After Dissing The Aloof Omega In A Talent Show - Chapter 2

Ming Tang subconsciously frowned, looking at Chi Ling, who was currently bowing to everyone.

Just as Ming Tang squinted her eyes, trying to get a closer look at this famous senior, Qiao Xiangshu spoke up first, her voice filled with the excitement of someone watching a drama unfold.

“Whoa, Chi Ling actually came!”

Ming Tang gave a non-committal “Mm.”

“Isn’t she the representative ‘negative example’ that Huayin’s corporate culture education drags out to parade around every month…?”

As Qiao Xiangshu spoke, she craned her neck to size up the senior who had left such a deep impression on her, nudging Ming Tang with her elbow.

“I thought that seeing Chi Ling would trigger a surge of deep-seated hatred in you, and you’d get into a conflict with Huayin’s favorite target.”

Qiao Xiangshu shook her head to herself, sounding almost disappointed.

Ming Tang: “What are you disappointed about? Am I some kind of hot-blooded person?”

“Maybe not hot-blooded exactly, but aren’t you even surprised?”

Ming Tang took a deep breath and gave a dry, robotic reading: “Wow. I really didn’t expect that.”

Qiao Xiangshu: …You might as well not have been surprised at all.

“Even if you don’t rush up there now, it doesn’t mean you won’t later,” Qiao Xiangshu said, unable to hide her desire for chaos. “What if you suddenly get struck by a fit of rage in the future?”

Ming Tang: “I…”

“You must always remember not to be impulsive. She’s an Omega, after all.”

Ming Tang: “Forget it.”

But so what if Chi Ling was an Omega?

The story of her legendary one against four fight on the night of her differentiation was widely circulated. If she really set her mind to something, it was hard to say who would end up being pinned down and beaten.

“Hey, she’s coming up!” Qiao Xiangshu whispered in alarm.

Ming Tang instinctively lowered her head and turned away, trying to avoid any possible contact with Chi Ling.

But the more one tries to avoid something, the more one perceives its existence.

Amidst the noise, Ming Tang clearly heard Chi Ling’s footsteps.

The crisp sound of high heels hitting the floor approached step by step as she climbed the stairs. Ming Tang felt her heart leap into her throat, but Chi Ling’s footsteps didn’t stop beside her.

They continued upward, steady and firm.

One step, two steps, three, four.

Four steps, exactly the distance of two rows of seats.

Ming Tang realized almost instantly what it meant for Chi Ling’s footsteps to stop four steps above her.

Qiao Xiangshu, who had been focused on Chi Ling the whole time, was now excitedly shaking Ming Tang’s sleeve, suppressing a meaningless scream.

Before Qiao Xiangshu could voice her verdict on Chi Ling’s behavior, a voice like a winter stream falling into a mountain glen, rang out behind them.

“Hello, I want to sit in this seat.”

Chi Ling’s voice wasn’t loud, but almost the moment she finished speaking, the entire recording hall erupted into even more intense agitation.

“They’re fighting!”

“The initial stages haven’t even started, and they’re already fighting over seats?”

Ming Tang could finally no longer hold back. She tilted her head slightly and caught a glimpse of Chi Ling’s back.

Compared to the archival footage the company often used for “public executions,” the Chi Ling before her had changed a lot.

After differentiation, facial features sharpen, the physique lengthens, and the greenness and naivety caught between childhood and youth fade away completely.

In the company’s educational videos, Chi Ling having debuted at a very young age, had at least a three years age gap with her four differentiated teammates. Consequently, she still had some lingering baby fat on her cheeks back then.

While everyone assumed the cold faced Chi Ling would differentiate into an Alpha, she became an Omega overnight.

“At least there should be a ‘first come, first served’ rule, right?”

Qi Zhen, who was sitting in the number one spot, stood up with her arms crossed, raising an eyebrow at Chi Ling with clear hostility.

Ming Tang sensed the smell of gunpowder between the two, but her first thought was: Qi Zhen has been very well-conditioned by the company.

“This position shouldn’t be about who got here first, but who is most capable, right?”

Chi Ling’s calm and indifferent reply was like a ladle of water thrown into hot oil, causing an instant boil.

“Yeah, fighting for the Center position is all about ability!”

“But I’m really curious, who is stronger: Huayin’s former genius or its current ace…?”

“Battle! Battle! Battle!”

The cheers from below grew more enthusiastic, causing Ming Tang’s gaze to wander between the two.

Beyond Chi Ling’s back, Ming Tang saw Qi Zhen’s hand clenched tightly at her side.

Ming Tang blinked in disbelief, even slightly worried that Qi Zhen, carrying the “family vendetta” might actually throw a punch at Chi Ling.

“Senior Chi Ling, even in terms of ability, I don’t necessarily need to just hand this seat over to you.”

Qi Zhen stared at Chi Ling with a fake smile. Her voice grew softer and softer until she was almost just mouthing the words:

“The stage should be left to the newcomers.”

“Wow… Qi Zhen’s got guts…” Qiao Xiangshu whispered, practically breathing into Ming Tang’s ear.

Ming Tang hadn’t expected such an intense highlight to occur before the show had even officially begun.

