Chapter 77: Fault Line C (30% Forum Format)
Amidst the cheers, the young man on stage did not pause for a moment.
With a flick of his wrist, his flexible sword sliced through the air, forming a beautiful sword flourish. As the drumbeat quickened, his movements lost their previous softness, replaced by a swift and unrestrained sharpness.
This was far from the end.
Stepping on a precise beat, the young man leaped into the air, his entire body flipping midair in an instant. The audience gasped in unison, but before the sound could fully land, he had already touched down with steady ease—light and precise.
Compared to the earlier group dance, Xie Xizhao’s solo had suddenly escalated in difficulty.
This was precisely why Ye Yiyang had been worried about him.
Basic moves like wrist flourishes were fine with enough practice and posed little risk, but a midair flip while wielding a sword was ultimately pushing the limits for trainees like them.
Xie Xizhao had actually asked him if there were any moves he wanted to showcase—he could modify the routine into a duet.
But on one hand, Ye Yiyang felt embarrassed to take up his part.
On the other hand, he was honestly intimidated.
So, he declined.
…And thank goodness he did.
He thought to himself.
If Xie Xizhao had really danced with him as a pair, he would have had to lower the difficulty to accommodate him.
The drumbeats grew denser, and the young man in the center moved even faster. Yet, no matter how intricate the movements were, he executed them with precise clarity. He hit nearly every key beat with impeccable timing, and with the tension extending all the way to the sword’s tip, for a fleeting moment, it almost seemed as if man and blade had become one.
Every second of the 30-second segment was pushed to its fullest potential.
In the final pose, the camera zoomed in on Xie Xizhao, capturing a face lightly damp with sweat, yet with sharp, unwavering eyes.
There was battle spirit in his gaze, but the corners of his lips were subtly curved.
Gentleness and pride coexisted within him, just as Xie Xizhao had always shown.
He worked tirelessly for his dreams, yet he carried the greatest warmth and kindness toward the world. His personality balanced softness and unyielding strength, while his appearance held a cool, lofty beauty—like the moon over the mountains.
How could one not be moved by him?
When the performance ended, Palace in the Clouds unsurprisingly received the highest vote count, and Xie Xizhao was unquestionably the top-ranked performer in his group.
Not only that, but he also held the highest individual vote count in the entire competition.
For the first time, he had claimed multiple first-place rankings across the board—no longer confined by vote distribution or performance style.
At that moment, every person in the audience, whether they were fans or not, realized with unprecedented clarity: Xie Xizhao was the undisputed center of Super Rookie.
And he would be the undeniable center of the debut group as well.
Time rewound to the end of the Palace in the Clouds performance.
Almost the moment the final note of the music faded, the venue erupted into thunderous cheers. Xie Xizhao gasped for breath, though this time, unlike in the second round, he did not feel drained.
That thought reassured him. But not feeling completely drained didn’t mean he wasn’t exhausted.
When Dou Yu handed him the microphone, he took a brief moment to collect himself before finally speaking:
“I hope everyone enjoyed our performance.”
From the audience, a loud, unified response rang out: “We did——!”
Xie Xizhao let out a small smile.
And this smile was purely his own.
Not the ethereal celestial, nor the noble young master, nor the battle-ready warrior with fire in his eyes—just Xie Xizhao himself.
Steady and gentle, the kind of presence that could bring comfort to anyone, anywhere.
That smile struck the audience again just as they were recovering, leaving the fans utterly flustered.
On stage, Dou Yu had already begun the customary post-performance interview. The results, of course, were no surprise.
The sword dance? Co-choreographed by Xie Xizhao and the dance instructor.
The newly arranged accompaniment? Tweaked by him to emphasize the sound of the xun.
As for the intricate formations in their choreography? Those were entirely designed and adjusted, piece by piece, by Xie Xizhao himself.
He didn’t spell it out, but everyone could tell.
As he stepped off the stage, he ran into the next group on their way up. Zou Yi looked at him with a gaze full of unspoken meaning.
Having been in the same team before, Zou Yi knew better than most just how much effort Xie Xizhao put into each performance—not only for the team but also for his own craft.
“You’ve worked hard,” he said.
Beside him, Shi Song couldn’t resist inching closer, scrutinizing Xie Xizhao from head to toe before muttering, “How does your brain even work? It’s so damn sharp—lend it to me for a bit, will you?”
