In the hospital room, Chu Qianze pulled out the test results and glanced at them, his gaze sweeping over Rong Jinghe.
“Did you hear what the doctor just said?”
Rong Jinghe nodded.
“It’s fortunate that the examination was done relatively early. If it had been delayed, it would have been somewhat dangerous. During this period, you can’t let your guard down. It’s best to rest in bed and avoid high-intensity exercise,” Chu Qianze repeated the doctor’s words.
“Okay, got it,” Rong Jinghe responded, adjusting himself to sit up against the pillow. Surprisingly, it felt better now compared to during the competition, at least the pain wasn’t as suffocating.
After tomorrow’s announcement of the rankings, preparations for the next round of performances will begin. With more than half of the competition schedule behind, the pace and intensity are only going to increase. Knowing that the available treatment methods are not something one can implement independently, there seemed to be no need to come to the hospital.
This person doesn’t seem to care at all. Chu Qianze understood from the other’s demeanor.
“Actually, when I felt something was off, I should have come for a massage or something. I’ll pay more attention in the future,” Rong Jinghe straightened his clothes. At the time, he was busy rehearsing with everyone and couldn’t find the time to go out alone. He thought he could wait and deal with it later, and as a result, time passed until now.
Upon hearing the other’s words, Chu Qianze pulled out a chair and sat down: “What’s the plan for the upcoming days?”
“According to the program schedule, we’ll continue with the competition,” Rong Jinghe replied.
Understanding that the other was not planning on resting for treatment, Chu Qianze leaned back in the chair: “For the next few days, cut back on running and take it easy on dancing. Focus more on recovery training. Later, we’ll make some detailed changes to the plan, trying to reduce the burden on your waist as much as possible. There shouldn’t be much of an issue during the performances.”
Rong Jinghe was momentarily taken aback.
This person truly cares about me.
“I’ll do my best to cooperate,” he said.
“Alright, I’ll go ask the doctor if there’s any pain relief medication and get something to promote blood circulation and alleviate pain. Stay here and wait for me,” Chu Qianze said, standing up and walking towards the door.
Watching Chu Qianze close the door, Rong Jinghe’s gaze lingered there for a while. He blinked, remaining seated without moving.
After returning with some items, Chu Qianze placed them directly on the nearby table. “If you want to continue with the competition, it’s fine, but you can’t train as intensively as before. If you sense anything unusual, come to the hospital immediately for a check-up. Don’t leave any potential aftermath.”
Rong Jinghe nodded, feeling quite pleased with the consideration.
Chu Qianze sat back in the chair, his arm resting on the chairback, his gaze wandering over Rong Jinghe.
Feeling a bit uneasy under the scrutiny, Rong Jinghe asked, “Is there something on your mind?”
“Can you believe we’re out here dressed like this? It feels like we’re in some kind of cosplay,” Chu Qianze said, one hand supporting his cheek, chuckling lightly.
Looking at the person in front of him and recalling his own stage costume, Rong Jinghe couldn’t resist touching his face. As a result, his hands were covered in glitter, and he couldn’t help but feel a bit helpless. “It’s about time now. Let’s go back.”
Saying this, he got off the bed and bent down to put on his shoes.
Leaning forward a little, he paused for a moment, feeling more comfortable. Then he reached out to continue.
Before he could touch them, his shoes were taken away.
Chu Qianze examined the shoes left and right before squatting down to help put them on.
Rong Jinghe leaned against Chu Qianze’s shoulder, pulling his foot back a bit. “I can handle it myself.”
“Oh, come on. At your speed, who knows how long we’d have to wait. If you don’t want to owe me, how about treating me to a meal when your back is better?” As he spoke, Chu Qianze quickly helped Rong Jinghe put on the shoes.
With his feet on the ground, Rong Jinghe let go. “Sure, I’ll treat you after the competition.”
“Looks like I’ll have to work harder, then,” Chu Qianze teased.
