Chapter 36: Standing on the World’s Tallest Stage

Giggles.

These words just popped into her head.

Chu Yuanqing nearly burst out laughing. She didn’t think the contestant who approached Kirimi Miyuki was a lesbian, but she found it funny how Kirimi Miyuki was in a difficult situation surrounded by admirers, which matched the words in a way that made her want to laugh.

But then, considering Kirimi Miyuki’s seemingly kind nature, Chu Yuanqing felt a headache coming on.

Can this child really handle it all?

Chu Yuanqing felt somewhat worried. As a seasoned worker, even if she didn’t understand the scheming ways of talent shows, she could easily see that these eager trainees swarming around were just there to take advantage and seek attention.

It all boiled down to how cunning their methods were.

Thinking this, Chu Yuanqing glanced sympathetically at Kirimi Miyuki.

You see, at this stage, Grade A players’ sharing privileges haven’t been fully revealed yet. They might know that Grade A players can bring others to their practice rooms, but they don’t know that they can also gift the use of valuable equipment.

It wasn’t until the rules were completely revealed that the ensuing tsunami became the real test.

But... is it easier now?

The girl pondered for a moment, seizing the opportunity when nobody was around. She gently tugged at Kirimi Miyuki’s sleeve, signaling for her and Chu Wang Shu to follow, then she quickened her pace.

What if you don’t feel like socializing?

It’s simple, just show that you’re not in the mood to chat.

As for being envied or getting caught on camera, then being scrutinized online as a blood-sucking vampire...

It can only be said that those things are not important at all to someone who only wants to quit the competition and doesn’t have much time left.

If it’s not important, why not keep this eager little idol out of trouble?

So,

With an attitude of reluctance, Chu Yuanqing kept refusing to communicate in a tangled silence with the other person, and casually made several excuses to try to avoid it. With a mysterious and irresistible momentum, she stubbornly led the way to the meeting point against the odds.

This meeting point was not the original stadium, and at first glance, it looked like a lecture hall in a university.

The overall tone used was ivory white, with most of the decorations made of expensive wood. Paired with the virtual scenery outside the window filled with chirping birds and fragrant flowers, and the soft lighting that made it hard to distinguish between reality and fiction, it looked fresh and youthful.

As Dream Weaver Rabbit sat at the teacher’s position at the lectern, when she saw a trainee enter, she proactively used a teaching whip to tap on the blackboard projecting the seating rules.

Chu Yuanqing glanced over, feeling somewhat speechless.

Simply put, it was another rule enforcing a system of hierarchy.

Currently, there are a total of 168 participants in Sea City’s "Dazzling Stage", including 14 in Grade A, 26 in Grade B, 39 in Grade C, 41 in Grade D, and 48 in Grade F.

This lecture hall used virtual reality projection to differentiate different colored blocks on the ground, and had five different designs of chairs arranged from high to low. The colors and chairs corresponded to each other, making it easy to distinguish the different levels.

Chu Wang Shu blinked disappointingly and muttered:

"Oh, this time it’s not just random selection, but based on levels?"

"What a pity, I wanted to sit with Qing Qing."

Chu Yuanqing tried to comfort on the surface, but secretly felt happy, even relieved.

She couldn’t help it, her current appearance had no authority in front of Little Shu, even if she acted very cold, she couldn’t be tough with this child.

Well, this led to even this coldness being seen as part of her character.

It’s really sad, her daughter is no longer afraid of her!

So it’s best not to sit together, distance creates beauty, just maintaining a normal friendship is enough, must not evolve into a dangerously close relationship.

Even though at times she strangely enjoyed being close, Little Shu had no bad intentions, but the deep-rooted male mindset made her resist contact with her daughter.

Also... enjoying things is a sign of starting to go bad!

Chu Yuanqing felt more and more excited. She couldn’t wait to say goodbye to the little girl and sit in the most remote corner of the Grade C area. But before she could even take a step in anticipation, her sleeve was suddenly grabbed.

——She is Kirimi Miyuki.

The girl seemed to have imagined something in her mind. There was a restrained emotion in her eyes. Without giving Chu Yuanqing a chance to speak, she naturally wrapped her arms around Chu Yuanqing, giving her a brief hug in public like a fleeting touch.

Afterwards,

The idol made a cute cheering gesture with her hand, then, under the envious gaze of Chu Wang Shu from a distance, walked towards the highest stairs and sat in the designated area of Grade A.

Chu Yuanqing was slightly annoyed and a bit itchy. She held back her expression and sat in the corner of the C-level Area, feeling the impulse to pinch the other girl’s face fiercely under the subtle scrutiny of others.

Darn it, I did this to make things easier for you, not for you to voluntarily let me suck your blood!

Why are you so easily moved! Are you an idiot?!

Hmm, if she knew about Kirimi Miyuki being mistreated by her teammates before, she would probably understand why things turned out this way.

Chu Yuanqing was feeling very upset. She didn’t mind being called names like "green tea" or "scheming," but she was afraid of attracting attention from internet users and making it harder for herself to stay in the competition.

However, as more and more beautiful trainees with exceptional talents entered the classroom, filling up most of the seats, her anxious heart started to feel more at ease.

That’s right, there were so many pretty girls on the show, almost too many to count. Who would care about a contestant who had no presence and lacked skills? She was really too self-conscious.

Chu Yuanqing quickly regained her confidence, became optimistic again, and waited for the results of the battle for the theme song with a relaxed attitude.

Soon, a giant screen was projected onto the blackboard, playing music videos customized based on the theme songs. Each song was played quickly, showcasing the most memorable scenes before moving on to the next one.

Eight theme songs were previewed within two minutes, and then the screen switched to the voting interface on the official website of "Dazzling Stage."

Dream Weaver Rabbit looked around at the trainees in the room, not mentioning the theme of the gathering this time. Instead, with a mocking grin on his face, he cruelly said:

"Even though it’s only been 24 hours since the last evaluation, you all should already understand the importance of ratings."

(Translated by Gravity Tales 😧)

"Some of you have fallen to Grade F, some are just one step away from Grade A, and others have given up on aspiring beyond Grade D and Grade C."

"Do you find it strange? The show has just begun, yet the goddess of victory seems to have lost interest in you."

"Unreasonable, isn’t it? The future of victory or defeat, and even the fate of being an idol, all depend on one performance on stage."

"But being an idol means constantly overcoming these unreasonable obstacles, using the stage as a lifeline, burning passionately on it to shine brightly!"

"The selection mechanism of "Dazzling Stage" is all about winning or losing on stage!"

"Losers will have their years of hard work denied, even the right to shine taken away, and eventually their dreams and beliefs trampled on."

"However, the winners will bask in flowers and praise, step over the bodies of all losers, devour the dreams of their opponents along the way, sharpen their shining selves, and stand on the highest stage in the world!"