Gu Tang’s desire to perform immediately kicked in. Finally, she had a perfectly legitimate opportunity to show off her talent for being a bad woman!
However, Xu Piaopiao placed a hand on her shoulder, walked around her, and stepped in front of Lu Yijing.
The two of them had never gotten along. Previously, they had only been secretly competing with each other, but now they finally had the chance to confront each other openly, and Xu Piaopiao was not about to waste it.
Xu Piaopiao was already somewhat taller than Lu Yijing, and she also had the upper hand in terms of presence. She narrowed her eyes and deliberately looked at her with disdain. “Whoever has the ability gets chosen. If I were you, I’d think about my own shortcomings first. What right do you have to question Teacher Song Mo?”
Song Mo, who had been standing to the side like a piece of furniture this entire time, finally spoke a beat later. “The combination for the advertisement was arranged by the director’s team.”
That immediately took some of the force out of Xu Piaopiao’s argument.
Gu Tang’s eyes shifted.
Song Mo then looked at Lu Yijing. “You’re ranked fifth. They said the top four in popularity would film the advertisement. What did you come here for?”
He did not even leave her a shred of dignity to hide behind.
Xu Piaopiao had still been annoyed by Song Mo’s previous comment, but in the next moment, she was staring at him in astonishment.
Gu Tang finally understood why Song Mo never appeared on variety shows. With the way he talked, if he went on a variety show, he would probably be the one getting roasted across the entire internet instead of her.
What shocked them most was that Lu Yijing did not get angry at all. As if she were already accustomed to this, she answered with complete confidence, “I may be fifth, but Lin Yueyue is first. Of course you should film the advertisement with her. She’s my best friend.”
Song Mo thought about it for a moment, then frowned slightly. “Your friend falls down every day. I think before worrying about debuting, she should get some corrective treatment first. It might be a problem with the way she walks.”
When he spoke, the first half sounded like sarcasm, while the second half sounded completely sincere.
Gu Tang and Xu Piaopiao were both stunned. The most they would do was think something like that to themselves. They would never dare say it out loud, yet Song Mo had just said it so bluntly.
Unable to resist defending Lin Yueyue, Lu Yijing said, “Her walking habits aren’t bad. She just has flat feet.”
The conversation was gradually turning into casual family chatter, and Gu Tang suddenly felt that she had better things to do. “Um, if there’s nothing else involving us, we’ll leave first…”
“No,” Lu Yijing stopped them. “I haven’t even confronted you about getting Song Mo onto the hot search by using him for publicity.”
Gu Tang rolled her eyes.
“She didn’t use me,” Song Mo said.
Although Gu Tang knew Lu Yijing definitely would not believe him, she was still touched that Song Mo had spoken up for her.
“I know,” Lu Yijing explained. “I’m blocking her because I don’t like her. It’s not really because she used you for publicity.”
Gu Tang: …Which one of us is supposed to be the villain here?!
In front of Song Mo, Lu Yijing displayed the same blunt straightforwardness as him, creating an indescribably strange atmosphere.
Song Mo glanced at Gu Tang, then at Lu Yijing, and reached a conclusion. “Then that isn’t good.”
Lu Yijing was silent for a moment. “You’re right, but I’m still annoyed.”
…What is wrong with your family?
When Gu Tang and Xu Piaopiao left, both of their minds were a complete mess.
“I never expected the film emperor to be so, well, down-to-earth,” Xu Piaopiao chose her words carefully.
Gu Tang blinked. “He really is a pure person.”
Xu Piaopiao began to wonder. “Gu Tang, do you think our acting is bad because we’re too impure? Maybe only someone like him can devote himself wholeheartedly to playing a character?”
Gu Tang thought Xu Piaopiao had a point. “Song Mo has always been the kind of actor who becomes whatever he plays. Maybe it’s because he himself is ‘nothing,’ so no matter what you put inside him, it never feels strange?”
That had already reached another level of discussion, and at their level, Gu Tang and Xu Piaopiao could only toss around a couple of thoughts about it.
