Chapter 173: Trapped In Yu Wei’s Scheme
After officially becoming Yu Wei’s fan, Sakuraya Rio clearly felt a bit less reverence toward him, and her gestures became less restrained.
For the program’s recording, this was undoubtedly a good start.
However, this “star-friend fan courtesy” didn’t last long. When Yu Wei took out his tablet and started writing, Sakuraya Rio was visibly stunned.
What is this…
The translation hadn’t mentioned the web novel author part when introducing Yu Wei, because of cultural differences, it’s hard to explain in just a sentence or two, but now it seemed necessary to bring it up.
“Um, Yu Wei is actually a novelist too.”
Xia Yiyi felt a bit incredulous translating this. Yeah, how do the identities of author and star connect?
“Nani?”
Domestic netizens who had witnessed Yu Wei writing novels while rising to prominence firsthand didn’t get it, let alone Sakuraya Rio.
Novel author? Aren’t they all otaku? At least that’s the case with them in Sakura.
Of course, otaku aren’t bad; their personalities are usually nice, and they’re pretty easy to get along with…
Hearing this, she subconsciously felt a bit closer to Yu Wei. How to put it— he seemed a bit more real.
When contrast or completely unrelated elements appear in the same person, besides shock, people also feel authenticity.
They’ve seen plenty of entertainment industry stars, but one who comes to write books so seriously and persistently— that’s just Yu Wei.
The strong contrast bringing this sense of authenticity is the reason Yu Wei’s public appeal keeps improving.
As for works, there are plenty of artists with piles of representative works who still get criticized. In the end, to have a good reputation, you still need people to like you as a person.
Yu Wei’s books look pretty failure-like, but it’s precisely this failure vibe that quickly lets everyone see his fun and interesting side.
A star who cheerfully writes about being a failure versus a bunch of stars forever posing personas— who’s more likable doesn’t need saying.
When netizens start feeling “he’s different,” they’ll naturally develop some fondness, even if not fans, they won’t dislike him.
Not to mention domestic folks haven’t seen stars running off to write books; Sakuraya Rio hasn’t seen it in Sakura either, so feeling it’s fresh is inevitable.
Basic fondness plus a bit of curiosity easily draws attention. Yu Wei wants not to get popular? Hard.
Sakuraya Rio was clearly getting curious too. A book by a star— at least gotta taste it…
When she asked about the novel type, Xia Yiyi really didn’t know how to explain. Sakura probably doesn’t have the term entertainment novel, right?
“A story about the protagonist unfolding around the entertainment industry.”
Xia Yiyi’s answer was quite clever. She hadn’t read much of Yu Wei’s entertainment novels, but this explanation was fine.
“So cool, is it a diary, or professional lit?”
Sakuraya Rio didn’t understand either, but whether she did or not, she’d hype it up. Over there, doctors writing doctor lit is actually common.
Thinking this way, Yu Wei as a star writing entertainment industry-themed novels seems perfectly reasonable?
As a professional, his star lit should be very authentic…
Authentic? Impossible to be authentic. Treating entertainment novels as the real entertainment industry ecosystem— that’s a lifetime achievement.
“Can I read the senior’s book?”
“Better not.”
Yu Wei, who had just been recommending works to his new fan, instantly went silent. Can’t feed new fans everything.
“If you want to read, try this one.”
Yu Wei decisively picked Malice for her. This novel was more presentable, and since the original is from Sakura, no cultural barrier.
What’s this now? Another book?
Even with some acceptance of Yu Wei, Sakuraya Rio still couldn’t keep up with works popping up one after another.
Hearing Xia Yiyi’s translation, Sakuraya Rio was bewildered again. How’s he writing suspense novels too? Isn’t he the author who writes star lit?
She now felt not like a foreigner, but an alien…
The world had gone so mad she didn’t recognize it at all. Is this right?
Yu Wei writing star lit she could understand— professional match— but what’s this detective novel?
Bewildered or not, Sakuraya Rio acted fast, quickly opening translation software to read.
For modern novels like this, translation makes them readable, and for any stuck parts, she could ask Xia Yiyi nearby.
Last time Sakuraya Rio read a detective novel was in high school. Years later, she even found this book interesting even machine-translated.
While she was engrossed in reading, Yu Wei started today’s entertainment novel update. Top Streamer competition continues.
As the fake competition entered the second round, Yu Wei decided to slow the pace a bit. With native AI participation, the competition was bound to produce lots of new songs.
If keeping the first round pace, song output would be too frequent— high pressure aside, everyone would get tired of it.
Same old saying: rarity makes value. Works piling up dilute influence. To maximize profit, best to release songs slowly.
Previous fast releases were explained as “drafts”— good thing, but can’t be Yu Wei’s excuse to go wild.
Still need to restrain appropriately. Tension and relaxation make it easier to accept.
This is also why Yu Wei learned the A Lone Martial World script but held it back— greed bites off more than can chew.
Meals bite by bite; occasional overeating fine, but daily gorging no.
“Higa is so cruel.”
