SWNOVELXO Chapter 36 - Show us a dance then
On stage, the judges were still giving feedback on Nagi’s group.
One of the professional music critics, known for being sharp-tongued, didn’t hold back. “You are called Linlin, right? Your voice is too sharp; honestly, it was unpleasant to listen to. It really ruins the beauty of the song.”
Qiu Honglin, another judge holding a printed copy of the lyrics, was more generous with his praise. “The lyrics of this song are well-written, truly high-quality. Nagi, you are undoubtedly a natural-born talent. Your handling of the high notes was perfect.”
Upon hearing the words ‘natural-born talent,’ Nagi thought of Zhou Lanlan and suddenly found the term less annoying than before.
“Linlin might not be a professional singer and probably hasn’t had much formal training, so she’s a little behind compared to Nagi. But it didn’t affect the performance. I’m happy for both of you.”
The professional judges had been notoriously harsh, bringing six out of the eight groups to tears. Linlin, whose eyes were now brimming with tears, seemed to be on the verge of breaking down as well.
Once the scores were in, Nagi’s group ranked second compared to the first six groups, bringing a wave of relief.
Next up, it was Zhou Lanlan and Xuan Ke’s turn to perform.
They had chosen Fu Bai’s song “Humidity” but had re-arranged it, making it more challenging.
The original version was a heart-wrenching lament about familial loss, pulling listeners into a deep ocean of sorrow, drowning them in the grief of losing a loved one. The re-arranged version, however, expressed a hand reaching out in despair, offering a healing gift amidst the pain.
Their rendition conveyed a message: life continues to move forward. Don’t lose yourself in the cold, damp sadness. Ahead, there’s a gentle breeze and clear, sunny skies.
Even so, the judges didn’t miss any opportunity to critique.
“Can you explain why you chose Fu Bai’s song for this performance? What were you trying to express? Because when I listened to your performance, I didn’t hear what I was looking for.”
Zhou Lanlan responded with a soft smile. “Really? You can’t even understand this?”
Watching from the audience, Nagi thought to herself: Wow, this girl really doesn’t hold back with anyone, does she?
Zhou Lanlan continued, “This song is about mourning the loss of a loved one. It was written by mentor Fu Bai during a very personal time, and we re-arranged it as a gift for him. We wanted to wish him happiness every day.”
This song had been written by Fu Bai after the passing of his mother, and both the lyrics and composition carried deep sorrow and longing. When Zhou Lanlan’s group initially selected the song, Fu Bai had been resistant, but after hearing their re-arranged demo, he eventually supported their choice.
With a gentle smile, Zhou Lanlan turned to the critic and asked, “Any more questions?”
The critic’s face darkened. “I just don’t like how you used such a personal, painful experience to gain attention. That’s all I have to say. Thank you.”
Saying so, he put down the microphone.
The final score results were announced, and their overall ranking was third place, advancing them to the next round.
Zhou LanLan and Xuan Ke bowed to the audience before stepping off the stage.
The host reappeared on stage, holding a microphone and script in hand. “Let’s give another round of applause for the last group, Zhou LanLan and Xuan Ke!”
“With that, the music track portion of the competition has come to an end. This is an arena; there are winners and losers, but it doesn’t mean anyone performed poorly. I hope the contestants can adjust their mindsets and wish you all the best in the future.”
“I’m holding the final advancement list for the music track right now, but I’ll reveal it together after the dance track has concluded.”
“So, let’s welcome the first group of contestants for the dance track!”
【Ahhh! Tang XiaoYuan! My precious girl~】
【How dare you call her that! Aren’t you afraid Sister Jiang will come after you with a knife?】
【Even though we’ve already seen plenty of shots of them, seriously, how can these two faces be so stunning?】
【The three of us will be together forever.】
Standing on stage, Tang Yuan exuded innate confidence with every move, her expressions filled with a captivating charm. Her slender figure, paired with a sensual outfit, was illuminated softly by the stage lights, making her seem otherworldly.
Jiang Zi stood beside her, half a step behind, her gaze never leaving Tang Yuan. Looking so dazzling, who wouldn’t be drawn to her?
But no matter how much anyone liked her, no one could take her away from her.
The music for “Troublemaker” started.
(TL: The Dance is something like this, check it out! Link)
After hundreds of rehearsals, their dance movements were effortlessly smooth, each glance between them spreading an unspoken air of intimacy.
Every movement was bold, and the two drew closer with the beat of the music, their eyes locking in a subtle, electric connection. Tang Yuan swayed her hips to the rhythm while Jiang Zi, with her hand wrapped in black bandages, slid it around Tang Yuan’s waist. As she gazed down at her, the possessiveness in her eyes was unreservedly shown.
Jiang Zi’s hand moved from Tang Yuan’s waist to her hips, then to her legs, as the two swapped places, dancing from the left to the right side of the stage.
Their bodies moved in sync with the beats, the dancers’ graceful figures and powerful moves fully on display. As they leaned closer, their breaths intertwined, and when their chests pressed together, they could feel each other’s heartbeat.
As the final note of the music ended, they struck their last pose.
Thunderous applause erupted from the audience.
Tang Yuan and Jiang Zi both bowed deeply.
The four mentors in the audience wore satisfied expressions, with Hou YuanZhan’s face practically glowing with pride, the words “that’s my star student” written all over it.
He picked up the microphone from the table. “Erm, Jiang Zi, are you worried about Tang Yuan catching a chill on her stomach?”
Jiang Zi’s hand remained protectively on Tang Yuan’s waist.
After hearing Hou YuanZhan’s remark, instead of letting go, she casually followed, nodding slightly with a soft “Yes.”
The audience burst into laughter.
【Seriously, Sister Jiang…】
【Oh my god, my heart’s racing! Tang XiaoYuan’s face is flushed, and there’s sweat on her neck!】
【I swear, it’s so sweet that I feel that this scene needs a censorship warning just to pass the review, haha!】
【This time, I want to see what kind of nonsense the judging panel will come up with.】
The judges were known for not sparing anyone, attacking every contestant equally. One of them picked up a microphone and stood up.
“Sorry, what I’m about to say might be a bit harsh. The truth is, this dance you chose doesn’t require much skill. The difficulty level is pretty low. While the audience’s reaction was enthusiastic, that just shows it was more about flashy appeal rather than real substance.”
“In my view, this performance doesn’t pass the bar. I prefer dances that showcase actual skill.”
Tang Yuan felt the hand around her waist tighten slightly.
She bit her lip, just about to raise her microphone to respond.
But then, a low, deep voice interrupted, calm and unhurried, “How about you show us a dance then?”
The entire venue fell silent.
Every one searched for the source of the voice.
The camera shifted to the panel of judges, focusing on the entertainment company executive, Tang Gu, now in the spotlight.
He held a pen in his hand, with a stack of documents on the table before him. He lifted his gaze slightly to the man standing and speaking earlier. Though his tone was mild and his face expressionless, the pressure he exuded was palpable.