Recently, the program “Debut, Trainee!” has gained considerable popularity. According to the program’s arrangement, several trainees were selected to participate in the company’s variety show.
After completing the rehearsal and confirming that everything was in order, everyone could finally take a break.
Chu Qianze retracted his movements, stretched his limbs, and noticed that Rong Jinghe was standing still. “How are you holding up?”
“No problem.” Rong Jinghe adjusted his earpiece and took the opportunity to tidy up his slightly disheveled hair.
Seeing Chu Qianze staring at him, Rong Jinghe gave a faint smile. “Don’t worry, I know what I’m doing.”
Observing the other’s response, Chu Qianze didn’t have much else to say. “Good luck.”
“Of course, you too,” replied Rong Jinghe.
“What’s going on with Brother Jinghe?” Leng Jing approached to inquire.
“It’s an old problem, nothing serious,” said Rong Jinghe.
“I didn’t expect to join the variety show with you guys. During the fitness event before, we didn’t form teams, so it’s quite a coincidence that we can participate together this time,” Leng Jing grinned, his tone unintentionally revealing a sense of satisfaction.
Rong Jinghe responded with a nod but didn’t engage further.
In the previous ranking, Leng Jing’s performance skyrocketed directly into the top twenty, securing his position. It was quite surprising that he managed to leapfrog other trainees and participate in this variety show with a ranking of 20. There must be something noteworthy about him, or else he wouldn’t have been selected.
“Brother Chu, congratulations on taking the first place this time,” Leng Jing shifted the conversation to Chu Qianze.
“It’s just luck,” Chu Qianze said.
“I wish I could be lucky like that sometime. I’ve never experienced that feeling. The first-place position looks very tempting,” Leng Jing sighed.
“Actually, sometimes this world can be quite unfair, but where there’s a will, there’s a way. You can always find a solution,” Leng Jing remembered the envious and surprised expressions of others when they found out he was participating in the variety show.
It was truly exhilarating.
“Although first place looks impressive, sometimes, rankings don’t really matter. What do you guys think? Choices are more important than effort. No matter how hard you train, in the end, you’re still watching me participate in the variety show,” Leng Jing remarked.
The more Leng Jing spoke, the more excited he became. Not only did he escape elimination, but he also successfully turned the tables and secured a spot in the variety show.
Is this person’s mind not working properly? He’s talking incoherently.
Chu Qianze smirked and didn’t bother to respond.
As the variety show officially began filming, everyone completed the opening dance and made their entrance amid applause.
“I noticed Chu Qianze kept glancing in that direction from time to time. What were you looking at?” the host asked.
Suddenly cued, Chu Qianze snapped out of his trance and seamlessly smiled, “I noticed that the floor here is exceptionally clean, especially the spot where I was dancing just now.”
During the opening, there was a segment where they had to dance on the floor, and someone used the clothes they were wearing to wipe the floor.
Upon hearing this, the audience burst into laughter.
No one understands floor cleaning better than him.
Among the audience, a small group was fixated on Chu Qianze and Rong Jinghe, their faces flushed with excitement.
“They’re standing together, literally standing together. Oh my, rounding up, that’s practically being together,” someone exclaimed amid the excitement.
“Rong Jinghe just smiled at Brother Chu! It’s too cute, 555.”
“They made eye contact again, and then Rong Jinghe whispered something into his ear, qwq.”
“Now it’s our ‘Draw and Guess’ segment. According to the rules, Chu Qianze will draw, and Rong Jinghe has to guess what he’s expressing. Each correct answer earns them a point,” the host briefly explained the rules.
“Did everyone understand?”
“Am I going to draw on this blackboard?” Chu Qianze picked up a pen, glanced at the big screen behind Rong Jinghe, and fell into thought.
A smooth ride?
Chu Qianze started by extending three fingers.
“Three words?” Rong Jinghe asked, and upon seeing Chu Qianze nod, he continued, “No hand gestures, only drawing, okay?” The host provided a reminder.
“Sorry.”
Chu Qianze scratched his head, displaying a hint of shyness, and instantly elicited a burst of screams from the audience.
Seeing Chu Qianze draw a circle with four horizontal bars, Rong Jinghe exclaimed, “A thousand horses galloping!”
Feeling a bit awkward, Chu Qianze shook his head and continued his creation.
He made a stroke, then a few more.
What is this…
Rong Jinghe stared at it for a while but couldn’t match it with a three-word phrase.
Audience: “I think it looks quite similar; it has that kind of artistic atmosphere.”
“Yeah, it really does look like it. The creature you mentioned earlier is correct; it’s in the phrase!”
