Wait, I Got in the Wrong Car (GL) - Chapter 57

Wu Si returned to the group just in time, allowing their plan to proceed smoothly.

When Mo Ying and the other three stepped onto the stage, the semifinals were already nearing the end. As the staff carried their instruments onto the stage, a luxurious and intricate harp immediately drew gasps of amazement from the audience. The four mentors were already quite familiar with the quartet, and they were well aware of the current online rankings. Mo Ying was leading the charts by a massive margin, leaving the second-place contestant far behind.

Her recent performances had also been astounding. If nothing unexpected occurred, she would surely debut as the center of this season’s “Sing for the Song 2.”

After a long wait, the most anticipated performance finally arrived. The mentors straightened up in their seats, brushing away any lingering visual fatigue.

Among them, Zhuang Yun, who always enjoyed picking on Mo Ying, glanced sideways and noticed Yu Xuan staring blankly at the stage. A thought crossed her mind.

“Teacher Yu, I suppose you haven’t had time to listen to live-stream performances lately?”

Yu Xuan, who had been so idle lately she was almost raising shrimp in her home swimming pool, maintained her public persona with a gentle smile. “Yes, I’ve been preparing new songs for my concert.”

Zhuang Yun praised her briefly, then smoothly changed the topic to catch Yu Xuan up. “The girl I’m looking forward to next got her start in live streaming. Don’t be fooled by her sweet and obedient appearance. Her singing skills are top-notch, and her dolphin notes are simply magnificent. Of course, Teacher Yu’s dolphin notes have their own unique charm… I’d really love to see the two of you face off in a dolphin note battle. That would be truly spectacular.”

As a large harp was wheeled on stage, a spark of interest lit in Zhuang Yun’s eyes.

Hearing her Xiao Wu being praised, Yu Xuan looked quite pleased. With a playful smile, she responded, “Really? It’s rare to hear Teacher Zhuang speak so highly of a contestant. Looks like this Xiao Yu’er has some real skill.”

As for the dolphin note battle? Forget it.

She knew she would never outdo her Xiao Wu.

Dong Yue, who had been listening nearby with growing anxiety, relaxed a little when she saw that Yu Xuan was not offended by the comparison. She couldn’t help but join the conversation.

“Our Teacher Zhuang has practically become Xiao Yu’er’s biggest fan. She keeps saying the girl has a natural gift and an amazing voice. As long as she doesn’t self-destruct, the finals are in the bag.”

Yu Xuan listened with growing interest, occasionally chiming in. The three of them chatted enthusiastically, already giving off the vibe of Mo Ying’s doting fan club.

In the observation room, Su Bai, who was familiar with both of them in private, had a polite and gentle smile that stiffened slightly. His gaze toward Teacher Yu grew more complicated. Yu Xuan was clearly in a great mood. When she unexpectedly locked eyes with Su Bai, she asked, “Teacher Su, what’s wrong? Do you not like Xiao Yu’er?”

The other two mentors instantly fell silent. That question sounded like a trap. Only Yu Xuan could ask something so blunt without a care.

Su Bai opened his mouth.

Zhuang Yun interjected quickly. “Ahem, the performance is starting.”

That single sentence pulled everyone’s attention back to the stage.

Unlike other teams in matching outfits, Mo Ying’s group wore distinct ensembles that immediately took everyone’s breath away. Wu Si appeared first, dressed in military attire that resembled that of a general. Wanqi Tianxin followed in a sleek black outfit, giving off the aura of a cold-hearted assassin. Chen Ruiling wore flowing white garments, and lastly, Mo Ying entered gracefully, draped in a sheer, delicate dress.

“What the heck? Are they doing a cosplay skit?”

“I thought I wandered into some bizarre theater. Hahaha!”

“Still, it’s a very eye-catching concept. I thought they’d go for a high-energy dance performance, like several of the previous teams. Honestly, I didn’t think they’d outdo Team Apple…”

“That styling is stunning! Oh my gosh, I suddenly think that Wu Si looks amazing in that general’s uniform. And Tianxin holding a dagger? She looks like a heartless, ice-cold assassin.”

…

In the observation room, the trainees stared wide-eyed at the stage. A sharp, concise strum from the harp pierced the air. It was like a signal, dragging everyone into the tide of an epic, time-traveling saga.

The grandeur of Mo Ying’s harp and the grace of Chen Ruiling’s movements concealed a world of hidden violence. As the drums rolled, the atmosphere thickened with killing intent, surging like an unstoppable army charging through the mortal realm. In the end, the music slowed, flowing like water. Mo Ying and Chen Ruiling performed a seamless duet of harp and flute, leaving the audience completely stunned.

After a brief silence, Zhuang Yun was the first to applaud.

Yu Xuan leaned on her hand, looking at Mo Ying on stage. With a playful wink, she said, “I didn’t expect that. It was actually pretty fun.”

In the observation room, the crowd stared at the quartet, letting out collective sighs of relief. Every beat of the drum seemed to strike a chord within them. They were completely immersed, as if watching a battle-hardened female general leading her troops into war. When the string notes fell abruptly, an assassin slipped through the chaos. The general was gravely injured, and the tides of battle suddenly turned grim…

Zhuang Yun could hardly hold back her excitement. “Now I understand why this piece is called ‘Return of the General.’ So that’s what it means. You gave us a dramatic performance.”

