Su Yang smiled faintly and said, "Not bad. I put in quite a bit of effort back then to get into Qingbei University."
"Qingbei University is the top-ranked university in our Dragon Country, and it's very difficult to get into, especially the finance department. Su Yang, would you mind sharing your college entrance examination score?" the host asked.
"Not much, six hundred and seventy-two."
[Six hundred and seventy-two... not much?]
[Can I interpret this as Su Yang being humblebragging?]
[Is there a possibility that for strong individuals, this isn't bragging, but stating a fact...]
[I'm shocked, what else don't we know about Su Yang?]
...
It was evident that when the topic of academic qualifications came up, Ji Rufeng paused.
Academic qualifications had always been Ji Rufeng's weak point, but because the company needed to package him, they had fabricated his academic background.
He was already older, his performance wasn't great, and if his academic qualifications weren't high and he had no connections in this circle, he might truly be out of it.
Ji Rufeng had not expected Liang Li to bring up his academic qualifications.
However, his agent had already discussed this issue with him many times.
Especially before this selection process.
Because going to the United States would require knowledge and foreign language skills...
Ji Rufeng's foreign language score in the college entrance examination was three points... he was completely clueless.
But the company said they would provide translation devices and told him not to worry.
Ji Rufeng hadn't worried about these things before.
But at this moment, his agent had abandoned him.
Upon hearing about academic qualifications, Ji Rufeng silently put on his earpiece, but there was no sound coming from it.
This made Ji Rufeng very angry.
Su Yang knew about Ji Rufeng's situation. Yang Mange had said that Ji Rufeng's agent was so angry he was smashing things backstage and had completely stopped managing Ji Rufeng.
"This trip to the United States also requires proficiency in foreign languages, as representatives from many countries will be present, so foreign languages are very important. I wonder how the foreign language skills of the three of you are?" Liang Li continued.
Su Yang casually spoke a few words in English, and Wang Zheng smiled and engaged in conversation with him.
"Wow, you two are conversing so fluently," Liang Li praised.
Then she turned to Ji Rufeng and said, "Rufeng, I recall your college entrance examination scores were also quite good. Could you converse with Teacher Wang and Su Yang?"
"I..."
How could Ji Rufeng speak English? He hadn't understood a single word of what Su Yang and Wang Zheng were saying.
Seeing Ji Rufeng's silence, Liang Li said, "It seems our Rufeng is really tired today. After the selection ends, you should go back and get some good rest."
[Oh my god, is Ji Rufeng's college entrance examination score fake?]
[I feel the same way. It's unlikely he can't even manage such basic conversation, right?]
[If he's pretending not to want to speak, it's too fake. There are so many cameras on him, can't he even act a little?]
[I really feel like he can't speak... and didn't even understand.]
[Me too.]
[I suggest investigating Ji Rufeng's academic qualifications, thoroughly!]
...
Su Yang looked at Ji Rufeng, then at Wang Zheng, and said, "The university where Teacher Wang is a professor seems to be the same one Rufeng attended. I wonder if you two had any interactions back then?"
Upon hearing Su Yang's words, Wang Zheng exclaimed, looked at Ji Rufeng, and asked, "Rufeng, did you graduate from the Kyoto Academy of Arts?"
Ji Rufeng nodded numbly.
If it were before, Ji Rufeng wouldn't have cared about lying and would have answered smoothly.
But now...
He was truly numb.
He had no idea what to say, as if his lies were about to be exposed.
"Which year were you in, and what department?" Wang Zheng genuinely didn't know and wasn't trying to make things difficult for Ji Rufeng; he was just asking casually while waiting for the results.
Ji Rufeng pursed his lips, his lips slightly pale.
"Seventeen, performing arts department."
"An idol from the performing arts department?" Su Yang added.
"That's not right," Wang Zheng said, confused. "I taught a class in the performing arts department in seventeen. I don't seem to recall you."
