Chapter 20

Our Discord Server: https://discord.gg/PazjBDkTmW

This chapter is edited by Rain. Thank you for your contribution!

Chapter 20: There Will Be a Place for You in the Entertainment Industry in the Future

The official live stream of “Dazzling Stage” was in full swing.Bullet comments flooded the video page, showcasing viewers’ instant reactions:

“Wow! How can someone be so handsome?”

“His gaze is amazing, showing a mature and firmness that doesn’t match his age!”

“The camera work is awesome, finding no unattractive angle even with so many shots.”

“Haha, even when Dream Weaver Rabbit plays dirty, my Honey Qing remains steady as a rock.”

“Without even asking, she starts the music and can immediately respond to complete the performance. Chu Yuanqing really has a big heart, impressive.”

“Honestly, at that time I thought she would be grateful just to finish the dance, but the stage performance turned out much better than I had imagined.”

“She looked so cute, but when she started street dancing, it was quite a surprise.”

“For someone not in the industry, her movements are very neat and elegant.”

Meanwhile, in the competition arena, trainees watching the performance on the big screen couldn’t hide their surprise.

“Didn’t they say she had no background in singing and dancing?”

“Such cool street dancing, her body coordination is amazing.”

“Was there no mistake at all? Such an amateur.”

“Wow, that person is very good-looking.”

Luo Siling picked up the microphone and exclaimed:

“Chu Yuanqing, for your first performance on stage, your unexpected calmness under pressure is a quality every idol needs.”

Chen Baijiu criticized sharply:

“It’s obvious your dance foundation is lacking. You were mechanical throughout, couldn’t keep up with the rhythm of ‘Whisper,’ and your movement details were rough. It’s hard to call it qualified in a professional field.”

Chen Baijiu paused, then continued somewhat nostalgic:

“However, your emotional expression surprised me. The intensity and conviction at the moment of dancing, followed by a spiritual rhythm, increased the infectiousness on stage.”

“Perhaps it’s your talent, or maybe it’s your dedication to the stage and dreams.”

“In the end, your body coordination, flexibility, personal image, and choice of program all had a great chemistry and are worthy of praise.”

Zhao Dapan said:

“Even though there are many flaws, based solely on the feedback I received from the stage, you should not be sitting in the last position.”

Jiang Chi offered brief praise before turning to the other mentors. Their conversation was muted, as no recording devices were allowed in their seating area. Neither the studio nor the contestants could hear their deliberations, but everyone knew they were discussing the grading system.

The grading structure of Dazzling Stage, like other talent shows, used the familiar A, B, C, D, and F tiers. Yet, given the earlier controversies, the stakes behind these grades felt unusually high, prompting intense focus from both contestants and viewers.

This made them pay special attention to it.

At the center of the stage, Chu Yuanqing stood frozen. Her fair complexion was tinged with coral pink, sweat glistening on her forehead. She seemed out of place, like a stranger lost in unfamiliar territory.

The world around her felt like carbonated soda swirling in a glass—bubbly and chaotic, its fragmented sounds fizzing near her ears. But louder than that was the pounding of her heart. The rhythm, relentless and deafening, sent a rush of blood through her veins, reminding her she was still alive.

It was strange.A mere ninety seconds of dance had left her feeling as though she’d fought a grueling battle.

Chu Yuanqing swallowed the metallic tang in her throat, a pang of melancholy settling over her. The heightened senses she’d experienced earlier hadn’t been an illusion. Though the lantern pendant tucked beneath her clothes had lost its glow, the rapid neural activity and energy drain were undeniable signs of its lingering magic.

But for someone on the verge of death, neither the pendant nor the secret of her magical girl past seemed to matter anymore.

Instead, shame consumed her, swallowing her whole.She felt like a magical girl caught in a mortifying public spectacle, her dignity teetering on the edge of destruction.

Suppressing the urge to tremble, Chu Yuanqing resorted to self-hypnosis.Haha, it’s all fake—just a dream.I’m so tired. I don’t want to think about anything anymore.Yes, when people are exhausted, they retreat into their imaginations and daydream.

Time passed.

As her heart rate gradually returned to normal, her vision cleared, and she refocused on the mentors. Their decision had been made.

Luo Siling picked up the microphone and praised without reservation:

“Chu Yuanqing, I am certain that you were born to be in the spotlight, with your natural camera sense and flawless face, you are truly a gem.”

Regret flashed across Luo Siling’s expression as she continued. Recently, she’d terminated her contract with her agency to start her studio, and the urge to recruit Chu Yuanqing was hard to resist. However, bound by the show’s rules, she maintained professionalism:

“If you are willing to continue in front of the camera, there will definitely be a place for you in the entertainment industry in the future.”

“I rate you as a B.”

Chu Yuanqing pressed her lips together, barely holding back her emotions. She felt like she was being flayed alive by praise.

Please stop complimenting me! she thought.The more they talk about my camera sense, my luck, and my future in the industry, the more intense the stares become.

In her mind’s eye, the magical girl she imagined herself as was now stripped bare, the piercing screams of humiliation echoing in her ears.

Jiang Chi said lightly:

“Although your dance can be considered amazing for an amateur stage debut, you didn’t show your singing skills. Unless you are willing to voluntarily audition and show your singing ability, I can only give you a D grade.”

Zhao Dapan made a joke:

“I’m not as strict as Director Jiang, but idols can’t not sing, right? My rating is a C.”

Three completely different ratings. The suspense in the grading system was palpable.

Despite her initial shame, Chu Yuanqing steeled herself, crushing the imagined tentacle monster in her mind.Yes! Criticize me more!

She wasn’t naïve. From the moment she saw the bullet comments, she knew the live stream was already live.

Being the first to perform meant maximum visibility, but she also hoped to fade into the background with a mediocre score.

But this is not irreparable!

Although being the first to appear was eye-catching, as long as she receives a mediocre rating like a CD or a trash rating like an F.

Afterward, the subsequent trainees appearing on stage will immediately make the audience forget about her existence, thus achieving the perfect stealth goal!

Chu Yuanqing thought she had a bit of slacking talent, eagerly anticipating and looking brightly at Chen Baijiu in the distance.

The one with the sharpest tongue up front, he’d better give himself an F, or his character will collapse!