Description [Edit]
"The information displayed inside shows that you're still in high school, and you also don't belong to any entertainment company, so what made you think of participating in our talent show?"
Qin Lu opened his eyes and found himself standing right under the spotlight. In front of him sat four people with strong auras and delicate makeup. The tiered pyramid-shaped seats behind them were filled with handsome young boys. Their gazes were all fixated on Qin Lu, watching his performance.
Some fragments of memories quickly flashed in Qin Lu's mind.
The former film emperor Qin Lu, who died on set due to an accident just a moment ago, was extremely calm.
He dealt with problems accordingly and ended up unintentionally accomplishing great things along the way—
Not only did he debut, he even became one of the most sought-after A-list celebrities in the circle.
Associated Names [Edit]
穿进男团选秀后
"The information displayed inside shows that you're still in high school, and you also don't belong to any entertainment company, so what made you think of participating in our talent show?"
Qin Lu opened his eyes and found himself standing right under the spotlight. The lenses that were familiar yet unfamiliar at the same time were aimed at him from all angles, and the man that looked like the director was anxiously mouthing at him.
There were four people with strong auras and delicate makeup sitting opposite him, not far away. The tiered pyramid-shaped seats behind them were filled with handsome young boys. Their gazes were all fixated on Qin Lu, watching his performance.
Some fragments of memories quickly flashed in Qin Lu's mind. And as there wasn't enough time to think about it in detail, he quickly extracted several important pieces of information and roughly knew he was participating in a talent draft.
He knew very well that he was supposed to be dead. But he was standing here now completely unharmed, debating on whether he should figure out what was going on or deal with the immediate problem in front of him first.
As someone who had endured various hardships in the entertainment industry for decades, Qin Lu had faced innumerable emergencies, and hence, he forced himself to calm down quickly.
After absorbing the general information he had just gotten, Qin Lu raised his eyes and looked at the mentor that had asked the question. With renewed vigor, he exhaled, and a look of embarrassment surfaced on his face.
"Sorry, teacher, I'm a little nervous." He smiled.
Lai Yu Han, who had always been a patient vocal teacher, nodded his head in understanding, while Cui Zhi Hao, who had been observing Qin Lu all along, didn't comment on this. But he repeated the question asked just now seriously, "We noticed you weren't associated with any entertainment company and were just an ordinary high schooler before joining this program. You even got good grades-"
Yin Su Li, a senior with great influence that rarely spoke, looked at the information and tapped her fingertips on the table twice, showing a rare look of astonishment. She raised her eyebrows and said, "Jinghe High?"
"Mm-hmm," Qin Lu hummed, not saying anything else.
Yin Su Li raised her head to look at him for a moment. Then, she let out her first smile since the recording began. The cameraman's reaction was quick, and he captured that unusual reaction.
This female rapper, who was famous for being a person not to mess with, had already debuted more than 20 years ago, and the way she regarded her trainees was not particularly picky or vicious. Personal strength was something so basic it didn't even need to be mentioned. And it's understandable even if you want to attract attention through unconventional methods, but at the very least, mentors shouldn't be treated like fools.
Take earlier, for example. There were some trainees who obviously failed to meet the standard, but the moment they were on stage, they were full of confidence. They treated their skills with boastful attitudes and exaggeration, but once they opened their mouths, they almost made Yin Su Li leave on the spot.
After singing a song that seemed like it would go on forever, they still pretended to be modest and made up nonsense that could only fool a layman.
"Just now, there was a C chord tone that I thought was too easy, so I fine-tuned it a little myself, and made it a little rough."
You little bastard,1 how are you calling this 'a little rough'. When Americans and Russians are at war, all you need to do is stand in the middle of it and shout to directly send both sides away, and with this, world peace is achieved.
The Nobel Prize would feel sorry for you and your great achievements if they didn't give you a prize.
However, the program was still recording, and Yin Su Li still had to give some face to the person chosen by the program staff in front of the cameras, so she could only put on a cold face and say, "F."
Yin Su Li sighed internally. In recent years, talent shows have become increasingly popular, and all youths, regardless of gender, wanted to depend on such shows to become a hit overnight. They either had dreams of becoming a celebrity or just wanted to make easy money, but how was being famous as simple as they thought?
Many people considered looks to be the most important factor in a talent show, and this she had to admit, but those that really got to debut in the end were the ones that either relied on themselves with their looks and strength or had someone supporting them behind the scenes.
Having personal characteristics is important as it can be used as a memory trigger for the audience to remember you, but only good triggers would be of use. To make people like you is also an ability. Some people would cry and make the audience sympathize and tolerate their lack of strength, while some would cry but make the audience feel disgusted instead.
This is also why there will always be people in these talent shows who show too much of their strength and end up being scolded humiliatingly for being fake and artificial. Having fate with the audience is an abstract2 thing which can't be forced.
If you don't want to be a star with a limited period of three months, soon to be forgotten by the public in less than half a year, then real strength is still needed.
Exaggerated strength is not considered real strength, and strength built on being marketed is just like a bubble, easily bursting with a single poke.
If the strength was still not up to standard, then be determined to work harder. But people who want to aim high and pursue the impossible yet don't have the ability to do so are destined to not go far.
The youth of little words in front of them was neat and tidy and didn't say more than necessary. He was also good-looking. Although it can be said that the entertainment industry does not lack good-looking people, Qin Lu still made an impression on people.
The 17-year-old boy was already very tall, and he also had a leanness unique to youths, somewhere between a young boy who had yet to see the world and a mature adult, and his eyes slightly curved when he smiled. His looks were the type that made him seem good-natured.
He had simple and neat black hair, which was natural and refreshing to look at. Paired with a simple white t-shirt and jeans, it very much gave off the air of a young student on campus. Even his particularly wispy and gentle-looking eyelashes gave people a refreshing feeling.
Standing in the studio, he was like the male lead of a long series campus drama, who rode a bicycle and passed by like the wind. The faint scent of laundry detergent on his school uniform could linger in a girl's heart for a very long time.
Just relying on his face and this kind of campus boy feeling, which would be a never-ending natural advantage, would help him go far in the competition.
