I Became the Top Competitor in a Talent Show Novel - Chapter 21.2

The three trainees stood in the center of the stage, ready to perform. At this moment, Chi Meng heard 019 say, “It won’t be the host this time! Even if one of them enters Class D, there are 32 people in Class D. 019 doesn’t believe the host will still be chosen for the PK stage.”

Chi Meng was speechless. After a long pause, she said, “If your flag is collected… Xiao Jiu, let’s go to the fortune teller under the bridge. We’ll do the opposite of what you say.”

019: “?”

Among the trainee groups performing today, the combinations were generally strong-weak-weak. The best performer in the company was usually the center. The trainees from Banana Blue Entertainment were the same. The trainee who was determined to work hard and move up was their group’s center, but the performance of the entire stage was not too surprising. It was ordinary, but without major mistakes.

But sometimes, being ordinary is a “mistake.”

The mentors in the mentor seating area discussed their rankings. Baozi Yu flicked the paper in his hand and smiled, “It’s the very end. Do you want to add a little surprise?”

“I think she’s okay,” Baozi Yu tapped the resume in his hand.

“Her performance is more stable than the other two, and there were no overall mistakes,” Xu Shenglin said.

Shi Xinxin said warmly, “She has studied dance for two years, and her basic skills are decent. I think she can be promoted.”

Xie Tongyue rested her chin on her hands and asked with a smile, “Then, should we ‘stir things up’ a bit at the end?”

“Come on,” Baozi Yu said with a chuckle.

After the discussion, they returned to their seats. The three on the stage looked nervously at Xie Tongyue. Xie Tongyue smiled and asked, “What do you think of your stage?”

One girl looked like she was about to cry, her eyes red around the edges, shaking her head like a rattle.

“And what is your self-assessment?” she asked with a smile.

Among the three, the girl who looked like she was about to cry assessed herself as F, and the other two were C and D, with C being their center, Meng Xiaofei.

After seeing their stickers, Xie Tongyue said nothing and smiled as she announced the rankings.

“Wei Xin.”

The girl who was called out shivered, looking at Xie Tongyue with red eyes.

Xie Tongyue calmly said, “F.”

Wei Xin slumped her shoulders, relieved, with no look of disappointment on her face.

“Jin Jingqian,” Xie Tongyue continued.

When this trainee’s name was called, Chi Meng heard Su Mengyao sigh with empathy and say, “Her name must have been hard to write in elementary school.”

The trainee next to Su Mengyao immediately said, “Did I say anything?”

Chi Meng looked down at her name tag and only saw the character “Mu.”

It turned out to be the only trainee with a compound surname on the field, Murong Shimann.

“Jin Jingqian, F.”

She wasn’t announced with Wei Xin’s ranking, so Jin Jingqian thought she would be rated a little higher. She didn’t expect to also be an F. She nodded and stood next to Wei Xin, leaving only Meng Xiaofei.

Meng Xiaofei’s chest was heaving violently. She kept taking deep breaths, staring intently at the paper in Xie Tongyue’s hand.

Xie Tongyue glanced at her with a smile and said, “Trainee Meng Xiaofei, rank—D. Congratulations, you can choose a D-class trainee to PK.”

Cries of lamentation and shouts of “Why do we still have to PK?” rang out across the venue.

Baozi Yu looked back and said knowingly, “What’s wrong? Want to get off work?”

Everyone chuckled.

“We haven’t even said anything. You young people are not allowed to complain,” he shouted with a smile.

The trainees scratched their heads and honestly sat down.

“Please choose the trainee you want to PK,” Xie Tongyue said to Meng Xiaofei.

Meng Xiaofei’s expression was a little disappointed. She touched the Class C sticker on her clothes, raised her head, and looked towards Qi Yan.

The girl sitting in Class C was sitting perfectly straight, her face expressionless, her eyes tightly closed, looking like she had been asleep for a long time.

Meng Xiaofei’s lips twitched and she asked, “Can I challenge across ranks?”

Xie Tongyue’s eyes widened slightly and she laughed, “No, you can’t.”

