Qin Ze felt a pang in his heart so he posted a sentence in Weibo and tagged Li Xuegang. Of course, no one would care about him—a minor character with less than one hundred followers. However, this was not important. He pushed open his sister’s door, and Qin Baobao was practicing her high notes. When she heard the noise, she turned around to take a look.
“Sis, some people are mocking you.” Qin Ze passed her the phone.
When Qin Baobao focused on the screen, she was immediately furious. “What’s with this Li Xuegang? Can’t he afford to lose? What does he mean by taking revenge for Xue Mei?”
She grabbed her own phone and sat on her bed to read it. The more she read, the angrier she got; she was so angry until her brows became straight.
“Share my Weibo post later.” After Qin Ze finished his sentence, he turned around and walked away.
Qin Baobao’s Weibo biography: Star Talent Entertainment Company’s Artiste, Singer—Signature Pieces: Invisible Wings, Miracle, and Fairytale
When Qin Baobao first registered for Weibo at the start, only her brother—Qin Ze, a few classmates, and friends that totaled up to less than a hundred people were following her. Now, there were already fifty thousand people following her.
Qin Baobao’s Weibo, the last Weibo’s post was posted on 15 June: ‘I ate my brother’s handmade chicken mushroom stew today. It’s delicious.’
The attached picture was the back view of Qin Ze being busy in the kitchen.
At that time, Qin Baobao had not resigned from the Top Five Hundred in the World. When she was in a good mood, she would post a few times; when she was in a bad mood, she would also post a few times. She lived a life without worries and frustrations.
Ever since she decided to go on the path of becoming an artiste, she had very little time to post on Weibo or to even use the Internet, unlike Qin Ze who roamed the forums and posts all day long.
There were more than ten thousand comments on her Weibo and were left by netizens after she became famous. All of them were very interesting; half of them were complimenting the three songs ‘Invisible Wings’, ‘Miracle’, and ‘Fairytale’. The other fifty percent were also compliments for Qin Baobao’s appearance. Why was it interesting? It was because the comments were too dirty.
There were quite a few pretty stars, and the fans were never petty with their praises; however, none of the stars were like Qin Baobao. Other than teasing, it was still more teasing. This was because Qin Baobao looked too much like a vixen and had a natural foxy face that seduced men and a pair of phoenix-like eyes that shot out sparks and her hot body. The first impression that she left on others was a vixen and femme fatale, nothing related to elegance or seriousness.
Qin Baobao finished reading Li Xuegang’s Weibo in anger. When she returned to the main page, she realized that her Weibo had been attacked; and the number of comments increased from ten thousand to more than thirty thousand.
They were all Li Xuegang’s fans and netizens who were adding oil to the fire.
“How can you tolerate this? Li Xuegang just announced that he will destroy you.”
“The decision lies with you, Qin Baobao. Throw your pet ball.”
“Uncle can endure; Auntie can endure. Go on, prepare to battle with the King of Rock-and-Roll.”
“I came from Li Xuegang’s Weibo. I want to see how the Queen of Love Songs trembles.”
“Qin Baobao, you’re in big trouble.”
“What are you waiting for? Pick up your phone and dial 158XXXXXX1812. Call your husband—me—to protect you.”
“What on earth is Qin Baobao? Wait for my idol to defeat you and kick you out of the program.”
“This is karma for defeating other people’s wives. You’re doomed.”
“Don’t be scared; don’t be scared. Just hurry and surrender in the next episode.”
“I’ll sit around and watch.”
“I’ll sit around and watch plus one.”
“You’re a newcomer, but you’re battling with a professional singer without knowing your own limits. Hehe.”
“Your singing skills are average; you’re just relying on new songs. When the audiences in the next episode are tired of viewing your beauty, you’ll be eliminated.”
“My boyfriend actually set Qin Baobao’s full-body picture as his phone wallpaper. What the heck.”
“One look and you will know that she’s an indecent woman. Hmph.”
