Transmigrated into the Villainous Scummy Alpha in a Talent Show Novel - Chapter 14.1

Arriving on the third floor, Lin Qi politely followed the assistant into the recording venue. She sighed helplessly as she took in the massive stage before her, capable of accommodating over a hundred people. The group dance recording was truly a torturous experience, and she, the unlucky one, had to endure it twice.

No matter how well she performed as the center, with over a hundred people dancing for three and a half minutes, someone was bound to make a mistake forgetting moves, missing the camera, losing balance small mishaps were inevitable.

Yet, the group dance in the audition emphasized synchronization, aiming to deliver a sense of unity and awe. Only after multiple takes could a flawless version be selected for the final broadcast.

The distance between the snack bar and the teaching building was quite far. Although Lin Qi had run back and forth, nearly twenty minutes had already passed. The program’s host was already standing below the stage, arranging the formation, leaving a spot in the center for her.

Hopping onto the stage in a few quick steps, Lin Qi bowed to the other A-class trainees standing nearby. “Sorry for keeping you waiting.”

Though others might not mind the wait, Lin Qi, by nature, disliked inconveniencing others.

Wei Xuanyue slapped Lin Qi’s shoulder with a grin. “What were you sneaking off to do?”

Turns out Wei Xuanyue had performed well too and was now standing beside Lin Qi, in the so-called “guardian position.”

“I went to buy three bottles of water.”

“Oh~ For you, Jiang Ming, and me, right?”

“What else?”

While the host was still adjusting the F-class formation, Wei Xuanyue leaned in closer, her face full of gossip. “Hey, Xiao Qi, do you like Jiang Ming?”

Like who??

Like a dog whose tail had been stepped on, Lin Qi’s eyebrows shot up in disbelief. “Me? Like Jiang Ming?”

Wei Xuanyue remained unfazed. “Otherwise, why are you so nice to her?”

Lin Qi was momentarily speechless. The question had hit the mark. Honestly, even now, she didn’t know why she went out of her way to consider Jiang Ming in everything. Initially, it had been out of guilt, wanting to make up for the original host’s mistakes.

But now, her actions weren’t driven by guilt anymore. It felt natural to care for and help Jiang Ming, as if she genuinely wanted the female lead to break free from her cocoon and flourish.

Did that count as liking Jiang Ming?

Probably not. Jiang Ming still had her official love interest, blindly waiting to meet her in the hospital.

It was just a book fan’s goodwill toward the female lead. Who didn’t love a beautiful, strong, and tragic character?

Comforting herself, Lin Qi shrugged nonchalantly. “I treat Jiang Ming as a friend, just like you.”

“Pfft.”

Feeling the conversation had lost its spark, Wei Xuanyue, already convinced that Lin Qi had special feelings for Jiang Ming returned to her guardian position with a knowing “I get it” expression. She was sharp; if it wasn’t liking someone, why would Lin Qi hesitate and think so long before answering?

Explaining is excusing, and excusing is admitting.

“Alright, everyone, get into position. Assume your starting poses. We’re about to start recording.”

Hearing this, Lin Qi, who had been about to look for Jiang Ming, had no choice but to retract her gaze and lower her head, waiting for the music to begin.

What followed was repetition after repetition. Every three and a half minutes, she gave it her all. As someone who loved the stage, even though Lin Qi knew the earlier recordings wouldn’t make it into the final cut of the show, standing in the center position meant she had to treat every take as a gift to be presented to the audience.

It wasn’t until the forty-second take that a contestant from Class D raised her hand, complaining of a stomachache before rushing to the restroom. The endless cycle finally came to a halt. Lin Qi panted slightly even with her stamina, dancing with such intense focus had left her somewhat exhausted. This was entirely different from training; the stage lights bore down on her, their heat almost palpable.

The show’s host had been watching from below. As the center position of the previous season’s male idol survival show, he understood the exhaustion all too well. Yet, it was precisely through these monotonous, repetitive takes that one’s true character was tested.

