Superstar Ch.98

Chapter 98: The Gods (30% Forum Format)

Almost the moment the Weibo post was published, the comments started skyrocketing.

The ones who got in early were mostly controlling the narrative or posting meaningless “ahhh!” comments. About two minutes later, the news that The Phoenix would officially debut on February 14 spread across every corner of the internet.

Trending searches, popular marketing accounts, and hot forum threads—it was everywhere.

Only at this moment did everyone truly realize that this was a debut group from a massively popular show, carrying an already immense level of hype.

Here, it was necessary to mention a certain controversy that had surfaced a while ago.

It wasn’t particularly big or small, and it started when The Phoenix entered an almost complete seclusion to prepare for their album. At first, fans had waited eagerly, just as they always did, but soon, some discordant voices began to appear.

Someone posted on a forum saying they were leaving the fandom, even writing a heartfelt essay about it.

The main idea of the essay was that the difference between the content available during the competition and after the competition was too disappointing, so they decided to leave the fandom.

Initially, these posts only received a few replies, most of them offering words of comfort. But as the number of posts grew, some people started sensing that something was off.

[I get that some people leave the fandom because of a content drought, but The Phoenix isn’t exactly inactive… They’ve posted less recently, but the leader already mentioned that they’ve been practicing really hard. They’ve been filming their reality show continuously, and there have been short clips and content drops—it’s still more than what some groups put out during their non-comeback periods.]

[If you ask, the answer is ‘fandom exit freedom,’ but this poster seems to be a hardcore fan of member 1. Would a hardcore fan of 1 really leave just because of a lack of content? 1 was the only one with an abundance of content even after the competition.]

[Wait, what? A fellow fan of the same member? I… I don’t get it either.]

[I really resonated with the earlier posts. The drop-off from the survival show to now was definitely too drastic, and Shenghong, as a big company, was indeed arrogant. The way they released content always felt like charity. The only reason I was still here was because the members worked incredibly hard and took their careers seriously. But this post? I found it really confusing.

First of all, the issue of OP being a fan of 1 but leaving due to a content drought—others already pointed out how that didn’t make sense.

Secondly, OP said they felt that 1’s public persona had collapsed, claiming that during the show, 1 was like an untouchable flower on a high mountain. Huh? Let me clarify, I’m a fan of 3, but 1 and 3 were always playing together during the show. Anyone who watched even a couple of clips would know that 1 was super soft in front of 3. How was he ever an ‘untouchable flower’?]

[Cunning… but true. Not just with 3—he was gentle with anyone he was close to, including fans. OP sounds more like a casual bystander who got brainwashed by anti-fan narratives, taking his stage persona and those negative takes to write this emotional essay. Longtime fans would honestly just find this hilarious.]

…

[The most suspicious part was OP claiming to be a fan of 1. (Not saying other people leaving the fandom would be normal.) TP fans, stop entertaining this so naively. OP didn’t even provide a single voting screenshot from the show and is already talking about leaving? Later, they’ll turn around, screenshot this thread, and spread it everywhere, saying, ‘Look, TP lost a bunch of fans before even debuting.’ This is exactly how groups get dragged down and end up flopping.]

That last comment was a wake-up call.

And as it turned out, the highly upvoted suspicion was completely correct.

Because soon after, the original poster deleted the thread. But by that time, the rumors of The Phoenix “losing fans” and “peaking at debut” had already begun spreading quietly among the fandom.

Had the official Weibo account not released a teaser in time, this deliberately guided narrative would have continued to spiral out of control.

Yet, just two hours after the teaser dropped, the rumors collapsed on their own.

The original post’s shares, likes, and comments—along with the overwhelming discussions that night—all indicated that The Phoenix was still, at least for now, a top-tier boy group comparable to first-tier acts.

As for the so-called “fans leaving” in Xie Xizhao’s super-topic…

Xie Xizhao’s super-topic was celebrating like it was New Year’s, with people hosting giveaway raffles left and right.

Because everyone had seen the small line of text specially marked beneath the teaser poster:

Special thanks for album planning:

The Phoenix – Xie Xizhao.

“Was this the result of your negotiations?” Xie Xizhao asked over the phone, his voice slightly strained as he shielded his ear against the surrounding noise. He had stepped into a wind-protected area to make the call.

Fang Qingqing had her phone on speaker, and the rushing wind on Xie Xizhao’s end was clearly audible.

She hesitated for a moment, but before she could respond, Qi Yin—who had once again wandered into the employees’ office—chimed in:

“Pardon me for asking, Xiao Xie, but… have you been captured by a dragon? Are you flying through the sky right now?”

“…Boss, I think dragons only kidnap princesses,” Xie Xizhao replied sincerely.

Qi Yin thought for a moment. “Not necessarily. If I were a dragon, I might change things up once in a while and grab a handsome guy instead.”

Xie Xizhao: “…”

He had no interest in discussing fairy tales with his boss, so he quickly shut down the conversation:

“I’m filming an MV. Outdoor shoot. That’s why it’s so windy.”

Qi Yin, clearly amused, finally answered his original question:

“Yeah, Shenghong came to ask for our opinion. When I saw that you basically did all their work for them, I told them: ‘Fine, you can pay less, but you must put his name in.’”

He paused briefly before adding, in an even lighter and more cheerful tone:

“The reduced amount has already been transferred to your account.”

Xie Xizhao opened his mouth slightly.

He suddenly thought of that inexplicably large deposit he had received a few days ago.

Zou Yi said, “Brother Cheng is sending red envelopes in the group chat. He said the teaser poster got a great response, and now everyone’s interest has been hooked. They’re all discussing this concept.”

