Chapter 58: The Beginning of the Scandal

Words : 1183 Updated : Sep 12th, 2025

Chapter 58: Chapter 58: The Beginning of the Scandal Today, the program we are recording is an indoor observation-based program. These types of programs have been very popular in the past two years. Especially those focused on observing romantic relationships and workplace dynamics. Zhou Yun was invited as a guest to participate in this episode of "The Charm of Competition," which is the first observational program in the country focused on men’s gymnastics. Gymnastics isn’t a very popular sport compared to basketball, football, or tennis. However, as an observational variety show, gymnastics has a greater visual appeal. When Zhou Yun entered the studio, the host Lew Yuan was already testing the microphone. Lew Yuan may not be very famous, but he is a highly experienced host. "Brother Lew, you arrived quite early," Zhou Yun said with a smile as he went forward to shake hands with Lew Yuan. Lew turned around, saw Zhou Yun, and smiled, "Xiao Yun is here." The two had actually not met before, but Lew Yuan’s demeanor and form of address were very warm. A seasoned host has deep skills in dealing with people, quickly becoming familiar and friendly with guests is a skill they must master. "It’s finally nice to see you in person, you look thinner than on camera, have you been too busy lately to eat well?" asked Lew Yuan. "A little," Zhou Yun nodded. "I’m afraid of gaining weight, so I dare not eat too much, which made me lose a bit of weight instead." At that moment, another guest arrived. Li Quan, a regular guest, became widely known in Jiangnan through a drama called "aim" ten years ago and won a very prestigious best actor award in a drama series, but his subsequent works were fairly mediocre. Recently, he has been appearing more on variety shows and less in dramas. "Brother Quan, what brings you here so early today?" Lew Yuan went up to greet him. Li Quan said with a chuckle, "I always make you wait; felt a bit sorry for that." Lew Yuan turned and introduced Zhou Yun, who was standing behind him, "This is Zhou Yun, our guest for today’s episode." Zhou Yun graciously smiled and said, "Brother Quan, hello, I’m Zhou Yun, very happy to meet you today." Li Quan, accustomed to such opening remarks, politely greeted back before turning to chat with Lew Yuan. Meanwhile, Lew Yuan, not wanting Zhou Yun to feel awkward standing alone, occasionally brought him into the conversation. Zhou Yun felt grateful towards Lew Yuan in his heart. Gradually, other guests arrived. The director on the scene started the countdown and called for the recording to begin. Lew Yuan skillfully introduced the guests of the day, and after the opening, he threw out the first topic. "Xiao Yun, this is your first time recording our show, do you usually follow sports events?" Zhou Yun did not expect Lew Yuan to give him the topic so quickly. However, she was prepared in advance and smiled, saying, "I watch some matches occasionally, but I’m not a sports fanatic, just watching when I have time." "What type of sports do you usually pay more attention to?" Lew Yuan asked again. Zhou Yun did not take the opportunity to mention gymnastics since she really didn’t follow it much. "I actually specifically follow the Football World Cup because I saw my classmates playing football quite frequently during my school days, and I would watch the matches with them. Over time, I just got used to keeping an eye on it." "What do you think is the charm of sports?" Lew Yuan threw a third question. Zhou Yun pondered for a moment and responded, "I used to think it was thrilling, but now I find that athletes have a tough job. Every time I see their focus, capability, and determination during competitions, I can’t help but cheer for them. I’m somewhat embarrassed to admit that when watching matches, I really hope our country wins. But if the opponents are being overwhelmingly defeated and the camera cuts to their sad and disappointed expressions, I feel a bit of distress too. This might be the charm of sports for me – the thrill of the competition, the highs and lows, and the athletes’ training journeys deeply move me and I get thoroughly engrossed, sharing their tension, excitement, or distress." "That’s exactly how I feel," another young male artist, Zhou Benyuan, joined in, "It’s really like that. If an athlete gives their all and performs well but encounters unfair refereeing and gets an unfair result, it leaves me so upset that I can’t sleep." "Haha," Lew Yuan laughed heartily. Li Quan nodded and said, "Because sports are inherently brutal, but if even fairness can’t be ensured, its cruelty isn’t just limited to the competition itself. This is not only a blow to the athletes but also to those who love sports." "We want to win through our abilities, right? If other factors outweigh true ability, it’s not just frustrating, it’s infuriating," Zhou Benyuan spoke indignantly. Lew Yuan took control of the situation, saying, "It seems everyone feels quite strongly about this topic, probably recalling some unsatisfying matches from the past." Zhou Yun smiled knowingly. "Let’s also take a look at the selection process of several young lads that our program has been filming." Observational programs are divided into outdoor and indoor sections. "The Charm of Competition" chose eight young gymnasts, four men and four women, for filming. Observers watch the footage in the studio and then share their thoughts and opinions. In such programs, the young gymnasts are the real protagonists. Through following their journeys, they captivate the audience and garner interest in their stories. Celebrities are merely embellishments to attract viewers. However, celebrities as observers often have differing opinions and debates on the video content, or even produce viral-worthy quotes. The first to be played was the male group. The content for the male group was stable and harmonious; the participants had good relations, trained together, and encouraged each other. When one person felt unbalanced before a selection competition, the others comforted and encouraged him, enabling him to confidently participate. It was very positive. This content sparked a discussion among the guests about the encouragement and consolation they encountered during their life’s low points. Zhou Yun remained smiling, occasionally reacting. Until Zhou Benyuan started sharing his story, Zhou Yun was taken aback. Zhou Benyuan mentioned an old incident involving Song Chi. "When I first started my career, there was a time when I was almost confirmed for a role in a drama, but due to some reasons, I was replaced just before filming started," Zhou Benyuan shook his head and chuckled, "Looking back now, it doesn’t seem like much, but at the time it felt like the sky had fallen. I thought, it was all set for me to play the part, how could they go back on their word? I was very angry and upset, went to a bar alone to drink, and quite unexpectedly, I met Brother Chi, Song Chi."

Chapter 58: The Beginning of the Scandal

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