As soon as they heard it was time to film, the three of them took out a Poké Ball from their pockets.
With the red light of the Poké Balls flashing, three Pokémon, nearly two meters tall, appeared.
Deng Fei’s Pokémon was an Electivire, very burly and quite similar in demeanor to Deng Fei himself.
Chichi’s Pokémon was a Blastoise, as large as Chichi.
Fan Yizhi’s Pokémon was a Blaziken, whose leg strength looked incredibly powerful.
These three Pokémon were also their signature Pokémon and usually appeared with them on the show.
The three Pokémon were quite familiar with the routine; after coming out, they immediately found a corner in front of the camera and sat down, waiting for food.
As Deng Fei and the other two had food, they naturally didn’t forget about the three Pokémon.
Soon, the tables in front of the three people and their three Pokémon were filled with various breakfast items from Mu City.
The three quickly began to feast.
As Chichi would say, this production team was crazy; if there was food, eat it quickly, otherwise, who knew when the next meal would be.
Wang Xiang, seeing the three eating, began to speak: “This episode might be a bit difficult for us.
The other two members are reflecting at home due to some well-known reasons.”
Chichi swallowed his breakfast and couldn’t help but complain: “How do I feel it’s actually better without them two? This place is much more spacious.”
Deng Fei laughed along: “Exactly, exactly.
I think it’s great with just the three of us, isn’t it, Fan Yizhi?”
Fan Yizhi, still eating, nodded and said, “Indeed, they’re too noisy when they’re here.
But where’s Wang Qin? Why isn’t that kid here either?”
Wang Xiang explained: “Wang Qin has another engagement, so he’ll only be back this afternoon.”
Chichi gasped, his tone full of sarcasm: “So it’s only us, who have nothing else to do, that come this early, huh?
Next time, I’ll come late too.”
Deng Fei chimed in: “Director Wang, you can’t do that.
Who doesn’t have an engagement?
If I were you, I’d just dock their appearance fees.”
“Exactly, dock the money,” Fan Yizhi echoed.
“Alright, you said it.
I’ll dock half of your appearance fees later,” Wang Xiang said with a smile.
“Dock it, dock it hard!” Chichi egged him on, “It’s best to dock it all and use that money to improve our meals.”
“That’s a good idea,” Deng Fei said with a sinister smile, winking and nodding wildly at Chichi.
Seeing the conversation veering off course, Wang Xiang steered it back: “Seriously, our production team has encountered a problem this time, and we don’t know who would be willing to come.
Take a look, do you have any friends who might be willing to join?”
“Director Wang, do you think we still have friends?” Chichi complained, “Ever since we joined this show, our friends have become fewer and fewer.”
Deng Fei agreed: “All my friends have blacklisted me, just afraid I’ll invite them to the ‘Wu Ha’.”
“Hehe, give it a try.
Friends, you know, first time awkward, second time familiar; there will always be new ones,” Wang Xiang was ready to abandon his dignity.
Chichi was about to complain when he suddenly noticed his phone ringing; the caller ID showed Mu Li.
He was stunned for a moment, instinctively made an apologetic gesture to Wang Xiang, and walked aside to answer the call.
“A Li? Is something wrong?”
On the other end, Mu Li, seeing the call connected, didn’t quite know how to speak.
Chichi, seeing that Mu Li wasn’t speaking, pressed on: “What’s wrong? Did you encounter some difficulty?”
“No,” Mu Li finally managed to squeeze out two words, “I just have something I want to ask your opinion on.”
“Now?” Chichi looked at Wang Xiang, then asked, “How long will what you’re asking take?
If it’s going to be a long chat, I’ll call you back later.”
Mu Li said somewhat apologetically: “Am I bothering you? I’ll be quick.”
“Oh, okay, then speak,” Chichi again gave Wang Xiang a look, signaling that he would be quick, and Wang Xiang gave him an OK gesture.
“Chichi, I just wanted to ask, I want to become a singer now, how do I debut?” Mu Li quickly blurted out his question.
Chichi froze, his eyes widening: “What?!
You? Want to be a singer? And you want to debut?”
“Mm-hmm, that’s right,” Mu Li quickly responded.
“Are you sure about this? Did your family agree?” Chichi asked, somewhat disbelievingly.
“I’ve thought it over, and my mom agreed yesterday,” Mu Li quickly replied.
A flicker of hesitation crossed Chichi’s eyes; the next moment, he looked at Wang Xiang, a wicked smile appearing on his lips: “Then are you free now?
Can you come to Mu City?”
“Mu City? Frontier Mu City?” Mu Li was somewhat incredulous.
Mu City and Yang City were really too far apart; even by plane, it would take him four hours to get there.
“That’s right, Mu City, I’m here right now,” Chichi explained, “Don’t you want to debut?
I happen to have a good opportunity here.”
“Really?” Mu Li was a little excited, “Thank you, Chichi, then I’ll head over now.”
Seeing Mu Li hang up the phone, Chichi immediately showed a very smug smile: “Hehe, Wang Xiang, I’ve solved a big problem for you.
You wanted a guest, right?
He’s coming.”
Wang Xiang showed no surprise; instead, he immediately told the cameraman to stop filming.