Xie Xizhao glanced at his phone.

Sure enough, in the forum link Miao Haicheng had shared, the discussions were either about the special thanks or the poster itself.

*

In reality, it wasn’t just Xie Xizhao’s fans. Aside from extreme solo stans, even fans of the other The Phoenix members felt more relieved than jealous about this special acknowledgment.

This sentiment was also reflected clearly in the discussion threads.

In a high-traffic post titled “The debut teaser is out! They’re debuting on 2.14 ahhhh!” the original poster shared their thoughts:

[Honestly, seeing 1’s name made me really happy…

Especially since it was placed so prominently, with a special mention too—it really feels like he played a big role in the process.

I don’t know how to describe it, but I just feel really happy orz.]

1L: I get it, me too. It’s weird.

I’m not even a fan of 1, but when I saw his name on the credits, my first reaction was ‘This is solid,’ like an odd sense of reassurance…

2L: Question—are you guys fans from the competition period?

If so, that would explain a lot.

3L: Mhm.

4L: Yeah.

5L: I’m dying, I saw other threads talking about this too.

Honestly, the logic is pretty simple.

First of all, during the competition, 1 was already known as the ultimate stage controller. No one on his team ever didn’t level up. And it wasn’t some mystical luck—his creative abilities were just that strong, so everyone got carried. Looking at it now, none of his performances ever flopped.

Secondly, he’s from Yaoxin. Everyone knows how fierce the rivalry between Shenghong and Yaoxin was during the competition. The fact that Shenghong was willing to credit Xie Xizhao by name shows that this damn company actually does want to manage this group properly. At the very least, they didn’t deliberately sabotage the biggest top member just because he wasn’t one of their own.

I seriously think everyone should be looking forward to the debut album.

Xie Xizhao + Shenghong—it feels like we’re in for a huge surprise.

6L: You hit the nail on the head.

So, what do you guys think the new album’s style will be? The teaser visuals looked super dreamy.

7L: Probably mythology-themed? That’s what it feels like.

Fits with The Phoenix as a group name—Phoenix.

A while back, some big-name fans speculated that the name had to mean more than just the cliché ‘rising from the ashes.’ Otherwise, it’d be a total waste. But back then, most people thought a mythology concept would be too risky for a boy group and assumed they’d go for something safer.

Looks like Shenghong is actually being pretty bold.

8L: I think Xie Xizhao is the bold one…

9L: Xie Xizhao being bold +1.

These agencies always play it safe. Just look at Shenghong’s other debut albums—they all follow the traditional mainstream boy/girl group style. Concept-wise, they only ever drop a small hint, and if the response is good, then they develop it further. I’d bet money that this concept was completely led by Xie Xizhao.

10L: Ahhh, the more we talk about it, the more excited I get!

But if it’s mythology-themed, will it be like the third public performance? I really like Chinese-inspired aesthetics, but that dance style didn’t seem well-suited for a title track…

11L: I don’t think so.

Based on the teaser image, it definitely involves a god-like concept. Those wings instantly make me think of angels.

But I don’t quite understand the eye embedded in the feathers. At first glance, it looked kind of eerie… but the more I looked at it, the more beautiful it seemed. I don’t know if you guys feel the same way, but—it’s just so pure.

12L: ! I totally get what you mean!

It’s such a gorgeous eye, but the gaze itself feels so innocent.

There’s even a hint of curiosity?

Like a child’s eyes.

13L: The artist just claimed it on Twitter! They specifically hired a famous modern painter to create the poster! They really spent money on this ahhh!

14L: Oh my god, literal money power.

15L: There’s an update! They said the inspiration came from Zhao.

So… is this Zhaozhao’s eye?!

16L: I knew the eye shape looked familiar at first glance ahhh!

But the gaze itself tells such a story… it feels like my bias is secretly watching me from behind the clouds.

Shy.jpg

17L: So the concept is…

God loves all people?

 18L: Honestly, it kind of feels like the eyes of a newborn phoenix—like one that just hatched. Would this comeback concept end up making all the mom fans go crazy? Hahaha.

19L: I think they definitely took the debut members’ styles into account.

First of all, the fact that Shenghong approved this concept means that their professional planning team also recognized its commercial value. That means it’s definitely not just a simple “God loves all people” concept or a baby phoenix theme.

First, about the “baby” angle—among the group members, only Yun Pan barely fits that kind of image. And even then, that’s only appearance-wise. Personality-wise, you can tell he’s actually pretty independent.

As for “God loves all people”…

That concept does match the poster, but again—it would be a waste of the group’s more sensual members and all their natural charisma. This kind of universal love theme completely lacks sexual tension, which is pretty much fatal for a boy group.

I think this poster just sets the overall tone. The actual concept will definitely be more layered. We should wait for more teaser photos.

Once the MV clips drop, we’ll probably get a clearer idea.

20L: Ahhh I can’t wait! At this stage, they must be filming the MV and recording the album, right? Let me see! I wanna see!

—

At that exact moment, on the MV set—

Xie Xizhao walked through the howling wind and stepped into the silent temple.

Inside, golden pillars supported a towering, multicolored dome. But since it was nighttime, all the vibrant colors were swallowed by darkness, leaving only the flickering glow of candlelight.

The god ascended the steps and halted before the divine throne.

His face was devoid of joy or sorrow.

Like a true, dignified, and solemn deity.

But the moment he turned around—

Behind him, the embedded glass eye on the throne suddenly opened, its gaze locking onto the camera—

And it curved into an eerie, knowing smile.

At that moment, the bells tolled.

That night’s feast—

Had begun.

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