Evaluation of the Group 14 Showdown (Part Five)

“Do you think Team 1 will change their center position?”

During a break in practice, Yao Xin asked.

“Probably not. Chi Xin was crying so hard; if they changed the center, wouldn’t that hurt the team’s feelings?” Fang You’an guessed.

“It seems like they don’t have much of a bond,” Xi Rui sharply remarked.

“If they want to win, they will change,” Lan Chenxi said calmly, leaning against the wall.

“But everyone on their team is really popular. Even if their performance isn’t great, they might still win the live votes,” Yao Xin said anxiously.

“Do your best, then leave the rest to fate,” Lan Chenxi closed her eyes to rest.

“That answer was so cool,” Yao Xin said, stroking her chin, then looked at Qiao Yiqing. “Qingbao, what do you think?”

At some point, the nickname "Qingbao" had become established within this small group. It had started as Xi Rui’s way of addressing her, then Lan Chenxi had switched to it without anyone realizing when, and Yao Xin and Fang You’an had quickly followed suit.

“They probably will change,” Qiao Yiqing answered.

Wen Yali appeared to be someone who really wanted to win, especially when their rival was Lan Chenxi. At first, they might not have taken Team 2 seriously, but after today’s lesson, they realized the gap between the two teams had widened so much; they would surely speed up their progress to catch up.

Qiao Yiqing left the practice room to get some water and, passing through the corridor, faintly heard crying. The sobs were intermittent and very soft.

Following the sound, she found Chi Xin crying in a hidden corner near the stairwell on the first floor. It was a secluded spot without surveillance cameras.

Chi Xin was sitting against the wall, hugging her knees, head buried in her arms. Hearing footsteps approaching, she startled and looked up.

She must have been crying for a while—her eyes looked red and swollen.

“What are you doing here?” Chi Xin asked.

“I heard you crying and came over,” Qiao Yiqing replied.

“I thought I was crying quietly,” Chi Xin said awkwardly, wiping her face, then asked, “How’s your team’s practice going?”

Qiao Yiqing thought for a moment and answered honestly, “Pretty well.”

Hearing this, Chi Xin felt tears coming again.

“Our team has to redo everything because of me,” she said hoarsely, her voice trembling with tears.

Perhaps because Qiao Yiqing already knew what had happened and wasn’t on the same team, Chi Xin was able to voice her guilt.

“At first, when I was chosen as the center, I secretly felt happy. I know I’m not very skilled, but I thought I could manage my expressions. They said my aura fit the song’s atmosphere well. If I practiced hard, I could do it.”

“But during practice, I kept falling behind. The captain kept teaching me, and everyone was waiting for me to catch up.”

“I really tried my best, but I just can’t learn. How can I be so stupid?”

“I shouldn’t have held onto false hope back then. It would have been better not to be the center from the start, so I wouldn’t have dragged down the others or caused them to get scolded by the mentors. Sob sob sob.”

Qiao Yiqing sat quietly beside her, saying nothing, patiently letting Chi Xin vent.

“Do you have any tissue?”

“Yes.”

“Give me one.”

Chi Xin raised her head, wiped her tears and runny nose.

“I’ve been out too long. I have to get back to practice.”

Perhaps from crying too hard or sitting too long, she staggered slightly when standing.

Chi Xin steadied herself by leaning against the wall.

“Want some?”

Qiao Yiqing handed her a grape-flavored fruit candy.

Chi Xin took it.

“When I’m in a bad mood, I eat a candy.”

“I hope your mood gets better.”

Chi Xin unwrapped the candy and put it in her mouth. The sweet grape flavor spread gently, and the bitterness in her heart seemed to be diluted by the sweetness.

She felt as if the sadness had lessened.

“You’re like Doraemon,” she said after silently sucking on the candy for a while.

“What else do you have?”

“What do you want?”

“My throat is dry from crying. I want some water.”

Qiao Yiqing picked up a thermos cup forgotten in the corner.

“You always carry this with you?”

Chi Xin’s eyes widened.

“No, I just suddenly remembered I came out for water. I should get back now.”

—

Practice went on steadily, and the performance time drew near.

“Here, Fang You’an, raise your arm a little higher.”

Everyone watched the rehearsal video. Lan Chenxi paused it, carefully examining each frame.

After watching the newly edited re-recorded practice video, Yao Xin sighed in amazement, “I feel like I’m going to burst with pride—we’re amazing!”

“Let’s wait and see how the other teams are doing. Stay calm,” Fang You’an said.

Though Lan Chenxi never said it aloud, the team sensed that she not only wanted to win the welfare vote but aimed to be the highest-voted group overall.

She hadn’t relaxed after the mentors’ praise and had been tirelessly perfecting their routine these past days.

Everyone tacitly agreed and worked hard together.

The last mentor guidance session.

“They really changed the center,” Yao Xin whispered.

Team 1’s center was now Shao Heling.

