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[It wasn't an illusion. Xie Ran usually looked good too, but it was the kind of good looks celebrities had. Today, though, his entire aura was completely different... I don't know if you get what I mean!]

[I don't get it. Anyway, the only phrase in my impoverished brain right now is: I would!!]

Fang Huiwang's breathing caught as well.

This was a Xie Ran he had never seen before. He was no longer the bright and warm person Fang Huiwang remembered. The man on camera stood tall and straight, carrying an extraordinary sharpness.

He was practically a different person from before the New Year's concert.

Had he been misjudging Xie Ran all this time? Had Xie Ran long since ceased to be the person he had imagined him to be?

Fang Huiwang suddenly did not dare think any further.

Xie Ran briefly greeted the audience, then went straight to the point. "Next, I will introduce the virtual idol launched by our studio..."

The moment he spoke, both the media below the stage and the livestream viewers were startled.

As everyone knew, although many virtual idols were affiliated with talent agencies, their actual operating teams consisted of technical staff. At product launches, celebrities generally only served as mascots who brought in traffic. No celebrity had ever personally taken the stage to explain the product.

What celebrity understood such advanced and esoteric technical knowledge?

The commotion below the stage did not affect Xie Ran in the slightest. He remained upright and composed as he continued in a measured rhythm, "First, I believe that the so-called virtual idols currently on the market cannot be considered true 'idols.' In essence, they are merely special effects created through animation rendering and audio software. They have no thoughts or self-awareness. Their so-called character settings are also artificially designed by their operators, rather than genuine personalities."

"This kind of technical effect can be replicated. In other words, these characters are not one of a kind. If they are not unique, then they cannot be called 'idols.'"

Xie Ran's words stirred up a hornet's nest. Although there were no truly smash-hit virtual idols yet, some had gained modest popularity. As objects of emotional projection, many fans defended these virtual idols as though they were real people.

Moreover, virtual idol fans competed with one another in voting and fundraising campaigns. When Xie Ran Studio and Ambition Studio announced virtual idols, these fans of two-dimensional characters had immediately rushed over to scout out the competition.

And Xie Ran had actually said their idols were nothing but animated special effects!

The fans were furious.

[Fuck! Does Xie Ran even know what the hell he's talking about???]

[What does he mean, just special effects? Does Xie Ran even know what a virtual idol is?]

[He says other virtual idols have no thoughts or consciousness? So his does? What a joke!]

[Xie Ran, apologize!!!]

[Don't get so worked up, everyone. Maybe Xie Ran's virtual idol really does have thoughts [doge protecting life]]

[Hah, I almost believed that, doge]

The netizens sneered and mocked him. Ni Le, who was watching the livestream with Fang Huiwang and the others, could not help letting out a derisive laugh.

Fang Huiwang glanced at him. "Is it that funny?"

Ni Le nodded. "Very funny."

Xie Ran truly knew nothing. He was actually talking about virtual idol consciousness. Even the most advanced major companies had yet to make a breakthrough in that area. Xie Ran had probably read a few concepts online and was now using them to brag.

Unfortunately, a launch event required real substance. You could not bluff your way through just by throwing around concepts.

Besides, given Xie Ran's level, he might not even be able to explain the concepts clearly.

After hearing Ni Le's explanation, Kuang Youfang could not help laughing as well. He raised an eyebrow. "Looks like Xie Ran's side is really getting desperate."

"Well, they are celebrities." Ni Le checked the time and stood up. "There is nothing worth watching at their launch anymore. It is time for our show to begin."

By then, the atmosphere in both livestream rooms had reached a fever pitch. The dissatisfaction of two-dimensional fans toward Xie Ran had turned into support for Fang Huiwang, and the number of viewers waiting in Ambition Studio's livestream room surged.

The instant the livestream camera came on, a dense flood of comments covered the entire screen.

[Aaaaaah! Wang'er, go get them!!]

[Xie Ran is an idiot! Fang Huiwang, go! Nangong Xu, go!]

"Hello, everyone." Fang Huiwang waved gracefully at the media and camera, smiling as he said, "Welcome to the debut launch event for Nangong Xu, our company's new artist."

"Nangong Xu is a new-generation singing and dancing idol jointly created by our company and Black Star Technology. He will bring audiences an entirely new audiovisual experience..."

As Fang Huiwang gave his introduction, light gradually lit up on the stage. It slowly gathered beside Fang Huiwang, forming the outline of a young man.

The young man was tall and handsome. His hairstyle and clothes were highly avant-garde, and he even had a guitar slung across his back, making him instantly eye-catching.

Even more astonishingly, the lines of his entire image were three-dimensional and fluid, while the details were delicate and realistic. He had almost none of the flatness and stiffness commonly found in animated rendering.

At a glance, he looked almost indistinguishable from a real person.

The moment he appeared, the netizens became excited.

[So handsome!!]

[So exquisite!! The model is incredibly well-made, isn't it?!]

[Oh my god, with these details, it would be no problem to say he crushes every other virtual idol!!]

[Hehe, I wonder what level Xie Ran's is at?]

[Damn, Nangong Xu's appearance dazzled me so much that I forgot all about Xie Ran's side. What's going on over there now?]

[Uh... it looks like they're holding a tech product launch?[confused.jpg]]

[What the hell????]

The reminded netizens switched back to Xie Ran Studio's livestream room, and then everyone was utterly bewildered.

"The main difference between the virtual idol our company is launching this time and those of other companies lies in intelligent evolution. We have currently achieved breakthroughs in multilayer artificial neural network technology and machine training methods, allowing the virtual idol to initially realize self-learning and evolution..."