Chapter 46
When he didn't hear his brother's name called out as the thirtieth contestant, Gu Ningyan's heart sank. During the previous round of fifty to twenty-five, Mu Xiuyuan had barely made it in at fiftieth place. Would he be so lucky this time?
If Mu Xiuyuan was eliminated this time, then he would be the only one left from Bluebird Entertainment, and their dorm would have to be reshuffled again.
Gu Ningyan actually quite liked Mu Xiuyuan as a brother. It would be quite sad if they had to part ways here. At this time, Gu Ningyan couldn't help but envy Shengyue Entertainment. All five of their members had made it this far without a single elimination.
When Li Jingrong announced the tenth name, Mu Xiuyuan's name was still not called. Gu Ningyan knew that this time, his friend would truly be missing out on the next stage.
It would be impossible to say he didn't feel sorry for him.
Ling Rong seemed to sense his hidden emotions. While the camera wasn’t focused on their direction, she quickly held his hand. Although no words were spoken, Gu Ningyan also sensed Ling Rong’s intention to comfort him.
And Ling Rong was there with him… Thinking about this, Gu Ningyan’s initially low spirits lifted slightly. Now, as they approached the crucial moment, he needed to adjust his emotions. This was a rare opportunity, and he couldn’t afford to miss it.
Finally, the fifth position was announced, and it was still Sheng Yue’s Qi Haoran. The result remained unchanged from the previous round, and no one was surprised. However, when it came to the fourth position, Li Jingrong once again built up suspense.
“Ling Rong, do you think it will still be you?” Li Jingrong’s question caught everyone off guard. Was there going to be a major shake-up in the top four?
But if not Ling Rong, then who? Or had Ling Rong risen even higher?
In the eyes of others, the top four contestants had always been evenly matched in terms of skill, and their looks were equally heavenly. Ultimately, it came down to their individual popularity.
Facing Li Jingrong’s inquiry, Ling Rong remained calm. In front of the camera, she was always the photographer’s favorite — her expressions were impeccable, and her beauty was all-encompassing.
“I believe I’ve given my best effort,” Ling Rong replied calmly. As long as she had tried her hardest, she wouldn’t regret any outcome.
“Very well,” Li Jingrong merely smiled, leaving everyone guessing about what he was truly thinking.
“Now, I announce the fourth place…”
Li Jingrong abruptly hit the brakes again, creating tension among the audience.
“PD, just tell us already! You’re making us anxious!”
“It’s probably Ling Rong, otherwise PD wouldn’t ask like this.”
“The fourth-place contestant is from Shengyue Entertainment and is exceptionally good-looking,” Li Jingrong dropped a hint.
Initially, everyone assumed it was Ling Rong, but then they reconsidered. Wait a minute, something wasn’t right. Among the remaining four contestants likely to be in the top ranks, three were from Shengyue, and they were all attractive.
Finally, after enough suspense, Li Jingrong announced, “Congratulations to Hu Yue from Shengyue Entertainment for securing fourth place!”
Hu Yue? That meant Ling Rong made it to the top three! No one expected a sudden twist, like Ling Rong dropping out of the top thirty and heading straight back to the airport.
Upon hearing his name, Hu Yue remained unfazed. After exchanging hugs with those around him, he walked down the stage.
This time, Gu Ningyan took the initiative to grasp Ling Rong’s wrist.
As they waited for Hu Yue to finish his speech, Li Jingrong encouraged him with a smile before continuing, “Our third-place contestant is also from Shengyue Entertainment…”
Now it’s Lin Rong’s turn, and many people are thinking the same way. After all, last time Gu Ningyan came in second, so this time he shouldn’t be far behind.
“He is Gao Jingxing from Shengyue Entertainment. Congratulations!”
