CEO's Sweetheart is a Super Idol-Chapter 21 - 19 Trickery and Deceit

The next day

Shenghai TV Station

"Why are we the ones required to attend the rehearsal, while no one else has to?"

Xu Mengchen glared angrily at Assistant Gao, who had been assigned to coordinate with the TV station on their behalf.

At this moment, Assistant Gao also looked helpless. He was, after all, just a college graduate with barely two years of work experience.

Having served as a student council officer during college, he had somehow ended up at this company. His monthly salary was only a little over 2,000, yet the amount of crap he had to deal with was overwhelming.

None of these "divas" were people he could afford to upset, and to Shenghai TV, he was treated like a nobody.

Now, looking at Xu Mengchen’s face, distorted by anger, he felt a mix of irritation and fear deep in his soul.

"Sister Xu, they said we must follow the process." Assistant Gao glanced at the expressions of the others before gritting his teeth and continuing: "The ones who don’t attend rehearsals are the big stars, so..."

"Gao Huan, what do you mean by that? So we’re just backup dancers and props now? Are you saying Galaxy members don’t qualify as stars?" Zhang Yu instantly felt her pride was severely wounded.

Everyone else’s faces darkened as well. They weren’t afraid of hard work or exhaustion, but the blatant disregard from the TV station was something they couldn’t stomach.

"Assistant Gao, try talking to them again," said Lu Bingbing, the team leader, suppressing her anger.

"Some of our teammates are sick with colds, and we’ve already attended the preliminary rehearsals. Do we really need to keep jumping around like those background dancers?" Lu Bingbing continued.

"Sister Lu, we’ve said everything we could, but their response is still the same: You must rehearse."

"What do they take us for? Everyone else has work badges to get in and out, but we don’t. No assigned dressing rooms either—we have to share with those extras. And the boxed meals? What are they even feeding us?" Duan Yuxin, tall and slender with long curly hair and dramatic makeup, glared with her signature wide eyes as she shouted.

Gao Huan swallowed hard, lowering his head and staying silent, though he was utterly indignant inside:

If your status wasn’t high enough, how could you expect star treatment?

"Sister Lu, let’s refuse to rehearse. We should all just go back home," Zhang Yu, hot-tempered as always, yelled.

"That’s right, let’s go back!"

"We’re done taking these lousy gigs. Let’s return to our small theaters."

"Shenghai TV treats us like nobodies. Do they think we’re just some random models?"

The room erupted in a cacophony of voices as everyone passionately voiced their frustrations.

Among them, Yu Qingjia, also visibly furious, suddenly noticed Ye Yuwei, standing quietly at the back of the group. Her eyes shifted, and she spoke up: "Yuwei, this is your first time on a gig like this. What do you think?"

At Yu Qingjia’s words, everyone else turned to look at Ye Yuwei.

Although the results of the recent quick votes hadn’t been announced yet, everyone knew that Ye Yuwei was shaping up to be the rising star of Galaxy, which meant she was about to become a major competitor within the group.

In a situation like this, where the group collectively resisted a gig, everyone had to take a stance. It wouldn’t do to have someone play the role of a "goody-two-shoes" afterward and claim they’d only gone along because of others.

Realizing all eyes were on her, Ye Yuwei silently cursed her luck.

Her real plan had been to go with the flow and avoid taking a stance herself.

This matter was sure to stir up waves among the fan groups, and if Shenghai TV really kicked them off the show, someone would inevitably have to take the fall and endure the fans’ harsh criticism.

Fans were entirely irrational—they’d base their so-called "truth" on mere fragments of the situation and their own imaginations.

"I think we should still attend the rehearsal. After all, the company sent us here to participate in the show, so we should just follow the process. As for the treatment issues, we can work on negotiating those separately," Ye Yuwei said, carefully avoiding the phrase "leave the show." In her mind, she knew the company wouldn’t back them on that kind of decision anyway.

"The current issue is that Assistant Gao hasn’t been able to communicate effectively. If we could get fair treatment, we’d be happy to rehearse," Yu Qingjia added.

"Exactly. What we lack right now is someone who can actually communicate properly," agreed Lu Shanshan, whose strong, angular facial features and high cheekbones had earned her a reputation for being equally appealing to men and women alike.

"That’s right. I think if we pick someone from our own group to talk to them, it might go better," Zhang Yu chimed in, looking expectantly at Ye Yuwei.

Ye Yuwei hadn’t anticipated that her single sentence would prompt so much discussion from everyone else.

Judging by their expressions, they seemed to be suggesting that she should be the one to negotiate.

This group was truly devious. If she went and failed, the blame would undoubtedly fall on her shoulders.

Not to mention the likelihood of failure was high. If she somehow succeeded, her status within the group would skyrocket—something Lu Bingbing and the others would never allow to happen.

"Zhang Yu, you’re absolutely right; we do need someone with some standing to go," Ye Yuwei said, cleverly redirecting attention toward Lu Bingbing.

"The team leader shouldn’t go. If the negotiation falls through, there would be no room left for maneuvering. Yuwei, why don’t you go for us? Even if it doesn’t work out, we can always try again," Yu Qingjia said, with her signature "sweet but calculating" demeanor, passing the ball right back to Ye Yuwei.

"I—I can’t. I barely made it into the top 36 in the recent votes. I’m nobody," Ye Yuwei refused directly, feeling utterly cornered.

"Yuwei, it’s not like we’re asking you to fight for anything massive. Just feel them out a bit. I noticed the on-site director from yesterday’s rehearsal seemed to treat you rather well," Lu Bingbing added.

At this, Ye Yuwei felt a chill course through her body.

That on-site director with the beanie and scruffy beard hadn’t been "nice" to her—he’d clearly had ulterior motives.

"Captain, it’s not that I don’t want to go; it’s just that I don’t have the clout!" Ye Yuwei said bitterly, putting on a desperate expression while firmly refusing to agree.

"Yuwei, how can you be so selfish? It’s just about asking a few questions—it’s not like anyone’s putting you in danger. This is about the group’s interests," Yu Qingjia said with a frown.

"Exactly, Yuwei. We’re a team. When there’s an issue, we should face it together. It’s not like we have anyone else who’s familiar with the people over there!" Zhang Yu added, piling on.

"Yuwei, we understand your concerns. Don’t worry; no one will hold it against you whether it works or not. At worst, the company will step in to mediate," Lu Bingbing said, stepping forward and grabbing Ye Yuwei’s hand with an earnest expression.

By this point, Ye Yuwei couldn’t refuse any further. If she kept resisting, she would only isolate herself further under the guise of "doing what’s right for the team."

She’d end up branded as selfish and unconcerned about the group’s well-being—a reputation that could ruin her.

"Alright... fine. I’ll go and ask, but there’s no guarantee it’ll work!"

"Yuwei, just go for it! Everyone knows this is a tough situation; no one’s going to blame you," Yu Qingjia said with an encouraging smile.

Meanwhile, Gao Huan watched coldly from the sidelines, thinking to himself how adept these people were at scheming. He had already noticed that Lu Shanshan, ranked 32nd in the team votes, had been secretly recording the scene on her phone.

Clearly, they were setting Ye Yuwei up to take the fall, but Gao Huan had no intention of warning her.

In this group dynamic, Ye Yuwei held little sway. If he offended the others, it could well cost him his job.