CHAPTER 200: CHAPTER 193 DIFFICULT CHOICES

"Next up to exercise the right to overturn is the ’Like King’ of Qiang Yueting’s team, Qiang Yueting."

Qiang Yueting truly didn’t want to go. She didn’t have as many schemes as Meng Meixuan did and couldn’t figure out who to choose.

Below the stage, Han Dandan, Zhang Yuxin, and Luo Fengwu were all smiling at her.

Qiang Yueting lowered her head, not daring to look at her teammates.

Zhang Yuxin was the first to speak: "I hope I can stay. We’ll definitely have a stage better than our last one."

With a smile on her face and confidence sparkling in her eyes, Zhang Yuxin believed her teammate would choose her.

After all, in this group, apart from her, Zhang was the next best singer and dancer.

Luo Fengwu held the mic and said, "Trust your own choice. It’s okay, really, it’s okay."

Her usefulness had already been exhausted; the program team didn’t need her as an undercover player anymore as they had gathered all the information they needed.

Yet by some twist of fate, she found herself standing in this position awaiting selection.

It was evident that even the program team couldn’t fully control the path of every participant in the show.

Jiang Mengqi and Gao Ziyi both looked at Han Dandan. Although they were on the same team and performed at the small theatre together, they rarely interacted offstage.

However, since participating in this program, their bond had considerably deepened.

Both of them sincerely hoped Han Dandan would be chosen to stay.

Holding the microphone, Han Dandan’s red and swollen eyes, from crying, were filled with pleading. Her voice trembled slightly as she choked up: "Even though I’ve mentally prepared countless hotpot ingredients in my mind, I still want to stay."

She had made plans with some of the girls to have hotpot together as a farewell dinner tonight.

"I want to be on stage." After saying this line, Han Dandan could no longer continue, her throat filled with bitterness.

"Please turn your backs to the pyramid, all three of you. Qiang Yueting, please make your choice," Long Zitao instructed.

Qiang Yueting looked at the three backs in front of her, completely unsure who to choose. She held her head in her hands, repeatedly thinking about Meng Meixuan’s decision earlier.

Suddenly, she realized something, and her heart started pounding wildly. Her gaze darkened.

"No, no, I can’t do this. This would be unethical; winning and losing should depend on one’s own abilities."

In her dazed state, she found herself placing her hand on Luo Fengwu.

Her reasoning for the choice was similar to Meng Meixuan’s. Zhang Yuxin had an alluring figure, a beautiful face, and singing and dancing skills that weren’t inferior to her own—her dancing even exceeded hers.

During this public performance, if not for Zhang’s breakout of facial acne, she might have drawn all the audience’s attention.

Meanwhile, online comments mocked her own appearance for being unattractive.

Han Dandan’s singing was decent but lacked popularity; staying alongside her might only drag her down.

Luo Fengwu, on the other hand, had stronger performance abilities than Han Dandan but wasn’t as stunning in appearance—naturally becoming her preferred choice.

Zhang Yuxin couldn’t help but release a bitter smile, her body staggering slightly.

She thought of herself as truly unlucky. Her confidence had collapsed at the most critical moment due to her facial breakout; even her steadfast belief that the leader would choose her ended in disappointment.

Qiang Yueting explained her decision:

"During our first day of practice, Luo Fengwu struggled to keep up with the choreography, but instead of returning to the dormitory that night, she stayed back in the dance studio until late. By the following day, she never made another mistake again."

In truth, Luo Fengwu had done it intentionally. Otherwise, how could a few extra hours of practice result in a perfect execution of the choreography?

That night, she had actually gone to meet Yang Xiaoyue to report the recent developments she had learned.

Now, Luo Fengwu found herself at an impasse. She hadn’t expected to stay, but now had no choice but to go along.

She walked back to the pyramid with her teammate.

Gao Ziyi, teary-eyed, looked at Qiang Yueting, and despite her inability to mask emotions, she accidentally revealed her resentment.