Seeing the other person stand up, he asked, “How about it? Can you walk?”
“Now it’s much better,” Rong Jinghe clenched his fist against his waist, taking two slow steps forward. Although it was still uncomfortable, it was within a tolerable range, without the sharp pain he felt before.
“Let’s head back,” Chu Qianze said, handing the plastic bag to Rong Jinghe. “Hold on to this.”
Rong Jinghe took the bag, and the next moment, he found himself being lifted up. The sudden feeling of weightlessness caught him off guard, and he quickly grabbed onto Chu Qianze’s shoulders. “You… no need to carry me. I’m quite heavy.”
“The weights in the gym are heavier than you,” Chu Qianze said, lifting him a bit higher. They reached the door. “Open the door.”
Rong Jinghe raised his free hand and turned the doorknob, unintentionally using a bit too much force.
Sidestepping the door, Chu Qianze said, “Be careful. You almost hit me in the face with the door.”
“Sorry, it’s my first time opening a door like this. Not very experienced,” Rong Jinghe apologized, pushing the door to the side.
“Alright, let’s go.”
Both still dressed in their performance outfits with makeup intact, they walked through the hospital corridor. With their stage costumes, they naturally stood out, drawing curious glances from those around them, as if they carried their own spotlight.
Normally, Rong Jinghe was accustomed to such attention, and he didn’t really mind. However, for some reason, today felt a bit uncomfortable. He lowered his head, tightening his grip on Chu Qianze’s neck. “…Thank you.”
“Hmm?” Chu Qianze heard the words, didn’t look away, and responded with a slightly uplifted tone.
Thinking that Chu Qianze might not have heard clearly, Rong Jinghe leaned closer to his ear and spoke a bit louder, “Thank you.”
“It’s nothing,” Chu Qianze replied casually.
Rong Jinghe didn’t say anything more and just rested his head on Chu Qianze’s shoulder once again.
The person’s broad back exuded a warm feeling.
Feeling an unusual flutter in his heart, Rong Jinghe’s eyelids drooped slightly, and he bent his waist and abdomen a bit.
He seemed… a bit off.
Back at the dormitory downstairs, seeing Rong Jinghe insisting, Chu Qianze had no choice but to put him down. He picked up some medicated patches, half-supporting, half-leading Rong Jinghe to the dormitory entrance.
Upon hearing the door opening, Hong and Ye Lunguo knew who had arrived and quickly approached.
“Brother Chu, where did you go? You disappeared after going to the bathroom. Did you fall into a pit or something?” Hong walked up, ready to tease, but he noticed that something was off between the two. Why was Rong Jinghe being supported, and why did he have a bag with a hospital logo in his hand?
Ye Lunguo also observed the situation, sounding concerned, “Brother Jinghe, what happened to you?”
Meeting their gazes, Chu Qianze rolled his eyes, “Don’t look at me. Ask the person involved.”
While speaking, he took out the contents of the plastic bag and arranged them separately.
“I accidentally injured my back. I went to the hospital for a checkup,” Rong Jinghe explained as he sat down on a chair.
“Back injury? What did the doctor say?” Hong, upon hearing this, became concerned as well. Back injuries were no small matter; many people started neglecting them, and due to high-intensity training, they ended up with long-lasting problems.
“Just rest and avoid strenuous activities. If he insists on high-intensity training or secretly goes out to work out on his own at night, make sure to catch him. Got it?” Chu Qianze continued, leaning on the nearby table. “We all know Jinghe’s personality. Let’s keep an eye on him. If he tries high-intensity training or sneaks out for extra practice, we need to stop him. Understood?”
“Yes! Yes, sir!” Hong responded enthusiastically.
Upon hearing this, Rong Jinghe felt a mix of frustration and amusement. He glanced at Chu Qianze, catching the amused expression on his face.
Chu Qianze picked up a drink, sitting there like a lord.
