Naturally, Su Ning wasn’t about to exchange greetings with anyone here; it wasn’t the right time.

He scanned the office, taking in the people present, and then countered Shen Huai’s words directly: “That’s not quite right. I’m twenty-two; I’m not a kid anymore. When adults make mistakes, we can’t hide behind ‘being immature’ as an excuse. We need to take responsibility; otherwise, it’s just enabling bad behavior. Don’t you think so, Teacher Shen?”

The words sounded fine on their own, but coming from Su Ning’s mouth, they took on an odd tone.

Most notably, he actually referred to Shen Huai as “Teacher Shen,” which was unusually polite and distant. He hadn’t even addressed him this respectfully on the show, often talking back with reluctance. Everyone else in the room exchanged glances, surprised by his change in attitude, even Shen Mingzheng looked up at him.

It was Shen Huai’s first time hearing Su Ning address him like that, and he was momentarily at a loss. Su Ning continued, “This issue began because of me, and I apologize for the impact it’s had on the company and the program. But I realized that an apology alone won’t help; we need a solution.”

The deputy director of Idol Star Map, sitting across from Su Hongda, merely scoffed at this, showing no sign of softening. “Oh, so you do understand that.”

Apologizing wasn’t enough to appease the disgruntled production team, so Su Ning pressed on, “So, for today’s press conference, I would like to…”

Before he could continue, Shen Huai interrupted.

Recovering from his earlier surprise, Shen Huai smiled and said, “No need to worry, Xiao Ning. We’ve already arranged everything for the press conference. Just show the attitude you’re showing now, and apologize properly; everyone will surely forgive you, right, President Su?”

Su Hongda, seemingly trusting Shen Huai’s judgment, nodded and glared at Su Ning. “Adults are talking; children shouldn’t interrupt. Go review your script with Xiao Yao. If you mess up even one word at the press conference, we’ll have a conversation when we get home.”

Su Ning: “…Who’s the kid here?”

He wanted to respond further, but there was no opportunity in this setting.

Even when he had come in, apologizing immediately, the people in this room were already set on viewing him as useless, with Shen Huai subtly fanning the flames. No one was on his side.

Meanwhile, Su Hongda had taken on the authoritative air of a chairman, speaking to the production team, “If Xiao Ning quits the show now, it will make it difficult for the program as well. We need to work together to minimize the impact of this incident.”

He wasn’t wrong.

This season of Idol Star Map was nearing the final stages, where the top 20 were fighting for debut spots. Losing a contestant at this point would disrupt the program’s plans.

While this was the official reason, the reality was that Guang Ying Entertainment was one of the show’s biggest investors. Kicking Su Ning out wasn’t a decision they could make lightly.

The issue was so delicate that instead of the head director attending today’s meeting, they’d sent the deputy, reflecting the production team’s irritation with both Guang Ying Entertainment and Su Ning. If it weren’t for Shen Mingzheng’s willingness to step in as an investor, the deputy director would probably have resigned in frustration.

“President Su, I understand your stance, and I’ll do my best to cooperate at the press conference,” the deputy director replied, frowning deeply. “But honestly, after something like this, I can’t guarantee that Su Ning will make it into the debut lineup.”

There were no outsiders here, so the director of contestant management spoke up. “It’s true; maybe we could have done it a few years ago, but with recent strict oversight on viewer voting, no one can manipulate the system anymore. Buying votes has become a red line. One misstep, and the whole show could be in jeopardy.”

Idol Star Map was a show driven entirely by viewer and fan votes. Although a few die-hard fans tried to clean up Su Ning’s image online, the fact remained that most fans had abandoned him.

The data from the backend showed a massive drop in Su Ning’s support rate, falling him out of the top seven.

Due to his poor skills, he had always been teetering on the edge of the debut positions. After last night’s incident, his fan base disbanded, even refunding their donations for the final vote—a decisive move that made headlines. While some votes were already cast and couldn’t be retrieved, Su Ning’s chances of debuting now seemed bleak.

Hearing this, even Su Hongda was taken aback, remaining silent for a long time before finally declaring, “No. Su Ning has to debut.”

His tone was firm, to the point of seeming blindly biased.

The production team hesitated. “But Su Ning’s current reputation…”

“Reputation isn’t the priority.” Su Hongda waved dismissively, glancing at Su Ning. “We can handle all that once he debuts.”

The production team exchanged looks, and the atmosphere grew tense. At that moment, a minor shareholder who had been sitting quietly murmured, “Actually, there might be a way.”

His voice caught Su Hongda’s attention. “What’s your idea?”

The shareholder looked hesitant, his words faltering. “As for the votes… it’s not impossible to boost them. But… I don’t know if I should mention it.”

