Chapter 46
On a sunny morning, just after 7:30, Teacher Zhao's heart-wrenching call to wake up echoed in Chu Yu's head.
"Host—baby—"
"You—forgot—to—set—the—alarm—yesterday—"
Chu Yu turned over and over again in response to his calls that sounded like summoning a soul, until after rolling over and over like a salted fish for 108 times, she finally realized in despair that although she could not get up, she could not fall asleep either. She slowly opened her eyes.
"I had a nightmare yesterday." He sat straight facing the bed above his head and spoke to the system in his brain in a half-dead voice.
"What dream?"
"I dreamed that we were going to the second public selection today."
"We are going to conduct the second public selection group today." The system reminded patiently.
Chu Yu pulled the quilt over her face, choosing not to face this cold world: "It really is a nightmare."
Finally, under the earnest care and urging of Teacher Zhao, he changed his clothes and stood up. When he looked up at the bunk above him, he found that the person sleeping above him was even more soundly than him.
"Why haven't you woke him up yet?" Teacher Zhao asked Luo Jiayu's system.
"I can't be as loud as you. I called out to him a few times, but he didn't respond." Teacher Ji said as he clattered on the keyboard, fiddling with something. "Wait a minute, I'm looking for a recent audio clip."
Two seconds later, Chu Yu and Teacher Zhao simultaneously heard the passionate wake-up ringtone she played for Luo Jiayu.
Jiangnan Leather Factory in Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province has closed down. Jiangnan Leather Factory, the largest leather factory in Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, has closed down!
Luo Jiayu sat up with a sudden somersault, nearly hitting his head against the wall. He half-closed his eyes and mumbled, "...Who is cursing my factory to close down?"
"It seems to work." The system was very calm.
"Prescribe the right medicine for the right disease." Teacher Zhao nodded in agreement.
"Adapt to local conditions." Chu Yu said, "But didn't your leather factory close down a long time ago?"
"That happened a long time ago. I seized the opportunity in the past two years to switch from secondary industry to tertiary industry. Now the factory and the company are moving forward together." Luo Jiayu had regained consciousness and was muttering in a half-dream while putting on his clothes.
"Prince," the system asked, "what are your ideals in life?"
"Sell pancakes until you make a million a year." Luo Jiayu put on his coat and patted Chu Yu's shoulder, who was standing by the bed with her eyes closed. "Let's go to the studio."
When they arrived at the studio, not all the trainees were there yet. The two of them were sitting in their seats and yawning, when suddenly there was a ding in their heads, and the mean electronic female voice from a week ago was coming again.
[Ding Dong, now starting to settle the host's rounds for the past week.]
This week is the holiday week after the first public performance. I participated in two behind-the-scenes recordings. This week, host Luo Jiayu's popularity increased by 188 points. The current total popularity is 201.5, breaking the 200 mark and ranking 31st in the camp. Congratulations to the host for achieving the achievement "Star of Progress" and the upgraded achievement "Dark Horse". The system automatically responds: Hey, you've grown up.
"Brother, you're awesome, right?" Luo Jiayu excitedly tapped Chu Yu's arm beside him. This time, their settlement reports were broadcast together, and both of them could hear them.
Chu Yu opened his eyes confusedly, blinked, and then nodded: "Yeah, amazing."
[This week, host Chu Yu's audience favorability increased by a total of 115 points. Currently, the audience favorability requirement has been fully met, and popularity ranks second in the camp. Congratulations to the host.]
"ah?"
Luo Jiayu's eyes lit up and he pointed at Chu Yu: "Him?"
Chu Yu became even more confused and pointed at herself: "Me?"
[Detecting that the host has doubts about the settlement results, the system automatically responds: Yes, it is you, it is you, it is you.]
Capybara couldn't sleep. He put his head on his paws, closed his eyes devoutly, and finally let out a long breath. Then he asked his soul:
"What on earth do they want from me?"
He felt like he would probably carry this question with him until he went to his grave.
