Shen Tao had already scheduled Ye Huanqiu to begin filming the show at Tomato TV Station the following Monday.
Determined to earn the hundred thousand yuan, Ye Huanqiu pulled out one of his few relatively clean and presentable personal outfits. His wardrobe had previously consisted of three sets of work attire that he rotated year-round, leaving little room for personal expression.
Consequently, his private wardrobe was minimal. He took out the iron he used for his work clothes and carefully pressed his outfit to remove any wrinkles.
Even though his wardrobe consisted of the cheapest clothing available, maintaining a neat appearance was a basic courtesy to others.
Ye Huanqiu splurged on a trendy haircut—a 4:6 parted layered style popular among young men—to revamp his previously unkempt look.
At the barbershop, onlookers witnessed his transformation from a rustic bumpkin to a stylish young man. The haircut alone completely transformed his appearance, leaving the barber stunned. The client who had walked in was practically unrecognizable from the one now walking out.
Gone were the unflattering black-rimmed glasses, replaced by the image of a sunny, approachable young man.
And this single haircut had cost him a whopping two hundred yuan!
As Ye Huanqiu left the barbershop, he put his glasses back on, and his unassuming demeanor returned. He decided to visit an eyewear store and replace the lenses with blue light-blocking ones.
The thought of earning 100,000 yuan after the first episode aired motivated him to splurge on two Zeiss lenses, costing over 4,000 yuan.
He didn't need corrective lenses, but these blue light-blocking ones would protect his eyes. He wore them primarily because his striking looks might distract people from his talent.
What does an arranger and lyricist need with such a handsome face? he thought. It would only attract unwanted attention and shallow romantic prospects.
With all his preparations complete, Ye Huanqiu took a ride-hailing car to Tomato TV Station headquarters on Monday.
During the ride, Shen Tao sent him a text message filled with reminders and urgings.
Ye Huanqiu replied tersely with three words: "On my way."
Shen Tao, already at the recording studio, finally breathed a sigh of relief. Meanwhile, Director Zhang meticulously inspected every detail, determined to ensure the first episode was flawless.
As the audience began to file in, the studio's five hundred seats quickly filled. Approximately fifty of these seats were occupied by Tomato TV staff, strategically placed among the remaining four hundred and fifty viewers, who had been selected from the station's regular audience.
The presence of a live audience was crucial for maintaining an energetic atmosphere during the show.
Shen Tao checked with the staff to confirm the arrival of the other celebrities and creators. All fourteen members of the seven teams had arrived, leaving only Ye Huanqiu unaccounted for.
This wasn't due to Ye Huanqiu acting like a diva. The other participants, with their company-provided transportation and proximity to the city, had naturally arrived sooner.
All the celebrity guests were present and accounted for.
Backstage, two figures pored over their cue cards: Wang Ziqiang and Meng Yan, the hosts for the day. Wang Ziqiang's name was remarkably ordinary, but his background was anything but. Trained in traditional Chinese comedic storytelling (xiangsheng), he transitioned to stand-up comedy before taking a hiatus due to personal reasons. Now, with Tomato TV launching its new variety show, he was returning to his old stomping ground to relaunch his career.
Meng Yan, the female host, was a popular entertainment star affectionately known as "Xiao Guai" (Little Sweetie) by her fans.
"Brother Wang, I'm a little nervous," Meng Yan confessed, her heart pounding as she glanced at the cue cards in her hand. With little hosting experience, she was only participating in this show because her agency had booked it for her.
In the entertainment industry, it was crucial for celebrities to network widely across different circles, avoiding confinement to a single niche. Building strong relationships with Toilet TV, Zhe Lan TV, and now Tomato TV was essential. This show marked her first collaboration with Tomato TV Station.
A successful performance could leave a lasting impression on the station's executives.
Wang Ziqiang feigned composure. "Don't worry, Teacher Bai. Just relax. When I hosted my first talk show, I was even more nervous than you are now. We had to reshoot the pilot multiple times! You're already doing much better than I did back then!"
"Really? I'll need your guidance on stage, Brother Wang," Meng Yan said modestly.
"Not at all. We'll help each other out," Wang Ziqiang replied with a smile. Beneath his cheerful facade, a flicker of tension betrayed his words. After a period of semi-retirement, he was uncertain whether his hosting skills had grown rusty. Facing the cameras again, he still felt a pang of anxiety.
Some entertainers in the industry claim to suffer from "camera anxiety," but Wang Ziqiang genuinely has this condition.
He had received the production schedule long ago and had been diligently working to overcome his anxiety. After two or three months, his hands and feet had finally stopped trembling, but he still needed time to adjust to the lingering discomfort.
"Teacher Wang, Teacher Bai, please proceed to the main hall to prepare," a staff member announced, running over to them. Wang Ziqiang straightened his suit collar as Meng Yan's stylist and makeup artist made final adjustments to her appearance.
She wore a voluminous blue tulle dress, paired with dazzling, crystal-studded high heels that glittered brilliantly with every step. Her beautiful face was framed by long black hair.
The two left the waiting room one after the other. As they walked down the corridor, a young man with black-rimmed glasses passed by, appearing unremarkable at first glance.
A staff member stopped him. "Which team are you with? Show me your staff badge."
This was the third time Ye Huanqiu had been asked this question since arriving. After all, he was an unknown nobody no one recognized.
Ye Huanqiu had no choice but to repeat himself: "I'm One Leaf Knows Autumn, today's contestant. Director Shen sent this message—you recognize his number, right?"
He showed the staff member his phone screen. The staff member nodded, recognizing the number.
"Sorry, this is the backstage area."
"No worries, I understand completely."
Ye Huanqiu didn't press the issue. They were both just working stiffs. The staff member's job was to prevent unauthorized personnel—overly enthusiastic fans or random people—from sneaking in. If anything went wrong, he could lose his job and even face legal repercussions.
The staff member led him to a private dressing room—the only one meant for a single occupant. All the other rooms were shared. Ye Huanqiu settled onto the sofa and waited patiently.
Before long, Shen Tao himself arrived at the dressing room. He froze in surprise upon seeing Ye Huanqiu.
"You're One Leaf Knows Autumn?"
Shen Tao had expected someone around thirty-five or thirty-six years old. Instead, the bespectacled young man before him looked no older than twenty-five or twenty-six—a full decade younger than anticipated.
"I'm Ye Huanqiu," he said, picking up his phone to show Shen Tao their chat history.
"Alright... When it's time to go on stage, a staff member will escort you to your seat. Just stay quiet, and a producer will explain the show's rundown later."
Ye Huanqiu gave an okay sign. Shen Tao left, looking slightly dejected. He'd felt a brief sense of relief earlier, but now anxiety gnawed at him again. This person was so young... Could he really pull this off?
Am I being scammed? he wondered. But everything seemed legitimate, from the initial email exchange to sharing contact information.
The more he thought about it, the more uneasy he became. Shen Tao forced himself to calm down. No matter what, we have to start filming today. The arrow is drawn and must be released!