“Zhong Qu dropped out of the program?!”
The Class B trainees who had returned to their dormitory suddenly received this news, and they all looked at Zhong Qu’s three roommates with stunned expressions: “So sudden? Why!”
The roommates’ expressions were complicated: “The director team said it was because Zhong Qu’s personal schedule conflicted with the program recording, so he had to withdraw temporarily.”
This reason…
The trainees gathered at the door of Room 205 heard this and their initially surprised and bewildered eyes gradually turned subtle.
Personal schedule conflicting with program recording?
What an unbelievable and perfunctory reason!
Anyone could tell with their toes that the truth definitely wasn’t that simple.
“Next Stage” was a very important and rare resource for small, unknown trainees like them. What kind of personal schedule could possibly replace the now popular “NS”!
Even if Zhong Qu really could get that level of resource, he should have gotten it long ago, so why bother coming to participate in “NS” recording in the first place?
Moreover, when they returned to the filming base at noon, Zhong Qu clearly looked like he had no idea when he was called away by the assistant director.
So, most likely, something happened…
What kind of thing could it be, that would make the director team directly decide to have someone leave the program? How badly did he crash?
“Since the director team didn’t say, let’s not think too much about it.”
He Quan, one of Zhong Qu’s three roommates, sighed helplessly: “Maybe he really does have a better path? Anyway… I wish him good luck.”
“Mhmm, I believe in Brother Zhong, he definitely didn’t do anything wrong!”
“It’s a pity I didn’t have time to exchange contact info with him. I don’t know if we can meet again after the program finishes recording…”
“We definitely can. Those BKL guys must have Zhong Qu’s phone number. At worst, we can ask Lu Kui later.”
“That’s true. Sigh, alright then, this whole thing…”
These twenty-plus Class B trainees who were on good terms with Zhong Qu quickly adjusted their moods and went along with this sudden bad news.
But to be honest, they had only known Zhong Qu for a week. No matter how deep their feelings were, how deep could they really be?
No one forgot that “NS” was essentially a survival show selecting 7 out of 101. Even if they weren’t 100% confident about competing for those top seven spots, the subsequent three rounds of performances meant three rounds of elimination.
To put it bluntly, Zhong Qu’s early withdrawal, wasn’t it just freeing up a promotion spot for them, fellow Class B trainees with similar strength and rankings?
Just as the trainees on the second floor were buzzing with discussion, Quentin, who was lying on his bed in Room 303 upstairs, suddenly received a prompt from the system.
“Congratulations, host! Main Character No. 1 progress bar increased by 30%! Current progress is 50%!”
Quentin listened quietly as the system set off fireworks, but a trace of doubt appeared in his eyes.
An increase of 30%? There was actually that much?
If Zhong Qu leaving the program could directly increase Yan Qiao’s BE redemption progress bar by 30%, then equivalently, didn’t it mean that the hidden danger posed by Zhong Qu staying in the program was even greater than the 20% in the original book that led to Yan Qiao being semi-banned later due to the “Qiao Zhong” CP?
Could it be that, even with his(Quentin) arrival and involvement, Zhong Qu would still have debuted in the final group, thus causing the hidden black material behind him to deal an even more fatal blow to the future seven-member group?
But Quentin had partial memories from the dream. He was sure that in the original plot, Zhong Qu debuted by barely making the cut in 7th place.
It couldn’t be that his appearance instead made Zhong Qu’s popularity higher, high enough to directly pull down the original 6th place main character, and he still made it into the debut lineup, could it?
If it really was like that, then Quentin would truly be a bit impressed by him.
To still be able to bind Yan Qiao even after he intervened, what kind of unyielding persistence and scheming was that?
Quentin mentally marked it with a question mark.
In the original plot, the “Qiao Zhong” CP became very popular mainly because Yan Qiao kept to himself in the program and didn’t make many friends.
Meanwhile, Zhong Qu was a master of balancing attention, maintaining superb connections across all four classes while staying consistently by Yan Qiao’s side.
In the audience’s eyes, this was the very definition of double standards!
Look, Yan Qiao only befriends Zhong Qu. Zhong Qu has so many friends but he prefers to stay by Yan Qiao’s side the most. What we CP fans crave is precisely this special treatment!
Moreover, these two were particularly fated: same class, same dorm, same company, had been teammates and also opponents. With the push of editing in the later stages of the program, becoming a popular CP was undoubtedly a natural outcome.
But now it was different.
Yan Qiao not only actively integrated into Quentin and Xue Mingzhu’s social circle, but also, spurred by Zhou Zilin, the atmosphere in the entire Class A was particularly harmonious.
