Chapter Twelve: The Confident and Cunning Wang Ao

Wang Ao was taken aback by this. “What? You’re not choosing the Beauty Track? You’re going for the Solo Talent Track?”

Jiang Yi nodded. “No, after thinking it over, I still want to choose the Solo Talent Track.”

The reason for this choice was that Jiang Yi had suddenly realized that, during registration, the program didn’t have them pick a track right away. It was only upon arrival that they had to make their choice!

If that was the case, it meant the program couldn’t be recording each track separately one by one. In the world before he crossed over, the first season of a similar talent show recorded a different track every week. But that wasn’t the case here.

Jiang Yi understood now; he’d been influenced by his prior assumptions. This wasn’t the world he came from, and this wasn’t the same show—just something similar. Even the competition’s format was different!

It was very likely that all contestants, from all three tracks, would be recorded together at once.

Thinking it through, with everything now unknown, the only safe choice was the Solo Talent Track. After all, this track valued talent above all else, especially originality.

Even though Jiang Yi’s looks weren’t bad, joining the Beauty Track wouldn’t necessarily impress Yang Xiaomi. In the world before, when Yang Xiaomi picked contestants for the Beauty Track, she was utterly capricious. She cared nothing for skill or talent—only looks, and whether a contestant’s manner of speaking or performing moved her or gave her a feeling she liked.

She’d become a Star Pusher because her own studio had launched many handsome men and beautiful women. The program team must have acknowledged her aesthetic sense to invite her as the Star Pusher for the Beauty Track. How she chose was up to her.

But her standards were too unpredictable for Jiang Yi’s current situation. He thought he was decent looking, but maybe Yang Xiaomi wouldn’t agree. Worse, during his self-introduction or casual speech, he might come off as too slick and oily in her eyes—and just be eliminated on the spot.

Before crossing over, Jiang Yi hadn’t been in the entertainment industry, nor had he ever been on a big stage. He had no idea how he’d actually perform under so many watchful eyes. He could come across as awkward or even make a fool of himself.

If he entered the Beauty Track and slipped up in conversation, Yang Xiaomi could easily eliminate him. That’s why he felt it was safer to pick the Solo Talent Track.

His singing and guitar skills weren’t outstanding, but at least they were passable. With the song “Those Years” as his ace, maybe he could make it through the first round.

In the old world, the Star Pusher of the Solo Talent Track, Xue Zhi, didn’t care at all if contestants were oily in their speech. Even if a contestant was tactless, awkward, or eccentric, Xue Zhi didn’t mind. As long as they had talent, he’d advance them, regardless of any offense.

Xue Zhi’s standards prized talent and originality above all.

Of course, this was a parallel world—the show wasn’t quite the same, now called “Son of the Future.” Yang Xiaomi might not be quite as capricious, and Xue Zhi might not be as generous or talent-focused. Still, all these factors weighed on Jiang Yi’s decision.

All things considered, Jiang Yi could only choose the Solo Talent Track.

“Are you serious, Jiang Yi? I picked the Solo Talent Track too!” Wang Ao blurted out. “According to the usual rules, even in the first round, each track only has a handful of slots—maybe a dozen or so. And with my abilities, one of those slots is as good as mine!”

“So, Jiang Yi, don’t say I didn’t warn you: the slots are already few, and now I’m taking one. Joining the Solo Talent Track now isn’t wise! You can still change your mind. With your looks, you’d be better off in the Beauty Track.”

Wang Ao was supremely confident. “Don’t think that just because you outperformed me in academics and the college entrance exam, you’ll also beat me here. In school, I can’t compete with a bookworm like you, but in a talent competition, you’re no match for me!”

Jiang Yi was speechless at Wang Ao’s confidence. “Thanks for the advice, but my mind’s made up,” he replied. He had his own plans—he was here to get his face out there, maybe make up the numbers, and if he got eliminated, he’d just go home.

If that was the case, he was even more determined to join the Solo Talent Track, since its judging criteria valued originality most. His goal was to promote “Those Years.”

“Fine, suit yourself. I was just trying to help,” Wang Ao shrugged when he saw Jiang Yi wouldn’t change his mind. “Don’t blame me if I take a slot and you get eliminated.”

Jiang Yi didn’t reply.

Before he could say anything, Wang Ao got a call from the production team, summoning him to Jiji Gua Gua Company for a face-to-face session with the producers.

“I’ve already done mine,” Jiang Yi said as Wang Ao hung up and looked over.

“How was it? Were the two bosses strict? What did they think of you?” Wang Ao asked.

Jiang Yi thought for a moment. “It was so-so.” Despite performing his two classic originals, “Those Years” and “My Feelings When I Like You,” the two bosses didn’t commit to saying he could make it big—just gave him an ambiguous evaluation.

“Don’t feel bad! With your singing and guitar skills, just being here is impressive. A good-looking guy like you isn’t like me—I got in on talent,” Wang Ao said, clapping Jiang Yi on the shoulder. “I’ll leave you to it. Watch how I win them over!”

With that, Wang Ao slung his guitar over his shoulder and strode off.

Jiang Yi watched Wang Ao’s back, at a loss for words.

After Wang Ao left, Jiang Yi stopped thinking about it. He’d rest. Whether Wang Ao joined the Solo Talent Track or not had nothing to do with him—Jiang Yi was only here to make an appearance, maybe sing his song and call it a day. Besides, it was still unknown if there were prodigies like Mao Superstar in this parallel world. If there were, Wang Ao would just be cannon fodder.

Jiang Yi dozed off for a while.

Suddenly, his phone buzzed with messages.

“Hm? What’s going on?” Jiang Yi frowned. He’d muted his class group chat, so for notifications to sound, someone must have directly tagged him.

Opening the group, he found it bustling—over 99+ messages! And sure enough, someone had tagged him: his chubby neighbor, Zhang Ji.

“Jiang Yi, I heard you went on ‘Son of the Future’ and didn’t choose the Beauty Track but the Solo Talent Track? And that you went with our old high school guitar club president, Wang Ao? Is it true?” Zhang Ji tagged him cheerfully and added a photo.

It was a picture of Jiang Yi and Wang Ao together.

Jiang Yi’s face darkened when he saw the photo. Glancing through the group’s discussions, he immediately understood what was happening. It turned out Wang Ao had posted that photo in the high school’s all-student group!

Back in high school, Wang Ao had been a student council officer, so he managed the main group. Now, he’d posted their photo there, revealing that Jiang Yi had chosen the Solo Talent Track alongside him to compete on “Son of the Future.”

“So Wang Ao’s playing dirty with me...” Jiang Yi frowned. “Looks like he’s still holding onto those three years of being overshadowed by my grades, even if he pretends it didn’t bother him.”

Just earlier, Wang Ao had been friendly, and Jiang Yi thought maybe he genuinely wanted to be friends. But it turned out, the moment he left, Wang Ao went and did this!

Clearly, Wang Ao had done it on purpose, with ill intent. He probably felt that, while he couldn’t beat Jiang Yi academically, in terms of talent, he was sure to win. So he deliberately spread the news, letting all their high school classmates know.

With this, when the competition aired, even classmates who didn’t usually watch talent shows might tune in out of curiosity. And if Wang Ao advanced while Jiang Yi was eliminated—or if Wang Ao beat him outright—Jiang Yi would be humiliated, and Wang Ao would finally get his revenge for three years of academic defeat.