Chapter 185
After thinking for a few days, Little Sakura felt that either the gods had heard her prayers, or it was the power of her mother's intentions that made the origami cranes look a little different from usual.
But it's a good thing overall.
Although I don't expect the origami cranes to have any practical use, it would be enough if they could convey my feelings a little more.
That afternoon, in the practice room.
The five Little Idol gathered together. They had already thoroughly reviewed <antifragile>, and the afternoon was mainly spent reinforcing their understanding, as well as the more important selection of the Center position.
As we all know, this is a segment that can turn contestants into enemies, and many of the highlights of talent shows are here. The camera will basically focus on everyone's face, grabbing one person and filming their micro-expressions repeatedly. After the show airs, they will also add some guiding special effects to stir things up.
Especially after the rules for the second Public Performance were revealed, the competition for the Center position in the second dance song will be even more intense.
Dream Weaver Rabbit clearly enjoys watching this kind of content. Recently, she set up keywords in the practice room, and whenever she hears related words, she will bring up the monitoring, either highlighting them or sharing them with the audience via live stream.
Shortly after Chu Yuanqing mentioned the Center position, Dream Weaver Rabbit started a live stream.
Viewers outside the community have become accustomed to the abstract style of FlashDance's live streams, and many loyal fans had already set up live stream notifications on the official platform, clicking in as soon as they saw it:
"Urgent! Someone tell me why they suddenly started a live stream?"
"Ha! Is that Qing Bao wearing yoga clothes??? Waaaaah, why is she wearing a coat? I'm so angry!!!"
"Heh heh, even the glimpse of your fair wrist that Qing God, reveal is an unparalleled gift to the world! A believer as greedy as you will ultimately be punished by the gods!"
"Don't go crazy here. How could anyone be interested in the pure and innocent Qing Bao?"
"Waaaaah, I'm so sorry, I actually had such wicked thoughts, I deserve to die! To punish myself, I offered bitter tea seeds to the Qing God, and today I went out completely naked?!"
"You perverted mother! You're not allowed to take off your clothes in front of Qing Bao! If you want to go commando, just say so!"
Chu Yuanqing lowered her eyes in surprise, the lantern in her chest trembling. Suddenly, she felt a surge of magical power. After a moment's thought, she figured it was probably another clip or video about herself that had gone viral. She looked up at the others and continued:
"<Antifragile> is quite difficult. I'm not confident I can practice it well in a week. Should we still choose the Center position from your side?"
Kiriwake Yayoi said sincerely:
"I'm already the Center position of Wannabe, so I might as well step down this time."
"Besides, I don't think Xiao Qing is incapable of being in the Center position. You've improved a lot since the beginning, and you're fully capable of taking on a leading role."
Chu Yuanqing shook her head and refused. All she needed was magic. Since she could share the positive emotions generated by the whole team after activating [Pure White Aria], there was no need to compete with the others for anything.
Kiriwake Yayoi hesitated. She gave up competing for the Center position because the format of the second Public Performance was too favorable to the Center position. If the Center position was too prominent, the other teammates would definitely get fewer individual votes, and thus risk being eliminated.
In this situation, it's definitely unfair to be the Center position for two dance tracks.
Therefore, Chu Yuanqing, who can share the spotlight, is the most suitable candidate.
But if the Center position were given to Xie Qingxuan...
This Stage Tyrant devoured all the brilliance of his teammates, his performance as terrifying as a black hole, which would be far too fatal under the rules of the second Public Performance.
P. S.: Uh oh, the underworld has transitioned to the mortal realm! I owe 20,000 words, but I'm full of energy!
P. S.: By the way, the Flower Language of the pine caterpillar fungus is remembrance, dreams, and the sorrow of a widow.
Volume 1: 178. Chu Wangshu looks forward to the future. (5K)
The Live Broadcast Room finally allowed Little Idol comments, unlike the usual crazy chatter, to emerge.
