Chapter 275
Following the signs inside the venue, Zhou Xiao leisurely walked towards the meeting location. However, for some reason, even though there was still plenty of time before the meeting started, there were suddenly many more fans walking quickly behind him.
Zhou Xiao pondered, sensing something was amiss. Just as he was thinking, he noticed a fan who had just passed him pause, pulled out his phone, and moved from the center of the road to the edge, answering a call.
At this moment, that unabashedly loud voice rang out, "We're inside! Don't worry, I'm definitely going to get all five sets of limited edition cards..."
"Limited edition?" Zhou Xiao pondered for a moment. As soon as she pulled out her phone, she saw a message tagged in the group chat. Without even opening the group chat, she already understood what was going on.
Their pace quickened. As they approached the dedicated meet-and-greet venue, the faint sound of the loudspeaker grew clearer. "...Open Blueberry Music Mall and purchase limited-edition NINE STAR concert film cards. Limited to five per set. Please line up in an orderly manner and present them..." The female voice on the loudspeaker played in a continuous loop. At the same time, the winding line ahead came into Zhou Xiao's sight: the line for the cards.
"It's so expensive! Is that damn Huayao trying to make back the money he made from the concert at Xiaoka?" Someone in the front was muttering, and immediately attracted the approval of the people around him.
"And there are purchase restrictions, which is so troublesome!" someone echoed.
Zhou Xiao, standing in front of the notice board, carefully examined it before switching his phone screen to the backstage of Blueberry Music to purchase the temporarily available cards. The app indicated a maximum purchase quantity of five, and the price was not low.
This was clearly the reason for the criticism from several fans earlier, but those who were able to attend the meet-and-greet were generally quite accepting of the price. Coupled with the purchase restriction, fans who had originally only intended to buy one or two sets as souvenirs were immediately tempted to buy five or more.
Zhou Xiao, who was waiting in line, clicked on the group chat and began to read the chat log. As expected, just as she had expected, they were all reminding Zhou Xiao that he could buy the card and asking if they could help him bring one.
NINE STAR's photo cards are currently in pre-sale, with shipping expected to take at least a month. While purchases are limited, regardless of account, Zhou Xiaoyou noted that buyers are required to provide their ID, meet-and-greet ticket, and app QR code. Only after successful verification of all three can they receive the cards.
Zhou Xiao's turn soon arrived. After verification, she placed the stack of cards and accompanying stickers into her bag and headed for the door. Unlike the bustle outside when collecting the cards, the venue was remarkably quiet.
Zhou Xiao took in the scattered light signs in the venue, which were almost entirely purple, and couldn't help but give the fan club a thumbs-up. It was only after Zhu Jianjing's nod yesterday that she learned that Huayao had originally planned to give each fan group a separate link to share the meeting spots.
However, his own fan club refused to budge. The rule for the meet-and-greet tickets was that only fans with concert tickets could participate in the bidding. For Ji Shao's fans, who accounted for nearly half of the concert group tickets, only one-ninth of the meet-and-greet spots were available, which was unjust. Despite the fan club's strong objections and the unanimous agreement of other fans, Huayao ultimately released only a link. From then on, meeting-and-greet tickets were purely a matter of quickness.
Zhou Xiao shifted his gaze from the light board to the set of small cards on his lap. He took a quick look and saw that they were all Ji Shao's concert outfits. Judging from their condition, it was certain that they were all taken during the photo shoot for the concert posters.
Carefully put the other four copies into the bag. As for the remaining film card, just let Ji Shao sign it when the time comes.
Judging from the rehearsal photos circulating online, this NINE STAR fan meeting featured only four songs. While there weren't many stages, the offline interactions, game sessions, raffles, and the final autograph session were perfect for fans who had just watched the concert the day before.
While there was still time, Zhou Xiao logged into the "Pang Ran Xin Dong" account. The previous lottery had already been drawn at noon, and winning fans had gradually filled in their personal information.
Zhou Xiao was increasingly amused by the private messages she received backstage. Besides private messages from her own fans, she also received numerous messages from fans of other artists, all of which were incredibly moving. Judging by the content of the replies, most of them were due to her previous news of Di Jiangtong's photo shoot.
Zhou Xiao let out a long breath. After she goes back tonight and edits the photos of today's meeting and Ji Shao's performance, she will start retouching the photos.
Because this is a photoshoot, not a blockbuster, she's been waiting to hear Di Jiangtong's thoughts these past two days. In Zhou Xiao's opinion, a perfect photoshoot is one that captures the subject's innermost desires.
…
As the hour hand on the dial moved to the number 4, the familiar lights in the venue dimmed, and then the prelude of the theme song of Star 101 was heard.
The stage, though much smaller than a concert stage, held the same emotions and passion of the members. In the darkness, Zhou Xiao raised his camera and captured a barely perceptible hue of purple as it "jumped" from the backstage onto the stage.
As the rhythm began to play, the dark stage suddenly lit up with light. The members on stage, accompanied by the cheers of the fans below, performed four sets in one breath. The memories of yesterday were still fresh in their minds, and both on and off stage, a tacit understanding was forged through their interaction.
Under the camera, Ji Shao's diamond-studded beret is firmly fixed on his head. He wears a heavily knitted vest with black and white stitching, diamonds and stripes, and the WP logo. Paired with white overalls, the visual focus is lifted to his upper body, making him look youthful and energetic.
