Chapter 37.2

When the time on everyone’s phones silently ticked over to 9 o’clock, eager fans quickly refreshed, watching the transparent loading circles spin until a new segment appeared.

“??? Who’s this stunning lady on the cover? Why haven’t I seen her before?”

“Wow… this episode is actually two hours long! Is the production team crazy?”

Fans who were vying for the first comment before watching the main show began to speak up, but when they clicked into the main show, half an hour later, the comments section was filled with countless exclamation marks, question marks, and expressions of astonishment.

“Ah ah ah ah! I’m going to be blinded by this! So many diamonds! So many, so many diamonds!!!”

“Hairiette, Chariette, and even Aston! Blue blood, red blood, my heart is bleeding!”

“Oh my god, clearly it’s something I can’t afford, but why am I so excited when I see the cheongsam sisters bring them out? Ah… what one desires in a lifetime!”

“Haha, I’m laughing so hard. Little Pearl looks so clueless, is she stunned?”

“Sob sob, my Goose is so cute, her clueless look is cute too. But Goose should be able to afford it, I remember Little Pearl being quite rich.”

Because the camera frequently focused on Xu Heran’s face, many people started discussing her expressions. Then, they saw on the cover, a cold, aloof woman entering the hall with a leisurely pace. She carried herself gracefully, exuding a refined and noble aura from head to toe.

Before the host even introduced her, the audience, who found this face extremely unfamiliar, had already begun to call out “wife, wife.” The camera zoomed in on this cold beauty’s face, her gaze seemingly penetrating through the lens and piercing into their hearts.

Then, forgetting about their own Goose, the audience who had started calling this newly appeared woman “wife” heard the beautiful host gently say, “This is the investor of Starlight Girls, the Deputy CEO of Universal Group Universal Headquarters, Michelle Aston.”

Her Chinese name is Xu Jiamu.

Another identity of hers is Xu Heran’s sister.

Wearing her Pearl Shell Beads, the disobedient daughter Xu Heran, the daughter who has turned over a new leaf, is no longer trash, and so on, the audience who just shouted “wife” louder than anyone else: “…”

And then, the host informed everyone that the three luxury brands that dazzled their eyes just now are brands under the Universal Group.

That 66-story building they were discussing earlier, along with the expensive surrounding parks, residential buildings, shops, and such, were all birthday gifts from her sister to her sister.

Endorsements were also arranged by this sister, she acquired them and had the trainees endorse, and they were given a hundred thousand endorsement fee in just two weeks.

Audience: “…”

“…………”

“Because it’s so shocking, I don’t know what to say for a moment.”

“Ah… so, can we still call Nuo Nuo a princess? Compared to Princess Little Pearl, we’re so poor, Nuo Nuo is crying.”

“Call her! Why wouldn’t we call her! The title of our Nuo Nuo Princess was given by Xu Heran after all! Besides, Xu Heran is going to be our daughter-in-law, she’s going to marry into our Xin family in the future! This is her dowry!”

“Right! We said it before, a woman with a 66-story building!”

“So what Ge Tao said is true. I thought when everyone was saying that Xu Heran has a 66-story building, it was because the building with the ’66 Dashun’ sign was under Universal Group. Since Little Pearl is an artist under Universal Group and Universal Group is the investor, it’s actually in Xu Heran’s hands?”

“Yeah! I was really curious about it. After last week’s performance, some people started arguing about this, saying that 66 Dashun Building belongs to Universal Group. Although Little Pearl is a Universal Group artist and Universal Group is the investor, it’s related to her. Do you all remember? It was quite a commotion at the time, Ge Tao even came out to persuade everyone and said to believe him.”

“Is it okay to say this? Actually, when Ge Tao said that Xu Heran owned a 66-story building, I believed it. They’re running a company and funding a show, what’s wrong with giving their child a building? Maybe it’s because the value of this building is so high that people couldn’t believe it… but those people who came out to deny Ge Tao were strange. Unlike Little Pearl’s fans, our mom fans are pretty confident, you know!”

