With Yan Zijin feeling somewhat apprehensive and worried, yet also feeling he was being overly paranoid, Super Idol reached its fifth episode of recording.
During this period, whether toward Yan Zijin himself or toward the trainees of Jincan Qichen, Ning Siyin performed completely normally. He neither deliberately targeted them nor treated them with special favor.
The relationship between the two was that of the most ordinary co-workers. This was precisely what Yan Zijin wanted, and his initial apprehensive heart gradually settled down.
This episode was the first round of elimination; after it concluded, only sixty contestants would be able to stay, while the rest would all leave the stage of Super Idol.
Although it was stated in the publicity that the trainees’ rankings were generated based on fans’ real-time votes, due to realistic constraints, all shows had to undergo editing and review before broadcasting. Therefore, the “real-time voting” mentioned by the show’s crew was not the votes won by the trainees’ current episode performance.
So during the recording of the current episode, the trainees’ rankings were very heavily influenced by the mentors’ ratings.
“Group C’s Luo Yin, I heard your group’s dance was choreographed by you. You indeed have great talent in dance, but unfortunately, the mistake just now deducted a lot of points from you. As for your singing, whether in technique or talent, it is merely ordinary. Therefore, the grade I give you is F.”
Ning Siyin spoke at a moderate and gentle speed, his voice refined and melodious—a voice praised by fans as heavenly—yet the result spoken was not what the trainee concerned had hoped for.
Hearing the F grade that Ning Siyin ultimately gave Luo Yin, Yan Zijin knit his brows slightly.
Luo Yin was already 25 years old, the oldest among all trainees. He had already participated in three talent selection shows, but failed to make his debut in any of them. Due to his family’s poor financial condition, Luo Yin urgently needed to work and earn money. If he couldn’t debut this time either, he would have to change professions and seek another way out.
According to the competition rules of Super Idol, each PK was not only a team competition, but team members were also in a competitive relationship among themselves. If Luo Yin received an F, his ranking within the team had to be in the top three to ensure he wouldn’t be eliminated.
However, Luo Yin’s luck wasn’t very good this time; his teammates in the same group either possessed strong personal capability or came from powerful agencies. As for Luo Yin, having failed to debut after participating in three talent shows, he had already been abandoned by his agency, with resources tilted toward other artists under the same company.
Whether an artist could become popular depended not only on strength and resources; luck was also a very important factor.
Yan Zijin recalled himself before transmigrating. In his second year after entering the industry at age sixteen, he had the chance to become the lead actor in a movie. In the end, also because his luck wasn’t good enough, the role went to someone else, and that movie indeed became an instant hit. Whereas Yan Zijin waited until five years later before getting the first important role of his life, which was merely the second male lead in a TV drama.
Yan Zijin originally didn’t want to meddle, but seeing Luo Yin’s dim expression, he felt very uncomfortable inside. If someone had spoken even a single word for him back then, would that role have belonged to him? Would he not have needed to waste five years?
Now that he possessed such power and opportunity, should he use it?
Yan Zijin’s answer was affirmative.
Thus, after Ning Siyin put down the microphone and it was Yan Zijin’s turn to comment, he gave a B+.
“My view differs from Teacher Ning’s. When Group C performed just now, Luo Yin indeed made a minor mistake, but he handled it very well. Moreover, he indeed has great talent in dancing; he even specifically expanded on his teammates’ strengths and covered up their weaknesses during choreography.”
“In a talent show, even trainees in the same group are in a competitive relationship with each other, but after all, we are selecting a boy group. This approach of taking the entire team into consideration, I consider it a major bonus point, so I give you a B+. If your singing technique can be improved a bit further, I will give you an A.”
The small flame that had extinguished in Luo Yin’s eyes lit up with a whoosh.
B+ was the highest grade he had received so far. Other mentors weren’t as strict as Ning Siyin, but gave standard Cs and Ds. If not for Ning Siyin’s F, the chances of Luo Yin successfully advancing would be very high. That was why Luo Yin felt so crestfallen after Ning Siyin’s F came out.
Now with Yan Zijin’s B+, the possibility of advancing increased once more.
“I disagree with Teacher Shen’s words.”
Ning Siyin’s voice resounded once again. Although his voice wasn’t any different from his previous comments, Yan Zijin knew the other party was already somewhat displeased.
“For an artist, every performance must achieve perfection. Making a mistake on stage is either due to not taking it seriously enough, or insufficient usual training. Regardless of which one it is, it shows a lack of respect toward the stage and the audience. This is also the reason why I only gave him an F.”
Indeed, Ning Siyin had been like this in the previous few episodes as well. Regardless of which trainee, as long as a mistake occurred, the score Ning Siyin gave would be the lowest among all mentors, rather than targeting Luo Yin specifically.
Luo Yin’s mistake wasn’t because he was lazy and skipped training, but because a family relative passed away, forcing Luo Yin to request leave and return to his hometown to handle the funeral affairs, which resulted in two fewer days of training than others.
Although Ning Siyin displayed displeasure, Yan Zijin wasn’t worried.
“I know Teacher Ning has always been relatively strict. But I believe mistakes cannot be entirely eradicated; no one can guarantee their performance is flawless every single time. Remedying a mistake in a timely manner after it happens, or even turning a mistake into a success—there are many examples of this in film history, some even hailed as classics. Luo Yin’s mistake just now couldn’t be noticed if standing from the audience’s perspective, looking even like an impromptu movement. That’s why I gave Luo Yin a B+.”
