Huayu: Starting from the top talent show

Chapter 402 The MVP of Chinese People Worldwide
Speaking of which, as a younger brother of the US, Xiao Han actually pays a lot of attention to the US music scene. So, when Shen Juan returned to South Korea after a long time in the position of an absolute leader, the online popularity generated was absolutely unmatched by any other overseas artist who had visited South Korea before.

the reason is simple.

He carries the pure blood of the former suzerain state of Han, and also the supreme authority of the current suzerain state.

If Nan Han felt disgust and fear towards its former colonial power, then it felt complete awe towards the United States.

Therefore, for a Gen Z pop superstar like Shen Juan, whose background is extremely complex, bringing his globally popular tour to South Korea is a major test for everyone in South Korea, whether they are entertainment industry professionals, media outlets that control publicity channels, or fans and casual observers.

What will be tested is their approach to handling the situation.

If we treat Shen Juan the same way we treated Hua Zi in the past, then without a doubt, we'll be bombarded with criticism.

In today's globally connected internet age, no country would dare to treat this pop star, who has considerable influence and voice among Generation Z, with indifference.

To give a simple example, the Hong Kong region and Taiwan province of China offended Shen Juan for some unspeakable reason.

Everyone has seen how it turned out.

They've never seen so many netizens from different countries unite together to engage in group battles and violent verbal attacks!

That scene was absolutely stunning!

It's reminiscent of the Qing Dynasty, a sleeping lion, being provoked and then forcefully declaring war on a hundred nations, only to be brutally beaten. Clearly, no one wants something like that to happen to them.

After all, being personally attacked by foreigners and having one's family genealogy confiscated are minor matters; losing face internationally and damaging the country's image are major issues.

Han, who considers himself a superpower, is clearly unwilling to let his international image suffer a major blow because of a singer.

But then again...
If we lower our stance to curry favor with Shen Juan, it will likely provoke resentment from those Chinese citizens who hate and boycott China, leading to their accusations and insults. In fact, writers and reporters in the media might even receive death threats from extremists, such as being given trucks, razor blades, or dead rats as warnings.

He's caught in the middle, pleasing neither side and disliked by everyone!
No matter which path you choose, you will offend people.

But compared to that, what are those keyboard warriors with their nationalist leanings worth? Clearly, international reputation is more important.

Moreover, the revenue generated by Shen Juan's Leviathan Era tour was in the tens of billions.

Wherever they went, they made a fortune!

Therefore, it is obvious what choices the news media, which are directly controlled by the government, should ultimately make.

Even if Xiao Han was arrogant before, he had to keep a low profile this time and behave obediently in front of Shen Juan.

This is the sense of pressure brought about by Gen Z leaders with maximum commercial value, which can make everyone humble and polite.

Let's return to Shen Juan's perspective.
After meeting up with his team at the airport, he drove straight to his hotel. Online discussions about the return of this "talent show god," who was once expected to become the new visual icon and leader of Kpop but was ousted by the show's producers, and how he caused chaos at Incheon Airport, have gradually increased.

[Ani, you really are like someone who stepped out of a comic book! Especially that scene where you walked in front of the flashing lights without flinching—it was so cool it made my underwear fly off! How can anyone resist that?! You're truly the best singer, the best star! May you always enjoy the thrill of success!]

Is this face straight out of "Chungking Express"? With a face like that, the universe wouldn't need anything else.

This face is truly magnificent, a work of art! Honestly, no woman could possibly dislike Shen Juan.

Another day of making mistakes while looking at Shen Juan's photos.

Honestly, I want to marry a middle-aged man. I don't ask to be the number one wife, I just want to be part of Oppa's family. Shen Juan Oppa, please let me be wife number 777, a housekeeper at home! I'll take care of all the housework, please accept me! I really will fulfill any request you have!

【Axi is truly insane. If all women in our Great Cold Nation were like you, this country would be utterly doomed. I completely don't understand why so many shameless women would go crazy over a Chinese man. Is it because they haven't seen a man in so long and are feeling too repressed, that they've gone mad?】

I love Chinese men! I love Chinese men! I love Chinese men!

[Shen Juan >> BTS, 1 Chinese male >> 7 Korean male]

[The hearts of Korean men are as petty as their philandering; how can such a despicable group of men be compared to Shen Juan?]

"South Korea cannot exist without gender antagonism, just as Meganie cannot exist without the little spring rolls that step on their heads." Shen Juan gave this assessment after reading these controversial remarks.

Yangyang Jin was having a final discussion with Shen Juan about the song selection for the concert: "Are you sure you want to sing these Korean songs at the concert? If so, I'll go ask them for the copyright later."

