Chapter 58
When the 20th place was announced to be Chen Wu, the internet exploded with discussions, rankings, and trending topics.
#ChenWu20thPlace
#RandomEntertainmentShutDown
#21HeartbeatsOfYouthGrandFinal
#PeiLuming
Any trainee's ranking could easily trend online.
#PeiLumingSecondPlace
#GaoXiayuFirstPlace
#YeXingSurprisingly21st
These three hashtags not only topped the entertainment charts but were also marked as [exploding], once again proving the show's popularity and successfully igniting the fury of all fans.
"Title: Shocking Rankings in the Final Performance..."
"For those who didn't watch the show: One of the original popular trainees brought a lot of attention to the program, with even half the casual viewers tuning in for YX, but he ended up ranking 21st, barely making it into debut range."
"This is disgusting..."
"It's mind-blowing."
Comments section:
"If it were my bias, I'd go crazy..."
"Random Entertainment and the show's comment sections are being flooded. One post got 10,000 shares in two minutes..."
"The Xing fans in our group have probably all gone to Weibo. It's terrifying! How dare Random Entertainment do this!"
"But I think the rankings are quite reasonable. Aren't they basically ranked according to skill level?"
"YX's skills that only his fans can see are just something his fans can brag about. Every time he sings high notes, he reaches them, but it's really difficult for people to listen to."
"I'm dizzy after seeing the rankings..."
"Not getting first place is one thing, but even top three would have been fine. 21st is something I never could have imagined."
"The popular trainees are already being suppressed from now on."
The program's aftermath hadn't subsided even by the next day, as the edited final performance was uploaded to the video platform. It was split into two parts, totaling over six hours, and included many additional scenes.
Many curious onlookers who came to watch due to the arguments on trending topics also clicked on this video.
Compared to the live broadcast that focused solely on stage performances, the edited version included many reactions from the trainees and judges. With Ye Xing being a hot topic, everyone paid extra attention to Jiang Juyou's reactions while watching Ye Xing's performance.
While everyone else was happily enjoying the cute cat and dog-themed stage, Jiang Juyou frowned, "...His vocal cords are still too tight, the high notes don't sound good."
The vocal coach next to her said, "But compared to when he first joined the company, he's improved tremendously."
This comment made Jiang Juyou's brow furrow even deeper, "How can we compare him to when he first joined the company? I'm choosing between different people, not various stages of Ye Xing's growth. If his skills can't keep up with others, he'll only be eliminated."
She lowered her gaze and put away her pen, saying, "I'm looking for singer-dancers, not just performers."
This statement sparked heated discussion in the comments:
"If that's the case, what's wrong with Ye Xing ranking 21st?"
"Looks aren't everything, Xing fans!!!"
"Putting it that way, I can understand a bit more."
"Fine, fine, debut with your ugly people then, let Ye Xing go!"
The edited final performance included many interview segments after the show ended. Instead of a specific interview room, they conducted random interviews backstage. The first to come down with red eyes was Pei Luming.
He had been strong while comforting his fans, but after the show ended, he couldn't help but hug those older trainees who were leaving, crying until his tears soaked his collar.
Ye Xing, who ranked 21st, was also interviewed.
The staff asked him, "Are you satisfied with your ranking?"
Without playing the victim or showing disappointment, Ye Xing smiled and answered, "I'm very satisfied. I originally thought I wouldn't make it into the debut range, so I'm really grateful to have made it in the end."
"Many people don't understand Jiang Producer, but I do. I know what Jiang Producer is looking for, and I'm also clear that my current skills are still far from Jiang Producer's debut standard. But I'll work hard! Next time we meet, I won't be satisfied with just making it into the debut range. I will definitely debut!"
"Please believe in me, and also in Jiang Producer!"
His collar was a bit messy, and his hair had lost its styling, all messed up from hugging the other trainees earlier.
This appearance of Ye Xing was rarely seen. He was usually the model student, always appearing in proper clothes, dressed neatly even when practicing dance in the practice room, and speaking with cultivated word choices.
In this state, it was as if he had broken through dimensions and gained a sense of reality. The more he smiled, the more heartbroken his fans felt.
"Wuwuwuwu baby!"
"Next time we're aiming for the center position!!!!"
