s, they need to make time to rehearse together these days.But after a few people from Team K went inside, the atmosphere in the practice room became somewhat heavy.The two teams occupied opposite side...The showcase for the trainees on this day, number 23rd, was held at a literary and artistic hall called 'rollghit' in Cheongdam-dong, Gangnam-gu.

Because of its convenient location and well-equipped facilities and services, ** has had a long-term partnership with this venue, which has hosted numerous practice showcases for trainees here.

This time it is jointly hosted by ** and JYP, both sides' trainees have many performance stages, ordinary venues are a little small, so this will use the art hall with the largest area and audience capacity.

Speaking of which, the reason why these two companies decided to jointly host this showcase has something to do with Chi Jingyuan.

It was because he had a prior agreement with Suzy Bae. During the negotiations, JYP’s willingness and sincerity to collaborate were very high, giving ** an advantage.

Since then, the connection between the two companies has deepened considerably. This time, it was because JYP is preparing to launch a new girl group next year, and ** recently also had ideas for a new girl group. The two sides hit it off and decided to hold this showcase together, to train the trainees and get a feel for each other's strengths.

The performance officially begins at 7:00 PM, and now it's well past 3:00 PM. The two backstage dressing rooms, specially equipped for the venue, are already bustling with activity.

This female practice room is very spacious, and basically all the female trainees are gathered here. Besides them, there are also a few male trainees. They came over because the male practice room next door was too small and overcrowded, so they came to rest here temporarily.

On one side of the waiting room, against the wall, there was a row of dressing tables and chairs. At this moment, they were all occupied by people getting their makeup done by a DY artist.

On the left side, there were plenty of chairs and sofas, all filled with people. These are the trainees who came today to learn from their senior colleagues in the company, experiencing the atmosphere firsthand, as there was no stage performance scheduled.

Everyone in the room was huddled together, talking in hushed tones.

The trainees from the two companies had already greeted each other and exchanged pleasantries. Although they weren't very familiar with each other and didn't have much interaction, the atmosphere was quite harmonious.

Originally, the K-Pop music scene was relatively small, and ** and JYP Entertainment's buildings were located very close to each other. Many trainees knew each other privately, and many had even attended the same school and were roughly the same age. As a result, there weren't any significant barriers or divisions between them.

Moreover, trainees from different companies don't have a direct competitive relationship due to their debut. The conflict of interest between them is not as great as that among those in the same company. Some even like to befriend trainees from other companies.

"It's Lena's turn."

"Here I am."

Just finished styling her hair, Lim Na Yeon stood up from in front of the mirror and shouted to her friend beside her, then stepped aside and walked towards a small sofa not far away.

Yu Didingyan and Park Jihyo on the sofa simultaneously shifted to both sides, making room in the middle. Lin Na-yeon walked over and sat down with a thump, stretching languidly and moving about comfortably.

The three of them are all members of 6MIX, JYP's new girl group. They have a close relationship among the many trainees and are considered a fairly well-known small group within JYP.

"Eonni, if our stage this time is obviously not as good as **'s, won't we be scolded when we go back"

Yu Dingyan looked at Lim Na-yeon, who had finished her makeup, and applauded, saying she looked very good. Then he asked with some concern.

"I'm sure I'll get scolded. Although they didn't say it explicitly, the company definitely wants to compare us. We are still trainees preparing for our debut as a girl group. If we even lose to other trainees, it will be embarrassing."

Puyi patted his chest and said with conviction.

They've been chatting for ages after finishing their makeup, a little nervous about the showcase tonight. After all, everyone from ** is going to be there.

"By the way, Nayeon unnie, do you know anyone over at **"

After a while, Yu Dingyan asked a question.

Of course.

Lin Na-yeon glanced to the side and happened to see Jiang Se-qi, who was sitting on a sofa a few meters away from them, also looking over. After their eyes met, they both smiled and waved at each other, then looked away.

"Knowing each other, of course, we know each other, but we're not very familiar... I have a few close friends at YG."

Lin Na Yeon casually scanned the surroundings and then mumbled in response.

"Then you're much stronger than me. I don't even know anyone..."

