Her Majesty The Empress Has Made Her Debut In The Center Position [Ancient to Modern] - Chapter 30.2

The thought of being the Center Position, with all those eyes and expectations on her, made her scalp tingle with unease.

Then she realized something even worse: everyone in the team was vying for the Center Position, and those running for the position couldn’t vote. That meant she was the only one in the entire team qualified to vote.

Whoever she voted for would become the Center Position.

Li Yunyue: “……”

She wanted to run away.

All eyes were on her, her scalp still tingling. “I…”

This was a tough choice.

Picking someone at random would be dangerous. She didn’t know anyone well enough to just point and choose. If the audience misunderstood and thought she was picking someone based on personal connections, they’d roast her mercilessly. She needed to choose based on talent, but how was she supposed to know what kind of talent to prioritize?

Just then, a voice drifted over from the neighboring group: “How about this? Everyone watch this dance choreography once, just once. Whoever remembers the most moves and can replicate them most accurately gets my vote.”

Li Yunyue snapped her fingers. “Let’s do exactly what they’re doing!”

Her teammates agreed it was a good idea. They borrowed phones from the Follow PD, opened the choreography video, and focused solely on the dance—no singing required. This significantly reduced their stress.

The song was only two and a half minutes long, so everyone finished quickly.

Li Yunyue pulled out a chair to clear some space and asked, “Are you going one at a time or all together?”

Qian Xingxing glanced at the clouds and said, “Let’s do it together! It’s about to rain!”

Although the song was short, the dance was no less challenging. Being able to replicate even one or two moves was considered decent. After finishing the second phrase, Qian Xingxing was already waiting for the ending pose.

Tong Wei didn’t get a single move right.

Zhou Yuting managed to complete the third phrase.

While the other candidates had already stopped, occasionally throwing out half-hearted, completely incorrect poses along with the music, Ji Zhao danced flawlessly to the rhythm, completing the entire song without missing a beat.

The surrounding trainees went from thinking, “Being able to dance three phrases is already impressive,” to “No way! How does she know the whole thing? Did she cheat?” to “She’s going to finish? What’s the point of the competition now? Just give her the first place trophy already!” until they were left speechless, stunned, and wide-eyed.

Zhou Yuting clapped spontaneously. “Zhaozhao, you’re incredible!”

Tong Wei grumbled, “Her moves aren’t even proper. What’s she bragging about?”

Qian Xingxing replied sweetly, “At least she got some moves right. You didn’t get any right at all.”

With that, she scooted over to sit next to Li Yunyue, raising her hands and feet. “I choose you! I choose you! I’m not running for Center Position anymore! You’re the undisputed Center!”

Zhou Yuting added sincerely, “You’re really amazing. I choose you too.”

Li Yunyue handed the Center Position sticker to Qian Xingxing. Just as Qian Xingxing peeled off the protective film and moved to stick it on Ji Zhao’s clothes, Tong Wei shouted, “I haven’t voted yet!”

Before she could finish speaking, Qian Xingxing had already slapped the sticker onto Ji Zhao’s clothes and clapped her hands. “Perfect!”

The rain had started falling, pattering down and quickly spanning the sky.

Zhou Yuting hurriedly borrowed an umbrella from a staff member, while Qian Xingxing boasted about her perfect placement. Li Yunyue watched her busy teammates, then glanced at the alone and hopping Tong Wei. After a moment’s hesitation, she mustered the courage to explain, “You don’t have a vote.”

Tong Wei continued hopping. “Aaaaaah! Are you even listening to me?!”

Li Yunyue looked up at the sky.

As expected… I’m being ignored again. I won’t speak up anymore.

“Everyone, hurry up! The production team didn’t bring enough umbrellas,” Zhou Yuting called out as she jogged back to them. “Share one between two people and head back to the Practice Room quickly.”

Ji Zhao paid no attention to the drizzle. She glanced down at the neatly affixed “Captain” and “Center Position” stickers on her chest, feeling quite satisfied. When she finally looked up again, she realized the rain had stopped.

She paused, then turned to see Yu Cheng standing beside her, holding an umbrella tilted toward her. Half of Yu Cheng’s body was exposed to the rain, the fabric of her clothes dampening where the drops fell.

