Chapter 83: Luo Mo's Fist

The next day, Ning Dan woke up from her large bed.

She had not slept very soundly last night, having been troubled by the Luo Mo controversy.

She took off her silk nightgown and changed into her professional suit.

Ordinarily, she rarely dressed up meticulously at the recording site, but today she had several video conferences to attend, and she needed to at least look presentable; this was basic social etiquette.

This woman walked to the mirror, took out a tube of lipstick, and applied it to her sexy, full lips.

The bright lipstick on her full lips looked quite delicious, and many men would find it very alluring.

Men, after all, are always gluttonous.

At exactly ten o'clock in the morning, Ning Dan received a data sheet sent by Penguin Video in her inbox.

She sat in front of the computer, rubbed her temples, opened the data report, and was then completely shocked.

Ning Dan leaned back, pressing her back against the chair, and with this movement, her slim-fit white shirt was put in a precarious position, with several buttons bearing immense pressure.

"It seems his audience affinity is even better than I imagined!" Ning Dan's red lips curled upward, and the heavy stone in her heart fell halfway.

Looking at the data report from Penguin Video, the new episode of *Creating Idols* had hit a new high, with a clear increase in clicks, especially after many viewers from Pineapple TV had run over.

The song *Daughter's Love* also had an impressive performance on Penguin Music, and as usual, it directly Air Dropped onto the New Song Chart and the Trending Chart.

Most crucially, the growth of Luo Mo's votes on the 【Popularity Support Ranking】 was actually still number one!

The overall growth had not declined at all.

This was the most absurd part.

"But if you analyze it carefully, it was actually severely affected," Ning Dan thought to herself.

Normally, looking at Luo Mo's data curve, every time a new performance stage was broadcast, his overall popularity would see a meteoric rise.

This time, although it was still rising, it wasn't as explosive as last week.

However, Ning Dan took another look at the other data sent by Penguin Video, and she became even more bewildered.

"The fan stickiness is very high," Ning Dan couldn't help but say.

She was looking at the data for repeat voting; among those voting for Luo Mo, there was still a large group of people who insisted on voting every week, and the proportion of such repeat voters was very high!

It was very high before, and it was still very high now!

You have to know, in what form were the Strangers established in the first place?

This Evil organization was established in a very spiteful way at the beginning.

Paid talent show, slacking off at work; we just want to watch you work overtime, we want you to never get off work.

Being able to influence the fate of a handsome guy without spending money is just too satisfying.

It's just that, later on, because Luo Mo's performance was too stunning, the trend changed again.

However, it is easier to change rivers and mountains than a person's nature.

The silly netizens love to pull some wild stunts.

"Look quickly, Luo Mo has no group formation agreement; he won't end up in the group!"

"Then what are we waiting for? Hurry up and push this alternative guy to first place!"

"Too interesting, the first place of a group-forming show doesn't form a group, it's absolute!"

"The first time in history that the first place doesn't form a group and the second place debuts in the C-Position for a boy band show—it's too exciting!"

Looking at the current situation on the internet, there are definitely no shortage of people doing things like this...

Take the web novel circle for example; in the very ancient era, there were many netizens who pushed a book written by rolling their face on the keyboard and typing randomly to the top of the charts.

In today's great internet era, isn't that even more normal?

What's more, many viewers have already developed the habit of voting.

You say we shouldn't vote for Luo Mo, should we vote for that bunch of trash?

Their stages and Luo Mo's stages are simply not on the same level.

I can't bring myself to vote for them, I really can't.

I don't know why, I just feel like I'm becoming more and more stingy, feeling that your stages aren't worthy.

Although strictly speaking, the purpose of the 【Popularity Support Ranking】 is to let people debut.

But this ranking also represents who is number one in our hearts!

This show only has this one ranking; there are no other rankings.

Luo Mo is number one in our hearts, and we just want to push him up, regardless of whether he forms a group or not.

He was originally the representative of a people's choice Idol!

You guys just keep spending your real money to buy a debut spot for your Idols, keep fighting, keep calling us poor losers who can't bear to spend money.

Anyway, our free votes are for Luo Mo, and it doesn't matter what anyone says!

Pineapple TV, go ahead and edit; the more you cut his screen time, the more I want to vote for him!

"What kind of nonsense is this? He was originally a firefighter, brought in to make up the numbers and save the show from the start."

"On what grounds? Throw him away after using him?"

"It's ridiculous. If you cut Luo Mo out completely, the fun of watching this show is cut in half; then what the hell am I watching?"

There was much discussion on the internet, and some people had already started spewing profanities.

"The resistance has begun," Ning Dan smiled.

As for the fan circle, how could Ning Dan, this Godmother of Talent Shows, not understand it?

She could even guess that the fans of Shen Mingliu and others would likely go in front of the Strangers to show off and act arrogant.

