Chinese Entertainment King: Starting as a Fat Boy and Becoming a Singing King

Nanchizi Street is hidden east of the Forbidden City, deep in the alleys, where the streetlights are dim.

Xu Yao followed the navigation and walked around twice, but still couldn't find the door.

It's not that the address is wrong, it's that the store doesn't even have a sign.

A narrow, vermilion-lacquered wooden door is embedded in the gray brick wall, and there is no one to greet guests at the door.

Just as he was about to take out his phone, a young girl with a ponytail peeked out. She was wearing a black down jacket and had a name tag pinned to her chest.

"Teacher Xu Yao? Sister Na asked me to come out and meet you. This area must be hard to find, right?"

Xu Yao followed her through the porch.

It's a hidden paradise inside.

A small courtyard house converted into a private restaurant, with a pomegranate tree in the middle of the courtyard, its leaves all fallen in winter.

The private room was small, with a round table, a few official-hat chairs, and a landscape painting hanging on the wall.

Nayoung was already sitting inside, having taken off her coat and draped it over the back of the chair, wearing only a dark gray cashmere sweater.

"Sit down." Nayoung pushed the menu towards her. "Order whatever you like, I'll pay."

Xu Yao didn't look at the menu.

"Sister Na, anything is fine with me."

Na-young glanced at him, then stopped refusing. She promptly ordered a few dishes to the waiter and closed the menu.

"I heard you've been sidelined by the company? What happened?"

Xu Yao gave a general account of the whole story.

From Liu Yifei forwarding the MV, to the company buying trending searches to hype up the rumors of a relationship between an older woman and a younger man, to his demand to remove the trending searches and issue a statement of apology, to his refusal to board the bus for the tour, to the company removing all promotional materials overnight.

After saying that, Xu Yao couldn't help but complain, "Isn't this a low-level tactic by the company? Using me and Liu Yifei to create a rumored romance between an older woman and a younger man."

Na-young picked up the hot water and took a sip.

"Dream Voice has never been good at creating and managing artist personas. They only know how to organize shows and tours; they're not good at the star-making game."

"However, Liu Yifei and her fans let you off the hook..." She put down her cup, looked at Xu Yao, and asked, "What exactly is your relationship with Liu Yifei? Why are you so insistent?"

"Our parents knew each other."

Xu Yao's answer was without any pause, and it was unclear whether Na Ying was asking out of curiosity or on behalf of the company and the production team.

After all, Nayoung's sister, Nashin, is the producer behind The Voice of China.

Therefore, it's important to be mindful of how you phrase things.

"My parents and Liu Yifei's mother used to be colleagues at the Wuhan Opera and Dance Theater. We met a few times when we were young. But we didn't really have a close relationship. Liu Yifei only helped me out of respect for my parents."

Na-young nodded and didn't ask any further questions.

She's been in this industry for decades; what kind of interpersonal relationships hasn't she seen?

In the entertainment industry, profit comes first, and personal relationships come second.

A top celebrity won't repeatedly support a newcomer after only a brief encounter.

Since Xu Yao refused to tell the truth, they had no choice but to give up.

Xu Yao put his chopsticks on the table and finally asked the question that mattered most to him.

"Sister Na, how's it going with the Spring Festival Gala?"

Nayoung remained silent for a while, considering how to begin.

"Xiao Yao, if I said I really did my best, would you believe me?"

Xu Yao paused for a moment, his hand holding the cup still.

The private room was quiet, and you could hear the rustling of the pomegranate branches in the wind in the courtyard.

Believe it or not? He believes it.

Na-young is not the kind of person who promises something but then does nothing about it.

She promised to deliver a message, and she always did.

But what's the use of faith?

If I believe that, will I get on the Spring Festival Gala?

He remembered the night Sister Lin said that the direct route to the Spring Festival Gala was canceled.

I remember that early morning when I mentally laid out all my contacts and crossed them off one by one.

I remember the cup of tea that went completely cold after I signed the licensing agreement for "Silence".

He thought he was mentally prepared, but when he heard the words "I did my best," he was still shocked.

My breathing became erratic instantly.

Xu Yao pushed the chair back a little.

He felt something blocking his chest.

From the stage of winning The Voice of China to the tour bus, from losing 100 pounds to shooting music videos, from "Silence" to taking the postgraduate entrance exam, he has been fighting hard at every step and never admitting defeat.

But he couldn't compete with the Spring Festival Gala.

"Sister Na, I'm sorry." He stood up. "I want to go for a walk."

"Xiao Yao," Na Ying called out to him.

"I was even saying I'd introduce you to some big names in the industry. Since you're in Beijing, this is a good opportunity to expand your network. There are people from Mango TV, Enlight Media, and Emperor Entertainment Group. We can get together tonight. I really don't usually bring just anyone into my circle."

Xu Yao shook his head: "Thank you, Sister Na. I just want to go back to the hotel and sleep now."

He was telling the truth.

My mood was at its lowest point, and I had no interest in getting to know any big names or expanding my network.

Xu Yao stood up, pushed his chair back a little, and took a step forward.

Then his body swayed, not because he tripped over something, but because his knees suddenly lost their grip, as if someone had kicked him from behind.

Xu Yao reached out to hold onto the table, but couldn't.

He stumbled, his shoulder hitting the wall with a dull thud.

"Xiao Yao! Are you alright?"

Na-young stood up, quickly walked to his side, and reached out to support his arm.

She wasn't just being polite; she was genuinely afraid that Xu Yao would collapse, just like on the night of the finals.

Xu Yao leaned against the wall, panting heavily.

