Chapter 163: Reversal of Poles
The popularity of “Produce48” attracted the attention of many K-pop fans, and with the update frequency of two episodes per week, trainees who were not very popular originally began to appear in the public eye.
Leaving aside the Liu Yuanli trio, Sakura's popularity still held the top spot, while Jiang Huiyuan, who was in second place, fell. Ahn Yujin, a latecomer, rose to the top, with her popularity catching up to Sakura.
A large, always smiling, and quick-witted puppy naturally wouldn't lack attention.
The third place kept changing, with no definite spot, until… the first performance stage of the third episode was released. Kim Minju, who debuted with a yoga-style idol, now called Zhou-style idol, attracted countless viewers' attention.
Under the promotion of DM Entertainment, Kim Minju, an artist with a unique style, gradually became well-known. Subsequently, her multiple appearances in Jiang Shu's videos were also dug up.
All of a sudden, Kim Minju, who was in Class D, saw her popularity soar directly to third place, hot on the heels of Ahn Yujin in second place.
However, the real explosion of “Produce48” was yet to come in the fourth episode.
After all the group performances concluded, the three judges successively gave new trainee evaluations.
Starting with Class D, each trainee was evaluated. When it was Kim Minju's turn…
“Minju,” Jiang Shu held the microphone and smiled at the girl standing nervously in the line opposite him. “Frankly speaking, your performance on the first public stage showed some improvement compared to your initial stage, but the improvement was limited.”
Kim Minju's eyes dimmed.
She really had been trying hard, but who were those in Class A and Class B? Their strength was one stronger than the next; even with improvement, she was still no match for them.
“But!” Jiang Shu's tone shifted. “Our ‘Produce48’ is a survival audition variety show where all national producers participate in voting. We noticed that your popularity vote ranks fifth.”
All the trainees were stunned, and even the bullet comments were confused.
Could it be…?
“Therefore, after comprehensive consideration by the three of us, your new evaluation is…”
“A.”
【Daebak!!!】
【Our votes actually work?!!!】
【Wow! Minju entered Class A!】
【We were the ones who lifted her in!!!】
【Ah ah ah ah】
The bullet comments had already exploded.
For the fourth episode, the production team deliberately held back only one episode, precisely to refer to the voting situation on the popularity rankings after the third episode aired.
And Jiang Shu's statement at this moment also excited many viewers who didn't take the “Produce48” popularity rankings seriously. This meant that voting really worked, didn't it?
Then what are we waiting for?
I'm going to vote, vote, vote!
Subsequently, the evaluations given by the three judges indeed referenced the popularity rankings. Some trainees whose strength did not meet the standard were also promoted to higher levels, while trainees with low popularity fell to lower levels.
But the big explosion of the fourth episode was not only Kim Minju's comeback against the odds due to her popularity, but also…
“Xiao Yuan,” Jiang Shu looked at Zhang Yuanying in front of him with a serious expression.
Seeing Jiang Shu's serious face, Zhang Yuanying couldn't help but feel nervous.
“You, Xiao Liu, and Lily all have a fan base, so it's normal for you to be far ahead in the popularity rankings. Therefore, for the three of you, we have a different standard than for other trainees.”
“Now I want to tell you, Xiao Yuan, you've been a bit lax.”
Zhang Yuanying's heart tightened, and her small face looked nervously at Jiang Shu.
“Your first public stage was very eye-catching, but just like your initial stage, I didn't see any improvement in you. In a variety show like this, no progress means regression.”
“Popularity is the basis for your top-two ranking, but at the same time, it's also a cage that binds you. The popularity you brought from IVE made you relax, thinking that no matter what, I'll lead the team to debut, so just practice casually.”
“Am I right?”
Zhang Yuanying didn't say anything, but her lowered head and silent demeanor had already given the answer.
“Think about what you told me before your debut.” Jiang Shu shook his head and made the final judgment.
“Zhang Yuanying, Class D.”
【Class D?!!!】
【Oh my god! Oh my god! Oh my god!】
【A to D? That's too harsh!】
【Why is our Yuan Ying's popularity called a cage? Is Jiang Shu sick?】
【Fans, calm down. Chairman Jiang is clearly doing this for Zhang Yuanying's own good. In a survival audition variety show like this, no progress means regression.】
【Exactly, you're here to debut, not to coast along.】
【He just sees that our Yuan Ying is popular and wants to prevent her from becoming too popular!】
【That's hilarious! If he really wanted to prevent her from becoming too popular, he wouldn't have created the unprecedented twin-star + four-attachment structure of IVE.】
【Chairman Jiang: I never thought I'd be associated with the term 'preventing from becoming too popular' in my lifetime.】
Because of Zhang Yuanying's evaluation, the bullet comments turned into a mess, with both sides arguing fiercely.
But obviously, this was just the beginning.
After Zhang Yuanying came Lily.
“Jin-young hyung, you go ahead.” Jiang Shu motioned for Park Jin-young to speak.
Park Jin-young picked up the microphone and looked at Lily with a smile.
“Having already debuted in a popular group like IVE, after returning to being a trainee, I didn't see any slackness or dissatisfaction in you; all I saw was silent effort, sweating for the sake of debuting again.”
“Honestly, if Chairman Jiang wasn't sitting here, I would really want to invite you to our JYP.” Park Jin-young was telling the truth; he genuinely admired girls like Lily who worked diligently.
“Ahem, don't even think about poaching, Jin-young hyung,” Jiang Shu coughed and said.
“Haha.” Park Jin-young chuckled, “Lily xi, your first public stage has improved a lot compared to your initial stage, so our evaluation for you is still Class A, remaining unchanged in Class A.”
“Thank you, judges!”
【It still has to be our Fufu's main vocalist!】
【I'm crying! It turns out Lily's efforts have always been seen. Who said attachments should be ignored!】
【Our Lily is also getting better.】
【The three judges really take every trainee's efforts seriously; they are truly professional!】
Although Lily's popularity couldn't compare to Liu Yuan, her public appeal was much better. Fewer fans also meant fewer troublemakers, and passersby wouldn't dislike an artist for no reason, especially if that artist had little presence.
As a result, when Lily appeared, the bullet comments were basically positive, with very few of the widespread arguments seen when Liu Yuan appeared.
Even Liu Yuan's fans wouldn't curse Lily.
She's just an attachment; why would you curse her?
If you curse her, her fans will also surrender at light speed, directly admitting defeat, with no sense of accomplishment at all.
After Lily came Liu Zhimin.
Jiang Shu, sitting in the middle, saw a hint of complexity flash in his eyes when Liu Zhimin came on stage, but since they were recording the show, he didn't make any moves.
Looking at Liu Zhimin, Min Xizhen picked up the microphone.
