Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Wu Xuyang decided to give his brother some space.

Of course, he wasn't idle himself; he had enrolled in the certification exam for talent agents.

Why did he choose to take this particular exam?

It was because Wu Xuyang had dreamed about their mother.

In his dream, his mother tugged at his ear, "You need to keep an eye on your younger brother!"

The elder sibling thought to himself, Have I not been looking out for him? It's just that the little rascal has grown too headstrong!

Yet, when Wu Xuyang woke up the next day, he was still deeply concerned.

After much contemplation, he realized that it was now inevitable for Xue Jizhen to participate in the talent show, and it wouldn't be easy to withdraw him anytime soon. Even if the boy was merely taking a fleeting stroll through the entertainment industry, Wu Xuyang figured it wouldn't hurt to acquire an additional qualification for himself.

What he feared most was that entry might be easy, but leaving would be much harder...

After several days of intensive training, Wu Xuyang returned to his rented basement apartment.

Time flew by, and the most popular talent show of this summer had already aired its third episode. Ratings and media buzz hit new heights, capturing the attention and heated discussions of the entire online community!

Wu Xuyang's roommate, classmate, and future strategic collaborator was a universally acknowledged talented and charismatic young man in the college. In high school, he had written an emo love song that went viral on short video platforms, amassing half a million fans as the original composer. Upon entering music school, he had a horde of nurturing fans eagerly awaiting his new releases...

This guy was currently in self-imposed isolation.

It was understandable for Talented Bro to have a bit of arrogance.

Thus, he had naturally declined the show's invitation during its preparatory phase.

But after enduring one, two, and then three episodes, his discomfort grew, spreading unease throughout his body. Finally, Talented Bro broke down, now in a state of madness—

"I should've joined from the start! I shouldn't have been so haughty!"

"Is being haughty useful? No! After paying this quarter's rent, I won't even be able to afford food!"

"I just don't get it. Why do people still watch these domestic talent shows after hundreds of iterations? Aren't they tired of it? If I'd known the show would become such a sensation, I could've at least gained some benefits by showing up for a round, instead of wasting my time in this lousy basement writing songs!"

Wu Xuyang sighed inwardly.

Some were too proud of their professionalism to lower themselves to participate.

Others, believing they had better opportunities, backed out at the last minute.

Thanks to these individuals, his brother, the part-time king who had been seen brutally beating up Xiangning on the street while sipping bubble tea, had impressively advanced to the second round with karaoke-level skills.

"Next time, for sure," Wu Xuyang offered a half-hearted comfort.

Talent Brother took deep breaths, expressionless as he crumpled a bag of instant noodles until there was nothing left but crumbs. Only then did he resign himself and say, "Forget it. My moment of explosive fame already came and went when I was at my most ignorant and unappreciative. It's too difficult to experience such a surge again. I'm not a Ziwei Star, after all..."

Wu Xuyang made a mental note of this, also remembering it for Xue Jizhen's sake.

Returning to the online version, the third episode mainly focused on the first public performance and the first elimination round.

This marked the true beginning of the talent show's skyrocketing popularity.

Suddenly, all the contestants found themselves riding the wave of fan growth!

Among them, Xue Jizhen soared into the top tier of gaining fans.

The reason was simple.

His innocence and naivety were genuine, but his absolute purity and charm were 100% authentic!

Put another way: while the public admired contestants who were skilled and already showed the potential of an idol, touched by their dedication to their dreams and considering them more likely to debut, it didn't stop them from favoring candidates like Xue Jizhen, whose progress was visible and who was undergoing rapid transformation.

His unique talents and characteristics stood out distinctively in the entire show!

Talent Bro, at some unknown moment, had approached and was gazing at the screen, murmuring, "Back then, I could have easily outperformed this Xue Jizhen."

Wu Xuyang choked, "You?"

Bro, what are you even talking about?

"Is that not possible? His vocal condition is decent, but his technique is too unpolished."