In this situation, the cohesion of the Strangers might increase to an unprecedented level.

Many netizens might not know that many talent agencies deliberately engage in "fan-abusing" behavior to increase the cohesion of their artists' fans.

A company abusing its own fans—scary, right?

But if you look across the entire internet, those fans who are abused the most are, conversely, always the ones who jump the most joyfully and have the most combat power.

——My heart aches for my brother!

After thinking for a moment, Ning Dan made a call to her assistant.

"Hello, Xiao Liu, have operations and PR find a few hot topics that are favorable to Luo Mo and manipulate them."

The more chaotic the situation, the more you need a rhythm master to step in and drive the rhythm for the whole scene.

Honestly, the show *Creating Idols* is the most explosive program Ning Dan has had so far.

It would be quite ridiculous if the number one in her strongest show didn't end up debuting in the group, turning it into a large-scale farce.

However, Ning Dan didn't care about that.

"Under such controversy and heat, how explosive will the Live Broadcast of the final night be?" She couldn't estimate it.

But Ning Dan knew very clearly that it would definitely break multiple records again!

"That's enough!" Ning Dan said.

She would firmly stand on Luo Mo's side.

——Support him to the end!

………

………

The final night of *Creating Idols* is a Live Broadcast next Saturday.

Originally, Luo Mo was relatively free during this period and could have completely coordinated with Xu Chujing to record the female vocal version of the song *Daughter's Love*.

And then, go with Jiang Ningxi and Shen Yinuo to record the male-female duet version of the song *Daughter Kingdom*.

But these three women, with tacit understanding, did not disturb Luo Mo during this time.

They all felt that Luo Mo's mindset would be affected during this period, so they wouldn't disturb him and would let him prepare for the finals properly.

In reality, Pineapple even had a very clear attitude: they didn't want Luo Mo to participate in the finals and wouldn't give him a chance to perform.

"Don't let Laozi see you in the finals!" This was Pineapple's attitude.

Then, before Ning Dan, the General Director, had even spoken, Penguin Video got anxious.

What are you doing, cutting off my path to wealth?

My great Penguin hasn't participated in anything, I only want to make money, what are you doing!

I firmly disagree!

Pineapple was still negotiating with Penguin, feeling that Luo Mo should be crossed off the 【Popularity Support Ranking】.

Then, it was rejected by Penguin again.

What are you doing, cutting off my path to wealth again?

Can't you just let me have more users sign up for VIP? I don't earn a cent from the money after the group is formed; when the show is airing, don't come and affect me!

Others might fear Pineapple, but Penguin really doesn't...

Make money, make money, I want to make money!

If you want to negotiate, if you want to communicate, we are all OK, don't be so hot-tempered, drink some herbal tea to cool down, let's chat calmly, our attitude is very good and very proper.

But we just don't agree with your opinion.

The benefit of a three-legged balance of power is revealed at this moment.

Is it time, or is it fate?

Perhaps it is both.

As for the person involved, Luo Mo, he has been eating well and sleeping soundly lately; he had long since prepared himself mentally and wasn't panicking at all.

When he had nothing to do, he would even worry about Tong Shu's final performance.

Although he knew very clearly that it was impossible for Tong Shu to appear in the nine debut spots.

If he had a huge popularity advantage like Luo Mo, then the capitalists wouldn't be able to stop him even if they wanted to; the cost of interception would be too high.

Although Tong Shu's popularity is also high now, it still falls within the range that capital can intercept.

They only need to throw money at their own company's trainees; more marketing, more ticket buying, there are plenty of ways.

As long as the final group-formation profit is greater than the investment during this period, that's enough.

What's more, Tong Shu is now suffering along with Luo Mo, which is equivalent to having all his stages cut away on Pineapple TV.

However, no matter what, the heat of the show *Creating Idols* is there; going to the final stage to sing and having one more performance opportunity has no downsides.

According to the competition rules, the final grand finale is a solo stage.

Although this is a group-formation show, there are only 20 people left after all. And there have been enough group shows; what follows is the individual sprint.

During the few hours of the final Live Broadcast, the 【Popularity Support Ranking】 will adopt a double-vote rule.

If you cast one vote, the contestant gets two votes.

The votes cast by spending money are the same, also counting as double.

This is equivalent to the fans' final sprint, the final carnival.

At the same time, such a competition format will also be more suspenseful.

Luo Mo called Tong Shu to his side and asked, "Have you thought about what to perform in the finals?"

He looked at this number one lackey who washed dishes for him every day and whose yogurt was basically all drunk by him, with a smile on his face.

Tong Shu's potential is beyond doubt and is worth cultivating.

What's more, the two had long since forged a deep friendship during this period.

To be honest, he had already prepared the song for Tong Shu, and it was the kind that was absolutely suitable for him, the kind that could bring out his advantages.

