Chapter 12: “Interstellar 101”

While “Interstellar Singer” was in full swing, an unremarkable spaceship arrived at Cangwu Spaceport on Earth via a temporary major route. The passengers were then picked up by a large hover vehicle and transported to a sprawling villa district known as Star Selection Town.

The residential assistant responsible for receiving them had been waiting for quite some time. As the sixteen girls from different star systems disembarked one after another, they were greeted by the kindly smiling assistant and an endless expanse of exquisitely designed buildings.

“Welcome to Star Selection Town, dear alien friends. I hope your journey wasn’t too exhausting. I am your residential assistant—Si Huining. If you have any issues with daily life, you can come to me for help.” After introducing herself, Si Huining led everyone onto the villa district’s shuttle, explaining the functions of each area along the way. “Our Star Selection Town is divided into four zones: residential, work, leisure, and performance. The map you received clearly marks the locations and details of each zone. Since the town is rather large, I recommend using the shuttle when you need to get around. Just call for it on your terminal whenever you need a ride.”

“Excuse me…” The speaker was a girl from the Wither-Prosper System. “Have the Earth contestants already moved in?”

Si Huining smiled. “They only arrived about an hour before you. When we get to the residential zone, you can assign your rooms and rest for a while. In the evening, everyone will have dinner together and get to know each other. After dinner, our chief planner will personally announce the schedule for the coming days.”

“Chief planner?” The group exchanged glances. Before coming to Earth, they had all heard at least a little about recent events—how Earth had, as if blessed by luck, managed to break through the walls built by the advanced star systems. Behind it all, there was said to be a person of extraordinary skill, devising strategies for Earth. Could it be that they would meet this legendary figure themselves?

·

The shuttle stopped at the entrance to the residential zone, and everyone’s eyes lit up as they stepped out.

“What beautiful houses!”

The entertainment company had indeed been thoughtful. The sixteen of them, from four different star systems, were assigned villas built in the style of their home worlds, allowing them to adapt quickly.

“I’ll come by at 6 p.m. to take everyone to the dining hall, so I’ll leave you to rest for now,” Si Huining nodded politely to the group. “If you have any questions, you can contact me via your terminal.”

Once Si Huining and the shuttle disappeared from view, the sixteen alien girls, moving with unspoken agreement, entered the villas marked with the names of their respective star systems.

·

Back in their private spaces, the girls finally dropped their public personas and collapsed onto the soft sofas.

“I never expected Earth to be so much more advanced than our home planet. It’s also a small or mid-level star system, but it actually has a spaceport,” exclaimed Sela in the villa marked for the Velvetling System, a small ball of fluff—her symbiotic partner, a “Velvetling”—perched atop her head.

“Didn’t the spaceport staff say so? The old spaceport could only use a temporary major route due to technical issues. That’s why they’re rushing to finish the new one. Once it’s done, they’ll be able to use a proper major route,” said Lilylu, another Velvetling girl, her eyes full of envy. “Earth may not be the capital of the galaxy, but it’s almost on par with the capital planets, isn’t it?”

“I heard the Milky Way doesn’t have a capital planet at all—it’s always been organized as an alliance, with no hierarchy,” Mia said softly, stroking her Velvetling. “Earth is making such a stir now, yet not a single voice is heard from the Galactic Alliance. Doesn’t that strike you as odd?”

Lilylu snapped back to herself. “You’re right… You hardly ever see any of them posting on StarNet…”

Mia released the Velvetling in her arms. The little fluffball waved its tiny paw, and the other three girls’ Velvetlings fluttered after it to explore the big villa.

“Before I left, my elders told me the Galactic Alliance practices ‘absolute planetary autonomy.’ Supposedly, Earth itself proposed this principle. It’s hard to understand—Earth already holds absolute leadership in the galaxy, yet they still strictly abide by this rule, never allowing themselves to overstep,” Mia said, her tone tinged with admiration.

“Incredible… Every star system has a capital planet, and the capital is always above the others. That’s just the way things are everywhere else…” Sela’s eyes flashed with a trace of pain at some memory.

“So they’re just going to watch Earth fight alone? Isn’t that too cold?” Ruby said indignantly.

Mia shook her head. “What could they do? They’re just insignificant minor planets to begin with. And besides, Earth wouldn’t stoop to exploiting its allies. Staying neutral is already a huge help. Only after Earth succeeds will they dare to step forward.”

