If I Can’t Be a Fanboy, I Can Only Debut - Chapter 23

 

Chapter 23

Life is always filled with unknowns.

When you wake up early to eat breakfast at a local food stand, you would never anticipate running into your homeroom teacher. Nor would you expect to see your bald boss slapped by a young girl while drinking after work.

Such chaotic thoughts were suddenly crowding Luo Xin's mind, he couldn't pinpoint their origin.

Indeed, even Luo Xin couldn't help but feel this way, which serves to illustrate just how complicated the emotions were when the members of the 'éphémère' group saw Zhou Beibei in their practice room.

That was Zhou Beibei!

Regarded as the sort of unfortunate celebrity known for numerous mishaps domestically. Despite being pitifully tone-deaf with a certain clumsiness on her feet, including flat feet that often caused her to stumble, she still attracted attention.

Moreover, hadn't she been practicing diligently with the 'Divine Song' group for several days now? What was the purpose of her abrupt appearance here?

While the entire group had collectively accepted the prospect of changing mentors and weren't against starting over – the inner circle of popular contestants definitely had the confidence to do so – the sudden substitution for Zhou Beibei was a stark difference, wasn't it?

In the shock of it all, no one in the room spoke, making Zhou Beibei, who had carefully planned a playful entrance, particularly awkward.

Now, see, here's the disadvantage of forming a team dedicated purely to skill, without a single variety-show persona present.

Shao Xiangchen was a dominant presence on stage, the kind of idol with a traditionally sunny image off the stage. Reserved, not showing any of the emotions a real person would have, Shao Xiangchen naturally wouldn't have any comments about the mentor. Apart from bowing, he was simply a boy with a pleasant smile. Moreover, as far as he was concerned, 'women were tigers,' he would steer clear of dangerously attractive female stars like Zhou Beibei.

Wen Tongbai was a typical B-King dance lead. Apart from his flashy dance skills, he didn't know much else. Despite occasionally having surprisingly eloquent remarks, he generally lacked common sense. Maybe he would be a good variety show talent in the future, but for now, he was simply a bowing machine, mimicking whatever Shao Xiangchen did.

As for Shang Lin, well, let's not even discuss him. Known as the all-round ace, his skills did not extend to variety shows. When it came to show effects, apart from laughing foolishly or mimicking others' actions, he was simply a decoration on the program.

In the entire team, the only person with a semblance of showmanship was Luo Xin. In his mind, he had even thought of thirteen ways to deal with this awkward situation, eight of which could lead to hilarious results and steal the spotlight.

But, so what?

Luo Xin, the sophisticated and elegant, was not in a beautiful mood at this moment, hence he had no intention of giving the production team any usable content.

Let this chilly atmosphere continue then!

Thus, after a waiting period of half a minute, everyone stared at each other in silence.

In the end, it was the bowing machine team led by Shao Xiangchen that excelled. They managed to make Zhou Beibei, who was trying to create a playful and eye-catching effect, surrender with their speedy bows of eighty per minute. Zhou Beibei hurriedly walked in.

"Um, hello everyone, I'm Zhou Beibei." Displaying a hearty smile, Zhou Beibei greeted everyone, pretending as if nothing had happened.

All, except for Luo Xin, cooperatively clapped their hands. However, their eyes bright with the words "respect for elders" were obviously sardonic. Compared to the enthusiastic young men in the next room, who would become bubbly at the sight of Zhou Beibei, this team appeared to be annoyingly reticent.

Zhou Beibei was so disgruntled that she didn't feel like radiating charm anymore. She sat down on the floor, looking very carefree: "You do whatever, I don't feel like dancing anymore."

________________________

Speaking of Zhou Beibei, she really had it rough.

Initially, she participated in this competition to fill the gap left by her senior fellow apprentice, Xiang Li, and incidentally gain some exposure. Her agent even assured her that it was akin to taking a vacation.

In the beginning, they agreed that she would play a decorative role, simply smiling on stage and interacting minimally.

Could anything extraordinary be expected from a song meant for a square dance?

However, after she entered the competition and started watching the other contestants practice, she realized that Xiang Li himself had chosen the song.

Although Xiang Li, this extraordinary person, did not perform, it didn’t prevent him from making waves.

Not only did he spend his own money to get a friend to modify the music, but he also took the time to choreograph a very flashy dance. As a result, the song transformed from an easy-to-learn, community dance song into a cool and highly challenging song-and-dance performance.

The contestants who thought that joining the song group would lower the difficulty and afford them some rest, went crazy.

So did Zhou Beibei, who thought she was there just for appearances and to pick up a show fee.

Xiang Li, a mysterious boy who could drive people mad even from a thousand miles away.

The contestants were coping alright, as they had a foundation to work with. Even with a zero base and poor stamina, after such an extended timeframe of intense training, they were able to showcase something tangible. Of course, those who couldn't make the cut had already left. So despite being as tired as dogs every day, they at least managed to get some results from their training.

However, Zhou Beibei's case was different. Her 'beautiful yet useless' persona wasn't a concocted gimmick, but an unfortunate label she acquired after her management company tried and failed to find any genuine talents she possessed. This was a compromise they settled on eventually.

Consequently, in recent days, the weakest link in the team wasn’t the less proficient vocalists. It was their guest performer, the beautiful Miss Zhou Beibei.

Zhou Beibei wasn't slacking off either. Since she'd be on camera, she still made a real effort. Moreover, to master the dance, her delicate feet began to blister! Every step she took was accompanied by piercing pain.

Zhou Beibei began to question if she could even survive to return to her company, to resume her blissful yet unproductive life.

Upon hearing about the trouble in the neighboring group, Zhou Beibei quickly came up with a bold idea.

That scoundrel Wan Bei deserved to have issues. Zhou Beibei felt quite schadenfreude. However, she also realized that if Wan Bei encountered problems, the song selection process would surely start over, and with only a few days left, the planned program would be relatively easy.

So, without hesitation, she applied to join their group as a guest performer.

As for the original square dance song?

Didn't Xiang Li enjoy dancing?

Let him handle it himself!

After all, Zhou Beibei had seen his Moments, where he claimed to have made his money and was now taking a break.

So, the final outcome was—

The music group's performance remained unchanged—only the guest performer changed from Zhou Beibei to Xiang Li. The contestants no longer had to witness the miserable scene of Zhou Beibei tripping over her feet while sobbing like rain on a pear blossom.

As for Zhou Beibei, she naturally managed to get on good terms with the production team, transforming Shao Xiangchen's group performance into a male-female duet, "Only Have Feelings for You."

It's only fitting for someone as beautiful as her to be pursued by four handsome gentlemen.

#ZhouBeibeiAdmiringHerself

With a smile, Zhou Beibei announced the new performance song to the four popular contestants before her, curious to see their reactions with a touch of mischief.

However, just like her carefully planned appearance being ignored, the situation turned cold again, making it rather dull.

Zhou Beibei even began to question how many minutes of screen time she'd have left when the final program aired. Upon further thought, the words "working for nothing" seemed to loom over her like two overwhelming mountains, making it difficult for her to breathe.

What could Zhou Beibei do?

All she could do was smile.

After all, having participated in so many variety shows, the primary memory associated with Zhou Beibei was "struggling to be funny but never managing to deliver the punchline". This demonstrated her variety show talents, and though it was lackluster, at least her effort seemed sincere.

Just as Zhou Beibei was exhausting all her unique skills, trying to create some highlights for the show, but was helpless, Luo Xin was not idle.

Even though he was extremely bored with this program, due to some inexplicable pride and the competitive spirit common among men, he didn't plan to leave just because of poor performance. Therefore, his training never ceased.

Simultaneously, he had some of his own plans.

Firstly, since the competition would definitely be busier in the upcoming episodes, he might not have time to personally manage Shao Xiangchen's data station. This was an unavoidable situation. Previously, when he was occupied, he missed a data task one day, which was an unforgivable error for a data station with such a functional role.

Now is a critical moment; one wrong step can lead to a series of mistakes. Falling behind by one step requires making up for it with a hundred times the effort.

Hence, after careful consideration, Luo Xin decided to entrust the management of the personal station to someone else for a while.

As a result, Shao Xiangchen's data station received a new manager.

Naturally, the person Luo Xin entrusted with the task was reliable. The new manager continued to maintain the cold and emotionless data machine, and fans accustomed to this style didn't notice any difference at all.

Luo Xin had to admit that, for a fan like him who is not quite a professional yet displays professional fervor, managing the personal station during the competition wasn't that difficult.

However, there were more important matters occupying his mind.

At midnight, he skillfully hid in a restroom stall and opened various social media apps on his phone. He engaged in a high-level brainwashing campaign within several groups: "Have you heard? 'Dogged Show' is no longer treating their contestants as humans, but our Chenchen has received a script to perform a ritual for the heavens!"

"My aunt's cousin's nephew-in-law's student is an intern on the show, the leaked script proves that the production team has gone too far!"

"If we don't fight back now, what will become of our Chenchen?"

________________________

After stirring up the ballot box, Luo Xin once again opened another social media app. With a deadpan expression, his hands interlocked, rapidly typing: "How 'Dawn' Meets 'Light' | The Ninth of His Hundred Little Things".

Yes.

Luo Xin was now a "Hot Circle" lady.

If there are fans of the 'Heguang Tongchen' couple here, they would certainly recognize Luo Xin's pseudonym 'Let There Be Light' at a glance.

Because in their popular yet newly formed circle, 'Let There Be Light; had single-handedly driven the development of the literary domain. Ever since he started the series "Hundred Little Things", the entire circle had been filled with refreshing and natural literary works, splendidly interspersed with sweet and heart-breaking elements, making people laugh and cry.

