#idol survival show

[b3loveless]

Unscripted: Neon Dreams Chapter 6 Night Before & Virtual Stage

By the third night, everyone had gotten the lyrics and choreography down and felt more or less prepared for tomorrow's recording.

On this last day of practice, some contestants chose to do some last minute cramming into the early hours while others chose to retire at a reasonable time to face the next day with a well-rested appearance. 

Likewise, the Calla Lily Suite was abuzz with energy, nerves mingling with excitement for the next day. Just as the residents of this ivory and emerald suite for four thought they’d wind down for the night, there was a knock on the door, and in came Ming Kui—hauling an assortment of hotpot equipment and ingredients with Rory trailing behind, wide-eyed and holding bags filled with vegetables, meats, and dipping sauces.

The sight of the hotpot setup in the luxurious baroque-style suite room was so out of place that Mi Sha couldn't help approving. Phoenix and Aimé also looked on in curiosity, though Rozier, who everyone had expected to be horrified, actually appeared quite neutral. 

The Rococo chandelier glittering overhead in the common room casted its light on the cozy, down-to-earth setup taking place amidst the round rosewood table Rozier took his morning tea on, suddenly throwing the lavish suite under a more warm and homey atmosphere. Mi Sha, curious and mildly impressed, asked, "How did you manage to get all this in here?"

Ming Kui grinned, setting down a small electric pot and unpacking spices. “I convinced the cook to let me borrow the equipment. As for the broth, that’s all me. Secret family recipe.”

They wasted no time arranging the food around the table, which didn't take long with so many hands helping. Even Rozier chipped in with setting out the plates and chopsticks. Soon, the suite quickly filled with the rich, savory aroma of hotpot. 

The fragrance naturally attracted contestants from neighboring suites on the floor, all young men who could eat their fill in weight. Through the opened doors of the Calla Lily Suite, many began trickling in, lured by the scent and the sound of laughter, and they joined in with chopsticks and eager smiles, with some also bringing along sodas and other drinks and snacks.

It didn't matter that they had only exchanged a few words over the past few days, everyone filled up the common room, either sitting or standing, each taking turns to throw in meat, mushrooms, vegetables, and tofu into the bubbling broth. Strange how good food and a relaxed atmosphere could bring unfamiliar people close. But this was no surprise, everyone here was around the same age and had shared interests and topics of conversations. All they had needed was just an opportunity to warm up to each other.

For this moment, any anxieties, pressures and personal ambitions were put aside in favor of having a good time—something that they much needed after three days of non-stop vocal and dance practice.

It was a rare reprieve from the busy and intense environment that had pervaded their days, and Mi Sha, looking around at the boisterous surroundings, hadn’t expected to enjoy it as much as he did. If he was honest, he usually preferred to be by himself, though he was far from being antisocial no matter what his acquaintances say, but right now he found himself laughing along to Ming Kui and Renato's antics. Now those two were the true life of the party.   

In the middle of this, Mi Sha noticed Phoenix, another person equally as calm as himself, quietly nibbling on a piece of tofu, but his expression was more subdued than usual and not just due to an introverted personality. His eyes were distant, the usual lapis lazuli orbs dimmed and lacking their luster.

After glancing over several times and still finding the other like that, Mi Sha sidled over and nudged him gently. “Hey,” he murmured, gesturing toward the balcony. “Want to get some fresh air?”

Phoenix looked up, startled out of his thoughts but was willing enough to follow, and together they slipped outside, leaving the cheerful noise behind. The night air was cool, carrying the faintest hint of the luscious gardens and even a glimmer of the blue lake they came across before. They leaned on the stone railing, looking out over the peaceful manor grounds, a soft silence settling between them.

“What’s on your mind?” Mi Sha asked, his voice light and mildly curious.

Phoenix hesitated, his eyes fixed on the moon overhead. “I was just… thinking about how harsh it is out there,” he began. “I mean, we’re here, working hard, right? But this industry that we can't even be considered to have fully entered… it feels like no matter what you do, there’s always someone waiting to tear you down.”

Mi Sha tilted his head sideways to get a glimpse of Phoenix’s attractive profile. Having worked behind the scenes, he often observed first hand the pressure on idols and public figures and how relentless it was so he immediately understood the other's meaning. “Yeah, the standards are high,” Mi Sha mused thoughtfully, “Sometimes only one mistake can lead to everything—all the glitter and flowers, praise and adoration to go up in smoke.”

Phoenix’s jaw tightened as he looked away. “It’s not just about mistakes. There’s AI idols now—no scandals, no drama. They don’t make mistakes. And it makes people think that real idols should be just as… perfect.”

Mi Sha watched him carefully. He could sense the weight Phoenix was carrying, not a fear of missteps exactly, but the pressure to meet standards that seemed impossible. “Perfect can sometimes mean boring,” Mi Sha remarked.

Phoenix laughed self-deprecatingly, glancing at Mi Sha from behind a curtain of glossy dark gold strands. “I can't believe I'm saying this but, ever since coming on the show, I feel like I'd rather be perfect but boring than different but interesting. Maybe if I was, I wouldn't constantly be on edge, wondering if I’ll say something wrong or if people will find some reason to hate me.”

Mi Sha met those pretty violets seriously. “You know, at least on this show, there’s none of that malicious editing or favoritism. Everyone here gets a fair chance to show who they really are, to connect with the audience on their own terms. I think that’s something to hold onto.”

Phoenix gave a wry smile, unconsciously leaning closer, as if to siphon the warmth from the source. “That’s true. But it also means the show won’t hide our flaws. If we mess up, it’s out there for everyone to see. It doesn’t even matter how good of a person you are in real life, or how amazing your vocal or dance skills are. People will find something to criticize.”

Mi Sha raised an inky brow in sardonic amusement. “Oh, definitely, not even money can be liked by everyone,” he snorted before saying more seriously, “But I think if you’re always worrying about haters, you’ll lose sight of the fans who actually support you. There’s always going to be people who don’t like you. But there are also people who love you for who you are. Focus on them.”

He then smiled slightly, “And I know it's a cliche thing to say, but it's true you can’t please everyone. But more importantly, you shouldn't.”

Phoenix looked at him, his expression softening into a smile of his own. “Like you said, what a cliche thing to say that is much easier said than done,” he murmured, though his tone was lighter. “But… thanks, Misha. That does help a little.”

They stood there in silence, the quiet between them comfortable, as if this conversation with Mi Sha had taken a bit of the weight off Phoenix’s shoulders. 

It was suddenly broken by Mi Sha asking casually, “Why do you guys call me Misha, by the way? As if it's a mononym. You do know that my surname is Mi and my given name is Sha, right?”

Phoenix laughed, and the lighthearted atmosphere back in the common room seemed to have finally crept out onto the balcony as well. “Oh, sorry, I didn't even notice I was doing the same thing as Renato.”

“It's all his fault.” He looked both chagrined and amused.

“But, no, really. What's the inside joke I'm not getting?” Mi Sha persisted.

“No inside joke. Just that your name, when spoken, sounds like the given name Misha, a diminutive of Michael which is a common name in the West.” Phoenix explained.

And then suddenly smirking, his eyes glided over Mi Sha's flawless facial features and lithe figure that always seemed to move with a deadly grace. “It also helps that as a diminutive of Michael, it brings to mind the archangel of the Biblical tales himself.”

After saying so, Phoenix didn't elaborate any further, much to the bemusement of a certain “archangel namesake”.

After a while, they returned to the lively suite, where Aimé, noticing Phoenix’s improved mood, caught Mi Sha’s eye and gave him a shy smile. The younger boy, who was clearly a sensitive and keen type, had most likely noticed Phoenix's turmoil even earlier than Mi Sha himself.

Later that night, when most of the other visitors had left and it was just the core group winding down from the party, Mi Sha caught a moment with Aimé.

“Phoenix seemed pretty down earlier,” Mi Sha said quietly. “Did something happen?”

Aimé glanced at him, a shadow crossing his face. “Yeah… there were some rumors going around about him online. Haters dug up stuff about his past, saying he never went to school, that he grew up on the streets, that his mother…” Aimé’s eyes darkened, his voice tinged with a rare frustration. “They were saying some pretty nasty things, calling him ‘street trash’ and stuff like that.”

Mi Sha furrowed his brows, the sharp edges of defined lips unconsciously slashing downwards at the cruelty Phoenix must have been facing. “So that’s why he’s been acting like that,” he murmured. “He’s worried people will see him for his past and lack of credentials instead of who he is now.”

Aimé nodded. “I don't know much about the story behind Phoenix's past but it shouldn't matter, right? He has worked so hard to get here. And it’s just… unfair. People don’t seem to care about what he must've been through. They only see what they want to judge.” Those heterochromatic eyes were filled with an innocent confusion, as if he couldn't fathom why people couldn't be more sympathetic. 

Mi Sha couldn't help reaching out a hand and ruffling those soft looking blue-black curls. “You're right. He shouldn’t be made to feel ashamed of his background. If anything, this different experience makes him stronger, shows how much he’s overcome.”

Aimé gave a small, appreciative smile, lowering his head in an almost docile manner, like a hulking but sweet Newfie puppy. “I think that’s why he opened up to you. I think he can sense that you would understand, both of you having an untraditional background.”

Mi Sha was surprised, and those night sky eyes widened slightly at the sudden insightful comment. But before he could respond, Aimé flushed, realizing he had maybe said a little too much and abruptly scurried away with a, “Um, Ming looks like he might need some help with the cleaning! Be back in a sec!”

Mi Sha shook his head wryly. It wasn't as if he would eat the other for blurting things out. But he did need to revise his impression of Aimé, the younger boy might be a bit naive due to his upbringing, but he was more perceptive than he let on. 

His gaze drifted back to where Phoenix was wiping the table while rolling his eyes at something Rozier said, his earlier worry momentarily forgotten. Mi Sha suddenly felt that the soulful musician deserved to remain until the end of the show and become part of the winning debut lineup. In fact, looking around at the others, not just Phoenix, all of these young men deserved to stand out and shine brightly on the stage.

Maybe it was his own bias speaking, but Mi Sha never claimed to be immune to partiality.

