Chinese Entertainment King: Starting as a Fat Boy and Becoming a Singing King

Emerging from the Spring Festival Gala directing team's office, Xu Yao stood in the corridor of the CCTV building, where he could see Beijing's winter through the floor-to-ceiling windows.

He felt that the sky was bluer than any other day.

Xu Yao took a deep breath, feeling a great weight lifted off his shoulders, and walked out of the CCTV building.

Finally, the door to the Spring Festival Gala has been opened.

Nayoung walked up from behind, watching Xu Yao walk lightly and see the smile in his eyes. She shook her head and the corners of her mouth turned up as well.

"Xiao Yao, you've really impressed me."

Na's English tone carried an undisguised appreciation, along with a touch of感慨 (gǎnkǎi, a feeling of mixed emotions, often including regret or nostalgia).

"That's Wang Gongguan, known for his strictness at CCTV's Arts and Entertainment Center. The first time you met him, you remained calm and composed, and convinced him with a Phoenix Legend-style approach. You're incredibly talented."

She looked Xu Yao up and down, her eyes brimming with undisguised pride that she was the one who had raised him, and then added, "You're practically a devil king."

"Sister Na, it's all because of your reputation. In Beijing, and even in the entertainment industry, mentioning Na Ying's name is enough to get things done." Xu Yao flattered her with a smile, but it was also part of the truth.

"Hahaha... Even though it's just polite talk, I love hearing it." Nayoung was even happier.

Xu Yao smiled but didn't reply.

Na-young patted him on the shoulder, already having a clear idea in her mind—no matter where this young man goes in the future, she must not break off her friendship with him.

From the moment Xu Yao walked into the tea room and handed over the lyrics, to tonight when he broke the deadlock with a single idea in the rehearsal hall, Na Ying saw every step clearly. He was proving that he was not a new seedling who needed to be supported, but a tree that could already shelter from the wind and rain.

This kind of person calls her Sister Na now, but in the future, it's uncertain whether he will help her or she will help him.

Xu Yao's phone rang.

He glanced down at the screen; it was Liu Yifei.

"Sister Sisi."

"How did it go? Did it get approved for the Spring Festival Gala?"

Liu Yifei's voice carried a hint of urgency and anticipation; it was soft, sweet, and pleasant to listen to.

"It's approved."

"Very good!"

Liu Yifei's voice suddenly brightened up.

"I knew you could do it. You're such a good brother. I'll throw you a party tonight to celebrate."

"Okay, Sister Sisi."

After hanging up the phone, Xu Yao turned around, about to say goodbye to Na Ying.

Nayoung spoke first.

"Xiao Yao, I'm treating you to a party tonight to celebrate. You can eat whatever you want in Beijing, it's on me."

Xu Yao paused for a moment.

"I'm sorry, Sister Na. I already promised Sister Xixi."

Nayoung paused for a moment, then smiled.

"Okay, Liu Yifei made the appointment first, so it's first come, first served. So... are you in a hurry to leave? I'll treat you to a meal on the day you leave. Is that alright?"

"Okay." Xu Yao nodded.

"There's another thing I'd like to trouble you with, Sister Na. Could you talk to the company about this Spring Festival Gala opportunity? Just say that you personally helped me get it. You know, I've had some conflicts with the company recently. If I tell them myself, they're probably going to put on airs and bring up the contract again, trying to coerce and bribe me before they'll sign the performance contract."

Na-young didn't hesitate and waved her hand, saying, "Don't worry about that, I'll take care of it."

She paused, then added, her tone conveying a sense of familiarity and closeness, as if she were one of their own.

"It's okay if you know. My sister is the behind-the-scenes producer at Canxing Media and one of the biggest contributors to 'The Voice of China.' She'll just pass on a message to arrange a contract for you to perform on the Spring Festival Gala. It's not complicated, so you don't need to worry about it."

"I'm going to owe Sister Na a huge favor again, and I have no way to repay it," Xu Yao said politely with a smile.

"There's plenty of time, there will be opportunities," Nayoung replied with a smile.

Xu Yao didn't say anything more.

Nashin's name was never a secret in the behind-the-scenes list of "The Voice of China". The reason he asked Na Ying to pass on the message was because he already knew it.

Sometimes, going to someone's door to ask for help is like asking for a favor.

If someone else steps in, it's called informing them.

Another point is that Xu Yao wants to see the depth of the relationship between Na-young and the production company.

