Chapter 11 Theme Song Center Position Battle (Part 2) The center position is actually—…
Jiang Tinghan and Yin Zhicai went to the medical room together, and Pei Xiuwen and the staff helped clean up the broken glass, finishing the job in twenty minutes.
Jiang Tinghan was making the most of every second, even at this moment she was looking down at her phone watching Shen Xiaoting's mentor version and the full song "Shining Star".
The doctor in the medical ward advised Yoon Ji-chae to rest first, to be careful that her wounds might reopen, but Yoon Ji-chae clearly wouldn't listen.
She whispered "thank you" to Jiang Tinghan, then stopped following him and hurried back to the practice room.
Jiang Tinghan followed her back to the practice room and saw the enthusiastic Pei Xiumin. Remembering what Pei Xiumin had just said, "Friendship first, competition second," the corners of his mouth couldn't help but turn up slightly.
"Thank you for staying to help."
Yoon Ji-chae's expression softened considerably: "You can ask me any questions you have."
Even if they have many ulterior motives, they are not ungrateful people.
Bae Soo-min: "Can I—stay here?"
Jiang Tinghan shrugged and said with a hint of teasing, "We don't mind if you practice in the corridor."
Bae Soo-min's initially nervous heart sank to the bottom, her lips twitched a few times, and her usual mood vanished.
That Coldy is truly a scoundrel!
With only five hours left, and Bae Soo-min joining from another practice room, the three of them achieved a strange harmony.
Bae Soo-min is also quite skilled, and her sprained ankle is almost healed. Her dance style is different from Yoon Ji-chae's. Yoon Ji-chae's style is standard and powerful, like a precisely calculated machine, but Bae Soo-min's style is more expansive and has a larger framework, similar to the 100% and 120% dance styles popular on TikTok.
“Sumin,” Jiang Tinghan suddenly called out to Pei Xiumin.
Bae Soo-min turned her head: "Hmm?"
Jiang Tinghan raised his elbow and paused, then relaxed. As if the joint didn't exist, he rotated his arm 270 degrees. With a twist, he turned back, his upper and lower arms almost completely touching, looking soft but not weak.
Is this how you do it?
Bae Soo-min: "No..."
She suddenly stopped again. She didn't do it that way; instead, she swung her arm and drew a semicircle.
However, if you let your arm fall and rise without being consciously controlled, just like Jiang Tinghan did, it would actually fit the lyrics "Tick-tock, a whisper. The hour hand, a ring of light." even better.
The ticking of the clock is like a whisper, and the turning of the hour hand is like an arc of light.
Bae Soo-min then changed her mind and said, "That's also acceptable."
I wonder if Jiang Tinghan was deliberately using this method to remind her. If so, this person's dance talent and observation skills should not be underestimated.
She's only been learning for a little over a month, and while beginners are still building their foundations, she's already able to spot other people's problems.
Jiang Tinghan's expression remained unchanged as he nodded: "That's good."
There was a sudden knock on the practice room door, and then Vocal instructor Adam Lambert walked in.
"I heard someone here is injured? How is the situation?"
Yin Zhicai replied in English, neither humble nor arrogant, "It's nothing, thank you for your concern, Professor."
“That is good.” Adam looked at the three contestants and asked in a friendly manner, “May I have the honor of watching your performance?”
"certainly!"
The three looked at each other, unsure who would sing first.
Originally, Yoon Ji-chae wasn't afraid to perform, but she was thinking of intensive vocal training in the last two hours. She hadn't sung those 40 seconds in their entirety yet, and she was afraid of forgetting the lyrics if she sang it a cappella.
She doesn't allow herself to make mistakes; the fear of potentially making a mistake makes her hesitate.
"I'll do it." Jiang Tinghan took a step forward, her long eyelashes curling slightly, like snowflakes falling softly.
Adam gave her an encouraging look.
Jiang Tinghan slightly parted her lips, and her clear, cool voice flowed out like water.
"The soul enters the bird's body and takes flight in a dream."
"Heading to our—Shining world."
"From every corner of the globe, you'll see."
"We are united as one, fearless, and countless points of light converge to form the most dazzling super star!"
