The CP Proposal

After the first stage recording, both Ling Tinglan and Jiao Wangshu were unsurprisingly assigned to F-class.

Following the standard survival show pipeline, after the initial evaluation comes the theme song mission, followed by a re-evaluation for the theme song to select the center and record the MV.

Of course, none of this had much to do with them. The center would only come from A-class. The best F-class could hope for was to barely edge into the theme song stage recording. There were always those with an “underdog arc,” aiming to shock everyone in the re-evaluation, but that clearly wasn’t them either.

At that moment, Jiao Wangshu wanted to use his hidden phone to check the front-line “fansite photos” Fu Donghai had sent. But as soon as he turned on the phone, he was startled by a barrage of message notifications.

‘What the hell is all this?’

@TingfengShuyue_Lingjiao:

#LingTinglan# #JiaoWangshu# #Lingjiao#

20251023 《Super Star》 contestant entry @LingTinglan @JiaoWangshu

Building our “Lingjiao” CP.

[Image: shared earphones][Image: getting off the car together][Image: reflection on the window]…

Not only that, as Jiao Wangshu scrolled up, the pinned post at the top was the picture of him being circled in Ling Tinglan’s arms when they got off the bus…

[Holy shit, I’m really starting to ship this!]

[True gods have descended!!!]

[I knew I wasn’t the only one shipping this!]

[Damn, this photo is dripping with tension. The tearful angel beauty is held tightly by the big devil, like a dragon guarding its treasure…]

[That subconscious hug back is so good! His fingers clutching that thin fabric! How much does this Jiaojiao love him!]

[Everyone wants to be the hero who defeats the evil demon and saves the beautiful princess, not knowing the princess has long since fallen willingly.]

[The demon’s bride! Handing the pen to the teachers upstairs!]

[I look like a clown… No! I just kissed my wife, don’t let her become someone else’s!]

[Is she your wife for you to call that? Wrong time, wrong place. They’re a couple born at the same time and knowing each other just as long. This is clearly Ling Tinglan’s wife!]

[If you don’t ship after seeing this, you might as well cultivate the emotionless path. With that perseverance, you’ll succeed in anything.]

[I ship so hard I could die. Their faces and skills match equally. Who wouldn’t say they’re a match made in heaven (crying)]

[Little couple, don’t listen to the hate!]

[Ling Tinglan dance gif: A left hook the size of a sandbag to you]

[Jiao Wangshu emoji: I don’t give a damn about you]

[LOL, the ‘god-like’ first stage joke is still haunting me.]

[《Super Star》’s first breakout stage, even the original singer retweeted on TikTok, even started an embarrassing dance challenge.]

[Who knew my semi-retired former ‘old fans’ would be bombed out like this?]

[I really don’t get how they have the face to hype this stage? One second, eight broken notes; high notes are out of reach; dance is a mess. If this can get popular, is it fair to other trainees?]

[Here comes the ‘fairness sister’ again…]

[In talent shows, first face, second skill, third charm. Admit that your fave isn’t that likable. Is it that hard?]

[Not even one episode has aired yet, charm is debatable, but their faces are already at a level to debut eight hundred times.]

[Guess whose fans instantly. Out of thirty stages, only this one blew up. Your fave not popular—he doesn’t want to be?]

[Don’t hit where it hurts. Eight hundred pre-show hypes, then disappear after the show. I’d go crazy too.]

[Because everyone has eyes. When will some realize that beauty is an idol’s primary hard power? Some have collapsed eight hundred times and still get saved by their face (except for apologists for ugly idols).]

[Lying flat and letting the mockery rain, laughing at the ugly dogs. Anyway, my fave’s face is here, so the kingdom stands (shrug).]

[So authoritative. Isn’t it said beauty differs? Why doesn’t that apply to these two? Who knew that when you go abroad, fangirls from every country are discussing the redemptive vibe of Ling Tinglan and Jiao Wangshu?]

