15.
The next day, the production team arranged a spin-off program called the practice room reaction video, which required the contestants to watch their own first public performance and react.
The five members of the "Venom" group gathered in the practice room, sitting in a row facing the camera. Mi Xi had changed into a casual sweatshirt with a slightly higher neckline, cleverly concealing the traces of his neck, revealing only the faint outline of his graceful jawline and collarbone. He wore a faint smile and looked relaxed, a stark contrast to the tired and indifferent man who had endured the storm in the car last night and returned.
The screen began playing live footage of the "Venom" stage performance, with the focus firmly locked on Mi Xi in the center position.
"Wow! Teacher Mi Xi's eyes!" Li Mo exclaimed, pointing at the screen.
Bobby also nodded repeatedly: "I didn't notice it when I was on stage, but after watching the straight shot, I realized that every detail of Teacher Mi Xi was so perfect!"
Mi Xi's every wave, every lick, every look in the camera accurately conveys the song's allure and toxicity. Especially when she's interacting with Wu You, the close spin, the drawn eyes, the tension, are all there.
When it was Wuyou's turn to speak, he was obviously still thinking about what happened last night, and his tone was a little stiff: "It's okay, just so-so." But the slightly red tips of his ears revealed his duplicity.
At this moment, Mi Xi suddenly turned sideways, his arm naturally resting on the sofa back behind Wu You, forming a semi-enclosed intimate posture. He approached Wu You, pointed at the moment when the two of them looked at each other on the screen, and in his voice that fans called "can make your ears pregnant", with a bit of coquettish complaint, he said softly:
"Yo yo, look here, why were you glaring at me? You looked so fierce, I almost forgot how to move."
His breath brushed Wuyou's earlobe, his voice was soft and seductive, and his peach blossom eyes were smiling as he looked at Wuyou without blinking.
Wuyo: “!!!”
All the staff: “!!!”
Wuyou's face flushed instantly, even his neck was stained pink. He turned his head sharply, meeting Mi Xi's smiling eyes so close to him. His heart began to beat uncontrollably, and he stammered, "I, I wasn't glaring at you! I was just expressing the confrontational sentiment of the song! Don't talk nonsense!"
He tried to fight back fiercely, but under the gaze of Mi Xi's eyes that seemed to be able to absorb people's souls, his momentum instantly weakened by half, and it sounded more like he was just acting coquettishly.
Mi Xi looked at his flustered expression, curling her lips in triumph. Then she slowly sat up straight, as if he hadn't been the one to initiate the flirting. He turned to the camera, smiling innocently and wholeheartedly, "Just kidding. Our Yoyo has a fantastic stage presence."
After fishing, he ran away calmly.
The whole process was smooth and natural, which not only created a variety show effect, but also instantly diluted Wuyou's awkward little emotions, and also consolidated the "CP feeling of deep affection between teammates".
During a break in the recording session, Mi Xi's phone vibrated. It was a message from Ji Ye.
Ji Ye: Seven o'clock in the evening, Lanting Pavilion.
It was still an imperative tone.
Mi Xi looked at the message, tapping lightly on the screen with his fingertips, but didn't reply immediately. He picked up the water cup beside him and drank slowly, a calculating glint flashing across his eyes.
It wasn't until the recording was over and he returned to the dormitory that he picked up his phone and replied. It wasn't a simple "OK" or "No", but a sentence:
[Mi Xi: Master Ji, I'm afraid it won't work tonight. ^_^ The production team has arranged a small vocal lesson with Mr. Luo Wei personally guiding us. It's very important.]
Attached is a screenshot of a vocal lesson notice that the program team had just posted in the group, which actually existed.
He used emoticons, and his tone was polite with just the right amount of regret, and his reasons were sufficient, leaving no room for fault.
He didn't directly refuse to anger Ji Ye, but he also cleverly turned down this "summons." He was like pulling a rubber band, knowing when the other party was about to lose patience, to loosen it a little, but when the other party thought he was within reach, he gently retreated.
He wanted to make Ji Ye understand that he was not a plaything that could be called upon at any time. He had his own career and pace, and his value required the other party to pay more "patience" and "respect" in exchange.
Sure enough, after the message was sent, Ji Ye was silent for a long time before replying with one word:
Ji Ye: Yes.
