Second Duke
Zhao Qinfeng nodded to them, "I think you did a very good job, it was perfect. I don't think I could have done what you did."
The student, who hadn't been nervous at all, started to get nervous again after hearing what Zhao Qinfeng said.
Lin Ting said, "What Teacher Zhao means is that he may not really know Chen Taining that well, while your understanding of him, combined with your solid basic skills and appreciation ability, allows you to help Chen Taining quickly resolve these obvious flaws in the most perfect way. Even if some cannot be resolved immediately, at least there is a direction for improvement and progress."
"Shall we go then?" Lin Ting said to Zhao Qinfeng.
Zhao Qinfeng said, "Okay. Keep practicing, and I look forward to seeing your wonderful performance in the second public performance."
Lin Ting and Zhao Qinfeng left and returned to their respective rooms.
The two had things to do the next day, and since they were busy with different things, they didn't see each other much until the second public performance.
Lin Ting had been working with Wang Qiong almost constantly during this period. Once they got busy, time seemed to fly by much faster, and before they knew it, it was the day before the second performance.
The stage was filled with rehearsals that day, with the schedule packed full. Lin Ting and Wang Qiong, who had been busy preparing for the past few days, were given a free day, so they decided to go to the rehearsal together.
At this moment, in addition to the performances for the second public performance, there were quite a few extra programs being rehearsed. Lin Ting counted in her mind that most trainees had prepared two programs. If they were eliminated, they could use them directly in the additional test. If they were not eliminated, they could refine them and put them into the next public performance.
To put it another way, most trainees didn't actually believe they could reliably pass the second performance. Based on Lin Ting's own observation, the differences between the trainees were indeed limited, so a sudden exceptional performance, meticulous preparation for a particular program, or even a trainee's potential for error could all lead to significant fluctuations in rankings.
In short, Lin Ting and Wang Qiong listened quietly to the rehearsals of about ten programs before leaving.
Listening to rehearsals in advance doesn't have a significant impact on the scoring. At least Wang Qiong and Lin Ting won't score the trainees' performances or give any direct evaluations during the rehearsal stage. All quantifiable aspects will have to wait until the official performance to be determined.
Professor Xu, due to personal commitments, did not have the time or energy to watch the rehearsals, so she only saw the students' performance for the first time during the public performance.
The second performance has officially begun. This time, the audience will still only be able to watch the performance online, and the trainees will still have to face an empty audience.
Lin Ting reiterated the rules for elimination and additional tests, and then announced the start of the second performance.
If Lin Ting could score the main theme of the performance, then the score for the second performance would likely be much higher than the first.
Take Chen Taining as an example. His vocal skills have improved very effectively during this period. Although Lin Ting can still hear his various flaws, he has polished a single program to the current level in just over a week. Lin Ting knows that this is the best he can do.
This truly allowed his already excellent work to showcase his talent even more fully.
In Lin Ting's view, Chen Taining was not the one who made the most progress; many others made remarkable progress and thus shone with new brilliance.
During the breaks between performances, Lin Ting glanced at the mentors' expressions, and they were all filled with satisfaction and joy. It seemed that the mentors had provided a great deal of guidance during this period.
However, no matter how much they improved, eight people would eventually face elimination. Lin Ting felt even more conflicted than during the first performance, and she became more deliberate and cautious in her scoring.
The scores are the coldest thing. The production team quickly tallied the scores given by the commentators, mentors, and trainees, made them into a format that was easy to display the rankings, and put them on the big screen.
“We don’t want to eliminate any of you, because each of you—even those who ranked in the bottom four of your respective tracks—has made significant progress through your own efforts, which makes every one of us mentors very happy. So please allow me to express our gratitude on behalf of all of us.”
Applause erupted in the audience. Many trainees were holding back their tears, while some of the more emotional ones had already begun to shed tears.
None of the students facing the additional test cried. Although they were sad or moved, they dared not cry at this critical moment for the sake of the additional test, so as not to affect their voices.
The additional test is scheduled for one hour later.
In the preparation area, there were eight trainees who were eliminated in this performance and six trainees who were eliminated last time, totaling fourteen people.
The performance order for this event will be determined by drawing lots. The staff member carrying the slips of paper for the draw to the preparation area felt somewhat heavy-hearted.
Those trainees who were no longer in danger of elimination could choose to stay and watch or leave. Some trainees were already crying uncontrollably, but with their makeup ruined, they stubbornly refused to leave.
