Chapter 28: Hello, Center

"All trainees, we are now entering a very important stage. Do you know what it is?"

"The first Center!"

"Is it selecting the first Center?"

"Correct."

Zhang Yixing nodded. "We are now going to select the first center of *Idol Producer*, which is the C-position for our theme song."

"Everyone in Class A will be candidates for the C-position. You now have one hour to prepare. Please ready a solo performance suitable for the theme song. Based on these performances, the other 91 trainees will vote for the center of their choice. Do you understand?"

"Understood!"

The contestants in Class A were ambitious about the first Center position, their responses filled with fighting spirit.

"Understood..."

Although Gu Jingyi also responded, he did not look as agitated or nervous as the other Class A contestants. He stood in the practice space, relaxed, with a confident smile on his face. His formidable strength and self-assurance made it impossible for anyone on the field to ignore his presence.

Cai Xukun’s movements faltered; he suddenly felt like backing down.

The production team had provided headphones for each Class A trainee. Inside the practice room, the eight members of Class A were preparing intensely. Except for You Changjing, who was sitting cross-legged on the floor eating an apple, everyone else was wearing headphones and practicing nervously.

You Changjing looked at his tense group members and took a crunchy bite of his apple. He watched Cai Xukun, who was wearing headphones and chanting his lyrics, then naturally tilted his head to glance at Gu Jingyi.

Gu Jingyi was holding a tablet and pen, having found a spot to sit down randomly. Instead of practicing his solo performance like the others, he was using his pen to make minor adjustments to the theme song.

"Gu Jingyi, aren't you going to use a personal show to compete for the C-position?" You Changjing asked in a low voice.

The question was somewhat naive; the theme song C-position was decided by trainee votes. Whether someone performed a flashy dance or sang a song, no matter how superb the technique, it would at most make the other trainees think, "That's impressive."

Every one of Gu Jingyi’s individual skills was formidable, but if he just did a personal show like the other trainees, he would simply be following the crowd, making it difficult to leave a distinct impression. Since the start of the show, every mission performance had been a silent exam.

Gu Jingyi had participated in overseas talent shows before and had experienced the same center selection process. At that time, his strategy was to rewrite the lyrics of the theme song. Keeping the melody the same, he sang from the perspective of a fan. It was impossible for a Chinese contestant to become the center in a highly xenophobic South Korean show, so he interpreted it from a different angle. If he couldn't be the center of the theme song, he would become the center of the audience's hearts.

That was what Gu Jingyi thought back then, and he had truly achieved it. After that episode aired, even though his screen time was only about ten seconds, it sent him trending and officially brought him into the viewers' sight. This time, Gu Jingyi could naturally do even better. He was once again being ingenious, starting from the perspective of a trainee.

Gu Jingyi did not rush to answer You Changjing’s question but instead asked him, "What emotion do you think our theme song is trying to express?"

You Changjing was a bit dazed. After thinking hard for a moment, he said, "The theme song is 'EiEi.' It focuses on expressing how hard I’m working and how I hope to be seen by the audience. I hope everyone will choose me, and I will work hard for your choice."

Gu Jingyi nodded. "So, in essence, it emphasizes that every trainee is working hard to be seen."

"Ah, yes." You Changjing froze, a realization dawning on him. Was Gu Jingyi trying to emphasize the trainees' hard work to win their votes?

*This insight is terrifying,* You Changjing thought, glancing at the trainees practicing their personal shows. He shook his head inwardly; no matter how hard they tried, this time, they were destined to become Gu Jingyi’s background. It was fortunate that he, You Changjing, was smart enough to know he couldn't put on a dazzling performance, choosing not to over-display and instead leaving a different kind of impression on the audience.

As time passed, Gu Jingyi worked on both dance and vocals. He conceived new choreography while making minor lyrical adjustments. The theme song "EiEi" was familiar even to the F-class trainees. Gu Jingyi modified several complex moves from the original choreography to be lighter and more interactive, while still retaining the iconic chorus dance. The lyrics were also slightly altered; as long as the pronunciation matched the notes and rhythm, the changes didn't feel out of place.

This task wasn't too difficult. After finishing the lyrics, Gu Jingyi tried singing it twice. Though it felt a bit embarrassing, he couldn't afford to worry about that now. The center not only had a solo vocal part but also a solo dance moment. When the song reached the second chorus, the stage under the center would rise. Like a rising star, this move would be captured by dozens of cameras from every angle.

