After the rankings were completed, the contestants spent another day practicing the theme song dance before heading to a prepared venue to line up and record the music video. This will be played at the beginning and end of each episode as the season's theme song, so the center position will leave a particularly deep impression. The seven members of Class A will also record a segment where each of them sings a line, which will be included in the music video as a preview of what a boy band would be like.
Therefore, in the mentors' eyes, this segment was extremely important, as it represented exposure. Many viewers unfamiliar with the boy band might have formed their first impression based on these members from the theme song. What a fantastic opportunity! Pan Yu knew this too, which is why he was so furious. He wanted to secure the center position and establish his status early on. He believed his fans would vote him first, and that he would remain number one. But this time, not only did he fail to get the center position, he was also relegated to Class B, receiving no solo shots, and not even standing at the front. He was practically invisible in the theme song MV, which infuriated him!
The music video needs editing. During filming, cameras are positioned in all directions. If a contestant chooses a scene that doesn't look good, it can be cut and replaced with another shot. Therefore, anyone who didn't practice diligently might not even get a scene in the final music video. During recording, none of the members of Class F could participate. They followed the mentors into the recording studio, watching the other contestants perform the theme song with dazzling charisma. The huge contrast between their performance and the recording left them feeling incredibly disappointed. At the same time, a surge of motivation rose within them. If they didn't move forward, they would fall behind; why not give it their all!
Seeing their reaction, Bai Yuchen nodded in satisfaction and whispered to the other mentors, "The contestants are finally taking this seriously."
The other mentors nodded, showing relieved smiles. Who gets selected and who doesn't isn't really their concern; after the show, they'll go their separate ways. But now that they're mentors, they have to be responsible and dedicated, hoping to select seven truly talented individuals to debut, and also ensuring the others learn something from the process—at the very least, a serious attitude is essential. Otherwise, they'll not only be eliminated from the show, but also from society.
Xu Zifan was undoubtedly the center of attention in this music video, and he didn't disappoint the mentors, delivering an exceptional performance. As both an actor and director—and a top-tier one at that—he naturally knew how to perform in front of the camera to achieve the best results, adding brilliance to several shots in the video. While others were unaware of his abilities, the director, after watching the video, praised his natural camera presence and described him as a promising talent, which naturally left a positive impression on the other staff members.
Moreover, the show's stylists did their hair and makeup, and dressed them in matching white shirts and school uniforms. Even though Xu Zifan is overweight, he looked incredibly charming in this outfit, and every smile and gesture was captivating!
The second episode ends here. The contestants' practice, daily life, personal feelings, singing and dancing rankings, mentor comments, and the final production of the theme song, plus the guidance from the mentors while learning the theme song, constitute all the highlights of the second episode. Since there was no voting ranking in the second episode, and Xu Zifan was still in A-level and the center position for the theme song, he continued to live in the best dormitory belonging to the throne, without changing.
The other players who changed ranks had to change their uniform colors and move to the new class's dormitories. After Pan Yu left, Li Keyang asked Xiao Cheng to move into his room to share a dorm with him. He didn't really like Pan Yu; Pan Yu always tossed and turned at night, keeping him from getting a good night's sleep, and he didn't really talk to anyone in the dorm, not at all like the kind-hearted person people said he was. He wouldn't say it to anyone, but it was very necessary to find himself a more easy-going roommate as soon as possible.
As soon as this episode aired, Pan Yu's fans went wild, especially since Xu Zifan, whom they had been constantly criticizing, was able to stay in Class A and even get the center position, which made them extremely resentful.
What is the mentor thinking? Why would he deliberately demote Pan Yu and put pressure on him? Isn't this bullying?
[I used to really like Bai Yuchen, but now I'm just indifferent. It's too much! They kept Fatty, even Xiao Cheng who was so nervous, but they're targeting Pan Yu!]
[Who exactly is that fatso? All the mentors are fawning over him? Is he some rich kid? He even said he's so poor he's eating dirt, ugh.]
Pan Yu's deliberately attracted group of young female fans has once again caused him trouble. Although his thoughts are similar to theirs, saying them out loud is still offensive. They are as combative as he thought, but at this time, the more combative their words are, the more negative attention they attract! Unfortunately, he has only been signed with the company for less than a year, and it's a well-known large company in the entertainment industry with many artists. The company hasn't made any special effort to guide public opinion for him, which makes his fans even more disliked.
Those who like Xu Zifan and those who are overweight themselves strongly dislike Pan Yu's fans. Xu Zifan's physique doesn't attract any loli fans; 90% of her fans are rational.