Thanks to his remarkable literary prowess and deeply moving descriptions, each chapter became widely circulated, even reaching tens of thousands of shares.

The development of the 'Heguang Tongchen' couple began with the emergence of "Let There Be Light". Since then, the fandom has distinctly divided into two phases: the regular Hot Circle and the prolific Hot Circle with numerous 'circle ladies'.

A single accomplished 'circle lady' usually brings about several others. As the number of 'circle ladies' increases, naturally, more readable material becomes available which attracts more newcomers to enter the 'circle'...

This is the positive feedback loop of fandoms.

Of course, not all the fans attracted to the 'Heguang Tongchen' duo will necessarily vote for Shao Xiangchen.

However, given the massive number of original fans, even if only one-third of them convert, it still constitutes a significant impact.

In order for Shao Xiangchen to win, dedicated fan Luo Xin diligently updates the love story of "Shao Xiangchen and Wen Tongbai" today.

Deeply moving.

Sets down the phone.

Luo Xin walked out of the bathroom, looking up at the stars and the moon.

Thanks to Zhou Beibei, who needed her beauty sleep and stubbornly coaxed the crew into giving the "Only Have Feelings For You" team an early rest, Luo Xin was surprised to find he had some time to spare after completing his day's work. As a result, he stood in place, letting his mind drift for a while.

In the depths of the night, people often become more contemplative.

Especially when there's nothing around, just the clamorous calls of some restless insects.

He had many questions to ponder upon, from the bigger picture like the meaning of life, to smaller concerns like what he should write in tomorrow's update to attract more fans.

But for some reasons, Luo Xin thought of Wei Mu, who was so fragile that he dared not cry.

If Wei Mu were still around, he'd likely be practicing at this hour.

Luo Xin, having seen many people, knew that Wei Mu didn't stand much of a chance.

Every year, millions take part in auditions, and even excellent individuals may be eliminated, let alone those without any distinguishing characteristics. Luo Xin thought heartlessly, perhaps leaving early was a blessing in disguise.

Indeed.

A blessing in disguise.

The wind started gusting a bit stronger.

Luo Xin rubbed his arms, swearing silently under his breath.

He turned around and headed back towards the small partition. In the darkness, the soft glow from the partition twinkled, much like the stars in the sky, not dazzling, but continually flickering.

The wind howled, whisking away fallen leaves, and carried fragmented whispers through the air, "...Wan Bei..."

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If I Can’t Be a Fanboy, I Can Only Debut - Chapter 22

 

At 5 a.m., a time when even the sun is just beginning to rise.

The whole city is asleep, and most of the trainees are still resting, gaining energy for practice that will continue once it's time.

However, Luo Xin had already loaded Wei Mu into the car, heading for the hospital.

The van was provided by the production team, and they didn't call for an ambulance, which was necessary.

Calling for an ambulance would mean directing outsiders to the shooting location, and it would indicate that this incident would soon be leaked out. When that happens, the media would swarm over here like sharks smelling blood.

This is intolerable for the show, the production team, and even the capital behind them.

While it's necessary to save people, it's also crucial to cover up the news.

Sitting in the car, Luo Xin, aside from occasionally checking on Wei Mu and paying constant attention to his condition, barely speaks a word.

Next to him sits Zhuang Jian, the director in charge of the show, who is incessantly tapping on his phone, probably communicating with those so-called "higher-ups."

The vehicle proceeded silently towards a private hospital.

Once they arrived, Luo Xin took a fleeting look at the hospital's sign, recognizing it as a well-known chain hospital. Not only is it famous, but it's also very expensive. However, the price corresponds with an extremely high level of confidentiality.

He lets out a cold, wry smile. The production team really is sparing no expense this time.

Zhuang Jian is unaware of Luo Xin's thoughts because he's at his wits' end. When he was awoken by the staff, he was petrified.

He knew Wan Bei was no good, but who knew he could stir up so much trouble? Just thinking about it makes him want to get rid of Wan Bei and the person who brought him onto the show.

To suppress the news, he has been on his toes since he woke up and, thus, barely has any time to concern himself with Luo Xin, who accompanied him.

Once they got out of the car, Zhuang Jian rushed to find the chief physician they had previously contacted, begging him to treat Wei Mu effectively.

Wei Mu still seems unconscious, and his condition appears critical.

While Luo Xin was holding him, he felt that Wei Mu's body was vaguely hot to the touch, making him wonder if he had a fever. Therefore, Luo Xin didn't have the time to argue about the production team's plan, thinking that the primary concern was to save a life.

What followed was a chaotic scene, with filming taking place and specialists being consulted.

Luo Xin is not a professional, so he can't accompany Wei Mu everywhere. Just as Wei Mu was being taken in for some tests, Luo Xin sat in a chair by the door waiting.

Coincidentally, at that very moment, Wan Bei also arrived.

It had already been two hours since Luo Xin called for help in the morning.

Wan Bei appeared to be in good shape, showing no signs of fatigue even after staying up all night. He clearly had changed clothes, and Luo Xin faintly smelled a refreshing scent coming from him, as if his hair still had dampness from not being completely dried.

So, he went back and took a shower?

Thinking about the still unconscious Wei Mu, and then looking at Wan Bei with his pretentious demeanor, feigning concern and saying, "Is Wei Mu ok? I'm so worried…" 

Anyone could see he was merely putting on a show. Luo Xin couldn't help but feel absurd.

Pushed to the limit by the absurdity, he stood up and approached Wan Bei.

Luo Xin had always been someone who didn't like to confront or express his emotions directly. When having an online dispute, no matter how sarcastic his words were, his facial expression remained unchanged. The emotional ups and downs of joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness seemed never to appear on his face.

At this moment, an exaggerated smile appeared on Luo Xin's face, and he even let out a laugh.

Wan Bei's pretentious act was abruptly interrupted by Luo Xin's laughter. He looked at Luo Xin warily, as it was Luo Xin who had ruined his only fun this morning, and he thought Luo Xin wanted to take the opportunity to threaten him.

Behind him, Wan Bei's own manager and assistant were urging him to behave better, as he couldn't afford to cause a scandal at this critical time.

Still laughing, Luo Xin walked up to Wan Bei, glanced pitifully at Wan Bei's assistant, then turned back to Wan Bei and called out, "Wan Bei,"

Everyone's eyes turned to Luo Xin at this moment.

Luo Xin stared straight at Wan Bei's nauseating face and laughed, saying, "I - swear - on - your - mother!"

Then, with a single punch, he knocked Wan Bei down, hitting the back of his head on the ground. Before anyone could react, Luo Xin was already sitting on top of Wan Bei, punching his face with all his strength, again and again...

Lying on the ground, Wan Bei let out a scream like a dying pig: "Ahh—"

Others rushed over to pull Luo Xin away, but for some reason, he seemed incredibly strong, and several people couldn't pull him off. When they finally managed to lift him a bit, Luo Xin didn't give up and continued kicking with his feet.

Luo Xin had known all along about Wan Bei's hobby of tormenting newcomers; there were hints of it in the news...

Yet, he didn't warn Wei Mu and even left him alone with Wan Bei in the practice room.

Luo Xin wasn't sure if he was hitting Wan Bei for Wei Mu or for himself, or if the person he was hitting was Wan Bei or the Luo Xin who went home last night.

But he knew one thing: he absolutely did not regret beating up Wan Bei right now.

Standing there, watching as the staff members helped Wan Bei to his feet, his freshly changed clothes were now wrinkled, his hairstyle was in a mess, and his previously handsome face was now bruised and swollen. He had completely lost his previous arrogance. Mumbling something incoherently, he was probably cursing.

Luo Xin watched with an icy gaze, even as the production crew members continued to persuade him, "It's not worth it. Wei Mu is still undergoing medical tests inside, and it's not worth confronting him as a newcomer..."

"Luo Xin... just wait for me, and see if I don't kill you!" After being beaten like this, Wan Bei directly gave up acting and also forgot about the manager's advice. He threatened Luo Xin fiercely, appearing full of hostility.

Luo Xin clapped his hands and laughed, "You idiot!"

Such a person like Wan Bei doesn't even have the qualification to be in a confrontation with Luo Xin.

In fact, it's because Wanbei didn't expect this. After all, no matter what, he is a senior figure in the industry. Therefore, no matter what happens, these little stars who haven't debuted yet or are still struggling in talent shows wouldn't dare to offend him.

Popularity is the original sin, and this is even truer for popular newcomers.

When he came to the hospital today, it was just for show. The main purpose was to make a statement to the show organizers, so it would be easier to deal with subsequent issues and suppress any news.

But is Luo Xin an ordinary little star?

He's not even a trainee.

Participating in the show was merely a way to pass the time and support Shao Xiangchen.

He is not afraid of withdrawing from the competition. What's the big deal about offending Wan Bei? Or even being blacklisted?

Luo Xin doesn't care at all.

Unlike those silly trainees and starlets, Luo Xin's purpose of participating in the show is not pure at all, and he is not the kind of person who will do everything to show his face for some dream.

He likes to take shortcuts, and often uses tricks for his own ends, sometimes even unscrupulous.

To put it simply, Luo Xin just wants to be happy.

So, if someone doesn't make him happy, he'll make sure they're even more unhappy.

In front of everyone, Luo Xin said word by word: "I want to see... Is it you who'll kill me or I get you out of the circle first! If I were your father, I would just pick up a condom and raise it, it would be cleaner than raising you."

