Chapter 67 Part 2
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Chapter 67: Mentor Evaluation, External Feedback, the Dark Side of the World (2)
Chu Yuanqing is an exception. Even for her, this particular instance is exceptional.
Chen Baijiu collected himself at this thought, cleared his throat to gain the attention of the other mentors, and began breaking the silence:
“Chu Yuanqing isn’t particularly outstanding when it comes to basic skills. Some performers score 8 in dancing and 8 in singing separately, but only achieve a 6 or lower when combining both. While Chu Yuanqing’s dancing is average and her singing inexperienced—barely a 6—when combined, she maintains that 6, yet somehow surpasses others, placing her in the middle range among 168 contestants. Even disregarding her exceptional ability to handle pressure, her efficiency in progressing in this aspect alone demonstrates rare idol potential.”
Chen Baijiu spoke honestly. Apart from the minor shock from Charlotte, this alone would have amazed him sufficiently.
It’s common knowledge that the main distinction between girl group idols and regular singers lies in their ability to combine singing and dancing for optimal stage effect. This combination is challenging for most people, requiring both strong physical conditioning and excellent breath control.
While the trainees of “Dazzling Stage” generally possess good skills, it’s worth noting that many idol girl groups in the industry often rely on backing tracks during live performances, using a half-open mic setup for the best presentation. The difficulty is readily apparent.
Chen Baijiu has witnessed many beginners attempting to sing and dance simultaneously for the first time—off-key singing, loss of breath, unbalanced movements, rhythm mistakes, forgotten lyrics and dance moves. Even with solid basic skills, slight pressure can cause mistakes that lead to a complete performance breakdown.
But Chu Yuanqing is different. Despite only mastering the dance moves and theme song lyrics the previous day, her official performance was nearly flawless—no forgotten lyrics, no missed movements, steady breathing, and stable rhythm. She essentially achieved perfect balance between singing and dancing, seamlessly combining both elements for a standard 1+1 effect. Considering everything, achieving such a level in the high-pressure theme song stage test warranted an excellent Grade B evaluation from the Tutor Group.
Chen Baijiu continued without pause, knowing what the audience wanted to hear. More importantly, the super AI, as head mentor, had immediately requested this matter be addressed through the earpiece.
Bound by contract, Chen Baijiu had no choice but to continue praising: “Clearly, Chu Yuanqing has just proven her potential to become a top idol. Even in those few minutes of inspiration, her performance reached world-class levels. The Tutor Group was quite surprised by this.”
Chen Baijiu added humorously, “If Kirimi’s performance was surprising, then Chu Yuanqing’s was shocking. I’m sure everyone’s wondering how both performances of ‘Candy,’ with identical choreography and musical arrangements, could feel so different, with Chu Yuanqing’s version diverging even from the theme song’s style. This is because…”
Chen Baijiu then delved into idol industry common knowledge, using mystical terms like “Heart Flow,” “stage soul,” and “personal aura,” attributing the performance to “coincidence,” “accident,” and “miracle.”
Luo Siling cleverly added praise. Even Jiang Chi, usually struggling with expression, made his best effort to speak confidently, discussing dreams, passion, and courage, sharing motivational stories from his rap career to justify his position.
Zhao Dapan, suppressing occasional smirks, smoothly took over the conversation, redirecting attention to himself. This veteran of the entertainment industry, with his high emotional intelligence, skillfully set the tone with witty remarks and gracefully concluded the critique of Chu Yuanqing.
As for the final evaluation, Charlotte’s clever intervention resulted in Chu Yuanqing, originally expected to receive at most a Grade C, effortlessly achieving the highest Grade A amid an expected yet peculiar atmosphere, receiving well-deserved acclaim.
Public opinion continued to escalate. Kirimi Miyuki’s extraordinary performance had given Sea City’s “Dazzling Stage” a significant boost. Combined with Chu Yuanqing’s unexpected rise to stardom, the overwhelming attention created the first clear separation between the two levels in Daxia Country’s “Dazzling Stage” shows.
This wasn’t exaggeration. After Chu Yuanqing’s performance, Sea City’s live streaming room gained nearly 20 million additional viewers within just thirty minutes. These viewers weren’t spontaneous additions but came from Kyoto’s “Dazzling Stage,” drawn by Sea City’s superior stage presence.
The stage determines victory—not just for contestants, but for “Dazzling Stage” itself. This demonstrates the show’s extreme nature, where not only contestants compete under various rules, but regional sub-plans must also compete due to advancement channels and other parameters.
A simple calculation shows that Daxia, the leading country in the Donghong Federation, has two top-tier cities as incubation hubs for “Dazzling Stage” sub-plans. Most other countries have just one hub, like Tokyo or Seoul. Some regions, lacking international metropolises, launch sub-plans with world government support as a safety net. The Donghong Federation and Sacred United Country alone account for nearly four-digit sub-plans, creating countless opportunities.
Advancement to broader stages depends on popularity gained during the talent show, making it truly competitive. This royal road of advancement ensures extremely pure competition fields. Kyoto’s current situation demonstrates the fate of losers, forced to endure popularity loss while waiting for the next opportunity.
The show’s and contestants’ successes are interdependent. Chu Yuanqing’s contribution to Sea City’s “Dazzling Stage” increased popularity benefits her directly, creating a positive feedback loop and strengthening her position for debut consideration. Other contestants, recognizing these benefits, become more determined to succeed in future stages.
Meanwhile, in a Sea City apartment, Xu Ling rolled happily on her bed like a victorious cat. The college student stared at someone’s Weibo account, delighting in the rapidly increasing fan count, feeling as refreshed as drinking ice-cold cola on a hot summer day.
“Hehehe, Miyuki is doing great, and surprisingly, Honey Qing is also very competitive! This amazing performance is like cheating, completely outshining current top stars!”
Though struggling to properly praise Chu Yuanqing’s performance, she deeply regretted not witnessing it in person. As a long-time fan circle participant familiar with shallow idols, few missed performances had ever caused her such regret, demonstrating how breathtaking Chu Yuanqing’s show truly was.
Unlike performances relying on stage effects, song and dance quality, lighting, and camera work, Chu Yuanqing herself was the sole highlight on that lesser-rated stage—her waist, smile, beauty, and eyes captured attention.
Xu Ling, almost lost in the excitement, touched her warm cheeks and muttered in disbelief: “Honey Qing, things are getting more interesting. At this rate, even I, a devoted fan, might be corrupted.”
As co-creator of the Little Sakura X Honey Qing CP, she felt herself nearly becoming a toxic fan. The young girl repeatedly reminded herself to support “Sheng Qing Tongyin” and stay true to “Meet You in the Mist.”
“Now that Honey Qing and Miyuki might become the hottest A-level duo, hopefully no one will accuse them of copying each other.”
Placing her notebook on the sofa, she prepared her iced espresso and donned a pink cat-shaped headband before focusing on video editing, whispering: “Time is like war, popularity and views are fleeting. The girls’ battle has ended; now it’s our turn!”
Her phone buzzed constantly with similar comments in group chats and fan discussions. Feeling pressured but determined, she sipped her coffee and grabbed her keyboard. She resolved to capture both Miyuki and Honey Qing’s stages before the livestream ended, planning to create high-quality videos showcasing their senior skills to impress younger dancers Yuanxiao and Chundi.
While fans remained captivated by Chu Yuanqing’s performance and public opinion surged, the secondary stage continued in the live broadcast room. Simultaneously, the dark side of the world cast a wary eye on Charlotte’s “divine descent.”
Nullparadox
My heart feels so warm…