Chapter 126: Desperate Guo Chen vs. Confident Wang Mo

While Guo Chen was wondering what brilliant plan Wang Mo could possibly have, Tang Tao came looking for him.

Seeing the deep fatigue etched between Guo Chen’s brows, Tang Tao frowned and asked, “I heard that Little Wang has been dragging you all over the country these past few days. The airfare alone has cost more than a million.”

Although Wang Mo had used two Trust Fragments on Tang Tao, they had merely caused Tang Tao to trust Wang Mo regarding the concept and person in charge of *Where Are We Going, Dad?* His judgment in all other matters remained unchanged.

Therefore, after hearing about Wang Mo’s recent activities, Tang Tao began to feel faintly concerned.

In his experience, the most important part of preparing a variety show was to hold meetings of every size, finalize a detailed plan, and then put it into practice. After all, sharpening the axe does not delay the work of chopping wood.

Yet Wang Mo had done nothing of the sort. The team had only just been formed, and he was already taking everyone out every day to wander about.

That was why Tang Tao had sought out Guo Chen, hoping to find out what was really going on.

However, after hearing him out, Guo Chen shook his head. “President Tang, General Manager Wang hasn’t been dragging us around aimlessly.”

“This isn’t aimless wandering?” Tang Tao’s eyes widened. “I heard you’ve been flying to a different place every day. Today it’s the capital, tomorrow it’s the desert, and afterward you’re off to the southwest. Every time you arrive somewhere, you move on to another place before you’ve even warmed your seat. If that isn’t aimless wandering, then what is? Don’t tell me Little Wang has been taking you around to scout locations!”

What Tang Tao had not expected was for Guo Chen to nod seriously.

“Yes. General Manager Wang really has been scouting locations. And over the past few days, he has already selected all six places tentatively planned for *Where Are We Going, Dad?* He took us there for two reasons. First, so we could familiarize ourselves with the locations. Second, through on-site inspections, he showed us how they should be modified later to facilitate filming.”

“Huh?” Tang Tao was stunned. “The locations have already been chosen?”

Guo Chen nodded. “That’s right.”

Tang Tao was utterly dumbfounded. “Seriously?”

Guo Chen said, “At first, I didn’t believe it either. But after General Manager Wang personally took us to those places, I became certain he wasn’t joking. To be honest, even now I don’t understand how he managed to find six locations so perfectly suited to the show in such a short time.

“I’ve directed several outdoor reality shows before, so I know how difficult location scouting can be. For a reality show like *Where Are We Going, Dad?*, which involves children, it’s even harder because of all the restrictions. Yet General Manager Wang selected the locations in no time at all. I can only conclude that I underestimated him before.”

Tang Tao was deeply shaken.

For Guo Chen to say something like that meant that he had already developed genuine admiration for Wang Mo.

Tang Tao remembered very clearly how, just over ten days ago, when Guo Chen had been assigned to direct *Where Are We Going, Dad?*, the veteran variety-show director from Mango TV had worn an expression as dark as the bottom of a pot.

He had never expected Guo Chen’s attitude to change so drastically in such a short time.

“Little Wang really does have some ability...” Tang Tao muttered inwardly.

Sometimes, a thought would faintly arise in his mind: perhaps he had been too hasty in making Wang Mo the general person in charge of *Where Are We Going, Dad?*

But after hearing Guo Chen’s words, he finally felt reassured.

I knew it. I just need to trust myself. My judgment has never been wrong!

...

When Guo Chen found Wang Mo, the very same General Manager Wang whom he had just praised was sitting there with a copy of *The Fundamentals of Television Directing*, reading it intently.

The corner of Guo Chen’s mouth twitched.

General Manager Wang is going too far. Last time, he used a copy of *The Fundamentals of Variety-Show Production* to bluff me. Now he’s trying to mislead me again? Hmph! Unfortunately for him, I’ve already seen through his true abilities. This trick won’t fool me anymore.

He walked over to Wang Mo and asked, “General Manager Wang, reading a book?”

