Two months of practice time flew by, and it was soon time for the recording of Chasing Light Girls.

Jiang Ye and Tan Meng arrived at the hotel near the recording base a few days before the recording date, where the program team had arranged accommodation for them.

The format of Chasing Light Girls was to assign dormitories based on the results of the initial evaluation, so they had to stay at the hotel before that.

After most of the trainees had arrived, the person in charge came over and called all the trainees for a small meeting.

There were only sixty trainees in Chasing Light Girls at the beginning, which seemed to have less competition pressure compared to other shows.

But since the program team had not announced the format and the final number of debut spots, everyone was anxious.

The person in charge didn't talk about the format in detail today.

He only said that on the day of recording, the trainees would enter according to the order they signed up and choose their seats.

After choosing their seats, the stage initial evaluation would begin.

This sounded similar to other shows.

Although the trainees were listening vaguely, they didn't dwell on it too much.

"As for the dormitory, you all know that it will be assigned based on your seat choice and evaluation results."

"Those who have a higher level in the initial evaluation will, of course, have the right to choose a better dormitory."

After speaking, the person in charge paused and comforted them, "But you can change dormitories later, so don't be too nervous."

A trainee raised her hand to ask, "So, is the stage evaluation recorded in one day?"

The person in charge nodded, "That's right."

The trainees couldn't help but discuss.

"Sixty people, how many shows will there be?"

"Won't we be recording until very late?"

"Of course, it'll probably end in the middle of the night."

"Oh my god, I hope we don't have to stay up all night."

The trainees were anxious.

Not to mention how long it would take to choose seats.

Just the stage evaluation alone, each stage would be at least three or four minutes long, and you also have to factor in the time for the mentors and trainees to interact.

It sounded like it would take at least ten hours to finish.

"So, we'll start preparing for entry in the morning on the day of recording."

The person in charge said, "Everyone be prepared to stay up late."

There was a chorus of groans.

Although staying up late is a common occurrence for trainees.

But staying up late for practice and staying up late for recording are not the same thing.

There is still time to rest during practice.

Recording is different.

Even if you're not performing, you have to be fully alert because the cameras will be constantly scanning you.

If a lazy moment is captured, it could leave a fatal bad impression on viewers who are unfamiliar with you.

The person in charge said, "You can use these few days to rest more or do some more preparation."

"Also, although the official recording hasn't started yet."

"But you already have your first task—"

"Filming a thirty-second self-introduction video."

There was an immediate commotion.

Jiang Ye frowned in thought.

Only thirty seconds?

It would be difficult to fully showcase her talents in that time.

If she wanted to catch people's attention in thirty seconds, she would have to go for a shocking approach.

... But she didn't really want to consider that route.

After all, the persona she had planned for herself was an ace who spoke with her stage skills.

"This will be your first calling card to the public after you enter the show."

"Please film it carefully."

"Tomorrow morning at ten o'clock, go to room 103 in the hotel lobby according to the room order."

"The meeting is adjourned."

As soon as the person in charge left.

The trainees also dispersed.

Tan Meng seemed to want to talk all the way.

But she was able to hold it in, and only asked Jiang Ye when they got back to the room, "Damn, Jiang Ye, it's only thirty seconds. Have you decided what you're going to record?"

She frowned in distress, "What can you do in thirty seconds?"

"You can't even finish the chorus of a dance in thirty seconds, how can I show my skills as a main dancer?!"

Jiang Ye, without any moral scruples, suggested, "If you want to show your skills as a main dancer, I suggest you do ten backflips in a row, it's sure to amaze everyone."

Tan Meng: "…"

Tan Meng said angrily, "Are you crazy, Jiang Ye?"

Jiang Ye immediately put on an innocent and harmless expression and started to rummage through her closet.

Self-introduction is your first calling card.

Although it doesn't represent everything, and few people will really be deeply impressed by a thirty-second video and become your fan.

But at least she wanted Jiang Ye's name to be noticed.

