Chapter 7

Chapter 7

The live audience voting for the top three had opened, and two rounds of rehearsals had already taken place.

Recalling the countless repetitions of the debut stage theme song now felt like combining a basic algebra problem with a calculus question on the same exam paper.

After this point, whether they stayed or left, a graceful conclusion was needed.

Thus, Xue Jizhen practiced with such dedication that he almost summoned the same fervor he had during his final year of high school, preparing for college entrance exams!

Despite his initial declaration that he was just here to earn some pocket money, human hearts are, after all, made of flesh. Regardless of whether his initial efforts were willingly given or sincerely offered, at this point, it would be a lie to claim that he doesn't care about his fans or the thoughts of those who support him.

Their devotion is genuine, and Xue Jizhen cannot bear to disappoint them.

During this period, he often found himself practicing until well past 3 am. The practice room was filled with robust teenage boys, accustomed to the physical demands of their training, but the fans waiting outside did not possess such stamina. Still, they persisted, staying until the trainees emerged, only to bid them "goodnight" before departing.

On rare occasions, Xue Jizhen would still have some energy left after his own practice sessions.

With a wave of his hand and a muffled goodbye, the crowd could leap with excitement.

"Fans are the silliest," Gu Wei had once commented, word for word.

He would buy dolls priced in five digits as gifts and proudly display the ones given by his fan club on his backpack, getting upset if they got dirty.

The privileged prince, after that incident, had turned to console Xue Jizhen:

"I think you're an incredibly smart person. Smart enough to excel in something completely new if you put your mind to it."

"Have you heard of a gap year? Consider this year as arriving a bit late or early, taking a year off to experience a different lifestyle. You're only 19; even if you temporarily stray from your path, there's still time to return to your original track. After all, life offers many choices."

Brother Wei Zi made a valid point, and Xue Jizhen understood but didn't entirely agree.

He had many choices because he always had countless fallback options. Even if Gu Wei were ignorant, indulging in debauchery, and living extravagantly, someone would still catch him if he fell.

But Xue Jizhen didn't have that luxury.

From a very young age, while other children still struggled to control themselves, getting distracted in class or playing with their fingers, Xue Jizhen already had the ambition to skip grades: he wanted to alleviate his mother's burden and reduce her worries about raising two sons; he hoped to be closer to his brother, supporting each other; and he aspired to grow up faster, earn money to provide for the family, allowing his mother to buy beautiful clothes and for both him and his brother to enjoy whatever they wished.

If it weren't for that outstanding balance of tens of thousands...

Forget it.

Xue Jizhen thought that even the closest of friends could have differing views at times.

*

Other than Wei Zi, who would occasionally drop by like a street hustler, Meng Heping would sometimes visit the basement level.

Of course, his visits were purely for company, nothing more.

As he was paired with Zhang Yin, their performance was limited by the song's style, lacking intricate dance routines. It was a relatively gentle and soothing love song, where a good performance would enhance the stage, but a poor one might leave the audience indifferent – only fans would truly appreciate it and then struggle to write elaborate essays praising their favorite contestant...

" Aren't you tired?"

Xue Jizhen paused, catching his breath, and met Meng Heping's gaze in the mirror.

"Not really."

It was merely physical exhaustion—what significance did that hold?

Meng Heping asked impulsively, "With your capabilities..."

Wouldn't it be good to join a military academy?

Xue Jizhen would surely be an outstanding prospect!

Of course, this was merely an unconscious thought that flashed through his mind.

"Good capabilities? Who in the training camp doesn't have them?"

The hundred young men selected by Xingyao after a year of meticulous screening and two rigorous elimination rounds were all exceptional individuals. Any one of the thirty remaining candidates could stand on their own.

Meng Heping was taken aback: ...

He watched as Xue Jizhen sipped his water slowly, waiting until he had sufficiently recovered before engaging in conversation. Then, the latter casually asked, "What about you? You rarely talk about yourself in the dormitory. You've never brought it up even when others don't inquire."

How should he respond to such a question? Where should he begin?

If it were anyone else, Meng Heping would have brushed them off with a casual excuse.

But with Xue Jizhen, he couldn't bear to be so dismissive...

"I...I enlisted during my first year of college. After I returned, I was also lost for a while. Anyway, it was quite coincidental that I ended up here for the talent show." Meng Heping circled around the topic before finally coming up with an acceptable explanation. He discreetly observed Xue Jizhen's reaction, and it seemed like the latter believed him.

"Oh, I see! That's great!"

After his sigh of admiration, Xue Jizhen sincerely praised, "No wonder your demeanor is different. You're upright and resolute, like a straight bamboo."

Meng Heping, who was about to continue weaving his lie: ...

