Transmigrated into the Villainous Scummy Alpha in a Talent Show Novel - Chapter 82

Supporting Jiang Ming, who was moving somewhat unsteadily, Lin Qi helped her back to the dormitory and turned on the light. She let Jiang Ming sit on the soft bed first, though she had actually wanted to carry her back after all, aside from a slight soreness in her right hand, she was otherwise fine.

But the flustered and angry little kitten glared at her with no real intimidation and said, “Isn’t it embarrassing enough just being helped like this?”

First, Lin Qi busied herself pouring Jiang Ming a cup of hot water, then she sent her mom a text saying they had safely arrived at the camp. She patted her pants pocket, where a tube of emergency anti-inflammatory cream sat quietly.

Back at the hotel, when Jiang Ming had said she was going to take a shower, Lin Qi had seized the moment to slip downstairs to the hospital wearing a mask. Though she felt a little embarrassed, seeing her girlfriend struggling to walk had pained her deeply. Stammering, she bought the medication for that specific issue, only to realize she had left her phone in the dorm and couldn’t pay.

Left with no choice, she told the cashier she also wanted to buy cold medicine. While the clerk went to fetch it, Lin Qi quickly pulled down her mask to scan her face for payment, then bolted out like her life depended on it.

She had never been so mortified in her life.

Looking back, though, it was kind of funny. Knowing Jiang Ming would never agree to apply the cream, Lin Qi stuffed the hard-won medication into the drawer under the desk. After drinking some water to soothe her throat, she asked worriedly, “How are you? Still in a lot of pain? The production team wants us to go re-record the speeches for the first and second place announcements from the third ranking by 5 p.m.”

Her phone screen showed it was already 4:30 p.m.

After last night’s fan meeting, the production team had suddenly received news that the originally scheduled finals stage, set to take place during the college entrance exams could no longer proceed as planned. To avoid disturbing the examinees, it had to be moved up by three days, under the guise of giving them more study time. This effectively shortened the original 14-day countdown to just 10 days.

As a result, time was now critically tight. The other seven members had rushed back to film the third ranking announcements, leaving the first and second place spots empty for Lin Qi and Jiang Ming to fill in their speeches that afternoon.

Jiang Ming’s face, which had just regained some of its usual paleness, flushed red again. She tentatively stood up though the area still felt a bit raw, it no longer hindered her walking. Biting her lower lip, she said softly, “It’s fine. Let’s go.”

Walking ahead on her own, already feeling humiliated enough, she refused Lin Qi’s offer to support her. But to the observer behind her, her gait still seemed slightly unnatural.

Fortunately, the production team had prepared two outfits for her, both essentially the same a blue and white short-sleeved shirt paired with loose black sweatpants. The oversized fit, already roomy on most, looked even more exaggerated on Jiang Ming’s slender frame, but it suited her current discomfort well.

She knocked on the door of the recording room where the rankings were to be announced. A director was already waiting for them inside. Lin Qi brushed her hair back and smiled sheepishly at the camera in front of her.

“During yesterday’s recording, I was resting outside, and I ended up making Jiang Ming take care of me too. First of all, thank you to the fans for voting me into first place. I really didn’t expect this result when I came here. To deserve your love, I’ll give my all for the final stage performance, but I won’t push myself to the point of ending up in the hospital again, so don’t worry about me. I’m doing great, and I hope you all are too. Love you!”

When she finished recording and returned to Jiang Ming’s side, the little white rabbit bumped her arm lightly and huffed, “You sure love a lot of people, huh?”

It was just a normal response to fans, Jiang Ming wasn’t actually jealous. But now that they had established such an intimate relationship for the first time, her playful side made her want to act a little spoiled, just to hear this person coax her gently.

Understanding this girlish whim, Lin Qi didn’t find it annoying at all. On the contrary, she thought Jiang Ming’s deliberate pouting was utterly adorable. She ruffled her soft, fluffy hair and whispered, “But my favorite is the little wildcat who clung to me in bed last night, begging for more.”

“You, shut up!”

Stomping her foot, Jiang Ming recalled that it was indeed true. Once she had tasted the sweetness, even if her words resisted “Don’t, stop touching there” her body had clung tightly to Lin Qi, unwilling to let her go.

“I, I’m going to record my speech now!”

A single teasing remark was enough to send the usually bold kitten scurrying away. But it seemed she had accidentally tugged on a sore spot, as Jiang Ming paused mid-step before awkwardly making her way to the camera.

“Hello everyone, I’m Jiang Ming. During the emergency recording for the third ranking announcement last night, I was with Lin Qi the whole time. As you know, she ended up in the hospital yesterday, and I was worried something might happen to her.”

Though inwardly grumbling, “This troublemaker should just drop dead,” Jiang Ming’s expression gradually turned serious. “Thank you for your support. I know I’m far from perfect, I have many flaws. I’m introverted, easily shy, and don’t like putting myself out there. I don’t know why you like me, but I promise to work even harder and deliver better performances. I hope I can give you some strength, just like ”

Just like the faint light Lin Qi gave me.

She paused, then changed her words. “Just like the strength your love gives me.”

