Chapter 328: She Can’t Even Find A Legit Excuse When Lying!
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Ruan Qi hung up the phone and told Tang Beibei excitedly that the program team of “Dancing Youth” would be holding an offline event to canvass votes and invited some of the contestants to participate.
And she had been invited.
Tang Beibei was happy for Ruan Qi but Ruan Qi told her that the notice to contestants would not all come at the same time and that she would also be invited. They could then take part in the event together.
However, until the following day, Tang Beibei still did not receive any text messages or calls.
Ruan Qi was unconvinced, so she called the program team and asked, only to find out that the event organizers didn’t pick Tang Beibei.
Ruan Qi was a little upset, but Tang Beibei comforted her. This kind of thing couldn’t be forced. Perhaps it was because her ranking was low and the organizers had their own considerations.
Ruan Qi attended the event and performed onstage at a very lively square. The dancers who were invited were all ranked in the top ten.
However, Ruan Qi felt that the popularity ranking only reflected a contestant’s ability to canvass votes and not their dancing.
She was not in a good mood. When the emcee invited them on stage to introduce themselves, Ruan Qi introduced herself before she said, “My good friend Tang Beibei isn’t here today. She’s my favorite dancer. I hope everyone can vote for her.”
She was the only contestant at the event who didn’t only canvass votes for herself but also for another contestant.
Tang Beibei was practicing in her studio at home when Jiang Jingchen sat next to her and asked her if she was disappointed.
Tang Beibei shook her head. “The popularity ranking only accounts for 40%, and the judges’ scores account for 60%. If I work hard and get the judges’ approval, I can make up for my poor popularity ranking.”
She felt a little guilty about her last sentence.
She didn’t know how to promote herself and get others to support her, so she could only work hard to improve her dancing.
However, Jiang Jingchen, who had seen through the essence of such competition, thought differently.
Once the program team activated online voting, monetary benefits would be involved. It would be difficult to widen the gap between contestants with the judges’ scores, so the online popularity ranking might end up being the differentiator in determining if a contestant would make it to the finals.
He did not interfere in this matter behind her back because he wanted her to get what she wanted through her own efforts.
After all, it was just online voting for a minor dance show. It was something he could easily manipulate with just a word.
But he wasn’t in a hurry. He would wait. If she was really in danger, he would swoop in and help her.
After Ruan Qj came back from the event, she checked the online ranking again.
Contestants who participated in the offline event had an influx of votes while those who didn’t had more or less the same votes.
Such online voting really depended on connections and financial resources.
Contestants with connections would have wide networks to promote them.
Those without connections could spend money to hire people to promote them.
Ruan Qi watched as Tang Beibei’s ranking fell further behind and felt anxious for her.
Previously, she was ranked 18th but she had now been pushed beyond 25th place, to the 27th.
Only the top 25 contestants would make it to the finals.
Ruan Qi discussed with Tang Beibei about finding a solution. Tang Beibei frowned. There was nothing she could do.
At this moment, someone tagged Beibei and Qiqi online, which was the account they set up together.
Ruan Qi checked and saw that it was an unfamiliar woman cheering for her Beibei.
She showed the video to Tang Beibei and asked if she knew this person.
Tang Beibei was surprised. She explained, “This is Madam Wu, whom I saved.
She’s actually cheering for me. I must really thank her.”
Ruan Qi was relieved. “You saved her, and now she’s repaying you.”
Tang Beibei shook her head with a smile. “I didn’t save her for something in return. But I’m grateful that she recorded a video to support me.”
She sent a message to thank Madam Wu.
Madam Wu also tagged Jingdu TV’s official account on her video post.
Jingdu TV liked the post to support Tang Beibei for her good deed.
Jingdu TV had tens of millions of followers. The video that their official account liked and forwarded instantly attracted everyone’s attention.
After learning that Tang Beibei had saved someone’s life and was now participating in their show, they had to rally support for her to spread the positive energy.
Tang Beibei’s online votes quickly increased, and she climbed up to 11th place in just one day.
Jiang Jingchen looked at the online ranking. He didn’t need to do anything, and his little wife’s ranking already improved.
However, things changed the next day.
Ruan Qi scrolled through the comments section of the video during breakfast.
Suddenly, her hand froze, and she was so angry that she threw down her chopsticks.
Tang Beibei, who was drinking soy milk, choked in shock and looked at Ruan Qi in confusion.
Ruan Qi cursed angrily, “These people are just looking for trouble!”
