129: Chapter 129 The Different Views of the Two Directors

Just as Chen Shaoping hung up Li Qian's call, Zhang Ying walked over.

Thinking that she was about to record her show, Chen Shaoping decided not to tell her about the online incident.

"It's nothing, just Li Qian calling to question me about when I abducted her best friend."

"As soon as I heard that, I knew Xu Yali had spilled the beans. I was just looking for an excuse to teach her a lesson."

"What do you think?"

Chen Shaoping finished speaking and looked at Zhang Ying with a playful smile.

Zhang Ying immediately averted her gaze, not daring to meet his eyes, and chided, "Li Qian, what nonsense are you spouting? Who was abducted by you?"

"You're not allowed to trouble Yali."

"I'm going to record."

Just as she was about to leave, she immediately turned back, "If you're bored, go for a stroll. I estimate it will take about two hours for me to finish."

"Yes, sir!" Chen Shaoping stood at attention and replied loudly.

Zhang Ying chuckled and happily turned to leave.

Meanwhile.

In the CCTV office in Longguo.

Wu Tao furiously smashed his teacup, pen holder, and everything else onto the floor.

His heart was filled with immense anger.

How could it be that just as he took over the program, the contestants kept getting into trouble one after another?

The repercussions of Xu Kun's incident had just been dealt with, and now Young Master Ping had another problem.

If Young Master Ping got into trouble again, the show would definitely be canceled and directly removed by the station.

When Xu Kun had his incident, there were already many dissenting voices at the station, feeling that the program had brought a stain to CCTV's authority.

Ultimately, the program was preserved due to the persistence of Acting Station Director Zhou Xie and himself.

If Young Master Ping got into trouble again, this program would become a laughingstock, and he certainly wouldn't fare well either.

The program had awarded Young Master Ping a 4 million bonus.

After his anger, Wu Tao felt a chill down his spine, a wave of lingering fear, and regret.

Zhou Xie had just casually mentioned it, and he immediately agreed.

He thought he was taking over a desirable project from Cai Guoqiang, but it turned out to be a hot potato.

If he hadn't agreed then, it would be Cai Guoqiang dealing with the difficult situation now.

But no matter how much he thought about it, it was already too late.

What had happened had happened, and what needed to be resolved still needed to be resolved.

He took out his phone, preparing to call Chen Shaoping to clarify what was going on.

"Beep, beep, beep!"

Chen Shaoping saw that the caller was Wu Tao and knew exactly what it was about without even thinking.

"Chen Shaoping, what's going on? Is what's being said online true?"

"If you don't explain clearly, just wait for CCTV's compensation claims, prize money recovery, and blacklist."

Wu Tao suppressed his anger, his tone icy cold.

Chen Shaoping had been quite happy watching Zhang Ying chatting happily with the host on stage.

But as soon as the call connected, he heard Wu Tao's resentful threat, and his temper immediately flared up.

"Wu Tao, I don't know what's going on online, but I can tell you clearly that what's being said about me online is complete nonsense."

"Believe it or not, you can take whatever measures you want."

After speaking, he immediately hung up the phone, muttering a curse.

"Idiot, who spoiled you with such a bad temper? You can't even speak properly."

Wu Tao was so angry that he threw his phone.

What's going on?

What's going on?

A mere songwriter dared to speak to him, a chief director of CCTV, in such a manner.

It made him feel incredibly wronged.

Just then, the red landline on his desk rang.

Wu Tao knew who it was without even answering.

He rubbed his face, stiff from anger, with both hands, and put on a smiling face again.

"Director Zhou, do you have any instructions?"

"Okay, okay, I'll be right there."

Wu Tao hung up the phone and left the office with a sense of panic; he knew what awaited him.

In Zhou Xie's office, Cai Guoqiang was also present. Seeing the heated online discussion, he immediately sought out Acting Station Director Zhou Xie.

"Acting Station Director Zhou, I trust Young Master Ping's character. If he has agreed to something, he definitely won't go back on his word."

"Even if there isn't enough time, he wouldn't shirk his responsibility, much less directly deny it."

He hadn't known Chen Shaoping for long, but he greatly admired this young man in his heart.

How could someone who could write such timeless lines as "Drunk, unaware of the sky in the water, a boat full of clear dreams pressing down on the Milky Way" be someone who didn't value his reputation?

How could someone who, upon their very first meeting, considered an elder's health, be an untrustworthy person?

In his several meetings with Chen Shaoping, he saw that Chen Shaoping's eyes were clear, and he was sincere.

Zhou Xie listened to Cai Guoqiang's words, feeling a slight displeasure.

It wasn't because he chose to believe Chen Shaoping, but because Cai Guoqiang called him Acting Station Director Zhou.

This made him feel a bit harsh.

"Then your meaning is that Lu Han Studio is slandering Chen Shaoping using Lu Han's reputation and future, is that it?"

"Yes," Cai Guoqiang replied firmly, "and I've interacted with Young Master Ping. He acts with great method. If he truly agreed to a song request, he would definitely leave evidence."

"I've already found someone to authenticate whether those videos are synthesized or edited."

"I believe it won't be long before we have results."

"Knock, knock, knock!"

The knocking sound rang out, and Cai Guoqiang fell silent, not continuing to speak.

"Come in!"

Wu Tao walked in and saw Cai Guoqiang was also there, showing a hint of surprise and displeasure.

However, he quickly hid it.

Although 'the singer & songwriter' seemed to be ruined for now, he still didn't want Cai Guoqiang to interfere.

"Station Director, you called me!"

Zhou Xie looked at Wu Tao with a hint of disgust. If there really was no one else to use, he would never have promoted him.

"Chief Director Wu, you know about the online matter concerning Chen Shaoping, right? What should we do?"

Wu Tao had already guessed Zhou Xie would ask this on his way here, and had already thought of a countermeasure, now with a desperate resolve.

"Station Director, I think we can immediately demand compensation from Chen Shaoping and recover the prize money."

"This way, our losses can be minimized."

"We can even directly blacklist him."

Cai Guoqiang was anxious and shouted, "No, you can't handle it like that."

Wu Tao glanced at Cai Guoqiang contemptuously, "The Station Director asked me, why are you butting in?"

Cai Guoqiang was about to speak.

"Shut up!" Zhou Xie glared at him, directly telling him to be quiet.

"Chief Director, if you say so, what should we do with the program?"

At this moment, Wu Tao no longer had the nervousness he had when he first entered; instead, he had a hint of smugness.

"Station Director, I think we can postpone it for two weeks, which would give us enough time to re-select contestants."

"Or, or..."

He looked up at Zhou Xie, not daring to continue.

"Or what? I don't have that much time to waste with you here," Zhou Xie roared.

"Or directly suspend it permanently!"

"You're quite willing to give up," Zhou Xie's face darkened, but Wu Tao's suggestion of a delay was not a bad idea.

He glanced at Wu Tao and continued, "Didn't you consider that the compensation claim might fail?"

"Even if what's online is true, at most you can say Chen Shaoping is unpunctual, arrogant, and has a bad temper."

"With such labels, it's not even clear if it's enough to brand him as a tainted artist."

"…"