And as Mi Sha settled in for the night, he thought about what he’d said to Phoenix. There would always be haters, but they didn’t matter. What mattered was the support from true fans, the friends around them, and the strength they found in themselves. Mi Sha was not a feelings kind of guy—he really wasn't—but if Phoenix or any of them needed a listening ear, he didn't mind playing the part again. 

*

The next day, all the contestants gathered again in the ballroom—but this time the gilded room was completely transformed into something more sleek and high-tech. Spanning the area were five sparkling virtual stages with a round base that bathed the now white and black room reminiscent of giant piano keys in purple light. Each of them corresponded with a star group, with the largest and most center one reserved for the five-stars, while the other four smaller stages surrounded it in four directions.

The main theme song evaluation performance was about to be recorded, and everyone’s nerves hung in the air, filling the grand space with a tense, electrified hum. Mi Sha glanced around at the other contestants, observing the range of emotions and expressions on their faces.

Standing around the five-stars’ virtual stage, Mi Sha found himself beside Phoenix, who was solemnly quiet, his gaze thoughtful, as if lost in his own world. Rozier, too, was silent, his eyes closed behind his gold-rimmed glasses, so still that he seemed like a statue. Mi Sha could feel the weight of the moment, not just for himself, but for everyone around him.

To his right, by the four-stars’ virtual stage, Aimé was clasping his hands in front of his chest, whispering what Mi Sha could only assume was a silent prayer. Mi Sha found himself smiling; he knew Aimé’s nerves ran deep, though he’d never admit it openly. Renato, however, had a different approach to managing his own tension—he was laughing loudly, cracking jokes with his group, his brightness almost blinding in contrast to his obvious underlying nerves.

A glance to his left revealed Rory, standing by the three-stars’ stage, looking pale as a sheet. He looked like he might faint at any moment, while Ming Kui stood beside him completely at ease, giving Mi Sha a wink when their eyes met. Mi Sha couldn’t help but feel amused, though he wondered if Ming Kui’s calm facade would hold once it was his turn to step on stage. After all, Ming Kui had still struggled with some notes during the more complex parts of the choreography, but his confidence was hard not to like.

Mi Sha’s attention was drawn back to the five-stars’ stage as June joined them, shuffling over with a visible jitter. His hands moved unconsciously through the air in a manner reminiscent of the way he rapped, his lips mouthing lyrics in silent repetition. Mi Sha caught his eye and offered a reassuring smile. June’s returning smile was shaky, his eyes slightly red-rimmed. The normally reserved boy looked on edge, like a towering but timid rabbit trying to stand strong. Mi Sha had noticed June lingering over the past few days, soaking up dance tips with quiet intensity, and he felt confident that June had a good chance of holding onto his five-star ranking.

Just as Mi Sha was mulling over these observations, he saw Augustus arrive. Almost late, he slipped quietly to stand by the three-stars’ stage. The sight made Mi Sha’s brows furrow. Augustus simply did not seem the type to be tardy—too polite for that. Though Augustus’s face was impassive as ever, weaving politely through the contestants, Mi Sha instinctively felt that something was off.

Before he could linger too long on his suspicions, a soft voice pulled him back. “Mi Sha,” Aimé whispered, glancing over from the four-stars’ stage. “If… if I get demoted, would you be disappointed in me?”

Mi Sha was taken aback. He hadn’t expected Aimé to doubt himself so openly, nor hold his opinion in such a high regard. “Disappointed? Of course not,” Mi Sha replied in confusion, but nevertheless gave Aimé an encouraging smile. “Honestly, you’re the kind of idol they’re looking for—an all-rounder. You’re a triple threat, Aimé, didn't you know?”

Aimé’s face flushed slightly, but his nervous expression didn’t entirely fade. In fact, it only seemed to make him more anxious, Mi Sha’s words completely failing at bringing him any comfort. 

And here Mi Sha thought he was quite the expert at being comforting. Before Mi Sha could say more, the overhead lights dimmed, leaving only the faint purple glow of the virtual stages. A soft hum filled the air, like the gentle buzz of electricity, and the contestants looked around, pulses racing. It was an awe-inspiring sight—five ethereal platforms that shimmered with prismatic light, as if born from the very fabric of their dreams. 

At the same time, the Baroness and the other judges’ holograms, each appearing on a virtual stage, flickered into existence, signaling the start of the official evaluation performance recording. The contestants immediately straightened, each snapping into focus, ready for the moment they’d all been anticipating and dreading.

The distinctive voice of the Baroness, amused and slightly patronizing, cut through the space.

“Welcome, my stars,” said the Baroness in an affected breathy manner, the swish of her ruby skirts whispering across the stage. “The time has come for your official~ ratings~ evaluation~” The painted red smile of her porcelain mask stood out as garish as ever.

Following her, the Monsieur, standing on the four-star virtual stage, raised his crystal knob cane like a king would hold his scepter. “Contestants, when your name is called, please step forward onto your respective stage and prepare to perform. Each star rank will send one member forward to perform simultaneously with contestants of other star ranks. We will observe closely, and the recordings will be reviewed in detail.”

Mi Sha felt a subtle shift in the air as all around him the others seemed to either inhale or exhale sharply. Rory fidgeted at Ming Kui’s side, his hands wringing together, while Rozier adjusted his glasses, his face calm but unreadable. Even Phoenix seemed unusually tense, his gaze fixed on the glowing stage, lips pressed together in a line.

“One by one,” the Lady, standing on the three-stars’ stage repeated, her soprano voice rich with glee and just a hint of theater, “you will step forward onto the stage when your name is called. Here, your hard work and potential will be put to the test.”

There was a brief pause, a silence heavy with the weight of unspoken hope and anxiety. The room felt almost sacred, an echoing silence wrapped around the contestants like a shroud. Then, a ripple of energy sparked across the room as the Monsieur’s voice announced the first name.

As the first five contestants were called, life seemed to be injected back into the large, echoing room. The instant each one stepped on their respective stage, a shimmering wave of light surged over their form, sweeping from their toes to the crown of their heads. As if sculpted by magic, the chosen contestants’ casual practice clothes—various sweatpants, track pants, and tees—glowed briefly, transforming with a shimmer of light technology into the sleek, monochrome ensemble glinting with iridescent threads that was designed for the main theme song. Each of their uniforms had slight differences that mirrored their star rank, creating a striking contrast across the stages.

With five contestants on five stages, it was immediately clear who was excelling and who was struggling. Mi Sha watched as the first five got into position, each representing their star group, their nerves hidden behind their best facades. The stage illuminated around each of them, their voices blending into the powerful notes of the theme song. It was evident who could command the spotlight, who stumbled under pressure, and who surprised everyone with unexpected confidence.

Mi Sha felt a mix of anticipation and empathy as he watched each performance. It wasn’t as simple as the five-stars nailing their parts or the one-stars faltering. Every contestant had earned their place out of thousands, each bringing something unique to the table. In some cases, the one-star contestants delivered surprisingly powerful performances, their voices filled with raw passion, while a few four-stars struggled, nerves getting the better of them. Which was understandable, as even the smallest misstep—the slightest falter in a move or a note off-key—could shift the judges’ evaluations.

By the sixth round, someone who he was relatively familiar with, Renato’s turn finally came, and Mi Sha watched intently. Renato’s nerves showed in the first few moments, his movements a little too stiff, his voice almost shaking. But as he found his rhythm, Mi Sha saw him begin to relax, the tension melting from his shoulders as he lost himself in the choreography. By the end of his part, he had regained his usual swagger, delivering a smooth, confident performance.

On the three-stars’ stage was also a familiar figure, Rory, who looked like he might faint that very moment on the stage. His hands were trembling, his voice a little thin at first, but likewise, with every note, Rory’s resolve seemed to strengthen, and he managed to pull through the routine, though not flawlessly. When he finished, he visibly sagged in relief, and Mi Sha couldn’t help but clap for both.

The performances continued, each round of five contestants bringing a new wave of tension and surprise to the room. Mi Sha noted how each contestant watching beneath the stages reacted—some clapping softly, others whispering their impressions. A few of the more competitive ones were watching with narrowed eyes, sizing up the others. The mix of camaraderie and rivalry was thick in the air, and Mi Sha could feel it driving each person, pushing them to be better, even as it reminded them of the stakes.

Because as everyone knows, each star group had a set number of spots, so if a lower star contestant rose up the ranks, that meant a higher star contestant whose performance was not so good would have to give up their spot. For example, the five-stars currently numbered a total of 22, but the allotted spots was actually only 17. There was only so much screen time in the official MV of the main theme song, and the five-stars must share it among themselves but also with the four-stars, three-stars and two-stars. So naturally the fewer people in the five-stars group, which took center stage, was actually a good thing.

Mi Sha’s own name was eventually called, and he took a deep breath, stepping onto the five-stars’ stage while those nearby like Phoenix and Aimé clapped him on the shoulder or back while the rest cheered. There was even wolf whistling thrown in and Mi Sha didn't even have to look to know that it was Renato and Ming Kui, both seemingly trying to outdo each other on the shrillness of their whistling.

And as it did for everyone, the wave of light washed over him, cold yet thrilling, like diving headfirst into an icy river. His tee shirt and track pants melted away, replaced by the form-fitting uniform. Pristine white silky fabric wrapped around his torso, edged with gleaming golden accents that seemed to pulse faintly with each breath he took. Mi Sha clenched his hands, focusing on the steadiness in his core, and met the gazes of the hummingbirds hovering at the edge of the stage, those camera set beady eyes glowing a faint red.

When the music played, he instantly slipped into the choreography with practiced ease, his voice flowing into the melody, not even wavering even during the most intense of the dance moves. He didn’t try to outshine anyone—this wasn’t about grandstanding—but there was a quiet confidence in his performance that made everyone watching lean in, drawn by the sheer ease with which he executed the choreography while also hitting every note.

By the end of the performance, Mi Sha felt a surge of satisfaction. He had done it. All those late-night practices, all the hard work and worry—it had all come together in this single moment. Stepping past Phoenix, who offered him a small, congratulatory smile as he made his way up the five-stars’ stage for his own turn, Mi Sha knew that the other would give it his all as well.

