CHAPTER 29 PART 1-2

The first episode was 150 minutes long. It was around the same length as a movie.

Just a few minutes after it went online, the number of 'simultaneous viewers' displayed in the upper left corner rose rapidly. It was from 10,000 when they first opened it to 20,000, 50,000, 70,000…

The real-time barrage was also slowly increasing.

Jin Xiaochen was shocked. "There are so many people watching at noon on a weekday? I thought there would be more people watching it at night."

Zhao Dong told him, "Think about how many fans Teacher Shen has…"

This was a man with over 100 million Weibo followers.

There were also Guan Ruoying, Su Shijin, and Feng Wei. How many viewers would come for them?

The early stage of 'Studio Superstar' was completely based on the popularity of the four mentors.

Even if Fan Xue was popular? He was nothing at all in front of these four people.

Jin Xiaochen gulped fiercely.

It started with the concept video for the show. Then after the opening credits, it got to the point.

A hot summer day, an empty camp, a straight forest road, and the incoming young man was precisely… Jin Xiaochen!

Everyone looked at him in amazement.

Jin Xiaochen touched his nose and laughed. "You didn't know that I was the first to arrive at the camp?"

Everyone shook their heads in unison.

Jin Xiaochen shouted, "I was embarrassed at that time. Apart from the cameraman brothers in the studio, I was alone. I didn't know how to act!"

Everyone laughed.

Looking at the show again, Jin Xiaochen really did drag his suitcase into the studio alone. He sat in the corner cautiously, glanced at the cameraman brother, and then glanced around, fidgeting a lot.

At the same time, in the small theater studio on the other side, the four mentors also appeared.

The barrage quickly skyrocketed.

"Ahhhhh Shen Tingyan Shen Tingyan Shen Tingyan!"

"My man ahhhhh!"

"Teacher Shen is so good-looking!"

"Guan Guan is so beautiful. Help!"

"Teacher Su, I can do it!"

"Director Feng, Director Feng, Director Feng!"

The four mentors teased each other. Shen Tingyan looked 'too lazy to deal with you' and seemed quite unsociable.

After they sat down, the other side started playing Jin Xiaochen's electronic resume.

As an amateur, Jin Xiaochen had no 'past works' to speak of.

His video material was a short video shot at home by himself with his mobile phone. He played the scumbag and mistress pulling each other's hair in a famous dog-blooded drama.

Obviously, there was no actor to act against, but he acted vividly and was full of atmosphere. There was a trace of seriousness in the humor, and a trace of embarrassment in the seriousness…

"Hahahaha!"

"So cute!"

The audience in the barrage fell for this set, and Xue Xiao laughed as well.

Chang Yun rubbed Jin Xiaochen's head. "Yes, no wonder why the show's staff fancied you. You have some talent!"

Jin Xiaochen stuck out his tongue in an embarrassed manner.

After that, the participants appeared one by one…

Zhao Dong, Dou Mingjian, Chang Yun, Xue Xiao, Jiang Lianlian…

Xue Xiao had a wonderful feeling when it was his turn.

Seeing himself appear in a variety show compared to a film or television drama was a completely different feeling.

The roles in film and television dramas were played by him, but the him in the variety show was the real him.

He carried a heavy backpack and pulled a suitcase. He was unable to hide the expression of excitement on his face, as well as the solemnity before entering the studio…

Xue Xiao blinked, just as embarrassed as Jin Xiaochen.

Once his electronic resume appeared on the show, the four consecutive Shen Tingyan made the barrage laugh like crazy.

His target was Shen Tingyan, his idol was Shen Tingyan, his acting enlightenment was Shen Tingyan, and his favorite person was Shen Tingyan.

"Everyone, do we have someone on the inside of our fan base?"

"A good fool. He is just like me. Hehe."

"Hahahahaha!"

"Shen Tingyan is so calm!"

"Teacher Shen is used to seeing such brainless fans, hahahaha."

