wavenovel Chapter 1511 is pretty good.
Chapter 1511 is pretty good.
Chapter 1511 is pretty good.
When Chi Kyung-won arrived at the scene, the production crew was already waiting there.
Following the staff through the brightly lit corridor, you can see busy staff members coming and going. Everyone is in a hurry, but they subconsciously slow down when they pass by him.
What effect do you want?
"Just be natural. Don't try to steal the spotlight."
In the waiting room, Chi Jingyuan sat in front of the dressing table, chatting with the stylist next to him... This was the stylist he had brought with him, someone he had worked with many times.
"OK!"
With a confident reply, Cody began skillfully styling Chi Jingyuan's hair, casually remarking, "But honestly, no matter what makeup you wear, Jingyuan, it's hard for you not to steal the spotlight."
"Ha ha……"
Chi Jingyuan chuckled softly, offering no rebuttal, but instead casually picked up the shooting schedule for the day that the staff had just handed him and began to flip through it.
Today is the first recording of "Produce 48". The task is very challenging. We have to record the entire first episode in one go and also complete half of the second episode.
The process is actually not complicated, with only two core parts: the mentors' introduction and the trainees' first evaluation.
The process was simple, but there were too many people. Even if the 96 trainees were divided into several groups and judged one by one, it would still take a long time.
Cody's movements were swift and meticulous, applying foundation, eye makeup, and lip makeup step by step. Meanwhile, Chi Jingyuan took advantage of the break to review the trainees' information again, highlighting a few names he had noticed before.
Once the makeup was finished and the styling was done, it was almost time. The main creators of the show, along with the other mentors, had all arrived and gathered in the adjacent lounge.
Chi Jingyuan got up, straightened his clothes, and walked towards the lounge. He pushed open the door and found it already full of people. Several mentors, including Pei Yunjing and Li Hongji, were already in place and greeted him with smiles when they saw him come in.
An Junying's gaze swept over the makeup of the mentors, and when it landed on Ji Jingyuan, he nodded in satisfaction upon seeing his makeup.
As the chief producer, he looked serious as he began his final pep talk before the broadcast, repeatedly emphasizing key points for recording.
"Teacher Pei Yunjing, your comments need to be sharp and hit the nail on the head."
"This is something I'm good at."
Pei Yunjing nodded confidently, her tone crisp.
Immediately afterward, Ahn Joon-young turned his gaze to Ji Kyung-won, his tone becoming more serious: "Kyung-won-ssi, you are mainly responsible for controlling the flow of the show. You are the representative of the national producers and the only popular idol among the mentors..."
"Ani-oh, PDnim, where did you put Hong-ki hyung?"
Chi Jingyuan quickly waved his hand, his tone somewhat teasing.
"Haha, compared to you, I don't deserve the word 'popular'."
Lee Hong-ki quickly waved his hand and laughed self-deprecatingly.
"Haha~"
His words made everyone present laugh, and the tense atmosphere instantly became much more relaxed.
"Honestly, Jingyuan, you are the most popular idol among the mentors. Your perspective is different from others. Your evaluation of the trainees, as well as your subsequent interactions and teaching, are all great highlights."
Ahn Joon-young smiled too, then stopped smiling and continued to give instructions.
Although many things had been discussed in previous production meetings, Ahn Joon-young was clearly still a bit uneasy about the first recording, repeatedly emphasizing:
“I watched the two episodes of Jingyuan’s ‘SIXTEEN’ on JYP’s show. Although they were short, they were very interesting and the online response was very positive after they aired.”
"So you don't need to have any concerns. Just do what you think is right. If you think someone is good, has a strong idol appeal, or is optimistic about someone, just say it directly. Even if what you say is inappropriate, it doesn't matter. It can be edited in post-production. Everything is for the sake of the show's effect."
"What if I accidentally insult one of the trainees who are being given special attention by the production team..."
Chi Jingyuan pursed his lips and asked deliberately.
"Then curse!"
Ahn Joon-young waved his hand and laughed heartily: "Maybe the more you criticize someone, the more popular that person will become~"
"Haha."