In every season of every talent show, home and abroad, the solo move would top countless trending lists, becoming an unforgettable "white moonlight" in the hearts of fans. Gu Jingyi certainly wouldn't let this opportunity pass; he had come to *Idol Producer* with the goal of capturing the entire market. With the former top star announcing his relationship back in October, the industry was shifting. Many influencers were scrambling for the remaining resources. Gu Jingyi’s ambition was greater—he wanted to provide a new home for the "Reeds" (the fans of the former top star) who had been left homeless.

An hour passed quickly, and the Class A trainees were called to the studio by the management team. Zhang Yixing appeared in the center of the stage and began the sequence: "Alright, trainees, the hour went by very quickly. Are you ready?"

"Ready!" the Class A trainees answered in unison.

"The competition for the theme song Center begins now."

The center selection had officially begun!

Zheng Ruibin, Zhang Yifan, Li Junyi, and Lin Chaoze all took the stage and completed their performances; each had their own highlights. Later, Zhu Zhengting showed off a modern dance and a backflip, which truly amazed the trainees. Yet, it was only surprise; it didn't give them the impulse to vote for him. Justin, sitting in the B-class section, listened to his peers chattering as they watched: "Not voting for this one, don't know him," "This one... his dance is indeed strong, but that's all. It just adds to the stereotype that if you don't flip, you're not Chinese."

By the end, only Gu Jingyi and Cai Xukun remained.

"Jingyi, I'll go first."

Cai Xukun rushed to go first. He knew very well that if this performance were aired, he might face criticism. But Gu Jingyi felt like a curse; he was terrified that after Gu Jingyi performed, his own resolve would crumble, and he would lose the courage to challenge him.

Cai Xukun showed off a rap and dance routine. Unlike other trainees who focused only on their personal shows, Cai Xukun lowered his pride and actively campaigned for votes. Objectively speaking, there was a reason Cai Xukun could become the center in the original timeline. His understanding of the show and his comprehensive strength were indeed deeper than those of the other trainees.

But unfortunately, Gu Jingyi was there. The fate of *Idol Producer* was destined to be seized by Gu Jingyi alone.

When Gu Jingyi, the final performer, appeared, the atmosphere that Cai Xukun had built instantly faded. After taking the stage, Gu Jingyi quickly introduced himself. As the instrumental track for "EiEi" neared its end, he replaced the first line with his own lyrics.

The trainees watching were stunned for nearly three measures before they realized that this guy had not only shifted the theme song's focus toward the trainees' perspective, but had also changed the final segment into a direct, earnest "vote-begging song"!

Not only were the lyrics changed, but the dance moves were slightly modified as well.

"I will fly higher and higher, never looking down."

"If you share the same feeling, let go of your reserve and pride."

"As long as you choose me~"

With a perfect high-note finish, Gu Jingyi still had enough energy to add a small spin to enrich the visual. He moved along the pre-planned path to stand before the other trainees, stretching out his hand to ask for their votes! This move had shades of modern dance, and it integrated harmoniously into the song.

When Gu Jingyi added the trainee-perspective lyrics, every trainee watching from below felt a sense of approval. And when a "Great Demon King" level contestant like him reached out for votes, all the trainees felt a rush of adrenaline, nearly fainting from excitement.

"Please, that’s Emperor Jing! Even a small fry like me can be needed by him." A trainee who was caught up in the moment blurted it out. This represented the thoughts of most trainees; just thinking that they could determine Emperor Jing’s C-position made their smiles widen uncontrollably.

After the performance, Gu Jingyi stood in a row with the other Class A members, waiting for the results. In the end, Gu Jingyi won with an overwhelming 76 votes. He smiled and thanked every trainee who voted for him: "Thank you."

In the trainee vote pool, Gu Jingyi took the lion's share. The production team’s designated "rival," Cai Xukun, only received 11 votes—far ahead of the others but leagues behind Gu Jingyi. Cai Xukun felt a sense of relief; there was no need to feel inferior about losing to Gu Jingyi.

Finally, the PD representative, Zhang Yixing, took the stage and announced the final result syllable by syllable:

"And now, I announce the theme song Center."

"He is—Hua Ce trainee, Gu Jingyi!"

The confetti cannons on stage fired with a "bang," landing in Gu Jingyi's hair. The trainees below cheered for him wildly. Gu Jingyi took the name tag labeled "Center" from Zhang Yixing. He pinned it to his waist; compared to the other Class A trainees, the first-center tag had a small crown emblem on it.

As he lowered his head to adjust it, the golden confetti in his hair shimmered against the crown on his name tag.

At the mentor's desk, the stone in Cheng Xiao’s heart quietly settled. She smiled, whispering to herself:

[Hello, my Center.]