Mysterious Assistant of the Washed-Up Queen-Chapter 555 - 350: Going Live, Another Phenomenon?-2

Relevant promotional materials included, but were not limited to, website banners, ad graphics, pop-ups, posters, and various offline printed items. These items might seem inconspicuous, but they were extremely crucial, especially their content. A moment's inattention could easily lead to controversy. For instance, someone with ill intentions, or who was negligent in their work, might add elements that could easily cause misunderstandings or public outcry, potentially affecting the entire show or even the company. Therefore, the review process had to be extremely meticulous.

Amidst such busyness, a few days passed in the blink of an eye, and Saturday, the day of the show's broadcast, arrived. Success or failure would be determined at 8 p.m.

At this moment, Chu Tian was not at home watching TV but was standing alone at the airport, feeling the cold breeze.

"Hurry, hurry, get ready! The plane has landed! Bring over the flowers! You, stand here and hold up the banner! Remember to shout loudly, got it? Shouting is fine. You can move forward, but don't push, understand?"

"Later, it doesn't matter who it is. I'll give you instructions. Watch my gestures, and make sure you show enthusiasm!"

Standing to the side, Chu Tian watched the group of silly yet adorable girls not far away.

Even without looking, I know exactly what these people are here for, he thought, a smile playing on his lips. He couldn't help but chuckle inwardly. They're definitely hired by some small studio or entertainment company, paid three hundred a day. First, they greet the celebrity at the airport to create the impression of a massive, enthusiastic fan presence. After the celebrity gets into the car, they'll quickly drive to the hotel to greet them again. Then someone specific will film it, upload the footage online, and after spending a bit on marketing, a wave of hype will be generated. It's the standard procedure for manufacturing a traffic-driven star.

In his past life, Chu Tian had witnessed such scenes innumerable times. Even ordinary people could probably figure it out. For instance, while scrolling through short videos, they might suddenly see a clip: a celebrity in fashionable attire, wearing sunglasses, emerges from the airport looking as though they'd just stepped off a red carpet. As soon as they come out, many young girls scream and rush forward—some offering flowers, some asking for autographs, some wanting a photo together, and so on. Once uploaded online, the videos get a substantial number of likes, and several marketing accounts share the same content. The catch was that most comments would be from baffled people asking who the celebrity was. Among them, supposed fans would then 'educate' everyone, explaining who the celebrity was, their notable achievements, and impressive qualities.

Most people who pursued stardom through online traffic had experienced this. If their persona resonated and they gained some popularity, they would receive more resources and further backing. If they failed to gain enough traction, they would be temporarily sidelined and eventually be thrown in with other rejects on a less important project, simply to fill roles. If, by chance, one of these discarded talents made a sudden comeback, that was even better—a free win. If not, it didn't really matter; A-listers were stars, but even C-listers were still considered stars by the company. After all, they were only paid a meager fixed monthly salary. If they couldn't endure it, they'd have to break their contract and pay a penalty. If they endured, they'd be exploited to the maximum. If they couldn't participate in big projects, running errands and doing miscellaneous tasks was also acceptable. Either way, the company wouldn't lose money.

Just as Chu Tian was reminiscing, a sudden commotion up ahead drew his attention. He looked over and saw a fashionably dressed female celebrity, surrounded by assistants, walking out. A gaggle of young girls screamed and shouted excitedly around her, making her appear very popular.

"What? Is she pretty?"

As he was absorbed in the scene, a voice suddenly sounded in his ear, startling him.

"Hmm? Ah! When did you come out?"

"Hmph, your eyes were practically glued to someone else. How could you even notice me? Are you saying I'm getting old?" Xu Qingqiu retorted.

Chu Tian glanced at Xu Qingqiu. She was in casual attire: a large woolen cardigan lazily draped over her, a fisherman's hat perched carelessly on her head, and a mask covering her face. She looked as casual as if she were just stepping out to take out the trash. With only Sister Hua and Yiyi accompanying her, anyone not paying close attention would never guess she was also a major star.

Compared to the dazzling display and large entourage on the other side, it was momentarily hard to tell who was the true headliner.

"How could that be? I'm just enjoying the spectacle," Chu Tian said. "Look at those girls, hired for three hundred a day. Look at the one on the right—obviously just going through the motions. And the one on the left, TSK TSK, what an exaggerated performance—that one should have their pay docked..."

Watching Chu Tian offer his critique with a raised eyebrow and keen interest, Qingqiu could no longer keep a straight face.

"Oh, give it a rest! Don't embarrass us here. They went to so much trouble to hire these people, and you're outing them all. If someone overheard this and posted it online, we'd be the bad guys."

Chu Tian shrugged nonchalantly. A few nobodies, so what? Am I supposed to be scared? They're the ones always pulling these shady stunts, ruining a perfectly good industry.

Seeing him still unrelenting, Qingqiu was speechless. Her boyfriend was great in every way, except for his love of watching a scene unfold and adding fuel to the fire. She was truly at her wit's end.

"Isn't the show premiering tonight? If we don't head back now, we'll be late. Come on, let's hurry!"

"Alright, alright, let's go, let's go. Just one more look—I saw someone with convincing acting, almost like the real deal. Look, look, she's even crying! That one deserves an extra drumstick..."

"Ugh, you're impossible! Come on, let's go!"