CHAPTER 189: CHAPTER 184: THE RANKINGS ANNOUNCED

The lights were bright, the atmosphere solemn.

The majestic and imposing stage from the initial performance had been completely transformed.

Only 55 seats remained on the pyramid, and the girls were gradually arriving, sitting down in the undecided seating area below the pyramid.

The chairs in the undecided area were all transparent and without nameplates, while the seats on the pyramid were marked with numbers from 1 to 55.

"The stage... it’s been a while." Wu Zixuan couldn’t help but smile wistfully as she walked in.

"Only 55 people left? Half of us are going home." Guo Xia murmured anxiously as she sat down.

"We’re eliminating half this time..." Jiang Mengqi’s face turned grim, filled with uncertainty.

"I’m so nervous, so nervous," Zhang Zijing blurted out, experiencing such a scene for the first time.

"This kind of feels like waiting for exam results," Fan Lei muttered, her mind still somewhat detached from the harshness of reality.

All the girls were weighed down by their own thoughts. They had already learned their previous rankings and popularity from various sources, but this elimination round would be based on rankings determined after yesterday’s first public performance.

That ranking was finalized this morning, but Penguin hadn’t released it online, leaving the girls in the dark about the results.

Still, they could roughly estimate based on the second episode; trainees with high popularity worried about their rank positions, while the rest faced a more immediate concern—whether or not they would stay.

But there were only seven or eight truly popular trainees, leaving the majority overwhelmed with anxiety. Some were sweating the moment they sat down; others closed their eyes, trembling relentlessly.

"Please welcome Natural Idol Creator Long Zitao to announce the rankings."

As the girls had just settled, the voice, as familiar as that of a broadcaster from the first episode, echoed through the hall.

The girls immediately perked up in excitement. Long Zitao had been absent for days due to movie filming, and everyone was thrilled to hear he was back.

"Look, he changed his hairstyle."

"Yeah, he looks so handsome today! His bangs are swept up."

"His makeup today is really unique, too."

"I love his earrings."

When Long Zitao ascended onto the stage accompanied by an intense musical intro, the girls buzzed with chatter, not about missing him but commenting on his outfit and style for the day.

This made him feel slightly self-satisfied since he’d spent a good amount hiring a renowned stylist for today’s look.

Smiling, his eyes gleaming with confidence, Long Zitao extended a hand in a casual wave to greet everyone.

"Wow! I wish 101 girls could compliment me like this every day."

His cheeky comment brought laughter, dispelling much of the tension in the room.

"However—reality is harsh. Today, only 55 of you will stay,"

Long Zitao’s tone shifted sharply, pulling everyone back to grim reality. Smiles vanished from their faces in an instant; a few felt a lump in their throats while tears pricked the corners of some girls’ eyes.

"Hello, girls of Natural Idol. Today is a day of immense concern for both you and your fans."

"Since the voting channel opened, your fans have been voting for you daily. We must collectively thank them for their support and dedication to each and every one of you—even when your performances weren’t perfect."

Following Long Zitao’s words, the girls began clapping and bowing in unison, earnestly saying thank you.

His remarks weren’t mere pleasantries; they also hinted at the nurturing aspect of the show, subtly addressing the online naysayers critical of the first public stage performance.

As the show gained massive popularity, competing platforms under Penguin had intensified their criticism of the program, ridiculing the value of the 16 performance stages showcased in the first episode.

But from a professional standpoint, each of the 16 stages was already at the pinnacle of domestic girl-group performances.

Still, they fell slightly short when compared to the most elite Korean girl group stages in Asia.

Yet, it’s important to remember that the Korean girl groups we see are typically the top one or two, with their members chosen from hundreds of thousands of trainees in their home country.

If the girls from Natural Idol were grouped strictly by skillset, they could easily form teams rivaling those elite groups.

"Today, we will be officially announcing the first-round voting rankings,"

The trainees’ expressions grew increasingly tense; some began taking deep breaths, others twisted their fingers nervously, while a few clenched their fists tightly.

