Chapter 8 Tags

Chapter Summary: From 48 to 25, nearly half are eliminated.

After the magazine photoshoot.

The production team went all out, booking out an entire restaurant to treat all 48 trainees to lunch.

The girls boldly declared to the camera that they would eat the production team out of business!

After a delightful meal, we took a bus back to the "castle".

After returning to the dormitory to rest, we will continue recording in the afternoon.

The 48 trainees changed into short-sleeved uniforms and gathered in Hall 1, where mentor Guan Qier was also present.

The production team thoughtfully prepared tea, snacks, and fruit. The afternoon's themed tea party showcased another side of the contestants besides training, allowing the national producers to get to know them better.

The trainees thought it was a pleasant chat.

The production team, however, was looking to stir things up.

The first step in the arrangement was to remove the #labels# from our bodies.

The staff brought over an open glass sphere containing many folded pieces of paper.

Mentor Kwan Kei-yee, acting as the host, introduced the event: "There are 48 slips of paper with your names written on them. I will draw 3 slips from them. The person whose slip is drawn will have to share the label they most want to tear off."

Want to be selected?

Sitting next to her, Zhou Jingzhu asked in a low voice, but Mu Zhi shook her head.

Mu Zhi felt this was very similar to the interview segment she participated in when she was a guest on a media online program. The host brought out a small whiteboard with 14 questions, and you were asked to choose a number, tear off a piece of paper to reveal the corresponding question, and then respond.

If she were chosen, the only things that would be mentioned are the controversial online hashtags #stagepassing# or #prettyface#, but she doesn't want to mention them. She wants to downplay her past shortcomings and let everyone focus on Mu Zhi's future performance.

48 people, 3 spots, each person has a 6% chance of being selected, which is quite low.

Xia Xinyan was the first one to be selected.

Guan Qier was lucky; she drew a top-ranked trainee right away.

Everyone exclaimed "Wow!" Mu Zhi suspected that the production team had rigged the show, but when Guan Qi'er drew lots, she stirred her hand in the transparent glass ball several times before finally pulling out a single lot.

It's really just metaphysics.

Xia Xinyan probably didn't expect to be the first one chosen, but she was quick-witted. After taking the microphone and thinking for a few seconds, she looked at the camera and said, "The label I want to remove is #talent#."

Everyone looked at me like, "Are you in Versailles?"

Guan Qier voiced the thoughts of the trainees present: "Why? Isn't having talent a good thing?"

Xia Xinyan lowered her head slightly and smiled bitterly: "I am not a talented person. People may think that my singing and dancing abilities are not bad, but in fact, I have to practice until one or two in the morning for every stage performance. It is through practice, constant practice, and more effort than others that I can stand in the position I want. So when there was a topic on the Internet that said I was talented, I felt guilty and afraid of letting everyone down."

After listening, Mu Zhi sensed a hint of something in Xia Xinyan's words. Xia Xinyan was adept at showing her vulnerable side, unlike her assertive stage persona. In private, she cultivated an image of a soft, innocent girl who needed protection.

No wonder a significant portion of Xia Xinyan's fan base consists of male fans.

Guan Qi'er comforted her, saying, "I think Xin Yan is putting too much pressure on herself. There's a saying, 'The higher you climb, the colder it gets,' but the view from the top is captivating. This is a particularly precious experience in your lives right now. When you look back later, you'll realize it wasn't a big deal. You must persevere. Don't pay too much attention to what others say, just be yourself!"

The mentors are all masters of motivational speeches.

Continue drawing the next person.

"Lü E".

Mu Zhi thought absentmindedly, there's still one spot left, I probably won't be chosen.

I didn't expect to be mentioned.

After standing up, Lü E said, "There are rumors online that Mu Zhi and I have a bad relationship. I would like to clarify this here. Through our stage collaboration in the second performance, I feel that Mu Zhi is a very hardworking person. There are misunderstandings about her online. I would like to give Mu Zhi the opportunity to #TearOffTheLabels# and let her respond."

