Superstar Ch.171.1

Chapter 171.1: The Phoenix (Forum Format) (Extra 5)

[So, anyone dare to spill tea? About the plastic group relationships]

1L: Why did you all skip over it?

2L: ? Seriously, the title is clearly in Chinese, but I still don’t get what OP is talking about.

3L: Side note, things are really blowing up out there. Group members posting long essays on Weibo, fans fighting across all kinds of public forums—total chaos, super dramatic.

4L: Just got here. What’s the gossip?

5L: Group G, you know, the 7-member group that blew up these past couple years—the one rivaling the talent show group. They’ve always been marketed as super tight-knit, luring in a lot of young fangirls. But today, boom—tons of dirt dropped. Two members were hooking up and even had an internal fight at the 80 level*. And guess what, the one being iced out is the so-called “group favorite” youngest member. Mmm… how’s that not performance art?

So now everyone’s out there spilling about which other groups are just pretending to get along. Honestly, I think it’s hard to tell. What company would be dumb enough to let their group’s inner drama leak out like that?

6L: This scandal is seriously wild. I almost became a fan! If it weren’t for the fact that I used to follow TP and got spoiled with quality, I might have fallen for this group despite their lack of talent. If I had, I’d be the one crying today.

7L: Uh, OP’s mention of TP is obviously referring to the Late Emperor, right? Just doesn’t have the guts to say it outright. Even when the Late Emperor was still active, the group was pretty fake.

8L: OP and upstairs really don’t seem to care about keeping their accounts, huh?

9L: The way you guys are spreading rumors just because it’s the Late Emperor’s anniversary today is actually kind of beautiful. You think just because the TP members all went solo that group fans are dead? Keep being nasty then—hope your fave stays irrelevant forever.

10L: TP fans always say their group has the strongest “team spirit” in the whole industry, but they conveniently never talk about how, whether during the survival show or after debut, they constantly suppressed your group’s top performer.

They gloss over it, calling it “1’s focus was acting,” but let’s be real—from the very first comeback, 1 was the core of your group’s concept and was still being sidelined. He wrote who knows how many songs for TP, and then the moment he disbanded, boom—solo album right away. Clearly multitasking without burning out. Such a beautiful example of “team spirit”—a team spirit built on draining him dry.

11: …So what does company politics have to do with team spirit? Everyone’s dragging Shenghong, and yeah they suck, but just ’cause there were internal power plays doesn’t mean their personal relationships were fake.

12L: Not saying 1 wasn’t sidelined, but let’s be honest—10L definitely doesn’t sound like a 1 fan…

13L: TP stans are at it again 🙄

14L: Honestly, 1 was done dirty. But I remember when the whole special contract thing came out, most group fans were actually supportive, right?

15L: Wait, what special contract?

16L: Back then, 1 only signed an idol-exclusive contract with Shenghong. Not sure what kind of negotiations went on, but when he debuted, 1 was super popular, so I’m guessing Shenghong was afraid he’d quit the show midway and bolted to secure him.

P.S. The person above saying “most group fans”… very telling 👀

17L: @wpg group snakes @all those fake wf stans from other fandoms sneaking in here. Yes, we’re talking about you.

18L: I seriously respect 1. We all know he’s top-tier in both EQ and IQ in the idol world, but like… how is his foresight that insane?

How does his brain even work??

19L: But—

Switching tracks during the group’s rising phase was kinda shady, no? I remember they’d only been a group for two years.

And special contract? Like… how would he even know he’d be sidelined that early on? Sounds more like he got famous and decided he was over it. The falling out with Shenghong seems pretty inevitable.

20L: inevitable +1

21L: Ah, here come the cherry-pickers.

22L: …Of course he was already being screwed over during the survival show. OMG are you pretending or just clueless? If not, I sincerely advise you to quit stanning idols—you’ll get gaslit by capitalism until there’s nothing left of you.

23L: So who’s the “Late Emperor”?

24L: TP, duh. Full name The Phoenix. The only group in the Chinese idol scene that stayed at the top for as long as they were active. But they disbanded, so now they’re nicknamed the “Late Emperor.” And yeah, it’s been a while, so maybe none of the newer fans have heard of them. Let me change the name: Xie Xizhao’s group.

25L: …So evil, I love it.

26L: It’s not like no one’s heard of them, but yeah, the popularity gap was real. 1 was in a league of his own even during the show, and after switching to acting, he just ascended. Nothing to be done about that.

But no matter how big the gap was, any individual member of TP could still solo-crush your whole group’s main lineup. So don’t push it—if this turns into a full-on fandom war, no one’s safe. It’ll be a bloodbath across the whole forum.

