Transmigrated into the Villainous Scummy Alpha in a Talent Show Novel - Chapter 54

Another day passed, and with just two days left until the third performance, Lin Qi was summoned to the plaza by a call from Song En. There were eight other trainees present as well. Lin Qi took a careful look, if she remembered correctly, these were the top nine from the first ranking announcement.

“Lin Qi, you’re here.”

Unsure how to respond to Song En’s remark, which made her feel like the special one, Lin Qi simply nodded and waited for her instructions.

“Here’s the thing. You nine were the top-ranked trainees in the last announcement, and we made a promise back then. Your seniors their disbandment concert is tomorrow night. To symbolize the passing of the torch, the production team has arranged for you to perform as their backup dancers tomorrow night.”

“Do any of you have objections?”

Objecting to an external gig wasn’t really an option after all, it was a chance for exposure. But their seniors…

That demoness, Xia Lian.

A headache loomed, but the other eight trainees were already happily shaking their heads and waving their hands to show they had no issues. Lin Qi forced an awkward laugh and said, “Sure.”

Then, as if suddenly remembering something, Lin Qi asked eagerly, “Director Song, how will the pairings work for the nine of us?”

Judging by her tone alone, one might think she was excited to be paired with Xia Lian, completely missing the troubled expression she’d worn earlier. Song En nodded. “By ranking. Don’t worry, you’ll be with Xia Lian.”

Don’t worry?

More like panic!

“Director Song, which song will we be performing together?”

“Drunk. You can borrow a phone from the instructors to listen to it first. Tonight, a shuttle will pick you up from the dorm to take you to dance practice. Rehearsals will probably go until dawn, so you won’t return tonight. You’ll stay at a hotel and sleep until tomorrow evening for the disbandment concert.”

Once it was clear there was nothing else to discuss, Lin Qi was the first to leave. Honestly, the title Drunk piqued her interest. As someone who loved singing and dancing, if there was a great piece to interpret, maybe Xia Lian wouldn’t matter so much after all.

Returning to the First Love team’s practice room, the first thing she saw was Jiang Ming’s curious yet worried gaze, probably afraid Song En had gone back on her word and targeted Lin Qi again.

Lin Qi gave her a reassuring smile and sat in the empty spot Jiang Ming had saved for her. Leaning close to her ear, she whispered, “Don’t worry, Nuonuo. It’s nothing serious. Just an external gig tonight, I’ll be a backup dancer for our seniors.”

Jiang Ming was already regretting telling this person her nickname. That deep voice of hers, why did it sound so tender when calling her name?

Like reciting the sweetest love words, unsure whether the path ahead led to thorns and abysses or daydreams, Jiang Ming found herself intoxicated, meeting the perfect lover of her dreams.

But, seniors?

“Are you dancing for Senior Xia?”

Even a little white rabbit could have a bite. Jiang Ming snapped out of her thoughts, frowned, and made her displeasure obvious.

Already about 80% certain of the little rabbit’s feelings, Lin Qi was delighted by her jealousy and replied cheerfully, “The pairings are by ranking. I was first last time, so I’m with Senior Xia.”

Sour bubbles surged in Jiang Ming’s heart. She let out a soft hum, her tone laced with sarcasm. “Seems like you’re pretty happy about it.”

Misunderstood about her emotions and unable to explain that she was happy because she saw Jiang Ming getting jealous, Lin Qi suppressed the smile at the corners of her lips, struggling to maintain a neutral expression. Yet her peach-blossom eyes still curved like crescent moons. “Ahem, I wasn’t happy about being Senior Xia’s dance partner.”

Jiang Ming’s gaze turned cold as she pulled away, no longer whispering into Lin Qi’s ear, her face clearly saying, “Do you really think I believe that?”

Ugh, she really wasn’t laughing like that because of Xia Lian!

Realizing she might have teased her little white rabbit a bit too much, and now the other girl was angry, occasionally glaring at her with eyes red from frustration.

Ahem, this pouting expression was kind of adorable. Lin Qi covered her mouth as if to hide her smile, then lowered her head, revealing only the top of her thick, dark hair.

Seeing this, Jiang Ming grew even angrier. She smacked Lin Qi’s head, flustered and annoyed. “What are you laughing at?”

No longer hiding, Lin Qi raised her head, revealing those affectionate peach-blossom eyes. She looked seriously at the sulky little white rabbit who had her arms crossed, her low voice gentle and seductive. “I’m laughing because you’re cute.”

“What cute? Who’s cute? You’re the cute one!”

Blushing furiously, Jiang Ming couldn’t bring herself to meet Lin Qi’s gaze. There seemed to be emotions she longed for in those eyes, yet they were too unclear to decipher. She could only struggle to break free, refusing to drown in those mesmerizing, affectionate eyes.

Chuckling softly, Lin Qi scooted closer. “I’m not cute. Nuonuo is cute.”

“You!”

Reaching out to pat Jiang Ming’s head, Lin Qi noted how soft and smooth her pink hair was, like fine satin. Smiling, she let her hand linger, gently ruffling her hair as if to coax her.

Jiang Ming didn’t want to admit it, but having her head patted felt incredibly soothing. First red with anger, now flushed with embarrassment, she ducked her head like an ostrich, inadvertently giving Lin Qi even easier access to ruffle her hair.

