Transmigrated into the Villainous Scummy Alpha in a Talent Show Novel - Chapter 14.2

As expected, silence followed. Just when Lin Qi thought Jiang Ming wouldn’t answer, the shy, sensitive girl lowered her head like a kitten covering its ears to steal a bell, her voice barely louder than a whisper. “I wasn’t.”

“You weren’t? You didn’t talk to me during meals, and you avoided my gaze when we were moving up in ranks. Did I do something wrong?”

“You’re imagining things.”

Before Lin Qi could argue further, the host suddenly called for all contestants to return to their positions the D-rank trainee had returned. With no other choice, Lin Qi dashed back to her own high platform, only to see Wei Xuanyue beside her wearing an I knew it expression.

Oh right… I kinda forgot about her.

Ouch.

“Am I the same as Jiang Ming now? I get it only the new love gets the smiles, while the old love is left to cry.”

Lin Qi had no defense. After all, she had immediately rushed to Jiang Ming’s side like an eager lackey the moment break started.

“Jiang Ming’s stamina isn’t as good as yours. I was worried she’d get dehydrated.”

The excuse sounded noble, but Wei Xuanyue’s Yeah, right look said it all. Lin Qi sighed, resigning herself to the teasing. She was innocent, after all, she didn’t like Jiang Ming.

Besides, what good would liking her do?

The female lead wouldn’t even tell her why she was being avoided.

Transforming inexplicable negative emotions into motivation, Lin Qi grew more resilient with each setback, becoming increasingly eye-catching during the recording of the group dance for the theme song. After a break, everyone seemed to be in much better shape. Finally, after the ninety-eighth take, the show’s producer smiled and clapped, delivering the words the trainees most wanted to hear: “Everyone did great. Today’s recording is officially over.”

As soon as the words were spoken, several trainees who had reached their physical limits collapsed onto the floor. Lin Qi wasn’t faring much better either. She stretched her sore shoulders and legs, only to notice chaos unfolding in the Class B group below about a dozen people huddled around someone in the middle, all looking lost and unsure.

What was going on?

After scanning the crowd and failing to spot Jiang Ming, she caught a glimpse of someone lying on the ground through the gaps between people. Lin Qi dashed over without hesitation, for once abandoning politeness as she pushed through the bystanders to see who it was.

Pale-faced, eyes tightly shut, even her delicate brows faintly furrowed as if she lacked the strength to fully tense them, her breathing was short and rapid. Jiang Ming had pushed herself to exhaustion.

Lin Qi glanced at Wei Xuanyue, who had followed her, and made a quick decision. “Xuanyue, help me lift Jiang Ming. I’ll carry her back to the dorm.”

“Got it!”

Working together, Lin Qi crouched halfway while Wei Xuanyue supported Jiang Ming, carefully transferring her onto Lin Qi’s back. She then hooked her arms under Jiang Ming’s limp legs to secure the unconscious girl in place.

“Lin Qi, are you okay?”

After nearly a hundred takes, Wei Xuanyue was also drained. She could see Lin Qi’s arms trembling slightly and couldn’t help but ask with concern. If necessary, she could still lend a hand.

“I’m fine. You go back and rest first.”

Though Lin Qi was indeed running on fumes, an inexplicable conviction kept her going. She was carrying Jiang Ming, she couldn’t afford to collapse.

Summoning the last of her strength, Lin Qi carried Jiang Ming out of the training building. Night had already fallen, and the cool evening breeze brushed against them, dispelling the heat and lending some much-needed energy to her exhausted body.

Lin Qi didn’t notice that the person on her back had woken up from the gentle caress of the wind.

The arms looped around her neck tightened slightly. Lin Qi assumed it was just an unconscious reflex and chuckled softly, thinking her words wouldn’t be heard. “Seriously, you only stop avoiding me when you’re unconscious.”

She sighed. “Well, it makes sense. Before I came, you were bullied by that person for so long. Being cautious is good.”

“What are you talking about?”

Hiss, Jiang Ming was awake?!

Lin Qi stiffened, her grip on Jiang Ming’s thighs tightening involuntarily. She forced an awkward laugh, her mind racing for an excuse.

“Don’t even think about lying to me.”

Japanese! Jiang Ming was speaking Japanese!

Relief washed over Lin Qi, and she nearly laughed at herself. She had been muttering in Chinese, there was no way Jiang Ming could have understood.

But why did she feel a pang of disappointment?

She wanted Jiang Ming to know she wasn’t the one who had bullied her. She wanted her to be closer, more open.

“I said, you only stop avoiding me when you’re unconscious. Seriously, why do you keep dodging me?”

Gathering her courage to bring up the topic again, Lin Qi braced herself for another vague deflection. But then, she felt something warm and soft brush against the back of her neck it was… Jiang Ming’s cheek!

The soft little kitten pressed close to the back of her neck, as if wholly dependent, its voice by her ear sweet and tender, “Will you still bully me?”

“No! Jiang Ming, believe me, I really won’t bully you anymore. I’ll only treat you better and better!”

“Then I won’t hide from you anymore.”

It felt like fireworks were exploding in her heart. Lin Qi’s smile widened had she successfully melted a block of ice?

Yet even as joy surged, a dense ache welled up inside her. As a devoted fan of the novel, Lin Qi could almost imagine Jiang Ming’s inner turmoil. Hiding was just fear that after baring her heart, she’d be abandoned again.

The journey was silent. Jiang Ming lifted her head, glancing at the smooth nape below her gaze no differentiation, no scent gland. The kitten recalled the tingling sensation when the back of her own neck had been touched, the shyness that made her soul tremble. Defiant as ever, the little kitten pressed her cheek against it once more.

She couldn’t be the only one thrown into chaos, could she?