Chapter Summaries

Color4’s music festival performance and Music Show debut stage propelled the group to sudden popularity, and Fei Yue moved quickly to capitalize on the attention. As new fans poured in and the group’s variety show drew viewers, Sheng Chi and Gu Zhijing’s chemistry sparked a growing CP fandom.

• Gu Zhijing discovered that Color4’s performance had gone viral, and he and Sheng Chi realized people were finally noticing the group.
• Netizens found Color4 through the music festival video and Music Show stage, praising the members’ performances and looks as the group’s popularity surged.
• Gu Zhijing told Sheng Chi that their shared dream could come true, and Sheng Chi agreed that all four members of Color4 would pursue it together.
• Fei Yue ordered the publicity team to build on the trending attention and arranged an early release of Color4’s variety show.
• Jiang Yu, Xu Linyuan, and Gu Zhijing reacted to the group’s sudden increase in fans, while the variety show attracted more viewers and fandom activity.
• Fans began shipping Sheng Chi and Gu Zhijing after their duo rap and variety-show interactions, settling on the CP name Shengjing.

Color4’s rapid rise was threatened by rumors that Leap Entertainment had rigged its debut evaluations, but Fei Yue countered them with a statement about the group’s difficult beginnings. The members gained more fan support, and new work began arriving, though major opportunities remained limited.

• As Color4 returned from D City to a crowd of airport fans, Fei Yue rushed to address online claims that Leap Entertainment had rigged the debut evaluations and driven trainees away.
• Fei Yue rejected the idea that Qi Wang was behind the rumors and decided to reveal that a trainee’s dismissal had cost Leap its investors, leaving only four trainees willing to stay.
• Fei Yue released a statement presenting Color4 as the four trainees who remained with Leap when the company was near collapse, and fans rallied around the group’s story.
• Gu Zhijing saw fans reposting Color4’s debut documentary and pushing the group’s debut song up the charts, but initially did not know what had prompted their reaction.
• Color4 received offers from small magazines and niche brands, while larger exposure and endorsement opportunities remained uncertain.

Fei Yue laid out Color4’s plans for a six-song debut album and an upcoming idol group competition, while warning the members about the pressures of fame and promising to support them. After practice, Gu Zhijing collected a suspicious package and discovered a sasaeng was following him; Sheng Chi helped him evade her, and the chapter left them hiding together in a cramped gap.

• Fei Yue told Color4 to finish their first album before filming began for Starlight Show, an idol group stage competition, and encouraged them to stay connected with fans.
• Fei Yue promised Color4 better conditions and his support as they faced heavier work and public scrutiny.
• Color4 began producing a six-song album while juggling rehearsals, variety-show filming, and fan updates.
• Gu Zhijing went to retrieve an unexpected package from a residential parcel locker and realized someone was following him.
• Sheng Chi warned Gu Zhijing that a sasaeng was stalking him, showed him threatening messages, and urged him not to respond.
• Gu Zhijing pulled Sheng Chi into a narrow hiding place as the sasaengs approached, leaving them pressed close together.

Sheng Chi mistook Gu Zhijing’s nervousness for lingering fear after the sasaeng incident, while Gu Zhijing realized his feelings for Sheng Chi had veered beyond admiration and worried they conflicted with Sheng Chi’s strict rules for idols. The chapter left Gu Zhijing consoling himself by imagining his neutered cat Color debuting as an idol.

• After the meeting, Sheng Chi asked Gu Zhijing if he was unhappy and reassured him that security would be tightened after the sasaeng incident.
• Gu Zhijing pulled away from Sheng Chi, and Sheng Chi assumed he was still frightened by the harassment.
• Gu Zhijing admitted to himself that his feelings for Sheng Chi had shifted beyond those of a teammate, friend, and fan.
• Gu Zhijing remembered Sheng Chi’s strict rules against idols dating and worried that having a crush made him an idol who had failed.
• Gu Zhijing fed Color and joked that the neutered cat would make a perfect idol who could debut alongside him.

Gu Zhijing struggled to suppress his feelings for Sheng Chi while Color4 decided to compete on Starlight Show despite its live broadcasts and demanding schedule. At the introductory recording, Color4 met the other groups and nervously prepared to draw their first opponent.

• Sheng Chi teased Gu Zhijing, who hurried away after reacting awkwardly to his touch, and Sheng Chi fed Color while wondering what Gu Zhijing liked about the cat.
• Gu Zhijing tried to redirect his affection by calling himself a mom fan of Sheng Chi, but deleted the description before Sheng Chi could see it.
• Leap Entertainment issued a statement about the sasaeng incident, while Color4 continued preparing their first album and their debut song rose into Music Show's top ten.
• Fei Yue warned Color4 that Starlight Show's live weekly competitions would clash with album promotions and other commitments, but Sheng Chi, Gu Zhijing, Jiang Yu, and Xu Linyuan agreed to participate.
• Color4 attended Starlight Show's introductory recording, where they found the other groups dressed impressively and then prepared to draw their first opponent.

