The news of Chi Ji’s award, along with Corona’s third consecutive win, trended on social media. Both fans and non-fans expressed admiration and approval for the group, with very few criticisms.
– “Corona’s songs and live performances are top-notch in the industry. With such high starting points and rapid progress, it’s no surprise they took first place again.”
With over 362.7 million votes, they had broken their own record, and career fans were overjoyed.
Fandom supremacy was indeed a thrilling experience! Fans never had to worry about their idols’ endorsements or collaborations because being first felt amazing!
However, there were a few individuals who voiced their discontent about Chi Ji winning the title of “Most Desired Male Celebrity” in online discussions.
– “Why is it him? My favorite actor, xxx, didn’t even make it to the top five.”
– “Isn’t he a bit too effeminate? Wearing colored contacts and lipstick? Are girls into lace now or something?”
– “I don’t like this kind of androgynous look… To be honest, my idol, xx, is more suitable to be a boyfriend, hmph.”
But these voices were quickly shut down by dedicated fans working together.
@ClearSkyForJi: “The positions are the result of real fans voting with their true feelings. You, as a noble outsider, are just confusing yourself if you think someone should be ranked higher without earning it. Don’t think the whole world revolves around you.”
@JiSisterGemstone: “So, ‘effeminate’ is a pejorative term now, and ‘masculine’ is a compliment? Some straight men’s misogyny is showing. My Chi Ji can run ten kilometers; can you? A key costs only fifty cents—how many can you afford?”
@Corona_PeachyPeach: “Some people just can’t stand seeing others do well. Sisters, if you have the time, let’s work on the data together!! Please fill out the new round of public selection intention forms!! [- link to a website]”
Huo Ren noticed these discussions but didn’t take them too seriously. All six of them had handed over control of their official accounts to the company long ago and rarely checked their inboxes.
Ever since they gained fame, Corona had received their fair share of criticism and attacks from the beginning. Initially, they could see “Read” notifications in their private message boxes, and all six of them often sat together on the couch to read fan letters.
The innocent and heartfelt confessions, the scanned handwritten letters, and the pencil-drawn fan art—all of them were bright and genuine expressions of love from their Gemstones.
Each person’s inbox received tens of thousands of messages every day, and it was impossible to reply to them all. However, marking a message as “Read” was a simple way to acknowledge their fans.
At that time, Huo Ren often sent his fans the sun emoji and wished them a bright and radiant life.
But later, with one scandal after another, the number of antis rapidly increased, and their tactics became increasingly malicious.
It began with Mei Shengyao discovering his own doctored photos in his inbox—altered to be eerie and unsettling. He was frightened and had nightmares for days. Then, there were antis who sent gruesome car accident photos and dissection images to Bo Jue, making him vomit upon seeing them. Bo Jue didn’t even get a clear look at the images before he threw his phone, shattering it and the succulent plants that Xie Lianyun had been nurturing.
With time, Xie Lianyun encountered disturbing images in his inbox, which made him throw his phone like a lead ball. His phone met the same tragic fate as Huo Ren’s and Bo Jue’s, shattering into pieces.
SPF had equipped Corona with a professional team of psychological counselors from the early days of their formation. They conducted quarterly mental health assessments to ensure their artists’ well-being and adjusted their workloads accordingly.
They eventually chose to entrust their social media accounts to the PR team and tried to avoid searching for anyone’s names online.
“Don’t let curiosity lead you into the abyss,” Dr. Du solemnly advised them. “We need to treat this information flow like a swamp trap and consciously avoid it.”
Uncle Jiang, on the other hand, was quite familiar with these situations, and he often shared stories during their meetings.
“There’s a foreign myth about a man who went to the underworld to retrieve his wife…”
“Uncle, that’s Orpheus and the Underworld.”
“That’s right,” Uncle Jiang continued, “This guy wanted to bring his dead wife back. When he asked the King of the Underworld, he was told that he could do it, but he must not look back.”
“It sounds like a simple thing, but he did look back, and his wife was lost forever,” Uncle Jiang said, knocking on the table. “Life is like this; one wrong step can ruin everything. You all need to remember that.”
Xie Lianyun thought it was a bit strange how Uncle Jiang managed to turn a Greek myth into something with a rural flavor, and he nodded absentmindedly.
On the other hand, Chi Ji’s eyes lit up, and he raised his hand. “And there’s more!”
Huo Ren initially thought Chi Ji was going to talk about “lots of ladies,” but he realized it was something from their old lyrics.
Back when Yao Yao and he were going through tough times, Chi Ji used to sing “Wicked Little Town” to help them find their way out, leading them like a small nightingale.
“And then you’re someone you are not…”
“You’ve already lost yourself…”
“And Junction City ain’t the spot…”
“And Jingcheng isn’t a place for you to stay…”
“Do you remember Mrs. Lot, when she looked back?”
“In Genesis, when God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, He allowed Lot and his family to escape,” Chi Ji held up a finger, speaking seriously. “But God warned them not to look back.”