“This Ge Tao is strange too! Wasn’t he a rapper? He came out before and said things like guessing the rankings, saying Nuo Nuo is first, and today’s main show matched what he said on his Weibo. But anyone with eyes can see, he’s probably bribed someone on the show’s production team to intentionally leak the show’s content, right?”

“Yeah, what’s his connection to this talent show? I remember he had a period of popularity five years ago, but he’s not that popular now, right? It’s probably because of 《Starlight Girls》 that he’s attracting quite a few fans. I bet after this episode ends, a lot of people will pay attention to him again, so he’ll reveal the content.”

“Is this even legal? I support the program team investigating thoroughly. I don’t want to be spoiled in advance!”

“But wouldn’t they need evidence for that?”

“…Hey, why are you still discussing this! Go watch the later stage! Live broadcasts and the main show are different! Our Little Pearl is going to set the stage on fire!”

“We ignite! We explode! We leave after causing chaos! Truly worthy of you, Little Chaos Pearl! The woman who sets fire in Mama’s heart!”

“Nuo Nuo—my love!”

The newly aired episode of 《Starlight Girls》 garnered over ten million views within just half an hour. Whether it was the three luxury brands that came with their dazzling presence, Xu Heran’s sister who gave away a building, or the later stage, they all sparked heated discussions.

The entertainment section’s hot searches immediately surged with news related to 《Starlight Girls》 and some people who were fishing in troubled waters smirked in satisfaction.

In the 《Starlight Girls》 arena, the director arranging tonight’s live broadcast waved his hand at the assistant director and said, “It’s okay, we’ll soon catch this rat, no need to rush.”

One hour later, exactly at ten o’clock, another episode was released to the audience without any warning, featuring an hour and a half of content, including advancement, song selection teams, and game segments.

During the show, when Xu Heran rushed back to the team with Xin Nuo, Sun Lingxi accidentally stepped on a scattered milk carton in the game area, causing it to burst open and spill out with a splash.

And the entries for Xu Heran and Xin Nuo also exploded.

“Is this a talent show? Or some kind of human marvel? Does this girl named Xu Heran have superpowers? Why are her eyes blue-purple?”

“Hahaha, this is so much fun, what kind of variety show is this?”

“How did she do it? Isn’t Xin Nuo only 1.7 meters tall? Isn’t Xu Heran shorter than her?”

“Hey, didn’t you see it? Xu Heran has already surpassed Xin Nuo, she’s much taller!”

“But how did she manage to lift her up!”

“Xin Nuo is quite thin… Although Xu Heran isn’t fat either.”

“Am I the only one who saw that shot of Xu Heran lifting her shirt? It was only a second! But I saw it!”

“What! Little Pearl actually did something so indiscreet!”

“Did Little Bowl get inspiration from that drawing? I guessed it right from the beginning, it’s a game, isn’t it?”

Of course, it’s not.

Yu Wan, who was holding her face with a strange red expression, smiled happily. She slammed her keyboard heavily. Whether the incident was true or false, what really matters is that everyone knows one thing.

Little Bowl can eat a big bowl: ‘Pounding Xin Nuo’ is real!!!

At the Universal Entertainment Building, the Public Relations Department quickly contacted Cui Qi.

“Sister Cui, should we suppress the trending topic or not?”

“After discussing it, we think it’s better not to suppress it. After all, they are two young girls, and everyone knows that their fake CP is just for show. Wait a couple of years for the team to disband, and the hype will naturally die down. However, now that the program has abolished voting, all the talent agencies with trainees who haven’t been eliminated are actively promoting them, especially Dream Entertainment. Even the top actor has stepped in. On our side, since Ji Songyu is a mentor on the show, it’s not convenient for us to promote Xu Heran. In terms of promotion, compared to established entertainment companies, our weaknesses are too obvious,” analyzed the manager of the PR department.

