Chapter 20.2: Theme Song Evaluation (2)
With that, the second evaluation came to a close. Some had moved up in rank, while others dropped. But what surprised the mentors most was that all six trainees who were originally ranked A during the initial evaluation remained in A.
On top of that, five more trainees from other rankings had worked their way up to A level, making a total of eleven trainees in Class A.
With the sudden increase in people, Shen Xiu found himself growing more and more anxious. The new trainees kept sneaking glances at him, which made it nearly impossible for him to sit still.
As expected—
Everyone must still remember, right? But out of consideration for his pride, they were just being tactful and didn’t say it out loud?
Meanwhile, the thoughts running through the minds of the new Class A trainees were:
Trainee 1: “Demon King Xiu sitting there looks so intimidating. I better keep my distance, or I might get frostbite.”
Trainee 2: “I want to talk to Shen Xiu, but what if I do and he ignores me? That would be so awkward… Never mind, forget it.”
Trainee 3: “His face looks so cold, and his lips are pressed so tight. Did I sit too close and make him unhappy?”
Noticing everyone sneaking glances at him from time to time, Shen Xiu: “…”
‘You’re all just staring at me in silence—how is this any different from public execution?!’
‘This is t*rture!’
While Shen Xiu sat there, so awkward and tense his toes were practically digging into the floor, the mentors wrapped up their final comments and left.
After the mentors were gone, the trainees—still excited about the day’s level re-evaluation—weren’t in a rush to head to the cafeteria. Instead, they happily chattered with their roommates and friends, eager to share their feelings.
“Ahhh, I can’t believe I jumped straight from Class F to Class C! Hard work really does pay off!”
“Me too! I thought I’d stay in F all the way until elimination. Who would’ve thought I’d suddenly land in Class D? I was planning to just coast along, but now… I don’t want to coast. I want to work hard and see how far I can really go.”
As Lin Jiashi walked down the hallway looking for Ke Zi’an, he overheard their conversation. His steps paused for a moment before he continued on his way.
Just moments ago during the re-evaluation, Ke Zi’an had been promoted from Class F to Class D.
Right now, Ke Zi’an was chatting with a few other trainees from Class D.
When he saw Lin Jiashi walking toward him, Ke Zi’an quickly wrapped up the conversation, grinning with eyes curved like crescents as he ran up to him.
“Jiashi, wanna go eat together?”
When Lin Jiashi saw Ke Zi’an’s bright smile, he couldn’t help but mirror it with one of his own. His tone was playfully scolding:
“Eat, eat, eat—that’s all you ever think about! You shouldn’t eat so much. Look at Shen Xiu’s eight-pack abs, and now look at yours. How many packs do you have?”
Ke Zi’an looked embarrassed: “Oh…”
His big mouth again. So embarrassing.
[Waaah, I thought that once they weren’t in the same class anymore, they wouldn’t hang out together. Turns out, I was overthinking.]
[Gentle, understanding, delicate and beautiful big-brother angel vs. the muddle-headed, food-loving, obedient and sweet little brother—still as inseparable as ever. Their brotherly bond hasn’t changed one bit!]
[Lin Jiashi is trying so hard too, but he just can’t move up. What a beautiful little dummy.]
[That makes Shen Xiu a naturally gifted legend, no doubt about it!]
[What do you mean, (demonic whisper) Brother Xiu is clearly the terrifying ice-cold demon king that all trainees fear!]
When Ke Zi’an didn’t move, Lin Jiashi reminded him: “An’an, did you forget what we talked about before?”
At that, Ke Zi’an froze for a few seconds, then quickly remembered. His eyes instinctively turned toward the A-class area.
Five new trainees had joined Class A, and Shang Yu and the others were chatting with them.
Trying to escape the awkward tension, Shen Xiu gritted his teeth and forced himself to stand up. He plastered on a standard eight-tooth smile and greeted the newcomers.
But right after the greeting, he noticed how uncomfortable everyone looked.
Shen Xiu: “!”
‘Wuwuwu, I knew it—I should’ve just stayed silent!’