27L: I was just gonna say—messing with TP fans is like punching steel. Messing with 1’s fans is like starting a nuclear war. If you’re not afraid of total annihilation, by all means, keep it up.

28L: Not fighting, not fighting. But real talk—any fans here willing to break down what the Late Emperor’s internal relationships were actually like? I’ve looked into it, but historical records are all over the place.

29L: From what I saw in their group variety shows, they seemed pretty chill with each other. Looked good on the surface at least.

30L: felt like everyone was in a slow-burn BL drama and constantly opening up the TP app?

Yeah… no.

31L: I hate this. 😂

32L: But honestly, the Late Emperor wasn’t bad at all. Yeah, they haven’t posted birthday wishes for each other since the disbandment, haven’t mentioned the group, and the yearly interaction average is in the single digits—even counting promo posts. One group dinner feels like a national holiday.

But hey, who knows? Maybe they are still secretly on TP app together behind the scenes 👀

33L: AAAAHHH!!

Didn’t we say to stop poking the hornet’s nest already?!

34L: TP really never tried to maintain the illusion of harmony within the group. I remember during one episode, 2 and 3 actually argued on camera. I thought they’d try to smooth it over afterward, do some PR or something—nope. 3 straight-up admitted it during a livestream. Just… admitted it. 😵

35L: And that wasn’t even the worst! I remember 3 once said that during the survival show, he barely talked to 2 when they were roommates—because he thought “the little young master was mentally off.” 💀

36L: LMAO dead

37L: Our cool guy is just brutally honest, huh?

38L: Yeah, it’s obvious now—this was a treasure of a group.

39L: …Could you people at least do your homework before trying to judge them on their group dynamics? 2 was a total brat during the show, like a baby chaos king—and he even admits that himself. It wasn’t until GH left and 1 had a heart-to-heart with him that he started changing his attitude and maturing. That’s all in interviews and documentaries—2 and 3 never even tried to hide any of this.

And if we’re talking fights over creative direction? 1 and 2, 3 and 5, 1 and 3—they all fought at some point.

If you consider harmless bickering as evidence they hated each other, then yeah, they were all mortal enemies. 🙄

Our scrappy little group was just unfiltered, okay? Their relationships were actually fine.

40L: Wait, I’m shook—why did they air all of this in front of fans?? 😂

41L: Told you. TP never did image control for internal dynamics.

42L: Well, they did try once. I remember 2 tried to clear things up between him and 1.

Only the CP fans were happy—everyone else lost their minds.

…And then 2 never brought it up again. 😬

43L: 2’s not exactly tactful when it comes to stuff like this. That was just gasoline on the fire—solo fans and shippers already clash hard, and that just made things worse.

44L: for real

45L: It actually got a lot better after that. But honestly, for someone like 1 who’s usually so smooth and diplomatic, it was surprising that he publicly echoed 2’s clarification. He usually mediates in a really indirect, tactful way—it was the only time he’s ever been so direct. Probably just giving 2 a way to save face.

At the time, 1’s solo stans even started dropping him, calling him a “love-brained idiot.” But I always thought he was just being really gentle.

46L: Actually, more of 2’s fans left during that whole mess, lol. Said he was acting like a simp—“got sold and still helping count the money.”

Honestly, if people dropped either of them over that, I say: good riddance.

47L: I might not like his groupmates, but I never got the whole “my fave is a lone wolf who must not be allowed to have any real friendships” mindset. Like?? They trained together, lived together—they were kids! Of course they’d bond. Unless there’s some major ideological clash or deep personal beef, most people bond deeply when they spend that much time together.

48L: Crap, the more you guys talk, the more I think the Late Emperor actually did have pretty decent relationships. Those generic birthday posts on Weibo mean nothing—it’s these messy little moments that feel like actual emotion.

49L: LMAO same.

And about those on-camera arguments: either they hated each other so much they didn’t even bother pretending, or they were close enough not to care.

Pick one.

50L: I pick 2. I really think 2 and 3 had something real. Everyone always remembers their fight, but no one brings up how, when 3 was getting slandered during his solo debut—rumors saying he used to run in shady circles—it was 2 who first came out to defend him.

Even got flamed for it on livestream.

51L: Ahhh

52L: I remember that! 2 literally said:

“Fu Wenze, that dumbass, in a gang? He’s just a purebred little-bro con—he’d never do something that stupid. Anyone who believes this crap is a f***ing idiot.”

Then got roasted for swearing on cam 💀

And of course Shenghong didn’t cut the stream either—like, hello?? Just cut it. But maybe if they had cut it, 2’s “f***ing idiot” was aimed at them. Hard to manage, huh.

