"That girl…" Lin Chen suddenly remembered the female contestant he had pulled out; her terrified, tearful eyes were etched in his mind. "What will happen to her? Did what I did actually harm her?"
Chen Kai shook his head: "You saved her temporarily, but you can't save her forever. In this corrupt environment, if she can't stand on her own two feet, she'll inevitably run into President Zhang or President Li again. But you did the right thing, kid." He looked at Lin Chen, his eyes filled with a rare admiration. "In that situation, to still act according to your conscience…" "That's rare. It proves that your core hasn't been corrupted. That's called 'a conscience not dead,' a rare commodity in this industry, and also... a luxury."
"A luxury?"
"Yes. Because it will make you pay the price." Chen Kai's tone was incredibly certain. "Tonight you offended President Liu and slapped Producer Zhao in the face, which is tantamount to openly challenging their rules. They won't let you off easily. Your path in the upcoming competition will be very difficult."
As if to confirm Chen Kai's words, Lin Chen's phone vibrated. It was a message from a staff member in charge of contestant coordination from the production team, the tone icy:
"Lin Chen, given your inappropriate words and actions tonight outside of filming, which have potentially negatively impacted the program's image, the production team solemnly warns you that this is not to be repeated. Furthermore, the solo promotional photo shoot scheduled for 9:00 AM tomorrow has been cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances; the specific time will be announced later."
See, the price has come. So quickly.
Lin Chen handed his phone to Chen Kai to look at. Chen Kai glanced at it, then scoffed unsurprisedly, "Cancelled? It's probably postponed indefinitely. This is just the beginning. Next, your scenes might be completely cut, your song selection will be the most difficult to perform, the judges' comments will be exceptionally 'strict,' and negative articles will flood the internet. They'll use every means possible to either force you to admit your mistakes or eliminate you 'naturally.'"
A chill ran down Lin Chen's spine. He wasn't surprised, but when the prediction became reality, the invisible pressure still made him feel suffocated.
"Scared?" Chen Kai asked.
Lin Chen nodded honestly, then slowly shook his head: "Scared. But… I don't regret it."
If he could do it all over again, he would still stand up. He couldn't stand by and watch that girl be bullied. That would violate all the education he had received over the past nineteen years, violate the most basic respect for life he had learned from the mountains and forests.
Chen Kai looked at him, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes—admiration, worry, and a hint of reminiscence, as if seeing his own past self. "Since you've chosen not to regret it, then think about how to deal with it." Chen Kai sat back down opposite him, his tone becoming pragmatic. "First, stick to the excuse of 'a family emergency,' and don't admit to any 'inappropriate words or actions.' Second, focus on the upcoming competition. No matter what song they give you or what obstacles they set for you, sing your best. Remember, as long as you seize the opportunity once and move the audience with your voice again, it will be difficult for them to blatantly eliminate you. The audience's eyes are discerning, especially in this information age."
"Finally," Chen Kai paused, lowering his voice even further, "protect yourself. Not only in your career, but also in your personal safety. Try not to be alone, and pay attention to your diet. This industry is more unscrupulous than you imagine."
That night, Lin Chen lay on the makeshift cot in Chen Kai's studio, tossing and turning. The city lights outside couldn't penetrate the thick curtains, plunging the room into darkness. For the first time, he felt so clearly how heavy the wings of his dreams were, and how the road beneath his feet was strewn with unseen thorns.
He remembered the unconditional acceptance in the mountains, the worried yet supportive eyes of his parents, the pure joy of singing before the waterfall… Then, these images were overshadowed by the distorted faces at the dinner table, Mr. Liu's cold gaze, and that chilling warning message.
His conscience was not extinguished.
These four words, at this moment, were like a medal, branded on his chest, burning and heavy. They represented his perseverance, and foreshadowed the even more violent storm he was about to face.
He knew that from tomorrow onward, in this training camp, in this competition, and even in this entertainment industry he had only just glimpsed, he would become a complete "outcast."
An uncompromising outcast, imbued with "conscience."