Chinese entertainment: Top stars have no holidays

Chapter 112 is truly a stage filled with love!

It was exactly 7:30 p.m.

"Dream Comes True in the East" - Dragon TV's 2018 New Year's Eve Gala, aired on time.

At the same time, the New Year's Eve programs of the other four major TV stations were also launched online.

Countless netizens, phone in hand and television in front of their screens, embarked on the annual New Year's Eve channel-changing battle.

Some people stick to a single TV channel just to support their idol.

Some people are insatiable and switch channels every few minutes, just so they don't miss any of the popular stages.

Discussions on major social media platforms have been escalating, with trending topics appearing one after another, making the entire internet incredibly lively.

However, a quick glance at online discussions reveals that the combined viewership of all the TV stations tonight probably doesn't even compare to the viewership of a single, yet-to-be-determined, duo performance on Dragon TV.

After Jia Nailiang, Li Xiaolu, and PG1 issued their responses in succession in the afternoon, the popularity of the overnight stay scandal reached its peak at the end of the year.

No gala stage or celebrity gossip can rival it anymore.

At this moment, all the onlookers had only one obsession in their minds.

Will Jia Nailiang and Li Xiaolu sing together on stage again tonight?

If this stage is not cancelled.

On one hand, there's the washed-up actor and rising star of live streaming, who tries his best to cultivate a loving wife and happy family image, only to be ridiculed online for being cuckolded and enduring extreme forbearance.

On one side is a controversial female star embroiled in a cheating scandal and in the eye of the storm.

Just hours after the incident, the two were forced to perform together on stage, singing a sweet love song.

Just imagining that scene is enough to excite countless netizens.

In an instant, countless netizens switched channels, abandoning the top-tier stages of the other four satellite TV stations, and all tuned in to Dragon TV.

Just to wait for that brief few minutes of the "battlefield" duet.

Even the live stream chat on Dragon TV remained unchanged from beginning to end, filled entirely with comments urging for more episodes.

When will you be on Nai Liang and his wife's show? I won't watch any other shows!

I switched here specifically from Hunan TV; everything else is secondary. Tonight's main mission: to witness a top-tier, large-scale family drama.

[Does anyone have leaked the program order? My child can't wait!]

[Other stages can be done haphazardly, but I just beg the official team not to edit it, to broadcast it live with the original camera and no filters, I want to analyze micro-expressions frame by frame!]

Online netizens were gossiping wildly, and the atmosphere backstage at the Oriental Sports Center gala was almost the same.

In the huge backstage corridors and rest areas, whether it was the accompanying assistants, makeup artists, on-site directors, or other performers, none of them had their minds on the show that was about to begin.

Everyone's gaze was subtly drawn toward a private lounge at the far end of the corridor.

That was Nai Liang and Li Xiaolu's private lounge.

Compared to ordinary netizens, those working in the industry have wider access to information and are more aware of the helplessness behind today's chorus stage.

The couple has countless commercial endorsements and variety show contracts tied to each other, and the penalties for breach of contract would amount to an astronomical figure.

Furthermore, the show had already been officially announced in advance, and all stage rehearsals had been completed. Breaking the contract at the last minute would not only require paying a huge penalty, but would also completely confirm the rumors of infidelity, which would be a devastating blow to both of their careers.

So even though their relationship has reached rock bottom and they're practically strangers, they have to pretend to be in love tonight, hold hands and go on stage to sing that sweet song, "It's All You."

As everyone eagerly awaited the news, around 11 p.m., a sound finally came from the depths of the corridor.

The door to the lounge, which had been tightly closed, was pushed open by a staff member.

Jia Nailiang was the first to walk out of the lounge. He was dressed in simple work clothes. His usually smiling face was expressionless at this moment. His brows and eyes were heavy, and his aura was cold. You could feel the repression and gloom emanating from him from a distance.

Li Xiaolu followed closely behind.

Her look tonight was particularly eye-catching. She wore a bright yellow long raincoat, paired with a simple black top and tight hot pants. Her makeup was exquisite, and she looked much more relaxed than Jia Nailiang.

