Chapter 15: I’ll Make You Cry

Why is it that you can hire someone to play a game for you, but not to cast votes?

Players voiced their grief and anger.

Shi Baiyan looked at the discussion among the players and commented bluntly,

“A bunch of lazybones. To think you find voting for someone you like troublesome.”

After saying that, Shi Baiyan handed his account to the Assistant beside him.

“Vote every day on time. I want to check.”

Shi Baiyan continued painting without lifting his head.

The Assistant looked at Shi Baiyan’s Polar Bear account and silently complained.

You act like you’re not lazy yourself.

At the same time, Tina Forum also sent out a notification.

Cherish your account, do not use substitutes.

In just one morning, Xie Feiran’s fans turned the tables and soared in spirit.

With a difference of tens of millions of votes, even those who wanted to cheat didn’t dare.

Meanwhile, Xie Ling sat in his Office, looking at the scene, unable to hold back a slight smile.

Xie Feiran was even more impressive than he had imagined.

After that walkthrough video was released, the players of Tina Continent already saw him as one of their own.

“I guess I don’t have to spend money anymore.”

Xie Ling tapped the cold data on the computer Screen with his finger.

Cheng Yuan, beside him, laughed.

“That’s because Feiran is awesome.”

“He really is.”

Xie Ling’s lips curved gently, and his stunning face showed a rare, tender smile.

Compared to Xie Feiran’s happiness, things were much worse for Qiyu.

Shenghua Entertainment had invested heavily in a new trainee, but despite all the resources, in singing, dancing, or variety skills, he couldn’t match Xie Feiran and was suppressed in every way.

He appeared on trending searches often, but the fan conversion rate was pitifully low.

“President Qi, should we keep boosting?”

The Assistant beside Qiyu asked cautiously.

Qiyu understood as he looked at the numbers.

If they kept boosting, even an idiot could see how fake the data was.

“Second place is fine.”

Qiyu withdrew his gaze from the Screen.

At the same time, he changed his Phone Number and called Xie Ling.

This time, Xie Ling answered.

In the bright Office, Xie Ling stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, watching the flow of people below.

“Who is it?”

“It’s me,”

Qiyu said.

Xie Ling raised an eyebrow.

“Isn’t this President Qi? Finished gnawing on the peach tree root?”

“A-Ling, are you trying to raise a new Film Emperor to replace me?”

Qiyu asked.

The reason Qiyu made it this far was because of the connections and opportunities behind Xie Ling.

Otherwise, how could a poor kid have had the chance to work with so many Directors and Capital at such a young age?

“Replace you?”

Xie Ling frowned, then sneered.

“No, don’t overthink it. I’m just a vengeful person. Everything you have now will be taken from you bit by bit and given to someone else, letting you watch as you lose it all.”

“Of course, I can make a new Film Emperor too.”

Xie Ling said indifferently.

“If you still hate me, it means you still have feelings for me. I’ll come find you—”

Xie Ling hung up expressionlessly, skillfully added the Phone Number to the Blacklist.

Was he blind back then, falling for such a common yet insincere person?

Turning, Xie Ling called He Jie, asking her to arrange a Retired Special Forces Soldier as a Bodyguard.

“If he dares to come, break his Dog Legs.”

Xie Ling said as he hung up on Xie Wutong.

***

Meanwhile, Xie Feiran finally had some rare free time.

Popularity Voting ended at eight tomorrow morning.

Once the results were out, those who remained would be regrouped to choose songs and practice for the Second Public Performance.

At this moment, Xie Feiran lay on the bed, spacing out, while the Trainee next door had already started practicing basics.

The viewers in the Live Room urged Xie Feiran to start a game stream.

Last night was so exciting, they hadn’t had enough.

[If Feiran ever leaves showbiz, he could still become a pro gamer.]

[Feiran, please, just start streaming a game.]

[Cub, everyone else is working hard. Are you sure you don’t want to move?]

In the end, it was Ye Ansheng and the others who knocked on the door, freeing Xie Feiran from the seal of the bed.

“Why are you here?”

Xie Feiran crawled out from under the covers in pink bunny pajamas.

[Last time it was a little dinosaur, now it’s a pink bunny. Who’s buying these pajamas!]

[Even in such cute pajamas, Feiran’s waist looks so slim and legs so long.]

[Leaked info: The pajamas were bought together with Ye Ansheng. Ansheng posted on Weibo about buying cute pajamas for a younger brother.]

