Well, this....
Lucas Reeve had a lot to say, but for a moment, he didn't know what to say. It was a good thing he hadn't revealed that he was, in fact, Lucas Reeve right from the start. Otherwise, he would never have known that Sora was hiding such a secret in her heart. Tsk tsk...
In the future, if Sora found out that he was actually Lucas Reeve, she'd probably die of social embarrassment again, wishing she could crawl into a hole in the ground.
Since it had come to this.
Lucas Reeve decided not to expose himself. After all, a girl's pride was important. He would just obediently be an unfeeling wish-granting tool. He'd pretend he didn't know anything.
"Uh... I'm sorry, that wish might be a bit difficult."
Lucas Reeve waved the teddy bear's small hands, saying regretfully.
Sora had naturally expected this, so she wasn't too disappointed.
After all, if Bailey really did grant her wish and brought Lucas Reeve here, Sora would instead be completely at a loss.
"I'm sorry, could you please make another one?"
"It's okay, it's okay."
Sora quickly waved her hands.
After chatting with Lucas Reeve for a few sentences, Sora's earlier tension gradually dissipated. She pulled up the strap of her nightdress that had slipped off her shoulder, then tugged at her slightly messy skirt. She sat down on the carpet next to the bed in a cute 'duck sit' pose.
Sitting up straight, she was just in time to make eye contact with Lucas Reeve, who was standing on the bed.
This teddy bear wasn't very tall.
It was bigger than Little Moti, but not by much, only about the size of a regular backpack.
"Uh... actually, Bailey, I used to fantasize about what I would wish for if I got a magic lamp one day and the genie could grant me several wishes. When I was younger, my wishes were to be able to appear on the big screen, to hold my own concert, and to find someone I like. But these wishes... I seem to have achieved them all... So, for a moment, I don't know what I should wish for."
Sora clasped her hands together, resting them on her lap.
"It's okay, I can wait."
It was similar to Jessica back then; she couldn't think of any wishes right away.
If it were an ordinary person, they would probably, without any hesitation, wish for a lot of money, enough to last a lifetime. If they made such a wish, Lucas Reeve wouldn't be surprised. But after fulfilling the wish and collecting the Prayer Power, Lucas Reeve would definitely retrieve that soul fragment, unwilling to let his fragment follow such a person any longer.
"Um... Bailey..."
Suddenly, Sora said slowly.
"Did you know? I used to really want to be an idol. Because my dream was to become an idol, to bring happiness to every fan, to infect every fan with my energy. But..."
"Lately, I've suddenly felt... a bit numb."
"Numb?"
Lucas Reeve listened intently. This was basic respect.
"Yeah."
"In the past, when I wasn't very famous, even if something went wrong with my performance, my manager wouldn't say much. She cared about me. I didn't have much pressure back then. I could freely show my best smile to my fans. But... I can't seem to smile lately."
As she said this, Sora's expression gradually darkened.
"Why?"
"Because as my fans increased, the negative comments and malicious comments online also increased. There were even a lot of rumors. And, I often get followed by some fans on my way home from the company... Also, the parent company above mine seemed to have noticed my value and replaced my original manager-sister. They assigned someone else to be my manager. She is very strict... and often makes me shoot commercials I don't want to shoot. As for my usual regular activities with my fans, she has strictly forbidden them."
Sora said a lot. Having someone to vent to was always better than keeping it all bottled up inside.
After she finished, Lucas Reeve generally understood.
It was a typical example.
Although Lucas Reeve didn't understand the so-called entertainment industry, the gaming industry next door had similar situations. For example, a game studio makes a great game, it blows up, and it attracts the attention of the parent company. Then, the parent company will directly let other studios that specialize in making money take over the game. Then, this studio will use any means necessary to make money. To them, the game is just a tool for making money. As for the operations, if it dies, they just make a new game.
Idols were similar.
To the parent company above Sora's agency, Sora was also like a money-making tool. As for what happens if she loses popularity in the future? They don't care. If she's not popular, they'll just promote a new person.
How to put it.
One can only say, when you're in the 'jianghu' (the thick of it), you can't always control your own fate.
It's no wonder many people in niche subcultures are afraid of their favorite things breaking into the mainstream. Because once it breaks out and becomes known to more people, that thing changes.
Like the timeless classics.
XXX went bankrupt, XXX changed for the worse.
This is actually unavoidable.
For example, many of the currently popular 'traffic' celebrities are, to a certain extent, wrongly accused. After all, the company is managing everything behind the scenes. They are just workers following the company's instructions. But in the end, they are the ones who get cursed and ridiculed. Then, after they are cursed into obscurity, the company will just promote a new one. And so on... rinse and repeat.
"So, because of all this, I... I can't really smile anymore. And, after endorsing a series of commercials, I saw in my own fan groups that many people have already left the fandom. One of them was an old fan who also left. They said I'm no longer the sunny, positive Sora I used to be, that my smile seems fake, and that I'm taking on all kinds of low-quality product commercials just to make money..."
"At a big event a few days ago, when I went on stage... I... I almost couldn't sing. These songs are all my favorite songs, but I feel... I can't sing them anymore. I... I've started to fear the stage I once longed for. I don't dare to go on it, I don't dare to see the disappointed faces of my fans. I'm really scared, Bailey..."
