Transmigrated into the Villainous Scummy Alpha in a Talent Show Novel - Chapter 12

Woken up by the broadcast at seven o’clock, the drowsy girl who had barely slept five hours didn’t even open her eyes while brushing her teeth. It wasn’t until cold water splashed on her face that she finally became somewhat alert.

“I’m so tired…”

An involuntary groan escaped Lin Qi as she rinsed the cleanser from her face, letting the remaining water droplets cling to her brows and the tip of her nose. Suddenly remembering, she turned around to wake Jiang Ming.

Perhaps because the announcement was in Chinese a language Jiang Ming didn’t understand, the usually light sleeper was somehow sleeping more soundly than she was.

But as she turned, she was met with an exquisitely delicate face startlingly close to hers. A pair of fox-like eyes, slightly upturned at the outer corners, widened in surprise. The little fox, freshly awakened, seemed less aloof than usual, her usual coolness replaced by vivid, striking liveliness. Lin Qi hadn’t expected Jiang Ming to be standing right behind her.

She must have been truly exhausted she hadn’t even heard the soft sounds of the kitten stirring.

Her heartbeat quickened in the silence, pounding so loudly it made her dizzy. Flustered, Lin Qi quickly stepped back, her words laced with the faint scent of roses. “S-sorry, I didn’t mean to…”

Jiang Ming lowered her gaze, her eyes landing on the toothpaste tube with a rose pattern on the sink. The tips of her ears, hidden beneath disheveled strands of hair, flushed a faint pink. She shook her head softly. “It’s fine.”

But inwardly, she wondered So the roses in my dream came from her?

And the reason I slept so soundly, was her too?

Side-stepping past Lin Qi, Jiang Ming appeared composed, but as she washed up, her mind was filled with the image of the other girl’s face dotted with water droplets. Her striking features, freshly cleansed and glowing, carried an added handsomeness.

She looked like the fierce and radiant female alpha general from a drama Jiang Ming had once watched.

Speaking of which, she’ll probably present as an alpha, right?

What kind of omega would she like?

I really want to know.

Finishing her routine in silence, Jiang Ming turned to see Lin Qi sitting on the bed, her charming peach-blossom eyes glimmering with amusement as she watched her.

Already at a loss for words, Jiang Ming grew even more tongue-tied under that gaze. She quickly averted her eyes, picked up her pink jacket from her bedside, and asked, “Want to go get breakfast?”

Lin Qi’s smile deepened. This must be the first time the female lead has invited me to breakfast, she thought, nodding in agreement.

After a pleasant meal, the two arrived at the large open field where they had first gathered.

Before parting, Lin Qi patted Jiang Ming’s shoulder, her gaze firm yet carrying a gentleness she herself hadn’t noticed. “Do your best. Believe in yourself, I’ll be waiting for you in Class A.”

Her palm was so warm.

It soothed the trembling unease within Jiang Ming, like a cat being gently stroked from head to tail. A faint smile curved her lips as she nodded. “See you later.”

When Lin Qi reached the Class A area, Wei Xuanyue was already there, a sponsored yogurt bottle placed beside her. Spotting Lin Qi, she moved it aside and grinned. “Took you long enough.”

“How’s your prep going?” Lin Qi asked casually as she sat down.

“Of course, I’m ready. I’m sticking with you as a Class A anchor.”

They hadn’t chatted long before the show’s host walked in, script in hand. “Welcome, everyone, to the theme song evaluation. When your name is called, please step to the center of your respective class. Performances will proceed in order from Class A to Class F.”

Unexpectedly, Wei Xuanyue was the first to be called up, but she didn’t seem nervous at all. The sweet girl shrugged at Lin Qi and stood up with an air of nonchalance, brimming with confidence.

Even more surprising was that Jiang Ming was the first trainee from Class C to undergo the evaluation. She walked to the open area with a composed expression, exuding an icy aura.

At that moment, Wei Xuanyue waved at Jiang Ming over the head of the unlucky contestant from Class B and cheerfully said “Ganbatte” (good luck) in the Japanese she had just learned. The two exchanged a smile.

Why did this scene make Lin Qi’s teeth ache?

She should have been laughing at how the unlucky contestant from Class B was in a similar predicament as herself, but for some reason, Lin Qi’s lips drooped. Perhaps this was the protagonist’s halo—everyone adored her.

The original novel hadn’t even mentioned Wei Xuanyue as a supporting character.

Her gaze cooled momentarily, only to meet Jiang Ming’s backward glance. Strangely, it felt like a child in kindergarten searching for someone familiar during a performance to calm their nerves.

Suppressing an inexplicable displeasure, Lin Qi smiled and shook her head. “It’s fine, just perform as usual.”

Her voice was soft, but since it was in Japanese, a language she was familiar with Jiang Ming could easily read her lips and understand. Reassured, Jiang Ming’s lips curled into a sweet smile perfectly suited to the theme song’s vibe.

Lin Qi had no worries about Wei Xuanyue. She had watched her practice many times her dance moves, though graceful, carried an underlying strength, and her unique style alone outshone many trainees. As for singing, her naturally sweet voice was a perfect fit for the theme song. She was a lock for Class A.

The three and a half minutes passed quickly, and Wei Xuanyue lived up to expectations, delivering an outstanding performance. The four mentors seated across from the trainees nodded in approval, clearly satisfied.

The contestant from Class B was decent no issues with singing or dancing, but nothing remarkable either.

Finally, it was Jiang Ming’s turn.

The moment the program’s host called her name, Lin Qi, who had been reassuring the female lead that everything would be fine unexpectedly felt a surge of nervousness. In the original story, it was this very theme song evaluation that sent the female lead to Class D.

