Director Liu was subjected to a constant barrage of mockery and sarcasm at the hospital last Sunday.
Fang Qingying’s family believed the fault lay entirely with the TV station, and no amount of consoling was of any use.
He hadn’t expected them to cause a scene, and now they had taken it all the way to the Radio and Television Bureau.
Negative news on the internet could be suppressed, but the program definitely had to stop broadcasting; otherwise, it would impact the channel’s reputation.
Director Liu was miserable, but there was nothing he could do; he was in charge of the program side and was powerless in other areas.
He heard that Director Yang had personally stepped in to mediate, but he didn't know what kind of result it would be. All he could do for now was ensure the next program was done well.
Director Liu said, “Since we’ve decided to do an indoor obstacle course show, everyone discuss a plan today. I want speed, and I want quality. Strive to finish it in half a month!”
Half a month.
Everyone was frowning.
It was a bit too rushed.
Right now, there wasn't even a proposal. It would take time to discuss details, time to set up the scene, as well as prepare props, the stage, recording, and post-production...
Wanting both speed and quality was truly making things difficult for people.
Although studio variety shows were prepared relatively quickly—sometimes the stage could be reused with just a few modifications—an indoor obstacle course show was different.
You had to custom-make various props, and that speed simply couldn't be hurried.
Seeing everyone’s troubled faces, Director Liu sighed and said, “I know it’s a bit rushed, but there’s no choice. It must be done as quickly as possible!”
If it were a public channel, they could take their time; the station directly handled the profits and losses. But for the Entertainment Channel, time was money. Every lost viewer meant less revenue.
They couldn't afford to drag it out.
“Half a month is really too rushed!” Lin Fan said in a low voice.
Chen Ran was lost in thought. At this moment, he recalled what Director Zhang had said: if he made another program, it would be possible to compete for the Zhaonan Satellite TV Best Planner award.
In Director Zhang’s eyes, what was important wasn't the honor itself, but the opportunity it presented for Chen Ran.
Winning the Best Planner award meant an opportunity to enter the Satellite Channel.
If Zhaonan Satellite TV was short-handed, he would naturally be the first choice.
In his youth, Director Zhang had wanted to go to the Satellite Channel to make programs, but his talent was somewhat mediocre and he never managed to get in. Later, he was transferred to the Public Channel, which effectively cut off that dream.
According to the original plan, the program might have been set as an indoor obstacle course, and Qingying Lecture would have held on for a period of time to allow the new program to transition smoothly.
The scene caused by Fang Qingying’s parents at the station was a complete surprise, and it had disrupted the plans the Entertainment Channel had prepared yesterday. Everything had become urgent.
If Chen Ran had told Lin Fan earlier that the new program was an opportunity for Lin Fan, then today, it was Chen Ran’s own opportunity.
‘Should I go for it?’
Chen Ran’s mind whirled for a bit, and then he raised his hand without hesitation.
He definitely had to go for it—not just for Director Zhang’s dream, but even more so for himself.
He wanted to enter Zhaonan Satellite TV!
……
Director Liu Xianlong was about to speak when he saw Chen Ran raise his hand, catching him slightly by surprise.
Chen Ran had presumably known he was already working on I Love Remembering Lyrics, so he hadn't voiced any opinions from yesterday’s discussion until now.
He asked, “Chen Ran, do you have any thoughts?”
Everyone’s gaze shifted over, wondering what he could possibly say.
Lin Fan, beside him, was also surprised. Chen Ran hadn't said a word just now; why had he suddenly stood up?
Facing so many gazes, Chen Ran felt slightly nervous in his heart. To the people present, he was just a rookie who had just entered the industry—this was true for both his past and present lives.
He took a deep breath, slightly organized his words, and said clearly, “Director, I have an idea. Perhaps we can complete a program before Sunday.”
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone looked at him in astonishment.
