Abstract Art Award Winner

PD Chen was behind the monitor, his mouth practically stretched to his ears in a wide grin.

That's perfect! Absolutely perfect!

That's exactly the kind of unvarnished, authentic clash we're looking for!
With this kind of start, it's going to be a hit!
In the living room, the air was so thick it felt like you could squeeze water out of it.

Zhang Han's words were like a wad of toilet paper thrown into an already turbulent pond, but instead of creating a splash, they only brought deathly silence.

Su Mang's interrupted attempt to smooth things over hung awkwardly in mid-air, unable to be retrieved or delivered.

Everyone's eyes, subconsciously or overtly, turned to GAI, who had just made no attempt to hide his smirk.

Compared to Zhang Han's cold, distant resistance, GAI's undisguised defiance and disdain, stemming from the streets, seems more explosive.

It also better fits the stereotypical expectations people have of a rapper.

GAI sensed these gazes, though he hadn't intended to hide them anyway.

Zhou Le told him to be himself; that would be too easy.

Which famous rapper hasn't dissed someone?
Putting everything else aside, even if you asked him to perform a piece right now, he could still verbally abuse everyone.

Of course, this is on the premise that swearing cannot be prohibited.

He leaned back in his chair, one hand resting on the edge of the table, the fingers of the other hand unconsciously tapping the surface, making a soft "tap-tap" sound that broke the suffocating silence.

He raised his chin, his eyes flashing with a street-smart vibe, and spoke. His voice wasn't loud, but his江湖 (jianghu, a term referring to the world of martial arts and chivalry) air and disdain were palpable.

"My name is GAI, that's my stage name. My real name is Zhou Yan, Yan from Yan'an. I'm a rapper. I have quite a few songs, both in Mandarin and Sichuan dialect, like 'Huaxia,' 'The Great Wall,' 'Nezha,' and 'I Love Wang Siran.' You can search for them if you're interested, or it's okay if you're not. Everyone has their own interests."

He then looked at Zhang Han:
"Brother Han, right?" His tone lacked respect, sounding more like an equal, even slightly provocative, form of address. "I think Teacher Dandan wasn't wrong. Since we're here, sitting here, why don't we chat openly and frankly, regardless of fame?"

Upon hearing this, the entire audience gasped in shock!
Even more direct than Zhang Han's attack just now!

This isn't just embarrassing, it's like throwing sparks into a powder keg!

Wang Sulong looked like she was about to suffocate, wishing she could disappear on the spot.

Guo Qiling lowered his head and touched his nose, but the corner of his mouth twitched slightly as if he was trying to suppress a laugh. This was much more exciting than the scene at Deyun Club.
Meng Ziyi's eyes widened even more, her mouth forming an "O" shape. She looked at GAI and then at Zhang Han, with a "fight! fight!" expression on her face.

Tian Xi covered her mouth with her small hand, her eyes wide with fright.

Shu Qi took another sip of tea, her interest growing even stronger.

Zhou Le was happy to watch the show, and now it seems the program was indeed a hit, at least he'll definitely make back his investment.

GAI has really... let himself go!

But it does sound pretty cool.

Regardless of what Song Dandan was like, Zhou Le felt very satisfied to hear her say that about him.

After all, he is still puzzled as to why such an incident was not considered a bad deed.

Zhang Han clearly didn't expect someone to confront him so directly, especially in such a...street-style, unconventional way.

His face instantly darkened, as if covered with a layer of frost.

He looked at GAI, his eyes sharp as knives, carrying a condescending scrutiny and displeasure at being disturbed: "What does it have to do with you that I'm talking to Teacher Song? Who are you?"

These words were even more provocative, bordering on personal attacks.

GAI was amused.

These words had no offensive effect on him.

"Isn't this a place for recording a variety show? And my name is GAI, Zhou Yan, I'm a rapper. I'm not as famous as you, but I know what rules and etiquette are. Teacher Dandan is an elder, so what's wrong with us just cooperating with what she asks us to do? When it was my turn to speak, of course I said what I wanted to say. Didn't you comment on Teacher Dandan just now? I think this is mutual, right?"

Seeing that things were really about to start arguing, Song Dandan quickly tried to control the situation.

"Alright, alright! Shut up! What's going on? Starting a fight on the first day you meet? What kind of behavior is this! GAI, you shut up too!"