Trying to save face, Shen Xiu awkwardly claimed he had something to do and got up to leave, only to suddenly lock eyes with Ke Zi’an in the D-class area.
“!”
Awkwardness x2!
Lately, the whole awkward silence incident on stage had blown over, and in Shen Xiu’s mind, the only truly embarrassing thing he had left was that ad where he wasn’t wearing a shirt.
So at that moment, just one thought raced through his head: ‘Oh no. Judging by Ke Zi’an’s expression… could he be about to bring up that ad?’
‘No way—that’s too horrifying!’
There were so many people here, and everyone had finally managed to forget about the ad. No one had brought it up again since.
If Ke Zi’an were to mention it now, wouldn’t that just bring back everyone’s memories of that socially suicidal topless commercial?
All of Shen Xiu’s effort these past few days wearing a mask would be for nothing!
In the nick of time, Shen Xiu reacted lightning-fast. He immediately averted his gaze and pretended he hadn’t made eye contact with Ke Zi’an. He casually scanned the room and stiffly turned away, striding off.
‘Please, Ke Zi’an. That eye contact just now? Purely your imagination!’
Ke Zi’an scratched his head, muttering in confusion, “Huh? It kinda looked like Shen Xiu saw me… maybe I was just imagining things.”
Thinking of Shen Xiu’s cold expression, Ke Zi’an shrank back a little and suggested, “Jiashi, maybe I should just go over next time… ah—”
Before he could finish, Lin Jiashi grabbed him and dragged him along.
“It wasn’t your imagination. Shen Xiu definitely saw you.”
“Really?” Ke Zi’an wasn’t sure.
Lin Jiashi glanced sidelong at him, avoiding his eyes but answering firmly, “Yes! So come on, let’s go.”
Ke Zi’an had already been pulled out of the classroom, leaving Xia Wenhao behind, who didn’t even get a chance to call out to him.
—
Class A marked area.
“Phew… Shen Xiu has such an intense aura. Just standing next to him made me so nervous, I almost stuttered when I spoke.”
“Same here! Thank goodness he didn’t look at me!”
Xiang Yueting: “Don’t be scared. Even though Shen Xiu seems cold and aloof, he’s actually pretty easy to get along with.”
Song Chengwang said quietly, “Easy to get along with? You mean even though we’re in the same dorm, the only time we might actually see him is at night? Oh, and even then, all we see is him sleeping.”
[Hahaha, you can really hear the resentment in Song Chengwang’s tone.]
[Sigh, there’s nothing to be done. Boss Xiu’s routine is just too disciplined—ordinary people can’t keep up.]
——
Outside in the corridor by the elevator, Shen Xiu heard footsteps approaching from the classroom. Judging by the sound, it was Lin Jiashi and Ke Zi’an.
Staring at the elevator in front of him, Shen Xiu’s heart was pounding like it was about to leap out of his chest.
No way… Was he right from the beginning? Ke Zi’an was looking at him? Was he really about to bring up that ad thing?
Whether it was true or not, even if there was only a one-in-ten-thousand chance, for the sake of his fragile pride, Shen Xiu wanted to nip it in the bud.
‘Elevator, elevator, please—I’m begging you, hurry up! I really don’t want to embarrass myself. Don’t make me get on my knees and beg you!’
Ding!
The elevator doors opened. Shen Xiu finally stepped in right at the moment when the footsteps reached the classroom door. He closed the doors in one second.
Inside the elevator, Shen Xiu: Thank heavens—I escaped disaster!
Just as the elevator doors closed, Lin Jiashi dragged Ke Zi’an over, running to the elevator.
“Phew…” Lin Jiashi panted, staring at the elevator. “We didn’t catch up. Shen Xiu walks too fast.”
Ke Zi’an secretly breathed a sigh of relief. “Jiashi, it’s fine. We didn’t catch him, so just let it go.”
Lin Jiashi patted Ke Zi’an on the shoulder comfortingly. “Don’t be sad.”
Ke Zi’an was confused: “Huh? I…”
Before Ke Zi’an could finish speaking, Lin Jiashi interrupted him: “You still have me. As for Shen Xiu… he’s just different from us. Maybe it’s best not to force things. He’s from another world. Your gratitude—he probably doesn’t need it.”
