Chapter 11: The Old Fans Are Still Here

Besides Bai Wanqing's campus group attracting attention with its fresh and beautiful image, another girl group with a very different style quickly caught the attention of netizens. That is the "Star Realm Resonance" group, which is mainly based on the virtual idol style.

In the official materials released, the members of "Astral Resonance" did not show their bare faces or everyday photos, but instead directly released their meticulously crafted anime-style character photos and a highly impactful video of their dance practice session.

In the video, the members wore matching colored wigs and contact lenses, dressed in stage outfits that blended futuristic technology with Japanese schoolgirl style. Their dance moves were synchronized, perfectly timed, and full of energy and vitality.

The video quickly spread on platforms like ACFun and BCFun, which are hubs for anime and manga culture, sparking a frenzy among their core fanbase.

"Holy crap! It's 'Astral Resonance'! They actually went to participate in the official competition?!"

"I started following them from the Bilibili dance section! Are these waifus finally going mainstream?!"

"His skills are impeccable! He dances even better than some real idols! Anime is the best!"

"Double fandom ecstasy! I never expected to see my favorite idol on an official program! I have to support them!"

Of course, many passersby found this format novel or even puzzling:

"Is this live-action or animation? I don't quite understand..."

"Dressed up like this, can you even see what they really look like?"

"Young people these days are really good at this, but they're really good at dancing, they've got some skills."

"Internet celebrities participating? Isn't that unfair to ordinary people?!"

In response, the official online surfing account maintainer reacted quickly, issuing a supplementary statement regarding the official event:

[Supplementary notes regarding participation:]

The program's selection guide explicitly states that it aims to eliminate internet celebrities who "rely solely on sensationalism to attract attention and lack basic artistic literacy." However, the program is open to teams like "Star Resonance," which possess solid singing and dancing skills and a stable fan base in their specific fields, and whose performance style is innovative and culturally representative.

The organizers aren't stupid. While ensuring professional standards, they've brought in talented online influencer groups. This not only leverages their existing popularity to expand the show's influence but also enriches the stage performances and showcases the diversity of contemporary youth culture. For both the show and the contestants, it's undoubtedly a win-win situation.

Scrolling down the list, in addition to these distinctive girl groups, several boy groups with an average age of over 28, named "Morning Star," have also attracted attention.

Sharp-eyed netizens immediately recognized that several of the members were actually overlooked talents from a small talent show seven or eight years ago.

"My God! Isn't that XXX from 'Super Idol'? I used to be a fan of his back in junior high! How come he's still going strong?"

"A relic of a bygone era... I never thought I'd see them come out as a group again."

"At his age, he's still trying to compete with young people for a living. His courage is commendable, but is there really a market for him?"

For many ordinary netizens who don't follow celebrities, this list raises many questions:

"I think my daughter's dance teacher is on the show? She's so excited and insists I vote for her. Just wondering, does this show require voting? What are the rules? How do I do it?"

Someone replied: "Sister, it seems to be a combination of judges' scores and audience voting, rather than a talent show voting system. Let's wait for the official rules for details."

Ling Wei scrolled through her phone screen and found the name "Chasing the Light Girl" in the densely packed list. She also saw several other familiar names.

Sure enough, they were all familiar faces who had struggled out of that "Dream Girl 108" cesspool.

After all, the contract expires and he regains his freedom, which meets the requirements of an ordinary person. Such an opportunity will naturally attract many people.

However, the names of the members who debuted at the top and were the most popular in the group back then did not appear.

Ling Wei vaguely heard that during the period when they were sidelined, a small agency saw their potential popularity and was willing to pay a penalty to poach them.

However, after being poached, they did not seem to usher in a spring of career development. Instead, they spent their remaining popularity in various low-quality variety shows and commercial performances, gradually becoming indistinguishable from the crowd.

Three years is enough for the entertainment industry to undergo a complete transformation.

Their "Dream Girl 108" fans have long since dispersed.

However, in the comment section of the official Weibo post announcing the list, Ling Wei's attention was drawn to an unusually active and familiar ID—

"To shoulder the burden for Wei."

This ID was her die-hard fan when she participated in the competition back then, and was a veteran member of "Wei Feng". I didn't expect that after so many years, it would still be there.

The comments section was flooded with messages like "I'll hold up the sky for Wei," a massive, one-person endorsement:

"Ling Wei, the 'Light Chaser'!!! It's our Weiwei!!! She's back!!"

"Ling Wei, the all-around vocalist who debuted as the fifth-place winner of Dream Girl 108! A hidden gem, a truly powerful vocalist! You won't regret investing in her!!"

"Weiwei, look here! We'll always be here! [Crazy cheering.jpg] [For Weiwei, crazy for Weiwei, banging my head against the wall for Weiwei.gif]"

(Attached are nine high-definition old photos, all of which are Ling Wei's most dazzling moments on stage back then)

She posted more than a dozen comments in a row, each with different content but all essentially promoting Ling Wei. Her enthusiasm and persistence even attracted the attention of some passersby.

"This woman is really dedicated... Is she a professional fan?"

"Dream Girl 108? Isn't that the knock-off girl group whose owner ran away?"

"Haha, I remember them, didn't they all go on the Disney parade floats later?"

"The upstairs neighbor was being sarcastic, but it does have a bit of an old-fashioned feel to it..."

Faced with some teasing or mocking comments, "Shouldering the Sky for Wei" did not back down and persisted in her career: she enthusiastically promoted the product when she saw friendly and curious comments, and rationally countered malicious mockery. She was tireless, as if she had unlimited energy, and was determined to hold up the sky for Ling Wei in the public opinion field.

Looking at those familiar photos and that ID that carried a sense of protection, Ling Wei felt a surge of indescribable warmth and bittersweetness welling up in her heart.

It turns out that there really were people who never left and were still silently cheering for her.

She logged into her private, unknown account, found "Shouldering the Sky for Wei," and sent a private message:

"Hello, this is Ling Wei. Thank you so much for your continued love and support. I never imagined that after all these years, you would still be here. I am truly, so grateful to you. [heart]"

After sending the message, she did not expect an immediate reply.