Seeing this scene again, Chang Yun laughed and poked Xue Xiao with his elbow. "What did you think at that time? Why did you fill it out like this?"

Xue Xiao only remembered this matter at this time. His little fan was a bit tangled. "The answer to the first three questions is really Teacher Shen! But for the last question, I didn't think much of it at the time… I thought that this was an actor's resume sheet, so my 'favorite person' should also refer to my favorite person in the entertainment industry. That is Teacher Shen…"

Later, he saw other people's resume sheets and found that the 'favorite person' column was filled with things like their parents or nephew or nieces. This made him feel stupid.

Everyone realized as they listened.

But even if they put aside the last question, filling in Shen Tingyan for the first three questions was already enough to be a diehard fan!

The moment Xue Xiao's video played, many people on the barrage woke up.

"F*k, isn't this my river demon lord?"

"D*mn, my river demon lord? Ahhhh! It turned out to be you!"

"They are two completely different people in the drama and in reality. I'm stunned."

"What a surprise!"

"It is wonderful and beautiful. prprprprpr."

Xue Xiao asked Jin Xiaochen beside him in a low voice, "What does 'PR' mean?"

Jin Xiaochen squeezed his eyebrows together. "It is the meaning of saliva dripping and wanting to lick."

Xue Xiao: "...…"

He silently shrunk back.

The camera switched to the small studio, and Xue Xiao froze.

Su Shijin was the only one among the four mentors who had seen Xue Xiao's scene before. "I know this. It is from an ancient drama and was on the hot search before."

Guan Ruoying's eyes widened as she watched the screen in a motionless manner.

Feng Wei was thoughtful.

As for Shen Tingyan…

Xue Xiao couldn't see any expression from the man's face.

If Shen Tingyan had no intention of communicating with the outside world, no one could get any information from this man's face.

He just watched calmly. Only the slightly upturned gaze could make Xue Xiao certain that this man was indeed looking at him on the big screen at that time.

Xue Xiao sighed.

Was he a bit disappointed?

Maybe.

Then thinking about it carefully, such a small piece of content might be enough to make many girls scream, but what was it to Shen Tingyan?

As a man, Shen Tingyan also had what Xue Xiao had. It was even more perfect than Xue Xiao.

As for acting? This short section of acting skills wasn't enough for this man?

Therefore, Xue Xiao quickly put away this small disappointment in the back of his mind.

The participants gathered, Jiang Quan appeared, and everyone entered the selection room in turn. They selected the play, and the list of groups was announced…

It was also at this time that discordant comments appeared on the barrage.

"Xue Xiao deliberately picked Praying Mantis?"

"Hehe, he wants to take advantage of Senior's popularity."

"Bloodsucking worms are bloodsucking worms everywhere they go."

'Senior' was what Fan Xue's fans called him.

Seeing these barrages, Chang Yun, Jin Xiaochen, and Zhao Dong frowned because they knew the conflict between Xue Xiao and Fan Xue. The others who didn't know were a bit puzzled.

In the first round, everyone blindly picked. Who knew what play the other person had selected? Why did they still think that Xue Xiao was trying to catch Fan Xue's popularity?

However, this scene passed quickly. Before they could react, the plot had already continued.

Xue Xiao looked calm.

The show quickly entered the first public stage. Each group would have their rehearsal footage played before the formal performance.

Huang Xiaolin hit his chest. "I'm so nervous. I really acted too badly in the first round. I don't want to see it!"

His roommate said, "I am the one who should be nervous, okay? Have you guys forgotten what I performed at that time?"

Everyone showed a pitying expression when they remembered.

This friend was one of the five friends who performed the crying scene at that time. He was the last one to appear.

Huang Xiaolin asked again, "Will all the performances be released in the first episode? It doesn't seem like there is enough time?"

Another person hesitated. "I feel that they might cut some people's performance process, such as some repetitive plays…"

Fortunately, the show did a good job in this matter.

