When the show aired, Yan Yu’s subtle expressions were scrutinized once again. Among the many internet experts, one particularly skilled in analyzing micro-expressions and gestures humorously pointed out that all the members of this team were quite interesting.
Others immediately replied, asking the expert for more details.
The expert quickly provided a series of screenshots with explanations: Look at this person’s hands; they moved slightly while saying this. In reality, their internal feelings are not as indifferent as they appear on their face.
Thus, although Yan Yu was also scrutinized, he was indeed the most dedicated and capable member of his group. The other members lacked his level of skill and were dissatisfied with Yan Yu’s good performance. This dissatisfaction seemed even more irritating than Yan Yu’s inherent arrogance.
At least Yan Yu had real talent and was almost ranked third among these contestants, potentially even in contention for second place with Li Ge.
However, his performance in the first episode was somewhat affected by the lack of cooperation from other contestants.
Considering the micro-expression issue being pushed to the sixth place, it seemed rather pitiful in retrospect.
Yan Yu thus inexplicably gained sympathy from the public, attracting a group of fans who defended his proud behavior in the first episode: Our Yan Yu is good-looking and excels in both dancing and singing. Yet, he was dragged down by the other contestants. Isn’t it natural for him to be a bit proud? And he truly has the talent; why shouldn’t he be proud?
However, some pointed out, Look at Xu Dongyou, who is ranked first. Not only does he surpass all other contestants in looks, but he also outshines your Yan Yu. His looks are among the top three in the entertainment industry, and his voice is like heavenly music; there’s no one in the industry with a similar voice.
But did Xu Dongyou show arrogance?
—No.
When comparing people, the difference becomes apparent.
Yan Yu’s fans were left speechless and could no longer refute or argue, as the points made were indeed valid.
If someone more outstanding than you isn’t arrogant, why should you, who are only ranked third, be proud? It gives the impression that your behavior and demeanor are quite low.
Yan Yu’s company, seeing the situation, immediately gathered their PR team for an emergency meeting and quickly took action to salvage his image.
Before long, a rumor started circulating with a surprising amount of detail.
The rumor claimed that Yan Yu was actually the heir of a publicly listed company. He had excelled academically since childhood and was a top student. After graduating from university, he was supposed to inherit the company and become its CEO, but unexpectedly, he had a dream of becoming a star and resolutely chose to enter the entertainment industry instead.
Yan Yu’s family was so furious that they scolded him, but they couldn’t shake his determination to pursue his dream. His family then said, “If you want to make it in the entertainment industry, fine. However, if you don’t make a name for yourself within three years, you’ll have to come back and take over the family business!”
Most people took this rumor as a joke until the official Weibo account of a certain publicly listed company directly shared the rumor.
【Looking forward to the young master returning to inherit the family business.】
This official post immediately caused a sensation among the public, confirming that the rumor was indeed true, and everyone began to laugh.
【Haha, so this is the real-life version of ‘If I don’t make it big, I’ll be forced to inherit the family business.’】
【I didn’t realize Yan Yu was so impressive! If he really did take over the family business, he could probably be the most handsome CEO ever.】
【Now when I read CEO novels, I have a face to imagine—love it!】
This marketing move quickly restored Yan Yu’s image, even attracting more fans and turning around the negative perception he previously had.
Yan Yu, secretly using his phone in a corner to contact the outside world, finally breathed a sigh of relief when he learned about this. He didn’t dare to harbor any negative emotions anymore—one more wave of backlash, and he’d be in serious trouble.
Meanwhile, the company told Yan Yu to prepare well for the next competition. They didn’t demand that he become number one, and the reason didn’t need to be spelled out—after all, the company could manipulate the votes and bribe the judges if necessary.
However, while such tactics might have worked in the past, they were no longer viable. Everyone agreed that Xu Dongyou deserved the top spot. Although Yan Yu was strong in various aspects, if he were to suppress Xu Dongyou, it might not only fail to bring any benefits but also result in accusations of rigging the competition.
No one in their right mind would do such a thing.
Moreover, Xu Dongyou was clearly destined for stardom, making it more advantageous to befriend him now for future benefits.
Especially in the entertainment industry, it’s always better to have more friends than enemies.
Yan Yu took note of this and indicated that he understood, then handed his phone to a staff member.
From then on, Xu Dongyou noticed that Yan Yu seemed to be more friendly toward him. While it wasn’t exactly flattery, Yan Yu’s behavior was noticeably warmer. Xu Dongyou didn’t question the change, accepting Yan Yu’s goodwill with a smile.
The sight of a group of handsome men, along with an exceptionally beautiful and ethereal-looking boy, sitting together was quite a treat for the audience, who excitedly cheered at the visual feast.
Soon, the third episode aired, drawing even more attention and discussion to the show. Xu Dongyou, in particular, became the most popular and talked-about contestant. Many viewers were initially captivated by his stunning appearance, which led them to watch the entire episode. By the end, they were completely won over by his singing and overall performance, becoming his devoted fans.
The show ran for a total of two months, during which Xu Dongyou, Li Ge, and Yan Yu remained the most popular contestants. Although the other contestants had some popularity, they couldn’t compete with the top three.