________________________

After a round of cursing, Luo Xin finally managed to get rid of Wan Bei. After all, if Luo Xin doesn't consider a future in the entertainment industry, Wan Bei hardly poses a threat. It's the classic case of the barefoot being unafraid of those wearing shoes.

As long as Wan Bei believes he can still recover one day, he wouldn't dare to truly harm Luo Xin.

After Wan Bei left, Wei Mu's examination finally ended, and of course, he also regained consciousness.

However, Wei Mu when awake seems no different from when he fainted, maybe even worse than when he was out. After all, when he was unconscious, he didn't have to think about his leg or his future.

Since it was an urgent situation, the results of the examination came out very quickly.

The good news is, although Wei Mu's knee looks very beat up and bloody, most of it is external wounds. The sort that heals in a few days with proper care.

Wan Bei, while a tormentor, didn't actually aim to cause permanent lameness to Wei Mu. It's unknown how many times he had to practice to get his intensity right.

The fever isn't a horrifying complication, it's simply because he was overly exhausted.

But this doesn't mean Wei Mu is completely fine.

The most serious issue is that his old injury was triggered by his overexertion in practice last night.

Dancers often have problems with their legs or backs.

Wei Mu is no exception. Although he hasn't won any world championships, his many domestic certificates prove his dancing skills aren't just for show. Naturally, he also has various occupational ailments. In his last competition, he slightly overused his leg, but managed to recover with some rest.

This time, however, the combination of old and new injuries resulted in severe consequences.

"Walking should definitely be fine, but engaging in long, intense physical activity won't be possible in the future. The kind of dance you used to do will also be out of the question," declared the attending physician, flipping through the examination results.

Compared to some people who are unable to walk, Wei Mu's outcome could be considered very lucky.

However, as a competitor still in the midst of contests and on the verge of breaking through, this news strikes like a bolt from the blue.

Wei Mu lies in bed, lost in thought.

In the past, he actually had many opportunities and the company offered him numerous choices. He used to have many programs to participate in during his earlier years.

Now, he finds himself at a standstill, having accomplished nothing in his current situation.

He doesn't regret the hard work he put into practicing, nor does he regret choosing this profession.

He only resents himself for not seizing opportunities when he was healthy.

He knew it wasn't right when Wan Bei changed his attitude last night and that he should reject his "proposal."

But it was as if his judgment was clouded, afraid that he would become the weakest link in the team.

He had no more time to waste. This was his last chance.

But now, it seems like even that last chance is gone.

A Wei Mu who can't dance won't be liked by anyone anymore.

Luo Xin sits beside Wei Mu's sickbed. He doesn't comfort or urge him, but casually says, "I just gave Wan Bei a beating. That idiot probably won't dare to bother you now."

"Later, the production team should come to negotiate with you. Don't agree to their demands right away, wait for them to offer you a satisfactory price. The backstage resources of '001' are abundant. Leading roles in TV dramas, permanent guest appearances in variety shows, and popular programs – feel free to ask for more; they won't dare to haggle with you."

Luo Xin talked a lot, but Wei Mu didn't respond at all. However, that didn't discourage him one bit.

Consoling words are only useful if the other person feels comforted. Otherwise, it's just the speaker comforting themselves.

Feeling guilty, Luo Xin didn't know what to say. In the end, he advised, "I don't know how those who've practiced for years would feel if they can't dance anymore, but I can tell you from a fan's perspective..."

"You can be without talent or popularity, but fans definitely want you to be healthy."

"They're still waiting for you, even if..."

"Even if it's not the stage you wanted to be on."

After Luo Xin left, Wei Mu suddenly pulled the covers over his entire face.

Inside the stuffy quilt was his tear-streaked and distorted face.

Luo Xin's words were not casually said to comfort Wei Mu. Three years ago, an artist Luo Xin liked committed suicide.

Due to an illness, his voice, of which he was immensely proud, was ruined. The artist was a genius with a rare vocal range seen once in a hundred years. His capabilities could rival some famous opera singers. Because of these conditions, he was groomed from a young age to solely devote himself to the path of music, and singing is all he knew.

So when he knew he would never be able to sing like before, he just swallowed sleeping pills at home. The reason is also very simple, his life lost all meaning, and no one will look forward to his voice anymore.

Luo Xin felt a sense of regret, for he was extremely fond of that artist's songs. Thankfully, he had many other artists that he liked. As such, he only felt upset for a couple of days.

But a fellow fan he knew has been immersed in the news of the artist's death and has no way to get out. Every year, he held commemorative activities, and every time he would cry until he fainted, feeling that he hadn't told him how much he liked him when he was alive.

For some reason, when Luo Xin saw Wei Mu lying on the hospital bed with an ashen face like a walking corpse, he suddenly remembered that artist back then.

Losing a talent one takes pride in is, of course, terrifying. But Luo Xin hopes he would realize that even if he can't do anything, there will still be fans who like him and worry about him.

Sometimes, fans can be very picky, finding flaw in this and that, always on the verge of leaving the fandom.

But at other times, fans can easily be satisfied. As long as you're healthy, they ask for nothing more...

________________________

Luo Xin didn't know how the production team negotiated with Wei Mu in the end.

However, half a year later, when he saw Wei Mu's determined figure in a very popular variety show, he knew that Wei Mu had made it through.

But all of that came later. When Luo Xin returned to the filming location, everything seemed calm.

As always, everyone was practicing in the neighboring practice room, and occasionally, he could hear music leaking through the door gap as if nothing had happened.

He opened the door to the 'éphémère' team's room, and Shao Xiangchen, Wen Tongbai, and Shang Lin immediately looked over. They didn't ask anything, but their eyes were full of concern.

Luo Xin smiled and reassured them, "Wei Mu is alright, but he needs some rest."

"Additionally, we might need to change our guest collaborator."

They all believed him and promptly sighed with relief. "As long as he's alright, that's good." Shang Lin was the one who spoke, not understanding the complexities of the situation, and thinking that Wei Mu had genuinely ended up in the hospital due to overexertion from practice.

Wen Tongbai also felt that as long as Wei Mu was fine, that's all that mattered. He immediately looked relieved.

Shao Xiangchen, with more experience, didn't think it was that simple but couldn't think of any other possibilities, so he went along with Luo Xin's explanation.

With nothing else to do, everyone started discussing the matter concerning the new guest collaborator.

Of course, they all tacitly avoided mentioning Wan Bei. After all, he had always been surrounded by scandals and some changes were to be expected.

They didn't wait long before their new collaborator showed up that afternoon.

A head playfully peeked in, and a face that outshone everyone in the entertainment industry suddenly appeared in front of them: "Hi~"

Wow.

It's Zhou Beibei.

Previous Chapter | TOC | Next Chapter

If I Can’t Be a Fanboy, I Can Only Debut - Chapter 21

 

Generally speaking, working with guest performers on stage is much easier than regular practice.

After all, when you encounter professional guests, they can handle the stage themselves. Contestants just need to focus on the accompaniment/dance/harmony. There's no need to worry about sharing parts or competing with each other. After all, everyone is the same.

If you come across non-professional guests, it's even simpler. In order to accommodate these guests, the songs won't be too difficult.

Therefore, at the beginning, contestants aren't too nervous.

In Lin Jiawen's group, although she often habitually adds some program effects, which may seem a bit dramatic, everything is casual since there are no scores. The same goes for Cheng Er. After becoming focused on vocals, he has lost many spectators to watch the excitement, so he has also become more well-behaved.

Rainbow Bei has already started to have impromptu fun with the contestants, turning the practice room into a lively dance floor, with everyone dancing and having a blast.

The new guests, on the other hand, are a bit more reserved.

Although Feng Hui wanted to liven up the atmosphere, everyone unconsciously distanced themselves from him to save themselves. This made the situation exceptionally awkward, but the awkwardness seemed to have a strange program effect, so...the atmosphere was still not bad?

Zhou Beibei truly lived up to her reputation as a "beautiful waste." She really couldn't do anything. However, as soon as she entered, she performed a wonderful vocal display and shocked the contestants. Then, she self-deprecatingly made fun of herself, quickly gaining the favor of her group of trainees. The members of the entire group became very harmonious all of a sudden.

Overall, everyone was quite friendly.

After all, this is a variety show, and unlike ordinary people, everyone knows what to show in front of the camera. Even if they have something on their minds, they won't show it.

Just like Wan Bei in the "Cicada" group, who appeared as a guest, the atmosphere was good from the start.

As a seasoned artist, when Wan Bei wanted to create an atmosphere and connect with others, it was effortlessly done. Plus, with the cameras rolling, everyone cooperated as if they had known each other for a long time, rather than meeting for the first time.

But before long, Wan Bei professionally suggested starting the rehearsal. His reasoning was also valid: "Cicada" is a more difficult song and dance, so it may require a lot of time to practice in order to present the best visual effects.

Some people wondered if things were moving too quickly, but being professional is not wrong, so they all agreed.

The progress of the dance rehearsals was not very fast. Firstly, the difficulty of choreography was high, and secondly, the new team needed to get used to each other.

During the stumbling initial period, Wan Bei appeared to be a very considerate senior artist. He often provided crucial guidance and shared stage experiences. Although everyone in the team, except Luo Xin, had experience, they appreciated his care and were deeply moved.

As practice time passed and the dance gradually fell into place, everyone became familiar with each other. Almost all the contestants respected and admired Wan Bei, after all, who wouldn't like a talented, kind-hearted, and helpful senior?

During breaks, they even joke around as if Wan Bei was their peer.

Only Luo Xin, he still had reservations about Wan Bei.

But so far, Wan Bei had yet to show any negative qualities, so Luo Xin started to doubt himself a little. Maybe he was just overthinking?

