Ji Song’s gaze was as calm as still water as he swept his eyes over. “You’ve only practiced for a week, so why did you come to compete?”
Consider the trainees present.
They had either fought their way through many similar programs or possessed several years of training experience.
Some individuals were even skilled enough to be professional instructors.
For an ordinary person, it would take immense courage just to compete on the same stage as these powerhouses!
His expression was cold, and his features were even colder.
With this question, the atmosphere on set instantly turned serious.
Under the cameras, even Yun Yueming’s strikingly beautiful face showed a hint of daze. His ruby-red lips parted and closed several times, but he couldn’t formulate an answer to his question.
“I, I…”
The other trainees shrank back.
“Teacher Ji is ten thousand times stricter than I imagined… but somehow I feel a bit sorry for Yun Yueming?”
“If you looked like me, you wouldn’t feel sorry.”
Yang Xing let out a direct “Urgh” and fainted on the spot.
The live-stream bullet comments were equally spectacular——
[I was expecting an icy mentor and a beautiful contestant, but it’s actually this kind of tense confrontation???]
[Even though Teacher Ji only asked one question, I’m trembling here!]
Some of Ji Song’s fans also came out to explain——
[Don’t misunderstand, everyone. The contestant is a bit special; Song Song is just following the normal procedure！]
[Long-time fans of Film Emperor Ji know, he’s always had resting grumpy face syndrome!]
Facing those eyes filled with pity or fear, and looking at Ji Song’s cold, handsome face, Yun Yueming recalled his own thousand-year-long journey of trying to pass the civil service exam.
All the joy of reuniting with an old acquaintance?
Completely gone.
The spirits who cultivated alongside him back in the day were all stronger than him.
The trainees competing here now were also stronger than him.
Inwardly, he couldn’t help but shed two lines of bitter tears.
The feeling of his fox rear end being mercilessly whipped by a horsetail whisk seemed to have returned!
With the faint, ominous feeling of “braised fox butt” about to be served, he absolutely could not reveal his true identity in front of Ji Song!
Yun Yueming took a deep breath and gripped the microphone tightly.
“Well…”
Extremely nervous, he started babbling nonsense: “My agent said it’s five thousand yuan, includes meals and accommodation, air conditioning and WiFi are free… so, so I came.”
The mentors: “…”
The contestants: “???”
The first victim of false advertising had appeared!
Once the training period started, the trainees’ phones would be confiscated. When would there be time to play?
As for enjoying the air conditioning?
Heh.
They’d be practicing until they were dead tired, who would even care about such a trivial benefit?
Ji Song’s handsome eyebrow raised slightly. When no one was paying attention, the corner of his thin lips lifted into a faint smile, which quickly disappeared.
Quite rarely, he was actually amused by this naive answer.
Others couldn’t hold back their laughter either, chuckling softly.
Rap mentor Reid was laughing so hard he rocked back and forth, slapping the table until his hand turned red.
“Yun Yueming, you’re very real! I really like you!”
Dance mentor Meng Qi cupped her chin, softening her voice: “Is it because Teacher Ji’s question made you too nervous? Relax, it’s just the normal procedure.”
The man on stage bowed to express his thanks. The corners of his eyes were slightly red, as if dusted with a faint touch of rouge.
His gaze was also as clear and moist as the waters of West Lake.
Meng Qi felt a stir in her heart, finding the look utterly pitiable. She couldn’t help but glance at the still ice-cold Ji Song.
Film Emperor Ji was certainly handsome.
He just didn’t understand the concept of being gentle with the fairer sex.
Yun Yueming, terrified that Ji Song might deal with him right now, stammered to add, “Actually, I, I’m Teacher Ji’s fan!”
“It’s my first time seeing him in person, and I got so excited, that’s why I’m so nervous…”
Ji Song’s agent, Hyper,’s face changed drastically. Offstage, he slapped his forehead hard.
Great!
Another direct hit on Film Emperor Ji’s sore spot.
This Yun Yueming seemed to have an empty head, flaunted a pretty face, and now claimed to be a fan, showing up to the competition completely unprepared.
It would be a miracle if Ji Song gave him a decent look!
Yun Yueming: “I’m going to perform a dance medley, a mashup I arranged myself!”
Cheers erupted.
The lights went out, leaving only a single pale beam illuminating the slender, tall figure at the center of the stage—
He instantly immersed himself in the moment, piously tilting his head 45 degrees, offering a profile full of atmosphere: “Yo yo… a-av8d…”
Just by looking at his face, some began to predict Yun Yueming would be the first to get an A grade on this stage.
So perfect, so beautiful, such stable stage presence.
If he didn’t debut, there would be no justice in the world.
However, Yun Yueming was a fox.
Foxes are canines naturally prone to deception.
As soon as the intro played, the sunglasses went on, and the voice opened up, everyone immediately sensed something was wrong: “Is it too late for me to run now?”
Yun Yueming truly embodied the concept of enjoying the stage.
He was the only one bursting with life force; listening to him made everyone else want to die.
“I’m a handsome guy allergic to milk tea!” “My tea quality? Explosively good tea! But I absolutely love drinking it! Mentors call me baby, fans are my baby!” “Wow! Amazing baby! Na na na na na—”
Oblivious to everyone, he danced wildly, his fox tail and ears itching to pop out and join the groove.
No!
True release would be transforming back into his fox form entirely, rolling and running around the stage, scurrying everywhere, and tearing the place apart!
But with Ji Song staring at him with a bewildered expression, he had to restrain himself.
The entire venue was deeply shocked.
Shocked by that earth-shattering, universe-defying confidence.
