Ever Since I Started Watching This Show, I Haven't Stopped Shipping CPs

Qin Wei spoke calmly, as if he were telling him alone, "A reminder: when you make your choices, you must, must consider them carefully."

"Now isn't the time to act on emotion. Who you team up with isn't important. What matters is choosing the song that suits you best and teammates best suited to that song."

"Because after this performance, nearly half of you will be eliminated."

Hiss—

The venue filled with sharp intakes of breath.

Many people were worried that their rankings were in danger.

A tense atmosphere spread through the recording hall, and everyone breathed with extra caution.

Qin Wei withdrew his gaze and continued, "All right, now we'll begin choosing songs and forming teams. According to the show's rules, Huo Xiao, who stands at the top of our pyramid, may now exercise the special privilege of the center position and choose a song first."

His gaze turned toward Huo Xiao.

Two powerful auras collided.

Businesslike, Qin Wei said coldly, "Huo Xiao, step forward. Once you've made your choice, stand beneath the song."

The hall had been arranged in advance.

Beneath the large screen at the front, the names of the six songs had been posted in order.

The camera turned to Huo Xiao.

He rose proudly, his peripheral vision sweeping over Si Di. He walked onto the stage and, without hesitation, stood beneath [Fox].

"Damn! I like this song too!"

"As expected of Huo Xiao—he didn't hesitate at all when choosing!"

"His personal style is so strong. This song really does suit him!"

"M-Me, me! I want to be Huo Xiao's teammate! But Huo Xiao doesn't seem to know me at all! What do I do?!"

"Brother Xiao, look at me! Pick me, pick me!"

Many people eagerly raised their hands.

Qin Wei said, "Huo Xiao, please choose your teammates."

The song Fox required five members.

Besides himself, he still needed to choose four more.

Huo Xiao's gaze swept across the crowd.

The trainees desperate to join his team all had their hands raised high.

Some in the back rows even stood up outright.

Huo Xiao decisively named four people.

[One from Class B, two from Class C, and one from Class D. Brother Xiao didn't choose a single person from Class A!]

[He's Class A himself!]

[Use your priority selection right, my silly brother! Your first pick should be the strongest! At the very least, choosing two Class A members would make things secure! [Cursing][Cursing]]

[Hahaha, the cocky guy wouldn't think that much.]

[Don't be fooled by Huo Xiao acting cocky. He's actually very smart. Think about it carefully—the trainees he chose all have a lot of attitude.]

Huo Xiao was the center.

His popularity was the highest among all one hundred contestants.

In a group battle, the teams competed on total votes. Being on Huo Xiao's team gave them the greatest possible advantage.

The chosen trainees walked up to stand behind him, both startled and delighted.

Those who had been eagerly waiting but hadn't been selected were already unable to stop themselves from wailing.

Qin Wei had been watching quietly.

He had thought Huo Xiao would choose Si Di as a teammate.

Setting aside the advantage of two strong players joining forces, there would be seven days of practice before the official first performance.

As teammates, they would train together and discuss things together during those seven days. It could practically be said that they could be together at every moment.

Yet Huo Xiao had given up such a good opportunity.

Without betraying any emotion, Qin Wei glanced at Huo Xiao and continued the process. "Huo Xiao, please choose the next group captain to come up and select a song."

Huo Xiao nodded and answered without a second thought, "Si Di."

His gaze landed precisely on him.

Their eyes met.

They smiled at each other.

Si Di rose and walked over.

From a distance, Huo Xiao raised an eyebrow at him.

That was his way of welcoming someone.

Si Di walked straight over, stood beside him, faced forward, and said firmly, "I'm choosing [Fox] too."

The surrounding crowd erupted again.

Many people said, "What's going on? Si Di chose Fox too? This song needs a really powerful stage style to pull off. During the theme song evaluation, Si Di failed to make Class A precisely because his stage style wasn't as strong as Huo Xiao's."

"Who knows? Maybe he doesn't know how to learn from his mistakes and insists on sticking to the same path."

"Who would dare join his team? Even as captain, he couldn't win a battle against his opponent. Wouldn't joining him mean guaranteed defeat?"

"Don't pick me, don't pick me. Amitabha, Guanyin, please don't let Si Di pick me..."

The scene was completely different from when Huo Xiao had been choosing people.

When Huo Xiao picked, everyone enthusiastically raised their hands, their faces practically screaming, "Pick me."

When Si Di picked, everyone hunched their bodies, wishing they could turn into ants and vanish right before his eyes.

The atmosphere was extremely strange.

Si Di swept his gaze over the crowd, and one figure stood out in particular.

It was Ji Yan, ranked third.

To make himself stand out, Ji Yan held his chin high. His bright eyes openly spelled out, "Pick me."

Si Di froze and gave him a puzzled look.

Ji Yan was a fairy.

A fairy performing Fox?

The image was so incongruous that Si Di couldn't imagine it.

Seeing his confusion, Ji Yan directly raised his hand.

"..."

Si Di nodded. "All right, Ji Yan."

Ji Yan pursed his lips in a light smile, rose, and walked over. When he reached Si Di, he took the initiative to hug him.

Seizing the chance, Si Di asked, "Ji Yan, are you serious?"

"Mhm. I want to challenge myself and break through everyone's fixed impression of me."

After answering, Ji Yan took the initiative to stand behind him.

[What?]

[What's going on with Si Di and Ji Yan now?]

[Oh my god, why do I feel like Si Di has another CP now? A sly, brave little fox × a celestial fairy with icy skin and jade-like bones—I'm shipping it again.]

[Hahahaha, ever since I started watching this show, I haven't stopped shipping CPs. Si Di, as expected of you!]

[Come on, sisters with unconventional thought processes, hurry and help Si Di and Ji Yan come up with an excellent CP name.]

[...How about "Dead Computer"? [Dog Head][Dog Head]]

[Say "computer," not "bar." Be civilized, you and me.]

The venue descended into chaos again.

Everyone was also wondering why Ji Yan had joined Si Di's team.

But without a doubt, with second place and third place on the same team, the balance of strength had reversed!

Seeing which way the wind was blowing, many people promptly raised their hands.

Sigh.

These days, everyone was an heir to the art of changing faces.

Si Di shook his head speechlessly and selected three trainees best suited to Fox's style.

Once his team was complete, it was his turn to choose the next group captain.

Without hesitation, Si Di chose his best buddy, Yu Ning.

Since they couldn't be on the same team, he could only help him this way.

Yu Ning happily went up onstage.

The recording continued.

After all the trainees had finished forming teams, Qin Wei once again walked to the center.

Facing the twelve teams, he asked in a deep voice, "How do you feel? Are you confident?"

There was a moment of silence.

Then everyone answered in an impassioned chorus, "Yes!"

Qin Wei nodded, slipped the cue card into the pocket of his wool coat, and continued, "The twelve teams have all been formed. Your respective songs and opponents have also been decided. This group battle will be everyone's first time performing before an audience as part of a boy group. I hope you all prepare yourselves well."

"All right, the second group battle mission has been announced. My work ends here."

"Thank you, everyone."

As a mentor, he gave a slight nod, never losing his poise or refinement.