The seven trainees got along well with each other. Yan Qiao could chat with anyone, so the situation from the original book where it was just him and Zhong Qu practicing, eating, and returning to the dorm together simply didn’t exist.
How could a CP like that be hyped up?
Quentin didn’t understand. He hypothesized that maybe someone outside the program helped Zhong Qu with marketing and vote-pulling.
Right now, the program recording had just started a week ago. With limited time, the plot he knew was limited, and his understanding of the other contestants and the often fake gossip in the entertainment industry wasn’t extensive either. It was very difficult for him to pinpoint the specific factors causing this.
The good news was that Zhong Qu, the fuse, was eliminated. The 30% increase was safely in the bag. Yan Qiao’s redemption was already halfway done.
As for the remaining 50%, its consequences were no less severe than “being forced into semi-banishment for half a year due to bearing unprovable slander.” And currently, he had no leads for now.
But there was no need to worry unnecessarily or put too much pressure on himself.
After all, there were five more such people 🙂
Quentin pushed aside the thoughts in his mind and asked: “isn’t that a reward for reaching 50% progress?”
Something like the dream scene triggered at 20%?
System: “No, but your account has received 3000 energy points! You can use the practice room, recording studio, hire all-rounder famous teachers for instruction, and simulate singing and dancing performance stages to your heart’s content!”
“Hmm… alright.”
The half-day holiday passed quickly. Every night from 8 to 10 PM was the usual time for trainees to go to the supplementary interview room for post-recording interviews.
The first thing Quentin did after returning to his dorm during the day was take a shower and change clothes.
He was tired from filming the MV in the morning and his head was groggy, so he unusually didn’t enter the system’s recording studio to write songs while sleeping, but instead buried himself in bed and slept until he woke up naturally.
Quentin slept until past 9 PM. The dorm was pitch black, and both his roommates were out.
He sat on the bed in a daze for a while, then knelt by the bedside and reached towards the wardrobe at the foot of the bed. After rummaging through the pile of clothes for a bit, he finally pulled out an item…the black hoodie he wore when recording his vlog two weeks ago.
Quentin pulled the hoodie over his head. The static electricity made his black hair crackle and stand on end, like a sea urchin ball with its spines sticking out.
He ran his fingers through his hair, went into the bathroom to wash his face, and then walked out of the dorm wearing just the hoodie, sleep pants, and slippers.
This street-loafing-like outfit was actually worn by him with a kind of unkempt handsomeness.
It felt very homey and also very down-to-earth. The faint scent of shampoo and shower gel drifted around him, suddenly softening the aggressiveness brought by his looks.
On his way down the stairs, Quentin encountered several boys he had never spoken to before, who greeted him cheerfully.
Quentin, who was finally well-rested and full of energy, was in an extremely good mood. His brows and eyes relaxed as he responded to each one, which stunned the boys into standing still on the spot.
He arrived at the supplementary interview room on the first floor, consciously put on his microphone, and sat by the table displaying the sponsor’s brand logo.
The staff member responsible for asking questions gently reminded him: “The questions for today’s post-interview aren’t too many, so we hope you can speak a bit more. Please don’t make your answers too brief, Quentin, okay?”
The boy sat in a relaxed posture and nodded indifferently: “Okay.”
“Good, then let’s start now…”
The staff member clapped his hands and spoke simultaneously: “‘Next Stage’ EP03, Post-Interview 3, Take 1, marker, start.”
“First, the first question. Among the 99 trainees in the program besides yourself, if a group is formed in the future, who do you think is most suitable to be the leader of your group?”
Quentin answered quickly: “Zhou Zilin… because he’s very suitable.”
The staff member smiled and gestured with his eyes: And then?
“…” Quentin was silent for two seconds. “Because, the leader is a position that bears the responsibility of giving orders and leading the team members forward. Zhou Zilin has that leadership ability.”
The staff member nodded slightly and moved to the second question: “If your team needs a vocalist, who do you think best deserves that title?”
Quentin still answered very quickly: “Wen Xinyi, because he sings very well, has a very solid musical foundation, and a very wide vocal range.”
The staff member continued smiling: Mhmm, and then? A bit more?
Quentin: “…That’s all.”
What else could he say? Wasn’t that the reason? Choosing him as vocalist is because he sings well, what other reason could there be?
Facing these beautiful eyes containing faint confusion, the staff member couldn’t bring himself to say something harsh. He could only guide softly: “You can talk about why you think he sings well, how you were touched by his singing. You can think about his performances during the initial stage, theme song practice, MV filming, or in the dorm. Aren’t you roommates? How could you have nothing to say?”