Moreover… Yin Su Li lowered her eyes and looked at the list of competition awards displayed on his information page, each one more shocking than the last, and along with Qin Lu's direct and simple response, she had already given him a high score in her heart.
After seeing so many young people who were eager for quick success and instant benefits, Yin Su Li wanted to help him unprecedentedly.
She lowered her head and read out loud, "First prize in the National Olympics Mathematics Competition, first prize in the Provincial High School Physics Competition, second prize in the National Robotics Competition, and also second in the country for Robotics Team Competition…"
Chaotic noises instantly came from the tiered pyramid-shaped seats.
A boy unconsciously made a ridiculing remark, "What the f–k, brother.1 This is the first season of Super Brain2 《Infinite Youth》!"
The scene was suddenly quiet for two seconds, then someone couldn't help sniggering, and it caused everyone to stop holding back their laughter.
The mentors were also affected by the current atmosphere and were not as serious as they were in the beginning, and they all smiled.
The corners of Yin Su Li's eyes crinkled, and she tapped the ballpoint pen in her hand on the information sheet. "You've won so many prizes, so why didn't you say anything when I asked you just now? If you don't speak out, the audience won't know anything, no matter how amazing you are. If the audience knows about the results that I just read out, you'll definitely gain a lot of brownie points."
The trainees were all stunned and also couldn't figure out why. Their gazes fell on Qin Lu.
Qin Lu obviously couldn't tell them that he wasn't even the original owner of the body and that he hadn't had the time to sort out his memories yet, so he was foreign to everything.
But he still stayed calm.
He seemed to be pondering for a bit before saying seriously, "But this is a talent program."
Producer Cui Zhi Hao was slightly stunned.
"《Infinite Youth》 is judged based on your strength in singing and dancing, and the ones chosen are for the purpose of creating a male idol group." He paused and his eyes swept across the audience once, landing on the boy who had just spoken. His eyes had a hint of a smile. "Yes, this isn't 《Super Brain》."
At this, Yin Su Li felt a little regret, and everyone else, regardless of whether they were mentors or trainees, also felt the same sentiment.
No one could say with certainty that Qin Lu will be able to dominate the spotlight and debut by relying on his good grades, but what's certain is that boys who are good-looking and study well will have luck with the audience and will be seen through a 'favorable filter.'
And for talent programs that depended entirely on voting, every trait that would be deemed likable by the audience is important. It could at least ensure that he will earn enough memory triggers in the first round and won't be eliminated within two rounds.
However, Qin Lu chose to adhere to the rules of《Infinite Youth》and decided to give up the votes that could affect the outcome.
The eyes of nearly a hundred handsome men sitting on the tiered pyramid-shaped seats all held a trace of complexity.
He should be an idiot, right?
He was a beautiful idiot that could make people admire him.
Well, he was a little brother who had a high IQ, but his brain was somehow wired differently.
If he's not competition, we can take care of him.
Producer Cui Zhi Hao couldn't help asking out of curiosity, "Since your grades are this good, why did you choose to participate in our talent program? From what's written on your information page, you haven't had formal training for singing or dancing. Moreover, you'll be promoted to senior year three after the holidays."
Although with Qin Lu's results, it didn't seem like he needed to spend too much time preparing for the college entrance examination.
Qin Lu smiled a little and said something unexpected, "Because of my younger sister."
The original owner did have a younger sister. But from the bits and pieces of memory that he saw, the owner didn't have a close relationship with his sister. It wasn't that they had a bad relationship on the surface, but more of the original owner treating his sister really badly on his own.
The reason why the original owner participated in the program was purely to enjoy the attention of others.
But Qin Lu wouldn't say it like that.
"It wouldn't happen to be your sister who helped you sign up, right?" Cui Zhi Hao said in doubt, because if that were really true, then this would've all been one big mistake.
Fortunately, Qin Lu shook his head. "No."
His light, amber-colored eyes were especially clear under the light. He laughed while recalling. "The thing that my sister does the most every day would be to look at her posters and talk about her idols. Everything that comes out of her mouth would be related to them. She would buy at least three copies of the magazines her idol is featured in; one to cut and make photo albums, one for her to flip and admire, and the last to keep in her collection. The daily necessities at home must be the brand endorsed by her idol, the color of the clothes she wears must be the fandom color, and she even stole the standees from the supermarket before-"
Dance mentor Yao Chen, who also debuted as an idol, couldn't help but choke from laughter, and she asked, "What an experienced fangirl. But she really stole the standee?"
Qin Lu nodded. "I was there. She took advantage of the shopkeeper's unpreparedness, carried the standee on her shoulder, and ran. Before running, she yelled at the shopkeeper and told her to find me for payment."
Yao Chen: "…I see, you must be her blood-related brother."
Qin Lu didn't lie to anyone, but the scene at that time was not as light-hearted as he had described. The original owner was so angry about the matter that he chased after his sister at such a long distance just to hit her.
He concluded, "In my sister's eyes, the idols in her posters are a perfect existence without any flaws, a star that is distant but one that she yearns for."
"I just want to let my sister know that she already has the best brother in the world, so she doesn't need to go around liking someone else. That's why I'm here to participate in this program."
The boy who stood in front of the cameras for the very first time had serious but bright and pure eyes.
"So I want to try, to try and become the star that she yearns for."
Several of the mentors exchanged looks with one another. They finally met an interesting one.
His appearance was pretty good, and there were a multitude of gimmicks and effects that could be used during the editing process. At this moment, all he had to do was showcase his talent… Hopefully, he was not tone-deaf or had severely uncoordinated limbs. If his performance turned out to be awful, the pleasant atmosphere that had been created earlier would be destroyed in an instant.
Stage presence was equally as important for a talent show.1
A good performance can raise a person's face value from seven to nine points on the spot. This was the so-called "charm factor".
You can charm your way in the industry through looks. However, if you really want to gain an audience of die-hard fans, you must have a strong stage presence and the ability to perform exceptionally well. There were so many other good-looking people out there otherwise, and their temporary liking for you might end up getting snatched away by them instead.
