Chapter 67: Don't Come Back

e heavy, the entire practice room filled with a tense air. All that could be heard was the sound of some light breathing. 。This is the fatigue left from dancing during practice just now. 。During the p..."Reply to the dormitory."

These few simple words, however, gave Mingjing Nan, who had been somewhat disappointed before, a jolt. The low spirits that had infected him from his companions seemed to be infused with a refreshing warmth all at once.

She remembered when Chi Jingyuan had looked at her before leaving. He seemed like he wanted to say something but stopped himself. She hadn't understood what it meant then, but seeing the message now, she had some guesses.

Because he wasn't close to either Kiyoi and Kasumigaoka, he didn't overstep and say anything like "Let's go home early" to them. Instead, he got a little closer to Nanami. He probably planned on saying something directly to her face anyway.

I was just about to say something, but I wasn't sure if Namie had told the other two friends about exchanging contact information. So, considering this, I didn't say it directly and instead sent a text message reminder after leaving.

Minami didn't know if her guess was right, but just thinking about this layer of feeling made her feel much more relaxed immediately. There was a feeling of being taken care of, and in her heart, a kind of tingling electricity arose from the other person's attention and thoughtfulness.

She glanced again at the direction where Chi Jingyuan had left from, at the pond in front of the alleyway, and couldn't help but tighten her grip on her phone.

It's possible that she cried for too long and was getting tired, or it could be that it was getting late and she needed to estimate the time it would take to get back to the dormitory. Perhaps the conversation just now had slightly eased up Pingjiao's dissatisfaction and sadness in her heart. Shortly after Chi Jingyuan left, this Japanese trio tidied up the things on the ground and walked towards the dormitory.

The members participating in "sixteen," whether from the A major group or O group, all live in a house that the company recently rented near their practice facilities. The living conditions are much better than those of the trainee dormitory and located in Cheongdam-dong, not too far from the practice facility; it's within walking distance.

Only former member of "Sixteen", Momoko, who was eliminated from the competition, could no longer stay in those two dormitories. She had to move back to the dormitory used by trainees. In the afternoon, she had already packed her belongings and moved back.

From the dorm prepared for competition, to packing up and moving back to the trainee dorm, being eliminated and having no hope of debuting is naturally disappointing. However, this gap in environment and status, especially after moving back, the inexplicable gaze from surrounding roommates, that feeling of being watched as a spectacle and ridiculed, even sighed at with pity, is actually what's truly hard to accept.

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For someone like Tai Ping who is very confident in her own abilities, and even more so for foreign trainees, this is a very important reason why she feels so wronged.

Identity and treatment all changed with the elimination, and mentality inevitably became skewed and unbalanced.

The trainee dormitory was a bit far and required a taxi ride, but she didn't want to go back directly now and be surrounded by attention. Instead, she wanted to walk around for a while longer with her two friends.

The three people seemed preoccupied, each lost in their own thoughts. Though they walked side by side, their hands intertwined, there was no conversation. Only the sound of their footsteps, a jumbled mess, could be heard, their heavy rhythm echoing the turmoil within their hearts.

Until they walked back from the alley onto the main street, the dazzling lights and LEDs momentarily caught their eyes. The continuous honking of passing cars suddenly pulled them out of their contemplative and tranquil atmosphere, bringing them back to the colorful, bustling, yet cold reality.

“Actually, yuan…… what Chi Jingyuan just said makes a lot of sense. It's not just JYP Entertainment that can launch a girl group, there are so many entertainment companies out there, and the opportunities are definitely plentiful. Plus, according to seniors and friends, trainees from big companies like ours are quite sought after by other mid-sized and small agencies.”

After a moment of silence, as if sensing that her friends' moods had calmed somewhat, Minasaki Sashina took the initiative to offer some comfort.

Her voice is distinctive, a bit sharp, but not harsh. Instead, it gives off a feeling of warmth and sincerity. And when she speaks her native language, it sounds very pleasant to the ear.

