My agency went bankrupt before I even got on stage.

"Does everyone understand the rules?"

The trainees answered in unison, "Understood!"

Lin Fan gestured to the staff to start distributing the bidding paddles: "Alright! Now, please have the program's instructors distribute the bidding paddles. Those who want to participate in the auction can take a paddle, and those who don't want to participate can go back to the training room. Of course, you can also choose to stay and witness this moment, just don't affect the other trainees' bidding."

Go back to training?

Even the top 8 trainees who didn't have to participate in the auction didn't want to go back to the training room! The training room doesn't have much bandwidth; the production team has concentrated most of the staff in Studio One. With so many live cameras there, only a fool would avoid it!

Stay! You must stay!

By this time, everyone understood perfectly well that everyone benefited from this auction! No one suffered a loss. "Morning Star" gained popularity, "Ace" gained popularity, the students who participated in the auction also gained popularity, the fans were having a great time watching the drama unfold, and even the top eight who didn't participate in the auction got some screen time. It was truly a win-win situation.

If we really have to say who lost out, it's that Lin Fan lost a top-tier resource! However, what's honey to one is poison to another. What everyone else sees as a top-tier resource is exactly what Lin Fan doesn't want. Just like the amount Lin Fan paid in this auction, such a good resource would be better off being given 1000 yuan.

Therefore, even the royal family members who didn't get along with Lin Fan were actually grateful to him from the bottom of their hearts. After all, even the richest family was running out of resources, and if they wanted to make a name for themselves, they had to hold onto every bit of popularity.

Putting everything else aside, this auction, which was treated like a joke, has already made many people indebted to Lin Fan. This is a favor that cannot be bought with real money. It's not obvious now, but when Lin Fan needs it in the future, everyone will understand how this favor will be.

……

Lin Fan waited for a while but didn't see anyone get up to leave. Even Tu Jingyi, who had a sour face, sat still. Lin Fan knew that this kid was really going all out for a shot. But it didn't matter. As long as he didn't cause trouble, he could stay.

There's nothing shameful about bidding!

The production team acted quickly, producing 30 bidding number plates in just ten minutes—why 30? The top 9 trainees don't need to bid, right?

The show's producers explained that they didn't say the top 9 contestants weren't allowed to bid for others!

Although Lin Fan didn't need to bid, they had already made 29 of them, so one more wouldn't make a difference. The prop team, who were obsessed with perfection, simply made 30 of them.

Of course, this is a hidden rule, and the production team won't remind the trainees of it.

Lin Fan picked up a small wooden mallet and slammed it heavily on the table: "The auction for this weekend's 'Ace vs Ace' variety show recording slots begins now!"

Almost at the same moment Lin Fan brought down the gavel, the small signs below never fell.

"20!"

"30!"

"40!"

……

"380!"

"390"

……

"Why do I feel like I'm back in elementary school math class?"

"Haha, no rush, let's wait until they call 900 first!"

"Pshaw, start shouting first, don't you get used to the rhythm? What if your hands get cold when you reach 900? This is a resource from 'Big Ace'!"

……

The trainees laughed and joked while keeping a close eye on Lin Fan's hand. No one dared to relax, even though Lin Fan's rule was bizarre—everyone had to add 10 yuan at a time. No one dared to relax because they didn't know if they would be able to grab anything in the end. They could only keep their enthusiasm up, afraid that their hands would get cold.

[Splitting a durian with bare hands: Haha, I suddenly felt like laughing when I saw them auctioning it off in 10-yuan increments. Anyone who didn't know better would think they were bidding 100,000!]

[Born Entertainment Reporter King: As expected of my brother Fan, he always comes up with all sorts of ideas to mess around with. I thought his peak was his live-streaming himself sleeping, but now it seems I wouldn't be surprised if he quit on the night of the finale!]

[Mom, the pig kissed me! : Haha, Brother Fan definitely won't shirk his responsibilities; he's still very professional! If he does, I'll livestream myself eating Thirteen Spices while doing a handstand!]

[Auntie's unrestrained rant: No, Brother Fan will definitely back down. He has professional ethics, but no integrity! If he doesn't back down, I'll livestream myself swimming in a vat of vinegar!]

[Please Call Me Goddess: To the two people upstairs, I've taken screenshots!]

[So young and already has cat-like cuteness: I took a screenshot too!]

……

The live stream was filled with laughter as people watched this unique auction. They talked about all sorts of things, and the overall public opinion was leaning towards a lighthearted tone. Even casual viewers who had just joined in asked what had happened, and after learning the details, they eagerly joined in the fun.

"880!"

"890!"

"900!"

"910!"

Finally, with everyone's efforts, the auction price quickly climbed to 900. Li Xiaodong was so excited that he didn't notice and shouted 910 yuan!

When the price of 910 was announced, the scene fell silent!

The live stream went silent!

The backstage area where the production team was located also fell silent!

Everyone suddenly realized that the most crucial moment had arrived! After 9:10, there were only 9 chances to raise the price, and each person could only raise it by 10 yuan. It was definitely not allowed to raise the price 9 times in a row, but no one was stupid enough to continue raising the price and let someone else benefit.

[I am your ancestor: Here it comes! Here it comes! The climax has arrived!]

[Cute Rabbit: Nine chances, should we all shout together?]

[Give me a chicken foot from 86: What are you yelling about? Can Brother Fan hear you?]

……

The trainees got stuck, but the fans in the live stream got even more excited. No one could guess who would win in the end, but everyone knew that this was the most exciting moment of the auction.

Lin Fan and the others had been waiting anxiously for this moment. Seeing that everyone had stopped bidding, he waved to the staff member next to him: "Teacher, please point the camera at everyone, and make sure to film when everyone bids. I'm afraid I won't be able to see clearly enough!"

The photography instructor nodded; he was very professional at this job! He was also looking forward to seeing who had the fastest hand speed!

"Since everyone's stopped bidding, I'll use a better method to resolve this!" Lin Fan grinned, revealing eight teeth, and said to the first eight students watching the spectacle, "You'll have nine remaining bidding opportunities. You'll bid eight of them in order of your ranking. After Li Yihong, the eighth-ranked student, finishes bidding, all the remaining students will bid together, and the photographer will take pictures of who bid first!"

As soon as Lin Fan finished speaking, everyone erupted in excitement, standing up and eagerly awaiting the answer. Each person gripped their sign tightly, as if they were holding not just a sign, but their own future destiny.

"start!"

As soon as Lin Fan's hammer fell, the top eight students completed their bids in just three seconds, and almost simultaneously, 21 students shouted out the number 1000 with all their might!

1 minute later.

Lin Fan slammed the small hammer in his hand heavily on the table: "1000 RMB! Deal! Congratulations to student Li Xiaodong! You've won a spot on the recording of this weekend's 'Big Ace' program!"

"Wow!" Li Xiaodong rushed towards Lin Fan frantically, his excitement overflowing. At this moment, he was completely high!

The trainees at the scene responded with enthusiastic applause and whistles.

Everyone made money this time!