62: That's it? Heizi's fighting power is too weak, right? A bunch of trash

After the four people and Tian Gangwu greeted the camera, the production team ended the live broadcast.

The production team stipulated that voting would close at 7 PM, and the bonfire party would start at 7:30 PM. This was clearly meant to stir things up, making the audience anticipate their four reactions to the vote results.

Chen Fang didn't care about the voting.

Firstly, his most important tasks at the moment were regaining popularity and the new company interview. Being selected first would actually reduce the flexibility of his schedule.

Secondly, the voting system was for eliminating people, but this was to ensure one person advanced to the second season. The first place advancing didn't mean that others couldn't.

In reality, it was still up to the production team. They would keep the celebrity with the highest fan loyalty, and then pick a few others to enter.

The other three also seemed quite relaxed, walking with him towards the dining hall.

However, Chen Fang noticed out of the corner of his eye that Comrade Little Xie occasionally touched the phone in his pocket, seemingly wanting to look but feeling too embarrassed.

Comrade Little Xie always felt that every stage of life, every competition, was crucial. Audition rankings were crucial, music charts were crucial, and vote counts were crucial.

He could be described as a frustrated and conflicted 'key person'.

It felt so exhausting.

Fortunately, he was a 'jerk', not a 'key person'.

…

Damn it, he was also a 'key person'.

In the afternoon, Chen Fang was typing on the keyboard, utterly dispirited.

The immersion was complete; he truly felt like a tragic novelist. But there were benefits too; he would definitely not forget the plot during interviews.

The sun gradually set in the west, disappearing below the horizon.

At 7 PM, two areas had already been set up at the village entrance—a simple stage area to the east, and the bonfire area with audience seating to the west.

Tonight, before their conversation with the children, they were to play interactive games and perform shows here. The guests would demonstrate local artistic performances like the Hand-Waving Dance they had learned during this period, and the villagers would perform mountain folk songs. The main purpose was to showcase local culture to the audience outside the mountains.

Chen Fang walked to a small round table not far behind the camera and sat down; the other three were already there. He wasn't sure if it was his imagination, but he felt Xie Yunxuan's expression wasn't very good.

As soon as he sat down, Director Liu walked over with a tablet, standing beside them, "The online voting results just came out. I'll tell you the results. Maybe you've already seen them."

Pan Pengpeng shook the grasshopper in his hand, "Not yet, Director Liu, what's the result?"

"Teacher Zhao is the highest, with 82,000 votes."

Zhao Jin's eyes lit up, then she smiled shyly, "Eh? Maybe it's because I'm the only girl?"

"Because you filmed even with a sprained ankle, your public appeal is better."

Director Liu looked at Zhao Jin and praised her.

This was true; some celebrities her age would scream for help if they just cut a finger, afraid the doctor would arrive too late and their wound would already heal. But she, unable to do farm work with the other three in the early stages of her sprained ankle, simply opened a separate live stream to learn local crafts like basket weaving. She barely caused any trouble for the production team, which made her public appeal very high.

Director Liu looked at the tablet in his hand, "Next is Teacher Xie, with 74,000 votes."

Xie Yunxuan smiled glumly. Damn it, why didn't he sprain his ankle!

"Third is Pan Laoshi, with 55,000."

Pan Pengpeng exclaimed, "Fifty-five thousand?"

He had fans, but their loyalty wasn't high, so he hadn't expected to get over fifty thousand votes.

Pan Pengpeng was a bit excited, almost laughing out loud. But thinking that Chen Fang might be feeling down, he forcibly suppressed the corners of his mouth.

Director Liu hummed, then continued to read, "Fourth is Teacher Chen, with 45,000."

"That many?"

Chen Fang felt a little sad.

Last night, his friends and family were concerned about him, thinking he was being blacklisted by the entire internet.

Is that all?

He was still hoping for fan remorse, so how did he still get 45,000 votes?

The trolls were too weak. A bunch of useless people.