Rejected, Meng Xiaofei had no choice but to look at the D-class trainees. Thirty-two trainees were packed full, all looking at her. Some put their hands together, whispering, “Don’t pick me, don’t pick me.”

Chi Meng heard the sound of the fortune sticks being shaken. It seemed Xiao Jiu really wanted to contribute to the fortune-telling business under the bridge. Coordinating with the sound of the sticks, Chi Meng also felt subtle, almost imperceptible glances coming from all directions.

Even the mentors in the mentor seating area were secretly looking over.

Chi Meng smiled at Teacher Teng Jia.

She appreciated the sentiment, but her stool hadn’t even warmed up yet.

However, she began to think about what other songs she could sing.

Meng Xiaofei, standing on the stage, clearly saw many people twisting their necks to look in one direction. She subconsciously looked over and happened to see the trainee who had been PK’d twice and demoted twice.

To be honest, this trainee named Chi Meng really had a very beautiful face, making her instantly memorable, and a good voice. However, this trainee didn’t know many songs. In the last stage, she directly sang someone else’s song.

Should she do it again?

Meng Xiaofei was a little conflicted. If she chose this trainee, was she giving her more screen time? But it probably didn’t make a difference. The key was that if she PK’d her, Chi Meng would definitely choose to sing. She, the challenger, could only choose the same category. Compared to singing, she was better at dancing. Chi Meng could only sing and couldn’t dance.

Xie Tongyue looked at Meng Xiaofei and asked with a smile, “Have you chosen?”

Meng Xiaofei was extremely conflicted in her heart. Chi Meng looked at her constantly glancing over and sighed softly.

Xiao Jiu, you can’t set up flags randomly!

“I choose…” Meng Xiaofei suddenly had an idea in her heart and said loudly, “D-class trainee Chi Meng!”

As Meng Xiaofei’s voice fell, one-third of the trainees applauded and laughed without much thought, one-third were surprised and puzzled, and one-third were sympathetic.

Su Mengyao, sitting in front of Chi Meng, instantly turned around.

Looking up, she said, “You are destined to clash with Fei!” (The “Fei” in Meng Xiaofei’s name sounds similar to the “Fei” in Chi Meng’s name, meaning dream or wish.)

“I’m going, Master,” Chi Meng said calmly.

At this point, she actually didn’t feel very surprised. Her only thought was: the Class B seat was so uncomfortable to sit in.

The beginning of everything started the moment she was ranked B.

However, F was the rank she originally recognized for her own skill. Time to go back and find Song Jiaqi.

Chi Meng thought, stepped onto the stage, raised her arm with a smile, and waved to everyone, “Hello everyone, I’m back again.”

Laughter erupted below the stage. Xie Tongyue looked at the still calm Chi Meng and asked with a smile, “Is there anything you want to say?”

Chi Meng laughed, “The phrase ‘third time’s the charm’ actually makes a lot of sense literally.”

One more loss and she’d be in F, and no one would choose her again.

Xie Tongyue heard her, was stunned for a moment, and looked at Chi Meng with slightly wider eyes. Then she laughed and said, “That’s great. Your mentality is very good. So, what song are you going to sing?”

Chi Meng would definitely choose a song. Everyone took it for granted and wondered what other song she could pull out.

Just before Chi Meng spoke, Meng Xiaofei suddenly raised her hand and said, “Wait a moment, I have a request.”

Chi Meng, who was about to speak, looked at Meng Xiaofei. Meng Xiaofei apologetically nodded to Chi Meng, then turned to face the mentor seating area.

She said seriously, “I think the PK rules are unfair.”

“As trainees, singing and dancing are both required courses for us. The trainee ranking cannot be judged based only on one aspect. The PK challenge stage should be the same. I hope we can compete in both singing and dancing.” Meng Xiaofei said.

The recording hall quieted down, and people started discussing Meng Xiaofei’s words. Some people felt that Meng Xiaofei made a lot of sense. For example, during the previous initial stage assessment, many trainees were given small tests by the mentors after their performances, either singing or dancing. Why should the PK only allow competition in the area that the challenged person specializes in? And everyone performed in a certain order, and the other person just happened to take the stage first.

