Chapter 44: Program Premiere (Part Two)

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Whether in terms of texture or the rendering of the atmosphere, this opening left a deep impression on the audience, and the bullet comments began to surge.

[Even though I know talent shows are essentially a game of capital, I still got goosebumps...]
[Ah, seeing Gu Jingyi say that dream has awakened made my nose sore all of a sudden. I suddenly understand why he came here; this is his dream after all!]

The show quickly got on track, beginning with the initial seat-selection segment.

[It's my favorite segment again. I wonder how many industry-backed favorites there are this season.]
[Seat selection? So excited, I wonder if Jingyi will choose the number 1 seat.]
[What? Song Shuijue actually sat down in the number 1 seat.]

Seeing an unknown trainee sit on the number 1 throne, the fandoms of various popular contestants started to feel restless.

[This year's biggest industry-backed favorite has taken his place. Let's see if he can handle the hype.]

When the number 1 seat was taken, there was a close-up shot lasting several seconds, along with extra exposure in the early stages.

For a trainee from a small agency, this was indeed the fastest way to leave an impression in the viewers' minds.

Even notorious fame is fame, after all.

Viewers could tell at a glance that the broadcast order had been edited.

In several reaction shots of trainees off-stage, contestants who had already taken their seats were shown standing below again.

However, this did not affect their viewing experience. One hundred young male trainees appeared on camera, with flashes of handsome faces passing by, and the bullet comments discussed them with great relish.

Whenever a handsome guy appeared, the bullet comments spiked instantly.

When Cai Xukun and the Yuehua Seven appeared, the show's atmosphere reached a small peak. Massive blocks of bullet comments scrolled past, all enthusiastically cheering them on.

The trainees who appeared after them failed to hold the audience's interest.

[This is a bit boring. When is Gu Jingyi coming out? Don't tell me they're holding his footage until the very end? That would be way too long!]

As if the production team was responding from afar, right as this bullet comment was posted, the trainees on screen all stood up simultaneously and looked toward the passage.

[Former YG Trainee]

As soon as the subtitles appeared, the bullet comments went wild.

[Ahhhhh, it's Gu Jingyi!]
[Among all the trainees on the show, Gu Jingyi is the only one who trained at YG, right?]

The bullet comments excitedly flooded the screen, eagerly waiting for that figure to appear.

The subtitles dissolved into specks of light, quickly gathering again to form: [Hua Ce Trainee]

The next second, a handsome and straight figure stepped out from the passage.

He attached his name tag to his waist and walked out with an imposing and spirited demeanor.

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The production team knew very well what the audience wanted to see, giving Gu Jingyi an ultra-clear close-up shot that transitioned from a full-body distant view to a slow focus on his facial features.

The camera lingered on his face for a full three seconds. Under such a face-to-face close-up, any flaws of an artist would be infinitely magnified.

Yet Gu Jingyi effortlessly handled the camera. Under countless incandescent lights, his brows and eyes were sharp, clear, and exquisite, so stunning he looked as though the male lead of a youth drama had stepped right out of a two-dimensional screen.

A simple shirt layered with a black cardigan made Gu Jingyi look even more youthful. His shirt sleeves were rolled up to his elbows. The collision of the black cardigan and the light-colored shirt accentuated the increasingly clear muscle lines of his exposed forearms.

He raised his eyes slightly to look toward the tiered seating above, a gentle smile vaguely visible in the depths of his gaze.

[Ah, I finally understand what the editor meant during the interview for "A Love So Beautiful" when they said it wasn't the show that made Gu Jingyi, but Gu Jingyi who chose the show. He is Jiang Chen himself; some people are walking idol dramas the moment they appear!]
[The cameraman cut that close-up brilliantly! Handsome guys deserve more face-to-face close-ups. It's gorgeous, I love watching it!]

This continuous, single-take shot transitioned from Gu Jingyi back to the trainees who had already taken their seats.

This reaction came at the most timely moment, and the viewers were very eager to know the trainees' reactions.

Seeing that Gu Jingyi had actually arrived, the trainees who had already taken their seats wore varied expressions.

In the Yuehua section, Fan Chengcheng tugged at Justin's sleeve, saying somewhat excitedly, "Justin, I just saw a super handsome guy."

