Yun Yueming hadn’t expected to run straight into Ji Song either.
Meeting that handsome, frosty face, his smile instantly froze solid.
Ahhhhhhh!
So awkward!
Trying to recover, Yun Yueming quickly broke into a goofy grin again. “Hehe… Teacher Ji, what do you think of the expression management I was practicing? Hehe.”
Meng Qi: “…”
All her teaching, wasted!
To have a top-tier, god-like face and make such a silly expression was simply a travesty!
Ji Song shot him a pitying look, as if looking at a fool, then walked straight past.
Leaving behind a trail of his dangerous, cool fragrance.
Meng Qi had to leave immediately for an out-of-town schedule. She patted Yun Yueming’s shoulder sympathetically and was about to head out.
As she left, Yun Yueming suddenly said, “Mentor Meng, it would be best if you stayed within the show’s base during this time. Don’t go anywhere else.”
Meng Qi chuckled. “How is that possible?”
She had the protective charm now; those strange things wouldn’t come near her anymore.
Her reputation with the Queen group’s fans was already very poor. She couldn’t afford to cancel on them again without reason.
Any artist who had experienced the glory of being on stage wouldn’t easily give up the game.
Yun Yueming knew she wouldn’t listen, but he still couldn’t help warning her.
“What if those strange occurrences get worse?”
A flicker of fear crossed Meng Qi’s expression, but then, thinking of something, her eyes grew resolute.
“My schedule was announced a long time ago. Many of my fans are students who have to save up for months just to afford the plane ticket to travel hundreds of miles to see me. I don’t want to disappoint them. That’s my professional integrity.”
Yun Yueming was slightly taken aback, genuinely moved. “Mm… that’s really dedicated…”
Meng Qi had already left by then.
She didn’t actually believe Yun Yueming had any real ability in the supernatural realm. His face was simply too beautiful, lacking any authority.
All she knew was that he was a very kind person.
Just like…
Meng Qi’s mind wandered for a moment.
Just like Ji Song?
She recalled that before the show started recording, the lofty Film Emperor Ji had also warned her to be careful.
Back then, Meng Qi hadn’t understood what he meant. Now, in hindsight, it dawned on her!
Were they both Taoist priests?
Or mediums?
They couldn’t possibly be immortals, could they?
It felt as if a heavy fog was pressing down on her, her vision and mind growing hazy.
She stumbled violently, nearly crashing headfirst into a sharp piece of broken brick.
“—!”
Her assistant was terrified. “You look terrible. Should we postpone the schedule?”
Meng Qi gritted her teeth and shook her head.
“It’s nothing. Let’s hurry to the next engagement.”
·
“Since you’re smiling so happily, you go first.”
Ji Song sat gracefully before the white piano, his movements noble and composed.
Still clueless, Yun Yueming pointed at himself. “Me?”
Ji Song: “Who else?”
Seeing that they weren’t the first to sing, the nervous trainees in Class C collectively breathed a sigh of relief. With this deadly diva leading the charge, no matter how badly anyone else sang afterward, they wouldn’t be criticized too harshly.
Ji Song’s peripheral vision clearly caught the slight figure gradually approaching him.
“Ready.”
His slender, jade-like fingers pressed the keys. The melody that rose was light and beautiful. For some reason, the trainees, who had been exhausted and sluggish, slowly regained their energy and spirit.
Yang Xing secretly clenched his fist. “Why do I suddenly have so much energy? And I’m not anxious at all anymore!”
In this current age, the age of the decline of dharma, genuine mountain gods like Ji Song were extremely rare.
Thus, even just a short piano piece as an introduction allowed everyone to experience the feeling of clarity that comes with listening to celestial music—
“Is the AC on? Why do I feel so clear-headed all of a sudden?”
“Me too!”
Ji Song took in the sight of these youngsters transitioning from lethargy to vitality and inwardly chuckled.
Most young people nowadays are in a sub-healthy state.
