Entertainment: From Street Interviews to Global Stardom

Chapter 33: Intercepting The Captain Cast

Lin Hai listened to the whispers around him, a hint of satisfaction slowly emerging in his expression.

“Do they really think being the host during the prime time slot is that easy?”

Your ratings don’t match your experience, and you really think that just because you interviewed a few people, you’ll be able to secure the golden seat of prime time?

“Don’t be naive!!!”

The station only puts you in the prime time slot on a whim.

After a few days, when your miserable ratings come out, the station will come to its senses.

Then, you’ll have to obediently return to your afternoon time slot, and the golden prime time slot will still be mine, Lin Hai’s!

Lin Hai was very confident about this.

Yang Fan’s eyes lit up instantly. A chance to draw a lottery again???

Since that’s the case, then what reason does he have to stay low-key?

“Mr. Lin Hai, are you so confident that I can’t hold on to this prime time throne?” Yang Fan asked with a smile.

“Of course!” Lin Hai responded firmly.

If this position was so easy to hold, after all these years, someone would have pushed him out by now. How could he be so domineering in the station?

He knows very well what kind of relationships he has with others. If his business skills weren’t superior to theirs, he would have been long gone!

“Then let’s make a bet, shall we? Let’s bet on the rankings of the ratings test,” Yang Fan said with a grin.

Lin Hai rolled his eyes. “Are we betting whether you’ll be last?”

“No, I’m betting whether I’ll be first!” Yang Fan replied confidently.

He was, after all, a proper graduate of a media university. Getting hired by Mango Radio was based on his real skills, fighting for his position among the other interns!

But his luck had been bad before, and he was placed in the afternoon time slot.

There’s barely any audience at this time. How can his ratings be good?

Lin Hai couldn’t help but laugh. “How much have you drunk? If you even ate a peanut, you wouldn’t be this drunk.”

“You can just assume I’m drunk. Mr. Lin Hai, are you brave enough to bet?” Yang Fan stared straight into Lin Hai’s eyes, not allowing him to avoid his gaze.

Lin Hai chuckled. “If I bet with you, that’s bullying you. Let’s change the rules. How about this: my afternoon time slot’s ratings are double than yours in prime time?”

“If I win, you’ll resign. If I lose, I’ll leave it up to you—how’s that?” Lin Hai was also quite confident.

He had been the pillar of the station for years, and it wasn’t just for show!

His relationships weren’t great, but in terms of skills, he believed no one in the station could beat him!

The afternoon time slot was indeed a tough sell, but that depended on who was in the slot.

His audience was highly loyal, and although not everyone would follow, at least half of them would!

As for Yang Fan, he didn’t even have one-tenth of the audience following him.

Yang Fan had no fan base. What gives him the right to challenge Lin Hai?

If Yang Fan had been in the prime time slot for a couple of months and built up an audience, Lin Hai wouldn’t have been so cocky!

But Yang Fan had just taken over the prime time, and his audience was still largely Lin Hai’s audience. What does he have to fight against me?

Without thinking, Yang Fan answered directly, “Alright, if your ratings are twice as mine, you win, and I’ll resign. If my ratings are better, I win, and you resign. How’s that?”

“Deal!” Lin Hai answered confidently.

But the director, on the other hand, was starting to panic.

The director hurriedly stepped up to the two of them, who were now filled with intense tension, and said, “We’re all colleagues, why make it so awkward? What’s all this talk about resigning? You’re not resigning, no one’s resigning! No one’s resigning!”

“You can bet, but you can’t use resigning as the stake.” The director was feeling a headache coming on.

These two were the station’s pillars. Losing either of them would be a massive loss for the station!

Yang Fan’s eyes flashed, and he immediately retorted, “If we’re not using resignation as the stake, then what else? A meal? Don’t you think that sounds childish?”

The director was momentarily speechless.

Shi Lei’s eyes flickered, and he quickly pulled the director aside, smiling as he said, “Director, don’t we still have that employee welfare house we haven’t distributed yet?”

“Why don’t we use that house as the stake?” Shi Lei suggested.

“No way. The director already said that house is reserved for Lin Hai,” the director furrowed her brow and replied.

Shi Lei’s heart suddenly understood. So this house was reserved for Lin Hai all along. Since it’s his, of course, he won’t agree!

“Director, let me explain. This house is meant for the local staff who don’t have housing, right?” Shi Lei asked.

The director nodded.

“Then, doesn’t Yang Fan’s performance this year and his personal situation fully meet the criteria for applying for this house? As for Lin Hai, he already has a family and a house locally, so he doesn’t qualify. Am I right?” Shi Lei continued.

