Chapter 3: Entering the Major Corporation for the First Time

As the first large-scale boy group survival show in the country, "Idol Producer" had garnered significant attention even before its premiere. All eyes were fixed on Lang City, the filming location for the program.

The production team had spent months and invested substantial resources to construct an ultra-large studio capable of accommodating hundreds of people for simultaneous recording. Gu Jingyi arrived at the location in a car arranged by his agency and followed the staff's guidance to the set.

Stepping into the "Big Factory," beyond the central filming hall, the production team had set up supporting facilities: meeting rooms, waiting rooms, and dressing rooms. After arriving, the one hundred trainees were directed to store their luggage in designated compartments before being ushered into various waiting rooms for individual interviews with the production staff.

As the lead actor of a newly popular drama, Gu Jingyi was the most anticipated contestant on the show. Upon his arrival, he was immediately led by a scriptwriter to a private recording room for his interview. The room was spacious, and the soft touch of the leather sofa he sat upon was a testament to the high regard the production team held for him. Looking up, he saw three cameras aimed at him, yet the area remained devoid of any staff members.

Just as a flicker of confusion crossed his mind, a "click" sounded from the door. His attention was immediately drawn to the movement; it was the scriptwriter, holding a set of interview cards. He instinctively stood up, greeting her with a standard, professional smile.

From the moment they entered the filming site, everyone was surrounded by countless cameras. Contestants were tagged with labels, and a single careless gesture could be interpreted in countless ways unfavorable to the contestant if the production team chose to stir up drama. Having experienced survival shows in South Korea, Gu Jingyi understood this dynamic well. Determined to succeed this time, he was careful not to provide the production team with any grounds for criticism.

Flustered by the gentle and polite demeanor of such a popular, trending star, the scriptwriter felt her cheeks heat up. Only those who had seen Gu Jingyi in person could truly appreciate how remarkably striking he was. At nineteen, the young man was already tall, with broad shoulders and long legs. His features were clear and refined, his eyes calm and lucid. He possessed a youthful yet mature elegance that made one’s gaze linger. His appearance was intensely captivating, yet his long, delicate eyelashes lent him an air of gentleness.

"With such a top-tier face, completely free of any artifice, he could easily capture hearts just by standing there, even if he did nothing at all." Having worked on top-tier variety shows for years, the scriptwriter formed this assessment after only one glance. Because of this favorable impression, she automatically skipped the more pointed questions on her script, opting for milder inquiries instead.

"Jingyi, did you know much about our program before coming here?"

Hearing that she hadn't touched on the sensitive "dropout" keyword, Gu Jingyi made eye contact with the scriptwriter. Behind her black-rimmed glasses, her somewhat plain face offered him an encouraging smile. Feeling her kindness, Gu Jingyi smiled politely and offered a sincere compliment on camera.

"Then, when it comes to choosing your seat, how will you choose?" the scriptwriter asked, following the prompt.

"Number five," Gu Jingyi replied without hesitation.

"Oh?" The unexpected answer surprised the scriptwriter.

"Is something wrong?"

"Nothing, I’m just curious. As someone who generated such high engagement in overseas survival shows, why did you choose such a mediocre number?"

In these shows, seat numbers were tied to rankings. The numbers 1–100 corresponded to the total votes received from viewers. Among one hundred trainees, there were only nine debut spots. While "5" was technically within the debut range, it was a modest choice for someone of his stature. In his previous overseas show, Gu Jingyi had gained a massive following after his first public performance, earning seventeen new fan sites overnight. His ranking had climbed from seventh in the first episode to third after the first performance, and by the second, he had reached first place—a miracle for a foreign contestant in the "Produce" series. After the third performance, his ranking had widened the gap significantly from the second-place contestant. For such a "great demon king" to choose seat number five was, frankly, terrifyingly low.

"Well... because five is my lucky number," the young man replied, looking slightly embarrassed. His eyes shimmered with a watery light, and when he looked up at the camera, his expression was incredibly tender. The cameraman behind the lens excitedly captured a close-up, sensing that this would become one of the show's classic moments.