“Oh, by the way, how did your performances go afterward?” Chu Qianze inquired.
Hong and Ye Lunguo exchanged a glance, grinning, “Take a guess.”
“Looks like you won. Well done!” Chu Qianze remarked.
“Hehe, just look at who it is. Of course, the victory was a no-brainer,” Hong boasted, nearly striking a triumphant pose, complete with crossed arms and a dance move.
“We thought you left without watching the performance, and we were ready to settle the score. But since you went to accompany Brother Jinghe to the doctor, we’ll let it slide. Brother Jinghe, you have to work hard to recover. The finals are still ahead, and you must come out in top form,” Hong encouraged.
“Yeah, I know,” Rong Jinghe replied, feeling grateful for their concern.
“I just got lucky, a few more votes than the other group,” Ye Lunguo scratched his head, somewhat shy.
“That’s still impressive; winning is winning. This is our first time being in the C position, and we’ve achieved so much! Opening red! We have talent!” Hong was now extremely excited, and his already loud voice became even louder.
Chu Qianze took the straw from a yogurt container and playfully poked it toward Hong.
“What are you doing, Brother Chu?” Hong noticed the action and found it odd.
“I noticed someone is getting too inflated, so I thought I’d poke a hole to let some air out,” Chu Qianze placed the straw in the cup and took a sip.
“Ah! How could you!” Hong exploded, wearing a displeased expression, clearly unhappy with the situation, and he played the role of the aggrieved party.
“Pfft, hahaha.” Rong Jinghe couldn’t hold back and burst into laughter.
After a few laughs, his expression froze, his voice stopped abruptly, and he stood still in place.
[Today, I accompanied my family for a follow-up at the hospital, suddenly saw two exceptionally handsome guys, a visual treat for the face control enthusiasts!! (Picture) (Picture)]
After the blogger posted this photo, some fans from the talent show noticed and left comments in the comment section.
[They’re really handsome, a true visual delight! I’m floating~]
[They look a bit like the two I recently saw on a program.]
[Is there a secret code, trainees?]
[Now that you mention it, they do seem familiar. If I didn’t know they were performing, I’d probably think it’s them.]
Later, as the reposts increased, more and more people came across this set of photos.
[I just watched the live performance of “Debut, Trainees!” today, and these two are Chu Qianze and Rong Jinghe. They are wearing the outfits from the performance. So why were they at the hospital?]
[Is Jinghe having difficulty walking? Did he twist his foot or something… Oh, right, he had a back injury before. Is it a recurrence?]
[Did Chu Qianze take him to the hospital? Didn’t they say these two don’t get along?]
[That’s old news. Last week during a live broadcast, Jinghe mentioned that they have a good relationship. I was skeptical at first, but now it seems to be true.]
[Can the program team explain what happened at the hospital?! Take me up there!!]
The crowd gathered in the public practice room, awaiting the announcement of the rankings.
After the rankings were revealed, half of the people standing there would see a change.
“Hello, everyone. I am your mentor, Yu Xiaoyang. Another round of performances has come to an end. How does everyone feel?” Yu Xiaoyang stood on the stage, observing the expressions of the trainees.
“I’m very pleased to have lived with all of you for such a long time. Now that we’re more than halfway through the competition, time is running out, and the pressure is increasing. But everyone has adjusted well and faced it with a positive and optimistic attitude. I think it’s great, and there’s a lot for me to learn from all of you,” Yu Xiaoyang said, glancing at the cue cards before looking back at the trainees.
“Without further ado, let’s get straight to the point. Let’s announce the rankings.”
Following the usual rules, when Yu Xiaoyang mentioned a person’s name, that individual would step onto the stage to check their results. This time, the rankings were announced directly from the bottom to the top. As time passed, more and more people learned about their positions, and the moment of whether to stay or leave arrived for each one.
“7th place, Ye Lunguo.”
Ye Lunguo stood up, his face filled with excitement. He briskly walked onto the stage and took his place.