Xue Jizhen took off his headband and casually combed back his disheveled bangs. With a smile, he said, "I also tried out for the Air Force recruitment. I barely made the age cut-off of 17, and they almost didn't let me register. It was smooth sailing all the way, and I was the only one from my school who passed the initial tests. But in the end, my grades held me back, which was quite disappointing."

His smile was radiant, and the curve of his lips formed a charming shape. His teeth were pearly white, and his canines slightly peeked out, giving him a mischievous yet adorable look.

Xue Jizhen was a fairly talkative person, but he rarely spoke so much.

If Ye Min were here, the kid would probably grumble unhappily, "Why him and not me?"

Meng Heping couldn't bring himself to laugh after hearing this, his expression a mix of emotions as he forced a smile.

He understood why Xue Jizhen had suddenly let his guard down and was grateful that the latter was genuinely exhausted, too preoccupied with wiping sweat to notice his momentary lapse. Swiftly, he added, "Yes, it is rather unfortunate..."

*

On the day of the Third Prince, a significant number of Xue Jizhen's fans had come, having spent a considerable amount of money.

Xingyao had never officially addressed the "freezing incident." That 98-second clip felt like a thorn in the hearts of the fans. Despite their attempts at self-reassurance and finding comfort in the subsequent behind-the-scenes footage, anxiety had thoroughly enveloped the fan community. They couldn't accept the idea of Xue Jizhen leaving hastily after they had fought so hard to get him to this point.

In the backstage makeup room, Ye Min finished his transformation first. He grabbed a handheld camera and strolled around, adding more content for the behind-the-scenes segment.

"Next up is Little Xue! Hello!"

With his eyes closed, Xue Jizhen could only respond with his mouth, "Hello."

"You seem quite distant. Is it because it's raining today?"

Taking advantage of the makeup artist switching sides, he briefly opened his eyes to face the camera, answering, "Because today marks another parting, I find it hard to smile."

Come on, who in the training camp would dare to openly talk about elimination?

Only Xue Jizhen would dare to do that.

Not only did he dare, but he even ventured a bold assumption based on the script, "Brother Wei Zi's group must be quite competitive!"

Despite it being a scripted question, Ye Min was still not entirely content with his response.

"Brother Wei Zi is great, but what about us?"

Even the makeup artist couldn't help but chuckle. Supporting Xue Jizhen's chin, he ensured the makeup was symmetrical before momentarily giving space for Ye Min to speak,

"Come on, Brother Ji Zhen? Speak up."

Xue Jizhen's makeup today was light and natural, barely concealing the two tiny moles on the bridge of his nose and the left side of his cheek. This might have been the reason his expression appeared particularly vivid, especially when their eyes met, creating an illusion as if he were intently staring, causing one's heart to involuntarily flutter!

Ye Min, who had been insistently seeking an answer, found himself averting his gaze after being met with Xue Jizhen's gaze for just two seconds, feeling a sudden wave of guilt.

"I think... Brother Wei Zi's team is outstanding, but we're not far behind either!"

By the end of his statement, Xue Jizhen's tone had subtly lifted.

Ye Min was promptly placated.

He huffed reluctantly, "That's not too far off. I'll head to the next group."

...

Perhaps it was the rainy ambiance, but Zhang Yin's team delivered an unexpectedly good performance of their love song.

Meng Heping struggled with both high and low notes; his only strength lay in his steady breath control and clear enunciation. During a brief a cappella segment, he excelled, harmonizing beautifully with the pitter-patter of raindrops, creating an indescribable mood.

In the backstage, Xue Jizhen watched attentively. "Meng Heping might just turn things around."

Thoughts raced through Ye Min's mind: So what if he does?

After watching two more performances, it was finally their turn to stand by.

As they waited on the lift platform, Xue Jizhen could hear the intermittent screams from the audience seats above. Without his other earpiece on, he could still hear them clearly. The names being shouted followed an age order, and after the previous teammate, "Xue Jizhen" suddenly echoed!

Ye Min discreetly tugged at his sleeve. "They're calling your name."

In the next moment, they both heard "Ye Min."

Minzi's eyes sparkled as he gave a cheerful "Good luck" in the end.

*

Xue Jizhen had prepared himself for departure during this performance.

Never before had he been so immersed and focused. It wasn't until the last note echoed and the shimmering atmosphere settled that Xue Jizhen genuinely wished to stay for a moment. But it was only a fleeting moment. The next second, applause and screams burst through the towering ceiling of the auditorium.

Realizing the crane camera was zooming in for a close-up shot, Xue Jizhen didn't meet its gaze but gently lowered his eyelashes instead.

As the close-up filled the screen, the audience screamed again!

Backstage, Ye Min and the other team members eagerly surrounded him, excitedly discussing the past four minutes. It was then that Xue Jizhen, still in a daze, gradually came back to reality and joined in their laughter.

