The so-called battle, literally meaning combat, is a form of confrontation popular in hip-hop, street dance, and other cultures, where victory is achieved through a competition of talent.
This tradition was also adopted into "Idol Project"; there were only six A-rank spots, and when the seventh A-rank appeared, this seventh person would choose one of the previous six for a battle.
It's unclear if the four mentors did it on purpose, but the seventh A-rank holder was precisely the trainee Mu Li considered the strongest among those who had performed so far—Wei Ying.
Wei Ying, just like her name, had an astonishing aura, and even more astonishing than her aura was her strength. Coming from a background as a powerful rapper, coupled with strong dance skills and that incredibly unique husky voice, it seemed as if the stage was hers to command the moment she stepped onto it.
When the mentors announced that the seventh A-rank spot belonged to Wei Ying, all the trainees and mentors in the audience shouted one word—battle.
However, every time that word was shouted, Tong Xue, who was sitting in the top spot, grew a little more nervous.
As the challenger, Wei Ying showed no politeness, pointing a single finger to the highest position and declaring Domineeringly: "Those without strength are not fit to sit in that position."
Facing the formidable Wei Ying, Tong Xue walked onto the stage looking like a little chick, not daring to meet Wei Ying's gaze.
This was a complete psychological and strength-based Rolling!
Looking at Tong Xue, who was almost cowering, Wei Ying suddenly lost interest in her: "With you like this, it's really hard for me to consider you an opponent."
Wei Ying sneered: "But a competition is a competition, I'll let you choose the project you're best at for the battle."
Tong Xue's face turned even paler upon hearing this: This was no longer a battle; this was practically a slap in the face.
However, for everyone else present, it was like pouring oil on a fire, and the excitement in the venue immediately surged to its peak.
Mu Li raised an eyebrow at Wang Yijia, signaling: The show you wanted is here.
Xu Yunyi's hosting voice cut in: "Wei Ying, you are the challenger, are you sure you want to give Tong Xue the initiative to choose the battle project?"
"Of course." Wei Ying said with a hint of disdain, "Otherwise, this battle would be so boring!"
On the other side, Tong Xue gritted her teeth: "Since you said so, then I choose to Sing the song 'Heartbreak'."
The moment Tong Xue said this, all the trainees fell silent.
"Heartbreak" is a very classic love song, Singing about a girl's heartbreak and struggle after discovering her boyfriend's infidelity, which is exactly Tong Xue's most Specialties genre.
As for Wei Ying, who came from a rapper background, asking her to Sing a love song was no different from directly destroying her persona, especially such a sentimental love song.
This completely broke Wei Ying's cool and swaggering rapper persona.
However, for Wei Ying, since it was for the competition, Singing a love song wasn't shameful, but it didn't stop her from feeling emotional.
Originally, she had intended to just Sing casually and save the other party some face, but now she decided to give it her all.
The two sang the chorus of "Heartbreak," which was also the emotional climax of the song.
Tong Xue, who was originally very familiar with and adept at this song, seemed to have sung the original song's lingering feeling of "wanting to break up but unable to forget" into a strong sense of hatred, perhaps due to her eagerness to win.
However, when Wei Ying's voice appeared, it brought an unexpected surprise; her slightly husky female voice completely elevated the original's heart-wrenching entanglement, transforming that entanglement into a sense of resilience, as if she had been reborn and freed from a previous relationship.
The difference between the two was clear at a glance.
"I believe I don't need to say more about this result, do I?" Xu Yunyi smiled.
Below the stage, the trainees' shouts resounded at the opportune moment: "Wei Ying! Wei Ying! Wei Ying!"
Compared to the triumphant Wei Ying, Tong Xue on the side was filled with resentment.
In her heart, the source of all this was Mu Li.
It was just that Mu Li was busy "exchanging glances" with Wang Yijia at the moment.
"How was it? Was that a good show?" Mu Li raised an eyebrow, looking at Wang Yijia.
Wang Yijia pouted, showing a look of disdain: "Just so-so."
"That's just so-so?" Mu Li felt that Wang Yijia was just being provocative.
Wang Yijia looked at Mu Li, suddenly revealing a mischievous smile.
Oh no! The moment Mu Li saw that mischievous smile, a bad premonition rose in his heart.
The next moment, he saw Wang Yijia stop the trainees' shouts.
"Everyone still hasn't heard Teacher Mu Li Sing, have they?" Wang Yijia smiled, "Since that's the case, how about Teacher Mu Li also tries Singing a song 'Heartbreak'?"
Mu Li gritted his teeth, looking at Wang Yijia: He knew this guy was going to cause trouble.
However, the show was still being recorded, so Mu Li couldn't just kill Wang Yijia. He could only force a smile and say: "I'm not familiar with this song, I can't Sing it."
"Then change to one you're familiar with." Wang Yijia smiled, "You can't tell me you can't Sing a single love song, can you?"
The trainees below the stage were also people who loved to watch a good show and weren't afraid of trouble, so they all followed Wang Yijia's lead and shouted: "Sing a love song! Sing a love song! Sing a love song!"
"Stop, stop, stop..." Seeing that he couldn't refuse, Mu Li had no choice but to agree, "Then I'll Sing one."
Mu Li suddenly caught sight of Fu Peiyao, who was watching the excitement intently, and a mischievous smile appeared on his face: "Since you want me to Sing a love song, can I make a request?"
"What request? As long as it's not too outrageous, I'll agree on behalf of everyone." Wang Yijia immediately said.