“Oh my god! I just realized it’s ESO’s ‘Baba’!” “It’s also mixed with Big Duang’s ‘Amazing Baby’!” “Wait…! This rap segment…! It’s from Mummy’s ‘Transformative Milk Tea’!” “First time encountering such a unique stage, it’s like hearing celestial music, leaving my ears temporarily deafened!”
As the song ended, everyone was captivated by Yun Yueming. Silence reigned for a full thirty seconds before an eruption of cheers and applause, like a tidal wave.
The show’s effect was maximized.
Meng Qi, the top-tier girl group leader who had returned from Korea, was emotionally moved while also assessing the performance.
It was clear Yun Yueming couldn’t sing or dance well…
During his performance, he was like a puppy trying to imitate others.
After finishing, he reverted to his naturally well-behaved nature, cupping his fists towards the camera and the mentors’ panel, instinctively bowing a few times.
More precisely, it was a gesture of worship, like praying.
After praying, the owner would usually pat his head and give him a couple of treats as encouragement.
Ji Song felt the corner of his mouth twitch upwards again, frowning as he suppressed it.
He thought darkly, “Whining for attention now won’t get you a red envelope.”
But Meng Qi was already won over, her heart softening: “That move looks just like my little dog! So cute!”
Well, singing and dancing could be developed later!
As for the grade—
Singing ability: 50% Dance: 20% Confidence level: 1,000,000% breaking through the universe!
After some discussion, Reid revealed the answer: “Yun Yueming’s grade evaluation is… C Level.”
For someone with such limited training time, this was quite an achievement.
Especially since Yun Yueming was just a regular person, not some trainee transitioning from another career midway.
Overjoyed, he returned to his seat.
But his gaze involuntarily kept drifting towards Ji Song at the mentors’ table.
From that point on, the performances grew increasingly spectacular. Many popular contestants and overseas trainees took the stage one after another.
Geng Yizhen, with over ten million Weibo followers.
His sexy rendition of “Honey,” complete with singing and dancing, won over a legion of fans on the spot, making him the first A-class trainee.
Chinese dance prodigy Yun Junzhi, the super-arrogant rapper Shangguan Tongtong in a duo…
The performances were breathtaking, and Yun Yueming barely restrained his innate “crazy when excited” personality from erupting.
After the initial stage recordings ended, the exhausted trainees breathed a sigh of relief and began choosing their dorms according to their corresponding grades.
From A to F, the higher the rank, the more luxurious the dormitory conditions.
Dragging their luggage in a mighty procession, they headed towards the dorm building.
It was a fully enclosed training camp. Everyone would be staying here for the next four months, a mix of nerves and anticipation.
Based on their schedules, the mentors could leave the base and had fixed hotel suites to stay in.
Ji Song disliked the hassle of taking a van for a short walk and intended to stroll back to his hotel suite.
His assistant, Zhuzhu, followed closely, quietly scrolling through Weibo.
Suddenly spotting something, she gasped sharply and timidly handed him her phone. “B-boss, it looks like you’re trending.”
Ji Song, who had just been enjoying some fresh air: “?”
His eyelashes drooped, casting two small shadows on his cool, pale skin. As his brow furrowed deeper, the shadows grew heavier.
On the screen: ——Film Emperor’s Irresistible Charm Causes Beautiful Contestant to Shed Tears on Stage!
In the picture, Yun Yueming’s eyes sparkled with unshed tears, while Ji Song looked on, utterly clueless and indifferent.
Ji Song: “…”
At that very moment, Yun Yueming was stealthily trailing behind Ji Song like a sneaky dog.
He just wanted to see how his master, dead for so many years, could be standing alive before him again?
With short hair now, wearing modern clothes.
He seemed somewhat unfamiliar.
Seeing Ji Song stop to look at his phone, Yun Yueming swiftly dodged, hiding behind a billboard, only his curious fox-like eyes peeking out.
Which master had he lost? The golden master? The silver master?
Or this terrifying master before him, who had become a top-tier Film Emperor?
He made a bitter face.
He really couldn’t stand another day of filming this show!
The assistant knew her boss’s personality well. Scandalous news and Ji Song were like the opposite poles of a magnet.
Absolutely no overlap!
The assistant tried to console him: “Don’t worry about it, this is the downside of a fully live-streamed show. Every little thing can trend directly…”
“Hopefully, no one’s doing it maliciously…”
Ji Song gave a cold laugh. Before he could return the phone, his agent Hyper rushed over urgently. “Good thing you haven’t gone back yet.”
Ji Song: “What’s wrong?”
Hyper had the smug expression of someone who’d just accomplished a great deed. He flashed a room key, flicking it with his finger. “Found this slipped under your suite door.”
“See? The show’s barely started, and already some overly eager contestant can’t sit still.”
“If some paparazzi had caught this, those no-name little trainees wouldn’t matter, but your reputation, Film Emperor Ji, would be ruined!”
“I’ve already changed your room and tightened security.”
Ji Song’s eyes darkened with rolling clouds, a flash of disgust passing through them. “Who was it?”
Hyper shrugged. “No idea yet.”
A disdainful sneer escaped the man’s thin lips. His peripheral vision suddenly swept towards a completely still billboard—
Even though he clearly hadn’t seen Yun Yueming, his gaze was palpable, like two ice blades with immense penetrating power, stabbing straight over.
Yun Yueming pressed himself even tighter against the billboard, not daring to make a peep.
Ji Song said coldly, “Forget it. A pretty face and an empty head like that will be eliminated sooner or later anyway.”
Both the agent and the assistant nodded in agreement.
However, Yun Yueming’s eyes sparkled brightly, and his fox ears instantly perked up!
——There’s a chance like that?!