I really don't want to be the top streamer anymore

For Fei Niao, the boasts and analyses in the live stream were indeed based on evidence.

After all, he was also a media judge on the show, and he was so close to the performance that he definitely had a clearer understanding of the singers' abilities than someone watching on a nearby screen.

However, there is still no guarantee that no one will make a mistake in the final of "The Masked Singer".

Although the program was not broadcast live.

But since it's a competition, they certainly won't give you a second chance.

This is not fair to others.

……

The day after the live stream ended, Fat Bird flew to Xingcheng immediately.

We also learned that Xu Kong will participate in the finals as a special guest.

What he was looking forward to was that the program team announced that Xu Kong would not only participate in the finals but would also make a special appearance to perform.

Based on his understanding of Xu Kong, he believes this will most likely be a new song.

This is probably the most surprising thing about participating in the final recording.

……

Xu Kong has indeed arrived in Xingcheng.

The pre-production preparations for Chinese Paladin 2 are almost complete. Once the filming is finished, it will be time to officially begin filming.

Xu Kong indeed didn't pay much attention to the show "The Masked Singer" afterward.

Now, after receiving news from President Yu, I realize that thanks to this program, Fengqing Entertainment has secured a pillar of support.

At least on the most crucial issue of profitability, there is no need to worry too much anymore.

After so many years, Fengqing Entertainment has finally broken free from a model that relies on promoting popular idols to make quick money.

Su Yuwei, Mao Zheyu, and Lan Shu, who participated in the program, all have a fairly stable performance invitation at this stage.

Moreover, Su Yuwei and Mao Zheyu's performance fees are among the highest for top-tier singers in the entire entertainment industry.

Lan Shu's identity was somewhat guessed on the show, but she is still maintaining the same level of fame she had before.

Apart from that, Ke Shen has not yet accepted any performances.

However, his popularity on "The Masked Singer" is certainly not something to worry about too much.

……

"Teacher Xu Kong!"

Upon arriving in Xingcheng, Xu Kong met Ke Shen.

Although the two hadn't seen each other for a long time, Xu Kong had been helping the other with stage performance techniques and singing methods.

"nervous?"

Xu Kong asked with a smile.

Ke Shen nodded.

"Yeah, I'm still a little nervous."

Even so, I've watched Ke Shen participate in this program step by step until now.

In fact, Ke Shen has indeed begun to gradually adapt to the stage.

Especially in the earlier episodes, it was obvious that Ke Shen's performance was inconsistent.

But at this stage, the overall feeling it gives people is one of trust and reassurance.

……

Besides meeting with Ke Shen, Xu Kong also met with the four singers from Fengqing Entertainment who participated in the program.

Lan Shu and Mao Zheyu, on the other hand, seemed to be acting normally.

Su Yuwei was visibly overjoyed to see Xu Kong.

"Teacher Xu Kong!"

"I didn't expect you to participate in the finals as well."

Xu Kong nodded.

"It was an invitation from the program team that I received at the last minute."

"Let's go over the song you sang in this final round first."

Xu Kong followed the procedure as before.

Su Yuwei nodded in agreement.

……

"Hmm, very good. If you can maintain this level of performance in the finals, it will be almost perfect."

Xu Kong spoke up.

Su Yuwei is indeed a talented player.

Although it can't compare to someone like Su Zhi who is blessed with natural talent.

But compared to ordinary singers.

It's quite remarkable that they've made such great progress in just over a year since joining Fengqing Entertainment.

In particular, the stability of the scene.

This is indeed quite crucial.

……

"Thank you, Professor Xu Kong!"

Su Yuwei is often praised.

But I have to say, hearing Xu Kong praise himself is a completely different feeling from hearing others praise him.

"Okay, I'll head back now. You get some rest."

Xu Kong spoke.

He felt that he still couldn't spend too much time alone with the other person.

Su Yuwei looked at him as if she wanted to devour him.

"and many more!"

"Teacher Xu, please stay a little longer."

"I feel like I still have some questions to ask."

Su Yuwei spoke up somewhat anxiously.

