My daily life is getting weird because I am caught between being in a band and being an idol.

She paused for a moment, her gaze fixed on the rising sun, and continued.

"So, if you're personally okay with it, it's best if you give the interview and answer their questions. They'll probably ask some rather pointed questions about you and your company. To avoid any complications, you'd better think about how to respond in advance to make sure you don't leave any ammunition against them."

After listening, Chaoyang nodded thoughtfully.

. .

"Huh? Is the producer going to be interviewed with us too?"

Chaoyang didn't just ask Xiangzi, but very respectfully inquired about all the Pastel* members.

Bai Lu Qian Sheng was initially surprised, but quickly confirmed whether this was true.

"It's not completely finalized yet."

Chaoyang looked at her and replied in this way.

"I'll accept it~ It sounds interesting~~"

Japanese cuisine remains unchanged; they seem to enjoy watching the drama unfold.

"But won't that steal our thunder? After all, we're the main characters."

Aine began to worry about another issue.

"...We weren't exactly in the limelight anyway."

Mayi smiled bitterly.

"...The producer has been working tirelessly for us and is one of us. Let's all do an interview together?"

Maruyama Aya, on the other hand, looked delighted and thought it was perfectly acceptable.

As Qian Sheng gazed at the rising sun, a complex mix of emotions welled up within her. She maintained a calm facade, but her inner thoughts were swirling.

According to other staff members, the producer really likes the idols from Hatsuhoshi Academy, and they are indeed very talented with a large following on social media; their released PVs have already garnered a considerable number of views. Even if the producer tries to treat everyone equally, the entertainment industry is all about popularity, so resources will definitely be tilted towards that group.

This magazine interview might be an opportunity... If he can join us in front of the media and speak publicly as the producer of Pastel*, it will at least strengthen our connection. Then, both the media and fans will subconsciously perceive him primarily as our producer.

Thinking of this, Qian Sheng continued.

“I also think it would be better for producers to be interviewed together. Although it may make producers feel uneasy, I think it can be an opportunity for them to grow.”

Qian Sheng spoke very beautiful words.

When Chaoyang heard Qiansheng say that, he felt that if he refused, he would seem like someone who was afraid to move forward and preferred to stay in his comfort zone.

. .

"...So, the next question...what kind of idol do you want to become in the future?"

Most of the interviews had already been completed, and it was now Aya Maruyama's turn to be interviewed in front of the editor after having her photos taken. However, Maruyama still had her old problem; despite her hard work in practicing, she was still a bit nervous and couldn't relax even without an audience.

"Um... yes... I want to continue working hard as PasPale from now on!"

The editor lamented inwardly, thinking that based on the current content alone, the magazine's sales would likely decline further in the next issue.

"Specifically, who are the targets?"

"Yes! I came into this world because I admired Ayumi. I also made a promise with Ayumi when the group disbanded. My dream is to become an idol who surpasses Ayumi."

"Our goal is Ayumi-san. So, how can we surpass Ayumi-san?"

Maruyama Aya was so nervous that she forgot her lines.

"What do we do...? Yes, yes...? Um, that..."

The other members of Pastel* have already started cheering her on from below.

Seeing Maruyama Aya's performance, Chisato became distressed.

This is just a written interview... If she were to appear on a variety show alone later... well... Xiao Cai might get bullied by those senior figures in the entertainment industry... I'll have to give Xiao Cai some training later.

Even the editor couldn't stand it anymore and had to smooth things over.

"...How about we start by figuring out how to do it?"

"Yes, yes! Maybe... that's true! I will work hard, and I hope that one day I can surpass Ayumi-san."

"Hehehe~~ What's wrong with Xiao Cai? She's just repeating the same thing over and over again~~"

The Japanese girls in the audience burst into laughter.

"Shh... Be quiet, Hina-chan, don't disturb other people's work."

Soon, Maruyama Aya returned to the group, feeling dejected.

"...Haa...This was supposed to be a great new job...and I messed it up..."

"That's not true! Aya-chan did a great job!"

Hehehe~ It's great that Maruyama-senpai is just as nervous as I am.

Aine didn't perform very well in the interview either. Although there was no malice intended, she was relieved to see that she wasn't the only one who did this. She was afraid that she would be at the bottom.

"...It's okay, everyone don't need to worry too much. This is probably how it is when you first give an interview. You'll get used to it after you do this kind of work more often."

