Gymnasium - Day one of resuming the "Starry Night" recording.

In the dormitory, most of the contestants were up, discussing today's recording resumption. The second public vote would start in about a week, and the first public vote rankings would be announced in the next couple of days.

Wen Shengge has been repeating all morning, "Will I get eliminated?"

Most of the contestants had already received their phones.

Yet, two days ago, the production team collected them again. The rankings could change daily. Wen Shengge, always a sensitive soul, couldn't help but constantly voice his concerns, given his less-than-ideal ranking.

Jinxingsui was outside, freshening up, with Shen Xingchen brushing his teeth beside him.

While brushing, Shen Xingchen glanced at him, "Why are you staring at me? Do I have something in my eye?"

Jinxingsui slowly shook his head, hesitated for a moment, and finally gathered his courage, "Xingchen, thank you for everything this time."

Shen Xingchen inquired, "What matter are you referring to?"

Jinxingsui hesitated, clarifying, "The issue with the program's editing."

"Ah, that." Shen Xingchen rinsed his mouth with water from his cup before remarking, "Why bother about that? I haven't given it much thought."

Jinxingsui understood that for Shen Xingchen, it might have been a simple gesture. But for him, it was a monumental favor. For a long time, he'd grown accustomed to relying solely on himself. Especially after An Ran's arrival, he felt that no one truly listened to him. Initially, he'd try to explain, but soon realized it only made him a laughingstock.

Now, having received unexpected assistance, his initial reaction wasn't joy but wondering how he could express his gratitude. He felt somewhat lost.

"Regardless, I need to thank you," Jinxingsui whispered, "You've done me a great favor."

As Shen Xingchen splashed water on his face, he commented, "Well, if you're offering thanks, don't just thank me. All I did was make a call home. Thank my parents, my brother. Oh, and I heard Fu also pitched in."

Jinxingsui blinked, "Fu?"

Shen Xingchen nodded, "Yes."

Fu had also intervened?

Why?

Was it because the show had maliciously edited him as well?

It couldn't possibly be... because of me, right?

Shen Xingchen added, "I heard from my brother that it's been ages since he's seen Fu so irate. Surprisingly, it was over your issue. Even he was taken aback."

Jinxingsui, in disbelief, asked, "Upset? Fu got angry? Over me? That seems unlikely."

Wiping his face, Shen Xingchen sighed, "Why are you always so self-deprecating? You're no less than anyone else."

You're no less than anyone else.

These words felt like a silent mallet striking Jinxingsui's heart, echoing endlessly.

Words caught in Jinxingsui's throat, unable to respond. He was interrupted by Shen Xingchen patting him on the back, offering a firm look, "Maybe in the past, you lagged a bit. But now, you're my bro. So, stand tall and don't disgrace me."

"..."

This adolescent proclamation left Jinxingsui at a loss amidst his gratitude.

After freshening up, the group hurried to the main plaza, where the camera crew was ready. The filming began as soon as the participants left their dorms.

The audience had been eagerly waiting:

"It's been so long since I've seen my idols."

"I even set an alarm just to watch you guys."

"Hahaha, even my dates aren't scheduled with such enthusiasm."

"On days without you, my heart yearns for you, my darlings!"

The contestants gathered at the main square where the mentors had already been waiting.

All four mentors looked spirited today. Mr. Li, as always, hosted in his flashy, expensive leather jacket. Ms. Tuya looked radiant and lovely in a dress. As for the acclaimed actor, Fu Yingdi, he sported a casual grey tracksuit. Though a classic sporty look, it exuded an air of elegance and sophistication on him.

Many contestants chatted jovially as they entered. However, upon seeing the mentors, especially with Fu Yingdi casting a cold glance, their chatter ceased in an instant. That was his aura.

Once everyone had lined up, Mr. Li greeted, "Hello, everyone!"

In unison, the contestants replied, "Hello, teacher!"

With a smile, Mr. Li said, "I've heard that the show's organizers brought in several dance and vocal trainers for you all. It's been tough, hasn't it?"

