He had breezed through the first round. All he needed now was to win one more round and advance to the top sixteen, and he could head to the Final Venue to battle.
Back in the Lounge, Yong returned to his seat amid the strange looks and expressions of the other competitors.
Beside him, Xiao Yi asked quietly,
"Hey, Yong! Have you noticed how weird the atmosphere in this Lounge is... it feels like so many people are staring over here..."
Yong swept his gaze over the surrounding competitors and said calmly,
"It's fine! They're only looking. It's not going to hurt me."
"Easy for you to say..."
Xiao Yi muttered, then sneakily leaned closer and asked in a hushed voice,
"Hey, hey, hey! How about letting me in on what lineup you'll be using for this tournament?"
Yong gave him a surprised look and asked with a puzzled expression,
"Do we know each other that well?"
"..."
"Ahahaha!!!"
Xiao Yi suddenly burst out laughing.
"You're so cold! That's fine. My goal is to beat you anyway! Then I'll challenge Miss Cynthia! Nothing else matters!"
"Why... are you so determined to challenge Cynthia?"
That was something Yong had always wanted to ask.
"Why?"
Xiao Yi looked even more puzzled than Yong.
"Challenge the strong! Surpass the strong!"
Holding his drawing board, Xiao Yi looked unusually solemn and composed as he spoke to Yong in all seriousness.
"What could be more meaningful than that?"
Hmm...
Then why don't you challenge Steven?
Artists really are obsessive...
Yong inwardly grumbled, then smiled and nodded.
"I won't give you that chance!"
Xiao Yi paused, then broke into another broad grin. Patting Yong on the shoulder, he said with a quiet laugh,
"Of course! Otherwise, where's the fun?"
Just then, another pair of competitors' names