Chapter 103 Part 1

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Chapter 103 Part 1: Xie Qingxuan’s Turn, Where Miracles and Magic Come at a Price (1)

From the outset, the show Dazzling Stage has showcased a side of human nature that tests limits.

In the beginning, trainees were careful about maintaining their public image. They set boundaries for themselves, unintentionally holding back their more aggressive sides.

However, as time passed, anxiety, greed, ambition, and fear began to accumulate. These self-imposed frameworks twisted and broke down, eventually spiraling into betrayal and deception.

Chu Yuanqing disliked this atmosphere but couldn’t ignore the fact that for many high-ranking contestants burdened with “dead weight,” such extreme selfishness was the most effective way to win.

Moreover…

“After the secondary ratings, a contestant’s popularity is tied to their personal rating,” Xie Qingxuan observed.

“Their methods may not be ideal, but by playing the victim during planning sessions, their fans can suppress negative reviews and shift public opinion toward criticizing the rules of Dazzling Stage, all without losing audience appeal.”

“And there’s more to it. This incident marks a turning point in the program. The show will likely edit the events into the third episode. The contestants involved in the scheme will gain more screen time, making this a clever strategy.”

Xie Qingxuan’s analysis was sharp, yet she didn’t continue elaborating.

The real casualties of this event were those burdens — the deceived, abandoned, and discarded contestants.

More thought-provoking, however, is whether Dream Weaver Rabbit, the creator of this high-pressure environment, had always expected such a development.

Despite the drama and childish confrontations on stage, both the mentors and the program producers remained indifferent, symbolizing their stance:

Turn a blind eye.

And in this context, turning a blind eye was the biggest encouragement.

Xie Qingxuan gathered her thoughts, her expression focused. She glanced at Chu Yuanqing and asked, “Little Qing, can you control your Heart Flow on your own?”

Chu Yuanqing hesitated. Her understanding of Heart Flow was more grounded in universal values. It was an immersive experience.

While it could enhance her thinking speed, memory, reaction time, and focus, it didn’t extend to the stage presence or charm that Xie Qingxuan might have been expecting. It certainly didn’t reach the level of abilities like “Perfect Interpretation Method,” “Plunder Shine,” or “Absolute Replication.”

All of her previous breakthroughs had merely replicated Charlotte’s captivating charm.

So, when faced with the question from her teammates, Chu Yuanqing answered truthfully:

“My Heart Flow can be activated freely, but my energy is limited. I can only use it for a few hours each day, mostly during self-study and dance training. But I can’t perform consistently on stage. I’ve had a lot of accidents in the past.”

“I suggest not factoring in my Heart Flow when assessing my overall performance. Let’s base my final stage performance on my usual training level for dance battles.”

Xie Qingxuan nodded thoughtfully. She wasn’t overly concerned with Chu Yuanqing’s Heart Flow. Instead, she envisioned it as a means for growth offstage.

She analyzed the situation:

“In that case, our lineup is similar to Kirimi Miyuki’s group.”

“They’ll face Liuli tomorrow at noon. If they win, there’s a high chance they’ll recruit Liuli, forming a 2A1B combination.”

“So, to maintain team quality in the next round, our challenge goal must be Grade A.”

Chu Yuanqing considered the influence of Little Sakura and Heart Flow. She silently swallowed her complaint about Liuli’s potential loss and continued:

“So, we can only go with Ji Shuzhu and Chen Yining’s group.”

Xie Qingxuan went quiet, her gaze deepening as she contemplated the challenge ahead, now focused on forming the Double A combination.

However, her desire for a comfortable strategy had been shattered by the rapidly changing circumstances.

The pressure from Kirimi Miyuki and the introduction of dozens of Grade B players could both pose significant threats.

The former related to team quality, while the latter leveraged speed through a blitzkrieg approach.

If those Grade B players were astute enough, their mock game tactics could carry over into the next round, potentially forming several 5B teams weeks in advance.

This would give them at least half a month more than their side to practice the second performance.

Therefore, they needed to think outside the box.

Xie Qingxuan said seriously:

“The lead singer is important, but in the upcoming 3v3 and 4v4 rounds, and especially in the second performance stage, the key role will be the choreographer.”

“Ji Shuzhu, we need her choreography.”

Chu Yuanqing understood immediately.

The program allowed contestants to choreograph their dances, but for most, learning the choreography alone was challenging, let alone transforming it into something original.

After all, the dances pulled from the library were already highly refined. Even when re-choreographed, it was primarily to suit the team, with minimal transformation visible.

But there was an important distinction to be made:

“Most people.”

For a second-rate team and a second-rate choreographer, this approach was fine.

But Xie Qingxuan was aiming for a top-tier team. And Ji Shuzhu was a world-class genius choreographer.

In fact, Ji Shuzhu’s choreography level surpassed even the program’s experienced choreographer, Chen Baijiu.

Ji Shuzhu’s genius, stemming from hyperthymesia, enabled her to break down any unfamiliar dance into clear segments within minutes, creatively combining beats, movements, and rhythms to create efficient choreography.

With her joining the team, the stage would sparkle with brilliance every time.

This level of talent was so remarkable that even Xie Qingxuan’s sister, Xie Qing Yu, with her girl group Enferbutterfly — one of the most popular girl groups on streaming platforms — would recognize and highly value Ji Shuzhu’s talent.

So, it was strange why Ji Shuzhu would join Dazzling Stage. She could easily debut a girl group with top company support, so why risk her career by performing on a reality show?

The public had various theories. Only the super fans of Sun and Moon Book speculated that she might have come for a certain young lady.

Chu Yuanqing felt immense pressure. During rehearsals, she had witnessed Ji Shuzhu and Chen Yining’s skills. Unlike herself, who was still mediocre, these two were true Grade A performers, comparable to Little Sakura.

What if she messed up and caused her team to lose?

Or maybe losing wouldn’t be so bad?

Chu Yuanqing thought to herself. If she lost, her rivals might pick her, but she could refuse and force them to choose Xie Qingxuan. If they chose Xie Qingxuan first, it wouldn’t change anything.

In fact, this could work to Xie Qingxuan’s advantage, allowing her to form the ideal 3A group without Chu Yuanqing, which might be better than winning.

Suddenly, Chu Yuanqing understood, as if she’d caught a glimpse of the green-eyed cat’s wisdom.

Yes, if she lost, she could team up with a Grade F player and peacefully exit the competition. She could focus on rising above the ranking and gracefully retire from the competition.

A sense of relief washed over her. No more embarrassing performances. This competition was about showcasing true skill, and her time to shine would come.

With determination on her face, Chu Yuanqing declared energetically:

“Qingxuan, I will train hard and challenge them when it’s time!”

Xie Qingxuan froze. Her dark eyes glinted with confusion. She had expected some resistance, but instead, Chu Yuanqing had actively agreed.

Little Qing, are you pushing yourself for my sake?

Xie Qingxuan’s heart clenched as she realized the extent of Chu Yuanqing’s commitment. The girl had been training for 8 hours a day, but recently, she had been pushing herself to 15 hours, barely taking breaks for meals, sleep, or showers.

Xie Qingxuan knew what that level of training could do to someone, especially when unprepared.

Chu Yuanqing, still only 17, was not used to this kind of intense physical strain. But she had agreed without hesitation.

Xie Qingxuan felt a rush of guilt and confusion.