“It’s actually Big Brother! Could it be…”
From first place to third, Gao Jingxing remains unfazed. He knows that this time, he didn’t perform as well as he could have on stage. Moreover, due to the incident with the criminal, Lin Rong and Gu Ningyan’s popularity skyrocketed, which was within his expectations. After all, in talent shows, it’s not just about raw skill; popularity is a crucial factor. Besides, both Gu Ningyan and Lin Rong are no less talented than him. Even Lin Rong, who entered through connections, possesses an innate ability to learn dance faster than anyone else. His movements are powerful and coordinated, even surpassing Gao Jingxing, who has trained for years.
With his usual smile, Gao Jingxing walks up, calmly accepting the gazes from all directions, and delivers his speech.
Finally, it’s time for second place. This time, Li Jingrong doesn’t keep us in suspense and announces directly, “Second place goes to Gu Ningyan from Bluebird Entertainment!”
Second place remains unchanged, leaving only the coveted top spot.
“And now, for the first-place position… Congratulations to Ling Rong from Shengyue Entertainment!” In the tense atmosphere, Li Jingrong finally reveals the ultimate mystery.
“Wow! Ling Rong! Ling Rong! Our little prince!”
I have to say, Ling Rong’s popularity is indeed impressive. Seeing this result, no one would truly feel jealous; they would only think that Ling Rong deserves it.
Over these past few months, everyone has witnessed Ling Rong’s hard work. Even though there were initial concerns that she might be a mere figurehead who got in through connections, or that capital was at play, those doubts vanished when people noticed him consistently staying in the training room until the early hours of the morning, sometimes even pulling all-nighters.
Moreover, Ling Rong learns quickly. Whenever anyone seeks his advice, he patiently teaches them. Being around him, everyone feels at ease and happy, without any awkwardness.
And his popularity surpasses anyone else’s. So, this first place is truly well-deserved.
“Come on, little prince, that’s what they call you, right?” Li Jingrong, fond of Ling Rong, said.
When Ling Rong stepped onto the circular platform reserved for the first-place winner, she felt a slight sense of unreality. How did she go from being the last in Class F to standing here now?
In her speech, Ling Rong expressed genuine gratitude: “Firstly, I want to thank my family for supporting me to be here. It’s their encouragement that allows me to stand on this stage.”
The open-mindedness of the Ling family allowed their daughter, as a girl, to enter a group of boys just to fulfill her wish. And it’s precisely the strong backing of the Ling family that supports Ling Rong’s playful spirit.
“Of course, I also want to thank the PD and every brother I’ve met here. Every day I spend here has been filled with joy. Thank you all, and thanks to all the fans for their support.”
Following the order, Ling Rong first bowed to Li Jingrong, then faced the camera, acknowledging the audience. Finally, she turned to the boys on both sides and bowed to each of them.
“It’s also your own hard work,” Li Jingrong affirmed her performance during this time. “Alright, now go take your rightful place.”
“Okay.”
Ascending the familiar steps, Ling Rong noticed that fewer people stood above. Finally, when she reached the second to fourth positions, she embraced everyone. Especially when she reached Gu Ningyan, he didn’t wait for her to approach; he pulled her into a tight hug and whispered congratulations in her ear.
Watching that person take the top spot, Gu Ningyan’s gaze softened even more. It seemed he was happier for him than he was for himself sitting in that very seat.
Thankfully, he remained in second place, closest to him. Whenever Ling Rong turned around, he would see him right by her side.
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This time, it was Mu Xiuyuan’s turn to leave the training center. He had already packed his suitcase and headed downstairs. Initially, he didn’t want to trouble Big Brother Gu Ningyan, but to his surprise, the person he thought was already at training was waiting downstairs.
“Big Brother.” Mu Xiuyuan was still a teenager, experiencing this for the first time. Seeing someone close, he couldn’t help but reveal his emotions, calling out with a hint of grievance.
Gu Ningyan rarely touched the child’s head, and his handsome face carried the gentle demeanor of an older brother. “Silly, you’ve done very well, but that doesn’t mean I’m not thinking about something. Come on, I’ll walk you out.”
“Okay.”