Chisato remained the team's backbone, clapping and encouraging everyone. Actually, Hina performed quite well; after all, she was all smiles even when her lip-syncing was exposed, so for her it was just memorizing lines.

Of course, Chisato was actually most worried about her, afraid that she would suddenly start talking about all sorts of random things. For example, yesterday she and Hina went on a date with the producer. Of course, it wasn't really a date, just accompanying him to buy things, but people wouldn't care about that if they heard it.

"Next up is the producer."

Qian Sheng grew uneasy, glancing at Chao Yang standing on the other side... and Xiang Zi beside him...

That... girl... came with the producer. She's been sticking to him from the beginning... I think she works at the agency... But why does it always feel like the producer is asking her about everything?

. .

"As expected, none of them performed very well... Only Chisato and Hina were decent. But I understand why the editor wanted to change the questions; they were all quite boring. Even what Chisato and Hina said was just standard and unoriginal. Hina's draft was probably written by Chisato; if Hina had said it herself, it would probably have caused a huge mess."

Chaoyang said this to Xiangzi with a wry smile.

Xiangzi's expression remained calm and composed, seemingly unsurprised by the unremarkable outcome of the interview. She nodded slightly, her voice still calm and indifferent.

"As expected... After all, they're all newcomers, so this is fine."

She paused, glanced at the editor on the other side of the stage, and her eyes held a hint of insight.

"However... the interview was indeed a bit boring, and that kind of editor probably won't let it go easily. He'll probably try to find some juicy details from you. Let me remind you, Chaoyang, don't say too much without thinking."

"Any one of your so-called great achievements would be enough to make many idols in the agency announce their retirement."

"...Ah...that's such a misunderstanding..."

Nobody actually used me as a pillow for business purposes...

Chaoyang smiled somewhat helplessly and shook his head gently. Then a studio employee walked over.

"Hello, Mr. Hiraishi, it will be starting in 10 minutes. Please hurry if you need water or to use the restroom."

"know."

Chaoyang nodded slightly, turned around and smiled at Xiangzi.

"Looks like it's my turn. Don't worry, I'll be careful."

. .

"Mr. Chaoyang, thank you very much for accepting our interview. Could you please give a brief introduction of yourself?"

Chaoyang smiled slightly and looked at the camera in a calm tone.

"Hello everyone... I am Hiraishi Asahi, the manager of the agency. However, due to a shortage of staff, I will be the producer for all the idols under the agency."

"Mr. Hiraishi, you are truly young and promising. You've only been out of university for a few years and you're already running a company. What made you decide to enter this industry?"

"Actually... I used to own an izakaya (Japanese pub)... If nothing unexpected had happened, my status probably wouldn't have changed in my life, but one day a job applicant came along and changed everything. I learned a lot from her. She wasn't discouraged even when she was in dire straits, and she was incredibly cute..."

Chaoyang glanced in Xiangzi's direction, saw the warning look she gave him, and couldn't help but smile slightly, nodding as if to say, "I understand, I won't say anything more."

The editor, beaming with excitement, glanced at Pastel* and immediately spoke.

"May I ask who it was?... Ah, could it be Ms. Chihaya? As far as I know, she comes from Hatsuhoshi Academy, and according to the timeline, it seems that you acquired the agency you now own after the lip-syncing incident... Thinking about it, was Ms. Chihaya in dire straits at the time, and then Mr. Hiraishi, in a fit of rage for her sake, acquired the agency, incurring a debt of hundreds of millions?"

"No, of course I joined this agency because of Aine, but the girl I'm talking about isn't her. I won't reveal the answer here, but please follow us in the future, and maybe you'll figure out who it is~~"

"Mr. Hiraishi, it seems I'll have to keep an eye on this from now on... But speaking of which, since the reason for acquiring this company is Ms. Chihaya, do you have any feelings for her?"

"Of course"

Chaoyang smiled slightly, looked at the editor's excited expression, paused for a moment, and then answered in a slightly teasing tone.

"Aine... of course she's a very important member of our agency. But, as for my feelings for her? Haha, as a producer, I have a special appreciation and care for each member. Ultimately, my feelings for them are because of their hard work and potential, not anything else."

"Haha, sorry, sorry, let's get back to the main topic."

Chaoyang interrupted the editor with a smile, maintaining a polite smile, and changed the subject.