Sakuraya Rio had finished the first chapter via translation. Being straightforward, she naturally didn’t spot the narrative trick.
Yu Wei didn’t spoil it for her. Novels like this are best savored solo; guides ruin the experience.
Today he planned to write something different.
Though Top Streamer is fake program, a show isn’t just competition. Bonds, grudges between contestants— essential flavor.
Many talent shows do this: film contestant behind-the-scenes to show personality and hype as selling point.
End with marketing brotherly/sisterly bonds; some fans eat it up, take it real, even buy in.
Yu Wei wasn’t hyping; he just felt having real stars as singing tools in the book would be dull after writing them in.
Stars not interacting? Not a show.
[The backstage clamor was blocked by thick curtains, leaving only a few overhead lights casting cold light.
Zhou Mumu curled up in the chair before the makeup mirror, head buried low, replaying the rehearsal mistake over and over in her mind.
Fei Hong walked over quietly, clutching an unopened bottle of mineral water.
He stood like a post beside her for a while before awkwardly offering the water: “Drink… drink water?”
Zhou Mumu looked up, eyes slightly red-rimmed, forcing a smile: “Thanks.”
Seeing her take the water, Fei Hong grew more anxious, face flushing, stumbling over words: “Um, I think you sing really well.”]
Yu Wei wrote this segment to foreshadow the later chorus between the two, and through Fei Hong, lead into his new song.
Don’t forget, in the first round revival match, Fei Hong advanced with a song Someone Like Me.
As the only real star to perform Yu Wei’s new song, everyone could see Yu Wei’s favoritism; in the novel, it means Wei Yu has a good relationship with him.
With this setup, their later chorus work flows naturally.
Of course, writing this plot, Yu Wei mainly wanted some fun…
Sure enough, less than a minute after posting the new chapter, chapter reviews had netizens gossiping.
“I’ll armor up Yu Wei first: this Fei Hong and Zhou Mumu aren’t those Fei Hong and Zhou Mumu.”
“No armoring; everyone knows they’re dating. Only their fans stubbornly deny it.”
“Damn, there’s this? Gotta ship it.”
Yu Wei bows to no one in contrarianism, but he yields to his own readers.
What, both fanbases deny it? Even better to ship— loves ships that piss others off.
Seeing the close mutual encouragement between Fei Hong and Zhou Mumu in the novel, Zhou Mumu fans were furious. Isn’t this stabbing their lungs?
In reality, they could control contact, but in the novel? Keyboard’s in his hands; he writes what he wants.
A few couldn’t hold back and went to argue in book reviews, quickly shut down by one line from the crowd.
“Novel same-name roles— you gonna control that too?”
Yu Wei’s book emphasizes safety: opening line parallel world purely fictional, any resemblance coincidental— shuts up meddlers.
Nitpick if you want, but they have no ground. Yu Wei could say: even if real people, parties unbothered, why fans rush?
Soon, Fei Hong and Zhou Mumu-related terms hit trending search. Unconfirmed young couples like this are trending regulars; this time no exception.
No matter how entertainment industry changes, scandal gossip forever top tier.
Usually both fanbases rush to deny, but not this time— gossipers learned.
“Novel same-name roles— you gonna control that too?”
Answer: they’re shipping novel CP. What stars? Don’t know them.
Zhou Mumu fans truly out of moves. Not scared to stir; know they’d lose. Chen Ping’s leftover filial sons can’t touch Yu Wei— what can they do…
Topic square: shippers ship, gossipers gossip. Zhou Mumu fans furious but helpless, somewhat numb.
Why’d Yu Wei suddenly write this today?
Can’t be just to piss people off.
They got schemed by Yu Wei!
Blame this Fei Hong for seducing their Mu Mu. Can’t cure Yu Wei, but can’t they handle low-fan Fei Hong?
Just as they planned to vent in Fei Hong’s Super Topic, Yu Wei’s novel second chapter updated.
Second chapter revealed yesterday’s Su Jian vs. Zhang Wei match vote results. Without a doubt, Su Jian lost.
Lost to native AI too, but few mocked Su Jian; everyone knew his strength.
Entering second round was already stumbling into heaven for him.
Besides, new chapter wrapped Fei Hong and Zhou Mumu’s chat: Fei Hong said actually you sing great, just lack a fitting song.
Who in entertainment industry lacks fitting songs? Just empty talk.
Zhou Mumu fans scoffed, but scanning ahead, saw Fei Hong straight-up say.
“I’ll ask Teacher Wei Yu, see if he has something suitable.”
Can do that?
Per plot, Fei Hong and Wei Yu are close; line not OOC.
Novel protagonist is Yu Wei’s will. This line plainly means he has a song for Zhou Mumu…
If Yu Wei’s work, not bad.
Quickly, Zhou Mumu fans’ moods calmed, even secretly pleased.
A music representative work would definitely boost Mu Mu’s popularity further.
With this assurance, they steadied seeing the CP term climbing trending search list.
They just hoped Mu Mu steadily becomes first-tier with this song, leaving Fei Hong far behind.
As for mastermind Yu Wei…
They’d have to thank him.