Producer Cui Zhihao flipped through his form to see what song he would be performing, and he couldn't help but feel slightly dumbfounded when he saw it. The overall feeling that Qin Lu gave him right now was very good, just that he was a little nervous when going on stage, but that was understandable.
How could he choose such a song?
The song he chose was fast-paced and very challenging to perform. It was actually of the heavy metal genre. Although it enjoyed a high degree of popularity, it was clearly difficult for Qin Lu, who had never received professional training before, to perform.
In the end, Cui Zhihao was not allowed to intervene with the contestants' choices even if he disagreed with them. Just as he was about to prompt Qin Lu to start, he saw him smile with embarrassment and, at the last minute, ask if he could change the song he was going to perform.
For Cui Zhihao, who had a good impression of Qin Lu, this was good news, and he let out a sigh of relief when he heard his question. He nodded, "Of course, the choice is yours. However, we won't have a suitable backing track if you change it. Is that alright?"
Qin Lu nodded.
Cui Zhihao smiled, "If that's the case, please officially start your performance now."
Qin Lu exhaled softly.
The original owner planned to perform a song that required both singing and dancing. Except after digging through his memories, he simply could not bear the sight of the dance steps that were comparable to something an elementary student would do, along with the childish singing required. Even if Qin Lu was forced to copy it, it would be impossible for him to do so in such a short period of time.
Most importantly, Qin Lu had never heard of the original song.
Rather than continuing on while knowing it was a recipe for disaster, Qin Lu chose to change the song of choice at the last minute.
The songs he knew weren't much as most of his contacts in his past life were from the film industry. When he was busy, he didn't have time to listen, and when he was free, he didn't think of listening to music. He wasn't very familiar with talent shows.
It was pretty hard for him to think of a song that was both presentable and one that he could sing with confidence.
He decided to sing an old friend's song. This singer-friend of his, who didn't make it big, only had one hit song in 10 years. It was sung so often that his ears were almost going to grow blisters from it.
The light fell on him, and Qin Lu relaxed.
He closed his eyes. The scene was very quiet, and only the sound of his breathing could be heard from the microphone, along with a faint humming sound.
A light-hearted melody drifted in the studio.
𝆕 The summer wind blew past the treetops. In the blink of an eye, winter and spring have passed 𝆕
𝆕 Like the unraveling of fireworks in the sky, the withered cherry blossom branches bloom once again 𝆕
𝆕 The sun rises and sets as the days go on 𝆕
𝆕 On the east side, its presence had long graced the skies 𝆕
𝆕 As time comes and goes, the moon still hangs in the heavens amidst the amber hue of dusk 𝆕
𝆕 The path that we've once walked through together 𝆕
𝆕 Beneath the old locust tree's bark, the cycles of life are hidden 𝆕
𝆕 Winter comes and goes again 𝆕
𝆕 All changes leave traces in time, yet it seems they never even existed before 𝆕
𝆕 In the darkness of shadows, there is light 𝆕
𝆕 The memories we've made of those days, are both futile and worthwhile. Existing to remind us of a past we can never go back to 𝆕
𝆕 Their traces linger and remain unforgotten 𝆕
Vocal mentor, Lai Yuhan, was a little surprised. Truthfully speaking, Qin Lu's singing was not that outstanding, and he could even hear some obvious flaws in it. However, his vocal tone was very pleasant to listen to, and he had a good foundation.
The reason why he was a little surprised was because Qin Lu's song had something many trainees with good vocals lacked in. It was also the thing that was the most important in ensuring a song was sung well.
That thing was emotion.
As far as talent and skills went, they could always be developed over time. But the songs that the people loved had one thing in common — they were stories. Tales of the listeners that resonated with each beat of their heart.
It was difficult for the people present to describe what kind of feeling they were experiencing. It was as though the attention that was placed on finishing their singing and performance had been stripped away, only leaving them completely moved.
Producer Cui Zhihao was the only one who didn't have any knowledge on vocal techniques among the four mentors. The first thought he had was that it sounded nice.
He was not able to specify which part sounded nice or why it sounded nice, but the viewers may not necessarily all be professionals. Most people would just judge whether something sounded nice based on their own standards.
In this regard, although Qin Lu's performance wasn't considered outstanding, it was by no means awful.
But because Qin Lu did not dance at all, his final grade was C after a comprehensive evaluation from the four mentors.
Qin Lu had no objections to this result at all. In fact, he believes that he had only received this grade due to the mentors giving him more 'impression points'. If not, getting a D or even an F would not be surprising to him.
When he was about to walk off the stage after bowing, mentor Lai Yuhan suddenly stopped him.
This good-natured mentor looked a little curious, "What was the name of the song you sang just now? I don't think I've heard it before."
Qin Lu was taken aback. After some time, he reacted. This was the first time he had been stuck in his thoughts.
The song he sang was so popular in the country to the extent that merely singing a few lines would trigger an entire crowd to sing along. Yet Lai Yuhan, who was a vocal mentor and professional singer, had never heard of the song before?
His fingers subconsciously clenched as if he had suddenly realized something. Then, he slowly relaxed again.
Qin Lu grew silent for a few seconds before he smiled, his eyes curving, "It's only normal that you haven't heard it before. This is a song written by my friend just yesterday called《Orbit》. He wanted to let me sing the song he wrote for my first performance on stage, so I had to change my song of choice just now."
Lai Yuhan showed a look of realization, "Ah, so it's like this. It's no wonder then."
He had also seemingly wanted to ask about Qin Lu's songwriter-friend, but Qin Lu had immediately left the stage and returned to his seat after bowing politely. Seeing that he probably didn't want to reveal anything else, the good-natured Lai Yuhan didn't insist on it further.
The trainee originally sitting beside Qin Lu had gone backstage to prepare. He needed to quickly make use of this time to sort out his pre-existing memories.
Just like what he had thought, although this world was extremely similar to the one he had lived in previously, it was simply a carbon copy. There were many people and events that didn't overlap.
The youngest film emperor Qin Lu has never existed in this world. Instead, there was only the high-schooler Qin Lu, who was a completely different person with the same name and surname as him.