"Absolutely." Shen Juan smiled and shrugged. "When I come to South Korea for a concert, I definitely have to sing a few Korean songs to thank my fans! Otherwise, if people start accusing me of treating South Korean fans differently, it will ruin my plan to gradually expand my market share in South Korea, and that would be terrible."

A few covers of popular songs and a few self-composed songs that he claimed to have created during his trainee days in anticipation of meeting fans in the future were enough to win over these South Korean girls who were good at imagining things and were easily moved by even the smallest favors from their idols, turning them into lifelong fans.

"The combined popularity of all K-pop isn't as high as yours. I don't think you'd be interested in the size of the South Korean market."

Yangyang Jin is doing well now, and even dares to look down on South Korea, which once drove the Chinese entertainment industry to "close its borders."

“You’re right, but even a small mosquito is still meat, and K-pop still has a certain influence overseas.”

Shen Juan paused for a moment, then smiled and continued, "Of course, there is another, more important reason: I want to take back everything that I should have had."

Just like South Korean fans said
With his looks and skills, he should have had a golden career in K-pop if he hadn't chosen to withdraw from the competition.

Unfortunately, the matter is already settled.

Returning to China to develop one's career obviously led to a better outcome.

He made the absolutely right decision.

Even so, Shen Juan still harbors some special feelings for Seoul, a land that gathers the love of countless fans.

After all, he had spent almost three years here, all for the sake of debuting as an idol, which was his dream.

Although I had already accepted reality and chosen to give up.

But the marks left in one's heart can never be completely erased.

In a sense, this is something he could never have in his youth that would make him "melancholy" in the future, so let's just say it's to fulfill that unfulfilled dream from his youth!
He needed to announce his arrival in this city, and he also needed to make all his past experiences more meaningful.

At 3 p.m., the McDonald’s pop-up store in Myeongdong, Seoul, was filled with screams as countless fans held up support signs and blocked the glass doors, with camera shutters clicking incessantly.

Shen Juan stood at the bar, adjusting the milkshake machine for the third time, and finally succeeded in producing a finished product that met the standards for sale.

"Shen Juan, can the activity begin?" the staff member in charge of guiding Shen Juan asked softly from the side.

He nodded, picked up his coffee and took a sip, and out of the corner of his eye, he saw what looked like two familiar figures in the queue.

I instantly understood what was going on.

Liu Zhimin, wearing a gray coat, was looking down at her phone, while Ning Yizhuo next to her was too nervous to look up at her.

Liu Zhimin's phone vibrated. Her temporary manager, who had taken time off work to bring them to the flash mob event, sent them a message in their group chat: "The company has already contacted the media. Make sure to seize this opportunity to interact with Shen Juan and gain exposure before your debut!"

So she subconsciously looked up at the bar and saw Shen Juan's face, which looked even more handsome because of his serious work. Suddenly, she remembered the nights she had frantically watched Shen Juan's videos when she suddenly learned that she would be participating in the event as a "lucky fan". Her feelings were a little complicated.

Although she was never a fan of Shen Juan, and even wanted to expel all foreigners from South Korea!

South Korea can only be South Korea of ​​South Koreans, not of Chinese, not of Japanese, and certainly not of Americans!
However, one cannot deny Shen Juan's excellence.

Some celebrities, or even superstars, are like that.

The more you know, the harder it is to let go.

After you've witnessed his shining moments, all other stars will seem ordinary and lackluster.

Shen Juan is probably that kind of person.

Whether it's his most obvious physical attributes and the quality of his work, or his deeper personality and artistic character that require further exploration to discover, he seems to be aiming to become a benchmark for contemporary stars, or at least he has become the goal she wants to pursue and emulate.

In short, the deeper your understanding of this industry, the more you will appreciate how great his achievements are.

A celebrity who can gain the support and love of laymen is not considered great; a true master is one who can gain the recognition and respect of his peers!
So even if she doesn't become his real fan because of her nationality, Liu Zhimin won't slander Shen Juan.

Because in the entertainment industry, within their professional circle, Shen Juan is someone who needs to be respected by the vast majority of people.

"Next up is the fan interaction segment."

As soon as the host finished speaking, Ning Yizhuo, who had previously lost control due to excessive nervousness, uncontrollably raised her hand. Unlike her colleague Liu Zhimin, she was the one who truly deserved the opportunity to meet Shen Juan!

No one knows how many fan-made videos and fanfictions of Shen Juan she read to heal herself during the lonely and homesick nights in a foreign land where she left her hometown at the age of 14 to become a trainee.