"Here it comes! No wonder Red-Eyed Rabbit was so kind as to start a live stream, it turns out it's the classic battle for the center position."
"To be fair, while their team is strong, it makes it hard to choose Center position. They have four A-Class and one B-Class, and they've all reached the [Flow State] realm. Theoretically, anyone could be the center, right?"
"The Center position also depends on suitability. From a team perspective, Qing Bao's performance in one Public Performance made her the best candidate for Center position. She didn't overshadow the others, shared the audience's attention equally, and perfectly showcased her own charm."
"Little Sakura clearly thinks that way. Xie Bao is strong, but he's too tyrannical. That performance was indeed amazing, but besides Xie Bao, I can only vaguely remember that he had a teammate named Ji Shuzhu. I have absolutely no impression of the others."
"Damn, I hadn't noticed until you said so. It really is true. Who were the other two teammates again???"
"... Look, if this happened during the second Public Performance, wouldn't everyone else not get a single individual ticket? And if they lose the team battle too, it'll be even worse."
Even viewers who enjoy being a little crazy, in order not to lose the object of their madness, still can't help but analyze and discuss whether their favorite Little Idol can advance, just like normal show fans.
Of course, since the players on this team are all very popular, there is basically no chance of them being eliminated, so the atmosphere in the Live Broadcast Room is relatively harmonious. Otherwise, if it were a team with a less certain chance of advancing, there would be no need for internal arguments; the fans in the Live Broadcast Room alone would be attacking each other and driving each other crazy.
Fans of the Pure White Witch are currently very depressed.
These innocent, kind-hearted, and imaginative Little Yuan Xiao felt extremely sorry for the protagonist's "weakness," "inferiority complex," and "saintly nature," and couldn't help but empathize with Chu Yuanqing's perspective, starting to type out comments on the screen:
"I'm crying, Qing Bao, my Qing Bao, how can you just give up the Center position like that???"
"Why can't Xiao Qing be the center? You performed amazingly in your first Public Performance! Stop thinking only about the team. Being too gentle can sometimes hurt yourself. I'm so sad."
"Because I like her, I wish she were a little more selfish. But this stubbornness and seriousness, this worldliness without being cynical, this ability to choose kindness and gentleness after analyzing all the pros and cons—that's why I like Chu Yuanqing so much. Isn't this a kind of dilemma?"
"Waaaaah, if I had seen comments like this before, I would have just laughed, because I didn't believe that you could truly understand a person's character in just one or two months online. But Chu Yuanqing has the magic to lay bare his [true self] on stage for everyone to see???"
"It's okay, Qing Bao, just be yourself. Mom will always support you. My ticket for the second Public Performance is reserved just for you!"
Chu Yuanqing was completely unaware that she had been seriously "misunderstood." The lantern in the snow mountain trembled more and more violently, causing the skin around her heart to go numb. She kept her delicate and lovely face straight and continued to pretend to be solemn and serious.
Ten seconds later,
The girl couldn't help but purse her moist, pink lips, feeling slightly annoyed.
Damn, this is so itchy! How did I suddenly gain so much magic power?!
Chu Yuanqing couldn't bear to blame the lantern. This little guy was still so stupid even after he reached the [Flower Bloom] stage. It was all because of the debuff he had. He could only silently endure the tractor-like magic digestion efficiency and then quietly changed his actions.
The girl squatted on the yoga mat, hugging her legs and squeezing them together to gain external force, attempting to suppress the ignorant and clueless Lantern-carrying fool who only knew how to eat. Then she remembered her promise to Yayoi and said seriously:
"I Center position during my first Public Performance, and when I checked my phone the other day, I was surprised to find that a lot of people like... well, they're following me? Anyway, I'm sure I'll advance. Let's leave the opportunities for Liuli, Xiao Shu, and Qingxuan."
Upon hearing this, Little Yuan Xiao in the Live Broadcast Room was deeply moved:
"It's not easy! My daughter finally realizes she has a lot of fans? Waaah! If she knows, she should be a little more arrogant, okay? My darling!"