Gu Zhijing drew Color4 against the popular group Shooter, prompting Sheng Chi and the others to prepare for their first-round battle. The chapter leaves Color4 choosing a song for the performance as fans begin pairing up the group’s members online.

• Gu Zhijing drew a toy microphone from the blind box machine and discovered that Chen Bei of Shooter had drawn the matching item, pairing their groups as opponents.
• Watching the draw from Color4’s lounge, Jiang Yu panicked, but Sheng Chi declared that Color4 would beat Shooter.
• After learning the competition format, Color4 discussed Shooter’s strengths and weaknesses and considered how to approach the match two weeks later.
• Sheng Chi proposed performing an unreleased song to compete and promote Color4’s first album, and the group rallied around the goal of winning.
• Gu Zhijing suggested that Color4 perform “Tonight,” while fans online began discussing pairings among the group’s members.

As Starlight Show began, Gu Zhijing browsed fans’ new pairing speculation and realized he still liked Sheng Chi best. During the live competition, Shooter’s performance went badly wrong, and Gu Zhijing suspected the teams’ in-ear audio was involved as Color4 took the stage.

• Gu Zhijing read fan comments pairing him with Shooter captain Chen Bei and reflected that he still seemed to like Sheng Chi more.
• Sheng Chi arrived in his stage outfit and told Gu Zhijing it was time to go.
• Shooter performed “On my way,” but the group sang and danced unsteadily despite Chen Bei trying to hold the performance together.
• Sheng Chi noted that Shooter had performed better in earlier live shows and wondered what had gone wrong.
• Gu Zhijing realized Shooter’s abnormal performance might be due to faint accompaniment in their in-ear monitors, then concealed his alarm as Color4’s performance began.

Color4 overcame faulty stage equipment to deliver a captivating performance, with Sheng Chi supporting Gu Zhijing through his solo and their duet. The audience and livestream erupted as the group finished, while Shooter watched backstage in stunned silence.

• Sheng Chi removed his in-ear monitors and performed his opening solo from memory, concealing the equipment problems from the audience.
• Gu Zhijing stepped forward despite barely hearing the backing track, and Sheng Chi sang harmony to steady him.
• Jiang Yu and Xu Linyuan performed their solo sections, and Color4’s synchronized chorus drove the audience to roar.
• Sheng Chi and Gu Zhijing performed an intimate duet, then Gu Zhijing kissed his fingertips as the song ended.
• The audience and livestream comments exploded with praise and fans promoted Color4, while Shooter’s members watched backstage in silence.

After Color4’s performance, Chen Bei admitted they had done well despite faulty in-ear monitors, while Sheng Chi found himself distracted by Gu Zhijing. Meanwhile, Fei Yue monitored the online reaction from Leap Entertainment and considered using Color4’s strong performance to promote the group.

• Chen Bei acknowledged that Color4 had performed far better than his group despite sharing the faulty in-ear monitors.
• Chen Bei watched Gu Zhijing return to the stage and found him alluring.
• Sheng Chi remembered Gu Zhijing touching his neck during the performance and tried to hide his attraction.
• Gu Zhijing noticed Sheng Chi looking at him, and Sheng Chi wondered what was wrong with himself.
• At Leap Entertainment, Fei Yue monitored Color4’s positive online buzz and discussed promoting them as a talented boy group using Shooter as a stepping stone.

Fei Yue declined to exploit Shooter’s poor performance, while Color4’s fans promoted the group’s first digital album and boosted its popularity. At the second Starlight Show recording, Color4 beat Shooter in the vote count and entered the winning group.

• Fei Yue rejected his PR employee’s suggestion to provoke Shooter’s fans, but netizens compared the groups and Shooter’s fans turned on one another.
• Color4’s fans gave away digital copies of “Set off,” driving up the album’s sales and attracting music show invitations.
• Gu Zhijing told the other Color4 members that Shooter’s vote lead had narrowed as passersby backed Color4 and Shooter’s fans split over voting.
• Color4 members chose to trust their united fanbase as they prepared for the second Starlight Show recording.
• The host announced that Color4 had 149,536 votes against Shooter’s 146,871, securing Color4 a place in the winning group.

