Chapter Four: Mom, Dad, Calm Down! I'm Just Making Up the Numbers!

“I told you so…” Zhang Xiaoli arched her brows, exchanging knowing glances with her colleagues.

The melody was captivating.

The lyrics were of the highest caliber.

He sang out all the regret a man feels for the girl he missed in his youth, and as they listened, each woman’s thoughts drifted back to her own school days…

But just as everyone was lost in the music—

“Bang bang bang, you little brat…” Jiang Yi’s father burst in at the most inopportune moment.

The group felt a pang of disappointment, yet couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

“Pfft!”

The sound of Jiang Yi’s father having stomach trouble echoed.

“……” Everyone fell silent.

Though it was only a sound, somehow, they could imagine the smell.

Finally, Zhang Xiaoli spoke, “What do you all think?”

“This original song is excellent! And the kid’s looks aren’t bad either! He’s got potential! But he’s not professionally trained, his singing and instrumental skills are a little weak, so who knows… Still, we can put him on the shortlist,” they discussed among themselves.

Zhang Xiaoli then turned to Liu Xiaoyu, “Xiaoyu, you handle it. Notify Jiang Yi to come for the show recording! We’ll reimburse his travel and accommodation expenses.”

“Xiaoyu, well done!” Zhang Xiaoli added.

Liu Xiaoyu responded excitedly, “Master, I’ll keep working hard! I’ll notify him right away…”

The final selection of participants was always made collectively by their team. No need for approval from the two big bosses, Long Dandan and Ma Xiaohan.

Liu Xiaoyu handled the first round of basic screening, then joined Zhang Xiaoli and the rest of the working group to review all the candidates everyone had chosen, and together they made the final call.

After all, this was Long Dandan’s first battle with Teng’e Video. Their team was like a startup, collaborating with Teng’e Video. If their performance wasn’t good, Teng’e might not pay them much attention in the future. As a startup, they had to save on expenses.

They couldn’t invite just anyone—travel and accommodation needed reimbursement!

Of course, with Teng’e Video backing them, Long Dandan’s team actually had ample funding; otherwise, they wouldn’t have left their jobs at the TV station.

Besides, Teng’e was wealthy—what they lacked was talent! Long Dandan and Ma Xiaohan’s team was the golden crew of the entertainment talent show industry; both sides stood to benefit.

Otherwise, they wouldn’t have hired the top three hottest celebrity mentors, though their appearance fees were significant, along with other expenses. So, there were limits to how many contestants they could invite… Not just any unknown could join.

In short, Zhang Xiaoli and her team had made their decision—Jiang Yi had secured his spot in the competition.

Upon arriving in the capital, every contestant would undergo a brief interview with the two bosses. After all, “Star of Tomorrow” aimed to launch the next national idol.

They needed to fully understand the contestants, confirm who had real potential. After the live auditions, the footage would be edited into the main show and released on Teng’e Video.

Soon after—

Liu Xiaoyu dialed the number Jiang Yi had listed in his information.

…

Meanwhile, on Jiang Yi’s side.

He had just checked his college entrance exam results—excellent scores. The original owner was a true academic star.

He was about to share his good news with his parents when Liu Xiaoyu’s call came in.

“Hello, is this Jiang Yi?” Liu Xiaoyu asked.

Jiang Yi was puzzled, unable to place the young woman’s voice: “Yes, this is. Who’s speaking?”

Liu Xiaoyu chuckled, “I’m from the ‘Star of Tomorrow’ production team! I’ve sent you an email, but I’m calling to notify you as well…”

Jiang Yi was delighted: “Oh, really? You reached a decision so quickly?”

Although the song “Those Years” was a huge hit and a classic on Earth, after his earlier failed attempt to submit a script for “Those Years,” Jiang Yi was unsure if he’d make the cut. His singing and instrumental abilities weren’t outstanding, and he couldn’t dance.

The system hadn’t given him any other rewards yet. After all, Jiang Yi’s system was the Ultimate Screenwriter System, not the Ultimate Singer System.

These songs were just supplementary resources from the system’s script library.

If he weren’t so unknown and unable to sell scripts, he wouldn’t have considered joining this competition…

So, getting to participate in “Star of Tomorrow” was a great opportunity! If he could get some exposure or perform “Those Years” for a wider audience, it would be easier to attract investors for his script!

He and Liu Xiaoyu discussed the details:

“Three days from now? In the capital? Okay, I have to pay for travel and accommodation upfront, then get reimbursed?”

“Alright, got it.”

After hanging up—

“The power of a classic work is truly remarkable! But I’m just a teenager, and I don’t have the money for airfare to the capital. I’ll have to talk to my parents…” With that, Jiang Yi walked out of his room.

As soon as he stepped out, he heard Uncle Zhang from next door.

“Old Jiang, how’s your son’s exam results? Have they come out yet? You can check now… Ah, your son, Xiao Yi, always had great scores… But didn’t he have a bit of stomach trouble during the exam? Hope that didn’t affect him…” It turned out, Uncle Zhang and his family had come over to visit.

Seeing Uncle Zhang and Aunt Zhang beaming, Jiang Yi immediately guessed that their son, the chubby boy with thick glasses, Zhang Ji, must have scored well.

Jiang Yi’s parents grew nervous, turning to look at Jiang Yi.

Zhang Ji and Jiang Yi had been neighbors since childhood, even attending the same class—both were students in the top section!

If Zhang Ji had been a girl, Jiang Yi and he would have been childhood sweethearts.

Unfortunately, reality wasn’t as dramatic as a TV show—Jiang Yi had no beautiful, adorable childhood friend, only Zhang Ji, the chubby boy next door.

And their parents had always compared the two!

Including now, with the college entrance exam.

“Zhang Ji, looks like you did pretty well, huh?” Jiang Yi smiled at him. “So, what was your score?”

“Not bad—661!” Zhang Ji said proudly, lifting his double chin.

He’d always been overshadowed by Jiang Yi!

It had left him with a complex.

He gave his all for the exam!

Unexpectedly, he performed above expectations and scored 661!

He was instantly filled with pride.

“Oh, really? 661 is just ‘not bad’? That’s amazing! You’re incredible, Zhang Ji! Fantastic!” Jiang Yi praised with a smile.

Zhang Ji immediately puffed up with pride.

But Jiang Yi added, “I was only twenty points higher—681.”

Zhang Ji: “……”

Uncle and Aunt Zhang: “……”

Jiang Yi’s parents were, of course, overjoyed.

The Zhang family left in embarrassment.

“Mom, Dad, there’s something I need to tell you…” Seeing his parents in such high spirits, Jiang Yi took the opportunity to explain about “Star of Tomorrow.”

His parents were astonished.

“Is it true? Xiao Yi, you’re not being scammed, are you?” his mother worried.

Once they were sure Jiang Yi wasn’t being deceived and had genuinely received an invitation from “Star of Tomorrow,”

“Go, of course go, Dad will give you the money…” his father said generously. “You get to go out and have some fun, and maybe our son will even become a star…”

His mother chimed in, “That’s right, if our son becomes a big star, then we’ll…”

Seeing this, Jiang Yi hurriedly interrupted, “Mom, Dad, don’t get so excited. I’m really just going to make up the numbers. You know, my guitar is amateur level—I can’t compare with those handsome guys from professional schools…”