I Became the Top Competitor in a Talent Show Novel - Chapter 17

When Bluebird Dream and were about to perform, Chi Meng was suddenly called away by the program staff for a backstage interview. She could only regretfully glance at the stage before heading down the staircase beside the pyramid.

The interview room wasn’t far from the recording hall. One wall was decorated with pink-and-white panels, adorned with countless golden stars. Sitting there felt like being in a dream filled with starlight.

Directly opposite the decorated wall stood cameras, lighting panels, and other equipment. A staff member sitting on a stool waved Chi Meng over, signaling for her to sit.

As she walked toward the camera, Chi Meng noticed the interviewer flipping through a thick notebook.

019 looked like someone about to have their very first interview, constantly reminding Chi Meng to keep her chest up, shoulders back, stomach in, and smile.

Chi Meng lifted her hand to fix some stray hair, but couldn’t help laughing a little.

In that instant, the stars behind her seemed like reflections in a summer night stream—and among them, Chi Meng was the brightest. The staff looking at her couldn’t help but smile back, until the director conducting the interview cleared her throat softly, guiding Chi Meng back to the main topic.

“Could you please introduce yourself first?”

Chi Meng immediately returned to seriousness, wearing the polite yet enthusiastic smile she used during job interviews:

“My name is Chi Meng. ‘Unaware of the spring grass dream by the pond, before the steps the parasol leaves already rustle in autumn.’¹ From ‘pond spring grass dream,’ it’s Chi Meng. I’m nearly eighteen years old now—rounded up. At the moment, my hobby is doing interesting things.”

The director chimed in: “Like coming to participate in our program?”

Chi Meng chuckled. She was sitting on a swivel stool, one long leg resting on the floor, the other on the stool’s footrest. She looked at the camera, smiling as she nodded.

“Yes~”

019 immediately applauded inside her head.

Perfect—youthful girl energy!

It kept stubbornly reminding Chi Meng not to forget her current age.

The staff gave a long “ohhh,” then continued: “Earlier in the waiting room, what book were you reading? Do you have any other study plans now that exams are over?”

Chi Meng froze for a moment, then asked in surprise: “The waiting room?”

“Yes, there are cameras in the waiting room. You didn’t know?” the staff replied.

Chi Meng: “……”

She really didn’t know.

Thankful she hadn’t “done anything” in the waiting room, Chi Meng explained about her lyrics notebook.

The director nodded, then asked who her favorite stage belonged to, whether she had determination, and what her goals were. These were all questions Chi Meng had already anticipated, so she answered smoothly and appeared relaxed on camera.

Chi Meng: “My favorites are Onena Girls and Su Mengyao’s stage—Su Mengyao is so sweet. Qi Yan’s team was also really good, Qi Yan even has abs!”

“Everyone is very strong, so I don’t have a big goal—just staying as long as I can.”

“I know my own abilities well, so I chose F. Right now, holding B feels like a fluke. If I get overtaken by stronger trainees later, I won’t be disappointed.”

The director stopped flipping her notebook. Just when Chi Meng thought the interview was over, the director suddenly looked up with a smile.

“Then, one last question—out of the 126 trainees you’ve met today, who’s your top pick? Don’t hesitate! Three, two, one!”

“Song Jiaqi,” Chi Meng answered without hesitation.

She raised her index finger, touched it to her forehead, and smiled at the camera: “Song Jiaqi.”

……

By the time Chi Meng left the interview room, Bluebird Dream and’s stage was already over. When she returned to her seat, the results for the just-finished team were being announced. The only A in that group was called up, and as the girl walked excitedly to the A class, Chi Meng glanced upward. Liu Yuexin was still in first place—it seemed their stage had gone well, and Liu Yuexin had successfully defended her A-class position.

The trainee beside her leaned over, asking what the interview questions were. Chi Meng whispered some hints, and immediately all the nearby trainees pricked up their ears.

While they were exchanging “insider tips,” the host Xie Tongyue’s gentle voice rang out below:

“Yuhang Media, Xinghuo Entertainment—get ready.”

Chi Meng paused, watching as a shadow rose slowly from behind.

It was Xue Weiran.

The massive seating area instantly fell silent. Eight calm-faced trainees stood up from their scattered spots and walked together toward the center, descending the pyramid under countless surprised and awed gazes.

The purple-haired Xue Weiran and a girl with a long red ponytail stood out the most.

When all of them had exited through the passage, Chi Meng overheard someone whisper: “Their aura is so strong.”

She nodded inwardly, then instinctively turned to look at Chen Zhu. Chen Zhu looked drowsy, propping her face up, pretending to stay alert. Her eyes were dazed, and only when she noticed Chi Meng staring did she give her an apologetic smile.

