Transmigrated as the CEO's Top-Tier Stand-in - Chapter 27

Chapter 27

A Center Position and a Fleeting Memory

Meng Rendong’s troubled expression was ultimately noticed by Wang Luoshui, who placed a hand on her friend’s shoulder, frowning. Assuming her friend’s strange headaches had flared up again, she asked:

“Have you been to the hospital for a checkup recently?”

“Headache again?”

Meng Rendong felt she was close to grasping that elusive spark of inspiration but still couldn’t recall it. Startled back to reality by Wang Luoshui, she abruptly opened her eyes. Her profound, night-like pupils contained a rare, momentary confusion of time and place, but it was instantly suppressed by her usual composure:

“What?”

She belatedly realized what Wang Luoshui had asked, waved her hand, and said casually: “No headache. I had my physical two months ago; everything was fine. I was just trying to remember where I saw that dance.”

Wang Luoshui smiled at her: “Why worry about that?”

She then gestured to the screen: “Look, even if Ji Yu didn’t finish the dance, her votes are leading. She’ll be the Center soon—”

Pausing, Wang Luoshui looked at Chu Nanxing on the screen, her voice strangely laced with pity: “Nanxing was only a little behind. Her jazz foundation is actually quite solid, especially since she followed Jian…”

She suddenly swallowed the rest of the sentence. She looked at Meng Rendong beside her, unwilling to bring up painful memories when her friend was feeling down.

Meng Rendong also looked at the screen. Ji Yu and Chu Nanxing were side-by-side, and it was unclear where her gaze truly rested. Her expression was neutral, like a serene lake on a moonlit night, without a ripple.

She listened as Wang Luoshui steered the topic away, softly mentioning some interesting things happening on the show, but Meng Rendong’s mind drifted. Inevitably, her thoughts circled back to the dance Ji Yu had performed earlier, as if it held some magic, completely captivating her attention.

Where exactly did I see it?

Meng Rendong pondered stubbornly.

On screen.

The nine A-class girls stood in a line, listening as the final result was announced. With an absolute advantage of 45 votes, Ji Yu was elected Center, winning the opportunity for a solo cover shoot on B Magazine‘s October issue. She would also stand in the most prominent position during the upcoming theme song public performance, becoming the camera’s darling, easily noticeable by all the fans who came to watch live.

Even the unified performance uniform would bear a special honor belonging to the Center.

Ling Lan and Rong Bai applauded for her. Chu Nanxing, standing on the side, maintained a calm expression and mechanically clapped along with the rhythm of the others. The emotion in her eyes was obscured by the shadow of her wispy bangs, making it indistinct.

Below, some F-class members who had been guided by her excitedly embraced their friends and shouted toward the stage: “Go, Ji Yu!!!”

“Look! That’s the pride of our F-class, Teacher Ji!”

“Human Miracle Teacher Ji! My favorite Teacher Ji!”

“Wait? Are you guys here to be fans or to be idols?”

Some couldn’t help but laugh, and others also congratulated Ji Yu. The competition for the Center position concluded in such a friendly, competitive atmosphere. However, no one dared to completely relax and sleep soundly—

Since there were only a few days left until the public performance, and an audience would be present at the venue, it was an excellent opportunity to gain fans and the first chance for these diligent trainees to experience a large stage. They couldn’t afford not to seize it.

At the exact moment the theme song Center was selected.

Under Litchi Network’s massive publicity campaign, the new girl group survival show Dream Chasing 100‘s first episode officially entered the public eye.

In less than half an hour…

#DreamChasing100#

#QiFengPD_NightMentor#

#NationalDreamBuilder#

and other keywords successively climbed the trending topics list.

Some who knew the news early had been guarding their computers, promoting the formerly beloved girl group members who were about to shine again to their friends and family. Insiders who smelled a business opportunity also actively flocked to these rising stars. Of course, most were passersby who clicked on the show after seeing the hot search or casually discovering the variety show while eating.

