Sangqiao is not completely a newcomer after all, knowing that he was the one decided to give up by the program team, whether compared with Fang Yuzhou or Zhuang Hui.
Well, maybe there's no need to decide.
The recent momentum of the variety show is good. If the production team takes this opportunity to make a statement, not only can they win the favor of the audience, but they can also get free publicity.
With such a good deal, who wouldn't take it.
Sangqiao was very calm and prepared to pack up tonight and get ready to start his career as a cannon fodder part-time paid star chaser again.
On the other side, the program team was also in dire straits.
It only took a few hours for the disclosure to become the hottest trending topic. Anyone with eyes could see that someone was trying to frame Sangqiao.
But! Even though Sangqiao never mentioned his background in his daily life, there were still people in the program team who remembered that when the trainee first moved into the dorm, a butler escorting a team directly brought Sangqiao's luggage in a bus.
The program group later secretly checked, the bus alone cost 16 million US dollars.
But Sangqiao's information was so simple that there was no hint of his wealthy background.
As time moved towards the peak hours of online activity, the public opinion pressure on various platforms such as Weibo was growing, and there was an influx of requests for an explanation from the program's official account.
The program team had to hold an emergency public relations meeting.
And then they found Sangqiao.
The person pushed out to face the music was the program team's assistant planner.
Very young, she looked like she had just graduated.
Sangqiao was just about to send Yichu away, but before he could succeed, he saw her walking towards them from the direction of the elevator.
Yichu clicked his tongue, "See, I said she would come. And here she is."
Sangqiao: "..."
To be honest, he felt that Yichu must have been a BBTalker in his previous life.
The assistant planner was a young girl. She had already seen the CP proofs of Sangqiao with Fang Yuzhou, Sangqiao with Zhuang Hui on Weibo before coming here. Obviously, she didn't expect to see Sangqiao and Yichu together. She looked stunned for a few seconds, "Sangqiao, do you know Yichu?"
Sangqiao immediately said, "I don't know him!"
Yichu: "???"
Assistant planner: "..."
The assistant planner has been wondering if there is any relationship between Sangqiao and Yichu, but because the main planner before coming had repeatedly asked her to make things clear with Sangqiao, she had no choice but to ask with a brave face, "Um... Sangqiao, do you know what's happening online?"
Sangqiao smiled, "I know. Are you here to ask me to quit the show?"
Assistant planner: "..."
Most young people nowadays have their own temper. The assistant planner had already prepared for the worst before coming, thinking that she would be scolded at worst.
However, Sangqiao's reaction was much better than she had imagined, making the assistant planner feel somewhat embarrassed.
After a pause, the assistant planner regretfully said, "The public opinion online is overwhelmingly negative, and the production team is under a lot of pressure... So after discussing it, we want to temporarily suspend you from recording one episode of the show. After the storm passes, we'll think about other ways. Is that okay with you?"
Sang Qiao was very surprised, "Wow, didn't you want me to withdraw from the competition? You guys are really good people!"
Yi Chu: "......"
Planning Assistant: "......"
If it weren't for Sang Qiao's sincere expression, she would have thought the statement was sarcastic.
Yi Chu hadn't left yet, and had also listened to the program group's backup plan on the side. He glanced at the planning assistant and said, "But the next recording is a public performance, right? Missing the first public performance, aren't you not only preparing to set up Sang Qiao, but also making it impossible for him to call?"
The planning assistant of course knew the consequences of missing the first public performance.
But this was the decision of the program group, and she couldn't say anything about it.
Having been in this circle for many years, Yi Chu was already familiar with the ways of this industry. He glanced at Sang Qiao and said, "In my opinion, you might as well just withdraw from the competition! Teach those people a lesson."
Sang Qiao: "......"
Sang Qiao gave Yi Chu a contemptuous look, "Get lost! Get lost! I get paid per company event. Who's going to pay me if I withdraw?"
Yi Chu was surprised, "What? You need money? If you're short of money, my brother..."
Realizing he almost slipped up, Yi Chu immediately closed his mouth, "Forget it, it's up to you. I'm leaving."
Probably because he found it boring.
With meaningful implications, Yi Chu glanced at the planning assistant, lifted his foot, and left.
The planning assistant, who was a newcomer and was being pushed out to be scolded, also had some sensitivity in the industry.
Especially the sentence that Yi Chu had stopped halfway through saying.