Song Zhou walked over to look at Ruan Qi’s phone. He frowned when he saw the comments too.
He showed Jiang Jingchen the post on his phone. Jiang Jingchen glanced at it and sneered.
He was also furious.
In the online discussion, people accused Tang Beibei of being a liar. They questioned the authenticity of her rescue and speculated if everything was an act to canvass votes and fool Jingdu TV into supporting her.
Internet celebrities would do anything to become famous nowadays.
“I wonder which crappy dance school this internet celebrity went to. She thinks that just because she went to A-University, she said that she’s from A-University.”
“There isn’t even a dance department in A-University’s arts faculty. She can’t even find a legit excuse when lying!”
“How could someone with such low IQbe a student of A-University?”
“I don’t know where she found that actress who played Madam Wu. How can a sick person wear so much makeup? She doesn’t look sick at all. Can’t she be more professional in her acting?”
“Beibei and Qiqi, these two don’t look that good, so how did they get so many followers? Don’t tell me they are all fake accounts.”
“They didn’t wear makeup in their earlier dance videos. Either they were really confident in their no makeup look, or they just wanted to hurt our eyes!”
“They did look more glamorous in their later videos. Could they have snagged some rich second-generation heirs by acting pitiful and received money to buy makeup?”
There were even quite a few people who went to the official Weibo account of Jingdu TV to question them. “This internet celebrity is so crappy, yet you are promoting her. Did your staff take her money?”
Ruan Qi was so angry that she cursed, “Are these people crazy? Why are they scolding people like that for no reason? If they are so good, why aren’t they in the list of most inspiring people?”
Jiang Jingchen scrolled down. Most of the comments were posted around midnight. They were all asleep at that time, so they missed this.
Once online discussions went into a frenzy, trouble would brew, and things would become more and more ambiguous.
“What is it?”
Tang Beibei wanted to look, but Jiang Jingchen moved his phone away and looked at Ruan Qi. Ruan Qi quickly put her phone away.
Jiang Jingchen then said, “Nothing much. It’s just some negative comments. Hurry up and eat. You’re going to be late for class.”
“It’s still early.”
Tang Beibei took out her phone and wanted to check the comments, but Jiang Jingchen took it away.
“If there’s a traffic jam on the road, you’ll be late. Do you want to be late for class?”
Tang Beibei quickly shook her head. “Qiqi, let’s hurry up and eat. Otherwise, we’ll really be late.”
Ruan Qi glanced at Jiang Jingchen, who looked calm as he said, “Hurry up and eat. Don’t find excuses to make my wife late.”
When they arrived at school, Jiang Jingchen still didn’t return Tang Beibei’s phone to her.
Tang Beibei asked for it back but Jiang Jingchen said that she was not allowed to look at her phone in class anyway and that she could get Ruan Qi to call him if anything happened.
Tang Beibei frowned. “I won’t play with my phone.”
“Your promise is useless. If you want to study hard, forget about your phone.
I’ll pick you up in the afternoon and give it back to you.”
Jiang Jingchen pinched her face. “Be good and go to class.”
Tang Beibei had no choice but to get out of the car.
She was not addicted to her phone. She was just used to carrying her phone and felt ill at ease when she didn’t have it.
Tang Beibei listened attentively in class, but Ruan Qi was restless. She checked her phone and read the comments from time to time. There were more and more negative comments.
Tang Beibei’s popularity ranking dropped because of these negative comments. She was almost in the 50th place now and was even reported. Ruan Qi was so angry that she wanted to smash her phone.
She made too much noise and made Tang Beibei look at her.
Ruan Qi didn’t want to disturb her studies, so she clutched her stomach with a pained expression.
“Ouch, bad cramps again.”
“Do you want to take a leave of absence and go back to rest?”
“No need, no need.”
Ruan Qi still had to keep an eye on Tang Beibei in case something bad happened. How could she go home?
She slumped over her desk and noticed that the other students were looking in her direction. She frowned.
She hoped that the things on the internet would not be acted out in real life.
When the school bell rang, Tang Beibei packed her books to do her homework at the library.
A classmate ran up to her and asked curiously, “Tang Beibei, did you really put on a rescue act for the sake of fame?”
Many students looked at Tang Beibei curiously. “No one doubts you for being the top student in our class but you’re only a sophomore and haven’t even done an internship.. You don’t have any practical experience, so how did you know how to save someone’s life?”