He didn't know the reason why the original owner was replaced, whether he was dead, or if he had also been like him and went to a different place, maybe even replacing the previous him.
Qin Lu's life in the original world wasn't smooth sailing. He lost both of his parents to an accident when he was 19 and stopped studying after this big blow. After being dispirited for two years, he wanted to bounce back, but he ran into brick walls everywhere because he only had a high-school education. He could not find a good job and could only do all kinds of odd jobs.
A chance encounter led to him being introduced to the film industry, and he played as an extra. After putting down his pride and working as an extra for a year, the opportunity to change his fate finally came.
A small supporting actor who only had three lines couldn't make it due to an emergency. He was selected as a stand-in due to his above-average looks. After changing into the costume and getting in front of the camera, he gained the assistant director's favor. Through their recommendation, he managed to get a supporting role with more lines.
And just like that, he climbed to the top step by step. Despite the countless setbacks he had experienced along the way, the public was only able to see and remember his luxurious celebrity lifestyle.
In comparison, this world's Qin Lu had it much better from what he had seen in his memories.
He had a happy family with loving parents, and they did not need to worry about their financial situation. Although they weren't rich, they could at least allow Qin Lu's sister, Qin Yihan, to comfortably and boldly snatch up concert tickets that cost at least four digits.
It's just that Qin Yihan was an unlucky person, and she could not get the tickets even if she had the money. Because of her constant bawling in the middle of the night, she would often get chased around with a broom by her mother, who would be sporting panda eyes.
The original owner was someone with both merits and shortcomings. His academic achievements were outstanding, but he was very vain. Despite being friendly and amicable on the surface, he was actually uncompassionate. He had his own purposes for every little thing he did, and if he was being good to someone, he would always ask for something in return.
The original owner displayed a surprising amount of selfishness toward many things for someone his age. He also went behind the backs of his rivals and created many unseen stumbling blocks for them, but because he was good at pretense, he had never been discovered.
Although he could not be considered a bad person, he also was not as perfect as he seemed.
"Sorry, excuse me." A boy unknowingly appeared in front of Qin Lu just when he was lost in thought. His hair was dyed a light gold color, and the earrings on his side flashed in silver under the bright light.
"Ah, yes." Qin Lu responded by leaning away slightly. The boy was very skinny and passed by without a problem. He took a seat beside Qin Lu.
The other party seemed to be a person of few words. Qin Lu inadvertently saw that his stage outfit was labeled with a 'B' on it. He should be someone pretty talented, but Qin Lu didn't manage to watch his performance as he was too busy sorting his memories out just now.
He set his eyes on the stage again. The person who was currently doing a self-introduction was a trainee from Starlight Entertainment.
"It's Nan Xiao?"
"It's really him. Why would he come here? I remembered he had debuted five to six years ago, right?"
"Can it be said that the times have changed? Nan Xiao actually came to compete with us in 《Infinite Youth》… ah, I actually feel a little sad."1times have changed. It means that something has changed along with time, and everything disappears with time which shows the insignificance of human beings
The trainees around him were all whispering and discussing it. Qin Lu looked at the person standing in the middle of the stage. He indeed looked more mature than most of the trainees here who were, on average, 20 years old. He also has a strong aura and didn't look uncomfortable/uneasy/unnatural in front of the lens.
He fits all the beauty standards and at this moment, he had on a face full of delicate makeup, his sharp features showing a trace of softness.2
Even as the senior of many trainees present at the scene and having debuted for many years, Nan Xiao still earnestly did a standard 90-degree bow to the four mentors after going on stage.
"Hello teachers, I'm Nan Xiao."
It was very obvious that his face was a familiar one to the mentors. The straightforward rap mentor Yin Suli spoke in a surprised tone. "You're the… imperial guard with the sword? From the 《Secrets of the Palace》 that is one of the hottest airing dramas right now?".
Generally speaking, most people would reveal even a slight smile if they heard Yin Suli cueing the role they played. They should at least be able to catch on to the topic that the other had thrown out, whether it was intentional or unintentional. However, Nan Xiao was not like ordinary people.
They only see the other party keeping a serious look on, and his eyebrows didn't even move the slightest bit. "That's me."
It was evident that Yin Suli was an avid watcher of the drama and wanted to lure him into giving a spoiler away. "So, did you find the female lead in the next episode? Was she saved by the second male lead?".
Nan Xiao was as firm as a rock, "It'll be released at 6 o'clock on the dot tomorrow."
Yin Suli: "You're pretty principled, huh?"
Nan Xiao nodded, "Thank you, it's what I should be doing."
Yin Suli: "…"
Alright, he has his own unique way of thinking.
She turned and looked at the dance mentor Yao Chen, "Do you know him?"
"Mn." Yao Chen had seen Nan Xiao's information early on and his heart was filled with regrets. He looked at Nan Xiao. "Actually, you're still considered my senior. I met you at the Entertainment Awards Ceremony before."
At that time, Nan Xiao had just turned 20 and had debuted not long ago. He was still in the period where there were great expectations for his rising popularity. When Yao Chen saw him, he was still an ignorant half-grown child, but he had thought Nan Xiao was an amazing senior.
In the blink of an eye, five to six years have passed. The boy group Yao Chen was in which was called 1 billion became more and more popular. His popularity couldn't be compared to that of the past while instead, Nan Xiao had become a trainee that needed to accept his junior's assessment.
Life is unpredictable.
Nan Xiao's path to fame had been very bumpy.
He made his debut in a boy band when he was 19 and while they had made a splash in the beginning, they didn't have any more schedules after. As time passed, their group only existed in name and all the members went their own ways.
For a period of time, Nan Xiao couldn't get any work. It seemed like only yesterday that his schedule was packed. But now, before he knew it, there was no longer any work for him to do.
The people in his team couldn't afford to breach the contract. He could either just dawdle and leave it lying around or go to all kinds of unknown variety shows and plays and act as an extra.
Just like that, four years have passed. Nan Xiao slowly climbed up, going from acting as an unknown character to the third male lead, from being the male lead of a web drama to the second male lead of a large-scale drama with a good character design. It seems that his efforts weren't in vain.
