Grab The Heroine and Run Away Ch.9
2/7
Xu Heran immediately pouted.
Jian Yueyin took a deep breath, her excited hands crumpling the blank paper with the printed lyrics into a mess, “The program team mentioned from the beginning that during the competition, if a team is dissatisfied with the song, they can directly change the song. However, the replacement song must be completely self-created, including lyrics, music, and choreography, and no mentor guidance is allowed.”
Others suddenly realized and remembered that there was such a rule.
“However, all team members must agree to this rule, because if the team loses to another team during the competition, each member of the losing team will have ten thousand votes deducted. Even if the team wins the competition, only the two members who contributed the most to the creation will each receive ten thousand votes,” Jian Yueyin explained in a low voice.
Xu Heran nodded, her feet resting on the edge of the chair, hugging her legs, and exclaimed, “It sounds quite risky, especially when the other team chooses a well-known and mature song.”
In general, the program team doesn’t require this, and for safety, most teams choose not to change the original song, even the choreography is often based on the original. However, many trainees choose to take risks for dramatic camera shots, and this depends on the coordination within the team.
Xu Heran shrugged her shoulders, “I have no objections.”
She smiled at Jian Yueyin.
“But who among us can arrange music? We even have to write lyrics!” Haya said in distress.
Xin Nuo smiled and looked at Jian Yueyin. Jian Yueyin placed her palm on the table and humbly said, “Coincidentally, I know a bit.”
“Just a bit?”
“But that’s too risky. We’ll lose votes if we lose in the public performance!”
Barrages floated densely by.
“That’s too risky! If we lose the public performance, we’ll lose votes!”
“The key is, where did they find the courage to change the song? Who is Jian Yueyin? I’ve never heard of her!”
“What a pity! Don’t change the song! I still want to see Nuo Nuo sing a sweet song!”
“I’m different. I want to see the little princess dance. The moves she just did in the practice room… Haha, such an auntie’s smile on her face.”
In the latest episode of 《Starlight Girls》 the girls around the table jotted down the lyrics casually, then flipped the paper over and quickly wrote down the lyrics.
“This is a song I wrote before, we can use it,” Jian Yueyin said a bit embarrassedly with a smile. “The demo is also done by me and stored in my computer.”
She looked at Haya, as well as Xin Nuo and Song Fenghua, “Now, only the choreography is left.”
“Ah—” Xu Heran immediately stood up and clapped like a seal, “Sister Yueyin, you’re amazing! We’re counting on you, Sister Yueyin!”
Jian Yueyin suddenly felt overwhelmed, especially since Xu Heran hadn’t even looked at the lyrics or heard the song. “It’s just a very ordinary song, I guess you all won’t be interested.”
“No! As long as it’s not 《Let’s Go See the Cherry Blossoms Together》 I’m willing to sing while doing a handstand!” Xu Heran spread her arms, suddenly thought of something, and immediately folded her hands together, facing the camera, she said, “The song 《Let’s Go See the Cherry Blossoms Together》 is really good, I recommend everyone to listen to it, just that it’s not quite suitable for us, no offense~”
Her will to survive was really strong.
Behind her, Xin Nuo covered her mouth and laughed, raising her gaze to look at her, her eyes shining brightly.
On the night when the episode aired, a new update from “Xinran Sisters” was immediately posted, along with the hashtag #JoyfulSisters#1.
In this episode, whether it was due to Xu Heran’s intention to score fifty-nine points, their group had a lot of camera time. But because the content was interesting, the audience didn’t mind. While they were marveling at who those beautiful girls were and how they couldn’t remember, there was only one focus left: Xu Heran.
In the camera shots, she had completely transformed, becoming sunny, positive, and friendly. She was a different person from the first six episodes. Some even suspected that Xu Heran had a twin sister, and the program team had secretly switched her out!
After the cafeteria scene ended, the scene shifted, and Xu Heran appeared for a solo interview.
Deliberately sitting up straight, Xu Heran clasped her hands together and smiled at the camera.
