I Became the Top Competitor in a Talent Show Novel - Chapter 33.2

The chocolate was the kind sold in convenience stores, with lots of sugar, very sweet. Song Jiaqi was stuffed with the largest piece and leaned lazily on Chi Meng, listening to the others talk.

A staff member poked her head in and said, “Chi Meng, did you secretly buy snacks yesterday?”

The training camp usually didn’t allow ordering takeout or leaving the camp privately, and snack management was also strict. However, there was no strict prohibition against eating snacks. After all, ‘Star Journey’ was a variety show, and trainees consumed a lot of energy during their training. The cafeteria provided meals for the trainees and the production staff for extended periods.

It was just that requirements still had to be in place. Agencies were also afraid their kids couldn’t control their mouths and would return round after filming.

Caught in the act by the staff, Chi Meng remained calm and smiled demurely, “Just a little.”

The few people sitting next to her smiled, showing small black teeth from the chocolate. Chen Zhu covered her forehead with her hand.

The staff member gestured at Chi Meng from a distance and said, “Today, everyone trains until three o’clock, then returns to the dorms to tidy up, put on the clothes from yesterday’s recording, and do makeup. Those who didn’t bring a makeup bag come find me. Finish getting ready before four o’clock and meet outside the campus. We have a make-up shoot tonight, and the F-Class trainees must attend too.”

Song Jiaqi lifted her eyes. The stage costume she had seen on her desk when she returned to the dorm yesterday, which was the same as what the other classes wore during the theme song recording, she had thrown directly into the closet.

The staff went to notify the next team. Chi Meng looked up at the time and immediately said to Chen Zhu, “Captain, let’s begin.”

A close-up cameraman sat not far away, filming them. On camera, Chen Zhu brought over the printed lyrics and a notebook. There were two stickers on the lyric sheet: the L for “leader” and the C for “center.”

She calmly held up the L and said, “No one has an objection to this, right?”

Everyone shook their heads. Chen Zhu specifically looked at Yuan Yixin and smiled, “Yuan Yixin, do you want to be the captain?”

Yuan Yixin pursed her lips and smiled, “No need, you do it.”

Chen Zhu’s Renxing team was stunning in their initial stage performance. Recalling their chaotic stage, Yuan Yixin had no thought of fighting Chen Zhu for the captain position. Having dropped from A-Class to B-Class, she only wanted to successfully win the first public performance battle.

Seeing that she truly had no objection, Chen Zhu stuck the sticker on her chest. The next was to choose the Center. Chen Zhu distributed the lyrics to everyone, connected the notebook to the big screen, and played the song.

In the video, nine professional dancers posed, performing the designed choreography to the song’s original vocals. The nine of them had to learn the dance and the song in the remaining time and perfectly showcase it on the public performance stage.

Chi Meng looked up, staring intently. Grand and powerful music swept over them, accompanied by the clear singing of a female voice. After hearing the song, Chi Meng suddenly understood why Chen Zhu chose this song. It was similar in style to Renxing’s initial stage performance. The dance, compared to the theme song’s choreography, was more difficult and complex for Chi Meng.

Fortunately, there were no backflips or side flips.

Chi Meng patted Song Jiaqi’s waist with lingering fear.

Song Jiaqi: “?”

When the song finished playing, Chen Zhu pressed the pause button. When her face was expressionless, she looked cold, perhaps that’s why her voice was always very gentle.

“Does everyone have any thoughts? Let’s discuss it,” Chen Zhu said.

Yuan Yixin couldn’t help but say, “It looks… quite difficult.”

Yuan Sike counted on her fingers. Including the day of the public performance, they had less than seven days.

Chen Zhu said, “Yes, the choreography is indeed complex. The nine of us also need to familiarize ourselves with the stage positioning. But if we do it well, the stage performance will definitely be outstanding.”

She said, “We still have seven days. Everyone can do it. Together.”

Chi Meng immediately said, “Okay!”

“Okay,” the others followed suit.

Chen Zhu looked at the people around her and gently said, “I think our team’s overall strength is the best compared to the other teams. In my eyes, you are all excellent trainees. So, I hope we can get the highest number of votes in the public performance! The highest number of votes of all stages. Please strive with this goal in mind.”

Hua Xiaowei, who had been relatively quiet, said in surprise, “Highest votes?”

Chi Meng looked at the lyric sheet in her hand and said with a smile, “I think we can. Since we’re going to do it, let’s do it with the determination to be the best. Right, Qiqi?”

She turned and asked the girl next to her who was pretending to be a mushroom.

Everyone’s eyes fell on Song Jiaqi. As the only F in the entire team, many looked worried.

Song Jiaqi: “…Let’s go.”

Chen Zhu smiled contentedly, feeling she had made the absolutely correct decision! She happily picked up the Center sticker and asked, “So, trainees who want to be the Center, please raise your hands boldly.”

In Practice Room 9, Xue Weiran rested her chin on her hand and lazily said, “Since we’re going to practice anyway, let’s get the highest votes and get a solo stage, shall we?”

Everyone indicated that they would follow the big shot’s lead.

In Practice Room 5, Jiang Yingyue clenched her fists and cheered everyone on: “We must defeat the Xiangxiang Team!”

Liu Yuetong immediately responded, raising her hands high: “Slay the Zhu (pearl) and eat the meat! Celebrate the New Year!”

“Huh? Isn’t the Xiangxiang Team the Xiangxiang Dragon?” someone next to her asked.

