Transmigrated into the Villainous Scummy Alpha in a Talent Show Novel - Chapter 13

After the theme song evaluations concluded, it was already half past one in the afternoon. The mentors seemed to need some time to discuss among themselves, so they dismissed the trainees for lunch, instructing them to regroup in the open area at two-thirty to announce the class changes.

Lin Qi tied her pink jacket around her waist and glanced at Wei Xuanyue. “Let’s go find Jiang Ming.”

At those words, Wei Xuanyue, who had been slightly exhausted from watching five hours of performances, immediately perked up, her eyes sparkling. “Okay!”

Shaking her head helplessly, Lin Qi took the lead toward the Class C area.

“Jiang Ming, let’s have lunch together.”

Jiang Ming’s sharp, striking features softened with a smile. The jacket tied around her waist accentuated her slender figure, though Lin Qi had once unexpectedly glimpsed the well-defined muscles beneath, powerful yet mesmerizing. Jiang Ming had never imagined she would one day find herself entranced by someone.

“Jiang Ming?”

Snapping her head away to avoid Lin Qi’s concerned gaze, Jiang

“Wei Xuanyue cursed me to stay single forever.”

Originally spoken in a fierce tone, but when facing Jiang Ming, Lin Qi’s voice unconsciously softened, even carrying a hint of grievance, as if she was complaining to her.

So that’s what it was.

For some reason, Jiang Ming felt a wave of relief. Looking at the person before her, who resembled a wronged puppy, she actually mustered the courage to pat her head. The fluffy, soft strands of hair felt so pleasant to the touch that it melted her heart.

As reason returned, Jiang Ming suddenly realized what she had done and jerked her hand back as if electrocuted, unsure how to respond to Lin Qi.

Meanwhile, Lin Qi grasped Jiang Ming’s small, struggling hand so delicate it seemed boneless. If not for the fact that they weren’t very familiar yet, she would have loved to knead and play with it, testing if it was as pliable as clay, easily shaped and molded.

“You can pat my head, but I can’t even hold your hand?”

With a rogue-like question, Lin Qi took advantage of Jiang Ming’s sensitive and easily flustered nature, soft and pliant like a steamed bun, easy to tease once they got closer.

Though she hadn’t gone too far, seeing Jiang Ming bow her head, her neck flushed like a timid little wife, still evoked an inexplicable sense of guilt in Lin Qi.

“Alright, I won’t tease you anymore. Lift your head, okay?”

Reluctantly letting go of Jiang Ming’s hand, Lin Qi stepped back three paces with a smile, adding, “See? Safe distance now. Don’t be shy. We’re friends, aren’t we?”

Friends?

Though the word brought both joy and a tinge of loss, Jiang Ming nodded with a smile. “We’re friends.”

This was the first person she had genuinely wanted to get close to after enduring a major upheaval in her life. Yet, just four days ago, this same person had been bullying her, and she had despised her. Why now…?

Confused, Jiang Ming glanced at Lin Qi before lowering her head. They had already entered the cafeteria, and she hurried ahead to the salad counter, her demeanor noticeably subdued.

“What’s wrong with Jiang Ming?”

Baffled, Lin Qi turned to Wei Xuanyue beside her, seeking help.

Wei Xuanyue wore a dark expression. “Oh, so the great Lady Lin finally remembers there’s still a me here?”

With an awkward chuckle, Lin Qi clung to Wei Xuanyue’s arm in a placating manner. “I was just… busy talking to Jiang Ming.”

“Ah, abandoning friends for beauty, I see.”

Beauty?

“You’re both my good friends. What nonsense about beauty?”

Wei Xuanyue nodded dismissively. “Yeah, yeah, yeah, just friends. You only see Jiang Ming, not me.”

“Hey, stop joking around. Do you know why Jiang Ming suddenly left without a word?”

“That’s your wife ask her yourself.”

“Wife???”

By then, the two had already gotten their food and sat at an empty table. Wei Xuanyue leaned in closer to the stunned Lin Qi. “Can’t you tell Jiang Ming likes you?”

Huh???

The female lead, who was supposed to have an official love interest, liked her the big villain? The female lead would have to be insane for that to happen.

“Stop joking. Be serious. Why did Jiang Ming suddenly get upset?”

