Ten trainees lined up in three rows. Teacher Cui stood in the front, her thin figure outlined by her black suit and skirt, and her eyes behind her gold-rimmed glasses were as sharp as an eagle. Ouyang Guang stood in the last row, hoping not to be noticed.
"Today's assessment will be about last week's content," Teacher Cui said in a low voice, but the whole room was instantly quiet. "Face control in real situations. I will simulate various situations, and you have to respond appropriately."
Ouyangguang felt his throat tighten. He was criticized almost every time in class last week. Teacher Cui said his surprised expression was like "seeing a cockroach" and his sad expression was like "being constipated for three days."
"The first scenario," Cui pressed the remote control, and a brilliant fireworks screen appeared on the screen behind him, "you just finished your first concert and saw the surprise fireworks show prepared by the fans."
The trainees immediately got into the mood, some covered their mouths with their hands to show their gratitude, and some waved with tears in their eyes. Ouyang Guang quickly adjusted his facial muscles and showed a standard "touched smile".
"Stop." Teacher Cui suddenly called for a stop. The sound of her high heels hitting the floor made Ouyangguang's heart beat faster. She walked straight to Ouyangguang and said, "You, come to the front."
Ouyang Guang's legs felt like they were filled with lead, and he struggled to move to the front. The lights in the classroom suddenly became dazzling, and he could feel that everyone's eyes were focused on him.
"Make that expression again." Teacher Cui crossed his arms.
Ouyang Guang took a deep breath and smiled again. He could feel the corners of his mouth trembling slightly.
"Did you see that?" Teacher Cui turned to the other trainees, "This is a typical business smile, without soul. The eyes are smiling, but the look in the eyes is dead." She turned to Ouyang Guang, "Are you really touched? Think about it, that's a surprise prepared for you by your fans."
Ouyangguang closed his eyes and tried to imagine the scene, but what came to his mind was the glaring "C" on the paper during the expression class test last week.
"I..." He opened his eyes and his voice was as thin as a mosquito.
Teacher Cui sighed: "Do you know why I pay special attention to you?" Without waiting for Ouyang Guang to answer, she continued, "Because you have a face that is naturally suitable for the camera, and your expression is like wearing a mask. Idols are not puppets. What the audience wants to see is real emotions."
The classroom was completely silent. Ouyangguang felt his cheeks burning. He lowered his head and stared at the tip of his shoes.
"Try again," Teacher Cui's voice suddenly softened, "not for me, not for the assessment, but for yourself."
Ouyangguang raised his head, but this time he didn't smile immediately. He remembered the nervousness during the interview, the time when his mother flew to Korea overnight to support him after knowing that he wanted to be a trainee, the exhaustion of training until 11 a.m. every day, and the vague but firm dream that kept him going.
When he smiled again, he could feel something was different. His eyes were slightly moist, the curve of his mouth was no longer as precise but more natural, and his entire facial expression became more lively.
Teacher Cui stared at him for a few seconds and nodded imperceptibly: "See? That's a smile." She turned to the other trainees, "Remember, skills can be trained, but sincerity cannot be faked. get out of class dismissed."
The trainees left one after another, and Ouyang Guang was still standing there, a little dazed. Park Chanyeol ran over and hugged his shoulders: "Xiaoguang, you had that expression just now! Teacher Cui didn't say anything to you!"
Ouyangguang touched his face, where the warmth of his previous expression still remained. He suddenly realized that it was the first time in a month that he did not "perform" a smile.
Ouyang Guang stood in front of the mirror, looking at the thin but bright-eyed boy in it.
He no longer forced himself to smile, but let those real memories and emotions emerge - the desire for the stage, the uneasiness about the future, the persistence of dreams. The expression in the mirror changed accordingly, sometimes firm, sometimes fragile, and each one was real and moving.
"This is me," Ouyang said to himself softly, "regardless of whether I can debut or not, at least I want to be true to myself."
Outside the window, the sun shines through the glass, giving him a golden halo. Tomorrow there will be more brutal training and more rigorous assessments, and at this moment, he has found new strength to persevere.
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