I Became the Top Competitor in a Talent Show Novel - Chapter 49.2

The moment she finished speaking, Su Mengyao let out a whimper, looking even more distressed. She hung her head, refusing to speak no matter how Lin Tingxia questioned her, just blankly wiping her tears.

Song Jiaqi recalled how Su Mengyao would create a new version of the song every time she sang it. She felt Su Mengyao must be crazy to participate in a survival show. Wouldn’t it be better to be an actress, just like in her previous life?

However… Su Mengyao had been lively and energetic before. She was like a happy puppy when teaching Qi Yan the theme song. She exploded as the center for the first public stage and, like Chi Meng, didn’t have a company or promotions. Without the continuous hot-search influence that Chi Meng had, her current vote ranking was already very strong. Why is she scared now? What, did she see bad comments online during the break?

Song Jiaqi frowned.

The surrounding trainees noticed Su Mengyao and, thinking she wasn’t feeling well, began to comfort her. Su Mengyao clenched her fists, her fingers digging into her palms. She shook her head no matter who asked, and because she felt she was disrupting the recording progress and attracting attention, she held back her tears and hid behind Song Jiaqi.

Chi Meng turned her head, looking at Song Jiaqi with some concern, making a gesture.

— Comfort her.

— She wants to strangle me!

Song Jiaqi was hugged around the waist by Su Mengyao’s arm. Her entire body stiffened, and her expression was incredibly complex. The thought that this was Su Mengyao sent a chill down her spine. She frowned, pinching Su Mengyao’s sleeve with her index finger and thumb, pulling her out, and calmly said, “Stand properly.”

Su Mengyao’s little curls trembled. She lowered her head and stood at attention: “Oh.”

The staff and Xie Tongyue came over to check on Su Mengyao. Su Mengyao’s entire face was red. She kept shaking her head and apologizing, showing an embarrassed smile, and seemed to have recovered.

Everyone kept their unspoken questions to themselves and continued with the recording. Chi Meng looked back worriedly. Su Mengyao scratched her head and rubbed her face, while Song Jiaqi… Song Jiaqi cautiously took a step sideways. Liu Yuexin was flattered and shocked, also stepping half a pace to the side.

After announcing the rules and filming the trainees’ discussion, Xie Tongyue continued hosting the program. She said steadily, “The selection process begins with the Class A center entering the passage. Once a song is chosen, it cannot be changed. Furthermore, upon selecting a song, the trainee will automatically carry an additional 10,000 votes. The trainee who receives the highest votes within their team on the performance stage will be the winner for that song, and the winner will receive all the votes of the other trainees who performed that song.”

“For example, if the center, Chen Zhu, selects a song to be performed by five people and is voted the best among those five, she will receive a bonus of 50,000 votes, including her own 10,000!”

The atmosphere instantly froze. 50,000 votes! They hadn’t expected this PK to be so intense!

But Xie Tongyue wasn’t finished. “In addition to the team PK, the three trainees who receive the highest votes across the Vocal, Dance, and Rap groups will each receive an extra 100,000 votes bonus!”

“Hiss—”

The first round was only 10,000, and this second round is adding up to 100,000? And for three people…

Amidst gasps, the trainees’ hearts trembled. Thinking of the votes most of them received in the first round, this 100,000 votes was even more critical for the trainees with lower rankings. 100,000 could directly decide if they stay or leave!

Once these PK rules were announced, everyone would have to carefully consider their choice, regardless of what songs were inside. They needed to consider their own strength and also… avoid the powerhouses!

The trainees in the back looked at the front, especially the first three rows of trainees, practically writing those five words on their faces.

Xie Tongyue didn’t wait for them to start discussing and continued, “This public performance still retains the individual stage rule. The trainee with the highest votes across the entire performance will receive the opportunity for a solo stage. Now, please welcome the center of the first round of voting, trainee Chen Zhu, to enter the passage and choose the song you like.”

Chen Zhu walked out of the line, her expression calm, heading towards the passage. As she stood at the entrance, she suddenly looked back. The crowd, who were silently murmuring about not being on Chen Zhu’s team, paused. They saw the coolly beautiful girl smile brightly, pointing her finger at her chin, and saying gently, “I wonder if there’s ‘Qinghai-Tibet Plateau’?”

After saying that, she stepped into the passage without looking back, disappearing into the dim light as if stepping into a time-space tunnel. Xie Tongyue beside her was stunned. She tilted her head, looking at the trainees who were laughing heartily.

Chi Meng chuckled, looking at Xue Weiran, who was standing with her hands on her hips.

Yuan Sike yelled, “A challenge has been thrown down! What do you say, Xue Weiran? Are you fired up?”

Xue Weiran’s face darkened. Fired up for what? She can’t sing “Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.” How about I sing “Mariana Trench” for you? You wanna hear that?

Yuan Sike turned her head, feigning mystery: “Pass it on, Xue Weiran can’t do it.”

Hua Xiaowei, who was standing behind her, slowly opened her mouth, her face slightly red, “Oh!”

“Xue Weiran won’t sing, so you sing!” Hua Xiaowei smiled sweetly, speaking softly to the high-note-untouchable.

Yuan Sike’s smile froze, then disappeared. She slowly turned back and stood properly.

Qi Yan, who was standing in front of Yuan Sike, was expressionless: “Pass it on, Yuan Sike can’t do it.”

Yuan Sike gasped: Damn it! This is what happens when you try to harm others!

