Chapter 88: The Heart Beats

Xie Yuxin had been sent by her company to the Korean branch as a trainee at the age of twelve, enduring eight years of relentless practice before finally debuting in Korea as a member of the emerging girl group "Kiss-sister." She had gained a modest level of fame. Although she was currently on hiatus from the group, her original team remained highly active in the Korean entertainment industry, with their popularity continuing to soar.

As the only Chinese member, her natural affinity and charm made her the ideal candidate for Lemon Entertainment to recall, inviting her to participate in the "Produce 101" show, aiming to leverage her appeal to conquer the domestic market. It was fair to say that Xie Yuxin was a fully developed trainee, with a wealth of personal experience in image and self-management. In the public eye, she was the quintessential girl group hopeful.

During the initial episodes of the show, Xie Yuxin shone brilliantly, standing out solely on her own merits, attracting increasing attention and adoration from viewers. Naturally, her arrival became one of the most anticipated highlights of "Produce 101." After all, she was an idol with nearly a million followers on Weibo and was considered by multiple renowned media outlets as the contestant most likely to debut in the coveted center position.

But ever since Liao Meiqi’s sudden rise, everything seemed to have changed. It could be said that Liao Meiqi was now fully capable of challenging Xie Yuxin’s status. In just four episodes, Liao Meiqi’s Weibo followers had skyrocketed to over two million, and especially since the release of “Reminiscence,” each of her Weibo posts was receiving nearly a hundred thousand comments at minimum.

Because of this, Liao Meiqi was being granted more and more screen time by the show's producers. With tens of millions, even hundreds of millions, of viewers watching, even if only one percent became true fans, Liao Meiqi would reap enormous rewards.

"You’re a superstar idol with nearly three million followers!" Zhu Xiyu looked at Liao Meiqi’s worried face and comforted her, "To have so many fans in just one month—what’s there to worry about? Did you see the audience? That sea of fans holding up your support banners—they’re all here for you!"

Ju Nianzhi snorted, "Xiao Yu is right. You’re in the center position. Whether our group wins or loses, you’re never at risk of being eliminated. What’s there to worry about? If anything, it’s us who should be anxious." The others joined in with lighthearted jokes to diffuse the tension on set.

Liao Meiqi took a deep breath and said softly, "Sisters, after tonight, I hope that not one of our Miracle Girls will be missing."

Hearing her words, each of the girls was visibly moved, and when they looked at Liao Meiqi, something new shone in their eyes.

Meanwhile, the third round of the competition officially began.

Amid thunderous cheers, the Yushu Qihua Girls Team took the stage one by one. Xie Yuxin stood at the center of the nine-member group, an undisputed focal point. Chin held high, she basked in the adulation of tens of thousands of fans, radiating pure confidence.

As the spotlight poured over her, the music began. Every girl on stage swayed like graceful willows in the breeze, moving in perfect time with the rhythm, together painting a breathtaking tableau.

The dance track, "I'm-Your-Girl," was a rearrangement of a signature hit originally by a top girl group in Korea, a song that had gone viral two years ago, dominating the weekly charts for weeks on end. This time, under expert guidance, "I'm-Your-Girl" had been rearranged to reveal new nuances, presented for the first time to the audience.

"It’s so good! The new arrangement is incredible!"

"The choreography is different too—so much more dazzling than the original!"

"Yuxin is so beautiful! Go, Yuxin!"

"Yushu Qihua for the win!"

"Oh no, my heart is fluttering…"

As Yushu Qihua began to sway their enchanting figures in time with the music, the entire venue erupted. Even the media reporters couldn’t help but sigh, "This is exactly what a girl group should look like."

Their dance was perfectly synchronized. Even with such demanding choreography, the members' vocals remained consistently above average. Tonight, Yushu Qihua’s performance of "I’m-Your-Girl" was by far the most outstanding, a fact that was reflected in the faces of the tens of thousands of spectators.

Every member of the audience was screaming with wild enthusiasm. Even fans of Liao Meiqi couldn’t help but sigh in defeat.

They’re just too good! There’s no denying it! These aren’t trainees—this is the presence of seasoned superstars who have won countless awards!

