Chapter 89: Fishing Hook
Miao Haicheng was in his early forties, a man with a calm and steady personality.
He knew Ai Qingyuan, but when he arrived, he didn’t say much to the young master who was always the center of attention. He didn’t even make eye contact. It was only after he finished explaining the basic precautions that he politely greeted him during a break.
“Long time no see, Second Young Master,” he said.
While he went to the break room to get some water, Ai Qingyuan explained to the others, “When I first joined the company, I switched through several agents. He wasn’t originally in charge of trainees—he was in the actor department. He temporarily took over for me for two months.”
As for the reason? Naturally, it was because the young master refused to be managed.
Everyone tacitly understood. Xie Xizhao suddenly remembered that Guan Heng had once mentioned an agent who was very strict with them. Later, Ai Qingyuan had asked the company to replace that agent. It must have been during this period.
However, this also proved one thing—
Miao Haicheng was clearly a highly capable person. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been assigned twice to “tutor the little prince.”
This was soon confirmed again.
When the conversation turned to the previous artist Miao Haicheng had managed, Ai Qingyuan honestly mentioned a name, leaving everyone astonished.
It belonged to a recently retired actress. In terms of past achievements, she was at an award-winning level. Whether before or during her retirement, she had been widely praised and deeply missed, enjoying an impeccable reputation.
Xie Xizhao had already made his conclusions.
After a brief break, Miao Haicheng returned to the meeting room and continued from where he had left off.
Before that, he emphasized a few key points:
First, to be cautious with words and actions. Any content posted on social media, including Weibo, had to be reviewed by the company. Of course, being active was encouraged, so the frequency wouldn’t be too restricted.
Second, body management and daily training.
There would be regular classes taught by instructors, and two months before their comeback, they would begin controlling their weight—
Of course, Miao Haicheng added, “As you all should know, the comeback frequency for project groups is higher than that of permanent groups. I still hope you can turn self-discipline into a habit. After all, even if there’s no comeback, you might still have events where you need to appear on camera.”
This was one of the most painful aspects of being an idol. However, Miao Haicheng’s tone was calm and unhurried. Moreover, right after he finished speaking, he immediately mentioned that the company had dedicated nutritionists and psychological consultants available. Somehow, it didn’t sound quite as terrifying anymore.
The third rule was the old and familiar one—no dating.
“Some companies might be more lenient,” Miao Haicheng said. “They may even help cover things up in private. But that’s rare in Shenghong. Shenghong’s policy is simple—date if you want, but once it gets exposed, you bear all the consequences yourself.”
He smiled. “After all, our company is never short of artists, nor are we short of dedicated ones. Since you all came from a survival show, you should have a deeper understanding of what it means to cherish your fans. I won’t say more—just this: cherishing your fans is also cherishing your career.”
The meeting room was silent. Everyone listened quietly, their expressions serious.
—
Once the basic guidelines were covered, it was time to go over the schedule.
Miao Haicheng sent the documents to the work group chat. As everyone opened them, they listened to him explain each item one by one.
“Our first album is tentatively scheduled for two months from now,” he said. “Time is tight, so after this three-day break, you all need to adjust quickly. During these three days, you can go home for a visit or rest at the dormitory.”
“The dormitory has already been rented in advance,” he added, then gave an address—it was in a villa district on the outskirts of the city.
Everyone was stunned, then, in unison, they turned to look at Ai Qingyuan.
Ai Qingyuan: “…”
What were they all looking at him for? What did this have to do with him?
It wasn’t like he was so pampered that he refused to live anywhere but a villa!
Miao Haicheng calmly said, “This is a company benefit. After all, you are now one of the company’s cash cows.”
Xie Xizhao, who had been drinking water, choked.
At that moment, he suddenly realized that beneath this manager’s upright and proper demeanor lurked a subtle sense of humor.
