Rebirth from the Ashes

Yun Xiao had no right to talk like that about Wanwan. No one cared for his opinion. He was only vengeful and resentful that Wanwan would be taking the center stage.

“I’m not.” Su Ruowan’s voice was hoarse. Tears welled up in her eyes as she clutched the bag of nuts in her hands. “Muyan, who the hell is he?”

Su Muyan answered, “What else? He’s just a lapdog for Cosmos Entertainment. I bet he’s jealous and told you off because you got the lead role. You don’t have to take him seriously.”

Su Ruowan shook his head. “I’m not, but I heard that he’s an amazing dancer. Muyan, doesn’t he remind you of someone?”

Su Muyan frowned. Reminded him of who? He could not tell. Yun Xiao was just an anti-social and annoying deadbeat. “Who does he resemble?”

“Ms. Shu Baiyu.” Su Ruowan sniffled as she took in the hurt. With swollen eyes, she whispered a heartrending voice, “Ms. Shu Baiyu mentioned before that I’m not suited to advance into professional dancing and acting.”

Feeling the rise in blood pressure, Su Muyan coldly scoffed. “Who is she to tell you that you can’t? She’s blind to see the good in you. I have no idea what she sees in that brat, Shen Xi.”

The mention of Shu Baiyu ticked him off. It would be Shu Baiyu’s honor to have an outstanding and brilliant student like Wanwan.

Well, her loss. Shu Baiyu was a fool to think Shen Xi was a treasure.

“Muyan, don’t say so. Shen Xi must have been better than me for Ms. Shu Baiyu to be expectant of her.” Su Ruowan bit her lip. Teary-eyed, she hung her head low. “Things would probably be different if Shen Xi replaced me on the show.”

“Wanwan.” Su Muyan was angry and heartbroken for her. “You’re doing the show. Why do you have to bring up that ingrate? Are you trying to piss me off?”

“I… No.” Su Ruowan sniffled with weepy eyes. “Don’t be angry, Muyan. I’ll stop talking about it.”

“Don’t ever bring her up. She’s dead to me.” Su Muyan felt bad as he looked at the kind and meek Su Ruowan. Those feelings were quickly replaced by repugnance at the thought of the ruthless and callous Shen Xi. If only she could die and rot in hell.

Su Ruowan was silent.

Picking up on her low spirits, Su Muyan took a seat next to her and softly offered words of comfort. “Don’t sell yourself short. You’re the best, the most brilliant, and the brightest star. Trust me, you will debut front and center. The other mentors are counting on you.”

Godd*mnit. Yun Xiao should jump off the building and die. Wanwan let his nonsense get to her head.

She was the best and none of the trainees could compare to her. Yun Xiao was nitpicking and just trying to win one over her.

Well, Wanwan would shove it to his face when she made her debut. The other trainees should keep up and bump all the Cosmos Entertainment’s trainees out of the show to irk him!

Su Ruowan had gotten the assurance she wanted from Su Muyan. On her way back, she ran into trainees watching the show on their phones and talking about it.

Today was Friday, the day National Idol’s first episode was released. It was broadcast on CZ Satellite TV prime time. She had watched the show together with Muyan.

As expected from a Cosmos-Entertainment-sponsored show, Cosmos Entertainment’s girls and lapdog, Yun Xiao had the most screen time.

Ye Weiyang, in particular, had more airtime than she did. Su Ruowan highly suspected the production team was a bunch of airheads.

Of course, the trainees were going to watch the premiere of National idol. Those with more close-ups were delighted while others who barely had airtime sulked in a corner. Thanks to Mr. Yun Xiao and Ye Weiyang, Group F rode the wave and had more exposure compared to the rest.

All in all, the cameras loved Group A the most. Among the mentors, Gu Yang the girl group founder had equally as much airtime.

The channel for fans to vote was open during the release of the episode. Fans could vote to support their favorite contestants.

The trainees signed to management agencies had their backings. Their companies had long started rallying fans and paid to bump the girls up to the trending topics, doing all they could to put their talents out there.

As the daughter of film stars, Su Ruowan often tagged along Li Jingran to social events. She was one of the minorities who already had a fanbase. With the voting channel available, fans swamped to cast their votes on her and her popularity climbed.

Right behind her in the polls were the trainees managed by agencies.

Cosmos Entertainment’s girls were mediocre at best in the polls. Since the program was only at its first episode, the exposure was insufficient for fans to fall for them.

The only one who managed to squeeze into the top twenty was Song Wenye. The international class students called on friends far and wide to hit the vote button, putting Song Wenye at the tail of the top twenty at the nineteenth place.

As of this moment, the polls would be used as a reference to the order of ranking. Trainees at the bottom were starting to feel the heat.

Mr. Yun Xiao returned a day before the shooting of the second episode. The former Group F members announced to everyone the moment they heard the good news.

The groups were divided according to the trainees’ overall rating.

All members of Group A formed separate teams to be the team captain. The remaining nine team captains were picked from Group B. Every team had a variety of Group B, C, and D members. In all fairness, lots were drawn to decide the team the trainees would be joining.