During this time, Xu Dongyou was constantly worried about whether Zhulong would go berserk after not seeing him for two months. But Elder Chen reassured him that Zhulong had been relatively quiet lately, only occasionally roaring in anger, but no longer attacking the sealing array as it had before.
Only then did Xu Dongyou feel relieved.
As the final episode approached, only fifteen contestants remained. Xu Dongyou and several others who expected to be in the middle rankings weren’t too nervous. However, Li Ge and Yan Yu were both anxious, as they were fiercely competing for the second-place spot.
The remaining contestants were also on edge since this episode would see five of them eliminated, leaving ten to debut as the stars of the show. The final episode would culminate in a grand concert, featuring numerous celebrity guests and this year’s biggest star, Tian Haomiao, as the headline act.
Everyone took this very seriously.
The show soon began, and this round was different from the previous ones. This time, each contestant performed solo, and the winner would then challenge another contestant to a PK battle. Any contestant who lost three times would be eliminated.
Throughout the competition, Xu Dongyou wasn’t chosen for a PK until the very end when the remaining contestants had no choice but to challenge him, as the competition couldn’t continue otherwise.
As expected, Xu Dongyou was selected for a PK and won easily. He continued to challenge the remaining contestants and, unsurprisingly, emerged as the first-place winner.
While Xu Dongyou’s ranking wasn’t the biggest highlight of the show, his performance time was the segment with the highest viewership ratings.
Next came the competition between Yan Yu and Li Ge. Both were strong contenders for second place, but it all depended on who performed better in this round. The choice of song and dance style was crucial to determining the winner.
In the end, Yan Yu outperformed Li Ge and secured second place, while Li Ge took third.
Yan Yu couldn’t hide the joy on his face, but he restrained himself, worried about attracting negative attention. However, he might have been overthinking it—after all, it’s natural to show happiness in such a setting.
The other contestants sincerely applauded and celebrated Yan Yu’s second-place victory. Li Ge, despite finishing third, showed no sign of disappointment. On the contrary, he was just as happy.
For him, being in the top three was enough; whether it was second or third didn’t really matter. He was the type of person who could easily accept things as they were.
Afterward, the host announced the elimination list and declared that the show had come to an end. He also mentioned that the final concert would take place in two weeks and encouraged the contestants to give their best performances.
The day after the show ended, Xu Dongyou had a farewell meal with a few contestants he had become close to. At the end of the gathering, Yan Yu unexpectedly confided in Xu Dongyou and Li Ge, admitting that he had once harbored resentment toward Xu Dongyou. He now felt deeply guilty and wanted to apologize.
Xu Dongyou smiled and shook his head. “It’s all in the past.”
Yan Yu studied Xu Dongyou carefully and realized that he wasn’t just saying it to be polite; he genuinely meant it. This made Yan Yu feel a pang of regret, increasingly aware of how petty he had been. Thankfully, Xu Dongyou didn’t seem to mind.
After they parted ways, Xu Dongyou bought a variety of local delicacies and small souvenirs, stuffing them into his backpack. Since he had recently become a popular idol due to his participation in the show, he had to ask Zhang Feng for help. They rented a discreet vehicle, sponsored by the Anomaly Handling Bureau.
Zhang Feng also assigned a trusted assistant to accompany Xu Dongyou. Xu Dongyou didn’t refuse, especially since he had decided to sign a management contract with Zhang Feng after careful consideration, making Zhang Feng his official manager. Zhang Feng would continue to manage Tian Haomiao as well.
However, since Tian Haomiao rarely needed Zhang Feng’s assistance, Zhang Feng made a point of accompanying Xu Dongyou back to Fengnian City, where more tasks awaited.
Relaxing in the car, Xu Dongyou leaned back in his seat and discussed with Zhang Feng which company he should sign with next. He wondered if he should simply sign with Tian Haomiao’s company.
After thinking it over, Zhang Feng advised against it. While Xu Dongyou was currently very popular, this fame was somewhat superficial and could easily fade over time. Even though Xu Dongyou showed great potential, this didn’t guarantee that a company would offer him a particularly favorable contract.
Zhang Feng recommended that Xu Dongyou consider going independent.
Xu Dongyou hesitated. “But some of the initial resources can only be provided by a company.”
“That’s true,” Zhang Feng agreed, but added, “However, you have the talent and don’t lack exposure. Moreover, while the Anomaly Handling Bureau doesn’t have direct influence in the entertainment industry, it doesn’t mean they have no power at all. We’re backed by the government, and I’ve built up a lot of connections over the years, enough to support your early operations.”
The assistant driving the car wasn’t surprised by this conversation, having long known that his boss, despite his outward appearance as a top assistant, was actually a handler for the Bureau.
Moreover, having worked with the boss for so many years, he had proven himself to be trustworthy and reliable. Naturally, he eventually learned that the super popular idol singer, Xu Dongyou, was actually also a handler. When he first found out, his jaw nearly dropped.
He always thought of handlers as being very high-ranking and mysterious, never imagining that one of them could also be a celebrity! The whole situation felt strangely out of place.