“5th place, Hong.”
Hong walked onto the stage, bowed to the mentor, and leaned forward, raising an eyebrow at Ye Lunguo.
“Chu Qianze.”
Upon hearing his name, Chu Qianze stood up and walked to the mentor, expecting to receive his own card. However, he found that Yu Xiaoyang was holding onto it and not letting go.
After a moment of hesitation, he lowered his hand.
“Chu Qianze, what I’m holding right now is your ranking card. What do you think your position is?”
Hearing the question, Chu Qianze glanced at Rong Jinghe in the audience and pondered for a moment before saying, “I hope it’s second place.”
“Why?” Yu Xiaoyang’s interest was piqued. Wasn’t Chu Qianze proclaiming himself as the first before? Why the change now? He was intrigued by the reasons behind this shift.
“Because I feel that Rong Jinghe is more suitable to be an idol than me. He should take the first place,” Chu Qianze gripped the microphone, his words straightforward.
“What do you think, Rong Jinghe?” Yu Xiaoyang asked, and the camera switched to Rong Jinghe.
“Rong Jinghe, come up here. I won’t keep you in suspense. Actually, this time, both of you are first and second,” Yu Xiaoyang revealed.
Rong Jinghe lowered the hand that covered his expression and walked up to the stage, standing beside Chu Qianze.
The camera captured the scene of the two standing shoulder to shoulder.
Yu Xiaoyang: “The first place goes to Rong—”
Rong Jinghe blinked. The mentor mentioned my last name.
Those nearby involuntarily held their breaths, afraid that if they took a breath, they would miss the moment of revelation.
“Is it Rong Jinghe or Chu Qianze?” Yu Xiaoyang added the clarification, and the atmosphere suddenly deflated.
Hearing this, Rong Jinghe felt a bit helpless.
Chu Qianze also pulled up the corners of his mouth. The mentor’s mischievous nature always surfaced at times like this.
“PD Yu, how can you be so cruel? Too harsh!”
“Give us a break, PD Yu.”
“I’m so nervous; my palms are sweaty right now.”
“Just a joke, just a joke. It’s not because everyone is too tense. Let’s liven up the atmosphere a bit,” Yu Xiaoyang coughed lightly, steering the conversation back to the serious matter.
“The first place this time—”
“Who will it be for the first place?” Yu Xiaoyang took a dramatic pause.
“How about it, any words you’d like to share? Say something to each other, and let it be related to your rankings,” Yu Xiaoyang said with a mischievous smile.
Rong Jinghe picked up the microphone and carefully chose his words, “We’ve all witnessed Chu Qianze’s strength. He truly has the capability to take the first place. But I also have my own ambitions, so I want to say…”
He looked up at Chu Qianze, his expression serious:
“If you are the first this time, then next time, I’ll take it back. If not, I hope you can stick to what you said when you first arrived and pull me down later.”
After finishing his words, he handed the microphone over.
“Is there anything you want to say?” Yu Xiaoyang asked.
Chu Qianze took the microphone and looked back at Rong Jinghe, “I won’t let you down.”
Rong Jinghe blinked a few times and responded half a second later, “I’m looking forward to it.”
Oh, oh, oh, the flavor is full, but what’s with the teasing? These two are really adorable!
Wu Tiao covered her mouth, hiding her laughter.
“Well, I won’t keep you in suspense any longer. Let’s reveal the rankings now,” Yu Xiaoyang placed the cards belonging to the two of them in their hands.
“Now, please unveil your respective rankings.”
Chu Qianze opened the card in his hand, glanced at the number on it, and turned to the person beside him. “Did you see it?”
Covering the card again with his hand, Rong Jinghe’s lips curled up slightly, but he quickly suppressed the expression. “I saw it.”
“Who goes first?”
“Let’s do it together,” Rong Jinghe suggested.