Everyone laughed again, and Chi Jingyuan's lips also curved into a smile.
Chi Kyung-won isn't particularly good at comedy; if you ask him to focus on being funny, the effect is usually mediocre. However, when he occasionally throws in a line while he's talking, it's surprisingly effective.
While he may not be the most comedic talent, Ji Kyung-won is always top-notch in terms of professionalism. When he gets serious, his focused charm and sharp commentary are captivating, and combined with his popularity and status, he undoubtedly becomes a core highlight of the show.
"Annyeonghaseyo~"
Just then, the door to the lounge was pushed open, and Jeon Somi and Kang Daniel walked in.
These two individuals, as the winners and center-position debutants of the previous two seasons of "Produce 101," made a special guest appearance at the invitation of the production team to cheer on the younger trainees.
Jeon Somi greeted everyone, and when she saw Ji Kyung-won, her eyes lit up instantly. She quickly walked over and said in a warm and affectionate tone, "Kyung-won oppa~"
She tilted her head slightly to look at Chi Jingyuan, her face full of admiration: "Aigoo, Oppa looks absolutely handsome today too."
Ji Kyung-won and Jeon So-mi didn't actually interact much, but every time they met, Jeon So-mi was exceptionally enthusiastic, as if they were very close friends.
Ji Kyung-won did not refuse, after all, there was some connection from Sixteen, and she had a good relationship with the members of Twice, especially Son Chae-young.
Chi Jingyuan responded with a smile, quickly glancing at her.
It must be said that Jeon Somi's appearance is indeed outstanding. When she participated in the first season of "Produce 101", she almost completely dominated the competition. Her strength and looks were impeccable.
Of course, given the nature of this year's "Produce 48," the "prestige" of the previous two seasons doesn't seem so justifiable.
However, it cannot be denied that Jeon Somi's talent is indeed outstanding; even among the 96 trainees in this cohort, she is definitely at the top level.
It's a shame they didn't debut with Twice back then.
Kang Daniel, standing to the side, kept a low profile and simply greeted him politely.
Chi Kyung-won looked at him, his gaze unconsciously becoming somewhat strange. ...He knew that Kang Daniel had been under a lot of pressure these past two days because of Park Ji-hyo's situation and had been reprimanded by the company.
However, it is not apparent on the surface at this time.
The two had just arrived and needed time for makeup and styling. An Junying checked the time and, without further delay, said to everyone, "We're ready. The final checks will begin on site. We'll start recording immediately."
"Let's go there first, and then we'll see the children last."
After saying that, he led the mentors, including Ji Jingyuan, Pei Yunjing, and Li Hongji, towards the backstage area for the trainees.
At this moment, all the trainees had come out of their respective waiting rooms and gathered in the backstage corridor.
Ninety-odd people were crammed together, plus their accompanying staff, making over a hundred people in total. The noise was deafening, with the sounds of voices mingling together. The air was filled with the mixed scents of hairspray, perfume, and shampoo, rich yet vibrant with youthful energy.
"...There are so many beautiful older sisters~"
In the crowd, Zhang Yuanying, taking advantage of her height and long legs, stood on tiptoe, looking left and right, her round eyes full of curiosity, and occasionally whispering a compliment.
After looking around, she stepped down and whispered in Ahn Yoo-jin's ear, "But they don't seem as pretty as us~"
"Shhh!!"
Ahn Yoo-jin was in a real bind. She quickly and nervously looked around, afraid that trainees from other companies would hear her. Then she gave Jang Won-young a helpless yet warning glare.
This child is so young, he's afraid of nothing.
Actually, Ahn Yoo-jin felt that there were quite a few good-looking people among this year's trainees. She had just seen a very pretty older sister.
He looks a bit like a senior from Twice.
The backstage area was still noisy, with everyone's face showing a mix of tension and trepidation, yet their eyes held anticipation for the stage and the recording, and longing for the future.
Just then, footsteps came from the end of the corridor.
