On the bus back to the training camp.
Lu Xian pulled her collar all the way up, not daring to loosen it despite the heat. The faint red marks on both sides of her neck were completely concealed.
“Lu Xian, are you cold?” You Yijia then turned off the air vent above them: “How about now?”
Lu Xian, who was already feeling hot, now felt even warmer.
Upon returning to the training camp, they didn’t rest immediately. Director Ye Xiangjun announced the training tasks for the upcoming week.
“Starting today, we’ll begin the popularity vote to compete for debut spots. The higher your popularity, the greater your chance of debuting. I hope everyone will actively engage to gain popularity points.”
So the popularity vote was finally starting.
Among the trainees, some were excited while others sighed in dismay.
You Yijia was particularly thrilled: “Yes! I’ve filmed so many vlogs, I’m going to post them all!”
She had even taken a group photo with Lu Xian on the bus and couldn’t wait to share it now.
Xia Wanzhou seemed troubled. Among the fifty trainees, her popularity was relatively low, and she found this competition method particularly unfair.
Lu Xian didn’t feel much about it. She wasn’t here to debut in the first place maintaining her current ranking was enough for her.
Before Ye Xiangjun could finish speaking, the trainees had already gathered in small groups, chattering away.
Ye Xiangjun signaled for quiet: “Next week’s live elimination round will be divided into Vocal and Dance groups. All fifty trainees must choose the team that suits them best for specialized training. By the end of next week’s competition, the twenty trainees with the lowest popularity will face elimination.”
The trainees felt the pressure: “The elimination rate is too high.”
Lu Xian was actually quite excited. Calculating the timeline, the top twenty elimination would coincide perfectly with Ling Tingyu’s birthday.
After announcing the competition rules, Ye Xiangjun continued: “During training, Mentor Chang Yuhuan will lead the Vocal group, while Mentor Ling Tingyu will lead the Dance group. All fifty trainees, please choose your mentor teams now.”
Lu Xian, You Yijia, Xia Wanzhou, and others chose the Vocal group, while Lin Xu and the rest joined the Dance group.
On the way back to the dorms, everyone naturally began discussing ways to boost their popularity.
Lu Xian walked ahead alone when You Yijia caught up to her: “Lu Xian, do you have any good ideas?”
“I don’t.” If Lu Xian knew, she wouldn’t have been stuck playing minor roles all this time.
You Yijia clicked her tongue: “Well, I have an idea.”
Lu Xian: “What is it?” You Yijia shamelessly proposed: “How about we create some CP buzz? An AA romance?”
Lu Xian was unimpressed: “How boring.”
“Just think about it,” You Yijia joked. “Creating a CP is seriously the most effective, simplest, and fastest way to gain popularity.”
Lu Xian refused outright: “Not interested.”
The two walked side by side into the distance.
Behind them, Xia Wanzhou watched Lu Xian’s retreating figure, narrowing her eyes slightly: “Creating a CP, huh?”
…
Back in the dorm, everyone was busy promoting themselves.
Lu Xian lay on her bed, having taken off her jacket and let her hair down to cover the marks on her neck.
Just then, someone knocked on the door. You Yijia was showering, so it wasn’t convenient for visitors.
Lu Xian opened the door: “Xia Wanzhou, what is it?”
“Um…” Xia Wanzhou stared at Lu Xian, momentarily stunned.
Lu Xian was strikingly beautiful her lips red, teeth white, with long black hair cascading down, giving her an exceptionally gentle appearance.
Uncomfortable under such scrutiny, Lu Xian frowned almost imperceptibly: “Is something wrong?”
“Oh.” Xia Wanzhou snapped back to reality. “Nothing special, I just wanted to ask if you have any spare hair ties?”
Lu Xian didn’t understand. “What?”
“My hair tie accidentally broke. I was wondering if you had any extras?” Xia Wanzhou’s hair was half loose, clearly in need of a hair tie.
But Lu Xian couldn’t comprehend why Xia Wanzhou would come all the way from the Beta dormitory to the Alpha dormitory just to borrow a hair tie.
Lu Xian considered used hair ties to be very personal items and was reluctant to lend them out.
“I only have one, no spares.”
On Lu Xian’s fair wrist was a black hair tie adorned with raindrop-shaped crystals, a unique, designer piece that stood out from ordinary hair ties.
