Ch14 - I Came For Him

After the first filming yesterday, Han Tianyu had noticed Lu Xu’s face.

His own looks were not bad, but he had to admit that Lu Xu’s were really strong. “I think it’s a pity you didn’t join a beauty pageant.”

There was no ill intent behind those words. Even Lu Xu just smiled and said nothing.

After last night’s run-in, the atmosphere in 201 had become a lot more harmonised. In the face of the other three’s invitation, Lu Xu didn’t express any objection and followed them cooperatively.

“Xu ge!” Just as he walked into the restaurant, Xu Lele was already waving energetically at him and pointing at the seat beside him. “Come and sit here!”

Lu Xu showed him an “ok” sign, and went to the cafeteria window to get his breakfast.

In order to best cater to the trainees’ tastes, the cafeteria staff specially prepared a breakfast buffet.

Song Zhe and the others circled around the entire spread, and in the end still chose a chicken breast salad with nonfat milk so they could maintain their physiques.

Lu Xu didn’t have any special requirements when it came to food, but he also had to follow the crowd and eat.

He took a tray of shrimp crystal dumplings with century egg porridge, along with a plate of fresh vegetables and a fried egg, then took his food and went to sit with Xu Lele.

Seeing Lu Xu come over, Xu Lele was beside himself with joy, and didn’t forget to help him pull out his chair. “Xu ge, I actually wanted to order for you, but I didn’t know what you liked so I just waited for you to come. Oh right, did you hear about what happened last night?”

Lu Xu more or less knew what he was going to say, but he still asked without a change of expression, “What happened?”

Xu Lele’s gossipy soul was burning with passion, and he couldn’t resist sharing with Lu Xu, but he looked up to see Xu Haoming and the others with their breakfasts coming to sit by Lu Xu’s side, and he suddenly didn’t know whether he should say it or not.

Xu Lele remembered it clearly. This Xu Haoming had mocked their rumours yesterday. If he said it now, he didn’t know what cold things this person would say. However, just when he was thinking of waiting for a chance to tell Lu Xu when he was alone, Xu Haoming asked, “Did something unusual happen last night?”

His tone of voice could not be considered enthusiastic, but it was a lot more polite than yesterday.

Seeing that everyone’s eyes were on him, in the end, Xu Lele still told them in a low voice, “Apparently, there were ghosts in the building last night…”

Xu Haoming’s chopsticks froze mid-air, and he glanced towards Lu Xu.

Lu Xu’s face didn’t show any sort of change. He just asked Xu Lele, “Your friend told you this?”

Xu Lele had already said yesterday that his groupmate’s relative worked at the station. Fan Zeng had caused quite a commotion yesterday, so it was no surprise that word got out.

As expected, Xu Lele immediately nodded his head. “That’s right. My friend told me. He said that the director’s team heard crying sounds but couldn’t find the person. Don’t you guys also find it strange that the water and power suddenly went out?”

Upon hearing that, Song Zhe frowned, thinking that those words were very ridiculous. “It’s normal for the water and power to go out, what’s the big deal about it? There are only a few people on the director’s team, how could we not know if something happened?”

Xu Lele immediately explained, “It’s normal for these kinds of things to be hushed up, so it’s normal for us to not know. My friend only told me after he found out. If I wasn’t on such good terms with Lu Xu, I wouldn’t be here saying this either.”

After speaking, Xu Lele once again took out a protective talisman to give to Lu Xu. “Xu ge, wear two on your person. Just to be safe.”

Lu Xu knew he meant well, but he didn’t take it. “No need, keep it for yourself.”

Xu Lele patted his pocket, and said with a bit of glee, “I have a lot.”

“You really look like a wholesaler.” Lu Xu couldn’t help but tease, but he still didn’t take it. “You already gave me one yesterday, you should keep it for someone who needs it.”

Xu Lele pursed his lips and nodded, then asked the others politely, “Do you guys want one?”

Song Zhe shook his head, “No need.”

Xu Lele was not surprised. After all, with trainees of BTT’s standards, it was given that they were cold. He was ready to stow the talisman away when he suddenly heard Xu Haoming ask softly, “Can you give me one?”

Xu Lele was shocked at first, then he nodded and passed it to him. “Of course. For you.”

“Thanks.”

Song Zhe and Han Tianyu both gave him a weird look, thinking there was something off with Xu Haoming today. They then remembered that he hadn’t looked too good last night after he came back, and felt that he was hiding something.

Lu Xu didn’t take any of this to heart; he merely quietly finished eating his breakfast, then got up to prepare to head to the dance studio. When he thought about being able to meet Ji Xiunian, Lu Xu’s mood improved by a lot.

The others were originally quite slow and dilly-dallying, but after noticing Lu Xu’s attitude, they felt there was more pressure on them. If someone with Lu Xu’s abilities was so hardworking, what right did they have to slack off?

Once the four mentors walked in, the first thing they saw was a group of energetic trainees, and even they could feel the youthful spring energy.

