Mysterious Assistant of the Washed-Up Queen-Chapter 465 - 309: Old Fox, Human Relationships, Exchange of Interests

At Zhao Fengsheng’s invitation, Xu Qingqiu didn’t rush to leave. Instead, she joined Chu Tian and the others, found a few seats, and sat down. They waited for Zhao Fengsheng to make his arrangements while chatting privately.

"Chu Tian, the director just said my act was a sure thing, but why do I feel so uneasy? Is it really that simple?"

Chu Tian had also heard Zhao Fengsheng’s words, but he simply hadn’t taken them to heart. However, seeing Xu Qingqiu’s puzzled expression, he explained, "It’s not that simple. Don’t think it’s easy, and don’t forget how much effort we’ve put in to get this far."

Chu Tian had said before that, aside from those who use connections, most acts that rely on ability easily pass because that’s genuine strength. Although Xu Qingqiu’s act hadn’t fought its way through numerous selections to get here, she had managed to improve her skills and grow her popularity in a short time. That alone wasn’t something just anyone could achieve, and it definitely wasn’t simple.

"Moreover," Chu Tian continued, "she needed good material, and fortunately, this song was powerful enough to sway others. Besides, who said her spot was guaranteed? Also, don’t be fooled by what the director said, as if it’s already secured. You don’t really understand the nature of the gala." 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

"What do you mean?" Xu Qingqiu, who had been thoughtful after hearing Chu Tian’s previous points, suddenly became confused again. What did he mean, ’not necessarily a sure thing’?

"To put it simply, if he likes an act, that act might be a sure thing, but the performer might not be. Understand?"

"Does... does this mean I might not be the one to sing my song?"

"That’s one way to put it."

"On what basis? Why? Could it be..."

Seeing Xu Qingqiu becoming anxious, Chu Tian quickly took her hand, calming her as he said, "Don’t worry, don’t worry. We haven’t reached that point yet. Besides, you have to believe in your own ability. Actually, this kind of thing rarely happens. Usually..."

Chu Tian then explained some of the intricacies involved. "Under normal circumstances, whoever’s act it is will perform it. There’s usually no dispute about that. But exceptions sometimes happen. For example, if an act is outstanding but the performer just isn’t up to par, frankly ruining it. So, what happens then? If an act is that good, the director’s team wouldn’t want to give up on it, and they might have to replace the performer. Another scenario is when an act is excellent, but the performer has an accident—gets sick, injured, or faces a public relations crisis, for example. Of course, cases like these are extremely rare. What kind of skill level are we talking about, and how amazing would an act have to be for the director’s team to give it that much attention? Such instances are few and far between. There are so many acts lined up anyway. There’s no need to focus solely on yours, no matter how outstanding it might be. There are plenty of other excellent ones."

After hearing Chu Tian’s explanation, Xu Qingqiu gained a deeper understanding and felt a sense of relief.

However, Chu Tian didn’t mention one thing: if an act is particularly good, they might not kick the original performer out, but they can add people. A song originally intended as a solo could suddenly become a duet. Occurrences like this weren’t rare. But with this particular song, that likely wouldn’t happen, mainly because of its strong narrative element; plus, it wasn’t the type for a cheerful, family-friendly performance. If they turned it into a large choral piece, the mood would change, the act’s impact would diminish, and the entire song might become unrecognizable. Thus, such a situation was highly unlikely, and mentioning it would only cause unnecessary worry.

While they were chatting, preparations for a new act began elsewhere in the venue.

After making his arrangements, Zhao Fengsheng came over, smiling cheerfully. "Xu, is it? This is our first time meeting. I didn’t expect someone so young to possess such talent. Truly impressive for your age."

"Director Zhao, you..."

"Ah, no need to be so formal. Sit, sit. Let’s talk. I heard your preparations for this act were quite rushed?"

...

The two of them sat on the edge of their seats and began a leisurely chat. Director Zhao, being old-school, had a habit of beating around the bush, discussing connections first; who knew when he’d get to the actual point. Chu Tian and the others, however awkward they felt, had to play along. They couldn’t be as blunt as some young people who try to "revolutionize the workplace," could they? That wouldn’t be youthful vigor; that would be sheer folly. What else could they do but smile and chat along slowly?

"I just watched your act; it’s incredible, exceptionally good!" Director Zhao said. "But it did seem a bit rushed. Are there any problems you need help solving?"

Problems? Of course, the answer should be ’no problems.’ His question might sound simple, but if Xu Qingqiu actually thought that and asked for help, she’d be in trouble. If she said she needed help, the production team could justifiably step in. Once that door was opened, how things were handled later might no longer be up to her. Besides, Director Zhao was just being polite with the offer. If she immediately listed requirements, it would clearly show her lack of ability, giving people a reason to look down on her. Imagine a famous singer performing an act but being unable to resolve issues themselves, ultimately needing the director’s team to bail them out, and so on. Once such a rumor spread, potential partners would hear it and think she was unreliable, that her skills weren’t up to par. Ultimately, not only would her standing be diminished, but she’d also be handing others a legitimate excuse to encroach on her interests, and she wouldn’t even be able to complain.