The director nodded and said, “I know all this, but what about Lin Hai being forcibly moved from his time slot? If we don’t compensate him, how will we keep him?”

“But if the station handles it this way, you might lose Yang Fan,” Shi Lei said quietly.

The director sighed and said, “I’ve mentioned this issue to the station head, but he refuses to agree. The station head said we can compensate Yang Fan in other ways, but not with the house.”

“The welfare house is right across from our office building. It’s where all the anchors, directors, and planners from the satellite station live. The station head is afraid that if Yang Fan moves there, the satellite station will poach him, and that would be a huge loss!”

If we get outsmarted by the talent agency, let alone the station chief, even I, as the director, would want to vomit blood!

“Director, you’re all making a mistake. For us young people, no amount of benefits can compare to owning a house!” Shi Lei said.

“Giving this house to Lin Hai will only make Yang Fan feel disheartened, and it will dishearten everyone in the station!”

“At that point, if the satellite station stirs things up, Yang Fan won’t even need their active recruitment. He’ll just resign and join them directly.”

“And if you give the house to Yang Fan, when the satellite station tries to poach him, at least he’ll remember that the station gave him that house. He’ll have some loyalty towards the station.”

“Otherwise, if you don’t give the house to Yang Fan, he’ll leave the station with a broken heart!”

“In the future, our station and Yang Fan will basically become estranged.”

“As for Lin Hai, the house was never meant for him in the first place. If you don’t give it to him, he won’t be able to complain!”

“Director, think carefully about which choice is more beneficial!” Shi Lei analyzed it seriously.

The director’s brows furrowed, slowly realizing that Shi Lei’s argument made sense.

Lin Hai was getting older, and it would be difficult for him to find a suitable job elsewhere. So, even if the station treated him unfairly occasionally, Lin Hai wouldn’t easily resign.

Like this time, Lin Hai just made a fuss, but he didn’t even mention resignation.

But young people are different. If you adjust their position, they’ll resign without hesitation!

Yang Fan had only graduated a few years ago. He was in his prime, and with his current progress, he would be able to find success anywhere he went.

It seemed that keeping Yang Fan was more important.

Yang Fan had to stay, but Lin Hai couldn’t leave!

The director had made up her mind.

“Betting is fine, but we can’t joke about resignation. Since you both want a stake, let’s use the station’s employee welfare house. The winner gets the house,” the director said resolutely.

Yang Fan’s eyes lit up slightly. “Shi Lei, you’re a genius! No wonder you’re my brother!”

Lin Hai was also excited. “This house wasn’t originally meant for me, but now the director’s using it as a stake? This is practically handing me a free house!”

“This is great!”

Both Yang Fan and Lin Hai were satisfied and simultaneously said, “Deal!”

The director let out a relieved sigh. “Alright, it’s settled then. Let’s stop whispering. Everyone return to your seats and let’s get back to the meeting!”

Everyone quickly sat down, and Lin Hai quietly gave up his seat.

Since he had agreed to the bet, it meant he had acknowledged that Yang Fan was now the host of the prime time slot, and the prime time host should sit in his position!

“Because of Yang Fan’s successful exclusive interview with the Best Actor Wu Jing, all the programs at the station have seen a huge boost in ratings.”

“The station has tasted success, so it’s decided to try and interview more stars.”

“Additionally, the The Captain crew will come to Mango City in a few days to participate in Happy Camp, so the station wants to send two hosts to intercept them and see if we can secure another interview opportunity!”

“Originally, we called this meeting to discuss which two hosts to send. Now, there’s no need to discuss. Let’s just send Yang Fan and Lin Hai.”

“Whether you can get the interview depends on your own abilities!”

“Yang Fan, Lin Hai, do you have any questions?” the director asked, looking at them.

“I have no issues!” Yang Fan said.

“I also have no issues!” Lin Hai said.

“Good, since no one has any issues, the meeting is adjourned!”

Everyone collectively stood up and left the meeting room.

The director caught up with Yang Fan, who was about to leave, and asked, “Yang Fan, you just returned from a business trip. Can you host tonight’s program?”

“If you’re too tired, I’ll have Hao Yue host it alone for another day.”

“As for the bet, I’ll make the call. It starts from tomorrow, not today,” the director said with great concern.

Yang Fan smiled confidently and said, “Director, don’t worry. Even without The Captain crew, I have a way to get the top ratings!”

“I won’t take advantage of Lin Hai. Today, I’ll host, but I need to prepare something in advance,” Yang Fan said mysteriously.