This drew a flurry of responses.

"It's been exhausting, teacher."

"After all that practice, my legs are still sore."

"Don't even remind me."

It seemed that this was what Mr. Li wanted to hear. Smiling, he said, "So, today is our game day! Let’s have some fun and play a game. Winners get fabulous rewards!"

Everyone perked up at this.

As Mr. Li explained the rules, staff from the show brought in plates displaying tags in two colors: red and blue.

"For this game, over a hundred contestants will be randomly divided into two teams. These teams will compete against each other. Your goal is to snatch tags from the opposing team to earn points. The team with the most points at the end wins, and they'll be treated to a luxurious hot pot feast and get priority information on their current rankings."

This sounded like a thrilling game. To sum it up: it's all about causing chaos.

A contestant raised a hand, "Teacher, how are the teams determined?"

Fu Jinxiao, who had been languidly standing, replied, "By random draw. Come up in order."

With the teams being random, former friends might become foes. Many contestants exchanged knowing glances and mischievous smiles with their pals.

Shen Xingchen told Jian Xingsui, "Make sure you draw the same color as I do, okay?"

Jian Xingsui bluntly said, "It’s all down to luck. There's no guarantee."

"How do you know we won't get it?" Shen Xingchen retorted, "Can our luck really be that bad?"

"..."

As everyone took their turn drawing, Jian Xingsui pulled a blue ball from the bucket. Shen Xingchen, predictably, drew a red one.

With a resigned grin, Jian Xingsui remarked, "Told you."

"How did this happen?" The young master frowned at the red ball. With a threatening gaze towards Jian Xingsui, he put his hands on his hips and declared, "Fine, you're now my enemy, a traitor to our side. Just wait! I'll surely tear off your name tag!"

Jian Xingsui responded, "Why are you singling me out?"

Shen Xingchen stated with righteous indignation, "It's your fault for not drawing the same color as me."

...

Such a domineering character, impossible to reason with.

Once nearly all the participants had chosen their teams, the alliances began to emerge. As it turned out, Jian Xingsui had the worst luck of all; everyone in his dormitory had a red ball, leaving him as the sole blue. Furthermore, based on his observation, An Ran was also on the blue team.

A student inquired, "Mentor, are you all participating as well?"

Tu Ya smiled faintly and said, "Indeed, we are. Although we can't reveal our color to you just yet, what we can tell you is that our tags are worth double points."

At her words, the room went abuzz.

The participants were all astir. Double points! What was the production team thinking introducing such a twist?

The allure was immense. The mentors' tags were so valuable. Who could resist the temptation of a tag worth double points? But who would be audacious enough to try and snatch a mentor's tag? It would require guts of steel.

Meanwhile, the live audience grew increasingly excited:

"Things are heating up!"

"Hahaha, I'd love to see how Fu Ge takes off the tag."

"GKDGKD!"

The show's staff led everyone outside the gymnasium, announcing, "You'll be entering the gymnasium in batches based on the drawing order. All rooms and corridors inside will serve as your hiding spots. We're now activating the Star Bean exchange system. Those with Star Beans can exchange them for defensive weapons."

The table was laid out with a dazzling array of items.

From water guns, smoke grenades, glue, toy balls, telescopes, ropes, to bells; everything one could think of was available. Each item had its own Star Bean price, allowing those with more to buy more.

Shen Xingchen was arguably the wealthiest among them. He swiftly rallied his dorm mates and fellow trainees to form a small team. They were in the midst of allocating resources, having purchased a wide range of tools. In contrast, Jian Xingsui, being less affluent, deliberated for a moment and settled for just one smoke grenade.

Teacher Li announced, "Countdown: 10 seconds. The game is about to commence...!"

The atmosphere on-site grew palpably tense.

Jian Xingsui was among the second batch to enter. The vast hall was eerily empty, not a soul in sight. However, faint wails seemed to emanate from the third floor. Before long, a female announcer's voice echoed throughout the gymnasium, "Participant number 57, Zhang Jian Shen, is eliminated. Red team gains one point."