Color4 beat Shooter and drew the obscure girl group Miracle Girls for its next performance, then performed its album single successfully. After recording the stage, Chen Bei privately propositioned Gu Zhijing, but Sheng Chi arrived and challenged him.

• Color4 took first place among the winning groups, while Shooter accepted its defeat and Chen Bei urged his teammates to prepare for a rematch.
• Color4 drew Miracle Girls as its next opponent, and Sheng Chi warned his teammates not to become complacent.
• Color4 performed its album single flawlessly, and the production team announced eliminations and a collaboration round for the next episode.
• Chen Bei stopped Gu Zhijing in the hallway and asked whether Color4 would choose Shooter as a collaboration partner if it won.
• Chen Bei touched Gu Zhijing's earring and asked for his contact information, but Sheng Chi interrupted and asked why Chen Bei was blocking his teammate.

Sheng Chi grew jealous after seeing Chen Bei speak privately with Gu Zhijing, then learned Gu Zhijing was not dating anyone and became curious about his fan activity. During Color4’s backstage interview, Sheng Chi repeatedly chose Gu Zhijing when asked which teammate he liked more, and the chapter ended with another choice between Jiang Yu and Xu Linyuan.

• Chen Bei asked Sheng Chi whether Color4 would consider choosing Shooter for a team collaboration, and Sheng Chi declined for the time being.
• Sheng Chi led Gu Zhijing to a camera-free emergency exit and demanded to know what Chen Bei had said to him.
• Sheng Chi assumed Gu Zhijing was dating Chen Bei online, but Gu Zhijing denied having Chen Bei’s contact information and said he had been lurking in the fandom.
• Sheng Chi apologized for gripping Gu Zhijing’s wrist, then began checking Weibo and created an alt account after Gu Zhijing warned him fans could see his activity.
• During Color4’s rapid-fire backstage interview, Sheng Chi chose Gu Zhijing twice when asked which teammate he liked more.
• The interview asked Sheng Chi to choose between Jiang Yu and Xu Linyuan, and Sheng Chi smiled before answering.

Gu Zhijing rejected Chen Bei over WeChat while wrestling with his feelings for Sheng Chi, and Color4 performed at New Direction before Sheng Chi collapsed from exhaustion. Sheng Chi woke in a hospital room and learned that his old back injury had flared up, leaving him in need of rest.

• Sheng Chi answered that he would still choose Gu Zhijing, and Gu Zhijing wondered whether the answer was sincere or a way to dodge the interview question.
• Gu Zhijing got Chen Bei's contact information from Jiang Yu and sent him a polite rejection, while Sheng Chi gave Gu Zhijing chocolate and urged him to rest.
• Color4 endured a packed schedule and performed their title track at New Direction, where Gu Zhijing watched Sheng Chi's passionate stage performance.
• Sheng Chi completed his difficult acrobatics despite a trembling hand, then collapsed after the performance ended.
• Sheng Chi woke in the hospital as Fei Yue and the others gathered around him; the doctor said exhaustion had aggravated his old lower back injury and ordered him to rest.

After Sheng Chi collapsed from exhaustion during filming, he recovered overnight and returned to Starlight Show despite his teammates' concerns. Color4 placed third among the winning teams, and the group awaited its turn to choose a collaboration partner.

• Sheng Chi woke in the hospital, and Fei Yue arranged for the exhausted Color4 members to return to the dorms while Gu Zhijing stayed with him.
• Sheng Chi remembered that his demanding schedule had pushed him past his limits, and Gu Zhijing urged him to let Color4 share the burden of the upcoming collaboration stage.
• Sheng Chi agreed to trust his teammates, then returned to work after resting at the dorm for a day.
• At Starlight Show, Sheng Chi and Gu Zhijing watched the voting results and discussed possible collaboration partners.
• Color4 received just over eighty thousand votes and placed third among the four winning teams as the eliminated groups gave their farewell speeches.

Color4 chose to collaborate with the senior girl group Light after Light, Comet, and Amontillado competed to partner with them. Backstage, Light’s leader Xu Yin explained that she expected the collaboration to win the vote, then warned that the groups had only three days to prepare.

• Light’s leader chose Color4, and Comet and Amontillado also asked to partner with them.
• Light, Comet, and Amontillado each pitched their reasons for collaborating with Color4.
• Sheng Chi led Color4’s discussion, and the members agreed that Light offered the strongest opportunity.
• Sheng Chi announced that Color4 had chosen Light, prompting cheers and disappointment from the other groups.
• Xu Yin explained backstage that Light wanted to collaborate with Color4 because of their potential and strong fans.
• Xu Yin began planning the stage and said the groups had at most three days to prepare together.

