Chapter 21 Heated Discussion
Chapter Summary: Numerous scenes were cut.
With the internet so readily available now, you can shoot videos with just a mobile phone.
The production team did not arrange for staff to go to the homes of the top 12 trainees to record. Most of the contestants' video messages consisted of their parents sitting in front of the camera, speaking cautiously.
Although Xia Xinyan's VCR video has average resolution, every second of the camera movement and shot content is used efficiently, indicating that it was filmed by professionals.
Considering the phone call I overheard Xia Xinyan making in the dorm that day, Xia Xinyan must have a professional team behind her...
Mu Zhi carefully recalled the plot of the novel "The Boss Spends Money to Spoil Her Debut". The agency that Xia Xinyan signed with after debuting as a member of a group was called Lan... Lanxing Media.
The author predicts that this new company will rise rapidly and become the largest talent agency in the entertainment industry.
In a flash, Mu Zhi remembered something.
That day, I happened to meet actress Liu Rui while shooting an advertisement for my phone. It seems that the new company she was going to sign with is Lanxing Media.
Then a bold guess emerged.
Could Xia Xinyan's participation in "Chasing the Light" be a scheme orchestrated by Lanxing Media? Is this new company already quietly playing a grand game before even officially entering the entertainment industry?
The family video viewing has ended.
Before the finals, the four mentors said some encouraging words to the contestants, giving them a boost of energy.
"Keep up the good work! I hope this season's debut group can become China's number one girl group!"
Under the blueprint drawn by the mentors, the trainees felt boundless anticipation and responded with enthusiastic clapping, their hands aching from clapping.
Mu Zhi was certain that she wouldn't debut, yet she felt like a mere spectator amidst it all.
Next up is the final night of "Chasing the Light Girls".
The 12 trainees began meticulously preparing for their individual solo performances...
The ninth episode was not broadcast live.
However, in order to maintain the viewers' engagement with the show, the production team quickly edited and released this episode.
On the stage of the third performance, Mu Zhi won the popularity award and also ranked first in the number of likes. Her popularity soared and she became a hot contestant to compete with Xia Xinyan for the center position.
Fans who support Mu Zhi are looking forward to their idol's future performances. The super topic is full of calls for votes, likes, and promotion of Mu Zhi on various platforms, all striving to support their idol's debut as the center.
As a result, the ninth episode of "Chasing the Light" was released online.
Mu Zhi's fans were furious after seeing this.
"In an hour and a half long program, Zhi Bao didn't even get 6 minutes of screen time! Chasing the Light Girl is such a lousy show!"
"On the day of filming at the farm, Zhou Jingzhu posted a picture on Weibo of Zhibao chopping meat with two knives, praising Zhibao's skill in chopping meat! But there were no shots of Zhibao chopping meat in the final cut. What happened? Chasing the Light Girl"
"Next episode is the debut night, and your show deliberately cut Mu Zhi's scenes in the latest episode. Which royal family are you making way for? The trainee who got the most likes can't debut in the group? It's hilarious, isn't this just a blatant game of capital?"
"Do they think the audience is stupid? Is it really necessary to be so obvious in deliberately marginalizing Mu Zhi? Chasing the Light Girls, come out and respond already, stop playing dead! Garbage program, garbage platform!"
......
Mu Zhi's fans stormed the official Weibo account of "Chasing the Light Girls," flooding the comments section with insults and demanding a satisfactory response from the production team.
The issue of #Muzhi's scenes being heavily cut# has also sparked heated discussions on various forums:
"It's no wonder the fans are angry. With this shady move by the production team, Mu Zhi's debut spot is probably gone for good."
"The two top contenders for the center position, Xia Xinyan, had half an hour of individual screen time, while Mu Zhi didn't even have 10 minutes. That's really going too far."