After all, even though Wan Bei was the slowest in terms of progress within the entire team, he still treated Luo Xin kindly and never showed any impatience. If that was all an act, then Wan Bei might be able to keep up the act until the end of the show.

Luo Xin consoled himself, thinking that maybe Wan Bei wanted to clear his name, so he deliberately suppressed his temper. If that was the case, then he didn't need to worry.

-----

However, just as Luo Xin gradually let his guard down, not long after, Wan Bei showed his true colors.

According to the original schedule, the team should have had a whole group rehearsal on the third day to cultivate their teamwork. All the organized dancing had more than hundreds of off-stage practice as a basis. They also aimed to showcase their talents as top players on the knife dance.

But after practicing a few times, Wan Bei suddenly stopped the music, then thought for a moment before saying, "I have an idea."

After several days of practice, everyone had a good impression of Wan Bei, so they all agreed when he suggested choosing someone from the contestants to take the center position and adding a more complicated killing part to a certain section to give the audience a surprise.

After everyone agreed, Wan Bei asked, “So, does anyone want to compete for this center position?”

Although times have changed, Chinese people still tend to show humility in front of the camera. When Wan Bei asked the question, everyone appeared to be thinking, even if they had thoughts in their minds.

Only Wei Mu raised his hand in a matter of seconds.

To be honest, Wei Mu is not outstanding in the team, nor among the competitors.

Although his ranking is higher than Luo Xin, when it comes to fame, Luo Xin surpasses him by far.

Wei Mu's situation is similar to that of Feng Hui in the past: not popular, with a small number of fans. However, each of his fans is a dedicated supporter who helped him reach a high position through crowdfunding.

In theory, by reaching a high position, many people would definitely notice him, and then the cycle of gaining fans—high position—gaining fans would continue, leading to a surge in popularity and a rush towards debut.

However, Wei Mu has a unique characteristic: he doesn't have any distinguishing traits.

When we mention someone, whether it's their persona, character, or works, there is usually a standout point. There are always moments of impressive performance on numerous occasions, serving as a highlight to attract fans.

But Wei Mu lacks all of these.

He can dance, but compared to the competitors who have won world championships, domestic championships and certificates are not that impressive. He also has experience in talent shows and performances, but they were all in unknown local stations and small programs. His performances in these shows weren't outstanding either, partly because the program segments were relatively simple and didn't provide much experience...

Maybe it's because of his shy personality or maybe he's not good at competing, but he has never been in the center position in any of the stages he participated in before.

In short, Wei Mu is someone with decent skills in all aspects, but that's about it.

If the similar type, Shang Lin, is someone who practices every skill at 4.5 out of 5, then Wei Mu is someone who practices them at 4 out of 5.

He's good, but not exceptionally outstanding.

Not good enough? But he does have some talent.

And the most crucial point is that Wei Mu is already quite old. For many struggling idols, 27 years old is an awkward age. In the competition, he is older than the youngest competitor by a decade.

One day during practice, he suddenly realized that he can no longer just go with the flow due to his age. Although his votes were increasing, his ranking was continuously dropping. At this rate, it's hard to say if he will be eliminated in the next round.

Therefore, when he heard that he could choose the center position and have the killing part, Wei Mu didn't hesitate to raise his hand.

He needed this opportunity.

This way, even if he leaves, he'll have something to remember.

I don't know if I should say that Wei Mu is finally lucky this time, with teammates who are just right for the occasion.

Although they have a high ranking, their ranking is so high that they do not put much emphasis on the center position anymore. At the very least, they didn't fight for it no matter what happened. Their personalities are good enough that they stepped back when they saw the desire in Wei Mu's eyes.

Of course, Luo Xin, who is at the bottom of the list in terms of popularity and skills, has no right to speak.

At this time, his gaze has been fixed on the hand that Wen Tongbo has placed on Shao Xiangchen's shoulder, trying to shoot down his rival with his eyes. He's too full of spirit to care about the center position.

In this way, Wei Mu suddenly got the center position that was newly added to the "Mayfly" group.

Everyone was delighted, and the atmosphere in the group became harmonious again.

Except for Wan Bei.

He didn't show it on the surface, but he had cursed everyone in his heart. His eyes were full of gloom.

What kind of brotherly love are you doing? He just wants to see these sissies fight for a position, like dogs fighting for a bone. He has endured it for so many days just to watch the play. Isn't this just mocking him now?

Yes, Wan Bei never thought of getting along with these players from beginning to end.

Of course, he joined the program to clear his reputation. As long as he showcases his exceptional talent on a  professional stage, he can easily quell the previous controversies. This approach has always been his trusty weapon.

That is why he initially pretended to be on good terms with them.

However, it does not mean that he is willing to help these effeminate men set the stage. Who is he? Even in the past, he refused to perform with them as his backup dancers. And now, they expect him to share the same stage with them?

After playing the gentle senior for several days, Wan Bei got tired of it, so he simply used a C position as a bait to see if the contestants will tear each other apart. 

However, all of this was destroyed by that Wei Mu.

Although he had a smile on his face, he already held a grudge against Wei Mu in his heart, and looked at him with dark eyes.

Want to take the C-position? Let's see if you have what it takes!

After securing the C-position, Wan Bei provided specific guidance since the routine for that spot had its unique moves. The others continued practicing the group choreography as planned.

While practicing the dance with his teammates, Luo Xin would occasionally glance over to see how Wei Mu was doing.

Wan Bei seemed to be quite generous, as he designed impressive and fierce moves for Wei Mu. His performance was undoubtedly a highlight. Especially the move where he did a side flip, dropped to his knees, and kicked, it was so cool that a few of the top performers couldn't help but drool in secret.

Of course, being impressive also meant it was highly challenging. So, Wei Mu spent almost the entire day practicing that move, starting from being unfamiliar with it and gradually getting used to it.

By midnight, when everyone was getting ready to rest, Wei Mu's execution of the move had a hint of finesse.

As everyone was leaving, they all praised him and, of course, paid attention to his well-being: "Wei Mu, we're heading out first, get some rest!"

Before Shao Xiangchen left, he gave a special reminder: "This move can strain your legs, remember to apply some ointment when you get back tonight."

Wan Bei also shared a few tips on knee care, his words sincere and passionate.

Shang Lin wasn't very good with words, but he quietly left the ointment he brought with him in Wei Mu's dormitory after they returned.

As for Luo Xin, he looked at Wan Bei, who appeared fatigued, and asked, "Teacher Wan, aren't you leaving for now?"

Wanbei still wore his signature smile, appearing gentle as he said, "Not yet, I'll stay with Wei Mu. You guys go back first."

Wei Mu was deeply moved by Wan Bei's attitude and said, "Thank you, Big Brother Bei. I'll practice hard."

Luo Xin initially wanted to say a few words of caution but gave up as Wan Bei kept his eyes on Wei Mu. He decided to go back and rest like his other teammates since he still had to handle some things for Shao Xiangchen's fan club.

Besides, Wan Bei had been acting normally these past few days, so there shouldn't be any issues without a warning.

Later on, Luo Xin regretted his decision countless times. He wondered if things could have turned out differently if he had alerted Wei Mu ahead of time.

-----

Early the next morning, Luo Xin entered the practice room according to his own biological clock to prepare for the day's practice, only to find that the lights were on. Faint music could be heard inside, and it was the chorus of "Mayfly": "Sing, sing, with your last breath; Jump, jump, with your flesh and blood as the enemy..."

The short three sentences of the chorus kept playing on repeat. The speaker seemed to have been in use for too long and was starting to distort, giving people a twisted feeling.

Luo Xin felt uneasy and immediately opened the door to the lounge.

Wan Bei was standing with his arms crossed and looking at Wei Mu with contemptuous eyes. He kept mocking him, "My god, how many times have we been over this? With the way you're dancing, what are we going to do on stage?"

"What if our stage is ruined because of you?"

"You're not good enough at dancing!"

"Let's do it again..."

When he said this, his mic had already been thrown aside, so it wasn't picked up. But because of the close distance, Wei Mu could hear it clearly.

It's just that Wei Mu at this moment can't listen to anything anymore.

He hasn't rested all night, his brain has become a mess, he has completely lost the ability to think. Right now, he is acting entirely subconsciously, jumping and kneeling over and over again... Luo Xin opened the door quietly, but was quickly disgusted by this scene.

Wan Bei saw him and pretended calmly: "Luo Xin, Wei Mu is alright. I advised him to rest..."

Unexpectedly, Luo Xin didn't buy it, and stared at him with bloodshot eyes: "Wan Bei, are you human?"

Then he yelled out: "Are the staff are all f*ck*ng dead? Didn’t you see something happened? Come here!”

Within a couple of minutes, he saw a figure running in in a hurry, shoes not properly put on: “Are you all right, are you all right?"

Luo Xin didn't want to be angry about these things anymore, so he just yelled: "Call an ambulance!"

The staff had no time to care about Luo Xin's attitude and tone. He took one glance at Wei Mu's bloody knee and unconscious state and scrambled out. There was no way to know whether he was really calling an ambulance or notifying the leader.

At five o'clock in the morning, most of the contestants are still asleep.

When they woke up, the program team had changed.

Previous Chapter | TOC | Next Chapter

If I Can’t Be a Fanboy, I Can Only Debut - Chapter 20

 

As the competition entered the second half, with a noticeable decrease in the number of participants, even someone who is face-blind and timid could recognize everyone now.

The consequence of being extremely familiar with each other is that any slight change is noticed by everyone.

Luo Xin's bad mood couldn't go unnoticed by others.