Others felt it made no sense. Trainees who could sit in the front seats must have their shining points. For example, many trainees in Class B and Class C excelled in a certain area, like Qi Yan, who studied dance for five years and won awards in youth street dance competitions. Can you say her skill is poor?

The challenged person has the right to choose the PK content, but the challenged person is chosen by the challenger. As a trainee who performs later, you’ve clearly watched the previous stages and understood the skills of the trainees who have already performed. You can completely choose a trainee you think you can successfully challenge. For example, if you are good at singing and a trainee you think is inferior to you is sitting in front of you, you can completely PK her instead of having to choose someone who is incredibly good at dancing and competing against her in dance.

When Chi Meng first sat in Class B, her initial stage was genuinely amazing, but she didn’t know many songs she could sing. In the first PK, she only sang a few lines of a lyrical song. In the second, she had no choice but to sing the original singer’s song, and she only sang it after hearing it once. It was not surprising that she lost. But it was too unreasonable to compete in dancing with someone who couldn’t dance at all.

The trainees on the pyramid were buzzing with discussion.

The mentors first allowed them three minutes for free discussion. Chi Meng stood with her hands behind her back and said to 019, “You should learn more things when you’re young.”

She hadn’t learned any special skills when she was poor, and when she had money, she was busy being a corporate slave. If she knew how to dance, she wouldn’t be standing here again.

019 said, “Host, let’s learn.”

Chi Meng: “Mhm.”

“Alright, quiet down, everyone.” Xie Tongyue raised her voice to quiet everyone down. She smiled at Meng Xiaofei, “Trainee Meng Xiaofei, we can understand your opinion on the PK rules, but the rules were set beforehand and announced to everyone before the challenge started. We will give you a chance. You can choose another D-class trainee to PK.”

The hearts of the D-class trainees who had just relaxed were raised again, looking at Meng Xiaofei.

On the stage, Meng Xiaofei took a deep breath and said, “I think rules can be broken!”

She still wanted to compete with Chi Meng.

Xie Tongyue smiled and asked, “If you insist on your idea, you can discuss it with trainee Chi Meng. If she agrees to your request, we will not interfere.”

Meng Xiaofei was stunned for a moment, then showed a surprised expression. She looked at Chi Meng, her lips trembled, and she raised the microphone and said seriously, “Chi Meng, I apologize for suddenly choosing you and suddenly making this request, but I really, really want to sit in the D-class seat. I beg you, please agree to me!”

“I beg you!”

Chi Meng looked at Meng Xiaofei’s face and also said seriously, “I also really want to keep my position.”

Meng Xiaofei’s lips trembled when she heard Chi Meng’s words. Her eyes instantly turned red, and she murmured, “Please, just this once!”

019 quietly snorted.

In the mentor seating area, Teng Jia picked up the microphone and said softly, “When you stand on this stage, the mentors assess your initial stage. In the PK stage, your fellow trainees appreciate you. When the show airs, the audience chooses you.”

Xie Tongyue looked at Teng Jia in surprise and smiled, “Just have a clear conscience.”

Chi Meng lowered her eyelashes and smiled faintly. Even if the mentors didn’t remind her, she had already made up her mind. She smiled at Meng Xiaofei, “Don’t cry. Then let’s compete.”

Meng Xiaofei’s eyes immediately brightened, and she showed a brilliant smile. She smiled and glanced at Xie Tongyue. Having made this decision, she had a clear conscience!

Xie Tongyue smiled and lowered her head to tidy up her resume.

“Hey, what did Teacher Teng and Teacher Xie mean by what they said just now?” a trainee whispered.

“I don’t know. Were they encouraging Meng Xiaofei?”

“Ah, is that so… But if they were encouraging her, why would they ask Meng Xiaofei to change her PK opponent?”

On the edge of the pyramid, Song Jiaqi, who was watching the stage with her arms crossed, curled her lips into a cold smile. No wonder she’s insignificant; what kind of emotional intelligence can she use to thrive in the entertainment industry?

Oh, even if she did succeed, it wouldn’t matter.

Song Jiaqi’s lips drooped again.

“Thank you,” Meng Xiaofei said to Chi Meng. “You go first.”

