Chapter 95

Chapter 95

unedited

Bronze Sparrow Terrace joined the online voice acting circle two years ago, so in theory, he should be calling Qi Jing his senior. He started off starring in a lot of romance dramas only to slowly start mixing with the BL drama circle half a year later, gaining a massive recognition as an emperor gong voice that used to be very popular at that time. With his superior voice and the commercial advertisement voice acting background, his road to fame could be summed up as smooth-sailing.

He liked interacting with fans, did a lot of karaoke, took part in numerous interviews, and starred in many events as a surprise guest and so on.

He liked to send photos on Weibo and even though he never revealed his face, it was easy to take a glimpse into his bourgeois-flavoured private life.

Among all of this, he also liked to crack ambiguous jokes with other VAs.

Yet ever since he got his “official CP” with Crossing the bridge noodles, almost all of Bronze Sparrow Terrace’s ambiguous jokes were targeted at Noodles. It was always Noodles this, Noodles that, and he would often act like his boyfriend in the presence of other people, getting praised as the “good little top doting on his sweet little bottom”, making his popularity soar even higher.

As a great god, one with a CP to boot, the current Bronze Sparrow Terrace’s fame could be said to be at its peak. That’s why every negative rumour regarding him was always “made up out of jealousy”—at least that’s what his fans kept saying.

And that’s also why, it wasn’t weird for the title ⟪Great God really is so unlucky to meet such an ungrateful wretch⟫ regarding the incident during “Emperor Chang” audition to appear in the forum.

The original poster took on the ID of “Lord Truth”.

Having worked in the news for so many years, Qi Jing already knew that the words of those who flaunted themselves as something like “Lord Truth” would fairly often not so close to the truth itself; some would just deliberately confuse the facts with lies under the sign of preaching the truth—just like the one right there.

The “Great God” from the title obviously referred to Bronze Sparrow Terrace.

Then, the “ungrateful wretch” would no doubt be him. But Qi Jing remained level-headed regardless, scrolling all the way down without batting an eyelid.

【OP】

I believe that everyone who listened to the audition for “Emperor Chang” during the yesterday’s ⟪Order to End the Heavens⟫ voice acting competition... That’s right, I’m talking about Don’t ask for my return date accusing Bronze Sparrow Terrace of copying him!

I can’t comprehend how this many people got misled along with the judge, Longbow—without knowing anything and just listening to the rumours they all followed the mob to criticise Bronze Sparrow Terrace, even though the truth behind this matter is clearly different!

First of all, according to a certain insider, Bronze Sparrow Terrace and Don’t ask for my return date’s relationship became really good in private after working together for the ⟪Trap⟫, they even met each other IRL (Bronze Sparrow Terrace had previously invited him over on Weibo, those who don’t believe, you can go and search back for that post).

Next, they also used to exchange ideas about voice acting before. Because Don’t ask for my return date didn’t have faith in his understanding of the characters, he would ask his seniors about tips on voice acting. Even knowing that they both compete for the same character, Bronze Sparrow Terrace actually readily agreed to help him, analysing the characteristic points of “Emperor Chang” for him and how to portray his emotions. But who would have thought that Don’t ask for my return date had planned it all beforehands! Because he got lucky and got to perform earlier, he copied everything Great God taught him and presented it first as his own interpretation—this sort of behaviour is just too shameless!

Thirdly, regarding those ridiculous accusations that “it was Bronze Sparrow Terrace that plagiarised, not Don’t ask for my return date”—just think of it, if the result of your own sweat and blood got plagiarised by someone and that person was someone you used to trust and work together with, wouldn’t you get agitated? There was no way for Bronze Sparrow Terrace to get himself together in such a short notice to finish the performance perfectly. At that time, it was clear to see that he suffered a shock from this, so he couldn’t perform properly, that’s why he got conferred the title of a “copycat”... Really, this injustice makes me too angry to speak!

Don’t ask for my return date, if you’re still a man, if you still have at least a slither of respect for the voice acting, then I dare you to stand up and admit your wrongdoings, apologise to all those you cheated and harmed!

Karma will always get to those who deserve retribution. You brought it upon yourself. Don’t wait too long to reap what you’ve sown only to regret it later!

...

