"What a big sun――"
As soon as they got off the plane, Xie Yun and Zhao Jiajia felt the beauty of summer. In their hometown, it had been raining constantly lately, and their down jackets were still out. But in Zhuhai, the sun was blazing, and even though it wasn't summer yet, it felt like they had already reached the end of the season.
The two girls awkwardly dragged their suitcases, walking out, when suddenly they heard a commotion behind them.
A dozen little girls surrounded several boys, holding up their phones, while several staff members tried their best to keep them away. The boys in the middle were wearing hats and masks, their heads down.
"Who are they?"
"Isn't it that guy, what's his name, from Random Entertainment."
"T... something..."
The surrounding passersby were full of questions and curiosity, and Xie Yun and Zhao Jiajia were no exception. They even forgot about their luggage, standing on tiptoe to look.
Even though the boys were tall, their tightly wrapped appearance made it impossible to identify them. The only thing certain was that they definitely weren't Timetrain or Equals3, otherwise there wouldn't be just a few fans.
Xie Yun wasn't very familiar with male artists and wasn't particularly interested, so she pulled back and said, "Probably some small idols."
Zhao Jiajia, on the other hand, had a great interest in male idols, though she wasn't familiar with the domestic entertainment industry.
The boys, in a hurry, quickly got into the car under the protection of the staff. The girls following them, seeing the car doors closed and the windows rolled up, even turned on their phone flashlights to try to see their faces.
This crazy behavior startled the surrounding passersby. Xie Yun even exclaimed, "I've been a fan for so many years, and this is the first time I've encountered such stalkers."
Zhao Jiajia glanced at the cars parked on the side of the road, "…Could these cars be the ones they called?"
As soon as the artist's van moved forward a bit, the girls quickly got into the small cars in front and back, trying to chase after them.
"It's a bit creepy," Zhao Jiajia turned to Xie Yun and said, still able to see the surrounding passersby taking out their phones to capture the scene.
Xie Yun also shivered, "It's no wonder some artists earn mental damage compensation."
-
"Hello, please provide your phone's last four digits."
"0123."
The leather smell in the car made people drowsy, and the wind after rolling down the window made it hard to keep eyes open.
After getting on the car, Xie Yun started searching for nearby food around the hotel. They had been busy in the morning, catching the plane, and slept during the flight, barely eating anything, so now their stomachs were growling with hunger.
Zhao Jiajia next to her was also holding her phone, hugging her bag, and after scrolling a bit, suddenly sat up, excitedly patting Xie Yun and showing her the phone, "It was Random Entertainment's new boy group just now!"
In just this short time, someone had posted online, probably one of the stalkers who had been around them.
The content was nothing much, just revealing that Random Entertainment's new boy group had also come to Zhuhai for the Midsummer Night Music Festival.
Zhao Jiajia and Xie Yun scrolled through the post and looked through the forum. It had been a long time since they had opened the forum, and they only then found out that the identities of the new boy group's seven members had been almost completely exposed.
"Golden Triangle, Chinese-German mixed race, Australian Chinese, Tibetan... Hong Kong."
The composition of the new boy group was very international. The three in the Golden Triangle were all from Sichuan and Chongqing, while the others were each unique, even rare.
They were probably the only group in Random Entertainment without a Beijing native.
Their identities had been exposed, and there were many old photos of them in the thread. Without packaging, the seven of them exuded a rare youthfulness and handsomeness.
Especially the mixed-race one, with a very Westernized skull but an Eastern appearance.
That old photo should have been taken on his birthday. He was sitting at a round table, wearing a birthday hat, with a big table of dishes on the table. The low-key and luxurious furniture and decoration style could reveal his extraordinary family background.
Forced to wear a childish birthday hat at his sixteenth birthday, his eyes showed helplessness, but his mouth was smiling. That noble and well-bred young master aura came through the photos, stunning many little girls in the thread.
"Were they selected based on looks?" Zhao Jiajia had become interested in the group after seeing the photos of the seven members, her mouth unable to suppress a smile.
She even felt that her future in following domestic entertainment would be bright.
Xie Yun, after watching, laughed, "Chinese-German mixed race, Australian Chinese, Tibetan youth, Hong Kong compatriot, huh, here comes your language barrier."
Zhao Jiajia was teased into laughter, "Hahahahahaha, does Random Entertainment have a crush on me or something!"
