disuse
It was the on-site director reading the script. Originally, the production team wanted the mentors to announce the elimination rules, but the mentors couldn't bear to do so, so the on-site director sighed and took on the task himself.
"Elimination begins with the first performance. The bottom four trainees in each track will be eliminated and will need to pass an additional test to gain a revival qualification from the mentors."
"Please note that in each round of performances, there is one revival opportunity for each of the two tracks. The trainees eliminated in previous rounds and those eliminated in this round will compete together."
"The scoring details will be sent to all instructors and students later. Please check your inbox."
"Please note that the audience for this performance is online. They are not in the venue, but they are watching you. Make sure you give your best performance."
Elimination was inevitable. After returning, Lin Ting received the scoring details, which clearly stated the percentage of points allocated to each mentor and guest commentator, as well as the internal peer review.
The first performance is scheduled for a week later. Before that, there aren't many recording sessions, leaving a lot of time for the trainees to practice on their own.
Lin Ting had plenty of free time, so he spent all his time at his place writing manuscripts and lyrics.
Zhao Qinfeng is very busy. He often has to leave the recording location to catch a flight to attend other events. Lin Ting was able to spot Zhao Qinfeng in posts shared by netizens: walking quickly with a suitcase, greeting everyone at events, and singing.
He's so busy, as busy as a fully automatic spinning top with an electric motor, once it starts spinning, it won't stop.
After returning, Zhao Qinfeng started listening to the performances of his students, discussing everything from song selection to various details, and they talked until midnight several times.
It seems that Lin Ting and Zhao Qinfeng are in two different time zones, with their wake-up and bedtimes being three or four hours apart.
The time for the first performance came quickly. Lin Ting felt that Zhao Qinfeng was very tired, but he didn't look tired in front of the camera. He always seemed to be full of energy.
The trainees were still nervous, but something seemed different compared to their initial audition. Perhaps the learning and training they had undergone during this period had truly brought about changes, big or small, to them.
Lin Ting held the scoring board in his hand, staring blankly at the stage.
The first contestant to go on stage was already in place, and from where Lin Ting was sitting, you could see the contestant taking a deep breath while holding the microphone.
It rises and falls.
Lin Ting was a little dazed. The trainee seemed like a balloon about to take off, floating and drifting until he reached the very center of the stage.
The first performance of the first public show was scored on a 10-point scale. The trainees gave a total score of 8.30, the mentors gave a total score of 7.93, and the guest commentators gave a total score of 7.96. The total score was calculated as 7.98 based on a weighting of 10%, 40%, and 50%.
After Lin Ting finished scoring, he looked up and saw the student sitting in his seat with his head bowed deeply, his expression unreadable.
Two obvious vocal cracks, and varying degrees of problems with rhythm and pitch. Lin Ting thought to himself with a sense of regret. He remembered this student; she sang very well during practice and always got nervous on stage. This time, she was the first one to go on stage again.
But if he wants to be seen, he must be on stage. Performances offstage don't count; nobody listens, nobody cares. How can an ability be considered an ability if it can't be shown to the public?
The student next to him patted him on the shoulder, as if whispering something to him. Lin Ting looked away; he still had to continue scoring the upcoming performances and couldn't afford to be distracted.
After the four students finished their performances, there was a brief critique session. Lin Ting took the microphone, hesitated for a moment, and then spoke cautiously: "I know that every program today was the result of a long period of preparation. Perhaps it is cruel of us to score like this now, and it is even crueler to critique like this, but I have to do my job and say these words."
"First of all, the four programs just now were not very well completed. Even with enough time, you can't just sing a song smoothly and go on stage. The details, emotions, and the vocal techniques used to present them should be refined down to the individual words or even individual syllables."
"Secondly, I know your level. I was there during the auditions and the first performance, and I listened very carefully. The four students who just performed performed much better before. Perhaps you do lack stage experience, but from now on, you must take every opportunity to go on stage seriously and make sure that you can perform at least 70% of what you practiced in the shortest amount of time."
Lin Ting finished speaking, and her words were rather harsh. Wang Qiong picked up the microphone, offered some words of comfort, and then the performance continued.
Lin Ting sighed inwardly, assigning one score after another without any emotional coloring. These scores would be quickly tallied, calculated, and then sorted in descending order, which would determine who would stay and who would be eliminated.
Lin Ting glanced at the performance order on the side; the next one was… Chen Taining.