The planning assistant looked at Yi Chu's retreating figure and instinctively became more polite to Sang Qiao: "Of course, the program group will also compensate you for the loss of income in the next episode, and it will be transferred to your account soon."
Sang Qiao was very touched, "Thank you, thank you. I wonder how much the loss of income is? When will it be paid?"
The planning assistant smiled, "The preliminary decision is fifty thousand. I will go and ask the head planner if it will be increased. At the latest, it will be in your account the day
after tomorrow."
Fifty thousand was also pretty good. Even a small fly is meat.
Overall, Sang Qiao was quite satisfied. She politely said goodbye to the planning assistant and was about to enter the dormitory when suddenly she remembered something, "Oh!"
The planning assistant stopped in their tracks, "Is there something else?"
Sang Qiao raised her eyebrows, "I want to ask, since I won't be participating in the next episode of the show, can I not stay in the dormitory these days?"
The planning assistant: "....." That would actually be the best.
This was something the planning assistant had intended to bring up earlier, but didn't feel comfortable saying it.
If Sang Qiao continued to stay in the dormitory, she would inevitably appear on camera, and the post-production team would have to painstakingly remove her from each frame.
Now that Sang Qiao brought it up herself, the planning assistant immediately and tactfully agreed, "It's too late today, let's talk about it tomorrow."
"No need to wait until tomorrow."
Sang Qiao shook her head, "I have a place to stay."
The planning assistant did not insist, took back Sang Qiao's phone, and after giving it some thought, said, "Let's leave your luggage in the dormitory, we might need it for the next episode."
But it might also end up being unnecessary.
Sang Qiao did not continue the next sentence, stuck out her tongue, took the phone back, and said, "Thank you, then I'll go? Remember to transfer the compensation for loss of income."
The planning assistant: "....Okay, I will."
The night breeze was slightly cool.
Sang Qiao left the training building directly, without returning to the dormitory, and had no chance to grab an extra piece of clothing.
Standing on the side of the road, shivering and hailing a taxi, her nose was turning red from the cold.
The taxi drove straight to the general hospital.
After searching for a while, Sang Qiao called Raven, and finally found where Fu Xingzhou was staying.
He wasn't in the inpatient department but in a separate red-brick small building behind the hospital, a place that looked very prestigious.
The security guard at the entrance of the small courtyard and the armed guard at the door of the room were all over 1.8 meters tall, and all had eyes that dared anyone to approach them.
Sang Qiao: "......"
Approximately ten minutes later.
Raven came down and took Sang Qiao in the elevator to go upstairs, saying kindly, "Did Master Chu scare you again? Don't worry too much, the boss had a small surgery, it went well, and he's just woken up from the anesthesia."
Sang Qiao hadn't figured out how a bowl of chicken soup had turned Fu Xingzhou into appendicitis the entire way, and meekly responded to Raven, "Oh..."
Raven stopped and opened the door, "Mr. Sang, you can go in now."
Sang Qiao: "......"
The door of the ward opened a crack, and a warm yellow light leaked out, casting a small shadow on the marble floor outside the door.
After taking Sang Qiao to the ward, Raven had other things to take care of and left.
The long corridor was now deserted, with only Sang Qiao left.
Sang Qiao hesitated for a moment, then stealthily approached the door crack and peeked inside like a thief.
His eyes fell upon the plain wooden floor, a rectangular mahogany dining table big enough for more than ten people, and neatly arranged dining chairs. Further away was a spacious leather sofa.
But there was no sign of a hospital bed.
When Sang Qiao had come with Raven earlier, he had carefully looked around and found that this floor surprisingly had only one ward.
The rest were either a media room, a lounge, or even a meeting room.
Sang Qiao pushed open the door to the ward, stepped onto the wooden floor, bypassed the dining table and living room, only to realize that this presidential suite also had a kitchen and bathroom.
The bathroom even had a circular bathtub big enough to accommodate ten of him.
Sang Qiao: "…"
For a moment, he felt a pang of jealousy.
Just a moment.
There was also a spacious sunroom between the bedroom and living room, and the sunroom connected to a flower hall at the other end.
Sang Qiao walked from the sunroom to stand at the bedroom door, rubbed his hands, and then cautiously pushed the door open a crack.
Before he could peek through the crack, the person inside spoke, "Come in."
Sang Qiao slipped in dejectedly.
The room's decorations and furnishings were different from a regular ward, with light pink walls and specially-designed furniture.