He had noticed early on that the trainees’ energy fields were unstable. From body to spirit, they felt hollow, emanating a decadent black aura.
Except for one person—
Ji Song’s cool gaze swept over and landed on Yun Yueming, who was frowning slightly as he diligently tried to catch the beat.
If this guy were truly the type to cut corners and slip someone a hotel key card, why did he radiate a pure, white, virtuous glow?
This kind of pure and benevolent energy field only appeared on three types of beings.
Exceptionally rare great philanthropists, newborn babies, or young animals whose spiritual consciousness had just awakened.
So there was someone even Ji Song couldn’t see through…
In that split second he was lost in thought, Yun Yueming found his entry point and confidently began to sing—
The trainees, who had been refreshed by Film Emperor Ji’s subtle spiritual influence, immediately clutched their chests in alarm, jolted back to full, harsh reality by Yun Yueming’s voice.
That one outburst from him.
Was more effective than any iced Americano, nasal strip, or essential oil.
It inflicted equal damage both inside and outside the screen.
The live stream’s barrage froze for a moment, then slowly filled with question marks and ellipses.
[Who’s singing? I was about to fall asleep and that scared me awake! Pay for my nap time!]
[God is fair. He gave you an angelic face but had to balance it with a voice like a pig being slaughtered…]
[Curse you, production team!]
[How dare you arrange such a difficult song for our baby? I’m suing you!]
[One sentence review…]
[All feeling, zero technique!]
·
Morning training ended quickly.
The base had a dedicated cafeteria for the trainees, spanning three floors, with specialty dishes from all over the country available.
As soon as they walked in, the contestants, desperately needing to refuel, let out a collective “Wow.”
“So much good food, and it’s all free!”
Tempted by the delicious spread, contestants who couldn’t control their cravings would soon face a vicious cycle of losing their figure, poor stage performance, and ultimately elimination.
The production team might seem in sync with the contestants, but they were setting traps everywhere.
However, having only been in the show for a couple of days, most were still quite reserved.
They wanted to put up a front and manage their figure, so they chose their lunches very demurely, claiming to be full after just a couple of bites of vegetable salad.
Yun Yueming stared at the one tomato and small cup of yogurt on Yang Xing’s plate.
“Famine rations? You’re eating that little?”
Yang Xing grimaced. “You’re so skinny, don’t stir up trouble. I have to manage my figure!”
Yun Yueming muttered under his breath, “You idols have so much management to do, yet you never seem to manage your own pants properly…”
Yang Xing’s fur bristled. “I’m still a kid!?”
Yun Yueming: “Okay, okay, kid bro. Men are whatever until death.”
Some surprised or disdainful glances turned towards their table.
“Oh my god, what am I seeing…”
“Just watch. Eating like that, he’ll be fat in no time.”
“Ha, wouldn’t it be better if he got eliminated? With looks like his, who knows if he’s some company’s secret plant?”
Yang Xing flared up, about to glare at the gossips.
He only suppressed his anger when he saw the cameraman aiming at them.
“Aren’t you mad? They’re just jealous!”
Yun Yueming picked up his chopsticks. “Why be mad? To me, they’re the fools. Only an idiot refuses free food!”
He had known the pangs of hunger as a stray fox, and it was far from pleasant.
Yang Xing: “???”
Did that include me too!?
Yun Yueming dove headfirst into his plate piled high with food. He loaded it up like he was laying a foundation—solid and sturdy, forming a little pagoda.
He seemed determined to sample flavors from every corner of the country in one lunch.
Whenever Yun Yueming was on screen, the barrage of comments was always lively, and the live stream’s viewership soared.
The production team noticed this pattern and simply set up a camera right in front of Yun Yueming, much to his displeasure—his reproachful glances suggesting they were interfering with his meal.
The barrage comments were also blown away by his appetite—
[Stop pretending, little bro. The “big eater” persona is so outdated!]
[Such a tacky persona!]
