Oops! I Became a Fan of My Rival Idol! - Chapter 38

Qiao Huihui took the tissue Yu Xiaoman handed her to wipe her sweat and smiled at her.

 

She tried to steady her breathing and looked up toward the stage.

 

At the very center, Shen Nanqing was already standing there.

 

A white shirt, a slightly indifferent expression, and the faintly curled corner of her lips—everything about her was breathtakingly cool.

 

This was Shen Nanqing as an idol—the proud and aloof “Shen the Black Cat,” the heartthrob who sent fans into a frenzy.

 

Only then did Qiao Huihui suddenly realize that their outfits tonight looked like matching couple shirts.

 

One in white, the other in black.

 

The music swelled around her, the screams of fans deafening, but Qiao Huihui stood at the edge where the stage lights didn’t reach, shutting out the world on her own.

 

Her eyes, her heart—there was only the figure dancing on stage.

 

Effortless, unrestrained, every movement exuding confidence. There was no emotion in this performance—just pure skill and flair.

 

The audience only saw how dazzling and handsome it was, but only Qiao Huihui knew the effort and sweat behind such a dance.

 

Shen Nanqing stayed up late every night and rose early to practice. They had seen the sunrise together at four in the morning, shared smiles in the hazy mist.

 

The world was strange, she thought. Just two months ago, they had been strangers meeting for the first time. From unfamiliarity to closeness, from indifference to budding affection—it felt like they had been through so much together, yet looking back, it had only been two months.

 

Was this fate?

 

Qiao Huihui wondered uncertainly.

 

She had once been called an “emotionless dancing machine,” while the other had been labeled a contestant with passion but lacking technique. Yet tonight, everything seemed reversed—she had delivered a dramatic stage performance, while the other executed dazzling, complex dance moves.

 

“She dances really well, doesn’t she?” someone remarked behind her with a sigh.

 

Qiao Huihui turned to see Le Xingshan.

 

Le Xingshan walked up beside her, the shifting stage lights casting faint shadows over her figure, her high heels clicking gracefully.

 

But Qiao Huihui no longer felt the same starstruck excitement she once had upon meeting an idol.

 

Le Xingshan gazed at Shen Nanqing on stage, her expression complicated. “She’s really amazing…”

 

“You, and her—both of you are incredible.” She turned to Qiao Huihui and smiled self-deprecatingly. “Ah, I didn’t expect to be surpassed so quickly.”

 

The new generation surpasses the old.

 

She loved the stage, the spotlight, the screaming fans, and the dreams.

 

Once, she had been the star elevated to the pantheon by flowers and applause. When praise became constant, it was easy to lose herself.

 

When everyone called her the best, she had unknowingly accepted the title.

 

Until she joined this show and met so many talented and skilled contestants.

 

She had witnessed Qiao Huihui and Shen Nanqing’s talent and hard work firsthand. While she considered them friends, she also saw them as rivals—after all, strong opponents push you to become even stronger. That saying was absolutely true.

 

She began stepping down from her pedestal, facing her own shortcomings, shifting from a state of lofty detachment to being grounded. She regarded two individuals as her fiercest rivals, yet also admired them deeply.

 

They were formidable opponents—ones who, given the slightest opportunity, would seize it relentlessly, improving at an astonishing pace.

 

In this silent duel, she found herself exhilarated, utterly invigorated. Even if the final outcome was defeat, she harbored no regrets.

 

On the path of growth, encountering an opponent who could challenge and suppress one’s ego is, for many, a stroke of luck.

 

This wasn’t failure—it was tempering, a means to become a better version of oneself.

 

She felt fortunate to have met them at the age of twenty. They didn’t let her continue inflating until she burst; instead, they pulled her back down to earth, broadening and clarifying her perspective.

 

As her thoughts shifted, the last trace of melancholy faded away. Le Xingshan smiled carefreely and patted Qiao Huihui’s shoulder. “Go for it, Huihui! You might just take first place tonight!”

 

“Huh?” Qiao Huihui’s eyes widened. She bit her lip nervously. “But… but I…”

 

“Believe in yourself! You were absolutely amazing today!” Le Xingshan didn’t hold back her praise—and rightfully so. During Qiao Huihui’s performance, she had been utterly captivated. In that moment, she already knew she had lost.

 

Faced with such direct admiration, Qiao Huihui shyly pursed her lips.

 

Seeing her like this, Le Xingshan suddenly sighed. “Ah, you’re not that little fangirl anymore…”

 

She no longer blushed uncontrollably at the sight of her.

 

Qiao Huihui was startled by the remark. Being personally “dismissed” from fandom by her idol—was that even allowed?

 

She hurried to explain, “No, I still really, really admire you, sis!”

 

Le Xingshan simply smiled knowingly and glanced at Shen Nanqing on stage, hinting, “Before, your eyes sparkled when you looked at me. Now, they sparkle when you look at her.”

 

Qiao Huihui froze.

 

No way… Was it really that obvious?

 

She desperately wanted to find a mirror to check if her eyes truly reflected what Le Xingshan claimed.

 

For a moment, she was at a loss for words.

 

As the two spoke, the performance on stage neared its climax, ending with Shen Nanqing’s breathtaking slide into a kneeling pose.

 

The audience erupted into screams.

 

“Ahhhh! Sis, I’m yours! Take me now!”