Although her emotions were unreadable, Mi Xi knew that the rubber band had been stretched tighter. The prince's desire to conquer must have been aroused even more.
Putting down his phone, Mi Xi walked to the mirror and looked at the gorgeous and delicate face in it. He raised the corners of his lips slightly, and his eyes were no longer the usual coldness, nor the charm on the stage, but a sober and controlling cunning.
Fishing beauty is officially online.
He wants to get everything he wants in his own way in this world of fame and fortune full of temptations and traps.
Whether it's the throne at the top of the stage, or... the restless heart of the prince who seems to be in control of everything.
————
Ji Ye's brief silence and the final, indistinguishable "hmm" were all within Mi Xi's expectations. He was like a seasoned angler, accurately sensing every probing and agitation of his prey underwater.
He didn't put the phone down. About ten minutes later, just when Ji Ye might have been angry at his rejection or felt ignored, Mi Xi's fingertips began tapping on the screen again.
He pulled out a photo from his album. It was a behind-the-scenes snap taken by a staff member during the recording of the reaction video. In it, he was listening to Wuyou speak with his head slightly tilted. Sunlight filtered through the window, casting a shadow on his rosy-pink hair and delicate features. His long eyelashes drooped, and a subtle yet realistic curve formed the corners of his lips. He looked gentle and focused.
He selected this photo and sent it to Ji Ye again.
The attached text is:
Mi Xi: This was taken during the show recording. Since Master Ji didn't have time to come to the show, I had no choice but to send you a photo. ^_^
First, he flatly declined the evening's invitation, making it clear he wasn't available on demand. A moment later, he proactively sent a fresh, natural, and non-aggressive photo of his daily life, his tone relaxed and sharing, as if they were close friends.
The push and pull, the rhythm is controlled to perfection.
It soothes the potential resentment of rejection, hinting, "I may be busy, but I remember you in my heart," and re-emphasizes his independent stance of "I have my own work and my own life." More subtly, this photo captures a rare, gentler side of him, a stark contrast to his captivating "venomous" persona on stage and his aloof demeanor in the car last night. It's as if, unintentionally, it reveals to Ji Ye a hidden, more "real" moment.
This multi-layered and elusive quality is most likely to arouse people's desire to explore.
After sending the message, Mi Xi muted his phone, tossed it aside, and ignored it. He took out the music sheet for his vocal lessons and began preparing for the evening class, as if the subtle psychological game he had just played was just an insignificant episode in his busy schedule.
He knew Ji Ye must be staring at the photo, his heart aching with paws. He wondered what he meant. Was he playing hard to get? Or was he just sharing it casually? This uncertainty was its own most effective bait.
Sure enough, inside the AXIS president's office.
Ji Ye looked at the photo on his phone. Mi Xi in the photo had lost all her aggression, and in the sunlight, she was as quiet and beautiful as a painting. It overlapped with the image in his memory of her with teeth marks and a stubborn yet alluring look, forming a sharp, itchy contrast.
He loosened his tie irritably and slammed his phone on the table. This little guy is getting more and more clever.
Reject him and give him a candy.
Show vulnerability, then immediately erect barriers.
He knew clearly that Mi Xi was deliberately keeping him in suspense, that every step was full of calculation, but somehow… he was uneasy because of this calculation. This feeling of not being able to fully control made him angry, but also made him more excited than ever before.
Meanwhile, Mi Xi was incredibly focused and excellent in vocal class, earning praise from instructor Luo Wei. After class, he even cheerfully accepted Wu You's invitation to a late-night snack (though he only ordered a salad in the end), seemingly unfazed.
Back in the dorm, he leisurely picked up his phone. Ji Ye didn't reply, but the account on his WeChat Moments that never liked anyone's posts had, three hours earlier, liked the official promotional post from the program team that included a live-action clip of Mi Xi on stage.
This praise was silent, but it was enough to stir up waves in the hearts of those who knew about it.
This is an implicit response, a tacit approval, or even a... disguised declaration.
Mi Xi looked at the small compliment, and the corners of her lips curved up into an arc of understanding and victory.
Look, even though the fish knows there is a hook, it still can't help but come up, right?
He put down his phone and prepared to wash up. In the mirror, his overly beautiful face had a lazy and satisfied look.
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