It felt like petting her own beautiful Ragdoll cat. Unable to resist, Lin Qi gave her head a couple more affectionate strokes, her voice tender and sincere. “I was wrong. I laughed earlier because I felt like you cared about me, and that made me happy. It wasn’t because of Senior Xia.”

Almost instantly, the girl beside her turned pink from her ears down, matching her hair color. Flustered, she snapped, “Who cares about you!”

But her actions betrayed her words. Overwhelmed, the little white rabbit fled, running to Wei Xuanyue, who had been watching the scene unfold, and pushed her forward, taking Wei Xuanyue’s original spot instead.

Suddenly thrust from bystander to mediator, Wei Xuanyue met Lin Qi’s amused gaze and protectively bumped her shoulder. “Stop bullying Jiang Jiang so much.”

Lin Qi only grew happier. After all, Wei Xuanyue only knew her as “Jiang Jiang,” while she alone got to call her “Nuonuo.” Smiling, she nodded and glanced at the little white rabbit who stubbornly refused to look at her but couldn’t hide her crimson ears. “Ahem, got it.”

She said she got it, but did she really mean it?

Lin Qi’s grin widened. She realized she really loved teasing Jiang Ming. The girl was soft and sweet, and when pushed too far, she’d only fluster and yell your name. A little coaxing, followed by another tease, would elicit even cuter reactions.

But going too far did come with consequences.

For the rest of the day, Lin Qi failed to get Jiang Ming to acknowledge her. Even when they returned to the dorm, Jiang Ming remained stubbornly glued to Wei Xuanyue’s side, to the point where Lin Qi felt a twinge of envy for Wei Xuanyue, who got to have her arm held so tightly.

Back in the dorm that night, the beta students’ rooms were located before theirs, so Jiang Ming soon lost her human shield. Seizing the opportunity, Lin Qi hurried forward, putting on a convincingly pitiful expression. “Nuonuo, please talk to me,” she pleaded.

Jiang Ming quickened her pace, still refusing to respond.

With a sigh, Lin Qi thought of the private car she had seen waiting outside the dorm earlier. Testing the waters, she said, “I’m leaving soon, and I won’t be back tonight. Are you really sure you don’t want to talk to me?”

A pause. Leaving so soon? And not coming back tonight…

Jiang Ming had already cooled off, but her pride was still bruised. Around Lin Qi, she always felt like the passive one. Lin Qi was silver-tongued, effortlessly weaving ambiguous words that left Jiang Ming both thrilled and terrified, only to retreat afterward, never offering any firm feelings or promises.

It was as if Jiang Ming were just a plaything for Lin Qi’s amusement.

Sure, Lin Qi hadn’t treated anyone else this way yet. But what about later?

Take Xia Lian, for example radiant, captivating, and clearly interested in Lin Qi. The hostility in her gaze back in the lounge still made Jiang Ming’s heart race whenever she remembered it.

Right now, Lin Qi seemed fascinated by Jiang Ming. But with her honeyed words and the cunning of a seasoned hunter, her sincerity was impossible to gauge. Jiang Ming oscillated between hope and fear, growing weary of the emotional toll.

She had never liked anyone before. With her heart already so battered, she had assumed she’d walk her path alone. She wasn’t even particularly reliant on Qi Xun, her only remaining family. Yet here she was, clinging to Lin Qi.

The thought of her leaving stung. And the fact that Lin Qi was going to dance as Xia Lian’s partner only made it worse. No matter how unhappy Jiang Ming felt, she couldn’t help but want to put on a brave face. After all, Senior Xia was stunningly beautiful. If Jiang Ming acted petty now…

She turned and threw her arms around Lin Qi, holding her tighter and tighter. Hiding her tear-reddened eyes against Lin Qi’s shoulder, she tried to speak but found her voice choked with emotion.

Instead, she only clung harder to Lin Qi’s slender yet strong waist. The lipstick on Jiang Ming’s lips left a faint mark on the white T-shirt Lin Qi had deliberately worn today. Before her tears could fall, Jiang Ming pulled away and hurried back to her room, shutting the door firmly behind her as if embarrassed, or perhaps afraid to watch the person she cared about walk away.

The more she looked, the more she stood to lose.

Leaning against the door, Jiang Ming caught her breath, her chest rising and falling unevenly. She wiped away the inexplicable tears, disgusted with how pathetic she had become.

Settling into the private car, with only the driver for company, Lin Qi finally had a moment to collect her thoughts. Something about Jiang Ming’s embrace felt deeper than mere reluctance.

Jiang Ming had held her so tightly, her hands trembling. Surely it wasn’t from anger?

Frowning in frustration, Lin Qi rested her head against the window, watching the flickering neon lights recede outside. Her mind replayed the embrace, the searing warmth, the soft press against her shoulder, the ragged breath she couldn’t quite place whispering in her ear,

With low emotional intelligence and completely unaware of Jiang Ming’s underlying inferiority complex in her presence, Lin Qi couldn’t decipher the girl’s complicated psychological state. She only sensed that the hug carried some unusual meaning.

Resting her head against the car seat, she realized the journey was still long, the navigation showed another hour to go. Closing her eyes in an attempt to sleep, Lin Qi found herself inexplicably recalling Jiang Ming’s nervous, rapid breathing by her ear. Normally a sound sleeper, she now lay wide awake.

Meanwhile, someone in the dormitory was also tossing and turning, equally sleepless.