Chapter 151: If We Miss This Today, We’ll Have To Wait Until the Next Life Lin Shanchu jogged back to the dormitory. Her roommate, who was out front, noticed her and asked, “Where did you go? How are you just coming back?” “I went to the bathroom on the way.” Lin Shanchu calmly lied. Yun Wu had just finished showering when she walked out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around her head. She happened to overhear Lin Shanchu. She walked up to Lin Shanchu and asked with a concerned face, “You went to the bathroom for so long?” Lin Shanchu nodded without feeling any sort of guilt. “Oh.” Yun Wu turned around and started blow-drying her hair. Lin Shanchu suddenly realized what Yun Wu meant by her reaction: She felt that there was something more to Lin Shanchu’s words. She glanced at Yun Wu. Most likely driven by her excitement to eat, Yun Wu did not even bother to comb her hair properly. She hastily reached for the hairdryer and aggressively blew her hair like she was facing a blizzard. What could this glutton be thinking about? At most, Lin Shanchu would expect Yun Wu to complain about how she was late and how that delayed her mealtime. Lin Shanchu smiled as she walked towards the bathroom. Just as she was about to step in, she was stopped in her tracks by a familiar voice in her head. [Love Line Points +1.] Lin Shanchu’s expression changed. The system sensed the change in Lin Shanchu’s emotions and asked: [What’s wrong? Aren’t you happy to receive points?] Lin Shanchu ignored it and checked the point details. The newly added points were marked under the ‘Heartbeat Value’ category. ‘Heartbeat Value’ points again. Hold on. She just met up with Huo Xunzhou. Previously when she was awarded a point, Huo Xunzhou was there as well. So, was it possible that the source of these two points came from Huo Xunzhou? Lin Shanchu took a speedy shower and rushed off to the cafeteria with Yun Wu. As they walked past the tables, their topic of discussion caught Lin Shan Chu’s attention. “Ah! It’s July the eighteenth today!” “I never expect that it would be the eighteenth of July so quickly!” Earlier in the dormitory, she also overheard her roommates talking about today’s date. She just thought it was just a special occasion for one of her roommates. However, upon her arrival at the cafeteria, everyone was talking about July the eighteenth. Ophthalmologists Are Lost. Vision Returned To 100% In A Week! CRYSTALIX Had she been cut off from the internet? She had her phone with her and had been secretly surfing the internet every day, there was no way she missed out on important news. Yun Wu noticed Lin Shan Chu’s confusion over the current events and asked, “Don’t you know what day July the eighteenth is?” Lin Shanchu shook her head. Coincidentally, Wen Tongtong and Ning Yunxi were walking over with their plates and overheard their conversation. Ning Yunxi asked Lin Shanchu in surprise, “Sister, do you not chase after celebrities?” Lin Shanchu shook her head again. The author hadn’t allowed her to be able to fangirl over celebrities. Wen Tongtong also questioned her with a tone of skepticism, “Aren’t we the same age?” “You’re one year younger.” Lin Sanchu replied. “Oh.” “Sister, you really don’t know SOF?!” Ning Yunxi gave Lin Shanchu a playfully sarcastic thumbs up, ‘Wow, you’re amazing.” “And we’ve been talking for so long, but you still haven’t told me what today’s all about.” Lin Shanchu nonchalantly reminded her. Yun Wu burst out laughing. “Today is the day SOF disbands. There will be a global farewell live stream tonight.” Yun Wu’s words snapped a memory in Lin Shanchu’s head. “Wait… You mean the boy band that performed ‘The Fall of the Universe’?” She knew about SOF and how internationally popular they’ve been for many years. She just didn’t keep up with them for a long time so she didn’t know they were disbanding today. Ning Yunxi let out a pretentious sniffle as she shoved a spoonful of rice into her mouth, “My youth…” Wen Tongtong sighed, “It’s a pity we can’t attend the farewell concert in person.” Yun Wu was the only one who focused on her meal more than the conversation they were having. “Aren’t you a fan of SOF?” Lin Shanchu asked her. “In the past.” Yun Wu replied simply. Then, as if she was avoiding further questions, Yun Wu swiftly tried to change the subject, “The braised beef is delicious today.” As part of the culture, the production crew would arrange a day off for the trainees the day after the performance. So, in the evening after the show, everyone would gather together to relax and chit-chat. But tonight, instead of gathering to chat, they gathered at the director’s office. It was so crowded to the point it was impossible for anyone to move in or out. “Director, my dying wish is to be at SOF’s farewell concert.” “Director, if we miss this today, we’ll have to wait for it in the next life.” “Director, please…” Once again, Song Yiming found himself drowning in the sea of girls yelling “Director” again. “Fine! If you want to watch, I’ll arrange something for you right now!” The director personally played the live broadcast of SOF’s farewell concert on the stage’s big screen for them. Lin Shanchu was curious so she came over to have a look. She wasn’t a fan of SOF, so she planned to leave once she was satisfied. The director had sharp eyes and called out to her, “Lin Shanchu! Sit down, you’re blocking the view.” “I don’t…” Ads by Pubfuture “Sit down and watch.” The director could tell that Lin Shanchu was about to say that she wasn’t interested in watching, so he deliberately interrupted her. The publicity department was already asking him for materials, so how could he let Lin Shanchu leave and cause a disruption? Ning Yunxi also helped to pull Lin Shanchu back to her seat. “Sister, it’s about to start! Let me tell you, my favorite is Alec. He’s the baby of the group…” For the next few minutes, Ning Yunxi didn’t stop bragging about Alec to Lin Shanchu. Finally, when the live broadcast began, Ning Yunxi finally stopped. The camera swept across the audience in the venue. It was packed, with heads crowding together. Once the members of SOF took the stage, the atmosphere became even more frenzied. The cheers from the audience almost drowned out the host’s voice. Lin Shanchu’s surroundings weren’t any different either. On her left, she had Ning Yunxi, and on her right, Wen Tongtong. Both of them were as unstable. “Ahhhh! Alec is so handsome!” “Brother, I love you!” Lin Shanchu closed her eyes and exhaled to compose her patience while she stared at the screen expressionlessly. The camera then gave close-ups of each member of SOF. Ning Yunxi suddenly grabbed her and said, “Ah, sis, this is Alec! Isn’t he handsome?” The man on the screen was young and handsome, with joyful, charming eyes. He held the microphone in a carefree manner. “Hello, everyone. I’m Alec.” Her voice was mellifluous. “He’s quite handsome.” Lin Shanchu agreed. She wasn’t completely clueless about who SOF was. It was only because she hadn’t been keeping up with celebrities that she couldn’t remember their names well. The camera then cut to another member’s face. This time, it was Weng Tongtong who pulled Lin Shanchu over and said, “This is Captain Sang Min! Isn’t he handsome?” After carefully observing him, Lin Shanchu nodded, “Yes.” Of course. For them to be a boy band so popular, they had to have good looks. The screams in Lin Shanchu’s ears never stopped throughout the rest of the performance. It wasn’t until the final segment of farewell speeches that her surroundings quieted down. However, the silence only lasted a few minutes before the wave of deafening cries washed over her again. Lin Shanchu’s head was buzzing, so she cooked up an excuse to use the bathroom to get up and leave. As soon as the door to the viewing room closed behind her, the loudest scream erupted from inside. Lin Shanchu heaved a sigh of relief. She felt as if she had just survived a natural disaster. It was Still early, so sne was reaay to go out ror a walK. As she approached the elevator, she heard voices behind her. “Must you really rush back tonight? Is there no one else in the entire Huo family that could step up? I swear, there’s never a single good thing coming from those with the surname Huo.. They’re all disgusting…” Chapter 152: I’m Scared Too Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Lin Shanchu turned to face the direction of the sound and collided head-on with a group of people coming toward her. Both parties were taken aback. Nan Mu, who was talking before, quickly fell silent. Li MO started the conversation, “Miss Lin?” Nan Mu heard about the incident where the trainees surrounded the director’s office, so seeing as she was here now, he asked, “Aren’t you going to watch SOF’s farewell concert in the screening room?” “I did watch it. It’s almost over, so I just decided to come out and get some fresh air,” Lin Shanchu replied, unintentionally glancing at Huo Xunzhou. Huo Xunzhou was also looking at her, but his expression was cold as usual. Nan Mu suddenly nudged Li MO, “Oh, did you forget to take your phone?” “My phone?” Li MO felt through his pockets above his pants, “My phone is right here-” Nan Mu reached out to place his hand on Li MO’s shoulder and said anyway, “Don’t worry, I’ll accompany you to get it.” He hooked his arm around Li MO’s shoulder and walked back without saying anything more. As one of the shippers of Huo Xunzhou and Lin Shanchu’s relationship, Li MO immediately understood what Nan Mu was trying to do. He swallowed the words he was about to say and silently followed Nan Mu. After walking a certain distance, he finally waved Nan Mu’s hand away in disgust, “Don’t touch me.” “What’s