53L: …Like, on one hand, you wanna say he’s standing up for him, but then it’s just “dumbass” this, “idiot” that—

You wanna say he’s insulting him, but… sigh. You, me, let’s just give up trying to label it.

54L: I’m laughing but also lowkey emotional

55L: I was just about to say—someone earlier mentioned 1 switching career paths. Fans were fighting like crazy about it at the time, but when 1 was getting dragged, his teammates publicly posted in support, promoted his stuff.

And don’t forget that later group variety show—remember the letter the captain wrote?

56L: Yeah, the episode aired much later, but they probably recorded it right when 1 was in negotiations with the company. The captain wrote, “I hope you can always be happy doing what you love.” It was so obvious.

57L: Captain x Kitty

He really doted on him.

58L: Honestly? I think the easiest way to judge a group’s dynamic is to look at how they treated TP—especially someone like 1, who had a huge gap in popularity compared to the rest.

Like, 1 never once let himself get pushed around in the industry. Shenghong tried to suppress him hard, and even when he switched to acting and blew up, lots of his actor stans didn’t even realize he was in a group before. And still, he never canceled his contract or distanced himself.

If he wanted to, I’m sure he could’ve handled it—he already had that special contract, after all.

And he loved living in the dorms. 1’s fans know—he’s not some rich second-gen or anything, but he definitely had the money to rent his own place. Yet even after his acting gigs, he’d fly back and head straight to the dorm.

If he hated the people there, who would do that? It’s not like he’s a masochist.

Anyway, I don’t know about the rest, but as a solo 1 fan, I never felt like TP had bad relationships.

59L: Interesting.

The one earlier wasn’t a real 1 fan, but this one? lol yup, confirmed 💯

60L: Ngl, TP’s fandom is like its own undercover espionage network.

But credit where it’s due—setting aside fandom bias, 58L really made some solid points.

1 is so socially adept and smooth, I just don’t believe he’d willingly stay in a backstabbing palace intrigue-style group for five years if he didn’t actually care.

61L: Exactly! When 1 loves or doesn’t love something—it shows.

He’s super protective of his people. Once someone’s in his “territory,” they basically rocket to stardom.

(No need to name names, those who know, know.)

62L: LMAO just remembered when that “Red and White Roses” CP drama blew up, and YuanZhao CP sisters broke down live on the trending search plaza 😭

Ah, that year with the light drizzle and plum blossoms—

How many concubines do you have, Emperor Xie?!

63L: Or, as the TV drama stans say: “He’s already Emperor Xie.” 👑

64L: YuanZhao CP sisters don’t cry, everyone takes turns, it’s just our turn this year 😌

P.S. 1 is def protective, but he also gets protected by the rest of TP.

Honestly, they really do seem like family by now.

65L: Okay wait… that kind of makes me want in. Don’t catfish me—I will stan.

66L: Go for it! Between the survival show and five years’ worth of content, you’ll have plenty to binge.

They’re all still active too. If you’re here for the personalities, you’re good. For interactions… eh, go with the flow. They’re all still in the biz, chances to cross paths still pop up.

67L: Wait—is 3 and 5 actually doing a comeback together? Give us some promo, I’m begging 🙏

68L: LMAOOO even the cold CPs are having their spring revival arc 🌸

69L: Your group doesn’t have cold CPs 😭

Was it not enough that 3 and 5 were basically holding each other’s waists post-variety shoot? Or that they stared into each other’s souls during that collab stage?

70L: Speaking of—no one asked yet.

Is this group CP-friendly? Like… are they shippable?

71L: Since you’ve asked so sincerely…

72L: Alright then, out of the goodness of our hearts, we’ll enlighten you.

73L: Ugh stop being so mysterious—TP founding fathers are right here, clear the way.

74L: These men have zero shame and no bottom line. They’ll do anything just to tease the CP fans.

75L: Put it this way:

If male physical contact could produce children, then TP would’ve birthed enough kids in five years to form a line from A City all the way to the capital.

Which is exactly why one of the reverse scales for TP solo stans is CP shipping.

You say TP’s group bond is fake? The thread might still survive.

Most of us solo stans (even 1’s fans) don’t really care anymore about the reputation of our late group—doesn’t affect them.

But if you dare shout “YuanZhao is real” on Weibo’s trending plaza…

76L: bomb sound effect 💣💥

77L: Ahhh can 1 fans and 2 fans just make up already!

<< _ >>

**TN

1. Xie Xizhao, 2. Ai Qingyuan, 3. Fu Wenzhe, 4. Zou Yi, 5. Yun Pan