Amidst the chaotic scramble for umbrellas, Yu Cheng stood like an unshakable pine tree, steadfast in the wind and rain.

“Is it over?” Ji Zhao asked.

Yu Cheng nodded. “Yes, it’s over.”

Ji Zhao was displeased. “Not getting the Center Position is one thing, but you didn’t even get chosen as Captain?”

Yu Cheng’s expression twisted slightly, as if remembering something awkward. “Your Majesty… you don’t understand. This song is simply beyond my capabilities. I didn’t want the Center Position, or to perform such a flashy dance.”

“Flashy?” Ji Zhao asked curiously. “I’ll drop by your trainee practice this afternoon.”

Ji Zhao casually mentioned her intention, but Yu Cheng reacted as if facing a formidable enemy. “No! Absolutely not! Your Majesty mustn’t come to see me!”

Ji Zhao’s curiosity piqued. “Are you defying me?”

Yu Cheng’s hand trembled slightly as she gripped the umbrella. Lowering her gaze, her cold, elegant face was cast in shadow by the overcast sky. A hint of grievance crept into her voice. “This subject wouldn’t dare.”

Ji Zhao’s heart softened. She cleared her throat, trying to assert her imperial dignity, but then remembered no one was watching. Abandoning the effort, she softened her tone. “Very well. Since you don’t want me to see, I won’t.”

Yu Cheng panicked. “That’s not what I meant!”

“I understand.” Ji Zhao patted her shoulder, then reached out to steady the umbrella. “The wind’s coming from your direction, carrying the rain. Tilting the umbrella toward you will keep you drier.”

Yu Cheng blinked, bewildered. “Yes.”

Though Ji Zhao had promised not to visit her practice room, Yu Cheng knew her Emperor all too well. The more she was forbidden something, the more she craved it. Her outward obedience concealed a deep-seated rebelliousness.

She only remembered one such instance.

Every year, during the Lantern Festival, the Emperor would receive the people’s veneration from the city walls—a ritual repeated year after year, lacking both novelty and risk. One year, Her Majesty asked her Grand Preceptor if she could descend and join the people in their festivities. The Grand Preceptor immediately rebuked her, declaring such an act improper and excessively dangerous, urging Her Majesty to abandon such impractical notions.

Her Majesty agreed with a series of “yes” answer. That very evening, she summoned her to the palace for a private audience. She asked if she had any foolproof plan that could ensure her safety while allowing her to share in the people’s joy.

She replied that she did not.

Her Majesty declared, “Then I must punish you!”

She retorted, “Then please sentence me to death, Your Majesty!”

After a moment of silence, Her Majesty gripped her sleeve and swung it playfully. “Yu Cheng, why are you like this?” she asked. “You’re always threatening death and the execution of your entire family. I’m not a tyrant. I simply want you to protect me. Protecting me is your duty—shouldn’t you do it?”

******

Yu Cheng thought Your Majesty’s words made perfect sense. It certainly wasn’t because Your Majesty was acting spoiled that she agreed.

So, on the night of the Lantern Festival, after Your Majesty had received the people’s kowtows from the city wall, she declared she wanted to drink and make merry with the common folk, and to release sky lanterns together. The crowd below went wild with joy. Then, in a flash, Your Majesty, clad in crimson robes, leaped from the wall like a celestial deity descending to earth.

Later, Your Majesty boasted to her that it wasn’t that she didn’t want to learn martial arts; she simply hadn’t bothered to learn, despite her innate talent.

Clearly, she was just afraid of heights.

Of course, Yu Cheng never dared voice such treasonous thoughts to Your Majesty.

So, when the Emperor, who was so terrified of heights, flew down before the assembled court officials to mingle with the people, escorted by Yu Cheng’s guard detail, and when tales of this harmonious scene spread far and wide, Your Majesty was busy consoling the senior ministers who had fainted in outrage at home. That, however, is another story.

Therefore, when Your Majesty said, “If you don’t want me to see, I won’t look,” Yu Cheng never believed a word of it.

During the afternoon training session, Yu Cheng focused intensely on learning her singing, though she kept a small part of her attention on the door and windows… or perhaps more than just a small part, as her teammates noticed. During a break, one of them asked, “Yu Cheng, are you waiting for someone?”