[Why is this handsome guy acting so silly? Kinda turning me off…]
However, ten minutes later—
[…I stepped away to order takeout for a minute, what happened? Where did all the food on his plate go?]
[Those who said it was an act, does your face hurt now?]
[He makes food look so appetizing. Can you guys film this guy eating every mealtime? My ultimate meal companion show! @Idol101 Official Weibo]
[Feels like Yueming bro is skinny from being hungry. For the initial stage, everyone else wore designer brands, but he wore minmin. Kinda feel for him now]
[Turning into a mom fan right now, thanks]
Seeing the barrage of comments on the big screen coming in waves, Li Rang couldn’t sit still anymore. He walked across several tables to Yun Yueming’s side.
He gently patted his back, naturally helping him digest.
“Eat slowly, careful not to choke.”
He handed Yun Yueming a carton of iced yogurt. “Probiotics, helps digestion.”
Yun Yueming looked up, cheeks bulging. “?”
As the saying goes: If a boy band doesn’t sell bromance, they might as well go home and farm. Some viewers in the live stream soon noticed Li Rang and started speculating about their relationship.
In the corner not captured by the cameras, Yang Xing had been noticeably shoved aside by Li Rang just moments ago.
He was fuming with nowhere to vent.
To make the audience ship them, you had to treat someone differently.
Li Rang glanced at Yang Xing beside him. “Sorry, didn’t bring one for you.”
This kid in the fur coat might look naive, but he was actually quite cunning!
He definitely knew sticking with Yun Yueming would get him screen time; why else would he cling to him?
Yang Xing gave a casual “Oh,” and said, “Yueming and I weren’t going to have any anyway.”
Then, as if unintentionally, he shot back, “Hey Rang, I heard you had a disagreement with Teacher Ji today. You even chased after him outside. You didn’t talk back to the teacher, did you?”
Sure enough, the barrage exploded.
Film Emperor Ji’s fans instantly flooded the screen, tearing Li Rang apart mercilessly regardless of the truth.
Li Rang’s smile stiffened. “Don’t make wild assumptions. I was asking Teacher Ji for advice.”
Realizing he was unwelcome, he quickly got up and left.
Yang Xing’s lips curled slightly.
Got you!
You like leeching off the spotlight? Then leech away!
Yang Xing had a company backing him, after all, and his father was a big name in the entertainment industry.
Naive as he might be, he still understood the ways of this world.
He anxiously looked at Yun Yueming and lowered his voice. “Are you stupid? You almost let him mooch off your popularity!”
Yun Yueming had just finished his last bite. Upon hearing this, he panicked and swatted randomly at the air.
“What!? Where are the mosquitoes!?”
Yang Xing: “…”
Forget it.
This guy’s looks must have been traded for his IQ.
·
For several days in a row, Meng Qi was busy with events, shuttling between major cities, practically without rest.
The music festival atmosphere was electric. After finishing her last song, she used a tissue to dab the sweat from her face and began thanking the fans who had traveled thousands of miles to see her.
She kept the protective charm in a small red cloth pouch, wearing it close to her body.
For these past few days, there had indeed been no strange occurrences.
But as she was walking off stage, she suddenly missed a step and fell. Shouts of alarm rose from fans and staff alike.
When she was helped up, Meng Qi had no visible injuries, but suddenly felt a sharp, unending pain in her abdomen.
For some inexplicable reason, she recalled Yun Yueming’s advice and felt an overwhelming urge to return to the recording base immediately!
She was sweating from the pain, almost wondering if the fall had brought on her period early!
“Meng Qi, leave the group!”
“Meng Qi, leave the group!”
A group of people suddenly surged from somewhere, charging straight at her. Fortunately, security reacted quickly, forming an instant human wall to block these anti-fans.
“—Watch out! Protect her safety!”
Yet someone was still screaming at the top of their lungs, throwing a water bottle at her.
“Give back the resources that belong to Cha Min-hee, you thief who stole someone else’s life!”
Cha Min-hee…