They believed that this sudden explosion of the trending topic was a very rare opportunity. Normally, many artists pay for trending topics, but could they achieve this kind of effect?

Cui Qi was also backstage watching over Xu Heran and Xin Nuo. After listening to the manager of the PR department, she pondered for a moment. “Hmm, let’s watch for now, but keep an eye on the direction of the wind. If necessary, guide it a bit. Xu Heran and Xin Nuo are just good sisters.”

Her tone became more serious with her last sentence. Upon hearing her words, the manager of the PR department chuckled. “Sister Cui, you’re right in what you’re saying. Of course, they’re good sisters, right? Could it be that Heran really likes Xin Nuo? She’s so young, what does she know about love? And even if she knows, it’s not like she can like another girl.”

Cui Qi’s facial expression twitched, unsure if she was responding to the PR manager or comforting herself.

“Yeah, you’re right… you’re right.”

“Team Two’s costumes were taken to resize last night, and they’re on their way now. However, there’s some traffic at this time, so everyone, please be patient,” the staff reassured Team Two of trainees.

Xu Heran, who had already done her makeup and changed into her stage costume, heard this and let out a sigh first.

“Why are you sighing?” Xin Nuo sat in front of the dressing table, and the hairstylist was curling her hair. “I’m not in a hurry at all.”

“I’m just looking forward to seeing you in the qipao ahead of time!” Xu Heran scratched her face, unhappily saying, “Ugh, when will it arrive? Can’t it come before the live broadcast starts? I’ll be on standby during the performance of Team Three. I won’t be the first one to see you in the qipao!”

“Do you want to kick everyone out of the room after I’ve put on the dress?” Xin Nuo retorted.

The dressing room and the changing room were connected. The trainees’ costumes were all in the changing room. After changing into their costumes, they would face a room full of makeup artists, hairstylists, assistants, and program staff.

Xu Heran became even unhappier, puffing up her face.

Seeing her expression, Xin Nuo softened and said gently, “It’s okay, after your performance, you can watch mine. Weren’t you before me? I can’t even see your performance.”

Upon hearing this, Xu Heran thought it made sense. She couldn’t help but curl her lips, “Then I’ll ask Sister Cui to bring you a phone. Can you watch me live while waiting backstage?”

Xin Nuo thought for a moment and shook her head, “Never mind. If I were waiting backstage alone, I would definitely watch, but there are other people too. Let’s not disturb them.”

Xu Heran nodded.

At eight o’clock in the evening, the live broadcast began.

Under cheers, Ning Yunfei stepped onto the stage.

“Dreams take flight, stars shine bright! This is the live broadcast of the Starlight Girls’ performance. Welcome to the stage, ten thousand potential Star Makers, and thank you to the Star Makers currently watching the program in the live room!”

“One hundred and forty trainees, now reduced to twenty-one. Tonight on this stage, they will deliver splendid performances to everyone,” Ning Yunfei declared loudly. “The stage competition rules continue from before. In this round, the winning team will share one hundred thousand votes!”

“Due to rule changes, each of us Star Makers has only one voting ticket. However, during today’s live broadcast, you can send your favorite trainee’s name via SMS to the program team, and each vote will be doubled! This won’t conflict with the regular voting process! As you can see, our remaining 21 outstanding trainees have all their votes reset to zero this week. Every vote of yours will determine their fate next time. With their debut just around the corner, support your favorite trainees and vote for them quickly!”

As Ning Yunfei’s voice fell, the audience below the stage erupted into wild cheers, raising their support items.

“Now, let us welcome Team One to the stage. They’ll be performing the song 《Love You》!”

“Ah ah ah ah!”

“Yutong, unique among all!”

“Telepathic hearts, fearless!”

“The moon waxes and wanes, only you’re flawless—Yueliang, go for it!”

“Youyou, love you a bit more every day!!!”