His tone was tinged with mock jealousy, but at its core, it was pure admiration.
Xie Xizhao chuckled. “Sure, take it.”
Ever so good-natured.
Then, turning to Zou Yi, he simply replied, “It wasn’t too bad.”
A pause. Then, sincerely, “Good luck.”
Zou Yi’s eyes flickered as if he wanted to say something, but in the end, he swallowed it back.
Xie Xizhao caught on immediately. “We’ll talk later,” he said.
Zou Yi let out a small, relieved smile. “Alright.”
Back in the waiting room, the Palace in the Clouds team was met with yet another wave of praise.
The trainees swarmed around them. Though everyone had to put on a reaction for the cameras, the compliments directed at Xie Xizhao’s group always carried just a bit more genuine sincerity.
Xie Xizhao thanked everyone one by one before taking a seat.
Yun Pan spoke earnestly, “Brother, you looked especially good just now.”
Xie Xizhao chuckled and teased, “Just good-looking?”
“You danced well too,” Yun Pan quickly added, eager to prove himself. “And the formations were great, uh… and also—”
Ai Qingyuan interjected coolly, “Obviously.”
Fu Wenze glanced at him. “Then say something meaningful.”
Ai Qingyuan: …
“…Good,” he finally commented.
Xie Xizhao choked on a sip of water, coughing violently.
Ai Qingyuan stared at the ceiling in silence, pretending he hadn’t spoken.
When the meaningless conversation finally ended, the live broadcast on the screen had switched to the Epiphany group.
Center Position: Zou Yi
Leader: Zou Yi
As soon as these two positions were announced, even Fu Wenze raised an eyebrow.
“You’ve really made it, Teacher Zou.” Ai Qingyuan chuckled beside him.
Xie Xizhao also lifted his head, his expression thoughtful.
Zou Yi’s performance in this round was outstanding.
It was unexpected for the audience but well within Xie Xizhao’s expectations.
The song Epiphany suited Zou Yi perfectly—otherwise, his fans wouldn’t have chosen it for him.
It was undoubtedly a lyrical song, with a high-pitched climax that built up layer by layer, full of vocal acrobatics. The general audience enjoyed such techniques, and Zou Yi executed these parts exceptionally well.
On stage, under the dazzling lights, the young man held his microphone and bent forward to hit the high notes, looking more radiant than ever.
However, after stepping off the stage, he didn’t return to the waiting room.
Shi Song came back with the rest of the group, his expression far from pleasant.
His performance today wasn’t terrible, but it lacked his usual personal touch—it was, at best, average.
He didn’t say anything and walked straight to the back.
Since he had always been someone who did as he pleased in private, no one found it surprising. However, one of the teammates, recalling Zou Yi’s friendship with Xie Xizhao, mentioned, “Teacher Zou wasn’t feeling well and went back to the dorm to rest.”
Xie Xizhao immediately understood.
He had already noticed that Zou Yi’s face looked a little pale during the post-performance interview. As Super Rookie’s most famously frail contestant, he was always particularly sensitive to physical discomfort.
“Is it serious?” he asked.
“Not too serious,” the person replied.
Then, with a sigh, he added, “Brother Zou just pushes himself too hard.”
After saying that, he didn’t elaborate further and walked away.
Seated nearby, Ai Qingyuan was genuinely surprised this time. “Did Zou Yi suddenly have a breakthrough?”
Xie Xizhao didn’t comment much. He simply said, “I’ll drop by his dorm later to check on him and see if he wants me to bring him some food. If I remember correctly, he’s the only one left in his dorm now.”
While Xie Xizhao was preoccupied with Zou Yi’s health, the fans remained unaware of the situation since Zou Yi had managed to hold on until the end of his performance. They were still celebrating the showcase, buzzing with excitement.
That night, the performance thread on the forum exploded with activity, racking up countless new pages.
[Tonight’s performance!! Ahhh, I’m so excited, I still haven’t calmed down!
[Just thinking about how this was the last showcase makes me so sad, sob sob sob.]
1L: Ahhh, stop reminding me! I cried all night! I was so thrilled to see my bias, but then I thought about it ending, and now I’m crying again. T.T
Why could you all go to the showcase…
What on earth do I have to put on the application to get in… (Dead inside.jpg)
I feel like a rat stuffed into a plastic bag and tossed into a rice bin.
