Zhu Xizhi raised an eyebrow and stared at him for a few seconds, then moved a foot and a half to the side.
The stock-buying crowd also saw this scene and joined in the cheering on the bullet comments—
[Yooooooo——]
[Suddenly feel like shipping CP! Sticking with Zhu Fu seems really appealing!]
[Xizhi, charge! You can reverse pressure on Nian Nian!!]
Inside the mentor’s room, the bonus points assessment continued.
The third person to enter was a twenty-year-old youth wearing a dark cyan trench coat.
Huo Ren recognized it as the new model from Blue Blood, a brand he had endorsed for years, retailing at fifty-seven thousand.
From the pure black earrings to the four or five rings on his hands, his outfit, adorned with luxury brands, was worth at least several hundred thousand.
But it was worn with taste.
The main color was dark cyan, paired with cow black and white, emphasizing a high waistline and long legs, showing potential for influencer marketing.
The bullet comments were also curiously guessing.
[Is he a model? Such a unique style…]
[Wow! That’s a senior from our department! His family is very wealthy!]
[So cool, is he trying to imitate Long Jia?]
As they were guessing, the camera cut to a replay, along with edited reactions from the contestants outside.
—There was originally no queueing channel outside.
Everyone was sitting in four sections according to their initial exam rankings, waiting their turn in a very orderly and modest manner.
Then Zhu Xizhi, ranked first in the Heavenly group, made his appearance, and right after he declared his intentions, Fu Mingnian followed suit, standing outside the waiting line, and the crowd cheered him on without much thought.
And then he just stood there.
A staff member reached out to stop him: “Student, please wait your turn.”
“No rush,” the youth smiled. “I’m lining up here.”
The staff member hesitated: “But… you don’t need to queue, right?”
The youth tilted his head at him: “There are only fifty spots available, and opportunity waits for no one…”
With that statement, anyone who didn’t rush over for a spot was a fool!
Immediately, those nearby started jumping and rushing over, and more people woke up from their daze, no longer just sitting and waiting.
What was originally a peaceful scene outside suddenly turned into a chaotic rush for train tickets during the Spring Festival, with dozens of people swarming over to grab one of the forty-plus remaining queue spots, lining up neatly like a set of dominoes.
Is this even allowed??
The staff were also stunned, turning to look at the assistant director for guidance, who gestured to just keep filming.
“Hello, teachers, I am Fang Chengran, ranked sixty-fifth in the Earth group,” the youth bowed politely, standing with perfect posture. “A senior student with ten years of street dance experience, but no trainee experience.”
“However, there are too many here who can sing and dance, so I’ll change my act.”
Huo Ren showed an approving look.
In the idol industry, the more intense the competition, the more one cannot stick to the conventional path.
Audiences are picky and easily suffer from aesthetic fatigue. If dozens of trainees all perform singing and dancing, it’s not good for the show’s ratings or for themselves, creating a repetitive monotony.
“Please begin.”
Fang Chengran took a couple of steps back, then suddenly raised his hand high.
“Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow—”
“Creeps in this petty pace from day to day, to the last syllable of recorded time; And all our yesterdays have lighted fools the way to dusty death.”
Huo Ren tilted his head to exchange a glance with Pei Ruye, both locking eyes for a second, smiles hidden in their expressions.
It was a monologue from Shakespeare’s drama “Macbeth.”
The youth suddenly transformed into the suspicious and sorrowful bloodthirsty general, his speech earnest and movements fluid.
“Out, out, brief candle! Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player that struts and frets his hour upon the stage, and then is heard no more.”
Pei Ruye, propping his chin with one hand, suddenly mimicked the tone of a servant, anticipating the next line.
“Your Majesty, I should report what I thought I saw, but I do not know how to tell it.”
The contestants outside, initially confused, finally realized they were performing a scene, clapping and cheering whether they understood or not.
This guy dislikes the conventional path, huh? And a mentor even knows his next line??
Fang Chengran didn’t expect the dance teacher to have such a solid foundation in dialogue, his surprised expression coincidentally matching Macbeth’s mindset at the moment.
“Alright,” he said dryly. “Go ahead.”
But it was Huo Ren who continued the dialogue.
“When I was standing watch on the hill, I looked toward Birnam and…”
He wasn’t familiar with drama, but he delivered the line with a teasing tone quite smoothly.
“It seemed as though the forest itself was beginning to move.”
Fang Chengran thought these two mentors were really tough, taking a deep breath to continue his line fiercely: “Liar and slave!”
He didn’t really have the heart to lash out at Teacher Huo, and his ears were a bit red from the tension.
The audience, both inside and outside, burst into laughter following the exchange.
After a few lines were exchanged, Pei Ruye nodded and wrote down a score.
“Plus twenty.” He handed over the file: “A strong foundation in performance helps with advertising shoots and stage presence. Congratulations on moving up to the Upper group.”
Fang Chengran accepted it and bowed again, feeling a bit awkward as if he was showing off in front of his superiors.
“Actually… this was my final semester project.”
Huo Ren became curious. “Are you a student of the drama college?”
No wonder he could smoothly deliver such a tricky monologue.
“Yes.”
“Why did you want to become an idol?”
“…Can I be honest?”
“Of course.”
Fang Chengran spoke earnestly.
“I’m a senior now, and I wanted to secure a job for myself.”
[HAHAHAHA Huo Ren’s face went dark, he’s about to smack someone—]
[The job market is right out the door and to the right, my student!!]
[I laughed so hard I choked on my milk tea in front of the computer!]
The following contestants were quite interesting, embodying the vitality and creativity of contemporary youth.