Several worried people found that for the first theme of crying, not a single minute of the five participants' performance was cut. It was completely retained.

In this way, there was no need to worry about what was fair and unfair. Of course, not cutting it for a minute meant that all of their acting problems were exposed to the audience one by one.

The five participants who performed the crying plays drove the audience crazy.

"???"

"He cried and I cried…"

"I've cut out Disneyland with my toes…"

The most terrible thing was that the show's staff cut in the expressions of the four mentors and the participants.

Immediately, coughing was heard in the dormitory one after another. Huang Xiaolin's roommate squinted at them. Everyone looked up at the sky in embarrassment and guilt.

They didn't do a good job of managing their expressions that day…

The audience really found the wonderful scenery.

"Everyone is obviously holding back so hard…"

"Teacher Su can't hold it hahaha!"

"Hahahaha, look at Xue Xiao's expression!"

"Xue Xiao seems dumbfounded…"

"He keeps moving forward, backwards, forward and backwards. Does he feel that there is something wrong with his eyes?"

"Help, I'm laughing so hard that my stomach hurts!"

"Xue Xiao is simply my face replacement, my face replacement!"

Xue Xiao froze. He didn't expect that his unintentional expression that day would be so conspicuous in the camera.

Huang Xiaolin's roommate sneered. "Okay, Xue Xiao!"

"..." Xue Xiao muttered, "That, I…"

This friend said, "I should arrange you below when I am rehearsing. Isn't it more certain to watch your reaction and adjust the performance directly rather than exploring it myself?"

Xue Xiao: "...…???"

Everyone in the dormitory seemed to be awakened with these words. "…That's right!"

Xue Xiao thought, '…Why are you saying 'that's right'?"

PART 2

Shen Tingyan's comments about the five participants who first appeared on stage led to a crazy increase in the barrage.

"Shen Tingyan's mouth is too poisonous, too poisonous…"

"This man actually said such a terrifying thing with a smile!"

"F*k, picking at your scalp, pulling your hair, biting your tongue. I've learned incorrectly from Teacher Shen!"

Now seeing this scene, the students in the dormitory were all shivering.

The length of the solo plays was short. Everyone's rehearsal footage was only one or two minutes.

Seeing that the morning's plays were passing quickly one by one, Zhao Dong saw that there was more than half an hour left in the first episode and realized something. He whispered to Xue Xiao, "It seems that it will air until our group."

Xue Xiao nodded and clenched his fists.

Sure enough, Fan Xue soon appeared.

Seeing him, everyone couldn't help thinking of a question.

That day, Fan Xue's group was criticized so badly. Shen Tingyan also exposed the fact that Fan Xue deliberately acted badly to set up a persona? Would the show keep these contents?

If it was retained, the highlight of the first episode was here. This part would definitely go on the hot search.

At the same time, Fan Xue was finished.

Everyone put away their joking thoughts and became serious.

It wasn't known if it was because only two groups collided for 'Praying Mantis', but the show cut the rehearsal footage of the two together.

Fan Xue's group of three came to the classroom of Building 3 early to meet the teacher, seriously starting the first day's rehearsal. On the screen, the show's staff added a line of doubtful subtitles, "Where is the other group?"

Zhao Dong and Jin Xiaochen paused.

The screen shifted, and the screen read, "More than an hour later…"

Xue Xiao, Jin Xiao, and Zhao Dong appeared at the door, gasping.

The teacher reprimanded them and the three of them walked silently to the corner to sit down. Jin Xiaochen seemed dissatisfied, but Zhao Dong stopped him. Xue Xiao looked at Fan Xue's group for a while before lowering his head and looking through the script.

The barrage:

"?"

"It isn't okay to be late."

"The teacher is angry, but they didn't apologize?"

"Jin Xiaochen still seems to be very unhappy…"

"Xue Xiao's attitude is also a bit…"

In the dormitory, everyone felt that something was a bit wrong as they watched.

