Chapter 91
The more I imagine it, the more my heart aches.
The more heartbroken I am, the angrier I become.
In the program, the acquaintances around Chu Yuanqing had similar reactions.
The Green Eyed Cat bristled, glaring fiercely at Luo Chan, and secretly nudged her with its little paw. Little Moons, who was already indignant and couldn't hold back any longer, seemed ready to send her into battle.
Xie Qingxuan reacted the fastest, grabbing Luo Chan's arm. Her indifferent expression and the swirling Black Mist in her eyes intertwined to create an incredibly terrifying pressure. Even the audience in front of the camera was startled, feeling that the Great Demon King was Great Demon King, and her aura completely lived up to her nickname.
Stripped of her brilliance, Luo Chan knelt on the ground in a daze.
As the atmosphere in the carriage froze, Chu Yuanqing did something unexpected. She hugged Luo Chan, who had spoken rudely to her, and gave everyone a pure, innocent, and maternal smile, uttering a statement that, from the perspective of passersby, was comparable to that of a saint.
The atmosphere in the carriage was purified.
The atmosphere of the live chat on the show has also been cleaned up.
When the video reached this point, almost 99% of the netizens who were so angry that they were hurling profanities seemed to hear a sacred hymn. In that instant, the best side of their humanity was activated, and they no longer had the will to become keyboard warriors.
Chu Yuanqing looked at her with such seriousness. She had no naivety or innocence, only a pure understanding of the world without being worldly, and a gentleness that was like "having seen the vastness of the universe, yet still cherishing the green of grass and trees."
This vast and all-encompassing maternal love is enough to swallow up the deepest malice in anyone's heart.
Even though Chu Yuanqing wasn't aware of the current situation, the look in her eyes on camera made most of the Yuanxiao Yuan Xiao, who wanted to cyberbully Luo Chan, reluctantly delete the insults in their comments.
Even those fans with poor online manners, who like to act crazy and use abstract memes, would restrain themselves and silently stop if they just imagined how Qing Bao would feel after getting her phone and seeing her fans' crazy cyberbullying of Luo Chan.
The child she/he promotes is a Little Idol whose values are so upright that they are too gentle and too kind.
If targeting Luo Chan doesn't make Chu Yuanqing feel relieved, or even makes her sad, then this action is naturally meaningless.
This is a classic example of fans following their idols' lead.
Most of the die-hard fans in the Entertainment Industry are products cultivated by the celebrities themselves, with the core purpose of making money through deception. After all, only die-hard fans are the best at squeezing money out of celebrities and also have the Combat Power.
Most celebrities are products of capital, and the various chaotic phenomena in the Chinese Entertainment Industry are somewhat related to this. However, Chu Yuanqing, who has no company behind her, no capital backing her, and no capital daring to interfere, is a breath of fresh air.
Xu Ling watched the video still playing on her computer. The contestants in the carriage all began to apologize to Chu Yuanqing on their own initiative. The overall dull atmosphere turned into a cheerful one, and their spirits were completely different.
The girl was deeply moved and couldn't help but sigh:
"Qing Bao is more mature than I imagined, and even acts more like an adult than I do."
"Anyone in that position couldn't have done better than her. Only that kind of personal charisma could unite everyone's hearts so instantly, right?"
"Suddenly, I feel that Qing Bao is surprisingly suitable to be the leader of a girl group?"
The second episode is nearing its end.
On the night of the incident, several contestants were interviewed and asked for their opinions on the matter.
Luo Chan apologized to Chu Yuanqing in private and, unsurprisingly, received formal forgiveness. The condition attached was that she must perform happily on Public Performance.
Chu Yuanqing's original words are as follows:
"Even if dreams may shatter, if you truly love your idol, every moment on stage will be incredibly precious. So... don't let negative emotions consume you, and don't let your future self regret it. This is the lesson Yayoi taught me."