Because the five-stars were not many, they naturally finished first after 22 rounds. As the last round finished for them, their area filled with scattered applause, murmurs, and a sense of collective relief. The Baroness’ hologram flickered as she appeared on the virtual stage once again, looming over the crowd like a glittering jeweled bird of prey.

Some of them remained under the five-stars’ stage while others chose to mingle with other contestants who had also finished or stood under the other four virtual stages to continue watching. The next day, the official ratings would be announced, and with it, the shifts that would set the tone for the rest of the competition. Mi Sha could feel the excitement and anxiety buzzing around him, each person wondering where they’d stand by tomorrow.

Even Mi Sha felt a rare sense of anticipatory thrill as he faced the same unknown future, the same relentless pressure to shine. It was a novel experience, both the idea of leaving his fate in outside hands as well as truly being in the spotlight as opposed to controlling the shadows behind the scenes.

And as he looked around—at Aimé, Renato, Phoenix, Ming Kui, and the others—he knew that he was not the only one affected by this small taste of the shimmering lights and glowing stage that came part and parcel with being a top idol.

No wonder so many people dove headfirst into this world of showbiz—it really was where dreams were made.

[youling-the-ghost]

Within the span of 1 month, I have written 4 fics with a total of 12,611 words, with an average of about 1 fic and around 3152 words per week, all of which were written in the sfth fandom. So thanks, sfth fandom, for causing me so much brainrot that it cured my 6-month long writer's block.

[linghxr]

I watched all the Chinese idol survival shows so you don’t have to (but you should anyway)

About three years ago, I watched 创造101 Produce 101 China, and it kinda changed my life. Yes, really! This show dragged me down a rabbit hole that eventually led to me watching many more Chinese shows and listening to almost exclusively Chinese music. I’m even branching out to cdramas now. All under the guise of, um, improving my listening comprehension!

OK, so “all the Chinese idol survival shows” might be an exaggeration. I’ll be talking about these three classic idol group survival shows from the “golden age” period of 2018-2021:

>> 偶像练习生 Idol Producer/青春有你 Youth with You (iQiyi)

偶像练习生 Idol Producer

青春有你1 Youth with You 1

青春有你2 Youth with You 2

青春有你3 Youth with You 3

>> 创造101 Produce 101/创造营 Chuang (Tencent)

创造101 Produce 101 China

创造营2019 Produce Camp 2019

创造营2020 Chuang 2020

创造营2021 Chuang 2021

>> 以团之名 All For One/少年之名 We Are Young (Youku)

以团之名 All For One

少年之名 We Are Young

Here is the order I actually watched these 10 seasons in:

创造101 Produce 101 China

青春有你2 Youth with You 2

创造营2020 Chuang 2020

创造营2019 Produce Camp 2019

偶像练习生 Idol Producer

青春有你1 Youth with You 1

青春有你3 Youth with You 3

创造营2021 Chuang 2021

以团之名 All For One

少年之名 We Are Young

I started 创造101 Produce 101 China in late 2019/early 2020 and finished 少年之名 We Are Young on Christmas Day 2022. I was literally tearing up. Three franchises, ten seasons, something around 1000 contestants, and three years of my life.

In order to refresh my memory for this post, I rewatched almost all of the performance clips from these shows. I didn’t watch the initial evaluations or any practice room videos (it’s simply too much content). It was simultaneously fun and exhausting. I will go over why you should/shouldn’t watch each season and give any other notable remarks. Let’s get started!

*Please note that for any YouTube links below, there is a risk of muted sections, parts/entire episodes being unavailable, and missing/out of sync subtitles. For official links, whether or not a VIP subscription is needed may change in the future. Fansubbed content may have sections or entire episodes missing.

>> 偶像练习生 Idol Producer/青春有你 Youth with You (iQiyi)

iQiyi rebranded the series by changing its name from 偶像练习生 Idol Producer to 青春有你 Youth with You after the first season. However, they really didn’t change much about the format at all. From what I’ve heard, iQiyi doesn’t have as large a budget as Tencent, which you can see reflected in the show’s production quality. However, I’ve long felt that this franchise has a real charming quality that makes up for lack of flashy sets.

偶像练习生 Idol Producer

Watch on iQiyi (English subs, VIP needed) Watch via Idol Producer Subs (English fansubs, missing part of finale)

Why you should watch it: Though not China’s first idol survival show, this show was the first of a new era. It’s iconic! The theme song is a bop, 10/10. Also, I had heard of all of the winners before I watched this season, so there’s some real cultural relevance. I can’t believe it was nearly five years ago! The whole top 20 remains iconic to this day. In most seasons, there are at least one or two popular contestants who I don’t really like or don’t see the appeal of, but that wasn’t the case this season. This season is also a lot shorter than later seasons, so it’s easier for those who are new to survival shows.

Why you shouldn’t watch it: As I mentioned, there is a lack of flashy sets/stages here. The background of the stage often looks empty. There were some performances that were better than I remembered, but there were others that were...not. I’m pretty sure 黄明昊 Justin was 15 when the show began, which shocks me in a BAD way. And if you’re a Jackson Wang fan, I think he barely appeared in the second half of the show.

My picks: 郑锐彬 Zheng Ruibin, 周彦辰 Zhou Yanchen, 蔡徐坤 Cai Xukun, 王子异 Wang Ziyi, 朱星杰 Zhu Xingjie, 周锐 Zhou Rui

Favorite performance: PPAP A组 PPAP group A This was a powerhouse group. And it was hilarious to watch the boys’ reaction when they heard the whole song and realized the style was not at all what they had initially expected! They totally pulled it off though.

Iconic moments: 蔡徐坤 Cai Xukun’s outfit (and ego) in the initial evaluation, B-A-L-A-N-C-E, when we realized 朱星杰 Zhu Xingjie can sing too, 林彦俊 Lin Yanjun's platinum hair, one of the songs was called Mack Daddy which causes me great distress to this day, 周锐 Zhou Rui aka 周美锐 Zhou Meirui, I’m still laughing over 朱星杰 Zhu Xingjie’s resemblance to 胡巴 Huba.

Verdict: Though this was not my first idol survival show, I think it would be a great first foray for anyone. It’s iconic for a reason. You should watch it (and I might rewatch it). 

青春有你1 Youth with You 1

Watch on iQiyi (English subs, VIP needed) Watch via Qing Chun You Ni Subs (English fansubs)

Why you should watch it: This season is the forgotten child of the franchise, but it still had some great performances and a lot of talented contestants. The theme song is also probably my favorite out of all ten theme songs! It was love at first listen. Personally, I enjoyed this team of mentors more than the first season’s. I also feel that the vocal-based performances were stronger this season. For instance, there were great performances of 李荣浩 Li Ronghao songs.

Why you shouldn’t watch it: I feel that some of the magic of the first season was lost, and overall the contestants were not as memorable or charismatic in my opinion. There were also several contestants I found extremely irritating and some contestants who ranked much higher and last much longer on the show than I feel they should have based on their skill level...but I won’t name names.

My picks: 夏瀚宇 Xia Hanyu, 李振宁 Li Zhenning, 周士原 Zhou Shiyuan, 连淮伟 Li Huaiwei

Favorite performance: 隔壁泰山 A组 Neighboring Tarzan group A This is a very unusal song, but it’s so catchy and memorable. 夏瀚宇 Xia Hanyu really made this performance for me. And this song still gets stuck in my head months later!

Iconic moments: 冯俊杰 Feng Junjie and 夏瀚宇 Xia Hanyu trying to outdo each other, 胡春杨 Hu Chunyang looked angry 24/7 for no reason, they literally got 蔡依林! Jolin Tsai! as a mentor, 李汶翰 Li Wenhan was everyone’s older brother, their performance made me fall in love with the song 耳朵 Erduo, they kinda did a steampunk concept which I love.

Verdict: It’s not necessarily a must-watch, but I still enjoyed it. If you’ve fallen into the black hole of survival shows and want more, I think it’s worth your time.

青春有你2 Youth with You 2

Watch on iQiyi (English subs, VIP needed) Watch on YouTube (English subs) Watch on YouTube (no English subs, missing several parts/episodes)

Why you should watch it: As iQiyi’s first time with female contestants, this season was highly anticipated. iQiyi stepped it up with subtitles, got Lisa from BLACKPINK as a mentor (I saw people say they came for Lisa and stayed for the trainees), and made a lot of content available on YouTube. As a result, some of the performances from this season have millions of views. It’s well deserved—a lot of the contestants are overflowing with talent and charisma. And honestly, you should watch this for 蔡徐坤. He’s a great MC/mentor to the girls and was truly a highlight of the season for me.

Why you shouldn’t watch it: This is the only season that I watched week by week as it was airing. It was EXHAUSTING. iQiyi started pumping out two episodes a week, doubling the overall episode count. I was literally burnt out by the finale. So if you watch this, please take it slow. Also, I forgot how much they did that thing where they cut away from the performances to show other contestant/mentor reactions and then have to go rewind on the performance...it really drives me nuts. They overdid it for sure.

My picks: 刘雨昕 Liu Yuxin, 喻言 Yu Yan, 王承渲 Wang Chengxuan, 刘令姿 Liu Lingzi, 许馨文 Xu Xinwen

Favorite performance: 不奉陪 No Company This was a tough choice! I went with this performance because I actively sought it out for relistens. That’s so rare for 主题考核 theme evaluation songs for me. All the members got to shine yet they were a very cohesive team.

Iconic moments: Bad Guy was the ultimate dark horse, how no one knew the song 想见你想见你想见你 Miss You 3000, 王承渲 Wang Chengxuan defeated the evil quads, 乃万 Nineone basically replaced Jony J as rap mentor, seeing 刘雨昕 Liu Yuxin with a wig was terrifying, they let the girls wear shorts if they didn’t like skirts #feminism, I still think about 张钰 Zhang Yu and 王清 Wang Qing’s initial performance all the time.

Verdict: I don’t think I could rewatch this season due to its length, but if you can commit the time, I think you should watch it. I’m sad I’ll never get to see a second 青春有你 Youth with You female season.