In many people's eyes, it was normal for Luo Xin to cry for his friends who had left; after all, they cried yesterday too.

But in some people's eyes, it was something else altogether.

Shang Lin looked at Luo Xin with a complex expression, a mix of relief and a hint of guilt.

In the end, as if he had made up his mind, Shang Lin avoided the camera and walked over to Étienne, patting his shoulder. He wanted to apologize, but found it hard to put into words.

Although he wouldn't have the audacity to think that Luo Xin's current haggard appearance was all because of him, he knew he was also partly to blame.

Yesterday, Shang Lin dropped three places in the rankings. It was a significant setback.

Although he still had a stable position to make it to the finals, he needed to move forward to ensure the final formation. Shang Lin really wanted to make it to the formation, so he felt a bit upset about the result. But he also knew that his fans were probably more upset than he was.

Actually, his fans had already worked hard enough, but the final result wasn't ideal, so it could only be his own fault.

So, in his inner turmoil, Shang Lin simply assured Luo Xin, "I will work hard."

Luo Xin was still angry with Wen Tongbai when he suddenly heard Shang Lin say this to him. It felt so random, without any context.

But when he looked over, he saw Shang Lin's face with a pitiful expression, like a golden retriever who had done something wrong. He had originally wanted to ask something or say something, but at this moment, he couldn't find the words.

What's more, he seemed to sense that Shang Lin wasn't talking to him directly, but rather looking through him, as if looking at someone else.

Distracted by this, Luo Xin suddenly forgot about his plan to mentally oppress Wen Tongbai. It wasn't until everyone gathered together that he realized he had forgotten to execute his plan and give Wen Tongbai a disdainful look, secretly wishing for him to embarrass himself on the next stage, maybe even fall flat on his face!

For someone like Wen Tongbai, this would be such a humiliating experience comparable to a social death.

Luo Xin is a fan who is mild and doesn't act like a poisonous fan.

Speaking of which, according to the schedule, the next competition should be the cooperative stage.

This stage has no pressure, it's just a way to relax, and there's no live scoring. If you're lucky, you might not even have to see the mentors during practice.

You don't have to hear Lin Jiawen's sarcasm disguised as praise, Cheng Er's joking version of "a little higher," Rainbow Bei's straightforward "Your lyrics are just so-so, are you really a rapper?" and everyone working hard to perfect the dance, only to be told by Xiang Li to "add another move"...

Just thinking about it makes people tearfully happy.

Of course, in recent years, in order to improve ratings and at the same time promote collaborations with other artists, the cooperative stage only invites stars who seem to have no relation to the idols, stages, or even singers.

But "Super Idol" aims to restore the most basic elements of a talent show, so it's not ruled out that there may be a possibility of working with mentors.

However, no matter which one it was, everyone felt it was acceptable.

Being oppressed by one mentor or by a group of mentors, which one is more acceptable? The answer is very clear.

-----

As everyone anticipated, the program group announced the final list of guest performers.

Lin Jiawen, Cheng Er, and Rainbow Bei each brought a team of players to perform, and they were joined by the pioneer of the singing and dancing world, ancient idol Wanbei, the actor who recently made a big splash, Feng Hui, and Xiang Li's junior sister Zhou Beibei.

What?

You're wondering why Xiang Li isn't here?

It's simple, Xiang Li had a very important (lucrative) engagement that couldn't be postponed, so he had his junior sister take his place.

Of course, the selection of this junior sister was definitely also done by the production team.

Sometimes Luo Xin has to admire this production team, they really have an eye for talent.

They thought that getting four mentors with good humor together was something rare, but they didn't expect that they could also invite an even more amazing lineup of guest performers.

Each one of them is a legend in their own right, capable of carrying a show on their shoulders.

Wanbei, a senior idol who has long been famous across the country, has withstood the test of time and still stands tall in the entertainment industry. There is hardly any higher position in the singing and dancing world than him.

However, recently he has been involved in scandals, such as having multiple affairs, pressuring his lover to have an abortion without providing support, and more, which have attracted public criticism. Of course, it's difficult to carry out a formal boycott due to these moral flaws, so he still receives various job offers. However, he hasn't agreed to any of them.

I wonder how much the program group paid to invite him.

As for Feng Hui, although he is a newly popular actor who may not seem very high-profile, he has one characteristic - his fans are crazy about him.

During Luo Xin's time in the industry, the only two setbacks he has encountered are the fans of Feng Hui and Xiang Li. But what sets Feng Hui's fans apart is that they can even be described as lunatics. When they get worked up, they even insult Feng Hui himself, right to his face.

At the same time, they don't hesitate to spend money. On his birthday, they broke the record by successfully competing against the national idol group and securing advertising on the NY Times Square for a whopping 36 hours at an unbelievable price. They also set a new record for the amount of support money contributed by a single person, representing a company all by themselves.

When Feng Hui was unknown, they still stuck with him. Now that he has become popular, their attitude towards him hasn't changed. In a way, it's quite admirable.

The last guest is Zhou Beibei, who is known as Xiang Li's junior sister.

Zhou Beibei has a sweet and friendly personality, is easy to get along with, has a good reputation in many programs, and is friends with many difficult artists. However, she has a fatal title: "the famous beautiful waste in the entertainment industry."

Since her debut in a girl group, her singing has been off-key and her dancing has been awkward. After leaving the group, she has tried acting, modeling, variety shows, and even food-related programs. Unfortunately, nothing has worked out, and in the ten years since her debut, she hasn't found her niche or representative works.

However, fate smiled on her by giving her a gorgeous face that dominates the entertainment industry. Now, she survives by acting as a vase or decoration in various programs and TV dramas.

Her fans are very loyal and she frequently places first in fan-edited videos on Station B.

The guests are ready and the program's camera is focused on the contestants. The producers are anticipating the material they will get.

The contestants live up to expectations, taking a look at the mentors who watch them with malicious intent and the uncooperative guests. They all seem overwhelmed by the situation. Upon closer inspection, the black aura visible on each person's face appears to form two words - "retire from the competition."

Of course, retiring is impossible, it will never happen in this lifetime.

It's just a performance competition, what are they afraid of?

Afterwards, they took a look at the backup song list, and everyone started sharing their thoughts and song preferences as if nothing had happened. This contrast makes the show look great, after all, the contestants are all experienced.

In the backup song list, there are two songs for singing and dancing, two love songs, one rap, and one popular song.

Perhaps to avoid revealing anything, the mentors and guests' works are not included. But this behavior is no different from turning a blind eye. It's easy for everyone to guess, after all, the mentors have their own style, and so do the guests.

Although Zhou Beibei doesn't know anything, she's definitely qualified as a "vase." She's either singing a love song or a popular song, just like Feng Hui.

No need to guess, Rainbow Bei will definitely perform the rap.

One singing and dancing song is Lin Jiawen's, and the other is Wanbei's.

As for Cheng Er, do I even need to say it? What else can he do if not sing a love song?

So, the contestants who have their own strong points have started to struggle with which song to choose.

Most of the top players are good at both singing and dancing, and they are struggling to choose their songs as if they were excellent students deciding whether to attend Tsinghua or Peking University. On the other hand, the contestants who ranked lower are all choosing songs they do not want to perform, as if they were students who failed to enroll in their desired courses, praying not to choose the most difficult course to pass, which is too realistic.

Luo Xin is currently very busy in the crowd. On one hand, he has to check which song will be chosen later so as not to choose a problematic one, and on the other hand, he has to keep a close eye on Wen Tongbai, making sure he does not touch Shao Xiangchen casually, like a hardworking farmer guarding his own vegetables. 

At the same time, he has to guard against his own facial expressions; he cannot give the production team, who is madly seeking material, a chance to catch him off guard. He is as busy as a top, never stopping for a moment.

Shang Lin has been standing next to him all along, saying nothing, just calmly thinking. This is consistent with his usual style: practice solidly and do not fake it or deliberately seek the spotlight to create an effect.

After thinking about it for a while, he is still indecisive. So he asked, "Luo Xin, do you have any favorite songs?"

Meanwhile, Wen Tongbai and Shao Xiangchen are whispering to each other, seeming to be discussing something. This scene makes Luo Xin furious, and his gaze continues to stare at them without pause. When he heard the question, Luo Xin responded without raising his head, "éphémère."

Shang Lin thought that when Luo Xin pronounced the name of this song, his tone was different from everyone else's, and it sounded pretty good. However, he did not recognize that this was an authentic French pronunciation, which can only be learned in a one-on-one setting with a French person.

Lu Xin said that he chose the song subconsciously. There are two songs for singing and dancing, and "éphémère" is just one of them. The other song is this year's hit single, with a cool and stylish original choreography and still popular. This song is obviously more attractive.

His mention of liking the song was just subconsciously talking about the song that Shao Xiangchen would choose.

Yes, Shao Xiangchen will definitely choose "éphémère," even if the other song may be more effective. This is because "éphémère" was performed by one of Shao Xiangchen's favorite singers. He will never give up this opportunity to pay tribute. Moreover, the attraction of the other song is far less than that of this song with a French title.

"éphémère" means mayfly in French, which looks very fragile. However, this song is completely opposite to the title, with a fast rhythm, many drum beats, and an explosive visual effect. It is also difficult.

Considering Shao Xiangchen's strength and popularity, choosing an ordinary song with a high hit potential poses no challenge. Only the difficult songs like this provide room for him to show his years of training.

Thinking of this, Luo Xin's face did not show any expression, but his heart had sunk.

All the previous advantages were based on the premise that the original singer or other guests would perform the song. If Wan Bei were present, this song would not be such a good choice.