Gu Tang and Xu Piaopiao returned to their group and continued training.
Inside, Yin Fan was still leading Jiujiu and the others through their rehearsals. They heard that Yin Fan had spent the longest amount of time rehearsing with his assigned team among all the special guests.
It was touching, but somehow it also made them a little nervous.
“Although Yin Fan really is very gentle and very patient,” Xu Piaopiao first made it clear that she had no ill intentions toward Yin Fan, “for some reason, he puts an enormous amount of pressure on people.”
Gu Tang’s eyes lit up. Looking at Xu Piaopiao’s bewildered expression was like seeing her past self.
“Right? Right! He looks so gentle, but he’s actually terrifying. And this guy gives off such a reliable aura that you can’t help but trust him. I’m even starting to suspect this is some kind of psychological battle.”
Xu Piaopiao glanced at her. “You seem to have some pretty profound insights.”
Gu Tang silently shut her mouth and pretended she had never said anything.
From the moment they entered the room, the two of them had stood off to the side chatting. Yin Fan turned his head and looked at them with a warm smile.
“Tomorrow night is the competition. Are you feeling very confident?”
It gave off the exact feeling of getting caught chatting during evening self-study, only for the homeroom teacher to catch you and ask in front of the entire class how your revision was going and whether you thought you could get full marks on the exam.
Gu Tang and Xu Piaopiao swallowed nervously and immediately lowered their heads, returning to their places in the formation.
Only after returning to the formation did Gu Tang realize something was off. Their assigned mentor was Chen Xing, wasn’t he? Why did their mentor have such little presence, while the guest was the one being so strict?
Gu Tang looked toward Chen Xing. Chen Xing himself had not noticed at all that his position had been usurped, and was instead happily thinking that their group was sure to win.
When training was nearly over that night, Sister Yang Ya entered the room and looked at the girls with a grin. “I came over to see how your group’s new routine is coming along, so I can figure out how to deal with you.”
The trainees protested noisily. “Sister Yang Ya, that’s so mean! You only think of us at times like this!”
“Of course,” Yang Ya replied with absolute confidence. “I have a very strong competitive spirit.”
Yang Ya looked over everyone, and in the end, her gaze landed on Yin Fan, carrying a rather meaningful look.
Gu Tang was far too familiar with that expression. She silently turned her head away. Yin Fan’s face clearly fit Yang Ya’s taste too.
Sure enough, Yang Ya took three steps in two and reached Yin Fan, rubbing his face as she clicked her tongue twice. “Young man, it’s such a shame you didn’t make it into the group. Has your company never considered making money off you this way?”
Chen Xing said, “The company considered it, but he gets distracted very easily by light sticks and stage lights. He doesn’t even know what he’s doing himself.”
The onlookers who had no idea what was going on looked completely confused.
Gu Tang imagined Yin Fan standing onstage, only to be distracted by light sticks from the audience or fans screaming his name. “It’s probably like the effect of eating catnip.”
Chen Xing immediately got what she meant. “Pfft!”
On the final day, just like last time, the screen showing the main stage could be seen from the waiting room.
Gu Tang’s entire group was dressed in short skirts with a pink theme, while Lin Yueyue’s group was dressed entirely in white. You could tell the style of their performances just from their outfits.
Lu Yijing looked Gu Tang and Xu Piaopiao up and down from head to toe, then curled her lips with a distinctly disdainful expression.
Xu Piaopiao immediately responded by looking even more disdainful than her.
Gu Tang pretended not to notice the two of them competing with each other. She had something more important to worry about.
“Whatever you do, don’t get distracted by the lights, and don’t get distracted by the light sticks the audience is holding,” Gu Tang reminded Yin Fan. “If people scream, just let them scream. Don’t look at the audience.”
Originally, Chen Xing had only told Gu Tang about Yin Fan’s issue as a joke. The more he talked about it, however, the more dangerous it seemed. In the end, he solemnly entrusted Gu Tang with the important task of making sure Yin Fan did not make a mistake onstage.