"Even if Mu Zhi can't debut as the center, her stunning looks make her the perfect choice for the group's visual center. It wouldn't make sense for her not to be among the five debut spots. The production team is playing these tricks at the last minute; aren't they just ruining their own reputation?"
"I love Muzhi, her last two performances were amazing, the stage was so captivating. It would be great if she could debut as a solo artist?"
An "industry insider" has revealed that Mu Zhi's agency, Xinghe Culture, broke up with the Owl platform, resulting in her losing a debut spot...
The online discussion about Mu Zhi's scenes being cut from the ninth episode is very heated, but it didn't make it to the trending topics.
Mu Zhi didn't have a cell phone; she only learned about the online discussions about her from Zhou Jingzhu and Liu Cai.
Zhou Jingzhu forced a cell phone on her.
After going online, I briefly watched the main content of episode nine:
The scenes of Mu Zhi proposing a division of labor, chopping meat with a large knife, and discovering that Xia Xinyan and the others had mixed daffodil leaves into the vegetables they picked, were all cut from the final cut and did not appear in the final version.
What the audience saw was that after everyone spontaneously formed groups, Mu Zhi was in a group with Zhou Jingzhu and Liu Cai, but there was only a shot of Zhou Jingzhu and Liu Cai chopping meat. Even the scene of Mu Zhi standing on the side "instructing" was completely cut out. Only two sentences of her voice appeared, but she was not seen.
There was also no on-site "teaching" of making dumplings.
The behind-the-scenes team segment of the show "Chasing the Light" was visibly reduced to background scenery. The only few minutes of screen time were when big-name star Liu Jiaxu called on Mu Zhi to perform #TearsInASecond# again, and there was also a one-minute segment watching a family video...
The production team was quite ruthless; they didn't want to waste any screen time on Mu Zhi.
In response to Zhou Jingzhu and Liu Cai's concerned inquiries, "What happened?"
Mu Zhi could only smile in response, "It's alright, you guys focus on preparing for the show, I'll take care of things."
Just as he had calmed Zhou Jingzhu and Liu Cai down so they wouldn't be distracted by their own affairs, their mentor Xie Chaoyun came looking for them.
"Muzhi, I need to talk to you about something."
Mu Zhi followed Xie Chaoyun to an empty lounge, where Xie Chaoyun's assistant stood guard outside.
Why give up on debuting?
Upon hearing this, Mu Zhi was taken aback.
It's likely that Xie Chaoyun learned about her not debuting from the show's production team. It's unclear how Xinghe Culture responded to the Owl platform, but judging from the show's drastic cuts of her scenes, it probably caused quite a stir.
It's unclear what version Xie Chaoyun heard.
Seeing that Xie Chaoyun's face showed genuine concern for her, Mu Zhi briefly explained the matter in a few words.
“The Owl platform sent me a cooperation agreement, but the company does not agree to me signing it. I have to follow the company’s arrangements.”
After thinking for a moment, she revealed some of her personal thoughts: "Not forming a group might be a good choice. I don't know music, I can't compose, and I'm not very good at dancing. I want to develop in the film and television industry in the future."
Xie Chaoyun grasped the key point from Mu Zhi's words: "I have to listen to the company's arrangements." Yes, as an undebuted trainee, she was just like herself when she participated in the show, with no say and could only listen to the company.
"If you want to debut, I can help you talk to the platform."
Mu Zhi looked surprised and asked in confusion, "Why are you helping me?"
In the few years since entering the entertainment industry, Mu Zhi has never lacked suitors. She has encountered subtle confessions, fervent pursuits, and silent waiting. Although she has never been in a relationship due to her focus on her career, she has always been very sensitive to the affections that men show her.
Under Mu Zhi's open gaze, Xie Chaoyun tilted her head slightly, coughed lightly, and explained, "I'm not trying to help you. As a mentor on this show, I've seen a contestant who clearly had the potential to debut as the center with her own strength and popularity being stripped of even a debut spot. I, the mentor's tool, have become a joke."