 

“So damn cool! My legs are jelly!”

 

“Holy—you’re gonna be the star of my dreams tonight!”

 

“So handsome I could call you ‘hubby’ right now…”

 

Meanwhile, the live stream chat exploded:

 

This is lethal. The girls tonight are on another level!
Can I just say Qiao Huihui deserves first place?
Hold up—then can I say Shen Nanqing deserves it?
As a neutral viewer, this is tough. Both Qiao Huihui and Shen Nanqing are incredible!
But hey, can I get some votes for our girl Le Xingshan?
Xia Niao! Xia Niao! Xia Niao’s also a queen!
Gently carrying my silly bird away—no competition tonight, it’s a battle of gods. We fans have accepted our fate.
Uh… random question—did everyone forget there’s still one group left?
Tch, Xiao Ninglu’s team… Their lineup’s weak. The only ones who can hold their own are probably her and Shu Bailian.

 

“Hold on, still really looking forward to Shu the Siren—that voice is absolutely incredible. What if a miracle happens?”

 

Since their favorites had already performed, the fans quickly dispersed to frantically vote. Both Qiao Huihui and Shen Nanqing had delivered outstanding performances tonight, and the battle for first place fell squarely on their fans’ shoulders. Given their notorious rivalry, the fans were even more fired up, determined to outdo each other.

 

First, they argued fiercely in the comments under Weibo posts. After hours of back-and-forth with no clear winner, they left with a final taunt: “Let the votes decide!”

 

Then they launched into full-on campaign mode, spreading the word far and wide.

 

“Step right up, take a look! The adorable yet cool Qiao Huihui is on sale now! A steal at just one vote—take this cutie home today!”

 

“Boss Shen is absolutely killing it—slender waist, long legs, and an icy-cool face that’ll make your knees weak. Sisters, joining this fandom is a no-brainer!”

 

Half an hour later, all the contestants had finished performing.

 

The final group didn’t bring any surprises. Not that they were bad, but on a night filled with god-tier performances, they simply paled in comparison.

 

The audience was almost certain—first place would undoubtedly go to either Qiao Huihui or Shen Nanqing.

 

The fans grew even more frenzied, throwing themselves into the rankings, desperate to see their idols reach the top.

 

The vote counts skyrocketed at lightning speed. Every lead change and pause sent hearts racing, leaving fans cursing the real-name voting system that prevented them from stuffing the ballot box for their beloved contestants.

 

Back at the recording studio, eighty pairs of eyes locked onto the paper in Chu Junling’s hands.

 

That slip held the results of all their hard work.

 

Chu Junling knew how anxious the girls were, but she couldn’t resist teasing them, deliberately swaying the paper from left to right. The girls’ heads followed in unison—a sight both adorable and hilarious.

 

“Alright, enough chit-chat. Let’s get straight to the results.”

 

Once she’d had her fun, she finally took pity on the poor girls.

 

Unfolding the paper, she glanced at it and feigned surprise for the cameras. “Judging by the numbers, the competition was fierce this time!”

 

Her words only stoked the girls’ curiosity further. They stared at her, practically burning with impatience, wishing they could just snatch the mic and announce the results themselves.

 

From the judges’ panel, Wan Jing burst out laughing. “Junling, hurry up! These kids are about to die of suspense.”

 

“Got it, Sister Wan! I’ll announce them right away!”

 

This round would eliminate twenty contestants, so Chu Junling started reading from 60th place upward.

 

Those whose names were called exhaled in relief, gradually relaxing, while the others grew more tense with each passing second.

 

Finally, it was time to announce the top ten.

 

Chu Junling read them one by one:

 

“…Eighth place, Yu Xiaoman. Seventh place, Xiao Ninglu. Sixth place, Xia Niao. Fifth place, Jian Luobai. Fourth place, Shu Bailian…”

 

When she reached third place, Qiao Huihui clenched the hem of her outfit.

 

“Third place—Le Xingshan!”

 

“Second place—Shen Nanqing!”

 

“First place—Qiao Huihui!”

 

Cheers erupted from the audience, but Qiao Huihui stood frozen, her mind drifting elsewhere.

 

She… was first?

 

Was this a dream?

 

Chu Junling’s voice snapped her back to reality. “The vote difference between first and second place was razor-thin. Any guesses on the margin?”

 

Xia Niao eagerly raised her hand. “Ten thousand?”

 

Chu Junling shook her head and held the mic out to Shu Bailian.

 

Hesitating, Shu Bailian ventured, “Could it be… a thousand?”

 

Chu Junling continued shaking her head, instantly eliciting a chorus of surprised gasps.

 

According to the usual logic of such talent shows, the voting base is extremely large, and the vote difference between contestants is typically quite significant—even a gap of ten thousand votes would be considered small.

 

Now, what had they just heard? The difference between Qiao Huihui and Shen Nanqing wasn’t even a thousand votes.

 

Someone shouted, “Could it be a hundred?”

 

Chu Junling smiled and shook her head again, raising a finger to her lips. “Don’t scream just yet!”

 

She cleared her throat and officially announced the result: “Between first-place Qiao Huihui and second-place Shen Nanqing, there’s only a one-vote difference.”

 

…

 

The entire venue fell silent.

 

Then erupted into deafening exclamations.

 

Qiao Huihui had only one more vote than Shen Nanqing!