Chapter 106
Someone on the forum saw a photo of a material found on Xiaohongshu. In the note posted by that person, a thick stack of posters was shown. Printed on it were the latest NINE STAR materials, a group photo of the nine members in suits. The top right corner of the poster read: "Shanghai Huashang District Spokesperson: NINE STAR."
There's a difference between celebrities serving as city ambassadors and spokespersons. Celebrities use their influence to promote the city they represent, raising its profile. This is common in tourist destinations or areas in need of economic development.
The latter focuses more on deeper collaboration with the region or city, prioritizing cooperation over publicity. For the foreseeable future, NINE STAR will likely appear frequently in various programming sessions in Shanghai.
Moreover, with official endorsement, NINE STAR, as idols, can also enjoy the same evening party treatment as normal actors and singers.
The entertainment industry is full of opportunities. Major shows and galas demand a stage presence, and they also need fresh faces to lead new trends. As one of the first groups in China to adopt the talent show format for boy bands, NINE STAR was fortunate to be among the first to take the plunge.
During the two days Zhu Jian stayed at Zhou Xiao's place, the three of them relaxed for a while. While out and about, Zhou Xiao noticed that the large screen she had installed for Ji Shao hadn't been replaced. During their taxi ride, they couldn't help but feel a sense of emotion as they occasionally caught glimpses of the words on the passing screens.
The words displayed on the big screen were "Ji Shao debuts as the center", which was everyone's goal and motivation before the finals. Now after the game, these words have turned into congratulations.
This is the allure of talent shows. When you realize you can rewrite the fate of a fellow trainee with your own power, you feel a surge of motivation. And once a trainee is formed into a group, the hope is once again filled with the hope of watching them become independent, shining stars.
During this time, the Star 101 production team only informed the various fan clubs the day before the Qixi Festival Gala, confirming that NINE STAR would indeed be participating. When the fan clubs, reluctantly and patiently contacted the production team regarding tickets, they were met with the unspoken response: "Due to the last-minute decision, we haven't received any tickets from the production team."
This reply quickly angered the various fan clubs. Under the joint pressure of the fan clubs of the nine members in the group, the production team proposed to give each fan club one spot.
——【Forum】——[August 21st evening]
[Topic] Is the Star 101 production team really a makeshift team?
[Main Post] Didn't netizens figure out yesterday what kind of gala NINE STAR was going to be at? They even dug up city endorsements, and the production team only confirmed with the fan clubs at noon today that they'd be able to participate... I really don't understand what these people are thinking.
1L Green River Grass
I heard that the production team has already established a dedicated management company, and they will announce it when the trainees all change their names.
6L
6. The economic company will be established only after the group is formed! Don’t let it get out of hand when the time comes.
17L
And seeing that each fan club said they only give one ticket... How do we divide it?
34L
Reply to 17L: Speaking of tickets, it really made me laugh! I don't know which fan club first spread the news of the tickets. It is said that a certain fan club wanted to keep the tickets and use them privately. Now a certain fan club is going crazy on their personal account in the forum, hahahahaha
51L
I feel like the big drama of the fan club is not far away, hahahaha
…
The discussion on the forum regarding tickets was undoubtedly a source of secret joy for the Ji Shao family, who had already privately received subsidies for tickets from New Town. Although they were dissatisfied with the single ticket given by the Star Path 101 production team, considering the tickets each family had received, everyone felt a bit more relaxed.
The fan club offered two tickets for sale at a low price within the fan club group, and the remaining tickets were auctioned off publicly within the fan club after setting a threshold. This was because tickets were difficult to obtain, and giving them away for free would have drawn criticism. Secondly, many fans were very interested in Ji Shao's debut as a group.
The money raised from the ticket auction will also be used for Ji Shao's next offline support. As for why the fan club still charges a fee...
On the way to the studio of Shanghai TV Station, Zhou Xiao and his companions met many offline fans who were cheering for the stars. The Chinese Valentine's Day Gala held by Shanghai TV Station brought together top actors, singers and veteran artists. At this time, the offline fans knew early on that their own artists would participate in the recording of Shanghai's Chinese Valentine's Day Gala, and had already reserved seats offline a day in advance to cheer for them.
It is said that NINE STAR also held a stage rehearsal yesterday, but this statement is not supported by any photos. It is suspected that a staff member inside the TV station leaked the information online.
