“But at the very least, at the very minimum.”
Lin Wei enunciated each word clearly, declaring with absolute certainty.
“Based on the physical talent, learning ability, sense of rhythm, and that… indescribable stage presence and performance instinct she displayed today, she is completely, utterly, qualified to stand on the same stage as Kasahana Chiai and perform as her equal!”
“She has that potential, that aptitude, and even… I have a feeling she might forge a style path completely different from Zhi Ai’s, yet just as impactful!”
“Whoosh—!”
It was as if fireworks exploded in Su Yuqing’s mind!
Her heart was struck by a massive wave of joy and relief, beating violently.
Blood rushed to her cheeks, making her feel flushed.
Su Yuqing almost couldn’t stop herself from jumping up!
“Yes! That’s great!!”
She cheered in a low voice, clenching her fist and giving it a little pump.
An unreserved, brilliant smile instantly bloomed on her face.
After all, the pressure, worry, and self-doubt of the past few days seemed to be washed away by Lin Wei’s resolute declaration!
Wan Xue was a genius!
A genius even the strict Lin Wei recognized!
She really had the potential to reach the same heights as Zhi Ai!
What did this mean?
It meant Su Yuqing’s judgment wasn’t wrong!
It meant all the “guarantees” she gave to the Board of Directors and Manager Huang now had the firmest foundation!
And this also meant…
However, just as this tide of joy was about to overwhelm the dam of reason—
“Let’s get the ugly truth out right here, meow—!”
A voice—cold, sweet, yet carrying an arrogance and naked threat that brooked no argument—pierced through the celebratory bubbles in Su Yuqing’s mind like the sharpest ice pick!
It was Zhi Ai.
It was Zhi Ai from the memories in her mind.
Along with this auditory hallucination, that little stinky cat with golden hair and Liuli-colored eyes, and that face forever etched with pride, conceit, and an infuriating look that suggested the whole world should revolve around her, finally surfaced with startling clarity from the churning “Memory Sea” in Su Yuqing’s mind!
Vividly lifelike, even the slightly upturned corner of her mouth with its mocking curve was clearly visible!
Immediately after, the “ultimatum” that Zhi Ai had delivered to her on the first night of the auditions, in their tiny “home,” lounging lazily and cruelly despite her foot injury, replayed word for word in Su Yuqing’s ears, filling them with the same icy chill and beating against her eardrums:
“If you dare use this opportunity to find me a partner who has absolutely no idol talent, who will only hold everyone back and drag down the quality of the entire performance, a big idiot like that…”
“Then, this kitty will absolutely, positively, not perform on stage with such an idiot, not even once! Because~”
“A joint stage like that wouldn’t relieve any of my pressure at all. It would just make this kitty look cheap, and very, very cheap at that~! Got it?”
The icy words and Lin Wei’s fervent affirmation now created a contrast so intense in Su Yuqing’s heart it made her legs tremble.
Zhi Ai’s lofty, disdainful evaluations—”big idiot,” “cheap”—still echoed in her ears.
And now, Lin Wei was saying Wan Xue was a genius, a genius worthy of sharing the stage with Zhi Ai!
An indescribable emotion—a mix of vindication, a secret thrill of revenge, and a smug sense of “you misjudged”—suddenly seized Su Yuqing.
She could almost picture the absolutely spectacular expression that might appear on that pretty face when Zhi Ai learned the “partner” she found wasn’t an “idiot,” but a genius even Lin Wei certified!
Hmph, you little bad branch.
Su Yuqing thought silently in her heart, with a hint of glee.
Liuli-colored eyes flashed arrogantly in her memory.
Did you really think you were the only “good kitty” in the whole world?
Did you really think I, Su Yuqing, could never find someone worthy of standing beside you without you?
In this world, there really are… other “good kitties” who can handle you!
Who can shatter your delusion of being the center of the universe!
Who can prove that my judgment, Su Yuqing’s judgment, was never bad!
That the person I found is worthy of you, and even… might surpass you in the future!
This thought made her heart race and her cheeks burn.
A sense of excitement, of finally seeing dawn after long suppression, surged in her chest.
However, just as Su Yuqing was immersed in this sudden, confrontational joy and prospect, before the smile on her lips could fully form—
“Hey, hey, hey, you—”
Lin Wei’s voice, carrying clear impatience and warning, poured like a bucket of ice water over Su Yuqing’s heated mind.
“Don’t celebrate too early. Don’t pop the champagne just yet.”
“Huh…?”
Su Yuqing was pulled back to reality, her smile freezing, looking somewhat bewildered at Lin Wei.
“What… what is it now?”
Lin Wei’s expression had completely darkened.
The excitement from announcing the “genius” was gone, replaced by a deep seriousness, even a trace of worry.
She took a step forward, her gaze sharp as a torch, locking onto Su Yuqing’s eyes.
Her stare was so penetrating it seemed to cut through all appearances and reach the core.
“Su Yuqing.”
Lin Wei’s voice was heavy, each word thudding in the silent training room and onto Su Yuqing’s newly buoyant heart.
“As a professional and self-proclaimed fairly experienced singing and dancing instructor, after giving the ‘genius’ evaluation, I must now, to you, the manager who brought her here, solemnly raise a question that, in my view, might be even more important than ‘talent,’ and is also a more urgent problem that needs addressing.”
Su Yuqing’s heart sank bit by bit with her serious tone.
“Wh-what very important problem?”
She heard her own voice sound dry.
But Lin Wei didn’t answer immediately.
She was silent for a few seconds, her gaze drifting once more toward the direction Bai Wanxue had left, then returning to Su Yuqing.
Then, in a tone mixed with confusion, scrutiny, and deep uncertainty, she slowly posed the question that instantly froze all the joy and prospects Su Yuqing had just begun to feel:
“Su Yuqing, do you really think—”
She paused, as if weighing her words, but ultimately chose the most direct expression:
“Student Wan Xue…”
“Is she really, truly, eager to become an ‘idol’?”
***
Deathly silence descended abruptly in the training room.
The dusk outside the window seemed to deepen at that moment, quietly encroaching into the bright interior.
The huge mirror wall reflected Su Yuqing’s face, suddenly pale and filled with shock and a kind of flustered panic, as if a secret had been abruptly exposed.
Lin Wei’s question was like a key.
Not one that opened a door to a successful stage, but one that violently unlocked the door to the most fundamental motivation behind all of Bai Wanxue’s actions—a door Su Yuqing had been deliberately ignoring or unwilling to examine deeply.
Was she doing all this, enduring the training, and even directly setting the ultimate goal of “defeating Zhi Ai,” all for the sake of “becoming an idol” itself?
Or…
Was it merely for the sake of that person, sitting in the taxi waiting to take her home—
Her “Master”?