“I’ll make a vow with this post. Qin Baobao would definitely be eliminated in the next episode for the following reasons: one, the singers on the next episode are Hong Jingyao, Chen Xiaotong, Li Rongxing, Hong Jingyao, Qin Baobao, and Li Xuegang; whoever Qin Baobao battles, it would be hard for her to win.
“After she gets eliminated in the first stage, she would be directly kicked out in the resurrection round. In the previous two episodes, other than her songs winning the rest, Li Zongde and Xue Mei were not popular singers. One of them, his popularity is only limited to Hong Kong; and there aren’t many people who like him in the mainland. The second debuted as a model—not a professional singer, and she isn’t very popular so it’s understandable that Qin Baobao can win based on her songs.
“In this episode, she’s about to meet a few capable singing legends. Besides, does she still have incredible songs? No matter how big Star Talent was, she didn’t own it; and it’s impossible that they would make her famous by sacrificing all that they have. Even if so, Star Talent was not a pure record company. Why would they have so many incredible songs? Each song is super expensive. Why would Star Talent spend so much money to make a newcomer famous?”
“You’re very right. I have nothing to say against you.”
“After reading your analysis, I feel that Qin Baobao will stop her journey in the third episode.”
“Please don’t, I haven’t seen Qin Baobao enough.”
Qin Baobao remembered Qin Ze’s words: ‘share my Weibo post later’.
Share his Weibo post?
Qin Baobao pressed on her followers list and entered his brother’s Weibo. She saw that he had just posted a message: ‘If you’re not convinced, then battle. @Li Xuegang’
Qin Baobao thought for a while, and her eyes lit up while her lips broke into a smile. She shared it: ‘My brother is so handsome and awesome. @watching my childhood from afar. If you’re not convinced, then battle. @Li Xuegang’
At noon, Qin Baobao made it to the top searches; it was her first time on Weibo’s top searches.
#QinBaobaoChastizedLiXuegang
Many netizens did not know Qin Baobao, but everyone knew Li Xuegang. Even if they were not Li Xuegang’s fans—in this society where information was overloaded, he was not a stranger to them. Besides, people would always be attracted to superstar’s gossip, especially topics like ‘xx star fights head on head with yy star’.
Li Xuegang’s fans scolded Qin Baobao angrily. They ate melon seeds while watching the show and adding oil to fire; they only feared that the world would not be chaotic.
“Who gave her this courage? Did she really think that she’s a queen after singing a few new songs?”
“Goddess, you’re on your way to your death.”
“Hehe, let’s wait for the next episode and watch Qin Baobao’s face get slapped.”
“She isn’t famous yet, and yet her confidence is over the moon. A filled bottle won’t make noise; only half-filled ones will.”
“Is this woman dumb? Her EQ is so low.”
“She’s so arrogant.”
“Qin Baobao, you’re too low when you do this. You need to be humble, humble. You’re a newbie who just debuted, what are you boasting about? He’s the legend of rock-and-roll. Who do you think you are?”
“Li Xuegang is a famous musician and contributed greatly to the rock-and-roll world. Where did Qin Baobao—a newbie, get this courage from?”
“You’re just riding on his coattail. Shameless.”
“Suddenly, I’m looking forward to the next episode. I’ll sit and wait for my idol to eliminate her and let her witness the greatness of rock-and-roll.”
“So dumb. It’s a waste of her looks.”
“Am I the only one supporting Qin Baobao? Li Xuegang is a senior in the music world. Just because his wife lost, he popped up and said sinisterly that he wanted to ‘take revenge’. Is this how a senior should be? There’s nothing wrong with Qin Baobao’s post. Do you only allow the government to start fires and not the civilians to light candlesticks?”
“The person upstairs is a joke. The couple was just showing off their love, but Qin Baobao jumped out and disturbed them blindly. She’s just riding on their coattail.”
“I have long hated this woman. She looks just like a b*tch.”
“Aiyo… the boyfriend of the person upstairs must have left her for someone else.”
“You’re ugly yourself, but you blame others for being pretty.”
There were all sorts of things on the Internet. Qin Baobao’s Weibo had been infiltrated. The majority of them were insulting and scolding people while a minority was supporting her. In a short half a day, the number of comments had erupted and increased to hundreds of thousands.
