AHFAFTGTTT Chapter 72

Chapter 72: First Public Performance “Fu Yang, a landslide victory.”…

The stage for the first public performance was extremely grand.

It was set up in a new venue outside the western district of the program group.

As the program aired, each trainee began to garner their own dedicated fans.

The fans below the stage traveled thousands of miles to be here, just to cast a vote for the person they supported and help them debut.

The venue was filled with surging waves of sound, cheers and screams piercing the dome.

The dazzling lights on the stage, with neon lights swirling, outlined colorful silhouettes of light and shadow in the crowd.

The mentors made a glittering appearance on stage. Qu Xue, holding a cue card, first thanked a series of sponsors and the “Sharp Edge” producers who had come from afar. Then, she took her seat on the mentor panel along with the other mentors.

The mentor panel was located in the southeast corner of the stage, not directly facing it, to reduce the tension of the trainees.

After introducing themselves, they sat in the same positions as during the first evaluation stage. Xu Chengyue sat next to Shangguan Yaoguang. Since moving out of the dormitories last time, Shangguan Yaoguang had been busy with schedules, and this was their first time seeing each other.

Xu Chengyue handed a hot water bottle to Shangguan Yaoguang, “This venue is quite big, it’s a bit cold.”

Shangguan Yaoguang accepted it.

Xu Chengyue took out a handful of candies, “Want some?”

Shangguan Yaoguang accepted them.

Xu Chengyue took out a bottle of beverage, “Want to drink?”

Shangguan Yaoguang accepted it.

Finally, Shangguan Yaoguang’s seat was piled high with things before Xu Chengyue stopped.

Should… that be enough?

Xu Chengyue believed that he had completed his KPI of pursuing someone for today, and started watching the program seriously.

After their conversation in the car last time, Xu Chengyue once suspected that he had problems with his understanding.

He listened in a daze as the other party finished speaking. In the end, he concluded that Shangguan Yaoguang’s general idea was, “It’s true that I said I was deceiving you before. I don’t like you that much. But if you pursue me a little, it’s not like I can’t be bent. I can also become the person you like, just like during the ‘Surviving on a Desert Island’ period.”

Xu Chengyue took a deep breath. For once, his usually good temper flared with anger, and he felt that he was simply being played like a dog.

But he couldn’t refuse it.

Xu Chengyue looked at the screen of his phone, which lit up with a picture of coconut shells leaning against each other on the beach, with two crude stick figures drawn on them in charcoal. His heart warmed, and he decided to let nature take its course. Since he couldn’t let go, then he would try it according to Shangguan Yaoguang’s idea.

Shangguan Yaoguang silently ate things throughout the entire show, feeling stuffed to death, but didn’t dare to make a sound.

For the first public performance, one hundred and eight trainees were divided into nine groups. The center position (c-position) members took the lead in bringing their groups onto the stage.

Before performing, the trainees would introduce themselves and say their number to make it easier for the audience to vote.

Fu Yang appeared in the middle. Obviously, when he introduced himself, the audience’s screams were several degrees higher, almost blowing the roof off.

Xu Chengyue was a little surprised. He hadn’t paid much attention to the online situation. Was Fu Yang so popular now?

“His purpose has been achieved,” Shangguan Yaoguang said darkly, half his face hidden in the shadows, “You are just a tool for him to achieve his goals today.”

Hearing this quiet sentence in his ear, Xu Chengyue was silent for a while and said, “Shangguan, it’s not good to speculate about others like that.”

The emotions in Xu Chengyue’s heart were extremely complex, even chaotic. The chaos and complexity lay in the fact that he seemed to not like the person beside him as much as before.

If B is a part of A, then shouldn’t he accept the shortcomings of the real A? Shouldn’t he like everything about a person?

Because Xu Chengyue had been a person with extremely correct values and a very strong sense of morality since he was a child, he was now somewhat collapsing.

In fact, his gaze was now indeed attracted to Fu Yang, and his liking for Shangguan was gradually decreasing.

Could it be that he really was a scumbag who loved one person at a time?

Realizing this, his hands began to tremble physiologically again. Xu Chengyue’s right hand held his left hand tightly, but it still couldn’t stop the abnormality in his body.

In a daze, the music had already started. He then realized from the stage schedule that Fu Yang’s group had drawn to perform first.

This was a song that leaned towards R&B. The overall structure had more singing than dancing, greatly highlighting Fu Yang’s strengths and weakening his weaknesses.

