Wen Nanyin looked delighted and quickly bowed to the teachers, saying, "Hello, teachers!"
Seeing his humble demeanor, the teacher praised him repeatedly, saying, "Good job, young man."
After learning the names of the two teachers, Wen Nanyin was even more confident, because these two teachers held very high positions in the music and dance worlds.
In the following days, Wen Nanyin practiced from morning till night, even until late at night. He made ample preparations for the finals, and he could accept whatever the result might be.
Mu Wenxi encouraged him: "Just go all out and play your best without holding back. We're behind you. Even if the result isn't good, we've done our best. Just keep trying."
The night before the final, the two teachers were very satisfied with the results of their teaching over the past few days. They patted Wen Nanyin on the shoulder and said, "Young man, you have a bright future ahead of you."
On the day of the final, Wen Nanyin delivered his best performance, and the audience cheered for him. Even the two highly respected teachers backstage couldn't help but nod in praise.
But when it came time for the judges to choose, Wen Nanyin suddenly realized why Mu Wenxi had said those things yesterday.
One judge put it more tactfully: "I think your performance was alright, but it lacked some aesthetic appeal overall."
Another judge went a bit too far: "This competition is not just a talent competition. Your appearance is slightly inferior to the other two."
When did talent competitions become appearance competitions?
Wen Nanyin didn't know how to describe this feeling. It was like a piece of hot iron being suddenly immersed in ice water, all the heat disappearing in an instant. It was also like a clown who had been humiliated but still had to keep smiling at others so that they wouldn't notice his abnormality.
Wen Nanyin stood in front of the stage. The judges in front of him preferred the other two boys, and no one raised a card for Wen Nanyin. Although he had expected the result, he still felt a little sad. He tried to force a smile and looked at the audience. His vision slowly dimmed, the world slowly faded, and he seemed to be surrounded by the laughter of the crowd.
Just then, a female judge sitting in the corner slowly raised her sign to give him her approval: "I think it's very good. I really like your performance. Believe in yourself."
This short affirmation brought Wen Nan back to life. He saw the female judge's approving smile and the girl sitting in the audience.
The girl looked lively and adorable, holding a huge banner that swayed left and right. It read "Wen Nanyin, you're the best!" Looking around, he saw his parents and Mu's parents cheering him on. His eyes reddened, and he blinked quickly, hoping the tears wouldn't fall.
Host: "The judges' selection is complete. Now, audience members, please prepare to vote. The voting channel will close in one minute. Voting begins."
Wen Nanyin smiled with relief. He no longer held any hope. It was enough that some people were still supporting him.
On the large screen facing away from Wen Nanyin, the votes of several people were fiercely competing. After a minute, the voting ended, and a gasp came from the audience.
Wen Nanyin suppressed his curiosity and didn't turn around to look. The next second, the host announced the results of the audience vote. Wen Nanyin's votes soared and eventually far surpassed the two boys next to him who had received the judges' votes.
Even Wen Nanyin himself hadn't anticipated this outcome. His confidence was rekindled, which meant that there were still people who liked his performances.
Mu Wenxi, standing in the audience, frantically waved a banner, attracting the attention of many spectators, but Mu Wenxi didn't care about other people's opinions.
Ultimately, based on the judges' scores, Wen Nanyin finished the competition, which lasted for more than a month, in third place.
Back in the backcourt, Wen Nanyin was given a bear hug by Mu Wenxi, who rubbed against his neck. The 14-year-old boy seemed to be a bit taller than Mu Wenxi. Just as Wen Nanyin was about to hug Mu Wenxi back, she left.
Wen Nanyin felt a strange sensation when he saw the empty embrace, but it vanished in an instant.
Mu Wenxi made a gesture: "A lot of people voted for you, you did a great job."
Wen Nanyin scratched his head, then lowered his head in embarrassment. Mu Wenxi curiously examined the makeup on his face.
Mu Wenxi reached out and touched the eyeshadow on his face: "This is the first time I've seen you wear makeup. You even put on eyeshadow and styled your hair. You look very handsome."
Wen Nan revealed a small dimple: "The makeup artist is very skilled."
Soon the two teachers arrived and, seeing Mu Wenxi and Wen Nanyin together, joked, "You two have such a good relationship."
One of the teachers, fearing that Wen Nan might feel bad, specifically told him, "You did very well. Don't be discouraged. It's just a competition. Your ability is not a problem."
Another teacher advised: "In the entertainment industry, remember to stay calm and avoid being impatient for quick success or being impetuous. Celebrities are just ordinary people."
Deeply moved, Wen Nanyin kept his gratitude in his heart and said goodbye to his teacher: "Thank you, teacher! I will visit you when I have time."
Shortly after the teacher left, Nan Yin's parents and Mu's parents also arrived.
Wen's parents waved their hands and said, "Let's go celebrate!"
The group walked outside. Not far away, Sister Ping silently greeted Wen Nanyin, as she had more important matters to attend to.
While no one was paying attention, some discordant voices with the production team gradually appeared online. A small pebble was thrown into the water, causing a ripple, but it quickly subsided.
At the dinner table, Wen's parents raised their glasses to toast Mu Wenxi's family: "Thank you for this time, otherwise Xiaoyin wouldn't know how to get through this difficult time."
Mu's father: "It's all thanks to Xiao Yin's own abilities; we were just adding icing on the cake."
Mu Ma: "We've been friends for so many years, there's no need for thanks. Sit down, don't be shy. Congratulations to Xiao Yin on winning third place."
Wen Nanyin politely thanked him, his eyes still glistening with tears. He didn't say any fancy words, but he kept them in mind.
Mu Wenxi: "Cheers! Congratulations to our classmate Nan Yin for winning third place. May you do better and better in the future."
Wen's Mom: "Wishing our little Xi all the best!"
After this show, Wen Nanyin's life gradually changed. The company finally noticed his talent and started to give him more gigs.
Wen Nanyin's studies were also in a tense period in the second year of junior high school. He resumed his normal life at school, studying and playing with his classmates.
Sometimes, sitting by the window, Wen Nanyin would recall the time when Mu Wenxi and he were in class together, and how that girl always focused her gaze on him.
The girl had already walked forward for a long time, but he was still standing still. Thinking of Mu Wenxi's inspirational quotes, Wen Nanyin smiled and calmed down. Everyone has their own time to bloom.
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