After all, the mentors had initially placed her in Class C solely because of her heavenly voice. But someone who couldn’t dance at all couldn’t debut as an idol. If her dancing remained abysmal this time, the mentors wouldn’t hold onto hope for Jiang Ming any longer.

Time seemed to slow as Jiang Ming lowered her head in sync with the choreography. When she lifted it again, her usual icy demeanor had melted away, replaced by a soft, sweet smile.

This surprised the mentors during the initial stage and training sessions, they had assumed the girl never smiled. Who knew she could look so radiant?

Jiang Ming began singing in Chinese with minimal accent, her rich vocal tone softened and blended with a youthful sweetness. Every phrase rose with an upbeat, energetic lilt.

Her body moved fluidly with the music. Jiang Ming had one standout trait her flexibility. When she arched backward, her willow-like waist bent effortlessly, as if boneless, every motion seamless and natural.

For some inexplicable reason, Lin Qi’s eyes grew warm. She wanted to lower her head to hide her emotional reaction but couldn’t bear to miss a single second of Jiang Ming’s performance. The ugly duckling had finally taken her first step toward transformation.

It’s hard to describe the mix of emotions swirling inside pride, joy, sorrow, and reluctance all tangled together.

Once the gold had been polished, wouldn’t it naturally drift away from someone like her, who had once caused it pain?

The applause filling the room was even louder than after Wei Xuanyue’s performance. Lin Qi clapped silently, then gave Jiang Ming a thumbs-up when their eyes met.

“Jiang Ming, how did you improve your dancing so much in just three days? You look like a seasoned performer now.”

Praised by the dance instructor, Jiang Ming smiled, not because of the compliment, but because of the person who came to mind. “It’s all thanks to my roommate, Lin Qi. She taught me.”

“Wow, your Chinese has improved a lot too! I have high hopes for you.”

“Thank you, teacher!”

Jiang Ming bowed respectfully before retreating to the corner of the C-class area, nervously fending off trainees chattering in rapid Chinese, eager to get to know her. Her gaze instinctively sought out Lin Qi’s encouraging eyes. Swallowing her nerves, she managed to say in Chinese, “Thank you. My name is Jiang Ming. Once I learn more Chinese, I’ll talk with you all properly, okay?”

Lin Qi withdrew her gaze, no longer watching Jiang Ming’s newfound popularity. She glanced at Wei Xuanyue beside her, then at the D-class trainees performing on stage, sighing listlessly.

“Little Seven, why do you look so down?”

“Huh? No, I.. I’m actually quite happy.”

Her face was being squished like a bun. Lin Qi freed herself from Wei Xuanyue’s grasp, preening. “I still have to perform later, don’t ruin my flawless beauty.”

“With that gloomy face? You’ll turn a cheerful song into a funeral dirge.”

“Is it really that obvious I’m upset?”

“Yeah, your face is practically dragging on the floor.”

Wei Xuanyue bent down, pretending to scoop something up. “Look, I picked it up for you. Stop moping.”

As they chatted, time slipped by. One three and a half-minute performance after another droned on, grating on her ears, yet Lin Qi’s mood gradually lifted. She began to understand why she had been upset.

It was possessiveness over Jiang Ming. She was the one who had helped Jiang Ming open up, yet now the fruits of that effort were being claimed by trainees who’d done nothing. She had cast aside pride and dignity to warm Jiang Ming, only for this wonderful person to become friends with others.

Who wouldn’t feel bitter?

But Wei Xuanyue was different. A kind, high-EQ powerhouse brimming with talent, she had never excluded Jiang Ming in fact, she genuinely liked the girl. Lin Qi thought it was good for them to be friends.

She shouldn’t keep Jiang Ming caged like this.

After the show, their paths would likely diverge anyway.

With this realization, a faint smile touched her lips as the program host called her name.

The theme song evaluations were halfway done, and it was nearly 11 p.m. Lin Qi could only be grateful she wasn’t fond of makeup waiting this long would’ve turned her face into an oil slick otherwise.

Nodding at Wei Xuanyue, Lin Qi stepped forward without a trace of nerves, waiting only for the music to begin.

The benefits of having debuted before were evident here. While others were concerned but hadn’t meticulously studied expression management, for Lin Qi, it came naturally. She instinctively knew where to look and when, having been a top-tier idol in her past life, she had long mastered these nuances.

This was also why seasoned returnees sometimes outshone fresh trainees.

Lin Qi knew exactly how to showcase her charm.

With dance skills rivaling those of professionals, every move she made exuded power without appearing overdone. While others were earnestly chasing their dreams, Lin Qi carried an air of unshakable confidence, as if success was already hers.

Where others were still in progress, she was already at the finish line.

The three and a half-minute performance ended, and the room fell silent for a few seconds before erupting into thunderous applause. Lin Qi bowed slowly, unhurriedly waiting for the instructor’s feedback.

“Honestly, there’s not much to say. You’re already a polished idol. I don’t even know what to teach you,” came the dance instructor’s evaluation.

At that moment, the show’s host chimed in with a smile, “You’re Jiang Ming’s roommate, right? No wonder she improved so much in just three days.”

“It’s not just because of me. Jiang Ming works really hard too. She practices until late every night, I don’t even have to push her; she won’t sleep otherwise.”

“Seems like you two get along well. But don’t forget the contract you signed when you joined, no dating for these three months.”

Though she knew it was a joke, Lin Qi’s heart still clenched. She forced a casual laugh. “Got it, got it. I haven’t even presented my secondary gender yet no dating for me.”

The female lead already had her destined partner, what was there for Lin Qi to pursue?

As she returned to Wei Xuanyue’s side, Lin Qi mocked herself inwardly. She didn’t pay attention to the performances that followed, keeping her head down the entire time, unaware of the shy glances Jiang Ming kept stealing in her direction.