Once they clicked in, it was hard to leave.

Major forums built high-rise threads, all discussing Dream Chasing 100:

“Everyone, come support our Feng ge‘s new variety show! Look at all one hundred of our Feng ge‘s trainees! Dream Chasing 100 is truly worth watching! These ladies are bound to be popular!”

“How is this only the first episode… I came for Zhi Tao, but I’ve been captivated by the girl group jiejies here. What a hidden gem Ling Lan is?”

“Look at Sister Rong! She’s handsome and powerful, yet she can be gentle and charming. Who wouldn’t want a girlfriend like that?!”

“Forget the flashy stuff, Nanxing, Nanxing, destined to pick the stars, go!”

Powerful or excellent performing trainees quickly gained attention. Some were due to existing fan bases, while others were beloved for their strong variety show presence, becoming both the camera’s darling and the audience’s favorite.

In a short time, fans began to pour into the girls’ official Weibo accounts—

With A-class and B-class girls seeing the highest increase.

Amidst numerous lively posts and forums, someone quietly started a discussion thread titled: Am I the only one who likes to unearth treasures in F-class?

OP: I’ll start with one sentence! Dream Chasing 100 is bound to be popular! Okay, I want to talk about the jiejie I’m picking! I’m a bit rebellious; I’m not interested in people everyone else likes. I prefer unearthing treasures myself. Is anyone else like me… noticed our F-class Ji Yu meimei? Although her performance stage was cut in the first episode, I really love her visuals! She stands out even in F-class, doesn’t she!

Since the first episode’s four-hour initial stage assessment was released, there were many passersby who finished watching it, making the topic hot. Initially, people entered wanting to find common ground for discussion, but upon closer look?

Ji Yu?

Who?

Never heard of her.

The OP waited for ten minutes before getting a reply.

2L: Hee hee! I know her! She’s the jiejie in the same dorm as our Ling Lan! She’s really pretty! The one always sitting next to Ling Lan, right? Sure enough, beautiful people play with beautiful people!

The OP quickly replied: “Hehe! Ling Lan jiejie has a lot of personality! I like her too! But I always feel Ji Yu meimei might be a dark horse, who knows?”

The two chatted enthusiastically for a few sentences. The post gained a little more traffic, and a few more people trickled in.

5L: Face-lover here! Where there’s a beautiful girl, there’s me! I did notice Ji Yu! She’s genuinely good-looking, eh! One vote for visuals! Just wonder about her stage performance later on!

8L: Someone’s already started creating super topics for the jiejies, but Ji Yu doesn’t have much to watch besides her face, right?

15L: Litchi Network has now launched a VIP service. Members can watch the second episode’s theme song assessment early. Just check out that stage if you want to know if Ji Yu has the skill!

21L: Huh? Is anyone else noticing her like me? To be honest, I was dragged by my friend to watch this show during dinner. This girl left a deep impression on me. Her eyes are so unique. I wonder if it’s my occupational habit.

The OP, who was actively seeking companions, enthusiastically replied to everyone, announcing plans to create a super topic for Ji Yu and stating their intention to purchase Litchi Network’s annual membership just to watch the second episode. Upon noticing the strange comment from 21L, they couldn’t help but type a question mark:

“? What about Little Yu jiejie‘s eyes? Are you trying to praise her beautiful eyes?”

Unfortunately, the commenter seemed to have been a casual browser of forum gossip. The OP waited a long time but never received the praise for the girl they favored, sighing with regret and dismissing the matter.

10:30 PM.

Chu Huaide strolled for two laps with his hands behind his back in the forest of his private garden. Listening to the gurgling sound of the small rock waterfall nearby, he aided his digestion. After returning to the house and taking the elevator to the second floor, he found his wife, who should have been asleep long ago, unusually deviating from her habit. Dressed in a dark green silk dressing gown, wearing gold-rimmed reading glasses, she was having the household help project the computer screen onto the home theater curtain.

