538: Chapter 538 The Counterattack Begins

Lin Chuyan certainly knew about the "Singer" program mentioned by Wu Yue.

This show began airing during the later stages of his concert tour. This year, it adopted a live broadcast format with all participants singing live. Once released, it became a massive hit across the internet. Every week on the day it aired, it could easily secure over a dozen trending topics, making it a major blockbuster program at the end of the year.

In Wu Yue's view, this was clearly a case of following the example set by Director Yu of the Spring Festival Gala last year, who had used live singing as a gimmick.

But regardless of the motives behind it, live singing by the Singers was undoubtedly a good thing for the audience. As it stands now, netizens are very supportive of such live singing programs.

However, the happiness didn't last long before problems arose:

After the first episode, the Singing Ability of the domestic Singers was basically crushed by the foreign Singers.

By the end of the second episode, netizens were already scouring the entire Chinese Music Industry for reinforcements.

"Damn it, why is the Singing Ability of these foreign Singers so fierce? Is there no one in the Chinese Music Industry who can take them on? Someone come out! Can someone with stable live performance skills please step up? If this is the true level of the Chinese Music Industry, how much pitch correction must have been used on the live performances of Singers we usually hear?"

The question was, who to call upon? While complaining, netizens were also offering suggestions to the production team.

Ruan Xingyu? She was the champion from the previous season; it was impossible for her to come and join this commotion.

Soon, Lin Chuyan entered the netizens' field of vision.

The concert video of Yanzi at the time was circulating all over the internet, and his live performance ability was obvious to all; how could he not be noticed?

For a time, the calls for Lin Chuyan to participate in "Singer" became deafening. Netizens even spontaneously arranged trending topics for him, and even planned out the songs he should perform—in short, start with "boundless oceans, vast skies" first!

"So, do you want to go? If you want to go, I will arrange it immediately; the production team would definitely be begging for it."

Wu Yue still hoped Lin Chuyan could go, not out of the idea of "rescuing the situation" at the netizens' request, but because he had been keeping a close eye on the domestic variety show market. The success of the Mid-Autumn Festival Gala made him realize that using a national-level variety show for event marketing was an excellent opportunity to open up the sinking market for "la la land". [Note: See Chapter 495 for details]

Lin Chuyan nodded slightly: "With rumors flying everywhere outside right now, the production team must want me to go even more, right?"

Wu Yue couldn't help but laugh upon hearing this: "That's right. A controversial figure going directly to set the stage on fire—the traffic would be unbeatable."

Ruan Xingyu also found it funny: "The two hottest topics on the internet right now are your scandals and the "Singer" program. If these two were combined... I mean, if netizens were scolding you while watching you save the day on the show, winning back face for the Chinese Music Industry, the scene... just thinking about it is interesting. I wonder what they will feel at that time?"

Ruan Xingyu had recorded several albums with Lin Chuyan and had followed him to dozens of concerts, so she knew Lin Chuyan's Singing Ability like the back of her hand. In her heart, Lin Chuyan was a monster of tone and a freak of pitch accuracy; his live performances were even more shocking than the studio versions.

Lin Chuyan also felt this was quite interesting, but he had his own considerations: "I'm going to Venice next month, so I really can't spare too much time for the show. I can go, but two conditions must be met."

"Go ahead." Wu Yue was listening.

"First, I won't be a regular; I'll sing at most one or two songs."

"Fine, I'll communicate with the production team and have them study the competition format. Our goal is to blow the roof off the place, and then withdraw. This show is a double-edged sword; if you sing poorly, you'll be scolded to death, but if you sing well, you can successfully turn public opinion around. I believe in you."

"Second, I will decide what to sing; I only sing my own songs. No matter how many I sing, this point will not change."

"No problem. If the production team has any objections, let them figure it out themselves." Wu Yue's curiosity was piqued. "Are you not planning to sing "boundless oceans, vast skies"?"

"We'll see. Maybe I'll sing a new song."

Lin Chuyan calculated in his heart, planning to find time to open a few treasure chests; perhaps he could get a satisfactory new song.

Xia Zhi added from the side: "I've been following this show; it should be fine. The first song a Singer performs is always their own."

Seeing that Lin Chuyan had no other requests, Wu Yue added: "Then let me make one more request: your appearance fee must be the highest among all the Singers. Not a single cent of the money you deserve should be missing; we can't let the production team get off cheaply."

Lin Chuyan gave a thumbs up: "As expected of you, Brother Yue."

And so, the matter was settled.

After the meeting ended, Lin Chuyan's team took swift action.

They first contacted the "drama" production team.

Director Yang and Shi Shilan both wanted to stand up and speak out for Lin Chuyan, but were stopped by Lin Chuyan.

Lin Chuyan chose Li Li, the production assistant who had picked him up and brought him onto the set in Hengdian back then.

Choosing Old Li was a carefully considered decision: first, Lin Chuyan knew him; second, Old Li had a Weibo account and would usually share some anecdotes from his work online.

As for what to have Old Li post? It was simple: just tell the truth. Yanzi had nothing to hide.

Soon, Old Li's Weibo was posted.

"[As a former production assistant for the "drama" crew, seeing the trending topics these past two days, I really can't help but speak up for Lin Chuyan. When Lin Chuyan came to audition for the role of Prince Xiao Ran, I was the one who went out to pick him up. He is a very polite young man, and my first impression of him was excellent! During his time in the crew, his performance confirmed my thoughts: hardworking, eager to learn, and talented. There were too many girls in the crew who liked him; they would group up every day to watch him and try to strike up a conversation with him. Who doesn't know that? He never paid attention to any of them, okay? He would just hold his script and read it every day. Also, even taking a step back, at that time he was still a nobody; saying he engaged in workplace bullying is simply absurd! Use your brains and think about it: if he really had the ability to engage in workplace bullying, would he still be playing the second male lead in "drama"? Don't just follow the crowd and be used as a tool by others! #Lin Chuyan Zhou Qi drama Conflict#]"

Old Li posted the Weibo without even a paragraph break, just saying whatever came to mind, and precisely because of that, it seemed even more credible.

This Weibo, which carried the topic and came from the hand of a staff member involved in the event, was quickly discovered by fans.

This was the first time someone had stood up to speak for Lin Chuyan since he started being smeared, and the fans were instantly excited.

"[The "drama" crew is loyal and righteous!]"

"[Thanks to the "drama" staff for speaking up for Lin Chuyan! Hard work, Brother Li!]"

"[Brother Li has made it very clear; anyone with a little bit of brains wouldn't believe those rumors. Even if there was a conflict, it's not certain who bullied whom!]"

"[My brother only has his wife in his heart; what kind of monster dares to come and try to frame him?]"

This was destined to be a restless day. Following the statement from the "drama" crew, the "the hovering blade" crew also joined in.

For the same reason, Su Su had too good a relationship with him, Producer Zhang Man still had collaborations with him, and his senior brother went without saying—Lin Chuyan suppressed them all and didn't let them speak.

In the end, he also found an ordinary staff member, and the content was much the same: all clarifying for Lin Chuyan.

From the "drama" crew to the "the hovering blade" crew, both crews related to this incident had people stand up to speak for Lin Chuyan, and the fans' hanging hearts were finally much more settled.

But this was only the first step.

Lin Chuyan's team was not satisfied with just defending; they began to plan a counterattack. Everyone agreed that there was another voice that urgently needed to be raised, and that was to define the nature of these rumors. Since Director Deng Yu could find people to smear Lin Chuyan, they could also guide netizens to point the finger of suspicion at Director Deng Yu.