Transmigrated into the Villainous Scummy Alpha in a Talent Show Novel - Chapter 38

After lunch, Lin Qi and Jiang Ming boarded the program’s arranged car. With just the two of them inside, they couldn’t help but wonder who the other three CP pairings were.

The moment they stepped out of the car, Lin Qi was met with a bear hug from Tan Yi, only to feel instant disappointment. Why is this person here too?

Then, with a quick glance, she noticed Tan Yi’s partner was actually Wei Xuanyue. The sweet-faced girl shot Tan Yi a look of obvious disdain, and Lin Qi couldn’t help but laugh unkindly.

“Tan Yi, get your ass back here.”

“Hmph! Weren’t you the one saying in the car that you didn’t want to be my partner? Well, I don’t want to be yours either!”

“Tan. Yi.”

Wei Xuanyue enunciated each syllable sharply. Despite her sweet, doll-like appearance, her expression was murderous. Seeing this, Tan Yi immediately caved, raising her hands in surrender as she obediently returned to her side. “I was wrong.”

Shaking her head at the sight of this bickering couple, Lin Qi greeted the remaining four contestants. Though they were mostly unfamiliar trainees, she still made sure to maintain polite appearances.

Music suddenly blared as the show’s six resident MCs made their entrance. They were even more attractive in person than they had seemed on-screen last night.

But, why the hell is An Zizi here?!

Noticing Lin Qi’s confusion, An Zizi curled her lips into a smile, though there was something deeper in her expression. “Sister Bai isn’t feeling well, so I’m filling in for her today. Long time no see, students.”

Lin Qi forced an awkward laugh and played along for the show’s sake. “Not that long just since lunch.”

So that’s why An Zizi didn’t question why I showed up to training dressed like this this morning. And why she, a dance instructor, came to class in a suit. She was waiting for me here all along.

“Trainees who lose today’s game won’t get Labor Day off.”

The resident MCs burst into laughter at this, while the eight trainees collectively groaned. Tomorrow was Labor Day a three-day holiday. Sure, they’d probably train on their own anyway, but who didn’t love a break?

They had thought coming to film a variety show was a lucky perk, but now it seemed they’d walked right into trouble.

After some casual chatting, the director picked up a megaphone. “First, let’s welcome our eight trainees to the show!”

A round of applause followed before the PD continued, “Today, we’ll split into two teams: the Resident MC Team and the Trainee Team. But since the numbers aren’t equal, the Resident MC Team will have one undercover member, while the Trainee Team will have two. That way, it’ll be a fair seven-versus-seven battle.”

One of the younger, livelier MCs, Gu Nian’er, grinned and pointed at An Zizi. “Isn’t the undercover role already obvious?”

An Zizi merely smiled. “Even if I were undercover, I wouldn’t help the Trainee Team. I’d prefer they all train hard over the holiday.”

Suddenly remembering something, Tan Yi raised her hand. “Director, when you say ‘fair,’ does that mean the two teams are evenly matched in ability?”

The PD nodded.

“Then isn’t it obvious?” Tan Yi said. “The MC Team is full of seasoned uh, I mean, mature and steady adults. So on our side, whoever has the best stamina must be the undercover. Lin Qi, admit it’s you, isn’t it?”

Surprisingly, Wei Xuanyue actually sided with Tan Yi this time, eyeing Lin Qi suspiciously. “Yeah, Xiao Qi, you’ve got the best endurance here. You have to be undercover. Otherwise, how would those ‘mature and steady’ MCs stand a chance?”

Gu Nian’er wore a look of amused exasperation. “You could say they’re mature and steady, but I’m in the same age group as you all.”

At this, Cheng Wu, the oldest among them, couldn’t take it anymore. His anger deepened the lines on his face, and his beard quivered. “Gu Nian’er, you’re the mole, aren’t you?”

The fourteen of them began to suspect each other. The director cleared his throat helplessly and raised his megaphone. “I haven’t even handed out the roles yet.”

Everyone fell silent, staring speechlessly at the PD. Meanwhile, Lin Qi, who was under suspicion by four or five people, shrugged. “I told you I’m not the mole.”