Ten thousand audience members, most of them fans of the trainees who had advanced, were giving their all to cheer for their favorite trainees. The camera captured their faces and displayed them on the backstage’s large screen.

“Wow…”

The trainees who hadn’t yet gone on stage exclaimed in awe.

“Everyone’s language skills are really good,” Xu Heran stood up and said with a smiling face.

“Don’t be nervous, perform well,” Xin Nuo stood up, cupping Xu Heran’s face and lightly pinching it, “You can do it.”

“Yeah!”

Encouraged by Xin Nuo, Xu Heran’s enthusiasm surged. The only thing she was unhappy about was that she was about to go backstage for preparation, and only then were the outfits for Team Three delivered. Moreover, Xin Nuo was the last one to change! She couldn’t see at all!

“Go for it!”

Onstage, lively music filled the entire venue. Xu Heran stood backstage, hearing the singing voices of the performers on stage joined by the audience in the live room.

“I suddenly feel a different sensation,” Xu Heran sighed.

Haya stood beside her and whispered, “The remaining twenty-one people, each of them has the potential to debut.”

What they were fighting for now was popularity.

Xu Heran nervously took a breath.

Without Xin Nuo’s stage…

“Ha.”

“Ah! Yueyin!!”

“Yuzu, go for it!!”

In the midst of Xu Heran’s sudden rapid heartbeat, Team Three’s performance concluded. As the girls from Team Three came down, the bright smiles on their faces crumbled in an instant.

“Sob sob sob, I did it! My heart!”

“Finally, it’s over!”

Exhaling in relief, the trainees leaned weakly against the hallway wall.

“Go for it.” Jian Yueyin raised her hand, giving high fives to each member of Team One.

“Now, let’s welcome a team of trainees. They’ll be performing the song 《Play》 by Jolin Tsai.” After Ning Yunfei’s announcement, the audience who had already learned about the team assignments from the daytime broadcast immediately erupted in cheers.

“Xu Heran!!!”

“Little Pearl! Mommy loves you!! Xu Heran, go for it!”

“Don’t let Mommy down, Xu Heran!”

The moment she stepped onto the stage, Xu Heran’s underlying nervousness vanished. She even raised an eyebrow, pointing to the dense forest of support cards below.

“I remember the support chants used to be different, right?” She chuckled into the microphone and said, “Can’t you learn from others?”

“Ah ah ah!”

Seeing her calm and composed demeanor, her easy going manner, the audience, all the little pearls, were both excited and proud.

Look!

My daughter!

So amazing!

“Are you ready?”

Onstage, in a black dress with pink hair flowing behind her, the Stage Queen shouted loudly.

“Ah—”

Amidst the cheers of the crowd, the girl hooked her finger, turned her head, and her tone instantly grew serious, “Let’s go!”

Intense music erupted instantly as six girls dressed in all black moved in synchrony. The girl with pink hair walked out from the center of the group, raised the microphone, and sang, “One in the morning, carefree in pajamas, sisters①”

“Five in the morning, a thousand people doing mountain exercises①”

The song was intense, and so was the dance. From the moment the music started, the cheers on the stage never ceased. Her perfect voice blended seamlessly with the dance, and her excellent stamina made singing and dancing simultaneously seem effortless.

She divided the lyrics evenly, with high notes alternating between her and Jiang Qiong. But after the high notes, the tallest girl in the group stepped forward. She was undoubtedly the lead dancer of the team. If Xu Heran’s and Jian Yueyin’s performances in the training camp were beyond comparison, then Haya was the queen of dance in the camp!

Her precise movements stood out even among teammates who practiced the same dance day and night. Though they were performing the same choreography, her execution was particularly clean and cool.

All eyes were on the girl with a smile at the corner of her mouth, her bright face exuding confidence and cheerfulness.

As her dance concluded, the blonde girl took her position, ushering in the second part of the song.