Shortly after Chen Zhu entered, Xie Tongyue received a notification that she had finished selecting her song and instructed Xue Weiran to enter the passage. Chi Meng raised her hand and shouted at Xue Weiran’s retreating figure: “Plateau! Plateau!”

A group of people, loving the drama, joined Chi Meng in cheering. Xue Weiran turned back, pressed her finger below her eye, stuck out her tongue in a goofy face, and then, lowering her hand, her voice deepened. She pointed at them across the distance and said leisurely, “Come find me.”

The trainees, except for Chi Meng, immediately clutched their chests.

Curses! A challenge from a powerhouse! Dread it!

Refuse it!

Chen Zhu and Xue Weiran seemed to have a rich repertoire of songs. They chose quickly. When it was Chi Meng’s turn, she announced in advance, “Don’t rush, everyone. Take a break.”

Everyone laughed, knowing that she didn’t know many songs and would need time to listen to the ones inside.

Before Chi Meng walked into the passage, she also glanced back. Her eyes met Song Jiaqi’s. She paused, and just when others thought the third powerhouse would also “scare” them, Chi Meng walked into the passage with a curl of her lips.

The view darkened. It turned out the passage wasn’t long. There was just a corner blocking the view. After taking a couple of steps and lifting a curtain, there was another hall inside.

The hall was divided into many compartments. Each compartment had a song title hanging up, and a tablet and headphones were placed on a small table by the door. Chi Meng took her time, raising a finger to knock on the nearest door, and smiled, “Are you in? Are you home?”

Chen Zhu and Xue Weiran, who had already chosen their songs, gave no response.

Chi Meng hummed “Little bunny, open the door” as she looked at the songs hanging on each door.

Vocal: Chapter, Tiny, Wind Chaser, Grow Up, The Critic Dance: Worth It, Ugly Beauty, Multidimensional, Willing, Move Moon Rap: Legend, Do or Fail, Go Away

Chi Meng leaned back strategically.

Very good. After a week-long break, she had been learning to dance during the day and reading and listening to songs at night. All the songs she had listened to and memorized avoided the answers for this round. She rolled up her sleeves, stood with her hands on her hips in front of the first song, and put on the headphones…

On the other side, after the top three trainees from the first round entered, the other Class A trainees showed nervous expressions, especially Ning Yuze, who crossed her hands, silently praying.

She was the only one left in the second row. While she was so nervous, the others in Class A were not. Qi Yan comforted Ning Yuze, “It won’t be that much of a coincidence.”

Ning Yuze licked her lips, turning sideways. Just then, Lin Yuxin suddenly said, “Running into each other isn’t scary. What’s scary is Xiangxiang, Meng-zai, plus the three of you forming a group!”

Ning Yuze’s expression instantly became: Stop talking!

Lin Yuxin scanned the rest of Class A, touching her chin, “Plus me…”

“Ah!” The gentle Ning Yuze quickly clamped her hand over Lin Yuxin’s mouth, her eyes wide. I told you to stop talking!

A dark aura seemed to flow out of Ning Yuze. Qi Yan silently retreated, indicating she had never seen such a terrifying leader. Xie Tongyue smiled warmly as she watched them bicker.

“Oh?” She paused, then smiled, “Please welcome trainee Ning Yuze to enter the passage and select a song.”

The trainees, who were discussing in low voices, looked up in shock.

That fast?

“It’s only been a few minutes, and Sister Meng is done selecting?”

“Sister Meng definitely wouldn’t choose Rap or Dance, it must be Vocal!”

“There aren’t as many songs inside as we thought?”

“One minute to preview, quickly count how many minutes she’s been inside!”

Someone immediately said to Ning Yuze, “Three minutes! Chi Meng must have chosen the third song!”

“No, it’s one of the first three songs!”

Ning Yuze showed a weary but grateful expression, walking with heavy steps toward the starting point of the second public performance.

“You got this, Leader,” Qi Yan said.

Tong Siyu from Vision Culture also raised her hand, cheering for her leader.

“Please don’t run into any of them!” A trainee shouted loudly. “And don’t let me run into you!!”

That was even more important!

Xie Tongyue couldn’t help but laugh.

After walking into the song selection area, Ning Yuze’s expression calmed down. The reason she wanted to avoid the others was that everyone was strong and had the potential to be the center. It was best to disperse to secure more opportunities to showcase herself, but if she truly chose the same song, it would be fate, and there’s no helping it.

However, those were minor matters. What was more important was choosing a song that was suitable and that she wanted to try.

With this thought, Ning Yuze looked over the song titles and quickly scanned the choreography on the tablet. She thought for a moment, took a deep breath, and loudly said, “I’m going to choose now,” and walked in one direction.

Click.

The doorknob turned. A cool, quiet room came into view. The wooden floor reflected a sheen of light. The unobstructed room was empty. Ning Yuze stepped into the room, and a light of surprise burst in her eyes—at that moment…

A fair, beautiful hand reached out from behind the door and landed on her shoulder.

A low voice fell into her ear.

“Welcome to the team. Good morning.”

“AH!!!”

A scream pierced the 4:30 AM night sky.

Guess who was behind the door~~

Note: Except for “Chapter,” “Tiny,” “Worth It,” and “Ugly Beauty,” all other song titles for the second public performance are fictional and have no relation to reality!

Support I Became the Top Competitor in a Talent Show Novel