I Became the Top Competitor in a Talent Show Novel - Chapter 10

“019 has no objections. Please cherish life, cherish living,” 019 said earnestly.

Chi Meng affirmed it. “You really do understand me. I especially cherish time.”

019: “…”

Shut up already!

From the moment the trainees took the stage until recording began, two hours passed. But what followed was the real highlight: all 126 trainees would perform on stage, company by company, for the first round of grading and class assignment. Through these performances, the trainees could gauge the strength of those they’d be learning and competing with from now on.

Before the mentors called names, many trainees took deep breaths to calm their nerves.

“Are you nervous?” Su Mengyao’s small face was a little pale. She asked Chi Meng, then gasped in surprise. “You’re actually smiling!”

Mom, my new friend is terrifying!

“I’m very nervous,” Chi Meng said with a smile, her legs crossed, arms folded across her chest, leaning back with the posture of a negotiator at the head of the table—as if she were sitting in the mentors’ seats instead of a trainee’s chair.

Beside her, Song Jiaqi glanced at Chi Meng’s crossed legs, then at her posture. Their legs were crossed in exactly the same direction.

Quietly, she put her legs down and shoved her hands into her pockets.

Chi Meng didn’t understand why, and casually asked, “Jiaqi, are you nervous? You don’t look flustered at all.”

Su Mengyao poked her head out again, staring at her with Chi Meng, expectant.

“…” Song Jiaqi moved her lips. “Nervous. Nervous to death.”

The two: “…”

Su Mengyao shrank back, shoulders hunched, whispering so softly, “I’m the only normal one here.”

019 heard her and silently gave a thumbs-up.

And don’t forget, it was the normal system too.

At the mentors’ table, the host flipped through profiles, quickly tidied the desk, picked up the microphone, and smiled. “Next, let’s welcome our first group of trainees: 321 Entertainment. Luck Entertainment, please be ready.”

Soon, a petite girl jogged down the aisle to center stage and bowed.

“321, ready! Hello everyone, I’m trainee Lai Jia from 321 Entertainment, with one year of training!”

Being the first to appear, her nervousness was obvious—her voice shook as she spoke.

Someone muttered, “Please, let me at least get through my self-introduction and performance smoothly when it’s my turn! I’m begging!”

Many trainees clasped their hands together in prayer. Real-CEO-on-the-spot Chi Meng also lowered her head in mock prayer.

Xie Tongyue gave Lai Jia a gentle smile, reassuring her. “The first time on stage is always nerve-wracking. Just do your best to show us what you’ve prepared.”

Encouraged by her smile, Lai Jia’s own smile became much more natural. She nodded firmly.

“Alright, let’s take a look. When you were preparing backstage, you gave yourself a rating. Out of these 126 trainees, where do you see yourself standing?” Xie Tongyue asked.

Since some couldn’t get front-row seats earlier and had to sit lower, which didn’t necessarily reflect their true self-assessment, a pre-stage segment had been added: each trainee picked a letter grade (A–F) sticker for self-placement and wore it alongside their name tag.

Pointing to the sticker on her chest, Lai Jia said, “I hope I can be in Class D.”

“Okay, please begin your performance,” said Xie Tongyue.

“So that’s why the trainees who’ve performed already have name tags,” Su Mengyao whispered as she craned her neck. “We don’t qualify for names yet.”

Chi Meng: “Mm.”

Song Jiaqi: “Hmph.”

The two of them had somehow fallen into the exact same pose again—arms folded, legs crossed. One smiled warmly, the other stared coldly at the stage.

Su Mengyao wanted to join in, but she was shorter than the two and lacked the imposing air. She muttered again in a small voice.

“Crossing your legs makes one butt cheek bigger than the other.”

To be fair—it did rhyme.

Chi Meng leaned forward, blocking Song Jiaqi’s death glare, and soothed her, “She’s just a kid.”

Immediately, Su Mengyao lowered her head. “Sorry, big sis. I was just joking, don’t take it seriously.”

See? She apologized. Chi Meng patted Song Jiaqi’s hand meaningfully. As her hand dropped, she smoothly pulled out the mic cord that had slipped loose from Jiaqi’s turn and clipped it back onto her collar.

Inxing Entertainment’s leader, Shen Zhu, caught this and gave Chi Meng a grateful smile.

Managing a group was tough work.

The sound engineer also breathed a sigh of relief and quickly lowered Jiaqi’s mic volume.

Jiaqi was a bit stunned by Chi Meng’s sudden gesture. Realizing what happened, she glared at her, gritting her teeth. “I’m two days younger than her!”