…………

And at this time, Zhou Tzuyu and Kong Xue who were sitting on the left side of the lounge were whispering to each other.

Zhou Tzuyu was wearing a long, navy blue down jacket at the time. The hem reached her knees, completely enveloping her. However, because the indoor heating was quite strong, it got a bit warm, so she unzipped it to reveal a close-fitting turtleneck underneath.

Wearing a white baseball cap, the brim of which was turned up slightly, she had very little makeup on her pale face. Her long, straight black hair extended from both sides of the hat and draped down to her shoulders.

What's eye-catching is that a cute pink Jigglypuff, instantly recognizable from the classic anime Pokémon, is printed in the middle of her hat.

The two of them didn't have a stage performance today. At this time, they were sitting on the small sofa watching their seniors who were nervously applying makeup and those who had just finished rehearsals and were back to rest, panting. Their eyes were filled with envy.

To be a trainee is to aim for debut, to stand on stage and perform in front of everyone. So having your own stage performance at the showcase is very tempting for every trainee.

It's a pity that Tzuyu only practiced for less than a year and her Korean is still not fluent. She also doesn't know when she will be able to participate in this showcase.

She can only come to add flavor to the atmosphere for now, feel it out, and when the official performance begins, she'll be in the audience clapping along.

To be honest, although she understood this arrangement, Tzuyu felt a bit resentful inside.

Actually, it's not just her. Every person who can't get on the field feels this way.

"I feel like all the seniors look so energetic today..."

Kong Xue observed for a long time, sighed and said: "If we could go on stage too, I'd also like to let dy do a styling and go to rehearsal."

“…………”

Zhou Tzuyu pursed her lips slightly upon hearing this, and with eyes that were as lively as PADI's, she glanced at the trainees practicing in the distance before softly agreeing, "Me too."

"Too bad, I'll just have to wait for the next opportunity."

Kong Xue shook her head helplessly, sorted out her emotions, and suddenly remembered something. She looked at Zhou Tzuyu: "By the way, Tzuyu, I asked you last time but you didn't say, where did you buy this hat"

"Your hat with the Jigglypuff on it is so cute, and the craftsmanship is really good! I love Pokemon a lot too, and I'd love to buy one like yours. But I looked everywhere and it seems like there isn't this exact same hat available on the market."

Talking about this, Kong Xue looked at Zhou Tzuyu's hat with some longing for a long time. She stared so intently that Zhou Tzuyu felt a little awkward and couldn't help but reach out to tighten her hat.

"This is... a gift from a friend. I don't know where he bought it." After thinking for a moment, Zhou Tzuyu answered carefully.

"A gift Oh well, there's nothing to be done about it. If you have the chance next time, could you ask him for me... You friend has really good taste, this hat looks great on you. Don't you think you resemble Pudge a bit"

With a helpless sigh, Kong Xue looked at the other person with some envy.

"Hehe..." Zhou Tzuyu let out a slightly smug giggle after hearing this, touching the brim of her hat: "I really like this pattern too, it's cute, right"

"So cute."

KONG Xue nodded in acknowledgement, reluctantly pulling her gaze from the hat and then taking a good look at the ** trainees sitting in the distance.

"There are a lot of people here at ** today, I wonder if there are any from our country. I'd really like to meet some."

"But ** is really something, the trainees there are all pretty, especially that girl there, Tzuyu did you see The one sitting on the sofa playing with her phone, wow she's really beautiful."

Following Kong Xue's gaze, Zhou Tzuyu also looked over and nodded lightly: "It's very beautiful."

Actually, she noticed it right when they first met, that senior's face was really eye-catching even among all the outstanding trainees.

"But Tzuyu, you're also very pretty... just a little darker skinned." Kong Xue turned her head to look at her, her expression very serious.

“You… you’re such a jerk!” She had been quite happy before, but that last sentence made Zhou Tzuyu frown and lightly hit her.

"Haha, that's the way it is………Oh, look, that pretty female trainee just ran out. What do you think she's going to do"

Kong Xue laughed and dodged, then her peripheral vision suddenly caught the person they had been observing for a long time getting up from the sofa and quickly leaving the lounge, their destination unknown.

