‘Awakening Bloodline and redeeming combat skills can be done together. For now, let’s continue with the settlement!’
Yun Ruoxi thought as she continued looking down the list.
NO. 4 Yun Che | Total Popularity: 1,530,000
NO. 5 Kaos | Total Popularity: 1,230,000
NO. 6 Mo Yuan | Total Popularity: 1,010,000
NO. 7 Aili | Total Popularity: 890,000
NO. 8 Anvil | Total Popularity: 870,000
NO. 9 Scarlet | Total Popularity: 210,000
NO. 10 Xia Guang | Total Popularity: 120,000
Excluding Yun Ruoxi herself—an “over-the-top” character who couldn’t be discussed within normal parameters—and the protagonist Lin Zhen, the popularity gap between the other members of the main cast was actually not that large.
Specifically, the popularity difference between the heroine, Zi Jiu, and the second male lead, Yun Che, was only 450,000!
Part of this was certainly due to Yun Che’s strong performance in the final battle, where his calm personality and striking looks attracted many fans.
However, the fundamental reason for this gap was that in the eyes of the audience, Yun Ruoxi had occupied the role of the heroine that should have belonged to Zi Jiu, and she had seized many of Zi Jiu’s Highglow shots.
Otherwise, after the first season, given Zi Jiu’s personality, it would have been impossible for her popularity to be a mere 1,980,000.
Because of this, Yun Ruoxi felt the most apologetic toward Zi Jiu among everyone in the main cast.
The things she had taken away should have all belonged to Zi Jiu—whether it was the heroine’s positioning, her popularity, or Lin Zhen’s feelings.
‘At the last moment, I even used things that originally belonged to Zi Jiu as a gift to her just to score a wave of popularity and favor. I really am despicable!’
Yun Ruoxi laughed at herself self-deprecatingly and then looked at Aili, whose popularity ranking had actually reached seventh place. Her eyes filled with soft joy.
“Xiao Ai! My efforts weren’t in vain! Now, you’ve truly stepped onto the stage of 《Starfall》!”
There wasn’t much to see in the popularity rankings after the top eight. Aside from Scarlet, they were basically all “villain characters.”
Figures like Bai Lu, Flame star, Behemoth, and Dr. Forefinger were all on there. Even the Overlord, who had only appeared twice, made the list. They were truly a laughable bunch of “extras”!
**[Popularity settlement complete. Congratulations on successfully becoming the First Season Popularity Champion]**
**[The following ranking rewards are being distributed to you]**
**[Reward 1: Character promotion qualification]**
**[Your rank has successfully been raised to Female Lead 1. You will receive no less than 30% of the base screentime in the Second Season]**
**[Reward 2: Autonomous camera right]**
**[An exclusive reward for the number one spot on the popularity list. You can independently decide whether to be recorded by the camera and where to insert internal monologues]**
**[Note: Please continue to perform, continue to bloom, and continue to gather more popularity!]**
**[Reward 3: 《Starfall》 Anime Other-dimensional operation rights]**
**[Your ability to gain popularity has been recognized. You will receive two fake identities within the Other-dimensional anime production team and can conduct one anime operation activity per month (Budget limit: 100,000 Popularity Points)]**
**[Reward 4: Exclusive theatrical version × 1]**
**[You will automatically become the protagonist and producer of the first 《Starfall》 theatrical version. Please submit a script before the end of the Second Season. Once the script is approved, filming and editing can proceed]**
**[Note 1: The script’s content must reach 90% truthfulness. After filming is complete, the production team will release it at an appropriate time. As the producer, you have the right to suggest a release date]**
**[Note 2: The theatrical version must include no fewer than five major characters from the First Season, and their total screentime must be at least 40%]**
**[Reward 5: Loan limit increase]**
**[Your current popularity loan limit has been increased to 1,000,000]**
**[Note: You must repay your existing debt before you can take out further loans]**
**[Reward 6: Other-dimensional network access unlocked]**
**[The Other-dimensional network is now fully open to you]**
**[Reward 7: Redemption access for partial system-exclusive skills unlocked]**
One, two, three, four, five, six… seven?
As Yun Ruoxi looked at the row of rewards listed by the system, she couldn’t help but count them out.
It wasn’t that she couldn’t tell how many rewards there were at a glance, but there were just so many. There were far too many!
According to what the system had said before, she originally thought that winning the championship would be nothing more than a promotion in rank and the right to produce a personal side story.
She hadn’t expected that while the promotion remained the same, the personal side story had turned into an entire exclusive theatrical version!
A side story and a theatrical version were not the same thing at all!
The former was nothing more than an extra episode independent of the plot, like a swimsuit episode or a crossover, lasting forty or fifty minutes at most.
But a theatrical version usually started at two hours long, which was roughly the length of six regular episodes—enough time to film a major plot with twists and turns.
Furthermore, the budget and promotional expenses for a theatrical version were incomparable to the anime itself.
Not to mention, she was the undisputed protagonist and could even write the script, be the producer, and do the editing herself.
Wasn’t this just letting her be both the player and the referee? Could she really just do whatever she wanted?
Although she didn’t yet know what “truthfulness” meant and there was a restriction requiring at least five characters from the first season, as long as “submitting the script” meant what she thought it did, she was going to have her fill once and for all.
The “I don’t eat beef” version of Yun Ruoxi—Yelan—was about to go online.
Even if it wasn’t what she imagined, she could still use this to earn a massive amount of popularity.
This was great. It was simply too great!
Yun Ruoxi could honestly say that even if Reward 4 were the only prize, its value alone was worthy of being the first-place reward.
“Whew… calm down. There are still so many rewards!”
Yun Ruoxi patted her face. After she calmed down, she continued to study the reward list seriously. She had to understand every reward thoroughly and analyze just how useful they would be in the future.
And as she looked closer, she realized how incredible they were.
There were so many useful—no, extremely useful—rewards here.
Reward 2: Autonomous camera right. At first glance, this reward seemed average, but with a little thought, one could see its value might even surpass the theatrical version.
This was a reward that truly enhanced her performance methods and reduced the pressure of acting.
With this, she wouldn’t have to worry about being caught by a sudden camera shot if she relaxed, which might expose something. She could also use her internal monologues to drop hints to the audience.
Perfect. It was absolutely perfect!
One could say this was an ability on the level of a “cheat code.”
And then there was Reward 3. Wasn’t it clearly allowing her to conduct an “off-screen operation” once a month?
Yun Ruoxi had already seen through Aili just how much help off-screen maneuvers could provide in boosting popularity.
With this, she was confident that even if she played a villain in the Second Season and couldn’t appear in the early stages, she could still rely on off-screen operations to gain attention no less than any member of the main cast. This could undoubtedly change a character’s status.
As for the final rewards, 5, 6, and 7… compared to the ones before them, they were equally not to be underestimated.