In response, Carl shouted, "Fix this immediately! When I return, my father will surely demote you to the role of a janitor due to your incompetence!"

Calvert, unperturbed and accustomed to Carl's frequent outbursts, didn't flinch. He calmly responded, “Are you absolutely certain your father won't take his frustration out on you instead, once he's informed of the whole situation? He explicitly forbade you from joining the show, and now, you've created quite a significant scandal."

Standing unfazed as Carl raged, Calvert regarded the spoiled heir with an impassive gaze.

He had spent years handling the wayward youth and was well-acquainted with these fits of temper. Since childhood, Carl had careened out of control, with no one capable of reining in his whims. Joining the show was just his latest act of rebellion.

Before Carl could retort, his phone rang, and the caller ID caused his bluster to evaporate.

"I'm sorry!" Carl scrambled to answer, holding out the phone deferentially.

"It's my father. Please, can you talk to him?"

Without uttering a word, Calvert accepted the phone and switched on the speaker.

Enraged yelling instantly reverberated through the room.

"You worthless punk! Why did BRD withdraw funding? Get back here immediately!"

After the incident within the practice room, Ariana's team was catapulted to fame, becoming a sensation online.

"I sense there's more to Ariana's identity," one fan commented with suspicion.

"She brought Julio in the show and received support from the head director. What kind of powerful background does she possess?"

"If she truly doesn't have a sponsor as they claim, could she be a wealthy heiress?" Others wildly gossiped about Ariana's enigmatic origins.

Nonetheless, most fans eagerly anticipated the next round of competition.

"Sadie rated their team too low last time, creating a substantial gap in points between the groups," one fan critiqued.

"It'll be a tough challenge for Ariana's team to advance to the next round unless a miracle happens," another predicted somberly.

"With singing next, and their team seeming weak in that area compared to the others, it's going to be challenging," a fan observed.

"Can't wait to see what unfolds!" Many wrote with excitement.

Soon, it was time to film the much-anticipated second episode.