"Who cares what other people do, and besides, I'm not blacklisted! "

…………

"Since I've won, it's your turn now."

"Here I come."

Originally, Irene and Seulgi were chatting animatedly. After Seungwan finished being styled, the small group was left with only Seulgi and Irene sitting on the sofa.

Pei Zhuxuan didn't talk much. After putting on her makeup, she wrapped herself in a coat and nestled on the sofa. She held her phone in her hand but didn't play with it. She just kept clutching it, occasionally unlocking it to take a glance, then locking it again.

"He's not here yet" Jiang Seqi asked after seeing this, and then continued after seeing Pei Zhuxuan shake her head: "It's normal, EXO is very busy, it's not strange for the performance to start late. It's already great that Jingyuan could make time,"

Jiang Shiqi wasn't that impatient. She was, of course, happy that Chi Jingyuan came, after all, it had been a long time since they'd seen each other. She completely understood if he was late or couldn't come; just hearing the rumors made her think EXO's schedule was incredibly demanding.

She glanced around somewhat boredly, and her gaze happened to meet that of Lin Na-yeon, whom she had already known before. She smiled and greeted her.

"Oni, aren't those people over there the new girl group that JYP announced a few days ago"

After withdrawing her gaze, Jiang Seqi couldn't help but look again. She lightly pushed Bae Suzy and breathed in with envy: "It's really good that you're confirmed to debut."

In November, JYPCorp and JYPE merged to form the new JYP. A month after the merger, they released an announcement stating, 'The most beautiful six-member girl group of all time in JYP history, 6MIX, will be making its debut in April 2014.'

JYP, known for cultivating girl groups, is about to launch a new one, naturally attracting a lot of attention. Chaeryeong and the others naturally know about it too, and they are very much looking forward to the prospect of predebuting as a 6-member group with Im Nayoung.

And Pei Zhuxuan, hearing this, also raised her eyes to look over. She seemed to have thought of herself again, her expression somewhat complex.

Suddenly, her phone screen flickered and vibrated. Pei Zhuxuan was startled and quickly opened it, her eyes lighting up as she said, “It’s here.”

"Has Jingyuan arrived"

"Inside, he said he was at the entrance of the hall now."

P.O stepped forward, nodded her head and quickly pulled her outer coat over herself. She left a phrase "I'll go pick him up" then stood up and walked out with short strides.

"Well, what's the rush for..."

Jiang Seqi looked at Pei Zhuxuan's back and couldn't help but curl her lips down.

Although she was a little annoyed that he came early, when she heard that Ji Jingyuan had arrived ahead of schedule, she was actually quite happy. She couldn't help but cross her legs, brushed her phone while waiting, and hummed a light tune.

…………

Ji Jingyuan got out of the car and, while saying goodbye to Park Jae-hyun, made an appointment to pick him up after they were finished.

Looking at the scattered snowflakes falling in the sky, he, who had already put on a mask, gently exhaled.

This morning I went to the company right away. Now, I've been rehearsing with the members for a few hours, and then he went off to do his own schedule. He just finished a photoshoot and an interview before coming here.

She went back to change her clothes and take off her makeup before rushing over.

There was originally a case for an ad shoot today, but it was pushed to the early morning by Ji Jingyuan.

Ji Jingyuan, who is tall with long legs, just got out of the car and stood at the entrance of the venue. In a short while, he attracted the attention of passersby nearby, and many people's eyes kept looking here.

Even with a hat and mask on, the person stood out. Their aura and overall presence were noticeably different from everyone else.

A robotic cat wearing a propeller beanie is mischievously sticking out its tongue in the middle of the hat. Its upper body is a camel-colored knitted turtleneck sweater paired with a white jacket that isn't zipped up. This jacket and the one Chi Jingyuan wore before are part of a series, featuring a Pikachu thunderbolt tail symbol on the chest.

They are all in light, muted tones. While they don't seem very impactful at first glance, the comfortable outfits and their personal outstanding temperament and figure make it impossible to look away.

