Oops! I Became a Fan of My Rival Idol! - Chapter 23

When it was Xiao Ninglu’s turn, she called out, “Shu Bailian.”

Then she inexplicably shot Qiao Huihui a triumphant look, as if she had snatched something away from her.

Qiao Huihui: “…” There was really no need for that.

Although Shu Bailian had indeed been her second choice, it wasn’t as if she was indispensable.

She glanced at Shu Bailian, who was now briskly walking toward Xiao Ninglu, and noticed the familiar “kindly” smile on her face. Qiao Huihui had a premonition that their team was going to be quite “interesting” in the days to come.

Looking at Xiao Ninglu, who was still basking in her triumph, Qiao Huihui couldn’t help but silently mourn for her.

You have no idea what a green tea bitch is capable of!

Next, she quietly pulled Li Huixin into her own team, which moved the latter deeply.

Li Huixin was ranked 65th—an awkward position. She had already resigned herself to being one of the last picks, never expecting Qiao Huihui to choose her second.

Tears welled up in her eyes as she gazed at Qiao Huihui with a look full of unspoken gratitude, giving Qiao Huihui goosebumps.

She really hadn’t thought too much about it—she had just gathered all the people she knew into her team. After all, it was easier to work with acquaintances than strangers.

She wasn’t stupid. Since she was going to be the team leader, she had to do it properly. Having a group of unfamiliar or incompatible teammates would only hinder the team’s unity.

After the selection process, all eighty contestants had been assigned.

Qiao Huihui stepped forward to draw the performance song.

Unfolding the slip of paper, she saw two words written on it—”Forbidden Love.”

Her heart skipped a beat. This was a dark-themed song with a gothic vibe to its lyrics.

It wasn’t a style she usually favored, but given the song’s popularity, she had heard it before elsewhere.

The song told the story of a yandere who fell in love with a girl. The first half was warm and sweet, but the second half took a sudden dark turn when the girl discovered the yandere’s plan to lock her up. She fled overnight, only to be caught in the end and imprisoned in a cage.

Overall, the song’s style was quite challenging.

Qiao Huihui clenched the slip of paper in her hand, her gaze growing resolute.

She believed she could do it!

After selecting the song, it was time for practice. This time, they had half a month to prepare, still with guidance from instructors as before.

Qiao Huihui and her teammates headed to their assigned practice room. With Xia Niao’s talent for breaking the ice, they quickly warmed up to each other.

Besides, Qiao Huihui had also considered their personalities when picking her team. Everyone was honest and drama-free, making communication much smoother.

The instructor arrived soon after. She would only teach them for two days, after which they would have to practice on their own. For Qiao Huihui, this was quite demanding, so she focused all her efforts on learning, leaving no room for other thoughts.

It wasn’t until the midday break, when Xia Niao invited her to lunch, that she suddenly realized—Shen Nanqing wasn’t in the same team as her anymore.

After just half a day apart, she already missed her.

Le Xingshan was also her idol, so why didn’t she feel the same way about him?

She pressed a hand to her chest, instinctively avoiding the reason behind this question.

Maybe it was because she had spent so much time with Teacher Shen. After all, since the show began, they had always been together. It was only natural to feel a little disoriented after being suddenly separated.

Qiao Huihui and Xia Niao walked toward the cafeteria together, but as soon as they descended the stairs, they ran into a group of people.

Le Xingshan, Jian Luobai, Shen Nanqing, Shu Bailian… These few people unexpectedly arrived at the stairwell entrance at the same time.

Since they had run into each other and were all acquaintances… They looked up and smiled, naturally walking together.

Qiao Huihui shuffled her small steps over to Shen Nanqing’s side and asked quietly, “Teacher Shen, did you miss me?”

Shen Nanqing glanced at her expressionlessly and asked, “Why suddenly ask that?”

Qiao Huihui stuck out her tongue and smiled sheepishly, “Hehe, because I kinda missed you.”

“…” Shen Nanqing paused briefly, a hint of amusement spreading in her eyes. “Mn, I missed you too.”

Xia Niao, who had been listening in, suddenly shivered and gave them a complicated look. “So mushy, you two. It’s just been one morning apart, is this really necessary?”

Shen Nanqing shot her a death glare.

Xia Niao immediately clammed up, forcing an awkward smile. “Carry on, carry on.”

Shu Bailian let out a strange chuckle and looked over. “Watching them, it’s like they’re some lovey-dovey couple.”

For some reason, these words sent Qiao Huihui into a flustered panic. She glanced at Shen Nanqing’s impassive face and bristled, “Nonsense! Teacher Shen and I are soulmates! How dare you tarnish our bond with something as vulgar as romance!”

Shu Bailian gave her a sidelong glance and snorted meaningfully. “Alright, alright, my mistake.”

Her tone clearly carried deeper implications, but Qiao Huihui didn’t dare probe further, afraid she might accidentally reveal something—or perhaps there was an underlying guilt she herself wasn’t aware of. She immediately lowered her head and fell silent.

The others continued chatting and laughing, quickly moving past the topic.

Yet no one could have predicted that when the show aired later, this very scene would become “irrefutable proof” of the so-called “Qiao Huihui and Shen Nanqing feud.”

The group was laughing and talking, yet Qiao Huihui and Shen Nanqing were either silent or stone-faced—clearly, they must be on bad terms!

Ever since Qiao Huihui had been targeted by online trolls—though the matter was eventually resolved—the overwhelming support she received had highlighted her popularity.

This made Shen Nanqing, who shared a dorm and team with her and even appeared on the same variety show yet never spoke up, stand out conspicuously.

Fans dug deeper and discovered that Qiao Huihui and Shen Nanqing didn’t even follow each other on Weibo. Combined with their somewhat distant interactions, the more people scrutinized, the more convinced they became that the two were at odds.

Thus, rumors of their discord spread online, backed by “solid evidence”—various clips from the show seemingly confirming it. Some even speculated when their conflict would erupt.

All we can say is… blame the editing!

Exhausted after a long day, Qiao Huihui returned to the dorm and noticed a new package on the table.

She excitedly ran over to unwrap it and, upon seeing her drawing tablet, hugged it gleefully.

Xia Niao asked curiously, “What’s that?”

Qiao Huihui replied, “Something I use for drawing.”

Xia Niao immediately lost interest and didn’t inquire further.

But Qiao Huihui couldn’t put it down, turning it over in her hands. She’d been thinking about it for days, itching to draw. Every time she saw something inspiring but lacked the tools, it left her frustrated.

She decided—tonight, she was pulling an all-nighter to draw!