“Sure, let’s do it together.” Chu Qianze shrugged, flipped his card, and faced it towards the camera.
There, glaringly, was the number “1.”
He got the first place this time, while Rong Jinghe secured the second.
“The first place this time is Chu Qianze, congratulations!” Yu Xiaoyang announced the news at the right moment.
Putting down the card in his hand, before Chu Qianze could speak, he was hugged by the person next to him.
“Congratulations, well-deserved.” A slightly cold but sincere voice came into his ears, earnest and genuine.
“Thank you.” Chu Qianze reciprocated the hug, patting the person’s back.
Releasing each other, Rong Jinghe said, “Next time, I’ll come back stronger.”
“Sure, I’ll be waiting for you.”
“The above is the complete ranking for this performance. Dear national producers, if you like any of the trainees, please log in…” Yu Xiaoyang picked up the cue card, smiling as he delivered a lengthy message. This marks the end of the closing and related advertisements.
Wu Xiao sat in the audience, silently pinching her thigh, forcing herself to suppress the laughter.
God knows how many times Yu Xiaoyang practiced this line privately, stumbling over the words.
Although there were no mistakes now, just seeing the other’s face made her recall the scene of his accident.
Haha, this is so funny!
After the ranking announcement, Chu Qianze and Rong Jinghe were called to the Q&A room for further questioning.
Chu Qianze went first.
He sat in the chair and noticed that the person asking the questions was familiar; it was the same person who questioned him during the themed dance shoot.
“Hello, I’m Chu Qianze,” he greeted first.
“Welcome to the Q&A room. I’m the host asking questions.”
The person asking the questions had a complex expression for a moment, seemingly recalling the enjoyable conversation they had before.
“Regarding your first time achieving first place, what are your thoughts?”
A rather ordinary question.
Chu Qianze bent his legs, crossing them on the support. “It’s like, there’s a feeling of realizing what it feels like to feel the feeling of being first.”
The host nodded. Are you speaking in tongue twisters?
“Originally, according to my plan, aiming for the top five would have been enough. Maintaining a stable fourth or fifth place, then going to the live broadcast to chat with fans. I really didn’t expect to get first place this time. I’m very happy, very surprised. Thank you all for your affirmation and support.” Saying this, he joined his hands together and nodded gently at the camera.
Host: “Regarding the upcoming competitions, do you have any plans?”
I just mentioned that a moment ago.
Host: I only read the questions as they are written.
“Strive to stay in the top five and meet with fans in the live broadcast room,” Chu Qianze repeated.
Host: “Regarding what Rong Jinghe just said about taking back the first place in the next performance, how do you feel about that?”
“Honestly, it’s quite exciting. Jinghe is the type with a very serious personality. Once he sets his mind on something, he goes all out. He can be stubborn, but it’s precisely because of that trait that people find him especially likable,” replied Chu Qianze, noticing Rong Jinghe’s gaze and giving him a smile.
The host then proceeded to ask several more related questions before pulling out a small board from somewhere.
“We’ve collected some questions from your curious fans. To enhance authenticity, you need to answer immediately when the questions come out, without any hesitation.”
“Immediate answers… are there specific time limit?” Chu Qianze inquired, wanting to understand the details.
“The faster, the better,” said the host.
“Got it.” Chu Qianze took the board, placed it on his lap, and tore open the top piece of paper.
“Why am I called Chu Qianze? This name sounds strange and tongue-twisting.”
Seeing this question, Chu Qianze hesitated for a moment, then was prompted to answer quickly.
“A play on words, it sounds like ‘bug’1like a bug in a game which means cheater or someone who exploits rules, transcending beyond the rules. I thought this explanation was cool at the time, even though some people found it strange. But I really liked it.”
“Let’s move on to the second question.”
Tearing open the last line of paper, Chu Qianze held it in his hand.
“Favorite color: black, no particular reason. Next question.”
“Favorite thing: desserts, because they’re delicious.”