Many A- and B-list celebrities also attended the Qixi Festival Gala, and most of the fans, armed with cameras, took photos. Even if they weren't fans of the artist, they could still make a killing if their fans paid for their photos. This is why fan clubs often hold low-priced tickets auctions within their group chats; it's a tacit understanding among everyone.
The two tickets Song Xiao gave to Zhou Xiao had the same numbers as the two tickets he gave to the fan club, and they were not consecutive. After passing the security check at the door, they dispersed at the entrance of the studio and each looked for their own seats.
Zhou Xiao, clutching her VIP ticket, found the round table surrounding the stage. Food and drinks were spread out on the table. She glanced at the camera in her bag and silently put on the mask she'd prepared. She'd expected the VIP area to be up front, but she hadn't imagined she'd actually be "at the table."
Several people were already seated at the round table. Someone heard the rustle of chairs, met Zhou Xiao's gaze, nodded, and then returned to playing with their phones. Many of the people sitting at the round table wore masks, so when Zhou Xiao, masked and looking down at his phone, took his seat, he blended seamlessly into the atmosphere.
Looking at the program on the table, Zhou Xiao curiously compared the list of "Shanghai Qixi Festival Gala" circulated on the Internet with the list of performances placed on the table one by one. She found that NINE STAR, where Ji Shao was, was actually the opening performance, which was different from the order circulated on the Internet.
Time passed, and as eight o'clock approached, the audience suddenly became noisy. Zhou Xiao looked up at the noise and saw several of Shanghai TV's leading hosts emerging from backstage and making their way to the center stage. The audience knew that tonight's gala was about to begin.
When the host finished his opening remarks and mentioned the hottest summer variety show, many in the audience erupted in excitement. Xingtu 101 was an unparalleled summer sensation, not only revitalizing long-dormant entertainment apps but also generating significant buzz both online and offline.
As the stage lights dimmed and then came back on, the familiar melody of the Star 101 theme song rang out, bringing back memories of the audience that had just been shut away. As the nine members formed a pyramid in the center of the stage, everyone spontaneously cheered for the member they had picked during the competition.
What’s interesting is that most of the audience members who shouted the names of NINE STAR members below were not there for them, but they were able to cheer for the members.
Perhaps due to the Qixi Festival Gala, all nine members wore vibrant colors. However, given that fashion is all about appearance, this unexpectedly enhanced the youthful energy of NINE STAR.
Zhou Xiao, in the audience, followed Ji Shao with his camera raised. As the familiar theme song played, he couldn't help but think back to the finals. It had just ended, yet it felt like a distant memory. He felt incredibly cherished and emotionally attached to being on stage.
On their first theme song stage after leaving behind their Star 101 uniforms and training gear, Zhou Xiao found everyone's performances particularly impressive. Much like the promotional music of foreign boy bands after their comebacks, the colorful costumes perfectly showcased the young members' precious freshness in this environment.
His bangs swirled by the blower below the stage, Ji Shao stared intently at the camera in front of him. Then, a new melody began to play, and the electronic screen behind him displayed "STAR," NINE STAR's debut single.
Ji Shao, originally at the center of the stage, stepped back slightly with one foot, exerting a slight force on his core to smoothly return to the back of the group and regroup. This series of changes was remarkably coherent, as if they were specially designed to smoothly connect the two songs.
"STAR" is a light rock song with disco-esque electronica. The intro is catchy, and when Ji Shao's voice begins to fill the air, it genuinely surprises the audience. It's not some catchy song for the young and the young; the lyrics, music, and rhythm clearly show a lot of effort put into the composition.
When a new song can be repeated for the second time and people hum along to the rhythm, it proves that it has become a song that the audience can pay to sing. The boys have clearly seized the opportunity at this time, making more people interested in their music and performance.
When the performance ended, the audience erupted in applause. After two consecutive high-concentration performances, the members on stage were already breathing a little, but when the camera turned to them, they all brought smiles to the entire audience.
Ji Shao's hair was already wet on stage. Although the Shanghai studio had air conditioning, it couldn't withstand the intense heat radiated by the headlights. A drop of sweat fell from his eyelids, splashing onto the stage, yet it felt like it was dripping into the hearts of the audience in front of the screen.
After hearing the host's voice, Ji Shao on the stage followed his gaze and helped his teammate who was half-kneeling on the ground to stand up, and then continued with the words handed over by the host.
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