Helping the child carry a suitcase, Gu Ningyan reminded him, “After you go back, don’t slack off. Only by improving yourself will you have confidence wherever you go.”
“I understand, brother. I’ll train hard.” Mu Xiuyuan obediently nodded.
Naturally, Bluebird Entertainment Company sent a car to pick up the child. Before getting on the car, Gu Ningyan gave him a hug.
“Brother, do your best! I’ll vote for you.”
“Thanks.”
As the car drove away, Gu Ningyan returned to the training room once again.
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Following the conclusion of the third performance, the fourth performance was quickly approaching. This time, the theme was a final stage collaboration with mentors. Each trainee could choose a mentor they wanted to work with and send them a message on WeChat. If the mentor replied, it meant they agreed.
For this round of “Idol Up,” the production team invited PD Li Jingrong, dance coach Yang Zhenyu, renowned singer Wu Xinyue as the music mentor, dance mentor Shen Yunxi, and rap mentor Sun Tao. Together, these five mentors would oversee all the trainees’ stage performances.
Five people, led by Li Jingrong, sat together at this moment, each holding a mobile phone, waiting for messages from the trainees.
“I'm wondering, Jingrong, do you have any promising candidates this time?” The female mentor Wu Xinyue asked Li Jingrong cautiously. After all, there were only so many talented individuals, and there was likely some overlap in their choices.
“Of course I do, but… I’ll keep it a secret for now. Let’s see if my little darlings will send me any messages.”
At this moment, the remaining thirty trainees gathered in the training room, finally getting their phones back.
“Your decision time is only thirty minutes, so please make your choices promptly. No extensions,” reminded the staff nearby.
“Ah—only thirty minutes? It’s so short! It’s really difficult to decide!”
Working with the mentors was undoubtedly their best opportunity at the moment, and everyone wanted to seize it firmly.
“Hey, Ningyan, who are you thinking of choosing?” Ling Rong nudged the person next to her, but she had a strong suspicion that she already knew which mentor Gu Ningyan wanted to collaborate with.
Wu Xinyue was undoubtedly the reigning queen of the Chinese music industry. The program invited her because she was an artist signed by Sheng Yue, the biggest investor in this show. Considering her loyalty to her home company, Wu Xinyue was bound to make an appearance.
Although Gu Ningyan had started as an actor, his vocal abilities had always been his focus. Therefore, the likelihood of him choosing Wu Xinyue was the highest.
Regarding Ling Rong’s question, Gu Ningyan was always open: “I want to collaborate with Teacher Wu, but…”
He left the rest unsaid, as if there were other considerations.
“If you want to choose Teacher Wu, go ahead and send her a message. Maybe she’d be willing to choose you too. Why hesitate?”
However, there was one concern: she was a girl. That was Gu Ningyan’s biggest reservation. Even though it was just a collaboration, he didn’t want any misunderstandings with Ling Rong. Although, Ling Rong might not even care about that.
He needed some time to think, so he smoothly changed the topic and asked Ling Rong, “What about you? Which mentor are you most interested in?”
Dance mentors dominated this season. Leaving aside Shen Yunxi and Yang Zhenyu, even PD Li Jingrong had started as a male idol before transitioning into acting. Despite being an accomplished actor now, his dance skills couldn’t be denied.
“As for me… I haven’t decided yet. I really hate making choices.” All three mentors were fantastic, and it was genuinely difficult to compare them.
“Hey, Hu Yue, who are you thinking of choosing?” Ling Rong moved closer to the enigmatic man, curious about his opinion. After all, they were all dancers, and Ling Rong secretly wanted to try working with Hu Yue. Now that she thought about it, she hadn’t been in the same group with him before.
“Little Prince, still undecided? I’ve already messaged Mentor Shen Yunxi. Would you like to choose her too?” Hu Yue grinned mischievously, like the wolf tempting Little Red Riding Hood.
In Hu Yue’s view, Shen Yunxi, at twenty-five years old, might be a better fit for them compared to Li Jingrong, who was already thirty.
