Chapter 3: Initial Stage Evaluation (3)
Lu Qian was quite tempted, but when he remembered the cold, expressionless look on Shen Xiu’s face as he walked past him earlier, he hesitated and said, “No, I don’t want to. He looks pretty fierce.”
Jiang Yuheng also hesitated. Shen Xiu was tall, and his physique clearly showed that he had trained. The idea of sneaking around to listen to what Shen Xiu might sing or dance to in the bathroom—forget it. Lu Qian was hesitant, but he was not alone; Jiang Yuheng was too.
So, the hesitant duo gave up.
It wasn’t that they were cowardly; it was just that Shen Xiu had consistently shown himself to be aloof and hard to approach.
His physique, which looked like it could fight, the cold look in his eyes, and the expression that mixed coolness with hostility—anyone who saw him would feel a bit intimidated.
In the bathroom.
After washing his hands, Shen Xiu looked at himself in the mirror, thinking back on the past twenty years of his life. The only thing remotely related to dancing or singing was—
Suddenly, something seemed to click, and Shen Xiu’s dull eyes brightened.
“I almost forgot… I can also do calisthenics and sing the national anthem. I’m pretty good at those!”
As a native Chinese, from elementary school to high school, every week during the flag-raising ceremony, everyone had to sing the national anthem, and calisthenics was done every day. Even if one was poor or overly focused on studies, these two things were so familiar that they couldn’t be any more so.
But—
Dancing calisthenics and singing the national anthem on a boy group audition stage… should be fine, right?
Dancing requires movement, and calisthenics involves moving your limbs too.
So… Shen Xiu had an epiphany, and it all made sense.
Dance = Calisthenics = National Anthem!
No problem!
Shen Xiu was even a bit stunned by his own logical brilliance.
Just as Shen Xiu, full of confidence, was genuinely preparing to perform calisthenics if he drew dance or sing the national anthem if he drew singing, the system could no longer tolerate it.
System: [I advise you not to be so ridiculous!]
Shen Xiu replied seriously, “System, just tell me, is there a problem or not? If there’s no problem, how can it be considered ridiculous?”
System: [Have you seen anyone do calisthenics on a boy group audition stage? Why not do square dancing while you’re at it?]
Shen Xiu responded with a touch of grievance, “Do you think I don’t want to? But I can’t do it if I don’t know how! Square dancing at least involves dancing, but calisthenics is just like dancing—moving your limbs.”
System: [….] It’s been convinced… or not!
As if recalling something, Shen Xiu eagerly said, “System, my memory is great. How about you play me a song? I can memorize all the lyrics and melody quickly.”
If it weren’t for the fact that every trainee’s phone had been confiscated, he wouldn’t have had to beg the system.
System: [This is strictly prohibited by the internal system. You’ll have to figure it out on your own. Don’t forget, I’m always ready to terminate your system access as soon as you’re eliminated.]
“Oh…” Shen Xiu closed off.
Thud, thud…
Suddenly, footsteps could be heard outside the bathroom, accompanied by cheerful humming.
[Hey, what a coincidence.]
[Yeah, you’re also using the bathroom?]
[Hahaha, yep. Take your time, I’ll head out first…]
In an instant, Shen Xiu mentally pictured an awkward exchange with an unfamiliar trainee in the bathroom, and it made his scalp tingle with embarrassment.
In a split second, with a whoosh, Shen Xiu swiftly darted into a bathroom stall.
Avoidance is shameful, but effective!
Click.
The sound of a door locking came from the neighboring stall. Then, the person next door cleared their throat, adjusted their tone, and began singing again. The voice that drifted through the air was filled with sorrow and desolation, as beautiful as the song of a siren.
Shen Xiu: “!”
Hiding in his stall, Shen Xiu perked up his ears.
Who was the person next door? They sang so beautifully! Judging from the voice, it wasn’t any of the one hundred trainees in their boy group.
Could it be… a staff member?
As expected of a talent show—there were hidden talents among the staff too.
The person next door was singing so engrossedly that Shen Xiu, just one stall away, became captivated. He held his breath, afraid of making the slightest noise and disrupting the magnificent melody.
