Qin Ze laughed. “Yo, did they put you as the closing act?”
Qin Baobao frowned. “What do you mean? They’re just afraid that a newcomer going up on stage too early would trigger unhappy sentiments amongst the audience. So why not leave me to the last and create a mysterious vibe? It’s sort of making use of trash.”
“Since you said that, I’m relieved.”
“Get lost.”
Wang Zijin smiled. “Both of you can hold a talk show.”
On the program, Yin Jia looked at the camera and laughed. “Who is the last singer? Let’s knock on her door.”
Live comments from viewers: “Who exactly is it?”
“A newbie? That’s impossible. How can a newcomer be the finale act?”
“The program committee really knows how to keep us in suspense. Hurry open the door. Open the door.”
“I’m so disappointed. There are still no beauties in this season.”
“Stop playing around. A movie star is different from a singer. For movie stars, their appearance matters the most so all the popular female superstars are very pretty. However, for singing, you’re comparing your vocals, your singing skills, and your talent. No one cares if you’re pretty or not.”
“You want to look at pretty girls? Go watch some movies, television shows, or other variety shows. For music-related shows, there aren’t many super-pretty girls.”
“No matter if it’s a newbie, or a queen, or king. Hurry knock on the door; I can’t wait to hear the person sing.”
“The one who said she could not wait, hurry and enter.”
“Hurry and enter. Let’s not waste any second.”
At this time, the door opened.
In the camera, Qin Baobao was wearing a white T-shirt with floral prints, her chest was outstanding, and her waist was thin. She was wearing a pair of white, tight-fitting jeans, and she stood silently by the door with her unmatched lethal legs closed tightly together. Then, she had a vixen-like face that was very seducing, and her makeup was detailed. Her five features looked as if they were engraved. Her sparkling phoenix-like eyes were filled with uncertainty and nervousness of being a newcomer.
The screen was silenced.
A moment later, the screen went crazy.
“F*ck, who is this girl?”
“The super-strong set, the Gracia Family’s Symbol Set[1] will have to give up its place as best in the world…”
“I’m protecting this girl.”
“So pretty, so pretty, so pretty… important things must be said three times.”
“Who is she? Who is she?”
“She’s the last singer? The program committee purposely invited this vase over to bless our eyes, right? I like it.”
“Wow! The program committee finally gave us some benefits.”
“I’m decisively licking the screen[2].”
“Can anyone tell me who she is?”
“These breasts are unreal. It’s plastic, right? Hurry, let Master confirm it.”
“Let me judge them for research purposes.”
The comments slid across the screen like snow. The netizens were all surprised by Qin Baobao’s beauty, and all the snakes and lechers started spamming their comments. Some were compliments, others were shocked, but most were lecherous.
Qin Baobao’s cheeks became red; she was humiliated and angry. She leaned across to grab onto the mouse to turn the comments off. “What kind of people are these? They’re so annoying.”
Qin Ze grabbed his sister’s hands and did not let her succeed. He said, “The audience’s opinion of you is a very important reference.”
This sentence was not wrong as to work in the entertainment industry, one must have this bit of mental preparation. In the past, his sister was the princess of the family; but now, she had to train up her enormous heart. If she would get humiliated and angry over a small tease, she could not possibly continue on in this industry. Which superstar had not been ridiculed?
Hence, Qin Baobao threw her tantrum on her brother. Harshly, she pinched his waist. “You just love to see other people insulting me. You sick pervert.”
Her face was burning. This is her first time appearing on screen, and her first time seeing the audience comments for her; however, she was not happy at all. Qin Baobao, who did not use Weibo or comment in forums, could not tolerate the old chauffeurs’ unrestrained and even sexual teasing. Compared to her, Qin Ze was experienced and had been in the Internet old chauffeur industry long enough; he was much used to it and was even numb to them. When he saw the familiar comments like ‘legs for ten years’ or ‘let me judge them for research purposes’, he could even smile in understanding.
Qin Ze laughed out loud. “Sister, I must admit…”
Qin Baobao looked at him in a daze; her eyes that were as if filled with stars had landed on his face.
“So you can really stay in the entertainment industry just because you’re pretty. Hahaha… aiyo…”
The humiliated Qin Baobao pinched Qin Ze’s waist without holding back.
In reality, Qin Baobao was petite and angry; but in the program, she was very solemn and serious as she politely greeted Yin Jia.