"Congratulations, baby!" Luo Jiayu grabbed Chu Yu's shoulders and shook them in celebration.
[It has been detected that the current host Luo Jiayu's mission progress has exceeded a quarter, unlocking the physical reward mechanism. ]
[Reward rules now announced: When the popularity value exceeds 400, 600, and 800, host Luo Jiayu will be eligible to redeem any item in the real world once.]
When Luo Jiayu heard this, his eyes lit up even brighter.
It is well known that he is a prince.
It is well known that he is currently cosplaying the role of a stubborn poor guy.
"Can I change my bank card?"
【Report to the host, yes.】
"Can I change my dad's bank card?"
[Reporting to the host is fine, but it's best not to do something so outrageous that it would cause a great deal of laughter.]
"I told you I can't be a poor guy." Luo Jiayu hammered his palm.
[Are you sure you want to be a filial son, host? After receiving your approval, the system will lock the first redemption reward item to "Luo Jiayu's father's bank card."]
"No need, the one I have is enough." Luo Jiayu hammered his palm again, "I told you I can't be a poor guy!"
[Received instructions, the reward items have been locked, please cheer up~]
"Where's my baby?" Chu Yu's system was unwilling to give up after hearing this. "Teacher, my baby has always been very well-behaved and hardworking. He's also very fragile. If he knew that other children had everything but he didn't, he would go home crying. Teacher, if there are any activities like this in the future, please remember to invite our child to participate."
"..." Nineteen-year-old Chu Yubao shook his head, turned around and pointed at himself to Luo Jiayu, narrowed his eyes and asked suspiciously, "Me?"
Fragile, hardworking, but if you can't get it, you will go home and cry secretly?
"Why not, baby?" Luo Jiayu rubbed his head and then his face with his hand in a good mood. "When I was in kindergarten, we had afternoon tea one day. Every child got an apple, but when it was your turn, all the apples were gone, so the teacher gave you an orange. That's why you came to me crying with the orange."
"Was I so fragile before?" Chu Yu murmured in disbelief, "It must be that the oranges were too sour."
Luo Jiayu looked at him for a while.
"I ate the orange. I gave you the apple."
[System 1328 detected an objection, triggering the system's response: Parent, please don't worry, your child's turn isn't here yet.]
[Ding Dong, it's been detected that the host Chu Yu's mission progress has exceeded one-third. Unlock the upgrade reward system. When the mission progress exceeds half and two-thirds, a comprehensive system upgrade can be performed, unlocking more permissions and rewards.]
"It sounds much more abstract than a bank card," Chu Yu commented.
After the first system upgrade, you can enjoy free and permanent use of the music player, private on-demand movie theater, and game room. The game room includes all PC games on platforms such as Steam and Uplay, and comes with Switch and a full game library.
"Go." Chu Yu stood up and wanted to go to the front to draw the second public selection group, but was pulled back by Luo Jiayu, "Ling Wei is still thanking the sponsors."
"I'm going into that playroom tonight."
[Detecting that the host's heart rate is too high, triggering the system to automatically reply: I know you are anxious, but please don't be anxious.]
"Help me analyze the source of this week's popularity increase." Luo Jiayu poked the broadcast system.
[Ding Dong, receiving instructions. Analyzing the sources of popularity growth for hosts Chu Yu and Luo Jia Yu this week.]
[During the Horror Box stage, the two hosts whispered in each other's ears before the game, increasing their popularity by 20 points; when touching the water tank, they held hands, increasing their popularity by 28 points; during the Haunted House stage, host Luo Jiayu said before the game, "Hold my hand wherever there's a dark place," increasing their popularity by 15 points; when holding hands in the Haunted House, they held their fingers together for five seconds, increasing their popularity by 103 points...]
“…” Chu Yu felt a little uncomfortable. It felt strange to listen to the electronic female voice broadcasting these contents.
Moreover, he really couldn't remember why he and Luo Jiayu held hands at that time, who started it first, who ended it first, what was the reason, whether it was accidental or intentional, neither of them cared about it.
