Chapter 26: First public performance (2)
For the next half a month, Qiao Dai and her four teammates devoted themselves to practice, leaving early and returning late, making sure they would show their best on the day of the performance.
“How can they be so calm?”
The rest of the contestants were curious about Qiao Dai’s team, with some admiration in their eyes. They did not show any care or concerns about the other groups and solely focused on their own training.
“Ah, how awesome! She’s a natural but she practices so hard.”
Although they all were opponents, Qiao Dai’s hard-working nature was impressive and they didn’t even wonder why Qiao Dai had entered Class A in the first place anymore. It really made sense.
“Where is Lai You?”
As they chatted, the topic returned to her. Lai You had won the Class F quiz and had become one of the fifteen captains. However, as she had been the lowest-ranked, she had been the last one to enter the room and only one twelve-member song had been left. Lai You’s confidence had shattered at that time and the tutors had been worried she would lose control of her emotions once more. The program team had been afraid to watch it and had cut off the scene instantly, so as to not look too bad after the show was broadcast.
The girl who had just been asked shrugged, showing she had no idea. Lately, Lai You had been acting like a ghost every day and her face was so fierce it made people feel upset. They were not her friends and everyone expected she would be eliminated soon; what would they waste their time trying to coax her into training? Whether she came or not, it didn’t matter to her group anymore.
“What should we do for the public performance?”
Some of them were still a little worried, Lai You was still a member of their team and the captain. Not only that, but initially, she also was the most capable among them. Because she never came to train, they weren’t sure what to do.
“Let’s just practice our parts, why should we care about her? She thinks that because we are from Class F, we are not worthy of her, does it mean we should wait around? Funny, whether she comes or not, she will be the one in trouble in the end. Wait for it, she will definitely come back to practice in the end.”
Most of the players who had joined the two twelve-member groups were low-ranked and did not have any hope of advancing. Even if they were to get qualified, it would only be thanks to the better players. Therefore, some of them did not really care anymore and were just thinking about how to grab more camera shots.
Lai You had originally been very aggrieved about her position in Class F. She had expected that she would be chosen by Ruan Tao and team up with her for the first public performance. Who would have known that she would actually get first place during the quiz and become a captain? Not only she couldn’t count on the help of any Galaxy members, faced with a group full of Class F players, she felt devastated. How could she shine with a team of losers?
Lai You was angry and felt unfair. Every day, she had to look at teammates so bad it was suffocating. She was curious about how they would rehearse without her!
In her head, she had thought that her team would soon realize she was indispensable and would come rushing and beg her to lead their team. Unexpectedly, no one had come to look for her, and Lai You was in a dilemma. Did she have to bow her head and go back on her own? Didn’t it mean those people would look down on her in the future? Those familiar with Lai You’s personality were aware that she was not the kind of girl to admit mistakes. She never ever apologized to others, especially when she thought she was better than them. In that case… who was afraid of whom? The best outcome was to go down together!
***
“Have you heard what happened to Lai You and the others?”
As soon as Qiao Dai entered their practice room, she saw Lu Ying and Shi Qing gossiping, while Song Yiqi was sitting on the couch, her legs crossed and reading a magazine. She spoke without raising her head: “Why mention them? Anyway, they will soon be gone.”
Lu Ying poked her tongue out and said: “Song Song, you are too venomous. They haven’t performed yet, how can you say they will be eliminated?”
Hearing her words, Song Yiqi put down her magazine and looked at her teammate with a smile before joking: “When did I say they were going to be eliminated? I said they would soon be gone, maybe they will leave on their own, ah.”
She blinked innocently yet didn’t put away her mischievous smile: “Ah, Xiao Ying, you are so wicked! You already think they have lost and you blame me.”
Lu Ying blushed, wondering how she could say that with this expression. She sighed and added: “Lai You is actually quite capable. Although we aren’t really friends, I can’t help but feel a little sorry.”
