After Being Hopeless at Singing and Dancing, I Exploded in Popularity Due to My Appetite - Chapter 32

It was the day of the third public performance.

The contestants woke up early for their makeup and hair, while the fans arrived even earlier, lining up to enter. Following the staff’s guidance, they sat with their fellow fans, pulling out their banners and light sticks.

Since Tao Nian had the most fans, they occupied the largest area.

The “Sweet Peaches” (Tao Nian’s fans) meticulously took out their banners and unfurled them.

The banners were peach-pink, with Tao Nian’s name written in a cute font.

Nearly half the audience silently unfolded their banners. Unlike other fans, they didn’t hold them up but neatly placed them on their laps and started chatting with those around them.

At first, everyone talked about Tao Nian, when they first knew her, finding her interesting, and wanting to know why she could eat so much without gaining weight, and how she was usually adorable in her dazed and silly way…

After about twenty sentences, the group of closely-seated people exchanged glances, unsure what to say next.

Liu Xiaobai, wearing a mask, sat among them. Seeing her fellow fans silent and at a loss for words, she despairingly slapped her forehead.

Just then, someone tentatively said, “At first, I thought this show would flop, but after watching a few episodes, I found it really good. For example, the mentors on this show are very talented…”

So the topic quickly shifted to Lin Qianman. The Sweet Peaches shrieked with excitement, discussing everything from the songs Lin Qianman sang when she debuted to her movies, behind-the-scenes footage, and photo shoots. They talked over each other, and the atmosphere grew heated.

Liu Xiaobai closed her eyes: “You fake fans!”

She couldn’t help but ask: “Aren’t you Tao Nian’s fans?”

A few people who had been talking heatedly spared two seconds to glance at Liu Xiaobai, calmly nodding: “Oh, I’m just a fake fan.”

They paused, then asked Liu Xiaobai: “Don’t you like Sister Lin? Don’t you think Sister Lin is the one who should really debut?!”

Liu Xiaobai: “…”

“What were you talking about? Sister Lin’s cover for V Magazine last September?! Ahhh, I love it so much! I think that one was absolutely stunning, Sister Lin is truly beautiful! Linlin-zi, debut as the center!”

Ah, how could she forget? They were talking about Lin Qianman, her favorite movie actress!

The other fans, fewer in number than the Sweet Peaches but exceptionally united, had been talking about their own idols for over an hour. Listening to the Sweet Peaches chattering for a long time, and seeing that they were about to continue, they couldn’t help but listen in, wanting to know the current situation of their rivals.

Then they heard the Sweet Peaches mentioning another name.

Lin Qianman…

Other fans: “…”

You fake fans!

Tao Nian’s group was the first to perform today.

Fans of other contestants initially thought that all of Tao Nian’s fans were Lin Qianman’s fans, so there shouldn’t be much competition.

But when Tao Nian appeared on stage, the very same people who had been chattering about Lin Qianman raised their pink banners, now warm from being on their laps. While shouting Tao Nian’s name, they shrieked: “Ah, Older Sister is so beautiful!”

“Tao Nian! You’re the best!”

“Tao Nian, let’s walk the flower road together!”

This was what everyone had discussed in their group chat yesterday. Although they all decided to become Tao Nian’s fans out of rebellious defiance after seeing netizens criticize her, and what they usually did was even less than what paid internet trolls did… they were still Tao Nian’s fans, after all!

This group chat was composed entirely of the administrators of Tao Nian’s various fan groups.

At this moment, the administrator of this admin group was urging everyone: “During the last performance, everyone went sporadically, without organization, which resulted in Tao Nian being the only one without fans shouting her name, holding banners, or waving light sticks. The performance is coming up soon, so we must learn from last time. Everyone sit together, and when Tao Nian appears, we must let Tao Nian see everyone’s enthusiasm, let Tao Nian know that she is not useless! That she still has people who like her!”

“Well, but, she’s not useless, is she? When it comes to eating, no one can beat her.”

A Sweet Peach raised a question.

The most rebellious administrator immediately @-mentioned this fan: “Honesty is a good quality, but at this moment, don’t just blurt out the blunt truth. This is a girl group survival show, not an eating competition, darn it!”

The fan obediently sent a “got it” emoji.

