Divine Dancing

Caught up in the video's magic, An Du Lian's eyes remained glued to the screen. A similar scene was playing out across the nation.

The wildfire ignited by "Paradise" had evolved into an all-out inferno on Bilibili. The metrics for the video were skyrocketing with an almost maniacal intensity.

This level of response was mind-boggling, almost inconceivably so. While it was pretty evident that TMY's dance would strike a chord, who could have predicted they'd hit this stratospheric level of sensation?

Unlike their previous hits, this time it was pure dynamite.

Ask around, and most would agree: this song and dance is like potato chips – you just can't stop at one!

Yep, that's the consensus. TMY's latest creation had an extra something compared to their previous works – an enchanting, mesmerizing quality.

The outside world had even begun referring to this video by a nickname, as a show of respect: divine dance.

[Addictive Alert: Dive into Bilibili and Get Hooked on TMY's Sensational Divine Dance – Again!]

["Paradise," Unreleased but Already Setting the Internet Ablaze. Two Days to Official Drop, Yet It's Already Dominating Cyberspace.]

[Move Over AV170001, Bilibili's Newest Divine Dance Takes the Stage, Guided by Top Female DJ in Cat Girl Suit!]

[Divine Dance Sparks Imitation Frenzy – What's the Magic Behind This Catchy Tune?]

"Whoa! Bilibili Taken Over by a Mesmerizing Video Loop? What's Going On?"

"I Give Up, "Paradise" Got Me in 3 Seconds Flat – So Thrilling!"

"Stuck in a Loop of Divine Dancing – Send Help!"

Indeed, that's the current buzz and aftermath ignited by the two dances.

It's a full-blown wildfire, just like in the previous world. Even imitation videos are popping up on Bilibili...

Believe it or not, if it weren't for those pesky copyright issues, these two videos would have been plastered all over various platforms by eager beavers.

Bilibili's traffic is soaring at a pace that has the core team slack-jawed. No doubt, the biggest winners in this spectacle are the folks over at Bilibili HQ!

Is it really the aftermath of just a handful of *girls? Can a small crew like theirs really achieve such epic proportions?

(A/N: * Using this in the same way "Guys" is used to describe a group of people. No, I didn't forget that Lin Roufang is male)

Meanwhile, the search results for "Paradise" and "Seve" continued to multiply, and discussions about the two songs were snowballing. Eventually, a piece of news broke through the chatter.

Two days from now, the East Records headquarters in the imperial city would host the "Paradise" and "Single Release Concert" – the anticipation was palpable!

Simultaneously, a Weibo post from TMY set off another tempest.

The post read: "If the first-week sales of both 'Paradise' and 'Seve' hit the 20 million mark, I'll randomly pick twenty lucky folks for the upcoming new-gen Ultra Music Festival in the capital!"

The release of "Paradise" and "Seve" was on the horizon. Many could already sense the storm that would hit two days from now.

- - - - - - - - - -

In the heart of the Imperial City, Miaoyi and Qiuying had found themselves in a cozy corner—

Their choice of residence this time around didn't involve any extensive thought process. They opted for the same hotel where they had stayed during their previous visit to East Records. As Miaoyi entered the room with her luggage, she promptly plopped onto the bed, seeming determined to become one with the mattress.

"Qiuying, let's just sleep for a while. Flying took a toll on me, and I feel like I've danced my way to the brink of exhaustion." The softness of the bed seemed to have bewitched Miaoyi as she wiggled around underneath the covers.

"Sounds like a plan. I'll organize our stuff. You go refresh yourself. We're not in a rush for official matters; we're on a bit of a break here, and time is on our side." Qiuying nodded her agreement, echoing the fatigue that was etched across her features. Air travel was no easy feat, especially when it was a late-night flight like this that left one feeling utterly drained.

While tidying up, Qiuying's memory seemed to jolt awake as she looked up suddenly, asking, "By the way, how are our video statistics and potential earnings? I've heard that even on Bilibili, despite all the popularity, the monetary gains aren't exactly booming, right?"

She was referring to the figures behind "Paradise." Lately, this topic had been tugging at her curiosity. She asked about it almost every day or occasionally indulged in some covert sleuthing.

It seemed Qiuying had genuinely caught the content creator bug and had a heartfelt appreciation for the joys of being an "influencer," relishing every aspect of it.

"Give me a second; I'll check that out." Miaoyi pondered for a moment before whipping out her phone with the deftness of a magician producing a rabbit from a hat.

The Bilibili app had become remarkably user-friendly. Creators could now manage their content and creative hubs right from their phones, catering to an audience that demanded convenience...

