Oops! I Became a Fan of My Rival Idol! - Chapter 39

Qiao Huihui herself was also shocked by the result. Instinctively, she turned her head to look at Shen Nanqing.

 

Only to see the other girl flash her a faint smile, her gaze brimming with tenderness.

 

Rather than taking first place herself, Shen Nanqing had secretly hoped Qiao Huihui would win. She was well aware of the girl’s innate talent and charisma—she was born to stand on this stage as the brightest star.

 

This outcome was perfect.

 

Shen Nanqing knew she had little genuine interest in singing and dancing. From the very beginning, her goal had been singular: to become the greatest actress. Had it not been for the company’s covert suppression, she would never have considered using this survival show as a stepping stone.

 

Yet precisely because of this, she’d met the most important person in her life. She didn’t know whether to resent the company’s oppression or thank them for it.

 

Their brief exchange went unnoticed by others, as everyone was still reeling from Chu Junling’s announcement.

 

A one-vote difference.

 

What incredible coincidence could have produced such a result?

 

Rumors of discord between Qiao Huihui and Shen Nanqing had circulated for some time, and now curious glances discreetly flickered between the two, watching for signs of escalating rivalry.

 

A single vote meant their abilities were nearly matched, making future competition results unpredictable. Would Shen Nanqing truly accept this ranking?

 

Meanwhile, the outside world had exploded with the news. Qiao Huihui’s fans first erupted in celebration, then immediately grew vigilant, reminding themselves not to become complacent—next time’s ranking could easily swing the other way.

 

Shen Nanqing’s supporters were filled with regret and heartache. Just one vote! Had someone created an extra account, the outcome might have been different. But the results were final, leaving them no choice but to channel their frustration into fierce determination for the next performance.

 

Despite their differing reactions, one thing remained unchanged for both fanbases:

 

The Qiao-Shen rivalry.

 

The two factions now viewed each other as ultimate adversaries in the entertainment industry—a life-or-death competition where every achievement became a battleground. The ranking announcement only intensified their feud.

 

One side taunted: “What? Your idol still hasn’t landed any collaborations? Our girl’s already filmed a commercial!”

 

The other retorted: “Pfft, ours is selective—unlike yours who’ll take any trash. Since when did tractors become luxury brands like Rolls-Royce?”

 

Such barbed exchanges became daily occurrences.

 

Chu Junling observed them with gentle amusement, allowing the contestants their moment of commotion. Only when the murmurs gradually subsided did she raise her microphone again.

 

“Now that the rankings are settled,” she began, “congratulations to those who achieved good results. For those who fell short of expectations—don’t be discouraged. Keep striving for next time!”

 

The audience applauded the encouragement.

 

Then Chu Junling pivoted smoothly, opening a mission card as she addressed the cameras:

 

“This performance round still includes fan interaction. Supporters can visit our official website to submit suggestions for ‘Top 10 Things Fans Want Their Idols to Do.’ Contestants will then randomly select challenges to complete.”

 

This matter had already been announced to the fans before the live broadcast, so they had left their comments early, eagerly awaiting this moment.

 

After Chu Junling finished speaking, the fans erupted into excited screams.

 

They silently prayed in their hearts that their comment would be the one chosen.

 

The contestants, on the other hand, looked on with curiosity. They had been kept in the dark about this; the production team hadn’t informed them beforehand. Hearing it now was a surprise, and they wondered if they would be the ones to draw a fan’s comment.

 

After Chu Junling finished the countdown, ten comments appeared simultaneously on the big screen.

 

1.Both perform a duet of “Trouble Maker.”

 

2.Wash hair while doing a handstand live.

 

3.Sing a love song to another person.

 

4.Wear a mascot costume and prank passersby live.

 

5.Post the ugliest photo on Weibo.
…

 

The ten comments ranged from the bizarre to the outrageous. The contestants averted their eyes, afraid that looking too long would make them the “lucky” one.

 

Weren’t these supposed to be fan comments? These felt more like they were from anti-fans.

 

The only somewhat normal one was probably the duet.

 

But even that wasn’t guaranteed—what if two people who couldn’t stand each other got paired together? That would be a spectacle.

 

Despite the girls’ reluctance, what had to come would come. Chu Junling cheerfully placed the drawing box in front of them.

 

“Go on, draw!”

 

On stage, the mentors watched with amusement. Below, the fans waited eagerly. The poor, helpless girls had no choice but to line up one by one and draw their slips.

 

Xia Niao’s brow twitched the moment she unfolded her slip, and she immediately cried out, “Wash hair while doing a handstand??? No way, no way, am I really this unlucky?”