She had heard whispers about Wu Si’s temporary withdrawal from the competition. She had expected a soft, emotional performance showing the girls’ transformation. But this… this had defied all expectations.

Each girl’s strengths had been brought to the forefront, while Wu Si herself dialed back, becoming an unassuming backdrop.

It was Zhuang Yun’s first time witnessing such rapid growth. She felt a rare sense of pride. “You all did incredibly well.”

Wu Si, who had taken on the role of the general, scratched her head shyly. In truth, her friends had made room for her by giving her the center position.

Though Mo Ying and Chen Ruiling played supporting roles, they held full control over the mood. As the tension rose, their performance became sharp as blades. The harp roared with the sound of clashing swords. Chen Ruiling’s dance changed constantly, dazzling the eyes. An untrained performer might have pulled a muscle trying to copy her.

As for Wanqi Tianxin, her scene with Wu Si showcased the very essence of power choreography.

Yu Xuan casually gave all four of them an A grade. “Best of luck in the finals. I hope to see you standing at the end.”

The trainees in the observation room screamed in surprise. It was the first time they had seen Yu Meiren be so lenient, and many were visibly upset.

“So jealous.”

“They’re so in sync. I heard Wu Si just came back two days ago. How did they get so polished in that time?”

“Xiao Yu’er definitely has backing.”

Someone in the crowd suddenly muttered, and it reminded everyone that Mo Ying had a powerful brother, Ye Moli. He had publicly promoted her on social media and rallied votes. That fact was well known by now.

Everyone secretly wished they had such a ‘brother.’

Now that rankings were public, they clearly understood the gap. The massive difference in fan count and votes felt insurmountable.

“I don’t mind Xiao Yu’er… but how is someone like Wu Si, who can’t even sing in tune, ranked in the top ten? That’s suspicious.”

“It’s not fair.”

“If you’ve got the skills, go find yourself a sugar parent like Mo Ying did.”

Just as Mo Ying walked in, she caught that last comment. She looked puzzled and, after sitting down, tugged on her niece’s sleeve.

“Lingling, why are they saying I’m hugging some big sugar daddy’s thigh?”

As she spoke, Mo Ying even stretched out her leg.

She did, after all, have a big, golden fish tail.

Chen Ruiling, “…..”

Wanqi Tianxin and Wu Si were still excitedly chatting away, not noticing anything on this side. Chen Ruiling had no choice. After a pause, she answered carefully.

“Because you’re really lucky. Whether they like you or not, everyone wants to stick close and get a bit of your fortune.”

Mo Ying tilted her head, half understanding. But her niece was right about one thing. She was lucky. When she looked again at those strange stares, she finally understood. It was envy mixed with awe.

“So that’s what it is.”

Chen Ruiling nodded calmly, keeping a straight face.

When the Girl group of four appeared in the semifinals, online chatter immediately ignited. Opinions about Mo Ying’s teammates were mixed. But none of that affected the bond between the four girls. As soon as the semifinals ended, and seeing the ongoing popularity of “Sing for the Song 2,” the director generously gave them a bit of personal time.

The final would be an individual round, with no restrictions. Each contestant only needed to perform what they felt was their best song. That performance would determine if they could stand on the final stage.

Mo Ying was preparing in earnest. She had been waiting for the finals for a long time. She even declined an outing invitation from Wanqi Tianxin, showing just how focused she was. When Yu Xuan dropped by her office, she found her Xiao Wu hard at work.

“Hmm…”

Yu Xuan casually picked up a piece of sheet music from the table. She was familiar with Mo Ying’s notations. After a quick glance, she couldn’t help but start tapping the rhythm and humming, which interrupted Mo Ying’s train of thought.

“Fourth Sister, why are you here?”

Yu Xuan raised the sheet music. “To tempt you into bribing this mentor. Maybe if I’m happy enough, I’ll cheat for you.”

Mo Ying huffed and snatched the sheet back. “Don’t mess with it. I just wrote that. It’s my new song.”

Yu Xuan pouted. “You’ve become so stingy, Xiao Wu. You used to toss songs aside like candy wrappers. If I hadn’t saved them, your early works would be gone. And now you won’t even let me peek?”

Mo Ying cradled the paper like a treasure. “This one is different. It’s a gift for Lou Xiaohei. I want to finish the lyrics and sing it to her at the finals.”

Yu Xuan choked on the sudden wave of sugar, feeling like something had gotten stuck in her throat. “A gift for your girlfriend? Do you think a black-hearted businesswoman like Lou Xiaohei will even understand it?”

Mo Ying’s semifinals performance, ‘Return of the General,’ had partly been Lou Xiaohei’s idea. Remembering that, Mo Ying couldn’t help but defend her.

“She understands. She understands everything. Lou Xiaohei is really smart.”

Yu Xuan watched as her Xiao Wu’s eyes sparkled whenever she mentioned Lou Anran. Her mood sank instantly.