The lively music surrounded them, igniting the scorching summer. The lights in the audience area twinkled, but the girls on the stage shone brighter than the lights. Their voices were more urgent than heartbeats, a rhythm that pulsed heavily.

When the song came to an end, the audience below had already lost their voices from cheering.

“Sob sob sob, Mommy’s pearl!” Yu Wan held up her sign with all her strength, bowed in gratitude, and then Xu Heran, who had left the stage, waved her over. Satisfied, she returned to her seat, took a deep breath, and sipped from her water bottle.

There’s still a daughter-in-law to support!

Experienced in “Fatty Dà Hǎi soaking Chrysanthemums¹,” Yu Wan immediately popped a throat lozenge and prepared herself. When she looked up to show her support for Xin Nuo, the lozenge almost came spewing out of her mouth.

“You cough cough cough!”

“Ma! Keep calm, Ma! Shush!” Wearing a hat, draped in staff clothing, and wearing an extra layer of clothing, Xu Heran, who was as persistent as a maniac in the scorching heat, stealthily approached.

“Ma, let me sit too!” Xu Heran said to Yu Wan, “I’ll just sit for a bit!”

Yu Wan quickly lifted her sign, blocking her side. Fortunately, everyone’s attention was on the stage, and it was dark below; no one noticed Xu Heran sneaking out.

“How did you find me?” Yu Wan asked in a hushed voice.

“Hehe, I’ve been looking for you since I went onstage!” Xu Heran said with a smile, her blue-purple eyes forming crescents.

Yu Wan looked at her finely made-up face, feeling both fondness and helplessness. Finally, she raised her hand, awkwardly patting her shoulder. “Don’t do this next time, okay?”

“Yeah, sure.”

The receding tide of cheers surged once more. A group of girls dressed in cheongsams stepped onto the stage, resembling freshly picked roses in the early morning, exuding a refreshing aroma that dispelled the summer heat.

“Oh my god, I’m super amazed! It’s cheongsams!”

“Ah—”

“Ah ah ah ah, Xin Nuo, marry me!!” Yu Wan exclaimed as she turned her head to find someone. Seeing Xu Heran’s displeased expression, her head immediately dropped.

“Are you crazy?” Yu Wan was shocked.

“I was just checking who shouted that,” Xu Heran said, clearly annoyed.

Yu Wan: “Cough! Nuo Nuo looks really beautiful today!”

“Absolutely!”

Xu Heran responded proudly, unable to contain her smile. She involuntarily sat up and looked towards the stage.

In the center of the stage, Xin Nuo, wearing a beige cheongsam, smiled gently and lifted her gaze. The pale flower patterns bloomed gracefully on the soft fabric, enveloping her young and resilient body. Seven girls on stage, each dressed in a cheongsam of a different color, held identical white fans. Hanging from the fans was a pearl pendant, its silver pearl gently swaying while red tassels danced in the air.

Xu Heran’s eyes slowly widened, and her smile was uncontrollable.

As the music started, the girls extended their fair arms, slender fingertips holding the fans. They slightly bent over and then straightened, casting a light smile over their shoulders. The moment Song Fenghua’s cool voice emerged, the audience erupted in astonishment.

Xu Heran and Jian Yueyin backstage both found themselves smiling involuntarily.

Fenghua is fantastic!

《Miraculous Side》 is a duet, with Song Fenghua singing the male part at the beginning, while Xin Nuo sings the female part in response.

Xin Nuo’s voice was beautiful, as if it were a gift carefully arranged by heaven for the mortal world. Every aspect was so perfect. When she sang slowly in her lazy tone, someone’s heart suddenly felt like it was held tightly by a hand, refusing to let go.

Their performance was like intoxicating wine mingling in the wind, carrying the audience away with its rush towards the stage. The captivated little pearls seemed to dissolve into powder in the corner.

Her smile never left her face, her eyes never left Xin Nuo!

Those blue-purple eyes gleamed in the darkness, all filled with images of Xin Nuo.

