Chapter 77: Chapter 77 - 77: Show us what ungodly beauty you have

Translator: _Min

Even if one hadn’t followed “Youth With You,” the name Si Fuqing was hard to ignore.

After all, her idol group, Starry Sky Girls, had returned to the country and enjoyed considerable popularity throughout the year.

Add to that the fact that Si Fuqing was notoriously bad at both singing and dancing, with make-up that was equally cringeworthy, and it was no wonder she had garnered so much attention.

Fans who were well-acquainted with the entertainment industry knew exactly what Si Fuqing was like and had voiced their protests online.

[Seriously? A brand with traditional Chinese elements had so much potential for international fame. And this is what we get?]

[Insider info: Xia Sheng also auditioned for this brand but was rejected. Si Fuqing got the spot. Do I even need to say how powerful capital is?] This comment set off another uproar.

More and more netizens flocked to East Moon’s official social media page, vehemently opposing Si Fuqing and demanding the release of the audition video.

Si Fuqing, for her part, rarely paid attention to online chatter. She was busy treating her boss’s leg ailment.

Her social media account had always been managed by her agent, Feng Peizhi, and the company, but she had recently locked her account.

If anyone tried to log in from an unfamiliar location, a virus would instantly launch an attack.

As for the brand endorsement announcement, it was Qu Lingyun who had passed along the message to her. She was never one to micromanage her public image.

The internet was ablaze with debate, and a palpable tension filled the training base as well.

Some were elated, some surprised, and others envious.

“Teacher Si, congratulations!” Xu Xiyun genuinely exclaimed. “Now that you have an endorsement, you can eat lots and lots of fried chicken!”

Xie Yu also chimed in, raising an eyebrow, “So, Teacher Si is going makeup-free?”

Si Fuqing tilted her head and hummed, “I’ll be taking some promotional photos on Friday. They’ll be posted on social media. I’ll just stand up a little, instead of laying completely flat.”

She pinched her face, somewhat regretful.

She rather liked her gothic makeup; it saved her from a lot of hassle.

Xie Yu replied casually, “Looking forward to it.”

“Teacher Si, looks don’t matter,” Xu Xiyun tried to comfort her. “What matters is inner beauty. We like you because you’re kind, not because of your looks.”

Si Fuqing suppressed a smile and crushed the soda can in her hand without expression. “Say that again?”

“Ah?” Xu Xiyun was bewildered. “I said we don’t judge people by their appearance. No matter how ugly you are, Teacher Si, I respect you!”

Si Fuqing smiled, “Very well.”

To call her wicked was one thing, but to call her ugly was quite another.

Little Bai, her pet, lazily patted its tiny belly.

Even the dog owner has bad days.

Si Fuqing casually pulled out several training schedules from a folder and threw them on the ground. “This is your four-day training plan. Xie Yu, keep an eye on him. Don’t skip a single task.”

When Xu Xiyun saw the 8 -kilometer morning run on the schedule, he wilted,

“Papa! Papa, have mercy!”

“Calling me your ancestor won’t help,” Si Fuqing propped her head up. “Your first public performance is on Saturday. Don’t get stage fright.”

The public performance was the ultimate test for trainees.

Not just singing and dancing skills, but also facial expressions and mental state were crucial. Nothing could be lacking.

Shi Yu and the other three trainees nodded firmly, “Definitely.”

As Xie Yu was stretching, he suddenly asked, “Teacher Si, you like animated movies, right? Do you believe that there are people with superpowers in this world?”

“I believe!” Xu Xiyun suddenly perked up. “I believe that there is light and justice in this world!”

He was immediately kicked for his trouble.

“What’s the use of having superpowers?” Si Fuqing slowly looked up, her tone indifferent. ‘You can’t save anyone with them. Better to not have them at all.” Xie Yu paused, then whispered, “Teacher Si?”

“Get back to practice, ” Si Fuqing said bluntly. “If you don’t take it seriously, I’ll make you perform a striptease in front of your fans.”

Xie Yu:

That was harsh.

He conceded.

Meanwhile, in another corner.

Inside the lounge.

Lin Qingyan wore a face mask, her complexion visibly haggard.

She had made the rounds of several other hospitals, and the doctors all told her that she wouldn’t recover anytime soon.

But she dared not complain; after all, she had been insulted by a member of the prestigious Zuo family.

Her agent whispered a few words in her ear.

Lin Qingyan was utterly surprised. “She actually managed to land a brand endorsement?”

She had done her research. Since returning to the country, Si Fuqing hadn’t had a single solo gig.

Even during performances with Starry Sky Girls, she was always relegated to the background.

The fans of Starry Sky Girls were particularly irritated by Si Fuqing’s lackluster contributions.

Lin Qingyan couldn’t believe that Si Fuqing could secure an endorsement solely based on her capabilities.

“Why would Tianle Media, which has always treated Si Fuqing as nothing more than a tool, help her get an endorsement?” she wondered.

“Exactly, it’s baffling to everyone,” her agent agreed. “She’s subpar in singing and dancing; that’s one thing. But to give her a visually focused advertising gig, especially when Xia Sheng also auditioned for it? The brand must be blind.”

Lin Qingyan chuckled, “1 heard from Xu Ruotong that East Moon isn’t that famous. Xia Sheng liked the traditional Chinese theme and willingly lowered her standards to audition for it.”

“Now that she didn’t get it, but Si Fuqing, who is universally disliked, did—I imagine Xia Sheng must be feeling awful.”

Xia Sheng was 24 years old and had entered the modeling industry at the age of 16.

With eight years of grueling work, she was far more experienced than Si Fuqing.

While not a top-tier model, Xia Sheng had walked in many domestic fashion shows and had a fan base of 8 million on social media.

Her fan base was undoubtedly much stronger than Si Fuqing’s.

“Isn’t it strange?” The agent shook his head. “But you can’t deny that there’s something mysterious about Si Fuqing’s popularity. Bad publicity is still publicity, and her fame has inexplicably risen. Who wouldn’t want that kind of luck?”

In the entertainment industry, there’s a saying: minor celebrities rely on hype, major ones on destiny, and forced fame invites divine retribution.

The idea of ‘luck’ may sound abstract, but industry insiders take it seriously.

Some even change their names for the sake of fame.

Lin Qingyan was dismissive, “If she were truly lucky, would she be in this sorry state?”

“Good point,” her agent nodded. “Xia Sheng’s fans are already furious.”

Lin Qingyan’s interest was piqued, “Let me see.”

The news about Xia Sheng’s audition had spread across her fandom.

Clearly, it was deliberately leaked by a passionate fan. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Xia Sheng remained silent, but her fans noticed her frequent online activity, which infuriated them even more. They were indignant on her behalf.

[I don’t get it. Why would Xia Sheng be rejected? If her competitor was a top-tier model, fine, but who is Si Fuqing?]

[An idol who got famous through hate-following. If it weren’t for Xia Sheng, I wouldn’t even know who she is.]

[Hilarious. In my world, the name Si Fuqing is non-existent, okay?]

Some of the more irate fans even directly tagged East Moon’s official social media and Si Fuqing’s account.

[@XiaSheng’s LittlePillow: Enough with the bets and challenges.. Just answer me, Si Fuqing, do you dare to remove your makeup in front of the entire internet? Show us what ungodly beauty you have that convinced the brand to choose you!”]