This group seemed to be assembled according to Zhao Jiajia's preferences. She had always liked good-looking ACEs in her years of fandom.
Although they didn't know Random Entertainment's new boy group's strength yet, judging from the feedback of the trainee fans, describing them as main vocalists and main dancers, they should be quite capable.
As if thinking of something, Zhao Jiajia suddenly stopped laughing, put down her phone, and clasped her hands together, "I hope it's not just a strength visible to fans! Please! This is really important to me!"
Although everyone knew Random Entertainment was preparing a new boy group, no one had seen them, nor did they know who they were. The discussion only stopped at the information already available on the internet.
This time, the new boy group's appearance threw the topic out.
Fans of each family relied on the figures in the videos and photos to guess and compare, confirming the identities of the seven members from small details.
Thus, the seven members of Random Entertainment's new boy group were directly put in the spotlight.
The two most widely spread videos online were one from a close perspective and another from a passerby's perspective.
From the videos, it could be seen that the seven members were all very tall, following Random Entertainment's fixed physique for male artists――broad shoulders and a narrow waist.
Just like every entertainment company has its own preferences, Random Entertainment does too.
"Can't debut in sjyl if you're under 1.7 meters, right?"
"Those guys from AK seem to have grown taller again."
"Idol company [wrong] Model company [right]"
"The bodies of sjyl's male idols are carved out of the same mold, luckily, they only have requirements for the body, otherwise, if they had requirements for the nose like that one, they'd have to go under the knife."
"Support sjyl's internal competition, raise the standards for male artists, okay? Don't want to see any baby bellies anymore, it's really disgusting."
The seven members at the center of the topic didn't know the discussions online. They were all catching up on sleep in the car.
They hadn't rested much on the plane, and every time they lifted their heads, they could meet the eyes of a stalker, having to be on guard against them taking out their phones to sneak photos.
After being highly tense for two hours, they were now exhausted.
Two cars arrived at the hotel entrance, where there were also many fans waiting, mostly fans of the artists on the show. There was a rehearsal today, and they should be waiting for the artists to finish work.
Seeing the cars stop at the hotel entrance, they immediately looked over.
"Was this the car they took just now?"
"I don't think so."
"Should have gone to wait at the park entrance."
"Who are they?"
After the car stopped, the door didn't open immediately. The people inside were putting on hats and masks. After about a minute or two, the door was finally opened.
The staff waiting at the car door saw the door open and raised their hands to signal the fans on both sides, "Please don't take photos, thank you, please, ask everyone to understand each other, okay?"
Ke You finally got off last, confirming the number of members in front before lowering his head.
The seven members' outfits were similar, all dressed in black, hats pulled down low, masks almost covering their eyes, carrying bags on their shoulders or holding large bags in their hands, all with their heads down, shielded by the staff in the middle.
As they walked past, they could still hear the whispers around them, curious about who they were.
"Is there a surprise guest at the music festival?"
"Who?"
"…Isn't it that Klein Blue or something."
"Oh, the one in the sleeveless shirt behind me makes me hot."
"Can you not drool everywhere?"
"I've taken a photo of you, I'll show it to our brother later."
"Get lost."
The entire hotel has been taken over by Random Entertainment, housing only staff and artists. No one without a work pass can enter; fans can only wait downstairs.
A group just entered, and a car pulled up on the other side.
The same questions and conversations echoed once more.
This time, it was AIcho returning after a rehearsal, with the four members split between two cars.
Pei Zhiping was the first to step out. Upon seeing her, the crowd erupted, and even those who weren't her fans shouted to catch her attention.
"Who is it this time?"
"Holy crap, it's Pei Zhiping!"
"Ahhhh, my baby! Zhi Zhi, look at me!"
The fans who had just shown disinterest immediately changed their tune.
Pei Zhiping's popularity ranks high even within the Chinese entertainment industry. Her fashion resources are exceptionally good; she announced several endorsements shortly after debuting. In just four months, she has already become the top new generation female artist in terms of traffic.
Seeing fans calling her name, Pei Zhiping would specifically look over and wave in greeting.
With the strong sun overhead, she shielded her eyes with her hand to glance at the fans on both sides. "Have you all gone back to rest?"
The familiar fans quickly replied, "No, we were afraid you'd suddenly come back if we left."
"How many hours have you been standing here?"
