A Pair of Evil Women's Love - Chapter 46
Chapter 46: [VIP]
Fu Yilan successfully won three championships.
It was a night of celebration.
“I don’t want to use my own suffering to gain sympathy.”
This quote became Fu Yilan’s iconic line, instantly going viral online that night.
The next step was to push the show into the mainstream.
This variety show, which had been limited to an online audience, would now use a siphon effect to quickly capture the attention of young internet users. The viewership would sweep the domestic entertainment scene with a terrifying momentum.
Even more frightening, because of the attraction to strength and the bandwagon effect, Fu Yilan’s fan base would explode. Her core position in the show would become unshakable, and people would be hoping for her to continue her winning streak.
It was a shame it wasn’t a broadcast show; the limitations of online streaming were still significant.
But it was a near-perfect victory. The higher-ups shouldn’t give her any trouble, right?
Fu Haitang took a deep breath and pushed open the heavy door in front of her.
It was her first time attending a high-level meeting.
The station manager was over fifty years old and sat at the head of the table. To his left was the deputy station manager. The rest of the attendees included the station’s directors, program directors, news directors, general managers, and directors of advertising, marketing, technology, production, and finance, as well as the second-in-command of each department and their assistants.
The meeting was held on the top floor. The decor perfectly matched the high-level meeting scenes Fu Haitang had seen in movies and TV shows. The conference room was packed, and the meeting had already been going on for two hours.
“Hello.”
“Fu Haitang.”
A female Alpha stood up gracefully.
“My name is Qiao Yi.”
…
“Congratulations.” Lu Jing stood by the railing, one hand in his pocket. “I was right about you. You’re an excellent Omega.”
The wind blew gently, ruffling Fu Yilan’s long hair that was tucked behind her ear. “Is there something you need, Teacher Lu?”
Lu Jing: “Lanylan.”
Fu Yilan was stunned. She frowned and looked at Lu Jing. He was handsome, and when he laughed, he had a hint of boyish charm that made him seem more approachable than when he was giving instructions during practice.
“I think we’ve met before,” Lu Jing said with a smile.
Fu Yilan turned her face away. “I don’t remember much about the past.”
Lu Jing took a step closer. He lowered his head, and his excellent vision caught a glimpse of the trending topics on Fu Yilan’s phone. She was a star now. In just two days, the 15-second clip of her speech on stage had gone viral overseas.
Lu Jing said with a smile, “When I was ten, I met a girl. She was visiting A City with her parents. As my father’s biggest investor, the Lu family invited the family of three to stay at our house.”
Fu Yilan gazed into the distance, gradually falling into a memory as Lu Jing spoke.
“We spent ten days together. She said… her genetic test showed she had a 90% chance of differentiating into an Omega when she grew up.”
“And I was already the Alpha designated by my family.”
“We made a promise… Well, you might think it’s just a child’s game, but I’ve never forgotten. She said she liked me and wanted to be my bride.”
Fu Yilan’s tone was calm, without a hint of emotion. “They were just a child’s words. How can you take them seriously?”
A hint of disappointment flashed in Lu Jing’s eyes. “I find it strange, too. It’s not like I’m lacking anything… but I still can’t forget her. It feels like fate, like destiny has been waiting for this one person.”
Fu Yilan looked up and interrupted Lu Jing. “That person isn’t me, Teacher Lu. I have to go. I hope you find your true love soon.”
“That person is you!” Lu Jing said in a hurry. “Fu Yilan, there’s a photo of you and your parents in my old family album. Don’t you want to see it? It’s proof of the promise we made.”
Fu Yilan murmured, “My parents’…”
“Lanylan.” Lu Jing took a photo out of his pocket and held it out to Fu Yilan with two fingers. “Look.”
It was a photo of Fu Yilan as a child, a group photo of the Gan family and the Lu family. The girl in the photo was innocent and naive. At six years old, she truly believed she would be a little princess for life—arrogant and pure. She had to be in the center of every photo, lifted up by her dad, with her mom holding her little hand.
Meanwhile, Lu Jing was only allowed to hold her princess shoes.
“I know your parents were in a shipwreck.”
