Mysterious Assistant of the Washed-Up Queen-Chapter 545 - 346: I Have 48 Concerts

[Audience Recruitment: Ages 18-35, all genders welcome, daily pay 120, includes two meals at noon, contact number:...]

["The Voice" live audience recruitment, interested parties please contact...]

Somehow, a variety of advertisements started popping up in part-time job groups, campus networks, and social circles at various universities. Each ad carried the name "The Voice of China," and some even included pictures.

Most students keen on part-time jobs didn't care much about the specifics of the program. They'd glance at the address and, if it seemed convenient, head on over. But there were also those whose curiosity was piqued by the name "The Voice of China," and they wondered what kind of program it was.

"I just saw an ad for audience recruitment in the part-time job group. Have you guys heard of this program?"

"What program? Is it from CCTV? Where are they filming it?"

"No, it's not from a TV station this time. It seems like it's from an entertainment company, a talent show."

"Talent show? Is it called 'The Voice'?"

"Yeah, yeah, yeah, that's the one! Have you heard of it?"

"Ah! My childhood friend participated in that show but got eliminated during the auditions. However, I heard that someone from our university actually made it to the finals!"

"Really? Is the show that impressive?"

"Not sure, but my childhood friend said the stage alone cost over two hundred million. Plus, there are ads everywhere. Haven't you seen them?"

"I haven't. I've been busy preparing for exams these past few months, so I've had no time to go out. Now that exams are over, why don't we go take a look?"

"Sure, I'm just not sure if we can get selected."

"Doesn't Sister Lulu often pick up gigs at the filming studios? Plus, she's a bit of a group leader for these things. She should be able to get us in, right? Should we ask her?"

"But Sister Lulu has always worked around Beijing Film and the August First Film Studio. This one's at Pear Garden; it's a different place."

"Huh? Where's Pear Garden? Is it far? I've only ever heard of the August First Film Studio and Huairou."

"Pear Garden is to the east. It seems to be some kind of new media hub, an incubation park full of livestream hosts. I heard they recently built several new studios there, specifically for filming variety shows. That really popular Chinese version of the Korean talent show, 'Create Team 707,' was supposedly filmed there, right?"

"Ah? Well, that settles it. Let's sign up and see, but I reckon our chances of getting picked are slim."

Similar exchanges quickly spread through the universities across the Capital.

After all, university students are the most expensive commodity these days, but paradoxically, also the cheapest. If you offered someone a hundred bucks for actual work, they'd likely think you were a fool. Not only would they refuse, but they might also call you crazy. What era is this? A hundred bucks wouldn't even tempt a dog, let alone get someone to work!

But if you said you were offering a hundred bucks for someone to come and watch the excitement, well, students would line up in droves. Never mind paying them; sometimes, if a show featured a well-known celebrity, people would practically pay to get in.

And that was precisely the situation now.

Many students who heard the news signed up. Initially, they were just looking to join in the fun, but they were also curious about what a show that had invested hundreds of millions was actually like. With advertisements plastered everywhere and promotions in full swing, most people wanted to see what all the fuss was about.

But they soon realized they might have underestimated things.

"Hey, wait, why are so many people signing up?"

"Man, did you hear? For this show, they only need four hundred audience members, but nearly three thousand signed up! Are they crazy?"

"What? Three thousand? Bullshit! I've only ever heard of variety shows having to increase pay because they couldn't get enough audience members. I've never heard of so many people signing up. What's the deal? Is the show giving away free eggs or something? Did all the old folks show up?"

"Old folks? You think this is a show from the main broadcaster? This time, it's all university students, every single one of them eager to go, even if they don't get paid!"

This guy must have been a master of backhanded compliments. He was imagining elderly men and women with shopping baskets, coming to fill seats as audience members in the courtyards of Beijing Film and the August First Film Studio. He certainly knew how to poke fun. Those retirees had time on their hands, after all. Why not earn over a hundred bucks and get a free meal for just watching a show? They could even knit a sweater while they were at it.

Too bad for them, they weren't given the chance this time, as age restrictions got in the way.

The key thing was, the production team was confident they could gather enough audience members even without relying on the elderly.

Why? Because there was a surprise in store!

"But why? Who'd go if there's no pay? Do they have nothing better to do? Traveling all the way from Haidian to Chaoyang, for what?"

"Heh heh, I didn't get it at first either. But then I saw this..."

"What is it?"

His roommate handed him a phone. On it was a dark red promotional poster with four celebrities lined up, their names annotated beside them.

"'The Voice of China,' mentor lineup revealed! Zheng Qiuming... Xu Qingqiu?!!!"

"Ahhh! Xu Qingqiu is actually in it? She's joining this show? Impossible! Wasn't she on a concert tour?!"

Seeing his roommate's frenzy, the guy who had spoken earlier wore a "told-you-so" expression.

"Exactly! You can't even get tickets for her concerts. And now Xu Qingqiu is actually on this variety show! If you couldn't go to her concert, and an opportunity like this comes up, who wouldn't want to go?"

"Damn it! Why! Why didn't I know sooner?! Can I still go? Are all the spots taken? Is anyone willing to sell their spot? I really want to go! I'd go even without pay! No, wait, can I buy a spot?"