Wang Mo hurriedly put it away, looking somewhat embarrassed. “I’m not very familiar with variety-show production, so I’m studying a little in my spare time. I hope I haven’t made a fool of myself in front of you, Director Guo.”

Guo Chen smiled faintly.

Do you think I believe you?

You managed to settle, on your own and within a few days, the location scouting that would normally have taken everyone several months.

And you call that unfamiliarity?

He had never seen anyone as modest and humble as General Manager Wang. It was a real eye-opener.

After putting away the book, Wang Mo took several documents from the desk beside him and handed them to Guo Chen.

“You came at just the right time, Director Guo. These are the guest candidates I compiled for the show—twenty father-and-child pairs in total. I’ve highlighted ten celebrity fathers and their children in particular. Take a look at the information first and familiarize yourself with it. Then begin with some preliminary communication with these guests. In a few days, we’ll visit their homes one by one and try to finalize the cast as soon as possible.”

“All right.”

Guo Chen was secretly astonished.

He had come to see Wang Mo today precisely because of the guests. He had never expected Wang Mo to quietly prepare a preliminary list of candidates already.

After glancing through the names, Guo Chen was even more shocked.

Wang Mo’s list was extraordinarily detailed. It had practically gathered every suitable candidate in the country who might appear on *Where Are We Going, Dad?*

That was not all. The documents also recorded each guest’s personality and characteristics in detail, along with the children’s ages, temperaments, preferences, and more.

“This...”

Guo Chen’s thoughts churned. Where had General Manager Wang obtained such detailed information?

In the entertainment industry, many celebrities kept their children hidden from public view and did not reveal even the slightest bit of information about them. Guo Chen simply could not imagine how Wang Mo had managed to gather all this material in such a short time.

What he did not know was that Wang Mo had asked Yuan Xiong to obtain the list.

Yuan Xiong’s connections in the entertainment industry far exceeded Wang Mo’s imagination. In only half a day, he had managed to acquire this detailed information for Wang Mo.

In that instant, Guo Chen’s view of Wang Mo changed once again.

When Guo Chen had initially been chosen by Wang Mo to direct *Where Are We Going, Dad?*, he had merely intended to muddle through. He had not taken the variety show seriously at all.

But after witnessing Wang Mo settle the location scouting through methods that seemed almost unbelievable, Guo Chen had already begun to acknowledge him.

And now, after seeing this list, Guo Chen’s heart was surging with emotion. He soon made a decision.

General Manager Wang is handling things so impressively. I should show him what I’m capable of as well. I can’t let him look down on me.

With that thought, Guo Chen said seriously, “General Manager Wang, how about leaving the matter of inviting the guests to me? That’s the director’s responsibility in the first place.”

Although he knew that inviting the guests would be the most difficult part of producing the show, Wang Mo had awakened his competitive spirit.

He wanted to challenge himself.

He refused to believe that, after working for so many years as a director of outdoor reality shows, he could still be less capable than Wang Mo.

Wang Mo thought for a moment, then agreed.

...

In the days that followed, Guo Chen took the list and began the work of inviting guests.

One day.

Two days.

After a week had passed, Guo Chen’s initial enthusiasm had turned into a thoroughly bedraggled defeat.

He had known from the start that inviting the guests would be difficult, but he had never imagined it would be this difficult.

Although every celebrity was outwardly warm and cordial toward him, the moment the conversation turned to the variety show, each of them rejected the production team’s invitation without hesitation.

No matter how much Guo Chen talked, even after his throat had gone dry and raw, it was useless.

The work had come almost completely to a standstill.

As Guo Chen put it, he felt as though he had already used up every word he would ever speak in his life, yet he still had not persuaded a single celebrity.

The celebrity fathers all held the same opinion: they wanted their children to grow up in a relatively simple environment and were unwilling to put them on a show where they would be exposed to the public.

The members of the production team who accompanied Guo Chen in making the visits were all dispirited as well.

“It’s too difficult.”

“There’s simply no way to persuade them.”

“This is impossible.”

“If it were me, I wouldn’t want my child appearing on television either.”

“What are we supposed to do?”