“Earth will definitely succeed—look at ‘Interstellar Singer.’ All those big star systems are clamoring to come to Earth, demanding a proper major route. Once the new spaceport is finished, so many will come. And…” Ruby’s eyes shone with longing, “And I heard all of this is thanks to that person. I wonder what kind of person they are…”

·

“Achoo!” Feng Jingyu suddenly sneezed. “Who’s badmouthing me?”

Cen Lan was amused by her first reaction. “Why do you assume someone’s badmouthing you? Couldn’t it be someone missing you?”

Feng Jingyu sniffled. “Who’d be missing me? The only person who’d miss me is sitting right next to me.” As she spoke, her eyes twinkled and she leaned in toward Cen Lan. “Wait, are you secretly thinking about me?”

Cen Lan was left half-laughing, half-exasperated. “I don’t think about you in secret—I think about you openly, all the time.”

“Tsk.” Feng Jingyu flopped back into her seat, feigning boredom. “You and Yu Huaiyin are both getting better at roasting me.”

For once, Cen Lan mimicked Feng Jingyu’s inscrutable expression. “People are always growing.”

Feng Jingyu pulled an exaggerated face of annoyance.

“All right, back to business. The sixteen contestants from the Wither-Prosper, Crystal Song, Velvetling, and Porlu systems have all arrived at Star Selection Town, and our own twenty-four Earth contestants are here on time as well. When do you plan to meet them, Chief Planner Feng?” Cen Lan asked with a smile.

“Hmm… After dinner, say around eight o’clock.” Feng Jingyu quickly settled on a time. “There are some unpleasant truths that need to be made clear from the start, so we don’t end up with a mess once the show begins.”

Cen Lan understood. “You’re worried they’ll be too independent?”

“That’s too euphemistic, Sister Cen Lan.” Feng Jingyu raised her brows at Cen Lan’s cautious choice of words. “I’m worried some of them won’t know their place, so the rules need to be set from the very beginning. This program is our top priority—there can’t be any slip-ups.”

“Indeed. ‘Interstellar Singer’ was just the foot in the door. The upcoming ‘Interstellar Idol 101’ is our real starting point.” Cen Lan agreed.

“I can’t wait to see aliens go crazy over an idol competition.” Feng Jingyu let out a strange “kuku” laugh.

With Feng Jingyu’s words, Cen Lan couldn’t help but look forward to it as well.

Just imagining those proud, long-lived races bawling their eyes out in the future made Cen Lan feel she could eat three bowls of rice tonight. After all, that would be the perfect side dish.

·

The dining hall at Star Selection Town sat at the junction of the residential and work zones. The whole building was built plainly, with the large characters for “Canteen” above the entrance.

“Isn’t this the place where Sister Qing Wu ate in ‘Interstellar Singer’?” The four girls from the Wither-Prosper System huddled together, whispering as they looked at the entrance.

“You guessed right. The teachers from ‘Interstellar Singer’ stayed here at first,” a stranger’s voice interrupted their conversation.

Seeing the slightly startled expressions of the Wither-Prosper contestants, the Earth contestant who spoke quickly apologized, “Sorry, sorry, I didn’t mean to eavesdrop. I just happened to pass by and overheard.”

Shen Qiu noticed that this Earth contestant was speaking in the official language of the Wither-Prosper System, which explained why she’d understood their conversation earlier.

“You know our language?” Shen Qiu asked.

The other girl replied shyly, “I really love Teacher Qing Wu’s songs—I’m a fan. So I taught myself the official language of the Wither-Prosper System, hoping that one day, if I got to meet her, I could talk to her in her native tongue.”

The girls from Wither-Prosper were momentarily stunned. Although Qing Wu had become famous overnight on “Interstellar Singer,” they hadn’t truly felt it themselves. But now, meeting this fan from Earth, they suddenly realized—their star system was being seen, being heard.

The feeling brought a faint moisture to their eyes, but they quickly composed themselves.

“Thank you for appreciating Sister Qing Wu. We really like Earth, too.” Xian Qiong reached out her hand, using the Earth etiquette they’d learned before coming. “I’m Xian Qiong, this is Shen Qiu, this is Pu Ye, and she’s Ji He.”

The Earth contestant’s eyes curved in a smile as she shook Xian Qiong’s hand. “Hello, I’m Xu Yunshu. Welcome to Earth. I hope you have a wonderful time here.”

After the introductions, the invisible barrier between them vanished, and the five of them instantly became close.

With Xu Yunshu leading the way, the four Wither-Prosper contestants quickly got to know the other Earth participants. From strangers to friends, all it took was a simple spark.

At the same time, “Interstellar Singer” was about to welcome its next update.