Even though there was no accompaniment, the voice still managed to enchant, making it feel as though one was immersed in the lonely and silent night, where everything around seemed still, and only the bright moon remained, casting a cold and vast emptiness.
Without realizing it, Shen Xiu found himself singing along in his head.
When the song ended, Shen Xiu was left wanting more.
It was so beautiful; he wanted to hear more!
Then, the man’s cheerful voice drifted from the next stall, “Not bad, I really do prefer singing in the bathroom.”
Shen Xiu: “…”
It was the first time Shen Xiu had heard of someone specifically coming to the bathroom to sing.
The ancient saying wasn’t wrong—big shots often had some unknown quirks.
The voice of the man next door, when speaking normally, was that of an average middle-aged man, but when he sang, it was as if his voice completely transformed. Shen Xiu couldn’t help but feel full of admiration.
The person next door began another song. Though it wasn’t the same style, and it was more intense, it was still as beautiful as if they were holding a concert next door. But unfortunately, just as the song reached its climax, the voice suddenly cut off.
Shen Xiu heard the unknown big shot next door answer a phone call and quickly leave the stall.
“Such a shame…” Shen Xiu stood by the wall with a regretful expression.
If only he could have given the big shot two more minutes, he could have heard two heavenly songs back to back… wait, did he just… learn a song?
Shen Xiu clenched his right fist and pounded it into his left palm. “System, I can sing two and a half songs now!”
System: [… You’re really confident, a bit blindly so.]
You just heard the song once, and you’re already arrogantly claiming to be able to sing it? This isn’t confidence anymore; it’s arrogance.
“Don’t believe me? Ahem…” Shen Xiu cleared his throat, puffed out his chest, and said, “Listen carefully.”
The next second, familiar notes flowed from Shen Xiu’s mouth…
Once the song finished, not only was he able to sing it word for word, but he even managed to imitate the big shot’s voice nearly perfectly, leaving the system stunned.
System: […] This kid actually has some talent!
Shen Xiu finished singing and didn’t have time to care about the system anymore, because he realized something was wrong after he finished. He frowned slightly, dissatisfied with his own rendition.
“I only got the sound, not the form. My imitation was too rough, not even a tenth as good as the big shot next door.”
Shen Xiu had never heard anyone else sing this song. It was the first time he heard it, and the only version he’d heard was the big shot next door singing it in the bathroom. In order not to insult the big shot’s voice, Shen Xiu decided to start practicing again in the stall, trying to match the big shot more closely.
System: It suspected the kid was just showing off, but it didn’t have any evidence!
Meanwhile, in the trainee waiting area, trainee Xiang Yueting nervously swallowed, unable to resist standing up and walking toward the bathroom.
Just now, a new A-Class trainee had emerged, and several others from the A-Class had come before him. At worst, they were in Class C.
As someone who could dance and sing but wasn’t particularly skilled at either, Xiang Yueting was feeling a lot of pressure. He had seen a few unfortunate trainees like him who had drawn options they weren’t good at and ended up being publicly judged by the mentors and the audience on stage—embarrassing and awkward.
To calm himself down and adjust his mindset, Xiang Yueting decided to wash his face in the bathroom to clear his head.
He shuffled toward the bathroom in a daze. As soon as he stepped inside, before he could even reach the sink, an ethereal, sorrowful song floated from the furthest stall.
Xiang Yueting couldn’t help but be mesmerized, his feet frozen in place.
Inside the stall.
Shen Xiu sang the same line of lyrics he was dissatisfied with for the nth time, finally nodding in satisfaction.
Not bad. It was starting to resemble the way the big shot next door had sung it earlier, just a little bit.
Next…
Shen Xiu stood up straight, raised his arm, and stood still, stretching his muscles.
“Youth Unstoppable” was full of grandeur. Not only was the stage magnificent and spacious, but even the bathroom was beautifully designed. It was large, luxurious, and reeked of wealth. It had the most expensive circulation system, and the air was filled with a pleasant fragrance from aromatherapy. In Shen Xiu’s words, the bathroom was far more spacious and extravagant than his own home.