Chi Meng originally wanted to tease Meng Xiaofei and ask her if she wanted to change the rule that the challenged person performs first, but she thought it wasn’t necessary. She stood in the center of the stage and raised the microphone directly.

Xie Tongyue suddenly realized she hadn’t asked Chi Meng what she was going to sing! Just as she was about to raise her hand, she heard Chi Meng’s clear voice.

“In the blue sky, in the Milky Way, there is a little white boat②,” Chi Meng sang softly, holding the microphone in her right hand and extending her left hand. “There is a sweet olive tree on the boat, and a white rabbit is playing…②”

If Su Mengyao hadn’t mentioned children’s songs, Chi Meng would have almost forgotten that her song repertoire was quite comprehensive, such as “Yifen Qian” (One Cent) and “Shu Yazi” (Counting Ducks). She curved her lips and reached out to touch the falling transparent lights.

The graceful song was like a quiet, flowing river of moonlight, instantly soothing all thoughts. Only a faint, quiet voice flowed in her heart, seeping into her core, making it slightly tight.

The little white boat, as a children’s song, was very short. When Chi Meng put down the microphone, she smiled gently.

The applause came after a three-second pause, seemingly afraid of disturbing the just-passed peaceful atmosphere. Meng Xiaofei next to her stared at Chi Meng blankly, taking a light breath. But she quickly comforted herself. It’s okay. Chi Meng is good at singing, and her dancing is also good. Moreover, Chi Meng performed first, so she could surpass her later, and the song she chose was more enthusiastic than Chi Meng’s!

Chi Meng bowed and thanked them. Teng Jia immediately asked, “Are you going to dance?”

“It’s not impossible,” Chi Meng said happily. “I just learned a new move!”

She suddenly spread her arms. Starting from her fingertips, a wave-like motion rippled across her shoulders and flowed to the other arm.

It was clearly the move Song Jiaqi had done before.

Song Jiaqi, sitting in the corner, looked at Chi Meng in surprise. This person clearly didn’t know how to do it when they were sitting together.

“Thanks to Teacher Chenzhu for teaching me!” Chi Meng said with a smile. She took the time to ask Chenzhu when she was sitting in Class B.

In Class A, Chenzhu curved her eyes.

It was Meng Xiaofei’s turn to perform. Chi Meng stepped aside, yielding the stage to her.

Meng Xiaofei picked up the microphone and chose her best song, which had a high-pitched section. Meng Xiaofei successfully sang it. This was why she chose Class C. She was better at dancing, but she could also sing. She originally wanted to choose B, but Qi Yan was in Class C, so she hesitated and chose C.

She didn’t expect to be rated D because of the team’s overall poor performance. She didn’t quite accept this result.

Proposing to compete with Chi Meng in both aspects was both to show her skill and as a double safety net.

When she put down the microphone, a warm applause indeed rang out. She put down the microphone and motioned for the show to play the music.

As the music started, Meng Xiaofei immediately jumped to the rhythm, dancing harder than ever before. She wanted to prove to everyone that her skill was not just D-class. Chi Meng wore her usual smile and applauded with everyone.

“Please make your choices,” Xie Tongyue said, turning around, and joked, “Although we are about to get off work, everyone must vote carefully!”

The trainees all replied, “Yes.”

Chi Meng and Meng Xiaofei stood side by side.

Meng Xiaofei covered her heart, excited and agitated, and said to Chi Meng, “I’m so nervous.”

Chi Meng said, “I seem to have gotten used to it.”

Meng Xiaofei smiled, and after laughing, she whispered, “Sorry, you had to come up again. I thought about it, and I should have accepted Teacher Xie’s request to change the PK opponent.”

She felt that under the condition she proposed, choosing anyone wouldn’t make a big difference, and Chi Meng’s singing was really good, which put a lot of pressure on her.

“It’s all the same,” Chi Meng said with a smile. “No regrets on the move.”

Meng Xiaofei looked at Chi Meng with a slight confusion. Just then, a burst of surprise sounds came from the pyramid. The results were out. Meng Xiaofei immediately turned to look and was stunned.