Chen Taining is in the songwriting category, so naturally he will sing his own songs. Considering that they have the same amount of preparation time as the contestants in the singing category, they basically brought several songs that they had already written, so that they would have more time to prepare later.
Lin Ting had listened to Chen Taining sing the song from beginning to end when she came to watch the rehearsal, so she was very confident in the quality of the song.
As for the performance, Lin Ting quietly looked at Chen Taining standing in the center of the stage. He was wearing the clothes provided by the production team, had his hair styled and makeup done, and after styling himself up, he actually looked quite good.
After he sang two lines, Lin Ting realized that this was someone who could perform exceptionally well under pressure.
Moreover, Chen Taining has made significant progress. His previously weak vocal foundation has been somewhat made up for by the high-intensity practice. Although he is still far from the "excellent" level in Lin Ting's mind, he has made a clear improvement compared to the level he showed in the previous audition.
Lin Ting was impressed by three or four programs, but Chen Taining impressed him the most. He was even more grateful that the audition slots at that time were not easily taken away.
However, Lin Ting could understand that Chen Taining's ranking was not high, but he believed that Chen Taining would make progress soon.
The scoring ended quickly, and eight people appeared in the elimination rounds. Lin Ting noticed that the younger relative of the assistant director she had met at the dinner party a few days ago was among them.
The supplementary test was scheduled for an hour later. Lin Ting stood up, walked around a bit, and chatted with the other guests.
"The pressure of the scoring is too much. I got dizzy looking at that sub-category before," one mentor said with a frustrated look. "It's much harder than asking me to write a song!"
Lin Ting also said, "Yes, this score is indeed difficult to give. It has to meet the standards, be very careful, and be given within the specified time. It cannot be modified afterward, otherwise it will delay the process."
"But this is good too, it's responsible for the students." Another instructor smoothed things over.
"One of the four eliminated contestants will remain... They must have prepared their performance beforehand, right?"
"We prepared, but we mainly focused our energy on the performances. We all put in our best effort, hoping not to be eliminated. Unfortunately, even if everyone tried their best, there will always be someone who ends up at the bottom."
"Each group ultimately eliminated three people, totaling six. What are their plans after that?"
"They should stay here and continue with the scheduled classes, but they won't have the chance to go on stage anymore—unless they try to get a revival spot next time."
"It seems the audition for the next performance will be even more intense."
Several celebrities' personal makeup artists came over with their makeup bags to help with touch-ups. Wang Qiong brought out a large box of Swiss rolls from somewhere and shared them with everyone.
Lin Ting was given a matcha flavored one. After taking a bite, he gave a thumbs-up, giving the dessert the highest praise: "It's not sweet!"
An hour wasn't long for the guests; they joked around, ate something, and it passed quickly.
But for the eight students about to take the additional test, this hour was particularly agonizing. One student frequently went to the restroom, another was memorizing lyrics, and yet another was simply spacing out. Some even paced back and forth, all displaying strange forms of anxiety.
Students who did not need to take the additional test could choose to stay or leave, but they all stayed because they knew they might have to face such an additional test later, so they might as well find out about the situation as soon as possible.
Anxiety seems to be contagious. Chen Taining's ranking was neither high nor low this time, and her mood was also neither high nor low, but she still quietly comforted the trainees next to her who were about to go on stage.
"It's alright, you've prepared well." Chen Taining felt powerless with words, but apart from offering some words of comfort, he had no other way to help the other person.
"I can do it, I can do it..." The student's voice trembled slightly, but he still clenched his fists, trying to muster his courage.
"The supplementary test is about to begin." Lin Ting took the microphone and said, almost with a hint of reluctance.
The students went on stage according to their scores, and one by one they took out the additional songs they had prepared for the test.
Viewers who had previously watched the performance online were finally able to see it live again. They realized that the venue was much quieter, not only in terms of sound but also in terms of visuals. Everyone was too afraid to move and remained frozen in their seats.
The trainees didn't have any stage movements designed during the additional test; they were just like pillars standing in one place.
The atmosphere among the mentors and guests was also somber.
After the eight people finished their performances, the scores and rankings were soon released. Instead of being announced directly, the scores were written on a board by a staff member and handed to Wang Qiong.
Lin Ting saw Wang Qiong slowly stand up, raise the microphone, and remain silent for a long time while looking at the information on the handboard.
No one urged them on, especially the eight contestants in the elimination round. It was unclear whether they were eager or fearful of knowing their rankings.
Lin Ting heard Wang Qiong call out two names, "You two have qualified for the revival test in this round, congratulations."
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