"Next to exercise their privilege is the ’Like King’ of Duan Yuxin’s team, Duan Yuxin." Long Zitao announced.

Duan Yuxin stood up with a smile, her mood clearly joyful.

As she walked downward, she covered her mouth, sneaking in giggles.

The reason for her happiness? In her group, only one person hadn’t made it through.

Sitting below, Liu Niannian, who was practically dried out from crying, also excitedly stood up.

She had never imagined she could make it back to the pyramid.

And she was the only option.

The girls yearning to return to the pyramid and the stage looked at her with envy.

Some even shouted the words "chosen one."

The process was simple. Duan Yuxin took Liu Niannian’s hand and led her back to the pyramid.

At this moment, perhaps from sheer exhaustion, Lv Fangxin tried to lean against the ranking light board behind her to rest.

But as she leaned back, she knocked over the light board entirely. Her face immediately showed an expression of regret, glancing around in a panic.

Lv Fangxin had a camera following her at all times—the only trainee to receive this treatment. The cameraman swiftly documented this moment.

"Next up is the ’Like King’ of Yang Ni’s team, Yang Ni," Long Zitao enthusiastically announced.

Burdened with countless thoughts, Yang Ni stood up and instinctively scanned the stage. "Everyone in our group advanced." She had already checked earlier just to confirm.

"That’s correct. Congratulations to all of you!" Long Zitao exclaimed.

"So am I still in a position to make a choice?" Yang Ni asked tentatively.

"No, because the honor you earned resulted from the efforts of your group." Long Zitao replied without hesitation.

This left many girls deeply disappointed and uneasy.

An opportunity wasted where one could have been saved.

Wu Zixuan looked at Yang Ni, who had reluctantly sat back down, her gaze filled with gloom.

After all, Yang Ni was the one who had defeated her.

If the program team truly wanted her to be the ’Like King,’ why hadn’t they let her win previously?

Perhaps her teammates were blaming her!

"Next, the ’Like King’ to exercise their privilege is Zhao Juke from Liu Feiyu’s team," Long Zitao announced.

Liu Feiyu, feeling downcast, realized that although she was the team leader, the ’Like King’ title had gone to another teammate. This left her with mixed emotions—a bitter taste in her heart.

On the other hand, Zhao Juke’s expression remained somber. She had strong relationships with the people who were about to be chosen.

Step by step, she descended the stairs, eyes filled with tears as she looked at them.

"Meeting you all has given me, for the first time, the feeling of having a family. Our team is truly, truly united," she said, her tears streaming down her face.

Born into extreme wealth, Zhao Juke had grown up lacking affection and wasn’t particularly skilled at expressing emotions.

Her time with the girls on this program, striving together and growing closer, had unconsciously become a surrogate "home" to her.

Especially with this group, she felt deeply connected.

But now, she was faced with the hardest decision of her life.

Chen Luoyan took up the microphone first: "I really like all of you. Meeting you hundred girls has been one of the luckiest experiences of my life. Having had an opportunity to perform on such an amazing stage, I have no regrets."

Though her words didn’t bring tears, her voice wavered with emotion.

"We’ve all worked so hard and dearly want to stay. I think the other two girls are more suitable for you." Chen Luoyan finally ended with a remark that left everyone in shock.

She willingly gave up her chance for someone else.

Yang Han picked up the microphone next, her trembling hands betraying her nerves.

"To be honest, I really want to stay too. But I also don’t want Chen Luoyan to sacrifice this opportunity. If possible, let the chance go to them!"

Liu Yumeng, from the same company as Zhang Yuxin, felt strongly impacted by her departure. She couldn’t understand why Qiang Yueting would choose Luo Fengwu over Zhang Yuxin.

In terms of abilities, Zhang Yuxin was clearly the best choice. Since her teammate had been eliminated, Liu Yumeng didn’t feel a reason to remain either: "I love Yang Han’s singing, and she truly loves this stage too. I hope more people can see her. And Chen Luoyan’s dancing as well."

Liu Yumeng spoke calmly, as though this moment didn’t directly influence her fate.