Well, here we are.

Hearing Xu Jiali, Director Wen turned to Jiang Beibei, his expression cold. "Is this how your agent trains their talent? If you look down on me, the director, why are you even here filming this show?"

’Does she really think I’m a pushover just because I’m a new director?’

After being scolded by Director Wen, Jiang Beibei was starting to lose face. She was a celebrity, after all.

’A minor celebrity is still a celebrity!’

"Director, you can’t just take Xu Jiali’s word for it! Did anyone else hear anything? She’s clearly slandering me."

"I... I heard it too," the usually quiet Song Jiayan suddenly spoke up from the side.

Xu Jiali shot Jiang Beibei a triumphant look. "Are you still going to deny it?"

"That’s enough! I’ll let it slide this time, but if there’s a next time, you can get lost!"

’If she offends me, I can just endure it.’

’But offending Doctor Wen... that’s not something I can just let slide.’

’After all, Doctor Wen isn’t just a psychologist.’

Director Wen knew full well who was more important between Doctor Wen and Jiang Beibei.

Jiang Beibei saw the mocking looks from Wen Ying and Xu Jiali. She bit her lip and fell silent.

"Once filming begins, every single one of you had better take this seriously and complete the shoot. Otherwise, don’t blame me for being ruthless!"

Director Wen finally got a taste of what a director’s authority felt like.

’This feels amazing!’

Jiang Beibei felt wronged and furious, but she didn’t dare say another word.

She just shot Song Jiayan a vicious glare. ’That shameless pair!’

Xie Fu Yao may have looked down on Director Wen, but he knew how to read the room in a situation like this.

Wen Ying followed the director to a long table he had prepared, which was laden with offerings and burning incense.

’I’m at a loss for words. My job is a psychologist, not some feng shui master.’

’But the director had just put on such a show of authority; I have to give him some face.’

’It was a four-million contract, after all.’

Wen Ying thought for a moment, took out a ballpoint pen from her hair, and casually picked up a piece of Yellow Paper from the long table.

Then, in front of everyone, she wrote four large words on it: Auspicious Start to Filming!

She then placed the Yellow Paper on the long table, turned to the director, and said, "Director, all set."

Meng Xiaoyi watched the scene, took a few steps back to stand beside Jiang Beibei, and whispered, "Sister Bei Bei, don’t tell me this woman is some kind of charlatan? They’re letting charlatans on variety shows now?"

"Quiet. Once filming starts, we’ll show her!"

Meng Xiaoyi nodded.

"Doctor Wen, since we’re done here, shall we make a Weibo post?" Director Wen couldn’t hide the glee on his face.

Wen Ying didn’t refuse. After all, she had to let her fans know.

She didn’t want her Fireflies to think she’d forgotten them. 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

Hearing the director’s words, Xie Fu Yao and Jiang Beibei stood up straight.

’If it’s about promotion, our popularity is the highest among all the guests!’

’The director will obviously come to us. And even though we’re obligated to help promote the show, this is a good time to posture a little.’

But all they saw was the director take out his phone, personally log into the show’s official account, make a post, and then tag the psychologist, Wen Ying.

Wen Ying also posted: Fireflies, the show is about to start! Search for @LetsGoExploring on Orange Video~

Completely satisfied, Director Wen handed his phone to a nearby assistant.

"Let’s roll!"

Xie Fu Yao and Jiang Beibei were completely dumbfounded. ’So he doesn’t need us for promotion at all?’

’Is this director an idiot?’

Even Zhang Jingxing hadn’t expected the director to be so clueless.

Only Zhao Qi was unfazed. ’I’m just here to get on a variety show and blow up!’

’Become a huge star!’

’Posting on Weibo is meaningless to me.’

The group waited for another minute, not expecting the director to suddenly shout for filming to start immediately.

Reluctantly, they logged into their Weibo accounts. "Director, we’ll go ahead and repost the show’s official post."

Director Wen thought for a moment and didn’t refuse.

’One more person promoting means more viewers. That’s a good thing!’

After making their posts, Xie Fu Yao and Jiang Beibei exchanged a look. They both felt that on this production, the unspoken rules of their industry just kept hitting a brick wall.

A member of the production team had already started announcing the show’s rules.

The show would be broadcast live, with one episode airing per week.

The show, Let’s Go Exploring, was, as the name suggested, an exploration program. If one had to categorize it further, it also fell into the genres of survival, slice-of-life, and slow-living reality TV.

「The first day of filming.」

The guests would draw lots to form two groups of four.

For the first mission, each group needed to self-sufficiently reach the opposite shore of Xuanyang Lake and survive in the forest there until midnight.

Groups that reached the opposite shore within twenty minutes would earn ten points.

Arriving after the twenty-minute mark would only earn two points.

The top-ranked group would receive one food-related clue from the production team.

"Time to draw lots!"

Meng Xiaoyi clasped her hands together, making a wish. "Please let me get Sister Bei Bei and Brother Fu Yao."

Hearing this, Jiang Beibei and Xie Fu Yao said nothing, but they exchanged a look, each thinking that they had to end up in the same group.

The eight of them stood in front of a cardboard box set up by the staff. Wen Ying directly reached in and pulled out a slip of paper.

The slip of paper read: 1.

Jiang Beibei’s eyes widened as she looked at the "1" on her own slip, then at the "2" on Xie Fu Yao’s.

Obviously, the two of them were not in the same group.

"Director, can we switch groups?"

Director Wen’s face was cold. "The live stream has already begun. Do you think you can switch, Beibei?"

Seeing the camera pointed at her, Jiang Beibei, though inwardly resentful, forced a smile. "I was just joking! I really wanted to be in a group with Brother Fu Yao, but I guess it wasn’t meant to be."

"Cheer for me, darlings!~" Jiang Beibei said suddenly, turning to the camera.

The production had two camera operators, one assigned to each group.

The show would be presented in a split-screen format, letting audience viewership decide which group was more popular.

The director kept his eyes on the set, while dedicated staff monitored the live stream’s data.

*[Doctor Wen’s variety show debut! I have to support her!]*

*[Doctor Wen’s variety show debut! I have to support her!]*

...

*[Doctor Wen’s variety show debut! I have to support her!]*

Dozens of similar comments flooded the screen.

Xie Fu Yao looked at the "2" in his hand and waited for his group members to be revealed. ’In this group,’ he thought, ’I’ll definitely be the leader.’

After the drawing, the groups were set.

Group 1: Wen Ying, Song Jiayan, Jiang Beibei, and Zhang Jingxing.

Group 2: Xie Fu Yao, Xu Jiali, Meng Xiaoyi, and Zhao Qi.

Jiang Beibei immediately stepped forward. "Since we’re a team, I think we should have a leader. I’ll take that role. If we want to win first place, everyone has to follow the leader’s plan."

Song Jiayan stood beside Wen Ying, not speaking.

Wen Ying glanced at Jiang Beibei, then looked toward the director. "Director, if someone in the group deliberately drags us down, how will that be handled?"

Jiang Beibei laughed. "Doctor Wen, don’t worry about that. This is a live show. If anyone tries to drag the team down, the online viewers will tear them to shreds. It seems you don’t understand how these shows work at all, Doctor Wen."