After that small display of wit, Miao Haicheng continued, “The concept planning for the first album is already in progress. Soon, you will receive the songs and choreography to practice. Besides that, over the next two months, you will have various scheduled recordings, including a debut group reality show and promotional materials. The exact filming schedule is all in the documents.”
Generally speaking, a newly debuted group had limited exposure before their first album. One reason was to allow the team to bond, and the other was to keep fans in suspense.
By this point, most of the important matters had been covered.
Miao Haicheng handed each of them an envelope containing the villa key, an access card, and a company access card. Then he said, “If there are no further questions, you can all head home. Just make sure to add me on WeChat once you get back.”
The group stood up.
As they reached the door, Miao Haicheng said, “Xizhao, stay for a moment.”
Xie Xizhao paused, then responded, “Okay.”
—
Once the glass door closed again, Xie Xizhao sat back down.
Miao Haicheng studied him for a moment, then smiled and said, “You’re not photogenic.”
That was a roundabout way of saying he looked even better in person.
Xie Xizhao sat properly in front of his new manager and politely said, “Thank you.”
Miao Haicheng chuckled. “So reserved? That’s not like you.”
Then he said, “I’ve looked over your contract with the company. This was your own decision, wasn’t it?”
Since Miao Haicheng had been so straightforward, there was no point in pretending to be an innocent little rabbit. Xie Xizhao responded honestly, “It was a mutual agreement after discussions with the company.”
A mutual agreement, huh.
Miao Haicheng didn’t call him out on it and simply said, “Alright.”
“I kept you behind because of this situation,” he continued. “Your contract is a separate version, so I need to clarify things with you. Your personal opportunities will still be handled by your own manager, but I will be responsible for daily matters and group activities.”
“That includes the rules I just mentioned—you’ll still need to follow them.”
“I will,” Xie Xizhao replied.
That was only natural.
Miao Haicheng went over the specific boundaries of his responsibilities, and Xie Xizhao noted them all down.
Truthfully, he had been prepared for things to be difficult.
His relationship with Shenghong wasn’t exactly bad, but due to his ranking, he was still somewhat of an outsider to them.
That was also why Yaoxin Entertaiment had originally wanted control over his management.
It wasn’t an unfounded concern, and Xie Xizhao had braced himself for the worst. However, the situation seemed better than expected—Miao Haicheng appeared highly professional and was treating him fairly well.
Just as Xie Xizhao was about to leave, Miao Haicheng suddenly remembered something and picked up a file folder from the side.
Xie Xizhao had noticed that folder earlier because Miao Haicheng hadn’t opened it at any point during the meeting. Now that he finally took it out, Xie Xizhao realized it was the five-member group cover they had shot during the competition.
Xie Xizhao: “…”
Miao Haicheng flipped to his page and explained, “My niece really likes you.”
Xie Xizhao stared at the magazine, where he did not look particularly refined.
Xie Xizhao: “…”
Miao Haicheng: “…”
“Your expressiveness is impressive,” Miao Haicheng remarked. “Both on stage and in photoshoots.”
He paused for a moment before stating objectively, “Becoming popular is only a matter of time.”
Xie Xizhao picked up a pen and carefully wrote a To signature while smiling. “Is this the company’s optimistic expectation for me?”
“I can’t speak for the company,” Miao Haicheng also smiled, “but personally, I have high hopes for you.”
Xie Xizhao’s pen paused briefly.
Half a second later, he finished signing his name—Xie Xizhao—and handed the poster back to Miao Haicheng.
“Thank you, Brother Cheng,” he said.
This time, his tone was noticeably more sincere.
Miao Haicheng knew that he understood, so he stood up with a smile. “Let’s go. I’ll call a car for you.”
—
On the way back, Xie Xizhao logged into WeChat.
The most recent friend request was from Miao Haicheng. After accepting it and adding a note, he received a handshake emoji from Miao Haicheng a few seconds later.
Xie Xizhao thought for half a second and sent the same emoji back.
