"But Ye Zexi did perform better than Tang Jing yesterday. The fan votes are supervised too, so there's no way they could be rigged."
That was true. To prevent vote-rigging this time, the production team had specifically invited the Oversight Bureau to monitor the entire process. There was absolutely no possibility of vote manipulation.
Unlike the other contestants' surprise, Tang Jing's expression remained unchanged. Only the fingers clasped together in his hands had turned white.
The recording continued.
The only privilege granted to first place in the first public performance was being able 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 cared much about rankings.
The only troublesome part was that everyone in the top ten would automatically become team captains. He truly hated trouble.
Ye Zexi's requirements for his teammates were not high. He simply closed his eyes and said, "Then 11, 22, 33, and 44."
Shan Zeyu's expression clearly froze. "That casual?"
He Jinyun also shot Ye Zexi a rather surprised glance.
The four selected contestants were even more shocked. Of course, the most shocked of all was Jiang Ran—his ranking this time was eleventh.
Jiang Ran had never expected that Ye Zexi would choose him for the same group.
Could Ye Zexi have deliberately put him in the same group, planning to use his position as captain to give him the fewest lines?
Jiang Ran's face immediately turned ugly, and he could not help speaking up. "Isn't this a little inappropriate?"
Seeing Jiang Ran, Ye Zexi also paused in surprise. But he quickly smiled at him and said, "I was actually looking forward to being in the same group as you. My luck's really been pretty good this time."
Jiang Ran gave an awkward smile. With so many people watching, he could not reject him outright. He could only say, "No, I just think this is a bit too casual."
After saying that, he looked toward the mentors onstage.
Team members were chosen by the captain, and the mentors had no authority to interfere. Still, Shan Zeyu asked one more question. "Are you sure? Once you've chosen, 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 put it that way, the mentors could not say anything else. The members of Ye Zexi's group were settled.
The other contestants looked at one another, completely unable to figure out what Ye Zexi was planning.
They had assumed Ye Zexi would definitely choose strong teammates. Who could 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 the competition?
It was not impossible.
But did he really have to choose Jiang Ran?
Jiang Ran and Ye Zexi did not get along. Almost everyone knew that.
With the groups decided, no matter how unwilling Jiang Ran was, he could only follow the rules.
Ye Zexi took the initiative to walk over to Jiang Ran and said with a smile, "Pleasure working with you."
Jiang Ran gritted his teeth. After a long moment, he finally forced out a smile. "Even if we're teammates, we're still opponents. I'll eliminate you."
Ye Zexi's lips curved slightly. "Is that so? I'm looking forward to it."
The other three teammates looked at one another, as though they could already see the coming week of training filled with the smell of gunpowder.
Next, it was the remaining nine contestants' turn to choose their teammates. Compared to Ye Zexi, they were much more cautious. After all, no one knew what the group assessment would be yet.
What if their group was full of vocalists, but this assessment was dance?
No one dared to be careless.
Soon, the ten groups 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. The captains of each group would draw lots to determine the song they needed to perform this time.
The two groups that drew the same song would automatically become opposing groups.
Ye Zexi's luck was not bad this time. He drew another song with only a few simple dance moves.
Not having to sing and dance at the same time was simply perfect.
The song selection ended quickly. The group that had drawn the same song as Ye Zexi's group was Cui Yi's group.
Cui Yi had placed third in the first public performance.
Ye Zexi had some impression of him. Cui Yi had rugged features, particularly deep-set eyes, and a distinctly Western look.
More importantly, he could both sing and dance. He was excellent at both, which was why Cui Yi had ranked so highly.
Cui Yi was the first to extend a hand to Ye Zexi. "Looks like we're destined to compete."
Ye Zexi smiled and shook his hand. "Let's do our best."
Cui Yi nodded and said nothing more.
With the songs decided, the rest of the time was left for the contestants to arrange freely.
There was less than a week left. No one had much time to spare.
The mentors announced that they were dismissed for free practice, and the training room gained another trace of tension.
The moment the mentors left, Jiang Ran was the first to speak. "We don't have much time, and our opponents are Cui Yi's group. Let's start training tonight."
Naturally, Ye Zexi had no objections, and the other team members nodded in agreement.
Jiang Ran added, "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 cut Jiang Ran off, his face full of sincerity.
Jiang Ran froze at first, then was stunned by Ye Zexi's words: "The Center Position is yours."
"W-what?" Jiang Ran doubted his own ears.
Ye Zexi continued, "Of course, that's just my suggestion. If anyone else wants to compete for the Center Position, everyone can each perform a section, and the team members who aren't running can vote."
After hearing him out, everyone's faces showed even greater shock.
"Of course, the Center Position also comes with responsibility. If someone runs for the Center Position, he may need to take responsibility for being team captain as well," 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 get any easier!