“Karma will always get to those who deserve retribution... You brought it upon yourself.” Qi Jing read it loud, but he didn’t laugh. “Well said.”

It wasn’t rare for the comments that confused right and wrong like this to appear on the forums, but for them to be worded this self-righteously, it was quite uncommon.

And that’s also because it was quite uncommon for someone to be this shameless—

Qi Jing had to admit, the author of this post made their logic very clear, listing each of the so-called “truths” in order with much persuasion. The worshippers of the Great God who weren’t aware of the reality would easily lean towards his side of the argument and regard Return Date as a thankless bastard.

As expected, a lot of people who hadn’t listened to the competition already expressed their sympathy towards Bronze Sparrow Terrace under the post, showing their contempt for Qi Jing along the way—a couple of whom were his ex-fans.

【comment 17】

Originally, I used to look forward to the second episode of the ⟪Trap⟫ audio drama... Now I feel so weird about it. I have heard before that fame makes people change, that’s normal. But for someone who had just borrowed some of the Great God’s popularity to exploit him later after having gained some popularity in return, and to cheat during the so-called “professional” voice acting competition, he really left me completely disappointed!!

From today on, I officially stopped to wait for the rest of ⟪Trap⟫... ╮（╯▽╰）╭

Great God, good luck! There’s many others you can work with, so just move on after teaching this ungrateful bastard a lesson~

【comment 24】

/（ㄒoㄒ）/～～ I feel so depressed now as an ex-fan of Don’t ask for my return date... I started to like him since I listened to ⟪Trap⟫ and intended to slowly go through his past works, but I didn’t expect something like this to happen. I also remember that post Bronze Sparrow Terrace made on Weibo to invite him that the OP mentioned, I didn’t expect them to be on such good terms in private. And he could even treat his friend like a stepping stone like this... I already got shocked speechless by the content of this post, it feels as if my whole worldview crumbled... *flops*

To hell with that, either way I’ll continue to follow other VA *sobs*...

【comment 33】

Rising hand, I listened to the whole audition, including the judges’ feedback section. I was so let down and in such disbelief that Bronze Sparrow Terrace could possibly copy Don’t ask for my return date, but now that I found this post today, I suddenly got this kind of “so that’s how it was” eureka moment.

To be honest, I was so sceptical towards the idea of Bronze Sparrow Terrace’s skills being inferior to Don’t ask for my return date and him plagiarising. After seeing the OP reveal the truth, I now think that’s how it actually was—after all, a great god is a god, how could he possibly use such low means? And looking at that this way, a lot of unclarities get much easier to explain. I couldn’t tell that Don’t ask for my return date was such an ungrateful scoundrel; I really waited for the rest of ⟪Trap⟫ for nothing.

Just as a lot of girls from the previous comments have said, I think that the production team should maybe consider replacing him? To cause such a big drama, I guess that using this sort of guy, it wouldn’t do any good for the production team’s good name?

...

Seeing those comments one after another, Qi Jing took a deep breath, leaning back on the chair. “The production team’s good name, huh...”

This one was thorny. With this one, the scale of the problem was completely different compared to playing big or ambiguous... To be fair, the staff members of ⟪Trap⟫ had probably already seen this post. It was almost impossible to make them ignore the online rumours completely and continue working on this audio drama with no pressure, not to mention the audience that just wouldn’t buy the finished audio drama.

From what he knew, neither of the core staff members: the producer Rouge Flower, the director Knives cutting in from four corners or the script-writer Puppet Show listened to the ⟪Order to End the Heavens⟫ competition, but under the pressure of the public discourse, they have probably already searched for the recording by that time.

As for who would they believe after listening to it, it was still a mystery. But the crucial part of the staff, A Lifetime’s Lock was Bronze Sparrow Terrace’s trusted supporter, plus it was Bronze Sparrow Terrace who had more influence in the online voice acting circle... After weighting pros and cons, it was quite easy to guess who would get sacrificed in the end.

Qi Jing laughed bitterly. “If I really make my ‘apology’ this evening, then the production team would probably have it even harder.”

Leaning back on the chair, he stayed still for a few minutes before managing to get himself together and opening the production team’s group chat. Just as he expected, ever since yesterday night, the chat log was full of tension.

Producer – Rouge Flower: ...

