Upon returning to the dormitory, Jian Xingsui found Wen Shengge packing his belongings.

Seeing Jian Xingsui, Wen Shengge offered a warm smile, "Xingsui, I'm leaving."

After a troubling call from his agent earlier, Jian Xingsui was already disheartened. Now seeing a longtime friend and roommate depart, he felt even more melancholic.

Taking a deep breath, Jian Xingsui said, "Let's keep in touch even after we leave."

Wen Shengge nodded, "Of course."

Shen Xingchen, sitting on the upper bunk, commented, "Don't worry. You'll be back for the group formation night."

His words shattered the previously warm atmosphere.

Holding his suitcase, Wen Shengge surveyed the room and said, "Even though I've been eliminated, I hope you all can go further. Don't be upset for me. My agent has already secured me some roles in web dramas. And I'll be joining other shows, so I'll manage. I feel relieved not having to pretend anymore in front of the audience."

He turned to Jian Xingsui and added, "I'm mostly concerned about you and Ze."

Ning Ze, seated on the bed's edge, spoke in a deep tone, "You don't need to worry about me."

"No," Wen Shengge shook his head, "Ze, you're already 28. You're the oldest among us. This show is your last chance. If you don't debut, you'll abandon the stage."

28 was indeed old for a male idol contestant.

Wen Shengge understood the struggles Ning Ze had endured over the years – his consistent eliminations despite his immense talent and passion for the stage.

"Starlight" was Ning Ze's last shot.

Wen Shengge continued, "Ze, never give up. And try to grab more screen time. I heard that one of the debut spots is still open for the most popular contestant. Fight for it, okay?"

A faint smile crossed Ning Ze's face, and he nodded.

Wen Shengge then addressed Jian Xingsui, "Actually, Xingsui, you're the one I'm most worried about."

Jian Xingsui softly asked, "Why?"

"You have always been under immense pressure. Your company doesn't back you fully, and your journey ahead is tough. You internalize everything, and I often see you lost in thoughts. But remember to have confidence. When in doubt, seek advice. Ze and Chen are trustworthy, okay?"

Wen Shengge's heartfelt words nearly brought tears to Jian Xingsui's eyes.

Jian Xingsui felt a pang in his nose, murmuring softly, "I understand, please take care too."

Shen Xingchen, sitting on the bed above, remarked, "Don't make it sound like we're never going to see each other again. After this show, we can still meet up regularly."

Yet, deep down, everyone knew that once they left the show, their statuses and circumstances would differ significantly. The days when they could live together in the same dormitory, filled with laughter, were becoming rare.

Such goodbyes were happening in every dorm.

Before the contestants had time to adjust, the next day began with song selection and team formation. All contestants were gathered, waiting for their turn to choose.

Arriving at the assembly square, the usually crowded place suddenly felt spacious. Where people would usually complain about the tight space, now, few looked happy despite the room.

The mentors were already in position.

Fu Jinxiao usually wore a white tracksuit, but today he sported a black one. The black loose jacket made him look steady, adding a touch of scholarly elegance. His hair was more relaxed, with a few strands over his ears and a natural, fluffy look. He wore gold-rimmed glasses today, presenting himself as a retro, refined gentleman.

A man who, while capable of thriving on looks alone, chose to rely on talent. This was a thought that crossed every contestant's mind.

Fu Jinxiao took the microphone, "Is everyone here?"

The participants snapped to attention, echoing, "We're all here!"

Fu Jinxiao acknowledged, then began, "Firstly, congratulations on advancing to the second stage. However, this is no time to relax. What you face ahead will be even more grueling training and stricter selection. From today, I hope you all realize the magnitude of this and prepare yourselves mentally."

When he was serious, no one dared not to be.

The contestants, in this moment, put aside their wandering thoughts, standing at attention and responding, "Understood!"

Only then did Teacher Li step forward to lighten the mood, announcing, "Today, we're selecting songs for the second round. This round is different from the previous one; we've introduced team competitions. Also, we've added a special group for original compositions."

Many contestants seemed excited at this news.

