The welcome ceremony at the Raising House was simple.
Usually, each existing member performed something: singing, dancing, or a short stand-up routine... anything went.
The main purpose was to introduce themselves and make a stronger impression in the shortest time possible.
"I'll go first, then." The usual gloom vanished from Gao Yuan's face.
He picked up the microphone and winked at Shen Xunye and Chi Li in turn. "I'm Gao Yuan, twenty-one this year, and I rap. Let me give you a new song I wrote just a little while ago."
When the music started, Gao Yuan's whole presence changed.
His eyes shone as he took pure pleasure in the joy the music brought him.
Chi Li watched attentively, even swaying along when the beat grew pronounced.
When the music ended, he gave his applause generously.
Shen Xunye clapped along too.
"Thank you for the applause." A thin sheen of sweat covered Gao Yuan's forehead, and his eyes were full of gratitude.
A few days earlier, at Zhou Yang's welcome ceremony, he had sung his heart out onstage, but Zhou Yang hadn't spared him a single glance, occupied instead with flirting with Xie Weishui on the couch.
...It had disgusted him to death.
"You sang really well," Chi Li praised him sincerely.
As a fellow trainee, he naturally knew how much effort it took to reach Gao Yuan's level. He would applaud any idol who respected even a small stage.
Gao Yuan thumped his chest twice with his fist, then pointed at Chi Li on the couch.
Chi Li returned the gesture.
Shen Xunye leaned toward Chi Li's ear and asked quietly, "What does that mean?"
"Mm..." Chi Li reached up to rub his earlobe, warmed by someone's breath as he spoke. "Just expressing our appreciation for each other, I guess."
"You two seem to have your own special way of communicating." Unable to fit in, Shen Xunye was glum.
Chi Li said, "You're in the acting division. You don't need to understand."
Shen Xunye pouted. "...All right."
"Ahem-"
Zhou Yang tightened his grip on the microphone and deliberately cleared his throat loudly.
Only after earning an eye roll from Chi Li did he feel much better.
Seriously, if he wanted to get back together, he needed to show the right attitude. How could he whisper in someone else's ear right in front of me!
"I'm Zhou Yang, twenty-two this year, a trainee from Starlight Entertainment. I'm good at both singing and dancing, and I can rap a little too."
This was the introduction they had practiced countless times in front of the mirrors in the practice room.
Zhou Yang refused to believe that hearing it would get no reaction from him.
He didn't even put on any backing music, just stared straight at Chi Li.
"Junior." Unfortunately, his senior reacted first. "Why aren't you singing?" Both Xie Weishui's gaze and his tone carried a faint warning.
"...I will." Zhou Yang snapped back to his senses. "I'll sing right now."
Crap, I'd been so eager to signal to Chi Li that I was willing to make up, I'd completely forgotten my persona of being single-mindedly infatuated with Xie Weishui.
[Your junior seems like a player, senior! [Love to see it]]
[This really is the sourest Xie Weishui's face has ever looked.]
[He's still trying his hardest to keep it together, but honestly, his displeasure is pretty obvious.]
[Can the people above stop making malicious assumptions about others? Shuishui has class. He respects every guest who comes.]
[Then I'm really curious how much longer that big green tea can keep up his class with someone like Chi Li here, who doesn't play by the rules...]
The music started, and Zhou Yang shifted his gaze away from Chi Li to look tenderly at Xie Weishui instead.
This was the sweet little love song they had agreed on, specifically meant as a confession to Xie Weishui.
Chi Li still watched attentively.
To be honest, Zhou Yang's face was a little lacking, but there really wasn't much to fault in his skills.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have agreed to date him back then.
The sweet little song soon ended, and Chi Li applauded just as he had before.
That applause drew Zhou Yang's attention back to him again.
He spoke with considerable confidence. "Give me a review."
As far as he knew, although Chi Li was very clear-cut in his love and hate, he was still very objective and fair when critiquing performances.
Chi Li smiled. "Didn't dare open my eyes."
Not understanding, Zhou Yang asked, "What does that mean? You were lost in my singing?"
"If I'm understanding him correctly..." Gao Yuan ventured, "he means your singing was okay, but your face offended his eyes."
Chi Li nodded in agreement with that interpretation.
Gao Yuan quickly pressed his lips together, afraid he would laugh out loud.
Zhou Yang: "..."
"All right." Xie Weishui stepped forward and took Zhou Yang's wrist, soothing him quietly. "Chi Li probably has some misunderstanding about us. It'll be fine once we clear it up."
"Mm, okay." Zhou Yang nodded, forcing out a particularly ugly smile.
Once the livestream ended that night, he would definitely have a proper talk with Chi Li.
Jiang Lele performed next.
He sang a sweet little love song too. It didn't sound as good as Zhou Yang's, but his sweet looks earned him plenty of points, making the two about equal in terms of the viewing experience.
The song ended.
Jiang Lele's gaze passed over Chi Li, who was applauding as usual, and settled on Shen Xunye. "Zhou Yang just asked Chi Li for a review. Can I ask you for one, then, Shen Xunye?"
The "besties" act had long since stopped selling. He had to find another path for himself.
Shen Xunye was a perfect candidate, so he had to make his presence felt.
"Me?" Shen Xunye's eyes widened slightly, his tone innocent. "I'm in the acting division."
"That's okay. I'm not asking for a professional critique." Jiang Lele spoke shyly.
"Mm..." Shen Xunye looked slightly troubled. "Do you want the truth?"
Jiang Lele grew nervous. "Y-yes, I guess."
"Sweet."
The corners of Jiang Lele's mouth slowly began to rise.
"Like having a handful of industrial saccharin stuffed into my mouth. So sweet it was cloying."
The rising corners of Jiang Lele's mouth began to fall, his disappointment hard to hide. "I-I'll be more careful next time..."
"All right, I told you ages ago to stop putting on such a cutesy voice when you sing." Wei Xuan took the microphone, "comforting" Jiang Lele in passing. "That doesn't even count as a bad review. If you don't believe me, ask Chi Li for one."
"...?" Jiang Lele immediately shook his head like a rattle drum.
Chi Li: "..."
If Jiang Lele asked him, he really wouldn't necessarily get a bad review.
To him, the "little green tea" was the one with the lightest "offenses."
Unable to out-bitch Xie Weishui, he could only endure the humiliation and play at being besties. In a sense, he was actually pitiful.
Wei Xuan and Fang Jin, who performed next, both simply gave their performances without interacting at all with the two audience members sitting right in the center of the couch.
Soon, it was the final performer, Xie Weishui's turn.
"Hello, I'm Xie Weishui, twenty-one this year." He maintained his expected composure. "My position is vocalist, and my specialty is R&B. I'll be singing my original song, 'Like Yesterday.' I hope you like it."