JC Entertainment became the target of widespread online attacks three months ago.
The internet was flooded with accusations against Cici, the leader of the popular girl group HHUP, claiming she was working as a high-class escort.
Someone even leaked Cici's price list, and more outrageously, photos of Cici entering hotels with different men multiple times were also exposed.
But that wasn't the worst of it. The worst was when Liu Jinhua, the executive leader of JC Entertainment and Cici's manager, was also forced to trend online.
It was revealed that Cici became an escort because of this manager, and Cici was willing to fall out with Liu Jinhua to expose that this manager had defrauded her of tens of millions in earnings, claiming to invest in real estate, only for it to all be lost.
Regardless of the specifics, Cici's scandal caused JC Entertainment's stock price to plummet. To salvage the situation, Liu Jinhua had no choice but to painfully cut ties with Cici, her cash cow.
Cici was now like a malignant tumor that needed to be quickly excised and distanced from.
That day, Liu Jinhua hung up the phone, having endured over an hour of criticism from various board members.
She had to restore the stock price to its pre-scandal level within three months, or she would be fired!
However, three months was not long enough for the public to forget such a scandal, so she decided to launch the "K-Pop Star" plan from ten years ago!
While originally intended to create a new top girl group, the immediate priority now was to divert public attention. This was also the culmination of JC Entertainment's decade-long effort, so she had to select meticulously and scrutinize strictly.
***
—Three months ago—
Secretary: "Jinhua Jie, these are the files of all trainees currently in the training camp. I've also instructed the staff that this month's evaluation will begin next week."
Liu Jinhua: "Next week? Tell them the evaluation is today. If they can't adapt to a surprise check, they can get out!"
Secretary: "But today is the monthly day off for all trainees. They won't be back until Monday."
Liu Jinhua: "Who gave them permission to take a holiday? They want to be famous but also want rest? Anyone who can't return by 1 PM this afternoon will be eliminated!"
The secretary quickly arranged for the training camp instructors to send out an urgent notice to all trainees.
Precisely at 1 PM, the entrance to the evaluation classroom was already crowded with trainees.
The high-intensity training had turned them into mere tools. No one dared to refuse the system here; they could only constantly force themselves to abandon their individuality.
This was the model of the intensive training camp, designed for stronger mental pressure and artist control.
Liu Jinhua was already seated in the classroom, with the evaluation teachers beside her. She wore a perpetual scowl, so the trainees were already on the verge of collapse the moment they saw her.
Liu Jinhua: "You're too fat!"
Liu Jinhua: "Go get some plastic surgery and then come back to be a trainee!"
Liu Jinhua: "You look like an idiot! Get out!"
…
Out of over fifty trainees, only ten remained under Liu Jinhua's humiliation. Many girls had already left the classroom in tears.
Liu Jinhua opened the door and yelled at the ten trainees who had yet to be assessed: "Pick out a dance leader. I'll give you thirty minutes to practice, and after thirty minutes, everyone comes in and dances together. Do you understand?"
Liu Jinhua slammed the classroom door shut, leaving the ten girls outside looking at each other. They cast their gaze towards Xia, who had already been eliminated. Xia was originally the dance leader among their trainees.
Several girls walked up to Xia, almost kneeling to beg her. Xia nodded and began choreographing for them.
Thirty minutes later, Xia knocked on the door. A teacher called, "Come in." Thus, the eliminated Xia watched her sisters enter the room, then quietly cheered them on.
After all the girls had finished singing and dancing, Liu Jinhua pointed out the trainees she was displeased with, criticizing them as usual.
Liu Jinhua: "Dance leader, step forward."
Silence filled the room. No one dared to respond.
Liu Jinhua roared again: "I said, dance leader, step forward! Can't you understand?"
The classroom door was knocked on again. Xia cautiously opened the door, bowing to greet all the teachers, only to be hit by a bottle of mineral water thrown by Liu Jinhua.
Liu Jinhua: "Who let you in? Get out!"
Xia picked up the bottle, suppressed her tears, and said with a smile, "Teacher, I am the dance leader."
Only then did Liu Jinhua seriously look at the girl she had just eliminated. To be honest, she couldn't remember why she had eliminated this girl.
Liu Jinhua: "What's your name?"
Xia: "Teacher, my name is Xia, Xi from hope, Ya from first and second place."
Liu Jinhua extended her hand to the teacher beside her. The dance teacher flipped through the files of the eliminated trainees and found Xia's.
Liu Jinhua: "Come over here."
Xia quickly ran to Liu Jinhua. Liu Jinhua scrutinized Xia closely. She was indeed very beautiful, but unfortunately, she had a few pimples on her forehead...
Right, Liu Jinhua remembered. The reason she eliminated her just now was because her face looked red, and a red face was too tacky on camera. It turned out to be those few pimples.
