Have you ever been a celebrity? Why are you writing about entertainment?

[Countdown to the Spring Festival Gala for the novel: 0 days.]

See you tonight at 8 PM!
As Yu Wei typed those words at the end of the new chapter, he felt his Dao heart become clear, and the little bit of tension he had felt earlier disappeared.

Since things have come to this point, let's just get to it.

He has handed over the entire Spring Festival Gala event for the novel to Sister Liu. During his time at CCTV, she will handle the release of the program on all platforms.

There are also people at the studio and Firefly Chinese Literature keeping an eye on things, so if anything happens, they can be dealt with in a timely manner and it won't affect everyone's viewing experience.

With five hours left before the Spring Festival Gala began, they were doing their final linking segments. The performance of the program was secondary; what was being tested was the host's flow and rhythm.

However, with Chen Jinyi as the anchor, there's basically no trouble. Even if a colleague makes a mistake, she can be rescued in time.

"Our mom really has a powerful presence."

Chen Jinyi was completely different when she took the stage. When she said "Good evening, everyone," an unquestionable aura instantly emanated from her.

If Aunt Chen had caught him in this state that day, Yu Wei would probably have given himself away on the spot.

"It sounds weird when you call me that."

Although he always addressed Yu Wei as a brother, Qi Yuan felt a strange, indescribable awkwardness when Yu Wei actually called his own mother "Mom."

It feels like Yu Wei is stealing his ecological niche at home...

"It's none of your business!"

Before Yu Wei could explain, Qi Luoan retorted first. She was always so happy when Yu Wei called her that. She advised him not to meddle in other people's business.

Where did this Yuan Hua come from? Get lost.

Qi Yuan was speechless for a moment. He really couldn't control it. After all, there was nothing wrong with Yu Wei calling him that. It was just that he hadn't accepted the relationship of "brother-in-law" yet.

My little sister really got a great deal.

While they were killing time with casual conversation, Chen Jinyi, having finished her segment, returned backstage and reverted to her usual quiet and dignified self.

"Remember to eat more later, there won't be enough time tonight."

Although there is a time for dinner before the Spring Festival Gala begins, in Chen Jinyi's experience, newcomers are so nervous that they lose their appetite before the Gala starts.

Their performances are all in the first half of the night, so it's better to replenish their energy early.

Most of the major programs are scheduled before midnight. After the New Year's bell rings, many viewers are asleep, and although there are performances in the latter half of the night, the ratings are generally not high.

Among them, Lin Yuting's "Sunshine Always Comes After the Storm" is the closest to midnight, which is probably also a way of expressing the idea of ​​bidding farewell to the old year and welcoming the new.

The same goes for Yu Wei's novel "Spring Festival Gala". With a total duration of more than two hours, even if the audience pauses several times, there is still more than enough time to finish watching the first half of the night.

The outcome of this confrontation can be decided that very night, without having to wait until tomorrow.

"Are you sure?"

Chen Jinyi asked Yu Wei this question. Yu Wei had also participated in the Spring Festival Gala, but the overall quality of the gala was still unknown.

Her stance is complex. Having appeared on the Spring Festival Gala for over a decade, it's impossible for her to say she has no feelings for the stage.

She wanted to see Yu Wei achieve something great, but she didn't want the stage she had worked so hard for to be ruined. This feeling was indeed difficult.

That's why being a two-faced person is so difficult...

"I'm not sure, but I'm hopeful."

Yu Wei didn't dare to speak too confidently. Although many people no longer watch the Spring Festival Gala, CCTV's Spring Festival Gala is still a behemoth.

No one would dare say they were confident in facing such a monster head-on.

In fact, he and Chen Jinyi had the same idea. They clearly had their own stances, but they both participated in the other side's program at the same time.

Ultimately, it's simply because there's no hatred.

Yu Wei's attitude towards the Spring Festival Gala is one of lamenting its misfortune and being angry at its lack of ambition, not a complete rejection, nor is it entirely opposed.