Someone's tag had already been torn off.

Jian Xingsui glanced at the blue tag on his waist and sighed deeply. From what he knew, almost everyone who entered the gymnasium in the first two batches had formed teams. Only he was acting solo. It would be unrealistic to confront them head-on, so his best strategy was to lay low.

"I need to find a place to hide," he thought.

The first place that came to his mind was the cafeteria.

The seats there are numerous. If someone were to come in, even if they treaded carefully, they would likely disturb something. This would serve as a warning. Furthermore, the kitchen has multiple exits, so even if he's discovered, escape would be viable. Plus, the open vantage point of the kitchen provides a balance of offense and defense.

Having made up his mind, Jian Xingsui didn't hesitate and promptly made his way to the kitchen. The third group of students hadn't entered yet, so it wasn't too crowded. All he needed to do was remain cautious and avoid any members of the red team.

Taking the elevator was out of the question; someone might be guarding it.

Instead of using the main staircase, Jian Xingsui chose an almost-abandoned stairwell on the other side and ascended with swift, light steps, trying his best not to pant too loudly. After a narrow escape, he finally made it to the kitchen. Just as he was contemplating the best place to hide, suddenly—"Creak."

The sound of the door opening echoed through the room.

Turning around, Jian Xingsui locked eyes with An Ran who had just entered. For a moment, an awkward silence settled between the two.

An Ran chuckled softly and pointed to the tag around his waist, "Don't be alarmed. I'm on the blue team too."

Jian Xingsui eyed him warily, but An Ran sought to reassure him, "We're on the same side now, Xingsui. Don't you trust me?"

Jian Xingsui remained in place, "Are you planning to hide here as well?"

"That was the initial plan," An Ran responded, his delicate features and fair complexion giving off an innocent, vulnerable air. He said gently, "But perhaps I'll find somewhere else now."

Both of them had cameras mounted on their heads.

Even though there was no cameraman following them directly, the entire venue was filled with surveillance cameras for live broadcasting. An Ran's words at this moment felt rather disingenuous.

Jian Xingsui spoke up, "You can stay here if you'd like. I never said you couldn't."

An Ran, however, gave a knowing smile and shook his head, looking as though he was being chased away, "I should leave. It'll be harder for you to hide with both of us here."

Without another word, Jian Xingsui turned around to find a good hiding spot.

They were allies now, and it was indeed not necessary to doubt each other excessively. At this point, Jian Xingsui understood that he couldn't rely on anyone but himself.

As An Ran stood outside, before leaving the cafeteria, he seemed to have a second thought and didn't shut the door completely. Instead, he left a very slim gap, one that might be hard to discern through a camera.

...

Shortly after,

The third group entered the venue.

Shen Xingchen, with Ning Ze and Wen Shengge in tow, rushed to the second floor. He motioned grandly, sounding every bit like a bandit leader, "Search everywhere!"

They primarily scoured the library and practice rooms. Throughout this period, mechanical announcements resonated:

"Student number 32 is out. Blue team earns a point."

"Student number 5, Jia Chi, is out. Blue team earns a point."

"Student number 6..."

After hearing these updates, Shen Xingchen muttered in frustration, "A bunch of useless fools. Looks like it's up to me. I refuse to believe that the blue team is that competent. Just wait till I run into them."

Wen Shengge approached, reporting, "Couldn't find anyone."

A group of people happened to be passing by the cafeteria.

Shen Xingchen muttered in frustration, "Where has Jian Xingsui gone?"

Wen Shengge replied, "Probably hiding somewhere."

"That kid really knows how to hide." Shen Xingchen huffed, pausing in his stride as he approached the cafeteria, "Is the cafeteria open today? Why is the door ajar?"

Ning Ze commented, "Someone might be inside."

Shen Xingchen, sensing an opportunity, excitedly said, "Let's check it out!"

The entrance was thrust open, and Shen Xingchen swaggered in, giving an obstructive chair nearby a kick. The loud noise echoed in the cafeteria. Behind him, three or four others followed, searching diligently. Just as they were about to discover Jian Xingsui's hiding spot, a nimble figure slipped out from beside a cabinet and sprinted towards the back door.