The man walked over with his hands behind his back. Using the light from the crystal chandelier in the living room, he leaned his head over and asked:

“It’s so late. Why aren’t you asleep yet?”

Hearing his voice, the woman sitting on the soft theater sofa, wearing gold-rimmed reading glasses, looked up. Due to excellent maintenance, her appearance, even in her early fifties, showed no fine lines, and her pulled-back black hair was remarkably lustrous—some would believe her to be in her early twenties—

But the eyes that looked up at him revealed her years of maturity.

They were clearly a beautiful pair of eyes, yet they held a sense of dusk settling, as if they had weathered hardships in this world and had not yet escaped that suffering. Meeting her gaze, a fleeting moment of remorse flashed in Chu Huaide’s heart. His usually stern tone was swallowed and re-swallowed, emerging as a rare gentleness, even carrying a hint of coaxing:

“A-Su [Wife’s name], ah.”

“I’ll accompany you to rest now, alright? It’s really late.”

The woman, whom he called “A-Su,” stared at him fixedly for a long while before turning her gaze back to the screen. Her voice sounded softly, like a drip of water from a stalactite falling into a small pool, ringing with a lonely, pleasant tone:

“Huaide.”

“I slept this afternoon. I’m not tired now.”

Chu Huaide rubbed his nose. His wife’s personality was consistently gentle; it was rare for her to be so cold and abnormal, except in one situation—

She had dreamt again.

He sighed in his heart, walked a few steps forward, and sat down on the soft sofa beside her. Not being skilled with words, he was racking his brain for a way to coax his wife back to the bedroom when the person beside him suddenly spoke again:

“I dreamt of Jianyu.”

“She came back, Huaide. I dreamt she came back, but she couldn’t find her way home… I wanted to bring her back, but she just couldn’t find her way home…”

In the past ten years, Chu Huaide had heard his wife recount her dreams more than once, each time a sorrowful story. He raised his hand and gently patted the woman’s shoulder, unwilling to repeatedly tell her the truth yet also reluctant for her to remain immersed in this emotion. He looked around and asked:

“What are you two busy with?”

His wife’s attention was brought back by his voice. She slightly shed some of her sadness, a smile appearing on her lips, only her eyes still immersed in unbearable pain. She said softly:

“Nanxing insisted on entering the entertainment industry, didn’t she?”

“I heard the show she’s participating in can be seen online in the last couple of days. That child is as stubborn as Jianyu, and strong-willed. She ran abroad for several years after you scolded her and wouldn’t come back to visit.”

“Huaide, we’ve already lost one child. Why can’t we be a little more lenient with the other?”

She looked up at the man beside her. Although her tone was very calm, as if she had accepted the facts, her dark eyes held a slight resentment, as if blaming him for something.

Hearing this, Chu Huaide felt a pang in his heart. He seemed to want to open his mouth to defend himself but was restrained by the dignity of a father and elder. He couldn’t speak those words, ultimately sounding like an immature little boy, saying gruffly:

“Wasn’t I doing it for her own good! Look at the people in our circle. Which one of them respects these singers and performers who make a living entertaining others! Where would I put my face if this got out…”

But his stern and outwardly strong voice was quickly subdued by his wife’s stare. His breathing altered repeatedly, and he hastily averted his gaze. He raised his hand to pull at his tie but realized he had changed into comfortable home wear upon entering the door. He had no choice but to rub his collar and change his tone:

“Besides, Nanxing’s temper is even worse than her father’s. I can’t easily tell her anything—”

“Look how many years she’s held a grudge against me? You want to watch her, go ahead. She’s grown wings now and won’t listen to anyone. I, Chu Huaide, haven’t had to cater to anyone’s whims all these years, so why, in my old age, must I humble myself to my daughter? I haven’t even asked her to care for me in retirement, and she’s already this way. Can I still rely on her in the future?”

