The Cold Sister Is Too Flirtatious - Chapter 24

After all the mentors had finished their performances, the host took the stage. “Welcome everyone to Starry Sea Journey! Each of you is a star, and we’re here to find the nine brightest stars in this starry sea to shine even brighter.”

Leng Yao watched the stage with fervent eyes. A dream that once seemed impossibly distant was now within reach.

Her gaze hardened. “Sister, now that I’m here, I can’t afford to lose.”

“I believe in you,” Lin Tingxue said gently, patting Leng Yao’s head. The Little Rabbit was always like this—seeming fragile and easily bullied, but once she set her mind to something, she never gave up.

The first girl to perform was visibly nervous. She missed a step during her dance and only received a Class D evaluation.

More trainees took the stage, representing both F and B classes, but A-Class remained conspicuously absent.

The male director from the previous round, Lin Tingxue, called out, “Sister Tingxue, you’re up next.”

“Older Sister, relax and don’t be nervous,” Leng Yao said reassuringly.

“Okay, I will,” Lin Tingxue replied, her voice calm despite her inner indifference.

She walked down a long corridor, its walls and ceiling painted deep blue and adorned with twinkling star lights that cast a soft, golden glow.

Just as the production team had promised: Starry Sea Journey.

Before stepping onto the stage, each trainee had to affix a sticker indicating their desired class. Lin Tingxue only recognized the letter P; seeing that the F-Class stickers were the most plentiful, she stuck one to her outfit.

Though she had spent the entire time meditating with her eyes closed, she had overheard most trainees expressing their ambition to join A-Class. Since no one had mentioned wanting to be in F-Class, she reasoned that the remaining stickers must belong to that group.

As Lin Tingxue took the stage, a staff member muttered to himself, “Good thing we restocked the A-Class stickers earlier. Otherwise, this contestant wouldn’t even have a choice.”

Lin Tingxue’s expression was as cold and detached as the millennia-old ice spirit of a snow-capped mountain. Her tall, jade-like figure stood bathed in the holy glow of the stage lights, making her seem utterly unattainable.

Even the mentors, who had seen countless handsome men and beautiful women in the entertainment industry, gasped. No matter how Lin Tingxue performed, she was bound to attract a legion of fans drawn to her striking looks.

The aloof woman at the center of the stage was born for this.

Little Rabbit reminded herself to listen to the production team. With a cold expression, she recited the lines from the script: “First time meeting you all. I’m Lin Tingxue, an individual trainee.”

“Please begin your performance.”

The production team had assigned Lin Tingxue a sultry dance track, but she performed it with an almost righteous fervor. There was no softness where it should have been, and her seductive moves were replaced with a piercing gaze that could kill.

It didn’t feel like a sensual dance. Instead, it was as if someone had casually tossed Lin Tingxue a weapon, and she was now swiftly and decisively eliminating all obstacles.

Xuexue’s dance is so resolute, she could join the Party! I’ve never seen anyone perform this song like this before.

Hey, the rhythm’s off. Is the audio out of sync with the video?

Upstairs, +1

Every dance move landed two full beats behind the music. Combined with the music, it created a chaotic, almost absurd effect, like someone flailing wildly in a panic.

The judges frowned. What was going on? Her movements were technically correct, aside from lacking sensuality, but her sense of rhythm was disastrously off.

Leng Yao watched anxiously from the sidelines. Though she hadn’t seen her older sister practice, she remembered her sister’s flawless performance at the school’s talent show.

Leng Yao only watched the beginning before sneaking out. She spotted the staff member from registration day around the corner, smirking. “Turn up the volume in her earpiece,” he said. “Let’s see how she embarrasses herself. It’s time to teach this clueless trainee a lesson.”

So someone was sabotaging her.

Leng Yao pulled a baseball cap over her head, disguising herself as staff, and made a call. “Have you heard? The heiress of Huanxu Entertainment is competing on Starry Sea Journey.”

“Yeah, that young miss wants to keep a low profile, so she’s pretending to be an independent trainee. Her name’s Lin Tingxue or something. We can’t afford to cross her. If she complains to her dad, we’ll all lose our jobs!”

