Have you ever been a celebrity? Why are you writing about entertainment?

Chapter 9: A True Novel, An Absurd Reality

"Inner field tickets are 1980, that's so expensive?"

While getting her makeup done before the performance, Yu Wei casually searched for the ticket price for their farewell performance.

He knew that fandoms were easy to exploit, but he didn't expect them to be so ruthless. A concert featuring 15 shows, with mediocre quality, yet the ticket prices were so high.

This is too dark.

Yu Wei has the right to speak on this matter, as he had previously attended G.E.M.'s concert, where she sang 37 solo songs, and the tickets for the inner circle were only a little over a thousand yuan...

Damn, a few young male celebrities go on stage, lip-sync, and jump around a bit, and they dare to ask for two thousand yuan? This isn't just being shady, it's outright fraud.

What's even more infuriating is that he was actually one of them.

"You're finding out for the first time?"

Qi Yuan, who was getting her hair done, shrugged. "I bet a lot of people bought their tickets from scalpers, so the cost will only be higher..."

Yu Wei had naturally heard of this as well; performances by popular celebrities were notorious for scalping, with tickets often costing five figures.

Most people go to a singer's concert to listen to the songs and experience the atmosphere. Most fans also remain rational; if they can't get tickets this time, they'll wait for the next one.

But fan groups are different; they take "promises" and "companionship" very seriously, and they won't give up until they get tickets.

That's why capital loves to engage in fan economy; the purchasing power and loyalty are unmatched by the traditional entertainment industry.

Those from well-off families and those who act within their means are fine, but the real problem is those who disregard the consequences, causing hardship not only for themselves but also for their family and friends...

What's even more frightening is that the more money they spend, the more self-satisfied they become, feeling that it's noble to pay for love.

But actually, the idols don't care.

At least on the faces of several of his teammates, Yu Wei saw no trace of emotion or psychological burden. In their eyes, the fans who spent a fortune to come to the event were probably less important than their teammates for a single game...

Yu Wei felt even less guilty, since these people hadn't bought tickets for him.

His popularity on the street is probably not enough to buy even a KFC Crazy Thursday, let alone spend thousands to see him live.

Let me clarify here: he didn't scam any money from his fans. He's too low-class to scam anyone...

"All you do is argue, it's so annoying."

With tens of thousands of audience members, the sheer number of fans meant that even those backstage could hear the noise and screams from the audience.

"What's all the fuss about? I'm speechless."

Zhang Lingye has a fiery temper and often scolds his fans, which the others are used to.

In contrast, he only made his dislike outward; who knows what he was thinking while remaining silent...

Yu Wei glanced at him but didn't say anything.

Anyone else can criticize fan groups, but can these beneficiaries, those who are nurtured by these fan groups, really treat their fans the same way?
He's an amateur; he really doesn't understand.

The entertainment industry is a big melting pot; no one can escape its influence if they stay there long enough. Zhang Lingye is an example, Qi Yuan is an example, and so are the others.

They're not inherently bad, but after being celebrities for so long, they've subconsciously become somewhat superior and don't take ordinary people seriously anymore...

But Yu Wei was different. He was an ordinary, unremarkable man who earned three or four thousand yuan a month in royalties.

He only hopes that one day in the future he won't become the kind of person he hates.

If the boy who slays the dragon ends up becoming the dragon himself, will the writer of entertainment become the villain in his own novel?

"Get ready to go on stage."

The staff's greeting interrupted Yu Wei's daze. The group composed themselves and went on stage one by one, with him being last in line according to their billing order.

The style of the Tearful Band is youthful and boyish, so their stage costumes are not strange leather jackets and pants, but rather modified color-blocked shirts.

This is undoubtedly a good thing for Yu Wei, who can't stand those strange outfits.

The disbandment night not only included performances, but also some interactive segments, interspersed with awkward conversations and greetings, which provided some emotional value for the fans.

Just moments ago, Zhang Lingye was cursing and swearing backstage, but in an instant, he put on a smiling face. The change in attitude was so smooth that Yu Wei was a little taken aback.

This is what a veteran actor is like...

