“Xiaoya, nervous?”
“Not at all.”
“Then why are your legs shaking?”
Li Xingya: “…”
During vocal class.
Staring at the fully soundproof audition room.
Watching the students being called by name one by one, entering in order.
Li Xingya couldn’t help but tremble.
Did she excel at singing?
Or rather, did this body of hers excel at singing?
Li Xingya didn’t know.
She only knew that in her previous life… she had absolutely no talent for singing.
‘Let alone talent.’
‘I haven’t even really listened to many songs…’
The only melodies that Li Xingya could vaguely recall right now were probably just a few songs Lin Jin’an had sung.
“Sister.”
“What’s wrong?”
“If I sound terrible later, will there be any punishment?”
Li Xingya asked, bracing herself.
“Well, even though we’re only two weeks into the semester, if your singing really is that bad…”
Meng Yiqiao pointed toward the door.
“You might be demoted to Class B in the short term.”
“Class B?”
‘Ah.’
‘Come to think of it, Xia Qi once said something like—‘You got placed into Class A right after enrolling? Do you really think you’re that talented?’
‘She did say something like that.’
Meng Yiqiao nodded.
“Starting from high school, Starseeing Academy divides each grade in the Arts and Skills Department into Class A, B, and C based on talent. If a student in Class A or B doesn’t demonstrate the required ability, they get demoted.”
Seeing Li Xingya’s legs shaking even more violently, Meng Yiqiao comforted her,
“But Xiaoya, since you were placed into Class A right after transferring, your talent is definitely not an issue, so don’t worry.”
“Ha… is that so?”
Li Xingya’s smile was forced.
‘Talent?’
‘Me?’
Li Xingya carefully recalled the day of registration.
‘Why was I placed into Class A?’
‘It couldn’t be because of Lin Jin’an’s recommendation letter.’
‘And if I sing badly, I’ll be demoted to Class B—then I won’t get to see Meng Yiqiao anymore.’
‘So much pressure.’
‘I feel like my stomach is starting to cramp…’
‘Like that time in my previous life when I worked sixteen hours straight.’
“Meng Yiqiao.”
When Meng Yiqiao’s name was called, she glanced at Li Xingya beside her and smiled.
“Xiaoya, I’m going in first. You do your best too.”
“No, wait, Si—Sister.”
Watching Meng Yiqiao’s retreating back, Li Xingya’s expression gradually turned to despair.
‘Don’t leave me alone.’
When the audition room door closed again, Li Xingya, now alone, couldn’t help but sigh.
At the same time, she noticed the “prying” gazes around her.
Some were curious.
Some were appraising.
And then there were those of pure—malice.
It was the kind of look that waited for Li Xingya to embarrass herself.
And Li Xingya knew exactly where those looks came from—the same group that had followed Xia Qi.
Li Xingya had already proven her importance in Meng Yiqiao’s eyes, so no one dared to come looking for trouble anymore.
‘They only dare to stare from a distance, huh.’
Li Xingya took a deep breath.
‘Even being stared at like this pisses me off.’
Without realizing it, Li Xingya’s expression “cooled.”
It wasn’t simple indifference; it was an expression that showed she didn’t care about anything.
With Meng Yiqiao gone, Li Xingya didn’t have to keep up her smile all the time. After all, acting all the time was exhausting.
‘So troublesome.’
At that moment, even her amber eyes seemed stained with a “deathly” black, as if she had reverted to the self from her previous life who held no hope for the future.
‘Should I… try to provoke them proactively?’
‘As long as I avoid the cameras and hide my movements…’
‘Getting them suspended like Xia Qi would be easy enough.’
Thinking this, Li Xingya still shook her head.
‘Forget it.’
‘Let’s first figure out how not to get demoted.’
Li Xingya frowned.
‘Maybe I can bring up Lin Jin’an and have Principal Lu pull some strings for me again?’
‘Or Jiang Chiyue—she seems to carry weight when she speaks.’
‘Better yet, just get both of them to go at it…’
“Li Xingya.”
“Yes.”
Snapped out of her thoughts, Li Xingya looked up at the teaching speaker that had called her name.
‘It’s my turn.’
‘I’m so nervous I feel sick.’
‘I want to throw up.’
‘Gotta hold it in… with so many people watching, I can’t embarrass myself.’
When Meng Yiqiao walked out of the audition room and their eyes met, Li Xingya smiled.
She took the initiative to approach Meng Yiqiao, intimately hugging her arm.
“Sister, how was it? Were the audition teachers strict?”
“It was okay. Since it’s the first audition of the semester, compared to when I was in ninth grade… it’s actually a bit more relaxed.”
“I see. Then I’ll go in too.”
“Mm, do your best, Xiaoya.”
Meng Yiqiao reached out and tidied the stray hairs on Li Xingya’s forehead.
“With you, I’m sure you’ll be fine.”
Carrying Meng Yiqiao’s blessing, Li Xingya entered the recording studio.
Inside, three vocal teachers were seated, along with Principal Lu Wanting.
“Hello, teachers. Hello, Principal Lu.”
Li Xingya gave a slight bow to the four of them.
She tried hard to control her voice so it wouldn’t tremble, which made her tone sound a bit strange instead.
“No need to be nervous, Miss Li. Just follow your usual habits.”
Principal Lu smiled.
Beside Principal Lu, a vocal teacher surnamed Qi teased,
“How could she not be nervous? Not just Miss Li, but all the students who came in were pretty scared when they saw you here, Principal.”
‘What does that mean?’
‘So Principal Lu isn’t usually present during auditions?’
Li Xingya lifted her head slightly. The moment she looked at Principal Lu, she found Principal Lu also looking at her, so she instinctively averted her gaze.
“After all, this is Miss Li’s first time participating in a class test. Of course, I have to show some concern.”
Principal Lu said.
At this, Teacher Qi glanced at Principal Lu.
“Speaking of which, Miss Li’s placement into Class A was also something you insisted on, wasn’t it, Principal?”
“Yes. Miss Li is very special. I felt that sending her to Class B or Class C might bury that talent.”
Principal Lu thought Li Xingya was unique.
In her, she saw a feeling extremely similar to Lin Jin’an.
Even now, just looking at Li Xingya’s subconscious, “ingratiating” smile, Principal Lu still felt she was very similar to Lin Jin’an.
“I’m very curious about what you mean, Principal.”
Teacher Qi held the scoring sheet and looked at Li Xingya.
“So, Miss Li, have you decided which song to sing today?”
“Yes, I’ll sing ‘When I Wake.’”
“A song by Lin Jin’an. Same choice as most people, but…”
Teacher Qi looked over Li Xingya’s height and appearance.
“I thought you might pick a cuter style, Miss Li. Your taste in songs is quite a contrast. I’m looking forward to it.”
As Teacher Qi’s voice fell, the prelude of the song began to play.
Li Xingya let out a long breath, gently biting her tongue.
Right now, only by using the slight pain could she fully calm down.
Well then—
The first test officially began.