Sharp-Mouthed Monkey-Cheeks, who had been eavesdropping, squatted nearby, sweat beading on his forehead. He quickly pulled out his phone and searched. Huanxu Entertainment’s CEO only had one son. But you never knew with rich people—there could easily be a secret daughter. Look, they even shared the same surname!

I can’t afford to cross Lin Tingxue, he thought, rushing toward the stage.

“Excuse me, everyone,” Sharp-Mouthed Monkey-Cheeks announced. “There’s been a technical issue with the director’s feed. Lin Tingxue’s earpiece audio was out of sync with what everyone else heard. Lin Tingxue, you’ll need to perform again.”

Hearing Sharp-Mouthed Monkey-Cheeks’ announcement from the stage, Leng Yao let out a sigh of relief. She lowered her phone, the black screen showing she hadn’t even made the call.

Hearing Sharp-Mouthed Monkey-Cheeks’ words, Lin Tingxue’s expression remained cool. “No, I shouldn’t have special privileges beyond what’s fair.”

Sister, you’re my only sister!

The moment Duan Shize saw Lin Tingxue take the stage, he realized she was just an ordinary trainee. Everything had been his own imagination. But after witnessing her performance, he genuinely admired her.

The host stepped in to smooth things over. “It seems Tingxue is a woman of strong principles. Let’s give her a round of applause! Do the mentors have any comments for Tingxue?”

Bai Yunshan, the vocal coach, spoke first. “It’s a bit of a shame today was purely a dance performance. Tingxue’s vocal talent is exceptional, and I look forward to future surprises from her.”

Su Yun, the dance coach in her crimson dress, took the microphone. “Tingxue, your movements are too stiff, and your facial expressions don’t quite match the song. I can demonstrate for you.”

She then gave a demonstration, her flirtatious wink drawing cheers from the trainees.

“I suggest you focus on this aspect of your training. How long did you practice this song?”

“Five minutes.”

Everyone’s eyes widened. While Lin Tingxue’s dance wasn’t perfect, it was of intermediate to advanced difficulty, requiring at least half a month to fully master.

The host smoothly transitioned to the next segment: “Speaking of practice, the production team has compiled the trainees’ training hours. Please look at the big screen.”

Zeng Zhile topped the list with 46 hours of practice over three days, averaging 15.3 hours per day. No surprise there, given her veteran status as a former girl group member.

What was unexpected was Leng Yao’s close second place with 45 hours. Had Lin Tingxue not intervened, fearing the Little Rabbit would exhaust herself, Leng Yao’s practice time might have already surpassed Zeng Zhile’s.

As the long list scrolled down, Lin Tingxue’s name finally appeared at the very bottom. Her reported practice time was even shorter than she’d claimed: a mere 3 minutes and 15 seconds—exactly the length of the song, not a second more.

This meant Lin Tingxue had practiced the dance only once. What kind of dance prodigy was she?!

Duan Shize smiled, summarizing the situation before turning to Lin Tingxue: “Sis… your ending pose was impressive. Lin Tingxue, seeing the ‘A’ on your uniform, I assume you’re aiming for A-Class. Which class do you think we’ll assign you to?”

So the symbol was an ‘A’, not an ‘F’.

“I grabbed the wrong uniform,” Lin Tingxue stated firmly. “Class F. That’s where I want to be.”

The host, ever the professional, declared, “Life is like this—from the depths of despair to the peak of triumph. Only by reaching the summit can you witness the sunrise. I believe Lin Tingxue’s desire to join Class F stems from this very intention.”

Lin Tingxue wanted to explain her true motives, but the director, having anticipated this eccentric trainee’s intentions, swiftly cut off her microphone.

After deliberation, Duan Shize announced the final verdict: “Lin Tingxue will be assigned to Class F… no, wait, to Class B! Despite the rhythm issues caused by the equipment, we all agree that Lin Tingxue showed no stage fright and possessed a unique aura. She performed the song with a distinct style. Keep up the good work.”

Lin Tingxue’s expression shifted from faint delight at hearing “Class F” to disappointment at being placed in Class B.

A heavy atmosphere settled around her as she walked toward her seat in Class B.

With half a month until the next elimination round, she had ample time to deal with that Sharp-Mouthed Monkey-Cheeks Mortal. Once she ensured Little Rabbit’s safety, she could return to her role as an agent, supporting her from behind the scenes rather than being exposed under the spotlight.

Therefore, she had to be eliminated.

