I Became the Top Competitor in a Talent Show Novel - Chapter 56.2

The moment she finished speaking, the suspended screen behind her instantly displayed the stage scene. A dense stream of bullet messages rushed in. It was at this moment that Chi Meng’s fans, who had prepared in advance, simultaneously pressed the send button.

“Dreaming a noble dream, moving forward bravely! Support never ‘Chi’ late, love for Meng is incurable! Dream Catchers reporting for Trainee No. 3, Chi Meng!!!”

“Dreaming a noble dream, moving forward bravely! Support never ‘Chi’ late, love for Meng is incurable! Dream Catchers reporting for Trainee No. 3, Chi Meng!!!”

The organized, uniform barrage instantly overwhelmed all other fan messages. The camera happened to be focused on the screen at that moment. Chi Meng’s fans, gathered below the stage, saw the sight firsthand, and the hairs on their arms stood up. Without hesitation, they raised their light sticks and, together with the other fans watching the live stream and participating via text: “Support never ‘Chi’ late, love for Meng is incurable! Trainee No. 3, Chi Meng, go for it!”

“Go, Chi Meng!!”

Backstage, the trainees in the waiting room leaned back collectively. On the screen, the camera swept across face after enthusiastic face. Seeing the support, the trainees couldn’t help but exclaim: “Wow—”

“Meng-jie is Meng-jie.”

“Meng-jie’s support is so strong! Undefeated!”

They couldn’t help but give a thumbs-up.

On stage, Xie Tongyue paused for a second and then quickly laughed: “I can feel everyone’s excitement and impatience to see the trainees! Come, I’ll give everyone thirty seconds. Let’s shout out their names—”

The fans of the other trainees, whose momentum had been momentarily overshadowed by Chi Meng’s fans, quickly reacted and shouted loudly the moment Xie Tongyue’s voice dropped.

Chi Meng, standing in the waiting area, checked her microphone and quietly chuckled: “Everyone’s high notes are much stronger than ours.”

Several nervous-looking trainees were taking deep breaths and nearly burst out laughing at the comment. Ning Yuze turned sideways, about to speak to Chi Meng, when she suddenly saw a familiar figure approaching from behind and looked surprised.

Chi Meng sensed something. Just as she was about to turn, a hand pressed down on her shoulder.

“Don’t move,” Song Jiaqi said softly.

Chi Meng felt Song Jiaqi manipulating her hair, and something landed in her locks, slightly weighty. Chi Meng was about to reach up to touch it, but Song Jiaqi pressed her hand down.

“Such a child, touching everything,” Song Jiaqi’s expression was composed, as if she wasn’t the one messing with Chi Meng’s hair.

The other members of the Chapter team chuckled until Xie Tongyue on stage gently said, “We’re about to invite our first trainee team to the stage. I wonder which team it will be,” at which point they abruptly stopped smiling.

Song Jiaqi’s hand was still on Chi Meng’s shoulder. She leaned in slightly and whispered close to Chi Meng’s ear, “Good luck.”

Chi Meng lowered her eyes and smiled, raising her arm.

Their two clasped fists gently tapped each other in the air.

The stage lights shifted, shining on everyone. Chi Meng slowed her breathing.

On the stage center, Xie Tongyue smiled lightly. Amidst the shouts of the various team names, she turned and announced loudly: “The opening song for the second performance is ‘Chapter’!”

The large screen immediately flashed the photos of the five girls. Chi Meng’s fans below the stage paused for a moment before erupting.

“Chi Meng!!!”

“Ahhh, Chi Meng!”

Amidst the cheers, the five girls walked out from one side of the stage. Although the camera justly covered all five, the person at the end was especially dazzling.

A silver long dress encased the young body. Her long hair, usually tied up in a ponytail, was loose, adorned with a Star Voyage logo-shaped hair crown that sparkled like diamonds under the lights.

In the backstage control room, Cen Hongjie smiled faintly, resting her chin in her hand as she watched the screen. She noticed a delicately blooming flower nestled beside the hair crown.

Pale purple, tender pink, light blue, thin yellow… The dreamy flower, like a beautiful cream blossom, with its peculiar colors, guarded the silver hair crown. Below the stage, An Xue covered her mouth, unable to hold back a scream.

“Mom!!!”

An-jie’s eyes widened too, and she burst into laughter: “That’s right, those are the flowers I sent!”

