Chapter 39
When the results were finally announced, Gao Jingxing, Gu Ningyan, and Hu Yue occupied the top three spots, which was widely expected.
What left others in awe was that out of the top five, four trainees were from Shengyue, justifying the company's reputation as the industry leader.
Out of the initial hundred participants, half were now about to leave. The trainees, who had shared a little over a month together, were suddenly overwhelmed by a sense of sorrow. This was not only for their departing companions but also for themselves who were still here.
Who could guarantee that they wouldn't be the next ones to leave?
With the significant change in personnel, the trainees left were given their second public performance task. This time it was a team battle, with five songs to choose from. Ten trainees could select the same song, but once a team was full, no more members could be added. Each team was divided into groups A and B to compete against each other. The mentors would decide which group from each song would perform on stage.
That meant, out of those choosing the same song, only one group could perform on stage. The other group could only practice their performance.
As the previous first-place holder, Gao Jingxing had the advantage of choosing the song and teammates first. Gu Ningyan was chosen for his team, while Hu Yue and Ling Rong formed another team.
The practice this time directly determined whether they could perform on the stage in a few days. So, every group was practicing like their lives depended on it.
After dinner, Ling Rong went to the dormitory first to rest. Initially, seeing Gu Ningyan still lying in bed, she didn't think much of it. She assumed he was just tired from the intense training and was taking a break. However, when she prepared to return to the training room and Gu Ningyan was still lying there, she realized something was wrong.
Typically, Gu Ningyan would never stay in bed later than Ling Rong. Also, the fact that he hadn't spoken to her since she entered the dorm was unusual.
Pushing aside her concern that her teammates were waiting for her to train, Ling Rong quickly walked over to his bed. She lifted the blanket that was covering his face and saw his usually handsome and fair face was now flushed red. Gu Ningyan's heavy breathing was quite noticeable, despite the disturbance, he didn't even open his eyes.
Was he...running a fever?!
Ling Rong put her hand on his forehead and, sure enough, felt an extremely high temperature. This was not good. Ignoring that Gu Ningyan was still asleep, Ling Rong hurriedly tried to wake him, "Ningyan, Ningyan?"
"Hmm?" A thick nasal sound came from Gu Ningyan’s nose. His head felt like it was about to explode, but the familiar voice beside him forced him to wake up.
Ling Rong was calling him, he couldn't let her worry too much.
"What time is it? I should go for training now." Gu Ningyan struggled to sit up from the bed, but Ling Rong quickly pushed him back down.
"Training? You're about to work yourself into the ground and you still want to train!" Ling Rong raised her voice, annoyed that he didn't know how to care for himself. She knew he was the kind of person who wouldn't rest unless he was unconscious from high fever. She also understood how important this opportunity was for him, but as long as she was there, she wouldn't let him ruin his health.
"Stay put. I'll let Gao Jingxing know shortly. Rest for a night, regain your health, and then you can continue training the next day". Ling Rong stressed the main points.
"It's alright, I'm just somewhat allergic to those poplar fluffs." It was the peak season for the white poplar fluffs outside and Gu Ningyan has always been allergic. His body was protesting due to the intense training and he had forgotten to wear a mask. Consequently, he had fallen ill at such a critical time.
"An allergy? Then it seems I'll need to get you some more allergy medication." Ling Rong said while fixing Gu Ningyan's blankets. She began gathering her things, preparing to leave for the only pharmacy in the training center.
"No need, don't delay your training!" Gu Ningyan intended to sit up and stop Ling Rong but underestimated the extent of his weakness, falling back down powerlessly.
"Tsk." Gu Ningyan felt disgusted by his helplessness. He thought Ling Rong would just bring up the matter while she was training, but if she had to go out of her way, Gu Ningyan would be unwilling.
The pharmacy in the training center was quite far from their dormitory, almost near the exit. It would take a lot of time to make the round trip.
"Why are you so stubborn when you're sick? Be good, listen to me, alright?" Ling Rong thought he really resembled a child when ill, needing constant coaxing. Comfortingly, she touched Gu Ningyan's cheek and fixed the sliding blanket again.
"You rest first, and obey. Otherwise, I'll call the instructor here."
Afraid of causing trouble for others, Gu Ningyan immediately fell silent upon hearing the threat. His dark eyes had reddened due to sickness, and seeing the usually aloof man watching you with red, pitiful eyes could soften anyone's heart.
"Alright, alright. Don't overthink. Just rest. I promise I'll be quick and won't waste any time, okay?" As she said those reassuring words, Ling Rong took off a small silver lock she had always worn around her neck and placed it on Gu Ningyan's.
"This is a safety lock my family got for me. I'm lending it to you for now, and when you get better, you can return it to me."
It was because of the original host's childhood fortune-telling that Ling's parents were afraid for their daughter's days being numbered, so they spent a lot of money to create this safety lock, hoping to prolong her life and ensure she grows up safely.
The silver lock on Gu Ningyan's neck was directly in contact with his skin, and as soon as he put it on, he could feel the warmth of its previous owner originating from the lock. Realizing that it must be Ling Rong's body temperature, Gu Ningyan's feverish cheeks felt even hotter for a moment.