Pei Zhiping widened her eyes in surprise. She checked her phone to confirm the time, realizing they had been gone for six hours, meaning the fans had been standing for that long.
The other members were also chatting with their fans, while the staff waited nearby without rushing them.
Pei Zhiping looked up at the sun. "It's quite hot now, and everyone will be coming back to rest soon. There's another round of rehearsals tonight. Don't wait anymore; the temperature difference between day and night is still quite large this time of year. Be careful not to catch a cold."
"Okay, we'll go back soon." The fans responded to her like they were comforting a child.
"Make sure to rest for a while; it's really hot right now."
"Got it, you should go back and rest too."
"Do you want anything to drink? Should I order something for you?" Pei Zhiping said as she reached for her phone. After taking it out, she scanned the scene, estimating the number of people.
She searched for nearby milk tea shops and called to discuss the order. After hanging up, she announced to all the fans, "AIcho is treating everyone to milk tea, right over there. You can go and order. We'll settle the bill after our nap. It's very hot now, so remember to go back and rest after you finish!" Before turning to leave, she whispered to her own fans, "I'll be going now, bye."
The other three members also joined Pei Zhiping and thanked the fans who had traveled far to see them before entering the hotel.
The girls' hearts were melting, and even fans of other groups were deeply impressed by this gesture.
While Pei Zhiping was buying milk tea, the other three members were busy taking selfies, signing autographs, and chatting with fans.
Their fan service was impeccable.
"Random Entertainment's training is really top-notch!"
"I already had a good impression of the four of them, and now I love them even more!"
"I understand why they have so many die-hard fans now."
AIcho's popularity soared like a rocket. Before their debut, they were already highly anticipated, and after their debut, their popularity was like a brilliant rainbow after the rain, drawing everyone's admiration.
The topic of who is Random Entertainment's cash cow used to be a non-debatable issue, as everyone knew the answer was undoubtedly Timetrain. But now, it's uncertain. AIcho has a massive casual fan base, with low repeat purchase rates, mostly casual fans buying their works.
Their exquisite album designs have also attracted fans of other groups to spend money. Both the four members and the operational planning have garnered countless new fans, making it clear they are dedicated to their careers and that the team is invested in them.
This stress-free fandom environment has attracted many casual fans to join, many of whom are first-time fans. The positive experience of their first time following an idol makes it hard to switch to another group.
Regarding who is the undisputed top of Random Entertainment, many choose AIcho. Besides album and merchandise sales not surpassing Timetrain, their other achievements are better.
The news of AIcho treating fans to milk tea quickly spread online, becoming another heartwarming story.
@Zhizhi Strawberry: Sometimes, you really get touched by Xiao Pi's high EQ. When treating all fans to milk tea, she didn't forget to include the group's name, paying out of her own pocket but leaving the good reputation to the group. With Xiao Pi as AIcho's natural idol, let's just say, I'm hooked.
"My girl, I'm dying of love for her."
"The big group fans can only say that the other three members would definitely pay too, haha."
"No wonder Xiao Pi is a top idol; with that EQ, even the staff can't help but love her."
Pei Zhiping's secondary market prices for merchandise rise with her popularity. This comeback, her stunning makeup in the MV has boosted the KPI of beauty bloggers, with more people mimicking her look, increasing Pei Zhiping's presence on short video platforms.
In the MV, she sinks into a bathtub to calm down but accidentally connects to the ocean. Dressed in pink against the blue sea, she looks particularly striking. She dives down like a mermaid, swimming through the ocean.
Their summer single has been out for over a week, and the opening scene of her MV suddenly went viral. Many used this clip to create their own travel transition videos.
AIcho's summer single also gained popularity.
It seemed like a perfect combination of timing and circumstance, boosting Pei Zhiping's popularity once again. In this week alone, their album sales soared, and the price of Pei Zhiping's secondary market merchandise skyrocketed to alarming levels.
Her sudden rise in fame also drove up the market price of Random Entertainment's new merchandise, with the price of acrylic cubes rising and album sales increasing.
Today is Monday, and it's just past noon—
"Title: Gossip Discussion/Random Entertainment Has Another Big Move!"
"They've started selling membership cards."
"Currently, only Random Entertainment's artists have them; whether others will get them is unknown."