It was only at this moment that Zhou Le stepped forward.

"As for me, I think Teacher Dandan is definitely not wrong. What's the point of just knowing a name? Since we've gotten to know each other on the show, we can't just end up knowing each other's names, right? Of course, Teacher Zhang Han isn't wrong either. If he doesn't want to say it, he doesn't have to. So there's no need to argue. If we really can't reach an agreement, let's wait until the show is over before we settle things with a fight."

This statement seems to take all aspects into consideration.

But most people still felt that Zhou was speaking on Song Dandan's side.

Only a few people, including Su Mang and Wang Sulong, realized that Zhou hadn't actually praised anyone; it's just that Song Dandan hadn't said it as harshly as she had.

It's somewhat similar to how He Jiong treated Huang Lei in the show "Back to Field".

Zhang Han snorted coldly, lowered his head, and stopped looking at anyone, using the top of his head to express his displeasure and refusal to communicate.

GAI also pursed his lips, with a "whatever" expression, but at least he didn't continue firing.

A conflict that was about to erupt was temporarily suppressed thanks to Song Dandan's reminder and Zhou Le's attempts to smooth things over, but the awkwardness and tension that were about to erupt only intensified in the air.

The long table seemed to form a dividing line between Chu and Han, and the atmosphere plummeted to freezing point.

The self-introductions of the next few people ended hastily in this strange atmosphere, with everyone eager to get through this part as quickly as possible.

After everyone had finally finished speaking, the living room fell into an even more unbearable silence.

Everyone was either drinking tea, staring at the ceiling, or picking their fingers, but nobody was looking at anyone else.

Song Dandan was clearly at a loss for what to do with this out-of-control start. He originally wanted to gain the right to speak, but some people were not cooperating, so he sat there angrily.

Shu Qi, on the other hand, seemed quite relaxed, as if she had just watched a wonderful skit.

"How about we call it a day and talk about the rest later? Anyway, whether we argued or introduced ourselves, at least half an hour has passed."

"I think it's a good idea," everyone agreed.

The disastrous self-introduction in the living room finally came to an end amidst an eerie silence and an atmosphere of eager escape.

As if released from their predicament, everyone rushed into the courtyard. The sunlight and fresh air seemed to have slightly eased the awkwardness of the moment, but the subtle atmosphere still lingered. People dispersed in twos and threes, each taking a look at their "home" for the next ten days, and no one took the initiative to speak.

The production team was clearly happy with this "awkward silence," but it couldn't stay that way forever.

Soon, PD Chen's voice came through the loudspeaker again, announcing the next segment:
"Dear teachers, to help you communicate more naturally, we've prepared a little game. Here are some different chat scenario cards; each teacher will randomly draw three. Teachers who draw the same scenario will need to have a free chat for about ten minutes within that scenario. You can talk about anything; the goal is to create more fun interactions."

A staff member came over with a lottery box. Everyone took turns drawing lots.

The three scenarios that Zhou Le drew were as follows.

Hot pot, I drew one along with Song Dandan and Shu Qi.

This tea room is with Wang Sulong and GAI.

There was also a time at the restaurant with Meng Ziyi and Tian Xiwei.

He glanced at the slip of paper, then at the other people who had also drawn the corresponding scenario, and got a general idea of ​​what was going on.

He didn't believe that the production team hadn't had some ulterior motives behind this arrangement.

Afterwards, they each took on their respective tasks, went back to rest for a bit, and then prepared to chat.

However, when Zhou Le arrived, Song Dandan was already inside.

Zhou Le immediately apologized: "I'm sorry I'm late, Teacher Dandan. I'm sorry to have troubled you to wait for me. Otherwise, please apologize to me."

Song Dandan smiled and said, "Hehe, no need, it's all my own doing."

He froze before he could finish speaking.

"What? I apologize to you? Why should I apologize?"

"Because you arrived early, you didn't give me, the junior, any room to perform. Shouldn't I apologize?"

"Oh my, as expected of Le'er, this personality is so much fun. To be honest, I like you just the way you are. I'm young too, so it's nice for us to chat like peers."

Zhou Liao understood Song Dandan's hidden meaning.

Of course, he also knew that the other party was saying that on purpose to create a show effect, because he could handle that statement.