青春有你3 Youth with You 3

Watch on iQiyi (English subs, no VIP needed) Watch on iQiyi (no English subs, no VIP needed) Watch on YouTube (no English subs, missing several parts/episodes)

Why you should watch it: This season was probably the one I felt most emotionally invested in. I feel like I got to know the boys and was in it together with them (parasocial relationships, I know). And the friendships between contestants were so touching. Like 青春有你2 Youth with You 2, this season was also extra long, but I watched this season after it aired, going at my own pace. There were so many charming contestants and memorable performances. The dancing especially shone, but we got some great vocal moments too. I think iQiyi did a really good job picking songs this season.

Why you shouldn’t watch it: Sadly, the finale never aired. Due to the infamous milk-wasting scandal, the show was cancelled (but a winning group still formed and debuted). Even though I knew this before watching the show, it was still quite sad to never see a conclusion. Additionally, I believe this show started with more like 120 contestants, and I felt that increased number. Lastly, there was some painful singing and lots of very uninspired rapping. I feel like the gap in skill between the contestants was larger, and some of the teams felt very unbalanced as a result.

My picks: 姜京佐 Jiang Jingzuo, 杨昊铭 Yang Haoming, 十七 Shiqi, 徐子未 Xu Ziwei, 张思源 Zhang Siyuan, 连淮伟 Lian Huaiwei

Favorite performance: 燕尾蝶 Wings of Love This performance was everything I could ever dream of. 徐子未 won the world over instantly. He has the voice of an angel. Love the song, love the concept, love everything about it.

Iconic moments: 罗一舟 Luo Yizhou and 余景天 Tony Yu Jingtians’s friendly rivalry, 徐子未 Xu Ziwei’s back-to-back victories, Yuta’s adorable accent, 王南钧 Wang Nanjun would not shut up about 竹 Bamboo, touch 梁森 Liang Sen’s head for good luck, 刘隽 Liu Jun dances like he’s possessed (in a good way), that 雨爱 Rainie Love stage was a trainwreck tbh.

Verdict: Despite the scandals and lack of a finale, it was worth the watch for me. I feel so fond thinking of this season. Truthfully, season three has surpassed season two for me.

>> 创造101 Produce 101/创造营 Chuang (Tencent)

I read somewhere that Tencent officially licensed the Produce 101 name from Mnet, making this franchise more “official.” For season two, they ended up changing the name to 创造营 Produce Camp. The Chinese name remained the same for seasons three and four, but the in English they started promoting the show under the name Chuang. I think they wanted to beat iQiyi in the contest to see who can have the most titles for the same show.

创造101 Produce 101 China

Watch on Tencent Video (English subs, no VIP needed) Watch on 腾讯视频 (no English subs, VIP needed) Watch on YouTube (no English subs) Watch on YouTube (no English subs, episode 7 here, episode 10 here) Watch via Produce 101 China Subs (English fansubs)

Why you should watch it: This is the only season I’ve seen twice, so that says something I guess! This season holds a special place in my heart as my first survival show, so I rewatched it earlier this year with some friends who hadn’t seen it previously. One thing that stood out to me about this season was that it felt like there were several dark horses who started to shine closer to the middle/end of the show. I liked this because it’s boring when the debut lineup is completely predictable! And if you’re not already a 孟美岐 Meng Meiqi fan, you will leave as a 孟美岐 Meng Meiqi fan, guaranteed.

Why you shouldn’t watch it: Not gonna lie, I was not a huge fan of this mentor team. I am fine with these people individually, but together it was not an ideal combo in my opinion. They collectively made some very odd decisions that I strongly disagree with. After my rewatch, I’m just kinda done with 黄子韬 Huang Zitao. I also realized there were a lot more instances of...rough singing than I remembered, so be warned.

My picks: 孟美岐 Meng Meiqi, Yamy, 刘人语 Liu Renyu, 许靖韵 Angela Xu Jingyun, 吴映香 Lucia Wu Yingxiang, 李紫婷 Mimi Li Ziting

Favorite performance: 别人家的小孩 Other People’s Kids This is one of the most iconic performances (and one of my favorites) ever from all of these shows! It’s so unique and really has everything you could want. It was truly a perfect collab performance.

Iconic moments: When they had to tap 杨超越 Yang Chaoyue so she wouldn’t miss the beat, 王一博 Wang Yibo’s blue hair was gorgeous, Triple A group reunion, Look What You Made Me Do with creepy marionettes was perfect, when 陈嘉桦 Ella went barefoot on stage, 黄子韬 Huang Zitao literally screamed at them all, I’ll never forget the iconic 乐华 Yuehua performance.

Verdict: Even the second time, this was a season filled with surprises. It’s not perfect, but I think it will manage to charm you anyway. There are some real hidden gems here.

创造营2019 Produce Camp 2019

Watch on Tencent Video (English subs, VIP needed) Watch on 腾讯视频 (no English subs, VIP needed) Watch on YouTube (no English subs)

Why you should watch it: This was the first ever male season I watched, and I remember being apprehensive. I ended up having a lot of fun! This season really tugged at my heartstrings with the touching friendships between the boys and the intense 导师推荐生 mentor recommendees segments. I felt like I went through the wringer with them as they were forced to repack all their belongings, endure the brutal F班 demotions, hike across the beach, and more. There were countless hilarious moments too. If I were to rewatch, it would be for 周震南 Zhou Zhennan AKA 南南 Nannan. He just dominates the stage (despite his short stature)!

Why you shouldn’t watch it: I’ll admit, this season probably has the greatest number of contestants that annoy me. Sometimes it’s for no good reason...I just look at them and go ugh. The first round especially has some pretty painful singing, so be warned of that as well. Also, my rewatch made me realize I remembered very few performances from this season, which probably isn’t a good sign. Also, a lot of the performances were very short, sub-three minutes, which personally bothers me.

My picks: 周震南 Zhou Zhennan, 高嘉朗 Gao Jialang, 姚琛 Yao Chen, 陆思恒 Lu Siheng, 李鑫一 Li Xinyi, 贺俊雄 He Junxiong

Favorite performance: 开门见山 Kaimenjianshan I’ll admit that this performance was not as good as I remembered it being (probably because now I’ve heard the original by A-Mei many times), but I picked it anyway to acknowledge the amazing 高嘉朗 Gao Jialang.

Iconic moments: 张颜齐 Zhang Yanqi giving away jars of 老干妈 Lao Gan Ma, we never saw 王晨艺 Wang Chenyi again, 姚琛来了~ (Yao Chen is coming), when 周震南 Zhou Zhennan had his hoodie on but his ears were sticking out omg, try saying 李昀锐 Li Yunrui's name ten times fast, they had 30+ year old men here, this was the OG 乘风破浪 chengfengpolang.

Verdict: Among so many seasons, I don’t think this season stands out that much, but I still remember it fondly. If you want a good laugh and some fun, check it out.

创造营2020 Chuang 2020

Watch on Tencent Video (English subs, VIP needed) Watch on 腾讯视频 (no English subs, VIP needed) Watch on YouTube (English subs, missing episode 3) Watch on YouTube (English subs, missing episode 3) Watch on Viki (English subs, no Viki Pass needed)

Why you should watch it: They went all out on the sets, the location, the accommodations, everything. The performance setup was that the seats were in the middle and various stages were located around the perimeter. The seats would rotate to face the stages!! Some of the stages were stunning. I also want to mention that there were some great vocalists this season and I feel like they got to shine, which always makes me happy. The best round by far was the second round (专业方向). We got some beautiful vocal performances and intense dance performances.

Why you shouldn’t watch it: This season felt messy to me. I think they tried to mix things up, but not everything landed. The beautiful sets almost got distracting…they were more interesting than some of the performances. Several very talented and promising contestants never even made it past the first round. And since the final group only had seven people, the finale was just a frustrating experience. I never want to hear that 小摩托 xiao motuo song or 夏天的风 Summer Wind again. I don’t feel this season lived up to 创造101 Produce 101 China (unless you wanted MORE comments about weight/thinness).

My picks: 王柯 Wang Ke, 华承妍 Hua Chengyan, 刘些宁 Liu Xiening, 苏芮琪 Su Ruiqi, 朱主爱, Joyce Zhu Zhu’ai, 王一桥 Wang Yiqiao

Favorite performance: Manta There were a lot of performances I liked, but I really struggled to pick a favorite. I ultimately went with this because it’s one of the most memorable dance performances I’ve seen on these shows.

Iconic moments: That thin waist contest was simply the worst, they were in a literal castle, we all went crazy for the band and 王柯 Wang Ke, 朱主爱 Joyce Zhu Zhu’ai won the collab stage, wtf stop filming 姜贞羽 Jiang Zhenyu, I want to ride that cute train up the mountain, 毛不易 Mao Buyi did not want to talk, pretend that 吴亦凡 Wu Yifan wasn’t there.

Verdict: This season was competing against 青春有你2 Youth with You 2, and I chose to prioritize 青春有你2 Youth with You 2. I would make the same choice now. If you decide to watch, just be warned it may be a frustrating experience.

创造营2021 Chuang 2021

Watch on Tencent Video (English subs, VIP needed) Watch on 腾讯视频 (no English subs, VIP needed)

Why you should watch it: I wasn’t sure I was going to watch this season because of its international theme. Having foreigners is nothing new, but such a large number was certainly going to alter the show’s dynamic. Well, I watched it anyway. Overall, I’m glad I did. There were some talented and lovable contestants that made this season all worth it. The mentor squad (mostly 宁静 Ning Jing, 邓超 Deng Chao, and 周深 Zhou Shen) were so entertaining. Lastly, compared to the 2019 season, there were more popular vocalists this season, which I 100% support. I’ll be honest, I didn’t remember a lot of the performances from this season, but I ended up pleasantly surprised by how many great ones there were!

Why you shouldn’t watch it: It felt like there was so much focus on Nine and Patrick, Santa and Riki, the Intersection boys, and eventually Lelush as well. The other foreign contestants honestly had very little impact. This didn’t ruin the show or anything, but sometimes I got a little sick of the Santa and Mika show, you know? Also, none of my favorites made it into the winning group unfortunately. While I acknowledge the talent of the winning members, for whatever reason I wasn’t really that invested in most of them.

