After becoming rich overnight, I handed over the system.

Chapter 452 Kicked Out

After comforting Lu Yuan, Zhou Ziqian left the teahouse and drove directly to the television station.

The office building was almost deserted late at night, and his footsteps echoed in the corridor.

Liu Ming's office door was locked, but you could see the lights were on inside through the glass.

Zhou Ziqian was hesitating whether to knock on the door when he suddenly heard something fall to the ground inside.

Immediately afterwards, Liu Ming's angry voice could be faintly heard: "I don't care what your reasons are, he must be replaced!...Yes, next week!"

Zhou Ziqian held his breath and pressed himself against the crack in the door.

“That Zhou Ziqian is too arrogant… No, it’s not the show’s fault, the show must continue… but he can’t stay… I know the risks…”

Zhou Ziqian's blood froze instantly.

He tiptoed backward, but bumped into the cleaning lady's cart as he turned around, making a loud "bang".

The conversation in the office abruptly stopped.

Zhou Ziqian strode towards the elevator, his heart pounding like a drum.

Even after he got into the car, his hands were still trembling slightly.

Is Liu Ming going to kick himself off the show? Why?

This show is currently very popular; trying to reap the rewards halfway through? Dream on!

The next day, Zhou Ziqian pretended to be nonchalant and participated in the recording.

He carefully observed Liu Ming's every move and discovered that the other party paid special attention to Lu Yuan.

Lu Yuan's performance was also exceptional. His performance in the third assessment drew a standing ovation from the entire audience, and even the usually strict dance instructors were moved to tears.

After the recording ended, Zhou Ziqian was called to the station director's office.

He pushed open the door and saw that Liu Ming and several senior executives were already seated, with champagne and cake on the table.

"Producer Zhou! Come quick!" The station manager waved with a beaming smile. "We're celebrating 'The Birth of an Idol' breaking the station's ten-year ratings record!"

Zhou Ziqian accepted the champagne with a smile on his face.

Liu Ming walked over and affectionately put his arm around his shoulder: "Ziqian, you really did a great job this time! The station has decided to give the production team a special bonus, and yours will definitely be the most generous."

The champagne tasted bitter in Zhou Ziqian's mouth instantly.

The conversation he overheard last night was in stark contrast to what he was seeing now, and Liu Ming's hypocritical smile disgusted him.

Halfway through the celebration, the station director suddenly cleared his throat: "Taking this opportunity, I have some good news to announce."

He looked at Liu Ming and said, "After deliberation by the station's leadership, it has been decided that Deputy Director Liu Ming will be officially promoted to Director of the Programming Department, in charge of all variety show production."

Applause erupted, and Liu Ming bowed modestly to express his gratitude.

Then, he changed the subject: "In order for the continued healthy development of 'Idol Birth,' the station has also made some personnel adjustments. Considering that Producer Zhou has been overworked recently, and on the doctor's advice, he needs to rest for a period of time..."

Zhou Ziqian gripped the champagne glass in his hand even tighter.

The doctor suggested it? He hasn't even had a physical exam recently!

"...The program will be temporarily taken over by the new deputy director, Zhao Dong, while Producer Zhou will become an advisor. Let's give him a round of applause!"

The applause in the conference room was sparse, and many staff members looked shocked.

In the conference room, Liu Ming's voice was like a dull knife, slowly and cruelly cutting into Zhou Ziqian's dignity.

The executives sitting around Zhou Ziqian avoided his gaze and pretended to be focused on the folder in front of them.

The air conditioner hummed, but it couldn't dispel the awkward silence that hung in the air.

Zhou Ziqian lowered his head slightly, letting the stray hairs on his forehead obscure his eyes, and forced a smile: "I understand, health is indeed the most important thing."

His fingers dug into his palms under the table, the pain keeping him in perfect form—a mixture of disappointment and restraint, a sense of grievance without losing his dignity.

"That's great! I knew you were understanding, Ziqian." Liu Ming's smile widened, and the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes deepened. "Idol Birth is your life's work, and we will cherish it. Just rest and recover; don't hesitate to ask if you need anything."

Zhou Ziqian nodded and slowly gathered the documents in front of him, deliberately making his movements appear heavy and reluctant.

When he walked out of the meeting room carrying the cardboard box, his shoulders were slightly hunched, as if he had aged ten years in an instant.

In the corridor, staff members cast sympathetic or curious glances at them.

With red eyes, Xiao Li followed, saying, "Brother Zhou, I'll go with you!"

"Don't be foolish," Zhou Ziqian said in a low voice. "Proceed according to plan."

Xiao Li paused for a moment, then understood, and deliberately raised his voice: "But Brother Zhou! The show can't be without you!"

The performance was flawless; the sobs in the voices brought tears to the eyes of several female directors.

The moment the elevator doors closed, Zhou Ziqian's expression changed.

He straightened his back, the disappointment in his eyes vanishing, replaced by a sharp calm.

The box contained only some trivial items; the truly important things had been moved to a safe place a week earlier.

In a private room at the West City Cafe, Zhou Ziqian sipped his black coffee, sitting opposite Chen Zhiyuan, the program director of Xinghui TV.

"Liu Ming acted even faster than we expected," Chen Zhiyuan said, adjusting his gold-rimmed glasses. "It seems the popularity of 'Idol Birth' has made him restless."

Zhou Ziqian chuckled lightly: "He's always been like this; he can't stand seeing others succeed."

He took a USB drive from his briefcase. "The complete plan for 'All-Star Producers' is more comprehensive than what we discussed last time."

Chen Zhiyuan plugged into his laptop, the screen's glow reflecting in his widening pupils: "You even prepared player contract templates? These conditions...aren't they too generous?"

“It’s not about being generous, it’s about fairness.” Zhou Ziqian’s eyes were firm. “The biggest problem with ‘Idol Birth’ was the exploitation of the contestants. In my new show, viewers don’t just vote for performances, but participate in the entire process of developing the contestants, with transparent and open revenue sharing.”

"This will overturn the rules of the entire industry." Chen Zhiyuan gasped.

“It’s the perfect time.” Zhou Ziqian pulled up another document. “This is the backstage data I compiled for ‘The Birth of an Idol.’ The audience’s desire for authenticity far exceeds expectations. Liu Ming doesn’t understand this; he will continue to exploit the contestants to create dramatic conflict, while we need to present genuine growth.”

Chen Zhiyuan was carefully reading the documents when he suddenly looked up and asked, "When did you start preparing all this?"

“It started when I submitted my new proposal,” Zhou Ziqian said, his gaze distant. “No, to be precise, it started when Liu Ming first dismissed my proposal with disdain. I knew this day would come.”

Unfortunately, Liu Ming had no idea how much inspiration Lin Liuyi had given him.

Outside the window, the setting sun dyed the sky blood red.

Zhou Ziqian's phone vibrated; it was a message from Lu Yuan: "Liu asked me to deliberately make a mistake in the final, saying he has something to hide in the contract. See you at the usual place tomorrow night at 8 pm."