This time, Lai You and the others had made a big fuss and they did not start rehearsing together again until the mentors intervened. Unfortunately, the performance was near and they had started to practice as a group too late. Their progress was slow and the members were at odds with each other; it was difficult to imagine that they would create a satisfactory stage in the end. The other contestants did not need to wait for the public performance, they already knew Lai You’s team would fail.
But instead of wasting time gossiping as the day approached, each group became more and more focused on their training. Every day, people would suddenly feel ill because of constant stress and they were all reciting and memorizing moves at any hour of the day.
The girls seemed to have reached a tacit understanding, nodding at each other when they met in the classrooms or the corridors, encouraging each other yet trying to not disturb anyone, especially their roommates when they returned late at night. Everyone wanted to do their best for the first public performance. It was going to be their first public stage, but also the only one where every player would be there. Every stage was hard-won and nobody wanted to leave with any regrets.
On the eve of the recording, the four mentors came to the venue to send blessings to all players. At the same time, they brought very shocking news: a heavyweight guest would be joining the mentors for the first performance, and although she would not rate them, the meaning she represented far exceeded any grade. And when everyone heard her name, the girls suddenly boiled.
Meng Lingsi was a very famous dance artist in China. She had won many domestic and international awards at a young age, and many of the widely circulated choreographies in films and on TV were produced by her. Even Lu Cong respectfully called her senior.
As soon as she heard the name, Song Yiqi stared at Qiao Dai. She had put away her usual bored expression and clasped Qiao Dai’s arm tightly, her eyes wide.
“What’s wrong?”
Qiao Dai was suddenly hugged by her four teammates, embraced just like a cute doll. Hearing her question, Song Yiqi took a deep breath before saying in an excited voice: “Meng Lingsi! She is the original performer of “Treading water”!”
To be recognized by her was a huge honor anyone who performed this song dreamt of! Song Yiqi looked at her teammates and at Qiao Dai again before laughing softly. She strongly believed their stage would not let each other down.
And so, under the attention of the public, <Pick Eleven>’s first public performance officially began!
Chapter 26: First public performance (2)
For the next half a month, Qiao Dai and her four teammates devoted themselves to practice, leaving early and returning late, making sure they would show their best on the day of the performance.
“How can they be so calm?”
The rest of the contestants were curious about Qiao Dai’s team, with some admiration in their eyes. They did not show any care or concerns about the other groups and solely focused on their own training.
“Ah, how awesome! She’s a natural but she practices so hard.”
Although they all were opponents, Qiao Dai’s hard-working nature was impressive and they didn’t even wonder why Qiao Dai had entered Class A in the first place anymore. It really made sense.
“Where is Lai You?”
As they chatted, the topic returned to her. Lai You had won the Class F quiz and had become one of the fifteen captains. However, as she had been the lowest-ranked, she had been the last one to enter the room and only one twelve-member song had been left. Lai You’s confidence had shattered at that time and the tutors had been worried she would lose control of her emotions once more. The program team had been afraid to watch it and had cut off the scene instantly, so as to not look too bad after the show was broadcast.
The girl who had just been asked shrugged, showing she had no idea. Lately, Lai You had been acting like a ghost every day and her face was so fierce it made people feel upset. They were not her friends and everyone expected she would be eliminated soon; what would they waste their time trying to coax her into training? Whether she came or not, it didn’t matter to her group anymore.
“What should we do for the public performance?”
Some of them were still a little worried, Lai You was still a member of their team and the captain. Not only that, but initially, she also was the most capable among them. Because she never came to train, they weren’t sure what to do.
“Let’s just practice our parts, why should we care about her? She thinks that because we are from Class F, we are not worthy of her, does it mean we should wait around? Funny, whether she comes or not, she will be the one in trouble in the end. Wait for it, she will definitely come back to practice in the end.”
Most of the players who had joined the two twelve-member groups were low-ranked and did not have any hope of advancing. Even if they were to get qualified, it would only be thanks to the better players. Therefore, some of them did not really care anymore and were just thinking about how to grab more camera shots.