As they went one by one to the director to receive their roles, Jiang Ming leaned closer to Lin Qi, her beautiful fox-like eyes filled with confusion. “What’s a mole? I didn’t understand the rules the director explained.”

Lin Qi’s gaze inadvertently lingered on the sight of Jiang Ming’s rosy lips before she looked away. “A mole is someone who works for the opposing team while pretending to be on your side. The PD means that two of the eight people on our team are actually working for the MC team, they’ll sabotage us to prevent us from winning. Meanwhile, there’s one mole from our team planted in the MC team. Does that make sense?”

“Lin Qi, come up and get your role.”

“Okay.”

Seeing Jiang Ming nod, Lin Qi felt reassured. But when she reached the director and saw his mischievous grin, she realized, she really was the mole.

“You’re the mole planted in the trainee team. Protect your identity and sabotage their mission.”

“Then who’s my other teammate?”

“You don’t get to know that.”

Lin Qi’s eyes widened in disbelief, and her head throbbed. “The two moles don’t even know each other? That’s not fair. What if we end up working against each other?”

“Not our problem. I don’t have to train on Labor Day.”

“Fine, you win.”

Turning around, she wiped the pained expression off her face and walked back calmly, pretending to be annoyed and playing the part of someone without a role.

“Jiang Ming, come get your role.”

Looking up, Lin Qi noticed that those who had already received their roles returned with deep frowns, seemingly baffled. It would be easy to cast suspicion on Jiang Ming now, but this was Jiang Ming after all.

Just because Lin Qi wouldn’t do it didn’t mean others wouldn’t. Tan Yi also noticed Jiang Ming’s confusion and teased, “Don’t you know what a mole is?”

Jiang Ming shook her head nervously. “No, I know. Lin Qi just explained it to me.”

Clearly unused to recording a show with scripted mystery elements, Jiang Ming struggled to adapt. The moment she was doubted, she rushed to explain. Unable to bear seeing her misunderstood, Lin Qi nodded in agreement. “Yeah, she just asked me. She definitely knows what a mole is.”

“Got it. Two wolves, right?”

Lin Qi rubbed her temples helplessly. “Could you not be so simple-minded?”

“Then why are you defending Jiang Ming so much?”

Shrugging nonchalantly, Lin Qi replied with utter frankness, “Because I like Jiang Ming. Should I be defending you instead?”

Tan Yi wisely dropped the subject, winking at Wei Xuanyue as if completing some mission.

Meanwhile, Jiang Ming, who had heard Lin Qi’s words, lowered her head without speaking. The fair, translucent skin of her face, previously creased with confusion and pursed lips, was now tinged with a faint blush.

She also realized that the statement might be ambiguous, but upon reflection, her expression seemed indifferent surely the audience would interpret it as friendship, right?

As for what Jiang Ming understood, Lin Qi truly didn’t care. In fact, she even hoped her hidden feelings would be discovered. After kissing the female lead yesterday, she found Song En even more unbearable. How could she let go of someone so sweet and wonderful?

To the shippers, her earlier words were pure sugar. Lin Qi’s goal of boosting Jiang Ming’s popularity by fueling the ship had been achieved, so she didn’t bother explaining further. Instead, she pulled the still-bowed head of the other girl aside, saying, “Let’s stay away from the fool, or we might catch their stupidity.”

When Tan Yi returned to Wei Xuanyue’s side, she was practically preening like a smug husky. “See? One of me is worth two of anyone else. I got Lin Qi to admit her feelings in no time.”

Hearing this, Wei Xuanyue frowned thoughtfully. “No, Xiao Qi’s expression was too calm, she seemed completely unfazed by that ‘like.’ What if she doesn’t actually like Jiang Jiang? Wouldn’t that make Jiang Jiang really sad?”

“Ah, no way. Jiang Ming is so pretty, talented, hardworking, and adorable. If I were Lin Qi, I’d be hugging and kissing Jiang Ming right now.”

The more she listened, the more “kindly” Wei Xuanyue smiled. “You’d be hugging and kissing who now?”