[Because beauty is objective. Only ugliness is bizarre in a thousand ways.]

[I predict our ‘Lingjiao’ CP will become the number one CP in 《Super Star》. In this era of face-based matchmaking, I can’t imagine who else they’d match with besides each other. ‘Celestial vs. demon’ incarnate.]

[Already number one. 《Super Star》 CP super chat ranking first (heart).]

[Just one entrance fan photo, and several professional fansites I know started up overnight after one offline shoot.]

[What’s the value of starting ten sites overnight?]…

A flood of “I’m dead” and “Lingjiao forever” comments left Jiao Wangshu full of question marks. Although Jiao Wangshu himself was an ultimate shipper, even a hopeless “mommy fan,” he never thought he’d be the one shipped and mothered!

Was this retribution for his previous indiscriminate behavior?

Forgive him, but he hadn’t fully transitioned out of his past mindset as a girl. No normal person ships themselves with their best friend, right? It was too weird.

Thinking back to how much fun he had as a shipper, now Jiao Wangshu felt miserable. The thought of shipping himself with Ling Tinglan—who was internally a straight girl—made his skin crawl.

And why was he the bottom?!

Sure, Ling Tinglan was taller and buffer, but were they people who judged top/bottom dynamics purely by body type? Character mattered! Character!

Did they know how unreliable Ling Tinglan actually was? He himself was obviously more stable and reliable—the born ultimate top!

He didn’t understand. He was confused. He wanted to fight those tasteless people!!!

With that, Jiao Wangshu quickly registered a new account and seriously typed on his phone:

@YueYinChaoSheng_Yuelan

Opening announcement.

#YuelanCP# #JiaoWangshuTheUltimateTopInSuperStar!!!# #JiaoWangshuTheUltimateTop#

Then, picking from the materials Fu Donghai had sent, he chose a misaligned shot of him standing on a step while Ling Tinglan was below, creating a height difference where he seemed half a head taller.

Cunningly, he applied a dark filter to himself, casually showing off his “sharp” side profile, while secretly adding some blush to Ling Tinglan’s face.

Mm, not bad. His fansite editing skills were still intact.

Jiao Wangshu nodded in satisfaction and solemnly pressed send.

“What are you doing?”

Spotting the creepy smile on Jiao Wangshu’s face, Ling Tinglan involuntarily shivered.

Rubbing his non-existent goosebumps, he curiously leaned in.

“Nothing, nothing.” Jiao Wangshu hid his phone, waving his hands. “Forget it. I have a super great idea. Want to hear it?”

Ling Tinglan’s curiosity was piqued. “What idea?”

“Uncle told us to first get some face time in the show, then after elimination, cash in on our broadcast popularity. Since our ’embarrassing’ first stage perfectly completed the ‘face time’ task, now we need to plan long-term.”

Jiao Wangshu analyzed seriously. “We have no talent, no entertaining skills. If we could have a means to maintain popularity, won’t we get a seaside house in a year?”

“So, let’s stir up a CP!”

“Huh?”

This was completely outside Ling Tinglan’s knowledge. “How do we do that?”

“Besides, we’re both guys now. It feels weird.”

“Being both guys makes it easier to stir up a CP.”

Jiao Wangshu disagreed. “I can’t explain to you people who don’t do fanworks or slash. Shipping is about bonds, atmosphere, faces, ambiguous tension. You ship what’s fake. If it were real and they got married, what then?”

“Plus, we have perfect conditions now: zero risk of breaking up, scandal, or a tragic ending!”

Saying this, Jiao Wangshu looked annoyed. “How could I forget such an important thing? I didn’t even lay groundwork in advance. Lost so many great opportunities!”

Ling Tinglan was bewildered but impressed. “So?”

“So we stir up a CP!”

Jiao Wangshu clapped his fists together. “Let’s get this straight first. I’m the top, and you’re the bottom!”