"Teacher Dandan, you flatter me. It's just that you look so young, so I always subconsciously joke around with you as if you were my age. I'm so sorry, Sister Dandan, please don't take it to heart."

The explanation and praise are given first, followed by an apology.

Although he didn't seem to apologize, saying those words was tantamount to giving Song Dandan a way out.

This gave us something to talk about later.

However, as soon as Song Dandan sat down, she adopted the demeanor of a parent and began to show concern for the younger generation: "Zhou Le, you're really something now. Tell me, out of all the movies you've acted in, which one do you think was the most popular?"

This is a tricky question; saying either one could easily offend other production teams and fans.

And what's the "most" about it?

Zhou Le smiled and dodged the question, saying, "Teacher Dandan, you're putting me in a difficult position. Every film and television production is a labor of love for me, like my own child. How can I say which one I cherish the most? Besides, whether a film or not is a hit or not is up to the audience, not me."

"You're so sly!" Song Dandan laughed and scolded, clearly dissatisfied with the answer, so she pressed on, "The audience is the audience, but from your own perspective as an audience member, which one do you like the most?"

Zhou Le: "I don't know, because I rarely watch my own movies after they're released."

"How could that be? Don't you have to show it during your promotions?" Zhou Le smiled and said, "How can I have time to watch the movie? I'm only thinking about how to promote it later. I don't have that many eloquent words. Actually, I've already prepared them in my mind."

Seeing that she couldn't get any answers, Song Dandan prepared to ask something else.

But then Shu Qi arrived.

Song Dandan abruptly changed the subject, launching into a more pointed question, "Then let me ask you another question: what kind of girl do you like? That should be easier to answer, right?"

Shu Qi leaned back lazily in the wicker chair, smiling as she joined the "interrogation" team: "Yeah, Zhou Le, tell us, what's your ideal type? We're curious too."

Zhou Le sighed inwardly, "Here it comes." He maintained a smile and said in a relaxed tone, "Me? I think every girl has her own unique charm and cuteness, and they all deserve to be liked and loved. A beautiful appearance and an interesting soul, each has its own merits, there is no single standard."

"Oh my, that's like you didn't say anything at all!" Song Dandan persisted. "You have to choose one! Tell me, among all the female guests here today, which type do you like the most? No dodging the question!"

Zhou Le knew he couldn't avoid it, so he pretended to be deep in thought, and then smiled helplessly: "Teacher Dandan, you're just setting a trap for me... If I have to say, then it has to be Xiaotian and Sister Meng."

"Why not someone else? And you're quite greedy, choosing two at once?" Song Dandan immediately pressed, her eyes sparkling with gossip.

Zhou Le counted on his fingers: "Look, Teacher Dandan, you're a respected elder of mine, so I can't just say I like you. And Sister Shuqi, she's an absolute goddess, plus she's married. My brother-in-law is so wonderful, how could I dare to have any ideas?"

Yoko is someone I'm not very familiar with, but Sister Xueqin is a close friend, the kind you can drink and eat skewers with. Teacher Su Mang is also a fashion veteran. So… that leaves only Xiaotian and Meng Ziyi.”

"Oh~~" Song Dandan and Shu Qi simultaneously made a meaningful jeer.

Zhou Le quickly tried to smooth things over, his tone becoming more serious: "However, my liking is purely the boss's appreciation and expectations for his own employees."

Just as school teachers always prefer students who study hard and get good grades, they hope that these students will all develop better and better. He successfully replaced "like" with "the boss's appreciation".

Seeing that the two older sisters were about to delve deeper, Zhou Le immediately activated his skill: the topic-changing technique!

He looked at Shu Qi with just the right amount of curiosity in his eyes: "Speaking of which, I'm particularly curious, Sister Shu Qi, how do you and my brother-in-law usually get along? Someone as talented and low-key as my brother-in-law, is he also very interesting at home? Do you often discuss scripts together?" He successfully steered the focus to Shu Qi's family life.

Shu Qi paused for a moment, then burst into laughter, pointing at Zhou Le with her finger: "You little rascal, Zhou Le, you're even trying to shift the blame?" But she didn't seem to mind, and instead started talking about some funny things she and Stephen Fung did together, such as Stephen Fung's obsession with movies and some interesting things that happened in their daily lives.

Their playful banter and other interactions revealed a sweet and tacit understanding between them.