“Go on,” Su Hongda urged. “At this point, any help is welcome.”

With a nod from Su Hongda, the shareholder looked at the production team and continued, “Although we can’t interfere with the backend, if the company is willing to spend, we could buy votes legitimately. Even with strict checks, no one can question the numbers. But this approach… would require a lot of support.”

“Still, if Xiao Ning makes it, even if he’s in the last debut spot, we won’t have lost out. Black marks can be cleaned up later.”

Su Hongda looked pensive, considering the idea seriously.

Votes could be acquired by purchasing from the sponsors’ merchandise, earning exclusive platform points for voting. Alternatively, these points could be bought directly. The idol industry was always about money, so with enough financial backing, a continuous flow of votes was possible.

But given Su Ning’s current reputation, this would take an eight-figure sum at the very least. Even for the well-off Su family, it was no small expense.

The deputy director and the production team’s manager exchanged odd glances, then looked over at Shen Mingzheng, who had remained silent.

They had already warned them, so why waste their breath? Better to stay quiet.

Su Ning listened to the conversation, his brow furrowing deeper. “The company absolutely cannot go around buying votes on a large scale. That would be piling mistakes on top of mistakes. If this gets exposed…”

He suspected that in the original storyline, buying votes had likely been the tipping point that led Guang Ying Entertainment to be acquired. After all, a wealthy but unpopular heir alone wouldn’t be enough to bring down such a large enterprise.

On his way in, Su Ning had noticed various issues within the company. Su Hongda’s short temper and stubbornness had created a tense atmosphere, with employees showing signs of disengagement. His parents’ hard-built company was now on the verge of an internal crisis.

But whenever Su Ning spoke, Su Hongda immediately grew impatient, brushing him off without really listening. “Shut up. If you hadn’t caused this mess, we wouldn’t be in this situation!”

Intimidating though he was, Su Ning wasn’t cowed by him. He furrowed his brow, ready to retort, but once again, he was cut off.

Shen Huai approached and patted him on the shoulder in a brotherly manner. “Xiao Ning, you don’t understand the company’s affairs. It’s best not to interfere too much. Come with me, let’s prepare for the press conference.”

Though his words were gentle, it was clear that he held authority in this office, whereas Su Ning, the rightful heir, did not. Shen Huai kept cutting him off, yet no one found it strange.

After several rounds, Su Ning realized it wasn’t something he could fix with a few words, so he only asked, “When does the press conference start?”

“In about an hour,” Shen Huai said, glancing at his watch, his face softening even more. “If you have any questions, Xiao Ning, we can discuss them outside.”

The press conference was approaching, and the deputy director of the program was no longer interested in talking to the bullheaded Su Hongda. Turning instead to Shen Mingzheng, he began discussing arrangements with visible respect.

“Mr. Shen, the press conference is still our top priority today. About the media outlets we invited… We’d appreciate your assistance.”

Su Ning overheard this exchange.

Shen Mingzheng’s presence was clearly more than superficial.

Although Guang Ying Entertainment was one of the show’s biggest investors, the main investor was actually Shen Group Pictures. Previously, it seemed Shen Huai was leading things as he was on stage as a mentor, but from his lack of concern for the show’s reputation, it was evident that he wasn’t in charge.

Instead, it was Shen Mingzheng, who appeared to be the real representative of Shen Group Pictures.

Though he hadn’t said much, the deputy director had frequently glanced at him, showing Shen Mingzheng held considerable sway. With this in mind, Su Ning began to understand why Shen Mingzheng had been cold toward him and had even helped with yesterday’s crisis. Considering the trouble he’d caused, it was understandable he’d be disliked.

Before leaving, Su Ning cast one last glance at Su Hongda, who was still discussing vote-buying strategies with the other shareholders.

Su Ning highly doubted that his uncle’s motives were for his rebellious nephew’s dream. Their relationship was hardly close.

Su Ning had reviewed the memories of the original owner last night, identifying some of the company’s people, though many details remained to be confirmed.

While others dismissed Su Ning’s questions, Shen Huai would respond—at least outwardly.

Once outside, Su Ning said to him, “Shen Huai-ge, I’m a bit nervous. Could you help me review my script? I have a few questions I’d like to ask.”

“Of course,” Shen Huai replied.

Seeing Su Ning’s downcast expression, he thought he looked a bit pitiful and helpless, like he’d returned to his previous state, easy to manipulate. Maybe that initial defiance was just a mood.

“Let’s find a quiet spot,” Su Ning suggested.

They walked to a small side room, and as soon as they were inside, Shen Huai heard the lock click. Turning, he saw Su Ning blocking the door, saying, “Let’s be real—what exactly are you planning?”

Shen Huai was stunned. “What?”