2L: That’s such a brutal analogy.
Don’t pick popular contestants. Try selecting a lesser-known one, or just say you’re an outsider to the idol scene. Everyone knows Super Rookie is desperate to expand its casual audience. The producers love non-fans the most.
3L: Shouldn’t they be pushing Xie Xizhao to attract casual viewers?
His stage was traditional Chinese-style, and that kind of theme is naturally attention-grabbing.
4L: Whether it goes viral or not, I’m already stunned. Teacher Xiao Zhao has been dancing in my mind all night.
That poise, that face—ahhh!
5L: Ahhh!
6L: Ah, did Zhaozhao perform well again? O.O I feel like I’m not even surprised anymore… What do I do…
7L: Tonight’s best performance, hands down.
I read a bunch of reviews. Fans, of course, were over the moon, but even non-fans who were just sharing their thoughts couldn’t help but mention how stunning the traditional Chinese-style stage was—especially Xie Xizhao.
Even Ai’s big fan accounts admitted it, though the post got deleted later.
8L: I’m laughing so hard I could die…
Ai’s fans are still so easy to trigger.
9L: They’ve been losing it for a while now. Ever since Ai didn’t get first place in the second showcase, they’ve been breaking down non-stop.
But this time, they can probably breathe a little. I heard Ai’s individual performance in the third showcase was actually pretty good—he had a standout solo.
10L: His dancing has always been solid.
11L: Doesn’t it feel like the third showcase had way better overall quality than the second? Is it because only the strongest contestants are left now?
I remember in the second showcase, only Xie Xizhao’s group really made a name for themselves. But in this round, it actually feels like multiple contestants are shining. I just saw a lot of people talking about Yun Pan—his stage was really eye-catching, and today’s styling suited him perfectly.
Feels like he’s really about to rise up.
12L: Panpan was held back by that incident before, right?
Now that he’s out of that situation, he seems way more upbeat. And he’s been hanging out with Brother Zhao a lot. I remember Xiao Jin once said Brother Zhao is really good at being an older brother… Ahhh, I’m so jealous.
13L: Actually, it’s not that the third showcase was better than the second—it’s just that Xie Xizhao’s performance in the second showcase was explosive and high-energy, while this time, he did something softer. That made it easier for others to stand out.
Look at Fu Wenze—he’s been consistently good, but his discussion level isn’t that high.
14L: Not super popular, but his loyal fans are solid.
Brother Fu doesn’t really have any controversies, and his skills are undeniable.
But I do agree—this time, Zhaozhao’s stage style might’ve put him at a slight disadvantage. Not sure how the broadcast will turn out, and I’m a little worried.
15L: Are you sure you’re not just pretending to be a fan?
Look at the insane amount of spam outside—it’s all about Palace in the Clouds.
16L: If you’re going to worry about anyone, don’t waste it on Zhaozhao …
I was at the venue today…
All I can say is, I genuinely pity anyone who couldn’t see Zhaozhao perform live.
17L: Wuwuwuwu, stop talking!!
18L: I don’t know if anyone’s exaggerating, but I really have to say—it was unbelievably beautiful. I won’t spoil anything specific, but it was both elegant and fierce. He’s just made for traditional Chinese-style performances, the perfect graceful young noble.
And his dancing? Unreal. Completely unbelievable.
I went with a friend who studies dance, and she wouldn’t stop praising him. She said a lot of his movements were incredibly professional.
19L: I’m losing it. Your friend isn’t even a fan, and she still got into the showcase 🙂
20L: LMAO… That’s a real casual viewer.
21L: Ahhhh, anyway, don’t worry—Zhaozhao’s stage is 100% going to go viral again. I’m just waiting for the broadcast now.
22L: By the way, Teacher Guan posted on Weibo. Did you guys see?
He just shared a little life update—said he’s been resting at home, preparing for his lawsuit, and that he’s in a good place mentally. Told everyone not to worry.
23L: Yeah, I saw. Glad he’s doing well.
When I watched Epiphany’s group performance today, I thought of him.
Honestly, he would’ve been a great fit for it too.
24L: Heart shattered…
25L: But hey, Teacher Guan actually praised Zou Yi! He posted a screenshot in the comments—looks like it was an internal voting ticket? Anyway, no one really knows where he was watching from.