My picks: 俞更寅 Yu Gengying, 井胧 Jing Long, 林墨 Lin Mo, 奥斯卡 Oscar, 张星特 Zhang Xingte

Favorite performance: Lover Boy 88 This performance was simply infectious! I even made my friends watch to it. 林墨 Lin Mo is so charming. And 张腾 Zhang Teng and 张星特 Zhang Xingte’s vocals were perfect. Just wish it had been longer!

Iconic moments: Mika and 曾涵江 Zeng Hanjiang = my last two brain cells trying to communicate, I still can’t believe Lelush went viral worldwide, 刘宇 Liu Yu broke the Produce curse, Nine and Patrick only learned Chinese for how long???, Caelan kinda does look like Leonardo DiCaprio, Oscar AKA 熊熊 Xiongxiong, the 网红 wanghong group was so talented actually.

Verdict: I think this season got more international attention than 青春有你3 Youth with You 3, and while I prefer 青春有你3 Youth with You 3, this season is worth a watch for its uniqueness and improvements over the previous year.

>> 以团之名 All For One/少年之名 We Are Young (Youku)

I watched both seasons of Youku’s shorter-lived franchise in 2022 only after (and only because) I had finished the other two franchises. I think Youku had a smaller budget and thus tried to stand out by shaking up the traditional survival show formula. I think they made some poor choices and some good choices. I don’t know the story behind the name change between seasons, but the seasons are so different from each other that it makes sense.

以团之名 All For One

Watch on Youku (no English subs, VIP needed) Watch on YouTube (no English subs)

Why you should watch it: I’m going to say a lot of negative stuff below, but I wanted to add at least a few positive words. During the finale, the remaining contestants sang S.H.E’s 你曾是少年 Wings Of My Words, and I don’t think I’ve ever gotten so emotional over a performance ever. 任家萱 Selina was a delight throughout. I also really grew to appreciate 奶茶 Naicha and what a great and thoughtful leader he was.

Why you shouldn’t watch it: As I mentioned, this show had some unique features that made it stand out. The contestants formed ten groups of eight, and the composition of the groups remained unchanged throughout. Entire groups got eliminated together. This created a dynamic where some really talented contestants went home too soon due to their group. It also meant that some groups were popular really just due to having one popular member. In the end, one group won...but I guess they realized this was a bad idea, so they formed a second winning group of the most popular contestants from the non-winning groups. I didn’t like this format and felt is really negatively impacted my viewing. Personally, seeing new team lineups form is one of my favorite parts of survival shows. And because the leaders were constant, they had there was too much focus on them. Also, the mentors were so harsh all the time. Maybe it was deserved, but it really bummed me out to watch them constantly talk about how disappointed they were.

My picks: 奶茶 Naicha, 田书臣 Tian Shuchen, 龙泓昊 Long Honghao, 赖煜哲 AJ Lai Yuzhe, 热亚提 Reyati, 赵品霖 Zhao Pinlin

Favorite performance: 饕餮 Taotie This was not one of the performances that stood out in my memory, but it stood out to me when I did my rewatch. I feel like they really nailed every element, and I don’t think the other teams could have pulled off this song.

Iconic moments: 何展成 Jonathan Ha gave up on speaking Chinese and 袁娅维 Tia Ray had to translate for him, the 王霏霏 Wang Feifei and 孟佳 Meng Jia reunion, 龙泓昊 Long Honghao’s beautiful dance to a Shawn Mendes song, I’m not sure why 奶茶 Naicha chose milk tea as stage name, AJ vs. the hidden snacks, they made 周艺轩 Zhou Yixuan perform a UNIQ song.

Verdict: Maybe you can skip this one. I definitely didn’t devote my full attention while I was watching it. And it felt like the show and the mentors were being mean to the boys all the time.

少年之名 We Are Young

Watch on Youku (no English subs, VIP needed) Watch on YouTube (no English subs) Watch via We Are Young Subs (English fansubs)

Why you should watch it: They improved on basically all the issues I had with the first season, and I was pleasantly surprised. Also, this is basically a 青春有你1 Youth with You 1 mini reunion with a few 偶像练习生 Idol Producer alums plus some future 青春有你3 You with You 3 contestants. It was so wonderful to see how the contestants I already knew had grown, and I loved seeing them get new opportunities to shine. There was surprisingly a lot of good raps/rappers on this show! Also, there were some truly incredible performances this season that aren’t like anything I’ve seen on other idol survival shows. And I enjoyed almost every performance—there were only a few that I disliked or thought were, um, not good. The mentors did not always agree...but I don’t care!

Why you shouldn’t watch it: Because they have to be different, when doing the initial evaluations, only about 50 contestants advanced to the next round. This was nice because it meant fewer names/faces, but wow, it felt so mean. Sometimes I wished they had stuck to a more traditional format. Besides that, I don’t have much else negative to say!

My picks: 郭震 Guo Zhen, 寇聪 Kuo Cong, 胡文煊 Hu Wenxuan, 左林杰 Zuo Linjie, 李希侃 Li Xikan, 崔少鹏 Cui Shaopeng, 杨超文 Yang Chaowen

Favorite performance: Don’t Start Now I don’t think I’ve ever seen this exact concept on one of these shows before. This performance was instantly a standout for me, especially because it had some of my favorite contestants!

Iconic moments: They literally had a corgi, 林 (Lin) MUA, everyone shipping 薛恩 Xue En and 程潇 Cheng Xiao, 胡文煊 Hu Wenxuan in a CROP TOP, 胡彦斌 Hu Yanbin told 寇聪 Kou Cong to wear less to show off his body what, 崔少鹏 Cui Shaopeng’s entrance through the pink smoke, 左林杰 Zuo Linjie really bungee jumped with his eyes closed, how 郭震 Guo Zhen, 左叶 Zuo Ye, and 胡文煊 Hu Wenxuan were in the same group four times without anyone noticing.

Verdict: This season ended up being better than it had any right to be! I think it’s worth checking out, especially if you are missing the boys from the 偶像练习生 Idol Producer/青春有你 Youth with You series.

>> Conclusion

If you actually read this entire post, I’m thoroughly impressed. If you, like me, have spent way too much time watching these shows, feel free to send me a message because I need someone to commiserate with. 

I honestly have this weird feeling that a chapter of my life is over. I have so many treasured memories from watching these shows—moments of laughter, tears, shock, pride, and more. They’ve provided a way to ground my language studies and engage with Chinese pop culture. They made me feel less alone during earlier COVID times.

Well, I’m off to find something to fill the survival show-size hole in my heart...maybe I’ll just rewatch 偶像练习生 Idol Producer.

[solei-eclipse]

alnst oc au except it's produce 101

[fleurciti]

⌞ 🎞️⋆｡˚₊⌝ NAOMI LEE ( 나오미 ) is a trainee under promise creative's survival show, dive: into the future . she is known for her vocals and dancing skills and has over 5 years of training.

⌞ 🎞️⋆｡˚₊⌝ MASTERLIST

backstory <> her closet <> misc <> socials

[sn-quest]

[ S 퀘스트 ] ╱ S QUEST, is a fictional survival show made to debut a four membered girl group, the show will consist of 17 trainees who will create a permanent group.

☆ Brought to you by ISTAR Records [ 아이스타 레코드 ]

MASTERLIST.

─── Written by Odette, inspired by @dreamquest

[sanstropfremir]

Hello i hope you don't mind but in your opinion what do you think makes a good survival show. I know you talked about wild idol and 0 year 0 class but i wanted your in depth thoughts on the topic.

ohhhh i looooooove when people indulge my bullshit god bless you anons. before i talk about what makes a good survival show, i want to illustrate why the produce format makes a bad survival show. and we can start that by asking a question:

why is fan voting allowed?

obviously you can give the typical answer of 'if fans are engaged than it will drive up numbers' and that the shows are basically only made for fan engagement because we all know that kpop is profoundly and tragically numbers driven at the end of the day, but let's instead live in a world where the producers who pitch and head these shows actually want to make a talented group. so why are the fans involved? at all? sorry to say it, but fans are stupid. they aren't trained professionals in this field, so do you actually think they're going to be thinking carefully about the trainees that they see on screen every week and how their skills fit together? about the fundamentals of group direction and management? no of course they aren't, they're just going to vote blindly for their precious meow meow of the week. so already, we're at a deficit. and if you include the fact that these companies will rig the shows to their own biases (that are not artistically motivated), a double deficit.

second issue: the 'challenges'. they're trash. yes you do want to test an idol's vocal and dance skills, but just because you put a group of the most talented people in a room together does not mean that they will get along or have good chemistry. a huge part of being in a performance group (of any kind) is how well you communicate with each other, and that requires you to know how to compromise, how to be kind, how to take feedback, how to work collaboratively. but when you run trainees through week after week wringers of difficult choreo and tough vocals with very short deadlines, how can you expect them to actually be able to internalize and act upon any of these other skills? they may on a surface level, but the priority is not placed on it. AND when you add individualized voting into the mix, trainees have no incentive to actually meaningfully work together.

what makes wild idol and 0year 0class different from this typical formula is that the emphasis of both these shows was actually on making a well rounded group, so the shows were structured in order to faciliate that happening. both had limited trainee numbers (wild idol 40ish down to 16 in the third episode, 0y0c 15), have little to no fan voting (none for 0y0c, only in the last few rounds for wild idol) and both had challenges that were about testing 'non traditional' idol skills (throwing fuckin logs around, doing fashion shows and photoshoots, writing poetry/rap, doing a lot of repetition, etc). personally i think 0y0c is the better show in general because it does everything the way i would do it, but also it would never be watched by a korean audience so i think wild idol is the best a korean survival show is gonna get.

the difference that makes the biggest impact on how effective i think 0y0c over wild idol is the fact that the producer (avu chan) is a significant part of the show itself. she's literally there with the trainees in every episode, giving them assignments and evaluating them, talking to them about the issues they're having and why they aren't succeeding. there's discussions with her about why she chose to do the show and what type of group she wants to make, she's incredibly transparent about what characteristics she's looking for in the trainees and also about how difficult the industry is; the tagline of the show is 'welcome to your nightmare' bc that's literally what she told the group in the first episode. she's honest about the fact that it's hard, that you will have to work with people you don't like, that you will be rejected many many times, and that people won't always like you. she puts them through challenges that are meant to bring out how well the trainees understand themselves and also give them opportunities to grow and develop into well rounded people with good communication and emotional skills. watching 0y0c actually made me realize that i sincerely believe that the lack of a visible producer with a goal in kpop survival shows is actually a huge reason why i don't think they work. 99.9% of these shows are transparently just making groups to make money, so they have no artistic focus, no creative leader, no drive except to be the lowest common denominator to get the most fans. why wild idol worked for me was bc the producer was clearly trying to make a 4th gen group in the second gen model. even though it wasn't explicitly stated by anyone, the mentors they brought in, the songs they had them cover, even the styles of original songs they did, made that very obvious. i know people say kpop isn't supposed to be serious but like. the people who make it, the fans who enjoy it, we ALL deserve to have something with creativity and drive to enjoy, not just a race to the bottom of the capitalist money pit.