This was where the role of seniority became apparent. If Chen Ran were just a newcomer—even if he were someone like Lin Fan who had been at the Entertainment Channel for several years—saying such words would inevitably lead to skepticism.
Even if it were anyone else, Director Liu would have scolded him and told him to sit down.
But Chen Ran was not a newcomer, nor was he Lin Fan.
Currently, he held a hit program in his hands that had been repeatedly breaking channel records!
Consequently, although everyone was frowning, no one spoke up; they wanted to see what the Director would say.
"What method do you have to complete an indoor obstacle course within a week?" Director Liu similarly had his brows knitted in a deep frown.
Chen Ran said, "It’s not an indoor obstacle course, but another program. I can create a separate program based on the preparations for I Love Remembering Lyrics. Aside from some necessary equipment, the stage and sets can use the preparations from I Love Remembering Lyrics. Furthermore, the equipment is very simple; there are basically no bottlenecks regarding props..."
Another program?
Everyone looking at Chen Ran felt that this was somewhat unreliable. Could it be that the success of I Love Remembering Lyrics had made him overconfident?
Yet, looking at Chen Ran’s usual behavior, he didn't seem like that kind of person at all!
Chen Ran continued, "I’ve considered it; the program can be produced before Sunday. Although it's a bit of a rush, the quality can be guaranteed. Compared to an indoor obstacle course, my program has another advantage: it can attract most of the audience from I Love Remembering Lyrics, directly bypassing the need for early promotion and ensuring a sufficient audience base for the premiere..."
If Director Liu had been somewhat dismissive of Chen Ran’s earlier words—listening quietly only out of respect—then upon hearing that it could attract most of the I Love Remembering Lyrics audience, he was truly moved!
The ratings for I Love Remembering Lyrics had repeatedly broken records; its importance to the current Entertainment Channel went without saying.
For Chen Ran to speak like this, it likely wasn't nonsense; he must have given it some thought.
Director Liu looked at the others. Everyone was frowning, unsure of how much of what Chen Ran said was true. He was indeed tempted, primarily because Chen Ran claimed it could be fully produced in a single week.
The other reason was the popularity and audience of I Love Remembering Lyrics...
Although he didn't want Chen Ran to be distracted at this time, special circumstances required special treatment.
Director Liu took a deep breath and said, "Since you have an idea, I'll give you time. Everyone else will continue discussing the indoor obstacle course. You go and write your idea down—it would be best to have it completely written out before the afternoon. Is that okay?"
Chen Ran nodded. "Yes!"
A single morning was a bit tight, but it was enough.
Director Liu nodded and continued the discussion with the others.
Chen Ran looked at Lin Fan and said, "I'll have to trouble you to help me."
Lin Fan hadn't yet recovered from his shock. Seeing Chen Ran exit the meeting room, he hurriedly trotted after him.
He asked from behind, "Chen Ran, are you serious? You aren't joking, are you?"
Chen Ran replied, "Do you think I would joke about something this important?"
Lin Fan said, "But didn't you say yesterday that you had no thoughts on the program? Why today..."
"I didn't have any thoughts yesterday, but the situation is different today. I didn't expect Fang Qingying’s family to cause a scene, nor did I expect Qingying Lecture to be forcibly taken off the air..." Chen Ran spoke as he walked.
"Before today, I knew the Director wouldn't possibly let me do this program, so I had no thoughts and even suggested you strive for it. Now that I have this opportunity as well, I naturally have to work for it. Regardless of whether it works or not, I have to try first to find out!"
Lin Fan was slightly stunned. He felt that Chen Ran had changed a bit, becoming much sharper—somewhat different from the usually gentle Chen Ran.
"Time is a bit tight, and I can't quite handle it alone. If we can secure the program, I'll need to trouble you to help look after it then. Working on it with me now can be considered getting to know the program in advance." Chen Ran smiled.
Lin Fan snapped out of it and hurriedly followed after him.