"The composition group is unique. They don't get to choose a song; they must write and compose it themselves within seven days. If you opt for this group, be prepared," Teacher Li cautioned, "If you can't finish within these seven days, remember we'll still broadcast live. Whatever consequences arise, you'll need to bear them. Don't gamble with your future on a mere 'let's try'."

The online audience chuckled:

"Classic comedic Teacher Li."

"A trial that leads to demise."

"Whoever chooses this group must be so brave."

Fu Jinxiao took the mic, and as he did, the hall quieted significantly — such was the authority of the Film Emperor Fu.

The Film Emperor scanned the crowd, announcing, "Let's start. Based on your rankings for this stage, choose your group and song."

This rule was undoubtedly favorable for those with higher ranks.

Li Xu'an was the first to step forward, opting for the composition group.

Shen Xingchen, who ranked second, chose a song and dance number that suited him well. Knowing his own strengths and weaknesses, he wisely avoided embarrassing himself in areas he wasn't strong in, particularly songwriting.

When it was Jian Xingsui's turn, he chose the songwriting group without a hint of hesitation.

Tuya nodded in approval, revealing a satisfied smile. She had always believed in Jian Xingsui's songwriting prowess. The first stage didn't highlight his skills well, and he was even criticized for his dancing. Now, with the creation of a dedicated songwriting group, it was the perfect opportunity for him to showcase his talent.

Jian Xingsui took his place in the songwriting group line-up.

Li Xu'an greeted with a smile, "Looking forward to our collaboration."

Jian Xingsui responded with a handshake.

Unexpectedly, the songwriting group became highly sought-after. The fourth-ranked, An Ran, joined the group without a second thought and cheerily greeted, "Here I am."

Jian Xingsui responded with a smile of his own.

His previous apprehension towards An Ran had diminished over time. Through shared experiences, their relationship had grown calmer.

Zhou Xun, whose rank wasn't low, unsurprisingly followed An Ran into the songwriting group. The remaining two were unfamiliar faces to Jian Xingsui.

This diverse group of six was set to embark on an unpredictable journey together.

Once everyone was settled in their designated training room, they sat down for introductions.

The two newcomers introduced themselves:

"Hello, I'm Zhang Jiajia. I love singing."

"Hey, I'm Zuo An. I'm into rapping, street dancing, and I write songs too."

Jian Xingsui and the others followed with their introductions.

As the highest-ranked member, Li Xu'an exuded confidence. Before even electing a leader, he started giving directions, "We've all gone through the first round and are somewhat familiar with each other. With only seven days, we have to be efficient. We all chose this group, meaning we have ideas. Let's decide on a theme and collaborate. Thoughts?"

Zhou Xun interjected, "Shouldn't we elect a team leader first?"

With confidence, Li Xu'an responded, "Let's vote then. I have experience leading. I believe I can guide us well."

An Ran smiled gently, "I also think Brother Xu'an is suitable."

In the past, Jian Xingsui might have agreed without hesitation.

However, knowing that this might be his last chance to shine on stage changed everything for him.

In countless unknown nights, the emotions he couldn't express were captured on paper. He had written many songs that remained unheard, collecting dust on a shelf.

In a previous life, while An Ran shone brightly, Jian Xingsui faded into the shadows. This time, he knew he might not be the star, but he wanted this last opportunity to sing his own songs in front of everyone, including the esteemed Fu Yingdi.

Wen Shengge had once told him, "Live well on my behalf."

He wanted to give his all for this last stage performance, to be true to himself and to those who held hope for him.

Jian Xingsui raised his hand, declaring, "I'd like to run for team leader as well."

The group shifted their gaze to him in surprise.

Taking a deep breath, Jian Xingsui voiced his ambitions, "I have experience in songwriting and composing. Please believe in me and grant me this chance."

Li Xu'an met his eyes, chuckling, "We all have experience, young Jian."

Jian Xingsui pressed his lips together.

An Ran, sitting nearby, spoke up after seeing Jian's intent to run, "Xingsui, Brother Xu'an is seasoned in this field. He's created numerous songs. You've just graduated not too long ago. Compared to him, you surely lack some experience."

