Love Variety Show: The despised me exploded in popularity

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"What's my order of appearance?" Pei Muchan was a bit nervous.

"Fifth." Xu Qingyan couldn't help but want to laugh, "What's wrong? Weren't you all bluster when you came, saying you weren't nervous?"

"I'm not... not nervous." She pursed her lips.

Xu Qingyan just smiled and didn't speak. His gaze swept over the hem of her dress, catching sight of a black stocking extending inward, stirring up irresistible thoughts.

It wasn't that he had never seen Pei Muchan in black stockings; she would sometimes wear them around the studio. There were moments when he could see the tight band of her thigh-highs leaving a faint red mark on her lush thighs.

This had always been considered a staff privilege only he had access to, with no other hobbies to speak of, he loved going to work every day.

"Can I take first place?" she asked again, her fingers clenching and unclenching, her knuckles turning slightly white.

"You can," he said.

In the evening, when Pei Muchan was under a lot of stress, Xu Qingyan had to try to comfort her. To be honest, he felt that Pei Muchan was being too cautious. If you want to withdraw from the competition, just withdraw.

She cried, partly because she felt she had been deceived and wronged; "Late Marriage" could make up the money if it were released exclusively.

On the other hand, she felt that Xu Qingyan had written a great song for her. Yet, here she was, naively stepping forward to be used as cannon fodder for two million, and even causing him to be played along with her.

The situation wasn't really that complicated. The show team wanted a spectacle, so they created the title of a dual song queen. Taking the money, doing the job, and walking away really wasn't an issue; the main problem was with the attitude of the show team.

If they had stated from the start that there was no next episode, "Would you like to do a walk-on role for the money?", and then Pei Muchan, knowing this, had signed the contract, there would have been no problem.

The show team played a trick, saying that it would be difficult for her to move up in the competition. After moving up, recording one episode would be the same price, and then they talked about the bonus for the champion and so on.

First, set up a hurdle, then depict how great the benefits are of overcoming that hurdle.

In plain language, they were afraid that Pei Muchan wouldn't agree. After all, she hadn't thought about making money after being quiet for so many years. Now that she was becoming popular again, two million to be cannon fodder... was basically impossible.

So they could only speak vaguely, luring her in first. They had thought that Pei Muchan wouldn't be able to advance, but then they found that she gave a fierce performance, nearly taking first place.

"I Am the Song King" was an entertainment show to begin with, promoting professional singers competing on the same stage and the like, but in reality, they wouldn't be pleased to spot good talent, instead they would be anxious.

The champion was basically pre-determined, and it would be one of those two people, specifically, still requiring coordination. If the contestant they wanted to promote really couldn't win, they'd just use a point system.

Lin Wanzhou and Pei Muchan dropping in so strongly was something the show team didn't allow on their turf as they couldn't control it, but Lin Wanzhou had Wen Yun covering her back.

So they could only grind their teeth and swallow their complaints, then turned around and tried to persuade Pei Muchan to withdraw, hence the low-price contract and the choice of withdrawal emerged.

Most little stars would just accept such occurrences, it's not worth offending the show team, who knows when collaboration might happen again, and there will always be opportunities to appear on variety shows.

Pei Muchan didn't want to accept it; she came with the intention of advancing. Although she was worried after flying Jian Ye, she wondered if she was just being used as cannon fodder, and it turned out to be true.

Although in the eyes of her love Xu Qingyan, being given two million wasn't considered being played, after all, it was a bit higher than Hou Xueheng's appearance fee. But with the addition of the original song "Late Marriage," it's hard to say whether there was a loss or not.

Coming for one episode definitely means a loss, but two episodes would be profitable.

Unfortunately, the damn show team also didn't want to take a loss. They had agreed so nicely initially but then reneged with a low-price contract, giving off an attitude like, "If you can tolerate it, then come."

Pei Muchan was furious and thus considered blowing up the scene. As for what she would say if she took first place, that was no longer something the show team could control.

"First and second place in two consecutive rounds, not challenging enough?"

"The payment was too little, the treatment wasn't right."

"The staff were mercenary, and the director wasn't quite up to par."

Xu Qingyan was actually quite looking forward to this scene unfolding, and as for being banned, he wasn't worried at all. A broken show team, not omnipotent, who could they ban?