However, the small silver lock surprisingly calmed him down, and he was no longer feeling restless.
"Thank you, Ling Rong," Gu Ningyan muttered his gratitude, feeling as if the silver lock on his chest weighed a thousand pounds.
"Alright, I'll head out for a bit and be back soon. Behave, and if I don't see you lying in bed when I return, you can forget about training tomorrow."
After her fierce words, Ling Rong put on a coat and left, not seeing how the man on the bed carefully picked up the silver lock she had given him, kissing it with reverence on the edge of his lips.
Gu Ningyan had long realized his feelings for Ling Rong.
Despite constantly reminding himself that he shouldn't fall for a man of the same gender, Gu Ningyan couldn't stop his heart from almost leaping out whenever he saw Ling Rong.
He even once tried to deceive himself into thinking he should hate Ling Rong since, as someone without a background, Gu Ningyan should be most against someone like Ling Rong who relied on connections.
Yet, how could he deceive himself about love?
Gu Ningyan was well aware that his love must remain hidden, carefully cradled in his palms, not expecting it to bloom or bear fruit, but only hoping for it to stay at the current level forever.
Ling Rong was only twenty years old, and he was already twenty-six. Ling Rong evidently came from an extraordinary background, while he was nothing more than an ordinary guy who bore a responsibility. If not for this program, they never would have crossed paths as they were at opposite ends of life.
This is why he never regretted coming to the show "Cheer Up, Idol" and was even thankful because it helped him meet Ling Rong.
Even though he would never let his feelings for her see the light of day.
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Meanwhile, Ling Rong, who had already gone to the teaching building, visited the group where Gao Jingxing worked and asked for leave on Gu Ningyan's behalf. "Brother Jingxing, Ningyan has a fever, so I let him skip training tonight. Don't wait for him. Just start without him."
"A fever? Is it serious? Does he need to go to the hospital?" Although Gao Jingxing was somewhat younger than Gu Ningyan, he was used to being a team captain role, so he immediately started to worry about his team member.
He knew Gu Ningyan's character quite well. Both of them were similar, if they weren't genuinely unable to move due to illness, they would never miss a training session.
Gu Ningyan wasn't really that sick; it was just that Gao Jingxing didn't anticipate Ling Rong's interference.
"He looks weak and doesn't want to go to the hospital, so I allowed him to rest. I'll go pick up some medicine for him later, and I wanted to let you guys know beforehand."
"Alright then, tell him not to worry too much. We can manage without him," reassured Gao Jingxing. If the sick party wasn't willing to go to the hospital, Gao Jingxing couldn't push. He could only persist in urging rest.
"Very wise, Brother Jingxing," nodded Ling Rong, presenting a sweet smile as he bid the group goodbye. His delicate, charming look with a cute smile was impossible to dislike, clearly living up to his nickname given by Hu Yue. It was truly like a little prince who deserved to be cherished and held dearly.
After everyone left, Qiao Lin, who was in the same group, couldn't hold back his chattering mouth. "Just now, Ling Rong really looked like Gu Ningyan's wife worrying whether he'd rest properly while sick, buying drugs for him and asking for leave on his behalf."
Aren't these actions typical of one person in a couple? What's more, with Ling Rong's delicate and petite demeanor, he could easily be seen as the wife figure.
"Stop saying rubbish," Gao Jingxing reprimanded, nudging Qiao Lin's arm, signaling him to be mindful in front of the camera.
Qiao Lin let out a disappointed sigh, insisting on his point of view that there was no rubbish in his words.
After leaving Gao Jingxing and his team's training room, Ling Rong went to his own training room to inform his teammates before heading to the pharmacy at a quicker pace to get antibiotics and fever reducers.
As he walked out of the pharmacy with a bag in hand, he suddenly heard someone calling his name loudly.
"Ling Rong! Ling Rong! I really like you! We've been standing here all day, could you please look back at us?"
Fans were yelling outside, specifically his fans. After taking some time to digest, Ling Rong recognized that the girls standing at the training center gate waving banners and holding cameras were his fans.
Ling Rong had only gradually understood the concept of fans after entering the training center. Sometimes, he couldn't comprehend why a group of girls would willingly do unrewarded deeds for another group of strangers. From the day they entered the training center, both their managers and the selection officials had warned them to keep their distance from these fans.
Watching these young girls desperately shout for her to turn around, as well as their caring and supportive cheers, Ling Rong suddenly felt a wave of inexplicable emotion and melancholy.
These fans were originally just unrelated strangers. Was it really worth devoting so much time and money to someone they didn't know well?
But Ling Rong also understood that as an idol and celebrity, she couldn't do without the support of these fans.
Who would give unconditionally if it wasn't out of genuine love?
Hearing the girls shouting, hoping she would come closer, Ling Rong's desire to leave vanished, and she turned towards the training center gate.
"Ah! Ling Rong! She's coming towards us!"
As Ling Rong's fans screamed in excitement, a beautiful androgynous teenager wearing the training center's uniform coat was already standing in front of them, with a pair of alluring lips forming a perfect curve.
"Hello, I'm Ling Rong."
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