Saying that, she licked her lips and leaned closer: "With Oo-chan's talent, there are definitely a lot of opportunities. Although it's really a pity that we can't be together, after all, it's for debuting, so it's understandable."

"Haha, Sana's right!" Nanami smiled softly upon hearing this, looking at Mikoto and Kasumi who exchanged glances.

"Hmm."

Momoko Hina nodded, she had been in a state of resentment and confusion ever since being eliminated. But after hearing what Zhiyuan Chiku and her friends had to say, she now felt like she had some direction.

Although small companies debut, and compared to big companies like JYP, they may not be able to compete in terms of resources and treatment, as long as they can debut it's a good thing.

No matter what, it's already been eliminated. Since things have come to this, the only thing left is to find other ways and cut losses. With direction and hope for a breakthrough, there's motivation, so as not to be aimlessly sad.

However, I feel like what Chi...Chi Kyouen said is right, oo-chan you'd better communicate with the company and see what arrangements they have for the future.

"I also have a thought," Namie said, recalling what Ji-seong had just suggested. After thinking for a moment, she continued, "My opinion is that if we're going to ask, it would be best to wait a while, at least until after 'sixteen' finishes. It would even be better if we waited until after the company change."

"Yeah, I agree. We shouldn't rush things."

Minasaki Sazanami also nodded in agreement.

Two friends are brainstorming ideas for Taiyo Momoko, but this isn't just about helping and comforting a friend. In a way, it's also about considering their own futures.

Today is the day that PINGPONG was eliminated, and it's possible that tomorrow will be my turn. As a foreign trainee, the chances of debuting are already low, and according to the norm, even if they add Japanese nationality, there won't be many. Sana and A said that it's uncertain which one of them will be eliminated soon.

The peninsula is still relatively exclusive. Even for market considerations, many companies in a group will likely only add one trainee of a certain nationality, and if there are two members of the same nationality, their positions will start to overlap. Exo is basically the only case where a specific country's market has been filled with foreign members.

"I know, I definitely won't leave now, and even if I am eliminated, I won't stop practicing. I still have to go to practice on time tomorrow."

Pingi Momoko is actually quite strong. After acknowledging reality and seeing the path ahead, she also tries her best to cheer up.

After a while, with a new goal in sight, Ping's melancholy eased somewhat, and she felt lighter. The surrounding bustle also lifted everyone's spirits considerably, bringing back their energy. At least they weren't as despondent as before.

Looking at the dazzling storefront across the way, Taoka Ping recalled their recent encounter and her eyes flickered before she suddenly spoke, “Speaking of which, I think Yuan...Chi Jingyuan's personality is actually quite good. He doesn't seem so hard to get along with.”

Although their conversation before was just a few simple exchanges, she kept those two kind words in her heart. In the short time they spoke just now, the other party didn't have any airs of an idol, and it seemed like they didn't treat her as an ordinary trainee with an unequal status. Their speech and expressions were very natural, just like a casual chat between friends.

It's really heartwarming to hear the concern during this low point.

When it comes to this topic, several people can't help but become interested, just like how EXO members often enjoy discussing attractive female idols when they are bored in private. Female trainees also like to gossip about male trainees or seniors; in nature, they are actually the same thing.

While Ji Jingyuan was actually a frequent topic of discussion among them, not to mention that he was the most popular member of the hottest boy group at the moment. The reason they talked about him so much was because he had genuinely formed unique friendships with several of them. They had seen his more authentic side off-stage and away from the cameras, rather than the persona he presented on stage and in front of the lens.

At the same time, both of them actually knew that their friend Nanami Minase had a good feeling for him, which further fueled this kind of conversation.

"It's okay, sometimes I feel like he's hard to get close to. I don't know why, there's always a feeling... how do I say it... that sometimes he doesn't seem to value us much. Even though he smiles, there's a clear sense of distance."

Kosaki Sashana, who loves socializing, was the first to comment, sharing her impressions and feelings about Ikegami Kyou.

She has a high emotional intelligence and is very perceptive. Sometimes she can sense the calm waters beneath someone's sunny smile. Although she appears approachable, she is not easy to get close to.

