CHAPTER 186: 086 THE MOON THAT CAN BE SEEN BUT NOT REACHED (SECOND UPDATE)

[I’ve posted the group link, Lemons, remember to join the group! There’s a voting tutorial in there. Our goal: Help contestant No. 48 make his debut!]

Chunzhou TV Station is known for its entertainment programming and enjoys a high level of influence among national TV stations. Thanks to its youthful style, its major audience demographic is teenagers.

Combined with the boost from the holiday season, the boyband competition reality show took off the moment it aired.

Overnight, it dominated trending searches.

Contestant No. 48, Rong Xianning, stood out among the young competitors with his exceptional looks and aura, as well as his singularly gentle singing voice, successfully capturing the hearts of countless young women.

Talent shows have been done many times before, and many contestants have briefly risen to fame, but these contestants often lack real ability—relying solely on their management company’s packaging to milk fan profits. Within a year, they fade into obscurity.

This time, Rong Xianning’s explosion of popularity seems fiery on the surface, but in the eyes of some insiders, he’s nothing more than another puppet controlled by capital. His fate likely won’t be much better than his predecessors.

However, for now, Rong Xianning’s outlook appears promising—heated discussions fill major forums, his search popularity on WeChat has skyrocketed, and his individual fan topic broke one million followers within 24 hours. This data sets a new record.

The results of the first episode were so spectacular that the higher-ups at the show and his agency couldn’t stop grinning.

Keep in mind, they hadn’t even put much effort into promotional activities—this was all organic buzz. It was only now that they started to realize the true value of Rong Xianning.

This delicate-looking boy was far more influential than they had imagined.

"Where’s the planning team? For the next episode, craft his image to follow this current trend. Highlight his ’gentle’ label—this is exactly what today’s youth are drawn to."

"Director, I’m afraid that won’t work. I spoke with Rong Xianning, and this kid has strong opinions. He’s planning a sing-and-dance performance for the next episode."

The director frowned. "Young people are so impulsive. They haven’t even learned to walk properly, yet they’re rushing to run—aren’t they afraid of falling flat on their faces?"

The planner replied, "Director, I’ve seen this kid’s practice sessions. Don’t be fooled by his youth; his skills are actually very solid."

"Are any contestants on this show lacking in skill? The main draw is differentiation. Don’t end up picking up peanuts and losing watermelons—it’s not worth it. I’ll go talk to him myself."

All the contestants lived in the same dorm building, with two contestants sharing a room. Daily life and practice sessions were edited into a reality show format, uploaded to video platforms for audience attraction. The show was called *Teen Idol – A Journey to Stardom*, and the first official episode was set to debut the following week. Riding on Rong Xianning’s current hype, it was expected to draw strong viewership. It was rumored that ad spots were already fully booked.

The next recording was three days away, and in the meantime, the contestants were fully immersed in practice, spending almost all their time in the rehearsal room.

The director walked to the practice room and looked through the glass window on the door.

The teenagers were gathered in small groups—chatting idly, playing on their phones, or curled up in a corner napping.

Teenagers in their teens, restless and easily distracted, rarely truly put their full heart into training.

Within the room, one figure stood out in particular—a boy dressed in loose-fitting pants and a long shirt, practicing a dance move repeatedly in front of the mirror.

This was a highly difficult street dance move—a one-handed backspin—which required extraordinary physical balance and came with significant risk of injury without proper foundational skills.

The boy persistently repeated the move, over and over again. Even though he had already mastered it flawlessly, he still didn’t stop.

Sweat slid down his forehead, streaking across his face, and dripped onto the floor.

The face that had left a gentle impression on tens of thousands of viewers the night before now only carried an expression of resilience and an unyielding determination.

The teenagers resting around him occasionally glanced at him with complex expressions, but the boy was utterly unfazed, remaining focused and unwavering in his practice.

The director exclaimed in surprise, "He knows how to do street dance too?"

The planner beside him added, "This kid is no ordinary talent. Not only does he have solid street dance skills, he’s also proficient with multiple instruments. At just thirteen years old, his dedication and time management surpass most adults. His future is going to be extraordinary."

He was the youngest contestant in this batch, yet undeniably the most talented and hardworking. Clearly, his sudden rise to stardom was no accident.

What’s the saying? Opportunities belong to those who are prepared.

The first episode introduced him as a gentle, guitar-playing boy-next-door.

The second episode was set to showcase a complete transformation—a cool and dynamic street dancer, undoubtedly delivering a powerful contrast and a fresh appeal to viewers.