There were five members in Su Ruowan’s group. As the leader of the team, she was team captain. Nevertheless, she was most unhappy that her team has two former Group F members. They were such an eyesore. These girls had gone off looking for Yun Xiao after hearing that he was back.

Did they think their spots would be secured if they were to look for Yun Xiao? How naïve. They should just become trainees under Cosmos Entertainment instead of daydreaming. Cosmos Entertainment’s trainees were guaranteed opportunities to debut after all.

Like Su Ruowan, He Lu shifted her resentment of being demoted on Cosmos Entertainment and their trainees and of course, Yun Xiao. With hatred brewing in her eyes, she tightly clenched her fists.

All the other trainees besides Group F’s were not pleased to see Mr. Yun Xiao, even though they had no reason to hate him. They were not in a position to express themselves freely. Only the former Group F members thought the whole world of Mr. Yun Xiao.

Now that Shen Xi was here, she would have to assume the duty of a mentor. Following the arrangement of the production team, she entered one studio after another to check on the trainees. She did not turn her back towards those who came to ask for advice.

However, no one else approached her other than the former Group F members, but even they played an insignificant role in their groups. They had no say and had to take cues from their teammates. The timid ones who were left out by their group dared not look for her while the bold ones sought advice from her on their own accord.

Ye Weiyang’s team was the only one who openly approached her. Han Yan happened to be on her team. Since no one occupied Mr. Yun Xiao’s time, they invited him over to be their personal coach. They could not be happier by the decision.

The other mentors were envious as they were fluttering about, taking care of every team. It was a different story for Mr. Yun Xiao. It must be great for him to only look after one team!

Su Muyan and the rest of the mentors were not on the same wavelength. The sight of Yun Xiao disgusted Su Muyan to the very end. He smirked as Yun Xiao gave pointers to Ye Weiyang’s team.

Was Yun Xiao really that ignorant about his surroundings? Was he either blind or pretending not to see so many trainees giving him the cold shoulder?

Nevertheless, Su Muyan took pleasure in Yun Xiao’s predicament. It was an insult to a mentor to be snubbed and ignored. This was not something to be happy or proud about.

The production crew was helpless about the situation. Mr. Yun Xiao was a character. The trainees might not go to him, but he could always inquire if they needed help. It would be fine even if it was just asking for the sake of asking.

The question that boggled the production team right now was whether they should release footage of the mentors coaching for the second episode.

After the evening practice, Su Botao the chief director informed everyone, including the mentors, that there would be a mystery guest during tomorrow’s shoot.

Everyone turned to Mr. Yun Xiao. Was he not the mystery mentor? Why was there another mystery guest? Who could it be? Would it be another incompetent? It was a public outrage waiting to happen.

Observing their expressions, Su Botao cleared his throat and continued. “The mystery guest is only here for an episode. There will be other mystery guests coming for future episodes as well.”

The mentors exchanged a glance curiously. They had no idea who the mystery guest was, but one thing was for sure, it was somebody in the entertainment circle.

They were resourceful and had vast connections. They returned to their dorms and proceeded to ask around, but they soon gave up seeking answers since no one had an inkling.

The mentors could not get to the bottom of it, much less the trainees. There were people looking forward to it while others remained skeptical. With Yun Xiao as the prime example of a mystery mentor, they already had a bad feeling about it.

The next morning.

It was lively during breakfast at the cafeteria. The trainees surrounded a person, asking for autographs and pictures. Judging by their star-struck eyes, they looked like fans who had met their idols.

Amid the crowd, the young man in casual wear had a lean figure, good looks, and a smiling face. He was none other than Qi Xiu.

The trainees on the scene swarmed towards him except Su Ruowan. She quietly sat at a corner, hiding the fury in her eyes. Why did it have to be Qi Xiu of all people!

Shen Xi entered alongside Gu Yang. Since Gu Yang waited for her at the door, she had no choice but to come in with him.

The duo ran into the other four mentors while at the elevator. It was a rare moment for all six mentors to be heading to the cafeteria together.

They had just arrived at the cafeteria when they saw the young man who was surrounded by the trainees.

Su Muyan was first to take notice. Qi Xiu was his rival who crushed him after all. Although resentment was seething in his being, Su Muyan remained unconcerned in appearance.

Was the mystery guest Qi Xiu?

The production team seemed to be out to get him. Were they trying to make him look bad? Why did they invite Qi Xiu despite knowing the history between him and Qi Xiu?

Gu Yang and the rest were dumbstruck for a moment before catching on. He must be the mystery guest invited by the production team. It turned out to be Qi Xiu, the rising star!

Fang Yao, a mentor with the heart of a teenager, was a fan of Qi Xiu. She was a loyal fan of his music. Her eyes lit up at the sight of him.

Props to the production team. Qi Xiu had never joined any variety shows since his fame skyrocketed. It was said that the number of proposals he turned down could be piled up to two meters.

Compared to the others, He Sumo and Xia Mi were most chilled out. Sure, they were surprised and it did not take them long to get a grip.

They watched as the trainees hemmed in on Qi Xiu.

Qi Xiu saw them too. He lifted his chin to look and nod in Shen Xi’s direction. He then opened his mouth and spoke in a clear voice, “Long time no see, Mr. Xixi.”