Ch24.1 - Are These Ratings Really Real?

Dongcheng TV had relied on variety shows to build its name. Even though it couldn’t avoid the impact of internet streaming platforms in recent years, its reputation still remained.

The four mentors and several popular members in the trainee group had greatly helped with fueling the avid discussions that had been ongoing since ‘Birth of an Idol’ had first begun its preparations.

The first to hit the hot search list was naturally the Film Emperor with an extremely large fanbase, Ji Xiunian.

One had to know that Ji Xiunian was the type of person who never appeared on screen unless he was filming something. This was the first time he had appeared on a variety show.

The fans were naturally excited to see their male god do business after much difficulty.

Opening up the #Ji Xiunian Birth of an Idol# topic would reveal an entire collection of high definition photos and colourful rainbow farts—

[@Nian Gao Really Loves Eating Fried Chicken: Aaaaaaaaa, Nian ge is finally back in business. This appearance is too wonderful, Scream Chicken Mode on]

[Niannian’s Outer Circle Girlfriend: Nian ge’s legs aren’t legs, spring water by the Seine, slurp!!]

[@A Sweet Lemon: I bet the trainees don’t want to be in the same frame as the Film Emperor. Being compared to such an immortal-like mentor, it’ll be hard to stand out in the show.]

…

The fans of the three other mentors were not willing to show any weaknesses. Since they were all a family, they were obligated by principle to send them all to the hot search in an orderly fashion.

Not even five minutes after the broadcast, the show was trending due to the mentors’ fanbases. This could only be attributed to the producer Fan Zeng’s ability to choose people.

Seeing the show’s popularity climbing, many of the trainees’ companies were so excited they began preparing a suitable response in anticipation of a hot search. But before they could take any action, a contestant had already appeared on the hot searches—

The moment Lu Xu appeared on stage and gave his introduction, netizens with sharp eyes recognised him—

[@Wise Girls Should Have Bald Heads: Wait wait what did I just see, isn’t this subway xiao gege?!]

[@Green Green Grassland Carrying Handle: Aaaaaaaaaa it’s really my husband! It makes me think of all the days I couldn’t find him. Turns out he went to join an idol survival show.]

[@Riding a Basic Dog Chasing Planes: Xiao gege is really so handsome, I feel like my child was born the moment his face appeared.]

@Empress Loli: The spring of the face dog has come hehe~~]

…

Lu Xu had been on the hot searches before due to the #Subway xiao gege# tag, but at that time no one knew who this boy was. They had tried to solve this puzzle for a while but were about to forget about him. Who would’ve thought he would appear in everyone’s line of sight again as a trainee.

There were many who called him ‘husband’ online; naturally, there would also be some ‘reasonable guests’ who pointed out that Lu Xu was just acting for the hype.

[@Who Are You Calling Daddy: Can these sisters who immediately call him husband wake up, this subway xiao gege has been acting from the start. First film a video then debut, this is a common marketing scheme for artists.]

Netizen Hammer Sister, the original poster of the ‘subway xiao gege’, immediately came out to clarify—

[@Hammer Sister: It’s not a marketing tactic. I really didn’t know the xiao gege. Do you know how excited I was to see him on TV? I feel like this is destiny aaaaaa. I don’t care, from today I’m xiao gege’s iron fan awooo!!]

The comments below her Weibo post were full of people expressing their desire to band together to pick subway xiao gege.

[@If the Moon Doesn’t Sleep You Don’t Sleep: Xiao gege was originally an artist under Yao Guai Ent. His starting point is the shidi of Mubai ge and Manman jie, he might be the next top artist ai!]

[@The Country Retires Together: Don’t talk about other things, I’m in love with this xiao gege’s looks! Don’t talk about other things, he can probably get center position on his looks alone.]

Just below that, netizens were retorting––

[@Fighting:  Those of you saying that you can get center position based on looks, are you for real? Don’t support Su Mubai and Yu Manman then, are you prepared to cut the hype or what? Boy group contents aren’t beauty pageants, didn’t you see him choose F-rank from the get-go? He’s quite smart in hindsight, he estimated that if the mentors gave him C-rank then he can still get another wave of hype afterwards.]

…

The topics about Lu Xu were growing in number, and very quickly sent him onto the trending page.

As Lu Xu was the only trainee in the entire camp who had started trending along with the mentors, everyone couldn’t help but be excited.

“Xu ge, you’re really trending!!” Xu Lele was elated and unable to restrain himself, squeezed up to Lu Xu’s side to show him.

The others who had heard the news immediately took out their phones and went onto Weibo. They then realised that the tag ‘subway xiao gege’ was next to Lu Xu’s name on the trending searches.

Upon realising that he was the first trainee to shoot up onto the trending searches, everyone congratulated him, their eyes gleaming with an admiring light.

It was supposed to be a happy thing, but who knew that someone would suddenly say: “It was all arranged by his company, people like us who don’t have that kind of background won’t get admired.”

The tone of voice was bitter. Following the voice led him to Lan Gaojie, who was sitting, his lips pursed.

Lu Xu narrowed his eyes. He didn’t say anything himself, there were already people by his side who wouldn’t let it go past.

Xu Lele was the first to jump forward, frowning at Lan Gaojie as he said, “You’re venomous. It’s obvious that Xu ge is trending due to his own ability.”