He organized the Spring Festival Gala for novels in order to give the corrupt Spring Festival Gala a head-on blow and make it face its problems.

If you don't want to do it, there are plenty of others who will. The audience will choose the content they want to see.

That's why Yu Wei divided his efforts into two groups: one to get his program on the Spring Festival Gala, and the other to use his program to compete. These are not contradictory.

Because his goal wasn't to win, but rather to address the root cause of the problem through a combination of internal and external measures.

While doing her job well, Chen Jinyi also helped participate in their novel's Spring Festival Gala, with the same motivation.

Love is deep, so criticism is harsh. Only by being severely punished can one learn to change. The Spring Festival Gala needs to learn a lesson.

Thinking of this, Yu Wei was filled with fighting spirit. He was afraid of losing his composure before the battle, but the thought that he was on the side of justice gave him strength.

Today, I guess I've spoken up for the audience...

At 4 p.m., the first group of performing guests entered the dressing area through a special passage, and Yu Wei was among them.

CCTV does one thing well: the makeup is very appropriate. Many celebrities have terrible looks on the red carpet, but they look surprisingly good on the Spring Festival Gala. This is thanks to the Spring Festival Gala's makeup team.

Yu Wei's appearance was presentable, so his makeup was very light. But the others were not so lucky. When he visited, he saw that Zhang Lingye had a thick layer of powder on his face, obviously to make a big effort to decorate.

Of course, the makeup artist didn't want to make him look too refined, but rather to make him look more presentable. For the song "We Are Family," the singer can't be too young.

At 5 p.m., director Liao Ling led her team to conduct a final equipment check, which was the most important part of her work.

Besides Studio One, she also had to check the situation at the other four branch venues, a considerable workload. "Are you... Jingle Bells?"

When Yu Wei saw her passing by, he couldn't help but ask the question that had been bothering him for so long. She was a Beijing IP, a senior reader, and very knowledgeable about the Spring Festival Gala. Her nickname even included a bell. He wasn't stupid.

If not, then pretend I didn't say anything.

Upon hearing this, Liao Ling paused for a moment, then left the scene without hesitation, without leaving a single word.

Seeing her noticeably quicken her pace, Yu Wei was now certain. If it weren't true, she would have turned back with a puzzled look instead of running away.

Why are you running? Is reading my novel so shameful?
Not long after Liao Ling left, the chief director Xu Zhen gathered everyone for a final pep talk, which consisted of nothing more than important words that could not be overlooked, but Yu Wei did not listen to them.

After the meeting, each department began the final countdown.

The costume assistant checks for any costumes that need urgent repair; the prop master confirms the position of each prop; the teleprompter operator makes a final check of the lines.

In the backstage lounge, the guests began to prepare in their own ways.

Apart from Yu Wei, the other members seemed a little nervous, after all, it was their first time on the Spring Festival Gala stage, and it was hard for them to remain calm.

"Why are you all so nervous? You're the last people who should be nervous."

Yu Wei analyzed, "Don't be afraid of making mistakes. If you make a mistake, consider it a contribution to the novel's Spring Festival Gala..."

Xu Zhen, who was standing nearby, was stunned when he heard this. He knew Yu Wei was trying to comfort him, but these words were just too insensitive.

What do you mean by making a mistake that contributed to the novel's Spring Festival Gala? You only realized you were the mole at this critical juncture, right?
Upon hearing this, the group realized it was true; they were competitors, and with the fake Spring Festival Gala as a backup, even if they didn't perform well, it wouldn't seem to affect them fundamentally.

"This time, we have no choice but to make a mistake."

I didn't mean anything by it, I just wanted to contribute more to the Spring Festival Gala for novels. When the audience sees it, they'll wonder why the same guests perform so well on the Spring Festival Gala for novels but not on CCTV.
Oranges grown south of the Huai River are sweet oranges, but those grown north of the Huai River are bitter oranges. This must be a problem with CCTV...

Of course, this is a joke. Opportunities should still be seized. Yu Wei's "theory of the relativity of mistakes" only helped them stabilize their mindset.