Producer – Rouge Flower: I, I finished reading that post...

Producer – Rouge Flower: TAT Is that true? It can’t be... I always thought that Return Date-sama wouldn’t be the kind of person that would do things like this...

Sound designer – A Lifetime’s Lock: ╮(╯▽╰)╭ You can think that you know a person, but you will never know their heart.

Producer – Rouge Flower: Locky, don’t say things like that, please... TAT

Sound designer – A Lifetime’s Lock: ╮(╯▽╰)╭ Either way, yesterday he had already agreed to make a public apology tonight.

Xiao Qiao of Bronze Sparrow Terrace’s harem: That’s right, that’s right!! He really is too much. I already thought something was fishy yesterday, but with the truth coming to light today, it finally got through to me how obnoxious he is!! He hurt Bronze Sparrow so much that the other girls from the group chat are all crying themselves silly and now, when we all realised that he was the one doing shady business behind the scenes, we got even more furious!!

Da Qiao of Bronze Sparrow Terrace’s harem: -.- Either he apologises, or I will convince Bronze Sparrow to leave this team, your choice.

Director – Knives cutting from four corners: ...

Script-writer – Puppet Show: Girls, please, don’t get so agitated, if there’s a problem then let’s talk it out... _(:з」∠)_

...

Fortunately it was a Friday, so the couple of core staff members were all online at this time.

Qi Jing just chose three accounts from the chat members list, DMing all of them, each with the same message—”Is it convenient to make a separate group chat now? There’s some stuff I want to make clear.”

After a short while, the three of the staff covertly created a temporary group chat and upon seeing them, they couldn’t stop spamming the crying emoticons.

Rouge Flower: /(ㄒoㄒ)/～～ Return Date-sama

Puppet Show: /(ㄒoㄒ)/～～ Lord Return Date...

Knives cutting from four corners: Return Date... Are you alright?

Don’t ask for my return date: I’m actually quite fine, thank you. ^＿^

Looking at this, at least the attitudes of the three of them still appeared rather usual, none of them showed any negativity.

Qi Jing smiled faintly before the screen.

But the following silence made the atmosphere within the chat a bit awkward. Although it couldn’t be said that they were now cold towards him, after that post and the raucous made by Bronze Sparrow Terrace’s friends, to say that there was not a single change in their hearts, it would probably be impossible.

Don’t ask for my return date: I think that you should probably have already heard the rumours regarding my and great god’s Bronze Sparrow Terrace’s conflict.

Rouge Flower: ...Yes, is that true... (pointing fingers)

Puppet Show: ...

Knives cutting from four corners: ...

Don’t ask for my return date: We are indeed in a conflict. But, it’s not like how it was described in that so-called “truth post”. Aside from this audio drama, me and great god had no private contact between us, not to mention me asking him for guidance in interpreting a character only to plagiarise him later.

Rouge Flower: I also don’t want to believe that you would plagiarise him or anything, but... at the same time, I also can’t believe that he would plagiarise you as well. Maybe there was some misunderstanding?

Don’t ask for my return date: Ms Rouge, if that’s not a misunderstanding then what would you do?

Rouge Flower: TAT I don’t know...

Puppet Show: When yesterday, Da Qiao, Xiao Qiao, and our sound designer came to criticise you, I still didn’t know what had happened because I wasn’t really that interested in listening to that competition when it was streamed on YY. After I read that post, I got scared silly and knowing that the things looked bad, I finally went to listen to it... Honestly, I’m more inclined to believe you!! But I don’t know what I should do!! (clutches head)

Knives cutting from four corners: These days I’m pretty busy IRL, so I haven’t listened to anything on YY for so, so long. I also don’t browse the forum as much anymore, so it was my friend who told me about this drama, quickly calling me to come and take a look.

Don’t ask for my return date: Mn... I know, this happened so suddenly, so I can understand that you had no way to prepare yourselves mentally.

Knives cutting from four corners: Hehe... Return Date, if we’re talking about mental preparations and whatsoever then I’ve already done that before the release of the first episode.

The director’s words surprised the remaining three people in the group.

Rouge Flower’s and Puppet Show’s surprise was out of genuine shock, but Qi Jing’s surprise was streaked with a little bit of curiosity.