From the French windows, one could see the brightly lit moat from a distance.
Fu Xingzhou was leaning against the headboard in loose home clothes.
Seeing it was Sang Qiao who came in, he seemed slightly surprised, "Did I disturb you?"
Sang Qiao shook his head, walked despondently to the bedside of Fu Xingzhou.
Originally, he had wanted to sit casually at the edge of the bed, but halfway through, he felt his own cleanliness was lacking.
So, he turned, and fetched a small stool from nearby.
Perhaps due to the recent surgery, Fu Xingzhou's complexion was a bit pale, yet he seemed in good spirits.
In the corner of the room, there was an aged ebony pendulum clock.
Glancing at the time, Fu Xingzhou frowned, "It's late. Who told you I was in the hospital?"
Sang Qiao felt even more disheartened.
He raised his face from the small stool, with a worried expression, and asked, "Fu Xingzhou, does the surgery hurt a lot?"
Fu Xingzhou hadn't expected Sang Qiao to ask this and was momentarily stunned.
But it did hurt a bit.
Especially at this time, as the anesthesia wore off, a dull ache spread from the wound.
Fu Xingzhou lowered his eyes, looking towards Sang Qiao.
Even though there were folding chairs and recliners in the room, he didn't know where Sang Qiao had found a small stool.
Sitting on the small stool, his slender frame looked even more dejected than the patient himself.
Fu Xingzhou shook his head at Sang Qiao, "It doesn't hurt."
Sang Qiao discreetly glanced at the spot where Fu Xingzhou's appendix was, though he wasn't sure if it was the right spot, then sniffled in despair and muttered, "I'm sorry."
Fu Xingzhou noticed Sang Qiao's gaze, "Sorry for what?"
Sang Qiao shuffled the small stool closer to Fu Xingzhou's bed, hesitated, and said in a tiny voice, "I shouldn't have let you drink the chicken soup from Granny Li. I'm sorry."
Fu Xingzhou: "So?"
Sang Qiao blinked, "Huh?"
Perhaps because it was late at night, and the room was unusually quiet, Fu Xingzhou's voice sounded surprisingly gentle as he said, "Since you've apologized, I will assume you want to make it up to me."
Sang Qiao: "…"
Sang Qiao looked down, twisted his fingers for quite a while, looking extremely reluctant, and said slowly, "Then… I'll pay for your medical expenses, buy you fruit, cook sea cucumber for you, and purchase other supplements…"
Fu Xingzhou: "…"
Fu Xingzhou remained silent.
Sang Qiao cautiously peeked at Fu Xingzhou several times, unable to tell whether he was satisfied or dissatisfied. He swallowed hard, and slowly said, "I still have a little savings… I can spend it on you…"
Fu Xingzhou, who had just managed to ease his expression, then grew serious again.
He stared at Sang Qiao for a while and said, "In your eyes, can my appendix be measured in terms of money?"
Sang Qiao: "..."
Sang Qiao: "???"
No, it can't?
Just because you're the president of the Fu family, does your appendix have to be more functional than others?
Can your appendix also pay the salaries of your employees?!
Sang Qiao, feeling a bit angry and a bit in the wrong, dared not retort.
He silently reached into the fruit basket beside Fu Xingzhou's sickbed and grabbed an orange. Originally, he intended to peel it and offer it to Fu Xingzhou as a bribe. However, he realized halfway through that Fu Xingzhou probably couldn't eat oranges yet.
So Sang Qiao could only shove a few orange slices into his own mouth, chewing and finding them quite delicious.
Fu Xingzhou lowered his gaze, watching Sang Qiao's actions.
From his angle, he could just see the roundness of Sang Qiao's cheeks and the small whorl at the top of his head.
A barely noticeable smile flitted across Fu Xingzhou's eyes as he slowly said, "During this period of my recovery, many of Fu's cooperation cases have had to be put on hold, resulting in losses for the company, the partners, and the employees of Fu's subsidiaries."
"Sang Qiao, how much money do you have, and how much do you want to compensate me?"
Sang Qiao: "..."
Sang Qiao, who had stopped peeling the remaining slices of the orange in his mouth, widened his eyes in surprise.
Oh my goodness.
So, the domineering president's appendix really does pay salaries, and it's a generous amount too...
In just a second's time, Sang Qiao realized that the oranges in his mouth had turned sour.