Chen Taining sighed silently as he patted the back of the student next to him. He had performed well this time, ranking even higher than last time, but he felt no joy.
An hour later, the additional test began on time.
Among the contestants who were eliminated last time, two had started to slack off, singing only mediocrely and lacking the fighting spirit to win. Lin Ting frowned upon hearing this, but without much hesitation, she quickly assigned scores according to the standards.
The other four trainees put in their best effort to polish their performance. Perhaps their hard work had a certain power, adding a sense of determination to the performance, as if it were coated with a dazzling light. Although there were still some shortcomings, it was still captivating.
Lin Ting watched intently, knowing that everyone in the audience was watching intently as well. After the show aired, these performances would be seen by even more people. Perhaps, after the dust settled, some would see their performances knowing the final result. Regardless of whether the performance ultimately had a successful and celebratory outcome, it was worth the audience's full engagement.
There are still two revival spots, and Lin Ting can only decide the scores he has. At this moment, watching the equally wonderful performance, he has no idea which students will get these two spots.
Professor Xu announced the list this time. After Professor Xu read out the two names, the recording for today was over.
Lin Ting was called over to record a post-interview. Although everything went smoothly, he was not in high spirits after the recording. He couldn't say he was particularly upset, but he was indeed affected by the emotions on set.
When he returned to his room, he happened to see Zhao Qinfeng leaving with a bag on his back.
"Going on another business trip?" Lin Ting curled the corners of his mouth, seemingly trying to give the other person a smile, but he obviously failed.
Seeing Lin Ting's somewhat unnatural expression in the dim corridor light, Zhao Qinfeng walked over and gently patted Lin Ting's head. "They have all tried their best. Even if they couldn't stay, their efforts will eventually be seen."
Lin Ting naturally knew this, and he nodded without saying anything more. Zhao Qinfeng knew that Lin Ting needed to process some things on his own, so he said, "Good luck."
"I have to leave now, but I'll be back soon. My schedule is indeed quite full." Zhao Qinfeng's eyes showed obvious reluctance, which made Lin Ting a little embarrassed.
Zhao Qinfeng seemed genuinely anxious. He glanced at his phone; it was a message from his assistant urging him to hurry up.
Lin Ting patted him on the shoulder, "Go on, take care of yourself and get some rest."
The two did not engage in any more intimate behavior in the corridor, or rather, their actions just now had a hint of ambiguity, but they were a little bolder because no one else was around, but that was all.
Lin Ting watched Zhao Qinfeng leave, then returned to her room, washed up briefly, and lay down on the bed.
He glanced at his phone; this wasn't the right time to handle work or do anything too serious. Lin Ting slowly detached himself from his emotions, trying to see them from an outsider's perspective. Actually, as far as work was concerned, he seemed to be overly sentimental lately.
Provided it doesn't affect her work, such sentimentality isn't a bad thing. On the contrary, it makes Lin Ting feel more humane and gradually develops some emotional connection with this circle.
Is this good or bad? Zhao Qinfeng didn't look as disheveled as him; he even managed to catch the late-night high-speed train as if nothing had happened, preparing for his next trip.
As Lin Ting pondered, he grew sleepy and yawned. This yawn seemed like a spell, instantly pulling his consciousness back into his body, allowing him to feel the lingering impact of his emotions. Fragments of the evening's programs flashed through his mind, constantly tearing his thoughts between his current drowsiness and the emotions he felt during the recording.
He turned off the light, packed up everything he didn't have, turned over, buried his head in the soft pillow, and fell into a deep sleep.
The next morning, Lin Ting woke up on time and, still half asleep, picked up her phone from the bedside table to check the messages she had received.
It seemed that no work had come his way at this time. Zhao Qinfeng sent a message in the early hours of the morning to let him know that he and his assistant had arrived at their hotel and could rest after settling in.
Lin Ting thought back for a moment; he should have been fast asleep by then. He sat up, first replying to Zhao Qinfeng's message from last night, and then, as usual, saying good morning.
Zhao Qinfeng didn't reply immediately; he's probably still resting.
The two had always had slightly different work schedules. Although Zhao Qinfeng was resting late because of a business trip, working overtime in the early hours of the morning was the norm for Zhao Qinfeng's work.
Lin Ting and Zhao Qinfeng always kept a little distance between them. When Zhao Qinfeng wasn't busy, his schedule would slowly align with Lin Ting's, and then he would revert to it the next time he got busy.
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