CHAPTER 569: 387. DUNKIRK MOMENT

"Why are you all looking at me with that expression?"

"Alright, that’s the end of my story. Next sister, please continue."

The evening breeze blew, making the tail of the bonfire sway.

In the middle of the coffee table, smoke curled around the stove. Mou Keyan smiled faintly, the scattered moonlight on her body rippling like waves.

...

[Damn, damn, did I hear wrong? What is Fairy Miao talking about!]

[She spoke for so long, longer than all the previous contestants combined. Could this be a pre-written script?]

[Script, my ass! My eyes are red, I’m about to cry listening to this!]

[I can testify, having been a "lick dog" for over a decade, I definitely have authority in this field. What Mou Keyan just said was absolute genuine emotion; no skilled screenwriter could craft this.]

[What kind of person does she like? I can’t understand it at all. Such an outstanding girl, yet in love, so humble, constantly saying she’s not worthy. Just how good is the other person?]

[@xx, you’re wrong. Genuine love is illogical and without reason. If you’re looking at conditions, go speed dating.]

[Exactly, didn’t Zhang Ailing say? When you see him, you’ll become very low, very low, down to the dust. But inside, there’s joy, and from the dust, flowers bloom.]

[I cast my vote. I originally wanted to vote for Sun Xin, but Mou Keyan’s speech was so real, really winning me over.]

[I voted too. I feel sorry for her, the whole dorm went all-in.]

[Indeed, other contestants usually say at least a sentence about—once unreciprocated love, but now they’ve become a better version of themselves. But Mou Keyan’s ending really moved me.]

[She doesn’t even dare think about it! Can you believe this is what Fairy Miao said! Where’s her pride? Her confidence? Where did they go? Brothers of 22619, let’s vote together!]

[Let’s help her debut, let everyone see that Mou Keyan is worth it.]

[Yes, let’s help her debut!]

The 17th contestant’s speech almost exploded the interaction index of the entire live broadcast program.

The volume of barrage on the live streaming platform, the message interface in Mango TV’s backend, and the number of synchronized feedback messages didn’t initially differ much from other contestants.

As Mou Keyan’s clear and seemingly calm voice, tinged with a bit of emotion, began to resonate, a large upward line appeared, pointing straight to the sky.

Overwhelming barrages and messages, if you don’t click the clean-up button, you almost can’t see the contestants’ faces on the screen.

Meanwhile, Mou Keyan’s popularity and votes climbed from the precarious eighth place on the verge of debut, step by step forward.

The truth-telling session of the 17th contestant came to an end, but the other contestants continued.

However, the attention of both the onstage and offstage audience was inevitably entrapped by Mou Keyan tonight.

Hopelessly entrapped.

Whether it was the barrage discussing among themselves, or the host and female guest whispering, no one cared about others’ stories anymore.

The theme of unrequited love, whether from the quality of self-analysis, the intensity of willingness to give, or the proportion of genuine emotion, Mou Keyan undoubtedly conquered all the audience.

The unique authenticity, along with the stark contrast of the goddess rushing into the flame, instantly solidified her on-screen image.

She’s a true goddess with an innate popularity.

She’s the legend of the Douyu Dance Zone, starting from scratch in just half a year, creating viral dances like "Driving the Train" and "Big Pendulum," which even foreigners imitate.

During the broadcast of the program, audiences gradually learned everything about her through uninterrupted live streaming.

Her skills were superb, her looks outstanding, her figure impressive, her fan loyalty strong, and her monetization capability unrivaled. She’s the acknowledged core in the dorm, consistently ranking in the first tier of popularity.

Yet, could such a nearly "Hexagonal Warrior" true goddess also have a day of being low to the dust?

"I wait, I accompany, I change for him."

"Like a stray cat, touched by a human."

"I can always be his spectator."

"What do I have to become to be worthy of standing beside him?"

"I don’t know, and I don’t dare to think."

Her calm but piercing expression, even bystanders with similar experiences couldn’t help but empathize.

Beyond empathy, more is a feeling of sympathy instead.

If we help her reach a higher and farther position, will she become a bit more confident?

At this moment, all of Fairy Miao’s fans, as well as newly won-over viewers by 17th contestant Mou Keyan, stood together in tacit understanding.

[Come on, brothers, she’s in seventh place!]

[Can she go further? I just forwarded it to my class group and sent a red envelope for everyone to vote!]

[Should we keep voting? She’s already in the safe zone and will undoubtedly secure a spot in the top ten debut if nothing goes wrong.]

[Vote, what are you talking about?]

[Simply debuting is not that significant. Let’s work harder, send her soaring high, give her a victory in a variety show!]

...

East Lake Tianyue, Villa 03-A.

In the exact same spot, two young girls were lying on the sofa, one’s hair long and the other short, both wearing cool nightgowns.

The coffee table was filled with snacks and fruits, and a giant Sony TV played the currently trending Mango variety show.

However, at some unknown point, a subtle change occurred in their postures.

As the barrage grew from a few to a multitude, the 17th contestant on the screen laid bare her inner monologue, and both sets of brows furrowed more intensely.

Regardless of whether it was the expressionless Guan Yongyi or the tightly pursed pink lips of Zhou Sinin, both were equally aware.

In a long intimate relationship, there are always moments destined to become turning points.

Like dinner at an upscale restaurant on a special occasion, the first meeting after a long-distance, or important gestures like a straightforward confession or a sudden proposal that test intimate relations.

Before that, people can mostly indulge with eyes closed in the rising emotional connection during interactions.

Increasing chat frequency, more special terms of endearment, sudden disputes that strangely end with one side backing down quickly, and some mildly delightful jealousy incidents.

Though in such an intimate relationship, one side refuses to define it, while the other internally hopes to advance it.

For a long time, restraint and performance remained the keywords of their interaction.

Yet some heart-fluttering moments of life are enough to let everyone tacitly agree not to speak of advancing the relationship.

However, when the "Dunkirk moment" arrives, the ice block holding the cry for "an explanation" will be thrown in the sunlight and swiftly melt away.

For instance, unexpectedly meeting the so-called "actual girlfriend."

Unfortunately, even though no one desires it, some clever-in-appearance mishaps happen over and over again.

Someone always breaks the tranquility, be it in any way.