“Has it started?” She asked, her blue-purple eyes slightly widening as she looked at the host.
The host, off-camera, faced Xu Heran’s face directly. Xu Heran was of mixed heritage—her grandmother was from the Blue Nation, her mother was born to a Chinese grandfather, and her mother’s ex-husband was Chinese. As a result, Xu Heran’s mixed heritage features were not very prominent. The spotlight illuminated the young girl’s face. With her long legs, slim waist, and fair skin, Xu Heran was attractive from every angle.
Confronted by such beauty, the host couldn’t help but take a breath, thinking that she used to find Xu Heran pretty but with a terrible personality that she didn’t want to get close to. Now, Xu Heran was truly shining. She gently said, “We’ve started. Heran, everyone is surprised by how different you’ve been performing lately. What made you want to change?”
Xu Heran didn’t answer directly but asked, “Is the current me better, or was the previous me better?”
The host’s words got stuck in her throat, and she froze. Laughter erupted among the on-site staff.
“I think the current you is pretty good,” the host said with a smile.
Xu Heran immediately winked her left eye at her, “Got good taste.”
“Hehe… actually, it’s because my mom scolded me,” Xu Heran tilted her head and whispered.
An audible gasp spread through the room, and the host cautiously asked, “Your, Your President Xu?”
Xu Heran nodded.
In a city’s exclusive residential area, a lavish mansion in an economically thriving country with a time zone difference of over ten hours.
As the morning sun began to rise, the spacious living room of the sprawling estate displayed the program on a large screen. When the girl crisply recounted getting scolded by her mom, an unexpected silence swept through the room. Simultaneously, everyone turned their heads to look at the woman lying on the couch, applying a face mask.
With both hands still pressed against her face, the woman protested in a wronged tone, “I didn’t do it!”
“Given Pearl’s2 temperament, how would I dare scold her! When I mentioned before that she was becoming more disobedient and might run back to China, she even blocked me. Would I dare to scold her?”
In the center of the couch sat a woman with delicate features, very young, with icy eyebrows and snow-like eyes. Her posture was as straight as a sword, and the tailored suit she wore accentuated her powerful aura. With her arms crossed, the woman coldly observed the screen, “You should have scolded her a long time ago.”
“I really didn’t!” Xu’s mother raised her hand, massaging her forehead as she looked at the woman sitting in the distance, “Mom!”
Well-maintained and without even a hint of fine lines around her eyes, Mrs. Diana, even as a grandmother, remained the most beautiful figure. Her pair of purple eyes were known as a treasure of the Blue Nation. At this moment, she gazed gently at the well-behaved and smiling Xu Heran on the screen, letting out an elegant sigh.
“You should have scolded her a long time ago.”
“I didn’t—” Xu’s mother sighed repeatedly, seeking an ally. She looked around in confusion and asked, “Where’s Junran?”
“After their argument, he swore he wouldn’t have anything to do with Xu Pearl again. Why would he still be watching her program?” The future head of the Universal Group, the third in line of the Xu family, Xu Jiamu, stood up, adjusted his high-end suit, and walked to Diana’s side to embrace her. In a low voice, he said, “I’m off to the company.”
“Mu Mu, you’re not watching your sister anymore?” Xu’s mother called out.
“I’m not, I’m not interested.” Xu Jiamu said coldly, “Don’t involve me in these matters in the future.”
Xu’s mother looked worriedly at her as she left. Diana smiled gently and waved her hand, “It’s alright, kids tend to make up quickly after an argument.”
Xu Jiamu got into the car, and once it left the estate, he tapped a few times on the keyboard resting on his lap, maintaining an unflinching demeanor.
“Let’s run together towards the sun. Even if the wind and rain are strong and the journey is tiring, don’t give up…”
The driver in the front seat glanced back in surprise at the rearview mirror. Xu Jiamu didn’t lift his head; he put on his headphones.
“I have realized that arrogant and self-centered people won’t be liked by others. Arrogance is the facade of the hypocrite. I will never be like I used to be again.”
