Failed to Pretend to Be an Alpha and Got Marked by the Enemy (ABO, GL) - Chapter 87

Chapter 87

Yu Jing returned to the studio when the last trainee finished performing. Next, the most exciting part of this recording happened—the live audience voted.

The live streaming platform opened the voting channel. Within the limited ten minutes, tens of millions of live viewers quickly chose their top sixty trainee list. Trainees who did not enter the top sixty got eliminated directly.

The host immediately announced the names of these sixty advancing trainees. Yu Jing, Xiao Yihuan, and Wu Dan Ni all made it. However, the program team did not reveal the data, so everyone remained unaware of their specific ranking.

The audience in the live stream could see the vote counts directly. As soon as the results came out, the comments exploded instantly.

[Yu Jing got first, no surprise at all!]

[Yu Jing’s singing and dancing part was absolutely amazing. She deserved first place.]

[I didn’t know Yu Jing before. Every time I saw her and Ming Zhu tied to hot searches, I got so annoyed. I didn’t expect her to be this strong. She’s a treasure girl. I’m a fan now.]

[Jingjing, go for it! With this strength, you must debut in the center position!]

[It’s just temporary first place. Yu Jing’s fans don’t need to get this excited, do they? The initial stage performances were all their best acts. As long as they had enough preparation time, who can’t dance well? Whether she can hold her rank later is uncertain.]

[I’ve watched so many talent shows. First place on the initial stage doesn’t mean anything. Many who started strong didn’t debut in the end. Just watch quietly and don’t jinx it.]

[I can totally accept Yu Jing in first. She’s really strong, sings well, and dances well. But why did Wu Dan Ni get second? Her dance didn’t even hit the beats. It looked soft and weak. The last line of her lyrics clearly lacked breath. Third-place Dai Fei was way stronger than her, yet she trailed by over five hundred thousand votes? That’s too ridiculous. There must be some shady stuff going on!]

[Whispering quietly, I also think Dai Fei is better than Wu Dan Ni… but no way around it. Wu Dan Ni has more fans.]

Some people felt happy, while others felt sad.

After the recording ended, the forty eliminated trainees left the base with their heads down. The sixty advancing trainees moved into the group dormitory that same night.

To stay in the dormitory, they needed to get their luggage first. The trainees who got their phones back called their waiting assistants or managers one after another.

Yu Jing originally wanted to call Ming Zhu, but too many people surrounded her. She couldn’t find a good chance, so she called Xiao Ye first.

After a while, Xiao Ye and Shen Jiayu appeared together with her suitcase.

Next came closed training. Assistants and managers could not follow. Trainees couldn’t bring phones. They had to train and live independently. Late at night, the base entrance buzzed like a vegetable market. Managers held their artists’ hands, giving this advice and that, worrying like old mothers.

Besides Yu Jing, Shen Jiayu’s other two artists, Zhao Meng and Yu Qian, also signed up for ‘Youth Training Camp’. However, both failed to advance. Seeing Shen Jiayu’s serious expression, Yu Jing thought she felt upset about their elimination. She comforted her, saying, “It’s okay, Sister Jiayu. You still have me.”

Shen Jiayu frowned deeply. She cautiously looked around, pulled Yu Jing to a secluded corner, and asked seriously, “Why didn’t you tell me beforehand that Ming Zhu came to be a mentor?”

Yu Jing swatted away a mosquito flying past her face. She said helplessly, “Because I didn’t know either.”

Shen Jiayu paused and asked, “She didn’t tell you?”

“Hmm.” Yu Jing nodded glumly. “Some time ago, she stayed home every day reading scripts. I thought she didn’t want to do variety shows anymore. Who knew she’d secretly come here to be a mentor?”

Yu Jing didn’t even know when Ming Zhu accepted this gig. She tried hard to recall. It seemed only on her birthday night when Ming Zhu suddenly told her she had to go out for a meeting. Yu Jing focused so much on planning a birthday surprise that she didn’t think much about how unusual it was for Ming Zhu to go out for a meeting.

Shen Jiayu worried terribly. She feared the two might expose their relationship on the show. She sternly instructed Yu Jing to avoid Ming Zhu as much as possible and not interact if she could help it.

Yu Jing didn’t fully agree. “The more we avoid each other, the more people might suspect, right? I think normal interaction is fine. Don’t worry, Sister Jiayu. I know my limits.”