The lyrics and music of "éphémère" were created by a songwriter named Shou Beiren. Yes, that's Wan Bei.

This song was sold by him when he was young and was later made famous by the person who bought it. When he wrote this song, Wan Bei was still poor, so he didn't dare to set the price too high. Later, when he became famous himself, he didn't want to give others a free ride. Therefore, except for some early news, few people know that he is Shou Beiren.

Now that Wan Bei is constantly being criticized, it is hard to know what his mentality is when he participates in a program and performs this song. After thinking briefly, the program producers urged everyone to select their songs according to their ranking. Shao Xiangchen was the first to leave the studio and go to the room that represented each song. Then it was Wen Tongbai...

-----

When it was Luo Xin's turn, many people had already gone, and one of the songs had actually been selected in full, and the song title posted outside was directly taken down.

What was most shocking was that the song that was already full was not a singing and dancing song, but that divine song???

Don't you top performers have any aspirations?

Quietly criticizing in his heart, Luo Xin pushed open the door to the "éphémère" group without hesitation.

A son who travels a thousand miles causes his mother to worry, and here comes Shao Xiangchen's mother!

It's strange to say that Luo Xin didn't know whether it was luck or what, but he never had the opportunity to be in the same group as Shao Xiangchen.

Now that he finally had the chance to be in the same group, he suddenly became shy and hesitated to start a conversation. He just held onto his arm and treated everyone with indifference, with a very arrogant expression on his face. What a contrast!

Unfortunately, no one appreciated it.

This group had a total of five spots, and Luo Xin was the last one.

As expected, Shao Xiangchen was here.

Wen Tongbai was also here. Luo Xin mocked him in his heart dozens of times saying "trying to be clever".

Shang Lin was here too. Luo Xin's eyelid twitched. Could it be that he was the one affecting others?

There was also Wei Shu, who was a bit older than the others, but had an experience that was a bit excessively rich. He had won over ten dance awards in China and was also a champion of various local stations with a bunch of certificates. He smiled kindly at Luo Xin when he saw him and was clearly an easy-going person.

After examining this circle of people, Luo Xin still appeared noble and elegant, but his heart was already lamenting. He had subconsciously chosen this song because he was worried about Shao Xiangchen, completely forgetting that he was an unskilled person who would become a drag on the group. He prayed, somewhat desperately, that "the bronze cap doesn't spoil the kingship" and that everything would be okay.

It wasn't too long before Wan Bei walked in. Although he was getting up there in years, because he was a singing and dancing idol, his figure was still maintained quite well, and his spirit was good. Even though he had recently been caught up in some scandal, he didn't show it at all. Instead, he greeted everyone cheerfully: "Hey, all young people, it's great!"

He appeared to be easy to get along with. Except for Luo Xin, everyone else breathed a sigh of relief and laughed, "No, no, Teacher Wan, you seem to be in good spirits too."

Wan Bei laughed heartily, "Oh, you are eloquent. I like that."

In the practice room, the atmosphere was very harmonious for a while.

However, just when the mentors, guests, and contestants were in high spirits, director Zhuang Jian, who everyone thought was crazily hoarding materials, was on the phone like a madman, "Is this the surprise you gave me? Damn it, I only went out for half a day, and you put Wan Bei in the program for me?"

"I can't believe it! Who doesn't know what kind of person he is? Let me tell you, if anything goes wrong with the show, I won't let you off the hook! Also, tell Ma Yuan - that dog thing - with me here, he should never think about coming back! Taking credit for me, making a mess of my show and letting me clean it up. Now that it's finally cleaned up, he wants to come back?"

With a sullen face, he derisively remarked, "Even in times of personal calamity, the mourning process is not usually expedited to such an extent, is it?"

Previous Chapter | TOC | Next Chapter

If I Can’t Be a Fanboy, I Can Only Debut - Chapter 19

 

Giving up is not an easy thing to do, especially when you're on the rise.

Huang Ze's popularity has always been high. With his handsome appearance, gentle demeanor, and the added bonus of being a violinist, he seems like the prince charming character straight out of a teenage novel.

Since the beginning of the competition, his popularity has remained consistently high. Though he was not able to advance due to lack of a compelling story, if he had continued on this path, he would have had a good chance of making it to the finals. With a good strategy, he could have even become a second or third-tier celebrity after the competition, and it won't be just a dream for him to pursue a career in the entertainment industry.

However, at this moment, he withdrew from the competition.

Many people expressed their regret and disappointment, but some would even say that he was crazy. The thought of the backlash that would come from this decision is daunting, so why did he make such a daring move?

["Did he not know that the competition would conflict with the start of school when he decided to participate?"]

["If he easily gives up, why did he choose to participate in the first place? This is so unfair to the disqualified contestants!"]

-----

A few years ago, there was a high-profile contestant in a talent show who made the same choice. Unfortunately, he had to withdraw from the competition due to family issues, and he was criticized to the point of being forced out of the entertainment industry. Since then, no one has dared to mention withdrawing from the competition.

So, Huang Ze's decision to withdraw is really incomprehensible.

What's worse is that the news of Huang Ze's withdrawal came right after the announcement of the elimination round.

Think about it: on one hand, there are contestants who may have to leave because their popularity isn't enough.

On the other hand, there is Huang Ze, who has enough popularity but has other plans and chooses to withdraw from the competition.

The comparison between the two creates a sense of class struggle.

Luo Xin looked at Huang Ze, not knowing what to say or how to feel, because at this moment, he had already imagined how the production team would respond.

You should know that a contestant withdrawing from the competition is negative news for the production team. No matter how powerful the support behind Huang Ze is, withdrawing from the competition is basically equal to offending the production team.

Since producing a program is aimed at gaining viewership, any production team with some intelligence would know what to do: maliciously edit Huang Ze.

Then, in the public opinion, Huang Ze would be portrayed as the typical rich kid who didn't appreciate what he had and all the blame will be placed on him, creating a victim image.

Every time there's an elimination, there are contestants who cry on the spot. Among them are those who worked hard to get here but unfortunately had to leave because they were always a bit unlucky.

These people are used as a contrast to Huang Ze. The more people sympathize with the former, the more they deeply hate the latter. This leads to discussions about the show, and the production team can seize the opportunity to promote it and secure the viewership they no longer need to worry about.

So Huang Ze understands what he is going to face, right?

Perhaps he will bear the burden of infamy for a long time to come, and perhaps he will always be ridiculed no matter when he appears. And these are things that ordinary people couldn't bear.

Of course, Huang Ze doesn't know any of this. He just came to participate in the competition innocently. He has no knowledge or understanding of the entertainment industry.

But even if he knew about these consequences, he probably wouldn't change his mind. It's just a bad reputation, and he is not afraid. Because after making the decision to withdraw, he can finally breathe a sigh of relief.

In life, people always have some things they persist in.

He doesn't care about fame and fortune, just hoping to have a clear conscience.

With a smile towards the contestants, Huang Ze deeply bowed, without saying a word, and left the stage.

Leaving here, he will go to teach and explore remote villages according to the original plan, and finally return to the embrace of his beloved pure music.

But he thinks he will never participate in a competition again.

Before leaving, he glanced at the bright stage backstage.

"Goodbye."

-----

After seeing off Huang Ze, who left unexpectedly, the main course was served, and it was time to announce the list of those who advanced.

Meanwhile, the top students who were not worried about being eliminated quietly awaited their results, so they could adjust their performance based on whether the outcome was good or bad. They needed to decide whether to take a radical approach for a last stand or to be more conservative and gradually progress.

Unlike the previous ease, Luo Xin was very nervous this time.

Of course, it wasn't because he was worried about whether he could advance, but because he was nervous about whether Shao Xiangchen could continue his winning streak.

You know, several popular players are eyeing each other closely. Sometimes, when Luo Xin is doing traffic work by himself, he feels a lot of pressure. There have been several instances where he almost couldn't beat them, and the situation is very critical.

Especially Wen Tongbai, as Shao Xiangchen's most competitive opponent, Luo Xin can't stand him. Because his performance is also very strong, there have been a few times when he managed to take first place from Shao Xiangchen when Luo Xin was too occupied to check his phone. This has caused Luo Xin to have a fierce look whenever he sees Wen Tongbai recently.

He was feeling anxious, but the top contestants like Shao Xiangchen will only be announced at the end, so he can only wait patiently.

This round still eliminates half of the people. But compared to the previous contestants, the ones eliminated this time are already quite remarkable. They will leave behind some classic moments, and there are quite a few who are called "gems" or "hard to reconcile." They have performed well, not inferior to those who remain.

Overtaking on a curve is not a rare thing.

Actually, unless there is a particularly outstanding or reckless contestant in a specific episode, the rankings are unlikely to change much.

So, the initial few contestants who went up are basically not much different from last week.

Luo Xin listens attentively to the rankings, getting lost in thought for a moment before bringing his focus back. He estimates that it will soon be his turn, so he straightens up a bit, jots down some notes, and thinks about what to say when he goes on stage later.

However, after waiting for a while and going through dozens of drafts of his notes, Luo Xin suddenly realized that it still wasn't his turn.

While Luo Xin was lost in thought, the rankings had already been announced for more than ten contestants.

But his name still hadn't been called.

Luo Xin started to panic.

Having watched various shows, he knew that some people would suddenly rise in popularity. However, in most cases, it was because the contestants had made a big impact before, and their management companies had put in a lot of effort in promoting them to create such an effect.

But Luo Xin thought about himself and realized that for this ranking, it was from the previous performance of "Qi Tian Da Sheng." Apart from embarrassment, he had nothing. Even if he racked his brains, he could only come up with one cute and contrasting aspect.