Quentin silently straightened his back: “He… has very good vocal conditions, his singing has very strong penetration, and his technique is also very strong. His control of breath, transition between head and chest voice, handling of strong and weak mixed voice are all very skilled… If he isn’t the vocalist, I can’t think of who else could be.”
His tone was still flat, yet he could calmly say such straightforward praise.
Especially since the reasons he gave were extremely objective and sounded very convincing, completely different from the exaggerated expressions full of subjective emotions from other trainees.
One must know that in the entertainment industry, especially in survival shows, such substantive praise would definitely be clipped by fans as important material for compliment compilations for promotional videos!
‘Quentin and Wen Xinyi must be very close,’ The staff member sighed with emotion, still smiling and advancing the interview process: “Then the next question, who do you think is the most suitable dancer?”
“Yan Qiao, I guess.”
This time, Quentin consciously extended his reasoning without prompting: “His basics are very good, his body is very well-developed, and he always uses the standards of a professional dancer to demand of himself. Watching him dance is a kind of enjoyment.”
…Why does it feel like Quentin is very convincing no matter who he praises?
The staff member looked down, turning the page, and continued asking: “Then for the rap position, who do you think it should be?”
Quentin raised an eyebrow: “You even have to ask this? Of course it’s Xue Mingzhu.”
The back he had just straightened had unknowingly slumped down again. His whole person leaned lazily against the chair. The large, structured hood of the sweatshirt framed his neck on both sides, and the oversize long sleeves completely swallowed his hands.
As he raised his hand, slender, white fingers emerged from the ribbed cuffs, hooking his chin leisurely.
The post-interview camera was placed at an angle from the side. Interviewees usually looked at the staff member asking the questions.
But even though Quentin wasn’t looking directly at the camera, those clean, translucent green eyes were still so mesmerizing and beautiful they could make one dizzy.
The boy propped his chin with his knuckles and tilted his head slightly: “There’s no need to give a reason for this question, right? Is there anyone who would question Xue Mingzhu’s status as the program’s top rapper? That would be truly lacking in discernment.”
Staff member: “…No, no need.”
“Ahem, then next question.” His voice weakened a bit. “Who do you think is the undisputed visual center (face) for the boy group?”
Quentin: “Can I say myself?”
“Sorry, you really can’t.”
The staff member answered quietly, while secretly muttering to himself: “It doesn’t matter whether you vote for yourself or not, all the other trainees already said you.”
Aesthetics are subjective, but facts are objective.
Compared to other questions, Quentin was undoubtedly the one and only face without dispute. No one could deny that.
Unaware of the other trainees’ answers, Quentin rubbed his chin and said casually: “Then Qi Yang. He’s very handsome.”
“Okay, understood.”
The staff member gave up on pursuing a reason for this question and briskly moved on to the next one: “In the upcoming first round of performances, which trainee do you most want to have as a teammate?”
“Can I answer two?” Quentin said. “I’ve already agreed with both Xue Mingzhu and Yan Qiao to be teammates.”
The staff member smiled: “No, you can only choose one.”
Quentin blinked: “Oh, alright, then I choose Fang Xu.”
“…Huh??”
Quentin’s expression was calm: “Fang Xu is gentle, considerate, and good at everything. Who wouldn’t want a teammate like that?”
(Later, the show would add a picture – Fang Xu sweeping, Fang Xu mopping, Fang Xu giving massages, Fang Xu cleaning windows, Fang Xu hanging laundry, Fang Xu making beds and folding quilts…)
(A chibi character labored away at the bottom of the screen, a red headband with “National-Level Best Roommate” written on it tied around its forehead.)
(Beside him, another smiling chibi character held pom-poms, turning into a cheerleader to encourage him, while another chibi character opened its green eyes, lying on the bed and obediently reading out loud, “Thank you, Fang Xu!”.)
(Not long after, this interview segment would be regarded as the cutest famous scene of the 303 group by the three members’ solo fans and CP fans, its initial popularity second only to the massage part in “NS-Daily Dorm Life”.)
But at this moment, the staff member only found it absurd. He wanted to say something, but under the young man’s straightforward gaze, he helplessly fast-forwarded to the next segment.
“Ahem, then… the last question. Suppose our first performance is a 1v1 group battle. Who are you most looking forward to facing as an opponent?”
“…”
Quentin thought for a long time, then slowly spoke: “It doesn’t matter, anyone is fine.”
He shrugged: “Anyway, I can win against all of them.”