In the blink of an eye, the verses were over. Jiang Tinghan sang very steadily, and the final "super star" was sung with a rising pitch, pushing the audience's emotions to the peak.
The challenging chorus is about to begin!
"We are the shine, that lights up the world!"
"Fill it with brilliant dreams!"
"This is our Shining World!"
"Be the only light!"
The singing was loud and clear, seemingly possessing the power to penetrate the soul.
Yoon Ji-chae and Bae Soo-min exchanged a glance, their eyes wide with surprise.
Although Jiang Tinghan's singing wavered for a moment, she quickly regained her composure and sang it with perfect pitch!
Wasn't this guy just watching the whole time? He didn't even sing a single note, so how did he suddenly become a sensation behind their backs?
Jiang Tinghan stopped: "Mentor Adam, I'm done singing."
Adam Lambert looked at her with considerable admiration; no wonder he gave her an S grade.
"You sang well."
But he came here to point out the problem: "Coldy, you can open your mouth a little more to enhance and strengthen your original voice, which is what we call oral resonance."
Adam demonstrated it to Jiang Tinghan, and Jiang Tinghan succeeded after trying it two or three times. Her singing voice did indeed become more textured.
"Excellent!"
Following them, Yoon Ji-chae and Bae Soo-min also sang a song. With Jiang Ting-han's excellent performance as an example, they seemed somewhat ordinary, but under Adam's guidance, they sang even better.
*
Six hours have passed. Following the broadcast instructions, everyone returned to the studio to prepare for the competition.
The first one went on stage, the second one went on stage, the third one went on stage...
Each contestant had an electronic voting device next to them, and they only needed to press "Yes" or "No" after each performance. The mentors did the same, perfectly solving the problem of decision paralysis.
Many contestants, though their eyes were still on the stage, were silently reciting the lyrics and mimicking the dance in their minds.
Until the big shots from Group A started to appear one after another.
If the previous performances were a chaotic mess, then Group A's performance was a vibrant display of talent, instantly raising their score from 40 or 50 points to at least 70 points.
Anri Tsukichi's performance was even described as "capable of killing me with one punch," leaving viewers utterly astonished.
The same dance, the same song, and Tsukichi Anri, the street dance champion, showed her advantage. Even people who don't know how to dance can see that she dances much better than others.
Although her vocals were a bit loose, her dancing made up for it well, and she even seemed to perform better than on her first stage. Many contestants pressed "Yes".
Bae Soo-min also performed quite well, showcasing her true level in those forty seconds. Group S is likely to face two more formidable opponents.
Group S was an absolute battle of the gods, with performances taking place in Vienna, at the Grammys, and at a concert. Each artist showcased their unique style, ensuring that the contestants in the audience never felt tired.
I'm just filled with fear. How am I supposed to fight this? Going up there would just be like being a filler!
Groups A and S decided their own playing order, leaving only Yin Zhicai and Jiang Tinghan unchanged.
Yin Zhicai glanced at Jiang Tinghan, then stood up. What was wrong with giving this opportunity to Jiang Tinghan? After all, she was the first one to sign up anyway.
Jiang Tinghan, however, resorted to his old tricks and stepped in front of Yin Zhicai first: "Let me do it, Miss Zhicai, let your wound rest a little longer."
Yoon Ji-chae: "..."
She sat back down.
Jiang Tinghan calmly walked onto the stage. Last time, under this spotlight, she performed a show that made everyone applaud. She wondered if she could replicate it today, or even surpass it.
A smile appeared on her cold face, her lips curving upwards. It seemed to hold a secret, a smile that was innocent yet cunning and mischievous. Her entire demeanor instantly changed, transforming her from a cool beauty into a spirited and mischievous girl who had just pulled off a prank.
Most people imagine pursuing their dreams like this: full of youthful vigor, fearless, even if the dream is on the moon, they dare to say, "I'll build a rocket tonight and get it!"
The uplifting prelude surged in like a tidal wave, the first note of the theme song exploded, Jiang Tinghan perfectly timed the beat, his husky voice lived up to its reputation, unique vocals, textured singing, everything was an ultimate enjoyment.
"Sparks can be seen in the darkness, and so can we, who are training hard."
"As the sun rises, birds awaken, and their cries are the horn to lull them to sleep."
