Entertainment: Oh no, I've become the sect leader!

Hangzhou Tianyuan Hotel.

As a key project promoted by Zhejiang TV, the production team of "Let's Go Immediately" has ample funding.

The ice-breaking luncheon hosted by director Tong Bowen was set at a very high standard, a standard business banquet costing 28,000 yuan per table.

The program consists of five regular guests, three guest stars and their entourages, plus the crew members, totaling nearly a hundred people.

The atmosphere at the table was very lively.

Xu Kong, director Tong Bowen, film emperor Xia Teng, post-00s actress Ming Ye and Tang Siwen, top star Ding Wentao, industry veteran Xu Jiang, and the two guest stars mentioned earlier, trainee Song Nian and girl group member Liu Han, sat at the main table.

Although Xu Kong is still deeply embroiled in the negative public opinion vortex brought about by the "chicken essence" incident.

But everyone present was shrewd and had made a name for themselves in the entertainment industry; none of them were fools.

Everyone knew the whole story and knew that Xu Kong was used as a scapegoat—but it was too complicated to explain what exactly he was being used to shield Xu Kong.

Sacrificing a top celebrity to take the fall—that's a huge deal, and everyone who knows understands.

Furthermore, the eldest brother doesn't laugh at the second brother; among the nine people at this table, who doesn't have some negative or scandalous stories to their name?

Putting aside other things.

Xu Kong's competitor, the newly popular Ding Wentao, has a negative label of being arrogant and domineering.

So in a way, these people all have to thank Xu Kong.

If Xu Kong, with his innate ability to absorb dark energy, hadn't been at the forefront, they might have been the ones getting criticized after the show officially announced its lineup.

After all, audiences have become increasingly demanding in recent years.

Tong Bowen walked to Xu Kong's position—filming was to begin in the afternoon, so no one could drink alcohol at noon, and he substituted tea for alcohol.

"Teacher Xu!"

Tong Bowen extended his hand, sincerely saying, "It's our first time working together, please take care of me."

Xu Kong quickly stood up, holding his teacup, and smiled as he let the other person hold his hand tightly: "Director Tong, please take care of me!"

Actually, he's still a little unaccustomed to being called "teacher".

I don't know when it started, but the term "teacher" has become popular in the entertainment industry, and anyone can be called a teacher.

Tong Bowen held Xu Kong's hand; he was truly grateful to Xu Kong.

Before taking on the show "Let's Go Now", he had just finished filming the sixth season of "Fearless Challenge".

The first five seasons were filmed by a different variety show director.

Before filming the sixth season, he stopped working with Zhejiang TV for several reasons—mainly differences in philosophy.

Tong Bowen was then appointed to take on the task of recording the sixth season of "Fearless Challenge".

In general, being appointed to such a critical mission is something that one doesn't even need to think about.

The show received polarized reviews after it aired.

Opinions are mixed; to be precise, it's one in ten people are praised while nine are criticized.

If we exclude their own paid online commentators, the number of positive comments might not even reach one.

So when he accepted the recording assignment for "Let's Go!", Tong Bowen was under a lot of pressure.

After all, there was the poor performance of the sixth season of "Fearless Challenge".

If "Let's Go Now" doesn't turn out well, then his reputation as a top variety show director will be severely damaged.

However, if there were a naturally absorbing dark energy source in the show, the pressure might not be so great.

Because the show was unwatchable, most of the criticism from netizens focused on the "Black Saint Body" (a character in the show).

This is why he was willing to spend one million yuan, overcoming all opposition, to invite Xu Kong as a guest on the show—

Having been in the entertainment industry for so long, Tong Bowen has never seen a traffic star like Xu Kong who has been criticized for so long.

Most popular celebrities only get attacked for a short time, but Xu Kong has been attacked for almost five years.

The number of black cats has not decreased at all; on the contrary, there is a trend of them being passed down from generation to generation.

"Director Tong," Xu Kong said in a deep voice, "I've read the script you gave me..."

"Please speak, Teacher Xu," Tong Bowen said, feeling a little uneasy.

In his script, Xu Kong is supposed to do something in front of the camera that is definitely not something that will make a good impression on the audience.

He reserved those highlight-worthy actions for another top influencer, Ding Wentao.

This was one of the conditions under which he was able to invite Ding Wentao.

For Ding Wentao, as a rising star in the past year, he is currently enjoying great popularity and is eager to step on a former top star to further elevate his own status.

Unfortunately.

Xu Kong became one of the former top celebrities they had chosen.

"In the show, all I need to do is draw aggro and attract attention, nothing else matters... right?" Xu Kongdao said.

He takes people's money and does their bidding; he has a sense of contractual obligation.

"More or less." Tong Bowen was taken aback by Xu Kong's straightforwardness and nodded after a moment of surprise.

"I understand now." Xu Kong said seriously, "I will act freely with the show's popularity in mind and attract attention."

"Then I'll have to trouble you, Teacher Xu."

Tong Bowen was shocked and couldn't understand why Xu Kong dared to squander what little reputation he had left.

His plan was for Xu Kong to just follow the script, because the online army would naturally direct their attacks at him.

But now Xu Kong's willingness to take the blame seems inexplicably strong.

Although Tong Bowen didn't understand, it was a good thing for him.

"I'm just doing my job for the money." Xu Kong waved his hand casually and said, "I hope Director Tong will remember me if there's another opportunity like this in the future."

While filming the costume fitting video in the morning, Liu Xia not only became familiar with the faces of the other guests' entourages, but also managed to find out most of the details.

Young women really have a big advantage in this regard.

Tong Bowen offered Xu Kong one million for one episode, a price second only to Best Actor Xia Teng and on par with Ding Wentao.

Xia Teng goes without saying.

He's one of the few male leads in China with over 10 billion yuan in box office revenue, has an incredibly good public image, and is the core of the show's management. He deserves all the awards he receives.

Ding Wentao was a top influencer at the height of his popularity that year, with his online traffic at its peak.

For Xu Kong, a "former top star with a bad reputation," an appearance fee that matches Ding Wentao's is already enough.

Xu Kong's words made Tong Bowen's goodwill towards him increase rapidly.

This is the attitude one should have when taking money to do something.

"Thank you, Teacher Xu, for your support of the program. I will definitely have the opportunity to work with you again in the future," Tong Bowen said with a hearty laugh.

"Director Tong, you're too kind," Xu Kong said with a smile.

The two chatted for a few more minutes before exchanging pleasantries with the other guests.

The people sitting at this table are all key members of the show, so they're bound to greet each other.

Xia Teng, for example, looks kind and approachable in front of the camera, but he appears somewhat serious at the dinner table.

The aura of a male lead with billions in box office revenue is still very strong.

Despite his strength, when Xu Kong went to offer tea, Xia Teng, as a senior in the industry, smiled and patted him on the shoulder, saying, "You're quite handsome, young man."

However, his greetings to the other guests were rather formulaic.

After everyone sat down again.

Director Tong Bowen led the way in raising a glass to wish for a smooth filming process, thus concluding this ice-breaking lunch.

of course.

In the afternoon, the eight guests will perform the process of getting to know each other and exchanging pleasantries again in front of the camera.

After the luncheon, the guests returned to their hotel for a short rest.

Tong Bowen then discussed the recording details for the afternoon with the production team.

"I think Xu Kong is a very good young man," Tong Bowen said. "He's very disciplined and knows how to do things right for the money."

An assistant director nodded in agreement: "I had this feeling when I was communicating with his assistant. It seems that the rumors on the internet are not credible."

"It's a bit of a shame," the screenwriter chimed in. "I heard that story about him was completely fabricated..."