373: Chapter 373 also involved him personally.

"Shoddy workmanship!"

Chen You pointed at the stage with an indignant look, his voice spreading clearly throughout the Central Plaza.

"Do you think being an idol is that easy?"

His cold gaze swept over the players and NPCs in strange costumes below the stage.

"Without perfect coordination of sound, light, and electricity, without professionally polished costumes, makeup, and props, your current performance is just a clown's carnival!"

The plaza fell into a dead silence.

The players looked at each other in dismay.

"What God You says seems to make some sense," an elf whispered.

"Indeed, the texture of this crappy tin stage is too poor; look, there's even a hole in the middle," a dwarf nearby chimed in.

"Unconditional support for God You!"

The NPCs were even more intimidated by Chen You's aura, each looking down uneasily at their coarse linen clothes or worn-out armor.

Sander's brow furrowed, and her massive body took a step forward.

"Honorary City Lord!" Sander said in a deep voice, "Art is pure! It doesn't need those hypocritical packagings! My two and a half years..."

Chen You looked at that dark brown face right in front of him, and the corner of his mouth twitched.

He leaned forward slightly and said in a voice only the two of them could hear, "Do you want to take the center position?"

Sander froze, her full-blooded passion instantly stuck in her throat by these words.

"Your Four-Step Layup has technique, but it lacks soul," Chen You spoke very fast, his tone carrying a unique sense of professionalism.

"If you force yourself onto the stage today and happen to be rejected by those three judges who only look at faces, you'll never be able to debut in this lifetime."

Sander's breathing became heavy, her eyes wide behind her sunglasses.

"Tonight's event is canceled," Chen You patted her arm, which was as solid as a steel plate.

"I'll give you private lessons and personally conduct pre-match special training; I guarantee you'll stun the entire audience tomorrow."

Sander's body trembled violently.

She looked down at Chen You, the original resistance in her eyes quickly melting away, replaced by a fanaticism envisioning a bright future.

"Re... really?"

"When have I ever lied to you?" Chen You withdrew his hand and placed it behind his back, striking an unfathomable pose.

Sander suddenly straightened up and turned to face the entire audience.

"The Honorary City Lord is right!" Her voice was like a resonant bell, making the nearby players cover their ears.

"We cannot desecrate art! The organizers were underprepared; this is my dereliction of duty!"

She waved her large hand, bringing a gust of wind.

"I announce that 'Voice of Star Source' is postponed until 8:00 PM tomorrow night! All contestants, go back and properly prepare your performances! Dismissed!"

The entire audience was in an uproar.

But soon, different voices rose among the players.

"As expected of God You, this is called striving for perfection!"

"God You is buying us time to prepare! Brothers, hurry to the Tailor Shop to get custom clothes! Tomorrow, I'm going to be the coolest guy!"

"God You is so thoughtful! Tomorrow at 8:00 PM, be there or be square!"

"Wait, buddy, those are my boxers!"

The crowd began to disperse 'orderly,' and many NPC Trainees were also motivated, rushing to the blacksmith and Tailor Shops to prepare their 'battle robes' overnight.

Chen You breathed a sigh of relief.

He finally managed to shift the schedule.

Tonight's Guild Boss Battle was the main event; it was a transaction involving the real world and the Higher-dimensional being, 'Invincible Beautiful Girl'.

It would be a real loss if it were delayed by this bizarre talent show.

"Alright, City Lord, you go ahead with your business, I'll go prepare too." Chen You waved his hand and turned to leave.

His collar suddenly tightened.

"What are you doing?" Chen You felt the tug from behind and looked shocked.

Sander dragged Chen You with one hand while clutching a basketball with the other, striding towards the City Lord's Mansion.

"Special training." Sander's tone was firm, her steps heavy. "You said you'd give me private lessons."

"Not now! I have urgent business!" Chen You grew anxious.

"Nothing is more urgent than debuting!" Sander was unmoved.

Bang!

The heavy gates of the City Lord's Mansion were kicked open.

Sander placed Chen You on the main seat in the hall and stepped back to the center of the hall.

She held the ball with both hands, legs together, standing straight like a recruit waiting for inspection.

"Mentor, please instruct me!"

Chen You rubbed his sore neck and sighed deeply as he looked at this two-meter-tall, muscular dark-brown tomboy in front of him.

There was no escaping.

He had to try to finish things here before the Boss battle started.

"What do you want to learn?" Chen You leaned back in his chair.

"Everything!" Sander's eyes were fanatical. "What must I do to make those mortals understand my art?"

Chen You's brain worked rapidly.

"That routine of yours lacks stage tension," Chen You lowered his voice.

"Just knowing how to dribble and the Iron Mountain Lean isn't enough. A true idol needs a perfect blend of vocals, dance, and body language."

Sander was stunned.

"I don't understand."

Chen You couldn't help but shake his head.

"The core of an idol isn't the actions you perform, but the emotions you convey."

Sander frowned, half-understanding.

"For example," Chen You stood up and walked to Sander, "what is your expression when you're dribbling?"

Sander immediately darkened her expression.

She clenched her teeth, her facial muscles tensed, and her gaze was so fierce it looked like she wanted to eat someone alive.

"Wrong!" Chen You slapped the basketball.

"Too fierce! An idol needs approachability and a sense of contrast! While showing strength, you need to reveal a hint of inadvertent vulnerability."

"Vulnerability?" Sander scratched her head, her face full of confusion.

"Yes, that kind... thirty percent sneer, thirty percent coldness, and forty percent nonchalance." Chen You blathered on.

Sander tried hard to adjust her facial muscles.

The corners of her mouth began to twitch wildly, her eyes were uneven, her left eyebrow was raised, and her right cheek sagged; she looked like she was having a stroke.

"Stop, stop, stop!" Chen You quickly called a halt, fearing she would cramp her facial muscles.

"As for facial expression management, practice in front of a mirror first. Let's talk about the movements."

Chen You pointed at the basketball in her hand.

"Your Four-Step Layup is too powerful and could easily hurt the audience. We need to modify it into a dance."

"Dance?"

"Right, combined with the 'Iron Mountain Lean' you learned before." Chen You took two steps back, maintaining a safe distance.

"Try to dribble while using your shoulder to strike the void, and at the same time, match it with a rhythm."

Sander closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The basketball made dull echoes as it hit the stone floor.

Sander suddenly twisted her waist and thrust her massive shoulder forward.

"Hey!"

Bang!

"Ha!"

The entire hall of the City Lord's Mansion vibrated, and dust fell from the ceiling.

"Not enough, the rhythm is too simple."

Chen You had also found his groove and began to play the expert.

"You need to add some tongue clicks and some breathy sounds! For example, 'Yo, yo, look at this ball, it's so big and round'!"