 

Her miserable expression sent the audience into fits of laughter, with her own fans laughing the hardest.

 

Qiao Huihui watched her and, while amused, also felt nervous, afraid she might draw something equally ridiculous.

 

She slowly unfolded her slip and took a careful look.

 

Dancing to “Trouble Maker”?

 

That didn’t seem too bad—at least it was better than washing hair upside down.

 

Though the dance was sexy and fiery, compared to Xia Niao’s fate, Qiao Huihui suddenly felt she could handle even the most provocative routine.

 

Since there were only ten challenges, the odds of drawing one weren’t too high. Many ended up with blank slips, meaning they hadn’t drawn anything.

 

Those who got blank slips sighed in relief.

 

Seeing that everyone had checked their slips, Chu Junling smiled and said, “Now, let the ‘winners’ step forward and announce what’s on their slips.”

 

Xia Niao was a given—her expression of utter despair said it all.

 

Qiao Huihui stepped forward. “I drew ‘Trouble Maker.'”

 

The audience immediately erupted in cheers.

 

Shen Nanqing raised an eyebrow and stepped forward next. “I drew the same.”

 

The cheers died instantly.

 

The two on stage locked eyes, while the audience below felt like they might start fighting any second.

 

At this point, everyone knew they were famously at odds. The two least likely to be paired together had been matched—this dramatic twist left everyone stunned.

 

Qiao Huihui and Shen Nanqing’s fans felt extremely uncomfortable, glaring at each other with hostility while closely following their respective idols’ footsteps.

 

The other fans glanced back and forth between them, silently cheering in their hearts: Fight! Fight!

 

The atmosphere cooled momentarily—something no one had anticipated. Fortunately, host Chu Junling reacted swiftly, making a lighthearted joke before quickly moving on to others.

 

“Xingshan, Xingshan, did you get yours?”

 

Le Xingshan stepped forward with a bitter smile and read the slip in her hand: “I did. ‘Wear a mascot costume and prank strangers on the street during a live stream.'”

 

This was far from an easy task, which explained her grim expression.

 

Given the sweltering season, forget the risk of getting beaten after pranking someone—just wearing a bulky mascot suit and wandering the streets was terrifying enough to cause heatstroke.

 

Her fans immediately grasped the severity, torn between anticipation and heartache for their idol.

 

“Poor sis, this is rough!”

 

“Ugh, my heart breaks for her!”

 

“Actually… I think washing hair while doing a handstand sounds worse?”

 

One fan timidly voiced this thought, and the others pondered it—it did seem slightly more bearable by comparison.

 

A strange sense of relief crept into Le Xingshan’s fandom.

 

Such was human nature—when faced with misfortune, knowing someone else has it worse makes one’s own troubles feel trivial.

 

Next was Jian Luobai, who remained calm: “Sing a love song to another person.”

 

Behind her, Shu Bailian widened her eyes, nearly tearing the slip in her hand to shreds.

 

Damn it—if Jian Luobai picked anyone else, she’d make sure that person regretted it.

 

Once all the participants who drew slips had stepped forward, Chu Junling offered a few hollow words of consolation before grinning mischievously. “Do your best, everyone! Challenges must be completed within a week. Fail, and you’ll have to post ‘I am a little dog’ on Weibo.”

 

Xia Niao groaned, convinced she was the unluckiest person alive.

 

Then came the inevitable farewell ritual. Melancholic music filled the hall as everyone watched the eliminated contestants leave.

 

Once the departing participants and their audiences had exited, only sixty contestants remained.

 

The now-empty hall cast a somber mood over them all.

 

They remembered the early days when the venue had been packed. Yet after round after round of eliminations, their numbers had dwindled to this.

 

Some broke into tears, mourning the loss of close friends.

 

Chu Junling first had staff distribute their phones, then offered a few encouraging words before leaving with the other mentors.

 

Another week-long break followed, during which they could do as they pleased.

 

Qiao Huihui eagerly unlocked her phone and opened Weibo, which she hadn’t accessed in what felt like ages.

 

Being cut off from the outside world during training had left them completely unaware of recent events.

 

So she first scrolled through trending news to catch up.

 

After confirming nothing major had happened, she leisurely sent her family a message to reassure them.

 

Her grandfather still struggled with smartphones, sticking to his old-fashioned cell. Later that evening, she’d need to find a quiet spot to call the old man.

 

After mentally organizing everything, she happily logged into her main account.

 

In high spirits, she took a photo of the note in her hand and posted it on Weibo with the caption: “Going to collaborate with Teacher Shen.”