“Though, the others are really nice. You could tell from the first time I met him at cb, right He knew Taeyong and the BIGBANG members already. And even though he had nothing to do with it, he wasn't afraid to offend that seemingly influential president and stood up to help A-chan out of the situation. He was very responsible and didn’t ask for anything in return; he just couldn’t stand to see it happen. People like him are rare in the entertainment industry.”

"That day, I thought we were done for. No one expected him to suddenly step in and help. He stood up right away, put his hand on Ajing's shoulder, and pushed her back down. Then he stepped forward. Wow, every time I think about this scene, I think it's so cool!"

Even so, Minasaki Sashuna still has a very good impression of Ikegami Gen because the memory of their first meeting was too deep. Even though she wasn't Nam井 Nan this time, as a bystander throughout the whole process, she could see most objectively what happened at that time.

"Mmm..." As he listened to his friend's praise, Minami Nanibu nodded along in agreement, her head bobbing rapidly. It was clear she fully agreed.

No one understands the feelings at that time better than the person involved. In the midst of being wronged and desperate, suddenly a warm hand appeared on her shoulder, pushing her back onto the sofa. The impact and feeling were truly profound.

She also developed different feelings because of this, and she still remembers it to this day.

"That's because Chi Jingyuan wasn't afraid of that president, you could tell at the police station. His family background must be really good, even the chief was so polite to him, and we didn't get into any trouble either... Plus, that person who seemed to be his brother had a really strong aura, he didn't even look at people directly. I was too scared to meet his eyes."

"That's even more remarkable because he's from a wealthy family."

"You're right."

"And, he came on the "Sixteen" episode as a judge, Park Jin-young PD even hinted at it, and he still said under PD's face that it was because he danced well, ah, really…"

Pingping then went on to say something she was very concerned about.

Because she lost in the first round, she really prepared very hard for that recording. However, she still didn't get Park Jin-young's appreciation. However, the judge Ji Kyeong-won affirmed her stage strength. Even though she eventually ended up in the failing group, that encouraging gaze and voice of recognition is still fresh in her memory.

In that moment, she suddenly understood Nanami.

"He's still so handsome, our company's seniors don't feel like he's in the same league... GOT7 is even less so... Sigh, no wonder he's so popular. I chatted with a senior acquaintance last time, and she said that since EXO debuted and wasn't very popular yet, many female idols had a crush on Park Kyung-won. Just from those who were actively pursuing him, there were more than two..."

"That's right, a醬 has high standards, didn't she choose to date Ji Chang Wook I wonder if he and Suzy broke up though. But judging by how they were together as judges recently, they should still be dating, right"

They could all see it at CB. They knew about the close relationship between Ji-yeong and Suzy, so they always assumed the two were dating. They often joked about it before, but even though they were on Minami's side, they didn't think there was any comparison between Minami as a trainee and Suzy.

"Oh, dear, why are we talking about this again"

“It’s nothing, right…” Privately joking around was fine, but seeing Naomi Namine's unusual dissatisfaction and slight shyness, Momoko Hirai didn't think much of it. She finally smiled, blinked, and changed the subject: "I just saw that Taeyeon sunbae from Girls' Generation was with Kyeongwon earlier. What are they doing here together at this time Could it be…"

"I don't think so, it sounded like they were talking about something. Besides, didn't they say on a variety show before that they get along really well They are very close like siblings, and they are in the same company. It's normal for them to have dinner together."

"Our company doesn't have any seniors who feel like they would be good friends and close colleagues... "

"That's right, speaking of which, EXO seems to be having a concert soon, too bad I didn't manage to get tickets this time."

Their tickets sold out in half a second. Last time they got lucky and snagged two, but this time it was gone as soon as they clicked in. It's a shame, because they had some free time from filming the show these days and could have gone. I'm not too bothered, but A醬 definitely wants to go.

"I... want to go."

It's a pity that we aren't familiar with Chi Jingyuan and don't even have his contact information. We also don't know if Zhou Tzuyu got another backstage pass from him for the front row again...