The cheers of the fans in the audience seemed to be replayed yesterday, and the atmosphere at the meeting was almost exhilarating. The host, who had already walked onto the stage, felt himself being swallowed up by the audience's enthusiasm the several times he tried to speak.
On the stage, Ji Shao closed his eyes, taking in the screams from the audience. Perhaps it was the bright lights on the stage, but when he opened his eyes again, he saw an endless ocean.
"Everyone..." He stroked his headset, looking at the fans in the audience and slowly spoke, "Seeing you again, it really... feels so happy!"
The shouts, which hadn't stopped despite being appeased several times by the host, suddenly became quiet the moment Ji Shao opened his mouth. Even though Ji Shao's fans were extremely excited, their eyes were always fixed on the most dazzling person on the stage.
The brief silence did not last long. Almost as soon as Ji Shao uttered his last word, the venue was suddenly filled with overwhelming cheers.
…
——【Forum】——[August 20 evening]
【Topic】Hey, come to the forum and draw 6 62.1
[Main Post] Thanks to everyone for the back-channeling, I finally won! I got home from get off work and found out I won a huge gift pack of Xindongjie's merchandise! Ahhhhhhh! Please allow me to go crazy on the forum! [掬手热泪.jpg]
Share your good luck with everyone. The lottery is not limited to any attribute, but I refuse to blacken Xiao Shao~ I will check the homepage!
1L
Damn, you've got the hard currency of the fan circle! Rub against the rich woman, rub against good luck~
19L
OK, OK, some people are winning prizes on Meimei, some are attending meetups on Meimei, and I'm the only one guarding the teacher's account and waiting for pictures, right?
54L OP
Reply to 19L: Ahhhh my Xindong sister posted a blog, sisters, go check it out! It’s amazing! She posted a raw photo! Sisters who know how to take pictures meet idols who know how to use their faces. Who wouldn’t be confused and say this is a super god combination!
88L
Good luck! Next time if I win any of your merchandise, I'll also come to the forum to participate!
…
At the fan meeting, a lucky draw was also underway. Numbers scrolled wildly across the large screen on the stage. At each member's "stop" call, nine lucky winners were ushered onto the stage to receive their surprise.
Everyone was excited before going on stage, but once on stage, they all turned into quails. This was also true for all the fans who were invited on stage. Zhou Xiao looked at the lucky fan who was picked to go on stage. Coincidentally, the T-shirt on the fan club was the same T-shirt that Ji Shao had worn yesterday.
The girl's face flushed crimson. Zhou Xiao still had some impression of her. Earlier in the game, some fans from other groups were deliberately making noises, but she silenced them with a single shout. It was a truly remarkable victory, a one-on-three victory.
"Don't be nervous," Ji Shao said on the stage, his eyes curved, and he smiled and said, "What's your name?"
"Uh...well...I'm Tiaosi, Xiao Shao, just call me Tiaosi!" Unlike the other lucky ones on the stage who said their own names, the girl chose to let Ji Shao call her fan's name after hesitating for a moment.
"Okay~" A faint dimple appeared at the corner of his mouth. Ji Shao held a signed album in his hand and asked gently, "Hello, Tiao Si, do you have a wish? Maybe I can help you realize it."
Bending slightly without the person in front of him noticing, Ji Shao looked directly into their eyes and spoke seriously and confidently. The message transmitted through the microphone immediately set off a huge wave in the audience, and the screams around them almost punctured Zhou Xiao's eardrums.
But she didn't even bother covering her ears, instead gazing at Ji Shao in the camera with immense satisfaction. Her slight bow showed respect for the fans before her, and her gaze was filled with sincerity and gratitude. Ji Shao rarely interacts with fans this closely offline, but every time he does, it's with 100% sincerity.
Tiao Si on the stage froze in her tracks, only regaining consciousness when the host leaned over to remind her. Under camera, the girl took a deep breath and then calmly asked, "No matter what wish I make, will this autographed album be mine?"
Ji Shao nodded, "Yes, it belongs only to you."
"Okay! I want Sister Xindong's big gift package this time!" The girl closed her eyes and shouted loudly.
The whole place fell silent. Some were surprised by the girl's sudden loud voice. Others were surprised by her words. But after they came to their senses and thought about it carefully, they all thought it was a good wish.
“I want it too.” “Fuck, sister, you said what I was thinking.” “Indeed, hugs and handshakes are not as practical as the surrounding ones.” “Yeah, it’s impossible to keep your hands unwashed.” “You little bastard, not only Xiao Shao, but even my sister Xindong will remember you!” “…”
After a brief silence, the audience began to murmur in agreement. Some even joined in the commotion, saying, "Brother Ji, I want it too!"
Ji Shao on the stage came back to his senses, shook his head helplessly, and then spread his hands and said with a smile after being amused, "Well, I can't promise you now, because I don't have it either. When I get it, I'll give you half."
Zhou Xiao, who was holding a camera: ...
Why did she feel like someone in the camera glanced at her when he said this? Thinking about how the other person loved to take the small light sticks from fans, Zhou Xiao felt that she had got this cute point of someone that could easily cause fatality.
The girls walked down the stage contentedly, feeling as if they had been guzzled with a bowl of nourishing soup the moment their shoes touched the ground. As they returned to their seats with their heads held high, they were met with envious and complex gazes from their co-stars.
The girl's seat was right behind Zhou Xiao. As soon as she sat down, Zhou Xiao heard an excited voice from behind, "Li Ziyu, you're so awesome! Now we have material for Shaozi's fan meeting!"
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