Team leader Zhu Zhengting noticed his pathetic state and gave him a light rap on the head.

When Zhu Zhengting pulled his arm back, he exchanged a knowing smile with Justin.

[Hhh, Chengcheng, reel in that unpromising look of yours. Zhengzheng can't even bear to watch. Mind your facial management.]
[Ahhhhh, if I remember correctly, both Zhengzheng and Justin know Gu Jingyi, right? They both participated in "Produce 102".]
[To the one above, they definitely know each other. The best "Green Card Line" in the world, 202 girls are weeping.]

"Is this face genuinely real? His looks are too impactful. He's the type where even guys would think he's handsome!"
"He is so damn handsome. The moment Gu Jingyi appeared, I couldn't help but focus all my attention on him."
"Why did Gu Jingyi anticipate getting a 5? That doesn't match his strength at all."
"Phew, I feel like I can pack my bags and go home early."

The words spoken by other trainees on stage during the earlier filming were also fully edited into the show by the production team.

[Hhahهههه, normal reaction.]
[Totally normal. If I saw Gu Jingyi, my state would be even more exaggerated than theirs (shrugs).]

Among the crowd of trainees, however, Bu Fan's and Wang Ziyi's reactions upon seeing Gu Jingyi also caught the viewers' attention.

[Stop, sisters, pay attention. Rewind to 45 minutes and 27 seconds, look at the way Wang Ziyi and Bu Fan are looking at Xiaoyi. They're jealous, right? They couldn't even hide it on stage. What about off-stage then? I daren't imagine how many people with ulterior motives around Gu Jingyi are waiting for him to fall from the heights.]
[It's pure jealousy, jealousy written all over their faces.]

The bullet comments started scrolling frantically, and Gu Jingyi's fans began to grow restless.

[Sisters, everyone calm down. Discuss these things in private. Let's watch the show properly first and avoid bringing black karma to Xiaoyi.]

High-level fan leaders stepped in to speak, and the somewhat chaotic situation was finally brought under control.

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[Tch, Gu Jingyi's fans are really suffering from persecutory delusions.]

There were also some paid promoters intentionally stirring up trouble in the middle.

However, the overall situation was successfully contained.

On screen, Gu Jingyi began choosing his seat.

Song Shuijue, sitting in the number 1 seat, felt quite restless as he watched Gu Jingyi walk up the steps step by step.

He almost stood up to offer his seat to Gu Jingyi.

[I can feel Jingyi's aura of dominance, the psychological pressure hitting right in the face.]
[Hh, it's fine. Gu Jingyi will use his strength to take that seat back.]

The fans in the bullet comments derived secret pleasure from this; the idol they stanned was simply top-notch.

The production team also flashed highly suggestive subtitles:

[The number 1 seat is already occupied by a trainee; where will Gu Jingyi's choice lead him?]

In his backstage interview, Gu Jingyi's predicted grade—"I am standard A material"—was also edited into the episode by the production team.

Even on his trainee evaluation form, his targeted position as an "All-Rounder" was deliberately inserted by "Idol Producer" right here.

That confidence, which seemed like a mere statement of fact, attracted countless fans who worshipped strength.

[Of course Gu Jingyi is standard A material. He was a "Double A" in both initial and re-evaluations on "Produce". He is the "secret weapon" of South Korea's Big Three agencies, YG.]
[If another contestant said that: "Unexplained delusion of superiority." When Gu Jingyi says it: "A handsome guy just being his true self!"]
[Gu Jingyi was the initial center and will be the final center!]
[Will Xiaoyi really choose the number one seat?]

The viewers were all feeling anxious, dying to see the result quickly.

"Idol Producer" deliberately acted mischievous, cutting to a commercial break before returning.

After cursing the production team from top to bottom, the viewers honestly continued watching.

To everyone's surprise, Gu Jingyi did not choose the number 1 seat.

He cast a cool glance at Song Shuijue and walked straight toward the number 5 seat.

The next second, the camera cut to Cai Xukun sitting in the number 6 seat, who stared dazedly at Gu Jingyi walking toward him step by step.

"Hello, Cai Xukun."

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