Xia Wanzhou wanted to buy the same style but couldn’t find it online, so she pretended her hair tie had broken to borrow one from Lu Xian.
She remembered Lu Xian having more than one and expected her to lend one, but was surprised by the outright refusal.
“Alright then, I’ll ask someone else.” Xia Wanzhou smiled and turned to leave.
Lu Xian closed the door, fingers tracing the raindrop crystals on her hair tie.
You Yijia had just finished showering. “Who was that?”
Lu Xian lay back on her bed. “Xia Wanzhou.”
“Oh.” You Yijia towel-dried her hair. “What did she want? Don’t tell me she came to ship a CP with you.”
She grinned. “An AB romance?”
“Stop talking nonsense.” Lu Xian rolled her eyes. “Not everyone’s like you.”
“Just kidding. I’m not into Alphas anyway.”
Then You Yijia stared at Lu Xian and added, “I only have a thing for sweet Omegas.”
Lu Xian: “?”
Lu Xian: “Then why are you staring at me?”
You Yijia blinked. “Sis.”
Lu Xian threw a pillow at her. “Get lost.”
As evening approached, the Vocal and Dance groups gathered in their respective training rooms.
Lu Xian arrived early, the Dance group’s training room was empty except for her.
Leaning against the doorframe, she pulled out her phone and called Ling Tingyu.
The call connected quickly, but Ling Tingyu’s voice sounded groggy.
“Mmm…” Her soft, drowsy tone was endearing.
Lu Xian spoke gently. “Still sleepy?”
After returning to the hotel across from the training camp, Ling Tingyu had been exhausted and slept until just now.
“Just woke up.” Ling Tingyu lay facedown on her pillow, phone pressed to her ear, already drifting off again.
“Want to come over now?” Lu Xian checked the time there was still half an hour before training.
“Huh?” Ling Tingyu, eyes closed, couldn’t recall where she was supposed to go.
Lu Xian chuckled. “Sis, I’m waiting for you at the training camp.”
“Training camp…” Ling Tingyu remembered. “Right, I’m leading the Dance group this week.”
She hurriedly sat up. “Am I late, Lu Xian?”
“No, there’s still half an hour.” Lu Xian listened to the rustling sounds on the other end. “No rush, eat first before coming.”
Relieved, Ling Tingyu slowed down, changing clothes while saying, “Lu Xian, I think I’m all better now.”
The phone transmitted faint rustling the sound of fabric brushing against skin.
Lu Xian knew Ling Tingyu was changing clothes, her ears feeling slightly warm. “You mean the bunny?”
“Bunny?”
What an adorable nickname.
Ling Tingyu suddenly laughed. “Mhm, the bunny doesn’t hurt anymore.” Through the phone, Lu Xian recalled the bunny’s blushing face, her heart racing. “That’s good.”
Ling Tingyu: “So…”
Lu Xian: “…”
“Lu Xian.” Ling Tingyu’s tone carried a hint of dissatisfaction. “Did you forget what you promised me?”
Lu Xian waited for her to continue. “What?”
Ling Tingyu bit her lip. “Massage the bunny.”
Lu Xian: “…”
When Lu Xian didn’t respond, Ling Tingyu thought she hadn’t heard.
Ling Tingyu repeated indignantly: “Massage…”
“I know.” Lu Xian quickly replied. “I didn’t forget.”
“Oh.” Ling Tingyu finished changing and headed downstairs. “After training tonight, you’re coming to sleep with me.”
Lu Xian’s earlobes turned red. “Okay.”
After hanging up, trainees gradually arrived at the practice room.
Soon, both mentors appeared.
Ling Tingyu wore a sleek, form-fitting dance outfit that accentuated her slender waist, her long hair tied up neatly, revealing her alluring neckline.
Seeing Ling Tingyu made Lu Xian feel warm.
As they passed each other, Ling Tingyu winked at her.
Lu Xian’s heart skipped a beat. She was already wearing an extra jacket, and now she felt even hotter and stuffier.
The dance studio wasn’t far from the recording booth.
Lu Xian could see Ling Tingyu instructing the trainees utterly captivating.
“Lu Xian?”
