Girl idols are meant to be exploited!

Chapter 166: The little sister covered with thorns.

When I returned to the tent, everyone from [Extension Line] had not returned yet.

Hoshikawa Taku asked the three of them to sit down casually, handed them drinks, and then sat opposite them.

His gaze stopped at Jing Qin Rencai: "Well, would you like to tell me about the relationship between you and the lead singer across the street?"

Rencai bit the straw and was silent for a while.

Even though a long time had passed, whenever she recalled those things, she still felt as if her heart had been stabbed, and it hurt a little.

After a brief thought, she slowly opened her mouth and told her past experiences.

"...Kondo Hina and I were originally best friends."

Renai's voice was a little low, as if she was recalling a long-ago but indelible dream.

"In high school, we talked about almost everything. We would stick together every day, even sharing a pair of headphones, listening to music while staring at the sky on the school rooftop."

She curled the corners of her mouth, as if recalling the good old days, but then the smile disappeared.

"But later, I found out that a girl in my class had been bullied at school. I couldn't stand it, so I stood up and reported those who bullied her."

"Unfortunately, the school didn't take it seriously at all. They just gave a few token criticisms and then let it go. When they found out I was the one who reported them, they turned their attention to me."

She snorted softly, with a hint of sarcasm in her tone, "If it were just this, I could tolerate it, but——"

She raised her head, her eyes filled with indescribable emotions.

"The girl I helped actually sided with the bully in order to stop being bullied. She even advised me to apologize, saying that this would make the matter go away."

"I won't admit my mistakes, and it's impossible for me to admit my mistakes."

Renai's tone gradually hardened. "As a result, they intensified their violence, and in the end... I was even sent to the hospital."

Jing Qinrencai's hands unconsciously clenched into fists, her nails digging deeply into her palms.

This matter finally became a big deal, but no one from the school, family or friends stood on Rencai's side. They all advised her to sign a letter of apology and let the matter go.

Nina couldn't accept this, so she refused to go to school. Finally, at the age of 17, she chose to drop out of school and left her hometown to come to Tokyo.

This is her story.

Hoshikawa Taku sympathizes with Nina's plight, as do Momoka and Yasuwa Subaru.

Although they had some knowledge of bullying, this was the first time that Niina had described it in such detail.

"So, you've experienced this kind of thing, and you've suffered..."

Taoxiang couldn't help but touch her head.

Hoshikawa Taku tried to lighten the mood by jokingly saying, "Nina, they actually dared to bully you. They must have been utterly miserable, right? They were completely humiliated by your all-out resistance, right?"

Even though he knew the original plot, it still felt a little unbelievable.

Jing Qinrencai is like a hedgehog, covered with thorns. She will fight back without hesitation against any ridicule or insult. It is hard to imagine her being bullied in silence.

Renai gave a bitter laugh. "Because... my father is a teacher, and he always told me to be friendly and not to make enemies. I used to suppress my temper and try not to fight back... but they took advantage of this and became even more unscrupulous."

Momoka added, "Nina's upbringing was very strict. Before she left home, she had never even eaten out. She only ate at Yoshinoya after coming to Tokyo."

"When I finally couldn't bear it anymore and fought back, the matter became a big deal and the parents came to the school."

Renai looked up at the tent and sighed, "If I had known that resistance would lead to this, I would have confronted them earlier and wouldn't have been bullied for so long..."

Hoshikawa Taku nodded in agreement.

"You did the right thing, Rencai. Whether it's school or society, people like to make a big deal out of a small matter. Keeping silent will only make people think you're easy to bully. Only when you make a big fuss will someone stand up for you."

School bullying exists all over the world, but it is most rampant in China, Japan and South Korea.

Everyone has strengths and weaknesses, and the small world of school magnifies the gap between the strong and the weak, making it easy for the weak to be bullied by the strong.

Silence will only lead to worsening of the situation. Only resistance can gain society's attention.

The best example is the "American school shooting". Only when the bullies know that they will pay the price for bullying you, will they be afraid and stop bullying you.

"So, when you were being targeted, Kondo Hina...didn't she help you? That's why you're so angry with her?"

Hoshikawa Taku continued to ask.

Renai shook her head.

"No, Hina is very smart. When I wanted to help that person, she tried to dissuade me from getting into trouble, but I didn't listen to her and insisted on helping."

"Later, when I was being bullied, she came to me and told me to admit my mistake. Maybe I wouldn't be bullied anymore... But how could I admit my mistake? I didn't do anything wrong!"

By the time she said this, Renai was already very angry.

"So, what you're angry about is that you think she doesn't understand you?"

"……Um."

Jing Qinrencai nodded with a heavy expression.

"Everyone around me at the time told me to be patient, saying that was the smart thing to do. When I had no choice but to be patient, it was Taoxiang's songs that always supported me. She told me that if I felt that I was not wrong, then I should not be patient, and I would never worry about the future."

“Even though I can’t predict whether that moment will lead me to hell or to the vast ocean and sky, I can hold my head high and say, this is my choice, this is my true self.”

"Rencai..."

Taoxiang's eyes were also touched.

She knew that Renna loved her songs, but she never imagined that her songs were so important to her...

Renai was silent for a long time, then calmed down and continued:

"Originally, after dropping out of school, I didn't want to care about these things anymore. I just wanted to concentrate on forming a band with Momoka and the others. But I didn't expect——"

She gritted her teeth, her eyes filled with strong resentment, "Kondo Hina, actually became the new lead singer of Diamond Stardust!"