Shen Jiayu remained somewhat doubtful. “You know your limits, but what about her? Other mentors comment on you properly. Ming Zhu deliberately went on stage to interact with you. Who can’t see she’s biased toward you?”

Yu Jing thought of the little note Ming Zhu secretly slipped her while facing away from the camera. A trace of sweetness rose in her heart. Meeting Shen Jiayu’s worried expression, she quickly hid her smile and softly countered, “The audience knows we’re a CP. It’s normal for her to be biased toward me.”

“What did you say?” Shen Jiayu didn’t hear clearly.

“…Nothing.” Yu Jing feared getting nagged. She took her suitcase from Xiao Ye, checked the time, handed her phone to Xiao Ye, and changed the topic. “We need to assign dorms soon. I’m going. Bye.”

Xiao Ye waved at her. Thinking they might not see each other for months, she said with some sadness, “Take good care of yourself.”

“Got it.” Yu Jing messed up Xiao Ye’s hair, looked up at the deep night sky, and said calmly, “It’s late. You guys worked hard too. Go back.”

After saying goodbye to Shen Jiayu and Xiao Ye, Yu Jing dragged her suitcase back alone.

Ten minutes later, the sixty trainees gathered downstairs at the dormitory.

The staff in charge explained, “The dorms have four people per room. You can freely choose who to live with.”

As soon as the words fell, a crowd surrounded Yu Jing.

“W-What do you guys want?” Yu Jing guarded her chest warily with both hands.

“Yu Jing, let’s share a room!” one trainee said.

Other trainees also clamored to room with Yu Jing. Her outstanding singing and dancing skills on the initial stage impressed everyone. They all wanted to be her roommate.

Yu Jing sighed in relief and smiled awkwardly. “I thought you were going to rob me.”

Xiao Yihuan didn’t expect assigning dorms would involve competing for people. Feeling a sense of crisis, she clung tightly to Yu Jing’s arm. “Pick me!”

“Pick you, pick you.” Yu Jing chose Xiao Yihuan first without hesitation.

As for the other three…

Looking at these unfamiliar faces, Yu Jing felt overwhelmed. She knew nothing about their personalities or if they’d get along. She looked to Xiao Yihuan for help, unsure how to choose. Then, a familiar voice said weakly, “Can I room with you guys?”

Yu Jing’s gaze shot over. She saw Wu Dan Ni standing in the crowd, looking at her hesitantly. A sudden, indescribable emotion surged in her heart.

With Wu Dan Ni’s fame, plenty of people would want to room with her. Why did she risk rejection to approach Yu Jing?

Suddenly, Yu Jing recalled Wu Dan Ni’s birthday party, when she asked if Yu Jing wanted to reform their girl group, but Wu Dan Ni lied to her. Her heart wavered.

“Jingjing, is it okay?” Seeing Yu Jing’s long silence, Wu Dan Ni asked again cautiously.

Yu Jing didn’t consider herself forgiving. She couldn’t easily let go of someone who once hurt her.

But facing Wu Dan Ni’s almost pleading look, in front of so many people, Yu Jing couldn’t bring herself to refuse.

Yu Jing slightly lowered her eyes. Looking at Wu Dan Ni, who reached out to her, she hesitated briefly, then gently placed her hand in hers.

When did they become so distant?

Using the dim light to hide her stiff expression, Yu Jing forced a strained smile. Looking at Wu Dan Ni, she said, “Welcome.”

Wu Dan Ni’s tense face broke into a bright smile. She gripped Yu Jing’s hand tightly, her voice trembling. “Thank you.”

One spot remained. Yu Jing chose Andy, a trainee skilled at rapping.

Moving into the dorm meant group life began. Starting tomorrow, the trainees would undergo strict training here. After assigning dorms, the staff reminded them of daily wake-up times and meal schedules.

The night grew late, and they needed to wake early tomorrow. No one dared to linger. They dragged their suitcases to their assigned dorms.

The dorm conditions exceeded expectations—spacious and clean, looking very comfortable. But it was too late, and everyone felt exhausted. They had no energy to appreciate it. After queuing to wash up and shower, they went to bed.

Yu Jing lay on the hard bedboard, looking at the hazy moonlight outside through the floor-to-ceiling window. She felt a bit sleepless.

She hadn’t seen Ming Zhu since the recording ended. With limited time, she didn’t get a chance to call her. She heard the mentors also stayed at the base. Could Ming Zhu adjust to this kind of life?