Fang Miaomiao looked up awkwardly at the source of the voice. "Director, what brings you here?"
Chen Tianming looked at Fang Miaomiao with a half-smile. "If I hadn't come, I wouldn't have known you were tricking An'an into doing your work again."
"Director, the way you say it, it's as if I've committed some heinous crime," Fang Miaomiao said righteously. "Isn't this helping our An'an regain his confidence? What can boost confidence more than letting An'an perform on stage by himself?"
"Heh heh," Chen Tianming sneered at Fang Miaomiao. "Do you think I believe you? Do you think the audience, or those in the livestream, believe you?"
Fang Miaomiao gave a guilty smile.
"An'an, do you want Mom to perform on stage with you?"
Wen Yan'an nodded, then seemed to recall something and glanced at Fang Miaomiao. "If Mom doesn't want to go, she doesn't have to. I can't force Mom to do something she doesn't like."
Chen Tianming glared at Fang Miaomiao, exasperated. He wondered if this woman had saved the galaxy in a past life to have such a well-behaved and obedient child like An'an.
"Heh heh."
Chen Tianming glared at Fang Miaomiao, his gaze implying, "If you don't go up with him, I'll keep watching you."
Fang Miaomiao, faced with this, surrendered.
"Go, of course I'll go."
She immediately said with a smile, "An'an wants Mom to go, so how can Mom disappoint An'an? Right? It's just singing, Mom can do it."
Only then did Chen Tianming nod with satisfaction and bend down kindly to look at Wen Yan'an. "An'an, practice well here with Mom, okay? Uncle Tianming is going to check on the other children."
"Okay," Wen Yan'an nodded obediently. "Goodbye, Uncle Tianming."
Sigh.
Fang Miaomiao felt that being a person was too difficult.
"Mom?"
"Be good, Mom is contemplating life. Can we practice after Mom is done contemplating?"
[Can Fang Miaomiao stop being so dramatic? Other families, including Fang Yan Huan, are rushing their rehearsals, and she's just slacking off. Can she consider the occasion and place?]
[Exactly. If she didn't want to go on stage, why didn't she say so upfront when they were discussing it? Now she's seeking attention. It's so annoying. I don't know how Wen Yan'an's eyes are, but he actually thinks Fang Miaomiao is the best. Seriously? Pfft.]
[Are you crazy upstairs? When they mentioned four acts, didn't Miao Miao clearly state she wasn't good at these things and could do support work? Are your eyes blind? And what's wrong with her wanting to give the stage to her son? Miao Miao is already very good to An'an, okay?]
[Sister, don't mind them. They're just jealous. Let's just watch the livestream quietly and dazzle them when Miao Miao finishes practicing.]
[Heh, I'll be waiting. If Fang Miaomiao can cooperate well with Wen Yan'an, I'll wash my hair standing on my head.]
[Screenshot taken, don't let me down. Miao Miao, keep it up, shut them up.]
"Come on, An'an, let's start practicing the rhythm."
Following the suggestions of the production team and the concert organizers, they chose a very popular ancient style song.
Chen Tianming, who had returned, his eyes lit up when he heard them practicing and singing.
"Director, the livestream is arguing again."
Assistant Director Yang also called. "Director, where are you now? Can you come back and resolve the issue?"
"Why does everything have to rely on me? You're an assistant director, can't you show a little assistant director's presence?" Chen Tianming said, feeling like he couldn't believe it.
"I will in the future, I definitely will. The current priority is that people online are already making bets."
" Betting on what?"
"Betting on whose program will be more popular, Fang Miaomiao's or Fang Yan Huan's."
"These people really like to watch the excitement and not worry about the consequences."
"Director?" Assistant Director Yang seemed a little confused by Chen Tianming's meaning.
"You, you're destined to only be an assistant director," Chen Tianming said, though angry, he continued to explain. "Attract traffic, create buzz for our program, and reduce their individual screen time. That way, it will pique the audience's interest, understand?"
Hearing this, Assistant Director Yang's scalp tingled. "Will we really be cursed to death by netizens doing this?"
Especially Fang Yan Huan's fans, they're all crazy. If they reduce Fang Yan Huan's screen time further, he couldn't imagine the scene.
"What are you afraid of?" Chen Tianming said indifferently. "Free traffic, why not take advantage of it?"
Now he had Wen Zhiyan behind him, the current head of the Wen family. With Wen Zhiyan around, why would he fear the young master of the Wen family?
Hmph, he also had a backer. If anyone asked, he could subtly use Master Wen's name, couldn't he?
Indeed, he was the smartest person on this production team.
Seeing that Chen Tianming maintained his original stance, Assistant Director Yang no longer tried to persuade him. "Alright, Director, I'll do as you say."
After hanging up the phone, Chen Tianming looked at Fang Miaomiao's focused profile and left without saying anything.
Five hours later.
"Miaomiao, how's your practice going?" Cui Mantong felt like she was about to collapse onto the floor.
Fang Miaomiao took a sip of water to moisten her throat and said, "It's okay, passable."
"Miaomiao, what song did you and An'an choose?" Cui Mantong got up and went to Fang Miaomiao's side, lowering her voice and whispering. "I overheard Fang Yan Huan's side when I came over just now. It's a really fiery song. You and An'an can't be outdone by her later."
If they were outdone, someone might just be grinning from ear to ear.
"I'm the first act, and she's the last. It's good that she's more energetic."
Cui Mantong rolled her eyes. "Are you stupid? No wonder you were bullied by Fang Yan Huan before, like a piece of dough. If not you, who would she bully?"
"Okay, okay, I know you're doing this for my own good, but it's really not necessary. I don't want to have any more ties with her or the Fang family."
Cui Mantong sighed. "It depends on whether the Fang family is willing to let you go."
Fang Miaomiao smiled and shook her head.
"Good boy, it's getting late, we need to go get our makeup done. Judging by the time, the children should be dressed up by now."
"Wow, An'an, you look so handsome! Like a young master from a bygone era." Cui Mantong stared intently at a spot.
Fang Miaomiao followed her gaze and saw a young master in a cyan robe, looking as if he had stepped out of a painting.
"Mom?"
"Beautiful," Fang Miaomiao gave Wen Yan'an a thumbs-up.
It was strange, she didn't know if it was because she had been with the little fellow for too long, but with just one look from him, she knew what he was thinking.