I Became the Top Competitor in a Talent Show Novel - Chapter 36

Sunday, 8:00 PM.

Lyu Shifei, An Xue, and their friends gathered in the largest VIP room of An Xue’s family’s KTV. As the screen, which was the size of half a wall, lit up, Lyu Shifei nervously curled up on the sofa, constantly refreshing the app. The moment both episodes of the show went online, she let out a strange squeal from her throat, sprang up, quickly tapped the first episode, and cast it to the screen.

After a knock at the door, Sister Ling and two other employees entered pushing a cart, smiling as they arranged platters of fruit, drinks, and snacks on the table.

“Thank you, Sister Ling!” An Xue said hastily and excitedly.

The room lights hadn’t dimmed yet. Sister Ling noticed that the girls’ expressions were one more excited than the next, and she asked with a smile, “Xiao Xue, you have class tomorrow, shouldn’t you go home and rest early? Won’t Sister An scold you?”

An Xue stared at the screen, waved her hand dismissively, and said, “My mom will be here soon! Sister, please don’t talk to me yet, I’m very anxious!”

I can see that. Sister Ling shook her head. Just as she finished setting things up and was about to leave, there was a rush of footsteps outside the door. An Jie, the always exquisitely dressed and elegant owner of the KTV, came in, clutching two large bags. The aroma of cumin wafted out.

Sister Ling: ???

“Hurry!” An Jie was slightly breathless from running. She handed the bags to the staff and said, panting, “Help me set out the barbecue. Oh, and I ordered crayfish. When the delivery arrives, send it straight over. Also, bring me a few bottles of beer, chilled.”

With the boss’s command, the employees immediately sprang into action. An Xue, her eyes glued to the screen on the sofa, casually popped a potato chip into her mouth and called out, “Mom, why are you so late!”

An Jie quickly walked over and sat down, putting her phone and sunglasses on the table, letting out a sigh of relief. “That barbecue place is busiest right now and wouldn’t take delivery orders, so I had to drive over and order in person—where are they? Has Xiao Meng come out yet?”

Sister Ling, who was taking the barbecue containers out, had another question mark pop into her head: “Xiao Meng?”

Lyu Shifei was furiously typing out comments (bullet screen), and when she heard the question, she said, “Not yet, Auntie, it just started!”

“Phew, that’s good.” An Jie took off her shoes, leaned languidly into the sofa, and said leisurely, “Xiao Ling, when you go out, adjust the lighting for us. After you’re done, come over and join us. It’s Xiao Meng’s first episode. Let’s all cheer her on and vote!”

The girls beside An Jie simultaneously raised their hands and shouted, “Vote!”

Sister Ling first said, “Okay,” but then paused, stunned.

Xiao Meng… Chi Meng?

The show??

She sharply turned her head to look at the TV, where the three shining words 《Star’s Journey》 were displayed.

At the same time, in thousands of households in Dongjiang City, countless people picked up their phones or turned on their TVs, intentionally or casually looking for the show. The popularity of Star’s Journey had officially begun.

The show continued to play, with sporadic comments occasionally floating across the screen.

In the waiting room, trainees were gathered in groups of three or five, or in pairs, talking to their companions. Occasional bursts of cheerful laughter could be heard, but more trainees were practicing their routines with serious faces to the rhythm counted out by their captains.

Amidst this tense atmosphere, the scene suddenly shifted. The camera showed a quiet room. The room was small, furnished only with a sofa and a small table. Before the audience could spot the trainee in the room, the sound of a pipa (Chinese lute) playing began, catching the audience by surprise.

“Sī lún…” (The name of a musical piece, part of a Suzhou Pingtan)

Amidst the graceful and soothing Suzhou Pingtan music, the camera zoomed in on the sofa. The trainee in the room was seen lying comfortably on the sofa, hands crossed over their abdomen, with a book covering their face.

“…gě xià jìng wén zhāng” (Another line from the Suzhou Pingtan)

Audience: “…”

The scene shifted again. In an unknown room, trainees had tight expressions on their faces as they quickly practiced their blocking, with beads of sweat visible on one trainee’s face, whether from practice or nerves.

Two seconds later, the Suzhou Pingtan tune sounded again, as if the trainee, who seemed to be leisurely sipping tea and listening to opera on a deck chair in the afternoon, gently shook their small leg that was hanging off the sofa. At this point, everyone realized this was the same trainee who had arrived on a bicycle at the very beginning, wearing the exact same clothes.

But they still hadn’t seen their face!

In the teacher’s residential area of Dongjiang No. 1 High School, Music teacher Ms. Li held her daughter’s hand and said, “Look quickly, your Mengmeng sister is wearing the clothes your mom bought!”

Ms. Li’s daughter nodded quickly, then suddenly said, “Mom, why didn’t you buy Sister Meng a dress? Look at how flashy everyone else is dressed. Sister Meng is just in a T-shirt and sweatpants, it’s too ordinary!”

