After Dissing The Aloof Omega In A Talent Show - Chapter 9

Ming Tang never expected that she would have a day of “heroic sacrifice” just by participating in a talent scout program.

Watching her expression of grim resolve, Yu Wenqing grabbed her shoulders and gave them a squeeze. “Relax a bit.”

This gesture only made Ming Tang more nervous, she stood as stiff as a pine tree under the watchful eyes of the crowd.

“Listen to the rhythm.”

Yu Wenqing leaned sideways against the desk, pressed the play button, and tapped her fingers on the edge of the table to mark the beat.

The intro to Moment of Destiny began to play. Combined with Yu Wenqing’s tapping, it sounded like a death knell.

Ming Tang took a deep breath to calm her emotions. Relying on the reinforced memory from her previous vocal class, she tried her best to recreate the dance moves of the theme song.

However, Ming Tang was currently like a single-threaded processor, if she minded her hands, she forgot her feet, if she did the first move, she forgot the next. The resulting dance was stumbling and disjointed.

“Ming Tang, this performance exceeded my expectations.”

Once the song ended, Ming Tang held her ending pose, panting slightly, as she heard Yu Wenqing’s evaluation.

The other trainees acted like a hype squad, offering enthusiastic positive feedback.

“You’re amazing, Ming Tang!”

“You remembered it so fast! Are you trying to secretly get promoted to a higher class behind our backs?”

In truth, this had exceeded Ming Tang’s own expectations as well.

Up until now, she hadn’t officially practiced the full choreography, her memory of the arrangement was purely based on the lingering impressions from watching the video several times.

She hadn’t thought she could actually remember the general movements of the entire theme song.

Although the overall execution was still frantic, her coordination had improved significantly compared to the past. It was as if her limbs had engaged in deep communication behind her back and finally became acquainted with one another.

Yu Wenqing’s tone shifted: “However, there are still many areas that need adjustment and improvement.”

Hearing this, Ming Tang resigned herself to her fate and stood up straight.

“Go back to the opening move. Open your hands.”

To ensure the other Class F trainees could see the details clearly, Yu Wenqing made Ming Tang pause at almost every movement.

Then, like adjusting a ball-jointed doll, she manually corrected Ming Tang’s poses and had her stay still like a mannequin for demonstration.

Meanwhile, Yu Wenqing wove through the crowd to inspect the others, ensuring they were generally on the right track before moving on to the next eight count.

This method was extremely inefficient, but the results were significant.

Even the trainees who had never studied dance before were able to memorize the movements relatively smoothly.

“Alright, that’s it for today,” Yu Wenqing clapped her hands, signaling the end of the session. “Maintain this practice attitude, and I believe you will all make progress.”

The moment they were liberated, the sound of bodies hitting the floor echoed through the room as the group collapsed onto the hardwood, not forgetting to shout, “Thank you, Teacher Yu!” and “Good work, Teacher Yu!”

One of the bolder trainees even yelled out a confession: “Sister Wenqing, you’re so responsible, I love you!”

Yu Wenqing laughed. “Empty words are boring. If you really love me, work hard. Don’t stand on that stage crying when the time comes.”

Ming Tang rotated her shoulders, which were sore and stiff from holding fixed poses. Meeting the gaze of Yu Wenqing as she prepared to leave, Ming Tang bowed respectfully.

“Thank you for your hard work, Teacher Yu.”

“You worked hard too.” Yu Wenqing reached out and squeezed Ming Tang’s arm. “Take only half of what was said during the evaluation to heart. Work hard, don’t let me down.”

Ming Tang nodded.

Being singled out for two consecutive classes had left her utterly exhausted.

She rested for a while before slowly shuffling to her locker, only to find her water bottle was empty.

Looking at the other trainees sprawled across the floor, Ming Tang stepped over an arm stretched out in the middle of the path and headed out to find the pantry to refill her water.

The pantry was located directly across from the Class F classroom, which was convenient for them.

The hallway was empty, and since the classrooms weren’t soundproof, Ming Tang could hear distant movements. The familiar melody told her that the competitors in other classes were also practicing the theme song non-stop.

The pantry door was closed.

Ming Tang placed her palm against the door, intending to push it open, when she heard faint voices from inside.

She looked left and right to ensure no one was around, then carefully pressed her ear against the door.

“…Right now you’re still a trainee, but I’m already sitting in a mentor’s seat.”

Ming Tang frowned. This voice had just been speaking to her with immense kindness, telling her to work hard.

Judging by the context of the sentence, it was clearly pointing out the “disparity” in their status. Ming Tang immediately had a clear guess as to the identity of the other person.

“So? Does being a mentor mean you can cover the sky with one hand in this show?”

“I don’t need to cover the sky.” Yu Wenqing’s voice paused. “Chi Ling, I just want you to recognize reality. You missed out on the best possible future.”

“I don’t need your hypocritical pity. My future will only see me standing higher than you.”

Chi Ling’s voice was sharp with obvious disgust and impatience.

“Yu Wenqing, move.”

“An Alpha mentor cornering an Omega trainee in the pantry, is that the kind of trending news you want for this show?”