[Calling someone a "fatso" is going too far! Has there not been a single fat person in your family for three generations? Are you insulting your ancestors?]
[The mentors are all very popular; they wouldn't stoop to such underhanded tactics for a single show. They were clearly trying to help Pan Yu, yet you all ridiculed them. I suggest you focus on your studies. Good medicine tastes bitter, but it's good for the disease; if you don't understand this basic principle, you need to seriously learn.]
[Boy groups need to be charismatic; whoever has the most charisma wins. It's perfectly fair. At least I saw Fatty's charisma in this episode, while I was completely unmoved by Pan Yu's performance. Li Keyang was also great, as was Xiao Cheng. The mentors' encouragement and pressure were just right. Didn't everyone get serious at the end of this episode? Well done, PD Bai!]
Am I the only one who noticed that Xingchen's expression was a little off when Bai PD mentioned Xingchen's boyfriend? By the way, what's wrong with Lin Haodong? Is it...?
Did you upset Xingchen?
[Haha, do you really think your Bai Xingchen is a star in the sky? Someone who needs to be pampered by everyone? Haodong is also very tired from filming, okay? Who has the time to pamper that vixen?]
[You call me a vixen? Don't go! Dare to give me your address and we'll fight? Vixen my ass!]
Okay, stop arguing. Only believe official announcements. Anyone who says anything other than what the person in question says is either a die-hard fan or a hater. Don't believe them, don't listen.
As soon as Bai Xingchen's relationship was revealed, a PR team secretly controlled the situation, pushing the topics down without causing any significant stir. Bai Yuchen called Bai Xingchen and asked, "It seems I'm not the only one who noticed; netizens have sharp eyes. Tell me, what happened?"
Bai Xingchen was in the training camp. She found an empty room, leaned against the wall, pinched her brow, and said wearily, "I don't know yet. I received a photo of him being intimate with the female lead in the same drama. When I asked him, he said they were just friends and that I was overthinking it. I haven't had time to visit the set recently, so I don't know for now. I just feel a little tired."
"Heh, the second time." Bai Yuchen sneered. "Sis, cut your losses. If a man doesn't know how to avoid suspicion after dealing with this kind of thing the first time, then that's just his nature. You have money, you're good-looking, and you have such a good brother like me. What do you need him for?"
Bai Xingchen was silent for a moment, then sighed, "I'll find time to talk to him. No matter what he does with other people, if we're not happy together, then we just have to let it go. Remember not to let anyone know yet, so as not to cause any bad consequences."
"I know, don't worry about that. But be careful not to get tricked. These days, a lot of people will do anything to get on the trending topics."
"Okay! Don't worry!" Bai Xingchen hung up the phone, turned around and saw Xu Zifan standing inside the door. She was startled. "What are you doing here? You scared me to death!"
Xu Zifan said apologetically, "I didn't mean to eavesdrop. I wanted to find an empty room to practice, but I overheard you talking on the phone. I was afraid someone else would hear, so I stood here guarding the door. Instructor Bai, I'm sorry, I won't tell anyone."
Bai Xingchen instructed, "Then remember not to say anything. It's not that I'm afraid people will know, it's just that I need to think things through and make arrangements before announcing the news, so as not to cause unnecessary speculation and confuse the fans."
"Understood." Xu Zifan made a zipping motion near his mouth. "I absolutely won't tell anyone, Professor Bai, don't worry."
Bai Xingchen relaxed and laughed, "Could you please stop calling me Instructor Bai? Everyone else calls me Sister Xingchen, so you can call me that too."
Xu Zifan glanced at her and shook his head. "I can't bring myself to call you that. You look like you're only 20, but I'm already 24."
Bai Xingchen couldn't help but laugh. "Although I often hear people praise me like this, hearing you say it feels especially true."
"Why?"
"Oh right, you don't know this, but when the first episode aired, we both trended on social media because you were daydreaming when I appeared. What were you thinking at the time? You really weren't paying attention to the mentors at all."
Xu Zifan recalled carefully, "I was thinking at the time, you guys are all so good-looking. I'm not bad-looking either, so why do you have to gain so much weight in your face?" He shrugged, "If netizens knew what I was thinking, they wouldn't blame me for being distracted."
Xu Zifan's gaze fell on Bai Xingchen's phone, and he tentatively asked, "Professor Bai, could you lend me your phone for a moment?"
Bai Xingchen asked in surprise, "You borrowed your tutor's phone?"
"I feel... you seem quite easy to talk to, I'll just use it for a bit and return it to you right away."