“Least favorite thing: Petri dishes.”
“Why do I dislike Petri dishes? Well, it’s not exactly that I dislike them, but because it’s a confined space, I prefer the feeling of freedom and spaciousness.”
After answering ten questions, Chu Qianze lowered his head to inspect the paperboard, confirmed that he had completed all of them, and then said the concluding words to the camera, “That’s it for my Q&A. I wonder if there’s anything else you’d like to know? Feel free to leave a comment in the chat.”
“We don’t have a live broadcast here,” the host reminded.
“Oh, the live broadcast about me will be on the second day after the program airs. Feel free to leave comments in the chat during the live broadcast,” Chu Qianze amended the conditions timely.
Seeing his segment come to an end, he put the clipboard down and handed it to the staff.
“Do you want me to wait for you?” he asked as he saw Rong Jinghe walking over.
“Forget it, I’ll wait for you to leave together. I don’t want you to overreact and strain your back later.”
“You make it sound like I’m some lonely old man,” Rong Jinghe said, feeling an itch in his hands, tempted to give this person a punch.
Because there was still recording to be done, he didn’t delay much, sitting down on a stool and waiting for the upcoming question segment.
Host: “Yesterday, when you two went to the hospital, the related topic trended on social media. Can you tell us the real situation?”
Rong Jinghe sat upright in his chair. “I accidentally twisted my back, and Chu Qianze was concerned, so he took me to the hospital for a checkup.”
Host: “Fans mentioned that you had a previous experience with a back injury. Is it a recurrence?”
“It was just a minor twist, nothing serious. Everyone doesn’t need to worry too much. Maybe, as Chu Qianze said, I’m getting older, and my body isn’t as robust.” As he spoke, he couldn’t help but laugh.
Host: “In a previous interview, you mentioned that you appreciate Chu Qianze and sincerely hope he stays. Now, seeing him turn the tide against all odds, what are your thoughts?”
Chu Qianze sat in a small corner, casually listening to the conversation, and suddenly perked up upon catching relevant information.
Appreciate Chu Qianze and sincerely hope he stays?
Isn’t this the time he didn’t say a word when I asked how many times before?
Rong Jinghe also realized, subconsciously glancing at Chu Qianze, but quickly regained composure.
“At that time, when I saw Chu Qianze, I felt that he had a lot of potential, so I stated it directly. As for him winning first place, I can only say, well-deserved.”
During the subsequent activities, he demonstrated full concentration and dedication. He stared directly at the camera the entire time, without casting a glance elsewhere.
After the Q&A session, Rong Jinghe stood up, bid farewell to the staff, and then came over to Chu Qianze.
“Let’s go.”
Chu Qianze followed a few steps, leisurely saying, “So, what you said during the interview was about these things. It’s nothing much, why feel awkward about it?”
“It’s too cheesy, and there’s nothing special to say.” Rong Jinghe sighed inwardly. He thought the matter had already been settled, who could have expected a twist like this.
When answering the questions earlier, it was the first time he praised someone. He had to repeat all the things that came to mind. Handsome appearance, good personality, strong abilities—a person worth trusting and befriending, and so on. These embarrassing words were embarrassing enough to say once, who would want to repeat them in front of the person involved!
“At that time, you had just joined the program, right? I thought you disliked me, but I didn’t expect you to help me speak up,” Chu Qianze said with a slightly teasing tone.
It seems like I am still quite likable.
“I just felt that with your talent, getting eliminated so soon was a bit of a pity. No other meaning,” Rong Jinghe increased his walking speed.
“Oh, really—”
Chu Qianze drew out his tone, noticing Rong Jinghe’s increasing pace, he warned, “Take it easy, be careful with your waist.”
Right after saying that, he saw Rong Jinghe’s steps freeze, and his hand pressed against the wall.
“…Crow’s mouth.” Rong Jinghe gritted his teeth, his tone faintly revealing frustration.
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