Ming Tang instantly recalled Chi Ling’s impressive track record from two years ago. She felt that if she didn’t step in to stop this, another “tragedy” might occur.

Then again, maybe not.

Given Chi Ling’s state at noon, there was no way she was a match for Yu Wenqing.

“Ah, I’m dying of thirst!” Ming Tang intentionally backed up two steps and raised her voice, ensuring the two inside the pantry could hear her clearly.

“Why is the door still closed?”

Ming Tang’s deliberate footsteps mixed with the rustling sounds inside. Before Ming Tang could place her hand on the door again, it was suddenly pulled open from the inside.

Chi Ling walked out.

Her light-colored eyes were deep and somber, her thin lips pressed tight. Her elegant brows were knit downward, making her almond-shaped eyes look sharp.

Anyone could see that Chi Ling, who usually wore a cold expression, was currently angry.

Naturally, Yu Wenqing didn’t linger. She gave Ming Tang a slight nod and left, acting as if she wasn’t the one who had just been blocking Chi Ling in the pantry.

Ming Tang’s sharp eyes noticed that the glass cup in Chi Ling’s hand was also empty. She naturally stepped forward and took the cup from her.

“I happen to be getting water too. Let me help you.”

Ming Tang didn’t ask why Chi Ling had just come out of the pantry with an empty cup, nor did she show any curiosity about why Chi Ling and Yu Wenqing were in the room together.

Chi Ling’s furrowed brows relaxed slightly, and she followed closely behind Ming Tang.

“Warm water?” Ming Tang asked in a low, smiling voice, feeling as though a “sticky rice ice cream” was hovering just behind her.

Chi Ling gave a soft “mm” and moved even closer to Ming Tang.

Ming Tang held the cup lid between two fingers, filled half the cup with cold water, then moved it to the other side to press the hot water button.

“Ming Tang.”

“Yeah?”

“I felt uncomfortable in there,” Chi Ling’s voice grew softer.

Ming Tang fastened the lid for Chi Ling. The warm water felt comfortable against her palm through the glass walls.

“Then go back to the classroom first?” Ming Tang placed the cup into the other girl’s hand. “Drink some water and relax. I’ll be there soon.”

Chi Ling nodded, but said, “I’ll wait for you at the door.”

Chi Ling stepped back a few paces and waited outside.

The process of filling the water didn’t take long, but knowing Chi Ling was waiting, Ming Tang moved faster.

As the faint scent of White Tea drifted further away, Ming Tang finally smelled another scent in the pantry.

The fragrance of Yu Meiren (Corn Poppy).

It was Yu Wenqing’s pheromones.

Ming Tang frowned, many doubts rising in her heart, though she kept her expression neutral. She took a sip of water to moisten her throat, then turned to Chi Ling and said, “Let’s go.”

Chi Ling bit her glass straw and nodded, her lips slightly parted. Compared to her obvious anger just now, in Ming Tang’s eyes, she only looked as cute as a piece of mochi.

“Do you come here every day?” Ming Tang asked as they walked side by side.

“No, it should only last until the individual recording evaluation for the theme song. Once the MV is finished, we have to focus on the first public performance.”

But after a moment’s thought, Chi Ling added: “That’s for Class F, but not for you.”

Ming Tang didn’t understand for a moment. With water still in her mouth, she could only make a muffled nasal sound: “Hmm?”

“If you want, we can do it together. We can find time every day from now on.”

Ming Tang didn’t think her eyes could get any wider.

She looked at Chi Ling in shock, only to see Chi Ling break into a smile the moment she saw Ming Tang’s expression, the annoyance she had shown toward Yu Wenqing was completely gone.

“This…” Ming Tang struggled to find words. “This isn’t quite right, is it?”

Chi Ling was puzzled. “What’s not right? It should be helpful to you.”

“It’s because the help is too big that it’s not right.” Ming Tang tried to explain the stakes to Chi Ling. “Chi Ling, your position and skill level are much higher than mine.”

“If you keep helping me like this, I’ll end up in a lot of your screen time. That’s like me taking your resources, and the audience and fans will start shipping us as a CP…”

“Do you not like it?” Chi Ling interrupted her.

“Huh?” Ming Tang was stunned by such a direct question.

Chi Ling repeated patiently: “Do you not like it? Being tied together with me.”

Ming Tang looked into those eyes, feeling a bit dazed.

Do I not like it? Ming Tang asked herself.

Heaven knows how much she wished she and Chi Ling were tied together. Her very life was practically linked to Chi Ling’s.

But she didn’t want to be so mercenary.

She didn’t want Chi Ling’s sincerity to be exchanged for a mere shortcut to completing the daily tasks issued by the system.

But searching her heart, Ming Tang knew from the very first moment she saw Chi Ling that Chi Ling was different.

She wouldn’t generously satisfy all the requests of just any stranger, nor would she worry about someone else more than herself.

Chi Ling was special.

“No,” Ming Tang shook her head. “I like it very much.”

Chi Ling blinked and said seriously, “Then you don’t need to care what others think. Friends are for yourself.”

“Leave future matters to the future you.”

Chi Ling leaned in, almost whispering into Ming Tang’s ear: “The current me wants to ask the current you for a little more… pheromones.”