Xu Yin proposed a joint stage for Color4 and Light, and Gu Zhijing agreed to take the center role opposite her despite his nerves. After the groups settled into their hotel, rumors that Sheng Chi had been overworked and hospitalized sparked a fan campaign demanding Leap Entertainment treat him fairly, leaving Sheng Chi and Gu Zhijing to explain the truth to Brother Fei.

• Xu Yin proposed combining songs, changing choreography, adding interactive parts, and swapping centers, then suggested Gu Zhijing take Sheng Chi’s role if his injury prevented him from performing.
• Gu Zhijing agreed to perform as Light’s center after the members encouraged him, and the groups created a chat to coordinate their collaboration.
• Color4 arrived at a crowded hotel, hurried inside past fans, and Sheng Chi warned Gu Zhijing not to open the door to strangers or accept anything left outside.
• Xu Yin sent the group a video of Light’s song, and Gu Zhijing resolved to perform its unfamiliar style as center after Sheng Chi offered him the chance to switch roles.
• Fans spread a false rumor that Sheng Chi had collapsed from overwork and was forced back to work, then launched the hashtag #LeapEntertainmentPleaseTreatShengChiFairly.
• Brother Fei called Sheng Chi and Gu Zhijing to explain the fan campaign, and Sheng Chi said he was fine and that the company was not at fault.

Sheng Chi and Gu Zhijing dealt with the backlash against Leap Entertainment while preparing Color4’s collaboration stage with Light, and Sheng Chi grew increasingly aware of his feelings toward Gu Zhijing. As the fourth episode of Starlight Show began, Color4 and Light waited to perform after watching the other collaborations.

• Fei Yue told Sheng Chi not to address the fans directly and said he would handle the backlash against the company.
• Gu Zhijing reassured Sheng Chi that Fei Yue could manage the situation, and Sheng Chi agreed to focus on rehearsing.
• Sheng Chi and Gu Zhijing left their hotel amid a crowd of fans, and Gu Zhijing comforted Sheng Chi during the ride.
• Color4 and Light rehearsed together, with Light’s members teaching Gu Zhijing while Xu Yin and Xu Linyuan worked on the song and formations.
• A week later, the fourth episode aired, and Color4 and Light watched the earlier performances while waiting for their final performance slot.

Color4 and Light performed together, with Gu Zhijing taking center stage and captivating the audience. After the performance, the groups parted ways, and Color4 finished their interviews before finding Fei Yue waiting by their car.

• Sheng Chi eased his nerves backstage after Gu Zhijing reassured him before their performance.
• Color4 and Light performed their combined number, and Gu Zhijing drew deafening cheers with his stage presence and dancing.
• Gu Zhijing spoke earnestly to the audience while the groups canvassed for votes after their performance.
• Xu Yin invited Color4 to get a late-night snack, but Sheng Chi declined because of the risk of being photographed together.
• After their interviews, Color4 got into their car and were surprised to see Fei Yue waiting for them.

Color4 debated whether to chase a music-show win that could qualify them for CMJ’s rookie group nomination, then chose not to divert effort from Starlight Show. Their fans ignored the decision and rallied to compete with Wei Ming’s fans for first place on New Direction.

• Fei Yue explained that Color4 needed a music-show first place to qualify for a CMJ rookie group nomination, with only three days left before the deadline.
• Gu Zhijing found that Wei Ming was their opponent on New Direction, and the group discussed the demanding chart rules and their fans’ competing responsibilities.
• Sheng Chi, Xu Linyuan, and Jiang Yu agreed that chasing first place was not worth risking their Starlight Show performance vote, though Gu Zhijing wondered whether the fans would accept that decision.
• Color4’s company told the official fan club not to push too hard, but fans across solo, group, and CP communities united to pursue first place anyway.
• Wei Ming’s fans also intensified their efforts to defend his ranking, while both fandoms tried to estimate the unseen gap in the voting data.

Color4 won first place on New Direction after their fans poured money and effort into boosting the group’s score. At the CMJ Music Awards, they made their red carpet debut, but Wei Ming refused to share his lounge with them, leaving the reason for his hostility unresolved.

• Color4’s fans committed to buying the album and driving up its sales to overcome the gap in New Direction’s rankings.
• Gu Zhijing and the other members watched the results and saw Color4 take first place with “Set off.”
• Color4 prepared for the CMJ Music Awards, and Gu Zhijing admired Sheng Chi’s red carpet styling before the group left for the venue.
• A CMJ staff member asked Fei Yue if Color4 could share Wei Ming’s spacious lounge, but Wei Ming coldly refused.
• Color4 and Fei Yue heard Wei Ming’s refusal and recognized that he had a reason for rejecting them.