wavenovel Chapter 31 Treatment of People with Connections
Chapter 31 Treatment of People with Connections
Jiangcheng TV Station is located on Jiefang Avenue, a main thoroughfare in the city center. Xie Anran had spent many years in this area in his previous life, passing by it every day, but he had never paid any attention to this impressive TV station building. Although it looked familiar, this was actually the first time he had set foot inside the building.
Xie Anran, her little hand tightly held by Qianqian, followed Liu Xiaoli and Zhang Yun, walking quickly forward. Leading the way was Xiao Cai, sent by the public relations department of Crystal Records. In her early twenties, she spoke very quickly, with a cheerful Tianjin accent, and was efficient and capable in her work.
"Ladies, this way please! The TV station has reserved a private dressing room for us."
The group didn't head straight to the studio; instead, they went to the private rest area first. The main competition for this children's star competition lasted for almost half a month. The production of variety shows in that era was far less standardized and sophisticated than in later years. To put it bluntly, it was just setting up a public performance platform, relying entirely on the organizers' subjective selection to keep the most entertaining and popular contestants to advance. Essentially, it was a makeshift operation, where personal connections and resources were everything.
Stepping into the lounge, one is struck by its exceptionally complete furnishings. Spacious leather sofas and solid wood coffee tables are neatly arranged, while several professional vanity tables stand against the walls. The coffee tables are laden with a variety of drinks and snacks, a truly thoughtful arrangement. Such amenities might seem insignificant years from now, but in this day and age, they represent top-tier, high-end treatment.
"Sister Liu, you two rest here and wait. I'll go to the studio to coordinate the process. The makeup artist will come over shortly to do the makeup and styling for the two children." After giving a brief explanation, Xiao Cai turned and left in a hurry.
Zhang Yun and Liu Xiaoli chatted leisurely with relaxed expressions. Before coming, they thought the competition process would be complicated and troublesome, but they didn't expect it to be so smooth and worry-free. Crystal Records had already arranged all the trivial matters clearly, so they didn't have to worry about anything.
Xie Anran looked around the lounge, her gaze sweeping across the room, but she couldn't see the restroom. So she casually called out, "I'm going to the restroom."
"Okay, go and come back quickly, don't wander off." Zhang Yun subconsciously responded and gave the instructions.
Xie Anran nodded in agreement and was about to step out when he suddenly felt someone tightly tugging at the hem of his clothes. He turned around and saw that it was indeed Qianqian holding his hand earnestly, refusing to let go.
"I'll go with you." Sisi's face was tense, and her attitude was exceptionally firm.
"I went to the men's restroom, why did you follow me?" Xie Anran explained helplessly, both amused and exasperated.
"I want to watch over you and take care of you," Sisi said stubbornly, refusing to let go.
Xie Anran was speechless for a moment, completely losing his temper, and could only helplessly reach out his hand. Qianqian immediately smiled and happily took his hand tightly. The two walked out of the lounge together and into the corridor.
Xie Anran looked around before belatedly realizing that he had no idea where the restroom was. With no other option, he had to ask someone for directions.
"Uncle, excuse me, where is the restroom?" Xie Anran politely asked a middle-aged staff member who was walking briskly.
"It's just around the corner, next to the dressing room." The person pointed in a direction casually, then hurried away. Xie Anran didn't even have a chance to thank him, so she could only click her tongue and lead Qianqian in the direction he had indicated.
Reaching the dressing room, the scene before me was truly spectacular. A dense throng of children and their parents were crammed together, queuing to get their hair and makeup done. Several children were wailing loudly for some unknown reason, their cries deafening, while parents scolded and tried to comfort them. The entire area was chaotic and noisy, making one's scalp tingle. Without a doubt, these were all ordinary contestants without any connections, having registered solely on their own merits.
"Wow, so many people!" Sisi didn't realize the significance of the crowd; she was simply surprised by the lively atmosphere.
Xie Anran didn't have time to look around. She quickly finished in the restroom and immediately pulled Qianqian back to the lounge, not wanting to get involved in the chaos there.
An hour later, after completing their elaborate makeup and styling, the two headed to the studio under the guidance of staff. The scene there was even more chaotic than Xie Anran had anticipated. Various electrical wires and cables were tangled and randomly placed offstage, while the stage itself was spotless and tidy, creating a striking contrast.
"Director Zeng, these two are Xie Anran and Qianqian from our company." Xiao Cai led a few people to a short-haired middle-aged female manager and introduced them with a smile.
Director Zeng adjusted his glasses, carefully looked the two children up and down, and nodded with a smile, commenting, "These must be the child singers your company is promoting, right? They do have a good appearance and temperament."
"Director Zeng, could you please take good care of Xie Anran? She's frail and can't handle any more stress. Could you schedule their recording first? That way, we can let the kids go home and rest earlier after they're done." Xiao Cai lowered her voice and spoke politely in private.
Director Zeng paused for a moment, then nodded calmly in agreement: "No problem, it's a piece of cake. It'll be your turn in ten minutes, just let the two kids get ready in advance."
"Thank you for your care, Director Zeng." Xiao Cai thanked them with a smile, then led the two backstage and instructed them, "When your names are called over the loudspeaker, just go on stage as usual and perform according to the rhythm of your rehearsals. Don't be nervous."
"Okay, I understand." Xie Anran nodded gently. Only now did he truly appreciate the resources and strength of Crystal Records. A private dressing room, priority in recording order, and exceptionally polite and attentive staff—everything about it screamed: connections.
Liu Xiaoli and Zhang Yun remained calm about this. Having been accustomed to the rules of the industry, they were used to it. It was perfectly normal for those with resources and connections to enjoy some preferential treatment.
Backstage, many ordinary contestants were still waiting. Seeing Xie Anran and Qianqian receiving special treatment and having such different styles, their expressions became subtle. Many parents approached Liu Xiaoli and Zhang Yun, trying to strike up a conversation and promote their own children, hoping to build a connection. Liu Xiaoli and Zhang Yun responded politely, their attitude gentle but with a noticeable distance. Sensing the awkwardness, the other parties wisely stopped pursuing them and quietly walked away.
Xie Anran could clearly feel the gazes cast upon him by those around him, filled with envy, apprehension, and a touch of aloofness—exactly the same way people looked at someone with connections during his job interviews in his previous life.
I could vaguely hear a few whispered words.
"He was directly promoted to the main competition; it's obvious he has a company backing him up."
"We amateurs who came here to compete are no match for the regular army."
"That young man just went straight to the director to say hello; he's definitely someone with connections."
Xie Anran's lips twitched slightly, her heart filled with mixed feelings. She never imagined that one day she would become someone else's "backdoor" candidate, a feeling that was both strange and novel.