Participating in the competition, taking first place, and then withdrawing, wasn't a problem at all; it could even accelerate getting the money back.

After all, the fees provided by the variety shows aren't settled in real-time. It's not even the case for a singer of Pei Muchan's caliber.

Even a diva like Zhang Yuqi has to cooperate with the show team to get paid.

Top-tier singers not receiving money for recording shows or even not having signed a contract isn't unheard of.

But if you take first place and then withdraw, you must be paid.

The show team also doesn't want the news like "Due to not paying, the singer takes first place and withdraws angrily," suddenly appearing on the social media trending list.

To avoid such impact, they'll still clear up the labor fees.

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Overall, it wasn't a loss. I could breathe a sigh of relief and even turn a small profit, which could serve as seed money for the new album. If I'm frugal enough, I might even be able to afford a music video for the new album.

As Xu Qingyan was pondering this, Pei Muchan suddenly reached out and poked him.

"Hmm?"

"Do you have a moment? Accompany me to the restroom," she said with a hint of conflict in her voice.

"Oh, sure."

Xu Qingyan didn't think much of it and stood up to follow her. By that time, the third guest, Jiang Jingsheng, had taken the stage and seemed to be singing a rock song.

From seven down to four, nearly a fifty percent elimination rate, Jiang Jingsheng was likely to advance safely.

In the corridor, he walked side by side with Pei Muchan, smelling the faint cool fragrance that wafted from her. In a moment, he realized that her attitude towards him had seemingly changed.

It wasn't that her asking him to accompany her to the restroom was particularly intimate, but in the past she would have sent a text message, most likely not saying it directly to his face.

Camera?

It seemed so, given that there was still a camera set up in the rest area just earlier. But she called him without any hesitation, her expression calm as she asked him to accompany her to the restroom.

This seemed like... lovers? Or maybe not, perhaps he was overthinking it.

In the corridor, as they turned at a staircase, the place was so quiet they could only hear their own footsteps. The restroom was at the end of the hallway, the mirrors shining brightly with lights on.

"Which turn is Lin Wanzhou performing?" She stopped in front of the restroom and turned to ask.

"Seventh."

Just as Xu Qingyan replied, watching Pei Muchan whose brow had remained furrowed, he suddenly realized she was just trying to ease her pressure, much like the question she had asked right before going on stage last time.

[How many votes do you think I'll get?]

Was she really nervous?

"Are you feeling a bit nervous?" he asked directly.

There were no cameras here, recording had already started, and no staff members should be wandering around outside. The corridor leading to the restroom was so empty that only their voices echoed.

So she dropped her guard and softly hummed in affirmation.

The brightly lit mirror reflected her profile and her stunning body's curves. Having a too-good figure was also unfortunate, it meant she couldn't be a supermodel.

But Xu Qingyan didn't have any other hobbies, he just liked them big.

He had never before met someone like Pei Muchan who hid her thoughts well, her words tougher than curbstones.

Yet, in some deserted corners, she would reveal her vulnerability to Xu Qingyan without reserve, the pallor and fatigue under her stunningly fair complexion obvious.

"Cough, no need to be nervous, just showing up here is already a victory," Xu Qingyan realized his words sounded hollow, perhaps he should have hugged her.

But he didn't move; there was always a distance between them.

"Will you keep writing songs for me?" Pei Muchan asked once again, tilting her head slightly, her gaze enchantingly captivating, like willows swaying with the spring breeze.

"Will you always be here?"

Xu Qingyan had given the answer to this question long ago, so he didn't hesitate.

"Of course, I'll always be here."

"Even if there's no money?"

"Yeah." Xu Qingyan was startled, "What do you take me for?"

Before he had finished speaking, he felt a familiar cool scent sweeping towards him, like a straight cue ball hitting the pocket. Before he could react, he felt himself being tightly embraced.

The warm, soft sensation was like squeezing a hot water bottle, the tight arms clutching his back as if grasping the last straw while drowning.

The only regret was that the hug was released as quickly as it had come.

A faint fragrance lingered on his chest as he watched her walk toward the restroom without looking back, her voice carrying through the mix of body heat and cool scent.

"This is... repayment."