This statement immediately won the favor of cherry blossom fans and even CP fans:
"Honestly, I used to dislike how closely Little Sakura and she were tied together, but after watching this episode, I realized they are really good friends. One of them would take the initiative to teach dance despite their opposing stances, and the other would refuse other people who came after her to comfort her. It's really touching."
"Qing Bao seems to care a lot about what Yayoi said. Does she consider her a senior? I'm a CP fan, the kind of crazy person who only ships female and male characters, but now I feel that even if they're just friends, it's really beautiful enough???"
"Qing Bao is so kind. Even when she forgives someone who hurt her, she still thinks of that person. I'm so afraid she'll be bullied."
"Chu Yuanqing seems so strong. I thought she would be upset by what I said, but her first reaction throughout was always—'I haven't done well enough, but I will try my best'—that serious attitude without any negative emotions."
After that, the program continued, setting aside some routine and pre-competition makeup interludes, and the 168 contestants officially took the stage and began their performances in front of two thousand audience members.
The girls' vibrant youthful figures, their sweat for their dreams, their relaxed and joyful expressions, and the determined gazes in almost every one of them, all combined to present the audience with a perfect atmosphere and a performance full of energy for the theme song.
This concludes the second episode.
Xu Ling breathed a sigh of relief. She had to admit that without Luo Chan's accusations, the emotional ups and downs and the excitement of this episode would have been greatly reduced.
Actually, from the atmosphere and reactions of the girls on the main stage during the rehearsal stage, it was clear that everyone had some dissatisfaction with Qing Bao, but they rationally processed those emotions themselves.
Essentially, this is because the various competition formats of Flash Dance, and even the oppressive atmosphere of the underground base, created an environment that made people more anxious and irritable. Coupled with the disparity between the main stage and the secondary stage, this gradually accumulated into a negative consequence.
If Luo Chan hadn't reacted, Chu Yuanqing wouldn't have realized the problem, and the contestants on the main stage would most likely have Public Performance with such a dull and listless spirit, resulting in a stage performance that would naturally be far inferior to what it is now.
It can be said that her outburst was the fuse that ignited everything, giving the second episode a pure idol anime feel. The standard emotional conflict served as a point of suppression, which was then elevated through a stage outburst, praising keywords such as reality, youth, dreams, and original aspirations.
In other Talent Show, Chu Yuanqing might be suspected of having a female lead's script, but in the unconventional and popular Flash Dance, the show's highlights only need to be selected from the interactions between the trainees, without any extra embellishment.
Xu Ling glanced at the official website of <Flash Dance>, which had yet to release a live stream announcement. She took out a warm, dried dinosaur pillow from the washing machine, then drowsily flopped onto the bed and fell into a deep sleep, deciding to continue editing after she woke up.
Meanwhile, the public opinion surrounding the second episode began to take shape.
Time passed, and it was exactly noon.
In the underground base, within a cubic area resembling a sealed room, 168 trainees dressed in competition uniforms stood in this empty, pure white space, and began to discuss amongst themselves:
"Are they finally going to announce the competition format?"
"Making it all mysterious, are you saying you're not going to have group competitions?"
"This venue is so weird. It doesn't feel like we're filming contestants, but rather like we're participating in some kind of extreme challenge or escape room game."
Chu Yuanqing's cute little face was serious, and she looked a little nervous.
Well, after being repeatedly beaten down by the main Center position and the Public Performance, she had to admit that her popularity was not bad. If the decision of whether to stay or leave continued to be made by voting, she would most likely be able to make it to the finals and there was no chance of being eliminated in the first round.
In other words, the format of the subsequent competition will determine her fate!
The Dream Weaver Rabbit didn't keep everyone waiting long. It materialized in mid-air, surveying the 168 contestants with a kind smile, and said softly:
"Everyone, how was your free time yesterday?"
"Of course, regardless of how well you've rested, I believe you've all been looking forward to this moment for a long time."
