Dad, Please Let Me Be a Solo Stan!

"Are we choosing seats?"

Chu Wangshu nodded repeatedly, as though she had been rescued.

"Mm-hm. Where do you think would be better?"

Chu Yuanqing answered casually.

"I think anywhere is fine."

Having said that, she barely gave it any thought before stepping onto the first tier and walking upward.

The Live Broadcast Room audience watched closely.

"It's starting, it's starting! The classic seat-picking segment, can't wait!"

"I have a feeling the seat selection in this show definitely won't be like a normal talent show."

"Obviously. Elimination means losing the right to be an idol for life. Contestants determined enough to join definitely won't miss any opportunity to show themselves off!"

"Where will Chu Yuanqing choose to sit?"

"She's so bold. No need to think about it—she'll definitely pick the Center position!"

"Hard to say. Chu Yuanqing is a complete newcomer with some clear weaknesses in ability. Strategically speaking, if she really takes the Center position, there's a huge risk of being challenged out of it by someone later. The upper ranks outside the Center position are the best choice."

"Exactly. Confidence and courage are bonuses, but arrogance and recklessness aren't."

14. You Can Become the Moon Too.

Competition Venue.

Under countless watchful eyes, Chu Yuanqing crossed seven tiers of steps, ignored a hundred seats, and Reached the High Place.

The girl stopped in place. Her outstretched Fingertips touched the cold crystal frame of the throne. Her expression was calm as she lowered her eyes and looked down at the view below, carrying an imposing aura in that fleeting moment.

Bullet Comments cascaded down the screen like an avalanche.

"Even though she's so tiny, she still looks so imposing!"

"Hiss... Her expression is serious but she's cute. Solo stanning now."

"Damn, is she really going to sit there?"

"I'm speechless. Does she really think she has what it takes to be the Center?"

"What's the use of being pretty? The Center position is about ability."

Public Opinion among the viewers was a complete mess.

Chu Wangshu knew full well how much seat selection mattered. Watching the girl's movements, she asked worriedly:

"Are you going to sit in the Center position?"

Chu Yuanqing gave her a puzzled glance, as though asking why she would ask such a stupid question.

"No, I was just curious."

As she spoke, the girl ran her pale little hand over the patterns in the hollowed-out sections and observed them carefully.

"Because this seat has gold inlaid into it."

"And the material of its outer shell is natural ametrine. The cutting technique and pattern work are both excellent. Even putting aside its artistic value, it must be worth a lot of money."

Chu Yuanqing looked rather serious as she earnestly warned her:

"So you'd better not sit here. If you break it, you won't be able to afford the compensation."

The Live Broadcast Room was shaken.

"Why is this contestant's focus so mercenary yet strangely unique?"

"Center position: Do I need you to worry about me breaking? Sit on me!"

"Damn it, don't refuse the Center position for such a weird reason!"

"I'm dying. I was wondering why she moved so carefully just now. Turns out she was afraid she'd have to pay if she broke it."

"An exception! This is an exception! The other contestants definitely won't be like this!"

Upon hearing that, Chu Wangshu immediately recalled the painful memory of breaking a railing at a tourist attraction when she was ten and getting Dad fined five hundred yuan.

At that moment,

the little girl seemed to return to that summer when she had been unable to eat ice cream because of it. She instinctively retreated three steps, looked at the Center position as if it were a formidable enemy, and agreed:

"It's that expensive?"

"You're right. Better not sit there."

The Live Broadcast Room filled with question marks.

"Six. No wonder they're both surnamed Chu. Like family, like family, huh?"

"How are you so easy to fool? Are you an idiot? An idiot puppy? So cute, I'm shipping them!"

"Shipping everything will only harm you!"

"I'm so anxious, I'm so anxious, I'm so anxious! Where are they going to sit?"

"I know you're anxious, but don't be anxious yet. Watch for now and bet on the upper ranks."

Although betting and guessing in the Live Broadcast Room never stopped, over the next three minutes, Chu Yuanqing showed no intention of sitting down. Instead, as though she were studying something, she walked through every seat.

During that time,

Chu Wangshu kept pattering after her, like a chick following behind a hen. She seemed to possess a clarity untouched by knowledge, prompting the Live Broadcast Room audience to question the value of Haidu Art University's guaranteed admissions.

Chu Yuanqing did not notice any of this. After visiting the last seat, she raised her head to Look Towards the Dream Weaver Rabbit logo on the stage curtain. She could only feel that it was Full of malicious amusement, and murmured in a complicated tone:

"There are only 101 seats."

After saying that, she walked On their own toward a seat.

Chu Wangshu was still thinking about where to sit.