The administrator continued to arrange: “Everyone, bring your banners then. They’re not expensive. I’ll contribute some money and buy some in bulk from Taobao. We’ll distribute them, and when Tao Nian appears, hold up the banners and shout Tao Nian’s name. The more heartbreakingly, hoarsely, and fanatically, the better.”

“How do you do ‘heartbreakingly, hoarsely, fanatically’? I’ve never followed an idol before, and my favorite idols don’t do these fancy things. I only book out cinemas to watch movies…”

Dozens of people in the group exchanged glances, having no idea what this process was. They could only hastily search for videos to see how other fans did it.

Then, a new problem arose.

What color should the banners be? What was Tao Nian’s support color? What color did she like?

“I don’t know, I’m just a fake fan, don’t make it hard for me.”

“I’m a fake fan too.”

“Fake fan plus one.”

The administrator was utterly exasperated and could only decide: “Just pick any color. How about peach color, pink is good.”

And another new problem. What to write on the banner? Other fans are very clever; they can deconstruct or replace their idol’s name with homophones, creating beautiful and meaningful support slogans that look good on banners.

Administrator: “I’ll order the banners, who will do this part?”

“I won’t, I’m a fake fan.”

“I won’t, I’m not only a fake fan but also a new-age illiterate.”

“Then just write her name directly.”

The administrator was also very annoyed.

Everything was perfunctory, but thankfully, when Tao Nian appeared, everyone’s screams were indeed very loud and impressive.

In the final voting stage, they were also very supportive. Tao Nian secured the center position by a wide margin.

Other fans looked at the results: “…”

Is fan culture this competitive now? Do fans also need to play dumb to catch a tiger and make a feint to the east while attacking the west?

Tao Nian didn’t understand why so many people were calling her name today. After the performance ended, Fang Wen led her to the crowd of fans, telling her to thank those who liked her and do something for them.

Her Master taught her to return kindness, and Lin Qianman taught her to share, with the premise that others gave her food, so she should share food with others.

Now, Tao Nian was counting on her fingers, confused: “Why should I give them things? They didn’t give me anything.”

Fang Wen had always been Lin Qianman’s assistant. Lin Qianman was the kind of celebrity who was especially good to her fans; not only did she usually not accept gifts from fans, but she would also occasionally prepare gifts for fans who came to see her.

Now, hearing Tao Nian’s question, her eyes almost popped out. Although she knew that some celebrities in the entertainment industry indeed treated fans like leeks, not knowing gratitude and only wanting money, Tao Nian didn’t seem like that kind of person at all!

Fang Wen frowned, remembering Lin Qianman’s answer when she first didn’t understand why Lin Qianman did what she did, and then considering Tao Nian’s current situation and attitude, her voice grew colder: “Fans give you the most precious things in the world! It’s love and support! You cannot belittle or ignore their love and support; you can only do your best not to disappoint their expectations and repay them with something.”

This was Lin Qianman’s previous answer.

Fang Wen couldn’t help but tell Tao Nian again: “You can still be on this show entirely because of your fans. Everything you have, they gave you!”

She turned back, and Tao Nian was still counting on her fingers: “Love and support, what are those?”

Seeing Fang Wen looking over, she blinked, her eyes innocent: “Lin Qianman said she wants me to learn to choose and to restrain myself. Are these the same things?”

Seeing her like that, Fang Wen suddenly felt that all her seriousness just now had been useless. She sighed, her voice softening a bit: “They’re not the same.”

But how to explain it specifically, she didn’t know. She just broadly explained to Tao Nian: “Choice means there are two paths, and you take one. Restraint means there are two paths in front of you, but you don’t take either. Love is… no matter what you do, you’ll think of one person. Support is, you love a person, so you understand their choices.”

After she finished speaking, she herself felt she had spoken vaguely, so she looked at Tao Nian and joked: “Forget it, what you love most must be food.”

Indeed, Tao Nian furrowed her brow, thinking, and nodded in agreement.

She didn’t seem to understand at all.

Fang Wen sighed, and could only skip the complicated social niceties, telling Tao Nian what she needed to do: “Go and bow to the fans, say thank you for their love and support, talk to them. If they want autographs, sign them. You cannot accept anything they give you. You must tell the fans to live well, study well, work well, and focus on their own lives.”

