CEO's Sweetheart is a Super Idol

Chapter 253 - 246 Half a Performance

The group led by Qiang Yueting wasn’t running around like the others because they were wearing wedding dresses.

This group could be considered the weakest in terms of vocal ability.

They lacked members like Li Zimeng and Zhang Zijing who could command the stage.

Moreover, they had members who were dragging them down, like Natasha and Luo Tianwu.

Qiang Yueting and Gou Xueying were about the same level, and Liu Lixian was decent too.

The most popular member in this group was Qiang Yueting.

She had a background in bel canto and decent natural talent.

Her most captivating moment was during the first episode when she competed against Guo Xia.

After that, due to her lack of flair for variety shows, she rarely got screen time.

The moments she did get often emphasized her strong abilities and desire to enter Class A.

At first, the audience found her determination inspiring, but over time, they grew tired of it.

This approach was a major misstep, though it was her company’s strategy.

Previously, in another program with a low impact but decent brand recognition, she secured a good ranking. Her company wanted to leverage this to prove her strength.

Crucially, the creator of that program was about to take over the management of this show’s girl group post-debut.

Otherwise, Qiang Yueting’s repeated mentions of her previous program wouldn’t have made it to air.

Her management completely miscalculated. Instead of gaining fans, this tactic made her come across as a jaded competition veteran.

What matters most for variety show contestants is a sense of freshness.

What caused her to hemorrhage fans the most was repeatedly declaring she would enter Class A, but failing to demonstrate the ability or popularity to back it up.

Gou Xueying was walking while recalling the events from a few days ago during training.

"Among you, who has sung ’Alternative’?" Tian Jiaxuan asked.

Heart racing, Gou Xueying raised her hand.

"That performance made me remember your voice. You have to work hard!"

"Got it!"

Gou Xueying nodded, feeling proud. Had her skills finally been recognized?

She silently resolved to work harder and aim higher.

In truth, this was just a setup by the production team.

Privately, many trainees often complained they had the skills but lacked the opportunity to showcase them, unlike those who were good at crafting personas.

Such comments could dampen morale among the mentors and trainees, besides skewing public opinion in a negative direction.

Some ill-intentioned individuals might even claim that the final girl group Pheasant was based purely on personas rather than ability.

Instructor Zhang Wei smiled and said, "Those last two lines sung by Liu Lixian were actually pretty good."

Charming and gentle in demeanor, with smoky, dreamy eyes, Liu Lixian nodded slightly, a bit nervous.

Her low popularity had led to a lack of confidence in herself.

To train their emotional depth for the song, the group had practiced in front of the large posters of the mentors in the rehearsal room.

It was somewhat melancholic—must they rely on male mentors to feel love and sorrow?

Their stage lighting was decent, using the warm tones of dusk, with billowing clouds of nitrogen gas resembling stray white clouds.

The performance opened with piano as the lead instrument. When the somber and melancholic melody began, Gou Xueying started her section.

Her voice was clear and pure, though her breath control left much to be desired.

Next was Liu Lixian, whose voice had a touch of magnetism and decent technical skill.

Her vocal technique was commendable, employing chest resonance.

Combined with her high charisma and alluring demeanor, the audience immediately fell for her, suddenly realizing how beautiful she was compared to others in the program.

The song’s first four bars were simple but beautifully executed by the pair.

Next up was Luo Tianwu’s solo section, but due to her lacking vocal skill, she had to harmonize with Liu Lixian.

Gou Xueying resumed her second solo, raising the key by two steps.

Her bright vocal tone fully shone through.

Liu Lixian harmonized for her as well. Under the dim, warm lighting, the two resembled forlorn souls walking down a lamppost-lit lane.

At this point, the atmosphere of the song was vividly established for the audience.

Luo Tianwu finally had two short solo lines.

Her voice was too plain. The moment she sang, the mood created earlier was completely ruined.

Next up was Natasha, whose average talent and brash, unrefined voice relied entirely on sheer volume to belt out the high notes, but it lacked any beauty.

Standing in the center wearing a crown, Qiang Yueting joined in for the chorus.

This section, meant to be vibrant and lively, was completely spoiled by her.

Her pitch was accurate and her enunciation clear.

However, her tone was grating, and together with her average appearance, it made the audience feel an urge to leave.

Next came Luo Tianwu again. This time, she tried pop vocal techniques and performed slightly better, but Natasha, following her, sang off-key.

Even worse, Qiang Yueting, likely trying to showcase her vocal prowess, attempted to belt a high note in the next chorus section.

However, her weak breath support was glaringly exposed, making it sound like she was gasping for air but couldn’t catch her breath.

The group harmony that followed was a mess, with their vocal tones mismatched. Among them, Qiang Yueting’s voice was the most jarring.

Overall, this group’s rendition of the song was a failure.

In the beginning, Liu Lixian and Gou Xueying brought out the song’s emotional depth, but the other three members ruined the picturesque beauty later on.

Had only those two sung the song, it might have been much better, as there were complementary qualities in their voices.

The song itself was a lyrical ballad, with beautiful piano accompaniment and an elegant original vocal line.

The production team evidently considered this, giving them wedding dresses and well-designed stage lighting. However, the ultimate presentation of a stage relies on the performers.

"They captivated the entire stage—what a beautiful moment," Tian Jiaxuan said hypocritically as she walked onstage.

The five girls, however, were delighted, genuinely believing they had performed well.

"It’s as if they’re donning wedding dresses, longing for everlasting love," Tian Jiaxuan said softly to the audience.

"I’d like to ask Zhang Wei—do you feel like a father giving away his daughters?"

Tian Jiaxuan’s question left Zhang Wei both amused and helpless, as he was only seven or eight years older than the girls.

"Well, actually, I’m not quite at that level of maturity yet."

Zhang Wei’s response made everyone in the venue laugh.

But Tian Jiaxuan remained serious and continued, "How would you feel if your two daughters grew up and got married in wedding dresses?"

"For now, I don’t dare imagine it, because I think I’d be very reluctant," Zhang Wei replied with a face full of fatherly affection.

"Look at these five on stage. I feel they truly work very hard and symbolize beauty and progress. Their voices are filled with hope for the future," Zhang Wei added, taking the opportunity to praise his trainees.

When Zhang Wei finished speaking, Tian Jiaxuan said loudly, "Now, Founders in the audience, please take out your voting devices and give them a like!"

Thirty seconds passed as the girls’ hearts pounded with anticipation.

"Who’s the ’Like King’ of this group? Could it be Qiang Yueting?"

Tian Jiaxuan’s words lit up Qiang Yueting’s face with a smile.

"Could it be Gou Xueying?"

But her next remark left Qiang Yueting nervous again, while Gou Xueying looked on the verge of tears.

"It’s Liu Lixian," Tian Jiaxuan announced the result.

In the waiting room, trainees burst into cheers. Everyone actually agreed that Liu Lixian had the best performance in this round.

The members of the Mystic Numbers Girl Group—Fan Lei, Liu Qian, and Xiang Sixing—were so thrilled that they started jumping with joy.

This was a moment of glory for their group.

Fan Lei even started crying. She felt her group wasn’t over yet—it was still alive.

Liu Lixian was also too shocked to speak.

She was, in fact, a very ambitious woman. Before her group disbanded, she had already secured a job as a livestream host.

This time, she had only come to "add some shine" to her resume. She never expected to become the Like King.

Now, this reignited her resolve to continue pursuing a career in a girl group.