The Beidouxing concert was a great success. Their new songs and the love song sung by Xu Zifan and Bai Xingchen at the concert gained immense popularity upon release. The solo songs of the other members also became their signature works, attracting a huge wave of fans with their talent.
Initially, "The Birth of an Idol" wasn't well-received. Although it had a large audience, most were just there for the spectacle, finding the performances of handsome young men entertaining but not expecting much from the boy group they would form. This kind of thing wasn't very popular in China to begin with, and didn't have a large market. Besides, what kind of talent could these young idols selected through a talent show possibly have? This was the general public's opinion of the show and the boy/girl groups it produced.
However, this season of "Idol Birth" was very well-made, and the mentors were all high-profile and dedicated, selecting truly talented newcomers. The performance of the same song by Beidouxing showcased their progress, and their individual performances demonstrated their abilities, greatly changing the public's perception of boy band idols. Especially considering they've had no negative news in the few months since their debut, consistently projecting positive energy, many parents feel reassured. Supporting idols like them is surely better than supporting those who smoke, drink, swear, and frequent nightclubs!
Beidouxing gained even more fame, truly becoming the top boy band in China and earning widespread recognition. Their management company began discussing with the members whether their contracts could be renewed after the initial one-year term. Li Keyang and the others proposed that renewals would require an annual concert tour, a proposal rejected by the company. Concerts didn't generate much income; with Beidouxing's rising popularity, more variety shows, commercials, and film/television projects were more lucrative.
This didn't align with the members' dreams, but if they parted ways with the company, they would have to go solo and return to their original trainee company, leading to a great deal of uncertainty about their future. The group hesitated and gathered together to consult Xu Zifan.
"Brother Fan, do you want to go solo? You filmed a movie that's about to be released. If it's well-received, you can pursue a career as an actor."
"Brother Fan, I remember you said at the beginning that you became a star just to make money, and that you would only be sure of your dream after you made money. Are you sure now?"
"Brother Fan, if the Big Dipper falls apart, what will become of us?"
Of the seven members of Beidouxing, apart from Xu Zifan, the youngest is 18 and the oldest is 20. They are all still very young and confused about their future choices. Among them, Xu Zifan, who has always been the most composed and popular, has become the person they subconsciously rely on. They all want to know his opinion.
Xu Zifan said, "How we develop in the future depends on each of our goals. Making money, holding concerts overseas, focusing on singing, leading the rap trend, acting—there are many development paths in the entertainment industry. We need to be clear about what we want most before deciding how to proceed. There's also the reality that what we want to do isn't necessarily what we can do. The reality is that we have to be famous enough to have a chance to do what we want. So, to be famous enough, how far are you willing to go, how much are you willing to sacrifice, and what are your bottom lines? It's not easy for a group to last because everyone has their own ideas. If we don't disband, then we must always maintain our original intentions and bottom lines, have cohesion, common goals, and unchanging brotherhood. Without these, it's better to disband sooner rather than later to avoid an ugly situation in the future."
Li Keyang was the first to speak: "Brother Fan, my goal is to shine on stage and hold concerts in various countries. I understand what you mean. My bottom line is that I can practice hard, improve myself, and take on other engagements to maintain my popularity, but I will never sell myself out."
Xiao Cheng followed up, saying, "I will not sell myself out. I entered the entertainment industry for a pure dream, and I cannot let anything insult this dream."
"I won't either. I don't want to disband. I hope we can truly become brothers and become the most popular idol boy group, surpassing foreign boy groups, instead of being a fleeting joke."
Starting with Li Keyang, each member of Beidouxing shared their opinions. Xu Zifan then asked them for their thoughts, and in answering Xu Zifan's questions, it was as if the fog before their eyes had cleared, and they were gradually seeing the path ahead more clearly. Xu Zifan had known them for so long and knew they were all good-natured, which was why he was sharing these things with them. After confirming that their goal was to become the strongest boy group, Xu Zifan proposed that after their one-year contract expired, they would transfer to Bai Xingchen's studio.
"In the future, I will invest in Starry Sky Studio and develop it into an entertainment company. Our contract with Beidouxing will definitely be top-tier, requiring us to hold concert tours in at least five cities every year. Once we have enough popularity, we will consider holding concerts in other countries. We will have six months of group activities each year and six months of individual development activities. As Beidouxing becomes more and more popular, we will focus all our efforts on developing our individual strengths. This way, regardless of whether our group continues to thrive, our individual abilities will be sufficient to support our solo careers in the entertainment industry. This will be quite tough and tiring, but we are still young, and we should work hard for at least the first ten years. The company will provide each of us with a personal nutritionist and fitness coach to ensure our health. As for those messy drinking parties and invitations in the entertainment industry, we will refuse them all, and we are not allowed to accept them privately. This is our bottom line. As long as we work hard enough, Beidouxing will definitely be known to everyone in ten years."
