Chapter 152: What Happened to the Most Basic Respect Between People?

Perhaps noticing Chen Qi approaching, Vice Station Manager Wu paused, looking at him with a seemingly amiable smile, as if he were a man entirely devoid of airs.

"Vice Station Manager Wu," Chen Qi stopped about a meter away and offered a polite greeting.

Vice Station Manager Wu chuckled and asked, "You must be Chen Qi, right?"

"Yes, I am."

The Vice Station Manager nodded, glancing around as he said, "Well, I don’t have much on. I just heard you were preparing a program, and since I happened to be passing by, I thought I’d drop in to see how things are going."

Chen Qi wore an expression of sudden realization but remained silent. He didn't believe a word of the "just happened to be passing by" nonsense. This man, who was a rival to Vice Station Manager Wang, had clearly come to scout the opposition.

"What kind of format is your program?" Vice Station Manager Wu asked with feigned curiosity.

"It’s just a show where we invite some singers to compete," Chen Qi replied vaguely.

"Oh? Have you signed the singers yet?"

Chen Qi gave an awkward laugh and said, "We’re actively negotiating. As soon as they hear it’s a competitive show with eliminations, they have all sorts of reservations. I’ll probably have to offer a bit more money to close the deals."

Vice Station Manager Wu nodded thoughtfully, his face giving nothing away. He then proceeded to ask a few more questions, such as what the budget was and whether any advertisers had been secured.

Chen Qi didn't offer a single honest word in response. He deflected wherever possible, claiming he lacked experience with budgets and was taking it one step at a time. As for advertisers, he claimed he was still in talks, but that several he’d approached showed no interest once they learned it was a music program. However, he didn't forget to add that he was confident he could make the show a success.

That last part was the truth.

Interestingly, while Vice Station Manager Wu had listened to all of Chen Qi’s previous nonsense with great seriousness, he couldn't help but laugh when hearing this sincere statement. He laughed quite freely, as if he had just heard a very funny joke.

"Alright, keep at it! Good luck!"

Vice Station Manager Wu offered a generous word of encouragement, looked around once more, and then took his leave under the pretense of being busy with work.

Chen Qi watched him go. Only after the man had disappeared from sight did he offer a faint smile and return to his tasks.

What an old fox.

Having managed to secretly prepare for two months without anyone noticing, he wouldn't be so naive as to believe the man was actually as amiable as he had just portrayed himself to be. It was best to avoid dealing with someone whose hidden depths were so unfathomable.

***

Before long, it was noon.

While eating in the cafeteria, Chen Qi noticed an interesting phenomenon. The staff from his own program team sat together and ate in near-total silence; even those who spoke did so in hushed tones.

The staff from Vice Station Manager Wu’s program team downstairs, however, were different. They were high-spirited throughout the entire meal. They discussed their work, their program, and the big-name stars they had invited in loud, booming voices. Many of them would glance toward his team while talking, their eyes filled with obvious arrogance and disdain. They were brimming with a sense of superiority.

Conversely, his own staff, even when they heard these sounds or clearly felt the contempt directed their way, pretended not to notice. They didn't even dare to make direct eye contact.

Chen Qi, silent, took it all in. He found it rather amusing. He knew that everyone in the station looked down on his show, but he hadn't expected his own team to be so demoralized. Judging by their demeanor, it seemed they felt that being part of this show was something shameful or embarrassing.

Chen Qi shook his head helplessly and continued eating. The extent to which they lacked faith in this program truly exceeded his expectations.

Even so, he didn't intend to do anything about it. He was busy enough as it was.

Just then, a refined-looking middle-aged man carrying a tray of food sat down opposite him. Chen Qi hadn't thought much of it initially, but when he felt almost every gaze in the room shift toward them, he realized something was amiss. He looked up at the man across from him with curiosity.

"Chen Qi, is it?" the man asked with a smile.

Chen Qi nodded, looking at him with a puzzled expression.

Observing Chen Qi’s confused look, the man frowned imperceptibly and asked tentatively, "You... don't recognize me?"

Chen Qi shook his head. He truly didn't recognize him. He knew very few people in this world. However, from the man's question, he guessed he must be a well-known figure at the station. Judging by the reactions of the onlookers, he also surmised that the man was likely from the program team downstairs. A producer? A host? A senior executive?