“That means Chi Xin’s part is so much smaller,” Fang You’an replied quietly.

Previously, Chi Xin still had the center’s killer part, but now the killer part belonged to Shao Heling. Chi Xin had the least amount of lines as the fourth main vocalist, and her stage positions were always at the edges and corners.

“Though it sounds worse, the stage does look better this way.”

Hiding less capable trainees for the sake of the overall stage effect was a common tactic.

—

The day before the performance, at the rehearsal venue.

“The scale is huge!”

“They say there will be a thousand audience members!”

The studio was already set up. Rows of chairs were lined up before the stage, still empty, but it was easy to imagine how spectacular it would look when fully occupied.

“So cute!”

“So fitting!”

“Where did this baby come from? Come here, let me hold you!”

This was the final makeup rehearsal before the show. After Qiao Yiqing changed clothes and finished her makeup, Yao Xin and Fang You’an’s eyes lit up, and they rushed over.

“So young! Our Qingbao is still a baby!”

Fang You’an hugged Qiao Yiqing tightly.

“Such soft, tender cheeks, hehe~”

Yao Xin pinched Qiao Yiqing’s cheeks, savoring the feel with delight.

Because Qiao Yiqing usually acted so mature and reliable, everyone often forgot she was the youngest in the group.

“Lovely” was a sweet and lively song with a romantic atmosphere, and the styling and costumes were full of girlish charm.

Team 2’s outfits were all in shades of pink. Qiao Yiqing wore an off-shoulder pink chiffon dress that hugged her slender waist on top. The skirt flared out like a princess gown, ending just above the knees, revealing straight, long legs.

She wore a white pearl choker adorned with a pink flower on the neck’s side, which complemented her fair skin perfectly.

Her fluffy double braided ponytails were tied at the ends with small butterfly hairpins, and a few strands framed her cheeks, adding a natural, lively touch.

The pink makeup matched beautifully. Her light brown eyes looked like clear lake water, making her appear as sweet as a ripe peach.

Qiao Yiqing helplessly endured Yao Xin and Fang You’an’s playful pinching.

Xi Rui joined in, taking the chance to fiddle with Qiao Yiqing’s braids.

Finally breaking free from the trio’s enthusiastic embrace, Qiao Yiqing hid behind the only one not joining the fun—Lan Chenxi—only to suddenly feel a pinch on her right cheek again.

She looked up to see Lan Chenxi pretending to be indifferent, but her outstretched hand betrayed her.

During Team 1’s rehearsal, the mentor sat in the middle of the audience seats watching, while Team 2 waited backstage, standing quietly in a corner.

Listening to Mo Hanmeng’s high notes, everyone couldn’t help but frown.

None of the recent rehearsals had gone smoothly; there were always cracks in her voice.

Vocal coach Wei Wei anxiously asked, “What’s wrong with your throat?”

“I’m sorry, mentor. My throat is a bit uncomfortable. I’m not feeling well today. Maybe after some rest, I’ll be better tomorrow,” Mo Hanmeng replied.

Though she said that, she wasn’t confident her voice would recover fully by tomorrow.

She wanted desperately to perfect this section but neglected vocal care. By the time she noticed, her condition had worsened, affecting her performance. The high notes she used to hit steadily had become unstable.

Sensing Mo Hanmeng’s guilt, Wei Wei sighed, “You’re the lead vocalist. If you’re unstable, the whole team will sound unstable.”

“Maybe you should consider lowering the key a bit or using falsetto.”

“I want to try my best. I’ll rest well today and hope to recover by tomorrow.”

Seeing her determination, Wei Wei didn’t push further, just hoping her voice would truly improve by then.

After Team 1 finished rehearsal, it was Team 2’s turn.

Rap coach Bo Wei said, “This is the first time I’ve seen Xi Rui try this style.”

There was no rap in this song, so he hadn’t taught Team 2.

Though he was a bit disappointed Xi Rui didn’t perform rap, seeing the usually cool and aloof Xi Rui in a pink dress singing such a lively song intrigued him.

Producer Zhai Xingwen smiled, “Lan Chenxi usually goes for a strong style. Looks like everyone’s made a big breakthrough this time.”

“But Qiao Yiqing seems really suitable,” Zhai Xingwen asked Wei Wei, “She’s the trainee you’re paying close attention to, right?”

Wei Wei nodded.

“What position is she?”

“Lead vocalist.”

Zhai Xingwen was surprised. “The high notes in this song are even unstable for Mo Hanmeng. The lead vocalist position must be under a lot of pressure.”

He remembered Qiao Yiqing was just a trainee who had been training for only three months.

Worried, he said, “I wonder how she’ll perform.”

“Let’s just wait and see,” Wei Wei said, looking at Qiao Yiqing’s focused profile as she prepared on stage. Although it was her first time performing, she showed no sign of stage fright, with a faint smile on her lips.

“I’m looking forward to it.”