"Feeling the pressure?" Backstage, seeing Zhu Xiyu’s stunned expression, Liao Meiqi put her arm around her shoulders and smiled, "This time, it’s my turn to comfort you, isn’t it?"

"To take a legendary song like 'I’m-Your-Girl' and make it even more alluring, with even more seductive choreography!" Zhu Xiyu sighed, "It really is the team with the most A-class contestants. Every move is flawless. Meiqi, I really am a little worried now."

"Worried about being eliminated?" Ju Nianzhi, practicing the moves to "Nobody," chimed in, "I don’t want to think about anything now. If it’s meant to be, it will be; if it’s not, we can’t dodge it. Honestly, wouldn’t it have been better if we’d gone first? Then we wouldn’t have this pressure."

At that moment, Yushu Qihua’s performance concluded. In the audience, everyone rose to their feet, chanting Xie Yuxin’s name, their light sticks turning into a sea of flames, igniting the passion in everyone present.

"Miracle Girls, are you ready?" Backstage, the stage manager opened the door, smiling, "This is going to be a tough battle!"

Liao Meiqi and her teammates exchanged glances, then stood up one after another. "We’re ready!"

"Good, follow me." The stage manager looked them over and led the way without another word.

In the corridor leading to the stage, Liao Meiqi’s earlier anxiety gradually faded, replaced by a blazing fire in her chest—a fire as bright and dazzling as the sun.

On the performance stage, the audience was still reeling from Yushu Qihua’s electrifying show.

Now, Miracle Girls took the stage in turn, each dressed in golden threads, their figures exquisitely curvaceous, causing many in the crowd to stare in open amazement.

So these are the Miracle Girls?

But their reception was noticeably more subdued than that of Yushu Qihua. Apart from the nine girls’ respective fan clubs waving banners and cheering, the rest of the audience—still buzzing from the previous high-energy performance—remained in a state of fevered excitement.

Whether by design or coincidence, as Miracle Girls appeared, the crowd continued to shout Xie Yuxin’s name and those of her teammates.

In this environment, Liao Meiqi and her group exchanged uneasy looks, feeling the pressure mounting.

Xie Yuxin, just offstage, took visible satisfaction in their plight.

Petty rivals deserve to be embarrassed!

Unlike the audience’s feverish excitement for Yushu Qihua, the panel of mentors clearly favored the Miracle Girls’ performance. Intent on helping them, the mentors began to tease and hype up the group even before the show began.

"Here they come!"

Chen Xiuyuan, holding the microphone, exclaimed, "Wow, Miracle Girls! I came up with that name, you know—it really is a great one!"

A chorus of jeers rippled through the audience.

Zheng Yongxu praised them: "No matter what anyone else thinks, after seeing these girls rehearse, I can only say one thing: tonight’s best!"

Yan Nianan adjusted her microphone and declared, "Friends, please stop making a racket and listen carefully to this soon-to-be-hit song."

"It’s going to set the trend," Yu Lianzhou added succinctly. "I guarantee it!"

The mentors’ words quickly restored order in the crowd. Even in their heightened excitement, the audience returned their focus to the Miracle Girls, their anticipation mounting.

At that moment, the music began.

Standing in the center, Liao Meiqi lifted the microphone, her gaze dreamy as she murmured, "You know I still love you, baby, and it will never change… I love you!"

In the next instant, the infectious lyrics burst forth:

"I want nobody, nobody but you…"

"I want nobody, nobody but you…"

As the sensual girls on stage swayed their alluring figures within the tight confines of a one-meter square, the audience’s eyes widened.

What kind of dance was this?

That playful sensuality somehow coexisted with innocence!

Each girl moved with captivating charm, and paired with the earworm of a chorus, the entire venue fell silent.

Listen—

Thump, thump-thump—

Hearts were racing!

The young men in the crowd craned their necks, eyes shining as they watched the Miracle Girls dance to the rhythm. Some were so mesmerized, they were nearly drooling.

Tens of thousands of spectators, hundreds of media reporters—in that moment, excitement ran high.

From afar, the dancers’ toes seemed to shimmer with radiance.

"Lost in confusion, I belong to no one
Don’t pretend not to care, you can’t ignore my beauty
The wine glass is already filled with sorrow
My heart is slowly breaking, becoming a burden—"