However, this niche cute point couldn't possibly drive his popularity.

So, there was only one possibility.

He was going to be eliminated.

Oh no, he should have known earlier. The studio is unreliable, and how can vote counts bought with money compare to those earned through genuine support?

Darn it, if only I had known before that I shouldn't have been so straightforward in giving them money!

Just as Luo Xin was getting angry at the unreliable studio that used money to manipulate votes, he suddenly heard his name drifting out of the loudspeaker, "In nineteenth place... he is the individual trainee, Luo Xin."

The camera focused on Luo Xin as he wore a bewildered expression.

Huh?

When it was time for him to speak his thoughts on stage, Luo Xin had already forgotten the prepared notes he had written. After all, his mind was filled with bloody words like "Dogcoin Studio, give back my hard-earned money."

So when the microphone was handed to him out of the blue, his instinct was to say something vulgar.

Fortunately, since he had been acting for a long time, some aspects of his image were deeply ingrained, and he didn't give away any inappropriate expressions. He had an impeccable poker face, the master of expression control in the idol industry.

"Firstly, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to all the fans who voted for me." Normally, there should have been a bow at this point. But considering that most of his fans were from the studio, he didn't need to be so polite. He continued, "Although the training is tough, I will continue to work hard."

After speaking, he suddenly remembered something and pretended to speak deeply, slowing down his words, "A good goal can motivate a person to move forward. I'm grateful that my goal has always been excellent."

Looking towards a certain spot in the audience, he earnestly said, "Please continue to excel, I will catch up."

Luo Xin even moved himself to tears.

With the competition already halfway through, if he was able to climb up, it was probably thanks to the fact that all the agencies were starting to hide their votes for the final debut spots. After all, Luo Xin himself had organized the fans of Shao Xiangchen to hide votes and wait for the final match.

But Luo Xin felt that since he managed to reach nineteenth place, he should have gained some recognition among the media. So he started planning to be a bit bolder - to start promoting his CP.

Although Shao Xiangchen's popularity was already high enough, he would never refuse to be even more popular.

Of course, even though he had forgotten about this due to being immersed in the competition in the early stages, resulting in the two of them having almost no interaction except for being roommates, it didn't matter. Wasn't there still half of the competition left?

As long as they stayed long enough, there would eventually come a day when they would form teams.

The day of forming teams would be the day of Luo Xin and Shao Xiangchen's great success as a CP! Laughing inwardly, Luo Xin thought to himself. 

Meanwhile, on stage, the top candidates, Wen Tongbai and Shao Xiangchen embraced each other with deep understanding.

Luo Xin wasn't moved at all by this brotherly sentiment. He just found Wen Tongbai very irritating. In his heart, he thought fiercely, soon you won't be able to laugh anymore. He would bring Shao Xiangchen's fan club and all the ordinary fans to leave Wen Tongbai far behind!

In the crowd, Luo Xin felt ambitious, and he felt like the background images had all changed to "Only those who work hard will win."

Of course, in the end, Shao Xiangchen had a slight advantage and won the championship once again.

Luo Xin thought that he could add another line to his rainbow farts: "The only player in the history of talent shows to win three championships in a row." That would be impressive. He had to make sure to control this narrative to hit Wen Tongbai's fan club in the face!

He could do it again!

-----

Luo Xin's good mood lasted until he got home at night and checked his personal messages. He discovered that his messages had blown up, and his good mood came to a sudden stop.

Frowning, he opened the messages. What the hell?

Who kissed who?

What does it mean that Shao Xiangchen and Wen Tongbai locked?

What does "Heguang Tongchen" mean? (Note: Roughly translated, it means "morning light")

Why is Shao Xiangchen the bottom?

A series of questions exploded in his mind like the bombardment of private messages, causing him to lose his ability to think.

In the end, only one phrase remained in Luo Xin's mind:

Knife in hand, kill Wen Dog!!!!!

On this day, Shao Xiangchen's fans were all in a frenzy, spreading their influence everywhere, attempting to separate Shao Xiangchen from Wen Tongbai. Wen Tongbai's fans were also doing the same thing.

At this moment, two groups of fans who had been looking at each other with disdain were unexpectedly fighting for the same goal.

However, in this world, there are still many onlookers who love to watch a good show.

The more they tried to clarify, the more the fake became real.

In the end, on the CP list in the entertainment industry, Heguang Tongchen CP successfully surpassed Xin Youlinxi and many other popular CPs, claiming the championship.

In one word, it's sweet!

The fans who were busy with their battles didn't even notice that their precious "Yixin Xiangchen" data station hadn't been updated on any platform all night.

There's no other explanation, just pure frustration.

-----

When Luo Xin woke up the next day to prepare for the new competition, his eyes couldn't hide the dark circles. Even ten layers of concealer couldn't cover his exhaustion.

Of course, this scene later became a sweet and heartbreaking moment for the "ordinary netizens" who are good at imagining scenarios.

Huang Ze left.

Luo Xin, who was usually calm to the extreme, had actually lost control to such an extent. If this isn't love, then what is it?

They've fallen for each other!

This triggered a fan war between Xin Youlinxi and Xin Yixinzen CP, arguing over whom this sweet moment belonged to. The argument lasted for days and nights, but in the end, everyone had their own opinions.

However, the CP fans involved in the argument couldn't fathom that Luo Xin's exhaustion wasn't because of a man, but because of his child.

He may be gentle as a male fan, but he becomes tough as a mother.

Thinking that there was still half of the competition to go, after putting on makeup, Luo Xin transformed into a brand new self, full of fighting spirit, and quickly started planning a new strategy.

However, now there was an extremely difficult question before Luo Xin: Should he help to hype up the popularity of the He Guangtongchen CP?

Yes, despite the heartache of seeing his beloved cabbage coveted by the pig on the other side, Luo Xin's simple and good thoughts for his child once again prevailed, and he began to coldly think according to the perspective of an adult.

Creating a CP relationship is a win-win situation. Both parties can gain new fans, and to some extent, even achieve the excellent effect of breaking through boundaries.

You see, one major characteristic of CP is its ability to attract creators such as editors, writers, and artists who contribute their work voluntarily.

Usually, if you want to ask these people to help create works, it would cost a fortune and there's a high probability that it won't work out. The resulting works are also inconsistent, basically a one-time deal.

If a CP is formed and the "moe points" are on target, these creators will invest themselves with 100% enthusiasm and produce a large quantity of high-quality content for a long period of time.

No matter what is produced, it will bring forth beautiful photos, artwork, performances, and what better way to promote than this?

Luo Xin is a fan with a long-term vision. He knows very well that even if he controls all the negative comments, it may not have as much positive impact for Shao Xiangchen as a high-quality content output.

After all, while controlling the comments can push away some malicious messages and create appealing data, it will only attract disgust from passersby.

On the other hand, high-quality content can attract many passersby to develop a liking for Shao Xiangchen.

A celebrity's popularity depends on their die-hard fans.

Their lasting popularity depends on the public's interest.

It seems Luo Xin has accepted this reality as he no longer hesitates when recording shows.

He had already said that he would do anything to make Shao Xiangchen popular.

He can tolerate forming a CP relationship.

However, as soon as he walked into the studio, he saw Wen Tongbai maliciously resting his hand on Shao Xiangchen's shoulder while the two were discussing something, causing Wen Tongbai to laugh uncontrollably.

Luo Xin's face suddenly became ferocious.

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If I Can’t Be a Fanboy, I Can Only Debut - Chapter 18

 

Luo Xin sat backstage feeling a bit bored because all the contestants had finished performing, and now it was the program team's time to count the on-site votes.

According to the rules, whether the team or individual came in first, they would receive a good number of additional votes.

However, with the basic number of votes increasing, the small bonus was basically insignificant compared to the millions or tens of millions of votes that the top contestants received.

It might be useful for some amateur contestants at the beginning, but it was basically useless at other times.

Moreover, when the contestants were no longer amateurs on the same starting line, on-site voting was about popularity and backstage support, not actual on-site performance, and the number of votes didn't mean much.

And were there more fans of Shao Xiangchen today than anyone else?

So Luo Xin didn't have to worry about anything; it was a sure thing that Shao Xiangchen would come in first.

Only he was relaxed, while Huang Ze felt like he was sitting on pins and needles.

He always considered himself superior in ability, and although he might occasionally appear arrogant, that arrogance came entirely from his confidence in his own ability.

From childhood to adulthood, he basically never got second place in any exam.

The violin was the same. From the beginner level to now, whether it was taking exams or performing live, he always crushed everyone in his peer group.

But at this moment, he couldn't help but begin to doubt himself.

Were all those exams and competitions he participated in real?

If he got the C position this time by using dishonorable means, then everything in the past might have been...

Huang Ze was deeply frightened, and he didn't even dare to look at Luo Xin more than once, as if not looking at him would make him the same as before, not the person who got the C position on stage by using dirty tricks.

Huang Ze couldn't blame Luo Xin because Luo Xin was a victim.

He couldn't blame the program team either because they also had their own way of doing things.

He couldn't even blame his own family because they also wanted to help him "realize his dream."

In the end, he realized that the only person he could blame was himself.

Huang Ze never really cared about the ranking or whether he could get the C position in competitions.

He only participated in this competition because his mentor said that his works lacked life, so he was asked to experience different things in different areas. In fact, besides this competition, he also arranged activities such as teaching and going to the mountains to collect inspiration.

But he never told his family about these things.

He was very serious in the program because he was very devout about music, and he did learn a lot from the competition.

