The Salted Fish is Rebellious – CH16

Chapter 16

The trainees, now styled to perfection, appeared far more handsome than during rehearsal.

Backstage, a group of people were left stunned, internally squealing while furiously posting exclamation marks in their group chat.

Students from Z University were well aware of the trainee program, but rehearsals were closed to spectators, leaving them eagerly awaiting the official performance.

Finally, after a play concluded, the two witty and humorous hosts returned to the stage.

They began by lavishly praising the previous act, then smoothly transitioned into introducing the next one.

One host remarked, “Speaking of talent, our Z University is full of famous and brilliant individuals, some of whom are exceptionally handsome. Handsome enough that when I saw one on the street, I thought he was a celebrity.”

The other host chimed in, “Well, could it be that they’re destined to become a celebrity in the future?”

The mention of “celebrity” sent a ripple of excitement through the audience, and the subsequent comment triggered immediate cheers.

The invited VIP guests in the front row, though unaware of the context, started forming their own vague guesses based on the audience’s reaction.

After briefly discussing the trainees, the hosts finally announced the performance.

“All right, everyone, I know you can’t wait any longer. Next, let’s welcome Xing Shi and his fellow trainees from the Mechanical Engineering School to bring us an audiovisual feast!”

Amid enthusiastic applause and cheers, the first group of trainees took the stage.

They were dressed in light tones, and as the music began, they started moving.

The choreography wasn’t overly complex, but the strong rhythm of the music was perfectly matched with each move, compelling the audience to sway along. The team shifted formations three times, with the last move culminating in a chest-popping motion by the person in the center, supported by the others.

In the next moment, the group split apart, making way for the second group waiting behind.

This group wore vibrant attire and exuded a lively and energetic rhythm.

The third group performed mechanical dance moves with programmed precision, captivating the audience.

The fourth group danced jazz but opted for a powerful and dynamic style rather than the usual sensual flair, appearing both cool and stylish.

One group followed another, with their costumes gradually darkening, and their moves becoming increasingly bold and expansive.

Xing Shi performed hip-hop, positioned right in the center.

With his hair dyed a cool tea shade and his striking physique, he stood out unmistakably in the group. Spectators zoomed in on him with their phones, their screams reaching a new crescendo when he took the stage.

As the music reached its final notes, Xing Shi raised an eyebrow and flashed a smile at the crowd, then pushed his right hand to the ground, propelling himself into the air.

“AAAAHHHH!!!” The audience’s screams hit a fever pitch.

Xing Shi ended his sequence this way, perfectly setting the stage for the next group.

The final group performed breakdancing, featuring moves like leg swipes, windmills, and power moves—all high-difficulty stunts.

When they finished, the earlier groups returned to the stage wearing matching black T-shirts, joining together for a collective dance. Though simple, the choreography was powerful, with movements precise and synchronized, creating a spectacular visual impact.

The audience’s cheers hardly ceased throughout.

Multiple dance styles and a variety of handsome faces—enjoying such a show for free was pure joy for the spectators!

As the final move concluded, the screams peaked once more.

The trainees stood in formation, bowed, and looked out.

The screams, applause, and sea of people created a powerful surge of energy that felt as if it could reach straight into their hearts—this was the path they envisioned for their future.

Their emotions swelled; a few couldn’t hold back tears.

Xing Shi gazed quietly ahead, hearing the system in his mind ask, “How does it feel? Not bad, right?”

He replied, “It’s okay.”

Ever since crossing over, he had dedicated himself to training seriously, determined not to let anyone down.

He wasn’t sure of the original contract signer’s feelings or motives—maybe to spite his father, or perhaps a genuine desire to become a star. The answer was unreachable, but at least he was still walking this path.

Standing here now, he thought… not bad.

Just then, he spotted Fu Xiuning.

Despite not having graduated yet, Fu Xiuning had already started a company and achieved great success, earning him a front-row seat arranged by the university.

The young CEO was clapping steadily. Although Xing Shi couldn’t discern his exact expression, he assumed it was the same as usual—calm and unshaken, no matter the circumstance.

As others suggested another bow, Xing Shi followed suit, thanking the audience once more before turning to leave the stage.

After taking just two steps, the audience erupted in a unified roar, their voices hoarse with excitement.

“Xing Shi! The bros want to have your babies—!!!”

Laughter exploded across the venue. Feng Zifan and his group stumbled, nearly doubling over with laughter.

Recognizing the voices as his dorm mates, Xing Shi turned back to smile at them before finally departing.

The trainees’ month-long effort concluded successfully. Laughing and chatting, they boarded the bus, discussing whether to celebrate with a big meal.

Their teacher overheard and remarked, “The boss said today’s a holiday. If you want to eat out, the company will cover it.”

The group cheered, launching into a debate about where to dine.

Meanwhile, the excitement from the performance lingered. Group chats were flooded with snapshots of handsome performers, making the atmosphere feel like a festive celebration.

One student, an uploader on a video platform, had mobilized all her friends to record the trainees’ performance once she learned they would appear. Now, armed with their footage, group chat material, and her own recordings, she sprinted back to her dorm to edit and upload a video by evening.

