CHAPTER 158: CHAPTER 154 SISTER OF THE STATION APPEARS

When Meng Meixuan saw on the screen that Wu Zixuan had lost, she froze for a moment and then revealed a regretful expression on her face. Yet, deep down, her heart was filled with ridicule.

This so-called most popular sweetheart is nothing special after all! At the critical moment, she completely fumbled.

Ye Yuwei was also very surprised. Wu Zixuan actually lost to the group with Li Shihan. Although Yang Ni didn’t lack fans, based on today’s momentum, Wu Zixuan shouldn’t have lost!

She glanced in the direction of Meng Meixuan, her thoughts racing as she analyzed the situation.

"Could it be that Wu Zixuan isn’t included in this debut lineup?"

As soon as the thought came to her, Ye Yuwei felt a sudden moment of clarity.

No wonder the mid-show advertisements usually featured Wu Zixuan so prominently, but when it came to moments that truly showcased her abilities, she was held back.

Those mid-show ads likely only utilized her to gain more fans and ensure better sales for the sponsors.

And now, suppressing her was a way to show her fans and casual viewers that she wasn’t as strong as everyone thought.

Her other sister, Meng Meixuan, was actually the strongest contender. In other words, the real agreement with Penguin for debut spots seemingly involved Meng Meixuan.

Watching Yang Ni and Li Shihan, who were nearly moved to tears with joy, Ye Yuwei could not help but sigh internally.

If these two girls’ companies hadn’t negotiated well with Penguin, they might very well end up like Wu Zixuan in the future.

Lu Bingbing was just as shocked, but her thoughts didn’t run as deep as Ye Yuwei’s.

In her opinion, it was probably because Li Shihan was the initial C-position pick. Penguin, wanting to counter outside criticisms, allowed Li Shihan’s group to win.

And since Yang Ni had swapped into the C-position temporarily, Penguin likely aimed to prove that their decision was correct, which left no room for Wu Zixuan to win.

Shenghai

At a university

A young woman with an elegant demeanor, tall and slender with cascading long hair, sat at a redwood chair in the library, looking at a laptop in front of her.

Her face alternated between smiles, gritted teeth, and a heavy gaze.

Those restless boys around her, who were in the spring of their youth, had long noticed this refined and stunning girl. Watching her constantly shifting expressions, they felt deeply puzzled.

Her name was Su Xiaoya, a freshman in the Chinese literature department. But on the internet, she went by another name: "Brilliant Starry Sky."

She had never imagined that just a short video of a dozen seconds and a few photos would make her fall head over heels for a man.

Admitted to a prestigious university where she should have been focusing on her studies, Su Xiaoya instead devoted all her free time to the boy displayed on her computer screen.

Yet she never once regretted it, because she loved this boy.

She wasn’t some naive fool who thought the handsome boy would fall for her, the "Cinderella" in this fairy tale.

But she simply couldn’t help liking him, even filling her head with thoughts of him during the budding days of youth.

As Lan Yening’s top fangirl, Su Xiaoya, ever since she started following him, had taken nearly five thousand photos of him, over thirteen hundred of which were professionally retouched and uploaded to Weibo and QQ groups.

Whether it was at airports, events, or TV show recordings, she always managed to find a way to get as close to her idol as possible and snap photos with her trusty Canon 5D Mark IV.

The boldest thing she ever did was when Lan Yening went to South Korea for training. Not knowing the language, she still got herself a passport, bought a plane ticket, and followed him there, staying for a full two weeks and spending nearly two hundred thousand yuan.

But she believed that all of it was worthwhile—it was love that powered her devotion.

Seeing Lan Yening’s persistent hard work and upward trajectory gave her immense mental satisfaction. He was her source of faith.

After glancing at the time, she packed up her things and headed to the airport.

Su Xiaoya knew this place well, as she used it every time she went home. It was also where she had, on numerous occasions, waited to photograph Lan Yening when he returned from events.

She was Lan Yening’s biggest fan: "Brilliant Starry Sky."