Jiang Tinghan spun around, then suddenly shrank back, shaking violently twice, as if a bird had been nailed to the floor by a long nail piercing its spine.
Her smile faded, her brows furrowed, making her appear fragile and sorrowful, but in the blink of an eye, her gaze hardened.
She straightened her back, unwilling to accept defeat; she could only be eliminated, not defeated!
"The soul enters the bird's body and takes flight in a dream."
"We are the shine, that lights up the world!"
"Fill it with brilliant dreams!"
The long, slender, snow-white hands overlapped, each finger supporting the other, and were extended in front of the chest, then swung above the head. With a flip of the hand, the chest resonated powerfully, as if something was about to break free from the constraints of the ribs and emerge from its shell.
"This is our Shining World!"
"Be the only light!"
She tiptoed, her arms moving as if a bird were spreading its wings and exhaling.
With a steady, soaring high note, all shackles could not stop a determined fighter; this was the moment to break free from the cocoon and become a butterfly.
The first chorus ends, and the verse begins.
"Tick-tock, a whisper. The hour hand, a ring of light."
"The clock hand points to an unknown future, and all we can do is shout 'Practice it again' over and over again."
Jiang Tinghan's expression always changed with the lyrics. He would gently draw circles in front of his chest with his arms, then bring them back together. His steps became faster and faster with the rapid accompaniment, each step like a heavy hammer blow to the hearts of the contestants below the stage.
"This game I play right to the bitter end."
(I'll play this game to the very end)
"Let the pointer speed up, and burn away all cowardice."
"Every sweat and tear will be our crown."
(Every drop of sweat and tear will forge a crown)
Her eyelids drooped, revealing only half of her eyes, as if she were wary and hostile towards every opponent.
He lifted his hands above his head, as if crowning himself with a magnificent crown.
The next second, Jiang Tinghan flung his hand hard, shattering the invisible crown into pieces, his eyes filled with disdain and arrogance.
"The throne awaits a king who'll never need a crown at all."
(The throne only needs one monarch who does not need a crown)
The first half of the theme song talks about passion, bonds, and mutual support, while the second half is about open and covert struggles and mutual killing, just like today's battle for the center position, in which only one can ultimately win.
Jiang Tinghan had no hairstyle; her hair, which was gently scattered behind her head, flew around with the intense dance movements. Sweat left transparent traces in the air, and it seemed that a drop fell into her eye, making the light in her eyes even more intense and bright.
My vision in my left eye became blurred, and the accompaniment in my ears became indistinct, but my breathing became clearer.
Who choreographed the dance? Who wrote the song? The first half was already tiring enough, why is the drumbeat so dense in the second half? Are they trying to kill me with dancing?
It's best not to let her know who the producer is!
Jiang Tinghan secretly licked his lips, using a forced smile to hide his fatigue.
The smile wasn't deliberately controlled, so it once again possessed that captivating magic. At this moment, the gesture of resting the face on the hand made it the focus of everyone's attention.
This scene left viewers frequently lost in thought.
Forty seconds had passed, but Jiang Tinghan's performance was still not over.
She raised her hand to adjust the position of her headset, and her voice instantly became like an ice blade being drawn from its sheath, clear and powerful. Without any unnecessary movements, she stunned everyone with her sharp rhythm, comfortable cadence, and calm aura.
It's rap?!
Coldy has already arranged the rap section for the rest of the song?
Seriously? It was already difficult enough to master the beginning, and Coldy actually went on to learn an extra section!
Everyone was dumbfounded. Could Coldy possibly stretch one minute into two?
and--
Kong Yeon-seo looked a little confused and asked Kim Seo-hee, "When did Coldy learn to rap?"
Kim Seo-hee: "I learned it recently."
Kong Yeon-seo: "Huh?"
Kim Seo-hee couldn't reveal too much, and whispered, "It's related to the performance."
Kong Yeon-seo scratched her head even more. Wasn't their stage rap part Kim Seo-hee's?
Huh? Is it a solo performance?
Will Coldy showcase his rap skills on his first performance stage?
Her eyes lit up, and she became expectant.
Jiang Tinghan finished decisively, like a swift blade cutting down:
"My kingdom, my crown, there is only one winner."