"It's not just attention, it's adoration! Mommy loves Qing Bao the most!!!"
"What a kind-hearted Xiao Qing! I want to pull her into my arms and rub her against me!"
"Explain exactly where you rubbed it; if you rubbed it in the wrong place, you'll be sentenced to death?!"
"Qing Bao is right. 200 people in the various Yuan Xiao support groups have already won tickets to the event. We will definitely not let Qing Bao's individual votes lose to the other contestants!"
Although Dream Weaver Rabbit tried its best to create a glimmer of hope for the contestants with lower skill and popularity through the rules, everyone knew that the contestants with high popularity could easily get more votes.
After all, even excluding DD, omnivores, and casual viewers, most of the 5,000 audience members present had a clear fan affiliation. They naturally viewed their favorites through a fan lens, and some even blindly voted for their chosen contestants.
Logically, the higher the popularity, the higher the proportion of fans in the venue, and the more off-site tickets can be obtained. This is something beyond the stage elements.
That's why Chu Yuanqing's fans were so worried about her initial rating in the first and second episodes, because the First A-Class was too advantageous and could easily create a snowball effect.
Well, take Chu Yuanqing for example. In a normal talent show, this is a situation where he could easily win even if he just tanked on stage.
Tang Liuli moved closer to Chu Yuanqing, sitting on a yoga mat in the same position as a cat clinging to its owner. Without any hesitation, she rubbed her thigh against Chu Yuanqing's. After they finished rubbing together, she whispered:
"All I need to do is sing; the audience who hears my voice will never forget me."
Chu Yuanqing wanted to pet the Green Eyed Cat that had come closer, but she found that the lantern was trembling even more violently. The silver magic power within her body swirled like flowing water, and the blooming rose in her soul appeared and disappeared, as if it were being watered and nourished, making her whole body feel warm and comfortable.
Unfortunately, without the buffs to Magic Replenishment and remove curses and pain, these warm currents, which seemed to leap in life and transform physical attributes, were all swept away and swallowed by the cold Sea of Truth, leaving little taste, let alone comfort.
Oh no, am I being livestreamed?
Chu Yuanqing's mind realized a possibility, but the soft flesh there was itchy so badly that he couldn't resist and simply warned the little thing with his mind.
Afterwards, Ti Deng barely managed to restrain himself and obediently became grieved, but then, as if throwing a tantrum, he turned himself over and buried himself deep in the tea buds of early spring, as if to say that he was unhappy.
Chu Yuanqing decided to leave it for the time being. The little guy had a very poor memory and would become lively again in a while. Moreover, it was easy to coax, and it might even apologize after being coaxed.
The girl looked up and asked:
"So, Qingxuan, Xiao Shu, what are your thoughts?"
Xie Qingxuan's platinum eyelashes fluttered, and she appeared exceptionally docile when facing Chu Yuanqing's gaze. Upon hearing this, she obediently began to think seriously.
Since encountering that dream repeatedly, her obsession had actually faded considerably.
Even though she still wanted to bring her sister down from her pedestal, Chu Yuanqing's shadow grew heavier in her heart, and whether or not she trampled on the other's dreams seemed less important.
Because...
Xie Qingxuan, using Meditation State as a vantage point, analyzed herself and suddenly realized a fact.
That is, although she did dislike Xie Qingyu, it wasn't hatred. The source of her dislike was nothing more than dissatisfaction, jealousy, confusion, and the other party's condescending attitude towards her parents' double standards.
As for her reasons for wanting to trample on her sister's dreams, whether it was more about revenge or about proving herself and gaining recognition, even she herself wasn't quite sure.
Therefore, this shift in thinking and mindset meant that she, who was indifferent to idols and had only recently begun to experience the joy of the stage, had no obsession with being in the Center position.
Otherwise, with her willpower, she could have easily suppressed her fatigue and forced herself into a few seconds of [Flow State] and [Meditation State] to win when she and Little Sakura played rock-paper-scissors to decide the Center position last time.