But in these four years, Nan Xiao didn't go on stage. The other members couldn't afford to pay the penalty for the breach in their contracts, so they were just there to pass time, but Nan Xiao was unwilling to give up. What he truly loved, and still loves, is going on stage to sing and dance.
In all honesty, his thoughts were really simple. Humans only live once, so whatever they want to do, they should work hard and go for it. This way, they won't have any regrets. Even if he spends his life acting, getting good reviews and comments from every household, it couldn't be compared to the hard work and sweat he had put in for the stage, and the happiness it will give him even if he was just at the edge of it.
Even if there wasn't anyone in the audience who remembered his name, even if there wasn't a single LED display that was lit up for him.
No matter what, he still wants to try one more time.
"I didn't think that teacher would still remember me." Nan Xiao's eyes were bright, but he still looked emotionless, his face as unchanging as a rock.
When Nan Xiao was talking to Yin Suli early on, Yao Chen already felt a little strange. Because in his memories, Nan Xiao didn't seem to have such a serious personality. "Are you nervous? I remember you were the mood-maker in your group, and you loved smiling. Don't worry, as long as you are good enough…"
"Ah, that's not it." Nan Xiao said, his face still seemingly paralyzed. He raised the microphone and explained, "I originally thought that in terms of age, I was relatively older and so, I got a shot before coming to maintain a better state."
Yao Chen seemed to have come to a realization.
Nan Xiao finished the second half of his sentence expressionlessly. "—Hence, I can't move my face anymore."
Yao Chen: "…"
As a cool female rapper who was well known for her vicious tongue, Yin Suli's expression remained unchanged but in fact, she quietly took a deep breath without anyone noticing, in case she accidentally laughed.
He was so honest. Yin Suli really likes this type of people, the type to say whatever they want as long as it's the truth.
The trainees were all stunned speechless by Nan Xiao's frankness and honesty. That was especially true for Lu Zhi, who had been very proactive in giving reactions to every trainee.
From then on, Nan Xiao was someone who had left a deep impression on all the trainees present and was referred to as the 'stone face'. He became the program's extremely humorous 'poker-faced' comedian.
The song he performed for his initial evaluation was his group's debut song. Nan Xiao wanted to use this stage as a commemoration of the start of his journey and to signify that he's starting over again, from having nothing to setting out again.
Despite not having any chance to perform on stage for the past few years, Nan Xiao hadn't abandoned the vocal and dance foundation he had exchanged half of his youth for. Not only did his strength not regress, but he also became better than before.
But maybe because he placed so much importance on this that it made him nervous in return, causing him to make a mistake during the ending pose.
Nan Xiao was originally guaranteed to get an A as he was fully deserving of it. But under the careful consideration of all aspects from the mentors, he received a B.
Nan Xiao wiped the sweat off his face and didn't raise any objection towards this result. He simply stated in a serious manner that he would practice even harder and not make any more mistakes in the future.
His dance received high praise from mentor Yao Chen.
"I hope that you can seize this chance well. Good luck." As someone who also treated the stage as his lifelong dream, Yao Chen truly hoped that Nan Xiao would be able to make his dream come true through this program and return to the stage.
The young mentor showed an encouraging gesture, "Ge, you must make your debut."
Nan Xiao bowed deeply.
Despite trying his best to resist, Nan Xiao, who had persevered until now, couldn't help but feel like crying in the end. He nodded and put two fingers at the corners of his mouth to pull it up, revealing a big smile. The stone face which finally smiled, albeit by external forces, had nothing to do with being good-looking. However, it was a little cute.
"I will!"
The trainee sitting beside Qin Lu had kept silent all along. Right as Nan Xiao was exiting the stage, he suddenly stretched his hands out and clapped for him.
The current environment was noisier than usual. After all, there were more than a hundred people in the studio, so only those that were sitting around him could hear it.
Qin Lu looked to his side. The boy with light blonde hair had calm eyes and looked a little cold. From when he had sat down to just now, he practically didn't move at all and was like a machine whose mechanism had spoiled. Other people would show some emotions at the very least when they were watching other performances, but this person was like a still image, until just now when he had clapped for Nan Xiao.
He was kind of like a sloth that wouldn't move unless it was absolutely necessary.
"Hello, teachers! I'm Fengyu Culture's Su Qinglan. I'm 17 this year. What I like is vocal, and what I'm good at is also vocal."
The trainee who went on stage just now looked very young and he didn't give off an idol or athletic vibe like the ones before him. He wore a cute cartoon sweater and had fluffy brown curly hair. He walked in a hurried manner; his steps full of energy as he quickly toddled over onto the stage.
"He's very energetic."
They have been recording continuously without stopping for several hours. It wasn't just the trainees who had been stretched to their limits, but the mentors themselves found it hard to hide their fatigue. They've just been working hard to maintain their condition out of professionalism. After watching many destructive or noise-polluting performances, the mentors couldn't help but brighten up after seeing a trainee with a different style.
Whenever he speaks, he will reveal his canine teeth, probably owing to his young age. Even though he looked very skinny, he had chubby cheeks and when he smiled, it was as if cat whiskers formed on his cheeks.
Little curly ball bowed to the mentors, giving them an anxious 180 degrees bow that was almost going straight to the floor. He opened his mouth, showing them a bright smile, "The song that I'll be performing is—"
"Wait, wait. We still have to chat with you before you proceed with your performance to get to know more about you. There's no rush, don't rush." Producer Cui Zhihao couldn't help but feel like laughing.
"Where are you rushing off to? You originally could've had 10 minutes of screen time, but you decided to cut it short and now, the director will just cut half of your time during editing."
Little curly ball looked muddled, but he seemed to have understood that the other party was looking out for him. Hence, he hurriedly gave the judges a passionate bow. "Thank you, teachers! Let's chat, I'm not in a hurry!".3
Su Qinglan was extremely happy, "Actually, I'm very nervous. I told my mum that I was going to see celebrities before coming here, but she didn't believe me."
Yin Suli felt like the program would finally put an end to the rumors of her looking at others with contempt today.
She composed herself and flipped through the information.