Finally, a smooth bow and a "thank you" were given.
I'm exhausted! This isn't dance practice, it's military training!
Kong Yanshu clapped first, and the other contestants followed suit, the applause flowing like a never-ending river.
Upon seeing the mentors, their faces were filled with smiles, especially Megan, a popular rapper from Europe and America, who seemed to have found a treasure.
Yoon Ji-chae was starting to lose her composure.
She started wondering when Jiang Tinghan had practiced this rap. No, right?
Yin Zhicai only remembered that Jiang Tinghan watched the whole song several times. Could he have memorized it just by watching it?
She went on stage without ever practicing? How could she be so bold?
Jiang Tinghan's performance on stage before hers put immense psychological pressure on her.
After Jiang Tinghan returned, Putuo Qian showered him with enthusiastic praise: "Oh my god, Coldy, you actually thought of adding the rap part, so smart! You did a fantastic job, you completely captivated our hearts!"
Jiang Tinghan touched his nose: "Fortunately, the rules don't limit the performance time, so I want to give it a try."
Her solo performance includes rap, so even if she doesn't perform well, it can be considered a preview of the first performance.
"Naga, don't be modest, please accept your praise." Putuoxi exaggeratedly took off a hairpin, placed it in her palm as if offering a crown, and handed it over.
Jiang Tinghan smiled gently, took the hair clip, and clipped up a stray hair from her temple: "Okay."
Not far away, Yoon Ji-chae clenched her fist silently, but due to her injury, she could only clench one fist.
After the voting ended, Yoon Ji-chae went on stage. She had seen the whole song and had a particularly deep memory of Jiang Tinghan's performance. It was just a few lines of rap, but with her decent rap skills, she could have done it too.
However, she was too rote in her studies; she hadn't practiced anything beyond the scope of the exam questions.
Yin Zhicai delivered a perfect forty-second performance. The moment the accompaniment stopped, her heart skipped a beat. Should she add rap like Jiang Tinghan? No one would stop her.
She opened her mouth, hesitated for only two or three seconds, and finally said only, "Thank you."
Yoon Ji-chae's principle as a trainee for so many years has been "never make a mistake" and "never go on stage unprepared," even if there is only a slight possibility.
But by the time she stepped down, she had already understood.
She lost to Jiang Tinghan.
The lyrics include the line "burn away all weakness," which Jiang Tinghan achieved, but she did not.
Yin Zhicai bit her lip, her eyes hardening again, but her forty-second performance was brilliant enough, definitely on par with Jiang Tinghan!
Who will be in the center position? The answer is still undecided!
After ten minutes of chatter from the audience, Lee Seung-gi returned to the stage: "The voting results are in. We will now begin the announcement. Please look at the big screen!"
The contestants' names began to appear on the big screen in batches, starting with a dozen or so votes and then moving on to a few dozen votes.
The last page is the battle of the gods, and the number of votes next to each name starts to rise rapidly.
Pei Xiumin received 71 votes, Yue Di Xingli received 74 votes, Si Kai received 78 votes, Audrey received 73 votes, and Putuo Qian received 79 votes.
The competition is undeniably fierce.
Almost everyone's votes have stopped increasing, except for two people whose votes are still rising, and they broke through the eighty mark in the blink of an eye.
Coldy: Eighty-one, eighty-two, eighty-three...
Yoon Ji-chae: Eighty-five, eighty-six, eighty-seven...
All the contestants present were extremely nervous, wondering whose votes would stop first.
The mentors couldn't help but worry for the two contestants.
When the score reached "ninety", the audience couldn't help but cheer.
There were only a little over a hundred votes in total, but their performance has already surpassed ninety votes! What a rip-off!
The vote increase has become extremely slow, and the outcome will be decided by just a few more votes.
Everyone's hearts were pounding like drums, thumping incessantly, as if they might burst out of their chests.
Finally, one person's votes stopped counting first, and the numbers on the monitor emitted a glaring red light.
The winner was...!
A note from the author:
----------------------
It was her!
There will be emotional turmoil! I also want to get it to be a paid subscription soon, otherwise these few thousand words really aren't enough to contain everything I want to write. But it'll be soon, next week! [pity]
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