Liu Yuetong was puzzled: “Not Xiangxiang Pig?”

Jiang Yingyue: “…Please be serious!”

In Practice Room 10, Su Mengyao held a rolled-up paper stick, leading Jing Ming and An Kui and others to make an offering to the heavens by the window.

An Kui blinked and humbly asked, “Does it work? The opposing team is Ning Yuze’s team!”

Su Mengyao opened one eye and said profoundly, “In critical moments, we must use every method. Maybe one of them will work!”

“Speaking of Ning Yuze, that’s a good name! Should we make an offering to the Dragon King? Left Azure Dragon, Right White Tiger. Come on, everyone turn left!” Su Mengyao yelled a slogan.

The assistant director burst in, angrily confiscated the paper stick, and shouted for everyone to behave. Propaganda of feudal superstition is forbidden!

Other trainees at the door of Team 10 poked their heads in to watch the excitement. Qi Yan folded her arms and shook her head, quietly saying, “The right path in the world is arduous.”

In Practice Room 1, Chi Meng shook the schedule she had just written down, her smile gentle: “I’ve made a simple plan. From today, we will disband at the earliest at twelve o’clock every day, and gather at the latest at six in the morning. Except for breakfast, two trainees will take turns going to the cafeteria to bring meals for everyone for the other two meals. The rest will continue to practice. Let’s start executing this today! Oh, right, before gathering every day, everyone should proactively bring their toiletries and a change of clothes so you can take a shower immediately after training and go straight to sleep. This will save a little more time.”

Everyone was stunned, staring at Chi Meng in shock, vaguely seeing the words “Devil” slowly floating up behind her.

Song Jiaqi narrowed her eyes and asked Chi Meng, “What about you?”

Chi Meng sighed, “To avoid dragging everyone down, of course, I’ll practice for as long as I can.”

She pasted the schedule on the wall and casually said, “Two-person supervision besides the captain. I voluntarily request to supervise Trainee Song Jiaqi!”

Trainee Song Jiaqi took a light breath.

Chen Zhu took the L sticker off her chest and “smack” pressed it onto Chi Meng’s shoulder. She gently massaged Chi Meng’s shoulder.

Time passed quickly once the real training began. In the afternoon, the production team assembled for the make-up shoot. Team 1 simply practiced until two o’clock before breaking up to eat. Many trainees had the same idea; everyone was quietly working hard in their respective practice rooms.

Chi Meng finished her shower and went up to the fifth floor to find Song Jiaqi. Song Jiaqi was the only one in the dorm room. She had just showered and was wearing a loose, long shirt, from beneath which her two slender, long legs were exposed, so white they were practically reflecting light.

“Apologies, I’ve come at a bad time,” Chi Meng said. The theme song recording outfit was hanging by Song Jiaqi’s bed, suggesting Song Jiaqi was about to change.

Because of the hot weather, the production team hadn’t made them wear jackets.

Chi Meng turned around.

Song Jiaqi: “…Most people would leave at this point.”

“Huh?” Chi Meng felt surprised, asking, “Are you that shy?”

“Haven’t we ever showered together?” she asked with a smile. “It’s okay, we’ll have that chance.”

The bathroom stalls weren’t very private, and after a while, the trainees living on the same floor had more or less seen each other frankly. However, Chi Meng’s shower time never overlapped with anyone else’s. She sincerely invited Song Jiaqi to scrub her back after training.

Song Jiaqi flatly refused the request, stating they weren’t on the same floor.

“We did have the chance,” Chi Meng said, hearing the rustle of clothes behind her, and thinking of the time she and Song Jiaqi spent together in Class F, she sighed. “It’s a shame we didn’t cherish it.”

She was joking when she suddenly caught a scent—a faint fragrance, a mix of mahogany and pepper, veiled by a layer of misty water vapor. It was a sophisticated and mysterious aroma.

Approaching with the scent was a cool touch on her neck. A gold and pink tie gently wrapped around Chi Meng’s neck, its tail end coiled between the long, slender fingers of the woman behind her.

Chi Meng was forced to tilt her head up, a slight smile playing on the corner of her lips. Song Jiaqi’s breath fell on Chi Meng’s ear. She pressed against Chi Meng’s cheek, just as she was about to open her mouth.

“Clang.”

Lin Xueyang rushed in anxiously, freezing when two pairs of eyes simultaneously stared at her. She blinked, looking at Chi Meng and Song Jiaqi pressed together, and sucked in a breath.

“You guys… play like this?”

Lin Xueyang looked horrified. She snatched the tie from the table and ran, shouting as she closed the door, “Sorry, my apologies for interrupting!”

With a “bang,” the room was quiet again.

Chi Meng: “?”

Song Jiaqi: “…”

She loosened her grip, pulling the tie back from Chi Meng’s neck and hanging it around her own.

Chi Meng turned around and muttered, “So frantic.”

She slapped Song Jiaqi’s hand away, grabbed the tie, and while tying it, asked, “What were you going to say just now?”

Song Jiaqi snorted softly, “I forgot.”

“I thought you were going to say you wouldn’t give me the chance,” Chi Meng teased. She tied a neat Windsor knot, smoothed the creases on Song Jiaqi’s tie, and casually reached up to pinch her flushed ear.

Song Jiaqi froze completely, staring at Chi Meng.

A smile spilled from those clear, clean eyes, and their owner said gently and warmly, “Good Jiaqi, please help me with my makeup. Please, please. I’ll scrub your back next time, okay?”

Song Jiaqi: “…”

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