Jian Xingsui remained steadfast, "Although I've just graduated, I believe I'm not far behind the others..."

After hearing this, Zhou Xun scoffed, proposing with a hint of provocation, "In that case, how about both you and Brother Xu'an produce a song in a day, and we'll vote. Problem solved?"

Jian Xingsui knew that Zhou Xun, An Ran, and the other two were acquainted.

They wouldn't vote for him.

But this was his last chance. Left with no alternatives, he simply nodded, "Alright."

For Li Xu'an, this was a precarious situation. His songwriting prowess wasn't particularly impressive. Most of his previous songs were ghostwritten. His decision to run for team leader had a backup plan: to covertly use a song prepared outside by his agent. This would further solidify his reputation as a talented musician.

But Zhou Xun's sudden proposal caught him off guard. Where would he find a song on such short notice?

...

Oblivious to the behind-the-scenes machinations, Jian Xingsui settled into a corner to begin his work.

An Ran tried to reassure Li Xu'an, "Brother Xu'an, just do your best. I believe in you."

Li Xu'an managed a strained smile.

With no other option, he sat down at the computer, feigning the act of songwriting. While he found distractions, Jian Xingsui seemed entirely engrossed in his work, often sitting motionless for hours.

By evening, most contestants had departed, except for Jian Xingsui.

Around 4 or 5 in the morning, a weary Li Xu'an approached him, "Xingsui, don't you need rest?"

Pulled from his reverie, Jian Xingsui smiled, "No need. Brother Xu'an, you should rest. I'm not tired."

At that moment, Li Xu'an perceived a resilience and determination in Jian Xingsui, a somewhat frightening dedication that seemed to say, 'I'll give it my all, even if it costs everything.'

"..."

Was this second competition truly so crucial for him?

Li Xu'an couldn't fathom it but, having committed, he had to press on.

The next day.

When the day's deadline arrived, six of them gathered. Both Jian Xingsui, who was competing for the position of captain, and Li Xu'an presented their composed pieces. Li Xu'an's song was a more intense number titled "Battle Peak."

Its lyrics were quite aggressive.

Most of its verses were cool, paralleled sentences, exuding a dominant and swaggering aura when listened to.

On the other hand, Jian Xingsui's song was named "Glimmer."

When everyone received this song based on its title, they assumed it would be about emotions. However, to their surprise, the song's lyrics were understated yet powerful. What was even more unexpected was a part tailored for rap. There was no overt usage of forceful language, but it still managed to evoke a profound sense of emotion.

"Perhaps I'm just a glimmer, but I still wish to light up your path."

"Maybe I'm but a gleam, yet I hope to shine brilliantly for you."

"Among the myriad stars you see, I might be just a flicker, but I'll shine for you in the darkest night, illuminating your solitude."

"In moments of solitude,"

"No matter where I am, I'll bloom, providing you an endless glimmer."

The simple lyrics conveyed an overwhelming power. The choice became clear; Jian Xingsui's "Glimmer" resonated more.

Li Xu'an smiled subtly, saying, "I've got some ideas for arranging 'Battle Peak'. Plus, we'll have teachers guiding us later."

The statement sounded almost like a hint for lobbying votes.

An Ran placed the lyrics sheet down with a meaningful look towards Jian Xingsui, commenting, "I find 'Battle Peak' appealing too."

Zhou Xun, engrossed in "Glimmer," heard An Ran and finally put down the sheet, stating, "I support 'Battle Peak' too. It's really invigorating."

The other two students preferred "Glimmer," but seeing the majority leaning towards "Battle Peak," they followed suit.

Jian Xingsui, holding his songbook, asserted, "I might not have arranged 'Glimmer' yet, but I can tailor it according to everyone's preferences."

He was still trying to fight for his cause.

But he soon realized that the group's decision wasn't about the song arrangements.

The two other participants tried to placate the situation, jesting, "No worries! It's even less hassle for you now, isn't it? Xu'an has already planned out 'Battle Peak' for us."

Jian Xingsui clutched his lyrics book, reluctant to let go.

