Transmigrated into the Villainous Scummy Alpha in a Talent Show Novel - Chapter 16

“What do you mean, a burden? You’re overthinking it. I genuinely want to challenge myself with this song.”

“Challenge?”

Switching to Japanese, Lin Qi gently took hold of Jiang Ming’s tightly clenched fist, her voice laced with concern. “A challenge. Don’t you also think this song doesn’t suit me? I just want to show the audience that I can pull off this style too.”

With that, she carefully pried open Jiang Ming’s fingers, her thumb soothing the crescent-shaped marks left by her nails on Jiang Ming’s palm. Lowering her head, Lin Qi put on a deliberately melancholic expression. “Don’t you think I look good when I’m sad?”

The playful remark coaxed a faint smile from the red-eyed “little white rabbit.” Flustered by the intimate gesture, Jiang Ming pulled her hand away, her cheeks burning and her heart racing, as if even the tips of her emotions were scorching hot. “You’re so vain.”

“You must not have seen me clearly! Take another look.”

Hurrying to sit on a nearby bench, Lin Qi propped her chin on one hand, her gaze fixed on the ground as she tried to exude an air of desolation. After all, she was an idol who had undergone professional acting training, her performance carried a hint of genuine emotion.

“So? Don’t I look good?”

But the sight of her like this made Jiang Ming freeze for a moment.

Lin Qi had always been cheerful around her, as if nothing could ever trouble or weigh her down, she was like a radiant little sun, warm and bright.

Yet this lonely, furrowed-brow expression reminded Jiang Ming that ever since Lin Qi had changed, she had been nothing but a burden to her.

Bringing her meals, carrying her back to the dorm, teaching her Chinese, helping her with dance practice…

She had always been deadweight. Did Lin Qi ever look this dejected when she wasn’t around? Did she secretly feel exhausted by her constant reliance?

The thought took root in Jiang Ming’s heart like bamboo shoots after rain, growing uncontrollably. A sharp pang struck her chest, and she recalled Lin Qi’s words before song selection: “If there’s a song you like later, just tell me.”

So this wasn’t about challenging herself at all, Lin Qi had chosen this completely unsuitable ballad purely for her sake.

Trembling faintly, Jiang Ming spiraled into self-reproach and overthinking, too lost to respond to Lin Qi’s question.

When no reply came after a long while, Lin Qi finally looked up, only to meet Jiang Ming’s dull, lifeless eyes. The confusion and helplessness in those fox-like eyes stabbed at her already tender heart.

“Jiang Ming? What’s wrong? Even if I don’t look good, you don’t have to make that face.”

“It’s not that…” You’re beautiful.

Walking over, Lin Qi gazed down at the distracted girl with concern before wrapping her arms around her shoulders. “Jiang Ming? What’s upsetting you? Can you tell me?”

She had thought she’d already earned the protagonist’s trust, but Jiang Ming merely glanced up at her before shaking her head. “It’s nothing. Let’s go eat.”

Just let it be. Don’t push her anymore. If this went on, her fragile self-esteem would crumble once again. Unlike before, when she had chosen to leave upon realizing she was a burden, Jiang Ming now just wanted to avoid the topic altogether.

Burden or not, as long as she didn’t dwell on it, she could keep living as she always had.

After all, it had been far too long since she had encountered someone so warm. Ever since her father was imprisoned and her mother committed suicide, Jiang Ming had withdrawn from human interaction. The four years in the psychiatric hospital only deepened the silence of an already reticent person, making her even more withdrawn and indifferent.

Lin Qi, after her transformation, was the first person to approach her with genuine kindness, devoid of any malice. And for that, Jiang Ming was willing to open her heart.

So, let it be this way. Pretending not to know would allow things to continue as they were.

The two of them finished lunch in an oddly tense atmosphere. Jiang Ming, once again, had only salad. Lin Qi didn’t say anything like, “Why don’t you try something else?” because her intuition told her that the female lead’s mood was off.

It was like a bowstring stretched to its limit, maintaining a fragile balance, but the slightest additional force would snap it.

They returned to the academic building in silence. In the afternoon, they had vocal lessons. Lin Qi glanced at Jiang Ming, who was walking beside her with her head lowered, and let out a very soft sigh. Though her emotional intelligence wasn’t low, she truly couldn’t grasp what the female lead was thinking right now.

Why had she suddenly become unhappy?

At this moment, Lin Qi wished she had been transmigrated into this novel with some kind of special ability, like mind-reading so she wouldn’t be stuck in this hellish difficulty. How was she supposed to know what the female lead was thinking? She wasn’t the official love interest, Song En.

“Jiang Ming, it’s understandable if you’re in a bad mood, but remember not to let it affect class. The first public performance is really important.”

“Mm.”

Once again, the conversation died. Lin Qi pursed her lips and sat down against the wall, her exhausted reflection staring back at her from the mirror.

Back to square one, haha.

The team members soon arrived, gathering around Lin Qi in a circle. Tan Yi, who knew her, was bold enough to tease the currently dispirited girl. “Captain, are you already practicing your expressions for this song?”

Lin Qi looked up with a smile. “Yeah, how’s my brooding look? Pretty convincing, right?”

They were all around twenty years old youthful, lively, and full of energy. The eight of them laughed and joked, and though they weren’t very familiar with each other, a few words were enough to bridge the gap, and soon they were all in high spirits.

But Jiang Ming stayed far away from them.