The hosts were still Xie Yang and Huo Ziyan, and the invited guests also included the other main cast members of 《Dark Gun》.
The guests took turns talking about how harmonious and fun the production had been, and how much they were looking forward to seeing the male leads show everyone a side of themselves that was different from usual.
The greetings and promotional segment went on for far too long, and Xu Piaopiao was even starting to feel sleepy.
Gu Tang, on the other hand, stared wide-eyed at the screen, watching to see whether the camera would sweep past an area where she could find Gu Fugui.
Gu Fugui had never told her whether he would come, so Gu Tang was still secretly looking forward to it.
The camera swept across the audience for the first time. Gu Tang started searching the front rows, looking specifically for a middle-aged man in a suit with a beer belly.
But there was no sign of him.
Maybe Gu Fugui had arrived later this time and was sitting in the back?
Gu Tang searched several more times, but still found nothing. Instead, she noticed a suspicious-looking person wearing a hoodie, a hat, and sunglasses.
Who watches a show wearing sunglasses? Was this guy trying to be funny?
The performance order was determined by drawing lots. The first group was the one with He Linzhun as their guest.
Their group focused on a seductive style and had been personally guided by Teacher Yang Ya, so their stage presence was excellent. Even more impressively, He Linzhun had originally debuted as a member of a professional group, so his singing and dancing skills were actually even better than those of the girls in his group.
The entire stage was hot and explosive.
After their performance ended, the whole venue erupted with cheers from He Linzhun’s fans, drowning out the voices of the trainees’ fans.
Even the hosts were amazed by He Linzhun’s professional level.
Xu Piaopiao raised an eyebrow and looked at Gu Tang. “Thank goodness our group’s guest isn’t a professional. Otherwise, how embarrassing would it be to dance alongside him and get compared?”
Yin Fan: …
The second group was Song Mo’s group.
The moment the host announced the name “Song Mo,” the entire venue erupted. It seemed as though the audience had spent the entire evening waiting for this moment, shouting Song Mo’s name at the top of their lungs.
Xu Piaopiao said to Gu Tang again, “It’s a good thing Song Mo isn’t in our group. When the guest is too famous, everyone else just becomes a supporting act.”
Yin Fan: …
Unable to bear it anymore, Gu Tang said to Xu Piaopiao, “Please, just be a decent human being.”
Xu Piaopiao covered her mouth with a grin. “I don’t know why, but watching Yin Fan suffer is just so satisfying. It’s more than three times as satisfying as bullying someone like Chen Xing.”
Gu Tang said objectively, “That’s because there’s no difficulty in bullying Chen Xing.”
Xu Piaopiao’s mouth twitched. “Girl, you don’t have to say something that hurtful with such a serious expression.”
Gu Tang forcibly shifted her attention back to the stage.
To be honest, after training together for so long, everyone had secretly watched each other countless times. They could even follow along with some of the choreography, so there was hardly anything left to make the performances exciting.
The only thing that really caught their attention was that Lin Yueyue did not fall this time.
Gu Tang applauded for Lin Yueyue. “She really did well this time.”
Objectively speaking, Lin Yueyue was no longer merely average this time. In this routine, her dancing rhythm was even second only to Lu Yijing’s. It was enough to show how much effort she had put into it.
Xu Piaopiao was also being objective. “I think she’s really good now. As long as she doesn’t start crying and giving all kinds of speeches afterward, it’ll be fine.”
Gu Tang nodded. “Exactly, exactly!”
However, the facts proved that the two of them had reached their conclusion far too early. The very moment they finished praising her, Lin Yueyue suddenly swayed in a rather ominous way.
Lin Yueyue’s movement was very slight, so outsiders would not have noticed it. But Gu Tang and Xu Piaopiao, who were always sneaking glances at everyone else’s rehearsals, spotted it immediately.
Gu Tang instantly became nervous. “Please don’t fall!”
Xu Piaopiao was anxious for Lin Yueyue too. “Stand up! I don’t want to hear your emotional speech. I don’t want to hear you crying as you thank your teammates!”
