I'm Pretending to Cultivate in Kindergarten

Chapter 127: Chapter 123: Competition Results and the Evening Meeting

Once the competition began, the host on stage would call out the contestants’ names, and they would go up to perform their original songs.

Of course, most singers only managed to get through a small portion of their song before the two judges hit the rejection button.

They would offer the newcomer some advice, then call for the next contestant.

Only when they encountered a good singer with equally great lyrics would they listen to the entire song and let them advance to the second elimination round.

In the first round, four hundred of the five hundred and thirty contestants would be eliminated, leaving one hundred. A second round would then cut that number down to fifty, who would then participate in the final New Star Chart ranking.

However, if a contestant’s skill level was high enough, there was a small chance they could skip the second elimination round and advance directly into the top fifty, securing a spot on the New Star Chart for the next day.

It was almost noon when Jiang Xueli’s turn came. Her number was two hundred and thirty-seven.

The contestant right before her had been rejected after singing less than ten lines, which terrified Jiang Xueli.

But before going on stage, she mustered her courage and pretended to accidentally brush the back of her hand against Lin Zhengran’s, giving herself a secret jolt of adrenaline. ”Zhengran, I’m going on.”

”Mm, you’ve got this.”

The host announced, ”Let’s welcome our next contestant, number two hundred and thirty-seven, Jiang Xueli!”

Jiang Xueli walked onto the stage with her guitar. The two judges sized her up. ”Another pretty young lady. What’s the name of the Void Spirit song you’ll be performing?”

Jiang Xueli held the microphone. ”Whale.”

”A concise title. Alright, you may begin.”

Without any further ado, Jiang Xueli took a deep breath, placed her fingers on the guitar strings, and slowly began to sing, her youthful voice filling the stage.

Jiang Xueli was an absolute natural. Although she couldn’t have reached the top tier on her own, Lin Zhengran had spent the past few years raising her potential to new heights.

The moment her beautiful and melodious voice rang out, the two judges, who had been looking down at the lyric sheet, jolted slightly and looked at each other.

”This one’s not bad.”

”Better than not bad. The mood of the lyrics is fantastic, and her voice is even better.”

The two judges looked up at Jiang Xueli, listening quietly as she sang.

The young woman’s Void Spirit and melodious voice naturally drew the listener into a perfectly serene, dreamlike environment.

It could instantly soothe a tense heart, allowing one to appreciate the artistry within the lyrics.

Usually, the contestants in the audience would be comparing the performer on stage to themselves, analyzing their lyrics and voice.

But as soon as this girl began, many of them just sat there, stunned, realizing that her skill level seemed to far surpass the majority of the people present.

’I wonder which studio she’s signed with?’

The female owner of the studio, who was with Lin Zhengran, also smiled, relieved that her studio’s biggest trump card for this competition was, as expected, Jiang Xueli.

Although she hadn’t taught Jiang Xueli herself, there was no denying that under Lin Zhengran’s sole guidance, Jiang Xueli’s voice had become even more captivating and steady than it was in middle school, her skills more polished.

’Her future path is probably immeasurable.’

Meanwhile, apart from the shock in the waiting area, in the front row of the audience, Jiang Jingshi sat twirling a fountain pen between her slender, jade-like fingers. She had been focused on Jiang Xueli from the moment she stepped on stage, wanting to see what she was capable of.

But as soon as she began to sing, that beautiful and Void Spirit voice made Jiang Jingshi’s eyes fly open in surprise.

After a moment of shock, she turned her head to stare at Lin Zhengran in the distance, her grip tightening on the pen.

”No way... I invested way more money in this music competition than in the taekwondo one...” She laughed self-deprecatingly, her red lips curving slightly. ”Little brother Zhengran... you’re really putting a lot of pressure on your big sister, you know.”

After the song ended, Jiang Xueli gave a small bow.

Lun Jie and Sty both applauded enthusiastically, and the contestants below clapped as well, feeling thoroughly outclassed.