“No matter how much guts she has, this probably won’t be settled privately.” Ming Tang glanced down. The trainee seats were almost full, which meant the mentors who could handle the situation were about to appear.

Ming Tang wasn’t worried about the outcome of the battle, she only felt pity for herself, as she would eventually have to participate in an interview and criticize Chi Ling’s performance.

If the show aired the current conversation between Chi Ling and Qi Zhen, it would definitely spark discussion among the audience. But once her interview was aired, the audience’s fire would be concentrated entirely on her.

Ming Tang sighed deeply, feeling that her career had become incredibly difficult ever since that Love System appeared.

The road ahead was pitch black, how “refreshing.”

Sitting directly under the air conditioning vent, Ming Tang rubbed her arms.

Ding!

The lights in the entire hall suddenly went out.

The darkened hall was illuminated only by the lights behind the seven debut seats. Ming Tang could see by the light that the two were still standing in front of the number one seat, locked in a stalemate.

It was, frankly, a bit unseemly.

Just as this thought crossed Ming Tang’s mind, the sound of rustling came through the darkness, followed by whispering.

Ming Tang couldn’t hear the details, but she could guess the gist of it. Staff members were likely persuading the two trainees at the center of the controversy to restrain themselves during the mentor introduction segment to show proper respect.

After more rustling, Ming Tang glanced over again. The number one seat was empty, but Chi Ling and Qi Zhen were standing on either side of it.

Smoke rose to form a hazy barrier as a spotlight hit the center of the stage. The lift rose slowly, and a dark figure became clear.

“Congratulations to all trainees for successfully passing through layers of screening and testing to arrive at the recording site of Moment of Destiny.”

Ming Tang subconsciously picked at her hand, feeling that her method of getting into the competition didn’t quite match the host’s congratulatory words. Others might have made it through rigorous testing, but she…

“Ming Tang, it just so happens Huayin has one more trainee slot. Since the chances of debut for the rest of you aren’t high anyway, you might as well go along to gain some experience.”

Ming Tang knew very well that “gaining experience” was a lie, she was there to serve as a foil for the other two who actually had a chance to debut.

The host introduced the show with great passion. Ming Tang zoned out during the long list of sponsor brands.

Next came the silhouette teaser for the mentors. Most of the trainees present had been in the entertainment circle long enough to easily guess who they were from just a few short descriptions.

“Please welcome the Moment of Destiny mentor team!”

The crowd of trainees stood up, applause rising like a tide, the air vibrating with the sound.

Martial, stirring music played, the giant screen slid open to both sides, and four bright spotlights converged everyone’s gaze.

The moment the mentors took their positions at the front of the stage, the lights flared up, and the hundred trainees bowed in unison.

“Hello, teachers.”

Ming Tang didn’t straighten up until she saw the people in the front row rise.

According to the established process, the next step should have been long-winded speeches from the mentors. But now, there was clearly a more pressing issue to resolve.

“The two trainees, please come onto the stage.” The host extended an arm, pointing toward Chi Ling and Qi Zhen.

Everyone’s gaze followed the line to the two people standing at the top, where the atmosphere was thick with tension.

Ming Tang watched the two backs moving forward, her own curiosity piqued.

When she first woke up in the hospital, the first thing she saw was the white ceiling, followed by the boss of Huayin Entertainment. A middle-aged woman with a permed bob and fingers full of rings, who told her she was a newly signed trainee.

Huayin Entertainment provided food and housing, training was free, and she even received a salary. Even her medical bills were covered by the company. Aside from this woman, who was her boss on the surface but perhaps her creditor in reality. Ming Tang hadn’t seen any other friends or family.

Ming Tang reckoned that even if this was a “pig butchering” scam set up against her, she’d accept it. Moreover, the contract she had clearly signed and fingerprinted was in the other party’s hands. There were no clauses forcing her to work exceptionally hard, making it seem like an opportunity for free money.

While Ming Tang wasn’t opposed to the career, she couldn’t muster any fighting spirit in the cutthroat environment of Huayin Entertainment. Thus, “slacking off” had become her consistent belief.

The two had already stepped onto the stage. Ming Tang’s attention was entirely on Chi Ling, not sparing even a glance for Qi Zhen, with whom she had spent time day and night.

This seemed to be the first time since encountering “Chi Ling” today that she was looking at her so openly.

“Long time no see, Chi Ling.”

The mentor standing on the far right naturally and generously reached out a hand to Chi Ling.

Chi Ling simply kept her cold face, nodding slightly at the person, with no intention of shaking the mentor’s hand.

“Yu Wenqing, do you and I really need to catch up?”

The cold, disrespectful words traveled through Yu Wenqing’s microphone into the ears of everyone in the recording hall.

Listening to this icy retort, Ming Tang’s mind replayed the “evil deeds” the company had tallied up from when Chi Ling was still in Aetheria.

The most outrageous of them was that Chi Ling, shortly after differentiating into an Omega, had sent the group leader, Yu Wenqing, to the hospital.

“Let’s just battle. Even if it’s just the beginning, that seat should go to the person who truly deserves it.”