156: Two MCs trying hard to pretend not to know each other

Hearing the staff's cue to go on stage through their earpieces, the two walked onto the stage side-by-side, causing a momentary lapse in the audience's attention.

Kim Ji-soo, with her long, wine-red hair flowing, dressed in a T-shirt and jeans, exuded a cool yet elegant high-class aura.

Xu Zhiyou, with her high ponytail tied with a pink hair tie and a puff-sleeved top, showcased the unique vivacity of a young girl.

"Oh my! Oh my! What am I seeing? Zoe isn't wearing smoky eye makeup as a base anymore! This kind of girly makeup is a rare sight!"

"This is how a top student should look! She's clearly the 'neighbor's kid,' why did she used to dress up like a delinquent?"

"Kim Ji-soo looks great too! So, who's the top and who's the bottom now? Both are good girls, it's so hard to choose."

...

Backstage, Kang Seul-gi rubbed her hands with a doting expression; both Kim Ji-soo's and Xu Zhiyou's visuals were exactly her type.

Bae Joo-hyun pressed a hand to her forehead, unable to watch, "Seulgi! Control yourself. It's not like you haven't seen them before. Don't act like such a pervert, okay?"

Son Seung-wan and Park Soo-young didn't find anything unusual; Kang Seul-gi was simply a visual fanatic and often took advantage of their leader, so it was nothing new.

Kim Yerim regretted not bringing her phone, otherwise she would have snapped pictures to let her admire later.

"Irene! Why don't you go up too? Aren't MCs usually three people? It would be perfect if you went up."

"Go up your head! Is Inkigayo run by your family?" She really wanted to kick her; she was just too idle.

...

Over at Kim Jennie's group, the three of them were also proud to see their 'child' receive such warm applause the moment she stepped on stage.

Back on stage, Kim Ji-soo began to introduce Xu Zhiyou. The two went back and forth with "Zoexi" and "Jisooxi," making the live stream viewers burst into laughter.

"I'm dying! Why is it so awkward? It must be hard for Zoe to try and act like she's not familiar with Kim Ji-soo."

"I can't hold it in, hahahaha~~"

"Actually, MCs don't need to be so serious! Kim Ji-soo, if you're being threatened, just blink once."

"I feel the awkwardness through the screen. Zoe: 'The only time in my life I've been this polite was when I first met Kim Ji-soo.' Puhahahaha~~"

"Don't mess around! This is a show for the entire Peninsula. If they don't use honorifics on the show, they'll be flamed to death after it airs. It's tough for our Youzai."

"There's a distance called 'we're in the same group, but we have to pretend not to know each other.' Zoe's Show Ge, Kim Ji-soo's reckless man, come back! Ah~~"

"Kim Ji-soo: 'Not familiar, not familiar! Not familiar at all! Zoexi, acting like we don't know each other, hahahaha! So funny.'"

"Kim Ji-soo: 'We're not ashamed, you guys are.' Help! Why are they even using honorifics?"

"It's too embarrassing! Luckily it's not Zoe and Chaeyoung. Zoe's suppressed smile clearly showed she wanted to laugh many times, but she held it back. Good job."

"Life is a play, you act, I act, everyone acts. If I hadn't seen Zoe biting her lip, I would have really believed they weren't familiar."

"I'm dying of laughter! If they ever look back at this, I wonder what they'll think. Oh my! It's both funny and embarrassing, truly amazing!"

"Our biases are keeping their distance, trying very hard to pretend they don't know each other, but you Blinks are good; you've posted all their photos together, so their 'unfamiliar' persona was for nothing, huh?"

"That sister earlier said it: this is a show for the entire Peninsula. If they don't use honorifics, they'll get cyberbullied. Who knows, the main characters might be curling their toes into a three-bedroom apartment right now."

"As long as the acting is good, the awkwardness is the fans' problem. Putting aside the embarrassment, both of them have strong hosting abilities."

"Wuwuwu! Finally, someone is paying attention to our Zoe's professional ability! It's either her looks or the awkwardness. It's tough! So tough."

"I'm watching. She didn't look at the cue cards the whole time. She spoke eloquently about the songs of the groups on stage, without adding any personal opinions, just the promotional content from the groups' online promotions."

"This is what a professional MC should be, right? MCs just cue the flow and move the show along. Who needs an MC's opinion?"

"Indeed! Some MCs just want to weld the camera onto themselves. Will they get rich with one or two more shots? I really don't understand."

"Don't try to understand. It's all for making a living. Although the eating habits are a bit unsightly, being able to eat is their skill. It's never wrong to fight for your own interests."

"Sister! I'm here to support you mentally, but the premise is not to steal our Kim Ji-soo's screen time, otherwise I'll start flaming."

"+1!"

"..."

"+99!"

...

After interviewing group after group, it was Cosmic Girls' turn. She winked at Cheng Xiao, who was further back, and Cheng Xiao winked back, causing the bullet comments to explode as if it were New Year's.

"Oh my god! The two of them are flirting with each other. I haven't heard of them having any contact, but they seem very familiar."

"They knew each other when they first debuted. Cheng Xiao said during a live broadcast that 'Nai Xiao' was the first nickname Xu Zhiyou called her."

"It's quite fitting. 'Dumpling Ni,' 'Park Hanhan,' 'Steel Show,' 'Rogue Sha,' and now 'Nai Xiao.' She's truly a naming genius."

"That's nothing. I know at least ten nicknames for Kim Jennie alone, and even more for Chaeyoung. Kim Ji-soo and Lisa have relatively fewer, but still at least five."

"Isn't she afraid of getting beaten for being so mischievous? A mixed four-person beating would make her cry for her parents and come to me for comfort and hugs."

"The abacus beads from the person in front just hit my face. You're dreaming."

...

Watching Cosmic Girls perform their song on stage, nodding one moment and shaking their heads the next, left Kim Ji-soo completely bewildered.

She turned off her mic and said, "Nodding one moment, shaking your head the next, what are you doing?"

"I'm thinking Cosmic Girls could have reached a higher level, but it's a pity their agency is Starship. Bad management, internal power struggles, sigh!"

Kim Ji-soo rolled her eyes after hearing that, "I think you're just idle."

"Being idle is being idle. Let's just chat, it doesn't cost anything."

Kim Ji-soo thought about it and agreed. Instead of just staring blankly, it was better to find something to talk about. "Tell me more in detail."

"The members' skills are great, and the songs are decent, but there are too many people. Each person doesn't get many lines, and the stage looks chaotic..."

Kim Ji-soo interrupted, "I don't need you to tell me that, I have eyes. Tell me something I don't know."

"Then let's talk about their agency, Starship. As far as I know, Starship's management has ability, but they all use it for power struggles."

"Why are you investigating this for no reason?"

"Are you going to listen or not? If you interrupt again, I won't say anything."

Kim Ji-soo chuckled, "It's an MC's after-effect. You continue, I promise not to interrupt again. Hehe!"

"I mentioned large groups last time in TWICE's practice room. Based on my understanding of Starship's management, solo resources are almost impossible."

"Why? They finally made a group popular, and they're just abandoning them?"

"Cosmic Girls is a product of the collaboration between Yuehua and Starship. They don't belong to either side, and Peninsula companies love to form factions. For example, on the bright side of YG, I know there are already five factions."