"Membership card privileges include: 1. Apply for performance slots on four major platforms, 2. Purchase tickets one week in advance [concerts, birthday parties, fan meetings], 3. Anniversary and birthday gifts, 4. Voice chat rooms, 5. Custom-printed cards"
"Price: 599/year"
Comments:
"It wants to sink the ship, doesn't it?"
"…Huh…Unseen numbers at Random Entertainment."
"How much?"
"I get the first few, but what's this custom-printed card about?"
"That birthday gift…won't they just mail me a few postcards, right?"
"They're getting cocky, setting the price so high."
"But if the price is too low, too many people will buy it, and there won't be enough seats for advance ticket buyers."
"What's a voice chat room?"
"Reply: A chance to voice chat with idols during their live streams."
"You all say Random Entertainment is crashing, don't buy it, take it down, but why is the link's sales still rising?"
"The concert advance ticket benefit can be ignored; the best part is the chance to apply for audience seats on shows. I read in the announcement that future show audience selections for artist fans will be directly from members, with each member having one chance every thirty natural days. This directly gives me, a non-lucky person, a golden edge!"
"The main focus is on the first benefit; the official comment section says it's not just for four platforms' performance shows, but other shows that want fans to fill the seats will also select from members. That's a good point."
"The domestic idol market is different from the past; there are too many activities to participate in. This is very friendly for fans who want to follow the front lines but don't have much money, but it's tough on the big spenders."
“Although 599 is high, it's still quite a bargain. Take Timetrain as an example; they only return during the summer and winter vacations, but they are practically non-stop throughout the year. They participate in numerous programs, with over thirty music shows and more than a dozen variety show recordings in a year. There's always a chance to win, right?”
“Conclusion: Buy if you want to follow the front lines, but don't waste your money if you don't have the time or energy to do so. Over.”
Random Entertainment suddenly launched a membership card, causing a stir in the fandom and leading to a heated debate.
Sales began today, with some fans already purchasing the card, and of course, some fans celebrating their birthdays today.
“Ding dong—”
“Who is it?”
“Hello, this is the courier!”
Jiang Liuxing drowsily sat up from the sofa. She remembered someone calling to inform her that her package had arrived.
“Just leave it at the door!” she shouted, quickly getting up from the sofa to check her shopping apps to see what she had ordered.
After flipping through several apps, she frowned and said, “There’s nothing due today.”
Despite her words, she still got up to check the door. Before opening it, she looked through the peephole to confirm no one was outside.
The box was placed in the corner of the doorway. Jiang Liuxing picked it up and weighed it. “It's quite heavy.”
The box was quite large, and it was a bit of a struggle to carry.
Curious about its contents, Jiang Liuxing placed it in the living room and then went to find a craft knife.
The sound of the package being cut open echoed, and so did her curiosity.
The box was from Random Entertainment, with the company's logo printed on the tape. However, Jiang Liuxing hadn't ordered anything recently, so she had no idea what could be inside.
As soon as she opened it, she saw the Equals logo. Inside the box was a large gift box, deep blue with the white Equals3 logo. Below the logo was a small line of text—
“Holy crap, that's my Galaxy ID!” Jiang Liuxing recognized her own Galaxy ID on the gift box.
She pulled out the box and opened it—
Inside was another box labeled “Membership Gift,” along with various items scattered around. Jiang Liuxing saw drinks, skincare products, and more, her curiosity piqued.
She picked up an envelope from the gift box and opened it.
“Dear Liuxing, the Purple Star, happy birthday to you. Thank you for being with us, Equals3…”
The letter was written by the three members, each contributing a section, handwritten but printed.
As Jiang Liuxing read on, her eyebrows raised higher and higher. The final section mentioned, “This is a birthday gift we prepared with the brand, hoping you have a wonderful day.”
The box indeed contained many items: a pair of shoes, a box of makeup remover, a lipstick, two bags of snacks, a bottle of drink, and a hairclip from a luxury brand they collaborated with.
All were brands they endorsed.
“…Holy crap.” Jiang Liuxing covered her mouth in surprise.
Just moments ago, she had criticized Random Entertainment for their commercial team's shady practices, tarnishing Jiang Juyou's image. Now, she was speechless.
Random Entertainment truly lived up to its name.
She immediately picked up her phone, ready to battle online critics.
By now, the news about Random Entertainment's birthday and membership gifts had spread online. Fans who had experienced such gifts before found the company's approach refreshingly different.
Other companies: We have a mole among us.
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