With the dual purpose of observing the contestants and reminiscing about his own past, he had stayed with these hundred-plus girls throughout. Naturally, he noticed those who never let up the top performers from Class A were no surprise, but Jiang Ming from Class B made him raise an eyebrow slightly.

Forty-two takes without a single mistake. Her fair skin was flushed from the exertion. How had this girl, who couldn’t dance at all just four days ago, become so fluid in her movements now?

His gaze then shifted to Lin Qi from Class A, who had also given her all in every take. It was as if he’d found his answer. Though they were all young, the host couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something between these two a chemistry, as if they belonged together.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t have teased them like that.

The host smiled, his tone gentle. “Everyone, take a break. Wipe off your sweat, touch up your makeup. We’ll continue once everyone’s back. Stay focused if no one makes any mistakes, we’ll wrap up today’s recording.”

Relieved, Lin Qi hopped down from the elevated center platform and walked toward Jiang Ming, the center of Class B. During the dance, she had already noticed, the female lead was actually Class B’s center. It seemed her efforts and skills had truly earned the mentors’ recognition.

An inexplicable happiness made the corners of Lin Qi’s eyes and lips curl. “Jiang Ming, are you tired?”

Her carefree nature made her forget Jiang Ming’s apparent intention to keep her distance. Without thinking, she reached out and brushed the back of her hand against the little white rabbit’s forehead warm and slightly damp with sweat.

Sure enough, Jiang Ming stiffened, taking a full step back to maintain a safe distance before looking up at Lin Qi and murmuring, “I’m fine.”

Lin Qi pressed her lips together helplessly. So, the female lead still couldn’t accept her touch?

Finally remembering they were in the midst of an inexplicable cold war, Lin Qi scratched her head. Her long legs carried her off the stage in one leap, and she climbed back up with water and tissues. “Here, for you.”

“Why do you” Why are you so nice to me?

Before Jiang Ming could finish, a bottle of water already uncapped, was shoved into her hands. Lin Qi beamed, her eyes bright and warm. “Before coming here, I looked it up group dances take tons of takes. So I prepared water and tissues. Pretty smart, huh?”

Completely missing the point.

Jiang Ming was indeed thirsty. She took a big gulp from the water bottle, her wariness fading slightly. So Lin Qi had misunderstood her words as “Why did you prepare these?” Now that this person wasn’t as bad as before, she seemed a bit silly adorably so.

The scent of lavender from the tissue brushed against her forehead, its soft texture gliding from her brow to the tip of her nose before gently wiping the back of her neck. Jiang Ming froze in place, her body trembling faintly. Even through the double-folded tissue, she could almost feel the warmth of Lin Qi’s fingers.

Especially when the tissue grazed the nape of her neck. Though she hadn’t presented and had no scent glands, Jiang Ming’s heart still raced uncontrollably. Her throat tightened, letting out only a couple of soft, muffled whimpers.

Her first instinct should have been to push away this person who had crossed personal boundaries. Yet, her body seemed to crave this rare, utterly harmless tenderness. Torn between reason and emotion, Jiang Ming allowed Lin Qi to touch the most intimate spot one reserved only for the closest of people.

A fleeting thought even crossed her mind: If I had scent glands right now, how would this gentle touch feel?

Lin Qi couldn’t miss the slight tremors in the body beneath her hands. Hurriedly finishing wiping the sweat from Jiang Ming’s bowed head, she noticed how flushed the girl had become. She then casually dabbed at her own face with the same tissue.

Just as she was about to break the silence, Jiang Ming snatched the tissue from her hand, turning her face away to avoid eye contact. “Y-you… use a new one,” she muttered.

The ear facing Lin Qi was already burning red.

Is the female lead really this easily flustered? It’s just wiping sweat.

Amused by how unexpectedly cute it was, Lin Qi nodded. After a brief hesitation, she finally asked, “Jiang Ming, I’m not interrogating you, I just really want to know, why were you avoiding me today?”