Orange Quiet Forest never expected that she would actually pass the preliminary selection…
The afternoon sun lazily spilled onto the bed.
Orange Quiet Forest, like a sunbathing kitty, lay sprawled on the bed scrolling through short videos.
It wasn’t until that notification popped up that she idly rolled over and forwarded this unfortunate news to the culprit.
“I passed, meow.”
An instant reply.
Auntie sent a thumbs-up emoji.
So tacky, it felt like chatting with a middle-aged uncle.
“If you passed, then go.”
Orange Quiet Forest frowned, her fingers flying across the screen, her typing speed rivaling that of an esports pro.
“But I’ve already gone back to school. Do I still have to go be an idol? I won’t have time to play video games anymore.”
Orange Quiet Forest watched the “typing…” indicator at the top of the chat box.
She stared at those words.
One second, two seconds… a minute passed.
Then, for a long time, there was no reply.
A very, very long time later, Ms. Orange Peach finally replied with two weak words.
“Go ahead.”
“But I have school.”
Maybe Orange Quiet Forest is a good student, but even the smartest need to study.
Reading for an hour is still reading, and losing gaming time is a tangible loss.
Even through the screen, she could feel her aunt’s coquettish tone.
“Just keep me company, please?”
Orange Quiet Forest rolled her eyes and sent a sticker of a blonde twin-tailed catgirl melting into a liquid puddle on the floor, with white, soul-like vapor puffing from her mouth.
It was her Four-Character Catgirl Game Sticker.
“Not willing?”
“You’re wasting my gaming time. It’s not like our family is short on money.”
Heh heh.
Orange Quiet Forest had already gone back to school.
What if she didn’t become an idol?
Mom had already been appeased, meow!
Mom never really expected her to become an idol in the first place.
Surely she wouldn’t cut off her allowance just for not becoming an idol, right?
Trying to buy her off with money was impossible.
Hmm… no reply again.
Let’s just leave it at that.
Just as Orange Quiet Forest was about to start a game in her room, her phone rang again.
“You can come over to my place to play anytime, okay?”
“I’m going to school. Lately, Mom’s been looking at me quite favorably. I don’t even have to watch her mood anymore. There’s no need to go play at Auntie’s house.”
The other party directly stole Orange Quiet Forest’s catgirl sticker and sent it back.
“Then what would it take for you to be willing to participate?”
“Aren’t there over ten thousand people participating? It’s not like they’re short one person.”
“But you’re pretty. Having you there gives me peace of mind.”
Holy crap!
Is this really not some organ-harvesting scheme?
“You should just focus on your job. Why do you need ‘peace of mind’?”
“You’re pretty… I’d say you could rank in the top five among the artists I’ve seen. Others are also very satisfied with your looks. With you there, you’ll definitely attract a bunch of looks-focused fans. At the very least, it won’t be a total flop.”
F-flop?
You don’t even have confidence in your own internal team before it even starts?
“This… this isn’t good, is it? What if it gets out that we two sisters are in the same group? Wouldn’t it seem like you’re deliberately promoting me? That’s too scary. If it gets exposed and you get canceled, don’t drag me down with you!”
To soften the tone, she specifically added a cute emoticon at the end (/ω＼).
“Ah, it’s fine. We’ll take it one step at a time. Why worry so much before we’re even famous? Maybe no one will care and there won’t even be any paparazzi? Besides, I’m not the overall person in charge…”
“But what if?”
“What if… what if you just go home and play video games? Isn’t that what you want?”
“I’m not going!”
“Then what would make you willing to go?”
“I’m not willing. Don’t ask.”
Don’t even think about tricking me with limited edition items or anything.
At worst, I’ll use my allowance to buy them at a markup on the second-hand market.
Our family hasn’t fallen so low that we need to sell our looks, right?
“Then…”
Ding-dong.
A video file was sent over.
No preview image, only an unsettling file size.
It’s my black history video…
Darn it!
So you elders, always taking photos of everything!
“If you go, I’ll delete it.”
“Fine! But I have to supervise it personally!”
——-
Orange Quiet Forest was now in a certain waiting room, surrounded by girls waiting to enter.
She sat obediently in the corner, but still couldn’t avoid the gazes fixed on her.
Even though she wore the simplest white T-shirt and loose trousers, even though she wore little to no makeup, those gazes—whether envious, jealous, or wary—clung to her densely.
Heh heh.
In the entire waiting room, Orange Quiet Forest was the only girl wearing pants.
Most wore short skirts.
Even the shyest wore skirts past the knee, with the occasional one or two pure-type girls in long skirts.
She’s already going easy like this, wearing long pants, not showing any skin, and you’re still going after her?
After all, Orange Quiet Forest is very beautiful.
You could say she’s the public’s ideal image of black hair, straight and long, with a small, slightly round face and a bit of plumpness on her body, like a semi-ripe apple.
They say the enemy of my enemy is my friend.
Orange Quiet Forest came right on time after gaming at home, on a completely different track from these girls who came early to prepare.
When she first entered, the girls were still warily sizing each other up.
After Orange Quiet Forest came in, some even started forming groups to discuss her.
What’s this, what’s this… Everyone sharing the room with her was on guard against her.
The girls sharing the room with her were all tense, as if guarding against some flood or fierce beast.
Hasn’t it even started yet?
Are you already trying to dominate the atmosphere before even getting on stage?
Do you all want to play Dressing Room War, too?
Some girls stared at her openly without concealment; some looked at her curiously.
Their gazes were like scanners, sweeping from the strands of her hair to the heels of her feet, seemingly searching for any and every flaw.
Sigh, hurry up and finish the selection so I can go back.
Here, Orange Quiet Forest is about to become the public enemy of all the girls.
Besides, Orange Quiet Forest herself isn’t that eager to be an idol.
She can’t compare to these girls holding onto their dreams.
I’d better just get out of their way quickly.
Later, whether it’s the talent performance or any Q&A, Orange Quiet Forest plans to just go through the motions.
If being an idol has to be this kind of life-or-death struggle, then it’s better not to be one.
Even without stepping on others, she can live a relaxed life.
There’s no need to fight for it.
After the number of people entering decreased by one-third, it was finally time to prepare to clock out.
“Group 24, please prepare to enter.”
It’s still five people per group, right?
Orange Quiet Forest stood up and patted the wrinkles on her trousers.
She was thinking about how to best slack off later.
A staff member pushed open the heavy door.
Orange Quiet Forest actually doesn’t know much about this idol stuff.
Ahead was a dim tunnel, at the end of which was a dazzling white light that made it hard to keep your eyes open.
Guided by staff, Orange Quiet Forest and the other four walked through the tunnel onto the stage bathed in spotlights.
Below sat a row of staff, and of course, her aunt was there too.
Huh?
Why does Orange Quiet Forest, with her past life memories, feel…
That it’s quite similar to job interviews from her previous life?