Xie Chaoyun has been immersed in the entertainment industry for many years, yet he remains untainted by its corruption and still possesses this sense of "righteousness," which is truly remarkable.
However, the formation and debut of the group from "Chasing the Light Girls" is already a done deal, and Mu Zhi doesn't want to drag Xie Chaoyun into it.
"Thank you, mentor. It was a joint decision between me and the company not to debut as a member of the group, and I will take responsibility for my own life. You once said that this stage is just the beginning, and there are many possibilities for my future. One day I will stand on the top and let everyone see me."
His tone was calm, yet it possessed a convincing power.
Xie Chaoyun realized that he didn't understand the trainee in front of him at all. Mu Zhi's eyes were bright and firm. From her eyes, he could tell that Mu Zhi knew very well how to take her own future.
Was it a joint decision between her and the company? Then he seems to have no right to interfere.
Mu Zhi and Xie Chaoyun chatted for a few minutes, and then the internet was in an uproar again.
Following the #Muzhi Company's negotiations with the platform broke down#, another "insider" has further revealed information on the forum:
The Owl platform actually extended an olive branch to trainee Mu Zhi for collaboration, but the contract terms were harsh, and Mu Zhi refused, so she lost her debut spot, resulting in a large amount of her scenes being cut from the ninth episode.
To verify the claims, the "insider" who started the thread posted evidence: three images of contract content with certain information blurred out.
The post quickly gained traction, with netizens rapidly reading and analyzing it.
"Holy crap! The cost of getting a debut spot is really high. The contestants have to sign contracts with the platform for albums, performances, variety shows, and even film and television contracts. Suddenly they become platform-affiliated artists."
"Is this contract confirmed? Did all the contestants who ultimately debuted sign this contract?"
"These girls are having a tough time. Besides their contracts with the company, they also have to sign with the platform, and they get a cut from both sides. If I were Mu Zhi, I would have run away too. Girls who can run away should run away quickly! Wouldn't it be better to debut as solo artists?"
"The authenticity of the contract is questionable, but those who advised the girls to run away should shut up! Look at the groups that debuted in previous seasons and those that didn't; their resources are on a completely different level. No matter how harsh this contract is, the benefits outweigh the drawbacks, and there are plenty of people willing to sign it. Someone probably angered the platform by negotiating with them, so stop stirring up trouble here."
The post was deleted in less than half an hour.
The contents of the contract had already been screenshotted.
The more they tried to silence the gossip, the more enthusiastically netizens discussed it, while the marketing accounts on Weibo remained as still as chickens, not daring to spread any information.
Mu Zhi received a screenshot from the forum sent by Zhou Jingzhu. Without a doubt, this was the work of the company.
The only uncertainty is the motive.
Galaxy Culture wants to use public opinion to force Owl Platform to give them a debut spot so that the two sides can discuss the terms of the contract.
It seems that Green Apple's boy group audition program is about to be launched. Xinghe Culture has reached a cooperation agreement with a rival platform, so they're going to do this out of desperation to disgust the Owl platform and the program team.
Regardless of the type, the one being roasted is Mu Zhi.
We're going to be ruined by this stupid company.
Mu Zhi had absolutely no interest in preparing for her debut night.
With the company doing this, it's completely no longer my concern.
Originally heading to the practice room, I changed direction and walked towards the dormitory.
The dormitory was empty. Mu Zhi, who was still fuming, went into the bathroom to wash her face and cool down.
As soon as I walked in, I was preoccupied with something and didn't notice the foam on the tiles under my feet. I slipped and fell flat on my backside.
"Hiss!" After getting up.
Mu Zhi discovered that she had twisted her right ankle. Her instep burned and swelled up immediately. As soon as her foot touched the ground, she gasped in pain.
Mu Zhi remained silent for a while before saying, "Fine."
Now she doesn't need to think about what excuse to use to miss the debut night; God has already given her a way out.
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