[navi-llera]

Where are UNI.T. Members Now? (As Of Sept / Oct 2024)

{ UNI.T. was a 9 member Female Korean Pop group. The group officially debut May 18th 2018 and Disbanded October 12th the same year.

UNI.T. were formed through a survival show called, The Unit: Idol Rebooting Project. Where it would debut 1 female and 1 male group with pre-existing idols! }

⋆𐙚₊˚⊹♡

1- Euijin

Euijin ranked 1st with a total of 108,066 votes. She was the Main Dancer, Lead Vocalist and the Center. On September 8th she was FREED from the abomination known as TS Entertainment, Leaving Sonamoo, And re-debuting under Mellow Entertainment, with the name Hezz.

She has 2 Instagram accounts ! @ _hongeuijin , I think is a more Personal account & @ hezz_offcl for her soloist career, In which she debut March 3rd 2022 with her single "The 8th Spring". And On Her Spotify, Hezz , She has 3 Singles. Alas, She has not released any new music since 2022. But She Made her Acting debut in the 2024 6-Episode Series, King of Saju ALSO KNOWN AS Four Lords: The Destiny Changer as Lee Ha Young.

⋆𐙚₊˚⊹♡

2 - Yebin

Yebin ranked 2nd with a total of 83,910 votes. She was the Main Vocalist. After UNI.T.'s disbandment, she went back to her original group DIA. Until in September of 2022 it was announced the group parted ways to do seperate activities (as far as I'm aware they haven't disbanded and are just doing different things).

She has 2 instagram accounts, yeah_b_film , A Photography based account (I think?) and yeb1n_100 a more personal account. On the 7th of July 2021, Yen debuted as a soloist with her single, Yes I Know.

⋆𐙚₊˚⊹♡

3 - NC.A

NC.A ranked 3rd with a total of 82,074 votes. She was the Main Vocalist. After UNI.T's Disbandment, she returned to her career as a soloist, Her latest release being in January 2024 with the song Universe. She has a instagram account, love_nca where she posts soloist stuff and other stuff!

NC.A has also acted in some K-Dramas such as, Itaewon Class, Reply 1994, Phantom School and She has appeared in much more.

⋆𐙚₊˚⊹♡

4 - Yoonjo

Yoonjo ranked 4th with a total of 78,519 votes. She was the Vocalist. She was a member of Hello Venus before Departing in 2014, Due to Pledis Entertainment and Fantagio Entertainment ending their merger, and Yoonjo chose to rejoin Pledis entertainment.

January 6th 2022, to was announced that Yoonjo signed an exclusive contract with Y-Bloom Entertainment. On November 10th, It was announced that Yoonjo would be getting married to Kim Dong-ho, The couple deciding to privately get married November 19th. Yoonjo shared her wedding pictures on her instagram _yoonjo !

⋆𐙚₊˚⊹♡

5 - Hyunjoo

Hyunjoo ranked 5th with a total of 72,090 votes. She was the Vocalist & Visual. Hyunjoo was a member of APRIL, but she left in October 2016, Due to health issues and Wanting to start an acting career!. Some K-Drama's she's starred in are: Summer Guys, Touch Me If You Can & My Father Is Strange.

Hyunjoo was apart of the April bullying Scandal, as on February 28th 2021, her ALLEGED brother came out to say that her former group members (APRIL) used to bully her when she was still apart of the group. (that is all I will be writing on that. if you want more you could find YouTube videos OR go to Lee Hyunjoo's Kpop Profile.)

She is on instagram ! hyun.joo_lee and her most recent post was in august!

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6 - Jiwon

Jiwon ranked 6th with a total of 68,193 votes. She was the Lead Vocalist. Jiwon was apart of K-pop group, SPICA until they disbanded 6th February, 2017. After that, Jiwon went back into acting!, Her latest roles being, Unpredictable Family (2023), The Witches Game (2022) & Love Naggers Season 3 (2020). Jiwon also appeared in a Musical Play, That went from Aug 10th - Sep 7th!, Called Love in Buenos Aires.

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7 - Woohee

Woohee ranked 7th with a total of 66,054 votes. She was the Leader, Main Rapper, Main Dancer and Lead Vocalist. She is a Member of DalShaBet, (A member, Serri, Stated in an interview that they had not disbanded, but the member did leave the company for seperate activities). On her Spotify, She has not released any music since 2022, with her collaboration with Kim Younggeun. And she has a instagram! woohee91.

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8 - ZN (now known as Jinye)

ZN ranked 8th with a total of 61,023 votes. She was the Lead Dancer and Vocalist. She is a current member of LABOUM ( which has not disbanded, they are on an indefinite hiatus, just looking for a new company! ). On her instagram, baejinyea , she seems to just post personal photos, And it looks like she was in a Theatre Production March 22nd - May 12!.

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9 - Suji

Suji ranked 9th with a total of 60,954 votes. She was the Lead Rapper, Lead Dancer, Vocalist and The Maknae. Suji was in the Kpop group The Ark until their disbandment in 2016. Then she joined the group Real Girls Project OR R.G.P. formed through The Idolm@ster Korea ! She has a personal instagram 1998_suji_ya. And she recently had her wedding anniversary (congrats !).

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THE GIRLS INSTAGRAM NAMES (bc I can't put links to them :( )

Euijin - @ hezz_offcl & @ _hongeuijin_

Yebin - @ yeah_b_film & @ yeb1n_100

N.CA - @ love_nca

Yoonjo - @ _yoonjo

Hyunjoo - @ hyun.joo_lee

Jiwon - @ wldnjs62

Woohee - @ woohee91

ZN - @ baejinyea

Suji - @ 1998_suji_ya

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INFO SORCES:

( IF ANY INFORMATION IS WRONG PLEASE LET ME KNOW SO I CAN CHANGE IT! )

[blazedtrail]

༄ ⭒ 🔥 ✦ * TRAILBLAZERS is finally open for auditions! with a 12 episode run, the show aims to create an innovative SUPERGROUP featuring 8 official members. do you have what it takes to be a trailblazer ? set fire to the world and audition today !

BLAZERS TIP : clicking on the source link leads to the audition page! don’t be shy, sign up as many times as you’d like!

[astertheworld]

whys everyone so mad at me for saying its reasonable to consider katseye kpop likeeee. sorry man they are literally a kpop group 💀

[chengxiao-wjsn]

210523 Cheng Xiao at Yuehua Idol Survival Show Recording © 我搞我自己 do not edit, crop, or remove the watermark

[b3loveless]

Unscripted: Neon Dreams Chapter 5 More Practicing & A Moonlit Encounter

The next day, Mi Sha arrived early at the five-stars’ practice room, expecting the usual group. He had barely settled into his warm-ups when the door creaked open, and he saw Ming Kui, with a reluctant, russet-haired lanky figure trailing behind him, entering the room.

“Hey, Mi Sha!” Ming Kui greeted, a spark of excitement in his eyes. The lanky figure trying to shrink behind him, on the other hand, looked anything but eager, his shoulders hunched as he avoided eye contact with everyone in the room.

Mi Sha straightened up, surprised but welcoming. “Ming Kui? And, Rory… right? What brings you guys here?”

Ming Kui grinned as he nudged Rory forward, encouraging him into the room. A flush colored handsome, angular features, causing the smattering of freckles across his nose to stand out. Quickly darting chocolate brown eyes upward through russet bangs, Rory could only shuffle inside at his companion's enthusiastic insistence.

“Word’s been going around about a certain group of five-stars—kind-hearted, very good at dancing and singing, and more importantly, willing to give pointers. I wanted to see if the rumors were true. And then, seeing you here”—Ming Kui flashed Mi Sha a bright smile that caused his silver lip ring to wink in the light—“well, now I understand.”

Mi Sha's lips twitched, unsure what expression to make. He knew the male species was just as gossipy if not more so, but he hadn't expected himself to be the center of any gossip. “Nothing so altruistic, helping others is just a good way to strengthen our own understanding. Right, Phoenix?”

Phoenix smiled slightly, violet eyes that always appeared misty in the early mornings casually sweeping over Ming Kui and Rory. “That's true enough.”

“Then I hope you don’t mind a few additions to your practice group?” Ming Kui asked with a winsome smile. “If it’s alright with everyone, we’d love to join in.”

Phoenix and Rozier exchanged glances while Renato looked on in a half-smile, but nodded their agreement. Aimé flashed a shy but friendly smile in welcome. It wasn’t every day that lower-ranked stars voluntarily joined higher-ranked stars in practice, and the gesture didn’t go unnoticed.

The other five-stars in the room looked on, all with varying expressions. In particular, another group, headed by a blonde known for his hip-hop dancing skills, Jasper Ferguson let out a snort and muttered something barely audible under his breath that was nevertheless heard by everyone, “forming cliques, what is this, high school?”

Phoenix glanced over lightly, and Aimé frowned momentarily as well. The whole atmosphere instantly became awkward. And it only became more so when Rozier sneered, “Oh, I wonder who was so obviously listening in yesterday when Phoenix was giving tips on singing high notes?”

