go."

Chu Luanyu was stunned for a moment, then played along: "Oh, then I'll go first."