The blue, chubby figure with the sticking-out tongue on the hat and the light-colored clothes create a funny sense of contrast. It's snowing today, which makes it even more fitting.

Ji Jingyuan didn't stop at the door; he went straight in and sat on the sofa in the hall, took out his phone and pressed a few buttons to send a message. After a while, he saw Pei Zhuxuan running over.

Seeing Ji Chang-wook's gaze turn towards her, Bae Ju-hyeon smiled from ten meters away and waved. She quickened her pace and ran to stand in front of him.

“Jiwon,” Ji-seung said, blinking at him.

"Jingyuan xi!" Bae Joohyun also blinked at her.

They looked at each other and laughed at the same time. Bae Joo-hyun covered her mouth and looked very happy.

Looking at the close-up Park Jihyun, Ki Kyungwon couldn't help but give a thumbs up in his heart.

Pei Zhuhyun had finished her styling at this point. Her slightly wavy hair was tied into a ponytail hanging behind her head, with strands playfully sticking out and falling over her shoulders to the collarbone.

She was wearing a light-colored stage outfit similar to a cheerleading uniform, with a large, oversized thick coat on the outside. It looked very warm, but also a little silly.

With makeup, her features are brought to life, standing out. Her eyes sparkle, and her lips, glossed with lipstick, gleam. The meticulous makeup makes her face seem to radiate.

At this moment, Pei Joo-hyeon looked rather stunning to Ji Kyeong-won. Besides feeling that the other person's eye makeup wasn't very suitable.

Of course, that's just the case when you only look at faces.

"It's beautiful."

He sincerely praised him.

Hearing sincere praise from others always brightens one's mood, especially when it comes from Ji Jingyuan. Upon hearing this, Pei Zhuxuan smiled happily and smoothed her hair as she said in a lighthearted manner, "Let's go, I'll take you inside. Let's sit backstage for a while, Seqi and the others are there too."

"Inside, thank you so much senior. I've never been here before, without you leading the way I would have probably gotten lost."

Chi Jingyuan stood up and walked beside her, the two of them walking side by side after just a few steps.

"The company often holds trainee showcase events here, so you're the only one who hasn't been here before because you're new."

Pei Zhuxuan turned her head to look at him, saying with annoyance.

Since they got to know each other and became familiar, she has been able to treat Chi Jingyuan's airdrop attributes very naturally.

Seeing Ji Changwook shrug his shoulders with an air of "I'm a parachutist, I'm honored," Bae Joohyun glared at him playfully, then subtly straightened her back and neck, making herself appear two centimeters taller. Then, a smile returned to her face as she asked sheepishly, "Does my makeup look good today"

She actually knows how she looks, she just wants to hear it again.

"It's nice, very beautiful."

Chi Jingyuan nodded, walking and watching her face seriously. "It really suits you, bringing out your facial features well. I just think this kind of all-encompassing eye makeup isn't quite right for you."

"Eye makeup... "

"Pei Zhuhyun immediately took out her phone and looked at the dimly lit screen: 'DY says this is the most popular eye makeup this year, and everyone else basically does it like this.'"

"As for Joohyun, I think this makeup will cover up some of the sparkle in your eyes."

"Are my eyes really alive My teacher always says my eyes are pretty deadpan..."

P.E.ZHUHYE first looked at her own eyes on the phone screen, then smiled and glanced at JI JINGYUAN: "Jingyuan xi is really good at flattering people."

"Maybe he's not exaggerating"

Chi Jingyuan tilted his head and looked at her, the two of them couldn't help but laugh together.

After a few brief exchanges, the two arrived at the door of the resting room. Pei Zhuxuan gently pushed open the slightly ajar door and led Ji Jingyuan inside.

Outside the door, the corridor felt a bit deserted. However, as soon as he stepped inside, Chi Jingyuan immediately felt a wave of warmth and noise wash over him. This doorway seemed to separate two worlds.

The lounge was actually quite crowded. There were dozens of male and female trainees alone, plus stylists (DY), and staff from some company sitting in the corner. The spacious lounge was packed to the brim.