Many trainees showed expressions of amused curiosity.

Mu Zhi stood up, intending to refuse, "I don't need it."

Lü E, however, spoke first: "No need to thank me," and sat down.

Thank you, Mom.

Mu Zhi guessed that Lü E had seen her shake her head in response to Zhou Jingzhu saying "I don't want to be chosen," and that it was intentional.

They clearly warned me, yet they're still posting this to promote themselves!

Do you want to see her make a fool of herself, or do you want to gain attention by flaunting her?

Mu Zhi wouldn't let Lü E have her way, so she forced a perfectly timed smile and gracefully took the microphone.

The black label can't be torn off just by talking.

I did paddle water; I did paddle water before.

She's been mocked as just a pretty face, but her looks certainly live up to the criticism.

However, she couldn't argue with netizens: "I'm beautiful, and beauty can coexist with strength!" Too sharp, not likable.

You can't mention how hard you work, or you'll be bombarded by netizens for playing the victim.

Avoiding criticism is also a skill.

After thinking for a moment, Mu Zhi looked at the camera and said, "I am especially grateful to the stage of 'Chasing the Light Girl' for allowing everyone to see me. I feel very lucky."

"So rather than tearing off labels, I hope to give #Muzhi# a new label. Because the doubts and controversies on the Internet may indeed represent some people's impression of Muzhi in the past. On the stage ahead, I hope to show everyone a brand new Muzhi who deserves to be liked by more people through rapid growth."

These words, delivered with remarkable sincerity and eloquence, earned enthusiastic applause from the mentors and trainees present.

Mu Zhi cast a grateful glance at Lü E, and seeing the other's forced smile, she sat down contentedly.

The trainee who was drawn last was someone with a very low profile.

When discussing the labels they want to remove.

The trainee was silent for a while, then smiled bitterly: "I have no label to tear off, because my label is..." He choked up, "blank. It's the fifth episode, and no one has noticed me, and I haven't had much screen time. Being chosen now might be my highlight moment on this show."

"come on!"

Some trainees, feeling the same way, lowered their heads and secretly wiped away tears.

Looking at the trainee, Guan Qier shared her own experience: "I was a trainee overseas for four years, 1460 days and nights, 35040 hours, and nobody knew who I was. Even after I debuted, my presence in the group wasn't strong at first, and I had the fewest fans..."

"The show 'Chasing the Light' is just a part of your lives. As someone who has been through it, I want to tell you that opportunities are only for those who are prepared."

The trainee understood, nodded, wiped away her tears, and said, "Thank you, Coach Guan."

The second interactive segment is a talent show.

"Has any trainee come up on their own initiative?"

Everyone clapped and cheered, "Liu Jingcai! Liu Jingcai! Liu Jingcai!"

Liu Cai didn't refuse and stood up readily, standing in the open space in front of everyone: "I'll perform a set of Drunken Fist for everyone."

Everyone clapped excitedly to show their anticipation.

The staff thoughtfully played the background music from "Drunken Fist" for Liu Cai:

I stumble and fall, like the waves.

A thousand grievances can be dismissed with a smile.

I go down one minute and up the next.

It wobbled and refused to fall.

......

After performing drunken boxing for more than a minute, Liu Cai smiled shyly and said that he had forgotten some of the moves, so he stopped.

A burst of enthusiastic cheers erupted from the audience.

Liu Jingcai is indeed very talented!

The second trainee volunteered to tell a lame joke, which made everyone cringe.

For the last spot, Guan Qier said she would draw lots.

"Mu Zhi."

With such a small chance of being selected, Mu Zhi didn't know whether to say she was lucky.

Singing and dancing without prior preparation would be a disservice to her, and Mu Zhi had finally managed to slightly improve the online impression of her, so she certainly couldn't expose her shortcomings.

Talent show... I can only show off my best professional skills.

"Zhizhi, what talent will you bring?"

Tears welled up in an instant.

Upon hearing this, Guan Qier, the trainees, and the staff on site were all surprised, as they had not expected Mu Zhi to have this talent.