The uploader, who had 130,000 followers, quickly drew attention to her post once it was published.

The video title was simple: “Come Gawk at Good Looks—Trainees at Z University’s Anniversary Celebration!”

Curious viewers clicked and learned from the captions that the performers were students who had signed up with an entertainment company and showcased their talents on this special day.

The uploader’s editing skills shone, with smooth transitions that far surpassed the appeal of fixed-camera recordings.

Fans watched the program, thinking, “Wow, such a knockout performance!” They moved to like the video, but it wasn’t over yet.

Suddenly, Xing Shi appeared in a close-up shot, giving a flamboyant smile.

The viewer froze mid-click. Wait—what?!

Next came Yu Yi, a delicately handsome face with a sweet smile, followed by another person and another—all captured with precision and appeal.

After showcasing over ten individuals, the video ended with Xing Shi’s parting glance and smile as he left the stage. This time, the smile carried a hint of indulgence, exuding a completely different charm.

Fans: “!!!”

The audience, invigorated by the video, rewound it and discovered that the comment section was already flooded.

?Ahhh, I can’t take it! They’re all amazing!?
?Rookie mistake. You should’ve shown the later scenes first.?
?I knew from the start this wasn’t simple. The uploader is a well-known visuals enthusiast—there’s no way they’d only show the performance!?
?Why doesn’t my school have guys like this?!?
?I need all his info in one minute!?
?Which agency is this trainee from? Have they debuted? What’s their name??
?June Culture? That’s Yi-ge’s company!?
?Yiguangnian checkpoint~?

The video quickly spread to other platforms.

A university anniversary performance featuring trainees was already an intriguing topic. The fact that their dancing was solid, combined with the video’s finale delivering a barrage of breathtaking visuals—and the involvement of Qi Changyi—made it a perfect storm. By the following morning, the topic was trending at the tail end of the hot search list.

Xing Shi and his team had just wrapped up training.

As the group prepared to head out for a meal, the department head arrived, cautioning them against posting anything rash on social media.

That got everyone’s attention. They immediately opened their apps, assuming some company celebrity gossip was making rounds, only to discover that they were trending.

“Holy crap, we made it to the hot search!” exclaimed the first person to spot it. The others, slower to react, hurriedly joined in with astonished expressions.

They scrolled through their phones while walking to the cafeteria, found seats, and continued reading the comments, completely neglecting their meals.

Xing Shi wasn’t among them.

He had chosen a few of his favorite dishes and was eating contentedly.

Sharing the table with him were Feng Zifan and Yu Yi. Though both had gotten food, neither had touched it, too absorbed in their phones to use their chopsticks.

Yu Yi had appeared prominently in the video, and his visuals had drawn a significant following.

Since Feng Zifan had been dancing near Yu Yi, he’d also been included in some cuts.

After scrolling for a while, Feng Zifan finally found a comment: “The little beauty’s partner with the granny-gray hair isn’t bad either.” Feeling pleased, he turned to Xing Shi. “A lot of people are drooling over your looks. Aren’t you curious to check?”

Xing Shi replied calmly, “That’s to be expected.”

Feng Zifan couldn’t refute him. After all, his own first impression of Xing Shi had been one of sheer awe.

“What do you think the company will do about this?” he asked.

“No idea. We’ll follow their instructions,” Xing Shi replied.

June Culture’s artist management department had a well-established system.

Upon noticing the online buzz, they quickly held a meeting and decided to capitalize on the momentum. They created personal accounts for the trainees across major platforms, posting snippets of their training routines to attract fans.

But to maximize the exposure, they consulted Fu Xiuning for his opinion and then reached out to Qi Changyi.

At that moment, Qi Changyi was sitting in an airport lounge.

With a new movie set to release, he had been busy with promotional tours.

For the role, he had grown out his hair and tied it into a casual ponytail, exuding an air of carefree charm.

When his assistant called his name, he lazily opened his almond-shaped eyes. “What’s up?”

The assistant summarized the situation.

Realizing it involved his company’s trainees, Qi Changyi agreed to help with the promotion. “Find the video for me. I’ll watch it later,” he said before closing his eyes to rest.

The assistant returned to their seat, located the video, and watched it from start to finish. By the end, they couldn’t hold back a gasp. “So handsome!”

The assistant director seated nearby overheard and leaned over for a look, freezing in place after two glances.

He pulled out his phone, opened the video himself, and after pausing it at a key moment, marched over to Director He. “Freshly minted trainee—drop-dead gorgeous.”

Director He, who had been trying to nap, waved him off impatiently. “Move. I don’t care. No matter how handsome they are, they can’t compare to my son.”

The assistant perked up with curiosity. “Your son is handsome?”

“Of course!” Director He declared proudly. “I’m not bragging, but if my son joined the entertainment industry, these kids wouldn’t stand a chance.”

The assistant director thrust the phone in front of him. “Just take a look. One glance.”

Director He begrudgingly glanced at the screen. His expression froze.

In the next instant, he shot to his feet, snatched the phone, and stared in shock, his words stumbling. “What? A trainee? Who? What?”