Perhaps it was his attitude that caused them to misunderstand him, so they did such a thing.

Huang Ze thought for a long time. Since the incident had happened, he didn't want to say that he was unaware or completely innocent.

He would take responsibility for his actions.

-----

That night, when the votes were counted, it turned out that the dance group led by Shao Xiangchen was indeed ahead in votes, and Shao Xiangchen personally won first place in the dance group, which made all the planning that Luo Xin had done worthwhile.

As for the rap group, it was finally Xun Xiao who returned to his true form, with the help of his teammate Yu Nian and others with a northeastern accent, they ignited the audience with a high-speed rap performance and won first place. It is worth mentioning that the second place was surprisingly "The Ascetic Monk". Even Tang listened to the "Great Compassion Mantra" to relieve stress before going to bed.

As for the vocal group where Luo Xin and Huang Ze were in, it's a bit embarrassing to say that they won the contest by a large margin, leaving no suspense for the program group to announce the result directly.

However, in the selection of the individual first place in the vocal group, Luo Xin and Huang Ze's votes were very close.

It's understandable that Huangze got the C position, but the reason why Luo Xin could compete with Huang Ze was purely because he added a lot of drama to himself.

When he gave the C position to Huangze, Luo Xin exchanged the autonomy of the stage setting with the program group with this condition, and even obtained a certain degree of song adaptation rights.

It should be noted that this is a treatment that not even Shao Xiangchen, the program's ratings leader, has.

After obtaining these rights, Luo Xin stayed up all night watching highlights of all the exciting talent shows from both domestic and international competitions in recent years. Only then did he come up with the final performance format, which was almost pushing the program group's limits.

According to the program group's plan, "Bloody Love Story" was originally just an ordinary performance stage, at most with lower stage lighting and black clothing. However, Luo Xin transformed it into a stage play, even changing the solo C to a dual C, which greatly enriched the effect.

In the end, Huang Ze, the main C, won the individual first place in the vocal group by a narrow margin over Luo Xin.

Luo Xin congratulated him sincerely.

Revenge is best served immediately.

He felt that he had said enough on stage to Huangze, who was innocent and well-protected.

Moreover, thanks to Huang Ze, Luo Xin couldn't guarantee that the original version would have been better than the current one, so he counted his blessings.

For all of the above reasons, Luo Xin was no longer angry with Huang Ze. After all, Huang Ze already had more popularity than him, so this result was reasonable.

However, for Huang Ze, this congratulation sounded like a real mockery, and he forced a smile while feeling mixed emotions.

After a night of excitement, everyone was physically and mentally exhausted. They were also anticipating the next day's elimination recording, which made them feel even more tired. As a result, they didn't go to the convenience store or eat any late-night snacks. Instead, they all went back to sleep.

Luo Xin, despite feeling sleepy, still managed to complete his daily data tasks with determination. However, he went to bed much earlier than usual.

Meanwhile, the fans who had finished watching the program began a new round of crying and howling, as well as exposing secrets.

The program was once again being discussed on related forums.

"Breaking News!!!! The second male stage of '001' was so stunning! It's the best second male stage in the entertainment industry in the past decade, and we're not exaggerating!"

This was a serious compliment with a little bit of bias towards their own idol.

"The second male stage exposed how many people are bad at singing and dancing. They can't even keep up with the top performers."

This is a professional troll who stirs up trouble and spreads brainwashing propaganda.

"I couldn't take pictures, so I can only describe it verbally. Damn, the concentration of handsome guys in '001' is too high! I'm going to drown in my own drool tonight."

...This is just a typical infatuated fan.

"U1S1, the stage of '001' is going to be explosive this time. You'll know when you watch the competition. Welcome to join the discussion [with spoilers]."

This is the official promotion of the program.

Major online platforms have serious discussions about the stage and contestants, but at the end of every program, there's always a "watercooler" conversation. People are used to it and don't think much of it. Occasionally, they even join in the fun.

But this time, a bizarre green post stood out among the discussions about the show. It was short, had no context, didn't name names, nor did it provide any details. It didn't even mention the name of the show. However, it suddenly became a hot topic on the forum, and various Weibo marketing accounts even shared screenshots of it, sparking a heated debate on Weibo.

It gave the program a lot of attention.

-----

Initially, the post was shared in a CP group of an internal entertainment forum. Therefore, all the replies were from CP fans, who had their own fantasies:

"It must be Xinyoulin and Xixi! I've seen them flirting for a long time. They're such a cute couple. Let them show their love and let's move on."

"Clearly, it's He Guangtong and Xincheng. They're perfect for each other. Please get married immediately!"

"Is no one shipping ALL? The only omega among a bunch of alpha teammates, and he's left out in the cold. I'm already fainting!!!"

"Can I say something? Does anyone ship Shao Xiangchen and Luo Xin? We're so cold that we don't even have a CP name."

However, as the saying goes, CP fans have a twisted mind.

Therefore, in the eyes of the fans, this post was a cheap and unhealthy way to scrutinize their idols. They also accused the poster of trying to ride on their idols' popularity. This was unforgivable!

The radical fans, who were undercover in the CP group, quickly responded with sarcastic comments, turning the peaceful post into a mess.

But that wasn't enough. They then posted the thread on a well-known entertainment forum, hoping to get more people to join the bashing. However, no one cared about the CP fans' comments, which lacked any fighting power. Instead, they found another angle and turned the post into this:

"Hahaha, are you guys serious? Did you really kiss on stage?"

"Kongtong +1"

"Am I the only one curious about who kissed whom?"

"You superheroes are amazing. You even dared to kiss in public. Is the next step doing it? Scary, scary."

In a few words, it turned out that someone had kissed on stage, and the topic continued to spread, causing a commotion for over ten pages and making it to the homepage of a forum.

Eventually, it was anonymously exposed on Weibo that in a popular talent show, two high-profile contestants had kissed on stage, causing the production team to turn off the lights in shock. The news had been blocked.

Weibo is a platform where fans, anti-fans, studios, and talent agencies are present, making it a complex environment. Therefore, people from different circles had something to say about this sensational headline, expressing their opinions.

Various clarifications and mudslinging also flooded the comments section, making the situation even more exciting.

Of course, everyone knew that the "popular talent show" referred to in the post was "Super Idol 001." With all the commotion, the CPs who were supposed to be confined to their small circle appeared in front of everyone.

Speaking of the CPs in "Super Idol 001," the hottest one was the pairing of Luo Xin and Shang Lin, known as "Xin You Lin Xi."

Their classic combination of queen and loyal dog helped each other out of their respective slumps and reached the pinnacle together. When one stood on the mountaintop, the first thing they thought of was to pull the other up. Finally, they reunited on stage, making a fool of themselves and working hard together. One word, adorable!

The second most popular pairing was Wen Tongbai and Shao Xiangchen's "He Guang Tong Chen."

As a double-king combination, they focused on strength and were both opponents and the closest people to each other. They shed sweat and tears together, dominating the stage, and only had eyes for each other.

There were also seniors and juniors from the same company, who started off unfamiliar but eventually became close. They comforted each other when one cried, stayed up late to teach each other dance moves, and found joy in their friendship.

Classic frenemies were also formed when they were grouped together. They initially thought poorly of each other's skills, but were eventually impressed by each other's professionalism. They went from fighting to becoming the best of teammates.

With only a few dozen people, the number of CPs was so numerous that it was impossible to count, not to mention the ones that were broken up or reversed. It was truly amazing and overwhelming.

As Luo Xin had hoped, the popularity of the CPs brought a surge of fans to both parties. For example, Luo Xin's popularity had risen to the top 20 on the real-time popularity rankings, despite his most recent performance being the awkward stage of "Qi Tian Da Sheng" that he didn't want to watch again.

However, with so many popular CPs, even the yet-to-be-launched "Xing Xiang CP" was drowned out in the tide of CPs, and couldn't even create a ripple.

Luo Xin, who was busy with the competition and analyzing data for Shao Xiangchen, didn't realize that his CP journey had barely begun and seemed to be ending already.

-----

Goodbyes are always part of competitions. When the time comes, everyone has to leave.

Luo Xin was very open-minded about this. He wasn't well-liked and wasn't the type of contestant who socialized much, so he didn't know many people. This made him very calm when facing elimination, and he even had other things to think about.

This is how an amateur personal trainee with a non-celebrity background rolls.

As usual, they should start announcing the qualifiers from the last ones.

Many contestants who were on the edge of elimination last time were already praying, visibly nervous.

Luo Xin looked around, wondering if it was just his imagination, but he didn't see Huang Ze?

Just then, the mentors appeared.

Lin Jiawen didn't seem as easygoing as usual, and the other mentors weren't joking around either. They looked very serious.

The contestants below involuntarily quieted down and nervously looked up at the stage, afraid of hearing bad news.

Without wasting much time, Lin Jiawen picked up the microphone and said, "Today is the day of departure for many of you contestants, and I believe you all know that. But--"

She quickly changed the subject and smiled, "Not all goodbyes are sad."

"Today, I want to share some good news with all of you. One of our contestants is about to leave us."

Many people thought they misheard when they heard this. How could this be good news?

Lin Jiawen continued, "Congratulations to contestant Huang Ze. He has been accepted into the prestigious E Country Music Royal Classical Academy. Due to academic reasons, he unfortunately cannot continue the competition. However, being able to study at such a prestigious institution is also a very happy thing."

After speaking, she led the applause.

In the applause of the other contestants, Huang Ze, whom Luo Xin had not seen until now, finally appeared and slowly walked out from backstage.

He was going to withdraw from the competition.

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