Lin Tingxue’s controversial remarks sparked a backlash, and negative comments began flooding the live stream.

The show’s character development is ridiculous! Did they forget about the preview episode? Weren’t Lin Tingxue and Leng Yao always in the practice room?

She talked about fairness earlier, and I thought she had strong morals. Turns out she’s just the show’s chosen one, stirring up drama on purpose.

Have you guys forgotten? In the practice room, it was always Leng Yao practicing while Xuexue slept with her eyes closed. Stop spreading lies about our hardworking Xuexue!

Now that you mention it, you’re right. If Lin Tingxue had been practicing, they would have included those clips when editing Leng Yao’s segments. But she never appeared in the preview episode.

Hahaha, I never thought the “work-life balance queen” persona could be so indestructible. I want Xuexue’s mental fortitude!

Leng Yao rushed back from backstage only to find Lin Tingxue had already been assigned to her class.

Too bad I missed so much of Older Sister’s performance. I’ll have to catch the replay after the show.

Without Lin Tingxue by her side, Leng Yao sat alone, her palms still sweating slightly.

It would be a lie to say she wasn’t nervous. After all, she had never performed on such a grand stage alone before. Instinctively, she glanced back to look for Lin Tingxue.

But her eyes met her older sister’s. Her sister had been watching her the whole time.

The realization sent a tremor through Leng Yao’s heart.

She hastily lowered her gaze, and luminous words formed on the ground, coalescing from spiritual energy: Don’t be afraid.

The words vanished instantly, leaving the other trainees marveling at the firefly-like glow in the recording studio.

Her heart stilled. I will become the brightest star in my sister’s eyes.

A quarter of the trainees had already performed, but no one had yet made it into A-Class. That changed when Zeng Zhile took the stage.

With her seasoned experience, she chose the hottest dance-pop track, showcasing her all-around ACE skills and setting the entire venue ablaze. The three judges showered her with praise, awarding her the first A-Class spot.

After Zeng Zhile’s performance, the other trainees shook their heads. Reality shows rarely give out two A-Class spots in a row, especially when there’s already a dance-pop powerhouse to compare against. The later performers were doomed; their assigned classes might even be downgraded.

They prayed fervently that their names wouldn’t be called next.

Amidst sympathetic glances, individual trainees emerged from the Star Path.

Leng Yao walked out with a side ponytail secured with a Star Kirby hair tie. The slightly curled ponytail bounced as she moved.

The audience clutched their hearts. Sweet girls are saving the world!

Leng Yao bowed, her eyes crinkling into a smile. “Hello everyone, I’m Leng Yao. I hope you enjoy my performance.”

“Leng Yao, please begin.”

The lights dimmed, obscuring Leng Yao’s movements.

Slowly, a delicate veil descended from above, shimmering like moonlight cascading across the stage. Leng Yao had already removed her hair tie, letting her long hair fall loose as she tilted her head back, eyes closed. The sheer fabric draped softly over her eyelids, creating a breathtakingly serene and ethereal effect.

Leng Yao twirled within the veil, her skirt swirling gracefully as she began to sing. In that moment, she seemed like a divine maiden.

The veil slipped effortlessly from her eyes, transforming into flowing sleeves. With a flick of her arm, Leng Yao sent the fabric soaring into the air, where it billowed like a misty cloud.

The crisp jingle of bells echoed with each movement. Leng Yao’s bare feet, adorned with silver anklets, added to her ethereal grace.

The divine maiden danced to the rhythm of ceremonial drums, pleading for rain. As the song reached its climax, Leng Yao slowly lowered herself to the ground, the veil draping over her body. The spotlight gradually narrowed, fading into silence.

For a long moment, the recording studio remained silent. Then, after three seconds, the audience erupted into thunderous applause.

They had never expected such a dramatic transformation. Just moments ago, Leng Yao had been a cheerful, bubbly girl. But on stage, she seemed like an entirely different person.

The lights flickered back on, and Leng Yao scrambled to her feet, stumbling slightly.

But the stumble was so slight that no one noticed.

Below the stage, Lin Tingxue’s hands clenched involuntarily, fighting to maintain her composure.

I can’t go up there, she thought. Otherwise, Little Rabbit’s efforts will be for nothing. She said she didn’t want to lose.

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