That day, they didn't receive the notice from the staff, so Xue Xiao's group was an hour late. The people familiar with them already knew about this.

But wasn't this episode strangely cut?

Jin Xiaochen's roommate asked them, "Did you not explain on that day that you didn't receive the notice?"

Jin Xiaochen replied with a calm face, "I explained it, but it was cut!"

"What?"

Zhao Dong and Xue Xiao exchanged a look.

Old Gao promised them that he would help them in the editing. They thought that he would cut some content or help explain it for them.

Yet what was cut out of the finished episode that went online was their explanation for being late? There also wasn't an additional explanation on the subtitles?

Wasn't this going in the other direction entirely?

They had a faint premonition in their hearts.

The show continued playing.

Xue Xiao interjected when the teacher instructed Jin Xiaochen.

Xue Xiao talked back when the teacher instructed Xue Xiao.

After teaching Zhao Dong, Xue Xiao pulled the other two out and commented on Zhao Dong's acting.

The meaning of Old Gao's words that day was that the teacher was intentionally targeting them, but all the delicate rehearsal processes were retained.

The barrage increased rapidly, various voices came out, and the direction started to change.

"What is Xue Xiao doing?"

"Uh, my perception of Xue Xiao suddenly became a bit bad…"

"Am I the only one who thinks that the teacher is inexplicably targeting their group?"

"But this teacher's guidance about Zhao Dong's acting method is really strange…"

"Xue Xiao is a bit arrogant."

"I hate Xue Xiao's group."

"Who doesn't know that Xue Xiao is just pretending to be good on the surface? I'm laughing to death."

"Does Xue Xiao have melons?"

...

Xue Xiao sat up straight.

Everyone's expressions became strange.

After that, the content presented on the show faintly paved another road.

The performance of Fan Xue's group was cut. For example, where they stumbled in the middle while going upstairs. This was a big mistake, but the show cut it out. The effect presented was that even though these three people acted badly, and the expressions of the mentors were also very subtle, but overall, it was within the acceptable range of the audience…

Su Shijin's criticism was cut in half. Then Fan Xue's speech explaining that their group didn't have enough practice time was kept because Shen Tingyan was going to bring Xue Xiao's group to the stage next.

Once Xue Xiao and their group started to perform, the barrage started to change again.

"In comparison, this group really acts better…"

"Xue Xiao's acting skills are really good. He is indeed more serious about acting, but he isn't a good person."

"F*k f*k f*k, Zhao Dong scared me to death!"

"How can Zhao Dong be more perverted than Teacher Shen in the beginning? Ahhhhhh!"

"I got goosebumps…"

"Jin Xiaochen, an amateur, acts better than the debuted artist of another group…"

Ahhhhh, Xue Xiao's last shot!"

"It is crazy, it is crazy, it is crazy!"

"These eyes are crazy and beautiful…"

"How can this person be so ignorant off-stage and so sharp on stage…?"

The smears and insults that were obviously from Fan Xue's fans were still mixed in, but most passersby were attracted by this play.

Then once the four mentors started to comment on their group, the editing became strange again.

At this time, looking at it from the perspective of a third person, everyone could clearly feel that Shen Tingyan's brief silence before commenting on Xue Xiao was to assess Xue Xiao's mental endurance as a small fan.

He probably felt that Xue Xiao would listen to him carefully and not be easily defeated.

Thus, he spoke bluntly.

Then what about Xue Xiao?

Everyone remembered that at that time, Xue Xiao stared at Shen Tingyan calmly and seriously on stage. There wasn't the slightest timidity or evasion.

But at this time, Xue Xiao in the episode was… looking down at the corner in a daze?

Shen Tingyan was speaking, but where was Xue Xiao looking?

In the barrage, countless '???' floated by.

Once Shen Tingyan's speech ended, he cued Fan Xue's group to return to the stage, and the first episode ended here.