Some behaviors seem normal when you do them, but become inexplicably awkward when they are read aloud in a flat voice.
But Luo Jiayu is not like that at all.
Instead, he became even more excited.
"Did you realize it?" Luo Jiayu came closer with sparkling eyes, "My previous plan was correct!"
The childhood friend was still in an awkward phase, and he dodged his gaze with his eyes downcast: "What?"
“Open for business!”
“…”
“Open for business!”
“…”
"The popularity gained from holding hands once is equivalent to buying a Switch game card!"
"Okay! Open for business!"
"Selling homosexuality! Popularity! Bank card!" Luo Jiayu cheered.
"Selling homosexuality! Popularity! Game cards!" Chu Yu was assimilated and infected, and also excitedly encouraged.
The two reached a consensus again and gave each other a high five to express their happy cooperation.
"As long as the two of us take action," Luo Jiayu raised his hands happily with his eyes curved.
Chu Yu happily raised her hand and clapped it with his. The two of them said in unison:
"There's nothing we can't mess up!"
After all this, he even forgot why the tips of his ears had turned red.
“…” Teacher Zhao covered his forehead with his hands, and Teacher Ji lowered his head and rubbed his temples.
"Children's shoes are too big."
"Okay, now we're officially starting the second round of selections. This time, we won't be drawing a captain first. Instead, each contestant will choose the song they want to perform based on their ranking. Each song has a maximum number of participants. Once the quota is full, subsequent trainees will no longer be able to select that song."
"We have prepared a total of six songs for this performance. As always, we will divide each song into two groups, A and B, for a PK. We will first select the songs, then the groups, and finally determine the captains."
"The rules have been announced. Now it's time to enter the song selection phase. Starting with the first place winner, everyone will go on stage to select... First up is Wei Ziyu."
The smiles on their faces gradually disappeared.
We had just decided that we must go together this time, and then this happened.
Now Luo Jiayu really believed that the loan he took was an unforgivable sin, and the retribution had not yet ended.
There really shouldn’t be any pre-consumption in life, it’s too painful.
As for Chu Yu, his ranking was very high, fourth, which was the best result among all the others, and he could choose any song he wanted.
But the rare curve at the corner of his mouth disappeared faster than his childhood friend's.
The palpitations and anxiety I felt when the first public ranking was announced came back again.
If they couldn't be together the first time they were grouped together because of the plot, and he was mentally prepared, then this time the expectations he had just planted were suddenly dashed.
Or maybe it was because he had spent too much time with the person next to him, causing him to develop a dependence on her without realizing it. The emotion of suddenly letting go was even more overwhelming than the first time, but these changes were subtle and he wouldn't be aware of them without a trigger.
"Which song do you want to go to?" Luo Jiayu leaned close to his ear and soothed him in the same soothing tone as he did a week ago.
"After choosing, please stand next to the piece and wait for your teammates. Next one is Fu Hansong." Ling Wei's voice came from the front of the stage.
"I haven't seen it yet."
"The first song is an R&B song and dance number. The second song is similar to the one you performed in the first performance, an energetic electronic dance song. The third song is a group dance number, so I'll just pass on that. The fourth, fifth...would you like to check out the sixth song?"
"Next person, please come up to the stage."
The sixth song is a lyrical pure singing piece without dance and rap. There are enough high-pitched parts and various transitions, as well as true and false voice changes, in the middle, which gives the performers enough space to show off their skills. For Capybara, who knows nothing about dance and has no interest in it, this song is indeed the most suitable.
But Luo Jiayu is not good at singing. The only ways he can score points are rap and dancing.
Choosing this song means polishing away all of your bright spots, and the popularity of purely lyrical songs is bound to be low, and cannot compare to explosive or sexy dance or singing and dancing songs.
"Next one, Chu Yu."
Chu Yu stood up and looked back at his childhood friend at the last second before going up.
"Trust me." Luo Jiayu mouthed to him.
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