Bai Zhiyi walked onto the stage and cast a discreet glance in Shang Shujue's direction, silently adding this to his tally. Brother Jue, just you wait. I'll get you back for this little grudge sooner or later!
Bai Zhiyi took a deep breath and let it out before introducing himself to the mentors. The mentors finally turned their attention back, and the gossip on Shang Shujue's side seemed to have wrapped up too.
"...I'll be performing an original song with my own choreography, 'Attention, approaching the station.' I hope everyone enjoys my song and dance performance."
As soon as Bai Zhiyi finished speaking, he smiled slightly. That smile instantly won over many casual viewers in the livestream. The stage lights dimmed, and the music began.
[Jian Yichen's such a good actor. If he hadn't lacked resources, he probably wouldn't even have come to this talent show, right?
I keep feeling that if I helped him as openly as I helped Xu Jiaqiao, Yu Zeqi, and Zhang Yunchen, he'd think I had ulterior motives...]
Jian Yichen: To be honest, if I hadn't heard your thoughts, I really would think that...
Shang Shujue noticed that Bai Zhiyi had already struck a pose and begun moving to the music. His gaze instantly fixed on him, thoughts fluttering through his head.
[Ooh~ Bai Zhiyi's dancing! Let's put this aside for now and let me admire his moves... Speaking of which, will Su Youchuan send someone over to stir up trouble?
After all, he's the little stand-in who spent three to five years with Su Youchuan day and night... What did you say? Later, his body ends up riddled with injuries, and Su Youchuan even severs the tendons in his wrists and ankles, leaving him wishing he were dead, until he finally begs the imprisoned Zhang Zhichen to end his life?!
But that's not right. Didn't those two get together later? How could... Holy shit, that's so devastating, making his lover personally end the life he's barely clinging to...
I was wondering why Zhang Zhichen went from wanting to kill Su Youchuan to suddenly killing himself. So there was this whole part too? For Zhang Zhichen, whose family had been destroyed by then, Bai Zhiyi must have been his emotional pillar, right?]
These latest revelations from Shang Shujue shocked everyone. Their expressions twisted a little, and they were all having some trouble controlling themselves.
Was there something wrong with Su Youchuan's brain? Why was he involved in everything?! Were we all innocent victims? I seriously couldn't with him!
Zhang Zhichen watched Bai Zhiyi, whose figure had stiffened slightly onstage. His fingers involuntarily curled at his sides, and his eyes darkened a little. Su Youchuan, is this how you repay your benefactor? Very well. I'll remember this.
[*ε=(´ο｀*))) Sigh, these two are miserable too. Their karma is tangled up too tightly with Su Youchuan's, and they're the hardest to save.*
I'll have to reclaim Su Youchuan's luck first... Looks like I need to find a chance to meet this guy.
Huh? Wait! I haven't even looked at their gossip yet. How have I already used up two chances? Are you screwing me over?!
What? They're major characters, so every mention of their names and related matters costs me a chance? Damn it, this stupid mechanic! How many chances do I have left now...
Bai Xiaoze, Jian Yichen, Zhang Zhichen, and Bai Zhiyi. Fine, fine, fine, six chances left.
Come on, let's pick the next lucky winner. Who's got gossip? Ah~ The search will take another hour?
All right then (°ー°〃)]
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing that Shang Shujue couldn't just pick anyone at random and dig into their gossip. Bai Zhiyi onstage finally relaxed too.
Oh, please, you've finally agreed to leave me alone! I can finally focus on my performance! ˚‧º·(˚ ˃̣̣̥᷄⌓˂̣̣̥᷅ )‧º·˚
Perhaps because Shang Shujue temporarily couldn't dig into any more gossip, Bai Zhiyi felt he no longer had anything to worry about.
In the performance that followed, a wildness, power, and style uniquely his own seeped into his performance, soft yet resolute, wild and stubborn, giving everyone something refreshingly new.
Bai Zhiyi's choreography was so complex, yet he still sang the powerful, fiery lyrics steadily. Even the high notes held up.
The somewhat subdued atmosphere at the venue caught fire. Even Shang Shujue couldn't help clapping along, his expression utterly unrestrained as he smiled.
[Ahhh! Bai Zhiyi, Bai Zhiyi, Bai Zhiyi! He's amazing! Those moves look so difficult just watching them! But not only did he pull them off, he sang and danced at the same time and executed the whole thing perfectly. I'm becoming his fan!]
[Hahaha... Everyone looks so excited! Why are they so excited? Hahahahaha... I can't help rolling around on the floor either, fam! Hahaha...]
[Zhang Zhichen really is the unbothered type. Even with all this, his expression's still so calm. He doesn't look affected at all.
Shang Shujue beside him is grinning so hard his face is about to split, hahahaha... Shang Shujue's face acted out the whole thing. He looks absolutely hilarious, but I don't mean that as a compliment!]
The music stopped. Bai Zhiyi landed steadily after a backflip, bringing his song and dance performance to an end. He looked at everyone in the audience and laughed breathlessly.
With a smile as brilliant as fire and a free, unrestrained personality, such an outstanding, unconventional genius should have soared higher and farther. Unfortunately, he had met an asshole before his wings had fully grown.
"Zhang Zhichen, what do you think of Bai Zhiyi? Do you feel anything special? Is he handsome?"
Shang Shujue was a little excited, so while the mentors were commenting on Bai Zhiyi, he couldn't help turning to look at Zhang Zhichen, only to find the same faint smile as always on his face.
That calm expression made it seem as though the performance just now had held no surprises or delights for him, prompting Shang Shujue to lean over and ask him, his expression full of curiosity about the gossip.
Watching through the screen as Shang Shujue practically plastered his entire face against Zhang Zhichen, Song Yanqing nearly snapped the calligraphy brush in his hand in anger.
This guy really... could find an angle beyond 360 degrees to piss him off from...
"He's very talented."
Knowing that Song Yanqing was watching the livestream too, Zhang Zhichen nervously leaned back a tiny bit before answering his question, but his assessment consisted of only those few words.
"That's it?" Shang Shujue was full of anticipation, his eyes sparkling as though awaiting the birth of a new ship.
"Mm."
Zhang Zhichen looked toward Bai Zhiyi, who had successfully advanced onstage. The smile at his lips deepened, but his answer remained concise.
He really was outstanding. It would be the easiest thing in the world for his future self to fall in love with him.
But Shang Shujue didn't know what he was thinking and assumed he didn't like Bai Zhiyi. He gave a slightly disappointed "Oh" and leaned back into his seat.
[Wait, that's his reaction? Is it because Zhang Zhichen hasn't been through hardships with Bai Zhiyi yet, so he doesn't feel any sparks when he looks at him now?]
The question in Shang Shujue's mind reached Zhang Zhichen's and Bai Zhiyi's heads, and everyone else heard it loud and clear too.
Under those invisible gazes, the two people involved awkwardly curled their toes against the soles of their feet.
Zhang Zhichen: That's not what I meant...
Bai Zhiyi: Uh... This is so awkward...
Everyone: Oho~ Could Brother Jue actually be the stumbling block on their road to love?