“Lanylan, but you still have me…”
A tear fell onto the photo with a “plop.” The summer breeze in A City blew by, and Lu Jing put his arm around Fu Yilan’s shoulder, gently pulling her into his embrace. “You have me.”
…
On the other side.
Fu Yilan’s voice was hoarse and muffled. She asked softly, “After my parents’ accident, to stabilize the shareholders, the funeral was kept a secret and remains a secret to this day. How did you know?”
Lu Jing was stunned. “I…”
Fu Yilan: “You investigated me.”
Lu Jing’s expression was subtle. “I just wanted to confirm if you were her.”
“You confirmed it. Now what?” Fu Yilan said.
Lu Jing’s eyes lit up. “I…”
“No.” Fu Yilan took the photo. Her voice was firm. She looked up at Lu Jing with a look of pity. “Let the past be the past. Thank you for the photo, and thank you.”
“Fu Yilan!” Lu Jing was angry now. “I think I’ve shown more than enough sincerity.”
Fu Yilan’s lips twitched. “Isn’t your affection a little too convenient?”
Lu Jing: “Why!”
“I have someone I like,” Fu Yilan said.
Lu Jing: “…”
…
“Fu Haitang?” Qiao Yi asked strangely.
In the large conference room, Fu Haitang was holding a document with both hands, formally concluding her report. She regained her composure, clearing her mind of the plot.
She cleared her throat and said, “My report is finished.”
Qiao Yi smiled and gestured with her hand. Immediately, someone moved a stool for Fu Haitang to sit down.
“Your proposal is excellent,” the program director commented. “It’s hard to imagine that this summer’s hit show would come from a newcomer who has only been with the TV station for three months.”
Qiao Yi smiled. “You’re very talented. Even your direct supervisor, Ren Qing, has never been in this position.”
The second half of the sentence was directed at Fu Haitang, intended as a compliment.
Fu Haitang lowered her head. “Director Ren has helped me a lot.”
Qiao Yi waved her hand and smiled. “My, your emotional intelligence is quite high too.”
The executives all laughed.
Fu Haitang, however, dared not laugh. The higher-ups were praising her while putting someone else down. The people in the room all held higher positions than Ren Qing, and some even held shares in the TV station. But she didn’t. The more she laughed now, the more miserable she might be later.
The station manager coughed twice.
The deputy station manager’s face changed, and he tapped the table. “Let’s get to the point.”
Everyone adjusted their demeanor. The director flipped to the last page of the file in front of him and looked at Fu Haitang. “The production team has decided to upgrade ‘Group Show 07.’ It will be broadcast on a satellite channel in addition to online.”
Fu Haitang was stunned. At first, she thought she had misheard. After repeatedly confirming with the others’ expressions, she couldn’t contain her immense joy. She clenched her fists, suddenly stood up, and gave a 90-degree bow to the conference table!
Fu Haitang: “Thank you, Station Manager! Thank you, Deputy Station Manager! Thank you, Director…”
Qiao Yi: “Pfft.”
Executives: “Hahahaha.”
“Hey, hey, are you giving a speech like a primary school student receiving an award?” Qiao Yi teased. “Luckily we’re a commercial TV station. Otherwise, you’d also have to thank CCTV, wouldn’t you?”
“Hahahahahaha!”
Qiao Yi’s good-natured teasing dispersed most of Fu Haitang’s tension. She smiled, adjusted her posture, and sat back down.
“Group Show 07” had always been an online variety show. The budget and planning were all at an online show level. Moving to a satellite channel meant it would be a broadcast show!
A proper TV station show!
At that time, this variety show would be broadcast on local channels, with a national reach! It would be considered “high-end,” “mainstream,” and “officially recognized” in the TV industry.
The audience would no longer be limited to online platforms but would also include TV viewers!
The popularity, discussion, advertising, investment, and commercial revenue would also soar!
“However,” the director’s tone changed. “Broadcasting on a satellite channel means stricter review. Fu Haitang, your show will not only be reviewed by us but also by the State Administration of Radio, Film, and Television. Do you think your actions on this show can be considered positive?”
Qiao Yi twirled the pen in her hand, looking composed. “It’s difficult.”
