Chapter 96 Part 2
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Chapter 96 Part 2: The External Feedback, Exposed the Shura Arena (2)
She sobbed uncontrollably at the scene, but when the live broadcast played, she could hardly make it through before Little Sakura finally shed her tears, smiled, and bowed to the audience. At that moment, she was completely overcome with emotion.
For some, idol fandom symbolizes an ideal — a belief that outside of the world you know, there is another version of yourself, one that loves passionately, perseveres with unwavering determination, refuses to give up, and never admits defeat. Over time, this version of you gradually reaches a brighter future.
As that idealized figure inches closer to the future, you share in their joy and triumphs because of your own efforts. It feels as though you’ve lived a fulfilling dream with no regrets.
The emotional value behind this bond is irreplaceable. A truly remarkable idol can lead some to profound personal change. Unfortunately, the entertainment industry isn’t filled with many such figures.
Xu Ling paused to take a deep breath and resolved to edit two distinct focus videos on the growth stories of Chu Yuanqing and Kirimi Miyuki.
The video for Chu Yuanqing was skillfully crafted, showcasing the stark contrast between her early performances in practice rooms and the more polished maturity displayed during her secondary stage performances. By weaving together old footage, classroom moments, and interviews, the video achieved impressive depth.
Kirimi Miyuki’s story, however, was more intricate, beginning with her struggles at age ten in Tokyo and culminating with her triumph on the renowned “Dazzling Stage” after enduring countless rejections. This narrative required careful planning, pulling together multiple stages of her journey to create a cohesive timeline that would build up to a strong emotional payoff.
But still… No matter what, she was going to push forward!
Xu Ling, ignoring the dark circles under her eyes, laughed with confidence:
“Haha, just two videos! Editing them is no challenge for me!”
At that very moment, her phone buzzed with a message from her group members. The official “Dazzling Stage” account had just released a teaser for the second episode.
Xu Ling eagerly opened the official website. The cover for the upcoming episode showed Chu Yuanqing seated, her expression a mixture of calmness and confusion, as she stared at a cute picture beside her.
It seemed to be set just after the voting at the Carry Center. Was this going to be… a confrontation?
Excitement and apprehension rushed through Xu Ling, but her curiosity got the better of her. She almost clicked the mouse with such force that she feared it might break.
This brief, two-and-a-half-minute video was packed with content, unfolding like an epic battle filled with color and energy that grabbed viewers’ attention.
At first, everything seemed calm.
The pairing of Tang Liuli and Chu Wang Shu was full of innocent charm. The two gathered around Chu Yuanqing, chatting and asking questions in a warm, relaxed manner. It was like watching small animals whispering to each other, spreading comfort and peace.
Soon after, Xie Qingxuan joined and offered to train with them. Her fans quickly filled the comment section with praise. Xu Ling couldn’t help but join in the admiration.
Just then, the stage was set for Little Sakura, who seemed to respond to an invisible call, charging forward with fiery words that sparked an atmosphere of intense energy—surrounded by both flames and ice.
In the meantime, Kirimi Miyuki flashed a mischievous smile and effortlessly silenced a troublesome situation with a quick retort, revealing her darker side. Her true persona as a fierce competitor emerged, instantly flooding the comments:
“Oh my, four players, what a crazy battleground?”
“Is Chu Yuanqing a siren? She’s absolutely captivating.”
“Little Sakura seems to have gone rogue to win back his partner. What a shocking twist!”
“Why does the Great Devil suddenly appear so soft, showing a sweet side to the fans?”
It didn’t take long for the tension between Great Devil and Little Sakura to escalate into a full-blown clash, giving birth to iconic lines that would soon spread like wildfire across the internet:
——The Great Devil casually deflected the situation with a simple, “We’re roommates.”
——Little Sakura made a bold and unexpected statement: “Little Qing voted for me.”
Their verbal sparring was intense, with neither showing mercy.
Xu Ling found herself shocked as she watched Kirimi Miyuki, someone she knew well, reveal such a competitive, cutthroat side in public.
Could Miyuki actually be in love?
Was the random couple pairing I created actually destined?
The group was filled with fanfics and playful jokes involving lesbian themes, often shipping various pairs. This was normal, as there were numerous “lesbian ships” among the girl group, and such playful banter didn’t necessarily imply a belief in the reality of those relationships.
Just as creating abstract jokes doesn’t mean someone is abstract, “shipping” a lesbian couple doesn’t equate to a genuine belief in their sexuality. Usually, it’s all in good fun, with only a few fans taking the ships seriously — and even then, they rarely bring it up in front of the individuals involved.
But of course, there are exceptions when the “shipping” goes too far, causing harm to those involved. This behavior is known in fan communities as “shipping for real.”
Little Sakura’s behavior seemed to align with this definition. Whether or not they were actually lesbians, their bond was undeniably close — so much so that their interactions became possessive, filled with playful banter that might suggest otherwise.
But the situation was real. Little Sakura was real. And so were the Grade A players like Xie Qingxuan and Tang Liuli.
Wow, Honey Qing, how utterly irresistible are you?!
But the behind-the-scenes footage wasn’t over yet. A Grade A contestant, who had no prior connection to Chu Yuanqing and who was known for her dedicated following, entered calmly and made a bold statement:
“For Chu Yuanqing’s future, step aside.”
The newcomer was none other than the famous genius choreographer, Ji Shuzhu.
Fans immediately exploded in reaction:
“Wait, Ji Shuzhu? What’s she doing here?”
“Good grief, there are six Grade A contestants, and five are already involved. This is getting wild!”
“Isn’t Ji Shuzhu supposed to be in love with Chen Yining? Why is she getting involved with Chu Yuanqing now? Is this some kind of strategy?”
“Let me clear this up — Ji Shuzhu and Chen Yining are just good friends. The ‘shipping’ idea is far from accurate.”
“There’s been talk that Ji Shuzhu isn’t looking for a debut but is here to explore the ‘Heart Flow’ trainees for creative inspiration. Looks like that might be true.”
Discussions were chaotic online, as viewers wondered how the contestants’ relationships had gotten so tangled. The person responsible for all this confusion, Ji Shuzhu, sat completely unaware, looking oddly amusing as the drama unfolded around her.
As the video neared its climax, the scene suddenly shifted, focusing on Liang Xiaoxiao, who had been watching from a distance. After three seconds of a frozen shot, the footage abruptly cut to black, then transitioned to the Dream Weaver Rabbit logo.
The comments section exploded with confusion:
“Wait, what did that final scene mean? Is Liang Xiaoxiao now joining the chaos?”
“Highly unlikely. Xiaoxiao’s staying out of it, just observing. She knows better than to get involved.”
“If people are worried about accusations of her ‘sucking up’, they should consider how she’s been trying to get closer to others. She’s only been silent with her dormmates, but all the popular players are quietly included in her social circle.”
“Low-rated contestants often have to find other ways to survive. Admire her skills, though—she’s making it work!”
“I’m more concerned with who wins this showdown.”
“This behind-the-scenes footage is more explosive than the actual show. Seriously, who came out on top in this battle?”
The online debate intensified.
Meanwhile, in an underground base far away, everything remained calm, blissfully unaware of the chaos outside.
By midnight, the official announcement for “Dazzling Stage” was released once again, revealing that the second episode would air the next day.