"I was the one who fell in love with Diamond Stardust first. Why should she be able to take Momoka's place? She has no right at all!"

As she spoke, Rencai became excited again.

The air in the tent seemed to be infected by her emotions and became stagnant.

However, Taoxiang suddenly spoke calmly: "But from a business perspective, it is because of her joining that Diamond Stardust has become more popular than before."

Rencai turned around suddenly and stared at Momoka with sharp eyes.

"Momoka, what do you mean!?"

"I'm just stating the facts."

Taoxiang's eyes remained calm, but her voice was a little cold.

"Even if they're singing songs I don't like now, the market recognizes them, which means they're successful. Besides, I've left now. What's happening with Diamond Stardust now has nothing to do with me anymore, right?"

"you--!"

Rencai was so angry that her veins popped out. She suddenly reached out and pushed Momoka to the grass, glaring at her with anger.

"Are you saying that it was right for you to leave? Look at Diamond Dust now. Their original uniqueness is completely gone! They're just an ordinary idol band now. Is that what you wanted?"

Taoxiang was suppressed by her, but there was no panic on her face. She just glanced away coldly with stubbornness in her eyes.

"I am telling the truth."

she repeated.

These words made Rencai furious.

She raised her hand tremblingly, as if she really wanted to slap the stubborn guitarist hard.

Taoxiang stared at Renai without showing any weakness. She guessed that Renai was just pretending and couldn't hit her at all.

But Taku Hoshikawa knew that the little sister really dared to do it!

He quickly grabbed Renai and pulled her off Momoka.

"You two, calm down!"

Chapter 167: Girls Band Wants to "Pay to Work"

After some consolation, Momoka and Nina finally stopped fighting.

However, both of them turned their heads away, neither of them looking at each other, as if they would never have anything to do with each other again.

An and Subaru looked left and right, and finally spread their hands towards Hoshikawa Taku and shook their heads helplessly.

This band seems to be born with the gene of "love and hate". Every time they discuss certain topics, they always quarrel for inexplicable reasons and even fight.

An and Subaru ignored the two of them and curiously asked Hoshikawa Taku's opinion.

"Mr. Xingchuan, who do you think is right between the two of them?"

"That depends on the perspective."

Hoshikawa Taku raised two fingers and shook them in the air.

"People who form bands are generally divided into two types. One type is independent bands that are completely true to themselves and don't care about commercial performance or even whether they can make money. They only care about whether their music is 'cool' enough and whether it truly expresses their ideas."

"The other type is bands that operate purely for commercial purposes. They will cater to the market and adjust their musical style to suit the audience's preferences. It doesn't matter what type of songs they sing. As long as they can make money, they are even willing to give up some of their beliefs."

Hoshikawa Taku looked at the two and said, "Nina, you prefer the Diamond Dust that once insisted on being herself, but Momoka believes that Diamond Dust, through commercial operations, can gain more attention. This is also realistic."

"Neither of them is wrong, but both of them are wrong."

Hearing what Xingchuan Taku said, both of them looked at Xingchuan Taku and said in unison: "I am not wrong!"

The two looked at each other, snorted coldly, and turned their heads away again tacitly.

This scene made An and Subaru couldn't help laughing, and Hoshikawa Takuya shook his head speechlessly.

On this point, the two of them have a tacit understanding.

"So, what went wrong?"

An He Subaru took advantage of the situation and asked.

"They haven't considered that making money and sticking to their own style can coexist."

"Coexistence? How is that possible?"

Renai frowned, not quite believing it.

"Of course it's possible."

Hoshikawa Taku said with conviction, "In this world, no matter how niche a hobby is, there will always be people who share the same interests; no matter how niche a song is, there will always be listeners who like it.

As long as you promote it widely enough, even if your style is unique, you can still gain a large number of fans. Besides... I don't think your previous songs were that niche. "

Hoshikawa Taku looked at Momoka and said, "Momoka, let me ask you, when did the song 'Empty Box' become popular? Who wrote this song?"

Taoxiang hesitated and said, "I wrote the lyrics and music by myself when I was in an independent band. It was only when this song became a hit that the agency started paying attention to us..."

"Yes, that's it."

Hoshikawa Taku snapped his fingers.

"Taoxiang, your audience is not niche. Your music has already proven its market value at that time. The reason you are not popular now is not because your music style is too niche, but because of the lack of sufficient publicity."

"You mean... you want us to sign with the agency?"

Taoxiang's face suddenly darkened. "Once I sign with the agency, I'll end up like Diamond Stardust. I don't want that..."

"Who told you that every band would become like them?"

Hoshikawa Taku interrupted her and pointed out the real reason.

"Diamond Stardust has become what it is now because they lost you, the core composer and songwriter. Without good original music, they have no choice but to follow the market and look for other musicians to write songs for them."

"If you're willing to write the lyrics and compose the music, the agency would be happy to save the money. Do you think it's free to commission a song?"

The soul of Diamond Stardust is Momoka Kawahara. When her soul left, Diamond Stardust was naturally corrupted and became a tool for capital to make money.

Taoxiang's eyes flashed, and she was obviously moved by what he said.

Taoxiang said hesitantly, "But when we were in the office before, we also tried to stick to our own style, but... the results were not good."

"There are only two possibilities. Either the agency's promotion wasn't strong enough, or the song you wrote and composed isn't good. Which one do you think it is?"

Hoshikawa Taku asked rhetorically.