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"But Ye Zexi's performance yesterday really was better than Tang Jing's. The fan voting was supervised too, so it definitely couldn't be rigged."

That was true. To prevent vote manipulation this time, the production team had specifically invited the Oversight Bureau to monitor the entire process. There would absolutely be no vote-rigging.

Unlike the other contestants' surprise, Tang Jing's expression remained normal. Only the fingers clasped together in front of him had turned white.

The recording continued.

The sole privilege granted to first place in the first public performance was getting to choose his teammates first.

Shan Zeyu handed the microphone to Ye Zexi. "Come on, Zexi. Pick your team members first."

Ye Zexi had never expected to come in first. He had never particularly cared about rankings.

The only troublesome part was that everyone in the top ten would automatically become a team captain this time. He truly hated trouble.

Ye Zexi's standards for teammates were not particularly high. He simply closed his eyes and said, "Then 11, 22, 33, and 44."

Shan Zeyu was visibly stunned. "That random?"

He Jinyun also gave Ye Zexi a rather surprised look.

The four contestants who had been picked were even more surprised. Of course, Jiang Ran was the most shocked of all, since he had ranked eleventh this time.

Jiang Ran had never expected that Ye Zexi would pick him for the same team.

Could Ye Zexi have deliberately put him on the same team, intending to use his authority as captain to give him the fewest lines?

Jiang Ran's face immediately turned ugly, and he could not help speaking up. "Wouldn't that be a little inappropriate?"

Ye Zexi was also startled when he saw Jiang Ran, but he quickly smiled at him and said, "I was actually looking forward to being on the same team as you. My luck this time is really pretty good."

Jiang Ran smiled awkwardly. With so many people watching, he could not directly refuse. He could only say, "No, I just think it's a little too casual."

After saying that, he looked toward the mentors onstage.

Team members were decided by the captain, and the mentors had no authority to interfere. Still, Shan Zeyu asked one more question. "Are you sure? Once you choose, you can't change it."

Ye Zexi nodded firmly. "Mm, I've chosen. I'm really looking forward to working with Jiang Ran."

Since Ye Zexi had said so, the mentors could not say anything more. The members of Ye Zexi's team were settled.

The other contestants looked at one another, completely unable to figure out what Ye Zexi was up to.

They had thought Ye Zexi would definitely choose strong teammates. Who would have expected him to settle on his teammates so casually?

Could it be that Ye Zexi was afraid overly strong teammates would knock him out in a head-to-head match?

It was not impossible.

But there was no need to choose Jiang Ran, was there?

Jiang Ran and Ye Zexi did not get along. That was something almost everyone knew.

With the teams finalized, Jiang Ran could only follow the rules no matter how unwilling he was.

Ye Zexi took the initiative to walk over to Jiang Ran and said with a smile, "Happy working together."

Jiang Ran gritted his teeth. After a long while, he forced out a smile. "Even if we're teammates, we're still opponents. I'll eliminate you."

Ye Zexi curved his lips slightly. "Is that so? I'm looking forward to it."

The other three team members looked at each other, as though they could already see the coming week of training filled with gunpowder.

Next, it was the other nine contestants' turn to choose teammates. Compared with Ye Zexi, they were much more cautious, since no one yet knew what the group assessment would be.

What if their entire group consisted of vocalists, but this assessment was dance?

No one dared to be careless.

Soon, the ten teams had all been formed.

Only then did Shan Zeyu announce the group assessment for the second public performance.

The production team had prepared five songs. Each team captain would draw lots to determine the song their team needed to perform.

The two teams that drew the same song would automatically become opposing teams.

Ye Zexi's luck was fairly good this time. He drew another song with only a few simple dance moves.

He would not need to sing and dance at the same time. It was perfect.

The song selection ended quickly. The team that had drawn the same song as Ye Zexi's team was Cui Yi's team.

Cui Yi had come in third in the first public performance.

Ye Zexi had some impression of him. Cui Yi had rugged features and particularly deep-set eyes, with a somewhat Western look.

More importantly, he could both sing and dance. He was well-rounded in both areas, which was why his ranking had been so high.

Cui Yi was the first to extend his hand to Ye Zexi. "Looks like we're destined to compete."

Ye Zexi smiled and shook his hand. "Let's both do our best."

Cui Yi nodded and said nothing more.

With the songs selected, the contestants were free to arrange the rest of their time themselves.

There was less than a week left, and no one had much time to spare.

The mentors announced that everyone was dismissed for independent training, and the training room took on another hint of tension.

The moment the mentors left, Jiang Ran spoke first. "We don't have much time, and our opponents are Cui Yi's team. Let's start training tonight."

Ye Zexi naturally had no objections, and the other team members nodded in agreement.

Jiang Ran continued, "Then should we choose the Center Position now? I think, for the sake of fairness, the Center Position must—"

"How about we give the Center Position to you?" Ye Zexi suddenly interrupted Jiang Ran, his expression utterly sincere.

Jiang Ran froze at first, then was stunned by Ye Zexi's words, "Give the Center Position to you."

"W-What?" Jiang Ran began to doubt his own ears.

Ye Zexi continued, "Of course, that's only my suggestion. If anyone else wants to compete for the Center Position, everyone can each perform a segment, and the team members who aren't running can vote."

After hearing that, everyone's faces showed even greater shock.

"Of course, being the Center Position also means taking responsibility. If someone runs for the Center Position, then he may also need to take responsibility for being team captain," Ye Zexi added with a smile.

Ye Zexi had calculated this well. With this move, he could dump both the Center Position and the captaincy at once. It could not have been easier!