"This is my first time following an idol and I'm already being tortured so badly, wuwuwu!"
"You're still speaking up for her, I'm really going to cry to death..."
"My tears are worthless!!"
After all the trainees had been interviewed, the staff searched for Jiang Juyou in the backstage crowd with their camera, finally finding her in a quiet place making a phone call.
"Jiang Producer, can we interview you?"
Jiang Juyou turned around, nodded, then said to the person on the phone, "Alright, I have something to attend to here, I'll hang up now."
Unlike the other trainees, Jiang Juyou was taken to the interview room. She put on a microphone and sat in front of the camera.
"Now that the show has ended, during these five months, was there a trainee who left the deepest impression on you?" the staff asked.
Jiang Juyou paused for a moment, as if thinking, "...Ye Xing."
"You dare mention him?"
"We're speechless!"
"What are you doing?"
"Ye Xing, this child, initially entered the company because of his good looks. He hadn't really been exposed to this field before. Since he joined the company, we have to take responsibility for the child."
"He has excellent academic performance and comes from a good family background. Even if he took an ordinary path, he would be an outstanding child. So before the show started, we had many face-to-face talks with him and his family, explaining to him the situations he might face if he decided to take this path."
"Even so, he still wanted to walk this path."
"In these five months, Ye Xing was one of the trainees who grew at an incredible speed. But not only did his singing and dancing improve, his academic performance didn't slip either, consistently ranking first in his grade."
"Is it hard to imagine?"
"During these five months, there were daily training and class schedules, and they were constantly traveling between the training center and school. Even so, he didn't slack off in his studies."
"This point is extremely rare."
A smile tugged at her lips as she said with certainty, "Ye Xing will definitely debut. It's not about any backdoor deals, but because he will definitely work hard to reach the debut standard."
"..."
"Do you even need to say that? If Ye Xing doesn't debut, I'll blow up your company!"
"Random Entertainment better kowtow twice quickly."
"I'm so angry my lungs hurt."
This commotion still hadn't ended. The trainees could go back to rest, but Jiang Juyou and her team still had to work.
At Monday's early meeting, she was listening to various platform data from the final performance when she heard an unexpected statistic.
"We trended overseas?" Jiang Juyou thought she had misheard and asked again.
Yang Siyu nodded and showed her screenshots from yesterday, "Fans translated the show and uploaded it to overseas platforms themselves. There are many translated versions. Yesterday during the final, the names of many trainees trended on Twitter in Southeast Asian countries. Among them, Ye Xing and Pei Luming even trended in the United States, South Korea, and France."
Because they initially didn't have the capacity to manage overseas operations, the show wasn't broadcast abroad from the beginning, and the Galexy World App couldn't be downloaded overseas. But the power of fans is strong, and the overseas market that Jiang Juyou hadn't specifically attended to was expanded, giving the trainees a small fan base abroad.
"Since the show first started, there have been overseas fans hoping for an international version of Galexy World. I think we can include the overseas market in our operations going forward," Yang Siyu suggested.
Jiang Juyou pursed her lips, "...Let's put the overseas channel for Galexy World on hold for now, but we can set up overseas accounts for our operations team to manage together."
"Alright."
Liu Jiajia from the New Talent Management Department, sitting nearby, spoke up after Yang Siyu finished, "This is the list of trainees. We've compiled those who are younger and those who can be transferred to other departments."
The younger ones could stay in the company for further training, while those transferring to the drama department could become child actors.
After reading, Jiang Juyou handed the iPad to Yang Siyu, then said to Liu Jiajia, "Let's proceed as you've planned. For those transferring to the film and TV department, have the finance team review it before making a decision."
She had seen Yang Yuzhen's name on the list. He was among the first batch of trainees to join the company, but didn't make it into the final group this time. However, since he was originally a stage actor, he would definitely sign an artist contract with the company. Besides him, there were two others who were originally child stars but were also eliminated this time.
By the end of the meeting, everyone was exhausted. The final performance had just concluded yesterday, followed by a group dinner that lasted until the early hours, yet they still had to come to work.
Jiang Juyou rubbed her temples and asked, "Lastly, how are the arrangements for overseas training coming along?"