Talent Bro harrumphed and continued to nitpick, "It's only his face that's appealing. As an amateur, he probably hasn't had any plastic surgery yet, and isn't that just what viewers and fans fancy?"

"Xue Jizhen might not be capable, but you're being overly jealous."

Wu Xuyang held back his urge to defend his brother and retaliated with restraint.

"Is it considered 'jealous' just because I commented online through a network?"

*

The one who was truly seething with envy was trying to dominate the conversation!

After the second public performance, Xue Jizhen was assigned to shoot an interstitial advertisement.

This opportunity usually went only to contestants with high popularity, but he had earned his spot through the "Progress Award."

It was Little Xue's first time shooting, so he was quite inexperienced. However, the production crew and brand representatives were very accommodating. There was no helping it; the kid simply looked great on camera. After a couple of takes, he found his groove and instantly delivered a fantastic performance!

After the shoot, Xue Jizhen was praised endlessly and handed numerous gift boxes...

By the time he returned to the dorm, it was already late.

He briefly greeted his roommates and, as he was gathering his things to take a shower, someone came to talk to Ye Min outside. The voice was neither too loud nor too soft, and as Xue Jizhen turned off the showerhead to shampoo his hair, he happened to catch what was being said.

"Was it just Little Xue who went for the recording? Didn't you guys arrange anything?"

Ye Min's low, magnetic voice was easily recognizable: "Yeah."

Another roommate chimed in, "After the third episode, there were additional ads added. It's only natural to introduce some fresh faces, right?"

It was evident that everyone took such matters in stride.

Any chance for extra screen time would make anyone happy, indicating the popularity of the show and its growing audience. However, since these arrangements were made by both the production team and the sponsors, the contestants had no say or room for choice, let alone compete for opportunities.

But the guy seemed oblivious, asking, "The sports event will be aired in the fourth episode, right? I remember Little Xue won three individual first places."

Xue Jizhen turned on the showerhead to rinse his hair, momentarily muffling the voices outside.

Ye Min wasn't stupid; he knew the other person's intention was to stir up trouble.

Leaning back on the sofa, he picked up a small doll that a fan had given to Xue Jizhen and toyed with it, deliberately following the other's lead, "At least half of the highlights in the fourth episode will be on him."

The other roommate playfully echoed, "That's for sure!"

"Should I be eliminated in the next round, I'll rally my friends and family to vote for Little Xue!"

After an uneasy conversation, Xue Jizhen emerged from the bathroom.

His short hair was damp, and he wore a simple white tank top with loose-fitting black pants. A sweat-absorbing towel hung around his neck, completing the epitome of a college boy's casual attire. Perhaps it was due to the recent cultivation of a certain star-like quality, but his demeanor exuded an extraordinary difference. His naturally handsome features, which could easily score a 90 out of 100, were amplified to a perfect 100: rosy lips, white teeth, fair and luminous skin, tight and flawless, with even his muscle contours flowing elegantly and beautifully!

Ye Min was the first to look over, rising to fetch another towel for him. "Wipe yourself down."

"Oh."

Xue Jizhen took it and used it without hesitation, then looked back at the other two after he was done.

He openly pulled out his phone and asked, "Shall we call for a five-player team battle again?"

"..."

The visitor promptly vanished.

That was because the stage manager hadn't given him his phone.

The three remaining roommates exchanged glances and laughed in unison.

"I'll join you for a chat later. I'm going to take a shower."

In the blink of an eye, only Xue Jizhen and Ye Min were left.

Ye Min was the youngest contestant, having just barely crossed the threshold of adulthood. Unlike Xue Jizhen's slightly dull innocence, his "boldness" could more accurately be described as "rebellious," accompanied by an obvious arrogance and reserve. As netizens put it, this kid exuded the aura of a privileged celebrity.

Strangely enough, Ye Min wasn't entirely dislikeable, especially when he was with Xue Jizhen.

That was when their chemistry as a potential couple really kicked in!