wrong with a little touching?” Nan Mu tried to approach him again. Li MO was unbothered, “You’re disgusting.” Nan Mu stopped talking after that and the two of them walked away. The surroundings started to quiet down. At this moment, Lin Shanchu was suddenly reminded about the ‘Heartbeat Value’ points and felt a little complicated. “Are you leaving?” she sparked the conversation. ‘Yeah.” Huo Xunzhou leaned back into his wheelchair, looking a little relaxed. Lin Shanchu placed her hands behind her back earnestly as she wished him, “Bon voyage.” “Thanks.” Suddenly, Huo Xunzhou’s phone rang. As he answered the call, Huo Xunzhou made a weird expression because he couldn’t understand what the caller said. Throughout the entire conversation, the caller only uttered one thing before hanging up: “Mmm.” When the call ended, Huo Xunzhou immediately dialed Li MO’s number and said, “Come over.” The moment he hung up, Li MO was already coming around the corner. “Big Brother,” he exclaimed as he jogged over. It turned out that Li MO and Nan Mu hadn’t left at all. They were hiding behind the corner, eavesdropping on Lin Shanchu and Huo Xunzhou’s conversation. Ophthalmologists Are Lost. Vision Returned To 100% In A Week! CRYSTALIX Lin Shanchu could somewhat expect Nan Mu to be this nosy… but she didn’t expect Li MO to be like this as well. Feeling Lin Shanchu’s gaze on him, Li MO chuckled awkwardly as he addressed her, “Miss Lin.” Noticing that Huo Xun’s expression was off, Nan Mu asked, ‘What’s wrong?” Huo Xunzhou didn’t give a direct answer and just said, “I’ll be back late this time.” “Oh,” Nan Mu looked at Lin Shanchu meaningfully. At this moment, the elevator doors opened. Li MO, Huo Xun, and Nan Mu stepped inside. Lin Shanchu contemplated joining them for a moment but ultimately remained standing in place. “Goodbye,” she said to Li MO without looking at Huo Xunzhou. With that, she walked off. Nan Mu looked at Lin Shanchu’s leaving figure and thoughtfully asked Huo Xunzhou, ‘What happened between you two?” Huo Xunzhou closed the elevator doors without saying a word. He didn’t look too pleased to hear that. How could he know? He was unsure of what happened himself. Within such a short while, Lin Shan Chu’s tone suddenly turned cautious. And now it was worse, she just left without even saying goodbye. Sensing his tenseness, Nan Mu didn’t dare probe him any further. He silently retreated beside Li MO and leaned against him. Coincidentally, Li MO also happened to step back. The two of them stood together in a corner, not daring to make a sound. Hence, they could only argue with each other silently using their face. Nan Mu: ‘Why are you squeezing next to me?’ Li Mo: ‘Big Brother is in a bad mood. I’m scared too.’ Lin Shanchu was purposely taking a stroll so she was able to turn back in time to watch the elevator door closing. She sighed softly and continued her journey back. After a few steps, she encountered Yun Wu who was running toward her at full speed, panting heavily. “Shanshan?” Yun Wu was surprised to see her. “Are you feeling better?” Lin Shanchu inquired. Previously, Yun Wu mentioned that she wasn’t feeling too good and needed to rest for a while, so she didn’t manage to join the rest in the screening room. Yun Wu paused for a moment. “I’m fine.” Lin Shanchu noticed that Yun Wu was constantly looking around as she spoke, so she asked, “Are you looking for someone?” After another round of silence, Yun Wu asked back, “Have you seen President Nan?” “He just took the elevator downstairs.” Lin Shanchu pointed at the elevator. “Where did he go?” Lin Shanchu carefully observed Yun Wu for a while before slowly saying, “He went… to send Huo Xunzhou off.” Ads by Pubfuture “Oh,” Yun Wu nodded. She looked as if she was lost in thought thinking about something. “Do you need him urgently?” Only when she heard Lin Shanchu’s voice resonating, Yun Wu snapped back to her senses and replied, “It’s okay. I’ll talk to him when he gets back. Come, let’s head back to the dormitory.” Lin Shanchu followed Yun Wu back to the dormitory. However, they found the dorms to be empty upon their arrival. When she left the screening room earlier, the members of SOF were already giving their farewell speeches. Shouldn’t it be over by now? Blit seeing how much they love the band. it was understandable if they weren’t willing to let go. They would probably stay in the screening room to be sad for a while. Lin Shanchu proceeded to wash up, lay on her bed, and flip through a magazine in boredom. Even after flipping through a two-to-three-page magazine for almost an hour, no one came back from the dormitory. Yun Wu, who always used to discuss with her what foods the canteen would be serving the next day, also remained silent this whole time. It was a little strange. Lin Shanchu got up and approached the end of Yun Wu’s bed, only to realize that she had done nothing but stare blankly at the ceiling. “What’s wrong?” Only when Lin Shanchu stuck her hand in front of Yun Wu’s face and waved did Yun Wu finally come back to her senses. She sat up, “They’re not back yet?” Lin Shanchu looked at the other empty beds and confirmed, “Nope.” “Looks like there’s no result yet,” Yun Wu’s tone was a little solemn. ‘What result?” Lin Shanchu was puzzled. Lin Shanchu’s confusion made Yun Wu confused. She explained, “Sang Min from SOF suddenly collapsed as he was giving his farewell speech. Did you not see that?” Lin Shanchu shook her head, “I left early.” “No wonder.” Yun Wu then shot up from her bed and said, “Shanshan, let’s go take a look.” Yun Wu seemed like she wasn’t a fan of SOF, yet she was still somehow quite concerned for them. “Alright,” Lin Shanchu nodded. Once they entered the screening room, the trainees were still there. Due to Sang Min’s sudden collapse, the live broadcast had been interrupted. The trainees gathered around the staff, following up on the latest updates online. “It’s been an hour. Why is there still no news?” ‘Yeah. Could it be that Sang Min…?’ “Stop it. Sang Min was fine during his physical examination last year, he was in good health. There was no way something happened to him.. These girls were so devoted to their idol that they even knew about his physical examination results. Lin Shanchu recalled the sudden loud exclamations she heard when she left the screening room earlier. Sang Min had probably fainted during that time. And just as she left, Yun Wu came to find her and must have coincidentally learned about this incident on her way over.. Chapter 153: The Person Behind This Must Be Extremely Powerful Yun Wu was already making her way over to ask about the situation. Lin Shanchu just stood aside. She casually looked around and spotted Wen Tongtong, full of worry. Wen Tongtong was Sang Min’s ultimate fan. Lin Shanchu stared at her as she tried to recall the plot of the original book. However, there were very few plotlines in the original book related to SOF. It was probably because the entertainment industry had a relatively minor presence in the book. “What’s Sang Min’s ending?” Lin Shanchu asked the System. The system gave a very slow response: [Sang Min is a character unrelated to the main storyline. His outcome will not have any impact on the plot.] “If you don’t know, just say it.” Lin Shanchu mocked. The system could not stand this blow to its intelligence, especially since it had just been freshly updated. It blurted out: [He’s dead.] The shock from hearing that jerked Lin Shanchu’s head up to look toward Wen Tongtong. Although she wasn’t one to chase after idols, she understood how impactful they were to everyone else. Feeling Lin Shanchu’s gaze, Wen Tongtong met her eyes. “When did you get here?” Wen Tongtong hadn’t noticed Lin Shanchu’s arrival earlier. “Just a moment ago,” Lin Shanchu replied. “A while ago, there were media reports about Sang Min having a terminal illness, but Sang Min had specifically released a medical report just to refute those rumors…” Wen Tongtong continued with a sad smile, “Lin Shanchu… do you think he’ll be alright?” Lin Shanchu just stood in silence with an emotionless face. “What’s with your expression?” Wen Tongtong’s face gradually grew pale. Lin Shanchu’s voice sank, “Life is unpredictable. Birth, aging, sickness, death… they are all normal occurrences.” Those words weren’t very consoling. Wen Tongtong frowned and said, “Don’t be so pessimistic.” In the next second, someone yelled, “The results are out!” The entire screening room bustled with noise. “Sang Min died!” “How is that possible? This is a f * cking rumor!” “It’s the news released by SOF’s official account.” The whole room fell dead silent. Wen Tongtong looked at Lin Shanchu in disbelief. And soon, the sound of sobbing slowly echoed throughout the screening room. The hashtag #SOFCaptainSangMinDiesDespiteRescueEfforts went viral. Sang Min’s fans flooded the official accounts of SOF, demanding the truth. SOF’s official account had already issued an emergency statement in the early hours. But the announcement only mentioned that Sang Min’s cause of death was cardiac arrest. Diabetes Is Not From Sweets! Meet The Main Enemy Of Diabetes INSULUX To find out more about the details, an autopsy report was required and to get an autopsy report, they needed the signature of one of his family members. Sang Min’s family was already on their way back from China. So, tonight was destined to be a sleepless night for both the entertainment industry and its fans. Regardless, the trainees were escorted by the staff back to their dorms to rest. Upon their return to their dormitory, Lin Shanchu noticed that Yun Wu’s eyes were red and swollen. A few of her roommates were also huddled together, crying. Lin Shanchu was the only