Qin Ze never expected that his Weibo would also go viral. Due to the post he posted this morning, there were more than fifty thousand comments.
“You’re the rumored younger brother?”
“I’ll catch the wild brother alive.”
“You’re really Qin Baobao’s younger brother? Post your picture.”
“I don’t really believe him. Is he someone’s smurf?”
“If you have the guts, show your face. If you have the guts, reveal your real name. I don’t believe someone in his twenties can write three incredible songs.”
“The popularity is so low that it’s painful. It must be a smurf; it must be that person’s smurf.”
“Who is that person?”
“The person upstairs, you should upgrade your IQ.”
“Hehe, Qin Baobao’s smurf. It’s a newcomer’s style.”
…
Within the ‘I am a Singer’ program committee, the directors and the few vice-directors were having a meeting.
Director, “You know what’s happening on the Internet, right?”
Qin Baobao was the program’s guest, and Li Xuegang was the guest for the next episode. The program committee knew at the first instance that they had caused such a commotion online.
The few vice-directors, “I know.”
“Qin Baobao didn’t do this properly.”
“He’s a senior after all. He didn’t even point her name out; why should she just take it upon herself?”
“This lady’s personality is pretty interesting.”
The few of them expressed their opinions.
The director sipped on his tea. “This is good for us and has made our program more popular. I gathered everyone here for a meeting for two objectives. One, we’ll let Qin Baobao battle Li Xuegang in the next episode in response to the audience’s request. Of course, we can’t make it too obvious.”
‘I am a Singer’ was known for being fair and just when they passed the voting rights to the audience, but there was no absolute fairness in the world. Faking the lucky draw results was as easy as ABC. Besides, it was not something bad so it would not harm the program’s principal, and the secret box could be done within allowed regions.
The few vice-directors and strategists nodded their heads respectively.
The selling point for the next episode would be Qin Baobao’s battle with Li Xuegang.
“Secondly, check the ID @Watching My Childhood From Afar. Even though there isn’t such a person within the entertainment circle, he’s definitely a legendary composer. If it’s an account from Star Talent, then forget it. However, if it’s really like what Qin Baobao said, if it was her brother; then we have to dig this person out.”
The director paused for a while and looked at the people in front of him. “Do you think the chances of him being Qin Baobao’s brother are high?”
The few of them shook their heads.
What a joke. How could a legendary composer, who was so quiet before, suddenly jump out from a rock? It was not even scientific. The only logical explanation was that Star Talent was behind all of this, and they were unleashing Qin Baobao’s potential.
One of the vice-directors raised up his hand, and when the rest looked over, he boomed, “I received a request from Star Talent. They want us to pit Qin Baobao and Huang Yuteng against each other. They meant that they want to eliminate Qin Baobao. Everyone knows; she’s only a substitute singer. The person whom Star Talent really wants to promote is Xu Lu.”
The director knitted his brows. “When did this happen?”
The few vice-directors, “Why don’t they handle their own company’s affairs?”
“Yesterday after work. I wanted to bring it up this morning, but after the Internet incident, I forgot about it.” The person laughed bitterly, “There should be a division within Star Talent. Some people want Qin Baobao to continue singing, but others want to promote Xu Lu.”
After a moment of silence, everyone was digesting and analyzing this information. From this, they understood that—one—there were disagreements within Star Talent about Qin Baobao’s remaining jobs. Secondly, ‘Watching My Childhood From Afar’ could really possibly not be someone from Star Talent.
The reason was simple. If there were divisions within Star Talent Entertainment Company, they definitely would not put in so much resources on Qin Baobao alone. One should know that it was impossible even for a first-grade female star like Xu Lu to receive so much resources. Incredible songs were very hard to find, and entertainment companies did not only have one first-grade singer.
The director thought for a while. Then, his eyes sparkled. “Check and get the ID address of the Weibo account. If it’s necessary, talk to Qin Baobao about it. We must dig this person out and invite him to the station.”