As soon as she appeared, she was greeted by a deafening roar of cheers. The colorful cheering sticks in the audience were in such a chaotic mess that Yu Wei could barely open her eyes.

He also saw the teleprompter on the platform directly opposite the stage, which contained the lines for the upcoming interaction.

The teleprompter was large enough that fans could see it clearly even if they turned around. They knew that their interactions with their idols were all scripted, but they still cheered for it.

Even before the idols have spoken, a group of fans have already started chanting their names, seemingly vying to see who has more fans and whose voice is louder.

They were shouting at the top of their lungs, fighting for the "right to speak" for their idols...

Without a doubt, Qi Yuan won. His name resounded throughout the stadium, overshadowing Zhang Lingye and the other four. Except for Yu Wei, because no one else called his name.

To be honest, he felt that Qi Yuan's name was advantageous; a two-character name is definitely better than a three-character one.

Zhang Lingye lost unfairly.

Yu Wei was a little nervous at first, but he quickly realized that he shouldn't be here; he didn't belong on this stage.

He's just someone who writes about entertainment; what does he know about idols?

His youth was filled with albums and cassettes, ringtones and records; actors all had representative works, and singers all had hit songs.

Back then, celebrities went on variety shows to promote their work, but now, it's the variety show personalities who don't have any real work to show...

People like a celebrity because of a work, not because they like the celebrity and therefore like everything about him.

Yu Wei suddenly felt that the world of entertainment novels was much better than the real entertainment industry.

Because, at least in the story, strength reigns supreme.

Although the protagonist always seems to have a cheat code, and although he's just a plagiarist, at least he did produce good works and provided high-quality content worthy of the audience's support.

But the real entertainment industry is like a bizarre rule:

1. Being an idol is a profession that sells fantasies; your personal abilities are not important.

2. Your individual ability is very important. When your individual ability exceeds that of your teammates, fans will attack your teammates.

3. Fans will love everything about you.

4. Fans don't like your teammates.

5. Never let your fans know you're in a relationship.

6. Fans hope you'll date your teammates.

……

The entertainment industry in novels is realistic and well-founded, while the real-life entertainment industry is absurd and unbelievable...

Yu Wei didn't know the circumstances under which he finished the group dance, but it didn't matter. Nobody cared about him, and he didn't care about the dance either.

Even as the photographer circled around them with the camera, he never once looked at the lens.

Their livestreams are probably only watched by their fans, so what's the point of such a performance? Anyway, no matter what they perform, someone will buy it...

Yu Wei then left the stage and went backstage to enjoy the individual performances of her teammates.

Qi Yuan chose a light and refreshing song. It didn't require much technical skill, but she sang it quite well, mainly because of her clean voice.

Zhang Lingye focused more on stage effects, so he chose a very energetic song, but the screams from the female fans were too disruptive and the atmosphere didn't get warmed up.

The other four teammates sang okay, not bad, but they didn't leave much of an impression.

Yu Wei is a novelist who doesn't understand art, but he can still tell whether something is good or bad. How should I put it...

I think I understand why Mr. Hong Hui is bald now; the sound engineer really did his best.

He wasn't interested in listening to his teammates' second performance either, not because he didn't want to give them face, but because the process was too grueling.

He used to avoid videos of popular celebrities singing, afraid of polluting his ears. After hiding from them his whole life, he finally got a big hit this time.

I suggest letting criminals listen to their idols sing during interrogation. They might laugh at first, but they'll still confess eventually...

By the time it was almost Yu Wei's turn to appear, he was already numb.

Who am I? Where am I? What am I supposed to do?

In reality, no one in the audience cared about his performance; some even felt he was wasting his time…

As fans of the other members, they couldn't possibly like Yu Wei, this dragging-down loser. He didn't make any mistakes, but being bad at the game was his original sin.

Yu Wei didn't care about their opinions.

In reality, a song doesn't have that much magic power; no matter how beautiful it is, it can't wake up a group of people who are pretending to be asleep...

It may not be able to move you to tears or immerse you in a deeply emotional experience, but at least a good song can bring you joy.

It allows him to immerse himself in the melody for a moment and forget this absurd world.

This song is not sung for anyone in the audience.

He only sings for himself.

(End of this chapter)