Director Liu saw that he was a bit sad, thinking he was upset about being fourth, and turned off the tablet screen, "All teachers, please rest first, we'll go live at 7:30 PM." After speaking, he looked at Chen Fang, "Teacher Chen, could you please come with me for a moment."

Director Liu led Chen Fang aside, "You don't need to care too much about this number. This isn't your fault; it's mainly because the bullet comments about you really ruined public appeal. People might like you, but they don't like the bullet comments targeting you."

"Director, I'm not sad, you don't need to be so polite." Chen Fang smiled.

Director Liu nodded and instructed, "Be prepared for the clarification segment, but try to speak as little as possible before then, okay?"

Chen Fang frowned slightly, "Director, people's prejudices are like a great mountain; don't believe rumors. Actually, I'm a very warm person."

Director Liu scoffed, saying sarcastically, "Young people must endure more hardship, so they can get used to hardship when they're old~ Who said that?"

Chen Fang couldn't refute and could only silently lament: You, Guo Congxin, with your thick eyebrows and big eyes, actually betrayed the organization!

Director Liu sighed, "It's fine to say such things to adults; everyone can empathize and vent emotions. But don't say it to children. Normally, I don't control you, but for this last night, let me have a smooth landing, okay?"

"Don't worry." Chen Fang agreed.

Speaking less was good too, since he sometimes did have a loose tongue.

But since Director Liu said it was fine to say such things to adults, then... if he didn't exploit him, who would he exploit!

Director Liu, holding the tablet under his arm, patted his shoulder, "You just need to be handsome, okay?"

Chen Fang sighed, nodding somewhat dejectedly, and murmured, "What's the use of talent? My diploma is going to gather dust."

Director Liu's movement forward paused. Had the online criticism affected him, and had his words hurt him again?

[Director Liu negative emotion value + 23]

"What's wrong with you?"

Chen Fang shrugged, smiling bitterly, "After studying for four years, I still have to rely on my looks to make a living."

[Director Liu negative emotion value + 166]

Director Liu closed his eyes, took a deep breath, then opened them and gritted his teeth, "Then wear a mask!" Is he being humblebragging? Then don't show your face. Just say he has a cold and wear a mask. Anyway, Morning Sunshine only requires him to wear clothes for display.

Chen Fang sighed, "It's not that bad, is it?"

"Why isn't it that bad?"

"Although I look a bit puffy on camera, it shouldn't make the audience feel inferior."

[Director Liu negative emotion value + 233]

"..." Director Liu pursed his lips, narrowing his eyes at him.

Who dares let you speak? Shut up, you living ancestor.

Time passed by minute by minute.

The production team hastily prepared for this final live broadcast, and the villagers and audience also arrived one after another.

Everyone wore colorful ethnic costumes, sitting around the bonfire pit made of stones, their faces filled with simple smiles. Five children weaved through the crowd, curiously observing the four people.

At 7:30 PM, the program officially began its live broadcast. After He Xing said a few welcoming words to the camera,

The village chief, holding a torch, waved it over the bonfire pit, and flames shot up, the crackling sound of burning wood igniting the atmosphere both on-site and in the live stream.

After the opening remarks, interactive games and program performances alternated.

The popularity of the live stream also gradually climbed.

[It feels like spending a weekend in the mountains, so peaceful.]

[I'm watching it at home with the lights off, cast to my TV. It feels like leaving the bustling city, so healing. City alleys, gathering together is the warmth of life, spreading out is the human world.]

[Being in the muddy place, watching the mountains full of blooming flowers.]

[Isn't the production team going to ask the four of them about their thoughts on the vote count?]

[Why are there no more Chen Fang anti-fans today?]

[They must have controlled the comments, right? I can only say, good control! I just want to watch a show that's detached from real life.]

[Yes, yes, good control. Just watch the show honestly. So peaceful and healing.]

Not only the audience in the live stream, but also the villagers watching below gradually relaxed, watching the show while occasionally participating in interactive games like the bamboo pole dance.