Quickly, she navigated to the video page for "Paradise."

Within the barrage of comments, Miaoyi could discern an array of opinions and reactions. She skimmed through a few of the comments and found them both amusing and interesting.

The sensation of witnessing a video she had birthed coupled with the deluge of comments was a sentiment not everyone could understand.

Though there were the customary Bilibili comment kings and queens, the lemon-tossers, the haters... compared to the sea of positivity and uplifting cheers, these voices were nothing more than faint echoes.

Caught up in the atmosphere, Miaoyi suddenly propped up her phone, switching to video mode. She hit the record button and offered a wave to the camera, accompanied by a bright smile.

"Hey there, folks! It's me, TMY - Tang Miaoyi. I just wanted to extend a big thank you to all of you who've been checking out my dance videos and supporting my music. Seriously, your encouragement means the world. I'm aware that without you, the me you see today might not even exist..."

"Anyway, let's cut to the chase. I'm now settled in a swanky hotel right here in the Imperial City. What's up next for me and Jing Qiuhua is the grand unveiling press conference for our new singles. Get pumped, and guess what? Fans can actually join in the fun. And hey, if the stars align, I might just whip up an impromptu handshake and autograph session. Your support means everything!"

"Oh, and here's a bit of extra news: I've officially dived into Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, among other international social media platforms. Even though my Instagram account might not be as active, do give it a follow. This way, our international fans won't need to learn Chinese just to catch a glimpse of my content."

With her phone held aloft, Miaoyi poured her thoughts into the recording. It was an off-the-cuff message she wanted to share with her fans.

The short video wasn't polished, edited, or run through any beauty filters. She simply uploaded the raw, unfiltered version straight to her Weibo.

Following this, she delved back into checking her Bilibili analytics and the responses to her video.

When she encountered the shockingly lopsided figures of views, collections, and coins on "Paradise," Miaoyi, the inadvertent catalyst, was on the brink of blurting out "Holy Moly!"

The statistics were mind-boggling. If it weren't for the vast population of this alternate earth, she might have rocketed straight into the league of celestial fame.

There was another puzzling aspect. Miaoyi had a basic understanding of the income model, including Bilibili's "charging" feature, similar to the tipping system for online novels.

However, she hadn't activated this charging plan herself. In fact, she might have completely forgotten about this Bilibili feature if not for Qiuying's recent mention. So, when she ventured into the charging section, refreshed the page, and then nonchalantly glanced at it, she was struck still!

It wasn't because something was amiss, but rather because that particular section, which represented the charging list, was already brimming with a myriad of usernames!

"What the...?" A reflexive exclamation escaped Miaoyi's lips, teetering on the edge of a profanity-laden outburst: "What on earth is this?"

Staring at the display, Miaoyi was taken aback. An inkling of understanding dawned on her, causing her to sit up straight on the bed. Almost as if piecing together a puzzle, she promptly accessed the backend of her creative center.

A cascade of data cascaded before her eyes, a continuous cascade of dazzling information. Within her eyes, pupils dilated, radiating a mesmerizing luminescence.

For some reason—likely due to Bilibili's verification or another mechanism—Miaoyi's charging plan had been automatically activated. In simpler terms, she had been eligible for charging for a while now, albeit unbeknownst to her until this very moment.

To say she wasn't excited would be a blatant lie, especially for someone like Miaoyi who would unflinchingly invest in in-game items or food, even at the cost of her dignity. This discovery was practically a windfall of epic proportions.

Quelling the overwhelming excitement, she started a careful examination.

This time, she was utterly floored...

The user with the highest cumulative charging amount bore the username "QiuyingIsMyDaughter." The logs indicated an abundance of "99999" super batteries sent by this account. As Miaoyi tallied the total, her breath hitched in her throat.

Single digits... tens... hundreds... thousands... tens of thousands... the cumulative amount stretched to seven digits, exceeding a staggering two million...

The second and third top contributors were not far behind. Their handles were "Huashan" and "Director Zhang of Heavenly Games." They had dispatched "66666" super batteries. The brilliance of their contributions was almost blinding. As for the ensuing top 20 users, none had a cumulative value below five digits. Although none reached the astonishing heights of the number one benefactor, when amalgamated, Miaoyi got the distinct impression she might be amassing a fortune solely from these contributions...

However... that number one champion's username.

"Qiuying, come over here for a moment." Miaoyi's voice struggled to maintain a composed undertone.

"What's up? Numbers looking good?" Qiuying, still engrossed in tidying, cast an intrigued glance her way.

"Nothing much, just... I think I saw your dad. Yeah, that's it."

"?????"