The youth in the c-position wore a whole set of cool black and red outfits. The dark red silk shirt was cinched in at the waist, with a leather short jacket on the outside and ripped overalls on the bottom. It was a bit similar to a motorcycle outfit, very eye-catching.

The most important finishing touch was the leather choker he wore around his neck, with a layer of rivet decorations on the outside, both wild and handsome.

At 1.9 meters tall, with long legs and a narrow waist, the silk inner layer even vaguely highlighted his eight-pack abs. His hair was parted to the side, with a few colored ropes braided in the middle. His deep eyebrows and high nose bridge expressed his personal style to the fullest.

The fans who came to the scene screamed wildly, almost blowing the roof off.

“Damn, damn, he doesn’t look good on camera at all!! He’s 100 times more handsome in person!!!”

“Academic god! Male god!! Awoo awoo, I’m crazy for Yang!! YangYang debut on the spot, ahhhh!!!”

“Tsk tsk, it seems like it’s been a long time since this type of handsome guy has appeared in the entertainment industry.” Watching the program, Qu Xue also propped her chin up and sighed. Even though she had been in the entertainment industry for so many years and had worked with countless young fresh meats, she couldn’t help but sigh.

Wan Fang, who was next to her, heard this heartfelt sigh and asked, “Speaking of which, what type is this?”

“Fierce and wild, feels like he’s very capable in bed.” Qu Xue’s face turned yellow and joked, “The little trainees in the same group as him are done for. I can’t see anyone else at all now.”

Wan Fang choked for a moment, “I don’t understand you young girls. Anyway, I think he sings well. I wonder if he’s interested in coming to me and Chonghua to play for two days after the program ends.”

“He sings really well, but his dancing is a bit weak in comparison. Otherwise, he could debut directly into a group. Speaking of which, he danced pretty well today. Did Teacher Xu secretly give him extra lessons again?” Qu Xue changed the topic and stared at Xu Chengyue, squinting her eyes.

Xu Chengyue pursed his lips, smiled gently, and admitted generously, “Yes, I did.”

Shangguan Yaoguang paused, tilted his head slightly, and saw Xu Chengyue nodding frequently at the stage, with an indescribable pride and pride in his eyes.

He suddenly felt that the candies in his hand were not sweet anymore.

After a song ended, screams and applause rang out like thunder.

“So far, it’s the best program.”

“This is the first program. What do you mean ‘so far’? Drawing the first spot is a terrible start. Everyone doesn’t know the overall level yet and will save their votes.”

“Yes, it seems like no one has ever won the popularity king in the first performance.”

“Alas, it’s a pity. I think this stage is really good.”

“I think so too. I have a feeling that this stage is the best-looking.”

…

In addition to the feedback from the audience below the stage, the mentor panel was even more surprised—

“It’s so much better than the first time I saw them rehearse. My god, they’ve improved rapidly!”

“I heard that Fu Yang has been leading them in practice…”

“It’s really good, they’ve worked hard…”

Shangguan Yaoguang listened to the praise from the mentors beside him, clenching his hands into fists even tighter, almost crushing the fruit candy in his palm.

The trainees on the stage introduced themselves again, some thanking their families and friends, afraid that this would be their last stage here, and some started acting funny, hoping to attract the audience’s votes.

When it was finally Fu Yang’s turn, he took the microphone, his gaze sincerely not looking at the audience, but at the mentor panel.

“I am very honored to be able to stand on this stage. The person I am most grateful for is Xu Chengyue, Teacher Xu.”

In an instant, all eyes gathered on Xu Chengyue.

Qu Xue had a gossipy expression, “Yo yo yo, here it comes again, our Chengyue *gege*~”

Teased by so many people, Xu Chengyue’s cheeks were a little red, but he still braced himself and made eye contact with the person on the stage, listening carefully to what he had to say.

“From deciding to participate in the audition, to the theme song assessment, and now to the first public performance, I actually have a lot of feelings, because I may be different from everyone. I am a complete amateur who came here because of my own selfish desires. I am very afraid of holding everyone back, and many times I have no confidence at all, just gritting my teeth and persevering. But someone said, ‘As long as you want to, nothing is impossible, nothing is impossible to do.’ He is the gentlest and most powerful person I have ever met. Because of him, I am standing here, meeting my partners, my friends, and all of you who support me and vote for me.”

“I’m digressing, I didn’t want to be sentimental. What I want to say most is an apology. Only when I am in the vortex of entertainment did I finally realize that we are all unknowingly becoming puppets of public opinion. Hearing is believing, but seeing may not be believing. You need to feel it yourself…”

The youth holding the microphone under the spotlight raised his smile, full of vigor, “Feel the gardenias after the rain, feel the sunflowers in the wilderness, abandon your stubbornness and prejudice, and feel it truly.”