”Excellent, excellent! You pass! What’s your name, young lady?”

Jiang Xueli was overjoyed to hear she had passed. ”Jiang Xueli.”

Lun Jie pointed at her. ”You don’t need to participate in the second elimination round. You’re advancing directly. I’m looking forward to seeing your ranking on the New Star Chart.”

Jiang Xueli said excitedly, ”Really?! Thank you, judges! Thank you!”

Jiang Xueli walked off the stage, feeling everyone’s envious gazes on her.

Even the people from her own studio were left speechless.

”Sherrie, you’re just too amazing. How is anyone supposed to compete with that?”

”Yeah, I feel like you have a real shot at being the champion.”

”Those lyrics were incredible. Did you write them yourself?”

Jiang Xueli blushed from all the praise and sat down next to Lin Zhengran. ”You guys can do it too. Good luck, everyone!”

And so... after a whole afternoon, the competition concluded.

Aside from Jiang Xueli, everyone from their studio was eliminated.

The studio’s female owner pressed a hand to her forehead and sighed silently. The girls who had performed were all hanging their heads in dejection.

They were all starting to wonder if they were even cut out for this industry.

Jiang Xueli didn’t know how to comfort them.

She turned to look at Lin Zhengran, only to find him staring blankly at the rankings displayed on the stage.

Of the fifty contestants who had advanced, twenty were from Jiang Jingshi’s team, and another fifteen were members of a music studio called New Star Studio.

The rest were a mishmash of contestants from various other places.

The host shouted from the stage:

”The results of today’s elimination round are finally in! The fifty contestants listed above have earned the right to perform a second song on stage tomorrow. After their performances, they will be placed on the New Star Chart for the public to rate online! Thank you to all the contestants for your participation today!”

Jiang Xueli asked, ”Zhengran, what are you thinking about?”

”Nothing much. I’m not surprised that Jiang Jingshi’s team made it through; they’re genuinely skilled. But this New Star Studio... have you ever heard of them?”

Jiang Xueli shook her head. ”I haven’t. I heard they’re a new group.”

Lin Zhengran said, ”Although the skill level of their team is decent, I just get the feeling... that all fifteen of their members aren’t good enough for the top fifty. Maybe five or six of them, at most.”

”Huh? What do you mean? Are you saying...” Jiang Xueli whispered in Lin Zhengran’s ear, ”that something shady is going on?”

Lin Zhengran looked at Jiang Xueli. ”It’s hard to say. We’ll find out tomorrow. Tonight, you should focus on practicing your original song, ’Stars.’ Be in top form for the stage tomorrow. I have a feeling this chart isn’t going to be an easy climb.”

Jiang Xueli nodded seriously. ”Okay, I will. By the way, are you busy tonight? Let me treat you to dinner!”

Lin Zhengran let out a sound of surprise. ”Dinner?”

Jiang Xueli shyly averted her eyes, not looking at him. ”Y-Yeah. I mean, I advanced today, and I really have to thank you for the amazing lyrics.”

’Late at night, a private dinner... Something romantic is bound to happen between a man and a woman, right...?’

But Lin Zhengran refused. ”Some other time. I have something to do tonight, so I can’t make it.”

”Something to do?!” Jiang Xueli was bewildered. ”What is it?”

”I’m meeting someone. It was arranged a while ago.”

”Who?”

Lin Zhengran answered, ”I don’t know who.” This was the truth; he really didn’t know who his betrothed was.

”Huh?”

”Don’t ’huh’ me,” he said. ”That’s not important. The competition tomorrow is what’s crucial. You get a good rest tonight. I’ll be there with you tomorrow to watch the rankings.”

That evening, Lin Zhengran and Jiang Xueli took a car home and parted ways. Jiang Xueli waved. ”Then come get me early tomorrow morning!”

”Got it.” As soon as he said that, a message popped up on his phone.

Mysterious Person: ”I’m sending you the address. Let’s meet here at seven p.m. It’s not far from your place.”

Lin Zhengran replied, ”Okay, got it.”