CH 70

Chapter 70: Money? That's just perfect...

After the results of the top three were announced, Qiao Dai's consecutive victory became a hot topic on the trending list. It juxtaposed with the previously purchased trending topics by Xu Mengya's team, creating a perfect ironic effect.

"Miss Betrayal has money to buy trending topics, but no money to withdraw them? I'm embarrassed for you guys."

"Seriously? Can someone really be so reluctant to spend money to remove the trending topic they bought? Are they so desperate to stay in the top rankings and attract attention even after being mocked by everyone?"

"Don't you guys understand? After all, she betrayed her teammates before even debuting. She obviously doesn't care about the group's success. Being infamous is still being famous. Maybe Xu Mengya is hiding in her fan group, laughing at us foolish netizens for boosting her popularity."

"Then let's fulfill her wish and give her a package of scandals to help her debut in the center position."

Seeing netizens mocking her without holding back, Xu Mengya was infuriated and trembled all over. She raised her hand and threw her phone, which smashed against the wall, the screen shattering with a resounding noise.

"What are the PR team doing? Allowing these people to insult me online like this?"

As soon as the manager entered the room, he saw Xu Mengya causing a commotion in the office, which immediately gave him a headache. Since joining Superstar, Xu Mengya had been sailing smoothly, with the support of high-level executives, and her temper had become increasingly uncontrollable. She often disregarded her manager, causing a lot of trouble for the company.

"What's the use of going crazy here? If it wasn't for you arrogantly boasting in the group that the company would solve the problem for you, would so many people have an issue with you now? There are some things you should keep to yourself. How can the company help you clean up the mess if you bring it up?"

The manager was referring to the incident where Xu Mengya had manipulated the voting. Although it would cause backlash from the audience, it could still be whitewashed. As Xu Mengya herself had said, they just needed the Superstar's operations team to step forward and take the blame, claiming that Xu Mengya was unaware of the incident. They could redirect the hatred towards the company, allowing Xu Mengya to safely pass through this crisis.

But who could have thought that Xu Mengya couldn't control her own mouth and insisted on boasting about how great she was, while everyone else was being fooled by the company? Once those words were leaked, it would be the end of Xu Mengya's own path. Even if they tried to whitewash it using the same method now, others would probably not buy it.

The manager scolded Xu Mengya mercilessly, her face turning pale and then red, but she couldn't say a word. She could only complain, "What about Qiao Dai? Aren't you going to do anything about her? She has humiliated me so much, and you're not helping me vent my anger?"

The manager was almost knocked out by Xu Mengya's words. She really wanted to open up Xu Mengya's brain and see if it was filled with water. How else could she ask such suffocating questions?

"Miss, I beg you, focus on yourself first! If you can get first place, isn't it normal for Qiao Dai to get first place too? Do you think the program team manipulated it? And what about you? Do you think the audience believes that you have connections, or that Qiao Dai has connections? Stop stoking the fire!"

The manager couldn't help but roll her eyes when she saw that Xu Mengya still wanted to dig up some backstage secrets to discredit Qiao Dai's victory.

What was Xu Mengya thinking? Qiao Dai's talent was evident to everyone. Even if her votes were manipulated at the end, so what? Let's say, for the sake of argument, that the audience couldn't see through it and couldn't tell who was good and who was bad. But regardless, Xu Mengya couldn't be the first place! Why was she still bringing up this topic, as if she was afraid that others didn't know she was the one playing behind the scenes?

Xu Mengya remained silent for a while before complaining indignantly, "But didn't Qiao Dai's votes suddenly increase? Isn't that manipulation? I'm not wrong!"

The manager looked at Xu Mengya, frustrated with her stubbornness, and said, "Stop causing trouble for me! Listen, you're not allowed to do anything! Let the company handle this matter!"

The manager's head was pounding, and she angrily glanced at Xu Mengya. She no longer bothered with this contestant who wouldn't listen to reason and continued the meeting with a distracted mind.

After the manager left, Xu Mengya, alone in the company office, became angrier the more she thought about it.

She couldn't understand why the audience only blamed her. Clearly, Qiao Dai's votes were also questionable! Why was everyone only mocking her and treating her unfairly?

With these thoughts, Xu Mengya disregarded her manager's warning and picked up her phone from the ground. She found the contact information of a familiar marketing account and messaged them, instructing them to manipulate the online narrative.

As she looked at the endless stream of negative comments online, Xu Mengya's gaze turned fierce.

If she couldn't have it easy, then she would make sure Qiao Dai suffered!

While Xu Mengya anxiously waited in the office for the internet to ignite a war of public opinion, the manager, who had finished the meeting, walked out of the conference room.

The results of the top three were already set, and Superstar couldn't interfere anymore. The priority now was to ensure that Xu Mengya's debut night went smoothly. The manager happened to have a friend among the staff of "Pick Eleven," which was why the company could manipulate the votes for Xu Mengya.