After entering, Chi Jingyuan quickly scanned the scene but didn't have time to look closely because as soon as he walked in, he saw Jiang Seqi standing there jumping up and down, waving at him incessantly.

…………

" Tzuyu, that pretty ** trainee is back, eh Why's she with someone else at the back Oh, she's picking someone up. That's weird, aren't trainees supposed to come together And why is this person wearing a mask... Wait, I feel like I know this person..."

Kong Xue has always been quite interested in Pei Zhuhyun. She thinks this senior's looks are really beautiful, and as a girl, she finds her very pleasing to the eye.

Just now, when Pei Joo-hyuk suddenly ran out, Kong Xue became a little curious. Now that she saw her come back, her attention immediately shifted over, and soon her gaze settled on Ji Kyeongwon.

Although she is a fan of all boy groups, she still poured more enthusiasm into EXO, the hottest group right now. Even with a mask on, she quickly recognized Park Chanyeol and was just a little disbeliefed.

"Suyu…"

Kong Xue gently elbowed Zhou Tzuyu, pointing at the boy wearing a mask and said hesitantly, "Look at that masked boy, doesn't he resemble EXO's Yuan"

“…………”

At first, Zhou Tzuyu didn't pay much attention to the beautiful seniors. But after hearing Kong Xue's words, her eyes quickly darted past and landed on Ji Jingyuan. After a few seconds, her bright and spirited eyes widened suddenly, her mouth slightly agape, staring blankly in that direction.

…………

"Jingyuan!"

As soon as Pei Joo-hyuk and Ji Kyeong-won entered, Gian Seo-qi saw them. After they walked in, she squinted her eyes with a smile and greeted them cheerfully.

After walking closer, Chi Jingyuan also narrowed his eyes into a smile and happily reached out his right hand to wave it. The two of them smiled broadly and gave each other a hearty clap.

"How did you get here so early I thought you'd wait until after the show started."

"I just finished a run and got here as quickly as I could. I think the performance starts at 7 o'clock, right"

Pool Jingyuan spoke as he removed his mask. This was all the company's trainees, there was no need to put on a show like they did outside.

Taking off her mask, she felt like she could breathe so much easier. She looked up and down at Jiang Seqi, surprised and said, “I feel like you've grown a little taller Am I imagining things”

"Hehehe, you found me! I grew a little bit when I measured my height last time... Does it look obvious"

Jiang Shibaqi's cheeks were puffed out as she laughed, looking very amusing.

Pei Zhuxuan remained silent, smiling to indicate that she wasn't participating in this topic.

Three people sat naturally on the sofa. Ji Jingyuan sat on the left side of the sofa, putting his backpack behind him in the middle, and proactively maintained a certain social distance from Pei Zhuxuan in the middle.

"It's been a while, and I can really tell the difference now that we've met again. Everyday interactions probably make it harder to notice..."

Ji Jingyuan nodded, then glanced around, and asked with confusion, "What about Sheng Wan Isn't she here today..."

"Are you Yuan's senior from XO Ah jjia, it really is Yuan!"

"oo…"

"Senior, Annyeonghaseyo."

"Senior, Anihaseyo..."

Before Ji Jingyuan could finish speaking, he was interrupted. As he was already quite eye-catching, after taking off his mask and sitting on the sofa next to him, the ** trainee instantly recognized him. Their faces were filled with surprise, some even looked at him in disbelief for several times. After confirming it was him, they quickly got up and came over, bowing repeatedly.

Several were girls, and each person's bow was very standard. Looking at them, their eyes also had a bit of sparkle, and there was a feeling like fans seeing an idol.

"Hello, Anihasayou."

Seeing the several trainees suddenly approaching him, Li Jingyuan who was interrupted quickly withdrew his casual smile when speaking with Jiang Seqi. He put on a professional smile and nodded politely at them.

When it comes to entering the ** world, most trainees actually debuted earlier than Ji-seong. However, seniority in the entertainment industry is still determined by debut time.

Once, due to his unexpected debut, Ji-sung wasn't very popular among trainees. However, as time passed, especially after EXO and "Growl" became hugely successful, his image and reputation completely transformed into a positive one, becoming the focus of much discussion and admiration.