"To be frank and open, as a Talent Show, <FlashDance> hasn't made many innovations in its competition format; it still uses a group battle system for elimination."
"However, the difference is that we believe the stronger teams are more qualified to choose their own teams, so the grouping method is different from the regular draft; instead, we'll use a different competition format."
"Before officially announcing the specific competition format, I will inform you in advance of the number of players to be eliminated in this round."
The Dream Weaver Rabbit's smile turned sinister. It casually sliced open the virtual cake in front of it and announced:
"There are 168 athletes in the base right now, that's way too many, isn't it?"
"Therefore, after careful consideration, the Program Group has decided that half of you will be eliminated in this round, which is—84 people."
Volume 1: 99. A battle of wits and rules, full of bull-headed struggles. (6K)
These words caused an uproar in the audience.
It's important to understand that in order to maintain viewership, ensure sufficient program length, and provide more contestants with opportunities for a comeback, creating unexpected highlights, the first round typically only eliminates one-fifth or one-quarter of the contestants.
However, Flash Dance simply accelerated the process, adopting a two-into-one Elimination Mechanism, eliminating a total of 84 contestants at once. Coupled with the consequence of being permanently banned from the stage after elimination, it was nothing short of a crazy journey of shattered dreams.
The viewers in the Live Broadcast Room had barely entered when they were immediately bombarded with this bombshell, sparking a flurry of discussion:
"Eliminating 84 players at once? That's a 50/50 cut, is this some kind of incredible battle royale???"
"Ha, I remember that the combined number of F-Class and D-Class items is about this many. What is the Dream Weaver Rabbit trying to do? Is it trying to filter out all the 'defective' items in its eyes?"
"Don't overthink it. With this elimination rate, even A-Class B-Class contestants can't be complacent. Everyone's in a state of fear. Lower-rated contestants might not be completely eliminated. It depends on the subsequent rules."
"Waaaaah, Dream Weaver Rabbit, what am I supposed to do as the leader of all these contestants? I've D'ed almost every single one of them—the ones with the best looks, the longest legs, the biggest breasts, the slim waists, and the most beautiful hands!!!"
"Damn it, I can't take it anymore! I'll just punch Flashdance to pieces!!!"
If the audience reacted this way, the contestants on site were naturally even more excited.
Despite the preparations made for the surprise performances in "Flash Dance," the number of eliminations still exceeded many people's expectations.
A Green Eyed Cat suddenly opened its droopy eyelids, its emerald green eyes wide open. She shuddered, her drowsiness vanishing as if her fur had been bristled, and a rare sense of crisis rose in her heart.
Tang Liuli has a clear understanding of herself. Unlike Little Sakura, who follows the mainstream idol route, the Great Demon King, who goes down the evil path, or even Chu Yuanqing, who simply relies on his Savior background to randomly enter [Flow State], she cannot open [Flow State] at will.
Even though they had it, they hadn't figured out how to apply the "Flow State" aspect of acting to the stage.
Furthermore, I am the most unbalanced among the A-Class contestants. Putting aside my position as a top vocalist and my facial expression management which is derived from acting skills, I am not as good as some B-Class or even C-Class contestants in other aspects.
In other words, if one person in A-Class is to be eliminated, you will most likely be the first to be eliminated.
Tang Liuli briefly imagined what it would be like to be eliminated. She closed her eyes to prevent her bangs from getting in them, and began shaking her head vigorously, muttering to herself:
"No, I can't be eliminated yet. I have to stay and continue to atone for Qing Mom's sins!"
"If I'm forced to leave the competition before I've received Qing Mom's forgiveness, I'll definitely live a completely failed life and die with regrets!"
Thinking of this, the Green Eyed Cat tried to cheer itself up and focused intently on the Dream Weaver Rabbit in mid-air, listening carefully to the rules that were about to be announced.