She even had a faint smile on her face, showing no sign of panic or embarrassment at being embroiled in a top scandal; her mental fortitude was ridiculously strong.

However, despite being partners who were about to sing a duet on stage, the two never made eye contact, let alone exchanged a single word.

One faced the left wall, the other the right corridor, like two complete strangers, standing quietly in the designated backstage waiting area, waiting for the host to announce their acts.

They didn't look like a married couple at all; they looked more like business partners meeting for the first time.

Staff members and artist assistants passing by all subconsciously slowed down, subtly observing the couple who were the focus of the entire internet, their eyes revealing a clear and intense sense of gossip.

Everyone had the same thought: This is too suffocating.

At the same time, on the other side of the waiting area.

Jiang Bai put his hands in his pockets and looked at the two people not far away with a playful expression.

It just goes to show how dramatic the world can be sometimes.

His two solo performances were scheduled right after Jia Nailiang and Li Xiaolu's duet performance.

In other words, after the highly anticipated annual battleground of the entire internet comes to an end, he will be the next one to appear.

"This program arrangement is really messing with my mindset."

Jiang Bai silently complained to himself.

But you can't blame the organizers, since the program order was set in advance. His program was closer to 12 o'clock, which was actually a better time slot.

Who would have thought that the group of guests who took the stage before him would cause such a big commotion today?

Not long after, the voice of the host on the stage came through the backstage speakers clearly.

"Next, let's enjoy this loving program together, the song 'It's All You,' and give a warm welcome to Li Xiaolu and Jia Nailiang!"

The moment the announcer finished speaking, the two people in the waiting area, who had been deathly silent and cold, seemed to switch personalities instantly, perfectly shedding all negative emotions, and simultaneously displaying just the right amount of professional smiles on their faces.

Li Xiaolu took the initiative to reach out and hold Jia Nailiang's hand.

Jia Nailiang neither refused nor responded, acting like a puppet, letting the other party lead him.

The two turned side by side, stepping onto the main stage under the stage lights, attracting the attention of thousands.

After the two of them struck their opening poses on stage.

The next second, a light and sweet accompaniment melody began, and the intro to "All of You" resounded throughout the sports center, simultaneously transmitted to the screens of hundreds of millions of viewers.

Backstage waiting area, Jiang Bai looked up at the high-definition broadcast screen hanging overhead, clearly overlooking everything happening on stage.

The song "All of You" is incredibly sweet, with a light and romantic melody and straightforward, sweet lyrics. It's a perfect track for couples to show their affection and share sweet moments.

When a normal married couple performs together, a simple glance or a handshake can instantly captivate the audience and create a truly immersive atmosphere.

Otherwise, the host wouldn't have introduced it as a program full of love.

But when applied to Jia Nailiang and Li Xiaolu at this moment, the sweet love song is forced to evoke a sense of absurdity, like a large-scale public execution or strangers being forced to perform.

On the screen, both of them wore standard business smiles, precisely controlling the camera angles to perfectly match the live stream.

But a little careful observation will reveal the clues.

The smile remained superficial from beginning to end, stiff and deliberate, with no trace of genuine joy in the eyes.

Especially Jia Nailiang, whose face was full of fatigue and strain, his smile was so forced that it looked like someone had forcibly pried his lips open.

There's a sense that they have a very hard life.

Throughout the entire song performance, the two had zero interaction, only contributing one or two eye contact moments.

Li Xiaolu was responsible for the right side of the stage, waving and interacting with the audience on the right throughout the entire performance.

Jia Nailiang remained steadfast on the left side of the stage, his gaze always fixed on the audience seats on the left.

There seemed to be an invisible, bottomless chasm between the two.

Even when they sang the chorus, with lyrics full of ambiguous love words, the two still didn't exchange a single glance.

Even when they occasionally hold hands, their arms are taut and straight, devoid of any sweet atmosphere between husband and wife; it's merely a matter of fulfilling a business task.

The most classic one is the final pose at the end of the song.

After the song ended and the accompaniment faded, according to the rehearsal schedule, the two of them needed to hold hands and face the camera to capture a sweet ending moment.