She looked through it and said coldly, "…First in the Campus Singing Competition?"
Su Qingfeng nodded, his eyes bright and shiny. Yin Suli could almost see a line of big shimmering letters written all over his face: Ain't I amazing?
Yin Suli glanced at the information that recorded Su Qingfeng's accomplishments a few more times, before closing the document with a snap.
She looked up, "Do you know how to rap?"
Yin Suli, the king of dirty looks, is about to find out what 'life is full of suffering' truly means.
Su Qinglan couldn't tell that Yin Suli was actually doubting his ability. He nodded happily, "I practice melodic rap more, especially of the R&B genre, but I also listen to just rap alone."
Yin Suli raised her brows. "Such as?"
Su Qinglan thought about it carefully for a moment, then answered, "Many, but I often listen to Eric B nowadays."
This caught Yin Suli's interest. She was a little curious to see if this little curly ball was like the previous batch of trainees who pretended to know things they didn't, or if he indeed had some ability.
She tapped her ballpoint pen in her hand on the table twice. "Can you freestyle? If yes, let's listen to one verse."
The trainees sitting on the pyramid-shaped seats couldn't help but feel nervous for him. Yin Suli was harsh as she was the rap mentor, and she had already made many people feel embarrassed and ashamed of themselves with her words. Su Qinglan seems to have a happy-go-lucky type of personality; they didn't know if he would collapse and not be able to get back up if he was criticized.
Just when everyone thought that he would refuse, Su Qinglan simply raised one hand and grinned, showing his cute canine teeth.
"Mentors, can you give me a beat? Make it a little louder, thank you!"
Rash, he's simply too rash.
Yin Suli could tell that Su Qinglan wasn't nervous. The mentors granted the request, but the beat given was extremely unfriendly to people who didn't have any ability.
The little curly ball, who was constantly all smiles, followed the beat of the music, getting himself familiar with the rhythm. He looked very relaxed, with not a hint of nervousness in him.
When he started, mentor Yao Cheng who originally didn't have many expectations was slightly moved.
Yin Suli, who had been mentally preparing herself to listen to some horrifying ear-piercing music, sat up straight instantly after he started rapping his first line. Her face showed a rare look of astonishment.
She could tell instantly if someone's rap had a real foundation or if they were just faking it.
Although Su Qinglan looked like a newbie, in reality, not only was he not a newbie, but he was also completely unrelated to that term.
He had a good sense of the beat and could stay on it. He could switch his flow according to the beat, making every line of his rap end right on the beat and he could even predict what was coming next. He also made facial expressions that corresponded with the music style and livened up the atmosphere.
The entire studio began vibing with him. Su Qinglan wasn't like other trainees who tried their best to rhyme when rapping. Instead, he effortlessly gave people a sense of ease. If it had to be described, it just meant that it sounded very soothing.1
This was a very difficult thing to do. There were many great rappers who could rap fast with great enunciation while also having a great stage presence that could make the audience feel hyped after listening to it. But there was also a problem—they pursued 'richness'. It was good to have rich content but overdoing it would make people feel cramped inside. It was just like having someone behind chasing you, making you go faster and faster. Although everyone recognized you as a good rapper with great talent, it was still tiring to listen to.
But for Su Qinglan, it was very clear to others what his personal style was.
It was freedom.
Although there were parts that had a faster tempo, and also parts that had a slow and light rhythm, his rap was distinct, unique, creative, and overall had a good structure.
Su Qinglan, who had picked up the microphone and started performing, seemed to have become a completely different person. He emitted a glow that couldn't be defined with a simple description. He was shining.
Yin Suli couldn't help but start to groove to the rhythm, her eyes showing a rare sign of appreciation.
Not bad. In fact, not only was he not bad but it can also be said that he was extremely good.
—He's enjoying the music.
Indeed, there were many trainees who worked extremely hard, putting in a lot of time, sweat, and tears. Of course, they were serious about it as well. But despite having exceptional abilities and flaws that even a trained eye would have a hard time detecting, they lacked individuality. They were exactly like an essay with a perfect score—beautiful on the outside but missing a soul on the inside.
Rap originated from the African Americans in New York City. When they heard the music, they would improvise one line after another following the rhythm. Their lyrical content didn't have to be meaningful; it could simply be about how someone had stolen money from them which made them upset, or it could be about how they had met a beautiful girl today, making them feel elated.
Rap was used to convey emotions and to express oneself. This kind of creative work had no constraint, no framework tied to it. There wasn't anyone who would shackle it. You can express yourself at will and set yourself free, regardless of the kind of emotions you're feeling.
Be it worry, anger, happiness, or sadness, as long as it was something that you wanted to express through the lyrical content of a song, there won't be a single restriction. You can be wild and unrestrained or hide your inner self deep within.
Rap was not limited to only rapping with a fast tempo. It can even be done in a simple and straightforward manner. You can slowly tell your story using three minutes of your time.
State what you think, show your attitude, and declare your stand. It's up to you to decide if you want it to be simple or full of complexity. Letting the world hear your pure voice was the right given to every human born in this world.
You're free.
Rap is free.
Rap isn't only music; it also represents the fire burning in your soul.
When Su Qinglan finished rapping the last verse, the atmosphere in the entire studio reached a high.
"I misjudged you, that was too cool."
The lenses were once again, focused on Lu Zhi who had been reacting to each and every trainee earnestly. He was currently talking to someone beside him with fervor, rapidly shooting out praises. Even the director himself was utterly convinced that he was a complete chatterbox. After all, he couldn't have pretended for so long—
He was too good at talking!
The trainee sitting beside Lu Zhi had been listening to him chattering away for almost three hours. In the beginning, he was amused and laughed at what he said. Now, he was already numbed to it, having entered the phase of 'soul leaving body'.
Help! Is there anyone who could throw this fella out and make him shut his trap? Even the Tang Monk wasn't that good at talking when he was alive!2
However, the director won't know what he's saying in his heart. He was also embarrassed to tell Lu Zhi to stop talking. Lu Zhi was a pretty nice person after all.