A decade ago, personal talents were limited to playing the piano or singing. Now, with the widespread use of the internet, interests are diverse, and the talents showcased are varied.
There were those singing in German, Spanish, and arias, those playing with yo-yos and mastering Dance Dance Revolution without looking, and even a trainee who brought in three huge bowls of hell-level spicy ramen—
“Teachers, my special talent is that I can eat a lot without gaining weight.”
The ramen was ordered as takeout, and the delivery guy in yellow walked into the venue, nearly turning back when he saw over a hundred pairs of eyes staring at him.
But it smelled really good.
Then, the four mentors watched with complicated expressions as he not only finished the noodles and broth but also couldn’t help belching loudly.
Feng Jin looked at the young man’s slim waist and legs, feeling somewhat envious.
After a quiet discussion, they awarded the kid twenty points.
Being able to eat a lot may not seem like much, but having a unique feature as an idol is an invaluable asset.
In an era of information overload, being memorable at first glance is a form of excellence.
There were as many lucky ones as there were unlucky ones.
Dance and singing require steady, long-term practice, but many trainees hoping for a shortcut exposed their weaknesses instead.
It began with Feng Jin sternly interrupting a performance.
“Stop, you’ve made three mistakes already, no need to continue.”
“Ding—” She pressed the bell. “What’s the emotional atmosphere of this song? Didn’t you understand the narrative before performing?”
“I’m a bit nervous…”
“That’s not an excuse.”
“Ding—”
“No need to continue, your steps are all wrong. I suggest you go back and relearn.”
The beautiful judge was quick to dismiss, causing a group of sixteen- and seventeen-year-olds waiting in line to tremble in fear.
Some even attempted to change their act to eating ten burgers on the spot.
However, the other three mentors were equally serious and professional, just slightly more tactful in their wording.
With Feng Jin always keeping a cold face and Huo Ren emanating a chill, the two mentors sitting in the center made the assessment room feel as if the air conditioning was set to freezing.
Amidst the chaotic and lively atmosphere, it was finally the turn of a young man dressed unlike the others to enter.
He wore a light cyan cross-collar shirt and a dark cloak, with silver-patterned cranes soaring across the fabric, highlighting his handsome and clear features.
“Hello, teachers, my name is Chen Yuanqing, from the Earth group ranked eighty-one, seventeen years old this year.”
Huo Ren first looked over his scores, then observed his appearance.
Instrumental music, ninety-two, proficient in playing the bamboo flute.
No original compositions, advertising performance at seventy, stage performance at eighty, with a total score of 242.
It appeared he had less adaptability to the camera and limited experience in live performances.
He nodded slightly, then looked up to examine Chen Yuanqing’s appearance more closely.
At seventeen, the youth was in the prime of his growth, with a long neck and slender waist, adorned with a cloud-patterned jade pendant and a deep cyan belt, both quite distinctive.
Though his hair was short and parted to the side, his natural bone structure was exceptional, with sharp temples and brows like ink paintings, indeed exuding a remarkable demeanor.
Zhu Xizhi, folding a paper crane, happened to glance at the clear-faced youth on the big screen and whistled ambiguously.
Fu Mingnian gave him a look.
“You’re not as good-looking as he is.” The snow leopard student teased with a flick of his tail. “That’s the difference.”
Fu Mingnian returned a pitying glance.
Such a shame to be blind at such a young age.
Mei Heng, not having been online much in recent years, was unfamiliar with what the kids liked.
“Why did you choose to wear this outfit for the show?”
The youth smiled in explanation: “This is my regular attire. The air conditioning in the studio is a bit cold, so I wore the cloak.”
“Today, I’ve brought a dance for the teachers called ‘Breaking the Formation.'”
A majestic and remote sound of three bell tolls echoed, followed by the burst of a Qiang flute and pipa, as if depicting a relentless battle between wolf-toothed cavalry and Yanyun army.
As the music soared, Chen Yuanqing bent his waist, lifted his sleeve, and with a flick of his right hand, a golden paper fan fully opened, fluttering like the wings of a crane!
With the sound of four war drums, the pipa’s rapid and jumbled notes vibrated like pearls and jade in chaos. The youth danced, spinning and turning, as if leading millions of soldiers in an unstoppable charge, embodying a divine figure.
His robe and sleeves seemed to transport everyone back to the Tang Dynasty in that moment, exuding an indescribable free-spirited and heroic aura.
Attempting to brush off the iron armor as snow-white, casually wielding a treasured sword to stir the stars.
Do not lament the days spent guarding amongst the clouds, for one can still fight for glory and achievements!
Even those who may not understand the profound poetry within the music could feel the isolated and fierce passion, as if hearing the sounds of golden horses and iron horses through the ancient zither and pipa, stirring a dreamlike fervor.
Despite Chen Yuanqing’s lack of public performance experience, and although his dance moves were standard and the execution average, what made him stand out was his aura and the conviction in his eyes, which differed significantly from those playing electronic, rock, or jazz music.
Huo Ren watched, slightly restless.
He appreciated the younger generation’s bold self-expression and was curious to see the full effect of “Breaking the Formation.”
He glanced at Pei Ruye, attempting to signal him.
Pei Ruye was still discussing quietly with Mei Heng, calculating scores.
“Forty.” Mei Heng nodded. “The intention is good, and the performance effect is outstanding, but there’s much room for improvement.”
Chen Yuanqing smiled and bowed in thanks, preparing to leave the stage when Huo Ren called out to him.
“Wait a moment, student.”
Everyone’s interest was piqued, curious about what he would say next.
“Teacher,” Huo Ren called out softly, “how about you perform this dance?”