“Uh, your mom did want to buy a dress, but your Mengmeng sister prefers these comfortable clothes,” Ms. Li’s voice softened, as she also noticed Chi Meng’s plain stage outfit. “Honey, look, if your Mengmeng sister were wearing a dress now, she definitely wouldn’t be able to sleep comfortably.”

Daughter: “…Mom, you’re right.”

While they were talking, the segment in the waiting room ended, and the camera moved to the mentors’ room. Xie Tongyue, seated at the head, placed her hands crossed on the table and said with a smile, “Then let’s invite our trainees to the stage!”

As Xie Tongyue spoke, the camera showed a dark corridor. Countless stars lit up from underfoot, spreading little by little into the distance. The dark passage was like a starry sky, with starlight twinkling all around.

The first group of trainees to step onto the passage instinctively let out sounds of surprise.

“Wow…”

“Do we just walk forward?”

Four adorable girls appeared in the shot. They were holding hands, wearing sweet, light blue, Lolita-style dresses, and cautiously walking along the passage.

When they exited the passage and saw the spacious stage, they gasped again. One girl with pigtails braided into small braids pointed at the large screen and said, “It’s our company!”

The font and logo design for S-KE Entertainment were cleverly cute, showcasing the sweet style the company intended to pursue, along with the trainees they sent to the show. When the girl with pigtails turned to look opposite the stage, she started, suddenly grabbing the two people next to her.

“Wow!!”

“It’s here, the pupil tremor!”

“This group of trainees is so cute, hahaha.”

The other three S-KE trainees were startled by her shout and subconsciously turned to look. All four of them simultaneously experienced a pupil tremor. “Wah—”

The camera, perfectly timed, followed their gaze to the area below the stage, where a massive pyramid stood tall. The camera zoomed in, settling on the throne at the top. After lingering briefly on the large number 1, it quickly moved down the stairs.

126 empty seats silently awaited their occupants.

“Dongjiang TV is spending big…”

“Holding back the urge to fast forward!”

On the screen, the four newly arrived girls noticeably swallowed, nervously placing their hands over their abdomens. They politely bowed toward the empty seats.

“Hello everyone, we are: S-KE Entertainment trainees. I am the leader, An Kui!”

“I am the main vocalist, Lin Tingxia.”

“I am the main dancer, Luo Guo.”

“I am Luo Guo’s younger sister, Yun Guo.”

“Please support us!”

The four stood up after their loud self-introductions. A cold wind special effect drifted across the empty seats below the stage.

“Ahem, take your seats, everyone,” Lin Tingxia puffed out her cheeks, was the first to wave her hand, “Big Brother, please.”

An Kui casually said, “Second Brother, please.”

Second Brother Luo Guo pulled Yun Guo. “No, no, Big Brother first, please!”

While they were deferring to each other, Lin Tingxia grabbed her skirt with her left hand, clenched her right fist near her chest, gathered her breath, and walked forward, singing out of tune, “This bow, may you meet a kindred spirit in the spring breeze~”

The others: “…”

Audience: “Hahaha!”

“You stop right there!” An Kui rushed forward and grabbed the ear of the embarrassing main vocalist who was trying to climb up while singing off-key. The four of them stood tangled for a while.

“I want to sit there!” Lin Tingxia pointed to seat number 66. The others had no objection, and everyone took their seats in Class D.

The hall suddenly quieted down.

The four girls nervously clamped their mouths shut, unsure of what to do. Fortunately, the screen on the stage quickly lit up, displaying the four characters for Qingniao Menghe. Before long, a tall, slender girl emerged from the passage and introduced herself on the stage. She had great presence, with long hair down her back, and exuded an artistic air. After just a second of surprise at the magnificent hall, she quickly started walking up.

“She’s pretty,” Lin Tingxia whispered. She and her companions stood up, flashing bright smiles to greet the girl walking up. “Hello, we are S-KE Entertainment trainees.”

The slender girl paused, nodded slightly toward them, and continued her ascent. She stopped in Class A, taking seat number 3.

“Wow…” The S-KE trainees looked up at her. Lin Tingxia whispered, “She’s so distant.”

“Zhou Siyang. She said in her introduction that she’s studied ballet since childhood. Her dancing must be excellent,” Luo Guo murmured.

Lin Tingxia took a deep breath. “A master like you must be great at dancing, too. Horizontal stroke, turning hook, dot, fold—Ouch.”

“You sit down and behave!” An Kui twisted Lin Tingxia’s ear and made her sit down.

On the screen, Lin Tingxia was holding her ear, crying miserably. Off-screen, the real Lin Tingxia curled her toes in embarrassment. Ah, ah, ah, it’s great to have screen time, but why am I so embarrassing!

Next to her, An Kui raised an eyebrow, picked up a potato chip, and loudly bit into it, “Crunch,” right in front of Lin Tingxia. The real-life Lin Tingxia also started whimpering.

The TV version of the show did not have bullet-screen comments. Fans who were initially drawn by artists like Xie Tongyue began to smile, interacting in the comments section and on social media.

“These two trainees are so young and cute, but why do I keep feeling like I’m watching a mother and daughter?”

