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But what drew even more attention than Ye Zexi's looks was the pile of high-calorie snacks spread out before him, along with the impossible-to-ignore sound of him cracking sunflower seeds.

All the contestants avoided high-calorie, high-sugar foods like the plague. Every day, they ate either weight-loss meals or muscle-building meals. Only Ye Zexi skipped nothing—meat, snacks, cola, milk tea, sunflower seeds, he had it all.

But that was not even the most important part. In the very same practice room, right in front of Ye Zexi, the other contestants were diligently sweating through their training.

And Ye Zexi, on the sofa, was practically one step away from lying down.

Compared to that, "leisurely" no longer seemed enough to describe Ye Zexi.

Was he even here to train? If he had not still been wearing a contestant's tag, the others might have suspected he was a mentor assigned to supervise their practice.

He watched the contestants train while cracking sunflower seeds, occasionally curling his lips and nodding, just like an audience member nodding in appreciation at a show they enjoyed.

Someone could not hold back their curiosity and went to ask Jiang Ran, who was in Ye Zexi's group, "Has your group already finished arranging the performance? Isn't Ye Zexi training?"

Jiang Ran's expression became extraordinarily complicated in that instant.

Their group's collective training had ended for the day. It was personal practice time now.

Although Jiang Ran was the captain, he had no right to interfere with the contestants' individual practice time.

Besides, Ye Zexi had been especially cooperative during group training.

Not only was he never late, he never left early either. Though he could not exactly be called proactive during every training session, Ye Zexi never slacked off.

Yet Jiang Ran still felt an indescribable strangeness.

Jiang Ran had not understood why before, but when he saw Ye Zexi cracking sunflower seeds on the sofa today, realization suddenly dawned on him. He finally understood what felt so strange—

Ye Zexi was simply far too relaxed!

So relaxed that Jiang Ran had once begun to wonder whether Era Idol was really an indoor reality show or a boy group survival program.

Ye Zexi was indeed present for every training session.

But whenever there was a break in training, Ye Zexi always found an opening. He would either sit in a corner watching anime, sit on the floor reading a novel, or simply lean against the wall and enjoy watching them practice.

But if anyone said Ye Zexi was not serious, that would not be true at all.

It was not as if Jiang Ran had never tried to find fault with him, but whether it was Ye Zexi's pitch or his teamwork, Jiang Ran could not pick out a single problem.

Even when Mentor Shan Zeyu came to inspect their training today, he did not criticize Ye Zexi at all. Instead, he pointed out several issues with Jiang Ran and the other three teammates.

What did that mean?

It meant that even if Ye Zexi spent every day in the practice room reading novels and watching anime instead of rehearsing seriously, he still sang far better than they did!

That was an extremely terrifying talent.

Ye Zexi had not been hiding his abilities before. Perhaps he had been afraid that showing his true strength would discourage the rest of them!

While his heart pounded with alarm, Jiang Ran could not help briefly recalling the previous stage performance.

On the day of the rehearsal, Ye Zexi had not even been on key when he sang. How had he delivered such a flawless performance during the actual show?

The more he thought about it, the more terrifying it became!

Jiang Ran's expression grew darker and darker.

After waiting a long time without receiving an answer, the person beside him could not help repeating the question.

Jiang Ran's heart jolted, and he suddenly came back to himself. "How would I know? If you want to know, go ask him yourself."

With that, Jiang Ran quickly left the practice room.

No. He did not care whether Ye Zexi was some rich second-generation heir or a natural genius. He absolutely could not lose to Ye Zexi. Absolutely not!

He was going back to practice more right now!

"What's wrong with Jiang Ran?" someone asked softly.

"Who knows?"

Ye Zexi had not noticed the commotion behind him at all. The sofa cushions in the practice room were soft, the air conditioning was blasting, and with all four limbs relaxed, he was utterly comfortable.

When He Jinyun arrived at the practice room, this was the lazy sight that greeted him.

The other contestants in the practice room were all training with full concentration, while Ye Zexi watched them with obvious interest.

He Jinyun could not help curling his lips.

Noticing He Jinyun's arrival, the other contestants stopped practicing and came over to greet him. "Hello, Mentor He!"

The dancing in front of him suddenly stopped, and a flash of regret passed through Ye Zexi's eyes. Following everyone's movements, he finally spotted He Jinyun at the door.

Only then did Ye Zexi put down the sunflower seeds in his hand, sit up a little straighter, and smile at He Jinyun in greeting.

He Jinyun waved at everyone looking at him and said with a smile, "Keep practicing. Don't mind me. I'm here to talk with Ye Zexi."

Talk with Ye Zexi?

About what?

A strong spark of gossip rose in everyone's eyes.

Could it be that Best Actor He had finally had enough of Ye Zexi's careless attitude and come to scold him?

The staff turned the speakers back on, but quietly lowered the volume.

The contestants resumed rehearsing, but they could not resist their curious gazes, staring intently at the two men's reflections in the mirror.

Naturally, Ye Zexi had heard He Jinyun say that he wanted to talk with him.

Before He Jinyun could even sit down beside him, Ye Zexi beat him to it. "Not interested!"

He Jinyun was stunned at first. Then his deep eyes curved, and his lips lifted. "I haven't even said anything, yet you already know what I want to say."

Ye Zexi replied frankly, "It's always good to take precautions."

He Jinyun was not embarrassed in the slightest at being seen through. Instead, he sat down directly beside Ye Zexi.

Ye Zexi was very considerate and even shifted slightly to the side.

He Jinyun looked at the dazzling array of snacks on the table, then at Ye Zexi beside him still cracking sunflower seeds. The contrast with the contestants practicing ahead of them could not have been sharper.

"Have you finished preparing the performance?" He Jinyun could not help asking one more question.