From Trashy A to the Heiress’s Little Son-in-Law After the Idol Competition (GL, ABO) - Chapter 10

“I’ve been observing you for a while now. Compared to your two teammates, you’re on a completely different and much lower, level. Your movements are uncoordinated, your singing is constantly off-key, it’s downright painful to watch. If you’re not willing to put in the effort, why even come here to participate?”

Murmurs spread through the audience, clearly disapproving of Xiao Yanjin’s behavior.

Xiao Yanjin had no intention of defending herself. Being criticized was nothing unusual, but Wei Ge, who was usually polite and encouraging to other contestants, had been nothing but cold and harsh toward her. She wasn’t the worst performer by any means, yet she had become his primary target.

It occurred to her that Ji Mian had introduced Wei Ge as an artist signed under Haomei Entertainment, Li Mei’s company. So, he had come prepared.

“Alright, Teacher Wei, let’s not get too upset,” Ji Mian intervened, trying to smooth things over. “Everyone’s probably exhausted, and emotions are running high. Yanjin, would you like to continue showcasing your talent?”

“Of course,” Xiao Yanjin replied with a faint smile.

“Would you like to perform vocals or dance?” Ji Mian asked kindly. Compared to Wei Ge’s hostility, Xiao Yanjin found herself drawn to Ji Mian, feeling as though they were cut from the same cloth.

“Vocal. I’d like to perform Tào Mǎ Gān (Horse-Tethering Pole).”

“Huh?” Shi Zhengyi nearly spat out his water. A trainee in a girl group survival show was going to sing Tào Mǎ Gān?

Of course, Xiao Yanjin had her reasons for choosing this song, precisely to avoid gaining fans.

“Tào Mǎ Gān?” Ji Mian blinked in surprise. Was she deliberately trying to stand out? Interesting choice.

“Give me a horse-tethering pole to hold in his hand. I’ll follow you wherever you go.” Xiao Yanjin belted out the song with exaggerated passion. The style was so mismatched that the other contestants exchanged bewildered looks.

This was the first time anyone had seen a girl group trainee perform such an unconventional song. It was easily the most bizarre move in the show’s history.

Even Shi Zhengyi, who maintained a cool and aloof persona, couldn’t hold back his laughter.

What the hell was this?!

Chu Luo smirked coldly. “Just trying to grab attention!”

Xiao Yanjin got so carried away that, instead of intentionally singing off-key as planned, she ended up hitting every note perfectly, even nailing a high-pitched finale.

“Lǎng————”

The contestants who had been snickering froze in shock. Even Wei Ge, who had been looking for ways to trip her up, wore an uneasy expression.

Even those with untrained ears could tell that Xiao Yanjin’s high note wasn’t falsetto or strained, it was clear, powerful, and flawless, surpassing even some professional singers. Ji Yunuo lowered her gaze, clearly recognizing Xiao Yanjin’s vocal skill. She couldn’t help but wonder was Xiao Yanjin hiding something?

Ji Mian exchanged a glance with the vocal coach, Lan Zi Qing, who murmured, “Very few singers can sustain a note like that without even a hint of breathlessness.”

After finishing, Xiao Yanjin only took a moment to catch her breath before her expression returned to normal. Seeing the stunned faces around her, she realized she had just pulled off an impressive high note.

“Well, mentors, how was my performance?” Since things had turned out this way, she might as well play it up especially in front of Wei Ge.

Wei Ge looked awkward and glanced at Ji Mian.

Ji Mian smiled. “You sang very well.” She began clapping enthusiastically, and the others followed suit.

The thunderous applause made everyone view this previously scandal-ridden, bankrupt rich second-generation heir in a new light.

Wei Ge clapped lightly, seemingly still unsatisfied. He locked eyes with Xiao Yanjin, his gaze suddenly burning with intensity as he recalled his boss’s words to him.

“Be ruthless. Crush her under your heel!” Li Mei sneered coldly. “Make sure she gets eliminated in the first round.”

“Your singing isn’t bad, but what about your previous performances? Can you even dance?” Wei Ge took a deep breath and asked.

Xiao Yanjin shook her head. “No.”

“Being in a girl group isn’t just about singing. Sometimes dancing is even more important than vocals.”

“Oh?” Xiao Yanjin raised an eyebrow. “Instructor Wei Ge, are you mocking the national producers? I remember Teacher Ji Mian also came from a vocal background, yet she still became the center position last season.”

Wei Ge could say this because contestants would never dare to confront the judges firstly, it would be criticized as impolite when broadcasted, and secondly, offending the judges would cause future troubles.

But Xiao Yanjin didn’t need the survival show to boost her career. Since Wei Ge insisted on humiliating her, why not fight back? Why wait to be trampled on?

The audience fell silent instantly, she had actually rebutted the judge in public…

Shi Zhengyi silently applauded for her. Wei Ge didn’t have the best reputation in the industry. Apart from his excellent dancing skills, his scandalous affairs were equally astonishing.

At this point, Ji Mian exchanged an awkward glance with Wei Ge.

Wei Ge pursed his lips and forced a smile. “That’s why our national producers are extraordinary.”

Ji Mian chuckled. “Back in our day, those who couldn’t sing or dance became all-rounders by the finals. We’ll keep working hard.”

The two talents from Changfeng Entertainment performed, one showcased street dance while the other sang a love song.

Xiao Yanjin stood in line with her teammates and the two from Changfeng Entertainment as the grading began.