Jasper flushed and seemed to want to say something in response but a boy next to Jasper elbowed him and another threw an arm over his shoulder. Soon, they had turned away and back to their own warm-ups and practice sessions.

Mi Sha watched this all with interest. The blonde haired, green eyed boy named Jasper was a formidable dancer in the hip-hop category with several dance championships under his belt. He was one of the contestants here who came with an already established fanbase and aside from his dancing and good looks, his fans in particular were quite taken with his blunt and straightforward personality. Something which was quite similar to Rozier, now that Mi Sha thought about it. 

But Rozier simply enjoyed being snarky and his privileged upbringing only nurtured that sharp way of speaking. Mi Sha was not very clear about Jasper but whether he was truly as direct as Rozier or simply putting on a persona, Mi Sha had to admit that this type of image was quite useful—no matter how offensive, fans would whitewash it with descriptors like “candid” and “genuine”.

Ming Kui's smile never changed but Rory looked as though he didn't know where to put his hands, and now even his ears took on a pink tinge. His voice was barely a murmur when he finally spoke.

“Um… I’m not really… good at dancing.” His chocolate brown gaze flickered up before quickly back down to the floor, chin tucked into his chest and lanky frame hunched.

Ming Kui patted Rory on the back reassuringly. “Don’t worry, Rory’s got some of the best expressive power here. Not a bad sounding voice either. He just… needs a little help with the choreography.”

Mi Sha's attention turned back to the edgy classical dancer and his socially awkward roommate, and gave an understanding smile. “Well, Ming Kui, you’ve got the dancing experience, so you should be fine. And Rory, no worries—I’ll help you with the moves.”

Ming Kui laughed happily as he clapped Rory on the back. “See, we’re all in this together, aren’t we? And hey, look at me,” he gestured dramatically, “I’m a classical dancer. Dancing in a style that doesn’t quite match this choreography—at all—but I’m here. So, let’s get to work!” He then beamed at Mi Sha, eyes so bright and warm that Mi Sha involuntarily returned a smile of his own.

As the music began, Mi Sha immediately saw the contrast between Ming Kui’s smooth, flowing movements and Rory’s stiff, unsure steps. Ming Kui, although not familiar with the exact choreography, moved gracefully through the motions, successfully picking up on the cues. His experience as a classical dancer made him able to improvise and adapt, turning every correction into a seamless fluidity. 

Rory, on the other hand, was a mess of awkward limbs. His limbs seemed to move in all the wrong directions, and each turn or step seemed to throw him further off balance. He flailed a bit as he tried to keep up, his face red with embarrassment. On one of the synchronized turns, Rory’s feet tangled under him, and he nearly collided with Renato.

“Whoa!” Renato called out, reflexively holding out an arm to Rory before he could trip over his own feet. “Easy there, buddy,” Renato said, giving Rory a reassuring grin.

Mi Sha was suddenly struck by the image of a tube man, an inflatable, dancing human-shaped balloon and had to stifle a laugh. “It’s okay,” Mi Sha said, his voice calm and patient, expression lacking any hints of the amusement bubbling inside him. “Just follow my steps, alright? Focus on the rhythm, and your body will naturally catch up.”

Mi Sha moved over to him, demonstrating each step with patience and breaking down the routine into simpler parts.

“Just take it slow,” Mi Sha encouraged, placing a hand on Rory’s shoulder. “Feel the rhythm in your body first. Don’t worry about keeping up with the rest of us right now.”

Phoenix noticed Rory’s struggle and joined them, offering a bit of vocal guidance to help Rory find the rhythm through the music. Between Phoenix’s soothing encouragement and Mi Sha’s steady support, Rory began to relax a bit, his stiff posture easing into a softer, more natural stance.

The practice session carried on, with Phoenix offering vocal support to everyone and Mi Sha patiently helping Rory with the choreography. Despite his clumsy nature, Rory’s love for performing began to shine through. The team’s energy grew contagious, and even Aimé found himself trying more intricate moves, his face breaking into a wide grin each time he nailed a particularly difficult step.

As they practiced, Mi Sha became aware of a quiet presence lingering at the edge of the room. June, usually reserved and quiet, stood at the periphery, watching intently. This wasn't the first time Mi Sha would catch him watching them, June’s amber eyes seemingly drawn to the practice group. In particular, he liked to watch Mi Sha’s guidance with keen interest.

Mi Sha caught June’s eye and gave him a nod of acknowledgment, which June returned with a startled, but hesitant smile. Though he didn’t step forward, his silent observation and the way he kept close gave Mi Sha the feeling that the younger, pink haired boy wanted to join them but held back for some reason Mi Sha couldn't puzzle out at the moment.

Like a skittish bunny testing the air from its burrow, Mi Sha thought.

*

Throughout the day, they practiced relentlessly, breaking only for quick rests before diving back in. The air in the practice room grew thick with exhaustion, sweat dampening their clothes as the hours stretched on. Yet Mi Sha could see the gradual improvements: Ming Kui’s pitch grew steadier, his breathing smoother, while Rory’s clumsy, erratic movements started to find a semblance of rhythm.

During one of their breaks, Renato, always with his holocom in hand, opened up his feed to catch up on the latest gossip. He suddenly let out a low whistle, drawing everyone’s attention.

“Guys,” he said with a smirk, holding up his holocom. “Have you all checked the trending tags? It seems like we’re trending. Or rather, Misha’s trending.”

“Trending?” Mi Sha looked over, a bottle of vitamin water in hand, an inky eyebrow raised in question. “What’s that about?”

Renato tapped the screen, scrolling through a series of candid photos. “Look at this. The fan pages are all talking about us.” He grinned, clearly amused by the situation. “Check it out—#StarboundExpressS3 has two new ‘ships’ for you, Mi Sha.”

Renato showed the group the first set of photos, taken during their visit to the Rose Cottage yesterday. But in each image, there was only the two of them, appearing close and comfortable with each other, caught mid-laughter or in conversation. There was even one with Renato in the middle of handing Mi Sha his vitamin water bottle,  their fingers brushing. The photos had clearly struck a chord with fans, who had been quick to label them with the ship name “Menato.”

“Menato?” Mi Sha’s eyes widened, completely taken aback. “But… we were just walking back together.”

Renato shrugged, still smiling. “Fans love making up stories. Apparently, we look ‘intimate’ enough to spark a whole ship fandom.”

Phoenix and Aimé opened their own holocoms. “It must have been taken by one of the fans outside the gates on our way back from the Rose Cottage.”

Rozier chimed in, a sarcastic drawl in his voice, “What I want to know is where the rest of us has gone? Were we somehow eaten by the two of you sometime in between?”

“Clearly, we were edited out to create a more ‘date-like’ atmosphere for the two of them.” Phoenix remarked in a half-joking manner. 

Before Mi Sha could respond, Renato flipped to the next set of images, this time featuring Mi Sha and Ming Kui. The pictures had been taken the day Mi Sha found Ming Kui in the hallway during his dizzy spell, one capturing Mi Sha holding Ming Kui up for support, while another showed Mi Sha leaning in close as Ming Kui pulled down his collar to reveal a glimpse of his tattoo. These shots were clearly taken through the window of the alcove they had been lingering in which faced the front of the manor. 

The ship had been named “Meflower” by fans, and, judging by the comments, the rivalry between “Menato” and “Meflower” fans was already brewing. In fact, Mi Sha would’ve suspected the production team to be behind this at how both sets of photos were uploaded within the space of an hour and with how much attention it brought to the show and its contestants if not for the clear signs of authentic fan activity.

“Well,” Rozier drawled, glancing at the virtual screen displayed by his gaudy diamond encrusted holocom. “Looks like someone was a busy bee last night.”

Mi Sha rubbed his temples, feeling a mix of disbelief and a rare nonplussed self-consciousness. He had never come across anything like this. “This… this is all just from some innocent photos. I didn’t even realize people were watching us.”

“Fans have eyes everywhere,” Ming Kui grinned knowingly, throwing a long arm over Mi Sha's shoulder. “It’s harmless enough, though. Let them have their fun, right? CP.”

“I can understand why it's called ‘Menato’ but why ‘Meflower’?” Aimé wondered curiously.

“Probably because Ming Kui's name means ‘bright sunflower’.” Mi Sha answered automatically.

“...” At this, everyone looked at Mi Sha. Phoenix and Renato had inscrutable half-smiles on their faces, Rozier snorted coldly, while Aimé and Rory peered at Mi Sha curiously.

Only Ming Kui beamed.

Just as Mi Sha was wondering at the sudden shift in the atmosphere, brows furrowing slightly at his inability to pick up what was going on. This was a first for him, and Mi Sha was unsure what to feel.

Renato brought everyone's attention back to the fan ships. “Look at these comments—‘Menato is endgame’ versus ‘Meflower supremacy.’ I think there’s a full-blown battle happening in the comments.”

“Uh, it's probably because of these photos?” Rory spoke up surprisingly, showing his holocom.

Everyone continued scrolling through the feed. Mi Sha and Renato at the Rose Cottage, but this time with Phoenix, Aimé, and Rozier clearly shown—all of them laughing, talking, and looking close, but not in any particularly romantic way.

Oh-ho. If the two sets of photos earlier had caused a ripple, now with the “bro” photos throwing light on the Menato ship, a tsunami was now sweeping over the fans and shippers. Meflower shippers were laughing at Menato shippers for “eating fake candy” as the photos spread like wildfire, egged on by Meflower shippers eager to slap Menato shippers in the face. Likewise, Menato shippers gave as good as they got, asking where Ming Kui was in the Rose Cottage group outing.

At this point, Mi Sha was feeling a bit numb. Perhaps, fans were a species that was altogether just as unfathomable as the cosmos. Unlike NPCs with preset behavior and personalities or players with their personal goals and ambitions, Mi Sha was completely out of his depth.

Ming Kui clapped him on the back, laughing. “Welcome to the world of idol fandom. Fans love their ships.”

*

Despite the newfound fan frenzy, they dove back into practice with renewed focus. The atmosphere in the room grew warmer, the camaraderie among them more palpable. They worked through each section, each stumbling block, until their energy flagged but their spirits remained high.