“Our second evaluation is about to begin. Are you ready?” Qin Kewei, the dance instructor, asked with a smile.

Today, she wore a red dress that fit the curves of her body extremely well. The young boys,  filled with passionate blood, all shouted with their voices pitched higher, “Ready!”

Shen Chengyu started to outline the rules. “Next, we’ll announce our theme song. You have three days to practice the song and dance. After three days, we will collect everyone’s results from the training and re-evaluate your ranks. The trainee who has the highest number of points will get to stand in center position, and film the theme song’s MV with everyone…”

“The center of the theme song! Just hearing about it is exciting.”

“If you can get the center position in the theme song, your debut is basically guaranteed.”

“Aaa, I’m still in F-rank, I don’t know if I’ll have the chance to take part in the MV filming.”

…

The lineup of a hundred trainees was huge, so during the filming of the theme song, not everyone would get screen time.

As the show’s first official promotional product, the center position meant that the person who achieved it would receive even more limelight and recognition.

Not only that, to be able to stand out from one hundred people, it was a confirmation of one’s own abilities.

No one said anything, but in their hearts, they were all ready to fight for it.

Gu Wenan saw that they were more or less done with the discussion, and decided to add to their fire. “Only those who get into A-rank will have the chance to get the center position. Three days is not a lot of time, but as long as you work hard, you will be able to create your own miracles” As he said this, he pointed towards the A-rank section where Lu Xu was, and asked the other trainees, “Do you have the confidence to take that position?”

Everyone’s gazes fell on the A-rank section, and shouted with the desire from the bottom of their hearts, all in unison, “Yes!”

Shen Chengyu shook his head, and cupped his hands around his mouth as a makeshift speaker. “You guys didn’t eat your fill? You’re too soft!”

It was as if a fire had been lit under the group of people, and they raised their voices even louder. “Yes!!!”

Shen Chengyu walked towards the A-rank section where Lu Xu was, and smirked. “And will you let them take that position from you?”

The six of them immediately replied, “No.”

Lu Xu wasn’t really obsessed with the rankings, he just followed the rest and said the same thing.

However, someone suddenly asked him, “Lu Xu, do you think you can stay in A-rank?”

Lu Xu turned his head, and saw that the quiet Ji Xiunian was watching him, his gaze shining.

Ji Xiunian really was very good-looking. Even when there was no expression on his face, just standing there was enough to be a sight for sore eyes.

In other people’s eyes, Ji Xiunian was the Film Emperor. In Lu Xu’s eyes, he was a big order. Now that his big order was talking to him, Lu Xu’s mood immediately became better. Lu Xu thought about Ji Xiunian’s question for a moment, then smiled calmly. “A-rank or not, I’m not so sure, but as long as Ji laoshi is here, I’ll definitely stay.”

Lu Xu stared at Ji Xiunian, serious and focused. He was already really good looking, and with a curve of his lips, it was like spring was blooming.

Shen Chengyu laughed right then. “I heard before that Lu Xu is Nian ge’s fan, who would’ve thought that it’s actually true.”

Lu Xu didn’t explain or deny it. “Truth be told, I really did come here for Nian ge.”

The more serious Lu Xu’s expression became, the more the others thought this was a pre-arranged skit–

“Ai, Lu Xu is Nian ge’s fan?”

“So did Lu Xu join this competition to debut or chase his idol?”

“Becoming an idol for his idol, this is really the peak in the world of chasing idols.”

…

Ji Xiunian looked at Lu Xu, feeling a little strange.

He still remembered the first time he had seen Lu Xu. That boy was sitting in F-rank, and his gaze was fixed on Ji Xiunian, his eyes carrying enthusiasm. The look was more or less the same as the way his other fans looked at him, but it seemed to have something else to it.

Ji Xiunian wasn’t used to getting close with other people, but he didn’t want to rebuke his happiness either. He thought about it, then decided to smile at him. “Then you have to work hard.”

Lu Xu nodded, his gaze unconsciously falling on Ji Xiunian’s wrist—

His pale wrist was very pretty, and it was because of this that the black mark on it was especially garish.

Next up was the announcement of the theme song.

In order to fit the theme of ‘Birth of an Idol’, the show had specially asked Gu Wenan to compose the song ‘Shining Light’.

“Youth is an undefeated faith, and I want to become your shining light…”

Qin Kewei and Shen Chengyu personally gave the trainees a demonstration, their stable and smooth performance making the trainees feel a surge of emotion.

After the mentors’ demonstration, it was time for the trainees’ self-practice.

Everyone was saying that it was difficult, but their eyes were filled with determination, thinking they would do their best for the next three days.

Everyone was motivated, but Lu Xu was in no rush to practice.

Seeing that Ji Xiunian was about to leave, Lu Xu hurried to catch up to him. “Nian ge…”

Ji Xiunian turned around at the sound of his name, and saw the beautiful boy following him. He came to a stop. “Hm?”