It was a product of his dedication, something he wanted to showcase to the audience and everyone else.

Li Xu'an started setting the direction, saying, "Since we've decided, let's start collaborating. Xingsui, why don't you help me refine some lyrics for 'Battle Peak'? There are parts I think could be better."

Realizing the inevitability of the situation, Jian Xingsui reluctantly joined the team.

In terms of division of labor, Li Xu'an assigned Zhou Xun the task of choreography, while An Ran and Jian Xingsui were in charge of the music arrangement. Others provided support. However, issues arose swiftly. "Battle Peak" had difficult lyrics to memorize, high vocal demands, and challenging choreography, all of which compounded Zhou Xun's task.

Around three or four in the morning, Jian Xingsui arrived at the training room from the dormitory.

"Creak."

The door opened, and he stepped in.

Zhou Xun, hiding in the corner and smoking, was startled and dropped his cigarette.

Jian Xingsui shot him a penetrating glance, saying, "Pick that up quickly, don't scorch the floor."

Recovering, Zhou Xun hesitated, "You're not going to report this to the production team, are you?"

The show's regulations strictly forbade contestants from smoking during training, especially in the practice rooms. The surveillance would be turned off for a while at dawn, and taking advantage of this, Zhou Xun, under immense stress, sneaked a smoke.

Jian Xingsui responded flatly, "I have better things to do."

Zhou Xun paused, watching Jian Xingsui sit down at the computer desk, he queried, "What brings you here in the dead of night?"

Putting on headphones, Jian Xingsui began adjusting the song, replying, "We only have five days left out of seven. I need to complete the arrangement so you can choreograph. I noticed you've been struggling."

Zhou Xun, known for his fiery temperament, retorted, "How is that my fault? The chorus of this song is so intricate and energetic. The choreography has to match!"

"I know, that's why I'm hurrying with the arrangement," Jian replied.

Zhou Xun was surprised. Despite all the challenges he posed, Jian was still committed to the performance and seemed to be indirectly assisting him.

Hesitatingly, he asked, "Why are you helping me?"

"I'm not helping you. I'm helping myself," Jian said confidently, "Master Fu once said, 'You only have one shot on stage. Seize every opportunity, regardless of the outcome.'"

Zhou Xun was taken aback.

Sitting next to Jian Xingsui, he began to see him in a different light. His prior antagonism seemed misplaced, especially now that Jian had the chance to rat him out but chose not to.

Recalling "Weiguang" (Micro-glow), a spark ignited in Zhou Xun's mind, "Have you arranged 'Weiguang'?"

Jian paused, then nodded, "Yes."

"Would you sing it for me?" Zhou Xun said teasingly, "There's no one else around."

He meant it as a jest, but Jian took it seriously.

Removing his headphones and retrieving the song's sheet, Jian began to hum. His voice, deep yet clear, resonated with genuine emotion. As Tuya once said, he had a unique charm.

Under the dim light, his expression was gentle yet powerful.

The melodious tunes, initially soothing, eventually became invigorating. Entranced, Zhou Xun found himself envisioning choreography for "Weiguang", sensing it could create an enchanting stage.

Finishing, Jian remarked, "That's it."

Yearning for more, Zhou Xun murmured, "It's over already?"

"Exactly." Jian Xingsui set the lyric book aside, no longer meeting his eyes. "You smoked. It'll harm your voice tomorrow. I have throat lozenges in the drawer. Feel free to take one."

Zhou Xun opened the drawer to find the lozenges. Popping one into his mouth, the sweet and sharp taste unfurled.

It reminded him of Jian Xingsui – outwardly stern, but upon closer inspection, there seemed to be a hidden sweetness.

Zhou Xun was taken aback by his own thoughts.

Jian Xingsui, noticing Zhou still holding the candy box, reminded, "Put it back once you're done."

Because Fu Jinxiao always had throat issues, Jian kept lozenges on hand, hoping to help his idol should the need arise.

Reflecting, Zhou Xun said, "You're surprisingly caring. I never noticed that before."

With a self-deprecating smile, Jian replied, "How much did you really know about me before?"