Shen Xiu felt completely unrestricted as he moved around in the stall.
System: [You’ve heard the song once and can repeat it perfectly. Can you at least come up with a dance? Why are you still insisting on doing calisthenics? If you get dance as your option, do you think stretching your limbs like this will make your calisthenics better? Do you really want to lose?]
Shen Xiu was speechless. The reason he could sing the song perfectly was that he had focused intently when the person next door sang it, carefully memorizing every detail.
But no one was dancing in front of him. He had no dance training, and without a foundation, how could he create something from nothing?
With everything still unknown and yet to happen, how could the system claim he would lose?
Shen Xiu was determined. “You’ve got to do your best and leave the rest to fate, you know? Right now, the most important thing isn’t winning or losing, it’s about the process. Besides…”
Shen Xiu stretched his limbs as he spoke. “We haven’t even tried yet. How can we know we’ll lose?”
“With that kind of negative mindset, how can you handle the more intense competition ahead? Tell me, am I right?”
He could be emo all he wanted, but no one was allowed to bring him down.
The system didn’t want to engage and chose to shut down in silence.
Meanwhile, in the bathroom, Xiang Yueting was shocked. “!”
That voice—was that Shen Xiu?!
So, Shen Xiu had been… comforting him just now?
He had heard that big shots were impressive in all areas, and it wasn’t surprising that someone like Shen Xiu could tell who was outside just by their footsteps.
Had Shen Xiu heard his footsteps as soon as he entered the bathroom? Had he seen his nervous expression when he passed by his seat earlier? Did Shen Xiu realize he was feeling lost and uncertain and deliberately said those words to comfort him?
In just a few seconds, Xiang Yueting figured everything out and felt a sudden enlightenment.
Yes, just like Shen Xiu said, this was still the early stage—there was no elimination yet, only initial ranking and class division. Why should he be afraid?
If he was afraid now, with this mindset, how could he face the countless challenges ahead?
Xiang Yueting’s previously dull eyes suddenly brightened.
From Shen Xiu’s cold exterior, he had sensed the kindness and thoughtfulness hidden inside.
He really was a strong and gentle person.
Someone as powerful as Shen Xiu, who could sing so beautifully, still came to the bathroom to push himself to improve. If someone like him was working hard, how could he afford to slack off?
“Thank you, I know what I need to do now!”
Xiang Yueting called out loudly to the last stall, turned around with a confident stride, and left the bathroom without even washing his face. He was heading straight to the practice room. Before going on stage, he needed to learn from Shen Xiu—he was going to work hard!
To ensure that every trainee could hear updates from the production team at any time, the practice room was also equipped with a broadcast system. The host’s voice from the stage would be transmitted into the practice room, ensuring that the trainees didn’t miss any information about the initial evaluation while practicing.
Of course, since the program’s sudden initial evaluation caught many trainees off guard, most would watch their competitors’ performances from their spots. In the short time they had, their nerves would prevent them from practicing much, and only a small number of trainees could calm themselves and focus on practicing.
Meanwhile, Shen Xiu, who had been stretching in his stall, was startled by the sudden voice outside. He froze in place, almost twisting his neck.
His eyes widened in fear as he stared at the stall door.
He cautiously called out, “…Who’s there?”
Who was outside? When did they arrive? How did he not hear any sound?
So focused on practicing singing and stretching, Shen Xiu had no idea that Xiang Yueting had entered.
After standing in shock for a moment, Shen Xiu didn’t get a response. He nervously cracked the door open, peeking outside with one eye.
When he saw no one there, his heart finally calmed down.
“Phew… that was embarrassing.”
He placed a hand over his wildly beating heart. “Good thing they don’t know I was talking to myself in here. Otherwise, I’d look like a crazy person to them. That would be so embarrassing.”
As for what the person outside had said, Shen Xiu assumed they were just on a phone call, maybe reminding him that the bathroom wasn’t a lawless place and there were others outside the stalls.
Thinking about it, Shen Xiu sighed. “They’re pretty nice, actually.”