"I guess so, their relationship must be really good. Didn't you see the episode where Park Ji-sun was a judge He was totally biased towards Zhou Tzuyu, to the point of being ridiculous. Even Lim Na-yeon is still holding a grudge against him to this day, haha…"

"Still, let's keep practicing and working hard. The most important thing right now is to debut."

"That's what they say..."

…………

"I'm back in my dorm (smiling face)."

After returning to the dormitory, Minami quickly changed her shoes and washed her face before rushing to bed and taking out her phone to quickly send a message to Ji-Seong.

Having gone through the experience of her good friend oo being eliminated, she feels deeply empathetic. Right now, she has many thoughts and feelings swirling within her. She really wants to talk and vent, even though she's already shared a lot with her friend. After all, different people naturally elicit different conversations.

She leaned in, eagerly anticipating the other person's reply so she could smoothly continue the conversation. After all, she had experience from last time.

It's a pity that after Mingyu sent the message, he waited for a long time but didn't receive a reply from Jingyuan. Disheartened, he could only pout and lie flat on his bed with a dejected air.

Meanwhile, Chi Jingyuan had already returned to the gymnastics arena with the members. After putting down their things, they continued rehearsals. The phone vibrating in a single-shoulder bag in the lounge glowed, but no one paid any attention to it.

Both the song and dance portions have been practiced many times and are very familiar. Now, the most important thing is to remember all the procedures and movements, especially the escalators, as well as the positions and use of some equipment.

A concert is not just about singing a few songs. For the overall effect and interaction with fans, these things are essential.

"Right here, changing clothes won't be seen, right..."

Chi Jingyuan was a little worried, so he specially came out from behind the screen to observe.

During the concert, there was a segment where after singing a song, they didn't go backstage to change their clothes. Instead, stagehands pulled up a long and wide screen to block the front of the stage, and everyone changed their clothes directly behind the screen, creating a live costume change on stage.

Whether it was designed by someone, fans naturally love this part, and it's conceivable that it would cause screams and cheers throughout the venue.

Though it wasn't a complete strip down, just changing their jackets and pants, the members were actually quite awkward about it.

"Rest assured, it definitely won't. We tested it specifically, and under special lighting, you can only see a faint shadow."

The staff member chuckled and explained, adding with a grin, "Fans will definitely love this part."

Nonsense, I'm going to see Girls' Generation's concert and I also hope there will be a segment like this, I especially like it.

Ji Jingyuan straightened up and thought to herself, but after observing for a while, she nodded in agreement.

"Remember the location of the fireworks launching points. There will be several firework displays in the middle, so pay attention to your positioning at those times. Don't improvise your movements or actions to avoid getting too close and injured."

We will place the gifts to the side of the stage, and you can just take them directly when it's time to distribute the gifts.

"Remember all the positioning for interactions on stage Each of you has a different area, so don't repeat each other!"

"Remember... Wu Shih-Hsun, where is your area"

"I'm here."

"This is my designated spot, you're on the right side stage. What are you doing"

"... "

"

The on-site rehearsal kept going until the early morning hours of 2 or 3 a.m. before finally wrapping up and returning to the dorm. Although it was late and tiring, honestly, all of EXO's members were full of energy and diligently preparing for everything with enthusiasm.

This is way more serious than a singing competition rehearsal.

After all, concerts are where they can make the most money. Their personal income is at stake, so the members can't afford to be anything but serious. And with that motivation, their energy naturally follows suit.

After resting for a night back in the dormitory, the next morning I went straight to the rehearsal site and continued rehearsing.

At lunchtime, Ji Jingyuan ate a few bites of bibimbap, blinked suddenly, and remembered something. He took out his phone from his pocket and sent a message to Zhou Tzuyu:

"Don't come tomorrow."

First published on the Traditional Chinese Novel Networkg.This time, he was alone. With an appreciative gaze, Chi Jingyuan stood at the railing of the riverside walkway, staring at the dazzling scenery on the opposite bank and the lights on the Shengsui Br...