“No! It’s just an example, just an example! Obviously, it’d be Lin Qi hugging and kissing Jiang Ming!”

“Keep pushing. We have to make Xiao Qi admit she likes Jiang Jiang!”

Unaware of Tan Yi and Wei Xuanyue’s scheming, Lin Qi was still happily chatting with Jiang Ming, waiting for the director to cue the next segment.

Dressed in the white-and-pink sportswear provided by the show, with the long-awaited name tag stuck to her back, Lin Qi rode in the same car as Jiang Ming to the mission site.

Along the way, Lin Qi recalled the confusion on Jiang Ming’s face when she returned and asked eagerly, “Are you the undercover agent?”

“I’m not.”

“Then why did you look so lost when you came back? Was there something you didn’t understand?”

Jiang Ming lifted her head and studied Lin Qi seriously before asking, “Are you the undercover agent?”

Lin Qi’s heart skipped a beat. After a dazed pause, she forced out an awkward laugh. “Of course not.”

As she spoke, she subconsciously rubbed the tip of her nose.

“You’re lying. You are the undercover agent, aren’t you?”

“Huh? Why would I lie? I’m really not the undercover agent. I’m innocent, really I’m innocent.”

Lin Qi had never been good at lying. Aside from successfully tricking her doting mom about having no signal, she had never managed to deceive anyone else, whether in Werewolf or scripted murder mysteries. The only person she’d ever fooled was herself.

Repeating her weak denials a few more times, Lin Qi finally stopped her babbling, pressed her lips together, and gave up. “Fine, I’m the undercover agent. But don’t tell anyone, okay?”

Seeing her dejected expression, Jiang Ming smiled and took her hand. “I’m the undercover agent too.”

“Huh?”

From despair to delight, Lin Qi hadn’t expected her wish to come true. Jiang Ming was actually her teammate?

Having someone you like by your side during a solo mission was just the best feeling ever.

“Then why did you look so lost earlier? Didn’t you understand the undercover agent’s role?”

“Because I have a secret mission.”

“Do you have a secret mission? What is it? Can you tell me?”

Jiang Ming stuck out her tongue playfully and smiled sheepishly. “I didn’t quite understand what the director meant. I’ll ask him again later.”

“Since you’re my teammate now, I feel relieved.”

“Relieved about what?”

“Relieved that I won’t feel guilty about you. I don’t want to lie to you.”

“That’s because you can’t fool me, okay? You’re terrible at lying.”

The two chatted and laughed the whole way in the car, from undercover missions to the stage of the second performance. Lin Qi even helped Jiang Ming brainstorm the arrangement for the song.

Inside an agricultural garden.

Staring at the half-meter-high platform and the sea of acupressure mats below, like bamboo shoots after rain Lin Qi felt another headache coming on. And her feet ached just thinking about it. How much would it hurt if she fell?

“Alright, next up is our first game testing teamwork. We’ll randomly pick a topic, and each team will send one person to wear headphones. The rest of the team will describe words within the given category. After one minute, the person with the headphones will take them off and start guessing words within the same category. If they say a word that hasn’t been mentioned yet, the whole team falls. The team with the most overlapping words wins.”

The eight trainees gathered around the bamboo shoot mats. Wei Xuanyue pressed her hand down to test them, and her expression instantly twisted into something comical. “No way, falling here would be deadly.”

A more composed trainee asked, “Who should we send to guess?”

Lin Qi glanced around at everyone’s expressions. “How about, me?”

The first to object was Tan Yi, who patted Lin Qi’s shoulder with a knowing look. “You just don’t want to feel these acupressure mats. No way. I volunteer, I scored 130 in Chinese back in high school.”

Wow, now we’re flexing academic scores in the entertainment industry.

Lin Qi actually had great grades too, but she was lopsided, stellar in math, terrible in Chinese. Once, she’d even been pulled out of Chinese class while serving detention to explain problem-solving methods in another math class.

“Alright, the trainee team sends Tan Yi to guess, and the MC team sends Gu Nian’er. Next, Tan Yi, please put on the headphones. The category is: What is the person you like like? One-minute countdown begin.”