Wen Shengge shouted, "He's escaping!"

Shen Xingchen readied his water gun, "Why are you running!?"

In Jian Xingsui's mind, he thought, 'Isn't it obvious? I'm not waiting around to get ambushed.' Fortunately, the back door led to a secluded stairwell. He ran incredibly fast, his recent dance training paying off as his feet seemed to breeze through, taking two to three steps at a time.

Shen Xingchen yelled from behind, "Are you a horse? How can you run so fast!?"

Jian Xingsui quickly outpaced them by a floor. As he was about to breathe a sigh of relief after turning a corner, he encountered another group of the red team. They stared at each other in surprise for a few seconds until Li Xu'an shouted, "Catch him!"

Jian Xingsui bolted.

Desperate, he headed upwards without a clear path. If he stopped, he risked being caught. Nearing the rooftop, in a split-second decision, Jian Xingsui jumped, grabbing the half-protruding staircase, scrambling up and quickly shutting the rooftop hatch behind him.

"Phew..."

Sweat poured down like raindrops onto the hatch. Now, catching his breath and slumping to the ground, Jian Xingsui looked up and locked eyes with a man standing atop the roof, casually smoking.

Jian Xingsui's expression froze.

Fu Jinxi leaned against the railing, the famous actor in his casual attire exuded an air of languid sensuality. His long legs crossed casually, a cigarette held between slender fingers. He exhaled a stream of smoke, his chin raised, the play of light and shadow highlighting his handsome, mature face.

Jian Xingsui swallowed hard.

Fu Jinxi raised an eyebrow, "What are you...?"

Before Jian Xingsui could answer, a knocking sound emanated from the hatch, and Shen Xingchen's voice shouted, "Jian Xingsui, open up! I know you're in there. What are you doing? Keeping a secret lover? If you're bold enough to have a clandestine meeting, then open the door!"

"..."

The corner of Jian Xingsui's mouth twitched.

Not too far away, Fu Jinxi, after hearing this, directed a menacing, foreboding smile towards the hatch.

Oblivious to who was on the other side and the impending danger, Shen Xingchen continued to rant.

Seeing the hatch about to give way, Jian Xingsui frantically turned to Fu Jinxiao, "Mr. Fu, we should run!"

Fu Jinxiao raised an eyebrow, "Run?"

Unlike them, Shen Xingchen, a popular contestant, had a cameraman following him. Jian Xingsui hurriedly explained, "Once they get up here and see you smoking, it'll look bad. The internet will surely make a big deal out of it. It won't be good for your reputation. While the hatch is still shut, let’s escape!"

Fu Jinxiao opened his mouth to respond, but the hatch was already starting to loosen.

The renowned actor initially wanted to assert he wasn’t afraid of being filmed. However, the protective Jian Xingsui had already sprinted over, anxiously grabbing Fu Jinxiao’s hand to flee, "I remember there's an emergency exit on this roof! We need to hurry, Xingsui has a water gun!"

The hatch clattered, its resistance faltering.

Shen Xingchen was the first to climb up. Because he was always chasing Jian Xingsui, the usually unnoticed Jian now constantly had a camera on him. Scanning the roof and not spotting his target, Shen commanded, "He must've gone through the other exit! Chase him!"

The crowd scrambled towards the other corridor.

Jian Xingsui, pulling Fu Jinxiao along, descended and before steadying himself, saw a group approaching from the corridor.

From a distance, Shen Xingchen started firing his water gun, "Where will you run to now? Found yourself an ally? No matter, I’ll capture you both!"

As water sprayed towards them, Jian Xingsui swiftly pulled Fu Jinxiao further, fortunately finding an open door in a nearby corner. They rushed in, closing it behind them. Soon, the hurried footsteps outside indicated Shen Xingchen's group had moved on.

Jian Xingsui sighed in relief, "Finally, they're gone."

A languid voice from the side inquired, "Is it over?"

