I Became the Top Competitor in a Talent Show Novel - Chapter 49.1

Song Jiaqi stared at Chi Meng’s swaggering back, feeling a strange itch in her back teeth. For some reason, a thought bloomed in her heart that she had to win against Chi Meng, if only to throw that patronizing remark back in her face.

But…

Thinking of the new bet Chi Meng proposed, Song Jiaqi frowned, the expression in her eyes unclear.

Chen Zhu, who was doing a headcount and noticed one person was missing, came over to grab her, interrupting her thoughts. Under the cold, staring gaze of the “Xiangxiang” leader, Song Jiaqi obediently got up to join the group.

Because they had a long break from the training camp, everyone had taken their luggage from the camp before leaving. The eliminated trainees left without any lingering attachment, and the remaining trainees were still immersed in the sadness of parting when they were dragged back under the cameras.

The new gathering place was next to the recording hall, which was less than half the size of the hall next door, but more than enough to accommodate the trainees and the production team. Xie Tongyue returned with a change of style and smiled reassuringly at everyone as she hosted the program.

“Forty-five companions have left us to continue their journey. Those of you who remain must continue to work hard, carrying the expectations they once held. Regardless of what we have experienced, please remember that your only goal for standing here is to debut and become one of the final nine,” Xie Tongyue said.

The trainees shouted loudly, “Yes!”

Xie Tongyue’s smile deepened. She announced, “The second round of voting is underway. To win the favor of the star-makers, our second public performance stage will be held in one week. Below, I will announce the rules for the performance.”

“This performance will be divided into three major categories: Vocal, Dance, and Rap, with internal team PK!” As Xie Tongyue spoke, the gold and pink curtain that had been concealing something slowly pulled back, revealing a passage leading to an unknown place. The Star Journey logo was posted on the passage. Just as everyone showed curiosity, they heard Xie Tongyue continue, “Trainees will enter the passage in order of their first-round voting rank to select songs. Song information will not be disclosed until entering the song selection room, and the number of people who can choose each song is different. Once the maximum number of people for a song is reached, subsequent trainees cannot choose that song.”

“As a reward for the debut positions, Class A trainees have the privilege of a one-minute preview of every song they select and can view the related choreography. Class B trainees have the right to preview three songs and their choreography. Class C trainees only have one, and Class D trainees only have the right to select.”

When Xie Tongyue said this, the expressions of the trainees in the front were still acceptable, but those in the back, especially those in the seventies and eighties, looked hollow. They opened their mouths and let out sighs of emptiness.

It would be fine if they knew the songs, but not knowing them meant a complete blind selection!

Especially the songs in the Dance group—the choreography is difficult and takes time to learn!

Everyone sighed.

Meng Xiaofei, the trainee who was last in the current batch from the first round of voting, had an awful expression. Her brows were tightly furrowed. This rule was completely giving privileges to the trainees in the front. They already had high popularity, so this favorable rule was just the icing on the cake for them, while they could only choose the songs others had left behind!

“That’s too unfair!” she turned and said to the trainee next to her. “Does this show not give us a chance to live?”

Miao Wan was stunned and said dryly, “Uh… but their popularity is just high.”

A talent show selects people with high popularity.

“Then don’t try to deceive people by flying the banner of ‘skill first’!” Meng Xiaofei did not feel that her skills were inferior to the people in the front.

Miao Wan realized she was serious, paused, and her lips trembled slightly. She couldn’t help but say, “Then… why don’t you go back and watch the first episode again?”

Putting everything else aside, looking at the top nine trainees in the debut rankings now, whose skills were poor during the initial stage? Chi Meng’s initial stage cut has already reached three million clicks across the entire network. Could you dare say she doesn’t sing well?

And sister, your initial stage evaluation from the mentors was only a D. Why are you so confident?

Miao Wan was very confused.

Meng Xiaofei, who was lightly rebutted by her, looked even worse. She looked past the wall of people at the Class A trainees, her eyes settling on the last girl, and she curled her lip. “It’s all about looks.”

Not just Class A, but why do Song Jiaqi and Su Mengyao in Class B have such a ranking? It must be because of their good looks that they got so many votes. Forget those two; what about Wei Xin and Jin Jingqian from her own company? They were originally sent by the company to be her backdrop because their skills and looks weren’t as good as hers, so why are they both above her now?