However, Lin Yueyue’s body continued to tilt, and she was clearly about to fall.
At that critical moment, Gu Tang and Xu Piaopiao watched as Song Mo, who had been standing beside Lin Yueyue and playing the role of a stone statue the entire time, quietly and inconspicuously… extended one index finger.
Right before their eyes, Song Mo, standing behind Lin Yueyue, poked her in the back of the shoulder with one finger and pushed her upright.
…So this was why Song Mo had been standing quietly beside Lin Yueyue the whole time? Your team really had a very cautious formation.
The Best Actor had apparently learned quite a few new skills during this period. Gu Tang could feel how hard he had been working.
Gu Tang and Xu Piaopiao barely had any time to recover before the third group’s performance began.
Everything went according to their rehearsals. They had already done several stage run-throughs, so the trainees were all confident and prepared.
Song Mo’s attention was constantly being pulled toward other things like a kite, only to be forcibly dragged back by his powerful willpower.
As expected, Song Mo was a reliable person. Even this instinctive reaction was being controlled extremely well! He really could be trusted! Gu Tang applauded him enthusiastically in her heart.
Whether by coincidence or because the heavens were deliberately messing with her, today was the second time that reality had cruelly proven her wrong immediately after she praised someone.
The music changed. Song Mo was supposed to walk from the left side of the stage to the right, but he did not move. Instead, he stopped where he was and stared straight ahead.
Gu Tang followed his gaze… and discovered a huge pink light board with the words “Gu Tang” printed on it.
It was being held up by the suspicious man wearing a hat and sunglasses.
The pink light board was so enormous that even Gu Tang herself was startled when she saw it.
What made Gu Tang’s feelings even more complicated was that, because the light board was so huge, after displaying her name, there was still plenty of unused space. Those blank areas had been turned into a place where someone could play Snake.
So around the enormous words “Gu Tang,” there was a Snake game in progress, with the snake eating dots.
The more dots the snake ate, the longer its body became, making it impossible not to wonder just how long this snake could get.
It was difficult to tell whether one should admire the cleverness of the idea or think the design was so unnecessarily ridiculous that the person who came up with it had to be crazy.
…Wow. Dear fan, could you please focus on supporting your idol?
Fortunately, Song Mo was not distracted for long and caught up with the group.
The next time Song Mo stopped was because the snake accidentally bit its own tail, instantly becoming only half as long as before.
…Song Mo, may I ask why you are so concerned about the movements of a Snake game?!
The stage lights went out, plunging the entire stage into darkness. The man who had been playing Snake on his support light board finally lowered it as well.
Gu Tang breathed a sigh of relief. The exhaustion weighing on her heart finally eased somewhat.
Everything before this was unimportant. This was where the soul of the performance lay. Song Mo had an interaction with each girl, elevating the meaning of the entire dance.
Under the blue lights, Song Mo really did shine like a prince, giving each girl the most beautiful fantasy.
Gu Tang tightened her grip on the prop chocolate in her hand. That beautiful girlish fantasy was about to be shattered by her.
The music softened, and Gu Tang stood up.
Both Gu Tang and Song Mo were strikingly attractive, and the impact of seeing the two of them together was even greater. Gu Tang revealed a shy smile.
The boy walked past her without looking sideways.
The girl finally woke from her fantasy.
“The crowd surges, yet I sink into the deep sea. The wind tells me that you once existed.”
The chocolate in her hand fell to the floor. Her body trembled slightly, and Gu Tang covered her ears as though trying to escape the sound of reality.
This was the calmest part of the song, and also its climax. The entire venue was completely silent.
Then someone broke the silence.
It was the voice of a middle-aged man, shouting at Song Mo, “Song Mo! Pick up the chocolate and apologize! Why did you knock someone else’s chocolate away?”
Song Mo stumbled, then instinctively picked up the chocolate.
Gu Tang’s eyes widened.
She finally realized who the suspicious man holding that enormous light board was.
Of course it was you!
Gu Fugui!