Chapter Twenty-Eight: A Surge in Popularity Once Again! Astonishing Beyond Measure!

Originally, Wang Tianhai and Zhou Tai had wanted to see Bai Ling make a fool of herself. They were eager to witness what kind of stir this so-called "pretty face" could possibly create. But now, their hearts were as cold as ice.

It wasn’t just that their backup plans were rendered completely useless—worse still, all their previous schemes would now serve only to benefit someone else. In their attempt to extinguish Bai Ling’s flame, they had instead poured oil onto the fire, making her blaze even brighter.

“Damn it!” Wang Tianhai trembled with rage, his fat quivering with every breath. How could he have imagined that Bai Ling would perform like this? How could he have predicted that his own maneuvers would end up looking so utterly foolish? Since becoming an executive, he had never suffered such a loss—but with Bai Ling, he’d been stung twice in a row!

As for the other viewers in the live-stream, their eyes were just as discerning. When the others—Wen Yan and her group—began to sing, there was a sense of disappointment. Perhaps, they thought, the highlight of this episode would simply be Bai Ling’s traditional costume. After all, that was all the promotional material seemed to showcase. But as soon as Bai Ling began her performance, as she started to move, they realized how wrong they’d been—spectacularly wrong.

Admittedly, her beauty remained a highlight. Yet there was a vast difference between quietly admiring a “pretty face” and witnessing a breathtaking sword dance. Bai Ling’s exquisite, dazzling movements left everyone in a daze. Who would have thought that, in a mere girl group variety show, one could witness a performance of this caliber? Every gesture was flawless, beyond reproach. Every stance, every glance, embodied the spirit of a heroic swordswoman to perfection.

Though Bai Ling was only a guest performer, she had become, without question, the true star of the show in everyone’s hearts.

A nameless emotion spread through the audience. At this moment, few even remembered to post comments in the chat. The normally lively live-stream, ever since the episode began, fell into an uncanny silence, as if someone had wiped it clean or dammed a flowing river.

Clearly, the viewers were utterly absorbed, forgetting even to share their reactions. Only when Bai Ling’s movements shifted from gentle and fluid to as fierce as a sudden downpour, then transformed once more into a soft spring rain, did they snap out of their trance.

As the song ended, Bai Ling concluded her performance with a flourish of her sword—a crisp, decisive, and beautiful movement, as if it were a special effect crafted for a period drama. For a moment, the audience was lost in a dream.

A few seconds later, the dam burst.

“Wow!”
“Wow!”
“Words can’t even express how I feel right now!”
“Sis, I’m kneeling—please take me as your disciple, I want to learn this!”
“Coach, I want to learn this. Coach: So do I…”
“It’s so beautiful, so stunning. Is this dance, or are we witnessing the secrets of martial arts being unveiled?”
“To be honest, I really felt the beauty in Bai Ling’s dance. Other girl groups are just S…”
“Exactly, Bai Ling was simply too gorgeous.”
“I came just for the fun, but after this, I can’t help but want to like and follow. Where’s the fan group? I must join today!”
“So this is the production team’s ace in the hole? No wonder the show has been so hyped lately.”
“Even if there’s some hype, if all variety shows were at this level, I’d be thrilled every time!”
“Right!”
“I really underestimated Bai Ling. Just think, Starshine Entertainment said Bai Ling was worthless, had no talent, and could only rely on her looks for resources. Absolute nonsense.”
“That’s right, Starshine is just full of it. Bai Ling is number one!”
“With a performance like today’s, how could anyone not fall for her?”
“Pathetic, that fat Wang Tianhai even thought he could take advantage of her. What a joke—he’s not even fit to carry her shoes.”
“You’re all going overboard, but I have to say it—Starshine is just S…”
“My heart aches for her. She clearly has both beauty and talent, yet she’s been driven to this by Starshine.”
“I came for Bai Ling’s song, but now I know her better—she’s a hidden gem!”

Sword dancing isn’t a conventional performing art. You might call it unconventional, but never obscure. When something so deeply rooted in the nation’s blood is presented so masterfully by Bai Ling, it’s only natural that so many are moved.

There was no need to mention Bai Ling’s devoted fans—they flooded the chat with their support. Even the majority of casual viewers were now swept up in the frenzy for Bai Ling. In just the time since the premiere, her social media followers were skyrocketing at an incredible pace. No one could predict where it would end, but it was clear that after today, Bai Ling’s popularity would be unstoppable.

Even the trolls had fallen silent—not because they didn’t want to attack Bai Ling, but because their voices were too small to sway public opinion, even with an army of hired commenters. Why invite trouble?

As for Starshine Entertainment, there was nothing more to say. It was foreseeable that every time Bai Ling shone, Starshine would be dragged out and trampled on again.

Wang Tianhai and Zhou Tai stared at the tidal wave of comments while the complaints from the operations department poured in. Their faces turned ashen, their rage nearly suffocating them.

“Bai Ling, I, Wang Tianhai, am your mortal enemy!” he snarled, nearly choking on his own fury. If not for Zhou Tai’s timely assistance, Bai Ling might have been celebrating at his funeral.

Even Bai Ling herself hadn’t expected such a passionate response from the viewers. Of course, watching her own performance, she was deeply moved by what she had achieved.

“System, you’re amazing,” she murmured. “Are there any more skills like sword dancing? Give me a couple more!”

System: Please continue your excellent performance. Heaven rewards the diligent. As long as you keep striving, you will have my utmost support.

Bai Ling’s excitement instantly deflated. “Never mind, goodbye!”

She didn’t bother watching the rest of the show—everything after this was filler. Instead, she went to check her account. She remembered that after singing "Under the Sea," her followers had spiked up to two million for the first time, as people resonated with her and took her side. That song had struck a chord, and her fan count had soared. But everyone knew such moments were rare, perhaps a once-in-a-lifetime occurrence. For many, reaching new heights again was nearly impossible.

Yet now, Bai Ling saw her followers climbing before her very eyes. When she logged in, it had already reached 2.3 million; after refreshing a few times, it shot up to 2.4 million. The surge was so fierce that even Bai Ling found it hard to believe.