Chapter 490: The Old, the Weak, the Infirm

At that moment, Director Zhou glanced at Wang Yun.

Xiao Gang and Old Hu had been talking non-stop, but Wang Yun remained silent.

Sensing Zhou’s gaze, Wang Yun’s lips curled into a slight smile. Tilting his head, he gestured subtly toward the five people standing behind Director Zhou.

“Those five… they’re not staff, are they?”

As soon as he spoke, Xiao Gang and Old Hu turned to look.

“Huh? Director Zhou, since when did you start hiring child laborers?” Old Hu asked in surprise, staring at a small child among the group.

Xiao Gang quickly nudged him. “Probably someone’s kid. Don’t talk nonsense.”

Old Hu nodded quickly, a sheepish look crossing his face.

But Wang Yun merely shook his head.

“What Old Hu said just now… was half right.”

With that, he walked toward the group.

Xiao Gang and Old Hu followed, confusion written all over their faces.

Meanwhile, Director Zhou looked visibly uneasy. He rushed forward, stepping between Wang Yun and the five people.

The five stood silently behind him, each with a distinctly different appearance.

Afraid Wang Yun might take offense, Director Zhou clenched his teeth and confessed, “To be honest, brother, this time you signed up with Xiao Gang and Old Hu by name. Everyone knows those two are your right and left hand. Your synergy is off the charts. With them at your side, it’s like a tiger growing wings. Catching you becomes damn near impossible.”

Director Zhou’s tone was pleading.

Wang Yun said nothing, eyes calmly studying the five people in front of him.

Their ages, looks, demeanors, and temperaments were all over the place. But they had one thing in common.

They were completely unremarkable.

Not even physically average. None of them had the build of someone in decent shape.

“My superiors didn’t want to approve your team setup,” Director Zhou continued, “but you’re my brother. You made the request, and I couldn’t say no. So in the end, we reached a compromise. I got you five additional teammates to balance things out a bit.”

Having said that, Director Zhou lowered his head, like a kid who’d just been caught doing something wrong.

Old Hu and Xiao Gang were immediately upset.

“If that’s the case,” Xiao Gang said, “then I’ll back out. Let Boss compete on his own.”

Wang Yun had already done so much for him, giving him money for his wedding, helping him through everything. Now, because of him, he was holding his benefactor back.

Better to bow out entirely.

“Same here. Our boss doesn’t need help, especially not like this! Look at them: old, young, skinny, short, and one of them even seems… seems…”

Old Hu glanced at one of the five but didn’t finish his sentence.

But everyone knew what he meant: one of them didn’t seem all there.

These five weren’t teammates; they were liabilities.

No wonder Director Zhou had called it “balancing out the strength.”

“Wait, wait, don’t say that!” Director Zhou panicked. “This is already the best compromise I could get for you.”

This arrangement was meant to be a highlight of the season. Of course, Wang Yun’s participation was already a major draw.

But without some changes to the structure, Zhou worried viewers would get tired of the same setup.

The five people standing before them had taken the production team over a month to gather.

Now Director Zhou was nearly in tears.

He was terrified Wang Yun would reject the arrangement and walk away from the show altogether.

Sure, they had signed a contract, but Wang Yun could afford the penalty.

When it came down to it, the program would be the one losing out.

Zhou had known this confrontation would come, but that didn’t make it easier. He was just the executive producer.

But what Wang Yun said next sent Zhou’s heart on a rollercoaster.

“Relax. I never said I was against it.”

The moment the words left Wang Yun’s mouth, eight pairs of eyes snapped toward him.

“Boss! We’re fine, really. This show’s trying to screw you over!” Xiao Gang said urgently.

“Yeah, Boss! Look at these five, no offense, but they’re clearly here to drag you down,” Old Hu added.

Wang Yun chuckled and turned back to face the five.

“Well, if you’re going to be my teammates, we might as well introduce ourselves. You know me, Xiao Gang, and Old Hu. Now let’s hear what you can do.”

Ignoring Director Zhou, Wang Yun addressed the five directly.

“Let’s start from the left.”

The person on the far left was the first to speak.

He looked to be about forty-five years old, slightly hunched, dressed like your average middle-aged man.

He was clearly the eldest of the group.

“Everyone calls me Old Zhou. I don’t really have any special talents, unless… chatting counts?”

Old Zhou had a kindly, down-to-earth smile. His face radiated friendliness; one look and people’s guards would drop.

“I’ll do my best not to be a burden. Please take care of me.”

He stepped forward awkwardly and extended his hand.

Wang Yun shook it firmly, then looked to the second person.