Phoenix took charge of the vocal section, guiding everyone through harmonies and helping even the less confident singers find their voices. He worked especially closely with Ming Kui, whose instinct for dance was unmatched but who struggled to keep up with the vocals. Phoenix was patient, breaking down each note until Ming Kui managed to find his footing.

Meanwhile, Mi Sha continued to assist Rory with the choreography. With each attempt, Rory grew a little more comfortable, a little less rigid. He smiled in gratitude at Mi Sha, even managing to hold eye contact for more than two seconds, too relieved at finally feeling like he was making progress to hold onto his social awkwardness.

They practiced until past midnight, everyone too focused on the performance to notice the time. At last, they agreed to take a final break, sprawling on the floor in exhaustion. Rory lay on his back, gasping for breath but smiling, clearly proud of himself for lasting the whole day of practice.

“I can’t believe we practiced this long,” Aimé said, wiping sweat from his forehead. “But it was worth it.”

Ming Kui, equally exhausted, laughed. “You’re telling me. I don’t think I’ve ever pushed myself like this before.”

Renato checked his holocom again, shaking his head in fake disapproval but true amusement as he glanced through the latest comments. “Looks like the fans are still going strong with ‘Menato’ and ‘Meflower.’ This might be a whole saga.”

Mi Sha rolled his eyes but couldn’t hide a smile. “Who's winning?”

Renato smirked. “Oh, you know I will be cheering on Menato, sorry Ming.”

Ming Kui saluted with a water bottle, “Likewise, Leo.”

Mi Sha raised an eyebrow, “Nicknames for each other already? Maybe I should step aside and leave it to a ship between you two.”

Phoenix and Aimé laughed, with Rory even joining in albeit looking guilty while at it.

Renato made a childish face. “It's Leonetti.”

Ming Kui shrugged, smiling. “Western names are so hard to remember.”

With the energy of their practice still lingering in the air, they shared one last laugh before they finally called it a night, sore and weary but satisfied with the day’s progress, each of them feeling a little closer, a little more prepared for the evaluations the day after tomorrow. 

This confidence and camaraderie kept them buoyed, despite their sore muscles and weary eyes. They had made one last stop at the Rose Cottage to stock up on supplies to fuel them through the final stretch tomorrow.

The manor grounds were bathed in silver moonlight, a serene hush blanketing the trees and hedges. It had only been two days yet Mi Sha had almost forgotten what it felt like to experience a true night’s silence after the buzz of the practice rooms. 

But just as they approached the manor, Mi Sha stopped in his tracks, his brow furrowing as he tilted his head slightly, listening.

“Do you guys hear that?” he asked softly.

The others quieted, ears straining to catch whatever had caught Mi Sha’s attention. The gentle hum of the night surrounded them, the sound of crickets filling the silence—until, faintly, a low, haunting melody drifted through the air, filling the night with a melancholic, ethereal quality.

“It sounds like… cello music?” Phoenix whispered, glancing at Mi Sha for confirmation.

Intrigued, they followed the music down a small, tree-lined path that branched off from the main route to the front manor. The melody grew louder, wrapping around them like a dark lullaby, leading them toward a small, secluded lake. A gazebo sat by the water’s edge, bathed in the soft, silver light of the full moon that hung low in the night sky, its reflection perfectly mirrored on the lake’s surface.

In the center of the gazebo, a lone figure sat, his hands expertly drawing a bow across the strings of a cello. The rich, mournful sound of his playing seemed to seep into the very air around them, coloring the scene with an almost otherworldly sadness. His dark hair fell over his face as he swayed with the music, lost in its depths. Though he was tall and thin, his silhouette seemed to meld with the shadows, his fragile form only enhancing the haunting effect of the scene.

The group tried to remain silent, captivated by the sight and sound, but as they shifted to get a closer view, The figure’s playing ceased. He lowered his bow, turning to them with calm eyes that seemed to look at them yet at the same time see through them as if they were not really there.

For a moment, no one spoke. The reflection of the moon shimmered on the water, casting everything in shades of silver and shadow. The beauty of the moment, combined with the haunting music, the last notes of which seemingly still lingering in the air and filling it with a sense of sorrow.

“Augustus?” Mi Sha recognized the figure with mild surprise, finally breaking the quiet. Augustus Meng was known for his eccentricity, an unfailingly polite young man who often kept to himself. But unlike June whose reserved behavior seemed more out of caution, Augustus’ lone wolf conduct seemed more out of true detachment. In fact, his polite mannerisms was simply another way to distance himself. So seeing him out here, in the dead of night, was strangely fitting.

“Oh, we didn’t mean to interrupt,” Mi Sha began, stepping forward with an apologetic smile. Augustus stood, his tall frame casting a faint shadow against the gazebo’s white wood as he greeted them with a formal nod.

“It’s alright. I knew you were there,” Augustus replied in a low, gentle voice that was as smooth as his music, tinged with an almost imperceptible melancholy. There was a gravity about him, a somber politeness that set him apart from the others.

Mi Sha noticed this quiet melancholy that seemed to cling to him, reminding him of Phoenix’s hidden pensive side, but more pronounced, as if Augustus carried a burden he had no intention of concealing. His high cheekbones and hollowed cheeks gave his face a chiseled, almost ghostly look, and though he towered at an imposing 191 centimeters, his thin frame and solemn air made him appear almost delicate.

“That was beautiful,” Aimé said, breaking the silence with a tentative smile. “I play piano, so I know how hard it is to put that much emotion into an instrument. What was that piece called?”

“It doesn’t have a name,” Augustus replied quietly, his gaze drifting to the lake. “I… composed it myself.”

Having played for many orchestras, Augustus was quite well-known among the classical music circles. But Mi Sha didn't think he had ever heard of the other playing his own original pieces in public before. He exchanged an intrigued look with Aimé whose admiration was evident in his expression. “Your music seems to be telling a story. The emotions are very vivid. Not many people can do that.” Mi Sha commented thoughtfully.

A hint of a smile ghosted across Augustus’s lips, but he only nodded in response, accepting the compliment without a word. His gaze remained distant, as though his mind lingered in some other place, a place he alone could access.

Ming Kui, glancing around curiously, tilted his head and asked, “Did you come here to play because of the scenery?”

For a moment, Augustus’s dark eyes seem to focus on the present more sharply. But instead of answering directly, he offered a noncommittal smile, one that was more of a tugging of the lips or a polite gesture than an actual smile.

*

Back in their suite, Mi Sha and the rest settled in, still absorbing the strange, almost surreal experience by the lake. The Calla Lily Suite felt cozy and warm in comparison, with its soft lighting and calm decor, but the memory of Augustus’s haunting cello piece lingered in the room like a ghost, wrapping itself around each of them as they quietly discussed the encounter.

“He's an interesting character,” Mi Sha mused, leaning back on the couch with a thoughtful look. “I was surprised he joined us to walk back. He gives off this feeling… I don’t know how to explain it. Like he’s here but somewhere else, too.”

Rozier looked up from undoing his cufflinks. “Maybe that’s just how genius musicians are. There’s always this kind of… eccentricity. Sets them apart.” He shot a sideways glance at Phoenix, clearly lumping him into that description.

Phoenix, lounging against the arm of the couch, raised an eyebrow at him and gave a dry chuckle. “Thanks for calling me a genius, I think,” he drawled, a sardonic smile curving his lips.

Rozier pushed up his gold-rimmed spectacles, unfazed. “Simply an observation,” he replied, his tone as indelicate as ever. “People who play with that kind of intensity, they’re just… a little different. And I don’t mean that in a bad way.”

Mi Sha smirked, looking at Phoenix with a teasing glint in his eyes. “Guess that makes you one of the ‘eccentric’ ones, huh?”

Phoenix only rolled his eyes in a goodnatured, long-suffering manner.

At this time, Aimé appeared from his room with a change of clothes in preparation for a shower. “You know, I’d love to play that piece on the piano,” he said, his gaze distant as he recalled the melody. “I wonder if Augustus would let me see the sheet music… if he even has it written down.”

The group fell silent, recalling again Augustus’s haunting melody on the cello. The strange, melancholic beauty of the music and its equally captivating creator that seemed to mirror the moonlit lake was like a scene from a movie.

Mi Sha began to fiddle with the cosmos cube he had taken out of his pocket, seemingly absentminded as he spoke, “I don’t know if he’d share it. It seemed quite personal, as if it was a part of him, and playing it was the only way he could tell his story.”

Phoenix nodded in agreement, his eyes drawn to the long pale fingers flying over the strange Rubik's cube in Mi Sha's hands. “Some pieces are like that,” he murmured. “For many songwriters, they speak through their work. I imagine it is the same for composers.”

“Well, no harm in asking, is there?” Rozier cast them all an unimpressed look, clearly not getting, nor in the mood for poetic soul-searching—as if he was ever the sensitive type. “But for now, we've got more practice tomorrow, so best to turn in for the night.”

[always-a-joyful-note]

Here's the enstars tw list, enjoy ★

well would you look at that....

the tw list should be a trigger warning in of itself. I simply do not believe this is real

[linghxr]

hello ! I hope you're having a good day. i know this is a long shot, but I saw your post regarding cpop survival shows, and was wondering if you could point me in the right direction regarding a stage performance that i'm looking for. It's a male idol survival show, and this particular stage had them battling in like a team a vs b style, and the members were wearing suits. The most important detail I remember is the part of the choreography where they have to pull out a red cloth from their sleeve by biting it. I apologize for suddenly messaging, I just cant seem to remember the program name or song they performed to hence why i'm desperate. Thank you regardless if my message pushes through or not !

Hi, I think it’s 大艺术家 from the original 偶像练习生. Group B had red handkerchiefs, and Group A (including 陈立农) had blue.

No need to apologize—I hope this is what you were looking for!

[chulsaaaaands]

oh my god i really have no idea how this app works um SUPPORT KASAHARA MOMONA ON PD101 JP THE GIRLS‼️‼️‼️

[bandsanitizer]

idk but idols not being friends/family irl just kind of coworkers is not the evil of the industry that should be of utmost concern