Chapter 25: Theme Song Evaluation (Part Two)

"Jingyi, let me go first."

Noticing the stalemate, Cai Xukun spoke up despite the cameras rolling. He knew that going first was an advantage. The initial stage recording had made him deeply aware of Gu Jingyi’s immense talent and the stark gap between them. Gu Jingyi had proven with his actions that his pre-show claim, "I am the standard for an A-rank," was not just talk—it was, if anything, an understatement.

Gu Jingyi was recognized by everyone as the strongest trainee since the recording of *Idol Producer* began, and he was the opponent every trainee dreaded facing. Performing after him was a nightmare: one had to endure the mentors' even stricter standards, endure the awkward reactions of fellow trainees, and risk being unfavorably compared by critical viewers in the final broadcast.

Gu Jingyi nodded, indifferent to the order.

Once Cai Xukun stepped onto the stage and the five trainees were in position, the directors signaled for the theme song backing track to begin.

Class B proved worthy of being the closest to Class A, with Zheng Ruibin delivering a solid performance. Cai Xukun’s expression management and movements were also on point, resulting in a generally high-quality stage.

The Class F trainees were a different story. Dong Yanlei, who had very little training experience, managed to keep up at first, but in the middle of the song, he botched the lyrics, singing "the lucky tentacles, I’ve forgotten everything" instead of "let the lucky perspective let hesitation walk away." The facade of his performance crumbled instantly, and the surrounding trainees couldn't help but laugh.

This made things difficult for the other trainees on stage with him. Cai Xukun’s expression stiffened. For some reason, no matter how hard he tried, whenever he faced Gu Jingyi, the results were never satisfactory. He had a premonition that once this segment aired, the audience’s entire focus would be on those "lucky tentacles," and his own solo camera work would likely only be noticed by his die-hard fans. Distracted by these thoughts, the latter half of his performance lost its edge, though he made no major mistakes.

Dong Yanlei hadn't expected much from this re-evaluation anyway. Before starting, when each trainee had to state their expected rank, he had declared firmly, "My expected rank is to stay in Class F and hold the line!" After all, he had the shortest training time of anyone and was largely there to learn.

Zheng Ruibin fared better. Like Gu Jingyi, he was from the Central Conservatory of Music. Although he stumbled on the lyrics at the beginning, he quickly regained his composure. His singing and dancing were commendable, especially during the complex vocal run in the theme song, where he showcased his true ability.

However, the expression on mentor Lay Zhang’s face remained stern. When the group finished, he didn't let them leave the stage.

"Dong Yanlei, what is going on with you? My god. Three days have passed, and you still can't remember the lyrics?"

"Even if you can't remember them, you could have at least stopped and followed along with the A and B classes. Why were you grinning on stage, singing about 'lucky tentacles' and 'forgetting everything'? Is the stage a place for jokes? I hope you take your attitude seriously and participate in the recording with more focus."

"The re-evaluation grades determine your standing, camera time, and parts in the theme song. The theme song MV for all 100 trainees will be reviewed by the nation’s producers. Class F will only be standing off-stage; you won't even get to dance."

Lay Zhang sighed continuously, his disappointment and severity clear to everyone. His words weren't just for Dong Yanlei; they were a warning to every trainee in the room. The atmosphere grew heavy as the others fell into deep thought.

It was into this tense atmosphere that Gu Jingyi stepped onto the stage. As soon as he stood there, the trainees from other classes who had previously been fighting for an earlier slot suddenly lost their nerve. They nudged each other, afraid to stand next to him.

After a moment, two brave souls stepped out from the waiting area with the determination of sacrificial lambs, trembling as they stood in a line with Gu Jingyi.

"Emperor Jing, we are here to be your contrast group."

"Just dance, don't worry about us!"

Gu Jingyi couldn't help but chuckle. "Thank you."

Bu Fan and Wang Ziyi, however, were not so sycophantic. They stood quietly, preparing to endure the full performance while sharing the frame with Gu Jingyi, hoping to use his popularity for their own coverage later.

Gu Jingyi didn't stand on ceremony with them. After a brief exchange, he focused entirely on the stage. The cameramen set up their gear to capture his solo footage. When the staff started the track, there was a slight delay in the audio reaching the trainees—a discrepancy imperceptible to most, but obvious to the mentors listening through their earpieces.

The moment Gu Jingyi made his first move, Lay Zhang and Li Ronghao exchanged shocked glances. Despite not wearing an earpiece, Gu Jingyi had perfectly synced his movement to the beat of the music! Even in South Korea, where the idol industry was more advanced, idols usually relied on the live speakers rather than in-ear monitors. Even Lay Zhang, who came from EXO, felt humbled by Gu Jingyi’s meticulous control over the rhythm.

Gu Jingyi’s timing was the most precise of all the trainees. His sudden, sharp movement startled the others, causing them to panic and scramble to keep up. Because they were behind from the start, they tried to mimic him but failed to match his rhythm, resulting in a chaotic mess on stage.

Only Gu Jingyi, in his Class A uniform, remained unaffected. His rhythm and transitions were a feast for the eyes, his series of toe-taps executed with fluid grace.

When he reached the chorus of "EiEi"—the part where countless trainees had cracked their voices during the assessment—Gu Jingyi hit the notes with ease. He pushed the pitch even higher, delivering the high notes without any preparation or build-up. Compared to the demo, Gu Jingyi had sung it in a female key with his own male voice.

Li Ronghao’s eyes narrowed in excitement as he gave Gu Jingyi a thumbs-up. Such vocal power truly befitted someone with professional training!

If the mentors were impressed, the trainees were even more so. Those who had already performed looked at Gu Jingyi with admiration, while those yet to perform looked pale with dread.

*Emperor Jing, please show us some mercy!*

The moment Gu Jingyi stepped on stage, he raised the standard of the theme song to an unattainable level. The trainees following him were doomed to be cannon fodder. The mentors felt like they had just finished a gourmet meal only to be forced to eat scraps.

"Emperor Jing is too strong. The rest of the theme song assessment has lost its meaning."

"I feel bad for Bu Fan and Wang Ziyi. I don't know whether to call them bold or just ignorant."

Hearing these whispers, Cai Xukun, waiting in the Class A area, suddenly felt a wave of relief. *It might be selfish, but I’m so glad I went first.* He watched the frantic Bu Fan and Wang Ziyi on stage, feeling both sympathy and relief.

Gu Jingyi, meanwhile, had no such complicated thoughts. Rather than playing games, he preferred to win back his territory on stage. He flawlessly sang the high-note section that had been criticized as "poorly designed," transitioning without a pause or a missed beat into the part the trainees had labeled "impossible for an idol."

As he finished and held his final pose, Gu Jingyi made a gun-sight gesture with his left hand and lightly hooked his collar with his right. He stood tall, casting a faint, haughty glance at the camera, then shot a precise, metaphorical bullet at the lens.

The cameraman behind the lens felt the full force of the moment and couldn't help but clutch his chest.

*Damn, I've been hit!*