“It’s not easy being a leader since ancient times~”

In the show, trainee after trainee walked in to introduce themselves and chose a spot in the pyramid to sit, but the seats remained mostly empty. Just then, the screen on the stage quickly lit up, and the four characters for Qingniao Menghe appeared, causing the trainees below to lean back, their mouths agape.

Qingniao Menghe!

In the mentor room, mentor Xu Shenglin raised an eyebrow and smiled, “Qingniao Menghe has produced many famous artists, such as Teacher Xiao Shan, Teacher Wu Jie, Sister Wang Lanlan, and the band Fengsheng (Wind Sound) Orchestra.”

With every name she mentioned, the camera panned to that celebrity’s poster. The rows of posters not only showed the audience the strength of Qingniao Menghe Media but also sparked a secret pride in the hearts of the Qingniao Menghe trainees who were currently watching the show.

Simultaneously, a user in the bullet comments posted excitedly: “I knew Qingniao Menghe would be here!!”

“Qingniao Menghe’s boy band was hugely successful. Is their long-awaited girl group dream finally coming true?”

“Qingniao Menghe is here, so other big companies must be coming too! Ahh, I’m so excited!”

Mysterious footsteps approached from afar. The trainees in the seats involuntarily stood up, looking curiously toward the passage. Amidst the sound of nervous heartbeats, one trainee led the way out of the passage, followed by four others. The five stood together on the stage.

“Do and fly, hello everyone, we are the Qingniao Menghe trainees.”

The five girls performed a synchronized gesture, greeted the audience, and bowed in unison. The beautiful girl standing in the center gave a slight smile. “I am Liu Yuexin, the leader and main vocalist of Qingniao Menghe.”

“Gulp.” While Qingniao Menghe was introducing themselves, the camera focused on Lin Tingxia’s face. The girl looked faintly pale, leaning on An Kui’s shoulder. “Mom, I’m scared.”

An Kui: ?

“Mom forbids you to be scared!” An Kui slapped Lin Tingxia on the back, and Lin Tingxia instantly ‘straightened up.’

The big-company trainees brought an intense feeling of pressure with them. After their introduction, the five girls orderly walked up the steps. In everyone’s sight, the Qingniao Menghe leader charged straight ahead, her gaze meeting that of Zhou Siyang, who was seated in Class A. Liu Yuexin smiled, strode swiftly, turned, and took the Center Position (C-spot) seat.

In the vast hall, admiring applause rang out. In the mentor room, the mentors were also applauding, even though Liu Yuexin couldn’t hear their voices at that moment.

“Very good, I like people with courage and confidence,” said Teng Jia.

Xie Tongyue nodded, set aside Qingniao Menghe’s profile, and looked at the screen. “The next trainee is coming out.”

Time was recorded on tape. The notes of the Pingtan appeared again. Amidst the drawn-out, elegant pipa song, all viewers were stunned. Those lying down flipped over, and those sitting instinctively straightened up. Was the mysterious trainee, whom the production team had made so secretive, finally going to reveal their true appearance?!

Unhurried footsteps came into view against the light. Long, slender legs paused before the passage. Behind the girl, Xu Shenglin’s voice came through, laced with a smile: “Sister Xie, did you see her training period?”

“Only three days, wow.”

A staff member’s hand gently nudged the trainee’s back. She stepped into the dreamscape of stars and the night sky. Her smiling profile flashed across the camera, moving away too quickly for anyone to get a clear look.

The viewers in front of the screen were momentarily stunned, instinctively reaching out to adjust the progress bar. Yet, the production team seemed to have anticipated their thoughts. The next second, the figure silhouetted against the light suddenly became clear. She walked out of the passage and looked up in the brightly lit world.

“Ah…”

The trainees in their seats stared blankly at the girl who had suddenly appeared. She turned her head toward the big screen. Subtle light, cast by the golden stars at the top of the passage, tinted her clear eyes with a brilliant gold.

She looked at the screen with curiosity, then turned at the sound, her lowered lashes concealing the surprise in her eyes. Suddenly, she looked up, her lips curved into a gentle smile, like the cool summer breeze softly rustling the treetops, the peaceful horizon glowing with clouds and mist, light snow, a golden moon, an ethereal blue fog, and vast open fields… countless layers of tenderness settled in the corners of her eyes.

In this moment, countless people stared blankly at the screen, including the trainees in the suddenly quiet auditorium. In the back row, the girl who was the focus of the screen revealed the same beautiful smile as the girl on the show. She quietly turned and raised her hand to form a heart sign for the director and other staff seated in the back.

Cen Hongjie smiled elegantly and nodded.

The bullet comments suddenly exploded.

“Sister Meng!!!”

“Sister Meng is amazing!!”

“Ahhh, Mengmeng—”

Many others murmured, urgently asking in the comment sections and bullet screen: “Who is this girl…?” “What is this trainee’s name?”

In the center of the stage, the girl who had calmly taken her spot chuckled softly and greeted them gently.

“Hello everyone, it’s a pleasure to meet you all. I am an individual trainee, Chi Meng.”

Here’s the extra update~ See you tonight!

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