The joy faded like a receding tide. Fu Haitang felt a chill all over her body, not understanding what the executives meant.
Until Qiao Yi turned on a monitor.
The data director said, “This is the negative news that our data department has captured in the two days since the third public performance ended. The most representative one is a very influential internet blogger.”
An internet video creator with over ten million followers in the film and television industry had released a video directly accusing A Station of unfair practices in the show’s planning. The title of the episode was, “Manipulating the Rules Interfered with the Fairness and Justice of a Show.”
In just two days, the video had over a million likes, which meant the view count would be in the tens of millions.
The video was half an hour long. Qiao Yi fast-forwarded through it. It was like a perfect social analysis report, criticizing “Group Show 07” for everything from its fairness to the social values it promoted.
In the last few seconds of the video, Fu Haitang appeared.
“Everyone,” the Fu Haitang in the video said with arrogance. She looked around and scoffed at the questions about fairness. “In the entertainment industry, not being popular is the original sin. You want to have a say? Use your influence. Unless you can steal Fu Yilan’s vote championship, the production team will always give her a green light!”
The screen faded, and the blogger appeared to summarize: “The arrogance of capital has always been known, but they used to live underground in the shadows. This is the first time someone has openly stated that popularity trumps fairness.”
“This is a contempt for fairness! It also gained Fu Yilan countless fans, but is it really the right thing to do?”
Qiao Yi turned off the video. “Fu Haitang, is there anything you’d like to say?”
It was indeed a trap. Fu Haitang sighed, regretting her premature joy. “It’s my fault.”
A flicker of interest crossed Qiao Yi’s eyes, but in the next second, Fu Haitang’s words reignited her curiosity.
“But with the increase in popularity and spread, anti-fans will also spread,” a flawless skill every professional should have. “I cannot agree with such a severe accusation.”
Fu Haitang: “More than half of Fu Yilan’s popularity comes from her personal charm. The rest is from my operation of the show.”
“Yes, yes, yes!” Qiao Yi gave Fu Haitang a mental thumbs-up. “That’s it!”
Fu Haitang: “There might also be competition from Fu Yilan’s rivals. I’m not sure who it is.”
With 25 people eliminated in the third public performance, there were only 29 trainees left in the show. Everyone else was now Fu Yilan’s rival. The upcoming fourth and fifth public performances would be the time for everyone to show their skills.
The competition was halfway through. Everyone had to show their cards.
“That’s right, everyone,” Qiao Yi sighed. “You all know that our A Station is a big target. We have to come up with a solution for this problem. We can’t let people slander us like this!”
At this moment, the station manager coughed twice. Everyone exchanged glances. The deputy station manager helped the station manager up, and they left the conference room.
“The station manager isn’t feeling well.” Qiao Yi winked at Fu Haitang.
Fu Haitang: “…”
Hypocrites! Fu Haitang mocked in her mind!
Qiao Yi: “Haitang, even though this show is going to a satellite channel, if you keep doing this, the television authority might not approve it. Look at what this blogger said. We can’t handle the number of reports and boycotts alone.”
A way out was presented. Fu Haitang had to take it while she could. “I hope the seniors can give me some guidance.”
You’re a fast learner! Qiao Yi praised Fu Haitang again in her mind.
The marketing director said, “After it goes to a satellite channel, the marketing work will be handled by my department. Haitang, don’t worry. Anti-fans and bad reviews are minor issues. We’ll also contact this blogger.”
The content director said, “However, since it’s going to a satellite channel, we hope to make some minor adjustments to the content.”
“Such as?” Fu Haitang had a bad feeling. This “trap” was using both carrots and sticks. In the end, was it just to interfere with the show’s direction? “Teachers, please speak your minds.”
“Lin Meixue and Lin Meilin’s company invested 20 million. We hope you can package these two artists.”
“The Gu family has also interfered. They bought a golden-hour advertising slot. The revenue from a 30-second commercial is in the hundreds of millions. The condition is that Gu Jingjing debuts.”
