“Director, isn’t this decision way too hasty? Qin Yunxuan is just a singer. How could she possibly be the head planner? Isn’t this just a joke?”
“Exactly, Director. This is far too childish. Besides… would anyone even watch a ‘Poetry Conference’?”
“I agree with that. Poetry already has a very limited audience. Apart from some elderly people, does anyone else actually enjoy watching something like this?”
“The most important thing for a show is its ratings. No television station in our country has ever done a poetry-related program before. This area is practically a ratings wasteland. Director, please don’t be so stubborn!”
“Didn’t we discuss the feasibility of this project before? Wasn’t it unanimously rejected?”
…
At Jiuyang Television Station, countless people were opposing Zhao Kongxi’s decision.
After all, in their eyes, this was simply a thankless task. Besides wasting money and energy, it seemed completely useless!
Seeing his subordinates all opposing his decision, Zhao Kongxi’s face showed a hint of displeasure.
“Everyone, please settle down for a moment. Let the Director speak!”
Someone, noticing Zhao Kongxi’s unpleasant expression, quickly tried to mediate.
The meeting room gradually quieted down, and everyone looked at Zhao Kongxi.
Zhao Kongxi calmly asked, “Are you all finished?”
The staff looked a bit embarrassed.
“Since you’re done, let me speak now. Do you think I, as the station director, can’t see the prospects of a poetry program myself?”
Everyone exchanged puzzled glances. If he could see the problems, why was he still being so stubborn?
“Not long ago, the capital (Yandu) issued a document – a proposal for vigorously developing the cultural industry. That’s also why we discussed the possibility of a Poetry Conference before.”
“But even though none of us are optimistic about this project, have you considered this: our country doesn’t have a single real poetry program yet. If we make one, we will be the first in this field!”
Understanding dawned on everyone’s faces. So that was the reason?
“Furthermore, Jiuyang Television has always been a second-tier station nationwide, constantly overshadowed by top first-tier stations like Yandu TV. We must have a program of our own!”
“But we already have ‘I Am a Singer’!”
Someone spoke up weakly.
Director Zhao said calmly, “One ‘I Am a Singer’ is not enough. And… as far as I know, several other TV stations are already preparing to launch similar shows. The neighboring Mangliu TV station has already started planning a program called ‘Singers Assemble’.”
“What? ‘Singers Assemble’? Isn’t that incredibly shameless?”
“Exactly! As expected of a ‘copycat’ station. Don’t they have any sense of decency?”
“So disgusting! How can there be media people like this in the world?”
…
Listening to the indignant voices below, Director Zhao waved his hand and said, “That’s their choice, and there’s nothing we can do about it. But we can continue to create distinctive and innovative programs. And this is also an opportunity for our station!”
“If this program succeeds, we will be responding to the central Yandu document. That would greatly help elevate our station, and we might even be rated as a first-tier station!”
Breaths became a little quicker in the room. Clearly, the prospect of becoming a first-tier station was highly attractive to everyone.
“Besides… even if this program fails, the impact on our station will be limited. Since we are the first to try, in the eyes of the public, it will establish our reputation as a station that dares to innovate!”
Everyone’s eyes lit up. In that case, launching this project seemed to have only benefits and no real drawbacks.
Even if the ratings were poor, it would still be like buying a horse’s bones for a thousand gold – attracting talent through a symbolic act.
“But… if that’s the case, why let Qin Yunxuan be the planner? She’s just a singer, right? And she doesn’t have any prior experience in this area.”
Someone else raised a question.
Director Zhao smiled: “Although Qin Yunxuan lacks experience, she has ideas. And… don’t forget, she is the author of ‘Willow Bank Veiled in Smoke’! Besides… you all think she can’t do it. So, does anyone here have the confidence to create a hit poetry program? If you volunteer, I might consider putting you in charge.”
Instantly, everyone fell silent.
No way! If they actually had good ideas, they wouldn’t have abandoned the Poetry Conference concept at the last meeting.
“Alright, this matter is settled. Chen Ke, you are responsible for the preliminary preparation work for ‘Jiuzhou Poetry Conference’. Also, assign a few suitable assistant directors and assistant planners to Qin Yunxuan. Aim to get ‘Jiuzhou Poetry Conference’ launched as soon as possible, understood?”
A middle-aged man nodded: “Okay, Director. I will treat this as the most important task of this phase.”
…
And so, the official website of Jiuyang Television smoothly released the news.
But what no one expected was that this news would detonate the internet like an earthquake.
For Qin Yunxuan’s fans, her participating in some Poetry Conference was just her having a bit of fun. But her becoming the head planner and director of a project? What was that about?
Had she forgotten her own identity? She’s a singer!
Had she prepared her song for the next episode of ‘I Am a Singer’? Had she prepared the song she owed the netizens?
How could she just abandon her main job to go make a TV show?
Isn’t this ridiculous?
“Xuanxuan, please stop running off in all directions. Can’t you just focus on writing songs?”
“Yeah, when will that ‘same-sex love song’ be finished?”
“I’ve always liked you, but if you keep treating singing so lightly, I might have to stop being your fan.”
…
And poetry enthusiasts were also very dissatisfied with this decision.
Even though Qin Lang (Qin Yunxuan’s male identity/alias) had created a ‘perfectly absolute’ couplet: “Willow Bank Veiled in Smoke”…
Making a TV show is not the same as composing couplets. They were very skeptical that Qin Yunxuan could produce a good program.
This was clearly just using a cross-industry project to boost her own popularity!
“Boycott Qin Yunxuan desecrating the world of poetry!”
“Please, just go sing. Don’t treat our poetry world like your personal popularity ATM!”
…
Meanwhile, established directors and planners were watching coldly from the sidelines.
No one knew better than them that tackling a niche field like poetry was practically suicide!
Only Qin Yunxuan, being fearless in her ignorance, would dare to act so recklessly.
They were all eagerly anticipating what kind of joke Qin Yunxuan would make of herself. And Jiuyang Television was destined to regret its choice.
…
Qin Lang looked at the internet, which had exploded into chaos, completely stunned.
Is this really necessary? Wasn’t he just going to the Poetry Conference to have some fun? Why such public outrage?
Besides, wanting to make a poetry program – wasn’t that for them?
What was this nonsense about “poetry is useless”? Did these uncultured bumpkins have any education at all?
Looking at the slander directed at him online, Qin Lang grew angrier the more he thought about it. He couldn’t help but post on Weibo.
“Many people say poetry is useless. I don’t want to argue. I just want to say this: when we see the sunset glow painting the sky, the water and sky blending into one color, and seagulls soaring, our minds should be able to conjure the image: ‘The setting clouds chase with the lonely bird, the autumn water shares the color of the sky.’ Not just saying, ‘Wow, so many birds! Wow, that sunset is so beautiful!'”