“Oh, Teacher Shen. I understand. I need to think about it some more.”
This time, it wasn’t just about choosing a mentor; they also knew which songs corresponded to each mentor. So, they had to consider which song would suit them best.
“Still undecided?” Gu Ningyan overheard their conversation.
“Yes.” Ling Rong crouched on the floor, drawing circles with her finger. She looked both innocent and endearing, tempting anyone to reach out and pat her head.
Gu Ningyan did exactly that. When the young man looked up with a puzzled expression, Gu Ningyan tried to appear nonchalant. “My suggestion is to choose PD Li. Maybe you should consider it?”
“Why PD?” Ling Rong asked.
Gu Ningyan casually glanced in Hu Yue’s direction and quickly came up with a reason he’d thought of a few seconds ago. “Think about it — PD is the oldest among the dance mentors. Whether it’s stage experience or training, PD has more. Plus, PD used to be the center of a boy group, so there’s a lot more to learn from them.”
“You make a somewhat valid point.” Ling Rong considered Gu Ningyan’s words. Initially, she leaned more toward Li Jingrong, but after Gu Ningyan’s explanation, she felt even more convinced.
A minute or two later, Ling Rong finally stopped agonizing and decisively declared, “Alright, I’ll choose PD Li. Let me edit the message now. Hopefully, PD will be willing to take me in. Oh, and Ning Yan, you should quickly message Teacher Wu. Otherwise, if the slots fill up, you might miss your chance.”
Initially, when Gu Ningyan heard that Ling Rong had chosen Li Jingrong, he smirked as if his plan had succeeded. But when Ling Rong mentioned his name, he sighed inwardly.
Ah, it seemed that Ling Rong truly didn’t mind.
Feeling a subtle pang of disappointment, Gu Ningyan ultimately decided to choose Wu Xinyue. After all, Ling Rong’s reasoning made sense. There was only one music mentor, and if someone else chose her, Gu Ningyan might miss out.
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In the mentors’ office:
“How’s it going? Did Ling Rong message Li Jingrong?” Yang Zhenyu asked. Just a moment ago, they had all inquired about whom they most wanted to receive messages from. Surprisingly, all three dance group members wanted Ling Rong on their team. But with only one person to choose, they made a bet to see whom Ling Rong would ultimately message.
“Unfortunately, not yet. Has my little darling abandoned me?” Li Jingrong shrugged, disappointed. He had always seen great potential in Ling Rong’s unique qualities. In that young dancer, he saw boundless possibilities. So, when it came to choosing the person he most wanted to collaborate with, Li Jingrong’s choice was clear.
Suddenly, a “ding” broke the brief silence—the sound of an incoming message.
“It’s from Li Jingrong!” Sun Tao, the rap mentor, quickly pointed out.
Opening his phone, Li Jingrong’s eyebrows relaxed, and a triumphant glint appeared in his eyes. “Ah, it looks like I’ve won.”
“Is it a message from Ling Rong?” Shen Yunxi raised an eyebrow.
“Yes, it’s from my little darling.”
“Gao Jingxing also chose Li Jingrong. Now Ling Rong is joining your group.” Yang Zhenyu couldn’t hide his envy.
Shen Yunxi consoled himself, “Well, at least Hu Yue still chose me.” Little did he know that Ling Rong had almost chosen him. Unfortunately, Gu Ningyan, the “meddler,” was in the mix.
“Oh, my bass cannon prince has messaged too! Exciting.” Wu Xinyue immediately replied. Now their group had both a ballad prince, Qi Haoran, and Gu Ningyan, the bass cannon. The performance was bound to be fantastic.
Finally, all thirty participants had chosen their mentors, and training for the fourth performance was about to begin.
At the same time, the new issue of “Star Fashion” officially hit the shelves. As a special collaboration with “Cheer Up, Idol,” it quickly garnered a lot of attention.
Shortly after the magazine’s official announcement, a related hashtag shot up to the top ten trending topics.
#Stunning Cover, New Issue of Star Fashion Released#
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