“I will prove with actions that I’m not just talking. I hope everyone won’t follow my past self.” Xu Heran raised her index finger and waved it in front of the camera. “I won’t be friendless!”
“So, do you really appreciate Xin Nuo, the trainee?” The host rephrased the previously highly publicized confession incident.
Xu Heran nodded firmly. “Yes!”
“I will always support Nuo Nuo!” Xu Heran clenched her fist, earnestly looking at the camera.
Her expression was too sincere; if anyone looked at her expression and eyes, they would never think her words were insincere.
Before the interview ended, the host suddenly asked, “Heran, have you lied during this interview?”
Xu Heran was momentarily stunned, then smiled sheepishly. The host drew out the word, “Oh~.”
Could it be about Xin Nuo?
“Well, actually, my mom didn’t scold me.” Xu Heran bit her lip and made a heart gesture towards the camera. “She loves me!”
The host looked at her in surprise.
“Dear grandparents, Mom, and my amazing older sister and younger brother,” these words Xu Heran said in a foreign language. “Forgive my past self. Love you all. I will strive to become a person that makes you proud!”
In a distant country, a woman in a luxurious house pulled off her face mask, picked up her phone, her face serious.
“Hello, Jiamu, add more investment to that program in China. How much more?”
“The more, the better!”
Not long after the program aired, the 《Starlight Girls》 training camp organized to watch this episode.
On the morning of the recording day, Xu Heran was awakened by the alarm clock’s noise. She slowly got up, scratching her head as she headed for the washroom. While brushing her teeth, the drowsy girl gazed at her reflection in the mirror, then suddenly froze.
Strange, she always felt like she had forgotten a lot of things, about… her past life?
But at the same time, many new memories quietly emerged, surging into her mind when she thought of something, leaving her puzzled. It was as if she was meant to be born into this world, to grow up here. She belonged to this world.
A peculiar sensation rose from her heart. The girl in the mirror blinked her eyes, her gaze gradually clearing. Something seemed to be carried away by the wind in a mystical way, and the girl with blue-purple eyes smiled at her reflection.
“Keep up the good work today!”
Seventy girls sat in the training camp’s hall, laughing from time to time due to the program’s content. When they found out that Xu Heran’s group was using a rule that had never been used before, they covered their mouths in surprise. Especially Xu Heran’s rival group, Sun Lingxi, even lost her mood for watching the program, nervously inhaling.
The ten competing teams were seated in rows according to the captains’ ranks, with seven people in each row. In front of Sun Lingxi was the first-ranked Lin Weining, who belonged to Angel Entertainment along with Jian Yueyin.
“Weining, how is Jian Yueyin’s level of creativity?” Sun Lingxi asked anxiously.
Lin Weining turned to the side, thought for a moment, and honestly replied, “I’m not too sure either. I only found out about her after joining the program together.”
She glanced at the crowd, and Jian Yueyin, who was being scrutinized by many gazes, looked nervous. Lin Weining whispered, “She never practices with us. She probably isn’t planning to take the idol path.”
It’s just unclear why the company sent her here.
There were also Angel Entertainment trainees in Sun Lingxi’s team. Lin Weining wouldn’t lie to her like this. Jian Yueyin smiled at Lin Weining in a pitiful manner, “Wuwuwu, I thought we were winning for sure.”
Lin Weining comfortingly patted her shoulder, saying, “There’s no way around it. Their approach is allowed by the rules. Now it’s about which group’s stage gets higher votes.”
“Sigh.” Sun Lingxi sighed and muttered to herself, “If her creative level is really impressive, the company wouldn’t have pushed her to join a girl group. It’s okay, it’s okay, we will definitely win!”
Sun Lingxi encouraged herself in her mind, steadying her resolve. She focused on the aired program, searching for segments of the rival group. She wanted to understand their changed song through their training. However, the program intentionally stirred up trouble. The following scenes didn’t show Xu Heran’s group training; instead, they were depicted hanging out together, eating and playing around. It gave the impression that they had given up and lacked ambition.