Miao Haicheng’s words had taken him by surprise, but having a new manager who believed in him was certainly not a bad thing. His mood suddenly felt much lighter.
The driver asked, “Mr. Xie, where to?”
Xie Xizhao gave an address. “I’m going home for a bit.”
The driver started the car.
Not long after, they arrived at his destination.
Xie Xizhao stepped out, and before he even saw anyone, he heard a loud howl—
“Brother, you’re back!”
Jing Jin shot out of the house like a missile. Close behind her were their parents.
—
To be fair, Jing Jin had played a major role in Xie Xizhao’s successful debut.
No one knew what kind of persuasion tactics she had used, but somehow, the night before, Xie Xizhao had spotted his parents—two university professors—sitting primly in the VIP audience section, solemnly waving banners with his name on them.
The scene had been truly horrifying.
Who knew if their students had seen them or not?
By now, it was almost evening, and the courtyard had darkened. Xie Xizhao pressed a hand against Jing Jin’s forehead, making her tilt backward slightly. She quickly slipped out from under his hand, grinning as she ran off to grab the green onions she had already planned to pick.
Xie Xizhao sighed helplessly, then turned to the couple standing at the door. “Dad, Mom.”
Wu Mi had already started walking toward him, while Xie Jiancheng stood at the doorway with his hands behind his back, trying to look stern. “Where have you been all night?”
Xie Xizhao followed Wu Mi inside as he replied, “Had dinner with my teammates, then went to a meeting at the company.”
“Dad,” he added, “please have some sympathy for us working people. We’re really busy.”
Xie Jiancheng: “…”
Xie Xizhao asked, “Do we have guests over today?”
“No,” Wu Mi said as she pushed the door open. “Your dad wouldn’t allow it. Our relatives all wanted to come over and ask for your autograph when they heard you were visiting, but he turned them all down. We only invited Xiao Jin’s family.”
From behind them, Xie Jiancheng muttered, “Didn’t they say you’d be eliminated within a month? But now it looks like you’re pretty popular—everyone knows you.”
Xie Xizhao: “…”
Look at this old man, being all passive-aggressive.
He changed into his indoor shoes and let Jing Jin in, who had just finished picking the green onions. Then, with an innocent expression, he said, “How could I control something like that?”
And then he added, “It’s all Xiao Jin’s fault.”
“She must have voted at least a few hundred times,” he said.
Jing Jin: “?”
She looked utterly incredulous. Meanwhile, Xie Xizhao took the green onions from her and headed toward the kitchen. “I’m starving. Let’s eat.”
Dinner was lively and full of laughter.
At the table, Wu Mi placed some food onto his plate and asked, “So from now on, you’ll be doing group activities?”
Lately, the couple had even learned quite a few new terms.
“Yes,” Xie Xizhao said. “But I’ll have my phone, and you can also visit the dorm. I’ll be coming home often too.”
Wu Mi let out a sigh of relief, and even Xie Jiancheng’s expression softened a little.
Xie Jiancheng couldn’t help but say, “Enough is enough. Weren’t there five of you debuting? Did you really have to fight for first place?”
He looked completely serious—almost as if he wasn’t the same person who had jumped to his feet upon hearing that Xie Xizhao had ranked first.
Xie Xizhao held back a laugh. “Dad, this really wasn’t something I could control.”
If he could have landed precisely in fifth place, that would have been a godlike feat of foresight.
But he also knew his parents were mainly worried about his health, so he went along with them, saying a few more reassuring words. He managed to put both of them in a good mood, saw off the ever-excitable Jing Jin, and only then returned to his room.
—
Xie Xizhao stayed home for a solid three days.
He had always been a filial son, but unfortunately, being an idol meant he couldn’t stay with his parents often. The best he could do was carve out bits of time to visit whenever possible.
Before leaving, he took Jing Jin out for a meal.
He said, “While I’m away, please check in on my parents every now and then. They really like you.”
Jing Jin agreed without hesitation.