After finishing his thoughts, Shen Xiu closed the bathroom stall door and continued practicing his broadcast calisthenics inside.
As for why he didn’t go to the practice room, it was because, having always taken the approach of making the most of every opportunity to “grab a bargain,” he had no idea the practice room even existed.
——
When it was the turn of trainee #55 to perform, a sweat-drenched Xiang Yueting returned to his spot.
The Xiang Yueting who came back was no longer the same nervous, dazed person who had left. Instead, he was brimming with confidence, as if he had been injected with a shot of adrenaline.
He mimicked Shen Xiu’s posture, sitting straight and seriously in position #69, intently watching the performance on stage.
Jiang Yuheng, who was sitting next to him, looked puzzled. “What’s going on? You went to the bathroom and came back looking totally different. What happened in there?”
Xiang Yueting thought about the song he had heard in the bathroom and the comforting words Shen Xiu had spoken to him, then flashed a confident smile. “Well, I guess you could say that’s true.”
Thanks to Shen Xiu’s guidance, he really did feel like a completely new person.
Jiang Yuheng was confused. “?”
Xiang Yueting continued, “Have you ever heard the voice of a sea demon?”
Before Jiang Yuheng could respond, Xiang Yueting continued, his eyes full of admiration, “Teacher Xu has a worthy successor!”
But… running to the bathroom to sing? There were professional singing rooms for the trainees—why would Shen Xiu go all the way to the bathroom?
It didn’t take long before Xiang Yueting had an epiphany.
‘Ah, big shots always have their little quirks.’
Jiang Yuheng was left completely baffled.
He was about to ask more when he paused and turned to Xiang Yueting with a confused look. “You…”
Before Jiang Yuheng could finish his question, Xiang Yueting interrupted, “Shh… Quiet. I have to keep the mystery for him. You’ll understand what I mean later.”
Jiang Yuheng, who had been full of questions, now found himself even more confused, his mind overwhelmed with question marks.
He probably shouldn’t have asked!
—
After finishing his practice, Shen Xiu returned from the bathroom.
As he walked past position #69, where Xiang Yueting was sitting, toward his own spot at #66, Xiang Yueting suddenly spoke up: “Shen Xiu, hello! My name is Xiang Yueting. I’m very happy to meet you, really!”
Having been a guiding light for him during his moment of confusion, Xiang Yueting realized he had never properly introduced himself to Shen Xiu. Seeing Shen Xiu pass by with his usual cold expression, he couldn’t help but speak up.
Thinking back to when Shen Xiu had specifically comforted him, Xiang Yueting felt a secret surge of excitement and joy in his heart.
Only he knew how warm and kind Shen Xiu was beneath that cold exterior. Xiang Yueting gazed up at the indifferent-looking man in front of him, his eyes gleaming with admiration.
Shen Xiu: …Help, why is someone suddenly talking to him?
And… wasn’t this the same person who had reminded him in the bathroom not to be too reckless?
Was the good Samaritan now talking to him… to remind him about the bathroom?
Shen Xiu was so embarrassed that he could practically feel his toes digging into the ground, frozen in place.
Lu Qian, who had been watching the exchange curiously, blinked and looked back and forth between Xiang Yueting and Shen Xiu. He hesitated and asked, “You… did something happen between you two in the bathroom?”
The ongoing 56th contestant was still drawing lots, and the broadcast crew, ever perceptive, quickly switched the camera to focus on the trainees’ area.
In the trainee waiting area, Shen Xiu stood with a cold expression, his lips tightly pressed together. He slightly lowered his gaze, his piercing eyes scanning Xiang Yueting from top to bottom, sending a chilling glance toward him.
Across the row, Lu Qian, from position 67, stretched his neck and widened his eyes, trying to get a better view of the confrontation. He muttered quietly to Jiang Yuheng, who was sitting at position 68.
“What’s the little puppy No.67 saying? He looks so shocked.”
“Did they have a fight? Why does No.66 Shen Xiu look so icy?”
“Did you see the way No.69 Xiang Yueting is looking up at Shen Xiu? It’s so blatantly challenging.”