If they lacked ambition, they wouldn’t have changed their song!
Sun Lingxi was infuriated and mentally gave the director, who didn’t consider the psychological state of the trainees for the sake of ratings and topics, the middle finger.
In the midst of the crowd, Xu Heran watched herself making heart signs and saying “I love you” to the camera. She couldn’t help but cover her face with her sleeve, deliberately saying to the person beside her, “Is the air conditioning too high? I feel a bit hot.”
“Really?” Haya blinked in confusion, her false eyelashes trembling.
“Yes!” Xu Heran nodded vigorously, while also swearing that within the remaining seven days, she would definitely make Haya change this smoky makeup!
It was quite miraculous how Haya’s smoky makeup seemed as if it were permanently affixed to her face. Xu Heran had even gotten up early to knock on Haya’s door, claiming it was for training purposes, to see her without makeup. However, every time she went, she found the room empty. Although she was a trainee from a smaller company in the lower ranks, everyone worked hard equally. They were even more diligent than the trainees from the upper ranks, possibly due to their lower positions.
Xu Heran was deeply moved. She quietly talked to the director, hoping he could take care of the trainees from smaller companies, giving them more screen time. Even a brief appearance on camera could be a chance to turn things around.
In the current entertainment industry, there were three major talent agencies: Angel Entertainment, Dream Entertainment, and Fish Harmony. Their trainees received the most screen time. Idle shots outnumbered those of trainees who clearly worked harder or had better performances, creating program effects. Some trainees from smaller companies or individual trainees might have brief appearances on camera, often due to backstage connections at play. For the rest, it all came down to luck.
Xin Nuo was a trainee who successfully turned things around.
Although the Xu family invested in the program, the production team wouldn’t mistreat Xu Heran. However, the Xu family’s assets were mainly abroad, and Universal Entertainment was newly established and had no reputation in the entertainment industry.
The director looked at Xu Heran’s clear eyes and felt somewhat embarrassed to tell her about the twists and turns inside. But he didn’t ignore it either. In this episode of the program, there were many “new” faces, and trainees occasionally pointed at the program with surprise, saying, “That’s me!”
Xu Heran held her face and smiled. Beside her, Xin Nuo tilted her head, her black hair falling and brushing against her fair face.
Xin Nuo turned around and slightly moved closer to Xu Heran’s direction, staring at the camera for their group. She whispered, “Who’s Pei’er3? I’ve only heard of Peiqi4.”
Xu Heran’s face suddenly turned red, as if that name had poked at memories she’d rather not revisit. She crossed her arms, giving Xin Nuo an annoyed look, but she couldn’t bear to stay mad at Xin Nuo. Finally, under Xin Nuo’s gentle smile, she pouted.
“It’s my foreign name, it means pearl. My nickname is Pearl.”
“It’s Pearl, not Pig!” Xu Heran said seriously, her face flushed.
The author has something to say:
Xin Nuo: Alright, Piggy.
Xin Nuo: Fondness +1
Xin Nuo thinks the name “Pearl” suits Ran Ran very well.
Congratulations, Ran Ran, on breaking through from 0 to 1!
The hidden setting probably won’t be mentioned in the future. Just to clarify, the original protagonist was supposed to be Ran Ran, and the world’s trajectory shouldn’t have followed the book’s. Because this incorrect timeline would become chaotic later, Ran Ran was retrieved by the world, and the world started to correct itself. However, this isn’t important in the main text; it’s just a possibility for a side story in a normal timeline, a story about the normal version of Little Pearl picking up Little Nuo Nuo (?)!
We’re currently looking for editors, so if you’re interested at all, then please contact @Glariosa or @sinensis on discord.
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Translator: Glariosa
Editor: Sinensis
- Xinran Sisters = Joyful Sisters. We decided to let the account be the pinyin, while the hashtag is the english translation. ↩︎
- Pearl is Xu Heran’s English name. ↩︎
- Pinyin of Pearl. ↩︎
- Pinyin of Pig. ↩︎