Meng Xiaofei felt a sense of betrayal.

At this moment, Rong Qian, a trainee from Qingniao Menghe standing in the same row as Meng Xiaofei, turned her head and asked in disbelief, “Do you know we are selecting a girl group here? We’re talking about idols.”

Does the show need to explain why they put the people who are popular first and the ones with skill next? For an idol group, visuals and skill are considered hard requirements. To be realistic, even if the skill isn’t great, as long as the face is attractive, many people will still like them as a “pretty face.” The only criticism they might face is being accused of poor skill.

For the Star Journey trainees, their rankings were voted on one by one by the audience. These votes represent their popularity, which is the foundation for them to enter the entertainment industry and earn a living. Without the audience’s affection, where would the job of an idol come from?

Furthermore, compared to those shows that manipulate votes, edit poorly, and create their own drama, the production team has tried its best to allocate screen time fairly. Everyone’s highlights haven’t been cut, and the post-production even released content that wasn’t in the main show as behind-the-scenes footage. If people want to know about a trainee, they can easily find it. The audience isn’t foolish; they choose who they like. Meng Xiaofei’s statement is ridiculously naive, not only denying the efforts of others but also questioning the audience.

At this time, the trainees were all discussing the rules for the second public performance. Their conversation only spread around their immediate vicinity. Lin Xueyang, who has ears everywhere, also heard the whispers behind her. As an avid internet surfer, she knew that Meng Xiaofei had always had an issue with the production team and Chi Meng, and had even been exposed for using a secondary account online to voice her dissatisfaction. She deliberately leaned over and asked Meng Xiaofei, “So, you only joined your company as a trainee because you can sing and dance! But speaking of singing, look at our Sister Meng. She’s someone who could already rely on her looks, yet God also gave her a good voice, and she’s hardworking and serious! She’s forgoing a guaranteed spot at J University to be a trainee, and so many people love her. God is too unfair! Why does Sister Meng get all the good things? Where can I complain about this? Can I write a complaint essay online? Will God receive it?”

Meng Xiaofei: “…”

She realized Lin Xueyang was mocking her. Her face flushed, and for a long time, she couldn’t say a word, just glaring at Lin Xueyang.

Lin Xueyang put her hands behind her back, wagged her head, and turned back around.

“If you can’t stand it, you could choose a different path, like being an actress or a singer?” Rong Qian finished, and immediately raised her hand to declare, “I’m not saying actors and singers aren’t good-looking! It’s just that if a singer or actor isn’t good-looking but has talent, they can still become famous worldwide, right?”

Lin Xueyang in the front “whispered,” “I haven’t seen an actor or singer who isn’t good-looking and lacks talent, yet still becomes famous worldwide.”

“Not even famous throughout China.”

Everyone: “Hee!”

Meng Xiaofei felt the mockery directed at her. Her expression was terrible, and she said irritably, “I wasn’t talking about Chi Meng, I know Chi Meng is hardworking!”

Lin Xueyang shrugged her shoulders with her back to her. The others also didn’t want to talk to Meng Xiaofei. They hadn’t missed the things Meng Xiaofei had said online. She had practically implied the show was rigged. Yes, yes, her initial stage being graded D wasn’t because of her lack of skill, but because the mentors suppressed her.

Meng Xiaofei was doted on by her family since childhood. After joining the company, because of her background, her teachers and manager also indulged her, fostering a self-important personality. Even though her mind was in chaos right now, she didn’t feel she was wrong. Instead, she thought these people were ganging up to bully and exclude her. At this moment, Wei Xin, who was in the same row as Rong Qian, sighed and turned her head, whispering, “We’re about to choose songs. I wonder what songs are inside? Are there any that suit me? What style of song do you all hope to choose, Sister Xiaofei?”

Wei Xin was very introverted and shy. For the sake of being from the same company, she mustered up the courage to help Meng Xiaofei out. However, Meng Xiaofei didn’t seem to appreciate it. She felt Wei Xin brought this up to deliberately highlight her current last-place ranking and retaliate for not including her and Jin Jingqian in the interview before. Meng Xiaofei spoke aggressively, “Choose what? It’s just what others left over!”