Lai You had originally been very aggrieved about her position in Class F. She had expected that she would be chosen by Ruan Tao and team up with her for the first public performance. Who would have known that she would actually get first place during the quiz and become a captain? Not only she couldn’t count on the help of any Galaxy members, faced with a group full of Class F players, she felt devastated. How could she shine with a team of losers?
Lai You was angry and felt unfair. Every day, she had to look at teammates so bad it was suffocating. She was curious about how they would rehearse without her!
In her head, she had thought that her team would soon realize she was indispensable and would come rushing and beg her to lead their team. Unexpectedly, no one had come to look for her, and Lai You was in a dilemma. Did she have to bow her head and go back on her own? Didn’t it mean those people would look down on her in the future? Those familiar with Lai You’s personality were aware that she was not the kind of girl to admit mistakes. She never ever apologized to others, especially when she thought she was better than them. In that case… who was afraid of whom? The best outcome was to go down together!
***
“Have you heard what happened to Lai You and the others?”
As soon as Qiao Dai entered their practice room, she saw Lu Ying and Shi Qing gossiping, while Song Yiqi was sitting on the couch, her legs crossed and reading a magazine. She spoke without raising her head: “Why mention them? Anyway, they will soon be gone.”
Lu Ying poked her tongue out and said: “Song Song, you are too venomous. They haven’t performed yet, how can you say they will be eliminated?”
Hearing her words, Song Yiqi put down her magazine and looked at her teammate with a smile before joking: “When did I say they were going to be eliminated? I said they would soon be gone, maybe they will leave on their own, ah.”
She blinked innocently yet didn’t put away her mischievous smile: “Ah, Xiao Ying, you are so wicked! You already think they have lost and you blame me.”
Lu Ying blushed, wondering how she could say that with this expression. She sighed and added: “Lai You is actually quite capable. Although we aren’t really friends, I can’t help but feel a little sorry.”
This time, Lai You and the others had made a big fuss and they did not start rehearsing together again until the mentors intervened. Unfortunately, the performance was near and they had started to practice as a group too late. Their progress was slow and the members were at odds with each other; it was difficult to imagine that they would create a satisfactory stage in the end. The other contestants did not need to wait for the public performance, they already knew Lai You’s team would fail.
But instead of wasting time gossiping as the day approached, each group became more and more focused on their training. Every day, people would suddenly feel ill because of constant stress and they were all reciting and memorizing moves at any hour of the day.
The girls seemed to have reached a tacit understanding, nodding at each other when they met in the classrooms or the corridors, encouraging each other yet trying to not disturb anyone, especially their roommates when they returned late at night. Everyone wanted to do their best for the first public performance. It was going to be their first public stage, but also the only one where every player would be there. Every stage was hard-won and nobody wanted to leave with any regrets.
On the eve of the recording, the four mentors came to the venue to send blessings to all players. At the same time, they brought very shocking news: a heavyweight guest would be joining the mentors for the first performance, and although she would not rate them, the meaning she represented far exceeded any grade. And when everyone heard her name, the girls suddenly boiled.
Meng Lingsi was a very famous dance artist in China. She had won many domestic and international awards at a young age, and many of the widely circulated choreographies in films and on TV were produced by her. Even Lu Cong respectfully called her senior.
As soon as she heard the name, Song Yiqi stared at Qiao Dai. She had put away her usual bored expression and clasped Qiao Dai’s arm tightly, her eyes wide.
“What’s wrong?”
Qiao Dai was suddenly hugged by her four teammates, embraced just like a cute doll. Hearing her question, Song Yiqi took a deep breath before saying in an excited voice: “Meng Lingsi! She is the original performer of “Treading water”!”
To be recognized by her was a huge honor anyone who performed this song dreamt of! Song Yiqi looked at her teammates and at Qiao Dai again before laughing softly. She strongly believed their stage would not let each other down.
And so, under the attention of the public, <Pick Eleven>’s first public performance officially began!
