Chapter 435: Chapter 208: Competing Over Who Has Better Connections?

Tang Xia’s insider information was correct, they do want to cut down their performance time.

Tang Xia argued logically, "Director, we’ve been rehearsing a 6-minute program all along. We’re about to perform soon, and you suddenly want us to change it to three and a half minutes. How do we have time to change it?"

Director: "As a mature performer, you must be able to handle any sudden situations. If you lack this ability, how can you impress the opera house and orchestra leaders? On the surface, it seems we are giving you a hard time, but in fact, we are creating a better performance opportunity for you. Little girl, you don’t understand, you can’t appreciate our good intentions."

Oh my!

No wonder he’s a director, truly eloquent.

At this moment, Li Qingning’s team arrived. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

The people from the director group immediately greeted Li Qingning proactively.

Li Qingning smiled and nodded, saying, "Hello, Director. Hello, everyone."

Tang Xia questioned, "Weren’t you eliminated by the school? How can you participate in the program again?"

Li Qingmang quickly interjected, "Funny, my sister is the favorite of the opera house; it’s not difficult to get a program through connections."

Tang Xia deliberately asked the director, "You reduced our program time to give it to them, right?"

Director: "You know and still ask? Truly irresponsible."

Li Qingmang said arrogantly, "This world is about comprehensive strength, not just any single ability. Understand?"

Li Qingning: "Haha... Qingmang, don’t say it like that. Let’s go prepare, don’t waste time talking to them."

After they walked away, other team members started complaining.

"Look at those sisters’ arrogant faces, really deserve a beating!"

"What’s so smug? Isn’t it just using connections?"

"Alas... people have connections, we don’t."

"Whatever, accept it, the world is inherently unfair."

...

The director chuckled, "This young lady is quite right, the world is inherently unfair; those who are powerful make the rules. Please don’t blame me; above me, there are producers, directors, station chiefs, and other leaders. I have to follow orders. Three and a half minutes isn’t little; as long as you perform well, there’s still a chance to impress the opera house and orchestra leaders."

Tang Xia let out a light breath, "You should go prepare, I’ll go to the restroom."

Tang Xia called Yang Chen.

Yang Chen: "What’s up? What did the director say? Did they shorten your time?"

Tang Xia: "Yes, from six minutes to three and a half; the time was given to Li Qingning’s team."

Yang Chen: "That’s so shameless! Wait, I’ll talk to their station chief."

Tang Xia: "Huh? Brother Chen, you have such strong connections?"

Yang Chen: "Haha... not bad, I do have some connections. Wait, I’ll make a call."

Tang Xia: "Okay. Thank you, Brother Chen."

After hanging up, Yang Chen immediately sent Qiu Yuhong a message, ordering him to contact the Hai City TV Station chief, forbidding them from shortening Tang Xia’s team’s performance time, and not allowing Li Qingning’s team to perform.

Qiu Yuhong hurriedly followed suit, quickly calling the Hai City TV Station Chief Zhou Wenbin.

...

Tang Xia returned to her teammates, smiled and said, "Don’t worry, Brother Chen said he’ll help us settle it. Our 6-minute slot is ours; no one can take it away!"

"Really? Haha... that’s great!"

"I didn’t expect Brother Chen’s social connections to be so strong."

"Brother Chen is truly mysterious, so enigmatic!"

...

Tang Xia smiled shyly, "I also find him very mysterious, so attractive. Let’s prepare quickly."

The program group prepared only five pianos, and now Li Qingning’s team was already practicing, leaving Tang Xia’s team watching from the side.

Hoping Li Qingning’s team would finish soon, but they were deliberately delaying, refusing to give up the piano.

At this moment, Yang Chen arrived.

Tang Xia and others hurriedly complained to Yang Chen about Li Qingning’s team’s deliberate delay not letting them practice piano.

Yang Chen approached Li Qingning and others, "That’s enough, we’re all school alumni, why make things so tense?"

Li Qingmang remained sharp, "Since it’s a matter between alumni, what’s it to a ride-share driver like you? Don’t think being a guest professor gives you the right to boss us around; to me, you’ll always just be a ride-share driver."

Li Qingning: "Qingmang, don’t say that. Handsome, your piano skills are indeed high. If you’re willing to be friends with me, I guarantee a smooth and successful future. How about it?"

Yang Chen: "Thanks, but no need. You should go; your program has been canceled, no need to keep occupying the piano."

Li Qingmang: "Haha... What a joke, that’s hilarious. Who do you think you are? Cancelling our program? Do you know this program was specially added for us?"

Yang Chen: "I know! So, a program that was never there being canceled is quite normal, isn’t it?"

Li Qingmang: "Who do you think you are? You say cancel, and it cancels?"

Yang Chen: "Right! I said it; see if the station listens to you or me."

The atmosphere suddenly turned heavy.

Li Qingning felt a bit guilty and scared, awkwardly laughed, and asked, "Who are you exactly?"

Yang Chen: "I’m a ride-share driver, as you know."

Li Qingning: "If you’re just a ride-share driver, on what grounds can you make the station cancel our show?"