Chu Wangshu stood to the side, her expression serious, her lips pursed, looking nervous. Her level in B-Class was considered average; if she had bad luck, the 50/50 elimination rate could have taken her away.
Liang Xiaoxiao's eyes were unfocused, and she seemed somewhat dazed.
Since making up her mind, she has started to cross the line, actively seeking attention, exploiting others, associating herself with others, and creating hype.
As long as I can stay, even if negative public opinion ferments and I am regarded as a clown by the public, it is not worth caring at all.
During her free time yesterday, she continued to try to get on camera by associating with contestants who had higher ratings and more popularity, and ultimately chose to target Xie Qingxuan, who was among the most popular contestants.
As for the result...
At that moment, Xie Qingxuan casually covered the dormitory's security camera. With a cold, almost condescending gaze, devoid of any disdain or disgust, and only tinged with a hint of confusion, she examined herself and softly asked:
"Xiaoxiao, why did you do that?"
"You should know better than anyone that, whether it's the innate qualities of an idol or the comprehensive level cultivated through training, you perfectly fit the current rating."
"Although we gained some popularity at the beginning thanks to our somewhat novel character designs, we also benefited a lot from the traffic generated by me, Liuli, and Xiao Qing in the first episode."
"But you will still be eliminated, perhaps in the first round, perhaps in the second round, the final result will not change."
"So, since you're going to use this popularity to transition to other industries anyway, why not make yourself seem more likable?"
At the time, Liang Xiaoxiao chose to remain silent. After spending several days together, she realized that Xie Qingxuan was essentially a straightforward, aloof, and emotionally unintelligent natural puppy.
Therefore, what the other person said was not sarcasm, but rather advice offered out of familiarity.
But... precisely because it wasn't mockery, precisely because the other person was genuinely confused, she couldn't bring herself to speak her true feelings, and felt a sharp, stabbing pain in her heart, remaining silent on the spot.
When Dream Weaver Rabbit announced that 84 people would be eliminated in the first round,
Xie Qingxuan's words from yesterday still echoed in my ears like a nightmare.
Since you're going to be eliminated sooner or later, why not try to be more likable?
These words had a different meaning in her mind.
Since we'll have to leave sooner or later, why not let go of that warm attachment?
Liang Xiaoxiao looked at the Dream Weaver Rabbit silently and stubbornly; she still wanted to give it a try.
Even though the company's agent had already reminded and hinted over the phone that maintaining her current popularity and continuing with her likable comedic persona would allow her to escape her current life, and even offered some promising resources to increase credibility, she still managed to do so.
But staying had unknowingly become more important than escaping that slave contract.
Isn't that strange?
It was just a game.
They could have lived a slightly freer and more affluent life if they had simply let go.
Even so, she still wanted to struggle on, even if it was ugly, and to risk everything to find a way to survive in such a high attrition rate.
Therefore, the rules that follow are of utmost importance.
On the other hand, the person who is the most popular and at the center of the discussion, and theoretically the least worried about being eliminated, is completely out of place with the overall atmosphere of the contestants, almost like a different style.
Chu Yuanqing's expression was serious, but her eyes sparkled. Upon hearing about the 50% elimination rate, she was overjoyed. Her dying hope began to rekindle, as if illuminating the path to a glorious elimination.
"Eliminating 84 people at once? That's that harsh?"
"Great! With so many people eliminated, surely I can make it into the elimination round?"
With its Dream Weaver Rabbit silently detected the overall condition of 168 contestants.
--Stress, anxiety, confusion, bewilderment, grief, anger, tension...
These varied negative emotions surged rapidly almost immediately after the number of eliminations was announced, creating an increasingly heavy atmosphere.
The Dream Weaver Rabbit surveyed the gradually subsiding discussion below, its scarlet eyes subtly meeting those of the radiant gem it valued most— Chu Yuanqing.
The Super AI analyzed the other party's expression and couldn't help but feel impressed.