After the routine interview, the scriptwriter handed Gu Jingyi a form and left. He looked down; it was the personal information form every contestant needed to fill out.

[Name]: Gu Jingyi
[Height]: 185cm
[Desired Position]: All-Rounder

On the question of positioning, Gu Jingyi firmly wrote "All-Rounder." Under the cool-toned lights, the young man on camera appeared cold and proud, like a blade freshly drawn from its scabbard, dazzling to behold. The cameraman was surprised; no other trainee had dared to claim "All-Rounder" so far. It implied mastery in singing, dancing, rapping, and even songwriting. In the highly competitive Korean trainee culture, being an "All-Rounder" was synonymous with being an "ACE."

He took a long look at Gu Jingyi. During the document review process, the production team had already watched highlights of his overseas performances. Back then, while his vocal talent was outstanding, the show had pushed him toward a "Main Dancer" role. The cameraman hoped that this time, his strength would match his ambition.

After finishing the form, Gu Jingyi left the room. Time was tight; he still had to complete the "seat selection," the "one-minute self-introduction," and the "initial stage" recording. These procedures were similar to his previous experiences, with one key difference: in the "Produce 202" show, having just terminated his contract with YG, he had participated as an "independent trainee." His initial stage performance had been edited down to a mere dozen seconds, and the mentors hadn't even given him a chance for a re-evaluation.

In major survival shows, screen time was expensive, and initial stage performances were a luxury reserved for popular contestants or "royalty." As an unknown trainee with no background, he had been handed a "sacrificial script." Despite tearing that script to shreds with his talent, he had ultimately fallen victim to the reality of rigged voting.

That "number five" ranking on the finale night had remained a thorn in his heart. Now, reborn, Gu Jingyi chose the fifth seat, finally confronting his inner wounds and allowing the sunlight to dispel the gloom.

"Idol Producer" placed great importance on Gu Jingyi, giving him a full five minutes for his rehearsal. With his past experience in an Asian top-tier boy group, he performed flawlessly, completing the rehearsal in one take. His outstanding performance put immense psychological pressure on the other trainees. Their gazes were a mix of awe, envy, and curiosity.

Gu Jingyi ignored their stares as he walked off stage toward the waiting room.

"Jingyi ge!" A youthful voice called out. Justin, dressed in a suit, greeted him enthusiastically. Gu Jingyi looked over to see the Yuehua group, all wearing matching black suits and leather shoes. They looked like stars, especially with two familiar faces among them. He walked over, high-fived Huang Minghao, and bumped fists with Zhu Zhengting.

Some trainees began to whisper. Gu Jingyi could vaguely hear their complaints about him and Justin’s group.

"Can't they ban contestants with overseas experience? It's so unfair..."
"Exactly, it’s like an open-book exam for them!"
"Actually, the Yuehua guys are okay, but Gu Jingyi... he's already a pro artist. It’s not really right for someone who has already debuted to come to a survival show..."

Gu Jingyi remained expressionless. After the greetings, he sat in the waiting room to wait for his entry, though as he left, he glanced at the person who had been complaining the loudest. The man was about 1.9 meters tall and looked aggressive. A name tag was stuck to his outfit: [Kunyin Entertainment: Bu Fan].

Gu Jingyi remembered him; his ranking had hovered at the edge of the debut line before he was eliminated, and shortly after, a scandal had erupted, ruining his reputation. Since there would be no chance of contact after the show, Gu Jingyi didn't intend to bother with him; in his eyes, Bu Fan was already a grasshopper at the end of autumn.

Cai Xukun watched Gu Jingyi, who had effortlessly become the center of attention, with eyes full of envy. He, too, wanted to be the focal point wherever he went, just like Gu Jingyi.

Gu Jingyi, unaware of his thoughts, closed his eyes to conserve his energy. Before long, the management knocked on the door to signal that the "entry and seat selection" was about to begin. Gu Jingyi opened his eyes, a flash of excitement crossing them. This show, which would reshape the landscape of the domestic idol industry, was about to begin. The difference was that this time, he was a player in the game.