After scarfing down her fast food, Su Xiaoya glanced at the time on her Astor Constantin wristwatch. Her nerves immediately tensed up—Lan Yening, who was returning from his schedule, was about to arrive.

Lan Yening wasn’t hugely famous yet, and among his active fans, there weren’t many wealthy ones. So Su Xiaoya could easily get clear shots of him.

Today, she felt especially motivated because the official promotional Weibo and headline accounts for Lan Yening had used many of her photos yesterday.

She even saw many well-known influencers referencing the photos she had taken.

This gave Su Xiaoya an unprecedented sense of achievement. She relished seeing her images bring more fans to Xiao Ning and eagerly anticipated further progress in his career.

As Su Xiaoya’s thoughts surged with excitement over yesterday’s events, a tall young man wearing a baseball cap and face mask appeared within her view.

Su Xiaoya’s heart immediately tensed, pounding uncontrollably.

Despite having taken countless photos of Lan Yening, every time she saw him, her heart raced like that of a schoolgirl seeing her crush.

Lan Yening noticed her too. His clear, autumn-like eyes carried a hint of a smile as he removed his mask and cap, making it easier for her to take pictures.

Su Xiaoya was ecstatic. This understanding between them felt exclusive to the two of them.

Click! Click!

The shutter clicked repeatedly. But Su Xiaoya couldn’t take pictures for too long as the airport security would eventually intervene—photography wasn’t generally allowed in airports.

Usually, Lan Yening would leave at this point. However, this time was different; Lan Yening walked toward her with a smile.

"How were today’s shots?"

"They were... okay," she stammered. Though she had heard his voice countless times in videos and outdoor events, this was the first time she had heard it so close in real life.

His voice was incredibly captivating, like a gentle spring breeze. And those eyes—they seemed like they could draw out her very soul.

At that moment, Su Xiaoya’s mind went blank. Normally confident, hosting various programs at school, she was now completely tongue-tied.

"When you’re editing the photos, don’t make me too pale or smooth. I want to look more sunny and masculine," Lan Yening said with a teasing smile.

"Okay," she replied, her voice trembling. She hated how nervous she sounded, frustrated at her lack of composure.

Then, unexpectedly, Lan Yening took out his phone, tapped a few times, and held up the screen for her to see.

"Oh my god! He’s giving me his WeChat QR code!"

For a moment, Su Xiaoya was stunned. Then, her mind exploded as if it had short-circuited, her whole body tingling with excitement as if she’d consumed some divine fruit.

She shakily fished her phone out of her bag, but her trembling fingers fumbled so much that she failed to unlock her screen several times.

She seemed to notice a playful gleam in Lan Yening’s eyes as he held up his phone, making her face flush bright red. Composing herself with difficulty, she finally added him on WeChat.

"By the way, I always read the photos and articles you post—twice each time," Lan Yening leaned slightly closer to Su Xiaoya, his voice warm and intimate as he spoke.

A delicate fragrance wafted past her nose.

"Gucci Bloom," her mind immediately identified the scent. It was a perfume she had gifted him before.

"Oh my god! He’s actually using it! Mom, help—I’m going to die of joy!" Su Xiaoya felt like she was soaring with happiness.

"Goodbye, I have to catch my flight." Lan Yening gave her a smile before turning and walking swiftly away.

Su Xiaoya watched his departing back, a mix of reluctance and helplessness welling in her heart. This was the first time she had ever experienced such bittersweet emotions.

But as Lan Yening walked away, he secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Everything today had been orchestrated by his agency. They told him he had to add that fangirl’s WeChat.

The reason? A rival agency had set its sights on his top fan. If he didn’t secure her support, there was a chance she might defect and sabotage him before his debut drama.

Lan Yening was currently fully focused on achieving fame. He took anything that might impact his future career very seriously.

Sitting on the plane, he opened his phone to check for messages from Ye Yuwei, but there were hardly any—just a few trivial gossip updates.

"Wait for me, Yuwei. When I become a big star, I’ll marry you," Lan Yening thought to himself resolutely.