The surrounding Chi Meng fans’ fingers trembled with excitement. Thinking back on the events of the past week, they couldn’t help but hold up the bouquets in their arms.

Bouquet after bouquet of beautiful flowers, carrying their sentiments, bloomed in one corner of the audience. In many other corners of the auditorium, flowers of different colors were also held up high.

On the stage, the black-haired girl with shoulder-length hair curved her eyes. Her face, enhanced by makeup, was even more beautiful, ethereal. When her long lashes fell, tear-drop shaped patches at the corner of her eyes refracted the stage light. When she opened her eyes, all the colors of the world seemed to lose their vibrancy in her clear pupils, yet those clear eyes remained bright, reflecting the blooming mermaid-hued flower in her hair.

Xie Tongyue gently invited everyone to share their feelings about the song. The girl at the end of the line smiled quietly. Those watching her felt the whole world quiet down until she spoke.

“When I was selecting the song, the moment I heard it, I immediately decided to sing it. I originally thought this song could be dedicated to everyone, and to a very good friend of mine, but later I realized that this song should be dedicated not only to you but also to myself. Thank you, everyone, for liking me.” Chi Meng looked at the bouquets still held high in the audience, and said earnestly, “Thank you, everyone. You must be tired.”

It must be tiring for you to like me.

Chi Meng bowed low.

Behind the screen and below the stage, some people’s eyes welled up, and they couldn’t help but secretly curse the schemers hiding in the background.

After Chi Meng straightened up, Xie Tongyue looked at her with a profound gaze. Her expression was calm when she looked at the camera, and she said softly, “Next, let us enjoy the song brought to us by these five trainees.”

The stage lights dimmed. In the faint light, the sequins on the skirts of the five girls glittered.

The stadium fell silent until a beam of light shone directly down, completely enveloping the beautiful girl. The silver skirt was like a mermaid’s long tail, and Chi Meng on stage sparkled from head to toe.

“Don’t let the dark clouds cover the sky’s blue,” the silver-tailed mermaid opened her crimson lips, looking up at the transparent ceiling. The dark blue night spread, and stars jumped out into the blue night sky, meeting her bright eyes. **”Don’t let fate turn back the oarless boat”**①

The light dimmed, then illuminated the girl on the other side. Du Yunfei smiled and sang: **”Don’t let the dark night fall into your arms…”**①

After Chi Meng’s lead, Du Yunfei, Ye Qing, and Xu Siqi each took a turn. The light finally landed on Ning Yuze. Ning Yuze, in her blue long dress, stood in front of Chi Meng, spreading her hands: “Your once burning eyes, are the few clumsy yet precious moments in life”

Three beams of light shone brightly around Ning Yuze, like soaring eagles. The three girls sang with Ning Yuze: **”We who will never return… won’t be lonely with you seeing us off”**①

The last beam of light shone. Main C Chi Meng opened her eyes for the camera, her firm, resonant voice filling the entire stage: **”Whenever I’ve been sad! And drenched by the storm…”**①

“Ahhh, Meng Meng-jie!” Backstage, Su Mengyao held up two mermaid-hued light sticks and cheered at the screen showing Chi Meng.

“It sounds so good…”

“Meng-jie’s voice should be used for singing like this!”

Below the stage, no matter whose fan they were at that moment, they rose to their feet in shock and applauded. The bullet messages on the big screen surged like a tide toward the silver mermaid.

At the mentors’ table on the side of the stage, Teng Jia crossed her arms and sighed deeply: “Chi Meng cannot be buried. She should sign with my studio and focus on being a singer.”

Xu Shenglin, next to her, said gently, “Don’t worry.”

Xie Tongyue turned off her microphone and whispered, “She won’t be buried.”

She looked at the girl singing freely on the stage and said again, “She won’t.”

**”More romance surges deep in fate, more answers grow from dreams breaking ground”**①

Unconsciously, the song reached its end. Chi Meng held the standing microphone with both hands, meeting the colorful lights below. **”The sun has begun to glow behind the stars, thank you for being my companion”**①

The music faded. Chi Meng took the flower from her hair, lowered her head, and gently kissed it. She smiled, raising her eyebrows, and in the suddenly quiet stadium, she began to sing softly a cappella.

“Thank you for being my companion.”

① Chapter by Angela Chang and Wang Heye.

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