[Ye Ansheng! You sly fox! Clearly, you suit these cute pajamas even more.]

In the end, Xie Feiran changed out of the cute pajamas into a white shirt and black pants, simple to the extreme.

“Tomorrow is the Farewell Meal, so we came to invite you to eat together.”

Wei Yunnian said with a smile.

“Farewell Meal?”

Xie Feiran looked up blankly.

He hadn’t thought about this at all.

In this team were his chosen vice-C, support, healer, and even some slackers.

He would find it painful to merge with another team all over again.

A skilled and cooperative team is the key to victory.

Xie Feiran didn’t want to lose his team now.

“Yeah, after the first public performance, half of us will leave, and there’ll be a regrouping.”

Ye Ansheng said.

“This is our Farewell Meal. We’ll reunite when we debut as a group.”

Luo Wen, beside them, showed a faint smile.

He wasn’t as strong as the others.

Aside from composing and lyric-writing, his skills were average.

That Xie Feiran managed to bring him to above average and keep him from being eliminated was already impressive.

“Feiran, thank you.”

Luo Wen said.

Xie Feiran couldn’t help but tap his chin with a finger.

He looked at Ye Ansheng and asked,

“This time, the first place also gets priority in choosing teammates, right?”

“I think so.”

Ye Ansheng said hesitantly.

Polar Bear hadn’t announced the rules, but generally, first place would have the right to choose teammates.

Xie Feiran smiled.

“Then let’s change the Farewell Meal into a Celebration Banquet.”

Chen Linxi, nearby, widened her eyes.

“Really?”

Everyone understood that working with Xie Feiran was the best possible outcome.

Unlike other teams, where teammates dragged each other down and fought for the center position, with Xie Feiran, everyone’s strengths could shine.

“Why would I lie?”

Xie Feiran stood up and opened the room door.

“Let’s go eat.”

“I want to eat your cooking.”

Ye Ansheng spoke first.

“Me too!”

Chen Linxi quickly followed.

“Even if Feiran doesn’t become a star in the future, he could still get rich with his cooking skills.”

The group walked out of the room, and the Live Room viewers watched enviously.

[When I’m rich, I want to eat Feiran’s food too.]

[I’m not greedy. If my phone could smell, that’d be enough.]

After a day’s rest, the hundred Trainees faced their fate at eight the next morning.

The first public performance eliminated half, and the remaining fifty would continue in the competition.

Before anyone could be too sentimental, the host on stage quickly announced the rules.

“This time, Xie Feiran is still first place. First place gets priority, but if you pick your teammates, you can’t pick the song. You can only choose from what’s left after everyone else picks.”

The camera then turned to the big Screen, which displayed mostly great dance songs, except for one ballad.

“Also, for the next public performance, we’ll invite two hundred audience members to vote on site. These votes are crucial. Whether you get them depends on your performance.”

With those words, everyone knew the ballad wasn’t a good choice.

Live shows are all about energizing the crowd.

Ballads, with less choreography and weaker visuals, have little impact—poison for contestants.

Unless you have a Heavenly Voice, singing a ballad is asking for trouble, especially with possibly unreliable teammates.

“So, Xie Feiran, what do you choose?”

The host looked at Xie Feiran.

All the cameras focused on Xie Feiran, capturing every expression.

“I choose teammates.”

Xie Feiran looked at the host.

“As long as I stay first, I can always choose my teammates, right?”

The host looked toward the main director of the show.

The director nodded from the crowd.

The host then gave Xie Feiran a definite answer.

“Then my teammates will always be them.”

Xie Feiran raised his eyes.

“As long as I’m here, I won’t abandon any of my teammates.”

[So cringey, but why does it move me?]

[The flame of chuunibyou burns bright.]

[But that means Feiran’s team will probably get the ballad.]

As expected, Xie Feiran’s team ended up with the century-old ballad ‘Song of the Raven’.

This song had a touch of melancholy and loneliness, the complete opposite of songs that can hype up a crowd.

“Don’t worry, we’ll win.”

Xie Feiran said.

“I’ll see if I can rearrange the song to make it more pop.”

Luo Wen bit his lip, looking at Xie Feiran.

But how could you make it upbeat without losing its original flavor?

It was almost contradictory.

Even with Luo Wen’s skills, it was a tall order.

But Xie Feiran didn’t mind.

“If we can’t make them happy, let’s make them cry.”

Instantly, the bullet screen was filled with question marks.

[Xie Feiran! What a villain.]