She had been waiting for this day for a very, very long time.

She originally thought she would only be able to see her idol at some large events after her debut.

But I never expected my dream to come true so quickly!
Before even debuting, she was able to meet Shen Juan, whom she had liked for a long time, through the company's back door!
So she was really excited and thrilled!

It's important to understand that for the vast majority of Chinese people working overseas, especially those in the entertainment industry and young people, Shen Juan is their only source of spiritual support and role model. He has truly done so many things that have greatly benefited the entire community, and his actions represent so much more.

His global popularity not only proved the rise of Asian power, but also improved the social status of Asians, especially Chinese, to some extent, and made him a symbolic figure representing an era of Chinese people, like Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan.

He single-handedly shattered the pride and glory of K-pop, making all South Korean companies start to take Chinese trainees seriously. Not to mention fawning over them, they at least significantly improved their treatment. He single-handedly regained all the reputation that the entire Chinese trainee group had lost.

There's even room for maneuver.

The status of trainees in China is much higher now than before, after all, no one wants to let go of a second "Shen Juan".

Therefore, from any perspective, both publicly and privately, Ning Yizhuo believes that she should properly thank Shen Juan for his contributions.

He is the true MVP in the hearts of overseas Chinese.

"Okay, then please come forward and order!"

The host selected Ning Yizhuo, who was the first to raise her hand, making her the first lucky fan to enjoy Shen Juan's services.

Urged on by the laughter of her companions, Ning Yizhuo walked toward the bar with her head down. The sound of camera shutters and flashes rose and fell. She could hear her heart pounding like a drum, and her breathing became unsteady. She timidly stopped in front of Shen Juan.

When she looked up at the face she had seen countless times online, she was instantly stunned.

It was as if an arrow had suddenly struck my heart; all the words I had wanted to say vanished into nothingness.

Only those sentences she had seen online that left a deep impression on her because they were full of fans' love remained in her mind.

His eyes hold the stars and the sea, reflect the gentle poetry collection, and carry the cherry blossom pavilion in spring; they are the reason why the entire universe falls in love.

I've searched for spring all my life, and your smile is all I need.

Underage girls have always longed for romance, artistic personalities have always been emotional and sensitive, and celebrities have always been realistic and cold.

Shen Juan, on the other hand, was a special being who appeared at the intersection of her ideal world and the real world.

For her, Shen Juan was both an ideal that made her feel dreamy and a reality that made her feel at ease.

"What would you like?" Shen Juan pretended not to know her identity and comforted her in Korean with a smile: "I noticed you earlier. You seemed very nervous, so how about we treat it like attending an idol autograph session? I feel like South Korean girls are quite familiar with autograph sessions."

“Um, I’m actually Chinese, Brother Shen Juan,” Ning Yizhuo replied in a soft, sweet Mandarin.

"Wow! Where in China are you from?" Shen Juan pretended to be surprised, giving this little fan plenty of emotional value.

"From Harbin." Ning Yizhuo's movements of looking down and then up, combined with her chubby face, actually made her look quite cute.

"Harbin, huh? Do you get to ice skate on the Songhua River in winter?" Shen Juan asked, glancing at her clenched fingers as he adjusted the milkshake machine. "I heard from a friend that when you eat an ice pop on Central Street, your eyelashes get frozen solid. Do you locals all have some kind of built-in cold-resistance buff?"

"Actually, I'm also afraid of the cold. It's just that I've always been like this since I was a child. Harbin is cold, and Seoul is cold, so I have a strange sense of security when the temperature is below zero."

Ning Yizhu could sense that Shen Juan was deliberately trying to find topics to chat with her, obviously trying to make her less nervous. So she couldn't help but feel a warm feeling that made her squint her eyes. However, it was really hard to control her physical reaction, and her cheeks and ear tips were still flushed.

"That's it"

Shen Juan suddenly stopped what he was doing, took out a palm-sized object from his pocket and waved it: "Guess what this is?"

Seeing her tilting her head and frowning in thought, he chuckled and added, "Heart warmers. Didn't Seoul have its first snowfall last week? I thought it would be very cold now, so I carried them with me, but it wasn't as cold as I expected, so I didn't have to use them. Here, they're yours now."

"But I'm not actually afraid of the cold." Ning Yizhuo's doubts remained unspoken.

Because she couldn't refuse her idol, and couldn't find any reason to refuse the kindness he offered.

But as soon as her fingertips touched the packaging of the hand warmer, Shen Juan continued, "Although I know that girls in Northeast China are quite resistant to the cold, which is your specialty, I don't think it's a given. What I mean is, you also have the right to enjoy warmth in winter."