"As producers, we are focused on their future and growth. The Pastel* members are all newcomers to me, and my goal is to let them fully express themselves on stage and forge their own paths."

Chapter 120: Wanting to persecute Xiao Xiang.

"...I hope they can grow into a unique band, not just as idols, but as someone who can inspire fans through their music. The Pastel* members all have unique personalities and talents, so I will do my best to help them improve their stage presence and lead them to showcase their charm on a bigger stage."

"...Okay, thank you very much for your visit, Mr. Hiraishi. I also hope that you will become known to more viewers..."

When Chaoyang heard the editor finish and express his gratitude, he smiled slightly, nodded in acknowledgment, and stood up as if nothing had happened.

However, once the cameras and recording equipment were completely turned off, his face immediately darkened, and his previously polite smile instantly turned icy.

"Is the interview over?"

He asked a question as if to confirm, and before the editor could react, he suddenly reached out and grabbed the other man's collar, pulling him in front of him with a cold look in his eyes, making no attempt to hide his anger.

What did you mean by those questions just now?

"Calm down! Mr. Hiraishi, this is how it is for us. If we don't create interesting topics, no one will buy our magazine."

"If you only see me as someone to amuse yourself, I don't mind. But what you just said could shatter those girls' dreams at any moment. I don't care what you did in the past, but now... they are all my precious assets. You know the pressure I'm under, right? If they can't become idols because of you... and I lose my cash cow, and my company goes bankrupt, you don't want to know what a desperate person might do... By the way, do you have a wife and children?"

The editor was lifted into the air by Chaoyang with one hand, his toes almost dangling off the ground. He forced an unnatural smile onto his face and tried to remain calm, but his eyes betrayed a hint of panic.

After all, Chaoyang wasn't much taller or better than him, yet he could lift him up with one hand, which scared him a little.

"Don't worry, Mr. Hiraishi..."

He stammered as he tried to ease the tension.

"I do this kind of thing all the time, and I really know how to keep it in check. We're after readership, not making enemies... You understand?"

He tried to maintain a polite smile and make his voice sound calm.

"This interview isn't live, so don't worry... it's just a written interview."

He took a breath and continued cautiously.

"We will definitely send you the content before publishing it, so you can review it first. We will only publish it after you confirm that it is correct. Really, don't do anything foolish..."

Chaoyang finally took a deep breath, gradually loosening his grip and setting the editor down. He looked at the other person coldly, his eyes still carrying a hint of displeasure.

The editor's explicit questions crossed his line, infuriating him.

Chaoyang stared coldly at the editor, a hint of disdain in his eyes, seemingly not having completely let down his guard against him.

He adjusted his collar slightly, spoke in a low voice, his tone carrying a calm but forceful threat.

"I hope you keep your word, otherwise our problems won't be resolved so easily. I want to remind you of something. You may think we're just a small firm that can be manipulated at will, but in a while, Chuxing Academy will be investing in us."

He paused deliberately, observing the editor's expression. The unease on the editor's face quickly intensified, clearly indicating they had realized the gravity of the situation. Chaoyang continued calmly.

"Leaving aside the academy's own strength, the sheer number and influence of its alumni throughout the entertainment industry is enough to cause trouble for magazines like yours that make a living from fringe news. Are you sure you want to offend us at this time?"

The editor's face gradually turned pale. He lowered his head, wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, forced a stiff smile, and hurriedly nodded.

"Mr. Hiraishi, of course I would not infringe upon your firm's interests... I will strictly adhere to your review process for this content before publication, and there will be absolutely no inappropriate content."

Seeing the other person's pale face and cold sweat, Chaoyang couldn't help but laugh, his face quickly regaining its previous relaxed expression. He stepped forward, put his hand on the editor's shoulder, and laughed heartily and warmly.

"Haha~ How about that? Don't I have the talent to enter the entertainment industry? Did I surprise you? Ahahaha!"

He smiled as he casually straightened the editor's wrinkled collar.

The editor was taken aback by his sudden amiability and hadn't quite recovered yet. But seeing Chaoyang's smile return and his tone take on a slightly joking tone, he finally breathed a sigh of relief and forced a smile.

"Ah, ah... Mr. Hiraishi, you really are... as expected of the boss of an idol agency, you scared me so much I thought something really was going to happen, haha."

"...Something has indeed happened. What happens next is up to you."