Chi Meng had already been imagining a fiery clash between Renxing and Xinghuo—oil and water, irreconcilable rivals. Yet Chen Zhu didn’t seem to take Xinghuo seriously at all. Could this be the confidence of the strong?

She immediately shot the strong one a look of admiration and reverence before turning away.

Chen Zhu, full of question marks, tilted her head in confusion at Chi Meng’s back, before her eyelids drooped again.

With Xinghuo on the lineup, the audience eagerly awaited the next stages. Still, they tried not to look too eager as they sat through Yuhang Media and Youqu Entertainment’s trainees. Unfortunately, those two trainees gave only average performances and both landed in Class D.

Finally.

From the passage, Xinghuo Entertainment’s eight trainees appeared on stage. As the last major company to perform tonight, many trainees on the pyramid couldn’t help standing up—a ritual by now for big-company stages.

Chi Meng had no choice but to stand as well. Luckily, her tall height kept her view clear.

The eight girls onstage stood in order of height and greeted the audience. Dressed in mostly black-and-white outfits, their long legs matched in style. A trainee beside Chi Meng explained that this was called “sexy but aloof”—or “cold sexy.” Chi Meng gratefully noted that down as new knowledge.

The red-haired girl onstage was named An Ran. It was obvious to anyone that she and Xue Weiran were the two trainees Xinghuo intended to push the most.

Onstage, the eight cold-faced girls performed a synchronized hand gesture, then bowed.

“We are Xinghuo—Mars Girls!”

Host Xie Tongyue, still smiling warmly, raised her hand after their self-introductions:

“Please begin your performance.”

Immediately, the eight split into two groups of four. On the left, Xue Weiran stood center; on the right, An Ran. With their backs to the audience, Xue Weiran lifted her arm onto the shoulder of the girl beside her, shrugging casually.

“One, two, three.”

At the sound of the music, the right group snapped their fingers, swaying side to side. Center stage, An Ran spun around, raised her mic, her lashes lowering as she lifted a slender arm:

“It’s 7:30 in the morning, bet you’re lonely, And you’re missing me, you’re missing me².”

She raised a hand to cover her face, fingers sliding down with the beat. Before the audience could react, the lights on the left flared.

Xue Weiran turned, lifting her arm from her teammate’s shoulder. Her fingers traced down her cheek, resting on her lips. With pale violet contact lenses, her eyes curved in a half-smile, foxlike at the corners:

“Even though she’s in your bed, you know it’s better When you’re kissing me².”

“You’re kissing me².”

Her hand lifted from her lips, half-suggestive, half-withholding.

Gasps broke out across the pyramid seats, wide-eyed stares following.

An Ran and Xue Weiran—both had low, sultry voices!

Chi Meng blinked, then immediately told 019: “Baby System, you’re not allowed to listen—please log off.”

019 blanked out, then obediently logged off.

Most earlier stages had avoided slow, sultry songs, preferring upbeat, familiar girl-group tracks to showcase vocals. Xinghuo’s choice was strikingly different—and dazzling.

What’s more, Chi Meng noticed how Xue Weiran’s eyes resembled Song Jiaqi’s—foxlike, their outer corners tipped upward, alluring. Thinking of Song Jiaqi, she rose slightly on tiptoe to look her way. At the F-class edge seats, Song Jiaqi lounged, motionless—either asleep or silently watching. Chi Meng decided it was the former.

Onstage, the intoxicating music pulsed with restrained dance moves. Swaying waists and twisting legs looked like wild thorns shivering in the midnight wilderness. The low voices reverberated, a muted carnival in the quiet night. Many trainees below cupped their faces, staring unblinkingly at the mesmerizing performance.

Their gazes were both seductive and languid, melting into the dance.

If Renxing’s stage was fire, burning the stage in roaring flames, then Xinghuo’s was water—still on the surface, but with hidden whirlpools ready to drag you under.

……

“It’s okay ‘cause I look better naked².”

The eight split into two lines of four, gliding like fish under dim lighting, mics raised in unison.

“It’s okay ‘cause I look better, Oh, I bet that you regret her²……”

Their harmonies rose low, weaving around the main vocals like whispers in the haze. Whether this was big-company training or their own discipline, Renxing and Xinghuo both displayed perfect synchronization—their high kicks identical in angle.

Formations shifted. The ending pose locked in place. Center stage, Xue Weiran pressed a hand to her lips, lifted her finger, and blew a kiss toward the pyramid. Her mouth curled in a smile, and through the mic came her soft laughter:

“So it’s okay ‘cause I look better naked².”

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