Upon hearing the discussion, Rong Jinghe looked down and asked, “What creature, a horse?”
The host, in response to the audience’s chatter, shushed them. “Don’t give hints; don’t let your fondness for them affect the game.”
“To achieve success, to guard a pass like a single horse, an old horse in the stable, and a smooth ride?”
At the mention of the last one, Chu Qianze nodded and gave a thumbs up. “Correct.”
“A smooth ride?” Rong Jinghe glanced at the drawing on the blackboard. “How am I supposed to guess that…”
The horse he drew looked more like a dog.
“This is a horse, and this is grass, a lot of grass. ‘A smooth ride’ is no problem,” Chu Qianze expressed his grievances. “I drew it so well. The audience just said it has that kind of feeling.”
“Bring out our understanding! We’re an iron duo.”
“I’ll do my best,” Rong Jinghe said helplessly.
“Next phrase,” the host announced.
Leading the charge.
Chu Qianze nodded in understanding when he saw the phrase.
He drew a stick figure, emphasizing a circle around its hand.
“Hand?” Rong Jinghe wasn’t quite sure.
Chu Qianze then drew a bell and added two circles behind it.
“Is it three words? Hand, bell, leading the charge?”
“Excellent!”
The next phrase: A single man guarding the pass, impregnable to tens of thousands.
“This one is a bit challenging; it’s not easy to guess correctly,” the host commented, supporting his chin with his hand.
“How do you even draw this? It seems impossible,” whispered a member of the audience.
Squinting, Chu Qianze stared at Rong Jinghe and drew a rectangle.
“Rectangle, a notebook?” Rong Jinghe guessed.
Nodding, Chu Qianze wrote the number 27 behind it.
Upon seeing this information, Rong Jinghe thought of something and uncertainly said, “Is it… ‘A single man guarding the pass, impregnable to tens of thousands’?”
“You could guess this one? What’s going on!”
“Do these two have some special language? How did they figure it out?”
Chu Qianze, figuring out the pattern, started with phrases related to daily life. If that didn’t work, he used other methods. The two of them became faster and faster.
“Time’s up!”
Chu Qianze stopped drawing, placed the pen back in its original position, and turned to face the audience.
“This one was really difficult; I couldn’t even think of how to describe it.”
Rong Jinghe sighed with relief, finally putting an end to the game. He wasn’t accustomed to these games, lacking in divergent thinking, which put him at a disadvantage.
The host announced the results: “You both guessed ten correctly in the end. Congratulations!”
Applause filled the venue.
Chu Qianze echoed the sentiment, standing with Rong Jinghe in the center of the stage.
“I have a question here, and I believe everyone is curious. The third phrase was challenging for both of you, but Chu Qianze, you directly wrote a number, and Rong Jinghe managed to guess it! Is there a reason for that?” The host’s words sparked agreement from the audience. They were genuinely curious about the reason behind this.
“Well…” Chu Qianze pondered for a moment and said, “This matter should be explained by Rong Jinghe. Let him tell you.”
Rong Jinghe was taken aback, and as the attention shifted to him, he explained, “I have a notebook specifically for writing things down, and that phrase is on page 27. We even discussed related content the day before yesterday, so it left a deep impression.”
Swiftly wrapping up the topic, this person was quite skilled at diffusing awkward moments.
Chu Qianze, feeling a bit helpless, took over, “That notebook is dedicated to recording inspiration and lyrics. Not long ago, he even wrote something for the four of us in the dormitory. The lyrics he writes for the fans are also recorded in it, right?”
Rong Jinghe nodded, “That’s right, exactly.”
After chatting for a few moments and performing a few dance moves, it was time for the next segment. Coldeng and another trainee took the stage.
Chu Qianze moved to a corner and sat down, feeling a tug on his sleeve. “What’s wrong?”
“When I stand up later, just give me a little support,” Rong Jinghe spoke in a hushed voice.
Due to his makeup, there wasn’t any visible sign of discomfort. This person always excelled at enduring, but now, it seemed like the pain had become intense, revealing a bit of weakness.
No wonder he was so silent earlier.
Seeing this, Chu Qianze leaned forward, inadvertently blocking the camera, “Feeling very uncomfortable? Should we step aside for a moment?”
Shaking his head slightly, Rong Jinghe looked towards the center of the stage, “The program is ending soon; I can’t let it be delayed because of me.”
When the shooting ended and they were in the backstage corridor with no one around, Rong Jinghe finally relaxed. He lowered his head slightly, resting his entire body on Chu Qianze.
“Just wait a bit; I’ll be fine soon.”
