Chapter 73: The Deal

Late at night, at the Eastern Sea Film Base, on the set of “Produce 101.”

Last week, mentor Chen Xiuyuan announced the results of the first elimination round, cutting nearly half the contestants. After surviving this culling, Liao Meiqi, who had been simultaneously uplifted by the three songs “The Rest of Our Lives,” “If There Is a Next Life,” and “Remembrance,” moved up from Class A to Class B. What’s more, she soared from twelfth place, leaping ten spots, and garnered ninety-four million three hundred and seventy thousand votes, successfully rising to second place.

First place was taken by Xie Yuxin, with an astonishing one hundred and ten million votes.

From the very first day of the competition, Xie Yuxin had secured the top spot, and even after the first elimination round, she remained firmly in first place—her strength was undeniable.

No one was surprised that Xie Yuxin took first; what shocked the contestants was that Liao Meiqi had snatched second place!

If it weren’t for the total transparency of the voting channels on the three major video platforms, everyone would have suspected foul play behind the scenes.

Yu Xiaoxi, who slipped to third, felt particularly aggrieved. Having debuted overseas, she not only had a solid foundation but also believed her singing and dancing skills far outstripped Liao Meiqi’s. Yet despite this, she still lagged nearly twenty million votes behind. The gap was hard to swallow.

Even Xie Yuxin, reigning at the top, looked at Liao Yuan with a strange expression in her eyes.

Everyone was whispering, gesturing discreetly.

Truth be told, even Liao Meiqi herself couldn’t believe she had jumped ten places in one fell swoop.

But facts were facts—no one could change them.

After the new lineup of eleven ranked candidates was announced, the directors granted all contestants the opportunity to call their families.

Liao Meiqi took her phone, walked into a corner, and glanced over her shoulder.

A cameraman and a staff supervisor shadowed her every move.

Suppressing her excitement, she unlocked her phone, hesitated over her parents’ numbers, then skipped past them and tapped “Big Brother.”

Ring—ring—

“Hello?” Liao Yuan’s voice came through.

The cameraman and supervisor exchanged surprised looks—this didn’t sound like a parent’s voice.

Liao Meiqi squatted on the floor. “Hey, it’s me, Meiqi.”

“I know.”

Liao Yuan chuckled. “How’s it going lately? Are you tired?”

On camera, hearing her brother’s voice, Liao Meiqi’s eyes instantly reddened.

She lifted her head, trying to sound casual. “Not tired at all, the other girls are really taking care of me.”

There was a pause on the line. “Really not tired?”

Liao Meiqi wiped her eyes and forced a cheerful tone. “I’m not tired!”

At this, the supervisor realized she was speaking to her brother—this was the original author of songs like “The Rest of Our Lives”!

No wonder Liao Meiqi had scored nearly ninety million votes; her brother’s three songs had played a huge role.

Liao Meiqi brightened. “I’ve got good news for you—I wasn’t eliminated in the first round, and I even got second place!”

“Very good, you haven’t let the Liao family down.”

Liao Yuan laughed. “But don’t get cocky just because you’ve achieved a little. Understand?”

The call ended quickly. The supervisor, frustrated, stepped forward and scolded, “Liao Meiqi, didn’t you have more to say to your brother? Why did you hang up so soon?”

“I wanted to, but didn’t you say I only had three minutes?” Liao Meiqi asked, confused.

The supervisor was momentarily stunned. “Did I say that? Forget it—next time, don’t worry about the time. If it’s your brother on the line, you talk as long as you want! Got it?”

“Got it.” Liao Meiqi smiled.

Meanwhile, after her own call to her parents, Xie Yuxin suddenly asked the supervisor, “Can I speak to my manager?”

The supervisor hesitated but, given Xie Yuxin’s top rank and prominent background, agreed.

Soon, her manager, Chu Xuanyi, who had been waiting at the base, appeared by her side.

“Xiaoyu, what’s wrong?” Chu Xuanyi asked with concern.

“We were just regrouped. Durian got bumped down, now she’s in Class B.” Xie Yuxin replied.

Durian was an artist from the same company as Xie Yuxin, and though not as popular, she’d still amassed a large fan following.

Chu Xuanyi nodded. “I know, there’s a real-time ranking online. Your standings are public.”

Xie Yuxin asked, “What’s going on with Liao Meiqi? How did her ranking shoot up so suddenly?”

Chu Xuanyi looked surprised. “You don’t know?”

“How would I know? We’re not allowed any contact with the outside world—you know that.” Xie Yuxin frowned.

Chu Xuanyi realized. “True. Actually, I find it odd, too. By rights, Liao Meiqi is only backed by a small company, she was quiet before, nothing stood out—but since joining the show, her performance has been extraordinary. It’s baffling.”

“Was it those two original songs she performed?” Xie Yuxin mused.

“Two songs?” Chu Xuanyi laughed. “More than two. In the show’s special segment, her performance of ‘Remembrance’ shot straight to the top of the behind-the-scenes charts—and it’s only been, what, two or three weeks? The combined clicks on the three major video sites have already topped ten million. Isn’t that wild?”

Xie Yuxin was perplexed. “‘Remembrance’? I’ve never heard of that song. Didn’t she only sing ‘The Rest of Our Lives’ and ‘If There Is a Next Life’?”

“Maybe the director gave her a special slot.” Chu Xuanyi replied. “She really hit the perfect timing—everything fell into place. You know, the national college and high school entrance exams are happening now, and ‘Remembrance’ was written for graduates. In media surveys, over eighty percent of her fans are middle and high school students, plus quite a few college students. Now, lots of graduates are reposting ‘Remembrance’ on social media—just the reposts have broken one hundred thousand, and comments are close to three hundred thousand. There’s a whole ‘Remembrance’ craze among college students; everyone’s sharing stories of their high school days.”

Hearing all this, a nameless fury flared in Xie Yuxin’s heart. “That bitch!”

Chu Xuanyi jumped, startled. “Why are you cursing at me?”

Xie Yuxin’s voice was icy. “Not you. I’m cursing that Liao Meiqi! She must have slept with the director. She acts all innocent, but behind the scenes she’s doing god knows what. Reincarnated white lotus, I swear!”

Chu Xuanyi hesitated. “I don’t think it’s a casting couch situation…”

“Then what is it?” Xie Yuxin retorted.

“There’s a rumor outside—Liao Meiqi’s brother is Liao Yuan. He’s never confirmed it, but silence is as good as admission, isn’t it?”

“Liao Yuan? Who’s that?” Xie Yuxin was puzzled. “I’ve only been out of the loop for two months—has the whole world changed?”

“Liao Yuan is a contracted host at Eastern Sea Radio. His original novel ‘Ghost Blows Out the Light’ is wildly popular right now—not only has Tang Dynasty signed it for publication, but Fu Yuntao spent nearly ten million buying the film rights.”

“You mean… Fu Yuntao? The very director here?” Xie Yuxin was shocked. She hadn’t expected that at all.

“Yes, Director Fu himself,” Chu Xuanyi confirmed. “A lot of well-known directors wanted to adapt ‘Ghost Blows Out the Light,’ but for whatever reason, Liao Yuan gave the rights to Fu Yuntao.”

“So, putting it all together…” A cold glint flashed in Xie Yuxin’s eyes. “Now it all makes sense! It was all for the movie rights… And this show still claims to be fair and just. Disgusting!”