Suddenly, the street-dancing girl beside Xiao Yanjin burst into tears.

Ji Mian was startled. “Contestant, what’s wrong?”

The street-dancing girl had a youthful appearance, and her crying resembled pear blossoms bathed in rain, tugging at the heartstrings of many alphas and betas.

“I messed up just now.”

Xiao Yanjin internally scoffed: You messed up because you wore high heels while dancing! What’s there to cry about?

“I’m sorry, judges… I feel like I’ve disappointed my company,” the girl sobbed weakly. Standing next to the much taller Xiao Yanjin, it looked as if Xiao Yanjin had bullied her.

“My… my parents really hoped I could debut through this show. Our family isn’t well-off, and I even have to work part-time delivering food. But I’ve been working so hard to secure a spot. I wanted to reach B or A rank so I could dance with the stronger contestants.”

In the previous season’s girl group survival show, the “poor but hardworking underdog” persona had been quite popular. Ji Mian had been the same, earning her the title of “people’s idol.”

But times had changed. What truly won people over wasn’t family background but personality, skill, and audience appeal.

Perhaps due to the emotional atmosphere, several contestants showed sympathy.

Cheng Ling sneered coldly, but with cameras rolling, she could only secretly scoff while maintaining her sweet-girl persona.

“What’s wrong?” Ji Yunuo detected her displeasure.

“Miss, you better be careful. I worked with that person at our previous company. She was always seen at bars and high-end clubs, dressed in designer clothes and bags, definitely not from a poor family. If her shady past gets exposed, she’ll drag down all the genuinely underprivileged contestants again. How despicable!” Cheng Ling said through gritted teeth.

Ji Yunuo remained silent, simply turning to glance at Xiao Yanjin, who looked both awkward and excited.

“I truly love the stage. My dream is to become a renowned dancer like Mentor Wei Ge,” the girl sniffled as she wiped her sweat, then stole a glance at Xiao Yanjin and muttered, “I don’t have the luxury of eating and drinking well like some people, yet still making it to the auditions.”

“Yeah, and some people don’t rely on sob stories to fish for sympathy either,” Xiao Yanjin shot back without hesitation.

This immediately set the street-dancing girl off again, her dramatic sobbing making several alphas clench their fists, itching to scold Xiao Yanjin.

Wei Ge frowned. “Enough, stop crying. Xiao Yanjin, she wasn’t even talking about you. Why the hostility?”

Xiao Yanjin suddenly took a few steps forward.

Wei Ge: “What are you doing?”

Xiao Yanjin forced out a yawn, squeezing out a tear and mimicking the girl’s whimper: “My life is so haaaaaaard!”

Everyone: “!!”

Xiao Yanjin: “The Xiao family went bankrupt, I’m drowning in debt, working as a maid by day and knitting sweaters by night. Now my boss tricked me into joining this show for unpaid labor. My life is so haaaaaaard!”

A mosquito flew past and landed on Xiao Yanjin’s arm.

She smacked it dead instantly, then burst into exaggerated wails: “Little Qiang! What’s wrong? How will I live without you? A parent burying their child…”

Wei Ge: “…”

Ji Yunuo: “…”

Though Xiao Yanjin had the delicate looks of a fragile flower, her theatrics were so absurd that even the most maternal Omegas couldn’t muster sympathy.

Many alphas clenched their fists again, fighting the urge to punch her.

Shi Zhengyi narrowed his eyes. “Good grief, what is this creature? I really want to curse her out!”

“Alright, alright, alphas shouldn’t cry,” And clicked his tongue, turning to the girl. “And you, stop crying too. Save the pity act for offstage.”

Xiao Yanjin instantly dried her tears and shot the girl a look.

The girl’s beautiful eyes burned with fury.

After deliberation with the mentors, Ji Mian awarded the two from Changfeng Entertainment grades, B for the street-dancing girl and C for the other.

Jiang Nan and Zeng Heshi both received Cs.

“Xiao Yanjin, your grade is—” Ji Mian smiled faintly. “C.”

All three members from Sing & Swing Entertainment got Cs. Xiao Yanjin twitched her lips, what an unexpectedly high rating.

The street-dancing girl smiled sweetly, swaying her slender waist as she left the stage. “Thank you, producers! Thank you, mentors!”

Xiao Yanjin noticed the company name and her personal tag on the girl’s waist Chi Nai. She committed it to memory.

Just you wait.

The next few rounds produced two more As.

“Next up, contestants from Oriental Dream Entertainment and Yuku Entertainment, please prepare to take the stage.”

The announcement sent the entire venue into a frenzy, matching the excitement when Xiao Yanjin had taken the stage earlier. All eyes turned to Ji Yunuo seated at the center.

Ji Yunuo was accustomed to such gazes. Unlike her teammates beside her, she felt no shyness, on the contrary, she reveled in the admiration.

She stood up, towering over most Omegas of her gender. Xiao Yanjin averted her gaze, but the image of Ji Yunuo’s snow-white arms and slender, graceful legs lingered vividly in her mind. Damn it, why was her face heating up?!

Meanwhile, the members of Eastern Dream Company were still changing backstage. Xiao Yanjin worried about what they might do to Ji Yunuo in the dressing room, but then she thought, what did it have to do with her? She wrestled with the thought, growing increasingly agitated. After all, Ji Yunuo had paid her a hefty sum wouldn’t it be wrong not to check on her?

But Ji Yunuo would never appreciate it anyway!

In the end, Xiao Yanjin still chose to head backstage.

Support