“Look at how arrogant she was a few years ago. Do you think she even remembers what her last name is now…”

“Huaide!” The woman frowned disapprovingly, feigning anger, and glanced at the young household help still setting up the computer connection. After a while, she said helplessly:

“Nanxing’s temper is all inherited from you. She’s been this way since she was little. It’s you, at your age, having a cold war with a young daughter. Aren’t you being childish?”

Chu Huaide wanted to say something more, but seeing an outsider present, he reverted to his usual demeanor as the CEO. He didn’t speak, allowing his wife to gently advise him. After a long while, unable to tolerate the soft, persistent nagging, he quickly pointed at the large screen in front:

“Isn’t your precious little daughter coming out now?”

Hearing this, the woman, who had been trying to mend their father-daughter relationship, had to stop talking and turn to look at the screen, wanting to see if the world her daughter ran off to was difficult.

And the old man, who had been shouting he didn’t care to watch, also sat up straight, staring beside his wife for half an hour.

Until.

“Wait a minute.”

“Am I seeing things?”

“That person just now… I think I saw Jianyu?”

The woman suddenly raised her hand and pinched the man beside her. Chu Huaide, who had been dozing off because there were no scenes of Chu Nanxing in this part, instinctively reached out to embrace her when his wife pinched him, mumbling vaguely:

“Sleep, sleep, A-Su, go to sleep.”

Since the equipment had been adjusted, only the couple was in the small theater. The woman looked at him, feeling both angry and amused. She eventually gave up on him and tried to pull the video progress herself, but instead of succeeding, she caused the projection to go black.

She thought of the face she had just seen. Although she suspected her prolonged grief had caused her to missee it, she had clearly accepted the truth long ago…

She sat quietly for a long time.

Still feeling unsatisfied, she called the maid back in, explained her mistake with the video, and asked her to slowly drag the progress bar to that moment. When it finally paused—

She stared at the blurred face on the screen, which had only appeared for a moment, and was speechless for a long time.

It felt as if the connection of blood had never been severed.

Chu Huaide accidentally fell asleep on the sofa. Since the chair cushion was too soft, and his weight had increased with age, the cushion collapsed after a while. His snoring stopped suddenly, and he woke up abruptly, reflexively reaching out to hold the person beside him, vaguely saying:

“A-Su.”

He opened his eyes and realized the room was dimly lit, with only the layered light strips inside the wall flickering.

He was still in the theater.

He rubbed his dry eyes, wanting to get up and go back to the bedroom to sleep. But his gaze shifted to the paused screen, and he grumbled: “Is this thing stuck? Is it over? Let’s go back to the room.”

Chu Huaide intended to pull his wife back, but when he turned to look, he saw tear stains glistening on her face.

He was startled and, fighting off the dizziness from waking up, quickly leaned in: “What is it now?”

The woman looked at the blurry figure on the screen and said: “Huaide, has Jianyu really come back?”

Chu Huaide sighed, reached for the remote, and turned the device off directly. He coaxed his distraught wife to walk back, whispering: “She’ll come back. She’ll always come back. She surely misses us too. I’ll have someone send more incense money to the temple in a few days so she can have a good afterlife and bless her to be our child again in the next life… Now let’s go to sleep, alright?”

But his wife gripped his hand tightly, emphasizing: “I want to see Nanxing. I really saw Jianyu. She was standing near Nanxing. She’s in that show too. They loved dancing together when they were little. How could I forget…”

Chu Huaide felt goosebumps rise from her words. He wanted to offer some comforting advice but eventually bit the bullet: “Fine, I’ll arrange it another day. We’ll go visit that little brat on set. You go to sleep first, okay?”

“Did you take your medicine today? Or should I have someone warm up some milk for you?”

Everything that happened in the Chu family was unknown to outsiders.