Tong Shu nodded and said, "Brother Mo, I want to sing the song from my first stage in the finals."

Hearing this, Luo Mo felt slightly surprised.

After thinking for a moment, he patted Tong Shu on the back and said, "Look, I said before, as long as you hang out with me, from now on, if I have a bowl of rice to eat, you'll have a bowl to wash."

"In exchange for your diligence in washing dishes, I've prepared a song for you."

Tong Shu glanced at Luo Mo, head lowered, still looking timid and cowardly, and said, "Brother Mo, this time, let me sing that song from the first stage, can I? I know you're doing this for my own good, but... but I still want to sing that song."

"Oh? Tell me more." Luo Mo was a bit curious.

Tong Shu looked up at him, gathered his courage, and said, "Because... because I want to use my most authentic voice to sing it one more time!"

Upon hearing this, a smile appeared on Luo Mo's face, feeling as if everything had returned to how it was in the beginning.

After watching Tong Shu's solo debut, he had realized that his voice was almost identical to Zhou Shen's, but he had deliberately suppressed his singing, intentionally changing his vocal style, and had not displayed that clear, androgynous voice of his.

Gradually, that led to the later "Big Fish".

The explosive popularity of "Big Fish" allowed Tong Shu to regain his confidence, and even his self-esteem.

This young man wanted to use his most authentic voice on the final stage to sing the song he hadn't sung well at the start.

Luo Mo nodded and said, "You can."

He respected his little brother.

"Thank you, Brother Mo!" Tong Shu said excitedly.

"Thank you for what? What you sing is your own business, what's there to thank me for?" Luo Mo was caught between laughter and tears.

Tong Shu looked at Luo Mo, opened his mouth, and finally couldn't help but say, "Brother Mo, actually... actually, no matter what I sing in the finals, I won't debut as part of the group, right?"

Hearing this, Luo Mo was silent for a moment, then finally nodded.

This young man had gradually come to understand that while the competition seemed to be on the stage, in reality, it was still outside the stage.

"Actually, that's fine too." Tong Shu said with a smile, "I never even thought I could make it to the finals. Looking back now, it's like a dream. It's all thanks to Brother Mo..."

"That's enough, no need for words of thanks. I know I'm very strong." Seeing Tong Shu's emotions beginning to brew, Luo Mo impatiently interrupted him.

Tong Shu looked at him blankly, and in the end, only said, "Brother Mo, after we get out... can I still follow you?"

He didn't quite dare to look at Luo Mo, seemingly afraid of being rejected, and kept his eyes on the ground, adding, "Actually... Li Junyi and the others wanted to ask you before they left too, but in the end, they didn't speak up because they had talked about it privately and felt they didn't have much talent."

Hearing this, Luo Mo raised an eyebrow and said, "Not necessarily. Li Junyi is quite good at Dancing, and the others have their own strengths. It's just that their strengths aren't enough, and their weaknesses are relatively obvious, so they don't have an advantage on this stage."

Tong Shu looked at the ground, unsure for a moment whether Brother Mo's words counted as a compliment.

Luo Mo looked at the nervous Tong Shu and said with a smile, "What? Have you become addicted to washing dishes?"

Tong Shu still didn't dare to reply.

Luo Mo raised his palm and slapped him directly on the back, causing Tong Shu, who had been keeping his head down, to straighten his back completely.

"Look, I have a lot of enemies now. You've seen my situation. Even your stage just *whoosh* disappeared from Pineapple TV." Luo Mo said, "If you follow me, there's no room for regret."

"No regrets." Tong Shu's gaze held a rare firmness.

"Fine. Starting today, I'll increase your benefits. From now on, you can drink your own portion of yogurt." Luo Mo's expression revealed a trace of struggle, but he finally said it through gritted teeth.

After the meal, once Tong Shu had washed both of their sets of tableware clean, the two of them walked toward the practice room while licking the yogurt lids in perfect unison.

Tong Shu looked at Brother Mo, whose expression was always relaxed, and felt a bit of admiration for his big heart.

"Why are you looking at me?" Luo Mo finished licking the yogurt lid, glanced at the yogurt still in Tong Shu's hand, and resisted the urge to take it.

Tong Shu began, "Brother Mo, actually I've been thinking these past few days, why are there always people who are so unreasonable, when clearly..."

"Alright, stop there." Luo Mo glanced at the innocent young man and said, "Don't go spouting off all these useless words."

He looked at Tong Shu and said, "Spit is for counting money, not for reasoning."

——"Fists are for that."

Nine group debut spots, and the companies behind them.

Oh right, and that Meng Yangguang, who wasn't in the debut rankings but was always acting like a jerk.

For some reason, Luo Mo thought of that classic line from "Ip Man".

"【I want to fight ten!】"

(End of chapter)