So he said, "Sister Na, do you think I should obey the company, or stand up for myself and not be manipulated?"

Na-Ying immediately understood and said meaningfully, "There are thousands of contestants on The Voice of China, but there's only one Xu Yao."

"Understood, thank you, Sister Na. I... I'll leave now?"

Nayoung nodded and reminded her, "Make an appointment. If you sneak off, your sister will be angry."

Xu Yao watched Na Ying's car drive out of the parking lot, then turned and walked towards the subway station.

Na-young leaned back in her seat, watching the street scene outside the window slide past her.

Then her thoughts were drawn away by the name "Liu Yifei".

Nayoung took out her phone and casually clicked on Liu Yifei's Weibo homepage.

The latest Weibo post was published at 8 a.m., accompanied by a picture of several A4 sheets of paper covered with messy lines and small circles and dots. Because it was the back of the paper, it was impossible to see what was written on it.

The caption was only eight characters: "Didn't sleep all night, but still full of energy."

Didn't sleep all night? A few blank sheets of paper.

Na-young pondered those four words, and then she thought of how Xu Yao's eyes were bloodshot when he came in the morning, just like when he had stayed up all night.

She instantly understood; no wonder the two of them had such a good relationship.

Na-young couldn't help but smile, leaning back in her seat, shaking her head, and thinking to herself: Young people have such good stamina.

Xu Yao returned to the hotel and took off his down jacket, throwing it on the bed.

He never imagined that one day the rumors about Xu Yao and Liu Yifei sleeping together would start from Na Ying's inner circle.

Xu Yao began to think about his next step: he should find a lawyer with considerable skills.

After the company filed the lawsuit, the next stage of negotiation was the internal mediation process.

The contract termination has entered its second phase.

My phone rang in the afternoon, and the contact name on the screen was "Sister Lin".

Xu Yao answered the call.

"Little Yao."

Sister Lin's voice came through the receiver, her tone completely different from the last time they spoke.

Last time it was condescending, this time it's like a gentle spring breeze, all polite and courteous.

"The company's apology letter has been sent out, have you seen it? Ms. Liu Yifei's agent also conveyed the message, saying that this matter should be put to rest, and we sincerely apologize to Ms. Liu Yifei."

Xu Yao didn't look at it; he just grunted in response.

"Also, Sister Na has notified the station that you're going to be on the Spring Festival Gala? The champion of The Voice of China will be performing on the 2015 Spring Festival Gala stage. That's a huge deal."

"Sister Lin, I have a bad memory. Who said I was daydreaming a few days ago?" Xu Yao pressed on relentlessly.

Sister Lin smiled apologetically, "I admit I misjudged you."

Xu Yao deliberately hummed in agreement, sounding somewhat like a leader, before continuing, "So, not listening to the elders isn't always the right thing to do."

"Xiao Yao..."

Sister Lin smiled and said, but what she was thinking was, "What's so great about him? Isn't he just relying on his successful weight loss and youthful good looks, and after being sidelined, he deliberately went to Beijing to curry favor with Sister Na?"

Shameless! Do you really think it's all thanks to your own abilities?

"The company has been working on the announcement overnight, and the copy will be formatted and ready soon. Are you done with your work in Beijing? The Spring Festival Gala arrangements are finalized, so come back soon. There are several more tour events waiting for you to headline."

Xu Yao breathed a sigh of relief and prepared to end the conversation: "Sister Lin, I'll come back after I finish the Spring Festival Gala."

"That means another two months?" Sister Lin exclaimed. "Xiao Yao, you're staying in Beijing for two months? That's not right! What about the company's tour schedule?"

"The company has Zhang Bichen, the popularity champion. Haven't you already disqualified me from the competition? Besides, I need to work even harder to prepare for the Spring Festival Gala. Sister Lin, you know I've fainted twice due to low blood sugar. If something happens on stage at the Spring Festival Gala, can the company take responsibility?"

Xu Yao's voice was neither hurried nor slow, but powerful and resonant.

There was a silence on the other end of the phone for about three seconds.

Sister Lin's tone finally changed; it was no longer gentle and warm, but rather a cold and hard tone, as if she had been cornered.

"Xu Yao, what do you mean? We've already sent the apology letter, and the company has worked overtime to create promotional posters for your Spring Festival Gala performance. What more do you want? You need to understand that according to the contract, you must obey the company's performance arrangements, or you'll lose everything..."

Xu Yao hung up the phone immediately.