Discussions about senior groups within the company are a topic that many trainees often enjoy talking about in their free time. EXO and Yuan are the two names most frequently mentioned.

The trainees from nearby ** companies also soon discovered the arrival of Park Ji-yeong, all with surprised faces they hurried over to pay their respects and greet him. The crowd that surged forward surrounded them, creating a circle around them, which left Park Ji-yeong feeling a little overwhelmed.

Before their debut as an artist and trainee, if they weren't already very good friends, there was a very clear and uncrossable boundary between them. So even though they were in the same company, many people actually never met Ji-seong in real life.

Moreover, Chi Jingyuan is also the male protagonist of a popular drama, and his status as a top actor sets him apart from ordinary idols.

At this close proximity, seeing these EXO seniors in person, they all instantly felt a stark contrast that highlighted their superiority, as well as their unforgettable appearances and charisma.

After the special appearance and the several male trainees who stood beside him to greet him, many people realized that the difference between them was difficult to describe.

Even with no makeup, Ji Chang Wook's looks are beyond compare in EXO, even throughout the entire K-pop industry. Comparing him to others feels a little unfair…

Soon, the commotion here also attracted JYP's people, including Lim Nayoung and Yu Dingyan, as well as the neon group next to them. Everyone's attention was now focused on Ji-sung.

They didn't come over specifically, just politely stood up and bowed before sitting back down. However, their eyes were fixed on that spot, motionless.

"Yuan, the Yuan from EXO."

"No way, why would he be here To check out the showcase"

“I don't know, but it's rare for seniors to come and watch trainees' showcases...”

"Ding Yan, you don't know him Go say hello."

"I want to go too... but that's my unnie who knows him, and I don't know him."

But he's really handsome, this is still barefaced... As expected, it's even better to see him in person than on TV.

"I really want to get to know them…"

"...".

Let me know if you have any other text you'd like me to translate!

Suddenly, Ji Jingyuan became the center of attention in the entire lounge. The trainees, gathered in small groups, would steal glances at him while whispering amongst themselves. The murmurs quickly grew louder and more animated.

"Don't hang around here, go back to your own places."

Chi Jingyuan saw this group of ** trainees gathered here with no intention of leaving, so he proactively waved his hand to signal them to disperse.

He came to fulfill his promise with Jeon Somi to watch their performance and catch up with old friends. It's not like he's here to intimidate these trainees.

He had no interest in the latter.

"Your popularity is really high, it feels like we've all been looked upon favorably."

After the crowd dispersed, attention remained fixed on him. Bae Joohyun, who had been uncomfortably surrounded just moments ago, let out a breath and spoke in a complicated tone.

Even if I'm not here, with your seniority and looks, wouldn't it be normal to stand out

Ji Jingyuan looked at her and casually praised her, making Pei Zhuxuan blink and smile as she playfully patted him.

"Jing Yuan, why do you call Joohyuk unnie senior" Kang Se-bi looked at the two of them separately and asked curiously.

"That's a good name... Oh, right, I was just asking you earlier, what did you do after winning" Ji Jingyuan casually explained and then looked around for Sun Shengwan's figure.

It was her turn to get her hair and makeup done. She was over there, getting ready. Come on, I'll take you over there..."

Ginger Che pointed towards that makeup table, about seven or eight meters away from them. It was quite close to the resting area for the JYP trainees.

At this moment, all the makeup stations were full of people. The makeup artists were seriously and attentively applying makeup to them. Although the previous commotion had also affected them, they didn't stop working with their hands.

"Come on, let's go see her. I haven't seen her in ages."

Ji Jingyuan nodded, then stood up and followed Jiang Seqi. Pei Zhuxuan trailed behind them closely.

After taking just a few steps, Chi Jingyuan arrived in front of the dressing table mirror. Looking at the somewhat familiar face in the mirror, he exclaimed in surprise:

Are you Sun Shengwan

(

First published on the Traditional Chinese Novel Networkof anger.Because she confirmed that Park Ji-won is really popular with female idols in the industry, he was already quite sought after last year. Today, after EXO became a huge hit, he has become a ho...