Fortunately, although Tao Nian was ignorant, she was very obedient. When Fang Wen told her, she obediently nodded and said she understood.

However, when the two walked over together, the Sweet Peaches all covered their mouths and shouted another name.

“Assistant Wenwen!”

Everyone crowded around, pushing Tao Nian to the side, only asking Fang Wen: “Assistant Wenwen, how is Sister Lin doing lately?”

“Assistant Wenwen, when will Sister Lin go filming?”

“Assistant Wenwen, Sister Lin…”

Tao Nian, outside the crowd, was counting on her fingers, lost in confusion.

Should I still do what Fang Wen told me to do now? It seems no one is listening to me.

She turned around and met the gaze of the only person still by her side.

The person was wearing a mask and a hat, looking quite inconspicuous, but Tao Nian still recognized her through her eyes: this was the person who bought her food and helped her find work!

Tao Nian was very surprised: “It’s you!”

Liu Xiaobai didn’t expect Tao Nian to recognize her even like this. She pushed up the brim of her hat and smiled at Tao Nian: “Long time no see. You’re doing great now!”

When she first brought Tao Nian here, she thought Tao Nian could only debut based on her looks, but after so many episodes, Tao Nian’s skills were also improving bit by bit. Given time, she might truly become a qualified idol.

Tao Nian was embarrassed: “Thank you.”

Liu Xiaobai saw Tao Nian’s shy demeanor, handed her banner to her, and teased: “You really are great! I’m your fan now, please sign an autograph for me!”

Ah! This is what Fang Wen told her about!

Tao Nian muttered Fang Wen’s instructions to herself, while taking the banner, intending to sign it for her.

But…

Tao Nian took the banner and the black marker, and asked Liu Xiaobai: “What is a signature?”

Liu Xiaobai smiled again, pointed to the large blank space at the bottom of the pink banner, and said: “Here, just write your name.”

Tao Nian then diligently wrote her name, stroke by stroke, and handed the banner to Liu Xiaobai.

Liu Xiaobai took the banner and looked at it.

Her breath hitched, she blinked as if in disbelief, then looked up at Tao Nian.

Tao Nian still looked very shy, seemingly oblivious to anything being wrong.

Liu Xiaobai looked down again at the signature Tao Nian had given her on the banner, and her breath hitched once more. After a long moment, she said to Tao Nian: “Sweetheart… when you’re not training or eating, don’t always watch others knit socks. You can practice your handwriting.”

Just as Tao Nian was counting on her fingers, trying to understand what Liu Xiaobai meant, Huang Li, who had been cooped up at home for a month, gnawed on her fingernails, pacing anxiously back and forth.

That’s a Taotie, a Taotie, with such a big mouth, she could eat several of me in one bite, and I’m supposed to be her guest performer? Is she trying to get herself killed?!

But, Qilin (Lin Qianman) had said it. If she didn’t go, and Qilin was displeased with her, would she be very unlucky?

Huang Li measured her own body, pondering whether to buy a bulletproof vest. Surely a Taotie’s teeth couldn’t be more damaging than bullets, could they?

Perhaps Huang Li’s anxiety was contagious; the dog lying beside her, watching her change clothes, also became infected. It rested its head on Huang Li’s paw, whimpering with a plaintive sound.

Huang Li quickly stroked the dog’s fur with her fingers, cuddling the dog to comfort it.

But as she spoke, she felt even more aggrieved herself. She looked at the sharp teeth in her furry child’s mouth and reached out to touch them.

The dog opened its mouth and let her touch it. They were clearly very sharp teeth, but they didn’t harm its owner in the slightest.

Huang Li took her hand back and stroked the dog’s head: “Maomao (Furry), you have to protect Mama. If Tao Nian bites Mama again, you bite her!”

After saying it, she immediately realized that if her furry child actually went near Tao Nian, it would probably just be a snack to pick out of her teeth after eating people.

She was overcome with sadness and shook her head: “Forget it, Maomao. When the time comes, you just run away, as far as you can. You can’t bite her.”

Author’s Note:

Tao Nian: “…”

Why am I comparing myself to a dog in this regard (eating hands)?