Chapter 22: A Scandal Worth Welcoming

"A total of ten teams: six starters and four reserves, with one team eliminated every two episodes."

"We can select these teams gradually. Whether they are newcomers or veterans in the comedy scene, none of them will refuse such an opportunity for exposure."

"However, regarding the production timeline, I believe we need to push a bit to catch the summer season."

Xu Ming took a sip of water, never expecting that after being reborn as an artist, he still couldn't escape the fate of presenting PowerPoints. He truly deserved to be a corporate slave in his past life.

Judging by the expressions of the television station executives, it seemed none of them had really taken it in.

"Hmm, the competition format seems reasonable, and the proposal is quite detailed. I have two questions: first, is Master Benshan confirmed to serve as the host?" Director Su asked.

"Barring any unforeseen circumstances, he will not be absent," Xu Ming replied.

The atmosphere instantly relaxed. As long as Uncle Benshan appeared on the show, there would be no need to worry about advertisements or sponsorships.

"Second, why are you not the team leader for Benshan Media?"

"My status isn't appropriate. The show is a cohesive unit; losing the element of surprise too early would overshadow the rest. Plus, my schedule simply doesn't align, though I will make a few guest appearances in some episodes," Xu Ming explained.

He wasn't being arrogant; with his current level of fame, competing on stage would be like an adult bullying children.

"Then I have no issues. Personally, I am inclined to greenlight this variety show."

Once Director Su spoke, the rest of the room echoed his support.

After all that, Xu Ming realized that his entire PowerPoint presentation had been less effective than those two questions. This was the entertainment industry, still retaining a touch of its raw, unrefined roots.

It was truly nostalgic.

At the very least, it was much better than the later years, where they would pile up heaps of data, hire a bunch of so-called "traffic stars," produce a massive pile of trash, and eventually decide that buying foreign variety show formats was the only way to go.

With the show settled, there was little point in Xu Ming participating further. Liaoning TV needed to select a general producer first for the show to move forward, which would undoubtedly lead to another round of fierce internal struggles.

Stepping out of the Liaoning TV station, his round-faced assistant hurried to catch up, looking like she had something difficult to say.

"Speak up if you have something to say."

"Brother Ming, you're in the news."

The assistant handed over her phone, which displayed a pushed MMS.

[Breaking News: Spring Festival Gala sketch actor Xu Ming spotted staying at a hotel with a beautiful actress, acting intimate.]

The photo clearly showed Xu Ming and Xiao Songjia entering the hotel the previous night. He had his arm around her waist, and she was leaning against his shoulder—any observant person could see the ambiguity.

Looking at the media outlet that published it: *Next Weekly*.

Damn it, they’ve got their eyes on me, haven't they?

The mere thought that the paparazzi might have followed him all day or even lurked outside the hotel all night gave him goosebumps.

He scanned his surroundings and asked his newly hired bodyguard, "Were we followed by any cars on the way here?"

"No," the bodyguard replied firmly.

Xu Ming felt a little more at ease, but his assistant was pacing in circles, anxious.

"What should we do, Brother Ming? Should I contact the media and negotiate with that newspaper? Or maybe we can hold a press conference to clarify?" the assistant suggested.

"Do you think this is a movie? I don't have the status to hold a press conference."

Xu Ming chuckled at the tabloid news. "Isn't it good that someone is promoting our new movie for free? If they want to publish it, let them. Don't worry about it."

"Huh? This... that doesn't seem right. What if the media asks about it?" the assistant asked, unsettled.

"Just say I was reading the script with the actress late at night," Xu Ming said righteously. "I'm single, have no family, and it's perfectly normal to spend the night with a new friend."

"I heard that this kind of scandal hurts an artist's image," the assistant said, confused. This was different from what she had learned in her talent management training.

"That depends on the person. I didn't start out in idol dramas. People’s impression of me is that I’m a 'sissy' (effeminate). Do you think a 'sissy' can have girlfriend fans? When people see me spending the night with a woman, they’ll only think that I’m not actually effeminate."

Xu Ming shrugged. He actually welcomed this kind of "reputation collapse."

Other people struggled to distance themselves from their characters so the audience could tell them apart. He didn't need to. The more scandalous news there was, the more the audience would feel the disconnect.

This guy was nothing like the effeminate character in "Not Short of Money."

If being a "sissy" meant he could wake up with different women every time he appeared in public, then people would be lining up to be one.

In his past life, Xiao Shenyang suffered from being married and constantly trying to project a sense of masculine toughness. In reality, if he had just changed a few more internet celebrities or models, the audience would have naturally torn off those conflicting labels.

As for the "pure love" fans, while their spending power was high, they were also far too controlling.

Much like Liu Shishi's fans; after she got married, their combat effectiveness plummeted, and countless fans dropped out.

On the other hand, look at Yang Mi—fans only saw her scandals and thought, "My sister is so bold, she’s hooked another one." It’s hard for her to ever "collapse."

Xu Ming’s current popularity was rooted in his nationwide recognition.

As long as he kept producing good work and didn't commit any crimes, the audience would be very tolerant toward him.

Someone who plays an effeminate character can be a little flamboyant; it's still better than being a real "sissy"...

Yes, that's right. The audience can accept cross-dressing, but they cannot accept a genuine "pseudo-girl."

Jin Xing remained active on screen because of her solid background in dance and her trademark sharp-tongued critiques.

Before long, calls started coming in one after another.

There were calls from the investors of *Love Is Not Blind* and the management of Benshan Media.

Even his master called to give him a harsh scolding, saying that even if he couldn't control his lower body, he should at least be discreet about it. He should learn from his seniors—they knew how to hide things...

"Yes, I'm heading back to the company now. We'll talk when I arrive. I'll take this opportunity to call in the representatives from Sohu Entertainment and Cheng Tian Entertainment for a meeting."

Xu Ming hung up on Director Teng, and immediately, a call from Xiao Songjia came through.

Honestly, seeing her name made him feel a bit awkward. He didn't have much experience being a "scumbag," and he hadn't quite adjusted to the "pull up your pants and act like a stranger" routine.

"Hello."

"About the news... if I said I didn't arrange it, would you believe me?"

"Uh, I didn't even think about that."

Xu Ming realized he had learned something new: paparazzi could be notified and arranged in advance. The world was truly treacherous.

The two were silent for a long moment.

"How do you plan to handle it? If you need a clarification, I can come out and cooperate," Xiao Songjia said first.

Her voice was slightly hoarse, which reminded Xu Ming of last night.

"No need to handle it. Let them hype it up."

Xu Ming paused, then added, "You can have the people at Cheng Tian Entertainment help buy a few articles. You aren't building an 'innocent girl' image anyway, so exposure doesn't matter, and it might boost your fame."

"What kind of person do you take me for?" Xiao Songjia felt inexplicably angry.

"I'm serious. The production team will also be doing promotions in this direction later, so it's perfect for building hype for the movie." Xu Ming licked his lips. "Though, I might need you to cooperate with me a few more times to create this kind of news."

"We... we'll see."

Xiao Songjia hung up in a hurry and touched her cheeks; they were burning hot.

She felt like she could barely handle it once, let alone a few more times. She’d be worn to pieces...