Xu Zifan earnestly explained his plans to them, then said, "This is no small matter; it determines our future. If we really don't disband, and someone crosses the line or betrays their brothers in the future, the fans who appreciate our brotherhood will definitely turn against us, and the consequences will be severe. Of course, if it's for legitimate reasons that we want to get together..."
"Okay, that should be fine as long as the reasons are good. Think it over carefully. There are still a few months until the contract expires, so don't rush into a decision. Once you've decided, we'll work hard."
"Okay, Brother Fan, we'll think about it carefully."
Previously, the members were confused, but after their in-depth conversation with Xu Zifan, they began to think with purpose. They seriously considered the different paths they could take in the future, making both the best and worst-case plans, and pondering the future of Beidouxing. However, they didn't think for long. The conditions offered by Xu Zifan were undoubtedly the best for them. Whether they renewed their contracts with their current company or returned to their original company, their development would not be better than following Xu Zifan.
Everything Xu Zifan mentioned would be specified in the contract, and their share of the profits would be substantial. Where else could you find such a good contract? Bai Xingchen and Bai Yuchen, the siblings, are both top-tier celebrities in the entertainment industry, and their studio's resources are considerable. Most importantly, Xu Zifan possesses a convincing aura that inspires people to follow him. They can't quite explain what it is, but they feel a sense of security and believe that following him won't be a mistake.
The entertainment industry is a complex and often corrupting influence, so aligning yourself with the right people is crucial. By following Xu Zifan, they felt they might be shielded from the negative aspects of the industry, and that he would provide an environment where they could focus on achieving their dreams. Therefore, they all approached Xu Zifan to share their thoughts and discuss their personal plans. This was something Xu Zifan had discussed with Bai Xingchen after confirming their relationship; he was well-prepared, so once the members made their decisions, the matter was settled.
Having finalized their future plans, the members felt relieved and relaxed, focusing on their respective engagements. With clear goals, they were highly motivated and performed exceptionally well. Xu Zifan and Bai Xingchen also recorded their final episode of the dating reality show.
They filmed this time overseas because Bai Yuchen is getting married! As Bai Xingchen's boyfriend, Xu Zifan not only has to attend the wedding but also meet her parents, so they simply chose to film in the city where Bai's family lives. There are beautiful beaches and the sea there, the scenery is especially beautiful, and the environment is especially romantic.
They went out to sea to fish and caught several big fish, as well as some shrimp, crabs, and clams in their nets. Xu Zifan picked out the portions for dinner, intending to put the rest back into the sea. Bai Xingchen, seeing him carefully selecting, stood up and said, "I'll go sit inside for a while."
Xu Zifan looked up at her. "Are you tired? Do you want to go back?"
"No need, I just need to rest for a bit." Bai Xingchen smiled and quickly walked into the cabin. As soon as she entered, staff members greeted her and quickly helped her fix her hair and change her clothes. Bai Xingchen whispered, "He didn't notice, did he? Can I go into the water now?"
"Sure, no problem, don't worry!"
Bai Xingchen changed into a tight-fitting blue mermaid costume, her feet encased in a beautiful fishtail. Her long, wavy hair cascaded over her shoulders, and two tiny, sparkling rhinestones adorned the corners of her eyes, making her look absolutely stunning! Bai Xingchen entered the water from the other side of the boat, followed by crew members filming. She hid by the side of the boat, and as Xu Zifan poured the fish and shrimp into the sea, she quickly dived and swam to where they had fallen. Xu Zifan immediately spotted a blue shadow in the water and leaned over the railing to look. "What's that?"
Bai Xingchen rolled over in the sea, swimming in a graceful arc. Then, she first slapped her large fish tail above the water to make sure she had attracted Xu Zifan's attention before suddenly surfacing in front of him!
"Stars?" Xu Zifan leaned forward, his eyes flashing with amazement, and he smiled unconsciously.
Bai Xingchen smiled and extended her hand to him, "Handsome young man, would you like to come and visit my home?"
"With pleasure!" Xu Zifan jumped into the water, and Bai Xingchen immediately swam around him once, then held his hand tightly and swam with him in the sea. They occasionally dived down to play with the fish, and occasionally surfaced to chase each other. The four photographers took pictures of them from different angles, making it look as if a mermaid princess and a human prince had met.
This is the last episode, and every couple will have a romantic ending! The romantic climax of the Starry Night couple is a passionate kiss in the water. Only those who see it up close can truly appreciate its romance, and the photographer captured this moment perfectly.
Xu Zifan kissed Bai Xingchen, held her tightly as they floated to the surface, and laughed, "Your mermaid beauty has been captured by me, so you can only come home with me."
"With pleasure!"