Mu Li pointed to Fu Peiyao on the side and said: "Since it's a love song, naturally there should be an object, right? Could I trouble Teacher Fu Peiyao to cooperate with me?"
"That's it?" Wang Yijia waved his hand grandly, "I agree on behalf of Pei Pei."
Fu Peiyao, who was originally watching the fun, found that the fun suddenly involved her and immediately became unwilling: "What does this have to do with me? Also, why do you get to agree for me?"
She was a girl, after all, and needed to maintain some reserve.
While Fu Peiyao said she was unwilling, in her heart, she was practically already jumping onto the stage.
Wang Yijia's expression changed, revealing a fawning smile: "Pei Pei, just make this sacrifice. But don't worry, as long as that kid dares to lay a finger on you, I'll make sure he doesn't leave this studio."
Mu Li also quickly waved his hand: "I guarantee I won't touch a single finger of yours, just stand here."
Hearing Mu Li say this, Fu Peiyao could only feign reluctance and agreed to Mu Li's request: "Alright, for everyone's sake, I'll reluctantly make this sacrifice."
Seeing Fu Peiyao agree to Mu Li's request, the audience, in addition to applause and cheers, even started whistling.
"The song I'm Singing is called 'Like You'." After introducing it, Mu Li looked into Fu Peiyao's eyes.
Just that eye contact was enough to silence everyone, who quietly gazed at the two on stage, followed by Mu Li's extremely gentle voice.
...Like your smiling eyes, even the sunset looks like a lip print...
With each line Mu Li sang, he took a step closer. After two lines, he was almost next to Fu Peiyao.
At this moment, Fu Peiyao didn't even dare to breathe heavily, like a young girl experiencing her first love, looking on ignorantly as the boy she liked sang a love song and walked closer to her step by step.
...I like following you like this, wherever you take me. Your face slowly draws closer, and tomorrow slowly, slowly becomes clear...
The two got closer and closer, as if they could smell each other's scent.
The other audience members also held their breath, afraid that their breathing would break this beautiful scene.
...I like your loving heart, gently touching each of my fingers, sensing. I know it's telling me your promised words...
After Singing the last line of the chorus, Mu Li, at some point, had already taken Fu Peiyao's hand.
Just as described in the lyrics, their fingers intertwined, as if they could sense each other's heartbeats.
This scene, like a confession in an idol drama, had almost everyone immersed in the romantic atmosphere.
And the two on stage ignored everything around them, with only each other in their eyes.
At this point, the trainees below the stage also started to egg them on: "Be together! Be together! Be together!"
The sound grew louder and louder, loud enough to wake Mu Li and Fu Peiyao from their Mew.
"Wait!" Wang Yijia suddenly jumped onto the stage and shouted, directly grabbing Mu Li's hand, "Who told you to touch her? Huh? Who told you to touch her?"
Mu Li gave an awkward smile and replied: "Uh, it was just involuntary..."
With that, he showed a pained expression: "Look at Pei Pei's face, who could resist not being moved?"
Wang Yijia snorted: "But you still can't touch her!"
Mu Li complained: "I didn't make the first move, Pei Pei was the one who first moved my heart, I was just returning the favor."
Fu Peiyao also came to her senses at this point, glaring fiercely at Mu Li before her gaze continuously darted between Wang Yijia and Mu Li.
Wang Yijia and Mu Li immediately felt that gaze and instinctively huddled together, trying to find warmth in each other's company.
"What do you want to do? We're still recording the show! No getting emotional!" Mu Li deliberately shouted loudly, as if that would give him courage.
Who knew that Fu Peiyao had no intention of making a move at all.
"You two are indeed suspicious." Fu Peiyao's eyes showed a hint of playfulness.
Mu Li's heart sank, and he instinctively looked at Wang Yijia: Oh no, I actually forgot we had a scandal.
Their scandal had already spread throughout the entire production team, including these trainees.
In everyone's eyes, Wang Yijia had just deliberately interrupted Mu Li and Fu Peiyao's intimate moment, only to turn around and hug Mu Li.
How was this maintaining fairness?!
This was clearly jealousy!
At this, the entire studio boiled over.
There's a saying, ten men, nine are bad, and ten women, nine are Corruption.
For the 88 female trainees in the studio, what could be better to ship than the Mu Li and Fu Peiyao CP?
That would, of course, be the Mu Wang CP of Mu Li and Wang Yijia!
A burst of noise, even stronger than when Mu Li and Fu Peiyao held hands just now, erupted: "Be together! Be together! Be together!"
Mu Li's big eyes were filled with immense confusion: "?? No, you guys are already shipping this? Has anyone considered my feelings, hey?!"
What Mu Li never expected was that the instigator of this matter was actually his other CP—Fu Peiyao.
What was going on here?
My future girlfriend became the fan leader of my current CP?
No! Why did my CP change from a peerless beauty to an 1.8-meter muscular man, hey?!
Mu Li now just wanted to beg this group of people: Shipping CPs can be unconventional, but it can't be evil!
But looking at the crazy excitement of the people on site, he suddenly didn't know how to explain, and instinctively looked at his CP partner—Wang Yijia.
From Wang Yijia's expression, it was clear that he was also very confused at this moment!
Although overseas was more open and male-male CPs were popular, he wasn't just anyone!
"It's your two's little game, why drag me into it? Is no one going to consider my feelings? Hey, pass me the peanuts, you bastards!"