Xie Xizhao then signed all sorts of autographs for her classmates and friends. On the third night, he dragged his suitcase and headed to the dorm.
Before arriving, he already had a rough idea of the dorm’s scale.
After all, even though the address Miao Haicheng had given was in a remote area, it was still a wealthy district with top-tier surroundings.
But when he got there, he was still slightly shocked by the sheer size of the place.
The duplex villa had two floors, with a total of five bedrooms—one for each person. Additionally, it had a dining room, kitchen, living room, and even a practice room in the basement. All the facilities were brand new, making it clear that a lot of thought had gone into renting this place.
Xie Xizhao had sent a message in their small group chat before arriving. Now, Zou Yi came out to greet him, smiling at the look on his face.
“Feels like you’ve struck it rich overnight, doesn’t it?” he said. “I felt the same way when I first got here.”
Xie Xizhao laughed. “I’ll only feel that way if the property deed has my name on it.”
The two of them walked inside together.
Everyone else had already arrived. Xie Xizhao wasn’t picky about rooms and settled directly into the one at the far end of the first floor.
*
Over the past few days, while the debut group rested at home, the buzz around Super Rookie’s finale hadn’t died down at all.
The period right after debut was when show fans were at their most enthusiastic, making the transition from the competition to post-show activities crucial. So, while the members were technically on break, they weren’t completely inactive.
Each of the five members posted their own Weibo updates to express their gratitude.
Xie Xizhao had already changed his username to The Phoenix – Xie Xizhao. Over the past two days, he had been scrolling through his private messages, coming to a realization—no matter the world, fans always seemed to have the same core spirit.
The messages generally fell into three categories:
- [Husband, post a selfie.]
- [Wife, post a selfie.]
- [Baby, post a selfie.]
Everyone understood that official schedules were already set, so the only thing they could demand was a selfie from the idol himself. The way they chased after him felt like that leopard from the cough syrup commercial.
Xie Xizhao, who was being relentlessly pursued, silently pulled out his phone.
That night, every single fan with notifications turned on received a special alert.
@The Phoenix- XieXizhao V:
Selfie.
Posted 1 minute ago.
Comments section: ???
[A real “post a selfie” situation]
[I told you to post a selfie, but I didn’t mean just a selfie—wait, what am I even saying]
[Such a ruthless man :）]
[Ahhhh, Zhaozhao baby, you can’t bully Mama like this! My heart is breaking—I really thought you posted a selfie, sob sob]
But before two minutes had even passed, another post appeared on everyone’s feed.
In the photo, a young man sat in the courtyard, with a lush, vibrant garden behind him, enclosed by a black railing. The sun was setting, casting a warm golden light that blurred part of the frame. Yet, his delicate and gentle features were still clearly visible, along with the soft smile at the corner of his lips.
The fans, who had just been raging in frustration, instantly fell silent.
And then, in a sweet and obedient tone:
[Brother, can you post one more? Just one more, please?]
[Ahhh, so pretty, so pretty! Baby, I’m giving you a billion kisses! But why only one photo? 😭]
[Fine, I forgive you… but can you post a few more? 👉👈]
Watching all of this unfold, Ai Qingyuan was utterly amazed.
Seen people who know how to bait.
Never seen someone this good at it.
Ai Qingyuan said, “Xie Xizhao, were you raised on fishing hooks in your past life?”
Xie Xizhao calmly replied, “It’s called professionalism.”
Ai Qingyuan: ?
Passing by, Fu Wenze kindly added, “The thing you don’t have.”
Ai Qingyuan: !
Regardless of whether Xie Xizhao had been raised on fishing hooks or not, this Weibo post had been a feast for fans who had been starved for days. The selfie quickly surpassed 100,000 shares, likes, and comments, proving the fandom was very much alive.
And while fans were still cherishing their precious selfie, TP members had already begun their first official schedule:
The first recording of their debut reality show.
Which meant they were about to experience what every newly debuted group had to face—
Choosing a leader.
