In My Heart, You're an A

Her aggressive stance was clearly meant to humiliate Si Di.

This was a competition.

The winner went to the other person's class. The loser returned to their original class.

This was also the final chance for a rating change in the program's schedule.

If he lost, he would have to stay in Class F forever, where there was the least camera time and the worst resources.

Si Di weighed his options internally.

After several seconds of silence.

He looked calm as he spoke openly and freely. "I'm indeed not as good as Huo Xiao."

The venue fell utterly silent.

Everyone was watching him.

The cameras were right in front of him as well.

On the live broadcast, the handsome, spirited young man's face was magnified. He looked directly into the camera and said without fear:

"I'm not a professional trainee. Including my initial stage performance, this is only my second time performing in public. I have no experience, and I don't understand the stage well enough. Before going onstage for the battle, I didn't even know stage style was part of the competition."

"I thought competitions were only about singing and dancing. Now I know I was ignorant."

"But it's fine. If I don't understand, I'll learn. If I can't do it, I'll practice. Admitting defeat now doesn't mean I'll admit defeat forever."

Si Di turned his eyes and looked toward Huo Xiao from afar.

This was the second time he had met Huo Xiao's gaze.

The first time, he had chosen Huo Xiao as his battle opponent. He had been brave, resolute, and fearless.

This time, he was choosing Huo Xiao as his future opponent. He was still brave, resolute, and fearless.

Si Di's eyes gleamed like obsidian.

With a firm resolve, he declared proudly, "Huo Xiao, I challenge you. One day, I will definitely defeat you!"

The camera turned to Huo Xiao.

Huo Xiao's baseball cap was pulled low, his dark eyes hidden in shadow, though a faint smile lingered at his lips.

One brow lifted slightly.

He said, "Then you'd better keep working hard. I accept your challenge, and I'll be waiting for you from an even higher position."

[Holy shit, holy shit!]

[Raise the Earthfire CP flag!]

[What kind of god-tier dialogue is this? Fuck, I'm shipping them so hard! "I'll be waiting for you from an even higher position"—that line is legendary!]

[Earthfire CP, YYDS!]

[I'm shocked. I thought Huo Xiao would keep up his cool guy persona and look down coldly on everyone. Who would've thought? Huo Xiao, who's so arrogant he ignores everyone, actually smiled at Si Di!]

[I think it's perfectly normal. Who could resist the unrestrained spirit of such a radiant young man? If Si Di smiled at me, I'd hand over even a throne without hesitation!]

Si Di returning to Class F was exactly the result Li Si wanted to see.

Having achieved her goal, she held up the microphone and said sharply, "Si Di, next time, make sure you open your eyes. Some people you can provoke, but some people are beyond your reach!"

Was she talking about Huo Xiao?

She was borrowing Huo Xiao's name to throw her weight around!

Si Di understood what she meant, but winners ruled and losers submitted. Since he had lost the battle, he had no right to defend himself.

Si Di said nothing and swallowed the insult. He was about to step down from the small performance stage and return to his seat.

Who would have thought—

Qin Wei suddenly picked up a microphone. "Si Di, wait."

Si Di turned around to look at him.

Their eyes met.

Qin Wei's gaze was deep as he stood and walked toward him.

For some reason, unlike his usual wariness and resistance, Si Di inexplicably felt that Qin Wei's approach was friendly this time.

He stood still.

Qin Wei stopped before him, lowered his eyes slightly, and let his gaze travel from Si Di's clear, bright eyes down to the name tag attached to his waist.

A rating letter stood before the name on the tag.

A huge gray F.

Qin Wei said nothing. He reached out, grabbed it, and tore it off in one clean motion.

With a rip, the sound was exceptionally crisp in the silent recording hall.

Qin Wei crouched down, took out a black marker he had brought from the mentors' seats, removed the cap, and wrote a huge A before Si Di's name.

"Rules are dead, but people are alive. Challenging the strong is what makes you stronger. Si Di, your choice wasn't wrong. Even if the show's rules say you have to return to Class F, in my heart—"

"You're an A!"

[Ahhhhhhh!]

[Qin Wei, why are you being so gentle? He's your mortal enemy!]

[Sorry, Huo Xiao. Earthfire CP is great, but I'm rooting for Dichlorvos CP now!]

[In my heart, you're an A! [Heart][Heart]]

[Before the show aired, I was so obsessed with trashing Si Di. Now I'm obsessed with shipping CPs. I'm afraid I'm about to fall for Si Di...]

[Dichlorvos! Dichlorvos! Go all out when you argue! Never back down in a fight! But when they get sweet, they're absolutely intoxicating!]

[In my heart, you're an A! [Heart][Heart]]

[In my heart, you're an A! [Heart][Heart]]

The entire screen was repeating that line.

Si Di was completely dumbfounded.

What the hell!

Where was that dog of a man's dog side?

Why had he suddenly evolved from walking on all fours into a human—and even turned into a good person?

If they were arguing or fighting, Si Di would never give in.

But Qin Wei suddenly doing something so heartwarming left him somewhat at a loss.

Si Di stood there blankly without speaking.

Qin Wei stood up and looked at his slightly bewildered doe-like eyes.

Si Di's hairstyle looked great today, fresh and natural. It was just that he had been too absorbed in dancing, and a tuft of hair on top of his head had bounced upright.

A little cowlick.

Like a Teletubby.

When they were children, he had touched Si Di's hair.

It had been soft and smooth, like petting a kitten.

Qin Wei reached out and patted Si Di on the shoulder.

"Even in Class F, don't lose the attitude Class A should have. Si Di, keep it up."

His mortal enemy was cheering him on.

It was a little shocking, and a little... moving?

Si Di nodded. Temporarily setting aside their grudge, he said politely, "Thank you, Producer Qin."

The surroundings were silent as a grave.

Not only were the trainees murmuring among themselves, even the mentors at their table were talking.

The vocal mentor Zhao Yi leaned toward Qian Er and whispered, "Old Qian, Old Qian, tell me quickly—what's going on here? Did Qin Wei reconcile with his little rival? When did that happen? Why does it look like the two of them have... have the beginnings of a romance?"

Qian Er narrowed his eyes cautiously.

He stared at Qin Wei for several seconds, then clicked his tongue twice with pursed lips.

"I get it. I finally get it. That kid Qin Wei, hmph, acting all righteous and saying we weren't suitable for each other—turns out he likes him!"

Zhao Yi's little eyes were filled with huge confusion. "Who isn't suitable for whom? And who likes whom? No, Old Qian, who exactly are you talking about?"

"Hmph."

Qian Er snorted, withdrew his gaze, and mysteriously told Zhao Yi, "Don't ask about young people's affairs, you old man. Even if you ask, I won't tell you."

"..."

Zhao Yi was emo.

Help!

This thirty-nine-year-old old man had been stabbed right in the heart!

The theme song evaluation ended, and the class rosters underwent a massive reshuffle.

Some were happy, while others were sad.

That night, Wu Biao came again.

Standing in the quiet, empty stairwell, Si Di said candidly, "I didn't slack off. I've been working hard these past few days. I promised you I'd make it to Class A, but I didn't manage it. I'm sorry."

Wu Biao glanced at him, then raised his hand and gave him a slap—