Chapter 125: Should Lose Or Should Win?
Shocking gap.
As expected, Meng Lei was crushed by Shen Yutong. Everyone knew he couldn’t win, but they didn’t expect him to lose so badly…
To put it this way, a vote ratio of over twenty times—previous matches were never this lopsided no matter how uneven they were. It was a complete rout.
The root cause is still the huge actual gap. Meng Lei has no fan circle fans either. Apart from pure mischief makers, hardly anyone voted for him. After all, anyone with eyes could tell who was better.
These two songs—even if Meng Han came to vote in person, he wouldn’t vote for his own son.
“The episode with the least suspense.”
This match was peaceful both inside and outside the venue, so peaceful it felt out of place even in Yu Wei’s novel.
Other guests were either desperate to win or desperate to lose, but Shen Yutong and Meng Lei had no such ideas about it, and their fans didn’t do anything outrageous either.
Sometimes the saying “fans follow the main” holds true. Someone as quiet as Shen Yutong probably has fans who aren’t arrogant either.
Tong Yulu isn’t as shrewd as Chi Leying; even her fans were played by Chi Leying’s fans.
Like Yu Wei himself who likes to stir things up and watch the fun—his reader fans include plenty of mischief makers. Stars can still guide fan behavior.
Can’t imagine what fans of infamous artists are like usually…
“Open up, checking the water meter!”
Qi Luo An’s sudden message was a bit jarring. How old is she to still play this trick? I’m fixing the AC here.
Suddenly, a knock on the door rang out—not hurried, but exceptionally clear.
Yu Wei was a bit surprised. Normally no one comes to find him. It couldn’t be that she really came, right? That shouldn’t be possible; outsiders can’t enter their neighborhood.
He walked to the door and peered out through the peephole. A girl stood outside. He couldn’t see her full face clearly, only catching a glimpse of her soft hair as she slightly lowered her head and her somewhat slender figure.
A mint green top paired with a touch of angora red bottoms was very eye-catching.
This outfit is really…
Yu Wei didn’t open the door right away. Instead, he asked through the door, “May I ask who you’re looking for?”
“Looking for Platinum Great God Depressed Big Spray Mushroom.”
The voice from outside came lightly, as if knowing Yu Wei was joking, so she played along as the straight man.
She knew exactly what he wanted to hear.
Yu Wei opened the door and then noticed Qi Luo An had a large gray backpack on her back. It looked bulging, as if stuffed with quite a few things…
Camping here?
Fortunately, it’s broad daylight now. If it were night, he really couldn’t let just anyone in casually—rumors would spread.
“How did you get into the neighborhood?”
When their gazes met, Qi Luo An seemed slightly awkward, but she quickly regained her composure. As she entered, she took off the backpack.
“The security uncle was the one from the day we recorded the program. He recognized me. I said I came to deliver things to you, registered, and he let me in.”
“Things?”
Yu Wei remembered: the microfilm competition medals and honor certificates, right? He didn’t expect the results from last week to be delivered this week. Pretty efficient.
He was curious what the prizes looked like. Qi Luo An’s backpack strap slipped off her left shoulder. The weight tugged gently, pulling at her collar too.
In an instant, a patch of fair collarbone was revealed. Yu Wei hesitated for two seconds before subtly shifting his gaze away.
Old shoulder giant sly…
Qi Luo An quickly raised her hand to adjust her collar. She hadn’t expected the backpack to be so heavy. It was just three certificates, one medal, a computer, mouse, keyboard, headphones, and mouse pad, right?
“You did that on purpose?”
She hadn’t even asked if Yu Wei had seen it, but Yu Wei spoke first, catching Qi Luo An off guard.
Of course it couldn’t be intentional. Using looks to seduce others won’t end well. She wouldn’t stoop to that right away.
“I didn’t say you were peeping, and you have the nerve to say I did it on purpose?”
“Mainly, it felt a bit too deliberate…”
The atmosphere was a bit awkward, but Qi Luo An moved quickly and soon took out Yu Wei’s three certificates and one medal from the bag.
The medal was made of metal with a substantial feel. The polished surface gleamed with silver light. Yu Wei touched it with his hand—pretty good, much better than chocolate medals.
First Prize came with a medal, but Best Actor and Best Screenplay did not—only certificates, stamped with the Film Association’s clear seal at the bottom.
Who cares about the gold content? Anyway, it’s more valuable than his fake competition ones. At least they actually gave things…
Yu Wei thought that was it, but Qi Luo An directly pulled out his laptop and keyboard from the bag.
“This for me too?”
“This is mine. I’m here to write.” Qi Luo An took out the charging cable and shook it. “Finally visiting a great god author in person—shouldn’t I ask for some advice?”
She did want to ask some things about novels, about Yu Wei’s works. A sentence or two online wouldn’t clarify it.
Since she had to write following his works, more communication would be better, right?
Of course, there was also a little selfish desire to stay longer… It would be even better if she could watch the evening program before leaving.
“Indeed.”
After all, Qi Luo An was shouldering the task of redeeming literature works for him. He couldn’t be completely at ease. Sharing some experience would help a bit.
Yu Wei had never written with someone else before. Sitting face-to-face typing on keyboards was pretty novel.
Qi Luo An thought the same. During the program recording with Yu Wei before, this guy was clacking away on the keyboard. This time, she decided to try it herself.
For this, she not only brought her own keyboard, but a blue switch one…
But after she clacked away typing for a while, Yu Wei made no sound at all. This guy didn’t find it noisy?
She underestimated Yu Wei. Back in university, he wrote stealthily amid three roommates’ keyboard sounds and muttering curses. He could focus in any noisy environment.