Catching his breath, Jian Xingsui nodded, "It's over."

"Then can you let go?" teased Fu Jinxiao.

Jian Xingsui froze, looking down to find he was still gripping the actor's hand. He had been too panicked to notice earlier. Feeling the warmth between their intertwined fingers, he quickly released it, stammering an apology, "I'm so sorry!"

Fu Jinxiao withdrew his slightly reddened hand, leisurely commenting, "There's nothing to apologize for. Just be gentler next time. I won't disappear. Why the tight grip?"

Next time...

For some reason, Jian Xingsui felt his heart race, flustered and at a loss for words.

Fu Jinxiao, appearing quite relaxed, noted, "Why is your back wet?"

"Huh?" Jian Xingsui realized and said, "I think I got hit by water."

As they spoke, the returning footsteps of Shen Xingchen echoed, his grumbling voice apparent, completely nonchalant about his pursuit. Jian Xingsui tensed up again.

Fu Jinxiao, his dark eyes narrowing, exuding danger, discarded his cigarette. With a suggestive smirk, he asked the anxious Jian Xingsui beside him, "Feel like fighting back?"

Jian Xingsui blinked in surprise, "Huh?"

Fu Jinxiao pressed, "I'm asking you."

"I do want to," Jian Xingsui hesitated, "but I can’t take on all of them by myself."

Fu Jinxiao chuckled, "Am I not a person?"

It took a moment for Jian Xingsui to realize what he meant. With widened eyes, he was astonished, never expecting that the one partner he'd team up with would be his own mentor!

But a concern lingered. Jian Xingsui said worriedly, "Your tag counts as double points. If they become aggressive, I fear we won't be able to withstand it, especially given their weapons..."

As he rambled on, Fu Jinxiao simply watched him silently.

them

Had Jian Xingsui already subconsciously decided they were on the same team?

Had he forgotten that Fu Jinxiao's tag could also earn him points?

Seeing Jian Xingsui's earnestness, a faint smile crept onto Fu Jinxiao's face. Before Jian Xingsui could speak again, a gentle hand came to ruffle his hair. Looking down at him, Fu Jinxiao calmly asked, "Do you think I would lose?"

Jian Xingsui was left speechless.

When he looked up, he met the gaze of the strikingly handsome Fu Jinxiao, who wore a soft yet predatory smile – that of a hunter confident in his imminent catch.

"Often, it's not about having more people, but using your brain," Fu Jinxiao said, tapping lightly on Jian Xingsui's head.

Turning around, it was clear they were in the show's prop room.

The room seemed to have little of importance, just some stage props like dresses and fans. But then Fu Jinxiao approached a wall, taking a white fox mask and donning it. It lent him an air of mystery and charisma. He turned back and asked, "How does it look?"

Jian Xingsui nodded enthusiastically, "It looks great."

Fu Jinxiao then inquired, "Do you have someone else's tag?"

Indeed, Jian Xingsui did. He had snatched it from someone during his escape and was now holding it tightly in his pocket.

Fu Jinxiao stretched out his hand, "Hand it over."

Without hesitation, Jian Xingsui complied.

Accepting the tag, Fu Jinxiao smirked, "You trust me so easily. What if I took this and ran?"

With unwavering confidence, Jian Xingsui responded, "You wouldn't."

...

A brief silence filled the room.

Fu Jinxiao looked deep into Jian Xingsui's eyes. Without uttering a word, he leaned down, placing the stolen tag on Jian Xingsui, then said, "Let's find a way to your dorm. Get me a set of your training uniform."

Realizing Fu Jinxiao's intentions, Jian Xingsui exclaimed in surprise, "You... you're going to...?"

"Yes," Fu Jinxiao responded, twirling the mask in his hand. At that moment, his usual languid eyes seemed to hold a hint of murderous intent. With a slow and deliberate tone, he said, "Let's go and meet them."

For some reason, a chill ran down Jian Xingsui's spine upon hearing those words.

Despite knowing they were outnumbered, he suddenly felt an urge to light a candle for Shen Xingchen out of sympathy.