SWNOVELXO Chapter 37 - Eliminated
Tang Gu spun the pen in his hand, round and round. “From what you’re saying, this dance isn’t that hard. I guess it wouldn’t be difficult to perform a short routine, would it?”
The man on the judging panel turned pale, then flushed. Even his hand, which had just put down the microphone, trembled slightly. He was only reading the program script, but now he was in deep trouble.
This was Tang Gu, after all. Would he even be able to continue in this line of work?
“I admit I was too subjective, and my choice of words was biased. I apologize.”
This show was pretty good; filming it made him feel youthful again. But now, it felt like he was being treated as a grandson.
Of the eight groups in the music track, none of the high-ranking executives from the entertainment companies had spoken up—until now.
Tang Gu shifted his gaze away, not even glancing at Tang Yuan, as if his comment had been made casually and he wasn’t really familiar with her.
【Wow, Brother Tang is so cool, protecting his sister like a boss!】
【He even knows how to step back to avoid suspicion, huh? Afraid people might gossip that his sister’s relying on connections?】
【Honestly, that judge was being rude. Brother Tang didn’t say anything too harsh. He just suggested the judge try dancing himself.】
【Wait, is someone still going to defend him?】
“Everyone has different tastes. There’s nothing wrong with being honest.”
The camera cut to Chu Yu.
As usual, his aloof and arrogant expression filled the screen as though he alone ruled the world. His sharp, chiselled features were strikingly handsome, his eyes cold as ice as they locked onto Jiang Zi, who stood next to Tang Yuan.
No wonder he was the male lead; his entrance was so grand that the comments were silenced for a full three seconds.
Tang Yuan glanced up at him, irritated, and all she could think was how she wanted to gouge out his lifeless eyes. Who the hell is he staring at?!
Noticing Tang Yuan edging closer to her, Jiang Zi smugly curled her lips into a slight smile.
Chu Yu was really angry—not because Tang Gu had stepped up to defend Tang Yuan, but because of the change in Jiang Zi.
The Jiang Zi he once knew was as beautiful as jade, ethereal as an immortal. She always wore a spotless white dress, exuding an otherworldly charm. Though her demeanour was often cold, she was like a snow lotus on a distant icy peak, pure and untouchable. To him, her every move had been fatally alluring.
That was the Jiang Zi he liked.
It had only been a few days since he had seen her, and there wasn’t even half a shadow of her former self in her!
How could she let herself become like this?!
Chu Yu’s gaze was so intense and obvious that the netizens, watching the show closely, sensed something was off.
【What’s up with President Chu? Who’s he staring at?】
【Could the rumours on the internet be true? A love triangle between Chu Yu, Jiang Zi, and Tang Yuan?】
【Rumours say Chu Yu and Jiang Zi are in love, but Tang Yuan meddled, trying to win Chu Yu’s affection and persecuting Jiang Zi.】
【Um… but, it seems more like Jiang Zi and Tang Yuan are in love, and Chu Yu is the one interfering.】
Chu Yu continued, “Similarly, I don’t appreciate your performance today.”
“All I saw in your dance were three words: unbearable to watch.”
As soon as he said this, many in the arena audibly gasped.
After all, the main sponsor of this show was Qiaochu Entertainment, and here was their boss bluntly declaring his dislike for the performance. Was there even a point in continuing the competition?
Jiang Zi slowly released the arm she had draped around Tang Yuan’s waist and took a small step forward, leaving Tang Yuan to face only her back.
Her heartbeat thundered in her ears. She didn’t dare stay too close to Tang Yuan, afraid that she might sense something was wrong.
It was as if her mind had been pierced by a thousand needles, the pain sharp and unrelenting.
[Go and apologize. You can’t be abandoned by him…]
[If you just lower your head, you can return to his side.]
[Don’t be stubborn. This is your destined love. Wouldn’t it be better to be with him?]
[You two are meant for each other. In the future, he will love and protect you, and you’ll be the most cherished, most noble woman.]
Jiang Zi’s face was slightly pale, but her expression remained cold and indifferent. No matter how much that voice tried to sway her, she remained unmoved.
Seeing Jiang Zi step forward, a flicker of hope crossed Chu Yu’s eyes. Was she finally about to admit her mistake?
If her attitude was sincere enough, he might consider forgiving her, allowing her back by his side.
But Jiang Zi’s words shattered his illusion.
“No one cares whether you like it or not.”
“Your opinion doesn’t matter at all. You’re not my audience.” She wasn’t just talking about the dance, and Chu Yu understood perfectly.
“My opinion doesn’t matter?” Chu Yu leaned back with a haughty posture. Since Jiang Zi didn’t treasure this chance, he would make sure she realized that without him, she wouldn’t get far.
He pointed a finger at Jiang Zi and then at Tang Yuan. “In that case, I regret to inform you that neither of you will have the chance to continue in this competition.”
Today was just the beginning.
He was going to push Jiang Zi to the edge, forcing her to crawl back to him, begging for his mercy.
Since she wouldn’t comply, he had plenty of ways to make someone obedient.
Tang Yuan couldn’t help but roll her eyes at his arrogant, holier-than-thou attitude. She stepped forward, grabbing Jiang Zi’s hand. “As if anyone cares.”
Jiang Zi remained silent, slowly raising her hand with stiff, puppet-like movements, though without hesitation. She tore off the number tag hanging from her shoulder, opened her palm, and let the yellow circular card fall to the ground. With a light step, she crushed it beneath her foot as if stomping on Chu Yu’s face.
Chu Yu’s expression instantly darkened, as if a footprint had appeared on his face.
At that moment, Tang Gu also spoke up, his tone casual but piercing. “Acting like my sister needs to rely on you for a living.”
His words, spoken lightly, delivered a heavy blow to Chu Yu.
The Tang family—still as infuriating as ever!
The fact that the competition had devolved into such a spectacle was beyond anyone’s expectations. This was already considered a major incident, especially for a live broadcast.
Yet the stream continued uninterrupted, broadcasting the scene online. The viewership skyrocketed, with waves of curious onlookers flooding in to witness the drama.
Everyone watching had to admit—this was intense. People thought Zhou Lanlan was already arrogant enough, but these two girls took it to another level, openly confronting the organizers.
【Tang Yuan can just go home and inherit her family’s fortune, but what about Jiang Zi?】
【So what if someone criticized their performance? Can’t people voice their dislike anymore? Getting so upset, young people these days.】
【Criticism? He literally said the performance was unbearable. Would you be able to tolerate that?】
【It doesn’t sound like he was just critiquing the performance. Feels like there’s also some personal grudge.】
【No matter what, their scores were high enough to advance. What a shame.】
【This drama is going off the rails like a runaway horse. If they’re out, what am I going to watch!】
【Is this scripted? It’s too outrageous.】
But then, the audience saw Tang Gu stand up, gather the documents from the table, and pack them into his bag before leaving the panel altogether.
Oh, he was serious.
Jiang Zi and Tang Yuan were really eliminated right under Chu Yu’s words and in front of the live broadcast.
The viewers were left completely dumbfounded.