He turned to meet Su Ning’s gaze, now intense and piercing through his gold-rimmed glasses with a sense of pressure.

It was only now that he noticed Su Ning had grown to his height.

“I won’t even get into yesterday’s trending incident. But just now, when they mentioned vote-buying, why didn’t you stop them? It’s a big taboo in this industry. Su Hongda may not understand, but you should, Shen Huai.”

Su Ning cut straight to the point.

But Shen Huai wasn’t easily intimidated. He paused briefly, then quickly regained his composure, maintaining his calm and gentle facade.

“So that’s how it is,” Shen Huai sighed, “Xiao Ning, you misunderstand me—and your uncle. You’re only seeing part of the picture.”

He continued, “Your uncle has been in business for many years, and the shareholders all have experience. They’re not fools. Xiao Ning, you’re still young. You don’t understand the challenges the company is facing this year. These are just unfortunate necessities.”

“If you don’t tell me, how would I know?” Su Ning replied, his face still cold. “Is there anything about the company that I can’t know?”

Shen Huai brushed it off, seeing it as yet another tantrum, and gently reassured him, “If you’re curious, I’ll explain it to you.”

While not secretive, Guang Ying Entertainment’s internal issues were fairly well known. Shen Huai indeed knew the details, explaining briefly.

Last year, Su Ning’s father, after nearly two decades as the head of Guang Ying Entertainment, had passed away from illness, leaving the company in a precarious state.

The Su family’s wealth came primarily from coal. Su Ning’s father, Su Honghui, was highly educated and capable, choosing to venture into the entertainment industry instead of the family’s coal business, where he made a notable impact. Unfortunately, his health deteriorated early, and he died young.

The coal industry had faced difficulties in recent years, leading Su Hongda to step away from it. Though temperamental, he had management experience. Weighing his options, the elder Su had entrusted a small portion of the shares and managerial rights to his younger brother from his hospital bed.

But people were far more complicated than coal.

Guang Ying Entertainment wasn’t originally founded by the elder Su; he had gradually acquired and expanded it. While he held a controlling interest, owning around 40% of the company, it wasn’t an absolute majority. Su Ning inherited 30% according to the will, and Su Hongda held the remaining 10%.

While the elder Su was alive, this difference in shares didn’t matter much, as the other major shareholders respected his authority. However, after his passing, the dynamics shifted.

Though Su Hongda managed to stabilize operations for now, he lacked industry knowledge and soon lost money on a few projects. Consequently, shareholders began voicing concerns, with some even plotting to wrest control. If not for a few long-time associates still loyal to the Su family, Guang Ying Entertainment might have already seen a leadership change.

The entertainment industry was a money hub, and Su Hongda coveted his brother’s fame, position, and wealth. Guang Ying Entertainment held numerous valuable copyrights, consistently producing well-received shows and movies, and generated substantial annual revenue from these copyrights alone.

In his eyes, the recent losses were mere accidents, which he believed could be rectified.

Amidst reckless investments and internal conflicts, the only promising venture was one started by the elder Su—a new talent management division.

Previously, Guang Ying Entertainment focused solely on film and television production, rarely signing artists. However, before passing, the elder Su had established a department to cultivate new talent, already negotiating a few star acquisitions and establishing a trainee system. All that was required was for Su Hongda to finance it.

Ironically, this became the only profitable department under him.

After signing a few C-list celebrities who unexpectedly gained popularity, it even turned a small profit. This department then became his lifeline.

He signed more trainees and young actors, planning to launch idol groups and stars backed entirely by Guang Ying.

Li Chu was signed during this period.

And perhaps due to luck, as well as Su Ning’s insistence on debuting, the fourth season of Idol Star Map, previously a low-profile show, became a hit after he invested in it.

The show exploded in popularity, and Su Ning became a sensation.

Despite Su Ning’s current reputation, he had once ranked first in the initial episodes of the show before his flaws were exposed, thanks to his looks alone.

In this industry, a good face was an asset. Back then, without any paid promotions, Su Ning’s candidacy photo tagged as “Godly Face” had gone viral on social media, allowing Su Hongda to confidently demand preferential treatment from the program as an investor.

But his luck didn’t last long. Everything had been progressing smoothly until Su Ning’s scandal, which came just before the finals.

“…The company had even planned post-debut resources tailored just for you,” Shen Huai sighed. “Xiao Ning, if things fall apart now, all of this will be wasted.”

“Your uncle is insisting on buying votes to push you through for the sake of the company, and for this family. Don’t let his harsh words get to you.”

“Listen to him, alright? A lot of the people criticizing you are just taking advantage of the situation out of envy. Don’t let it bother you.”

Su Ning: …

This doesn’t sound like anything a human being would say.