one in the entire room who didn’t shed tears. She poured a glass of water for Yun Wu, and without saying much, climbed into her bed to sleep. The next morning, Lin Shanchu woke up to find Sang Min’s name no longer on the trending search list. She took out her phone and scrolled through the rankings, but Sang Min’s name was nowhere to be seen. The captain of a famous international boy band suddenly died, how could such explosive news last only one night? It’s barely even been twelve hours. Lin Shanchu scavenged through several other social media platforms but didn’t find any topics related to Sang Min’s death as well. Not only were there no related topics but there were also almost no related discussions among the netizens. Someone was manipulating everything behind the scenes. There were plenty of people in the entertainment industry who played this game. Lu Shiyuan has removed Tang Qidai’s name from the trending list countless times. However, whether it was Lu Shiyuan or people from the entertainment industry, they have never handled things as cleanly as these people did with Sang Min. There was almost no trace of him at all. She couldn’t even find anything on the search engine. This wasn’t just a matter of having money. The person behind this must be extremely powerful. Lin Shanchu remembered the system saying that Sang Min’s ending would not affect the plot. However, the main storyline had already started to change because she was aware of this. Was there a possibility… that she was the main character and all the things and people she encountered would be connected to the main plot? Lin Shanchu had a feeling that Sang Min’s death would potentially introduce new variables. Since she could not discuss anything related to the plot with the others, she only told the system about her thoughts. The system agreed with her: [Theoretically speaking, that’s true. However, the fact was that SOF did not have a sense of existence in the original plot. They were only briefly mentioned and their settings were set to be similar to NPCs in games.] Even after saying so much, the system still didn’t say anything about Lin Shanchu’s speculation that SOF was related to the main plot. Lin Shanchu was getting a bit frustrated, “Alright, stop talking.” Why was it always so difficult for her to communicate with the system? Sensing Lin Shanchu’s change in mood, the system did as it was told. After contemplating for a moment, Lin Shanchu spoke up. “We’ve been together for so long and still have difficulty with communicating and establishing trust. I don’t think there’s a need for us to cooperate anymore.” [Huh???] Ads by Pubfuture Lin Shanchu continued, “Since you were able to bond with me, there must be a way to unbind yourself.” [You want to break our bond?] “Or maybe I can switch to a different system.” She had endured this useless system long enough. It had accomplished almost nothing except acting like it had a serious mental illness all the time. The system was panicking so much that its response was a mess: [That’s not possible. I can only un-unbind once I complete the mission. Only by completing… the task can the binding be lifted. M-My mission is to achieve a grand finale with a happy… ending.] Its mechanical voice sounded like it had an unstable electric current, causing its speech to be choppy. It sounded a little pitiful. But Lin Shanchu didn’t feel sorry for it. “What if you don’t complete the mission?” she asked. [Then you will be punished within the book.] Lin Shanchu felt a little disappointed, “Hmm, I thought you would just explode.” The system sounded the alarm: [Danger!] Lin Shanchu coldly snorted, “It’s not too late for you to think of a way to remove this bond. Better start thinking of a way starting now!” She had never promised the system that she would help it achieve a grand finale with a happy ending. She didn’t even plan to survive until the grand finale. Lu Shiyuan must die! Even if they were to perish together. He must die! The popularity of “My Stage” had been completely suppressed since the disbandment of SOF and Sang Min’s death. Plus, many of the trainees were saddened by the incident with Sang Min and were not in a good emotional state. So, the production crew made an exception and gave them three days off. During this break, they also had a team-building activity. The canteen hosted a hotpot meal for everyone so they could eat together. Thankfully, once their break ended and the results of the rankings were released, the trainees felt much better. However, the number of eliminations this round was the highest. A total of twenty-eight people were eliminated. Among them was Ning Yunxi. She burst into tears on the spot and said, “Huhuhu- Finally, I’ve been expecting this day.” Although she was always emotional, deep down she was very clear-minded. She knew her skills weren’t strong enough to make it to the finals. Comment section: [She’s crying again…] [Ning Yunxi has been incredibly lucky to come this far. Why isn’t she satisfied?] Surprisingly, when it was time for her to deliver her farewell speech, Ning Yunxi stopped crying. She began, “I believe at this moment, there are surely many people commenting ‘Ning Yunxi, you’re incredibly lucky to have come this far’…” Comment section: [Has Ning Yunxi been spying on the comments?] [Bahahahaha! This hit my funny bone..] Chapter 154: Lin Shanchu’s Fans Are Just as Crazy as She Is Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Ning Yunxi continued. .What I wanted to say was that luck didn’t get me here.” This statement sounded somewhat arrogant so it fired up the comment section. [If not? Were you just relying on your abilities?] [Is it because you’re leaving so you deliberately start arguments with your arrogant words?] [Can’t you guys hear her out?] [It’s like they say, all publicity is good publicity.] [I used to have a good impression of her. Why are her social skills so bad…] [How many good people are there among all of those who hang out with Lin Shanchu?] Even if some left rational comments, they were in the minority and were quickly overwhelmed by the criticisms of Ning Yunxi. Ning Yunxi looked at Lin Shanchu, who was standing at the highest position. Then, she looked at Wen Tongtong. She smiled and said, “The reason why I could stand here today was all thanks to Lin Shanchu and Wen Tongtong’s hard work.” “Everyone knows how slow I am and how hard they worked to teach me.” Comment section: [Sorry for criticizing her too soon.] [You people are so rude, you can’t even listen to others until they finish speaking.] [Our little crybaby sister deserves this!! ! ] “Let me tell you guys something, you might not believe it but I actually know how to raise pigs. I’ve been learning to raise pigs over the years and I’m getting quite good at it. I like raising pigs… Huhuhu- Ning Yunxi couldn’t help but burst into tears again. Her face was chubby with a hint of baby fat. When she cried, she didn’t care about what she looked like, making her appear adorable and childlike. All the trainees who had interacted with Ning Yunxi before smiled. “She’s so cute when she cries.” “What’s going on? Seeing her cry makes me want to laugh. Hahahaha!” The viewers in the live broadcast chat shamelessly flooded the comments with a wave of “Hahaha.” [I might be a pervert, but I find her crying both cute and funny.] [Pervert +1] [Just because she can’t debut doesn’t mean she has to leave the entertainment industry, right? She still has a decent fan base. Isn’t any company signing her up?] Lin Shanchu looked at Ning Yunxi and couldn’t help but laugh, “Didn’t you say you like raising pigs? Why are you crying?” “I’m just a little reluctant.” Ning Yunxi sniffled and wiped away her tears. She squeezed out a big smile. Diabetes Is Not From Sweets! Meet The Main Enemy Of Diabetes INSULUX “Goodbye, everyone. I’m going back to raising pigs and benefiting society.” A bittersweet laughter rang throughout the team. The sentimental atmosphere lightened up because of Ning Yunxi’s humor. Once all the trainees finished their farewell speeches, the recording came to an end. Ning Yunxi walked up to Lin Shanchu, pitifully asking, “Sister, will you come to see me off when I leave?” ‘When are you leaving?” Lin Shanchu asked. “Right away.” Lin Shanchu was caught speechless, “…Didn’t you say you were reluctant to?” You can never trust a woman’s words. Just within Lin Shanchu’s dorm alone, almost half of the trainees had been sent home. Lin Shanchu and Yun Wu saw them off together. Their dormitory had the most people, so when they came out, they caused a massive crowd. Yun Wu had been in a low mood since the day SOF was disbanded. When they were parting ways, Yun Wu hugged them and shed tears once again. Ning Yunxi wailed as she ran back to hug Lin Shanchu, “Sister, give me your phone number. I’ll contact you once you come out.” Wen Tongtong handed over a stack of sticky notes and a pen. Lin Shanchu wrote down her number, tore off the sticky note, and handed it to Ning Yunxi, “You can add me on WeChat directly.” “Alright!” Ning Yunxi tucked the note away and waved goodbye to everyone. She dragged her 28-inch suitcase with her as she flew off without looking back. As she ran, she shouted, “My beloved fried chicken hotpot, delicious skewers, my coke, and ‘King of Glory’!! I’m back!!” This was probably what people meant when they say ‘I’m so happy I could fly’? Yun Wu whined in envy, “I want to play games too.” Lin Shanchu touched the phone in her pocket and was about to say something when Wen Tongtong interrupted her. “Can you write your number for me too?” Wen Tongtong handed over the pen and paper again. Lin Shanchu turned around with an awkward expression. Wen