Xu Kong stopped in his tracks, hesitated for a moment, and then sighed.

"alright."

……

Next, Su Yuwei started asking Xu Kong questions in a normal way.

Details such as stage performances.

Xu Kong answered all of them completely.

Su Yuwei was actually wearing a very ordinary short-sleeved shirt at home today.

Nothing particularly special about it.

Unlike before when the intentions were too obvious, with those flashy and gaudy outfits.

However, loose-fitting short-sleeved shirts inevitably reveal some overly attractive scenery from time to time.

Xu Kong could only try his best to look away, silently repeating the phrase "do not look at what is improper" in his mind.

……

For Xu Kong, this was indeed too much to bear.

You have to understand, he wasn't exactly a saint.

The ability to resist was entirely due to one's own willpower.

And he kept thinking about all the troubles that would follow if he actually got together with Su Yuwei.

He is already quite satisfied with his current situation.

Therefore, the last thing I want is to create more trouble for myself.

The initial pleasure is only temporary, but dealing with the aftermath is a complex issue that cannot be explained in just a few words.

Su Yuwei must have never been in a relationship before.

If something really happened between the two, it could be even more troublesome for girls like this than for Youyou back then.

……

"Alright, it's getting late, let's call it a day."

Xu Kong glanced at the time; it was already past nine o'clock at night, so he promptly called a halt.

Su Yuwei made no attempt to hide her true feelings at this point.
A look of disappointment appeared on his face.

"Oh~"

Watching Xu Kong's departing figure, she wondered if it was because she had gotten used to it, or for some other reason.

Surprisingly, I didn't feel too sad.

After all, the two of them only have a chance to meet once in a long while.

I think being able to spend some time alone with someone is already something to be happy about.

At the same time, Su Yuwei could also sense it. At least the feedback Xu Kong gave her just now proved that he was not completely oblivious to her.

It's just deliberate control.

……

The next day, Xu Kong did not attend the rehearsal for "The Masked Singer," but instead went to meet with Wu Youxue.

"Director Wu, it's been a long time."

In a private kitchen in Xingcheng, Xu Kong spoke with a smile.

Wu Youxue smiled when she saw Xu Kong.

"Sit down quickly."

"Waiter, could you please tell them that the food is ready to be served?"

……

"You must be pretty busy right now, right?"

"I heard that the Legend of Sword and Fairy 2 is about to start filming."

Wu Youxue asked.

Xu Kong nodded.

"Yeah, I guess I'll be joining a film crew when I get back this time."

Wu Youxue poured Xu Kong a cup of tea.

Knowing that he was recording a show the next day, Wu Youxue didn't plan to drink.

"Good."

“You young people have so much energy. If it were me, I definitely wouldn’t be able to manage such a big operation by myself.”

Wu Youxue exclaimed.

He knew that Xu Kong had been involved in almost all of Feng Ge's film and television projects.

Although Xu Kong doesn't personally manage some of the company's affairs, he still makes the decisions.

On the contrary, Song Quanfu seems to be even more relaxed now than before, and he is completely at ease being a hands-off manager.

Besides Fengge, other companies like Fengqing Entertainment have become one of the most dynamic music companies in China.

Xu Kong also played a very crucial role in this.

……

"It's alright, I don't actually take charge of it myself most of the time."

"After all, I feel that my main identity is still that of a director, actor, or singer."

Xu Kong answered.

His ability to be so relaxed is naturally inseparable from the memories in his mind.

In summary, if this guy has started this business, it's best for others not to follow suit, because they probably can't.

"By the way, is Director Wu planning to hand over Mango TV's variety show business entirely to his subordinates?"

Xu Kong asked.

Although he had received a related message before, Xu Kong didn't intend to hide it and asked directly.

"Ah."

"There's no way around it, I don't have that much energy after all, you always have to give up some things and gain others."

"Mangoes these days..."

When Wu Youxue got to this point, he hesitated slightly, but still spoke:
"We really lack a variety show director and project manager who can serve as a pillar."

He definitely didn't say that within Mango TV.

