Mysterious Assistant of the Washed-Up Queen-Chapter 461 - 307: The First Rehearsal, Silence Throughout (Part 2)

In the lounge, Sister Hua hurried back from somewhere and started with these words as soon as they met.

Chu Tian wanted to ask for details. However, after glancing at the crowded lounge, he realized it wasn’t a suitable place to discuss matters. So, he pulled them to the fire escape, finally finding a secluded spot.

There was no helping it. The Spring Festival Gala involved too many people and was too chaotic. Even with an invitation system and various work passes to restrict access, the backstage was still bustling with activity.

Not to mention the lounges, even the corridors were packed with people who couldn’t find a spot in the lounges or simply couldn’t fit inside. Additionally, numerous props for song, dance, and acrobatic acts filled the entire corridor.

Even the fire escape area, separated by fire doors, had people talking and making phone calls. If you really wanted to find a place with no one around, you’d either need to climb up the stairs or walk down.

Having left the assistants temporarily in the lounge, Chu Tian, Sister Hua, and Xu Qingqiu had to descend four floors before they finally stopped seeing outsiders.

It wasn’t that they were being overly secretive, but in this circle, you never knew who might want to sabotage you, especially when it was such a coveted opportunity to perform at the Spring Festival Gala. There were too many people who might intentionally trip you up, so being cautious was necessary.

After checking the stairs above and below to ensure no one was around, Chu Tian asked, "What did the program team say? Did they just decide on it like that?"

Chu Tian had thought he would discuss it with Xu Qingqiu, to hear her thoughts and opinions. But it had been decided directly with Sister Hua. Wasn’t that a bit hasty?

Sister Hua had also thought the same.

"I was surprised too," she said. "I was chatting with a producer when the program team called saying the song was picked. Before I could even respond, they praised the song for quite a while!"

As she said this, Sister Hua couldn’t help but look at Chu Tian with astonishment.

It had to be said, Chu Tian indeed has real talent. Originally, I had some doubts even though he assured me the song would work. Who would have thought my worries were entirely unnecessary? The moment he made his move, he had the program team completely convinced. They said the song would work, and indeed it did.

"Apparently, the director’s team first listened to the songs and thought both were good. Then, they glanced at that video clip and immediately settled on this one. What video was that exactly?"

Although Sister Hua had submitted the song and video, Chu Tian had compiled them into a zip file at the time. She had forwarded it directly through her phone and hadn’t had a chance to watch the video.

"The video isn’t anything special; you’ll understand once you take a look," Chu Tian said. "But there’s a good chance the program team won’t use it. They’ll likely make their own."

He said this because the video was made with random material found online, including many movie clips for which he didn’t have the rights; it was just meant to be an example. Besides, a hastily compiled video is somewhat monotonous. If they really wanted to use a video, it would be best to create a tailored one.

As for whether the program team would make one? That would depend on how much they valued this song. If they simply treated it as just another song, they likely wouldn’t attach much importance to it. The background video would then either use standard footage from the program team or something they produce themselves. If they took it very seriously, they would definitely approach us to discuss the video’s content and concept. As for now? We haven’t even passed the dress rehearsal yet. The focus should be on making sure we get selected first.

The three of them then exchanged some more information. Mainly, Sister Hua relayed useful advice she’d gathered from experienced individuals to Xu Qingqiu, helping her integrate quickly and avoid making basic mistakes.

After wrapping up their discussion, they returned to the lounge.

"Oh yes, I almost forgot," Sister Hua said, retrieving a red bag. "This is from the program team. Let Nannan hold onto it for now, and you can take it home later as a keepsake."

Xu Qingqiu curiously took the red bag Sister Hua handed over. "There’s even a gift? Did the program team prepare this specially? What’s inside?"

Chu Tian glanced at it, and his expression turned strange.

Why? Because the more he looked at the bag, the more familiar it seemed. It seemed that some things carried over even in this new world.

Indeed, when Xu Qingqiu opened it, inside was—predictably—a pair of porcelain bowls and two pairs of chopsticks, commonly known as the ’Spring Bowl.’

"What, did you think it was something fancy?" Sister Hua chuckled. "It’s just a souvenir. You’re not the only one; every team invited to the rehearsal received one."

Yes, every team. Getting one per person? That was pure wishful thinking. Not to mention, for a dance team with potentially dozens of members, imagine how many gifts would need to be prepared. Were they here for the Spring Festival Gala or to go bulk shopping?

Nevertheless, Xu Qingqiu didn’t feel disappointed. Instead, she eagerly examined the souvenir in her hands.

"This is called a ’Spring Bowl,’ a pun on ’Spring Festival Gala’ in Chinese," Chu Tian explained with a smile, watching Xu Qingqiu handle the ornate, red, gold-trimmed porcelain bowl. "It seems to be a unique gift from the program team, given out annually. It’s a nice keepsake."

"It’s quite pretty. Not a bad memento to take back," Xu Qingqiu remarked.

Of course. For such a huge gala, there were no appearance or booking fees. You were lucky if you even got travel expenses reimbursed. Considering all the effort and contributions from numerous big shots working for free, it would have been truly inappropriate if there weren’t even any gifts.