Song Zhe didn’t like Lan Gaojie’s tone, but he was unclear on whether it really was arranged by the company. Knowing that Lu Xu signed on with Yao Guai Entertainment, and also had Bai Ze as his personal golden manager, it really would be too easy to push his popularity forward.

Just as Song Zhe was hesitating on whether or not to speak up for Lu Xu, Xu Haoming who was beside him had already tossed some cold words at Lan Gaojie, “What are you being snide at other people for? If you’re capable, go find your own company to arrange this kind of thing for you.”

Seeing that an argument was about to start, the staff immediately came forward and reminded them to quietly watch the show.

“That person is too arrogant and bold, thinking that our Master Lu Xu doesn’t have any ghosts under him.” He Xinghua was furious and immediately floated towards Lan Gaojie’s side, wanting to make him feel chills down his back.

However, when he floated to Lan Gaojie’s side, he saw that Lan Gaojie’s eyes widened and looked at him in shock.

“Eh?”

He Xinghua moved two steps to the left. Lan Gaojie’s gaze followed his movement to the left.

He Xinghua walked a few steps to the right. Lan Gaojie’s gaze once again moved to the right.

Wherever He Xinghua walked, Lan Gaojie looked.

“Strange. You can see me?” He Xinghua couldn’t help but ask as he floated forwards.

Just as He Xinghua was deep in thought, a ghostly shadow appeared from Lan Gaojie’s body, its expression ferocious, immediately causing He Xinghua to scream in shock.

That sharp cry pierced the training room, and all of the trainees in the area heard the strange noise.

“Fuck, what’s that sound?”

“You heard that too, right?”

“My god, it’s so piercing. I can feel my hair all standing on end.”

…

There were no other sounds that followed though, so it made people wonder if it had been an illusion.

Just when people were speculating wildly, Lu Xu suddenly pointed at the screen and said, “Wow, BTT is up.”

“Ooh, this five A group is so handsome.”

“Yes yes, I super love Song Zhe!”

That strange sound didn’t appear again, and everyone’s attention returned to the show.

He Xinghua clamped his hand over his mouth, knowing that he had caused a ruckus. But he hadn’t wanted to scream, it was just that the sudden appearance of that ghost face was too terrifying.

After he had calmed down, that ghost had already returned to Lan Gaojie’s body. Now, Lan Gaojie looked at him with shock and fear, giving him a completely different type of weird feeling than that of the ghostly silhouette just now.

He Xinghua couldn’t figure out why that was and immediately slunk back to Lu Xu and his brothers, sniffling. “Waaah, that really scared me. There’s another person inside that guy’s body…”

“Okay okay, Master is here, what are you afraid of?”

The three brothers each softly comforted their crying didi, but also noticed the strange aura coming from Lan Gaojie’s body.

Lu Xu turned his head, and coincidentally met Lan Gaojie’s gaze.

He casually raised a hand to rub his chin, curled up the corners of his mouth, and used his hand like a gun to make a shooting gesture.

Lan Gaojie was unconsciously struck and startled, and moved his gaze away from him. He didn’t know why, but a subconscious voice was telling him to keep his distance from Lu Xu.

“The mentors’ evaluations are starting!”

“Oh my god, what the hell was I dancing?”

“Hahaha, it’s okay, at least you’ll still be a B-rank?”

As the trainees were watching their own embarrassing performances, Lu Xu once again stood on the stage.

From the beginning, everyone in the studio thought that Lu Xu was in a handsome league of his own, but now that the camera was on him did they realise that “handsome” was not enough to describe Lu Xu’s godly features.

To be good-looking and photogenic, it was clear that he was favoured by god.

“My gosh, is it the singing part next?”

“Aaaaa, I love this song so much, what a shame that I heard it once and couldn’t listen to it again!”

Once the lights in the studio dimmed, Lu Xu was the only shining light on the stage. Seeing that he was holding onto the microphone, everyone’s hearts couldn’t help but become excited––

He’s going to sing, he’s going to sing, the god is going to sing!

At the same time, netizens were still endlessly discussing the matter of Lu Xu relying on his looks.

Under Lu Xu’s video on the subway, the top comment was one of suspicion––

[@I’ll Bet On Tomorrow With My Youth: Really any kind of person can  start trending these days. Once I come on this app, a random person with a little white face who can only rely on his looks to feed himself appears. I’m not against chasing idols, but they need to at least have some substance to them. These performances in this age are really making all of you lick it up like dogs, hehe.]

[@You’re My 520th Boyfriend On The Internet: @I’ll Bet On Tomorrow With My Youth Can some people be less mean? If someone is a little white face because they’re attractive, then can I call you a little black face? Anyway, how do you know that this person doesn’t have substance? You don’t understand anything, yet you come in here to flame, that’s amazing.]

[@I’ll Bet On Tomorrow With My Youth: @You’re My 520th Boyfriend On The Internet I was talking about those brainless fangirls and didn’t say you were licking it up like a dog. Why are you in such a hurry to take a seat? This Lu Xu just doesn’t look like someone who can sing or dance okay, he might not even be as good as me. What kind of relationship do you have with him to be in such a hurry to lick it up.]

[@Sweetheart Strawberry Ice Cream: @I’ll Bet On Tomorrow With My Youth Hehe, what if Lu Xu is more capable than you?]

[@I’ll Bet On Tomorrow With My Youth: @Sweetheart Strawberry Ice Cream If he’s better than me then I’ll live stream myself doing a handstand and shouting for my daddy, okay?]