Although the current team configuration of Mango TV, including variety show directors and other various positions.

They are probably among the top figures in the entire entertainment industry.

But it must be said that these are the savings accumulated in the past.

In this day and age, trends change so fast that something can become popular in a single day.

Streaming media platforms like the three major video platforms have also started investing heavily in producing their own variety shows.

Along with other television stations, they have also been making continuous progress over the years.

Mango TV's former advantage, at least its dominant position in the variety show field, is increasingly no longer something that can be achieved.

……

What are Director Wu's plans?

Xu Kong asked a question.

In reality, although it seems that Feng Ge, including Xu Kong himself, went to perform as a guest on Tomato's new show, etc.

It makes people think that there is a rift in his relationship with Wu Youxue, or between Feng Ge and Mango.

But in reality, both he and Wu Youxue knew that if these trivial matters affected their relationship, it would be disastrous.

In that case, Xu Kong would never have gotten so close to Wu Youxue.

"Sigh, let nature take its course..."

"I can't keep this up forever, and I'll have to retire sooner or later."

Wu Youxue's words revealed a hint of helplessness.

"On the contrary, it allows mangoes to adapt to the current brutal market earlier, which is not entirely a bad thing."

Wu Youxue's words confirmed Xu Kong's previous suspicions.

Ultimately, Wu Youxue and Xu Kong are similar; they are both people who are very nostalgic.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have insisted on becoming the deputy director if he had been ostracized by the leaders of Hunan TV.

If Wu Youxue had left Mango TV directly, given his connections and status, he probably wouldn't be doing any worse than he is now.

The reason Wu Youxue stayed was simply because he couldn't bear to leave.

He joined Mango TV when he was in his early twenties and has stayed there ever since, for almost thirty years.

It can be said that Mango TV was able to stand out from a group of local TV stations and create a number of hit variety shows with excellent ratings in the era of traditional television media.

The subsequent arrival of the streaming media era, the establishment of Mango Video, and Wu Youxue's various actions have all contributed to Mango's success today.

Of course, mangoes also contributed to his success.

……

Therefore, it seems that Wu Youxue completely ignores the current state of Mango TV's variety show segment.

It seems that he has no time or energy since becoming the deputy director, or he may be criticized by some of his subordinates for forgetting his roots.

But in reality, Xu Kong was able to see the other party's good intentions immediately.

Clearly, Wu Youxue understood that Mango TV hadn't participated in the fierce competition of the current domestic variety show market for too long.

The kind that's all about real, hard-hitting combat to grab the audience's attention.

Without his involvement, the Mango TV variety show segment appears so weak, which is clearly not a healthy state.

……

"Forget it, let's not talk about this."

"Come and eat something."

"The food here is very good, you should try it."

Wu Youxue quickly recovered from her previous state and spoke with a smile.

It's clear that he simply wanted to catch up and chat with Xu Kong this time.

There were no other requests or matters to discuss.

Xu Kong had actually made preparations before coming, and if Wu Youxue asked, he would naturally not refuse.

After all, if they really wanted to refuse, they wouldn't have made a special trip.

Keeping the appointment is itself a matter of attitude.

However, just as Xu Kong thought, if Wu Youxue really wanted to ask him for help, she wouldn't hesitate to ask.

The other person isn't that kind of person.

On the contrary, the fact that Wu Youxue was able to say those things just now proves that he was quite honest with him.

They wouldn't say they were hiding anything, or that they were testing me with some other purpose.

……

Kang Zhishan, who was on the other side of Tomato, was completely different when he met Xu Kong.

It has almost always been a deliberately ingratiating attitude.

In fact, Xu Kong wouldn't look down on it either.

After all, this concerns Tomato's interests, so it's normal for the other party to want to build a good relationship with him.

On the other hand, Xu Kong still prefers this way of getting along with Wu Youxue.

At least from the time when he was just a minor celebrity, it was clear what kind of person Wu Youxue was.

Xu Kong didn't think that someone of Wu Youxue's status could completely change the personality of someone who had been in this industry for decades in just a few years simply because of his change in status.

...(End of chapter)