“All improper competition needs to be packaged…”
“And Jing Zhao…”
“To increase controllability, I suggest we reduce the proportion of online votes and give the decision-making power back to the mentors. After all, it’s better to let professionals handle professional matters,” a kind-looking middle-aged man said with a smile to Fu Haitang. “What do you think, Haitang?”
Fu Haitang smiled, barely suppressing the cold sneer on her lips.
These hypocrites. They just finished talking about fairness and justice with her, and now they wanted to take away the viewers’ voting power and give the authority to “professionals.” It was only because the mentors were controllable.
Due to their contracts, people like Lu Jing could be easily controlled. At that point, who won and who lost would be decided by the production team.
“Fu Haitang, my suggestion is to reasonably distribute the commission ratio for the planning department. After all, it’s no longer an online show. Once it goes to a satellite channel, it means more human and material expenses. A 3% commission for the planning department is too much. What do you think?”
Fu Haitang clenched her fists. Every person who opened their mouth was demanding a share of her power! A share of her profit!
Did she have the right to refuse? If she did, the so-called “review” would kick her off the show from the perspective of “fairness and justice”!
The word “workplace” came to mind.
It was a long and arduous journey.
“I will take all your suggestions, teachers, but I have two requests,” Fu Haitang said.
Qiao Yi raised her hand to silence the high-level executives who were buzzing with discussion, signaling for Fu Haitang to speak.
Fu Haitang: “First, and most importantly, don’t touch Fu Yilan.”
…
Leaving the top floor, Fu Haitang was almost exhausted. She had thought she had overcome the most difficult hurdle, but she didn’t realize that the mountains were blocking her view, and she had to cross one to see the next massive obstacle.
The elevator chimed and opened.
She was on the 23rd floor.
The elevator doors opened to both sides. Fu Yilan looked up and smiled faintly, but her expression quickly turned to concern.
Fu Haitang’s face was extremely pale. Fu Yilan asked, “What’s wrong?”
Fu Haitang shook her head gently. “I’m fine.”
“Fu Haitang!” A louder voice came.
It was Ren Qing.
After the third public performance, the TV station had a day off as usual. During the show’s fermentation period, Ren Qing’s position was directly in danger. She had waited until the second day of the broadcast, rushing to the TV station, wandering helplessly in her office, making countless phone calls to Qiao Yi, and asking for a meeting with the director.
She was told that the director was in a meeting and couldn’t talk to her.
It wasn’t until Fu Haitang was summoned that her unease doubled. Ren Qing immediately cornered Fu Haitang after the meeting ended.
Ren Qing’s eyes were wide. “Fu Haitang! What did you talk about in the meeting? The show has brought so much negative news to the TV station! Now everyone online is condemning A Station! Do you know I can fire you right now!”
“No, no, no! I’m going to fire you right now!” Fu Haitang’s disregard infuriated Ren Qing. She was eager to show her power and wanted to remove Fu Haitang from her position!
Fu Haitang said hoarsely, “No need.”
Fu Yilan was stunned.
Ren Qing frowned. “What do you mean?”
“Ren Qing, you’ve been fired,” Fu Haitang said calmly, then stood up and looked at Ren Qing. “Please clear out your office today.”
Ren Qing stared at Fu Haitang in disbelief.
Fu Haitang: “That office has a new owner.”
…
Ren Qing left. The office with the excellent view now belonged to Fu Haitang. Fu Yilan was amazed. She ran her hand over the exquisite desk. The next second, she was pushed against the edge of the desk from behind.
“I’m so tired,” Fu Haitang’s warm breath brushed against her ear.
Fu Yilan pushed her away. “Hey, this is a…”
Fu Haitang: “My territory.”
Fu Yilan: “…”
“Are we on good terms now?” Fu Haitang asked impatiently.
She had another question she was dying to ask. When the book’s plot was synchronizing, she had clearly seen that Fu Yilan had rejected Lu Jing’s advances by saying, “I have someone I like.”
Fu Yilan sensed the double meaning in Fu Haitang’s words and countered, “What do you think?”
Fu Haitang let out a muffled laugh. She knew it wouldn’t be that easy to get information out of Fu Yilan. But it was okay. She could get some benefits first.
“Have you ever heard of ‘office play’?”