“Hello, Ms. Qin, I’m Yin Jia. You’re our last debuting guest. I believe the audience in front of the TV are unfamiliar with you. Briefly introduce yourself.”
She called Qin Baobao ‘Ms. Qin’ and not ‘Teacher Qin’.
Qin Baobao smiled sweetly. “Hello, everyone, I’m Qin Baobao. I’m honored to be able to stand on the ‘I am a Singer’ stage and battle with the other teachers on the same stage. I hope everyone will like me.”
“I heard that you’re planning to sing an original song on our show. Is that right?”
“Yes.”
“If it is, then it’s incredible. I believe our audience are looking forward to your stage. Then, let’s all wait and see.”
“Actually, I didn’t compose it on my own…”
Qin Baobao was talking halfway, but Yin Jia suddenly interrupted her. “Up till now, all the guests in this season have debuted. Let’s go and say ‘hello’ to them.”
Live comments from viewers: “Qin Baobao? Is that her stage name?”
“Her parents must have something against her.”
“Forgive me, I laughed.”
“Baobao? Heck, I spat out laughing.”
“So rude. She hasn’t even finished talking yet, but you interrupted her.”
“Is Yin Jia jealous of Qin Baobao’s looks? She’s so cold to her, and her smile is so fake. When she saw Huang Yuteng, her face almost blossomed into smiles.”
“The reality of a legend: Baobao has bitterness in her heart, but Baobao won’t say it.”
As Qin Baobao’s looks were outstanding, she had captured many of the audience’s hearts. Everyone was complaining on Qin Baobao’s behalf that the emcee—Yin Jia’s attitude was not good. However, very quickly, a few comments popped up.
“I searched on Baidu; there’s no such person in the entertainment circle.”
“Search plus one. There’s no such person.”
“She used connections. Appraisal completed.”
“There really isn’t someone called Qin Baobao. It’s impossible for such a beautiful woman to go unnoticed in the entertainment industry.”
“Heck, she must have used connections.”
“F*ck, like what I said, how can a newcomer compete on the same stage as legendary singers? This is unreal.”
“This is real. As long as you’re willing to take off your clothes, garbage can also become superstars.”
“Without guessing, she’s probably the mistress of some leader in the station.”
“It can’t be. How can such a pretty girl be someone’s mistress? I don’t believe it. I don’t believe it.”
The country people’s attitude towards entertainment stars were very contradicting: they loved them and respected them, but they also despised them with all their heart. In ancient times, an entertainer was a despicable character; and even if they married someone, they could only be the person’s concubine. This thinking was etched in people’s hearts; even today, it did not change.
If one flipped through the gossip news of stars—in the comments section, there would be one such sentence in every ten comments: ‘whores have no heart and entertainers’ integrity’.
It was precisely because of this that Old Master was against his daughter entering the entertainment industry. His daughter was precious to him; who would be willing to let their daughter enter the entertainment industry and ‘cheapen’ themselves?
Female stars also insisted on their bottom lines, but most of them had fallen into the deep hole of the entertainment industry. Half of them were forced by reality while the other half was because they did not want to sacrifice their fame and fortune. How many people could really escape from this place unscathed?
As for this point, Qin Ze was actually pretty confident in his sister. Qin Baobao entered the entertainment industry because it was her dream (she said this herself). As long as it was not because of fame, she would be able to persist on her principles and would not resort to any means to climb up the ladder. Besides, his family did not lack money and was comparatively well-off so Qin Baobao would not be ‘forced by circumstances’. Lastly, he was no longer the quiet nobody and average brother anymore. With a bit more time, he had confidence that he could escort and protect his sister.
Qin Baobao was so angry that her entire body shuddered. Qin Ze knitted his brows. “Let’s not look at it anymore.”
While he was talking, he was just about to close the live comments; but Qin Baobao slapped his hand away. She sobbed. “The audience’s comments are a very important reference. You said it yourself.”
She used a self-harming method to sulk at her brother.
One could not blame Qin Baobao for her weak mindset as for the twenty-five years she lived, she was proud for those twenty-five years. It was the first time that she experienced the dark side of cyberbullying so it was inevitable that she would be hurt and taken aback.
In the big room where the guests gathered, the audience saw Qin Baobao through the screen.
Li Rongxing, “My god, it’s a goddess.”
Li Zongde, “So pretty!”
Hong Jingyao, “What a beautiful lady.”
Chen Xiaotong said in his broken Mandarin, “Is she a new singer in the mainland?”
Huang Yuteng shook his head. “Qin Baobao? I’ve never heard of her. She should be a newcomer.”