“Without guests, the show can’t even begin.”

On the tenth day, Guo Chen finally abandoned all further efforts and went back to Wang Mo.

His face was filled with deep frustration. “General Manager Wang, I’m sorry. I wasn’t able to complete the task you gave me.”

As he said this, Guo Chen felt utterly hopeless.

He had begun to believe that no one could possibly succeed.

Wang Mo, however, was not the least bit surprised by Guo Chen’s failure.

It had only been ten days. What could he possibly have accomplished?

In his previous life, the director from Mango TV had spent more than eight months negotiating with the celebrity fathers before finally persuading them to participate.

Ten days was nothing. They had barely begun.

Wang Mo smiled. “It’s not your fault. This was difficult to begin with. Tell me, did you gain anything from the process?”

Guo Chen thought for a moment. “I did gain something. After speaking with them, I selected five father-and-child pairs who, based on your proposal, are the most suitable for our show.”

“Oh? Let me see.”

Wang Mo raised his eyebrows.

Soon, he received the list Guo Chen had prepared.

The first was Lin Shaopeng, a top-tier celebrity from Hong Kong who was highly popular on the mainland. His son, Lin Zirui, was four years old, sweet-natured and adorably innocent.

The second was Gao Yong, a domestic director. His six-year-old son, Gao Yuxuan, was a sturdy, robust boy.

The third was Lü Zhengguo, a domestic actor. His four-year-old daughter, Lü Tiantian, was emotionally intelligent and had a sweet, silver tongue.

The fourth was Yu Hui, an international model. His five-year-old son, Yu Xichen, had a fashionable appearance and a lively, outgoing personality.

The fifth was Jiang Feng, a sports celebrity and world champion in table tennis. His five-year-old daughter, Jiang Xintong, had a delicate appearance but the heart of a tomboy.

At the end of the list, Guo Chen had also explained in detail why these five father-and-child pairs were suitable for the show.

For example, the fathers had different professions, the children had distinct personalities, and each father had his own strengths. Only through such combinations could the participants spark one another and create compelling moments on the show.

Wang Mo nodded inwardly.

The five pairs Guo Chen had selected closely matched the cast from Mango TV’s *Where Are We Going, Dad?* in his previous life, both in terms of the fathers’ professions and the children’s characteristics.

It seemed Director Guo truly had exceptional instincts when it came to variety shows.

Being able to recognize so keenly which combinations would best bring out the show’s potential was no small achievement.

Seeing that Guo Chen was still dejected, Wang Mo smiled. “Director Guo, there’s no need to lose heart. In my view, the fact that you were able to give me this list means you’ve more than completed your work for these ten days.”

Guo Chen gave a bitter smile. “General Manager Wang, please don’t make fun of me.”

“I’m not joking,” Wang Mo said. “This list is extremely important to me. Since you believe these five father-and-child pairs are the most suitable for the show, then we’ll go and win them over.”

Guo Chen smiled bitterly again. “Over the past few days, I’ve called each of these five families more than twenty times to discuss the matter, but every single time they rejected us outright. I don’t think any of them will ever agree to participate. They don’t even seem to have the slightest interest.”

“It doesn’t matter,” Wang Mo said. “For now, just tell me which of these five celebrities you think will be the most difficult to persuade.”

“Lin Shaopeng!”

Guo Chen answered without hesitation. “Since his son was born, Lin Shaopeng has never allowed him to appear in front of the media. According to him, there’s no chance whatsoever that he’ll let his son appear on camera. There’s no room for negotiation.”

Wang Mo snapped his fingers.

Then he smiled brightly. “Excellent. In that case, arrange a time to meet with Lin Shaopeng today. Tomorrow, we’ll buy tickets and head to Hong Kong City to persuade him!”

What?

Go to Hong Kong City tomorrow to persuade Lin Shaopeng?

Could he be any more confident?

What exactly did General Manager Wang intend to use to persuade him?

Pure enthusiasm?!

Upon hearing Wang Mo’s words, Guo Chen was completely dumbfounded.

The man was finished.