Chapter 99
At the moment, she was fully focused on adapting songs for the trainees, her expression serious and absorbed.
She had taken full charge of the task, not merely to prove her own capability, but to project an image of responsibility and diligence.
After reviewing the replay of her live stream from the day before, she realized it hadn’t gone particularly well.
Most of the criticism centered on her being too passive and too hesitant to voice strong opinions.
Many fans had even left comments on X, urging her to channel the assertiveness of a wealthy heiress, essentially, to show a bit more attitude.
Nicole and her manager had a discussion, after which she resolved to adopt a more assertive persona in the upcoming
pisodes.
When Felicity happened to contradict her, Nicole seized the opportunity to make a strong statement.
She was beginning to understand that controversy drove engagement, and a bit of on–screen rivalry could work in their
avor.
This led to the two of them taking charge of separate teams for song adaptation.
However, both women were strong–willed and tended to focus on their own dynamic, inadvertently sidelining the trainees n their team.
As Nicole and Felicity dominated the song adaptation process, the cameras naturally followed them, resulting in the trainees receiving minimal screen time and visibility.
The barrage of comments, meanwhile, was overwhelmingly skewed in Nicole’s favor.
Nicole looks absolutely stunning when she’s in the zone p>
Everyone used to praise Alicia, but look at her now, just sitting there while Nicole is hands–on with the trainees. The difference in attitude speaks volumes. ]
Alicia might pick things up quickly, but when it comes to musical expertise Nicole is in a league of her own p>
[Solo talent is one thing, but actually being able to guide the trainees is what really counts p>
[Nicole is so dedicated and professional. It must be exhausting compared to the other mentors. I really feel for her p>
[These trainees are lucky. They hardly have to lift a finger and still get carried to success p>
[Watching them just sit around with nothing to do is honestly frustrating, though p>
[Nicole’s putting in so much effort for them. Let’s hope they deliver on stage. ]
In contrast, fans of the trainees voiced growing frustration.
[Could Nicole maybe… not ‘help‘ so much p>
[Our idols really don’t need this kind of ‘support,‘ thanks p>
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Chapter 97
35 vouchers
[If you didn’t know better, you’d think Nicole was the one competing next week with all the screen time she’s getting ]
[It’s not that the trances aren’t doing anything. The two of them have taken over everything |
[Other teams are laughing and bonding. Ours just look bored or completely checked out p>
[Honestly, this whole team seems depressed at this point p>
To the tramees fans, this no longer felt like a competition for the participants. It had become a showdown between the two
guest mentors
Nicole wasn’t just dominating the spotlight. Her fans were flooding the comments with thinly veiled jabs, making the entire situation even more aggravating.
With each passing episode, the trainees‘ supporters grew more irritated with Nicole’s fanbase, and their regard for Nicole herself continued to plummet.
The morning passed quickly.
At lunchtime, Alicia glanced at her watch and signaled to the trainees that it was time to eat.
The production crew had set up a cafeteria providing complimentary meals for staff and participants, so Alicia and Darren followed the team there.
Hearing their departure, members from Team 2 and 3 also began filing out for lunch, leaving only Team I’s practice room silent and still.
Once seated with her meal, Alicia opened the live broadcast interface.
The feeds from all three practice rooms were still running, though they now showed empty spaces and attracted little viewership, except for Team I’s stream, which remained active and populated with comments.
She tapped into it and saw Nicole hunched over her notebook, completely absorbed in revising the song, as if she had forgotten about eating altogether.
Felicity sat across from her, equally focused on her own adjustments.
The trainees in their team waited nearby, exchanging resigned glances, clearly unable to leave until their mentors did.
The comment section was flooded with admiration for Nicole.
[Nicole work ethic is unreal p>
She sull going while everyone else is at lunch. That’s dedication p>
Kinda wish she’d just be lazy like Alicia sometimes. At least she wouldn’t skip incals |
After skimming through the remarks, Alicia thought to herself. Do Nicole and her fanbase always have to make everything a performance?
Since Nicole’s supporters were so eager to praise her “sacrifice.” Alicia decided she might as well give them more to celebrate.
She sent a quick message to Jason
Alicia. [Ask the ops team to get “Nicole skips meals out of dedication” trending. Put it on my tab p>
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3:57 am
Chapter 97
ppp.
Jason: Already done. Her third trending topic today is on its way p>
A slight smirk touched Alicia’s lips. It seemed Jason had anticipated her move.
Alicia: [Excellent]
35 vouchers,
Just as anticipated, within minutes, a new hashtag appeared on the trending list: [Nicole is so dedicated. She skips meals p>
She clicked into the topic and scrolled through the emerging comments.
Alongside the predictable flood of praise and sympathy from Nicole’s fans, there was a growing undercurrent of skepticism from neutral observers.
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Cedella
Cedella is a passionate storyteller known for her bold romantic and spicy novels that keep readers hooked from the very first chapter. With a flair for crafting emotionally intense plots and unforgettable characters, she blends love, desire, and drama into every story she writes. Cedella’s storytelling style is immersive and addictive—perfect for fans of heated romances and heart-pounding twists.