“I’ll take you to the hospital,” Chu Qianze insisted.
“No need, I just need to rest a bit,” Rong Jinghe’s voice was somewhat low. According to the program’s inquiries a few days ago, going to the hospital might lead to being recognized, possibly sparking online attention. He hoped to gain recognition through his work, not for health issues.
“I consulted a doctor at the hospital a long time ago, and it’s always been the same issue. I don’t need to go; resting will be enough. Or maybe you can go back and do cupping for me?”
So, to truly recover, he needed to pause training and performances and focus on proper rest.
“Let’s go to the hospital, get it checked, and ease the pain,” Chu Qianze advised.
Rong Jinghe insisted, “Resting here will be enough.”
Chu Qianze persisted, “Let’s go to the hospital.”
“I…” Rong Jinghe was about to refuse when he lifted his eyes and met Chu Qianze’s gaze, and his assertiveness waned.
“Let’s go check it out then.”
Seeing his agreement, Chu Qianze was ready to lead him out. However, when he turned around, his steps came to a halt.
In front of him was a woman, her appearance strangely familiar. It was his manager.
Wang Bailin looked at the two hesitantly, refraining from asking about the situation. “Chu Qianze, come out with me for a moment. I’ve already informed the program team.”
“Where are we going?” Chu Qianze asked directly.
“Once you’re there, you’ll understand. It’s something important,” Wang Bailin glanced at Rong Jinghe, avoiding saying more with an outsider present.
“I need to take someone to the hospital,” Chu Qianze casually offered a reason. Mainly, he wasn’t interested in those so-called important matters.
What does it have to do with you? Can’t you let him go on his own? There’s no camera now, so who are you eagerly showing this to?
Wang Bailin was speechless; did this person realize what opportunities were waiting for him?
After hearing the conversation between the two, Rong Jinghe had a rough idea of the situation. This woman was Chu Qianze’s manager.
“If there’s something important, you can go ahead. I don’t need—” Rong Jinghe was about to continue when he glanced somewhere and muted himself abruptly, “Mom, why are you here?”
What’s going on?
Chu Qianze, upon hearing this, also turned to look in that direction.
“I saw reports saying your old back injury recurred, so I came to check on you and take you for an examination,” Rong Jinghe’s mother walked over, carefully examining him and sighed, “You…”
Hearing this, Rong Jinghe pursed his lips and said to Chu Qianze, “I’ll go with my family. If you have something, go ahead.”
“Well, I’ll leave then. Goodbye, Auntie,” Chu Qianze said.
“Goodbye,” Rong Jinghe’s mother responded.
On the other side, Wang Bailin, looking at Rong Jinghe’s mother, felt a sense of familiarity, as if she had seen her somewhere, but couldn’t quite recall.
If she couldn’t remember, so be it. There were more important matters at hand. Focusing on the present, Wang Bailin led the way out with her group.
“You have a good relationship with Rong Jinghe, right? Your performance in the reality show was quite surprising. I didn’t expect you to improve so much. It seems you’ve overcome the previous issues. Congratulations,” Wang Bailin praised as they turned a corner.
Casually acknowledging, Chu Qianze followed along, asking, “Where are we going?”
“Don’t ask so many questions. Just follow me,” Wang Bailin didn’t want to say much and led them to a car.
This car is quite upscale, not something an agent could afford.
“Sister Wang, did you change your car?” Chu Qianze expressed confusion, squinting slightly as he considered the possibilities.
“It’s not mine. Where do I have the money to drive such a luxury car?” Wang Bailin opened the car door, nudging Chu Qianze to get in.
“We’re a bit pressed for time; we need to get there quickly.”
Complying, Chu Qianze was curious about what this person wanted to do with him.
On the other side, Rong Jinghe’s mother happened to witness the scene of Chu Qianze getting into the car. The car looked quite familiar, the exclusive model of that person. It seems like he has taken a liking to someone.
“Aren’t you the one who hates hidden rules the most? Why are you getting involved with him?” Rong Jinghe’s mother remarked.
Rong Jinghe was taken aback, “What?”
“Using such methods to climb up and still getting pressed down by others. Originally, I heard this program was quite good, but now it seems we need to reassess it,” Rong Jinghe’s mother commented to herself.
“He’s not that kind of person.”
With a slight frown, Rong Jinghe had a bad premonition.
As the car drove away, Chu Qianze’s expression flickered.
Not wanting to argue on this matter, Rong Jinghe’s mother didn’t engage further. She took out the car keys to open the door, “First, come with me to the hospital… Hey! Where are you going?!”
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