Your Aloof Persona Has Crumbled - Chapter 9

The two stared at each other. Wen Shike glanced at her own hand, then at Lu Jingwei, who had already leaped toward the wall. “Sorry.”

If Lu Jingwei hadn’t been standing right there, Wen Shike might have started slapping her own hand in regret.

“It’s fine… My waist is just very sensitive,” Lu Jingwei smiled sheepishly. “So my reaction was a bit extreme. If you need to touch me in the future, it’s probably best to give me a heads-up.”

Wen Shike blinked. “Okay.”

“Do you want to go eat first?” Wen Shike asked. “Clear your head, then come back.”

“That works.” Lu Jingwei took a deep breath, picked up a thermos from the floor, turned off the lights, and followed behind Wen Shike. “The feeling felt right before, but the more I practice now, the weirder it gets.”

“That definitely happens.” Wen Shike blinked, looking at Lu Jingwei’s thin clothes. “Are you going to the cafeteria dressed like that?”

“It’s not a long walk; I’ll just run there.” Lu Jingwei didn’t think she was underdressed at all. She counted: a long-sleeved shirt underneath and a short sleeved one on top, two layers felt like plenty.

Wen Shike was silent for two seconds. “You should put on a jacket.”

“I didn’t bring one; I came like this this morning.” Lu Jingwei glanced at the thick cotton parka Wen Shike was wearing. This “Young Lady” was surprisingly practical in certain aspects clearly, between looking good and staying warm, she had decisively chosen warmth. Of course, she still looked great even bundled up in a heavy coat.

Wen Shike fell silent again, asking tentatively, “What time did you get here this morning?”

“Around six…” It might have been five; she hadn’t checked the time. Either way, when she woke up, the sky was still dark.

Wen Shike tilted her head to look at Lu Jingwei, her pupils dilating slightly. Bound by her “persona,” she could only allow herself a small expression of shock. “It must have been only two or three degrees Celsius then, right?”

“Mm…” Lu Jingwei glanced at Wen Shike, not interrupting her existential crisis.

In truth, most trainees didn’t wear much. Walking down the hallway, Wen Shike realized she was the most bloated looking one there. Others, at most, added a hoodie or thermal underwear.

She had originally wanted to go back to the dorm to add another layer because she felt it would be cold coming back at night. Now, she suddenly felt a bit embarrassed.

Ah, the cursed pride and competitiveness of youth.

The cold wind howled outside. Wen Shike initially wanted to be stubborn, but the moment she stepped one foot out, she swiftly pulled her hood up. Looking at Lu Jingwei next to her, the girl kept her back straight, calmly tidying her hair, appearing neither cold nor shivery.

The two went to the cafeteria together. Over the past few days, almost no one had greeted Wen Shike when she came to eat. Today, however, the moment she stepped in, she heard a group of people shouting her name. Their voices were so loud they instantly drew everyone’s gaze.

“Young Lady, come sit with us!”

“Stop shouting, you.”

“Oh, right! Keke, Keke!”

“There are two of us.” Wen Shike didn’t care about the titles; too many people called her “Young Lady,” “President Wen,” or “Boss Wen” she’d heard it all. She pointed to Lu Jingwei beside her, but her movements paused as she realized she had accidentally made a decision for Lu Jingwei.

“Do you want to join us?” Wen Shike asked. Though she felt the question was moot. Lu Jingwei certainly wouldn’t refuse her.

“Sure.”

The base provided set nutritional meals every day. Of course, you could ask for seconds if you weren’t full, but likely because they feared the trainees gaining weight, the food was bland and watery, quite terrible.

Wen Shike contemplated the possibility of having Shu Shu bring her extra food.

After finishing their meal, the group headed back to the practice rooms in a flurry. Wen Shike followed Lu Jingwei to the Class A classroom.

“Can I touch you?”

“You can.” Lu Jingwei felt like something was slightly off.

Wen Shike raised her hand and placed her palm on Lu Jingwei’s waist.

Lu Jingwei tried her best to control herself, but her body still shuddered. It felt as if a thousand ants were nibbling at her waist, an indescribable sensation surged through her. She stared straight ahead, her breathing quickening.

“Do that movement,” Wen Shike frowned. “Relax a bit. Are you always this tense from the start?”

“Yes.” Lu Jingwei took a deep breath, trying to steady her mind.

“I think you should loosen up on the second beat.” Wen Shike let go, glanced at Lu Jingwei’s hand, and just as she was about to grab it, asked again, “Can I touch you?”

“You can…” Lu Jingwei felt a bit helpless.

Wen Shike took Lu Jingwei’s hand and placed it on her own waist.

“Feel it,” Wen Shike said.

“Okay.” Lu Jingwei nodded, focusing her attention on her hand.

Half an hour later, Wen Shike finally returned to Class B. The moment she entered, the group looked at her expectantly.

Wen Shike: …

Originally, Wen Shike had planned to stay until 10:30 PM, but by 9:00 PM, she was on the verge of falling asleep. She found herself closing her eyes mid-sentence. Consequently, at 9:30 PM, she decisively grabbed her bag and bailed.

“See you tomorrow. Practice the material from today well on your own. I’m leaving first,” Wen Shike said with a serious face. She then wrapped herself in her big cotton parka and hurried away.

“I don’t know why, but I feel like she gains a certain… festive charm once she puts on that parka.”

“I want to see her in a Northeast floral print coat.”

“With the Young Lady’s aura, she’d look good even in floral prints. Hurry up and practice, one of my moves is still a bit awkward.”

“Which one? Let me see if I’ve got it.”

When Wen Shike returned to the dorm, it was empty. As expected, she was the first one back. Even if the others had mastered the routine, they would stay in the classroom because of the cameras.

She took a nice shower, did her skincare routine, and then climbed comfortably into bed. She pulled out her bedtime reading: a Philosophy textbook.

Over the course of three days, most people failed to memorize a song in its entirety. Some could sing but forgot the moves, others knew the moves but forgot the lyrics.

Many in Class B were very proficient with the first half, but the second half was a mess.

Wen Shike had a headache, but there was nothing she could do. Before the evaluation, the students of Class B lined up in front of Wen Shike for a “handshake event.”

“Young Lady, let me rub off some of your luck. Bless me so I don’t forget the lyrics.”

Wen Shike: Since when did I have this function?

“Young Lady, bless me so I can stay in Class A.” (Wait, this person is in Class B).

Wen Shike: …

“Waaaah, Keke, what should I do? My hands and feet are still fighting each other.”

Wen Shike’s lip twitched slightly as she pressed a hand to her forehead. This girl, named Ming Wangxue, had been struggling with coordination from day one to day three. She stayed from 6 AM until midnight and practiced extremely hard, yet her limbs remained in conflict.

Ming Wangxue had made it into Class B thanks to her stunning vocals during the initial stage. She had danced then too, and it had seemed decent enough, who knows how long she had practiced that one dance for.

“Good luck.” Wen Shike gave her a look of pity.