He walked over to Chichi and quietly asked: “Chichi, don’t mess with me.
Even if we’re short on people, we can’t just randomly bring in a newcomer, can we?
From what you’re saying, he hasn’t even debuted yet?”
Chichi wore a smug expression: “Director, who are we to each other?
Would I really trick you?
Do you know who this person I called is?”
“Who is it? Isn’t he a newcomer?
Does he have a strong family background?” Wang Xiang retorted.
Chichi sneered: “Background?
He himself is the most formidable background.”
He scanned the surroundings, and seeing that no one was listening to them, he leaned closer to Wang Xiang’s ear and whispered: “Do you know A Li?”
Wang Xiang was startled, and subconsciously asked: “A Li? Which A Li?”
Chichi rolled his eyes directly: “Which A Li could it be, it’s that Champion A Li from five years ago!”
“Champion A Li?” Wang Xiang narrowed his eyes slightly, a gesture he made when recalling something, but soon, his eyes filled with shock: “The one who just contacted you, was that A Li?”
“No doubt about it,” Chichi nodded.
“I!@#$” Wang Xiang couldn’t help but curse, “If I invite him, won’t they just shut down the show?”
Chichi said irritably: “Do you think they can control that guy up there?
To put it bluntly, as long as he comes, as long as we behave ourselves, this show won’t be canceled.”
Wang Xiang was so excited he almost jumped up: “Then what are we hesitating for?
Hurry up and invite him!”
Chichi nodded and instructed: “I’ll be frank first.
You can invite him, but his identity must be kept secret, unless he actively reveals it himself.
Otherwise, we should keep our little secrets to ourselves.”
“I understand,” Wang Xiang nodded, “But why does he want to pull a stunt like this?
Isn’t he just purely bored?
As long as his identity is revealed, he can be a singer if he wants, an actor if he wants, what can’t he do?”
Chichi said exasperatedly: “That’s what I said too! The problem is, he thinks it’s more interesting to hide his identity and become famous as a singer.”
“???” Wang Xiang’s face was full of question marks, “Isn’t that just a roundabout way of doing things?”
“Who says it isn’t?” Chichi also complained, “But if he likes it, then let him be.
We’ll just help him keep it a secret from the public.”
Wang Xiang nodded, returned to his position, and gestured for the camera to continue filming: “Alright, Chichi has found us a potential regular guest.
Let’s give him another round of encouragement, everyone, applause!”
Everyone was stunned, and though somewhat bewildered, they still clapped, though the applause was very perfunctory.
Chichi frowned and immediately showed disappointment: “Sigh, it seems I should just let him go to other production teams.”
Wang Xiang’s expression changed, and he immediately said seriously: “Everyone, be serious, clap!”
This time, although the applause wasn’t enthusiastic, at least it was loud enough.
Chichi’s face showed a smug smile: “Just barely acceptable.
I’m not one to make things difficult for others.”
Deng Fei at this moment stared at Chichi with a suspicious look: “What hold do you have over Director Wang?
How can he treat you like this?
Share that leverage with me, will you?”
Chichi said exasperatedly: “What leverage?
I just brought someone into the production team.”
“Oh, right,” Chichi seemed to remember something, “Fei Ge, Big Brother, please take good care of him later.
He’s a newcomer, and we’re super close.”
“Super close with you? Have I met him before?” Deng Fei asked curiously.
Chichi shook his head and said: “He’s a complete newcomer, you definitely don’t know him.
Remember, help me take good care of him.”
Although Deng Fei often bickered with Chichi, with their twenty-plus years of friendship, he knew very well when Chichi was serious and when he was joking.
“Alright, it’s on me.
Your brother is my brother,” Deng Fei didn’t hesitate and directly agreed to Chichi’s request.
Fan Yizhi didn’t ask much either.
He was a few years older than Chichi and Deng Fei, and naturally handled such social intricacies with ease.
Chichi smiled gratefully: “Once you get to know that kid, I’ll take you guys to broaden your horizons.”
Deng Fei was clearly piqued by Chichi’s words, but no matter how much Deng Fei pressed, Chichi just smiled without speaking.
In Yang City, at Mu Li’s home, Mu Li hung up the phone and jumped up excitedly.
“This is great, I didn’t expect Chichi to be so reliable, he solved a big problem for me right away.”
“However, if I’m going to Mu City, I still need to bring some thicker clothes.”
Mu Li selected a few thicker clothes from his bedroom and directly stuffed them into Gengar’s mouth.
“Oh, right, also bring some honey for Chichi.
I wonder if there are any other friends there?
Never mind, I’ll take more.”
Mu Li hadn’t traveled this far in a long time.
He excitedly packed for a long time, until he had packed all the things he could think of into Gengar’s mouth, only then did he stop.
This was also because Mu Li’s Gengar was special; the space in its stomach was exceptionally large, otherwise, just this luggage would be enough to make Gengar throw up.
As for the Pokémon accompanying him this time, Mu Li simply used the same ones from his previous outing, saving himself the trouble of changing them.
After booking a flight to Mu City arriving at 3 PM, Mu Li led his six Pokémon out the door: “Destination Mu City! Let’s go!”