Song Dandan was also drawn into the discussion, and the room was soon filled with laughter, successfully defusing the earlier interrogation.

After chatting for a while, Shu Qi brought the topic back, but this time in a much gentler tone: "Zhou Le, what were you thinking back then, insisting on entering the entertainment industry? You don't seem like someone who's particularly... into the entertainment industry." She carefully chose her words.

Zhou Le frankly admitted in a calm tone: "It might sound a bit vulgar, but at first I just thought... it was a quick way to make money."

"Wow! So direct?" Song Dandan raised an eyebrow in surprise.

“Yes,” Zhou Le smiled, a hint of indifference in his smile, “I have no parents and no background, so I have to rely on myself for everything in the future.”

At that time, I felt that if I could make it in this line of work, I could earn money much faster than in a regular job, and it would allow me to live a better, more stable life.

These candid, almost blunt words made Song Dandan and Shu Qi fall silent for a moment, their eyes revealing a different meaning, no longer just pure teasing.

Song Dandan's tone softened considerably: "So you've made it this far. Have you bought a house yet? It's not easy to establish yourself in Beijing."

Zhou Le shook his head: "I haven't bought one yet. I'm still living in the house that my godfather, Teacher Yu Qian, owns. He let me stay there for now. I've been so busy that I haven't had a chance to look at houses. I'm really grateful to my godfather; he's helped me a lot." His tone was sincere, and his gratitude towards Yu Qian was evident.

This topic was clearly much more serious and heartfelt than gossiping about ideal types. Both female guests expressed their understanding and encouragement, and the atmosphere became warm.

They chatted and ate a meal together, and the recording of the conversation in this scene contributed a rich variety of layers, from gossip to heartfelt conversations.

The next activity is tea.

Once inside the tea room, the atmosphere was completely different.

Wang Sulong seemed much more relaxed, at least when facing Zhou Le and GAI, she wasn't as nervous as when facing Song Dandan.

GAI still has that carefree yet charismatic demeanor.

Wang Sulong spoke first, her voice still gentle but much smoother: "Le'er, thank you for helping me out of that situation inside the house."

He was referring to Zhou Le praising his singing.

"To be honest, your songs are really good and widely sung." Zhou Le smiled and swayed on the swing.

GAI chimed in with his distinctive accent: "Brother Long's songs are amazing, especially his love songs. I have to be there to support him when he holds a concert."

Wang Sulong smiled and said, "Really? Then it's a deal! I'll definitely save tickets for you! Le'er, you have to come too! It would be even better if you could be a guest! Of course, even if you're just audience members, I'll make sure you're in a place where I can see you, so you don't sneak off before it's over." He looked at the two of them and smiled.

"No problem," Zhou Le readily agreed. "I'll definitely go as long as the timing is right."

GAI chimed in, "Count me in too! Le Ge, if you're interested, let me know whenever you want to try your hand at rap, and I'll introduce you to some of the best guys in the country. The atmosphere will be great, and we can release a song together that'll be absolutely explosive!"

He speaks with a kind of chivalrous and confident air.

Zhou Le was somewhat tempted by what he said: "Okay, I'll remember what GAI said. Maybe one day I'll really bother you guys and try something different."

He has always been open to musical collaborations.

The three of them started chatting about music, from popular trends to creative insights and interesting stories from the industry.

Wang Sulong gradually opened up, after all, when it comes to humor and abstract concepts, he was much earlier than Zhou Le.

Although GAI may seem arrogant, he is actually very loyal and talkative to those he approves of.

Zhou Le acted as a good listener and a bridge for communication.

After ten minutes, the group chatted unusually well and happily, filled with the resonance of musicians and a wonderful chemistry.

The final scene is in a restaurant.

This place is practically Zhou Le's "home turf".

Facing two of her own artists, the outgoing Meng Ziyi and the well-behaved but intimately familiar Tian Xiwei.

Sure enough, Meng Ziyi started right away: "Boss! Confess and you'll be treated leniently! Did you talk badly about us to Teacher Dandan and the others just now?"

She stood with her hands on her hips, pretending to interrogate someone, but her eyes were full of laughter.

Tian Xiwei covered her mouth and laughed, her eyes crinkling: "Brother Le definitely didn't say anything nice!"