At 7 p.m., the audience began to enter, and the noise from the front could be faintly heard from backstage.

They had finished their makeup and changed into their costumes, and the executive director began to organize the actors to wait on stage according to the program order.

The opening dancers, dressed in gorgeous costumes, lined up in a long queue in the backstage corridor, waiting for the countdown to begin.

Having participated in four rehearsals, Yu Wei was naturally very familiar with this opening program, a song and dance performance called "Everything Prospers," which boasted a rather luxurious lineup.

Not only are there more than 200 professional dancers, but the five singers are also veterans with great audience appeal. Clearly, CCTV wants to make a great start.

"What was our first program again? Can we touch it?"

Everyone says the Spring Festival Gala is terrible, but the first program every year is usually very eye-catching. At least in terms of pure entertainment value, it's top-notch. You really can't beat it without some talent.

""May you be happy and prosperous"."

Yu Wei put his thawing anthem at the beginning of the show. A good start is half the battle, and he had to be steady on his first stage performance.

I wonder which is better, the simple and unpretentious "Wishing you prosperity" or the elaborate song performance on CCTV.

At 7:30, the large screen at the venue began playing the opening sequence of the Spring Festival Gala. The video blended traditional elements with modern technology, creating a strong cultural atmosphere.

In terms of technical capabilities, they are simply incomparable to CCTV. Before the Spring Festival Gala even started, the novel version of the Spring Festival Gala had already quietly fallen behind in terms of showing off its skills.

"What a damn waste."

If you give these resources to Yu Wei, he's guaranteed to put on a spectacular Spring Festival Gala. But in CCTV's hands, it'll just be a formulaic, model show.

There's no point in saying all this; a beating will make him behave.

Backstage, the opening dancers were already in position, and the choreographer was giving final hand gestures, reminding the dancers to pay attention to their facial expressions.

At 7:50, the entire room fell silent. Xu Zhen issued the command through her headset: "All positions, prepare. Three minutes countdown."

Chen Jinyi took a deep breath in the wings, straightened her costume, and prepared to go on stage with a smile.

At 7:59, a loud voice rang out: "Ten, nine, eight, seven!"

The entire audience counted down together, bringing the atmosphere to a climax.

At the same time, Liu Ning and the staff of Yuyue Studio began their final preparations. When the countdown reached zero, both sides took action simultaneously.

Twenty-four drums rose from below the stage, and the drummers wore bright red Hanfu-style modified robes with golden waistbands that shone brightly under the lights.

As the first drummer spread his arms and struck the drum heavily, the drumbeats exploded like spring thunder, officially kicking off the Spring Festival Gala's opening program, "May All Things Prosper."

To the beat of powerful drums, dancers dressed in colorful costumes leaped out from behind the stage.

The five teams, representing the five elements (green, red, yellow, white, and black), change color on the LED screen on the stage floor, forming a five-color pattern.

Two hundred dancers moved with precision, sometimes rotating like a Bagua diagram, sometimes winding like the Great Wall, and finally converging to form a giant "和" (harmony) character.

At this moment, the actor suspended by wires in the air floated down, scattering golden powder from his hands, which, under the illumination of computer lights, formed the three large characters "万事兴" (meaning "May everything prosper") and floated in mid-air.

Viewers who clicked into the live stream were immediately captivated. This year's Spring Festival Gala seemed to have something special; the scale and spectacle were unlike anything seen in novels.

During the musical transition, the drumbeats gradually subsided, replaced by melodious zither arpeggios, and the five lead singers appeared one by one from the five sides of the stage.

They performed the main melody by alternating between round singing and harmonies, while a holographic projection at the back of the stage presented national symbols such as the Yangtze River, the Yellow River, the Great Wall, and the Forbidden City, as well as modern achievements such as high-speed rail and rocket launches.

Yu Wei was already used to it; this was exactly what CCTV's Spring Festival Gala excelled at—grand, grand, and grand nonetheless.

Regardless of whether the audience can understand it or enjoy it, it's at least quite lively. (End of Chapter)