Hong Jingyao laughed. “Don’t look down on newbies. There are a lot of youngsters who have amazing vocals these days.”
The crowd rambled on as they waited for Qin Baobao to push open the door and enter. She bowed towards the singers who were already famous for a long time, and the audience applauded. She was pretty, but this was a singing competition—not a beauty pageant. How could a newcomer with no popularity and songs gain their recognition and respect? However, they still acted as if they welcomed her.
On the live comments from viewers, the netizens had also expressed their views.
“The guests don’t look like they like her.”
“Of course, she’s a woman who relied on connections.”
“Don’t like her? Nonsense, which of the male guests does not want to sleep with her?”
…
When Qin Ze saw this, he was very upset. In the past, he was happy to hear these types of comments; but if the target of the comments became Qin Baobao—his sister—the feeling was completely different.
“These people are so uncultured.” Wang Zijin was also unhappy.
“Qin Ze was also a member of these people in the past,” Qin Baobao said slowly.
…
“Next, let’s enter the next segment of the program. The participating guests will do a lucky draw and decide on their opponents and their opening sequence. I wish all of you good luck.”
After the emcee—Yin Jia—was done speaking, the crew held a box and walked into the frame.
The second season of ‘I am a Singer’ essentially followed the first season’s system. Singers had to battle: six people were split into three groups, and all of them would battle. The winner would go on to the next round, and the three losers would battle again for two places to advance to the next round. The last person would then be eliminated.
The audience present would then act as the judge and decide who stayed and who was eliminated. When the ‘I am a Singer’ program committee first removed the judging panel and used the audience to decide on elimination, they had taken a big risk because this system was never seen before. At most, the audience would vote together with the judges, and they would be influenced by the judges or misled.
No one expected ‘I am a Singer’ to be so popular because of this.
“Teacher Hong was the most experienced. Teacher Hong should go first.”
“Teacher Huang is the most famous one. Teacher Huang should go first.”
“Ladies first, Teacher Xiaotong should pick first.”
The singers kept giving in to one another as they laughed and joked. In the end, the most experienced—Hong Jingyao—picked first. After picking for half a day, he brought up a plastic ball. “Number one!”
The audience laughed, “What an auspicious number.”
Hong Jingyao rolled his eyes. “How auspicious is this? I’m the first to go up; I need to bear all the pressure.”
The audience roared with laughter.
Chen Xiaotong was the second to pick. “I’m number two.”
Li Zongde, “My God! I’m number one. I’m Teacher Hong’s opponent.”
Huang Yuteng, “I’m number three.”
When Li Rongxing walked to the box in big steps, he nervously took deep breaths and looked anxious in front of the camera. “There’s only number two and number three left in the box. If I pick number three, my opponent would be Teacher Huang. My god, do you guys know how nervous I am right now? I have a one in two chance; if I pick number two, it’s heaven. If I pick number three, it’s hell. No, this can’t be done. I should go home first and pray to my ancestors.”
As he was talking, he turned around to leave.
“Hey, come back. Where are you going?”
“Young man, be more conscientious. Is this the time to pray to your ancestors? If you leave, who will sing?”
“Pfft…”
“Program committee, hurry up and tie him back.”
The few guests were caught between laughter and tears and the crowd was also tickled.
At the side, Qin Baobao was standing quietly; and she had a light smile on her face. It was clear that she did not fit in. The camera only shot at her for a moment and was back to the guests.
…
Qin Ze glanced at the sister beside him and said interestingly, “Don’t tell me you picked number three.”
Huang Yuteng was the most popular singer at that time; he was experienced and famous and was definitely one of the best singers present. When the most famous kings and queens did not appear, no one could stop him. He had an enormous fan base, and if Qin Baobao picked number three, it would be akin to falling into a manhole.
As her anger had not subsided, Qin Baobao glanced at him from the corner of her eyes and ignored his question.
At this time, gasps and screams sounded. On the screen, Li Rongxing started dancing happily; and he was holding a plastic ball in his hands. The number was… two.
Li Rongxing exclaimed, “Thank you, my country; thank you, people; thank you, program committee; and thank myself for having good morals!”
The guests and audience were teased.
Huang Yuteng shook his head and laughed.
Then, all the guests present looked at Qin Baobao—a newbie who was alone and helpless.
[1] This is a powerful set in Dungeon Fighter Online.
[2] This is an Internet slang which means the person loves what he/she sees on the screen.