“I also hope that everyone’s vote today is not because of who is more popular, who is a fan, but your own true feelings, who brings you happiness, who makes your eyes light up, who makes you feel that it is worth the trip. Now your choice begins, thank you everyone.”

After speaking, the youth in the center of the stage bowed sincerely. When he got up, his eyes met with the eyes on the mentor panel, and he winked at him secretly.

Xu Chengyue thought it was an accident, but saw the youth secretly making a small gesture at him—

Am I making you look at me in a new light?

He actually cared so much about this, Xu Chengyue smiled and imitated his gesture—

Yes, you’re super awesome.

Only then was Fu Yang satisfied and left the stage happily.

As evening approached, the public performance slowly came to an end. As the last program ended, Qu Xue took the lead in getting the final votes counted by the director team. She pulled at Xu Chengyue hard, her expression extremely distorted: “I, I, my god!! Fu Yang, he…”

Xu Chengyue’s expression was solemn: “Is it too low? The first group to perform does not have an advantage.”

Qu Xue shook her head, almost shocked her chin off, “Fu Yang, a landslide victory.”

“Not only are the votes the highest in their group, but he is also twice as high as the highest-voted member in all the groups that just performed! Their group also made it into first place!”

Xu Chengyue breathed a sigh of relief and nodded, “He deserves it.”

Fu Yang really had an audience affinity, was motivated and hardworking, sincere and kind, had correct values, and was handsome. Who wouldn’t like such a person?

Everything ended at 10 PM.

All the groups had finished performing, standing on the stage in rows, waiting for the final result.

Qu Xue walked onto the stage with the cue card and announced, “Congratulations to the winners in the first public performance group PK: Heart Wall, Stock, Last Night, and Ordinary Love! Congratulations to the members of these 4 groups for directly advancing.”

“Congratulations to Fu Yang of the Ordinary Love group for winning the title of Popularity King in this public performance!”

“At the same time, Fu Yang also completed a hidden mission, achieving the highest achievement in the practice room practice time during the theme song assessment and the first public performance, and will receive a solo overtime during the second performance!”

“Effort will not be in vain, practice always has rewards, not afraid of the sharp edge, bravely go forward, the first public performance of the Sharp Edge Era comes to an end, thank you for your support! See you in the second performance~”

The crowd was boiling, screams surged, and at the moment of the announcement, Fu Yang’s name rushed to the hot search, a bloody counterattack.

The youth in the center of the stage was shrouded in spotlights, full of starlight, shining brightly.

Below the stage, Shangguan Yaoguang stood behind Xu Chengyue, watching the appreciation almost overflowing from his eyes.

He was afraid that Xu Chengyue’s gaze would stay on him, and he was afraid that Xu Chengyue’s gaze would not be on him.

Shangguan Yaoguang loathed this tangled, cowardly, and awkward self.

“Are you going back to the hotel tonight?” he said softly.

Xu Chengyue nodded slowly, refocusing his gaze on Shangguan Yaoguang, “It should be very cold outside, take a scarf.”

Shangguan Yaoguang stared at his back and said deliberately, “I don’t have one.”

Behind Xu Chengyue, Fu Yang was excitedly and excitedly hugging his teammates, celebrating before walking off the stage, looking around.

He remembered that Xu Chengyue was standing here just now.

Fu Yang passed through the messy costume area and finally saw a familiar back view. Xu Chengyue was wearing a khaki coat today, the wool material looked very warm. He saw him take off the cold brown scarf that was stained with his body temperature and slowly wrap it around the neck of the tall youth opposite him.

The two walked out side by side.

Outside the venue, many stalls smelled the business opportunity, with stalls selling glow sticks and support items, and also selling roses.

He saw the taller youth say something, and the slightly shorter youth stopped in front of the rose stall, bought a bouquet, and handed it to the other’s arms.

“What are you looking at? Let’s pack up and go back.” Chu Sheng suddenly appeared behind Fu Yang and said.

Following his gaze forward, “Senior brothers? They’re going back so early. I was going to invite them to a celebration party.”

“Damn, what are they holding?! Roses!!”

“Damn, are they really a couple?”

“Academic god, what’s your expression? Why aren’t you talking?”

Until the two of them walked farther and farther away, about to disappear from sight…

Fu Yang put his hands to his mouth and shouted loudly:

“Xu Chengyue!”