It wasn't the sound of one person's footsteps, but that of a group of people, their steps steady and orderly, mixed with intermittent instructions from walkie-talkies and the humming of a few people talking in hushed tones, slowly approaching from afar.
The corridor door was pushed open, not with a loud bang, but very lightly and steadily, as if the homeowner were entering their own home, naturally and calmly.
The once noisy backstage area instantly quieted down, and everyone's attention was drawn to the entrance.
The first one to walk in was Ahn Joon-young, whom all the trainees knew; they were all familiar with him.
But everyone's gaze lingered on him for only a second before involuntarily falling on the person behind him.
Zhang Yuanying's eyes lit up instantly.
Her first reaction wasn't "So handsome," but a sudden, heart-stopping shock, as if time had been slowed down, and everything before her eyes unfolded like frames from a movie.
Ji Jingyuan walked two steps behind Ahn Joon-young, wearing a pure white round-neck T-shirt with the neckline just hitting his collarbone, the clean and neat lines making his neck appear even longer.
The black straight-leg pants fell neatly to just above the ankles, revealing a pair of pure white sneakers.
He walked steadily, step by step, without deliberately slowing down, yet each step seemed to tread on everyone's heartbeat.
His short hair was combed back in a neat and tidy manner, with a few wisps of hair left in front of his forehead, softening the sharpness of his eyebrows and eyes. The light shone down from above, falling on his face, highlighting his distinct features, high nose bridge, clear lip line, and even the curve of his jawline, which was as perfect as if it had been carefully sculpted.
Zhang Yuanying subconsciously held her breath.
It was just a simple and casual outfit, but it looked so good on him, making the otherwise simple clothes so eye-catching.
Even just standing there casually, they seem to exude an aura.
Her heart suddenly started pounding, fast and heavy, as if it were about to burst out of her chest. Even her breathing became rapid. Zhang Yuanying stood there, staring at him without blinking, forgetting to close her mouth.
A few seconds later, she finally came to her senses and wanted to remind Ahn Yoo-jin beside her, only to find that Ahn Yoo-jin was even more exaggerated than her...
This woman seemed to have forgotten where she was. Her mouth was wide open, her eyes were blank yet gleaming with a sharp light. She was frozen in place, staring unblinkingly at Chi Jingyuan in front of her, even her breath stopped. Her face was full of unbelievable fanaticism and infatuation.
"Unnie, shut your mouth."
Zhang Yuanying nudged her gently with her elbow, her voice extremely low.
Not only the two of them, but almost all the trainees backstage fell silent instantly, and all eyes were focused on Chi Jingyuan in front of them.
For most of the trainees present, Ji Kyung-won was a legend. Many of them even spent their adolescence listening to his and EXO's songs and their legends during their trainee period.
In addition, he has always been known for his visual impact, and most of the people present were very young girls. Seeing them up close in private was a shock that would leave many young girls speechless.
Longing, admiration, and amazement—all these emotions intertwined and surged within each trainee's heart. Many subconsciously felt that Chi Jingyuan seemed to radiate an inner light, and no matter how bright the surrounding lights were, they couldn't overshadow his brilliance.
Although Lee Hong-ki next to him had striking white hair and wore black-rimmed glasses to look cool, he was completely unnoticeable when standing next to Ji Kyung-won.
The once noisy backstage area fell completely silent, with only the soft breathing of the crowd and the occasional commands coming from the walkie-talkies in the distance.
Chi Jingyuan clearly felt countless gazes falling on him, but he still wore a gentle smile and remained calm.
Such occasions and gazes were too ordinary and too common for him.
Small fry!
"Before we start recording, I'd like to have one last meeting with you all on behalf of the mentors."
Ahn Joon-young stepped forward, raised his hand to signal everyone to be quiet, and said with a serious expression, "You've all met the other mentors before, so you should know who this is, right?"
He pointed to Chi Jingyuan next to him.
"Inside!"
Almost as soon as the words were spoken, all the trainees responded in unison, their voices loud and clear.
"Jingyuan is the national producer representative this time, and also serves as a mentor. As a top idol, his every word and action is a role model for all trainees aiming to debut..."