Chi Meng also turned back, equally surprised.

The red and blue columns stood parallel, no higher or lower, with the same number at the top.

62:62

What to do? Do they have to have a tiebreaker?

The production team hadn’t anticipated this situation. The directors backstage whispered their discussion. Just then, Chi Meng raised her hand and said, “How about we play rock-paper-scissors!”

“Ah?”

Chi Meng asked Meng Xiaofei, “Do you agree?”

Meng Xiaofei looked at Chi Meng with some hesitation.

Chi Meng smiled and said, “You win the promotion, I take the demotion.”

Meng Xiaofei never expected the voting result to be like this. If they competed again, the result might still be the same, or the production team might make them compete according to the original rules…

“Okay, rock-paper-scissors then,” Meng Xiaofei said. “One round decides the winner.”

The two looked at Xie Tongyue. Xie Tongyue nodded.

Rock, paper, scissors.

Chi Meng’s open palm met Meng Xiaofei’s scissors, and she smiled helplessly.

Alas, it seems she never wins at rock-paper-scissors.

Meng Xiaofei leaped up, shouting excitedly, “I won!”

Xie Tongyue smiled and said, “Congratulations to trainee Meng Xiaofei for successfully winning the challenge. This concludes the ranking of all trainees in the Star Journey initial stage. Please return to your respective seats.”

Chi Meng shook her palm and said nothing.

“Host, don’t be sad.” 019’s mechanical voice tried hard to comfort Chi Meng. It whispered, “Is it because I’m attached to the host, so…”

“Why would you think that? It’s because my skill is inferior to others. It has nothing to do with you,” Chi Meng quickly said.

Thinking that way would be wrong. The three trainees who PK’d her had more training time than her. It was like her returning to high school with memories of a lifetime and restarting her studies. Failing to do better than the previous life would be a failure. So, she allowed herself to return to F. Proposing rock-paper-scissors was just to end it quickly.

Moreover, she had always intended to be an F. If judged by trainee standards, she indeed had many gaps.

As for what 019 said about being a passerby or not, she didn’t believe it at all. Female lead script, supporting female script, passerby script—it didn’t matter. No one had a so-called predetermined fate. If there really was a script written out in the world, just tear it up.

“I clearly watched other audition shows, but I didn’t prepare for the current situation. That’s my fault,” Chi Meng said seriously to 019. “Not preparing enough songs is my biggest mistake today, but this kind of situation won’t happen again. Also, I discovered a loophole. The lyrics book I organized only has lyrics and no music. Even if I memorize the lyrics, I can’t sing it. Right, I can’t read music…”

019’s guilt gradually disappeared. Its ears were filled with Chi Meng’s future plans. It gave a hollow: “…”

“Host, let’s go back first,” it gently reminded her.

Chi Meng had a faint smile on her lips. Before stepping off the stage, she glanced in Song Jiaqi’s direction and found that Song Jiaqi’s front, back, left, and right were all full.

Everyone in the pyramid looked at her, including Song Jiaqi. The sleepiness in her eyes had disappeared when Chi Meng walked down from Class D. She quietly watched Chi Meng retract her gaze, turn her back to her, and walk in the opposite direction, watching her stop in front of the only remaining seat in the entire pyramid.

She saw Chi Meng look up before taking her seat. Song Jiaqi subconsciously followed and looked up.

Dozens of trainees stood above them. She didn’t know where Chi Meng’s gaze landed, but she saw Chi Meng smiling.

Some realized that the girl who was demoted three times from Class B to Class F had never shown any disappointment from beginning to end.

The transparent light fell on the eighteen-year-old girl’s face. Her clear complexion was clean and pristine. Her long eyelashes were dyed silver by the light. The sharp light also fell into her pupils, like a clear, beautiful pond.

She curved her eyes, and the pond rippled with it.

Chi Meng smiled and said to 019, “Do you believe it? I will eventually get what I want.”

Chi Meng: Demotion is just a small matter. The main thing is to go find a friend.

① Don’t Know Why by Norah Jones (WYY)

② Children’s song Little White Boat

The initial stage has now completely concluded! Attached is the class breakdown after the initial stage~

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