Xia Wanzhou called her name several times, but Lu Xian didn’t respond until she waved a hand in front of her face.
Lu Xian snapped back to attention. “Wh-what is it?”
Xia Wanzhou: “Teacher Chang is calling you.”
Lu Xian’s forehead was damp with sweat. “Got it.”
“Are you hot?” Xia Wanzhou pointed at her jacket. “You’ll get even hotter in the recording booth. Want to take it off?”
“Oh, thanks.” Lu Xian unzipped her jacket and was about to toss it onto the coat rack.
“Let me help.” Xia Wanzhou eagerly took the jacket. “Teacher Chang is waiting. You should go.”
Lu Xian saw Chang Yuhuan beckoning her. “Lu Xian, it’s your turn. Don’t keep everyone waiting.”
“Okay, coming.” Lu Xian let go of the jacket and hurried into the recording booth.
The booth had transparent glass, so everyone could see inside.
Xia Wanzhou handed her phone to You Yijia. “Can you take a photo for me? I want to post on Weibo.”
Outside, everyone was taking pictures for their social media updates.
You Yijia didn’t think much of it. “Sure, but you have to take one for me later.”
Xia Wanzhou smiled. “Of course.”
Clutching Lu Xian’s jacket tightly, Xia Wanzhou positioned herself in front of the recording booth. “Right here. Take the shot.”
You Yijia snapped several photos and handed the phone back. “See if these work.”
In the pictures, Xia Wanzhou stood framed alongside Lu Xian through the glass.
Xia Wanzhou was pleased. “Perfect. Now, your turn.”
You Yijia reached for her phone, but Xia Wanzhou grinned. “Let’s use mine first. I’ll send them to you later.”
You Yijia nodded. “Okay.”
Xia Wanzhou set the jacket aside and waited until Lu Xian emerged from the booth before taking more photos.
By then, You Yijia was posing with someone else.
Xia Wanzhou sent a few shots over. “How do these look?”
“You Yijia: ‘That sounds good.’
‘Can I post your photo on Weibo too?’ Xia Wanzhou explained, ‘You can post mine as well. This way we can promote each other and might gain some popularity.’
You Yijia: ‘Hmm?’
Xia Wanzhou: ‘It’s just a suggestion. No worries if you’re not comfortable.’
After some thought, You Yijia agreed: ‘Send me your photo too, and I’ll post them together.’
You Yijia’s last Weibo post was a photo with Lu Xian, who was wearing a jacket in the picture. Xia Wanzhou quickly sent the photo to You Yijia and smiled after You Yijia edited and posted the Weibo.
Lu Xian stepped out of the recording studio with a light sheen of sweat, grabbing her jacket to get some fresh air.
Ling Tingyu noticed Lu Xian leaving and said to the group, ‘Practice once more as I instructed. I’ll check on you later, no slacking off.’
With that, she picked up her water bottle and left.
Going up the stairs, Ling Tingyu spotted Lu Xian leaning against the wall, her jacket draped over her arm.
Seeing her, Lu Xian straightened up. ‘What brings you here?’
Ling Tingyu approached and noticed Lu Xian’s damp skin, her long black hair loose and slightly wet, clinging to her neck. Faintly visible were two love bites on her fair skin.
‘Your hair is down,’ Ling Tingyu remarked, having never seen Lu Xian with her hair untied before.
Lu Xian pointed to her neck. ‘Because a certain troublemaker did something naughty here.’
‘…Sorry,’ Ling Tingyu murmured, pulling out a tissue. ‘Let me wipe the sweat for you.’
Lu Xian lowered her gaze slightly and obediently tilted her face toward her.
Lu Xian’s features were striking, and the sheen of sweat only made her more alluring.
Ling Tingyu gently dabbed her neck, fingers brushing over the red marks. ‘If it’s too obvious here, I’ll just kiss somewhere else.’
Lu Xian looked up at her, a sense of foreboding creeping in.
Before she could react, Ling Tingyu tugged at her collar, undoing a few more buttons.
The hollow of her collarbone and the skin beneath peeked through.
Lu Xian quickly grabbed her hand. ‘Have mercy, jiejie.’
Ling Tingyu held onto her collar, unmoving.
Half-undressed, Lu Xian groaned, ‘I’m going to die here.'”