Ning Siyin was the same as usual, with a warm and gentle smile on his face. He didn’t speak further.
Yet Yan Zijin knew he wasn’t convinced, but was merely waiting for his explanation.
Sure enough, after this episode’s recording ended, Ning Siyin didn’t leave together with the other few mentors, but sat in his original place just like Yan Zijin.
“That Luo Yin, is he a trainee from Teacher Shen’s company?”
Yan Zijin froze for a moment, realizing Ning Siyin had misunderstood, and shook his head: “No, Luo Yin is not a trainee of Jincan Qichen, nor does Jincan Qichen plan to sign him.”
It seemed Ning Siyin had misunderstood, thinking he spoke for Luo Yin because Luo Yin was an artist under his wing.
Sure enough, a trace of surprise flashed through Ning Siyin’s eyes, and only then did he ask: “What did Teacher Shen want to say just now?”
Ning Siyin was very certain that when arguing over Luo Yin’s grade earlier, the person in front of him had something to say, but withheld it from speaking out loud because the cameras were still recording.
Yan Zijin then recounted Luo Yin’s situation.
According to what Yan Zijin had learned, aside from the work on Super Idol, Ning Siyin had also taken on a TV drama, just like in the original novel plot. During this period, he not only had to record Super Idol, but also film that TV drama. Not being at the training base frequently was why he wasn’t very clear on the trainees’ circumstances.
“So that’s how it is,” Ning Siyin nodded, yet said, “Although it is understandable, I will not change my rating for Luo Yin.”
“I sympathize with the passing of Luo Yin’s relative, and I also agree with what Teacher Shen said about this being an influencing factor for the mistake, but this shouldn’t become an excuse. Because having two fewer days than others was a deficiency he was well aware of at the time. What he should have done was work hard to make up for the training missed during those two days, minimizing the probability of mistakes to the greatest extent possible.”
Clearly, despite expressing understanding toward Luo Yin’s situation as recounted by Yan Zijin, he still couldn’t agree with Yan Zijin’s approach.
“As far as I’m concerned, regardless of the reason, a mistake is a mistake. There are indeed many operations in film history where mistakes became classics, but failures caused by mistakes are far more numerous. So I don’t believe mistakes can be forgiven at will.”
Yan Zijin opened his mouth, wanting to say that many times, some people simply lacked an opportunity, thereby missing out on an important turning point in life. He wanted to say there was no need to be overly strict; perhaps by raising one’s hand just a tiny bit higher, a person’s life could be changed.
However, after giving it some thought, as the novel’s male lead, Ning Siyin had smooth sailing ever since his debut; even when his career was at a low point temporarily, it was merely because he himself was unwilling, rather than lacking opportunities. Thus, Ning Siyin was likely unable to understand him and Luo Yin. Not to mention, looking at it from any angle, there was nothing wrong with his way of handling things.
This kind of difference in mindset was closely linked to their respective life experiences, making it nearly impossible to convince one another.
Yan Zijin didn’t want to argue with him further, merely smiling and shifting the topic elsewhere.
Ning Siyin didn’t seem to want to chat much further either. Thus, after chatting idly for a few sentences, the two went their separate ways.
After this episode’s recording ended, there would be a two-day break, giving eliminated trainees time to pack their luggage and giving the remaining trainees time to readjust their dormitories.
Several trainees from Jincan Qichen all successfully advanced, but they all wanted to take a trip home. Yan Zijin simply stayed to sleep for a night, planning to take them along when leaving tomorrow morning.
The shooting location for Super Idol was situated in the film base; even at night, all places were brightly lit, full of production crews rushing their scenes.
Declining the trainees who invited him to watch the filming together, Yan Zijin walked toward the dormitory. Having stayed in the Film and Television City for over a decade in his past life, he had long lost interest in watching these lively scenes.
When passing by the dance studio, the lights in the room and the music floating out caught his attention.
Having a holiday tonight, all the trainees had gone out to play—how could someone still be practicing dance inside?
He approached with doubt in his heart, seeing the two people inside clearly through the glass on the door.
Ning Siyin and Luo Yin?
Due to the B+ given by Yan Zijin, Luo Yin made a low-altitude advancement with a 59th-place ranking.
Luo Yin appearing in the dance studio was something he could understand; that mistake during the competition was clearly not something he could accept for himself, which was why he practiced dance alone while all the trainees went to relax.
But how could Ning Siyin appear? Didn’t they say he had just taken on a big production? How did he have time to linger in the dance studio?
The speakers in the room were turned off, and the sound of the two talking floated out faintly.
“Thank you, thank you Teacher Ning, I will definitely work hard.”
“It’s just a coincidence. Your dance talent is pretty good, and although your voice is ordinary, learning more techniques can make it passable to listen to as well. It just so happens that Xi Yuanting has been quite free recently and wants to take on an apprentice…”
Hearing up to this point, Yan Zijin had already understood.
So Ning Siyin was introducing a teacher to Luo Yin…
Xi Yuanting and Ning Siyin were artists who debuted in the same period; back then, he was also a popular center-position candidate, only falling behind Ning Siyin in popularity to settle for second place.
How could a person of this caliber ever have free time?
Yan Zijin smiled and shook his head.
Turns out Ning Siyin wasn’t as unfeeling as he had previously thought.