Tongtong felt a bit embarrassed as well. Wen Tongtong had previously joined hands with Xia Jinmeng to take down Lin Shanchu, so she probably didn’t expect Lin Shanchu to want anything to do with her after they left. To her surprise, Lin Shanchu didn’t even question her and wrote down her number. Lin Shanchu already knew what Wen Tongtong was thinking when she saw the surprised expression on her face. Alas, the relationships built between people were fragile. People can ask for your contact information, but they might not contact you in the end. It’s a common thing to forget a familiar face in a sea of strangers after a while, like they say, people come and go. “Your ranking is quite high though,” Lin Shanchu remarked. In this training camp, asking for contact information usually meant one of you was leaving. “You never know.” Ads by Pubfuture Wen Tongtong smiled indifferently. In the past, she tried so hard to please Xia Jinmeng, forming cliques with her, just to gain nothing in the end. Wen Tongtong was unsure if it was because Lin Shanchu influenced her, but she had become more open-minded since then. After all the eliminated trainees left, there were still over forty remaining trainees recording the third round of selections. “There have been some adjustments to the selection rules for the third round,” the host explained. “All the songs for this round have been chosen through open voting by fans on social media platforms…” The trainees were caught by surprise. Comment section: [There’s such a thing?] [I almost forgot about this. The voting results came out last night, right?] [I just checked the voting results. Damn, I’m shocked!] [Shocked about what? Lin Shanchu’s song?] [Are Lin Shanchu’s fans serious?] [They say fans always follow their idols, so maybe Lin Shanchu’s fans are as crazy as she is?] [Although I’ve slandered Lin Shanchu before, I feel a little sorry for her now.] Lin Shanchu was unaware that her haters in the comments were starting to sympathize with her. She was busy pondering how the production crew had so many tricks up their sleeves. She was even waiting curiously to see which song her fans had chosen for her. The host began announcing the songs one by one, starting with the lower-ranking trainees. Yun Wu’s fans had chosen a popular song for her that suited her style very well. Yun Wu herself was also very satisfied with it. She faced the camera, made a heart sign, and said, “I love you guys.” Next up was Lin Shanchu’s turn. She was really looking forward to her song. The host, as usual, loved to keep the fans in suspense, “The song chosen for Lin Shanchu is…” The trainees shouted the name of the song in unison: “Valley of A Thousand Despairs!” ‘Valley of A Thousand Despairs’ was a popular hit song in the first half of the year. It combined elements of fantasy with a choreography that was out of this world. Everyone felt that it suited Lin Shanchu well. Lin Shanchu’s previous performances were very different from the impression she gave others, so everyone was excited to see her dance to this graceful, ethereal tune. The host hyped the crowd, “Do you want to see Lin Shanchu dance ‘Valley of A Thousand Despairs? “Yes!” the crowd boomed in unison “Me too.” the host replied. The crowd fell speechless. They’ve been duped! Judging from the host’s reply, she definitely wasn’t performing ‘Valley of A Thousand Despairs’.. Chapter 155: Even Though I Criticize You, It Doesn’t Stop Me From Feeling Bad For You Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation The trainees were all surprised. Other songs that the fans had chosen were in line with the style of their idols, so logically, Lin Shanchu’s fans would have chosen ‘Valley of A Thousand Despairs’. Lin Shanchu’s fans are the largest in number and the most influential. It’s hard to believe they didn’t have this kind of tacit understanding, right? The other trainees were more curious than Lin Shanchu herself about what song her fans had chosen for her. The comment section was still sympathizing with Lin Shanchu. [I can’t take it anymore. I really want to tell them…] [I can’t wait to see their reaction once they find out which song Lin Shanchu’s fans had chosen.] [Lin Shanchu has no clue.] [The fans are ruthless.] [Can someone tell me which song is it??] [It’s ‘Island in the Sky’!] [What the hell???] At the same time, the host finally revealed, “…The song the fans had chosen for her was ‘Island in the Sky’!” As soon as his voice trailed off, the entire studio fell into a familiar silence. Soon after, the scene flooded with overlapping discussions. “Why would they choose this song?” “F * ck, no way!” “Her fans… really have unique ideas.” Yun Wu glanced at Lin Shanchu, hesitant to speak the words at the tip of her tongue. Lin Shanchu asked with a faint voice, “Is it that ‘Island in the Sky’ where Ran Zhimo sings while holding up three fingers?” Yun Wu nodded. Lin Shanchu froze upon Yun Wu’s confirmation. Yun Wu tried to comfort her, ” Rap isn’t that difficult. It’s actually quite…” Looking at Lin Shanchu’s hopelessly blank face, Yun Wu trailed off. To a non-professional, rap was not something that could be mastered in a short period. Comment section: [I’m imagining Lin Shanchu in a dress while performing this. That would really be awkward…] [Help, I’m about to bury my head in the sand.] [I bet Lin Shanchu is really thanking you guys right now.] [Why are Lin Shanchu’s fans doing this?] [I’m one of the fans who voted for ‘Island in the Sky.’ Our point is to have President Lin put on a show!] [That’s right. We did thorough research. Lin Shanchu doesn’t have any foundation in rap, hence why we chose this.] The other fans were all shocked. [I can tell from Lin Shanchu’s expression that you guys really… understood her so well.] Diabetes Is Not From Sweets! Meet The Main Enemy Of Diabetes INSULUX They even went so far as to find Lin Shanchu’s weak spot. The recording continued. “Other than that, for this performance, there will be seven guests collaborating with each team member to complete the subsequent adaptation and performance. ” The host continued, “This is the final competition before the finals. I wish you all great success.” The audience in the live broadcast instantly erupted. Names of male idols and male celebrities flooded the chat. Completely in the dark about who the guests would be, someone started a conversauon cnreau: [Do you think they invited Tang Qidai to collaborate with Lin Shanchu?] [Pfft! Tang Qidai?] [With the style of this production crew, it’s possible.] [I’m already getting excited. Hahahaha.] [Why not go one step further and invite Lu Shiyuan as well?] [If Lin Shanchu, Lu Shiyuan, and Tang Qidai were to quarrel on stage, wouldn’t the viewership ratings explode?] [Hahahaha! I’m dead, you guys really dare to dream. My God…] The news of Lin Shanchu’s fans voting for ‘Island in the Sky’ was trending. The netizens commented in all sorts of ways: [Lin Shanchu? ‘Island in the Sky’? Am I hallucinating?] [Isn’t ‘Island in the Sky’ a rap song?] [Are Lin Shanchu’s fans serious?] [They said that the fans deliberately chose this song to get Lin Shanchu eliminated.] [I mean, a crazy idol will have crazy fans right?] [I was about to lose interest in ‘My Stage’, but once I heard Lin Shanchu was performing ‘Island in the Sky’… hey!] [Ohh, I get why now! Lin Shanchu’s haters are her biggest fans..] In the previous episodes, everyone wanted to see Lin Shanchu fail. However, not only did she not fail, she thrived. When the show allowed the fans to vote for the songs, everyone thought the fans would choose the most suitable song to showcase Lin Shanchu’s abilities. Therefore, their expectations weren’t that high. No one expected Lin Shanchu’s fans to come up with such a move at the last minute. This time, she was really going to be laughed at. Netizens from all walks of life became spirited and even spread the news: “Have you heard? Lin Shanchu is performing ‘Island in the Sky’.” Netizens couldn’t resist leaving comments on Lin Shanchu’s Weibo: [This is both tragic and funny.] [Even though I criticize you, it doesn’t stop me from feeling bad for you.] [Even though I slander you, I’ll be understanding this time and go easy on you.] [Have your fandom been infiltrated by the enemy?] Ads by Pubfuture [Your fans are even more malicious than the haters. You realize that, right?] Lin Shanchu couldn’t care less anymore. This time, she was truly unable to perform. No matter who joined her, she was bound to fail miserably. Her fans really understood her too much to the point they knew to target her weak spot. “Lin Shanchu, I’m here!” Ran Zhimo rushed towards her. Lin Shanchu pushed her away, “Think again.” “There’s no need for thinking, I’m here to join you!” Ran Zhimo stood behind her anyway. “I can’t rap,” Lin Shanchu said very straightforwardly. “I know, I’ll teach you,” Ran Zhimo had a look of sympathy on her. Lin Shanchu had no words. She thought that this time, just like before, none of the contestants would want to join her team. But the reality was just the opposite. Contestants who could rap were competing to join Lin Shanchu’s team. Each time someone came, Lin Shanchu would ask, “Have you thought it through?” The contestants nodded firmly, some even eagerly, as if they were afraid there wouldn’t be any spots left if they waited too long. Fine then. She didn’t understand what these girls were thinking. She couldn’t see through her own fans’ thoughts either. Wen Tongtong walked up to her and stopped. With a look of defeat, Lin Shanchu asked, “You want to join me too?” Wen Tongtong shook her head. She raised a hand to pat her shoulder and said, “Good luck!” Since the beginning of the selection process, every