Midway through the conversation, Lin Qi realized the most important person was missing. She looked toward Jiang Ming, who was sitting in another corner, and the smile faded from her face. She walked over, took the despondent girl’s hand, and led her to the group. “Let me introduce you. This is Tan Yi, you know her. She was originally from Class C and is now in Class B, just like you. And this is…”

After introducing everyone one by one, Lin Qi looked at the group sitting in a loose semicircle, still somewhat awkward. “Jiang Ming, why don’t you introduce yourself?”

“Hello, my name is Jiang Ming.”

With just that one sentence, Jiang Ming sat down beside Lin Qi with a calm expression, keeping a noticeable distance from the person next to her, as if afraid of being touched.

As expected, the female lead still wasn’t comfortable in crowded places.

Seeing that the other seven team members were still a bit reserved, Lin Qi put on a bright smile and explained on Jiang Ming’s behalf. “Jiang Ming is quite introverted, and her Chinese isn’t very good yet, so there might be some barriers. But don’t worry, I’m sure we’ll all become friends soon.”

Jiang Ming, who had only understood half of what was said, looked up at Lin Qi, who was still standing. A faint mist gradually welled up in her eyes. She rested her head on her knees, curling up like a frightened hedgehog, and upon closer inspection, she was even trembling slightly.

She always seemed to bring nothing but trouble to Lin Qi.

If Lin Qi’s teammate weren’t her, everyone would probably be mingling and having fun by now, why would the atmosphere be so stifling otherwise?

A tear trailed down her cheek and fell onto the pitch-black sweatpants, vanishing almost instantly. Only the redness around her eyes betrayed its existence.

Jiang Ming was heartbroken. She had rehearsed her self-introduction, but the sight of Lin Qi laughing so freely with others had left her mind blank. All that came out was a stiff, “Hello, my name is Jiang Ming.”

Lin Qi had noticed Jiang Ming’s distress, but she couldn’t comfort her now. The girl’s terse introduction had already made the mood awkward enough. If others saw her crying, who knew what they’d think?

At best, they might find Jiang Ming’s tearful demeanor delicate and beautiful.

At worst, any number of labels could surface oversensitive, crybaby, or even deadweight.

Lin Qi didn’t want that to be Jiang Ming’s first impression on the other contestants.

Fortunately, the instructor soon walked in. She glanced at the circle of people and smiled. “Have you all listened to the song yet? Team leader, play it for everyone.”

Perfect timing. Lin Qi pressed her lips together and quickly turned on the speakers. The melancholic prelude of rolling waves gradually filled the room, and she turned up the volume until everyone was immersed in the sorrowful melody. Only then did she relax.

She glanced at Jiang Ming, who had her eyes closed, listening intently, and didn’t disturb her.

When the song ended, everyone snapped out of their reverie. Lin Qi feigned surprise. “Jiang Ming, did the song make you cry?”

All eyes turned to Jiang Ming, whose eyes were still red-rimmed. She looked at Lin Qi, who winked at her, and swallowed hard. Grateful but flustered, she stammered, “This song… is very sad.”

The instructor nodded approvingly. “You have strong emotional resonance. Let’s listen a few more times. Once you’ve memorized the melody, each of you will sing it for me, and I’ll assign the parts.”

Relieved, Lin Qi scooted closer to Jiang Ming and repeated the instructor’s words in Japanese, terms like “emotional resonance” were still too advanced for the girl.

Jiang Ming nodded. The warm breath carrying a hint of rose scent brushed against her ear, turning her neck crimson. She leaned away slightly, her damp eyes fixed earnestly on Lin Qi. “Thank you… for earlier.”

Lin Qi, however, smirked unrepentantly at the sight of Jiang Ming’s flushed earlobes. This girl was so easily flustere and all she’d done was lean in to talk.

She reached out and rubbed Jiang Ming’s knee twice. Though the fabric showed no trace, the dampness under her fingers didn’t lie. Under the guise of translating, Lin Qi closed the distance that the shy kitten had just put between them. “Why were you crying? Is it because you’re not used to so many people? Or do you feel like you can’t fit in?”

Without waiting for an answer, she continued, “If it’s the crowd, just pretend it’s only you and me here don’t be so nervous. If you’re worried about fitting in, don’t be. You’re amazing talented, adorable, and gorgeous. Everyone will love you. Look at me, I’m picky, and even I like you a lot.”

Like?

Her heartbeat grew increasingly loud, drowning out the melody of The Listener. Jiang Ming’s mind was consumed by Lin Qi’s words on repeat: “Even someone as picky as me likes you a lot.”

The emotions she had never been able to sort out before now felt like a kite finally within her grasp, one she had only ever seen as a distant, shifting pattern in the sky. This time, it was as if she held the string in her hand.

Yet she didn’t dare look too closely. Like a timid kitten, she couldn’t tell whether the kite carried the warmth of the sun or the fury of a storm.

Author’s Note:

Just so you know, any typos are because of Xiao Jiang’s accent, they’re not actual mistakes!

I’ve decided to drop a little spoiler and share some character introductions, since so many names haven’t appeared yet:

An Zizi: The ex-girlfriend of the original host, and a surprise mentor for the first performance round.

Xia Lian: The center of last season’s girl group survival show, and Lin Qi’s guest performer for the mentor collaboration stage.

Pei Zhirong: The female lead paired with Lin Qi in her debut drama.