Tears in a second? Really?

The cameraman quickly gave Mu Zhi a close-up shot of her head. Mu Zhi composed herself for a moment, then closed her eyes. Her long eyelashes trembled slightly, like two rows of small brushes.

Guan Qier counted down from 3 and called out "1".

The moment Mu Zhi opened her eyes, they were filled with tears, and a single, glistening tear fell from her right eye.

Guan Qier, who witnessed it firsthand, exclaimed in amazement, "Truly, she burst into tears in a second! That's amazing!!"

He jokingly praised, "Muzhi could consider acting in the future; she has the potential to be an actress."

Unable to reveal that she could act, Mu Zhi used the excuse that she had "well-developed tear ducts" to gloss over the matter.

The next segment involved the trainees sharing some fun anecdotes from their personal lives. Everyone ate, drank, and laughed, creating a joyful atmosphere.

Some trainees, however, knew in their hearts that this was the joy before the storm.

The next morning.

The trainees all wore pink uniforms for the theme song performance: pink blazers over white shirts, pink bow ties, pink pleated skirts, white mid-calf socks, and black leather shoes.

The 48 trainees came to the studio where the rankings were announced each time.

All four mentors are present.

Mu Zhi discovered a pattern: the role of host was rotated among the mentors, and today's host was Xie Chaoyun.

She wore a white sweater, looking gentle and refined, with a softer aura than usual.

However, what he was about to announce was the list of those eliminated.

One by one, the trainees stood on the steps and heard Xie Chaoyun's cool voice announce: "The results of the second performance's vote rankings are out. Today, 23 trainees will be eliminated from the 'Chasing the Light' stage."

Of the 48 trainees, 23 left.

Nearly half of the candidates were eliminated!

Many trainees turned pale upon hearing the number of eliminations, and some nervously grabbed the hands of the trainees next to them, anxiously awaiting the announcement of the results.

"I'll start by announcing the 25th place."

"The person ranked 25th in likes is Zhao Duoduo."

Zhao Duoduo was overjoyed to hear her name called.

She was ranked 33rd last time and thought she was going to be eliminated today, but she didn't expect to jump several places. She knew in her heart that it was because she was working with Mu Zhi and others on "Beautiful Skin"—while others were getting the lion's share, she was just getting the scraps.

Her face showed shock at first, then genuine happiness, but she quickly realized that someone would be eliminated soon and hurriedly put away her smile.

The next trainee cried with excitement when he heard his name called.

I wonder if tears have a similar "sneezing" effect.

Almost every trainee burst into tears of joy upon hearing that their ranking was safe.

The atmosphere subtly shifted when it came time to announce the top 10 contestants based on votes.

Upon hearing their names called, the trainees were overjoyed, but a hint of sadness, which they tried hard to conceal, flashed across their faces.

"6th place, Lü E."

Lu E gave a forced smile and said only two words, "Thank you."

After announcing the 6th place winner in one go, Xie Chaoyun slowed down.

The camera lens cut back and forth between Mu Zhi, Zhou Jingzhu, Zhang Mengyu, Liu Cai, and Xia Xinyan.

In the last ranking of likes, Muzhi ranked 5th.

What about this time? It's full of suspense.

Each time the rankings are announced, the production team will broadcast it live online so that the producers can know the rankings of their favorite contestants in a timely manner.

Eliminated contestants' profile pictures will immediately turn gray, and they will no longer be able to like their posts.

Viewers watching the live stream were making heated guesses in the chat:

"I bet on Zhou Jingzhu?"

"I still think Mu Zhi is the best choice."

"It's Zhang Mengyu, right? Her performance in the second public performance was just average."

Aside from Xia Xinyan and Liu Cai, who were not mentioned, Zhou Jingzhu, Mu Zhi, and Zhang Mengyu were nominated at roughly the same frequency.

The suspense is about to be revealed.

Xie Chaoyun glanced at the table card, looked at the camera, and read out the answer:

"The trainee ranked 5th in likes is..."

The live stream camera switched to Mu Zhi.