contestant who passed by Lin Shanchu, regardless of whether or not they were familiar with her, would sincerely wish her ‘Good luck’. Lin Shanchu’s ears were getting numb from hearing it. The comment section took amusement to Lin Shanchu’s hopelessness. [Lin Shanchu really looks pitiful, hahaha. ] [Yup, that’s her. Miserable, but funny.] [This is ridiculous. Even the haters were starting to sympathize with her.] [Lin Shanchu’s fans, please come and take a good look at her. Don’t you feel guilty?] [The heartache is temporary. Once Lin Shanchu is eliminated, plenty of production crews were waiting to snatch her up!] [As a bystander, I think it’s a shame if Lin Shanchu isn’t able to deliver. But I still feel this is too… ridiculous.] In all of the selection processes in the past, Lin Shanchu’s team was always the last to get filled. But this time, her team was the first to reach maximum capacity.. Chapter 156: A Major Illness Can Be Considered an Unforeseeable Event Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Lin Shanchu turned to face her other four teammates who were standing in a row. All her teammates simultaneously gave her a kind smile. At this moment, they noticed another contestant charging towards them. Including Ran Zhimo, the other four teammates quickly waved their hands and said, “We’re all full here, you can go find another team!” The contestant left in disappointment. The production crew also noticed that Lin Shanchu’s team was complete and quickly switched the camera angle to them. Lin Shanchu and her four teammates exchanged glances before she suddenly asked in a serious tone, “Were you guys kidnapped by the production crew?” If they weren’t kidnapped by the program crew, she couldn’t understand why the other teammates, apart from Ran Zhimo, would voluntarily join her team. The director defended from behind, shouting, “Lin Shanchu, our program is open and fair.” Comment section: [Lin Shanchu dares to say anything.] [She forced the director to justify himself.] [Seeing as how they didn’t flinch, they weren’t kidnapped.] [If I were them, I would also be willing to join Lin Shanchu’s group.] [Yeah, Lin Shanchu is popular, so she’ll get more screen time. But she can’t rap, so the audience will pay attention to her teammates…] The teammates all shook their heads simultaneously. “We all joined voluntarily.” “We like rap.” “Yes, yes, yes. We also like Lin Shanchu a lot.” As Lin Shanchu looked at these sincere smiling faces, she finally realized what was going on. In the previous few episodes, no one dared to choose her because they had little interaction with her and know her well enough. They were afraid that she wouldn’t be able to keep up with them and drag them down. But now, they were more than halfway through the show. Everyone had a good understanding of what Lin Shanchu’s personality was like. She was popular and easy to get along with. Although she was Lu Shiyuan’s fiancée, she was not pretentious at all. She would work hard during training just like everyone else. They also realized the popularity of the trainees who had been paired up with Lin Shanchu in the previous two matches also rose. And in talent shows, popularity was king. After the three selections, the competition would become increasingly fierce and everyone had to give their all to showcase themselves. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have a chance to move on. Plus, this time, since Lin Shanchu couldn’t rap, this performance was riding on the performance of the other four teammates. Diabetes Is Not From Sweets! Meet The Main Enemy Of Diabetes INSULUX Who wouldn’t want to grab this free publicity opportunity? The selection process quickly came to an end. Comment section: [Can the production crew broadcast the entire process this time? Honestly, I’m looking forward to seeing Lin Shanchu’s rap. Hahaha.] [Do you want to see Lin Shanchu rap or do you just want to watch a pretty girl make a fool of herself?] [I want to see it too.] [Me too. I wish the production crew were looking at these comments.] The recording ended successfully after the first round of selections. The real-time discussions and viewership ratings were so high the director was smiling ear to ear. The trainees returned to the training room as the production crew packed up their equipment. When Lin Shanchu walked past the director, he looked at her cheerfully and said, “Good luck.” Lin Shanchu stopped in her tracks. She panned her focus to the director with a grave expression. The director was stunned, “What’s wrong?” “I’m sick,” Lin Shanchu said seriously. “Huh?” “I’m seriously ill.” The director was at a loss for words. “A major illness can be considered an unforeseeable event,” she continued. “What are you trying to do?” The director started to panic. “It’s written in the contract that in the event of an unforeseen circumstance. you are allowed to freely withdraw from the show.” The director’s hair was standing on end at this point, “Don’t simply say things like that. It’s not my decision to make.” He then gestured to Ran Zhimo, “Quickly, bring your captain to training.” As Lin Shanchu was being dragged away, she still turned her head back to shout, “I really have an illness!” Their instructor had already been waiting for them in the training room. This time, it was Bai Yu who came to instruct them. Once she saw Lin Shanchu dragging herself in, she couldn’t help but chuckle. Poor Lin Shanchu. This time, the workload had increased. They needed to create a new choreography for ‘Island in the Sky’. Bai Yu asked everyone for their ideas on it. Once everyone’s turn to share their thoughts ended, they all turned to look at Lin Shanchu. Ads by Pubfuture Everyone knew that Lin Shanchu didn’t want to participate in this, but teamwork was necessary when they were performing on stage. So of course, they still needed to listen to Lin Shanchu’s opinion. Even as she was under everyone’s gaze, Lin Shanchu could only stare obliviously with an expression that indicated that she wasn’t dead or alive. “Life is like a bubble, it bursts with a blow. Some stay arrogant and the cold-hearted flow. Others break the altar, unleashing the darkness. One thought turns demonic, they leave their mark, regardless.” Perhaps it was because she was slurring in such a negative tone, but the way she recited it so slowly sent shivers down everyone’s spine. The training room fell into a brief silence. “Were those lyrics impromptu?” Bai Yu was the first to break the silence. “Yes,” Lin Shanchu still sounded dead as ever Bai Yu couldn’t help but laugh. Lin Shanchu let out a sigh of despair, leaned back, and leaned against the wall with a lack of enthusiasm. His face had ‘I want to escape, but I can’t’ written all over it. The cameraman had been secretly directing the camera at Lin Shanchu this whole time, filming her as he giggled behind the scene. Lin Shanchu usually carried a gentle smile on her face wherever she went, so this look of despair was a stark contrast from her usual self. Her teammates had also never seen this side of Lin Shanchu and couldn’t help but find it entertaining. Bai Yu quickly gave her guiding tips and left. The team gathered together to discuss their choreography. Although everyone was mainly focused on the popularity and screen time they would have, they didn’t want to neglect Lin Shanchu in the process. They decided to gather around her to discuss. They were also considerate of Lin Shanchu’s emotions and asked for her opinion on everything they discussed. Although Lin Shanchu knew nothing about rap, she had a basic sense of appreciation for it. Whenever there was a debate among the group, she would be the one to conclude. Once everyone was satisfied with the idea, Ran Zhimo suggested, “Should we try practicing?” Everyone glanced at Lin Shanchu once again. “Sure, let’s try.” Lin Shanchu perked up and decided to cooperate. Ran Zhimo took the lead, and soon everyone got into the groove. When the practice session, everyone praised Lin Shanchu. “Not bad, President Lin.” “Yeah, she did pretty well. With more practice, she’ll definitely impress them.” “Go, Captain!” Lin Shanchu denied them, “Guys, you don’t have to be so modest. I know I was offbeat and everything throughout the whole practice.” Lin Shanchu knew that they were trying to encourage her. Ran Zhimo comforted her, “It’s alright, there’s still time to improve.” Lin Shanchu nodded. Then she stood up and said, “I’m going to the restroom..” Chapter 157: There Will Always Be Someone Who Loves You For Who You Are Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation As Lin Shanchu hurriedly left the training room, she faintly heard her teammates talking. “She seems a bit anxious.” “Well, who wouldn’t be?” “I wonder what her fans are thinking. ” “However, she isn’t putting on airs at all…” “You’re just realizing that?” Lin Shanchu felt a bit withdrawn. She also wanted to know what her fans, who worked so hard to push her to the top, were thinking. Even if they were to choose a square dance song for her, she wouldn’t complain. But she truly couldn’t rap. Out of habit, Lin Shanchu locked herself into the innermost cubicle stall. Then, she took out her phone and went online. She pulled up the search bar… Good heavens! There were multiple topics about her going viral on the trending search list. #LinShanChu’sThirdPerformanceIslandIntheSky #LinShanchu’sFans #LinShanchu’sGreatInjustice #LinShanchu’sHatersFeelHeartache All the other trending topics related to ‘#MyStage’ and the selection process had all been overshadowed. Despite filling up most of the top search list spots, her topics had not made it to the top of the list… The number one most trending topic was ‘#AlecReturnsToChina’. Alec? The SOF member that Ning Yunxi liked so much? Was he also in China? A few days ago, all of Sang Min’s trending topics vanished without a trace overnight, and there have been no follow-up reports since. Now suddenly, one of the team members, Alec, had been speculated to have returned to the country. Especially since there wasn’t any follow-up, this naturally attracted the media’s attention. Lin Shanchu clicked on the topic. She thought she would see interviews or videos related to it, but all that was shown was a blurry paparazzi photo of Alec. She noticed some people had mentioned Sang Min as well. [Why did Alec return so quickly? What’s going on with Sang Min’s situation?] [It’s been days, isn’t the company going to explain to Sang Min’s fans?] Diabetes Is Not From Sweets! Meet The Main Enemy Of Diabetes INSULUX [Weren’t Alec and Sang Min the closest bandmates? Seeing as he returned out of the blue like this, does he not care about Sang Min anymore?] [The company hasn’t concluded yet, so they must still be investigating. What do you expect Alec to do?] [What? Are they not allowed to move on with their life? Let Sang Min’s family handle his matters! Alec and Sang Min were just bandmates, not real brothers…] [Do Alec’s fans reallv have to zet so defensive? They were just savinq that Alec’s return was too quick and it wasn’t considerate to Sang Min, that’s all.] [Stop talking as if Alec caused Sang Min’s death! You guys better watch your words!] The two fanbases started arguing. However, it was clear that Alec’s fans were more numerous and more capable of confrontation. So, Sang Min’s fans soon retreated. Regardless of whether the team disbanded or not, it was not uncommon for fans to fight each other in the entertainment industry. Lin Shanchu exited the topic and clicked on the ones related to herself. She wanted to see why her fans chose ‘Island In the Sky’ for her. As soon as she entered the topic discussion, she saw a series of posts from her haters sympathizing with her. Then, she scrolled down to see the posts by her fans that were tagged with the hashtag. [We’ve been researching for so long and finally found Sister’s weakness. Let’s hope that she will be eliminated from acting.] [Ranking isn’t the most important thing, popularity is.] [Sister is already popular now. Even if she doesn’t debut, it doesn’t mean that everyone’s money was wasted.] [That’s right. If we manage to successfully eliminate her, the other sisters would be able to have another opportunity to showcase their outstanding professional abilities.] Lin Shanchu didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. But as she read further, she unexpectedly felt more and more that her fans had a point. Her original intention for joining ‘My Stage’ was to avoid being captured and imprisoned by Lu Shiyan. She wasn’t particularly interested in singing and dancing. When she stumbled across Nan Mu, she had already made it clear that she would not have a chance in this. Her expertise lies in acting. What she didn’t expect was for everything to develop opposite from what she had imagined. She immediately soared into the debut position and consistently maintained first place. Lin Shanchu was torn. These fans, who were strangers to her, could have the same thoughts as her. In this world, there were really people who were paying attention to her from afar. She just couldn’t see them. As Lin Shanchu exits the topic, she sees a new trending topic. #JiangTangTalksAboutLinShanchu’sThirdPerformanceSongSelection Jiang Tang? Yun Wu’s friend? Lin Shanchu remembered her because the last time she visited the set, she brought Lin Shanchu a gift. Lin Shanchu clicked into it. Ads by Pubfuture The pinned post on the topic is an interview recording of Jiang Tang conducted by a journalist. The journalist started by asking, “As a big fan of Lin Shanchu, what are your thoughts on the fan vote for song selection?” Jiang Tang continued with her reply, “Initially when I first heard about this, I wasn’t really in favor of it.” “Why did you change your mind?” “Well, it’s not exactly a change of mind actually because our fans’ opinions are secondary. Sister’s thoughts are the most important.” “Then can you confirm whether Lin Shanchu wants to debut or pursue acting? “The finals will be after this third performance. If Sister wants to debut, she will definitely reveal her intention to debut in the upcoming live streams. It’s still too early to conclude.” “You are truly an extraordinary fan. I’m so envious. It almost brings me to tears.” “No need to be envious. In life, there will always be someone in this world who loves you for who you are.” After a moment of silence, the journalist said, “One last thing…” “Go ahead.” “I’m actually a huge fan of yours! I look up to you a lot!” Jiang Tang was caught by surprise, “Really? Thank you.” The journalist continued, “And I think after this interview, I’ve grown to like you even more. Sob, sob, sob…” And the video ended there. This little girl, Jiang Tang, really had an element of surprise to her. After all, they were good friends of Yun Wu. However… If Yunwu knew that JiangTang has been constantly voting and supporting her, would she be jealous? Lin Shanchu couldn’t help but smile at the thought of this. She kept her phone back in her pocket and reminisced on what Jiang Tang said at the end of the interview: ‘There will always be someone in this world who loves you for who you are.’ It turned out that there was really someone in this world who loved her that way. And their love is genuine, not hypocritical. Lin Shanchu sat in her feelings for a while before opening the cubicle door to leave. The cubicle door swung open to reveal an angry Xia Jinmeng standing outside. She crossed her arms and glared at Lin Shanchu with an unfriendly expression. It looked like she had been waiting for her for a while. Lin Shanchu looked at her expressionlessly. Xia Jinmeng arrogantly raises her chin and asks, “Lin Shanchu, you promised to help me snatch Lu Shiyuan away. Are you going back on your word?” In these past few days, Lin Shanchu had not been making any moves on this. She hasn’t told Xia Jinmeng about Lu Shiyuan’s preferences or any other details about him, which was why Xia Jinmeng suspects that Lin Shanchu wants to go back on her promise. She must be worried that if Xia Jinmeng snatches Lu Shiyuan away, she will have one more competitor! Smack! Without warning, Lin Shanchu suddenly slaps Xia Jinmeng.. Chapter 158: Some People Were Simply Born Bad Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Xia Jinmeng was taken aback by the sudden slap. Her initial response was to subconsciously cover her face. Only after a few seconds did she react. “Lin Shanchu, you bitch! How dare you hit me!” Xia Jinmeng roared and was about to retaliate. Lin Shanchu was prepared. She took a step back and pushed the toilet cubicle door open which caused Xia Jinmeng’s hand to hit the door. There was a loud bang. Xia Jinmeng cried out in pain. Glaring at Lin Shanchu, she cursed fiercely, “Lin Shanchu, do you really think I won’t do anything to you?!” Lin Shanchu responded in a grave tone, “No, you should be asking me if my hand hurts.” “Huh?” She carefully glanced Lin Shanchu up and down. She noticed that Lin Shanchu’s expression was unusually serious and she didn’t look like she was joking at all. “Are you crazy?” Xia Jinmeng turned around and took the chance to leave. Yet, couldn’t help turning back and muttering, “Lunatic.” She Imew that Lin Shanchu couldn’t be trusted. What could a crazy person accomplish? She’d better find a solution herself. Just as Xia Jinmeng was about to take a step forward, Lin Shanchu’s voice resounded from behind her. “Lu Shiyuan likes this.” Xia Jinmeng abruptly pulled her foot back and looked at Lin Shanchu in bewilderment, ‘What??” “I said Lu Shiyuan likes this. He likes it when you don’t argue back or fight back. After he hits you, if you ask him if his hand hurts, he will think you’re kind, gentle, and considerate. Then, he will like you even more.” Although Lin Shanchu’s words are so absurd, her expression is still solemn like before. Xia Jinmeng hesitated for a while before asking in confusion, “Are you serious?” Diabetes Is Not From Sweets! Meet The Main Enemy Of Diabetes INSULUX Lin Shanchu nodded solemnly and said, “To put it simply, Lu Shiyuan likes a ‘Virgin Mary’.” Xia Jinmeng furrowed her brows with obvious doubt on her face, but she remained rooted in place. Lin Shanchu was a woman who never played by the rules. Although she still felt that Lin Shanchu’s words were beyond ridiculous, she still held a glimmer of hope from hearing something useful. She had indeed chosen the right person. Lin Shanchu could tell that Xia Jinmeng was starting to consider what she said and slowly smiled. “Do you know why Lu Shiyuan didn’t break off the engagement with me all these years?”Lin Shanchu’s tone was full of suggestive meaning. As expected, Xia Jinmeng asked, “Why?” Lin Shanchu’s smile stretched a little wider, “Because I don’t fight for him.” Xia Jinmeng felt that Lin Shanchu’s smile was indescribably strange, but she kept quiet. Lin Shanchu continued, “Lu Shiyuan has been together with Tang Qidai for years. Their relationship is well-known. But, have I ever openly expressed my dissatisfaction with their relationship?” Lin Shanchu added in a fake surprised tone, “Oh, I meant before I entered ‘My Stage’.” Xia Jinmeng started to recall. Over the years, there had been countless rumors about Lu Shiyuan and Tang Qidai’s affair everyvvhere. But as his actual fiancée, Lin Shanchu was like an invisible person. There was no such person in the entertainment industry. Were those absurd