He only mentioned a few people: a certain former teammate, Xiao Zhao, and Zou Yi.
26L: Oh yeah.
Ai’s fans are saying this proves how close he and Guan are.
Meanwhile, Guan Heng’s fans are like, ‘Did you not see his caption? He literally just said, Sang decently.’
I’m dying, lmao.
Honestly, I do think they probably had a falling out at some point. Guan Heng used to completely avoid mentioning his former teammates in interviews, and Ai seemed kind of down for a while too. But judging from this, it looks like Guan has moved on.
27L: Tbh, I totally agree with Teacher Guan—tonight’s standout performance was Xie Xizhao, hands down. Second place? Zou Yi.
Shi Song just didn’t quite fit this song, in my opinion.
Zou Yi’s fans actually have a point this time.
—
A noise came from the doorway. Zou Yi turned off his phone screen and said, “Come in.”
He looked up to see Xie Xizhao standing there, holding a thermos container.
He blinked in surprise for a couple of seconds before smiling. “Why are you the one delivering it?”
He had asked Qi Hang to bring him food.
“I ran into Qi Hang at the cafeteria after I finished eating,” Xie Xizhao explained. “He was still eating, so I told him I was planning to check on you anyway—I might as well bring it over myself.”
He placed the thermos on the table. “Here.”
Zou Yi took a look—corn and pork rib soup, millet porridge.
Classic ‘sick meal’ menu.
He chuckled. “You’re so practiced at this, it’s almost heartbreaking, Teacher Xie.”
Xie Xizhao just laughed.
As he did, he took a closer look at Zou Yi’s complexion. Once he was sure there was nothing seriously wrong, he asked, “Low blood sugar?”
“Mm.” Zou Yi looked a little embarrassed. “I haven’t been eating properly the past couple of days.”
“Your health is the foundation of everything,” Xie Xizhao said matter-of-factly.
“It’s not like when you were clutching my hand after the second performance.” Zou Yi looked at him silently. “Repeat that to yourself ten times first.”
Back in the second performance, Xie Xizhao had almost lost his voice after stepping off the stage, scaring him half to death.
But in the end, that guy had managed to pull through.
Xie Xizhao was momentarily speechless.
A moment later, he said, “I know my limits. Don’t copy me. I know I’m fine.”
He was well aware of his own physical condition.
Life was like the 1 in front of a string of zeros—without that 1, no matter how many zeros there were, it was all meaningless.
Few people understood that better than he did.
Hearing this, Zou Yi didn’t respond immediately. He took a few sips of the rib soup, then suddenly said, “You really are… quite magical.”
He specifically chose the word magical.
That was the only way he could describe his impression of Xie Xizhao’s performance tonight.
Xie Xizhao was a magical person.
It was as if he could pull out astonishing skills at any given moment—then push them to their absolute peak. He had always been underestimated. From being dismissed as just a pretty face during the initial stage to being suppressed in the middle of the competition.
Even before this performance, many had claimed he was only choosing an obscure song to avoid competition.
No one expected him to make the stage this spectacular.
Xie Xizhao was truly something else.
What made him even more remarkable was that, no matter how much external pressure or slander he faced, he always gave off an upward momentum.
Just like his sword dance tonight.
He neither grew arrogant in victory nor despondent in defeat.
Composed yet unrestrained.
…It was something Zou Yi knew he would never be able to learn.
Perhaps noticing the hint of envy in his eyes, Xie Xizhao paused for a moment before saying, “I’m just doing my job well. You can, too.”
Zou Yi blurted out, “I can’t…”
Xie Xizhao looked up at him.
With just one glance, Zou Yi felt completely exposed.
Panicking slightly, he turned his gaze away.
A moment later, he let out a bitter laugh and suddenly said, “Back in the second performance, you were trying to pull me up, weren’t you?”
Xie Xizhao replied, “Mm.”
Zou Yi tightened his grip on the spoon in his hand.
Half a minute passed before he spoke softly. “At that time, you weren’t even the center.”
Not only was he not the center, he had been caught in the program’s malicious editing. Even though Zou Yi had sensed his potential, he still found it hard to believe.
Xie Xizhao said calmly, “I was going to be sooner or later.”
Zou Yi’s hand paused slightly.
He looked up, meeting Xie Xizhao’s clear, unwavering gaze—serene, certain.
He was merely stating a fact.
