Nangong Xu

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Nangong Xu (南宫絮)
Species/Race	Virtual idol
Affiliation	Ambition Studio; initially jointly created with Black Star Technology 8
Occupation/Role	Singing-and-dancing idol; Ambition Studio’s virtual artist 8
Status	Active; released a first solo EP and music video with Black Star Studio and Quest Technology’s Heavenly Sound Idol Studio 44 45
First Appearance	Chapter 8

Background / History

Fang Huiwang moved Nangong Xu’s debut forward to directly coincide with Xie Ran Studio’s virtual-idol launch, using the release as retaliation against Xie Ran and as a way to exploit renewed attention around the Wangran pairing 5 6.

At his launch, Fang introduced Nangong Xu as Ambition Studio’s new-generation singing-and-dancing idol, jointly produced with Black Star Technology. His refined model immediately attracted attention, with viewers praising him as unusually realistic for a virtual performer 8.

Nangong Xu’s initial commercial momentum was destroyed when Meng Feixuan transformed during Xie Ran Studio’s concurrent launch. Media attention rapidly shifted away from Nangong Xu, and prospective investors subsequently withdrew; Black Star Technology’s valuation fell, while Ambition Studio faced a cash-flow crisis 11 14 15.

Fang Huiwang later refused to sell Nangong Xu cheaply, insisting that he could compete with Meng Feixuan. Ambition Studio rebuilt the idol through a partnership with Black Star Studio and Heavenly Sound Idol Studio, resulting in a successful solo EP and music video that restored Nangong Xu’s public standing 39 44 45.

Appearance

Nangong Xu is presented as a tall, handsome young man with a highly polished virtual model designed to resemble a real person.

• Avant-garde hairstyle and clothing at his debut 8
• A guitar slung across his back during his initial appearance 8
• Three-dimensional, fluid rendering with detailed, realistic features 8
• An upgraded, more refined and lifelike model in his first solo music video 45

Abilities & Skills

Singing and Dancing

Nangong Xu was created as a singing-and-dancing idol and performs in both live launch presentations and produced music videos.

• Debuted through a singing-and-dancing performance at Ambition Studio’s launch 8 11
• Released a duet with Fang Huiwang using Tomorrow’s Star’s theme song 44 45
• Performed with synchronized dialogue and staging that portrayed him and Fang as longtime friends 45

Virtual Presentation Technology

His appeal initially centered on high-end visual and audiovisual presentation rather than demonstrated autonomous intelligence.

• His debut model was considered more realistic and visually sophisticated than most contemporary virtual idols 8
• The upgraded music video featured improved rendering, voice systems, and a digitally reconstructed Tomorrow’s Star stage 45
• His music-video interactions could be post-produced, which distinguished them from Meng Feixuan’s later unscripted livestream interactions 49

Relationships

• Fang Huiwang — Promoter and performance partner. Fang arranged Nangong Xu’s accelerated debut, later drove his redevelopment, and performed a major duet with him 5 45.
• Kuang Youfang — Ambition Studio executive who managed Nangong Xu’s launch and later considered selling him to mitigate the studio’s losses 9 39.
• Ni Le — Head of the Black Star Team involved in introducing Nangong Xu’s technical specifications at his debut 9.
• Meng Feixuan — Primary virtual-idol rival. Meng’s debut overshadowed Nangong Xu, while later public comparisons and Meng’s direct challenge placed them in open competition 11 46 50.
• Heavenly Sound Idol Studio — Quest Technology division that partnered with Ambition Studio and Black Star Studio for Nangong Xu’s first solo EP 44.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Simultaneous Virtual-Idol Launch

Nangong Xu’s release is deliberately scheduled against Xie Ran Studio’s launch, turning Fang Huiwang and Xie Ran’s personal conflict into a public commercial rivalry. His striking debut initially wins viewers away from Xie Ran’s stream, but Meng Feixuan’s transformation immediately eclipses him 5 8 11.

Collapse of Ambition Studio’s First Plan

After Meng Feixuan captures the entire news cycle, Nangong Xu becomes commercially marginalized. Investors withdraw, Black Star Technology’s valuation falls, and Ambition Studio’s finances deteriorate 14 15.

Revival Through the Solo EP

Fang Huiwang rejects calls to sell Nangong Xu and instead pursues a redevelopment strategy. The resulting EP and music video use upgraded visuals, a recreated Tomorrow’s Star stage, and Fang’s duet to draw on the nostalgia of the talent show’s fans 39 44 45.

The project becomes a major success, bringing Heavenly Sound’s investment to Ambition Studio and doubling the studio’s valuation. Public opinion temporarily turns against Meng Feixuan as viewers question whether his earlier breakthrough was truly unique 45.

Rivalry with Meng Feixuan

Meng Feixuan publicly challenges Nangong Xu after Ambition Studio’s publicity disparages him. Although Nangong Xu does not directly answer within the documented events, Meng’s livestream demonstrations turn their rivalry into a major public and technological comparison 46 48 50.

Trivia

• Nangong Xu’s launch was originally valued as commercially promising before Meng Feixuan debuted on the same day 14.
• His first solo music video reused the stage design and theme-song cover rights of Tomorrow’s Star to mark Fang Huiwang’s tenth debut anniversary 45.
• Although Ambition Studio’s valuation doubled after Heavenly Sound’s investment, Nangong Xu himself had previously had no publicly known valuation 44 45.