Just a second before the camera was about to freeze, Jia Nailiang calmly and quietly withdrew his hand, stood up straight, and still had that signature stiff fake smile on his face.

The final shot showed the two standing side by side, with Nai Liang not even looking at the camera, turning his head to look at the stadium stands with a fake smile.

With a soft "pfft".

After two seconds of silence in the backstage waiting area, a suppressed laugh suddenly broke out.

Some staff members couldn't help but burst into laughter.

Everyone was really breaking down; they're all seasoned veterans in the industry, and they've done this kind of New Year's Eve concert countless times.

But no one has ever seen such an awkward scene of forced business operations.

With that soft laugh, the other staff members who had been trying their best to remain composed also broke down.

Low, suppressed laughs rose and fell in the quiet waiting area.

Jiang Bai couldn't help but chuckle softly twice.

Everyone knows that this once envied couple is completely finished.

The so-called loving image has been completely shattered tonight, leaving only a facade of respectability and forced composure.

However, everyone was quick-witted, and the laughter only lasted for two seconds before everyone tacitly shut up, adjusted their mindset, regained their composure, and pretended to be nonchalant.

A moment later, Jia Nailiang and Li Xiaolu walked off the stage one after the other and returned backstage.

The facade of business that was forcibly maintained in front of the camera collapsed instantly.

The two maintained a safe distance of at least two meters, with zero communication and eye contact. The atmosphere was cold and oppressive, even more stiff and awkward than before they went on stage.

Just as Jia Nailiang lowered his head to gather his thoughts and was about to quickly return to his dressing room, he inadvertently raised his eyes, his gaze passing over the crowd, and met Jiang Bai's eyes as Jiang Bai was about to go on stage.

A brief glance exchanged, gone in an instant.

But Jiang Bai felt as if he had seen a lifetime in a single glance.

There's no other reason than that Nai Liang's eyes are incredibly expressive.

Humiliation, anger, exhaustion, helplessness, forbearance, and a hint of unconcealed bitterness and self-mockery.

A myriad of emotions, intertwined and entangled, could be conveyed through a single glance.

Isn't it said that Nai Liang's acting skills are mediocre, and that he can't even get many roles because of it?

However, Jiang Bai immediately returned an encouraging look.

Nai Liang was ruined by PG1!

How can there be such evil people in this world!

As someone who also dislikes PG1, Jiang Bai naturally supports Nai Liang!

Boy help boy!

Meanwhile, the online internet has completely exploded.

Within minutes, several new hashtags, including #JiaNailiangFakeSmile#, #ZeroInteractionThroughoutTheEntireEvent#, #YellowRaincoat#, and #It'sAllYourLargeBattleField#, dominated the top of the trending search list, with their popularity soaring and overshadowing all the other gala stages that night.

On major platforms such as Weibo, Douyin, Tieba, and Hupu, netizens transformed into micro-expression analysts, replaying the stage footage frame by frame, scrutinizing details, analyzing mindsets, and making jokes and memes, creating an unprecedented level of excitement.

"I laughed so hard! Who understands, folks? The two only made eye contact once the whole song!"

"The gesture of raising your hand was really awkward! It didn't make it sweet at all!"

"The most heartbreaking part was when he pulled his hand away at the end. It was Nai Liang's last act of stubbornness: even if I'm just acting, I don't want to hold your hand."

"Li Xiaolu's mental fortitude is truly top-notch. Even after such a major incident, she could still sing and dance as usual, and her smile was so natural. On the other hand, Nai Liang looked preoccupied the whole time, and his forced smile was so heartbreaking."

"The yellow raincoat has now become legendary, the best item tonight, also known as the 'Limited Edition Forgiveness Green Battle Robe,' hahaha!"

"Some people were trying to defend them, saying their relationship hadn't changed. But after watching this performance, I'm pretty sure they're having a cold war in private now."

"I feel sorry for Nai Liang for a minute. During the day, the whole internet is talking about him getting his hair done, and at night he has to be forced to sing love songs on stage with his sister-in-law. He's definitely the most tragic male lead of the year."

"I now completely agree with the 'outlaw trio' that netizens joked about before: Wang Baoqiang, Chen Yufan, and Jia Nailiang, three brothers in the same boat!"