Uncle Jiang clicked his tongue. “And then that poor guy looked back?”
“Yes, Mrs. Lot couldn’t resist and turned into a pillar of salt.”
Huo Ren, sitting on the side, watched as their manager and teammates discussed the Bible, and he interjected, “Isn’t the pillar of salt a metaphor for a burial shroud?”
Everyone paused for a few seconds, then decided to steer the conversation back to the main topic in unison.
“So, how’s the new variety show coming along?”
“That’s right—new variety show!” Uncle Jiang snapped back to attention and clapped his hands, signaling the assistants to bring over the documents.
“This time, we’re going big.”
Huo Ren was a co-planner and got up to help distribute the documents. He explained the concept for the upcoming variety show, which they believed would be a significant project.
“The three previous variety shows, although they had good viewership and responses, lacked depth.”
Xie Lianyun flipped through a few pages and became more alert. “Crown Hunt Arena?”
“Yes,” Huo Ren smiled. “Randomly drawn teams, plus a spy mode. What do you think?”
Most of the variety shows on the market these days were too mild, lacking the thrill and competitive spirit. Although they couldn’t engage in full-contact sports in this variety show, adding an element of competition and conflict would highlight each of their personalities better.
“There are three stages in each round. The first two stages involve completing tasks to earn gemstones, which can be exchanged for items.”
“In the third stage, there will be a chase within a closed environment.”
Xie Lianyun’s mind started racing. He remained calm and asked, “How will they determine the winners? Is it purely a physical game?”
“No, intelligence and physical ability can complement each other,” Huo Ren’s eyes sparkled. “Everyone will wear a gold crown with a logo, and getting hit on the logo will count as elimination. The safety of props and the environment will be carefully considered.”
Bo Jue had a bad feeling about this. “How long will the chase last?”
Huo Ren was uncertain. “If it’s fast, maybe an hour?”
Bao Jue: …!
“Just a heads-up,” Huo Ren said, pressing his lips together with a smile. “We’re here to play a game, so let’s play for real. No need to hold back.”
“I won’t hold back,” Mei Shengyao said, looking at him. “Is there a punishment for the losers?”
“Yes,” Huo Ren replied without missing a beat. “They have to wear a maid outfit, drink bitter gourd juice, and perform a thigh dance. The winner gets to choose.”
Uncle Jiang sat nearby, silently sipping his coffee.
These kids had really become quite playful.
This program was co-produced and broadcasted by SPF’s official website and Shi Du Satellite TV. The sponsors were practically fighting to be part of it, and somehow, the news had leaked out, despite fans insisting that they would only discuss official announcements. However, they couldn’t resist chatting about it in private.
“I feel like it’s true!! The leaked photos from the bidding meeting are all over!”
“OMG, three alphas and an omega competing in a sports show? It’s gonna be chaotic no matter how they form the teams!”
“The official site forces us to produce content, but with Corona, they don’t need us to produce content. They can do it themselves!!!”
The first episode was scheduled for recording on April 1st. They all dressed in stylish and lightweight spring outfits for the occasion. Before the recording began, they had their first round of individual interviews.
Huo Ren sat across from the assistant director, looking relaxed in front of the camera.
“Do you have any preferred team members for the competition?”
“They’re all great,” Huo Ren answered honestly. “Each person has their strengths in terms of physical fitness, mental acuity, and observation skills. Their strengths and weaknesses can complement each other.”
“This is your first time recording this type of program. Are there any nerves or concerns?”
“I don’t want to be the spy,” Huo Ren sighed. “My acting skills are terrible; I’ll get exposed immediately…”
Whether it was single or double-agent mode, being a spy in this variety show would surely make it more exciting. This role heavily relied on psychological resilience and acting skills, and playing mind games was no joke.
The voiceover was trying hard to hold back laughter.
“Mr. Huo.”
“In today’s episode, you are the spy.”
Huo Ren momentarily couldn’t control his expression.
“I—”
Although he had participated in designing the flow of the program, he wasn’t entirely clear on the specific game details.
“Whichever team you’re assigned to, you’re automatically the spy.”
The assistant director kindly pushed the spy card forward.
“Have a great game.”
Huo Ren remained silent for a moment, then left the studio and returned to the lobby.
“Number six! Even number!” Mei Shengyao cheered. “Bro, you’re on our team!”
“Oh?”
Huo Ren paused, realizing that the other three had already left.
Xie Lianyun shrugged and approached him, lowering his cap.
“Let’s cooperate well.”
“We three are on the blue team,” Mei Shengyao grabbed the car keys and ushered both of them out.
“Let’s go! The game is starting!”
The author has a message to share:
1. There won’t be any abuse in the near future.
2. Boss Pei is currently busy with a startup and won’t be available for a short period.
3. Starting tomorrow, the regular updates at 6 AM will resume, and once I’m feeling better, we’ll return to daily updates at 6 AM.
4. Please refrain from mentioning or implying any idols in the comments, and avoid creating fan circle battles. Thank you.