Ahn Joon-young praised Ji Kyung-won loudly, using somewhat exaggerated language, but the trainees below not only didn't think it was excessive, but actually agreed with it.
This is EXO, this is Yuan!
"Jingyuan, do you want to say a few words to the trainees?" Ahn Joon-young asked with a smile, feeling the heat below.
"Let's talk about it when we encounter something later."
Chi Jingyuan thought for a moment, then gently shook his head, his gaze slowly sweeping over all the trainees. His gaze was gentle, yet it carried a strange penetrating power, as if he could accurately meet the eyes of each and every one of them.
"But there's one thing I need to point out first..."
He looked away, paused, a faint smile playing on his lips, and shrugged: "I'm very strict~"
Despite his words, some of the girls below remained unperturbed.
It felt like Ji Kyung-won wasn't saying "I'm very strict," but rather "I'm very gentle."
"Jingyuan is very strict, all the mentors are very strict~"
Following his words, Ahn Joon-young's expression turned serious again as he gave his final pep talk.
"For the upcoming recording, I hope everyone will work hard and stay focused, showcasing all the results of your practice over the past few days without reservation, and demonstrating your best side, understand?"
"Inside!"
Another resounding and harmonious response followed.
"very good."
Ahn Joon-young nodded in satisfaction, picked up the walkie-talkie and instructed, "Get ready, filming will officially begin in twenty minutes!"
After saying that, he led the mentors, including Chi Jingyuan and Pei Yunjing, and walked towards the studio.
As soon as the mentors disappeared at the end of the corridor, the once quiet backstage erupted into chaos as the trainees huddled together, whispering among themselves.
This was the first official appearance of Ji Kyung-won since he participated in the program, and the shock of being up close still lingers in everyone's hearts.
"Omo, Yuan sunbaenim is so much more handsome in person than on camera!"
"Yes, yes, her voice is so pleasant to hear, so gentle and approachable, without any airs."
"He just said he's very strict, but I feel happy and even a little excited to be strictly guided by him!"
"Me too, me too! I'm willing to be criticized by him!"
Amidst the murmurs, Jang Won-young leaned closer to Ahn Yoo-jin, lowered her voice, and said with a tone full of amazement and conviction, "Unnie, she really does look better than the oppa from MONSTA X."
Ahn Yoo-jin looked proud and raised her chin triumphantly: "I told you before, I wasn't exaggerating."
Zhang Yuanying blinked, then suddenly leaned closer, her eyes filled with doubt, and whispered, "But he seems much more handsome in person than in your photos... The group photo you showed me before, could it not be Yuan oppa?"
…………
The trainees prepared to appear in the backstage area in a pre-arranged order, while the mentors watched the trainees' performances in the front-stage studio from a separate waiting room via monitors.
The studio was now set up, with the opening of the U-shaped stage arranged in an arc. The positions of the chairs had been precisely measured, and the distance between each chair was equal.
More than a hundred seats rose up like terraced fields. The seats were already numbered, from 1 to 96, each number corresponding to a trainee. The seat in the very center of the first row was reserved for the final chosen center.
The introduction segment mainly involved the trainees being grouped by company, taking turns on stage, and then each person choosing a position.
Choose whatever you like, there are no restrictions.
However, there are some tricks to it.
Normally, as long as you don't choose number one, the other positions are pretty much the same. Of course, the higher you go, the more camera shots you might get.
Choosing one person will definitely give them the most screen time, but it will also raise the audience's threshold and judging standards. Unless their strength and appearance are truly a cut above the rest, it will be a losing proposition.
This is a talent show that lasts for several months, so winning first doesn't mean you've won.
Soon, everything was ready, the mentors were seated in the room, and the front team received a notification that the recording had officially begun.
"Group one, Yuehua Entertainment..."
Hearing the director's voice, Chi Jingyuan looked up from the documents in his hand.
When he saw the three trainees walking out of the screen, his eyebrows immediately twitched slightly.
"These three... are all quite good."