On his own, Ye Min appeared to be a conceited and proud high schooler, always putting on a sour face outside of the stage. However, when he was beside Xue Jizhen, their chemistry sparked instantaneously!

Even the production team couldn't explain the magic behind it, but the fans were hooked.

Perhaps due to the increasing popularity of the show and the growing interest in their potential coupling, Xue Jizhen had been somewhat avoiding Ye Min these days.

As a straight-laced guy, he didn't quite know how to deal with the mushy stuff. Yet, whenever they walked together through the fan-packed corridors, even without any interaction, the commotion was like a steamroller crushing a hundred screaming chickens.

If it were another girl teasing him, Xue Jizhen might have politely blushed.

But with Ye Min...

Ah, forget it!

He had expected everyone to be asleep by the time he returned, but they were all still awake.

Ye Min was the one who broke the silence, "Did the shoot go well?"

Xue Jizhen shook his head and casually brushed away some stray hairs from his forehead, though he didn't meet Ye Min's gaze. He candidly replied, "We shot two takes, and the third one was a success."

Ye Min turned to look at Xue Jizhen, who was swaying his head towards the wind.

At 19 years old, he was barely a year older than Ye Min, and slightly shorter, but as their body language instructor had pointed out: Xue Jizhen's proportions were textbook perfect! With a small head and face, broad shoulders, narrow waist, long arms, and legs, everything was just right. He exuded vitality in every aspect.

"Don't stand there, you'll get a headache from the wind," Ye Min said.

Xue Jizhen froze, and indeed, his swaying head came to an abrupt halt.

To be honest, he had also come across the polarized opinions about Ye Min online.

Some believed that this young man was arrogant due to his youthful vigor, a smooth sailing past, and his legitimate talent; while others thought Ye Min looked down on others, had a bad attitude, was ill-tempered, and didn't fit in – as evidenced by his numerous sulky expressions caught on camera.

In fact, the fact that Xue Jizhen could get along with him was a result of their gradual adjustment to each other.

Ye Min was indeed quite self-centered, and his personality predetermined that he wouldn't be overly amiable.

But when it came to the substance of their conversations, this kid did show concern for others at times.

Like just now...

More often than not, Xue Jizhen chose not to dwell on their differences and tried to see the best in him. If they were to confront each other every time there was a disagreement, the show would never proceed, and they'd have to let the hot-blooded youths settle their disputes first!

As they continued interacting, it became clear that Ye Min treated him differently from others.

"Ye Min still has an individual interview to do. Where is he?"

"He's probably looking for Xue Jizhen. He's in the practice room."

Such conversations were not uncommon in training camps.

On the night of the first elimination round, Ye Min pulled him aside for a private conversation, vowing to advance together through the competition.

Indeed, the atmosphere that evening was both exhilarating and bittersweet. In his trance, Xue Jizhen momentarily forgot that he was merely a passing laborer, not belonging to this dazzling stage illuminated by stars. His dream wasn't to become an idol singer. Yet, gazing into Ye Min's shining eyes and recalling the fans who eagerly called his name and waited for him day and night by the passage, Jizhen somehow found himself agreeing...

Another elimination tomorrow. When will this endless cycle come to an end?

*

Following the second public assessment, the second round of eliminations promptly ensued.

Last round, Xue Jizhen was on the brink of elimination, but this time he has set the highest jump record.

He leaped from the precarious lower ranks straight into safety!

In the auditorium, some greeted him with cheerful smiles, while others, displeased with this pure amateur occupier, Xue Jizhen, wouldn't even spare him a glance if not for the numerous cameras rolling live.

"Little Ji Zhen, come here!"

It was Captain Zhang Yin from the second public performance group calling out to him!

Xue Jizhen hastened to join the group, feeling a sense of security beside Zhang Yin.

Zhang Yin had already made his debut before participating in the competition; in other words, he was a "reheated dish."

He had a foundation of fans, albeit not a large one, but it was sufficient for the early stages. Perhaps because of this, Zhang Yin took great care of Xue Jizhen, who was just starting out with innocence and determination. Despite the risks, he chose Xue Jizhen for the team and personally taught him step by step.