Although she had practiced dance for several years, she had little stage experience, and her singing and composition skills were even worse. In terms of overall ability, it was difficult for her to compare with the other trainees. Taking one of the upper ranks would only lead people to say she was undeserving...

Before those Thoughts could continue spreading, however, her mind suddenly went blank when she saw where someone had sat down.

Chu Wangshu looked bewildered as she Looked Towards the girl seated in Seat 101, who had closed her eyes to rest as if preparing to sleep. Her head was Full of question marks, and she could not understand it.

What happened?

Am I dreaming?

Is something wrong with me, or is something wrong with her?

At that moment, the Live Broadcast Room was deeply shaken, with even more question marks than she had.

"What exactly did she come here for?"

"Damn, she was the first one in and chose last place?"

"Fuck, I'm laughing myself dizzy."

"I get it. She's trying to create a show moment."

"Very good, woman. You have successfully caught my attention."

"I don't believe it. This is just a little trick to attract my attention! She'll definitely go sit somewhere else later!"

Chu Wangshu walked to the darkest corner of the lowest level and sat beside her. For a moment, she felt as though Seat 100 had made her whole body damp.

Yet aside from that, she somehow felt an inexplicable sense of security.

Mm... like trash belonged in a trash can?

Chu Wangshu seemed to understand something. This talent show's Elimination Mechanism was completely forcing contestants to compete and tear each other apart. With her own ability, rashly fighting for a higher place might only make her look bad. It would be better to do the opposite and open up a new track for competition.

As expected of Qingqing. So smart!

After making up her mind, the little girl even felt somewhat at ease. She did not think about what sort of track sitting here had actually opened up. Instead, she cheerfully struck up a conversation with the person beside her.

"Qingqing, why did you want to join a talent show?"

Chu Yuanqing's breathing caught. Being called that by her daughter felt far too surreal, and instinctively, she wanted to reject the nickname.

But...

This was how girls this age interacted with friends. If she could not even do this, how could she get along with her daughter as a friend?

No! I have to endure it! I have to get used to it!

Chu Yuanqing pressed her lips together and encouraged herself inwardly.

Right, How to answer this question again?

In any case, she definitely could not tell the truth, or the conversation would hit a dead end. She needed to add a little childish innocence appropriate for this age.

After considering it for a moment, the girl cautiously said:

"Because... people on stage become very dazzling?"

Chu Wangshu's heart was Full of joy.

Yay, she didn't object to me calling her Qingqing!

Does this mean we're already good friends? I'm so happy.

Chu Wangshu leaned a little closer and agreed:

"I think so too. Idols are like the moon."

"The moon?"

Chu Wangshu said earnestly:

"Mm. Because idols started out as Ordinary People. They also have to work hard and accumulate experience, earning the love of many people before they can stand on stage, shine brilliantly, and no longer be ordinary."

"Being different because of fans' love—doesn't that sound like the moon? The moon can shine only because the sun exists."

Chu Yuanqing listened carefully, her feelings complicated.

This was the first time since her daughter had grown up that she had confided her true thoughts to her.

Are idols the moon?

But to me, you've long been the moon.

From the day you were born, from before you even had a name, you already were.

Chu Yuanqing lowered her eyes, hiding the tenderness in them. She smiled and softly encouraged her:

"Chu Wangshu, maybe you can become the moon too."

"After all, it seems the person who gave you your name thought so."

15. Being an Idol Might Actually Be Pretty Great?

Bullet Comments surged across the screen in unison.

"Damn, this conversation... I'm feeling it. I'll ship them a little."

"So smooth. If it were me, I'd be hit right in the heart."

"Wuwuwu, ordinary girls are the best. I'm so happy to hear this kind of perspective."

"But still, why are they sitting next to each other in the last two seats? Are they both idiots?"

"Don't ask. Didn't you see Chu Wangshu following that girl the whole time? They're just super close sisters."

"I'm dying. The first and second people to enter sat in the last and second-to-last seats. Do they really not want us to see them that badly?"

"I'm rebelling. I want to see them! I want to see them!"

Chu Wangshu's head buzzed as she chewed over the meaning of those words. She remembered the text message she had sent before entering and suddenly felt a little fortunate. She could not help pursing her lips into a smile, though she was also a little shy.

"Really?"

"But the other contestants are all so outstanding. I'm very ordinary among them. It'll be hard for me to stand out, right?"

Chu Yuanqing earnestly encouraged her:

"Didn't you pass Haidu Art University's guaranteed admission? Then be more confident. Just treat this show as an exam. The effort and sweat you put in won't be meaningless. No matter the final result, you'll gain something from it."

Perhaps it was because she had not sat down and properly talked with her daughter for a long time.

Those words seemed to open the floodgates, and she spent five minutes earnestly delivering "chicken soup."