Zhou Le was both amused and exasperated: "I'm already praising you all! You're my most admired employees, hardworking and with a bright future!"

"Tch, who would believe that!" Meng Ziyi picked up a tomato from the bar and pretended it was a microphone, then held it to Zhou Le's mouth. "Let's interview Boss Zhou. In front of us, tell him, between me and Xiao Tian, ​​whose future do you think is brighter? No favoritism allowed!"

Tian Xiwei chimed in, "Yes! We have to choose one!"

Looking at the two pairs of "threatening" eyes in front of him, Zhou Le deliberately hesitated for a moment before saying, "How do we choose? Xiao Tian is well-behaved and cute, has good audience appeal, and her acting skills are also good; Zi Yi, you... well, you have a distinctive personality and are very memorable. Both of you are valuable assets to our company, and neither of you can be missing."

"Boss, you're too cunning!" Meng Ziyi pouted in dissatisfaction. "No way, you have to choose! Otherwise, I'll go up and perform breaking bricks with my bare hands at the next company's annual party!"

Tian Xiwei chimed in, "Then I'll just lie down right now and extort money from you!"

Zhou Le burst into laughter at their antics: "Alright, alright, I give up! I actually favor the one who can make money for me!"

The three of them burst into laughter and playful banter.

Meng Ziyi boldly teased Zhou Le about his physique: "Boss, how many abs do you have now? Can you give the employees some perks to see?"

Although Tian Xiwei blushed, she also whispered and egged them on, "Just look..."

Zhou Le quickly protected her stomach: "No harassing the boss during work hours! If you keep bothering us, we'll deduct your resources!" Her threat was weak and only drew louder laughter.

They chatted about company anecdotes, upcoming work plans, and industry gossip. The atmosphere was relaxed, filled with familiarity and banter among family members, contributing many laughs that could be included in the final cut.

After completing the chat tasks in three scenarios, Zhou Le was invited by staff to a temporary interview room next door for a private interview.

Facing the camera, he knew the real "test" had arrived.

The editor will extract all the controversial and topical points from the previous conversations and ask him to respond and "fill in the gaps".

Reporter: "Mr. Zhou Le, firstly, regarding the conflict between Zhang Han and GAI during the self-introduction segment, as someone present, what were your feelings at the time? Who do you think was more reasonable?"

Zhou Le (smiling): "It was a bit of a surprise at the time. I didn't expect everyone's personalities to be so different. I don't think it's fair to say who's more reasonable. Teacher Dandan is just being enthusiastic and wants everyone to get to know each other quickly."

Han Ge might be more introverted, or he might feel that approach didn't suit him. GAI, on the other hand, is more straightforward and speaks his mind. They were both very genuine reactions, just different interpretations. Actually, after everyone talked it out, everything was fine.

The reporter (followed up): "When Song Dandan asked you about your ideal type, you ultimately chose Tian Xiwei and Meng Ziyi. Was it really just a boss's appreciation for his employees? Many viewers might not believe it."

Zhou Le (smiling helplessly): "I really admire them. I did sign them, and I've watched them grow up like my own children."

Besides, given the situation at the time, Teacher Dandan was pressuring me a lot. I couldn't really comment on the other female guests, could I? That would have been truly inappropriate. The only safe option was to criticize one of my own.

Reporter: "You mentioned that you entered the entertainment industry because it's a quick way to make money. Aren't you afraid that the audience will say you're mercenary for being so direct?"

Zhou Le (with a frank expression): "I think honesty is better than hypocrisy. When I first entered the industry, I was a young man with nothing. I wanted to earn more money to improve my life. There's nothing shameful about that, right? People in this industry either do it for the money or for the fame. Some people are passionate about it, but not many."

Most importantly, in this process, I discovered my passion for performing and creating, and I'm willing to work hard to produce good work to give back to the audience. My initial motivation was to make money, but what keeps me going is my passion and sense of responsibility.

Reporter: "Finally, what are your expectations or concerns about life in Peach Blossom Village going forward?"

Zhou Le (after thinking for a moment): "I look forward to becoming better friends with everyone. After what just happened, I feel it's actually more real."

My concern is... that Ms. Dan Dan will stop asking me all sorts of thorny questions and give other teachers more opportunities to shine.

After the solo interview ended, Zhou Le let out a long sigh of relief. (End of Chapter)