"Dragon TV is absolutely phenomenal tonight! While other TV stations compete on stage, viewership, and set design, Dragon TV simply aired a realistic family drama. There's no doubt they're the biggest winner tonight!"

"So just how much was the breach of contract penalty for performing on stage tonight that made Nai Liang endure such humiliation?!"

Netizens across the internet were immersed in the joy of gossip, and various related memes and funny jokes sprang up like mushrooms after rain, spreading throughout the entire internet.

In this environment where everyone is watching the drama unfold, Jiang Bai, who came on next, received an extremely awkward treatment.

After the host finished his introduction, Jiang Bai calmly stepped onto the stage. The lights converged, and the familiar accompaniment slowly began to play.

First came "How Much I Like You, You'll Know," followed by "Slowly Falling in Love with You."

Both songs were released by Jiang Bai long ago and are extremely popular online. Fans have listened to them countless times and know them very well.

Inside the live stream, Jiang Bai's die-hard fans continued their enthusiastic support by flooding the screen with comments, creating a vibrant and engaging atmosphere.

But aside from the fan base, the vast majority of ordinary viewers have no interest in the stage performance at all.

In their eyes, the two songs they had heard countless times were nowhere near as interesting as the chaotic performance by Jia Nailiang and Li Xiaolu.

During the break in Jiang Bai's performance, countless viewers paused the live stream and replayed the duo's performance, repeatedly analyzing the micro-expressions and small movements of the two performers frame by frame.

Some people even created a thread to analyze the true relationship between the two from all aspects, including their posture, eye contact, and hand gestures.

It has to be said that being a gossipmonger is always the first instinct of humankind.

Even though Jiang Bai is now firmly established as a top star of the new generation, with top-notch stage singing skills and on-screen presence, he can only become a background figure in tonight's gossip feast.

Jiang Bai himself took it all in stride, remaining completely unfazed.

There aren't many people or things that can suppress his popularity, but tonight's chaotic scene at the Night Stay Gate was truly deserving of the title, and his admission of defeat was perfectly justified.

After calmly finishing his two songs, Jiang Bai bowed and left the stage, his composure showing no sign of being disturbed by outside opinions.

12:20pm.

All the programs of this year's New Year's Eve galas have come to an end, and major TV stations have successively ended their live broadcasts.

Jiang Bai removed her stage makeup and changed into casual clothes. Escorted by the security team, she successfully left the Oriental Sports Center and boarded a van back to her apartment.

Xu Xu sat in the passenger seat, his phone never stopped ringing as he constantly refreshed the news on various social media platforms, and the smile on his face never disappeared.

He was still sharing gossip with Jiang Bai: "Didn't Jia Nailiang's daughter also come to the New Year's Eve event today?"

"Media outlets captured images showing that after the show ended, Jia Nailiang left with only his daughter; Li Xiaolu was not with him."

"The couple has probably completely broken up, and today's performance will be their swan song."

After a while, Xu Xu put away his phone, turned around and looked at Jiang Bai, who was leaning back lazily in the back seat, through the gap in the seat, and said in a serious tone, "Jiang Bai, let me share the follow-up arrangements with you."

"Tomorrow at 10 a.m., the marketing account we're working with will release all the negative information we've collected about PG1."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Bai slowly opened his eyes: "All of them?"

"That's right, all of them."

Xu Xu nodded, his eyes sharp, his tone decisive and ruthless: "I've dug up some dirt on him that can't be washed away, and it's crossed a red line. He'll definitely be blacklisted this time!"

"Ordinary scandals might at most cause his reputation to collapse and him to lose fans, but once these red-line scandals are exposed, there is no room for whitewashing, and the entire internet will have zero tolerance for them."

"At that time, the authorities and mainstream media may get involved and completely ban them, banning their accounts online and all their business, performance, and music resources offline, so that they can never recover."

"Tonight's overnight stay scandal has completely ruined his reputation among the general public, and the hatred level across the internet is at its maximum. Tomorrow, strike while the iron is hot, combine the old and new scandals, and take him down in one fell swoop."

"We probably won't see any more news about him in the industry after this."

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