Seeing that Chen Qi really didn't recognize him, the man’s smile faded. He was annoyed. You come to Beijing Satellite TV to make a career, and you don't recognize me, the station's top star? It was preposterous. Simply preposterous.

"Let me introduce myself. I am Du Bin, a host here at the station. 'The More You Play, The Happier You Are,' which is launching this Friday, is a show I planned and host," he said, emphasizing the word "Friday."

"Oh..." Chen Qi drew out the sound in a display of sudden realization. He knew that "The More You Play, The Happier You Are" was the show Vice Station Manager Wu was preparing. He was, however, surprised that this host had been involved in the planning; he was clearly one of Wu’s confidants. Was the office politics in this TV station really this complex?

He didn't say much, merely looking at him with a smile.

*He's looking for trouble. This guy is looking for trouble.* The station hadn't even decided who would get the Friday time slot yet, and he was already confidently claiming it as his own?

Seeing that Chen Qi remained completely unruffled after hearing his name, Du Bin grew irritated. *As a nationally recognized host, I’ve taken the initiative to approach you—a junior director who has only just gained a little bit of fame—and the least you could do is be polite, if not flattered. What is this "Oh" supposed to mean? Are you looking down on me? Do you think you're better than me? There are so many people watching; if they didn't know better, they’d think I was the one trying to curry favor with you!*

After taking a deep breath, Du Bin couldn't be bothered with pleasantries toward the tactless Chen Qi and asked directly, "I hear you’re producing a music program?"

"That's right," Chen Qi replied with a smile, continuing to eat.

Du Bin’s mouth twitched; he was on the verge of losing his temper. *Where is the respect? Where is the basic respect between people? I’m talking to you, and you’re just focused on your food?*

He glanced around discreetly and, sure enough, saw that many people were looking at him with strange expressions. Thinking quickly, Du Bin raised his voice and asked, "I heard you’re also after the Friday time slot?"

*Since you’re so disrespectful, don't blame me for not saving you any face.*

As he expected, the eyes of many onlookers lit up. *A show is finally starting!*

The staff from "The More You Play, The Happier You Are" looked over, their expressions filled with mockery, as if to say: *You have nothing to show for yourself, yet you dare to compete with us for the Friday slot? Where do you get the nerve?*

Conversely, the staff from "Singer" looked over with complex expressions. They felt incredibly embarrassed. *Is even our director going to be humiliated by them?*

Listening to Du Bin’s raised voice, Chen Qi gave him a meaningful look and continued eating.

"Yes," he replied.

"And you think you can get it?" Du Bin’s tone was thick with disdain.

Chen Qi unhurriedly finished the last bite of his meal, looked up at Du Bin, and after a moment of thought, said with a smile, "Let me put it this way: that Friday time slot will definitely be ours."

"Hahahaha!"

A burst of uproarious laughter erupted nearby. It was the "The More You Play, The Happier You Are" team. Their laughter was filled with ruthless mockery. *Definitely yours? Ask anyone in the entire station—how many people believe you? We’ve heard you were shameless, but we never thought you were shameless to this extent!*

Some staff members unrelated to either team joined in the laughter, seemingly agreeing that Chen Qi was far too arrogant. The members of the "Singer" team hung their heads in embarrassment, unable to look in that direction anymore. They, too, felt that Chen Qi’s skin was a bit too thick. *How could he say something like that in front of so many people?*

Yet, from another perspective, they couldn't help but admire him.

Chen Qi looked at the people laughing and smiled indifferently. He raised his voice and said, "I know you don't believe me, but that's fine. We only have ten or fifteen days left anyway. Let's wait and see."

With that, he stood up and left.

He walked with perfect composure and ease. This confidence, which didn't seem faked, made a few people look at him in a new light. But that was all. Not a single person at the scene took Chen Qi’s words seriously; they subconsciously assumed it was just empty talk to save face.

Of course, aside from the "The More You Play, The Happier You Are" team, everyone else was simply watching the spectacle and wouldn't form a negative opinion of him over such a sudden, minor incident. Small frictions between two competing programs were perfectly normal; such things had happened at the station before.

Perhaps finding Chen Qi’s calm and composed demeanor an eyesore, Du Bin stared at his retreating back for a few seconds before an idea struck him. He stood up, looking strangely excited, and chased after him.