Chapter 37: This Man Is Definitely Lying!

Su Chen followed the staff member at a brisk pace, finally arriving outside the control room of "Tomorrow’s Star." The staff member who led Su Chen there knocked on the door before a man's voice sounded from within.

"Come in."

The staffer pushed the door open. Su Chen saw a middle-aged man with thinning hair sitting intently in front of an array of screens, meticulously checking each camera angle and the smoothness of every feed in a final review before the show began.

"Director, Su Chen is here," the staff member said quietly, leaning over to speak into the man’s ear.

The man nodded, stood up from his chair, and approached Su Chen with a smile, extending his hand.

"Hello, Su Chen. I’m delighted you could join the recording of 'Tomorrow’s Star.' I’m Wu Tong, the executive director of the show."

Su Chen returned the smile and shook Wu Tong’s hand. "Hello, Director."

He still didn’t know why Wu Tong had called him over, so after greeting him, Su Chen waited for Wu Tong to speak.

"There aren’t any extra chairs in here, so let’s just stand and chat for a bit."

"Alright."

Wu Tong looked Su Chen up and down, then spoke with a smile. "Actually, the reason I called you here is twofold. First, before the show started, we ran a poll on Weibo, asking which contestant viewers most expect to debut. You ranked in the top five. So, to boost the show’s buzz and ratings, I’ll be giving you more screen time. Think of it as a perk—it’ll give you a better platform to showcase yourself."

Su Chen nodded, his face giving nothing away.

"Thank you, Director."

Wu Tong silently admired Su Chen’s composure and waved a hand dismissively. "It’s the fans who voted; it has nothing to do with me. The other top five contestants already heard about this through their respective agencies. Since you haven’t signed with an agency, and I’ve been busy these past two days, I’m only now able to speak with you."

"Also, I saw in your application to the program that you emphasized your strength in original songwriting. To be fair, you’re not the only contestant who writes originals, but none of the others have your current popularity. So, for the premiere, I hope you’ll perform one of your own songs."

Wu Tong was direct, laying his cards on the table.

Before Su Chen could respond, Wu Tong continued, "I know this is a bit sudden and might throw off your plans, but as a veteran director of talent shows, I can tell you honestly—first impressions are everything for contestants."

"Besides, you mentioned in your application that you’d be performing original work, so I assume you’re prepared."

"If you open the show with your own song, our team will do everything we can to shape your image as a musical prodigy. This benefits both of us, so—"

Wu Tong trailed off, watching Su Chen intently. He’d laid out his proposal and the stakes, waiting for Su Chen’s response.

If Su Chen had nothing prepared, Wu Tong certainly wouldn’t force him and risk a mishap on live television.

But to his surprise, Su Chen was looking at him with a rather odd expression.

"Do you have any concerns, Su Chen? This is just a personal request, not a demand. If you have any issues, feel free to speak your mind," Wu Tong prompted.

"Actually… my first performance is already set to be an original song."

Su Chen’s response instantly put Wu Tong at ease. He smiled broadly. "Then there’s no problem at all. I’ve listened to the three songs you’ve written. If your next original is even half as good as those, I guarantee your popularity will surge to a new level!"

Su Chen nodded, showing little sign of excitement.

He didn’t need the show’s special treatment; he was confident he could stand out among a hundred contestants on his own.

But if things could be made easier, why not take advantage?

Seeing Su Chen’s calm confidence, Wu Tong felt even more assured about the upcoming performance. His spirits lifted.

In these talent shows, the fates of the show and the contestants were intertwined. If a contestant’s song went viral, the show would reap the rewards in viewership and buzz.

He recalled a previously struggling show that had suddenly exploded in popularity after a contestant’s song went viral on Douyin, turning the show into an overnight sensation.

As they bantered, Wu Tong suddenly thought of something and asked, "By the way, how many original songs did you prepare for the show? I need to let the publicity team know in advance."

Su Chen considered for a moment. "For this show, I prepared only my original songs."

Wu Tong was momentarily stunned, then his eyes widened in shock. "You mean… for all twelve episodes, all six songs you’re going to perform will be your own originals?!"

Su Chen shook his head.

Wu Tong, who had been watching Su Chen closely, immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

Of course! It had been less than two weeks since Su Chen confirmed his participation in "Tomorrow’s Star." Who could possibly write six complete original songs in such a short time? Even a genius couldn’t pull off such a feat!

Just as Wu Tong was about to speak again, Su Chen added, "What I meant is, no matter how many episodes the show records, I have enough original songs to perform."

Wu Tong: ???

Wu Tong froze, staring at Su Chen as if he were some kind of monster.

There was only one thought in his mind: Could it be that these so-called original songs were just hastily thrown together?

No… He was about to perform on stage; the songs had to at least be coherent...

But even with lowered standards, there was no way anyone could write six full songs in just half a month!

He’s bluffing! He’s definitely bluffing!

Having reasoned this out, Wu Tong’s opinion of Su Chen plummeted.

Such exaggeration! If all the groundwork was laid and Su Chen couldn’t deliver, it would drag down the show’s ratings!

A little arrogance in youth was no sin, but you needed the ability to back it up! Without it, you’d only drag others down, and that was no longer confidence—it was foolishness!

With this in mind, Wu Tong forced a bland smile and dropped the topic of building Su Chen’s image. He told Su Chen, "Alright, you can head backstage and wait for your turn. When the show starts, just follow the staff’s instructions."

"Okay."

Su Chen turned and left.

He knew Wu Tong didn’t believe him, but he couldn’t be bothered to explain. After all, nothing was more convincing than singing the songs himself, was it?

Wu Tong watched Su Chen’s departing figure and massaged his temples in frustration.

Nearby, someone who appeared to be his assistant waited until Su Chen was gone before asking, "Tong-ge, why did you bother being polite to someone who talks so big? Don’t you usually just tell them to get lost?"

"I’d like to, but he was sent over by Vogue Media. They specifically asked us to give Su Chen extra resources."

"You know how close Vogue Media is with Hunan TV..."

Wu Tong sighed, his headache worsening.

"Tsk… I wonder what Vogue sees in a guy like that. So what do we do now, Tong-ge?"

Wu Tong considered for a moment, then gritted his teeth. "Cancel the original camera plans. Give Su Chen’s screen time to Meng Xiaotian!"

The assistant blinked in surprise before saying, "But what about Vogue Media…?"

"Heh, there’s an old saying: ‘Once the general is in the field, imperial edicts do not apply.’ The channel has invested hundreds of millions into this show—if it flops, we’ll all be out of a job!"

"If Su Chen’s a lost cause, what’s the point in giving him resources? As long as we deliver good numbers, whatever comes from Vogue Media is secondary!"

"Isn’t it better to promote Meng Xiaotian than Su Chen?"

The assistant’s eyes lit up, and he flattered, "Tong-ge, you really are sharp! Meng Xiaotian is definitely the wise choice!"

"Mm, go call Meng Xiaotian over."

"Right away!"