“Of course I know you probably don’t need this, so…” Shen Juan raised an eyebrow, gave a gentle smile, looked earnestly into Ning Yizhuo’s eyes, and said in a relaxed tone, “How about we treat it as a souvenir with more symbolic value than practical value, mainly for collection?”

"No matter what you encounter in the future, what kind of work you do, or what you become, I hope you can remember that you mustered up the courage to be the first to raise your hand today, and I hope you can remember that someone is concerned about whether you are cold in winter. And when you really feel cold, don't try to tough it out."

The already pounding heart was stimulated even more actively and joyfully by the spring breeze brought by Shen Juan.

Is he showing concern for me?

Is he giving me a gift?

Is he encouraging me to keep going?
He is...
All the longings, yearnings, and desires of the quiet of the night have now come to a perfect end.

As winter in Seoul was swept away by the spring breeze from Shanghai, Ning Yizhuo felt as if it were destiny!

If it weren't for the vast difference in their social status and the immense gap in their perspectives, even the most dreamy girl wouldn't dare to fantasize about a wonderful future with Shen Juan in front of him. She might have already come up with names for their future children!

As Shen Juan pushed the strawberry milkshake he had made towards her, condensation droplets from the glass landed on the back of her hand. The cool, tangible sensation brought her back to reality, snapping her out of her irrational thoughts. But the instant their fingertips touched, she heard him say in a voice only the two of them could hear:
“When you first became an SM ROOKIES member, I was looking for a new company that could accept me and help me realize my debut dream. So, you were actually quite famous in the Chinese trainee circle. Therefore, I already knew you before you really knew me.”

"While seeking warmth and comfort from the light source, don't forget that you are also shining. Please keep up the good work in the future."

Liu Zhimin only realized that Ning Yizhuo had been silent the whole time after returning with the milkshake when she was called out by the host.

I don’t know what kind of magic Shen Juan has, that he can change a girl into this state with just a few words.

"Hello Shen Juan, please make me a strawberry milkshake, thank you!" she said respectfully.

"Okay, strawberry milkshake." Shen Juan skillfully used the milkshake machine, casually asking as if chatting with a friend, "I saw you and the first customer who came in to order were inseparable, whispering to each other the whole time. Did you come in together?"

"Yes, we're very close friends!" As she lied, her fingertips unconsciously rubbed the hem of her clothes.

This was at the manager's request; they were not allowed to reveal their status as trainees from a major company.

"Friends? But she just said you were actually trainees from the same company." Shen Juan suddenly turned to look at Liu Zhimin, whose acting was quite obvious, with a hint of amusement in his eyes. "So your friendship was built during your training period?"

Liu Zhimin suddenly clenched her clothes. She didn't understand why Ning Yizhuo would reveal her identity to Shen Juan and betray her teammate. All she knew was that she was about to break down under Shen Juan's aggressive gaze. She felt ashamed and embarrassed as if she had just told a lie and been exposed to her face.

And then there's a hint of excitement?
Maybe it's excitement, let's just say it's excitement.

She felt a strange, inexplicable pleasure from being looked at from head to toe by Shen Juan with such a playful gaze.

Shen Juan has already started making milkshakes seriously.

But her heartbeat gradually quickened uncontrollably, her originally calm breathing became rapid, her eyes became hot and hazy, and even her fair cheeks, which were lightly made up, were unconsciously flushed with an unnatural blush, presenting a look of overflowing spring.

How did Ah Xi become like this?

I should hate and despise this Chinese man who left K-pop, turned his back on his friends after using them, repeatedly used his fans to bully South Korean artists and belittle K-pop, and tried to trample the entire South Korea under his feet. I should boycott and resist everything he does and call on all South Koreans to expel him!
Let him know that South Korea is not a place he can come and go as he pleases, a place where he can run wild and act arrogantly!
But why did it turn out like this?
But why is it that besides feeling shy and excited, I can't feel any other emotions in front of him?

Is this the legendary love born from hatred?
Am I really the kind of two-faced, bad woman?

"Okay, here's your strawberry milkshake."

Shen Juan's voice pulled her back to reality.

Liu Zhimin quickly snapped out of her daze, took the milkshake from Shen Juan's hand, and realized that he was looking at her with a smile.

There was clearly no emotion in his eyes.

But it also seems to have everything.

You can find everything you want in there.

Ok
She thought she had found the answer to Ningning's sudden silence, and this wonderful feeling was really addictive!
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(End of this chapter)