Chapter 53

Originally, Fruit TV had abruptly changed the recording rules at the last minute, leading several popular young idols to terminate their contracts with the "Cross-Border Singing Joy" program. Other TV stations weren’t without a sense of schadenfreude, thinking it wouldn’t be a bad outcome if the highly anticipated program were to fall through because of this.
However, what these stations didn’t expect was that, although "Cross-Border Singing Joy" had altered its rules and drawn relentless criticism from fans of certain traffic stars, Fruit TV’s substantial resources meant they weren’t bothered by public opinion. Not only did Fruit TV quickly finalize the list of replacements, but they also managed to invite the national treasure-level artist Feng Yuting.
This move truly stirred up a storm. The attention the show received now far surpassed what it had before. After all, aside from the novel live competition format, the sudden addition of several heavyweight guests and the unspoken relationship between Xia Xi and Lin Wei alone filled the program with endless possibilities. With all the sparks, explosive moments, and trending topics in place, how could this show not become a hit?
Back then, the young idols who terminated their contracts were rather short-sighted. They initially thought scoring hefty compensation from the "Cross-Border Singing Joy" program was a sweet deal, but now they’re seeing the show trending hotter by the day. Claiming they don’t regret it would be a lie, but words once spoken are like water spilled; it’s too late for regrets. Still unwilling to accept it, they bought legions of internet trolls to smear the show, casting doubt on the production team’s integrity.
Thanks to those young stars adding fuel to the fire and deliberately tarnishing "Cross-Border Singing Joy," the program’s reputation took a hit. But honestly, the damage was superficial, after all, even negative buzz is still buzz. Regardless of the reason, more and more people were tuning in to the show, and its popularity soared. Even before its premiere, it had become the most anticipated variety show among the Chinese public.
In a way, "Cross-Border Singing Joy" turned misfortune into a blessing.
"Hello, everyone. Our show is about to start recording. Please make your preparations."
Just as Xia Xi was lost in her thoughts, a particularly pleasant voice came from the doorway. She quickly snapped back to attention and looked toward the sound.
There stood a delicate-looking girl smiling at the "contestants." Once she had everyone’s attention, she pointed to a box on the table. "If everyone is ready, we’ll start the live broadcast right away. That box on the table is for drawing lots to decide the performance order."
Following the girl’s gesture, Xia Xi noticed ten neatly arranged boxes on the table, shaped like cows, each stamped with the sponsor’s prominent logo. This surprised her, she had assumed the show’s tarnished reputation would deter sponsors. Yet not only was there a sponsor, it was a household-name milk brand.
Once again, she felt the depth of Fruit TV’s influence and strengthened her resolve to build good relations with the network.
"Ms. Xia Xi, it’s your turn to draw." The same girl approached Xia Xi, gently patted her shoulder, and kindly pointed toward the table. Xia Xi realized that, without her noticing, a crowd had gathered around it, she was the only one standing far off.
"Okay, thank you." Xia Xi quickly understood the girl’s friendly reminder: everyone was ready to draw and waiting for her. She gave the girl a light smile and hurried over. After all, given her low status in the industry, she couldn’t afford to keep others waiting long.
"Alright, now that everyone’s here, let’s begin drawing lots. We’ll start the official live broadcast right away."
The moment Xia Xi reached the table, the crew switched on the cameras, assigning different cameramen to follow and livestream each contestant. This move made it clear to Xia Xi that she had indeed held everyone up, leaving her somewhat embarrassed. Moreover, people had mixed opinions about her delay, and unfortunately, it left a negative impression on some.
"Attention, everyone. Let me briefly explain the drawing rules," the girl said slowly as she strolled over to Xia Xi and the others, pointing at the box on the table. "This is the box we'll be drawing from. In a moment, each of you will take one box from the table. Inside each box is a number from 1 to 10, which will determine your performance order."
"Does the performance order affect the competition ranking?" asked Fang Duoduo, a girl who, like Xia Xi, had been labeled as having "poor acting skills." She couldn’t wait to ask as soon as the staff member finished explaining the drawing process.
The staff member maintained a high level of professionalism. Even after being interrupted by Fang Duoduo, she didn’t so much as frown. Instead, she nodded gently and said, "It does have some influence. I believe everyone is already familiar with the basic competition process. Our ranking is determined by voting, which combines both online and offline methods. For the offline voting, there will be 2,000 professional judges in the audience during your performances, with each of their votes counting as two. The online voting is for the general public who can’t attend in person,"
"But what does that have to do with the performance order?" Fang Duoduo, who seemed impatient by nature, interrupted again before the staff member could finish.
"My apologies, Ms. Fang. My explanation might have been a bit too lengthy," the staff member said with a polite smile, her attitude remaining calm and composed. "Let me try to make this as clear and concise as possible."
"Earlier, I explained our voting method, and the performance order is directly related to the timing of the voting. Our voting period starts only after all ten contestants have performed." Seeing that the participants still looked confused, she continued, "For example, if you draw number 1 today, that means after your performance, nine others will still take the stage. If any of them deliver a more outstanding performance, your earlier performance might end up being overlooked."
After the staff member’s explanation, the hall fell into an unusual silence. She observed the expressions of each contestant, pausing for a few seconds on each face, and then asked, "Which of you would like to draw first?"