It wasn't low blood sugar, it wasn't electrolyte imbalance, it was just that all the disappointment came rushing in at once, and my body couldn't hold on any longer than my heart.

In moments of extreme disappointment, people can truly become discouraged.

"It's okay, Sister Na, I'm fine."

Xu Yao took a deep breath and slowly straightened up.

"Thank you... thank you, Sister Na."

Na-young looked at him without saying a word, her gaze holding something indescribable.

She felt that Xu Yao at this moment was more flustered and out of control than she had ever seen before.

Xu Yao was still unwilling to give up and asked again, "Sister Na, can I ask why? It's not a solo, it's a duet. It's not just inserting a song, it's singing along with you. Mentoring newcomers is a fine tradition of variety shows. Why did the production team refuse?"

Nayoung answered, "The production team's point is that this theme is too important. The Belt and Road Initiative is a national policy-level theme. I'm the closing act, and the production team said that bringing a newcomer along... wouldn't be quite appropriate."

Belt and Road Initiative.

He will be the final performer.

Policy-themed image.

Each word is like a wall, each one thicker than the last.

Xu Yao knew that it was completely hopeless.

At this point in time, you're rushing to create a phenomenal, wildly popular original song, and you've been unexpectedly invited by the production team?

However, a phenomenal hit song is also the product of a combination of favorable timing, location, and people.

The difficulty is no less than that of an amateur singer performing on the Spring Festival Gala.

Why did the phenomenal song "Little Apple" become so popular in 2014?

First, it adopts a retro disco rhythm in 4/4 time, with the chorus "You are my little apple...".

It is catchy and easy to remember.

Then, created by the original team behind the "Gangnam Style" horse-riding dance, the movements are exaggerated but easy to learn, making it suitable for everyone to imitate.

MV于2014年5月29日在优酷首发，迅速引发网友自製模仿潮，6月初即出现1800+改编视频。

This data didn't emerge naturally; it was all manipulated behind the scenes.

The phenomenal success of "Little Apple" was not accidental, but rather a result of a storm of content design, marketing strategies, social timing, and technological conditions, all stemming from the study of "Gangnam Style".

As its creators said, "We didn't intend to write a hit song, we just wanted to make a simple and happy song."

However, it unexpectedly struck a chord with the public's emotions and the key moments of communication.

Nayoung didn't let go, looking at him with a slight frown.

"Xiao Yao." Na Ying's tone suddenly became very serious. "I'm asking you a question. Why are you so insistent on being on the Spring Festival Gala? You wrote me a song, asking for no money and no commission, just for a sentence. I saw you were blacklisted by the company, your tour was canceled, and you seemed fine, but when you heard that the Spring Festival Gala was canceled, you completely collapsed."

She paused for a moment.

"I can see that you're not the kind of person who desperately chases fame and fortune. There's no deep desire for fame and fortune in your eyes. So what is it then?"

Xu Yao leaned against the wall and remained silent for a long time.

"Sister Na, I am Yao Beina's cousin."

Na-young's hand suddenly froze.

"You...you're Yao Beina's cousin?" Her voice cracked.

Xu Yao nodded.

"So, the line you shouted during the finale of The Voice of China was meant for Yao Beina?"

"Yes."

Xu Yao selectively gave a brief description of his promise to his sister.

"My God, is the world really that small?"

Na-young looked at him, her eyes showing not only surprise, but also something deep and indescribable.

"So you want to be on the Spring Festival Gala, to give her the opportunity she gave up?"

Xu Yao nodded.

"My sister would rather miss out on treatment than miss performing on the Spring Festival Gala. In truth, no one can truly understand what giving up the Spring Festival Gala meant to my sister at that moment..."

He looked up at Nayoung.

"In this world, I might break my promises to everyone else, but I must keep my word to my cousin. Sister Na, please talk to the Spring Festival Gala production team and give the newcomer a chance, at least a chance to audition. Let's see if she has a good image, good singing skills, or even if the typhoon hits, she can give it a try."

"How about we have an interview before you decline?"

The private room remained quiet for a long time.

Nayoung stood beside him, head down, her breathing a little unsteady.

The kettle of hot water on the table has stopped steaming.

The pomegranate branches in the yard were still rustling in the wind.

"Xiao Yao," Na-young finally spoke, her voice lower but more steady than before, "I really did my best before. This time, I'll make an exception."

She looked up.

"I'll give it my all and try again."

Xu Yao was stunned for a moment.

Then something in his eyes gradually lit up.

Xu Yao was overjoyed and immediately reached out to tightly grasp Na Ying's hand.

"Sister Na, thank you. Only you can help me."

Nayoung looked at the hand he was holding, paused for a moment, and then sighed.

"Alas. This is all cause and effect; the cause of the past has led to the effect of today."

She did not explain the meaning of that sentence.

"That's all for today then." Nayoung patted his shoulder. "Wait for my news."

"it is good."

Nayoung picked up her coat, walked to the door, and then looked back at him.

"Xiao Yao."

"Um."

"How's your cousin doing lately?"

Xu Yao smiled and said, "I'm still recovering, and the doctor said the indicators are getting better and better."

"That's good." Nayoung smiled with relief. "Alright, go back now. Don't wander around too much in Beijing these next couple of days. If I call you, you have to answer."

"Okay, Sister Na."

Nayoung pushed open the door, and her assistant was already waiting outside.

Her figure disappeared into the light of the porch.

(P.S., thank you for voting. The new book has a lot of words and I'm about to exceed the word limit. I'll update a lot more on the day it goes on sale. Thank you for your support, brother.)