"Ah..." Ji Rufeng had not expected Wang Zheng to have taught the fabricated class and was at a loss for words.
At this moment, his agent's voice came through the earpiece.
"Say it's because you didn't notice me back then. Don't mess around, Ji Rufeng. If you don't get selected, you don't get selected. If you end up being abandoned by the company, then you'll truly be finished!"
The agent said with frustration.
Ji Rufeng paused and replied, "Perhaps you didn't notice me back then. I still remember you."
"You rascal, you remember me but didn't acknowledge me when we met," Wang Zheng seemed to understand what was going on. Despite his anger, he didn't expose Ji Rufeng.
"I apologize, Teacher Wang. As someone who studied performing arts but became an idol, I always felt I was letting you down."
"The entertainment industry is tough these days, for everyone. Being able to make it is the most important thing."
Wang Zheng was a good person. Even though he knew Ji Rufeng was lying, he understood the importance of a young person's future and did not expose him.
[Teacher Wang must know...]
[I just checked the performing arts department for seventeen and saw the graduation photo. Ji Rufeng isn't in it at all.]
[Amazing, Ji Rufeng, you even dared to forge your academic qualifications?]
[Are there any other scandals about Ji Rufeng that haven't been unearthed yet?]
[Someone like this can be a top star?]
[Be precise upstairs, he's a former top star.]
...
Ji Rufeng fended off Wang Zheng's questions. Su Yang watched Ji Rufeng with a smile and didn't say much more.
At this point, the netizens would investigate what needed to be revealed.
Su Yang didn't need to say anything more.
If he said too much, people would accuse him of having ulterior motives.
By now, there should be a flood of negative news about Ji Rufeng online.
Or rather, the truth was being unearthed.
Looking at the person in front of him, Su Yang smiled faintly.
Su Yang could clearly sense that Ji Rufeng wanted to continue the act.
But he probably didn't realize that acting was no longer useful.
Su Yang's smile at this moment was meant to make Ji Rufeng unable to continue acting.
Given Ji Rufeng's personality, seeing Su Yang's smile, he would definitely think Su Yang was provoking him.
Su Yang didn't even need to think to know this.
Ji Rufeng was indeed acting that way. Seeing Su Yang smile at him, he felt he couldn't take it anymore.
But unfortunately, with so many cameras on him, he couldn't break down. Just as his agent had said, stabilizing himself now might offer a chance for a comeback, especially given the large number of fans he had accumulated.
If he broke down again and was criticized, there would truly be no hope.
Ji Rufeng knew how difficult it had been for him to rise to prominence, so he struggled to restrain himself.
The professional fake smile reappeared on Ji Rufeng's face.
"Alright, we have now tallied the votes backstage.
Let me state that the votes this time are supervised by the Bureau of Culture, and there is absolutely no tampering. It is completely fair and just."
"Now, first, we need to ask the director of our Bureau of Culture who they will support with these ten thousand votes."
After a few seconds of pause, the director of the Bureau of Culture's voice reappeared.
"I have observed the performances of all three of you completely. This program is a key document, and therefore, it is extremely important. I believe everyone understands this.
Considering all the circumstances of this selection and the suitability of the three of you for this program, I have decided to give my ten thousand votes to Su Yang."
A wave of cheers erupted from the audience as the director finished speaking.
Then he said, "Let's begin announcing the votes."
"Yes, Director," Liang Li picked up the conversation.
"First, we will announce the votes for third place. Third place, Ji Rufeng, with three point two seven million votes."
"Next is the vote count for second place. Second place, Teacher Wang Zheng, with five point six nine million votes!"
"Let's congratulate the first place, Su Yang, with a total of thirteen point nine seven million votes!"
Liang Li's voice echoed through the recording studio. Upon hearing the vote count, the curve of Su Yang's lips widened.
The former top star Ji Rufeng's final vote count was not even a tenth of Su Yang's.