The Villain Is Too Popular

"Tendo, why are you so distracted while eating?"

Inside the cafeteria, Caroline couldn't help but ask, curious, as she watched Tendo eating while spacing out. She had a feeling that Tendo wasn't just simply daydreaming, but rather looking at something. However, seeing nothing in front of Tendo, Caroline truly couldn't imagine what Tendo could be looking at—the air, perhaps?

Tendo naturally wasn't looking at the air. At this moment, he was using the system's holographic screen to watch the fourth episode of Prequel of the Stars: Embers. This episode's content was Chen Kong's, the protagonist's, highlight. Although he had already experienced it once, watching this series he personally participated in from a god's-eye view with others, it was surprisingly interesting.

"Nothing, just thinking about some things."

Tendo, engrossed in the show, casually brushed off Caroline with a clumsy excuse, then continued watching. Although Caroline felt that Tendo was hedging, she couldn't find any reason to refute him. Ultimately, she could only believe Tendo's words and continued to eat her meal.

Meanwhile, as the fourth episode of Prequel of the Stars: Embers progressed to the point where Chen Xing, overriding all objections, actively chose to challenge the enraged Earth Dragon Lizard, the episode's plot gradually reached its climax.

"Hide, Kong, just try to hide for your entire life."

"Your cowardice and timidity will, sooner or later, make you lose everything you cherish."

"But you can hide, I cannot, because if even I hide, then where else can a weakling like you... hide?"

"Therefore, even knowing that the next step is an abyss, I must walk into it without hesitation, for who else stands... before me?"

"So, get lost, coward, don't block the way."

On screen, facing Chen Kong, who was blocking her way, Chen Xing finally spoke the words that had been buried deep in her heart.

Watching Chen Xing's crimson eyes, burning with the resolute gaze of a lone wolf after special artistic processing by the production team, even Tendo, who had seen this scene before, couldn't help but be impressed.

The disappointment she felt for her brother and the burden of responsibility she carried were fully reflected in her eyes. This complex expression perfectly contrasted with her consistently strong demeanor, delivering a tremendous visual impact to the audience.

As Tendo expected, after seeing this scene, the bullet comments immediately erupted.

'Wuwuwu, so Big Sister has always been carrying the burden alone? I'm heartbroken.'

'Why do I speak harshly to you? Because my love for you is deep.'

'Is my sharp tongue my protective color?'

'Turned from hater to fan, I used to think Chen Xing was too domineering, but now it seems I misunderstood.'

'Get lost, coward! What domineering words!'

Tendo looked at the dense bullet comments at that moment, and the dinner in his mouth instantly lost its flavor. Although he had anticipated that Chen Xing's popularity would see an explosive growth after this broadcast, it seemed he had still underestimated the destructive power of this plot on the audience. After all, when a popular female character is combined with highly impactful lines, it's indeed a bit overpowered for veteran viewers in the real world.

Fortunately, he wasn't completely inactive at the time and made timely amends.

"Hey, Chen Xing!"

"What do you mean 'no one stands before you'? Aren't you underestimating me a bit too much?"

"Remember, you're only second, and I... am the pinnacle of Stars."

On screen, Chen Xing, clutching the candy Tendo had thrown to her, turned to look at Tendo, who had just made a domineering declaration. Her expression was complex.

Perhaps to emphasize the powerful sense of destiny between her and Tendo, as 'first' and 'second,' the production team specifically blurred the surrounding scenes of this gaze, focusing the camera on Tendo and Chen Xing. This epoch-making fateful gaze undoubtedly pushed the audience's emotions to their peak.

'Wow! So shippable, love it, recommend locking it down!'

'Holy cow! Double fandoms rejoice!'

'The composition is amazing! The blurred background is simply divine direction!'

'Strange, why do I feel Tendo's words are a bit odd? Could it be a flag? Don't tell me!'

'Production team, I advise you to be kind! If you dare to torment Lord Tendo, I'll send razor blades!'

Due to Tendo's unexpected intervention, what was originally supposed to be Chen Xing's solo performance ultimately turned into a duo act between her and Tendo. And because of the 'sense of responsibility' in Tendo's words, he even subtly overshadowed Chen Xing in this high-intensity scene, becoming the true protagonist of this short highlight.

After all, Chen Xing's words only stated that she would bear the responsibility of protecting Chen Kong and fulfill her duty as a sister. But Tendo's words stated that he would stand before everyone, shielding them all from potential danger.

One was focused on a single individual, while the other encompassed an entire group. The one with more infectious power was immediately apparent.

Under Tendo's skillful manipulation, Chen Xing's originally explosive popularity at this moment became a surge for both her and Tendo. And Tendo's popularity growth was noticeably higher than hers, completely stealing the spotlight that should have belonged to Chen Xing.

After this interlude, Chen Kong, the protagonist, who had originally been too timid to go on stage so early, finally chose to enter the arena at this time to challenge the enraged Earth Dragon Lizard.

As everyone expected, the furious Earth Dragon Lizard unleashed overwhelming power in this second assessment, completely suppressing Chen Xing's team throughout. During this process, Chen Kong was not only unable to provide any help to Chen Xing and their other teammate, Ye Shenlin, but he also stood foolishly in place, like a block of wood.

He perfectly demonstrated what it meant to be a dead weight. This performance undoubtedly infuriated the audience. After all, your teammates are fighting fiercely at the front, how can you, the protagonist, just stand there foolishly watching from behind? Are you even a protagonist?!

'Truly speechless, how can such a useless guy become the protagonist?!'

'Honestly, why don't they change the protagonist of this series? Because if they changed the protagonist to Tendo, or even Chen Xing, I feel like this would become a phenomenal series, instead of being lukewarm like it is now.'

'Most useless protagonist in history, confirmed!'

Amidst a flurry of audience complaints and expressions of disappointment, Chen Kong on screen suddenly also fell into a flashback. However, unlike Tendo's popularity-boosting flashback, the protagonist Chen Kong's flashback was a definite minus point.

This was because the protagonist Chen Kong was not only recalling various moments of being bullied in the base, but he also expressed his cowardly thoughts of wanting to give up the assessment and escape the arena through internal monologue.

This action undoubtedly further intensified the anger in the audience's hearts. Good heavens, your teammates are almost getting beaten to death, and you're still thinking of running away? Do you even have a shred of humanity?!

But just as the audience was about to turn their anger into text and furiously send it into the bullet comments, Tendo's words suddenly flashed in Chen Kong's mind.

'Remember, when you feel you've reached a dead end, you might as well ask yourself... why you're still alive.'

The appearance of these words not only changed Chen Kong's original intention to escape but also directly caused the previously low-key BGM to suddenly become high-spirited. Seeing this scene, the audience's anger gradually gave way to anticipation. Because they had a feeling that the protagonist was about to activate a power-up.

Looking at Chen Kong on screen, who had shed his previous cowardice and whose eyes were gradually becoming firm, the audience suddenly realized that Chen Kong... was finally starting to look like a protagonist.

'Goodness, did he really activate it? The useless person's comeback?'

'Think about why you're still alive... I'm noticing that no matter which character is about to change, Tendo always seems to find an angle to intervene. Is he not the production team's favorite son?'

'Could it be?!'

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