"Later, when they announce the rankings, don't just be foolishly happy. You need to show some reaction."

Xue Jizhen obediently nodded. "Okay!"

Their amicable conversation was interrupted when a staff member hurried over to check their body microphones.

There was an issue with the earpiece cable of Xue Jizhen's microphone. The hook protruded awkwardly, digging into the thin skin behind his ear, causing discomfort after only a short while. If the recording continued like this, a skin abrasion would be the least of his worries; any sudden movement might even result in a piece of skin being scraped off.

Zhang Yin promptly retrieved an invisible bandage from his pocket to protect the sensitive area.

"Does it still hurt now?"

What a guy, he's someone you can get along with!

Xue Jizhen quickly shook his head, his voice clear and bright. "It doesn't hurt anymore!"

Zhang Yin even straightened the knot on his tie, adjusting the position of the bowtie.

"Thanks, Brother Zhang."

Such a humble, gentle, and considerate person...

Xue Jizhen sincerely wished him well in his ranking.

Lost in thought, he suddenly felt a chill on his back. Turning around, he saw Ye Min.

"Why aren't you with your group?"

Ye Min's face was as usual, sour and unapproachable, but his tone was calm. "We're not that close."

Xue Jizhen choked for a moment. "Okay then."

The two of them stood awkwardly for a while, as the stage lights were still being adjusted.

Ye Min unexpectedly spoke up, "Why don't you choose to be in our group next time?"

Xue Jizhen protested, "That wouldn't be right! Your team is full of strong performers, and I'd only hold you back."

Xue Jizhen was well aware of his own limitations.

When he was picked by Zhang Yin last time, he felt a great deal of guilt, as it seemed that everyone else was in dire need of advancement. Although Xue Jizhen had significantly improved his singing and dancing skills, they still paled in comparison to the truly talented.

It would be one thing if he were eliminated himself, but if he were to drag others down with him, it would truly be...

Especially someone as popular as Ye Min.

How would online users put it?

Oh! Leeching!

Ye Min's fans had initially accused Xue Jizhen of just that.

Therefore, he shook his head, reiterating, "I'd still rather not."

Ye Min's expression indeed darkened further. "What about the next time you advance?"

Xue Jizhen was taken aback by the reprimand and then explained, "But they're all so talented! My strength is already lacking, and after being filtered out round by round, I'll inevitably be eliminated."

In response, he received a look of disappointment from Ye Min.

Why was he so easily angered?

The chief director emerged with a megaphone, calling for attention. Xue Jizhen didn't have time to appease Ye Min as the two of them went their separate ways to their designated spots. Someone even approached to inquire, "Did you have an argument with Ye Min?"

Xue Jizhen wasn't sure how to respond.

Being straightforward, he said, "Perhaps."

*

After the second round of eliminations, the training camp became significantly emptier.

For filming convenience, the trainees' dormitories were rearranged.

After Xue Jizhen and Ye Min's other roommate were eliminated, two new occupants joined the room: Zhang Yin and Meng Heping.

Zhang Yin currently ranked eighth, recognized as the senior figure within the training camp.

As for Meng Heping...

Uh, sorry, Xue Jizhen hadn't even exchanged a word with him.

Upon checking the ranking changes...

This person was an even bigger underdog than he was in his previous round!

"Nice to meet you, nice to meet you."

Meng Heping shook his hand with a firm grip.

"Nice to meet you too! Nice to meet you too!"

Xue Jizhen felt overwhelmed by Meng Heping's warmth and sincerity, almost unable to withdraw his hand. He quickly responded, "I haven't had the chance to interact with you before, so please guide me in the future."

Zhang Yin watched their exchange with a smile.

Ye Min scoffed coldly, "What could the second-to-last and last possibly teach each other?"

"..."

Exhausted from arguing, Xue Jizhen had no intention of coddling him this time.