Chu Yuanqing understood this clearly.
When Xie Qingxuan returned the spotlight on stage, this child was already trying to reconcile with her childhood self.
Even though he's still that stubborn, obsessive, and irrational person, he's not as pathological as before and can integrate into the team more easily.
After a moment's thought, the Golden Haired Doggy offered a remarkably wise suggestion:
Let's play rock-paper-scissors.
Chu Wangshu was a little confused. She reached out her little hand instinctively to play rock-paper-scissors, following Xie Qingxuan's lead, but then she immediately realized what was happening and withdrew her hand as if burned. She immediately closed her eyes and shook her head fiercely as if trying to resist the temptation.
"No, no, no, this is the Center position, we can't just do it casually. Xiao Qing said she can't take it, so I can't either. Sister Xie, you should take it."
--elder sister.
Xie Qingxuan pondered the title, her expression indifferent, her eyelashes trembling slightly, and her dark pupils sparkling with a glimmer that only acquaintances could see. For a moment, she felt a little excited.
Although I've listened to it quite a few times in the past week, each time I listen, I feel a strange joy, almost as if... I'm getting closer to Xiao Qing.
The Golden Haired Doggy reached out and pinched the Little Cotton-padded Jacket's hand, repeating earnestly:
"Rock, paper, scissors is not something to be taken lightly. Come on, best two out of three!"
Chu Wangshu was a little embarrassed. In her little mind, rock-paper-scissors was just a game of luck. What if she won? Wouldn't that be a huge advantage? How could that be allowed!
The viewers in the Live Broadcast Room found this "stalemate" particularly amusing.
What trainee participating in a talent show would be so afraid of the Center position? Any normal person who understands the benefits involved wouldn't give up any opportunity at this time, so why would they care whether they are worthy of the position?
Seeing this, Chu Yuanqing couldn't help but comfort her:
"Xiao Shu, don't be afraid. Even if you win, no one will have a problem with you."
After hearing this, Chu Wangshu glanced at the reactions of her other teammates before hesitantly agreeing.
The Green Eyed Cat watched this scene with a serious expression. Based on her cautious principle—actually, she had forgotten—she hadn't challenged the seemingly fallen Great Demon King (rock-paper-scissors) recently.
This time, she is bound to use her unparalleled talent to see through Xie Qingxuan's true level in rock-paper-scissors!
Xie Qingxuan showed no sign of holding back. The emotions in her eyes faded away, like a mountain mist, and then outlined a dark cross. She seemed to have entered both Meditation State and Flow State at the same time. Her aura was as deep and unfathomable as if she had stuffed a huge object into the practice room, creating a great atmosphere.
This Stage Tyrant, who has traversed two major fields, possesses an extraordinary and terrifying talent for reflexes even when venturing into other competitive arenas, making it effortless for him to win a game of rock-paper-scissors.
Tang Liuli nearly exploded with rage upon seeing this, as if facing a formidable enemy.
Damn it, how can this wicked woman have such a terrifying aura? Is she like this in bed too? Could it be... that's how she bullied Qing Mom so fiercely that day?!
Tang Liuli realized something was wrong and slapped the Green Eyed Cat in her consciousness several times to nip the strange idea in the bud. She tried to straighten her thoughts and return to the most basic game of rock-paper-scissors.
Then, she began to imagine Xie Qingxuan's thought process.
Got it. This Stupid Dog suggested rock-paper-scissors because she didn't want to offend Xiao Shu, who was favored by Qing Mom. But she still wanted the Center position, so in order not to repeat the failure she had with the Sakura Girl last time, she simply went all out!
In other words, Xie Qingxuan has no chance of losing this round!
Two minutes later,
The Little Cotton-padded Jacket looked at her clenched fist and Xie Qingxuan's outstretched scissors, utterly shocked.
Huh? She got the Center position already? It feels so unreal, like I'm living in a dream!