After Being Hopeless at Singing and Dancing, I Exploded in Popularity Due to My Appetite - Chapter 11

Lin Qianman was extremely nervous.

Recently, Tao Nian had been practicing dancing.

Actually, she wasn’t good at it. Her true ability was simply not being able to remember movements and having to secretly watch others and follow along, as seen in the first episode.

But her master taught her that whatever she was supposed to do, she had to do it her best, especially when collaborating with others; she couldn’t drag anyone down.

So, although Tao Nian wasn’t skilled, she was very diligent.

The result of daily practice was getting hungry even faster.

Lin Qianman just wanted Tao Nian to eat more, eat slowly, and play the long game.

Tens of thousands of people in the livestream room didn’t care what the mentors in the center were saying; they just stared intently at the two small figures in the corner.

Tao Nian still didn’t even look up. She took the bottle of milk, took a small sip, swallowed the choked-up tart.

Then she took a moment, and gulped down the entire bottle of milk.

Gulp, gulp, gulp, gulp.

Finally, she lowered her head, puffed out her cheeks, and obediently placed the empty bottle in the corner at her feet, then continued to eat the fruit platter that others had left untouched.

“This is the ‘petite and lovely’ girl group member on the outside (trembling).”

“How many days has she not eaten? She ate so much fruit, then a palm-sized tart, and drank a bottle of milk, how is she still eating…?”

“Although… she’s drinking so much, isn’t she lactose intolerant?”

“She’s really eating seriously. Is the fruit platter too small or…?”

“No… that bottle of milk she just drank was 350ml. Compared to the fruit platter, it was so small. And that fruit platter was a decent-sized fruit platter.”

Watching Tao Nian eat another fruit platter, then another, a plate of palmiers, a mousse cake, five mochi, and another fruit platter without changing her expression… Every time she ate too quickly and choked, or when fruit juice got on her hands, Lin Qianman next to her would hand her milk or tissues.

Everyone went from initial shock to daze, and finally to near indifference.

The stream of curses and complaints in the comments finally began to change: “Is this a new way to whitewash? Saying nothing, but diverting our attention so we no longer think about her flaws?”

“If so, then she succeeded. I really want to know why she can eat so much.”

“I once thought I was watching a mukbang streamer, not a girl group talent show livestream…”

“No wonder Sister Lin gave her digestive tablets in that photo…”

“So why is she still eating?!”

The main focus of the livestream shifted several times, with one contestant after another coming up to greet and briefly introduce themselves.

Finally, it was almost Tao Nian’s turn. A staff member jogged over to tell Tao Nian to get ready.

Tao Nian was still eating cantaloupe when the staff member approached. She looked up at the staff member, clearly puzzled. The staff member blocked the camera, so viewers couldn’t see Tao Nian anymore; only the staff member’s back was visible in that corner.

Not sure what they saw, but they stomped their foot in a hurry.

Then everyone watched the staff member rush out.

Lin Qianman pulled out a pack of wet wipes from somewhere, took out a sheet, and had Tao Nian wipe her hands.

“…”

“…”

“So their relationship seems to be really good.”

“Although I don’t know why Tao Nian doesn’t even look at Sister Lin, it seems like fruit is more worthy of her attention than Sister Lin.”

“To be honest, I suddenly feel a bit like shipping them…”

“Can’t ship! Think about it. The first time she met Sister Lin, she bit her!”

Just as the comments were arguing, trying to quash all thoughts of shipping, the staff member returned, bringing someone with a makeup bag.

To touch up Tao Nian’s lipstick.

Alright, the previously somewhat contentious comments were now full of “hahahahaha.”

Finally, the previous contestant finished and left, and Tao Nian stood in front of the camera.

The comments section brightened a bit, remembering they were there to demand accountability. Each person in front of their computer grabbed their keyboard, about to launch into a furious typing spree.

The host asked Tao Nian: “Is there anything you want to say to our friends in the livestream room?”

Tao Nian had eaten a lot of fruit, which was very sweet, and now her mouth felt a bit dry. She wanted to purse her lips, but remembering the warning from the person who had just applied her lipstick, she held back.

Those watching the livestream only saw Tao Nian’s lips twitch. Then, after what seemed like a long thought, she displayed a perfect girl group healing smile. She blinked and said: “Thank you all for your support and love.”

This was something she had just heard other contestants say, and now she was using it.

“Many people online are saying that your initial reaction when you first met Teacher Lin was to piggyback on her popularity. Do you have any explanation for this?”

Tao Nian blinked, as if she hadn’t heard clearly.

The host didn’t ask again. After all, these questions had been discussed with Lin Qianman’s studio, and he assumed the studio had already prepared a decent and humble answer for Tao Nian.

Then Tao Nian spoke, in a very puzzled tone: “She’s not hot (referring to “hot topic/popularity”), didn’t I say that? She’s fragrant!”

The host and the entire comments section were filled with: “????”

“Still stubborn? Is apologizing that hard?”

“Even if they’re good friends, wouldn’t such an action be inappropriate?”

“I just thought she was cute, but then she opened her mouth, and she’s still the same old ‘green tea’ (cracked emoji).”

The host never expected such an answer from Tao Nian. The final question came out a bit haltingly: “So, do you… have anything you want to say to Teacher Lin now?”

If it were according to the most normal procedure, Tao Nian should have seized the opportunity to cling to Lin Qianman from the start of the livestream, just like on the show, staring at Lin Qianman without blinking. For the previous question, she should have cried and explained that she liked Teacher Lin too much and was too excited to control herself and was very sorry, then subtly encouraged everyone not to scold her. Then, for this last question, Tao Nian could “righteously” express her affection for Lin Qianman and receive Lin Qianman’s forgiving understanding.

But from the moment Tao Nian saw the fruit platter on the table at the beginning of the livestream, everything went off track.

Now Tao Nian turned to look at Lin Qianman, her eyes brightening. She gestured and said to her: “I want that candy, the sour and sweet one, the triangular one!”

Because she turned around, the camera focused on Lin Qianman. Her face appeared directly on countless computer screens watching the livestream.

Still cool and beautiful, but she had lost her usual composure, with a hint of helplessness, she said: “Alright.”

“Beauty!!”

“Beauty!!”

“Mom, I saw a big beauty!”

“So beautiful, I’m drooling, drooling, drooling.”

“Don’t you have a wife? Why are you drooling over my wife?”

“Don’t you have a husband? Why are you drooling over my husband?”

Someone also noticed a blind spot: “I don’t know why, but I just feel like Sister Lin is a bit… doting.”

“Then I’ll make a wild guess: the ‘candy’ Tao Nian is talking about is digestive tablets…”