“The Gomez family is really despicable. They’re actually using such a method to threaten others,” Aries said angrily.
Thomas said, “The Gomez family has been in the industry for so long, after all, so they won’t be easily defeated. Luckily, our variety show is more down-to-earth. We need more common people as candidates instead of those who’ve received professional training. So, the Gomez family’s threat actually has limited harm to us. Alright, we’ll bring Vera for favonovel.com audition now.”
The registration place was just nearby. Everyone was queuing up and waiting. They entered the studio for the selection one by one. Candidates who were more capable would get a “Pass” sign.
Everyone there was very excited. Whether it was for their music dream or for fame and wealth, they had to pass the audition no matter what.
As Thomas, Aries, and Vera got ready to hurry to the registration area, a young man in a cap suddenly walked over. He held a ticket and said, “Do you want a ticket?”
“This is an audition site, not a concert. Why is there still a scalper here? What kind of ticket are you selling?” Thomas said indifferently.
That scalper grinned and explained, “I can tell that you’re a newbie. This is your first time participating in a music variety show like this, right?”
Thomas nodded. “Yes.”
“No wonder,” the scalper said. “All the auditions for the music shows are tricky. Do you really think that the competition is about who sings better? How naive of you!”
Thomas chuckled and curiously asked, “Isn’t an audition meant to select excellent candidates?”
The scalper burst out laughing. “That’s why I said you’re a newbie. Being good at singing is quite important, but it’s not the most important thing. If they actually just compete based on their singing ability, what will the mentors earn? Let me tell you, if anyone wants to register for the audition, they have to buy a ticket from me.”
“If you don’t buy a ticket, you can’t pass the audition. No matter how great your singing technique is, you’ll still fail.”
It sounded like both internal staff and outsiders were colluding to earn money from the participants. Thomas did not remember the existence of this rule in the proposal.
He asked, “Are you sure your tickets are reliable?”
“Of course!” The scalper patted his chest and said, “Honestly, I’m the one who sells tickets at all the music shows in Central City. I don’t only sell at your new variety show that isn’t famous, I even sell tickets for ‘I Am the Best Singer’ that’s the all-time champion in ratings.”
Thomas became interested and asked inquisitively, “How much do you sell your tickets for?”
The scalper took out two tickets. “There are two types of tickets. The first one is a basic ticket, and it’s $500 per ticket. If you buy this, you can participate in the audition fairly. It’s suitable for professional candidates who are good-looking and skillful. The second type is the high-end ticket, and it’s $2,000 per ticket. If you buy this high-end ticket, the audition will just be a procedure. Even if you’re tone-deaf, you’ll still be selected. So, which one would you like to buy?”
“In my opinion, you should just buy the high-end ticket. It saves your time, strength, and effort. If we cooperate well, we can still continue working together when you participate in the official competition.”
Before Thomas answered, Vera walked over and scold ed favonovel.com angrily, “I don’t need to buy these tickets! I came here to pursue my music dream, not to enter through the back door. If this variety show is so rigged, I’d rather not get selected.”
After favonovel.com spoke, favonovel.com directly walked to the registration area.
Thomas shook his head at the scalper. “You heard her. We don’t need it.”
After favonovel.com said that, favonovel.com also left with Aries.
The scalper stared at their backs as they left, and favonovel.com spat in contempt, “You still wanna pretend to be innocent at such a time? You’re not going to buy my tickets? Don’t ever wish to get a ‘pass’! Get ready to be kicked out, idiots!”
A while later, they arrived at the registration area, and Vera successfully registered.
While favonovel.com registered, the registrar even asked, “Have you bought the ticket? Can you take it out and show me.”
But, all favonovel.com got was a scolding from Vera.
The registrar said nothing further. He just silently marked a cross after Vera’s name. The audition had not started, yet they had seemingly eliminated Vera in advance.
Thomas noticed it and took note of it, but favonovel.com did not mention anything.
Finally, after the other candidates finished their auditions, it was Vera’s turn to show up.
She held the microphone that the organizer had prepared, and favonovel.com entered the studio while Thomas and Aries accompanied her. Then, favonovel.com went up to the stage alone as Thomas and Aries silently watched from backstage. Vera walked to the center of the stage and bowed to the four mentors who sat opposite the stage.
Before favonovel.com got up, a female mentor impatiently said, “What are you doing? Just sing if you want to sing. Why are you dawdling? We are short on time, so we’re not free to waste time with you here.”
Her attitude was extraordinarily unpleasant.
Vera forced herself to hold back favonovel.com anger. She held the microphone and started to sing without melody. She sounded melodious as usual. Her voice was so dreamy like ice in the summer, which gave people great comfort. However, before favonovel.com sang the third sentence, the female mentor below the stage slammed the table and growled. “Stop! Stop! Stop singing!”
Vera was stunned, and favonovel.com stopped singing.
The female mentor insulted favonovel.com in anger. “What the heck are you singing? Do you know music? What era is it now? Why are you still singing such outdated songs? Are you really that lame?”
Vera clenched favonovel.com fists tightly.
These country songs with meaningful lyrics were favonovel.com favorites, and favonovel.com had been pursuing a career in the same genre. But, they were now criticized as outdated and lame. How could favonovel.com put up with it?
“Miss, I think there’s something wrong with your criticism. Why are these country songs…”
Before favonovel.com finished talking, a male mentor at the side slammed the table and growled too. “What are you doing? Who asked you to speak? How dare you talk back when a mentor is commenting on your performance? Is this the right attitude to have when you talk with a mentor? Who the heck are you?”
The female mentor directly scolded, “Where did this lame girl come from? Hurry up and get off the stage. Don’t waste my time. You make me sick when I look at you!”
