Chapter 15
While the internet was buzzing with heated debates, the [Boy Group Training Camp] production team posted a new Weibo update.
In the post, they stated that the team greatly values the fairness and integrity of the show. To ensure this, they announced that starting from the next episode, the entire program would be broadcast live, with a professional panel of judges to guarantee impartiality.
The post was well-received by the public.
In contrast, Jiang Mo became even more of a target for mockery.
Jiang Mo vented his anger by throwing things around his room, but it did little to calm him down.
Seeing this, his manager swallowed his initial urge to complain. He knew that he was in the same boat as Jiang Mo—if Jiang Mo went down, he would suffer too.
“The top priority now is to restore your reputation,” the manager said.
Jiang Mo gave him a skeptical look.
Usually, the manager handled baseless rumors like this without needing his input, so why was he consulting him now?
With a serious expression, the manager said, “I saw Shen Yu meet with Meng Yuansheng’s manager yesterday.”
Jiang Mo’s face went pale. “When did this happen?”
The manager shook his head. “I’m not sure, but it looked like Shen Yu treated him well. They talked for quite a while.”
Jiang Mo’s expression darkened instantly.
He knew Shen Yu. On the surface, Shen Yu seemed gentle, but he was far from easygoing.
Back when Jiang Mo first learned about Shen Yu’s status, he actively approached him and used the lyrics Meng Yuansheng had written to win his favor. It took him over half a year to finally become Shen Yu’s friend.
Shen Yu was loyal, generous, and fiercely loyal to his friends.
But the kindness he showed his friends was matched by the coldness he displayed toward his enemies.
The thrill Jiang Mo once felt when taking advantage of Shen Yu’s resources had now turned into fear.
“No! I can’t let him find out!”
The manager sighed. “I thought the same. But I have a way to resolve both issues at once. That is…”
Jiang Mo’s eyes lit up. “Tell me!”
The manager continued, “Leak that Meng Yuansheng didn’t resign willingly, but was kicked out of Jinyou Entertainment for plagiarizing your song. Shen Yu is a songwriter himself and despises plagiarism. This will eliminate any threat from him. Even if Meng Yuansheng later claims he wrote those lyrics himself, no one will believe him anymore.”
If this plan succeeded, Meng Yuansheng would be completely discredited, blocking any path he had into the entertainment industry.
Jiang Mo hesitated.
He truly resented Meng Yuansheng for leaving and causing so much trouble, but the two had been together for years, and there were still some lingering feelings.
Seeing his hesitation, the manager added, “This is the only way, and the sooner we act, the better. You need to decide quickly.”
A dark glint flickered in Jiang Mo’s eyes.
He thought it wasn’t entirely his fault; if Shengsheng hadn’t been so headstrong, none of this would have happened.
Once everything was over, if Shengsheng could see his mistakes and return to him, Jiang Mo would graciously forgive and accept him back.
With a determined nod, Jiang Mo agreed, “Alright, do as you’ve said.”
*
One day later, a Weibo post set the internet ablaze.
[My name is Li Fang, a regular employee at Jiang Mo’s studio. Seeing all these lies online, I couldn’t stay silent any longer. Things aren’t the way you all think at all!]
[Meng Yuansheng was a friend of Brother Mo’s. He didn’t come through a formal hiring process, so Brother Mo paid him out of his own pocket, not wanting to burden the company. Brother Mo’s only mistake was paying him privately instead of through official channels, which caused all this trouble.]
[As for why he left, it wasn’t because of any insurance or benefits, but because he tried to steal Brother Mo’s unreleased song to debut on his own. Brother Mo didn’t expose him out of friendship and simply removed him from the studio. Yet, instead of being grateful, he’s now slandering Brother Mo.]
[As a person of conscience, I’m willing to stand up and reveal the truth. I hope everyone can see the real story and not let the good guy suffer.]
Below was a selfie of the poster holding an employee badge, authenticating their claim, while hired accounts stirred the pot even further.
The narrative online quickly shifted.
[This is such a ‘Farmer and the Viper’ story! Jiang Mo’s been through too much!]
[It’s good I waited to let the dust settle; I knew things weren’t this simple!]
[If he wasn’t being paid, why would he have stayed with Jiang Mo all that time? Basic logic! I never believed it anyway.]
[I feel so bad for Jiang Mo now. I even cursed him before! Sorry, Brother Mo!]
[Finally, the truth is out. I just want to cry when I think about what Brother Mo has endured lately.]
Jiang Mo then retweeted the post.
He didn’t mention Meng Yuansheng by name, instead thanking Li Fang for sharing the truth. He added that he had previously been lax with contracts and awkward about discussing payment with friends, so he had paid Meng privately. As for the plagiarism, Jiang Mo stated that it was all in the past and he wasn’t going to hold a grudge, hoping others would also let it go.
Attached were some records of past payments he’d made to Meng Yuansheng.
This led to more sympathetic responses from fans.
Gu Xingshi was furious when he saw Jiang Mo’s pretentious words.
Payments? That money had been fronted by Meng Yuansheng himself! And Jiang Mo had the nerve to use it as “proof”!
What a scumbag!
If he hadn’t needed more evidence, Gu Xingshi would have thrown it all in Jiang Mo’s face right then!
Meng Yuansheng bit his lip tightly.