"It was smoother today than any of our previous rehearsals!"

"I told you, right? There wouldn't be any problems, would there?"

"What about Little Xue? You were stunning today! I saw so many of your light boards in the audience. Can we get a trending topic on social media when it airs to give us all a boost?"

Back in the indoor light, Xue Jizhen's face was even more devastating.

When he chuckled, a few teammates pushed Ye Min forward, "Brother Minzi, shield us!"

"It's hard to say; it depends on whether Brother Minzi steps up or not."

Xue Jizhen said this with a smile, and everyone laughed. Only Ye Min wore a forced smile, his heart filled with bitterness. He was uncertain if the other party had noticed anything. Fortunately, he managed to keep his composure and didn't reveal any extra emotions.

Amidst laughter and jests, they waited for the live scores, hoping to gain more votes!

"Currently in first place, alright, let's have a small celebration."

Otherwise, if another team surpassed them later, there would be no joy left to savor.

Indeed, what he said made sense.

Because the following two groups did not surpass their score.

Everyone's hearts were in their throats until Gu Wei's team took the stage.

"Brother Minzi, what do you think?"

While his teammates were too nervous to maintain their composure, Ye Min continued singing, calmly analyzing whether this song would appeal more to the audience or if their own composition was better.

"If it were in the last round, Gu Wei would undoubtedly win."

"Oh? What about today?"

Suddenly, Ye Min removed his microphone and whispered into Xue Jizhen's ear, "Today's winner will definitely be you, only you."

Xue Jizhen was taken aback for two seconds. "So sure?"

Though Brother Minzi was impulsive, he had never been criticized for lacking brains.

On the contrary, in the behind-the-scenes footage released by Xingyao, bloggers had compiled several instances of his quick-wittedness in saving the situation. These moments had even become must-have scenes in fanfiction featuring their pairing...

"Everyone knows your grievance and has seen your efforts."

Though Ye Min's voice was lowered, it remained distinct.

"Xue Jizhen, people admire strength while also cherishing vulnerability, especially when someone who's always strong and optimistic reveals their fragility. Do you know what that means?"

Xue Jizhen rarely showed weakness, with a fair share of competitiveness in his character.

Therefore, at this moment, Ye Min's question genuinely caught him off guard.

"What?"

A barely audible sigh escaped, fleeting as a wisp of wind.

Ye Min's Adam's apple bobbed swiftly, and he abruptly averted his gaze, fixing his eyes on the screen in the waiting room. "It means they'll develop an endless compassion for you, feel an unprecedented sense of being needed, as if they've suddenly been entrusted with the mission to save you."

He recalled the close-up of Xue Jizhen on stage during that final moment.

No one could remain untouched by that fleeting vulnerability, no one at all.

In that instant, Xue Jizhen seemed to wield an invincibility shield!

No longer was he a mere two-dimensional figure; he now possessed a fuller, more vivid existence. He was invincible when embraced with love but fragile when neglected or hurt. In time, more people would come to understand this, and become advocates for Xue Jizhen.

Xue Jizhen's breath hitched, slowly absorbing the implications of those words.

*

"It's over. Let's go."

Brother Talent sighed, reaching into his pocket for a cigarette.

Wu Xuyang found a lighter in the darkness, and the two of them slunk out of the auditorium, walking back under the August night breeze.

"We went through so much trouble to get these tickets, we shouldn't leave before it's over."

Brother Talent sighed again. "There's no need to watch. Ye Min and Xue Jizhen will win that round."

Hearing those words from him, Wu Xuyang could hardly believe it. "What?"

He nearly stumbled, nearly falling flat on the sidewalk.

"What are you 'what'ing about? I'm asking you, if two students both score 90, one consistently and the other improves from 70 or 80, who would you praise more?"

Wu Xuyang pondered for a moment. "Praise them all, because none of them had an easy task."

Brother Talent shook his head, amused by Wu Xuyang's ignorance. "In ordinary circumstances, that mindset is correct – fairness is important. But the live votes come from the audience present, and did you see everyone's reaction when Ye Min's group finished? They were captivated by Xue Jizhen's close-up! His eyes shimmered, and everyone was waiting for him to cry. In such a situation, Xingyao would have to address it, either through a statement or by giving him more screen time later on..."

"But he didn't cry," Wu Xuyang pointed out.

"Exactly, he didn't cry."

Because he refused to show weakness, to bow down.

This time, Brother Talent refrained from calling Xue Jizhen a "pretty face" or sarcastically saying "I could do it too." Instead, he let out a soft sigh. "This song flowed beautifully, it evokes different emotions than Zhang Yin's rainy day performance. Alright, I admit it's much better than what I wrote in high school..."