The Part-Time Idol's Survival Guide

Jiang Lechen, an eighteen-year-old college student majoring in veterinary medicine at a prestigious 985 university, accidentally joins the boy band Hot Boy 101 while working a summer delivery job. Mistaking an audition line for a burger queue, he participates in a daze and, due to his good looks and lack of better options, becomes a member of the struggling group. For five years, he balances his rigorous academic schedule with his idol duties, content with his meager two-thousand-yuan monthly salary and lacking the ambition to rise to fame. His life changes when his small agency is acquired by F Entertainment, a major industry player led by the legendary and formidable agent Gu Yuzhe. Gu Yuzhe conducts ruthless interviews, retaining only ten members from the original one hundred, including Jiang Lechen, largely due to his academic credentials and unique personality.

Under Gu Yuzhe’s strict management, Jiang Lechen faces immediate challenges to his laid-back lifestyle. The new boss enforces a zero-tolerance policy for idleness and deducts Jiang Lechen’s pay for perceived foolishness, such as asking mathematical questions during a meeting or talking behind his back. Despite the financial penalties and Gu Yuzhe’s cold demeanor, Jiang Lechen maintains his quirky optimism, often clashing humorously with his new boss while navigating the high-pressure environment. His closest ally in the group is Wen Gui, a younger, talented dancer with whom he shares a competitive yet brotherly relationship, frequently joking about their dynamic and physical attributes.

A significant turning point occurs when Jiang Lechen takes on a side gig as a featured extra in a low-budget film shoot to earn extra money. On set, he encounters Lin Kairan, a renowned second-generation director from Hong Kong, who is filming at Jiang Lechen’s university. Jiang Lechen’s blunt criticism of the script and his candid nature impress Lin Kairan, who secretly rewards him with extra payment. This encounter draws the attention of Gu Yuzhe, who reprimands Jiang Lechen for working without agency approval, asserting total control over his artists’ careers and income streams.

The conflict between Jiang Lechen’s desire for financial independence through side jobs and Gu Yuzhe’s strict contractual control intensifies. Jiang Lechen’s drunken phone call with Gu Yuzhe, where he complains about his low salary and empty promises, becomes a source of embarrassment and anxiety. However, Gu Yuzhe does not fire him, instead using the incident to reinforce his authority while hinting at future opportunities. The story highlights Jiang Lechen’s struggle to find his place in the entertainment industry while maintaining his identity as a student and his unconventional approach to life and career.

As Jiang Lechen continues to balance his dual life, he faces the realities of being a minor idol in a cutthroat industry. His interactions with Wen Gui and other group members reveal the camaraderie and rivalries within the group. The narrative explores themes of ambition, loyalty, and the absurdities of the entertainment business through Jiang Lechen’s humorous and often self-deprecating perspective. His journey is marked by small victories and setbacks, as he navigates the demands of his studies, his idol responsibilities, and the increasingly complex relationship with his demanding new agent, Gu Yuzhe.

The story sets the stage for Jiang Lechen’s potential rise in the industry, driven by his unique charm and resilience. Despite the odds and the strict control of his management, Jiang Lechen remains determined to carve out his own path, whether through idol activities, acting roles, or his veterinary career. The dynamic between Jiang Lechen and Gu Yuzhe evolves from one of conflict to a tentative understanding, as both begin to recognize the value the other brings to the table. Jiang Lechen’s unconventional methods and honest nature may just be the key to unlocking his potential in the competitive world of showbiz.