Meng Lei and Shen Yutong’s results were out. The gap was so huge it felt absurd even copying it into the novel.
Rout games like this should be written less in the future. Better to add more evenly matched battles.
Meng Lei gladly accepted this result. He signed up together with Xia Zan and others back then, probably thinking there’d be rewards for losing too.
If he wants a new song, he can just ask his dad. Teacher Meng Han’s creation level is high; helping his own son should be easy…
Wait, Teacher Meng Han writes rock music. From Meng Lei’s performance in the submission video, he doesn’t do rock.
Could this little brother be thinking of switching tracks?
“Should I arrange a female lead?”
Qi Luo An’s typing paused for a while, seeming stumped by the question. Honestly, she was afraid she couldn’t handle it well.
“Write it if you want.”
Yu Wei was pretty open about it. “No matter how you write, some will like it, some won’t. Better to write what you like—at least it’s fun to write.”
Stories you yourself don’t like basically can’t be persisted with.
“Got it.”
Qi Luo An decided decisively: no female lead. She’d write other women to cozy up with Yu Wei template’s protagonist—that thought alone felt awkward.
Writing herself would be even more awkward. She’s not that narcissistic, and she knows her personality isn’t likable. Writing it out would just get her scolded.
Self-awareness is a virtue…
“Who to arrange as Yu Ting’s opponent?”
Just yesterday, Lin Yuting also signed up with Yu Wei, directly attaching a singing video of her favorite “Sound of Rain.”
She’s now an internet celebrity singer, naturally qualified to compete.
Lin Yuting originally wanted to use her hit song “Invisible Wings” for the competition, but the song had been sung by someone else, so she switched to another.
“Yu Ting, huh? Arrange a weak opponent for him.”
Hearing the familiar name, Qi Luo An instantly leaned over. Yu Wei’s computer had plenty of videos, all new registrations from the past couple days.
Xia Zan, Huang Chuyang, and that batch set a bad precedent, coming to compare losses and actually gaining traffic.
Plus the rumor that losers get songs, it suddenly spurred other little stars to follow suit, wanting to gain some fame on the program.
Yu Wei’s book is like the must-eat list in the entertainment industry…
He naturally didn’t refuse. It costs no money—free traffic is free traffic. As for those wanting songs, Yu Wei could only wish them good luck.
“They’re all fine.”
These people all came aiming to lose. Lin Yuting isn’t weak either; it feels the same no matter who she fights.
“This one!”
Qi Luo An casually pointed at a familiar face: actor Qi Xi. He was half-acquainted with Yu Wei, but this guy’s fans had dissed Yu Wei—she remembered clearly.
Perfect, settle new and old grudges together.
“You really hold grudges, or is it my grudge?”
Yu Wei had almost forgotten about it. The entertainment industry has plenty of loose-lipped fans; such things are hard to avoid.
“You have a bad memory; I’ll remember for you.”
Qi Luo An’s response was airtight. What started as protective behavior instantly turned into playful banter. She’s a master at deflecting.
“Then him it is.”
Qi Xi came from acting. His fans love to boast about acting skills. Unexpectedly, he came to join a singing competition for popularity—quite dedicated.
He didn’t blatantly throw the match, but his singing clearly lacked effort. You could tell he wanted to lose too, just more gracefully…
The thing about getting a song for losing is just speculation. Other stars aren’t idiots. Many join competitions to lose on purpose, mainly to grab a wave of traffic and run.
Anyway, they might not win with their strength. Slacking off and losing sounds better when told. Better than giving full effort and still losing, right?
Yu Wei quickly finished the new chapter, posting both their match videos. Qi Xi’s singing was clearly not as good as Lin Yuting’s; shouldn’t be any issue.
“Qi Xi Super Topic is indeed rallying fans to vote for Yu Ting.”
Qi Luo An had been peeping on the side the whole time. Just knew this group all wanted to rush to lose and started voting for opponents again.
With slacking off this rampant, no one going to manage them?
…
“This should be a solid loss now.”
Qi Xi looked at Lin Yuting leading him by over thirty thousand votes and felt the goddess of failure beckoning.
He didn’t actually believe the rumor of song rewards for losing. Thinking about it, it’s unreliable—so many losers, can’t give each one a song.
He joined this fake program just for traffic. Now the goal’s achieved; direct elimination is even better, saves further embarrassment.
Song is a bonus, no song no loss. Most contestants who came to slack think this way…
Qi Xi admired his Weibo visit data surging from the competition, delighted deep down.
Now plenty of netizens treat Yu Wei’s novel like gossip software. Finally, he got a taste of this traffic.
“Hm?”
Qi Xi suddenly saw a fresh post in his topic square. Simple content, but it shocked him wide awake.
“Qi Xi disrespects disabled opponent.”
What the buddy? Such a big hat suddenly buckled on his head?
Where did he disrespect a disabled opponent? Just because he told fans to like for the other side, but mutual voting is fine for others—why is he attacked?
If it were others, it wouldn’t blow up, but the opponent happens to be a vulnerable group. This can be big or small.
“Qi Xi spoke up, letting the blind person win with thirty thousand votes. Little Lin Yuting is no problem.”
“What thirty thousand votes? Let her have three hundred thousand and our Qi Xi still wins.”
“Qi Xi said, let the blind person be happy first.”
Anyway, netizens were having a field day. Qi Xi’s fans usually don’t accumulate good karma and have offended plenty. With fun to be had, they watch eagerly.
Watching the post heat up, Qi Xi was a bit dazed. Could he like it now…
Wait, if he wins now, wouldn’t it confirm he let her win? Even harder to explain then.
So should he win or lose now?
Worse, netizens were already voting for him.
