Chapter 34: The Theme Song Broadcast (Part Two)

"Idol Trainee" became a sensation this winter even before it aired, drawing interest not only from the ever-passionate, ever-youthful show fans following the music video teasers, but also from casual viewers and even Gu Jingyi’s "March drama fans," who clicked on the trending topics just to join the excitement.

Beijing Film Academy.

Zhou Ye sat at her desk reading Harry Potter, while her roommate lay on the bed playing with her phone.

"Oh my god, it’s time! How did I forget? The theme song for 'Idol Trainee' drops today!"

Zhang Ling bolted upright from her bed, startling Zhou Ye, who was sitting on the edge.

Zhou Ye chuckled, unimpressed. "Lingling, didn't you say you definitely wouldn't vote for Gu Jingyi? That he should be eliminated quickly so he can go back to acting?"

Zhang Ling nodded like a woodpecker. "That’s right, that’s what I thought. But the theme song is here, and no matter how bad it is, I have to see just how lackluster it really is."

There were quite a few drama fans like Zhang Ling who harbored the same sentiment. They clicked on the theme song with a critical heart.

But the moment the intro began and Gu Jingyi appeared at the center of the stage, his face filling the screen, they were instantly silenced.

Beauty is justice, and even if tastes differ, no one could question Gu Jingyi’s handsomeness.

Whether it was his expression management or the scale of his movements, Gu Jingyi executed everything perfectly. His expressions were natural and fresh, and his movements were precise and crisp, making him incredibly eye-catching.

The Center wasn't just superior in looks, leaving everyone else in the dust; his talent redefined what it meant to be an ACE.

The moment they saw Gu Jingyi, whatever mindset they had when they first clicked in vanished. They had to admit that this season’s production team really knew how to pick a center.

Zhang Ling felt her heart racing. She stared blankly at Gu Jingyi. That vibrant energy on stage was something she experienced viscerally through the screen.

She tapped the screen to open the barrage comments, which exploded in the sections where Gu Jingyi appeared.

[Holy cow! What’s this center’s name! Someone tell me, for heaven’s sake!!!!]

[My goodness... is it even reasonable for the initial center to be this handsome?! Is this even legal?!]

[Just a drama fan passing by. I only clicked to take a look, but I didn't expect to be captured by "Jiang Chen" all over again... I guess people really do fall for Gu Jingyi over and over again at different times.]

[Ahhh, Gu Jingyi! Damn, I’m truly moved. Even though I’ve been following his new dramas, he is the most striking when he’s on stage! Man, when does the first episode of Idol Trainee air? I’m going to go buy a subscription TTT]

[Gu Jingyi really killed it. I thought he only looked this good because of the "A Love So Beautiful" filter. I didn't expect him to be even more vibrant and handsome standing on that stage!]

***

Reading through these comments, Zhang Ling grew more and more confused.

"Xiao Ye, has Gu Jingyi been active as an idol before? I don't understand these comments at all."

"Of course! He didn't just appear out of thin air when he joined the show. He had a very high ranking in an overseas survival program before—he was a frontrunner," Zhou Ye replied, smiling as she turned the page of her book.

"Really? Then I have to go catch up on his old stuff later!"

Suppressing her excitement, Zhang Ling watched the three-minute-plus music video from start to finish, then counted how many seconds Gu Jingyi had on screen.

The exclusive solo part during the chorus for the center really hit the spot—the feeling of being the star surrounded by the moon was just too cool!

A solo part dedicated to him!

That was the status Gu Jingyi deserved as the Center!

Suddenly, she realized she wasn't surprised at all that Gu Jingyi was the initial center. If they didn't pick someone as outstanding as Gu Jingyi, who else could they pick?

This wasn't something you could get just by popularity; it was a vote cast by every single trainee on the show!

The more Zhang Ling thought about it, the more excited she became. She felt as though she had been missing out on Gu Jingyi all this time. How could she have not noticed such an outstanding man before? She had been too focused on his dramas and hadn't paid any attention to his real life!

"Xiao Ye, do you have a Kiwi Video subscription?"

"I do," Zhou Ye nodded.

"Then, after 'Idol Trainee' airs in a week, can you help me vote for Gu Jingyi? Please, sister." Zhang Ling clasped her hands together and looked at Zhou Ye, acting coy.

"I suppose I can, though I recall someone telling me earlier that she wouldn't give a single vote to Gu Jingyi, so he could be eliminated and go back to acting." Zhou Ye coughed softly, her eyes sparkling with amusement.

"I was wrong, okay? I take it back! It would be a crime for a face this handsome not to be on a survival show!"

***

There were many drama fans like Zhang Ling. The Chinese entertainment industry had never seen a "visual god" capable of such "beauty bullying."

Gu Jingyi possessed both absolute strength and heart-thumping charm; such a person was born to shine on stage.

In her hotel room, Tian Xiwei was taking screenshots of Gu Jingyi’s appearance in the music video, frame by frame. She adjusted the image parameters meticulously and posted them to Weibo as soon as they were ready.

"Gu Jingyi's Donut" was a veteran fan-site manager, and Tian Xiwei was known for her fast and high-quality photo editing.

When she posted the edited theme song stills to Weibo as usual, she found her inbox flooded and her follower count surging by tens of thousands.

"Donut-boss, are you there? I heard you’re a veteran fan of Gu Jingyi. Can you tell us if you’ve organized any voting support for his overseas shows before?"

Just as everyone was feeling at a loss, the post-production team of "Idol Trainee" released behind-the-scenes practice footage of Gu Jingyi. These clips were like supply stations in a marathon, or the carrot dangling in front of a donkey, keeping the fans engaged and contributing traffic to the show.

"Gu Jingyi deserves this center position."

"Gu Jingyi on stage is truly glowing. While everyone else was preparing their performance, Gu Jingyi was mastering the stage—the thrill of watching him is beyond words!"

"Even if we didn't organize an initial center fan-ranking, our fanbase is massive. If casual fans just vote a little, that's tens of thousands of votes, right? Cai Xukun didn't have much of a fan base before the competition, so how is he so close to Gu Jingyi?"

"Huh? You guys say there aren't many fans voting for Gu Jingyi? But I heard he’s an 'A' grade trainee..."

"Right! I also heard Gu Jingyi is an 'A'. Why does it feel like Gu Jingyi has so many shots in this theme song? The production team really is playing favorites."

When Tian Xiwei saw this comment trying to stir up trouble, her beautiful, delicate brows knitted with anger.

With a dark expression, she began typing furiously:

"You really are a piece of work, I don't even know what to say to you. I'm not here to tear you down, but look at what you're doing!"

As she sounded the call to action, other casual fans realized that someone was intentionally trying to stir the pot.

Behind the trainees, a war without smoke had begun.