The girls of Dream Chasing 100 were vigorously preparing for the theme song public performance. Fortunately, this performance allowed for many rehearsal opportunities, and the venue would only be open to the audience on the official performance day, so they had enough time to prepare.

It is worth mentioning that.

Due to the broadcast of the first episode, many girls now had their own fan base.

However, because only half of the second theme song assessment episode had been shown, and Ji Yu’s part was deliberately omitted, her skill was not yet widely known. Despite this, on the way to the venue for the first time, Ji Yu was somewhat surprised to find someone had made a light board for her. Even though it was only a solitary one, it was a huge surprise.

She seriously signed an autograph for the fan and took a photo. When she looked up again, she heard the girl say to her with a blushing face:

“I! We created a super topic for you and are ready to support you! Jiejie, fighting! Break out of F-class!”

Ji Yu smiled. Since she was wearing casual clothes for the rehearsal today, and the production team intended to keep the result a secret until the performance day, no fans yet knew that she had switched to the pink A-class uniform. Hearing the encouragement, she nodded and only answered:

“Okay.”

Even just this word was enough to encourage the fan.

The girl was utterly mesmerized, and the production team was also gathering the contestants, getting them ready to enter the venue. Ji Yu waved goodbye to her single small fan. Just as she was about to leave, she suddenly heard the system speak in her mind:

“Yuyu! Si Tian detected within five hundred meters!”

Ji Yu’s movement towards the venue slowed.

She reflexively turned to look for the person, but after scanning the street with all her might, she saw nothing. Because she lingered for too long, the staff’s urging voices frequently sounded, forcing her to walk inside with great difficulty.

Her expression was somewhat distracted.

She took two or three steps towards the venue. Recalling the system’s five-hundred-meter range, she hesitated, just about to find an excuse to turn back and search the street, when the system added: “Huh? She must be in transit. The distance is now six hundred… seven hundred… Yuyu, she’s one kilometer away.”

Ji Yu moved her lips, retracting the steps she had taken outside. The light in her eyes dimmed slightly.

“Is that so?”

She asked.

The system had been so focused on telling her the moment it found Si Tian, but it didn’t anticipate this result of a near-miss. It was cruel to fill someone with hope only to disappoint them again. It silently reflected, vowing to only notify Ji Yu next time when Si Tian was consistently nearby.

It apologized with a hint of disappointment, but Ji Yu gently reassured it, saying it was nothing.

Thus, Meng Rendong, who had the opportunity to come to the venue to watch the stage because of a nearby meeting, noticed Ji Yu standing alone on the side with a grim expression. Even her smiles towards the people around her carried a slight hint of perfunctoriness. Her gaze occasionally darted outward, as if something outside was attracting her.

Wang Luoshui was busy monitoring the live event today, sitting in the control room behind the stage, not downstairs. Meng Rendong had no one to ask, so she could only stand at the edge of the audience section, observing Ji Yu’s expression and pondering.

Until a break during the evening rehearsal.

Ji Yu, resting nearby, suddenly turned and looked outside, then quickly got up to find a staff member. Her demeanor showed unconcealed anxiety, but the staff member just shook their head, unwilling to grant her request.

Meng Rendong watched her become increasingly desperate. She hadn’t intended to appear in front of her again, but Ji Yu’s look of being on the verge of tears kept lingering in her sight, eventually causing her to step forward and ask:

“What’s wrong?”

Ji Yu looked up and saw her. Her eyes briefly lit up, only to dim again instantly, so fast it felt like a hallucination.

She said softly: “President Meng.”

The staff member also recognized Meng Rendong and spoke with some difficulty: “This trainee wants to request to leave temporarily, but Director Wang has a rule that they can’t wander around.”

Ji Yu quickly said: “I’ll be back very soon, really. Five minutes. I have a very important friend—”

The staff member was initially firm, but Meng Rendong suddenly spoke:

“I’ll go with her. I’ll bring her back to you in a moment, alright?”

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