Who are you calling “sis”? Don’t pull family ties here.

You even know that? Chi Meng froze.

Su Mengyao widened her eyes, exchanging a look with her.

She knows this?

Wait—how does she know?

Chi Meng grew more convinced they must’ve had history, though Su Mengyao had forgotten. From these few encounters, she felt Jiaqi was actually alright—generous, too. Cough.

Naturally, she asked, “So how old are you guys?”

Her tone carried the air of an older sister.

Then she recalled that Ling-jie had mentioned Jiaqi had just come of age.

Chi Meng: “…”

She looked at Su Mengyao’s round face, baby fat still clinging, hair fluffy like a chick.

She fell silent.

Unaware of her thoughts, Su Mengyao leaned over happily, whispering with a little squeal, “I’m eighteen already!”

Each word came out with a sweet little curl to it.

Chi Meng slowly: “…Oh.”

019, ever quick to adapt, piped up: “An eighteen-year-old girl—lively, cute, sweet, lovable.”

Silently, Chi Meng folded her arms and leaned closer to the black-smoke-emitting, cigarette-and-liquor sort of “eighteen-year-old girl” at her side.

Maybe because of Chi Meng, Su Mengyao gradually grew used to Jiaqi’s coldness. She asked shyly, “How do you know my birthday? Have we met before?”

Chi Meng’s ears perked up.

“No.” Jiaqi warned herself to shut her mouth next time. Irritated, she said, “In the restroom, I accidentally saw it in a staff member’s hand. Respect your fellow trainees. Others have already finished performing and gotten their grades. One’s a D, one’s an F. Can’t you at least focus on the stage?”

Chi Meng and Su Mengyao ducked their heads guiltily.

Shen Zhu, who had been eavesdropping, spoke softly. “Actually, Lai Jia and Shi Yiqing are both F class.”

The two girls who’d just performed were overwhelmed by the audience’s stares. Even with the host’s kindness, they remained tense, and the second trainee’s performance fell apart. Her singing and rhythm chased each other endlessly but never met.

In the midst of the laughter, Jiaqi pressed her lips together, her pale ears tinged with pink beneath her dark hair, her arms folding tighter.

Chi Meng noticed and mentally tapped 019.

019: “?”

Chi Meng mused, “Eighteen-year-old girls are indeed cute.”

019: “??”

Thanks to Jiaqi’s “reminder,” Chi Meng and Su Mengyao stayed quiet through the next performances. They really watched like proper audience members—applauding, cheering at the right times, clearly enjoying themselves more than anyone.

One by one, girls took the stage—some sweet, some cool, some sexy—singing, dancing, solo and in groups. Everyone was thoroughly entertained.

Before calling the next trainee, Xie Tongyue held the mic and turned back, still smiling sweetly, still speaking gently.

“Just to remind everyone: fifteen groups, twenty-eight trainees have already performed. Out of 126 trainees, that’s two-ninths. But so far—not a single A.”

Her words silenced the once-boisterous hall. Tension spread. Many widened their eyes in unease.

Xie Tongyue’s smile was dazzling, but her tone firm. “Up to now, not one trainee has reached A level. Even B class has only two.”

Everyone instinctively turned, glancing at the two trainees now sitting with B stickers on their chests.

Dynamic Culture: Luo Jia.

Feiyue Media: Hua Xiaowei.

The two smiled faintly at the camera.

Once the audience had taken them in, Xie Tongyue continued. “Our show’s principle is: popularity first, strength above all. Before the popularity votes begin, the skills you show on stage will earn you advantages. These benefits could determine your ranking. So from now on, give your best. Your future is in your hands.”

“Do you have confidence?” She pointed the mic toward the trainees.

“Yes!” the trainees howled together.

Another mentor leapt to his feet and shouted, “Do you have confidence?!”

The trainees shouted even louder, “YES!!”

Chi Meng’s ears rang from the roar. Then, suddenly, she heard her own name.

“Trainee from Vision Culture, individual trainee Chi Meng, please prepare.”

Her heart tightened. She rose to her feet.

Beside her, Su Mengyao instantly grabbed her hand. “Dream-dream-jie, good luck!”

Chi Meng calmly shook her hand up and down. “Good luck, good luck.”

Letting go, she turned to Song Jiaqi, holding out her hand.

Jiaqi was just about to lift hers when she frowned.

Chi Meng immediately said, “I switched it.”

Relaxing, Jiaqi quickly clapped her hand against hers.

Slap.

Warm fingers brushed, then separated.

“Good luck.”

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