Familiar with this scenario, Wei Xuanyue sighed, her face once again screaming “this one’s hopeless,” before finally smiling. “Maybe it’s because she used to hate you, but now you’re friends, and she’s just not used to it yet.”

Originally just a casual remark, Wei Xuanyue noticed Lin Qi’s expression of sudden realization, almost dropping the meat from her mouth. “Are you okay? This time, I was the one joking.”

“No, what you said makes a lot of sense.”

It was at this moment that Jiang Ming walked over with her tray. The two quickly fell silent, putting on well-behaved expressions.

The three of them didn’t revisit the topic of why Jiang Ming had left without a word earlier. Instead, they discussed the morning’s theme song evaluations, talking about how impressive certain contestants were some might even rise to A-class or how another contestant’s dancing was hilarious and might win over the audience…

Soon, the clock struck half past two. Over a hundred trainees gathered again, but this time, the relaxed ease of the morning was gone. Everyone was tense, bracing for the final judgment.

The show’s host walked in with a script, all smiles, a stark contrast to the serious faces of the trainees.

“You all look nervous?”

Receiving no response, the host shrugged. “Alright, let’s announce the results.”

“First, the trainees moving up in rank.”

A list of names was called out. Lin Qi was already in Class A, so she technically had no reason to care about those moving up she had nowhere higher to go. Yet, she was even more nervous than when hearing her own class.

Would the female lead make it to Class A?

“, Tan Yi, Jiang Ming, ”

Yes!

Beaming with joy, Lin Qi turned her gaze toward Class C, searching for Jiang Ming, only to find that the moment their eyes met, Jiang Ming averted her gaze.

Why?

Next, the host announced the trainees moving down in rank. Neither Lin Qi nor Wei Xuanyue were on the list, meaning they could stay in Class A. But why didn’t she feel happy?

Because she realized the female lead was avoiding her.

Then came the specific class placements for those moving up. Lin Qi focused intently again, only to be disappointed Jiang Ming had only moved to Class B.

Finally, the host still hadn’t announced the center position for the theme song.

“Guess who the center is?”

For a moment, the room fell silent. The host continued, “She’s unanimously recognized by all the mentors as the theme song center. I also believe she’s already a mature idol. She is…”

“Lin Qi!”

The first shout came from Wei Xuanyue beside her, followed by a chorus of voices. It seemed she had truly earned everyone’s recognition.

A warm current flowed into the cracks of her heart, filling the gaps left by the wind. Lin Qi glanced at Jiang Ming again, who still refused to meet her eyes. She couldn’t help but sigh. She didn’t understand, what had she done wrong? Why was the female lead suddenly distancing herself again?

“That’s right! Our theme song center is Lin Qi. Congratulations!”

Forcing a smile, Lin Qi thanked the flood of congratulations from all sides, but her mind was still preoccupied: What was Jiang Ming thinking now? Was she happy for her too?

“Now, everyone, please follow me. Today, we’ll be recording the group dance for the theme song.”

Group dance?

In her past life, as the center position for the theme song performance, Lin Qi had a vivid memory of the group dance. It was her first time participating in a survival show, and she had no idea that a single group dance routine would require over a hundred takes due to constant synchronization issues. As the center, her smile had stiffened from holding it for so long. In the end, they recorded a staggering 127 takes before finally calling it a wrap.

After diligently performing all 127 takes without a single sip of water, she collapsed, drenched in sweat. Even an iron-willed person couldn’t endure such an intense training regimen.

“Teacher, I’ve been having stomach issues lately and am a bit dehydrated. Can I go buy a couple of bottles of water to bring along?”

Lin Qi ran up to the show’s host, pretending to have a stomachache as she frowned and asked.

The host, who had a favorable impression of Lin Qi as a hardworking and earnest contestant, nodded casually. “The recording is on the third floor. You can catch up later an assistant will take you to the set.”

With that, the main group moved on, and Lin Qi hurried to the convenience store. After hesitating for a moment, she ended up buying three bottles of water and a pack of tissues.

Song En, oh Song En, you really ought to thank me for taking such good care of your future wife while you’re not around.

Glancing at the water and tissues she’d specifically bought for the female lead, Lin Qi couldn’t help but feel a pang of bitterness.