"We've made all the necessary contacts. We've rented a building that's currently being renovated. We're also in touch with the instructors. This is our initial plan for the trainees' future classes."
Jiang Juyou took the iPad and glanced at it. "Specialized training?"
Liu Jiajia explained, "If we continue with the previous method of alternating between singing and dancing, the results might not be as satisfactory. So we've adjusted the training plan. Each month will focus on only one skill. For example, if the first month is scheduled for dance classes, then the entire month from morning to night will be dance classes."
"On weekends, we'll arrange some other courses, like writing, photography, composition, and so on."
"Our initial plan is for six months, after which we'll reassess based on the trainees' progress and possibly extend it by a few more months."
"What about accommodation?" Jiang Juyou asked, leaning back with fatigue evident on her face.
"We've secured accommodation as well. We'll also send a team from our side to look after and manage the trainees."
Hearing this, Jiang Juyou nodded, "Alright, has the date been set?"
"Next Friday."
Jiang Juyou suddenly turned to her assistant sitting by the wall and said, "Book me a flight and hotel."
Then she turned back and said, "I'll go with them for the first week. Once they've settled in, I'll return."
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As soon as the meeting ended, almost simultaneously, the trainees received a notice from the staff sister of the new talent management group, requiring them to gather at the company in the afternoon. The debuting group members were also notified to prepare their passports and visa application materials, and to request leave from school in advance.
This was because they would be training in Korea next semester, and unless there were exams, they wouldn't return to China.
After reading the message, Ye Xing immediately forwarded this information to her mother.
"Ye Xing: Mom, we're going to Korea for training next Friday. I need to ask for a semester's leave from school."
"Mom: A whole semester?"
"Mom: You have your high school entrance exams in June. Why train at this time? Can't it be arranged after the summer vacation?"
"Ye Xing: The staff sister said teachers will go with us, and we'll come back for the exams. There are several of us who need to take the high school entrance exams, so don't worry."
"Mom: You're so eager to go. What about your dad and me missing you?"
"Ye Xing: ...You can fly over to see me, can't you?"
"Mom: [Heartbroken]"
Chen Wu hadn't yet recovered from the shadow of ranking twentieth, feeling a bit down. He was lying on his bed when he read the message and suddenly froze. After searching online about what passports and visas were, he asked the staff sister.
"Chen Wu: Sister, I only live with my grandparents at home, and they don't understand these things. Can I go and apply for this by myself?"
"Xiaoxiao Sister: Wait a moment, let me ask!"
He suddenly sat up and called out to his grandmother who was watching TV outside, "Grandma! Where do we keep our household registration booklet? We need to apply for passports!"
"What? What do you need?"
At this moment, the reply on his phone also arrived.
"Xiaoxiao Sister: Come over in the afternoon with your household registration booklet. We'll take you to apply. Don't worry about the visa, we'll handle that collectively."
After replying, Guan Xiaoxiao looked distressed, "I'm so careless!"
She turned to her colleague with teary eyes, "I sent a group message and forgot that some trainees come from difficult backgrounds."
"Chen Wu lost his parents early on, and he only lives with his grandparents. His uncle's family lives in Tianjin. What will happen to his grandparents if Chen Wu leaves?"
Each staff member was responsible for certain trainees, and Chen Wu was one of those Guan Xiaoxiao was in charge of. She knew about his family situation but momentarily forgot about it.
Her colleague, upon hearing this, also became concerned, "Should we ask the department head about this?"
Jiang Juyou, who was taking a nap in the office, suddenly received a message. She frowned as she reached for her phone, squinting as she read the message from Liu Jiajia.
Then she sent a voice message to Liu Jiajia: "Have the staff talk to Chen Wu first. He definitely knows his family situation better than we do."
"Also... I remember we calculated salaries when signing the contracts. I'll have finance transfer the money this afternoon. Remember to tell the trainees to check if the money has been deposited into their accounts."
After saying this, Jiang Juyou put down her phone, intending to continue sleeping. However, she tossed and turned on the sofa several times, unable to fall asleep.
Chen Wu, Pei Luming, Ye Xing, Gao Xiayu, Chi Qiao, Yao Shuo, Sang Mo.
Regardless of the final debut lineup, people can start placing their bets now.
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