Zhou Xun was momentarily stunned.

He had always pitied An Ran, seeing him as the struggling underdog while considering Jian as malevolent. Despite Jian's clear advantages, he seemed to make life hard for An Ran.

But with Jian's comment, Zhou realized he had based his opinions solely on An Ran's words. An Ran always claimed that Jian bullied him, yet Zhou had never witnessed it himself.

Zhou Xun felt conflicted, admitting, "...I guess I don't really know you."

"It doesn't matter," Jian remarked dismissively, "We're just strangers. No need to know."

This struck a chord in Zhou Xun. Was he wrong about Jian all this time?

If Jian wasn't as bad as he thought, then why did "Weiguang" not get chosen?

That night, as he continued reviewing his work, everything seemed off. He felt that without "Weiguang", they'd lose to other teams.

The next morning, An Ran noticed Zhou's mood and softly asked, "What's on your mind, Zhou Xun?"

Walking alongside An Ran, Zhou cautiously probed, "What do you think of Jian Xingsui's 'Weiguang'? Honestly, I find it quite impressive."

An Ran's smile faltered.

"I think it's mediocre. Not as good as Brother Zuoyan's version."

Zhou Xun frowned slightly, wondering, "Really?"

Seeing Zhou's doubt, An Ran felt a shift in the dynamics around him. From a certain point, it felt like things were spiraling out of his control. Yes, he had been reborn, with a past filled with glorious moments.

After being acknowledged by the Jian family, An Ran was enchanted by Fu Jinxiao's brilliance, which greatly benefited him in the "Star Show". His path in the entertainment industry seemed set.

Yet, an unexpected twist occurred when he introduced Fu Jinxiao to his deceased family member, Jian Xingsui, revealing the room of artifacts left behind. After this revelation, Fu Jinxiao's attitude towards him changed drastically.

Fu Jinxiao's growing distance felt like a fatal blow to An Ran.

It felt like from that moment, An Ran's luck ran out. He ended up marrying a businessman's son, living an ordinary life. Then, perhaps as a second chance from the heavens, he found himself back at this juncture in time.

This time, An Ran approached Fu Jin Xie with a heart set on winning him over.

From his past life, there were things he could never comprehend. Why did Fu Jin Xie's attitude towards him change so drastically after he revealed the relics? He might not have fully understood the reason, but he realized one thing: he should keep Jian Xing Sui away from himself and even further from Fu Jin Xie. An intuition warned him of the impending danger if he didn't.

Therefore, for the sake of Er Gong, Jian Xing Sui must be eliminated.

An Ran said to Zhou Xun, "Ah Xun, I think Xu An Ge's songs are really good. The other two seem to think so too. What's gotten into you, bringing this up all of a sudden?"

Zhou Xun sighed, "It's nothing."

Trying to change the subject, An Ran smiled, "You might be stressed. Let's head to the cafeteria for breakfast."

Zhou Xun replied, "But shouldn't we clean the training room early? The production team will have staff checking at 8 o'clock."

Preoccupied with his own thoughts, An Ran replied without much consideration, "It's no big deal. Jian Xing Sui will handle it. Isn't he always the one cleaning?"

"..."

The others fell silent.

Suddenly realizing his slip, An Ran looked back to meet Zhou Xun's deep gaze.

Stopping in his tracks, Zhou Xun inhaled deeply, "Ran Ran, you seem different now."

A pang of guilt struck An Ran.

"No task is inherently anyone's responsibility. Those cleaning chores weren't necessarily his job." Zhou Xun sighed deeply, "I always thought that you didn't help out in the morning because you were tired. Was it because you thought it was his duty?"

An Ran, feeling cornered but still wanting to defend himself, leaned closer, "Ah Xun, you misunderstood, let me explain..."

This time, Zhou Xun stepped back slightly.

Author's note: It's important to clarify that "Twilight" isn't an original song by Jian Xing Sui. It's just a fictional element for the story.

The original singer of "Twilight" is teacher Hua Chen Yu.

If there was any unintended offense, apologize to teacher Hua Chen Yu and his fans.