He'll just silently recite a scripture.3
On the stage, Yin Suli expressed her admiration for the first time, "You're very talented. When did you come into contact with rap?"
Yin Suli will soon regret asking this question.
After finishing his performance, Su Qinglan turned into the little cutie with a silly aura again. He thought about it seriously for a moment before saying, "Middle school, maybe?"
"…That's not right." He seemed to have recalled something and continued firmly, "I remember. My first experience with rap had something to do with you, teacher."
"Me?" Yin Suli was already used to being flattered. Mn, that's right. She's the widely-known female rapper who created a new era in rap—
"I heard that teacher's first rap song was called Love Battle!" Su Qinglan exclaimed. He had to think long and hard before he could call out the name of the song with confidence.
Yin Suli instantly stiffened: "…"
It had been almost 20 years since someone mentioned this matter. Yin Suli had been painstakingly avoiding the topic of her dark past, the bubbly and girly raps that she made during her teenage years that made her uncomfortable now.4
Yin Suli had also been a teenager once, but she absolutely doesn't want to look back at that time.
It's still all right if no one mentions it. Yin Suli debuted so many years ago. She understood how these kinds of variety show work and how they would edit the shots later—
Right at the moment, Su Qinglan finished saying the last word, a clear view of her history would appear on the screen. The MV that she dreaded watching would be played repeatedly for at least three times. It can even be sped up, slowed down, or in a freeze-frame… They may even input words describing her current feelings, the text box on the side having three big words: Ye Qing Hui.5
Yin Suli was currently full of regret.
Her cool and gorgeous female rapper image stopped a minute ago and Yin Suli was shattered on the spot.
She's now sure that her purpose in joining this program wasn't to make money but to endure hardships.
Cui Zhihao, who was beside her, was still holding back a smile. Lai Yuhan picked up the mic with a smile and began rapping, "I'll give you a love letter, you'll gift me a bunch of roses. We're a match made in heaven…"
Su Qinglan: "Oh, oh!"
Yin Suli took a deep breath and expressionlessly said, "…Shut up."
After they had enough of joking around, Yao Chen promptly brought the topic back to Su Qinglan's performance. He couldn't help but sigh, "Your improvisation was really wonderful. I must say, if this program was solely for rap, I won't be able to teach you with my standard."
This one line made the entire studio flustered as soon as it came out. The trainees that sat on the pyramid-shaped seats made indistinguishable noises. There was even one sitting in the front row that made a gesture showing that he was utterly convinced, and even shouted out a 'respect'.
As a mentor, Yao Chen who made his debut with a boy group had great talent and ability. Paired with his experience, he was more than qualified to comment on most trainees. However, every individual has their own specializations. Yao Chen's position was in dance after all, and his strength in that was one of the best in the industry. On the other hand, his rapping skills weren't as outstanding. He could only ensure it was good enough to not drag his team down.
He was actually very young. It's just that he had debuted early, so he was considered their senior. Yao Chen had participated in countless big and small programs; he has also seen many different performances with varying standards. Hence, he was very clear on how brilliant and outstanding Su Qinglan's rapping was. It was enough to make him the trainee with the highest number of votes after the first episode was released.
Yao Chen had the face of a 20-year-old, but his thoughts were very mature. It was natural for the younger generations to surpass the older ones, and he didn't know when he would be overtaken by them.
Su Qinglan had no idea of how great his skills were, but he knew Yao Chen had given him a high evaluation. His eyes shone and the corners of his mouth curved up.
"Thank you, teachers! However, I want to be a vocalist."
Yin Suli's blood pressure which had just gone down started rising again instantly. She glared in anger, "You little… you're so good at rapping. Such a waste of talent for you to be a vocalist."
Su Qinglan blinked, seemingly confused. However, he persisted on with great confidence, "But I prefer singing more!"
Yin Suli thought back to the 'First in Campus Singing Competition' she saw in the information earlier.
Could it be that his vocal is better than his rap? She thought unsurely. That meant that she would have to go up against Lai Yuhan, for he would not let a good seedling go so easily. This senior who looked refined, cultured, and had a good temper is actually very stubborn.
Lai Yuhan suddenly recalled that Su Qinglan had said he preferred R&B. He should be able to sing the vocal parts of that song pretty well too.
"You originally prepared a song, right? You can sing first." Lai Yuhan pushed his glasses up and purposely adjusted his in-ear mic. He carried high expectations for the song he was about to hear.
"All right." Su Qinglan was elated the moment he heard he could sing. The other trainees are quietened down, trying their best to not let other noises affect his performance.
The song started off with a very soothing melody. Hearing this, the four mentors and the other trainees all felt that the song they were about to hear would definitely be something akin to heaven, enough to wash away all their fatigue.
When everyone's expectations had reached the peak, Su Qinglan opened his mouth and began.
Lai Yuhan's expression slowly turned from expectation and shock to stiff and alarmed, then finally settled on bewilderment.
He was slightly doubting life right now.
Yin Suli quickly took off her earpiece. She didn't have any specific thoughts; she just wanted another pair of ears that hadn't heard this song before.
Surprisingly, no one interrupted him, as if they all tacitly agreed to do so.
Once the song was finished, Su Qinglan was extremely happy. With bright eyes, he asked, "Teachers, how was my singing?"
The four mentors had solemn expressions and appeared listless. They didn't know where to start.
Yin Suli questioned weakly, "…Didn't you say you like singing R&B?!"
Su Qinglan was stunned for a moment, then he scratched his head and replied, "Yes, but they all said I sang badly."
He was disheartened for a moment, but brightened up again and said energetically, "But I believe I can make it up with hard work. There will definitely be results from my deep love for it!"
Yin Suli still wanted to debate, "…How did your 'First in Campus Singing Competition' come about then?"
Su Qinglan rubbed his curly hair in embarrassment, "The girls in the class said I sounded better after lots of practice."
Yin Suli looked at his cute and confused face, the face that could make people overflow with motherly love and instantly soften—
All right then.
The illogical Su Qinglan had normal dancing skills, and there was also a huge problem with his rhythm. After a heated debate, the mentors finally gave him a C grade.