"So, Bailey... if it's possible... can you make me smile again... just like how I smiled from the bottom of my heart at my very first concert."
Tsk tsk...
As expected of Sora. Her wish was just like Jessica's.
Jessica's wish was to stop being so timid, and Sora's wish was to be able to smile again.
Very modest~
Lucas Reeve sat on the bed and carefully analyzed the situation for Sora.
"Actually, you don't need to pay too much attention to online comments. There are too many crazy people on the internet. Their comments can be ignored. A reminder, check the forums less. Although many people there have good values, they also have very foul mouths. Also, avoid looking at some other apps. You don't need to care too much about netizens' comments. For these netizens, they might not even know you, but when they start cursing, they don't hold back at all."
"For example... uh... many years ago, I woke up once. I had two friends who were artistic creators. Their artwork was unique at the time, with very high ratings, but there were still many people cursing them endlessly. So, you don't need to care about the words of crazy people online. No matter how awesome or perfect a person is, someone online will curse them."
As a long-time Tieba veteran, Lucas Reeve knew all too well what the internet was like.
"Mhm!!"
Sora nodded, feeling that Lucas Reeve's words made a lot of sense.
"Wait a minute?"
Suddenly, Sora realized something.
"Bailey, aren't you... a doll? And... you just woke up. Why are you so familiar with the situation on the internet? It's as if... you're online every day."
"...."
Damn...
Why is Sora so perceptive.
Lucas Reeve casually found an excuse.
"I used to wake up occasionally before. But, this is the first time I've woken up since I came to your side."
"Oh~~"
Sora nodded, completely believing him.
"Sora, the main thing is that you've been under too much pressure lately. So, relaxing once in a while is a good thing. It's good for restoring your confidence."
"Mhm..."
Sora nodded, but then looked helpless again...
"The new contract doesn't allow the artist to refuse the company's arrangements. If I refuse more than five times, the artist has to pay a hefty breach of contract fee. In my case, I might have to pay a hundred million... But I'll probably never earn that much money in my entire life..."
Well, this...
That's quite a scam.
"Don't worry."
Lucas Reeve walked over, its soft bear legs making little sounds on the bed. Lucas Reeve's little bear arm patted Sora on the shoulder, his gaze firm.
"Don't worry, by tomorrow, no one will be able to force you anymore."
Anything that can be solved with money isn't a problem.
Although Lucas Reeve was penniless, he didn't lack money.
"Bailey, actually... I have another wish."
Sora looked a little embarrassed. After all, saying two at once might seem a bit greedy.
"Hmm?"
Lucas Reeve smiled slightly, letting Sora speak.
"Actually... before I was famous, I once received a fan letter. The letter was very crumpled, and the handwriting was a bit messy."
At this, Sora got up and carefully took a small box from a nearby bookshelf, placing it on the small table on the carpet.
She opened the small box. It was filled with many, many letters.
From among them, Sora took out a crumpled one. The writing on it was already a bit faded, seemingly several years old.
"This fan was from the slums of Lungmen... She said she liked me a lot. She loved my songs, and that my songs gave her the motivation to keep living. But... they couldn't afford albums at all, so the songs they listened to were all pirated. So, inside this envelope at the time was a small trinket. She made this herself. She told me back then that if I could hold a concert and become a big idol in the future, she would definitely find any way possible to come and see one."
Sora spoke very earnestly, as if she had returned to that time.
"And then..."
"And then, over a year later, with the help of my manager-sister, I began to prepare for my first concert. It was small, in a tiny venue that could only hold about a hundred people. At that time, I was so
happy and wanted to invite her, but... I received news that she had died from Oripathy."
As she said this, Sora's voice choked up a bit.
"Then, with Exu's help at the time, I managed to find the place where that fan lived. It was a girl... her walls were covered with my posters. And it seemed she knew I was about to hold my first concert and was saving up money to go... but... just half a month before the concert, she died from Oripathy..."
Sora's eyes were already red.
"So, I used to have a dream, which was to hold a concert in the slums. I want to bring my songs to the people in the slums too... But this wish is very difficult. My manager-sister wouldn't allow it. For one, it's not safe, and also... the company wouldn't allow it, because it would be a guaranteed financial loss."
"In Lungmen, no one cares about the Infected. I donate some money almost every month, but my strength is minuscule. I originally thought this dream was just a dream, but... I saw the documentary filmed by Mr. Lucas Reeve. The emotions expressed in Mr. Lucas Reeve's documentary are exactly the same as what's in my heart. It was Mr. Lucas Reeve who gave me the impulse to pursue my dream!"
Lucas Reeve sighed.
"Don't worry, Sora, I will help you. At the very least, I will help you successfully hold a concert in the slums. As for your parent company, don't worry. By tomorrow, that company of yours will definitely not bother you again."
Lucas Reeve didn't say the next sentence out loud, but thought it in his heart.
If Nian were here, she'd probably be depressed again. Sora was praising the other director without mentioning her at all, but when it came to taking the blame, Nian was the one carrying the pot.
Seeing Lucas Reeve actually agree.
Sora happily threw her arms around Lucas Reeve's doll body.
"Thank you, Bailey!!"