He hadn’t expected Jiang Mo to go so far.
Gu Xingshi calmed down and recalled the suggestion he’d previously made to Sun Hongfei, surprised that it would need to be put to use so quickly.
He shared his plan with Meng Yuansheng.
After listening, Meng Yuansheng realized it was the best solution under the circumstances.
Gu Xingshi looked at him with determination. “Can you do it?”
He knew he wasn’t questioning Meng Yuansheng’s abilities but rather asking if he could finally overcome the inner demons Jiang Mo had instilled over the years and achieve a true victory for himself.
This wasn’t just a battle for reputation.
It was a battle to break free, to rise anew from the ashes.
Meng Yuansheng nodded solemnly, “I can do it!”
*
Shortly after recording the theme song, it was time for the show’s first public performance—a live broadcast for [Boy Group Training Camp].
Half an hour before the competition, the crew was busy with final checks.
Gu Xingshi stood in the corner, staring at the stage, deep in thought.
Yin Hefeng, deftly maneuvering his plump frame over obstacles on the floor, came up beside him. “President Gu, the competition’s about to start. Why are you standing here?”
Gu Xingshi looked at him in mild surprise.
Since Jiang Mo’s Weibo post, the managers who once flattered Gu Xingshi had either turned cold or even took pleasure in his plight.
Only Yin Hefeng remained as friendly as ever.
Gu Xingshi’s expression softened. “I’m just picking a good spot to watch the show.”
Yin Hefeng blinked. “?”
He glanced around.
They were standing to the side of the stage, some distance away, but from this angle, they could clearly see the judges’ table.
Gu Xingshi smiled, “Brother Yin, if you’re free later, come join me here. I’ll treat you to quite a show.”
Yin Hefeng had originally been worried that Gu Xingshi, being young and relatively inexperienced, wouldn’t know how to handle the situation when his artist faced such sudden hostility. He’d come over to offer some support.
But Gu Xingshi’s calm, rational demeanor surprised him.
Relieved, he also felt proud of his choice in people.
He’d known his eye for talent wouldn’t fail him; Gu Xingshi was clearly destined for great things.
With a grin, he nodded in agreement.
The competition soon began.
Meng Yuansheng’s group was scheduled to perform third.
This time, they would perform a challenging Chinese-style song, Snow on the Chang’an Road.
As soon as they appeared, the screen filled with hateful comments about Meng Yuansheng. Some defended him, but these were quickly drowned out by the negativity.
Gu Xingshi took one look at it, then turned off his phone in disgust and focused on the stage.
A pre-performance clip showed scenes from their training sessions.
In Meng Yuansheng’s group, apart from himself and Cheng Xin, there were five others.
Initially, the five were a bit distant toward Meng Yuansheng, but his impressive dancing quickly won them over. After that, Meng Yuansheng patiently guided his teammates, organizing their training and daily schedules with precision.
When it came time to assign parts, Meng Yuansheng quickly made decisions based on everyone’s strengths and weaknesses, which his teammates accepted without objection, unlike other groups who were still clumsily negotiating.
Gu Xingshi watched with satisfaction, casting a glance toward Jiang Mo, whose smile had noticeably stiffened.
Already stiffening up?
The best part hasn’t even started yet!
As the music began, Meng Yuansheng was the first to take the stage, his breathtaking Chinese dance captivating the entire audience.
Afterward, the other team members joined him.
Their movements were synchronized, each with their own unique moments to shine.
The rap mentor couldn’t help but ask the dance mentor, “Weren’t XX and XXX not able to dance before?”
The dance mentor nodded, “Yeah, Meng Yuansheng and Cheng Xin taught them every move, step by step. How does it look? Pretty legit, right?”
The rap mentor shook his head in amazement, “More than legit! Honestly, if you told me they’d been learning dance for years, I’d believe it.”
Their exchange, captured on the live broadcast, reached the audience, causing many viewers to have second thoughts.
Meng Yuansheng seemed like a genuinely nice person, not the selfish and shameless type he was rumored to be.
As the performance ended, the audience remained entranced, reluctant to let go of the magic.
The seven performers stood beside the host and introduced themselves briefly.
According to the rules, it was now time for the professional judges and the live audience to score them.
Meng Yuansheng, dressed in a flowing, ethereal white robe, looked like a figure detached from the mundane world, cool and aloof.
As the host prompted the mentors for their feedback, he suddenly raised his hand. “Excuse me, may I choose to challenge someone?”
This was a new rule starting this episode.
After their performance, trainees could challenge a mentor—winning would grant 1,000 popularity points, but losing would land them directly in the danger zone.
On the mentor’s panel, Jiang Mo suddenly had a bad feeling.
Sure enough, in the next second, Meng Yuansheng’s gaze shot directly toward him. “I’d like to challenge Mentor Jiang Mo.”
The crowd burst into an uproar.
Jiang Mo’s face turned livid as he glared at Meng Yuansheng.
In the past, whenever Jiang Mo got angry, Meng Yuansheng would be anxious and uneasy, always apologizing right away, whether he was at fault or not.
But now, there was not a hint of fear in Meng Yuansheng’s expression. Instead, a faint, challenging smile played on his lips.
“An improv challenge.”
“Mentor Jiang Mo, you’re not afraid, are you?”
Jejejeje, Bye Jiang Mo ?