His talent in rap can make up for his lack of talent in other areas to some extent. He was still worthy of paying attention to.
His dance can be improved with more practice in future training sessions, and teacher Lai Yuhan would focus on helping him with his vocal aspect.
Since his rapping skills were outstanding, even if he couldn't drastically improve in his singing and dancing in a short time, he could still take the rap position in the first stage. After all, members in a boy group have their own positions based on what they are skilled in.
Su Qinglan, who had just gotten his grading, trotted up the steps of the pyramid-shaped seats. The seats they had initially chosen won't be changed until everyone has received their initial assessment and grading.
Everyone's current seats were chosen randomly by themselves according to the order of their appearances. Because Su Qinglan wasn't signed to any entertainment companies and was an individual trainee, he was one of the last to enter the studio.1
At that time, there was an individual trainee in front of him and they were also close in age, so Su Qinglan happily plopped himself in the seat beside that trainee.
As there were way too many trainees, Su Qinglan had a bit of trouble finding his seat. He counted the seats one by one, trying to find the boy he sat next to just now. The boy's refreshing and simple black hair was pretty conspicuous among the other trainees with all kinds of different colored hair—
"I'm back!" Su Qinglan walked through the crowd with his hands clasped together near his waist and sat next to Qin Lu.
The black-haired boy who seemed to have a more reserved personality heard him and looked over. Maybe because the ends of his eyes had a slight lift to them and his eyelashes were long, Su Qinglan stared at him in a daze for a moment.
He always felt that the black-haired trainee had a unique temperament that made him different from others.
That's strange.
Su Qinglan can be said to have an animal's intuition to some extent, and he was sure that tQin Lu didn't give him such a special feeling earlier.
He scratched his head and didn't think much of it. Su Qinglan didn't get to see Qin Lu's performance as he was preparing backstage and when he saw the yellow C plastered on Qin Lu's clothes, he instantly grinned.
Su Qinglan stood up and showed Qin Lu his own grade.
"We're all C grade, so we'll probably be training together. There's a chance that we may even be living in the same dorm!" Su Qinglan exclaimed, his eyes sparkling.
The boy with delicate and gentle facial features looked at him and nodded, "I don't have any dance foundation and didn't receive vocal training before. If you don't mind it, we can help each other."
Little curly ball nodded, "How can I mind you! The teachers said my rapping was decent. Although I've recalled that I didn't receive any formal training for it before, it shouldn't be that bad. If you need…"
He hadn't finished his words when Qin Lu looked up at him, his eyes bright and clear. He spoke moderately but without bias, "I think your rap was amazing."
Whoosh. The little curly ball was suddenly hit with unexpected praise. He was momentarily stunned, and the tip of his ears turned red.
"Oh, oh, really? Ah, not at all, but thank you." He fumbled over his words.
What he loved most was listening to others praise him!
The director looked at the scene from the lens and felt that he had dug up a good seedling.
There would be a camera arranged by the director to follow and capture the reactions of every trainee who had just received their grading. This would continue until they had returned to their seats. However, whether the shot would be used was another matter.
And from the camera that was following Su Qinglan, the director discovered that the trainee sitting beside him called Qin Lu was very photogenic.
No, it's not about him being photogenic. Having worked for so many years, the director was very sensitive to the different effects presented by how each person appeared on the camera. He noticed that Qin Lu seems to be constantly maintaining his best state in front of the lens.
No matter what he did, regardless of whether he was looking at the camera, every action of his was particularly pleasing to the eyes. Whether it was his posture or expression, they were all very stable and well-balanced.
After observing him for a while, the director believes that when viewing the shots, they will see that Qin Lu's appearance in the shots, regardless of whether it was a close-up or random panoramic shots, would all stand out.
Even if he cut and used a random frame, Qin Lu's image still wouldn't collapse.
What is this concept? When a normal person is exposed to the camera, even if the focus wasn't on them, they would still feel nervous and unnatural. It was an issue many trainees face.
Filming usually lasted for a very long time. At the start, they can still pay constant attention to it as the filming had just begun but after a long time, trainees would slowly relax and reveal their true selves.
This was especially true for some small habits. For example, some people would hunch their backs slightly, some liked to bite their nails, and others liked to make exaggerated expressions.
All of these changes will create a contrast, and the effects resulting from it may be good, but it may also be bad.
They were not used to the existence of these cameras and deliberately wanted to show their good sides, but it may backfire and appear unnatural instead.
He completely couldn't tell if Qin Lu was paying attention to the cameras. He seemed very easygoing, but no matter if he was seriously watching the performances, letting out a shallow smile, or even just casually zoning out, it was all very pleasing to the eye.
The art of showing your best angles in front of the cameras was a difficult and profound study. Many artists only learned this skill after debuting for many years, or it could be better referred to as an innate ability. He had, in such a short time, a clear grasp of all the cameras' locations and showed all his best angles in a natural manner.
But Qin Lu, who could be seen letting out a shallow smile from the lens, was obviously just an ordinary high school student.
If this was some kind of talent of his, he was truly very suitable to make a living in the entertainment industry. The director had an unexplainable hunch that the child would pave a way for himself among these 99 trainees and make his way to the audience.
He may not be confined to just this small program, but venture even further in the circle.
The director had been in this industry for many years and directed several different types of programs. He had also personally made many people popular before. He believed that his vision would not go wrong and decided at once that he would give Qin Lu more screen time when editing later.
He wouldn't let the other directly debut just because he admired him a little, and also wouldn't just give more screen time to Qin Lu alone. As long as he felt that Qin Lu had the potential to make it big, he was more than willing to give him more opportunities to do so.
But whether these few extra seconds of screen time would be useful, and whether they could grab hold of this opportunity to attract the audience's attention, all depended on the trainees themselves.
If it was someone capable, they would eventually be able to make it big regardless of whether they had a smooth journey or if they had experienced many bumpy roads.
It was something that would happen sooner or later. What he wanted to do right now is to try his best to make these children walk a more direct path.
On the stage, the trainee who was doing a self-introduction smiled with confidence, "Hello, teachers. I'm Fenghua Entertainment's trainee, with a training period of… three days."