things Lin Shanchu said just now… actually true? Could it be that Lu Shiyuan really liked… the ‘Virgin Mary’ type as Lin Shanchu said? Lin Shanchu concluded, “So, that’s why Lu Shiyuan likes women who are forgiving and patient even when they are suffering. You know?” Xia Jinmeng’s lips twitched, looking like she wanted to say something but was hesitant. Lin Shanchu noticed but didn’t ask further. She circled Xia Jinmeng and finally placed her hand on Xia Jinmeng’s shoulder. Her voice was soft and gentle.” Your personality and Lu Shiyuan’s preferences are worlds apart. So from now on, you have to start learning.” Xia Jinmeng felt chills, “Learning what?” “Learning the skills of a ‘Virgin Mary’ of course! You have to be understanding, gentle, thoughtful, considerate, and enduring.” These were the characteristics given to Lin Shanchu in the original book. Xia Jinmeng still insisted that something was amiss, “Does Lu Shiyuan really like this kind of woman?” Ads by Pubfuture Lin Shanchu said patiently, “Once the program is over, I can take you to see how Tang Qidai and Lu Shiyuan get along when they are together. You’ll naturally believe it then.” Xia Jinmeng recalled what happened to her and Tang Qidai in the orphanage when they were young. Every once in a while, someone would come to the orphanage to adopt a child. She and Tang Qidai would be placed in the same room. Tang Qidai was well-behaved and good-tempered. She was the child the adults loved the most. However, only Xia Jinmeng, who had spent most of her time with her, knew that Tang Qidai was not only hot-tempered and vicious, but she was also very good at pretending. Therefore, Tang Qidai got herself adopted by the richest family present that day in the orphanage. Thinking of the past, Xia Jinmeng sneered softly, ‘You don’t need to show me. I believe you.” “Oh?” Lin Shanchu tilted her head, “Why is that?” Xia Jinmeng began, ‘When we were kids, Tang Qidai was the favorite child of the adults in the orphanage because she was obedient and kind-hearted.” Then, she asked Lin Shanchu, “Isn’t that ridiculous?” “So, what was the truth?” Lin Shanchu knew how well Tang Qidai could conceal herself, so she wasn’t surprised to hear this. “The orphanage principal used to have a cat. It was round, fluffy and everyone loved it.” Xia Jinmeng relived her memories as she spoke. “Tang Qidai also acted as if she loved it… But that cat died on Tang Qidai’s fifth birthday.” Xia Jinmeng turned to look at Lin Shanchu, “Guess how it died?” Lin Shanchu’s face darkened, but she didn’t say anything. Xia Jinmeng didn’t actually expect Lin Shanchu to answer. So, she went on “Tang Qidai strangled it because the principal forgot her birthday and didn’t prepare a birthday cake for her.” Lin Shanchu pursed her lips. “Why?” “Why else?” Xia Jinmeng laughed, “It’s to retaliate against the principal for not preparing a birthday cake for her.” Lin Shanchu’s expression turned sour. She thought that Tang Qidai had become who she was today after she was adopted by the Tang family and met Lu Shiyuan. But it turned out that some people were simply born bad. “I had bad luck from a young age. I watched Tang Qidai strangle that cat and was even forced to bury it for her. I’m afraid the principal still doesn’t know how horrible of a death her beloved kitten suffered.’ With a cold sneer, Xia Jinmeng looked at Lin Shanchu but found her expression unusually grim. “What’s wrong with you?” She observed Lin Shanchu intensely for a moment and said, “Don’t tell me you’re afraid now?” “Ahh Lin Shanchu, you’re soft. You’re all bark and no bite.” It was no wonder why Lin Shanchu couldn’t surpass Tang Qidai all this while.. Chapter 159: Who Uses Pole Dancing as Punishment? Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Lin Shanchu looked up at Xia Jinmeng. She stared at Xia Jinmeng coldly and said, “If you want to snatch Lu Shiyuan away from Tang Qidai, then work hard to change your temper.” Lin Shanchu began to leave. “Wait a minute.” Xia Jinmeng reached out to pull her back. Although Lin Shanchu skillfully avoided her grasp, she still stayed to hear her out, “Speak.” Xia Jinmeng glanced at her pocket and said, “Let me borrow your phone.” Lin Shanchu hesitated. Her hesitation made Xia Jinmeng impatient and she threatened, “If you don’t lend it to me, I’ll report you!” Lin Shanchu’s tone was filled with disdain as she replied, “Do whatever you want.” She wouldn’t let Xia Jinmeng borrow her phone even if she threatened to report her. “You…” Xia Jinmeng was furious. But she could only watch as Lin Shanchu walked away. It didn’t take long for Lin Shanchu to return to the training room. The director came to look for her and Nan Mu accompanied him. Nan Mu seemed to have just come from an event since he appeared with a suit blazer hanging over his arm. “Lin Shanchu, could you come out for a moment?” Lin Shanchu informed her teammates and stepped outside. Nan Mu and the director waited for her in the public area outside the training room. Many trainees were peering at the door, curious to know why they called out Lin Shanchu. The director spoke first, “Hand it over.” He extended his hand out to Lin Shanchu. Lin Shanchu knew what he was talking about. But she pretended to play dumb, “What?” That idiot Xia Jinmeng actually reported her for hiding her phone. The director glanced at Nan Mu for help. But he found that he had turned to face the sky with an impression saying ‘I don’t know anything. This is none of my business.’ The director sighed helplessly, “The phone.” “Wasn’t my phone confiscated?” Lin Shanchu’s eyes were innocent and clear. “I handed it to you on the day I came in.” For a second, the director started to suspect that Xia Jinmeng had deceived him. But on second thought, he felt that Xia Jinmeng couldn’t have done that. As an artist, doing such things would tarnish her reputation in the industry. So, it must be this girl, who was exceptionally good at pretending, who was the liar. The director turned to Nan Mu again and used his eyes to signal him to say something. The trainees in the distance whispered among themselves: If You Have Diabetes, Always Keep This With You INSULUX “Why are they looking for Lin Shanchu?” “Seems like they’re asking her for something.” “What do they want?” “I don’t know.” “Based on Lin Shanchu’s appearance, it seems like she’s saying she doesn’t have it.” “Did Xia Jinmeng cause trouble again?” “I saw Lin Shanchu and Xia Jinmeng coming out of the bathroom one after the other earlier… The Xia Jinmeng they were gossiping about happened to also be eavesdropping near the entrance of the training room. She realized that Lin Shanchu was adamantly denying it and immediately strut over. “The phone is in her shirt pocket!” Xia Jinmeng deliberately raised her voice. Everyone heard it. They all looked at her. Lin Shanchu gritted her teeth. Xia Jinmeng, that idiot! The training room’s air conditioning was set low and this time, Lin Shanchu’s performance didn’t involve much movement. So she was wearing a thin training jacket and zipped it up to the top. There was a pocket on the side of the short-sleeved undershirt she was wearing. The phone was placed there. Xia Jinmeng walked over and reached out to pull Lin Shanchu’s zipper. Lin Shanchu quickly held onto her jacket collar. Yun Wu, who was watching Xia Jinmeng’s actions from a distance, pushed through the crowd and ran over. Xia Jinmeng was smarter this time. While Lin Shanchu was holding her collar, she reached under her jacket and pulled out the phone from the pocket of her undershirt. “Here it is!” Xia Jinmeng proudly spun around with the phone in her hand, showing it to everyone. “Lin Shanchu hid her phone.” Lin Shanchu took a deep breath to calm herself and tidied up her clothes. Then, she shot a cold glance at Xia Jinmeng. Xia Jinmeng felt a chill down her spine. At this moment, Yun Wu was already standing in front of them. She witnessed the entire process of Xia Jinmeng taking out the phone from Lin Shanchu’s pocket. She thought that this was a new trick that Xia Jinmeng had come up with to embarrass Lin Shanchu. She didn’t expect the evidence to be real this time. Sensing Yunwu’s gaze, Lin Shanchu felt the need to explain something. Unexpectedly, Yun Wu gave her a thumbs-up and silently mouthed, “Impressive.” No one had expected Lin Shanchu to actually sneak in a phone. After all, she looked so gentle and obedient. One look and you could tell that she gave off the impression of being a cooperative rule abider. “Give it to me,” the director pointed his extended hand toward Xia Jinmeng. Xia Jinmeng handed the phone to the director and shot Lin Shanchu a mischievously sly smirk. Ads by Pubfuture “Everyone has handed in their phones. Lin Shanchu was the only one that has broken the rules by sneaking in her phone,” Xia Jinmeng declared. Everyone understood what she meant by this. The director had to punish Lin Shanchu otherwise it would be unfair to the rest. The director and Nan Mu naturally understood Xia Jinmeng’s intentions. Girls tend to have a competitive mentality and Xia Jinmeng was definitely not the only one among the trainees who had such thoughts. “Jinmeng is right,” the director nodded with a smile. Xia Jinmeng crossed her arms triumphantly, “How is the production crew going to punish Lin Shanchu?” She knew that the director favored Lin Shanchu, so she deliberately took out Lin Shanchu’s phone in front of so many people to expose her. Although this was a small matter, Xia Jinmeng knew that if it escalated, the director would be forced to give an explanation to the other trainees. She couldn’t believe that he would still dare to blatantly side with Lin Shanchu in front of so many people. As