The Chinese Literature Idol

The main story is complete; bonus chapters are updating. I may take a day off if something comes up. Updates six days a week, with Tuesdays off. I'm saving up for tuition, so please support the official release. Comments are open, come join the fun! From audition shows to boy bands Yan Sheng is a third-year Chinese literature student, currently struggling to find an internship. For students at a humanities college that isn't even in the top nine, finding a job is harder than reaching the heavens. Yan Sheng: If only I'd taken up dancing back then. Why did I insist on pursuing the lofty ideals of a writer? After a disastrous interview for a choreographer position, she gives up and applies to be a trainee. The head of rookie development at Chenxing Entertainment tells her earnestly, “Why don't you give being a trainee a try?” Yan Sheng thinks it over. There's nothing wrong with making a living off her looks. “Anyway, she said she'd give me an internship certificate, so here I am.” In the group practice room for Are You Star, Yan Sheng holds back again and again, then decides to protect her temper. “If your moves are uncoordinated, fine, but is your brain out of sync too?” “Touch your crotch again and I'll make sure you never have to worry about it again.” “If you want to battle, meet me in the practice room at eleven tonight. I'll make sure you get your fill of dancing.” The trials and tribulations forge the strongest, most talented idol. Yan Sheng nods confidently. “That's right. They should all thank me.” [Don't ask. Just listen to Teacher Yan Sheng.] One day, during an interview, the host asks about the things Yan Sheng wrote for her debut variety show. “It's just a personal hobby. Maybe you've heard of the writer ID Zaohou?” The host pauses, then says hesitantly, “Isn't that the person who writes crack pairings for audition-show contestants?” Yan Sheng smiles. “That's right. I made all the CP fan forums back then, and I've published ten books so far!” The livestream comments go silent for a moment, as if frozen [Do your groupmates know you've already written thirty thousand words about them hating and loving each other?!] “The first time I saw him, I knew he was destined for greatness.” Reader's guide: 1. The protagonist is pretty easygoing and blunt, with nerves of steel. She never overthinks, has skin thicker than a city wall, and is a reliable adult idol with both integrity and a lively, down-to-earth personality. 2. No CP. Everyone is just friends. The protagonist won't deliberately flirt with her bandmates, but she does write fanfiction about them. They're all crack pairings, so don't take them seriously. After the group debuts, there will inevitably be scenes that invite CP shipping. Feel free to skip chapters based on the titles. 3. The author is devoted to the protagonist. Even with an ensemble cast, she's still the focus. There won't be any side-character stanning, so feel free to jump in. 4. There are no real-life models, so don't associate the characters with real people. Any similarities are purely coincidental. Some details borrow from Korean entertainment, so you can think of the setting as a blend of Chinese and Korean entertainment. Everything else is made up by the author. You don't need to know the industry to enjoy the story. 5. Every character and plot development has a reason. Please don't send unsolicited writing advice. 6. There are lots of livestream comments and forum posts. That's part of my narrative style, and I can't do without them. I'll mark them in the chapter titles, so subscribe as you prefer. 7. For the sake of the story's pacing, the group's members discover her secret in the main story, while people outside the group find out in the bonus chapters. Please choose what to subscribe to accordingly. Here's a little upcoming story for anyone interested The Unfeeling Dao's Valedictorian After three hundred years of seclusion, Li Lingsheng is just one step away from ascending. Then a cultivation System drops out of the sky. “What are you supposed to be?” The System says nothing, only issuing one task after another [The Jilted Young Master: Li Lingsheng's engagement is broken off by his childhood sweetheart after his meridians are ruined. Make the Qingling Wang family pay within a month.] Li Lingsheng: I'm not starring in a jilted-young-master story. [The Abandoned Disciple: After being framed and expelled by his sect, Li Lingsheng is humiliated. Make the ungrateful sect pay within three months.] Li Lingsheng: I'm not starring in a comeback story. [Supreme Demon Lord: Now a Demon Lord, Li Lingsheng takes a disciple at Cangwu Academy. Train him to become your right-hand man within a year.] Li Lingsheng: I'm not starring in a master-and-disciple story. System: You can't ascend without him. Li Lingsheng: Are you threatening me? System: I'm not lying. Your unfeeling Dao requires you to take a disciple before you can ascend. Li Lingsheng: What a joke. Why would I be like those useless fools who get caught up in romantic entanglements? “A sword cultivator of the unfeeling Dao only needs to do two things.” Li Lingsheng crosses his legs and lectures a group of young prodigies. “Beat your opponents until they run for the hills, and maintain your own ethereal, transcendent bearing.” Below the stage, a cute young boy with sparkling puppy eyes applauds with all his might. “Master is absolutely right!” Li Lingsheng nods in satisfaction. “In short, if you can't learn from me, you can learn from the first-place winner of this year's tournament: my disciple.” Bonus scene: A friend rubs his hands together excitedly. “For this secret realm, my master gave me several talismans that can withstand a full-power strike from a Deity Transformation cultivator. Shang Zhi, your master dotes on you so much. He must have given you loads of good stuff, right?” Shang Zhi rummages through his universe pouch, pulling out a stack of talismans, a pile of divine artifacts, and a basket of spirit herbs... Friend: In your master's eyes, are you at Qi Refining or Nascent Soul? Shang Zhi activates the surveillance array and happily waves at his master, who is calmly drinking tea behind the light screen. Li Lingsheng nods, praises his disciple for being obedient and sensible, and reminds him to keep the array running the whole time. Friend: Shang Zhi, don't you think your master is kind of invading your privacy? Shang Zhi's face changes. “Nonsense! This just shows how much Master cares about me!” Cat 1, dog 0. Bratty cat versus comfort dog. Control freak versus the one who bears it all. The most arrogant under heaven versus the world's most enthusiastic cheerleader. The master isn't aloof, just sharp-tongued. His disciple really is the cutest puppy. Hardcore one-sided shippers, please don't read. No dream pairings, no breaking them up, no reversing the roles. The author is a die-hard CP fan who writes mutual pampering, romance, and shipping. All in all, an invincible romantic comedy where every pot finds its lid Li Lingsheng: Who's a cat? I'm a person! Shang Zhi: Master says I'm a dragon! Theme: Seize every opportunity