Yu Cheng took a sip of water. “I’m waiting for Zhaozhao.”

Her teammate was curious. “Zhaozhao is coming? What for? Shouldn’t she be in the practice room learning her songs?”

Yu Cheng stared at the door. “She’s coming to watch me dance.”

Someone joked with a laugh, “Is she that worried about you?”

Yu Cheng shook her head. “No, she just wants to see me dance.”

Her teammates were even more puzzled. “She can watch you during rehearsals anytime she wants.”

Training time was so precious that many trainees finished lunch in just five minutes, and break times were constantly shrinking. Who would come just to watch someone else train?

Yu Cheng was adamant. “She’ll come.”

The teammates exchanged glances, seeing in each other’s eyes, “Alright, she’s really obsessed.” This brief interruption was hardly noticeable during the long and tedious training. After drinking their water, they resumed another round of practice.

“How Do I Do It?” was a playful, adorable song that captured the subtle thoughts of girls in unrequited love. Their stage design was entirely in a pink, bubbly style, and the choreography was even more explosively cute. Since everyone came from girl groups, this type of dance was second nature to them. Yu Cheng, though a bit awkward, managed the movements perfectly, even if her expressions sometimes lagged behind.

“Smile, Yu Cheng!” the Captain shouted. “Stop being so annoying and refusing to help! And when you’re ‘hammering’ the person next to you during the dance, don’t use so much force! It’s supposed to be playful teasing, not an interrogation!”

Yu Cheng lightened her movements and was about to continue dancing when her ears twitched. She quickly turned to the door and yelled, “Who’s at the door?!”

Her teammates jumped in surprise. “What’s wrong? What’s wrong?”

“Who’s trying to steal our choreography?!”

“Seriously? We’re not even practicing the same song, so who could be…”

“Then why are they lurking around so suspiciously?”

“Yu Cheng must be mistaken, right?”

Follow PD walked out. “I’ll go check.”

Before long, Follow PD returned and stepped aside. Ji Zhao straightened her posture, clasped her hands behind her back, and nodded to all the trainees in the practice room. “I’m just passing by. I swear, I’m just passing by.”

Yu Cheng’s teammate A: “… You’re here to see Yu Cheng, aren’t you?”

Teammate B: “I knew you couldn’t stop worrying.”

Teammate C: “She’s obsessed with you.”

Ji Zhao frowned slightly, trying to figure out what Yu Cheng’s teammates meant. After a long moment of confusion, she gave up and found herself unexpectedly meeting Yu Cheng’s probing gaze.

Ji Zhao: “……”

Why doesn’t anyone believe me when I say I’m just passing by?!

Yu Cheng approached, her voice low and carrying a weight. “Zhaozhao… You promised you wouldn’t come.”

Ji Zhao scoffed. “I said I’m just passing by!” Her eyes darted around nervously. “Seriously, who wants to watch you dance and sing? It’s so cheesy. Besides, even if I wanted to watch, what’s wrong with that?”

She planted her hands on her hips and challenged Yu Cheng. “What’s wrong with watching?”

Yu Cheng paused, then chuckled. “Nothing. Watch if you want.”

Ji Zhao snorted. “I won’t look!”

With that, she turned and stormed off.

Yu Cheng stood rooted to the spot for a moment before returning to the practice room. Her teammates immediately swarmed around her.

“Is Ji Zhaozhao mad at you?” one asked.

“Are you mad at her?” another chimed in.

“Did you two have a fight?” a third pressed.

Yu Cheng shook her head. “No.”

Turning to the captain, she said, “Let’s continue.”

With time running short and no room for idle gossip, the team reluctantly set aside their questions and resumed training.

Unnoticed by anyone, Ji Zhao, who had stormed off earlier, had secretly came back. She now crouched by the door with her eyes fixed unwaveringly on Yu Cheng.

Get closer to me / Don’t get closer to me / Just how close should I be…?

The cheerful melody filled the air as the trainees moved in sync, their crisp turns and formations blurring into a dazzling display.

I’m ruined / I’m completely ruined / I’m about to lose myself entirely~

Yu Cheng’s gaze swept past the doorway.

As the music flowed, she turned sideways, lowering her eyes. The corners of her lips curved upward in a helpless, indulgent smile.

Support