for Nan Mu, he wasn’t allowed to say anything since he was Lin Shanchu’s boss. The director had been in this industry longer than Xia Jinmeng had ever been. He could see through her little tricks. Xia Jinmeng’s plan was well-executed. However, the director gestured to the other trainees and said, “Girls, come over here.” The director was a good person. The trainees had a good relationship with him, so they all obediently ran over. “Lin Shanchu secretly kept a phone, breaking the rules that apply to everyone. What do you all think is an appropriate punishment for her?” Xia Jinmeng suddenly felt that the situation was not looking good for her and shouted, “Five hundred push-ups!” Yunwu cupped her hands around her mouth, shouting louder than Xia Jinmeng, “Make her sing the nursery rhyme ‘Two Tigers’!” Ran Zhimo added, “She should pole dance!” Her teammates also joined in, “Oh, make it the seductive kind.” Those few guys backstage who had previously harassed Lin Shanchu’s legs couldn’t help their perverted thoughts. More and more trainees joined in. “Have her wear sexy clothes while doing it!” “Expose her thighs!” “The less she wears, the better!” Lin Shanchu’s jaw dropped. The director and Nan Mu were also as stunned. What the hell were these girls trying to do? Xia Jinmeng couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Who uses pole dancing as punishment? Wasn’t this just another opportunity for Lin Shanchu to show off in front of everyone? This was a f * cking reward! However, her disagreement was quickly drowned out by everyone’s cheers. The director gestured for the girls to calm down, “Okay, quiet down. Let’s have a vote, shall we?” Although he also felt that the way these girls wanted to punish Lin Shanchu was a little ridiculous, it was much better than physical punishment.. Chapter 160: It Had Nothing to Do with Me Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation “Alright.’ The girls obediently quieted down. The director asked, “So far, besides having Lin Shanchu sing ‘Two Tigers’ and perform pole dancing, does anyone have any other suggestions?” “Five hundred push-ups,” Xia Jinmeng insisted. The director smiled and nodded, “Any more?” Most of them wanted to see Lin Shanchu perform a sexy dance again because they couldn’t get enough of it during her performance in the second round. Everyone looked around, hoping that all of them would vote for pole dancing while secretly hoping for someone to propose another more exciting “punishment” for her. Suddenly, a clear voice rang out amidst the soft murmurs. “Do the rabbit dance.” Everyone looked toward the source of the voice and realized that it was Wen Tongtong. Ever since Wen Tongtong and Xia Jinmeng broke up and she ended up in the same team as Lin Shanchu, she had become quite reserved. She didn’t talk much and would spend all day training, maintaining her mediocre ranking and a relatively low presence. Everyone was a little surprised that Wen Tongtong would express her opinion so they were all staring at her. Wen Tongtong seemed a bit uncomfortable getting all the attention and her expression became uneasy. The director nodded, “Alright, rabbit dance.” Wen Tongtong cleared her throat and added, “The adult version of it while wearing a fluffy bunny girl outfit.” “Wow, I want to see this too.’ The director was speechless. He had worked on a myriad of different varieties of shows before, but this group of trainees was the most difficult to understand. He turned to look at Nan Mu, hoping to get his input on this. But when he turned around, Nan Mu was nowhere to be seen. He had already retreated to the outskirts of the crowd, behaving in a way that seemed like he wanted to stay as far away as possible. Nan Mu shot him a smile that said, ‘It’s your decision’. He had once argued with Li MO about when Lin Shanchu and Huo Xunzhou should get married. Although they couldn’t decide on anything, the one thing both of them concluded was that Lin Shanchu belonged to Huo Xunzhou. How could he decide whether or not Lin Shanchu should perform pole dancing or an adult version of the rabbit dance? That was such a joke! He still wished to live a few more years. The director let out a long sigh, it turned out that the biggest victim in this was himself. He gave in and said, “Alright, let’s vote. Everyone write your answers on a small piece of paper.” If they voted by raising their hands in public, it would definitely break the peace among the trainees. After all, Xia Jinmeng was also a debut member. And she was the only one who wanted Lin Shanchu to do five hundred push-ups. Diabetes Is Not From Sweets! Meet The Main Enemy Of Diabetes INSULUX Of course, the director had to be considerate of her image and not embarrass her. Xia Jinmeng didn’t like it, but she knew in her heart that there was nothing wrong with the director’s approach. A member of the production crew went around with a box and collected everyone’s notes. When it was time to count the votes, Xia Jinmeng stepped forward, “Can I count them?” Without an answer, she confidently took the voting box from the staff member’s hand. There must be more people other than her who wanted to see Lin Shanchu suffer. So naturally, there would be a lot of people voting for Lin Shanchu to do push-ups. She was only worried that the director was biased toward Lin Shanchu and would ask the staff to fake the results. The production crew member glanced at the director to seek his opinion. The director gave a gesture of approval and allowed Xia Jinmeng to handle it. When Xia Jinmeng took out the first piece of paper, she couldn’t help but smile. “Five hundred push-ups.” The handwriting was not hers. Indeed, she wasn’t the only one who disliked Lin Shanchu. The next three votes were also for Lin Shanchu to do push-ups. Xia Jinmeng was so happy that she could not help but laugh as she continued reading. “One vote for the rabbit dance.” “One vote for pole dancing.” Fortunately, there was another vote for push-ups. The votes for push-ups continued to increase and were about to surpass ten people. There were only about forty votes left uncounted. Yun Wu began to worry for Lin Shanchu. Lin Shanchu calmly comforted her, “It’s okay. It’s just five hundred push-ups.” For someone who exercises regularly, doing five hundred push-ups is not too difficult. But Yun Wu knew that Lin Shanchu’s physical fitness was not good. Although, Yun Wu had always been puzzled by Lin Shanchu’s physical endurance. Her fitness was poor but somehow she was able to endure high-intensity training, but at the same time, sometimes she appeared very weak. It was simply unlike a normal person’s body. However, Lin Shanchu wasn’t concerned about whether she was going to do push-ups or dance. She hid her phone, that was a fact. So, she accepted the punishment. She was even hoping that Xia Jinmeng would be even harder on her and make her do a thousand. She wanted to see if she could die from exhaustion. Unfortunately, Xia Jinmeng’s happiness didn’t last long. The number of votes for push-ups stopped at nine. The rest were all for pole dancing and rabbit dancing. After reading the last vote, Xia Jinmeng reluctantly said, “Now, let’s announce the final result…” Ads by Pubfuture Growing impatient with Xia Jinmeng’s reluctance, Yun Wu shouted directly, “The one with the most votes is the rabbit dance!” Xia Jlnmeng glared at Yun wu. Yun Wu provocatively glared back. Xia Jinmeng snorted in defeat and left. The director sent a female crew member over. “Everyone, please tell us about your requirements for the bunny girl outfit. Our production crew will try our best to provide a costume according to your preferences. ” The trainees excitedly shouted their opinions. “We want big pink ears!” “The kind with a tail.” “Since it’s summer, maybe the costume should have spaghetti straps.” “The shoes should also be furry…” The director silently retreated to Nan Mu’s side. “President Nan, don’t you feel that their requests are getting more and more perverted?” “Yes,” Nan Mu’s expression was even more serious than the director’s. “Young ladies nowadays…” the director pondered for a long time before completing his sentence, “They know how to play.” Suddenly, Nan Mu called out in a very polite tone, “Brother Yi Ming.” “What’s wrong?” Whenever Nan Mu was so polite, Song Yi Ming would feel a bit scared. Nan Mu’s expression turned grave, “If anyone asks, Lin Shanchu’s rabbit dance had nothing to do with me.” Song Yi Ming was puzzled, “It had nothing to do with you in the first place.” “Yes, that’s correct!” Nan Mu was afraid that the petty Huo Xunzhou would vent his anger on him if he found out. Everyone unanimously decided to give Lin Shanchu some time to prepare. Preparing the costumes would also take time. So it was decided that she would perform the rabbit dance for everyone tomorrow night. Once the other trainees left, Nan Mu finally got the chance to talk business with Lin Shahchu. “You know what your fans did, right?” Lin Shanchu had a phone with her all this while, so she must be well aware of what was happening online. Lin Shanchu nodded, “I know.” “Then, what do you think? Do you want to debut?” Nan Mu couldn’t guess her thoughts, so he asked her directly. “All along, my goal has never been to debut. As long as the fans don’t feel that it was a waste of money, it doesn’t matter to me whether I debut or not.” The fans had spent quite a sum of money to vote and support her, so they deserve to be respected. Nan Mu didn’t try to convince her otherwise, “Once you’ve made up your mind, let us know and the company will make the necessary arrangements.” With Lin Shanchu’s current popularity, forming a group might not be the best choice for her..