Onstage, the cheongsams elegantly outlined the girls’ figures like gauzy wraps around blooming flowers. Xin Nuo was like that slender bud, waiting to bloom. Her graceful temperament blossomed on the stage, and every time she lifted her hand, it seemed as if she were plucking at Xu Heran’s heart.

When they sang “Under the willow, I hear the jade zither and the dancing song,” Lin Weining was at the front, the four behind her, the five girls singing softly with raised microphones, swaying their bodies.

Xin Nuo and Song Fenghua were like two falling petals, landing on the stage from the left and right.

Spinning, swaying.

They were like flowers in water, their off-white and light blue skirts swaying. Snow-white legs were elegantly lifted, fans held high, pearls swaying beneath the fans, the girls floated gracefully, as delicate as the wind.

The two girls, both practicing classical dance, almost danced in a synchronized manner, their similar heights and exquisite features making them appear like mirrored images. Their postures were graceful and agile, and even the height of their raised hands was nearly identical. This indicated the great effort they had put into their preparation backstage.

In the audience, all the cheers were suppressed in their throats, afraid that even a slightly louder sound might startle these two flowers dancing lightly on water or disrupt this dreamlike scene.

“In this lifetime, what do I seek~”

“Only you…”

In the melodious pitch changes, the seven girls gazed down at the audience. Xin Nuo narrowed her eyes slightly and her gaze landed on Xu Heran.

She tugged at the corner of her lips.

In an instant, the wind dispersed the clouds, and the moonlight that couldn’t penetrate the splendor gently mingled its radiance, sprinkling down on them.

Xu Heran lifted her hand and pressed against her flushed cheek, her eyes looking upwards.

They shared a hidden glance amidst the sea of people.

“Ah ah ah, Xin Nuo!!!”

“Song Fenghua!”

“Weining—”

“…”

Amidst the cheers that were almost piercing their eardrums, Xu Heran rushed towards the backstage, shedding the excess weight of her coat. With a radiant smile, she dashed towards Xin Nuo. Xin Nuo leaned against the wall, fanning herself while maintaining an upright posture. She lifted her gaze to meet Xu Heran’s.

The surroundings seemed to disperse like mist, as if she were standing as a refined lady in a garden, her voice soothing.

“Xu Heran, did you dare to come down to the stage?” Xin Nuo’s dark eyes focused on Xu Heran. “Come here.”

The imagined scenarios in Xu Heran’s mind “whooshed” away. She licked her lips and revealed Xin Nuo’s familiar smile, “I want to see your performance! Not the kind seen through a screen.”

“Mm.” Xin Nuo raised her hand and fanned herself, “You know how to disguise, not too foolish.”

Xu Heran wiped off the sweat from her nose, her heartbeats had been racing faster since the very beginning. She squeezed her hands, standing in front of Xin Nuo.

“Nuo Nuo, you look really beautiful!”

“Mm.” Xin Nuo responded again.

Xu Heran then smiled with her eyes curved, lowered her head, and flicked the pearls beneath Xin Nuo’s fan.

“Don’t be troublesome.” Xin Nuo was fanning herself when she swatted away Xu Heran’s restless hand. She thought of something and smiled faintly.

“I thought of something, Xu Heran. You’re not the first person to see me in a cheongsam, but you could be the first person to hug me after my performance.”

The black-haired girl’s wavy hair cascaded behind her, resting on her shoulders. Her pitch-black eyes were like a brilliant galaxy, gently gazing at the satisfied and joyful girl in front of her.

“Xu Heran, would you like to hug me?”

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The author has something to say:

① 《Play》 by Jolin Tsai ② 《Astonishing Beauty》 by Xu Song and Huang Ling

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Translator: Glariosa
Editor: Sinensis

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1. “Fatty Dà Hǎi soaking Chrysanthemums” is a humorous Chinese internet slang referring to leisurely and relaxed living. ↩︎