“Er, what I mean is, he probably doesn’t care. You know how amazing Shen Xiu is. Maybe he doesn’t bother with these kinds of unimportant things. You don’t have to take it so personally.”
Ke Zi’an wanted to say he wasn’t taking it personally, but when he saw Lin Jiashi’s furrowed brows and the worried look on his face, he instinctively nodded. “Oh… alright then.”
“Come on, let’s head to the cafeteria and get something tasty to eat. That’ll cheer you up.”
Hearing the word “eat,” Ke Zi’an swallowed a little. “Okay…”
Just then, Xia Wenhao came chasing after them and happened to overhear that last part. He bellowed, full of righteous fury: “Okay, my butt! Ke Zi’an, feel that belly fat of yours—do you seriously have the nerve to go eat more meat?! Come with me. Whatever I eat tonight, you eat the same!”
Ke Zi’an and Lin Jiashi froze instantly, like deer in headlights.
[Hahaha Lin Jiashi and Ke Zi’an: “We were gonna sneak off for a snack, but then Xia Wenhao showed up! Terrifying. Truly terrifying!”]
[Um… something feels a little off here, but I can’t quite put my finger on it.]
[Yeah… same. Hopefully it’s just our imagination.]
——
The next day, the long-anticipated battle for the coveted center position—the C-position—finally arrived, making all the trainees nervous.
9 a.m., inside the practice room.
He Ting looked out at the group of nervous trainees waiting for the competition to begin, holding the mic as he spoke:
“Good morning, trainees. At 9:10, the first C-position battle for the public performance will begin.”
“We’ll be using an AI scoring system to select twelve C-position winners. Remember, every trainee has a chance to become the C-position in this first performance.”
“Everyone, don’t let your guard down. The AI evaluation we’re using today comes from the country’s top-tier intelligent AI research and technology company. It’s nothing like the AI scoring systems on our usual singing apps, so you need to mentally prepare yourselves.”
“This C-position battle will use a random drawing system. Two trainees will be randomly selected to go on stage and perform any song-and-dance routine you’re most familiar with. Keep in mind—it’s not just dancing, and it’s not just singing. You have to perform both simultaneously.”
“Now, we’ll begin the drawing. Once your name appears on the screen, please head up to the stage immediately to be evaluated by our AI instructor!”
At those words, the trainees below the stage began to panic, praying silently one after another.
“AI evaluation? We’re doomed. I’ve never seen a talent show use AI to score and pick the center before. Who knows how it even works? Just don’t let me be the first one. Please, I’m begging you!”
“Same here! I’d trade ten pounds of fat just to not get picked!”
“Not me, not me, please not me—I’m begging here!”
Hearing the trainees whispering nervously all around him, Shen Xiu thought back to the last time, when he and Xia Wenhao were the final pair. It would probably be the same this time too.
That’s what Shen Xiu figured.
Besides, his luck wasn’t exactly great—getting picked with a mere two percent chance? Yeah, no way that’d happen to him.
This time, Shen Xiu was genuinely calm. Sitting in his seat, he even started casually observing the stage setup around him.
The massive screen on the wall in front of the trainees began to scroll, displaying the names of all 100 trainees one by one.
Every time a trainee saw their name flash by on the scrolling list, their heart couldn’t help but leap into their throat.
Nerves. Everywhere.
Amid the sea of nervous trainees, the livestream viewers quickly spotted the one person who seemed completely out of place—Shen Xiu.
[Cool Brother Xiu: As calm as the breeze, ever by my side.]
[Boss Xiu: Hah, just a little AI evaluation. Not even worth my attention.]
[Demon King Xiu: AI? What’s that? Can I eat it?]
The entire comment section was filled with “Xiu-language.”
As anticipation mounted, with everyone wondering who the first pair of unlucky trainees would be, the screen finally stopped scrolling after a minute.
The two names that remained on the screen made He Ting’s voice rise with excitement:
“Let’s welcome our first lucky pair—Shen Xiu and Song Chengwang!”