Don’t ask for my return date: Oh? What kind of mental preparation was that?

Knives cutting from four corners: Return Date, although I’m too careless and obtuse to the core, but I still believe that I have an eye for people.

Don’t ask for my return date: ^＿^

Knives cutting from four corners: Either way it’s just us in this chat, so I can be bold enough to say this—I actually didn’t take a liking to the great god Bronze Sparrow Terrace, and as for those harem members, friends, and fans of his, I always saw them as the insensible little girls, that’s all. But as for the person himself, I’m not afraid to be hated for saying this, but his attitude towards voice acting is really bad.

Puppet Show: ...Mn...

Rouge Flower: ...It’s my fault, it was me who invited him for the main role first...

Knives cutting from four corners: It’s no one’s fault, Rouge, you also don’t have to blame yourself over it, after all, as a director you have the right to choose the candidates. Indeed, inviting the great god for one of the main characters brought us a great deal of “celebrity effect”, everyone can clearly see the amount of followers and support we gained this way. And I’m very thankful for that—but that doesn’t mean that I can tolerate his fans continuously belittling Return Date.

Knives cutting from four corners: You all remember how it went during the runthrough for the first episode, right? Return Date is clearly the type of VA who faithfully follows the original work, but he had to yield to Bronze Sparrow Terrace continuously, only to get cursed out by the fans of the novel in the end. We’re responsible for that as well, but for the most important part, it was the great god who selfishly made his own changes to the character.

Knives cutting from four corners: At that time, I had an inkling that the day would come when a conflict would arise in our team, especially between the actors for our two main roles. And in the end, this day really arrived...

With the conversation coming to this point, Qi Jing finally smiled knowingly.

This inkling Knives cutting from four corners was talking about, he also felt it a long, long time ago—it’s just, he always believed that backing off would solve any possible conflicts. All of the past actions of Bronze Sparrow Terrace only made him unhappy at most, but it never came to the point of him getting angry, so he just rolled with it. As a voice actor and a part of the production team, he had a duty of protecting the harmony within their crew.

But since Bronze Sparrow Terrace decided to go break the pretence of peace himself and with the falling out bound to happen, then he didn’t have to put up with that anymore—

Don’t ask for my return date: I don’t know how much you believe me, but my conscience is clear, and I decided to settle this matter in my way.

Knives cutting from four corners: I believe you completely, so go ahead and handle it as you wish. （づ￣ 3￣)づ

Puppet Show: I... I’ll still choose to believe you, Return Date-sama. But you really intend to go and apologise to them...? I don’t know if that’s the best way to settle it. /(ㄒoㄒ)/~~

Rouge Flower: I really need to calm down, I can’t, my heart hurts so much... I’m about to cry... TAT

Don’t ask for my return date: Pats for Ms Rouge. Honestly, it’s the most difficult for you, the producer, so no need to force yourself. This audio drama is your child, so I can understand that you wouldn’t want this kind of accident to happen, but unfortunately it has already happened... With how that kind of post got dropped now, I also have to respond to this matter.

Knives cutting from four corners: WAIT!! I agree to what Pupped has just said, don’t you do anything stupid and don’t you dare to apologise!!

Don’t ask for my return date: I said that I’ll apologise, but it won’t be the real apology. ^＿^

Knives cutting from four corners: Oh??

Don’t ask for my return date: If you have time during tonight’s “Qin Tuo” audition, then come and listen to it—I will officially make an “apology” to him there. The reason why I gathered you three here is to say hi to you in advance... So that you won’t be completely without any mental preparation.

Puppet Show: Σ(っ °Д °)っ Mental preparation??

Knives cutting from four corners: Σ(っ °Д °)っ Return Date, what the hell are you doing!!

Rouge Flower: ...Return Date-sama, are, are you...

“That’s right,” Qi Jing said, his expression composed as he typed his words on the keyboard, “I will lay my cards on the table with him, on the precondition of leaving the ⟪Trap⟫ production team.”

Without waiting for them to wake up from the shock, he hesitated, then changed his words.

“No, on the precondition of me leaving the circle—”

T/N:

Lucilla: Qi Jing dropping the bomb so suddenly—savage, but at this point he has all the right to be like this. But damn, that post... I swear, I’ve seen its kind all around the internet ;;;