Every time a camera zoomed in on one of the girls, they instinctively lowered their heads—completely unlike the confident, camera-stealing smiles they’d worn in the past three episodes.

"The top 55 vote-getters will remain on this stage. Based on these results, you will all be reclassified into groups, and starting today, the F group will be dissolved."

The F group trainees stiffened instantly; they were indisputably the least confident of everyone there.

"Now, let us begin revealing your results."

Long Zitao’s announcement struck the girls unexpectedly—so soon? No pompous ceremonies beforehand?

Though they knew this moment was inevitable, none of the girls were ready to confront reality.

Lu Bingbing sat there with a grave expression. This moment felt even more nerve-racking than an election finale to her.

This was the moment that would truly determine their fates—years of hard work and dreams boiled down into this.

Ye Yuwei was equally tense. While she was certain she wouldn’t be eliminated, she couldn’t shake her worry that Penguin might manipulate her ranking.

Many had said rankings didn’t matter—that it was the girls’ performances that truly earned merit. Whether someone had what it took was clear for all to see.

In reality, however, rankings revealed the show’s stance on a contestant, instilled confidence in her fans, and influenced whether she could draw in even more supporters.

A high ranking meant more screen time allocated by the producers.

A high ranking gave fans confidence in their idol debuting, creating a strong sense of pride that compelled them to vote harder.

A high ranking attracted new viewers, naturally focusing attention on the top-ranked contestants since they appeared most often on-screen. Human nature gravitates toward supporting the strong.

"You can do this! You can do this!"

A girl suddenly shouted, rallying the others. Soon, all the girls began cheering for themselves, trying to build their spirits.

"First, I will announce the D group members, ranking from 41st to 54th—14 in total." Long Zitao’s demeanor became earnest.

The show had deliberately kept the 55th spot vague to amplify suspense.

"Oh my god, I feel like I need to pee," Gao Ziyi whispered to Luo Qijia beside her.

But Luo Qijia didn’t respond, sitting there with a solemn face, her lips pressed together, back straight.

Gao Ziyi’s ranking at the end of the second episode had been relatively decent, but she still struggled with insecurities about her looks, physique, and skill level.

Though she often said she only cared about trying her best and not the results, deep inside, she desperately hoped to advance. However, making it to debut seemed like a distant dream for her.

"The first to advance in group D, ranking 54th, is..."

The studio fell into an eerie silence. Some of the more nervous girls instinctively grabbed the hands of those next to them, as if searching for solace and strength.

"Xu Qianhua!"

Long Zitao’s words sent a wave of shock through the room. Xu Qianhua, widely regarded as the best vocalist in the entire base, had ranked 54th.

Girls who had assumed their rankings would be higher immediately tensed up. Meng Meixuan, in her shock, even covered her face with her hands. What was Penguin doing—completely defying expectations?

"Oh no! How could Qianhua be ranked 54th?"

"Did the production crew make a mistake? She sings so well!"

"If she’s 54th, I probably don’t even have a ranking."

Xu Qianhua herself froze, her face instantly drained of color. Grabbing Jiang Mengqi and Li Shihan’s hands beside her, she subconsciously gripped tightly.

The two of them also squeezed back instinctively, unable to believe the outcome any more than she did.

"How could this be my ranking? How could this be my ranking?"

Those words echoed endlessly in Xu Qianhua’s mind. Dazed, she rose from her seat, bowing in the style of girl-group etiquette before stepping forward to thank the group.

"Qianhua, you can do this!"

"Getting in is what counts!"

The other girls began cheering for her, their solidarity overflowing in that moment.

Jiang Mengqi, Li Shihan, and other close friends approached her to embrace and encourage her.

At that moment, Jiang Mengqi couldn’t help but feel envious of Xu Qianhua. In her view, as long as she made it through and survived one more episode, it was enough.