Chang Yun was stunned. "What the h*ll is this editing?"

Zhao Dong frowned and asked Xue Xiao, "Xiao, what were you looking at back then?"

Xue Xiao was silent for a moment before shaking his head. "I don't remember."

He didn't remember being distracted at any time when on the stage.

Perhaps at one moment, his eyes were pierced by the light of the table, and he momentarily shifted his gaze.

But he was certain that he looked at each mentor seriously when they talked.

Such an episode silenced the entire dormitory.

There was no doubt about one thing—

Xue Xiao was being targeted.

Many variety shows, especially those with a talent show nature, would pull out some participants to sacrifice in order to make a splash.

They would let netizens scold these participants onto the hot search. It was over for the sacrificed participant, but the show attracted more traffic.

Now it seemed that 'Studio Superstar' was no exception.

In this show, the person who was sacrificed was Xue Xiao.

Jin Xiaochen said with a calm face, "Old Gao didn't say this at that time. I will ask him."

He picked up his phone, but his roommate quickly stopped him. "Old Gao has no airs, so you really treat him as a friend. He is a leader…"

Dou Mingjian slowly sensed something. He frowned and asked Xue Xiao, "Did you have any conflicts with Fan Xue before?"

The barrage of the normal netizens and Fan Xue's fans were very easy to distinguish. The latter insulted Xue Xiao regardless of occasion, with a rhythm. Intentionally or unintentionally, they wanted to hint that Xue Xiao had some 'melons.'

After the battle of 'Praying Mantis', Fan Xue hated Xue Xiao for certain. It was just that the tone of the fans made it seem like the two of them had a grudge before.

Chang Yun said with a calm face, "Yes. Xiao participated in Fan Xue's crew before and was hated by Fan Xue due to the director."

Everyone's expressions changed. So this wave was Fan Xue jointly acting with the show…??

At this moment, someone suddenly said, "Eh, but the direction on the Internet seems a bit…"

Looking back, they saw that he was swiping on Weibo. The group of people quickly surrounded him.

In such a short period of time, there were three hot searches related to the show.

First place in the hot search was 'Shen Tingyan's poisonous tongue'. This topic attracted enough attention, and the amount of discussion was amazingly high.

The third hot search was 'Studio Superstar started airing.'

20th place on the hot search and slowly rising up was 'Fan Xue Xue Xiao Praying Mantis.'

Clicking on the last hot search entry and seeing the discussions in it, everyone unexpectedly found that public opinion wasn't one-sided?

It wasn't known if it was because the acting skills between the two groups were too different, but netizens were caught up in the debate.

"Xue Xiao's group is so rude, especially Xue Xiao. He looks so well-behaved, but his eyes are higher than the sky."

"No matter how the acting teacher guides them, Xue Xiao has to interject. Ah, laughing to death. Why doesn't he just become a teacher? [Eating melons]."

"SRDS (Although), Xue Xiao's group is the one I was the most immersed in so far. If they really acted according to the direction of that acting teacher, it might be another matter [kneeling]."

"I have no principles. Xue Xiao's last scene is really crazy and beautiful…"

"…After looking at the discussion, what are your three views? Are you allowed to have no morality as long as you act well?"

"Xue Xiao's acting ability is okay, but his attitude really isn't good. He said that he likes Teacher Shen. As a result, what type of attitude did he have when Teacher Shen criticized him?"

"I think it is quite strange. Shen Tingyan criticized the other participants so mercilessly before. Yet he was so gentle to Xue Xiao later?"

"Non-Shen Tingyan fans, you should know that this person never gives face to anyone in the entire entertainment industry. If someone really claims to be his fan and doesn't listen to him carefully, he will definitely open the mockery mode. Speaking of the entire second half of the first episode, I watched it in a confused manner. I always feel that there are several parts missing. I want to ask about this. Is the show evil editing Xue Xiao?"