Liu Jinhua: "Alright, everyone out."
The trainees lined up and left the classroom one by one. Liu Jinhua dropped her stern demeanor and began discussing the day's evaluation results with the other teachers.
Dance Teacher: "These are the ones who danced quite well earlier."
Vocal Teacher: "These have excellent singing skills."
Etiquette Teacher: "These will definitely look good on camera."
Liu Jinhua reviewed them one by one, but she wasn't particularly satisfied with any.
Liu Jinhua: "I only want four. These four must be absolutely outstanding in singing, dancing, and image for K-Pop Star. We want the pillar of our company's performance for the next decade!"
The teachers began to argue among themselves, each having students they believed could be the leader of the new girl group.
Liu Jinhua: "What about this one?"
Liu Jinhua picked up Xia's file again. All the teachers began to consider Xia's performance over the past three years.
After a few minutes of silence, they unanimously agreed that Xia was definitely presidential material.
Liu Jinhua: "Take her for skincare. I don't want a girl group leader with a face full of pimples!"
—End of three months ago—
***
The board of directors at JC Entertainment was conducting the final review for the debut of the new girl group.
Before this, the entertainment company had conducted thorough background checks on all potential issues and had even strictly prohibited plastic surgery in their contracts.
This meant that these four girls would completely open up the international market. Once their debut was successful, it would help the company's stock price rebound from its low.
After several hours of discussion, the board members voted on the debut of this girl group.
Undoubtedly, everyone should have unanimously believed that these four girls were their lifeline. However, the anticipated unanimous approval encountered a snag.
Liu Jinhua nervously observed everyone present. She had absolute faith in her exceptional judgment!
But a decision was announced by a board member that shocked her, and even angered her a little!!!
Board Member: "This is indeed an excellent four-member girl group, and we absolutely believe their future will be brilliant. However..."
Liu Jinhua: "It's alright, please state your requirements."
Board Member: "Ms. Liu, please listen to us first. The entertainment company has been in a slump for years, and coupled with the crisis you and your artists brought about three months ago, the capital group is extremely disappointed in us..."
Liu Jinhua: "Yes, so this girl group is the most crucial step to turn things around!"
Board Member: "But we have decided to abandon this plan..."
Liu Jinhua: "Say that again?"
Board Member: "You heard correctly. After our consideration, the K-Pop Star plan will be indefinitely postponed, training camp expenses will be reduced, and new talent cultivation may also be suspended."
Liu Jinhua: "How can you just cancel it like that!!!"
"Don't you all see the efforts these children have put in?"
"Do you know how much hardship and criticism these four girls endured before preparing for their debut?!"
"Do you know how many years of waiting they've had, year after year?"
"They train sixteen hours a day, must learn three languages, and can't even go home to see their parents on holidays. What are they doing this for?"
"The efforts these children have made are all for the sake of debuting one day!"
This was the first time Liu Jinhua had spoken so loudly in front of the board members. She thought today would be like any other day, where everyone would support and approve the K-Pop Star plan.
Liu Jinhua: "What's the reason? Didn't you all nod frequently when you saw their performances and reports?"
Board Member: "This is the capital group's decision. They will no longer invest in us."
Liu Jinhua was so emotional that she felt it was a pity for the four girls behind her!
They were the best and deserved to be seen by more people!!!
But without capital investment, there would be no money to fulfill their dreams.
Board Member: "Furthermore, we hope you will voluntarily resign."
Liu Jinhua: "You've just destroyed these children's futures, and now you want to kick me out?"
Board Member: "After all, the girl group has not debuted yet, and there is no news outside. Disbanding and dismissing at this time is the best course of action."
Liu Jinhua: "On what grounds?"
Board Member: "Because of the stain on your reputation. Once the public knows that this new girl group was managed by you, it will likely affect the company's stock price again. We have already lost the trust of the capital group, and we cannot afford to let the precarious company further..."
Liu Jinhua looked at everyone present in disbelief!!!
She couldn't hear anything the board members said after that!
Look at their faces. When they made money, they praised Liu Jinhua to the heavens, but now that they were losing money, they wanted to put her to death!
And it was as if they had nothing to do with Cici working as an escort back then!
If they hadn't wanted to win over capital, why would they have asked her to have her artists show their faces?
These detestable men, they all deserved to die!
Board Member: "Ms. Liu, Ms. Liu?"
Liu Jinhua turned her head and looked at the four girls behind her. The despair on their faces deeply pained this manager, just like the first time Cici was sent out for escorting, that kind of helplessness...
Liu Jinhua: "Is there any way, any way at all, to let these four girls debut?"
Board Member: "Ms. Liu, you need to understand one thing. For them to debut, they need capital support. With the current entertainment company, we cannot afford the expenses."