Ye Zexi explained, "I learn rather slowly. At that time yesterday, I was still learning the song and couldn't quite keep up with my teammates' progress. I didn't expect the production team to edit that footage into the teaser. Luckily, I didn't hold everyone back today."
As soon as he said that, several members of Ye Zexi's group wore complicated expressions.
Ye Zexi had merely been unfamiliar with the song before?
They had sung this song ninety-nine times if not a hundred in a single day. They now seriously suspected Ye Zexi had deliberately pretended not to know it!
He had really hidden his abilities well!
But the viewers had no idea about Ye Zexi's previous training, so the barrage comments became especially lively.
"Was he really lip-syncing?"
"This guy is way too honest. He actually admitted it?"
"What's wrong with admitting it? The teaser yesterday really wasn't a good performance."
"I actually think Ye Zexi is genuinely straightforward. He's handsome and sings well too. I kind of want to become a fan!"
"Count me in, sis!"
"So he did fake it after all? Is this an attempt to clear his name?"
"Do we really need to be so nitpicky? At least he's singing live today."
"Anyway, I don't like people who lip-sync."
Ye Zexi was so cooperative that Xi Shu relaxed considerably, and his questions became more natural. "So that's how it is. Then there's one more question. Since you saw the trending topic too, what do you think about netizens saying you joined Era Idol to pursue Tang Jing?"
The entire venue erupted at that question, and Tang Jing's expression changed instantly.
Even He Jinyun, seated below the stage, frowned slightly as he looked in Li Changjian's direction.
Wasn't that question a little too sharp?
"Holy crap! What's going on? The host just asked something like that?"
"Say what you want, Ye Zexi sings well and didn't lip-sync, but I really am curious about what last night's trending topic was all about."
"Curious +1."
"So how will Ye Zexi answer?"
At that moment, Ye Zexi, standing onstage, was even calmer than everyone had imagined.
Ye Zexi had answered questions a hundred times sharper than this one. How could he possibly fail to answer this?
Ye Zexi curved his lips, suddenly stepped forward, and gave Tang Jing, standing beside him, a deep bow.
Tang Jing's face changed abruptly, and he quickly reached out to help him up. "What are you—"
Ye Zexi straightened up and gave Tang Jing an apologetic smile. "I should apologize to you. If it weren't for me, you wouldn't have been troubled by this for so long."
As soon as Ye Zexi said that, the barrage comments flew by even faster, while cries of shock broke out across the venue.
"Th-this, this is him admitting it???"
"Did he really join Era Idol to pursue Tang Jing?"
"So that video from yesterday was real too?"
"Holy crap, should I start shipping this couple right now, or praise Ye Zexi for his courage?"
"Ye Zexi is so bold!"
"He came out before even debuting—this is wild!"
Tang Jing stared at Ye Zexi in equal shock, his lips trembling.
He had never imagined that Ye Zexi would admit it outright in front of so many people in the livestream.
After all, Ye Zexi had previously...
Tang Jing bit his lip.
Ye Zexi winked at him and continued, "My rudeness in the past caused Tang Jing trouble. But after this, I hope we can become friends. And I also hope everyone will stop disturbing Tang Jing over this. He's a very good person."
"Damn! Ye Zexi is a real man! He owns up to what he does!"
"Pah! You still have the nerve to apologize to Tang Tang? You don't deserve to!"
"There aren't many artists left who will directly admit to dating rumors! Ye Zexi is really bold!"
The audience thought Ye Zexi was bold, and Xi Shu thought so too.
When the director had instructed him to ask that question, he had even prepared himself for Ye Zexi to refuse to answer so he could step in and smooth things over.
But Xi Shu had not expected Ye Zexi to admit it so directly.
Xi Shu's mind worked quickly, and he immediately followed up. "I see. So you've given up now?"
Ye Zexi wanted to nod with a smile, but before the corners of his lips could rise, his eyes suddenly reddened. The smile on his handsome face was strained, and after a long moment, he answered hoarsely, "Mm."
"Ye Zexi's expression is making me feel a little sorry for him."
"I don't know why, but when he said that, my nose suddenly stung."
"That expression proves it was true love!"
"I just saw Ye Zexi looking like he wanted to smile, but for some reason, he couldn't..."
Ye Zexi was startled too. Just as he had wanted to smile, an overwhelming wave of sorrow rose from his heart and forcibly suppressed it.
In the next instant, Ye Zexi understood—
Even though the original owner had been an arrogant rich young master, he had been sincere in his feelings for Tang Jing.
Ye Zexi lowered his head and gently stroked his chest.
It's okay, it's okay. Although I can't make you and Tang Jing become lovers, I'll do my best to become friends with Tang Jing.
The brief interview ended, and the first group's performance came to an end as well.
Ye Zexi was quite satisfied with his performance today. Though he had not gone all out, it had still been perfectly adequate.
For the money, he could not be eliminated yet.
God knew how little he wanted to compete with these handsome younger guys for a debut spot.
Yet Ye Zexi's supposedly adequate performance sent him onto the trending topics again that day—#Ye Zexi Admits He Pursued Tang Jing#.
A related question even appeared on a well-known Q&A platform's topic page: "What does everyone think about Ye Zexi admitting that he pursued Tang Jing?"
Top reply: Ah, who doesn't have a past?