The people around were stunned. Someone subconsciously looked for the camera, breathing a sigh of relief when they saw the cameraman wasn’t nearby. They turned back to their own conversations, discussing the songs inside and whether there would be any left when it was their turn. Wei Xin opened her mouth, felt awkward for a long time, and then turned away, pulled into conversation by the girl next to her. Meng Xiaofei increasingly felt that Wei Xin was doing this on purpose, even showing off her good relationship with the others. She made a mental note to complain to her manager later. She took a step sideways, distancing herself from the crowd, looking out of place in front of the camera.

In the front row, Chi Meng had her hands clasped behind her back, swaying left and right like a little penguin. Chen Zhu turned to talk to the three people in the second row.

“I wonder how many songs there are inside, and what songs. I don’t know if we’ll run into each other if we choose first,” Chen Zhu said.

This public performance is an internal team PK, which means the opponents this time are not other teams, but teammates who choose the same song?

Xue Weiran smiled, “Interesting.”

Chi Meng pointed at Chen Zhu and then at herself. “The two of us might run into each other.”

After speaking, she widened her eyes and looked at Ning Yuze on her right, then extended a finger.

Ning Yuze puffed up her cheeks and pushed Chi Meng’s third finger back. “You two are too strong to compete against. Give me a break.”

“Don’t be like that, a triangle is stable,” Chi Meng scared them with a straight face. “I should be the one who’s scared!”

Ning Yuze lightly stamped her foot.

No, don’t, I refuse!

“But I won’t choose a song with too much demanding choreography,” Chi Meng put her hands behind her back again and swayed leisurely. Her smiling eyes were like the quiet water of a summer lake, shimmering. “I want to go to bed early.”

Chen Zhu and Xue Weiran simultaneously looked around with expressions like, “Did someone just speak?” Chi Meng patted both of their arms.

It’s me, your Sister Chi Meng.

Chen Zhu and Xue Weiran continued to look around. No one there, huh?

The people in the back were also discussing song choices, sharing and gathering information.

“Meng-zai will definitely be in the Vocal group. It just depends on which song she chooses. It’s hard to say about Xiangxiang. Besides rap, Xiangxiang can both sing and dance. Maybe choosing a vocal and dance song would better showcase her skills?” An Ran counted on her fingers as she spoke to Yuan Yixin next to her. “Our styles in Xing Huo are very similar, so I might choose the same song as Ranran. Sister Xin has no fear. Yueyue’s style is distinct. Qi Yan will definitely go for dance, and probably the song with the fewest and simplest lyrics.”

After she analyzed everyone in Yuan Yixin’s Group A, Yuan Yixin crossed her arms and said, “I’m debating between vocal and vocal/dance.”

An Ran put her hand down, stopped thinking, and threw her brain out. “It’s pointless to guess without knowing the songs.”

Song Jiaqi and Su Mengyao stood side by side. Song Jiaqi was bored, hugging her arms, and really wanted to sit down.

Why are they still talking? When can we go in and choose a song?

She lowered her eyes, suddenly hearing a sniffing sound.

She lifted her eyelids and saw Su Mengyao next to her sniffle again, looking close to tears.

Song Jiaqi:…?

Lin Tingxia, standing on Su Mengyao’s right, was startled. She immediately embraced Su Mengyao, wiping away her tears with her sleeve, and quietly asked, “Yaoyao, what’s wrong?”

Su Mengyao was like an overgrown child; it was fine if no one asked, but the moment she was asked, she couldn’t hold it in. She grabbed Lin Tingxia’s arm like a lifeline and said sadly, “I, I’m scared.”

Her voice was choked with sobs.

“I can’t… sing, and I can’t dance either,” Su Mengyao was terribly upset. “I’m scared.”

She held back her tears, her eyes red, and her body slightly trembling, truly looking terrified. Song Jiaqi was even more surprised and turned to look at her.

Because there was a cameraman nearby, Su Mengyao turned sideways to hide behind Lin Tingxia. The two were about the same height. Su Mengyao clutched Lin Tingxia and moved sideways, half her body standing behind the taller Song Jiaqi, secretly wiping her tears.

Song Jiaqi: …

Did I tell you to hide?

But she didn’t say anything, standing up straight and folding her arms.

Lin Tingxia quietly asked Su Mengyao, “But you performed so well! Your first public performance stage completely stunned me! It was really excellent!”

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