After finishing the additional recording for the third ranking announcement, Lin Qi and Jiang Ming were called to the plaza again via broadcast. From the host’s words, it seemed they would now be recording the song selections for the final night and deciding the solo performance directions, whether vocal or dance for the remaining eighteen trainees.

When they arrived at the plaza, compared to the packed seating from when Lin Qi first transmigrated into this world, the tiered steps, once divided by class colors, were now much emptier. Only the pink seats of Class A and the yellow seats of Class B still had people sitting in them.

They made their way to Wei Xuanyue and Tan Yi, sitting down quietly as they waited for the host to speak.

It was Tan Yi who couldn’t hold back first. She leaned close to Lin Qi’s ear and whispered, “You two ?”

“Huh?”

“Jiang Ming’s walking posture seems a bit ”

“You’re overthinking it.”

A calm remark shut Tan Yi up. Lin Qi propped her chin on one hand, occasionally casting worried glances at Jiang Ming.

“Hello, everyone. You are the final eighteen who made it. Congratulations in advance.”

Applause broke out. The program’s host glanced at Lin Qi with concern, but seeing her usual composure, his simple admiration for her talent settled his worries. Holding the script, he continued, “Next, we’ll proceed with song selection for the finale night. There are two songs, both brand-new works by renowned domestic lyricists and composers. You will be the original singers.”

The title of the first song appeared on the large screen opposite them Glimmer. As the demo played, it revealed a gentle melody, its lyrics broadly conveying the faint light fans had given them.

Honestly, the first time Lin Qi heard it, she already wanted to choose this song. The power of tenderness was always profound. Even someone who never cried at tearjerker movies found herself on the verge of tears at the first line.

Her chest warmed slightly, making the second song seem unremarkable in comparison.

Titled Brave, it suited her perfectly a bold, explosive dance track. But after performing similar styles so often, she was genuinely tired of it.

When it was time to choose, as the first-place contestant, Lin Qi walked without hesitation to stand beneath Glimmer. To her surprise, she had expected Jiang Ming to pick this song as well, given how well it matched her soft vocals. Yet Jiang Ming went to the Brave sign instead.

It seemed she was already embodying the song’s title before even starting rehearsals. Jiang Ming, who had never attempted a bold style before, was now bravely stepping out of her comfort zone, refusing to be confined to one genre.

In the end, the two unsurprisingly became the leaders of their respective songs. Lin Qi’s team included familiar faces like Wei Xuanyue, Tan Yi, and Jing Sha. Surprisingly, Qin Wei and Yuan Li joined the Brave group. Was this a complete style reversal for everyone?

“Alright, now that everyone has chosen their songs, we’ll move on to solo stage selections either vocal or dance, with nine participants each. Starting with our first-place contestant, Lin Qi.”

“I’ll choose dance. Oh, and senior, can I perform the stage I missed last time during my solo? It’s a regret for both the fans and me.”

“Of course.”

This time, Jiang Ming didn’t push back against her discomfort. She chose singing, her forte, hoping to convey her veiled affection through the song on stage.

After finishing the recordings for song and solo selections, it was already past 8 p.m. The program host mentioned that the choreography wasn’t ready yet and told them to rest first, specifically emphasizing that Lin Qi should get proper sleep and not pass out from practice again the next day.

Lin Qi smiled helplessly. In truth, her health wasn’t that bad, but she couldn’t explain the transmigration issue. She simply nodded and said, “Alright, alright, I’ll take care of myself.”

In the end, she obediently trailed behind Jiang Ming back to the dorm. Noticing the stiffness in the other girl’s gait, she hesitantly opened the drawer under the desk.

Clutching the medicine in her hand, Lin Qi cleared her throat softly. “Um, are you still in pain?”

“No!”

How could she tell the truth? In reality, it was still hot and swollen, yet Jiang Ming climbed onto the bed, hugged her knees, and stubbornly lied through her teeth.

“But I can still see you walking strangely.”

“Stop looking at me!”

“You’re my girlfriend, who else am I supposed to look at?”

Sitting beside Jiang Ming, who had buried her face in her knees, Lin Qi noticed her ears were flushed red. With a soft chuckle, Lin Qi pressed a hand to her shoulder and gently pushed her down onto the bed.

She kissed her tenderly, the addictive sensation once again making the kitten go limp in her arms. A shy whimper escaped Jiang Ming’s throat as she clutched the fabric of Lin Qi’s shirt not to push her away, but as if unwilling to let her go.

With one hand braced on the bed, the other deftly twisted open the cap of the ointment, peeling off the seal. Lin Qi squeezed a bit onto her fingertip, then carefully undid the waistband of Jiang Ming’s sweatpants.

“Mmm, don’t, it hurts.”

Finally telling the truth now, huh? Amused, Lin Qi’s chest vibrated with silent laughter against Jiang Ming. She slid her fingers beneath the edge of the fabric clinging to Jiang Ming’s slender waist, careful not to smear the ointment over her well-defined abs.

The cooling sensation chased away the pain, and Jiang Ming let out a soft moan, her body relaxing unconsciously.