A Guide to Failed Fanservice on Idol Survival Shows

[Blurb archived on August 25, 2024]

Yu Zhuo was the most popular contestant before the start of the talent show, Rising Stars. He couldn't say success was guaranteed, but making the final lineup was practically a sure thing.

Then a System appeared out of nowhere and assigned him two missions.

1. Debut as part of a group.

2. No selling fan service between male idols.

Yu Zhuo: "..."

What kind of toxic solo-fan System is this?

A boy band that doesn't sell fan service might as well cut off its own lifeline. Isn't this making things hard for him?

Well, he wouldn't do it

System: "Fail the mission and you will be forcibly removed from the show."

Yu Zhuo: "The first sword of my debut: I'll strike down my beloved first!"

Before the competition, Yu Zhuo had thoroughly studied the company's Guide to Selling Fan Service in Boy Bands and hundreds of fan-written ship fics. As a top armchair expert, his strategy was to do the exact opposite.

Whatever the comments wanted to see, he wouldn't do it.

Initial evaluations

The newly arrived trainees eyed Yu Zhuo hungrily. It was hard to tell whether their eager gazes were fixed on the center seat he occupied or on him, a walking blood bag.

[Nothing beats watching a fight for center!]

[I smell mortal enemies!]

[Battle!]

Yu Zhuo rose politely. "Please, have a seat."

Choosing teammates

The two trainees who were pursuing Yu Zhuo unilaterally made earnest pitches for themselves. As their team leader, he had to choose between them in person.

[Wow, what a love triangle!]

[They're such a bickering couple, but those two are so in sync. This is a hard choice!]

[Whichever one he picks, that stock is going to soar!]

Yu Zhuo left it to fate. "Let's play rock-paper-scissors."

Interview room

This was the perfect chance to build connections, but Yu Zhuo was determined to keep his heart locked away.

"There are no trainees I care about."

"I don't have a team I favor."

"I'm fine working with anyone."

"I'm about equally close to everyone."

[I have no words.]

[Buddy, are you a lone wolf?]

[I don't think I've ever heard him mention anyone else's name.]

Yu Zhuo smiled and twisted the knife. "I don't know any of them well."

After enough incidents like this, everyone knew that Yu Zhuo was a career-focused person: distant, independent, and arrogant.

Surely no one would keep pursuing him after all that.

But the System's warning about selling fan service sounded as usual.

Yu Zhuo: "Who's been praising me in front of the cameras now?"

|| Reader's Guide ||

1. No CP. Cover art courtesy of @LMRTOOR.

2. A traditional talent-show novel. The competition format is based on the Produce 101 series. No real-life inspirations.

3. This is the original blurb and may be lightly revised.

Theme: Persevere, and dreams will come true.