Although the hype and publicity for Xu Mengya this time had failed, Superstar still had connections within the show's production team. As long as they could assist Xu Mengya on the final debut night, it wouldn't be a complete loss.

While thinking about this, the manager opened their phone and saw the latest Weibo post from the official account of "Pick Eleven," responding to the audience's concerns about some participants engaging in vote manipulation. The statement acknowledged the existence of such behavior, corrected the vote count, and took disciplinary action by suspending a staff member from the production team and initiating legal proceedings against their misconduct.

Interestingly, this staff member happened to be the contact person from Superstar Entertainment that the manager had met on "Pick Eleven."

Manager: !?

Now, Xu Mengya's manager was truly going crazy.

What should be done?

This issue not only affected her relationship but also the connections Superstar  had established in various talent shows! The company's top management had temporarily allowed them to utilize these connections, but now they had not only failed to generate momentum for Xu Mengya but also destroyed the company's network. Would the higher-ups forgive them?

The manager's mind was in chaos. She quickly went to see what had happened. During her meeting, it turned out that there were rumors from a marketing account attempting to manipulate Qiao Dai's vote count. However, things backfired instantly, with netizens criticizing them, and even the production team had to step in to clarify the whole incident of vote manipulation. They even exposed the staff members involved in boosting Xu Mengya's votes...

At this point, even a fool could understand who had caused this trouble.

"Haven't I told you not to act rashly? Look at what you've done!"

The manager stormed into the office and indeed found Xu Mengya looking terrified and trembling, staring pale-faced at her phone screen. As soon as she saw the manager entering, she rushed towards her like she had found a lifeline.

"Sis, sis, what should I do now?"

Xu Mengya had never experienced a situation like this before. Besides being relentlessly criticized by netizens, she was taken aback by the response from the production team.

Which talent show would be free from behind-the-scenes manipulation? Only a mad show like "Pick Eleven" would personally punish the staff member responsible for altering the vote count!

The manager felt irritated as she looked at the panicked girl in front of her. She had repeatedly advised Xu Mengya not to act rashly. Even if Xu Mengya's reputation had been tarnished, so what? As long as their people were still on the show during the final night, there would still be room for manipulation.

Now, Xu Mengya had taken matters into her own hands, seeking revenge on Qiao Dai with the help of a marketing account. She didn't know which divine power she had offended, causing the production team to insist on scapegoating the staff members and disrupting all of her arrangements. Could she still maintain a pleasant demeanor towards Xu Mengya?

The manager's expression turned cold as she calmly looked at Xu Mengya and said, "You should withdraw. The company's activities will also be suspended to lay low. You know, the person involved this time is General Huang’s connection. Now that you have caused trouble for him, he won't make your life easy."

Upon hearing the manager's words, Xu Mengya's face instantly stiffened.

General Huang was known as a sly character among Superstar's high-level executives. Anyone who sought his help had to offer something in return. Xu Mengya had put in a lot of effort to convince General Huang to lend her some connections. But now, not only had she failed to achieve any results, but she had also involved General Huang’s connections. Given General Huang’s meticulous nature, he would never easily let her off the hook!

With this in mind, Xu Mengya sat down on the chair, her face pale, her throat tight. She dared not question further and trembled as she said, "I-I understand."

Seeing Xu Mengya's state, the manager shook her head repeatedly, but she was not sympathizing with Xu Mengya. Instead, she blamed her for the ignorant actions that had also implicated herself and incurred the General's resentment.

Such an artist was not worth managing anymore. It was better for Xu Mengya to find her own way!

Therefore, before the recording of the final episode began, the production team and Chao Superstar Entertainment issued a joint statement: Xu Mengya would withdraw from the program's recording, and all commercial activities would be temporarily suspended.

Upon receiving the news, the trainees couldn't help but glance at each other, thinking: Is she being indefinitely blacklisted?

As for Qiao Dai and the other participants, after a night of betrayal, revelations, vote manipulation, and withdrawals, their rankings remained unaffected, as if last night's events had nothing to do with them.

【The surprising events last night didn't affect the final voting results? What luck!】

【Begging the heavens to bless our silly treasure until the end! Let our silly treasure take the center stage】

【Our silly treasure seems to have heavenly protection. Truly the heavens' beloved daughter.】

Fans discussed the almost unbelievable series of events from last night. Who could have imagined that Xu Mengya, who had caused mischief midway, would end up eliminating herself, while the betrayed contestants had resolved their issues perfectly? Not only did they not have to feel upset, even the mastermind had voluntarily disappeared. Wasn't this a sign of heaven's favor? How could they let the kind-hearted and beautiful contestants suffer?

While the audience laughed and marveled at the lucky streak of Qiao Dai and the others, the production team announced that they would modify the voting system for the final public selection night. The voting method for this performance would change from anonymous voting to account-based support voting!

In other words, this would undoubtedly become a genuine money game.

Upon hearing this news, Cheng Su merely raised an eyebrow.

Money?

Well, that’s just perfect…

****

Translator’s note: I hope I can say the same, too, Cheng Su. Hahaha. If only I have…