Chapter 83

Li Mai looked at the time, five minutes had already passed, so he told everyone to stop asking questions for now, and said:

"Sisters, I will continue answering your questions later. Right now we need to arrange the tasks ahead!

After all, our next assessment is in three days, performing a song and dance routine. Time is tight and the mission is heavy. Trainees, do your best!"

Upon hearing an assessment would happen so soon, everyone began to sigh. After all, those assigned to this group either had very low popularity or very poor skills.

A group of stragglers, of course they feared assessments.

Li Mai had already anticipated this situation, so after letting them vent their complaints, he continued:

"Since you've all come to compete, you should strive to overcome all difficulties!

Don't waste time, here are the sheet music and parts for each of you. I'm giving everyone one copy. Also, the studio version dance practice video will be sent to the group chat later, you can watch it in advance...

Next I'll start leading everyone through the lyrics once..."

The livestream ended for today.

Bullet screen comments:

【So soon already?】

【Over so quickly?】

【Seems like the practice assessments and competitions are pre-recorded, have to watch on the joint video platform, only daily life is livestreamed, in principle it's 24 hour livestreaming, but the official account will automatically turn it off when no one is around.】

【Then let's go squat in A's livestream room for Qiaoqiao】

【I'm going to B to squat and wait for fairy Sishe】

【I plan to stay in F's room every day to watch Qinwei's daily life】

【Those ahead of me as well, to watch the daily life of the comedians hahaha】

...

Li Mai's lesson did not stop just because the livestream ended. After everyone read through the sheet music, he went to the piano and played the first passage.

"This song is very cheerful, which sets the tone for its strong rhythmic feel overall. So the breathing is very important. I'll demonstrate it once for everyone, you can mark the breath marks in places where I breathe to help with future practice."

As Li Mai spoke, he began to sing while playing slowly. He intentionally slowed down the speed of the whole song, and made deliberate emphasis at the pauses. But when he looked up, half of the fourteen people were looking at him with confused expressions. "Look at the lyrics, I'll go through and mark the divisions..."

Li Mai rubbed his nose helplessly. He could only take the initiative to compromise. Most of those present were actors. As far as he knew, apart from two music graduates who later became actors, the other few singers were also self-taught.

They were the kind who relied on autotune for singing, and camerawork for dancing. They didn't necessarily have real knowledge about music theory.

Of course, in Li Mai's opinion, no one with real talent and skill would end up in Group F.

However, the teachers invited by the TV station were either more senior than him, or more famous than him, and had taken all the good groups. He could only pick up the leftovers.

Li Mai secretly sighed, he had no choice, but it was still an opportunity.

He cheered himself on, then said to them:

"Next we still have some time. Let's get familiar with this song first!

I'll sing slowly while playing, you follow along and hum softly, pay attention to the marked breath marks, try to get a feel for them. After everyone is familiar with the whole song, we'll go through in detail sentence by sentence."

Over the next half hour, Li Mai sang it through three times, and the celebrity women also hummed along. Seeing how seriously they looked, Li Mai felt there was still hope. So he asked:

"Would anyone like to try singing a part?"

There was complete silence from below.

Li Mai encouraged:

"Just the opening chorus part is fine."

Still no one was willing.

Li Mai was a little helpless, he could only say:

"I'm also one of the judges for the assessment in three days. If you take the initiative to impress me now, although I can't give extra points, it can improve my impression of you. I can only say this much."

"I'll try, teacher."

All eyes turned towards the voice, it was Lin Qiqi who raised her hand.

It seemed she was seriously trying to seize this opportunity.

Li Mai breathed a sigh of relief and looked at Lin Qiqi encouragingly:

"A cappella or with accompaniment?"

Lin Qiqi picked up the sheet music, cleared her throat:

"I'm not too familiar with the song yet, I'll sing a cappella, teacher. I won't sing too well, please be forgiving."

Qin Wei also looked towards her. It had been so long, she didn't expect this woman to be much more restrained after her previous embarrassment. From before the group assignments, Qin Wei had noticed she was also here. Her whole demeanor lacked her usual arrogance, sitting quietly in a corner the whole time barely speaking.

For now, just believe she won't cause trouble again! Lin Qiqi held the sheet music and began singing while looking at the lyrics. She only sang a passage, it couldn't be described as good or bad sounding, it could only be said she basically got through it without any obvious mistakes.

Li Mai applauded and said good, but was very bitter inside -

Compared to a kindergarten kid, it really wasn't much better. It was just parroting sentence by sentence as the teacher sang. Would she be able to handle singing and dancing together in three days?

"Sweetie, do you want to try too?"

Sun Tiantian, who was called, shook her head. Her voice was very small as she said:

"I haven't learned to sing it yet, give me a bit more time..." Li Mai looked at Qin Wei, and Qin Wei happened to be looking at him too.

Should he let her sing?

Li Mai turned back around and sat down again. His first impression of her wasn't good to begin with, better to minimize provoking her as much as possible. If she was embarrassed, she might think he did it on purpose...

"Let me take everyone through it a few more times!"

...

After spending an afternoon, they barely managed to get through the entire song. Since this was the first day, everyone still had to get used to dormitory life, so the lesson ended at dinner time, letting everyone return to the villa to rest first.

After collecting their phones at the exit, all of Group F's members boarded the show's shuttle bus. Everyone had a bit of weariness on their faces, and since they were not yet familiar with each other, no one said a word.

The staff along for the ride felt this wouldn't do. If this segment was put in, no one would watch it. So according to the plan arranged at the meeting, whenever the atmosphere was low, they would ask questions. The staff member began asking questions.

"How was it today? Do you have confidence to learn it in the next three days?"

Everyone looked at each other and started wryly smiling. This was the only tacit understanding so far today.

Sun Tiantian was considered a singer who had released albums, although later she transitioned into acting. But she still believed she had some experience compared to these people, so she took the initiative to reply:

"This song has a fast tempo. There are fourteen of us, with so many people it will be very difficult to stay in sync. Plus the dance moves and stage positions afterwards, all kinds of coordination will be the hardest part."

Several others nodded in agreement.

Even Qin Wei couldn't deny it. Although she had gotten it after listening twice, when Li Mai asked, she kept silent the whole time. She was considering this very issue.

"I think it's just practice."

Lin Qiqi suddenly gave her opinion. She was sitting in the very front, and even turned around to look at everyone.

"As long as we work hard, take time from eating, sleeping, and practice, we'll see improvement!"

Every word was brimming with enthusiasm. Her expression and intonation were just right. It seemed she had been deliberating all afternoon over what to say.

Qin Wei couldn't help rolling her eyes. She had overestimated this woman, she hadn't changed one bit.

After being broadcast on the platform, Qin Wei was criticized by netizens again -

【Qin Wei rolled her eyes yet again】

【Morale is low, Qiqi is encouraging everyone, what is she doing?】

【Right... Qiqi didn't sing badly, would Qin Wei dare to sing a cappella?】