The next day, Jiang Ye woke up early as usual.

Although the filming was done in order of room number, it did not stop her from going early to line up.

... Sure enough, because there were only thirty seconds, many trainees decided to give a strong visual impact.

Some wore JK uniforms, some wore lolita dresses, and some even wore a rabbit costume they rented somewhere.

Jiang Ye: "…"

In short, it was a hundred flowers blooming.

In comparison, Jiang Ye felt like she was dressed like a normal college girl.

But there is nothing wrong with being a college girl.

At least it's very approachable!

After waiting outside for about an hour, it was finally her turn to go in.

This room in the hotel lobby was decorated like a practice room.

There were many musical instruments placed in the corner of the room, which were provided for the trainees.

But it would be difficult to showcase musical talents in just thirty seconds.

Jiang Ye shook her head, indicating that she didn't need any instruments, and then sat down on the chair in the center of the room.

The cameraman said, "When you're ready, nod to start."

Jiang Ye took a deep breath and nodded.

The red dot on the camera in front of her flickered twice.

"Hello, everyone, I'm Jiang Ye from Shengrui Entertainment."

She wasn't going to show off anything.

She just wanted to use these thirty seconds to say what she wanted to say.

"Although you don't know me now."

"But I will make you remember me."

"Because when we meet again, I will be sitting in the first position and greeting you."

•••

The next day, in the conference room.

The door opened, and a young man rushed in, pulled a chair from the very end and sat down, "Sorry, I'm late."

He apologized, but his expression didn't show any regret. He raised an eyebrow, looked at the other four mentors and smiled, "Have you been waiting long?"

The other four: "..."

Mu Xingchi was a popular idol who had just become famous recently.

It was said that the program team spent a lot of money and effort to get him to be the dance teacher.

So, although the other mentors were a little annoyed, they didn't say anything, they could only chuckle, "No, no, let's start."

"Good."

Mu Xingchi glanced at his watch, "We should be able to finish in an hour. I have an event to rush to later."

The other four: "..."

They were there today to record a video of them watching the trainees' self-introductions.

Their watching and comments would be released as a preview and a lead-in to the show's premiere.

The first one they clicked on was Lin Zui, the popular contestant before the show started.

"Hello, everyone, I'm Lin Zui."

A girl with wavy hair sat in the center, her confidence evident, "If someone asks me why I'm participating in a girl group again."

"I'll say, because I want you to see me."

"If someone asks how I want to be seen."

"I'll say, as long as I'm in first place, you'll have to see me."

"I know this trainee."

Yang Jingjing, another female dance mentor sitting to the left of Mu Xingchi, said, "She has experience in girl groups before, she's a very mature idol. I'm also very optimistic about her."

Opposite her, another vocal teacher also nodded, "Only she can be so confident."

"I bet the other trainees wouldn't say that in their self-introduction."

"That's right, she has the confidence to say that, others would seem too arrogant if they said it."

The mentors chatted and laughed as they scrolled through the self-introductions of the other trainees.

Who knew that the next trainee would slap them in the face.

"——Because when we meet again, I will be sitting in the first position and greeting you."

The girl in the video blinked.

She said the harshest words with the most harmless expression.

Everyone in the conference room: "..."

Mu Xingchi, however, burst out laughing and looked at the mentors, "What did you just say?"

"... Ahem, I didn't expect that."

"Who is she?"

"... Never seen her before."

"Don't know her."

The mentors flipped through her profile information in unison.

【Jiang Ye, eighteen years old, Shengrui Entertainment trainee】

【Practice time: Two years】

【Debut experience: None】

All the mentors: "..."

Yang Jingjing smiled and said tactfully, "Of course, it's good to be confident."

Chen Yiming followed, "I agree, but it depends on the situation."

A trainee with an unremarkable resume in every aspect.

She said she was going to take first place in her self-introduction.

Her tone was a bit too bold.

They didn't take Jiang Ye to heart and quickly moved on to the next trainee's self-introduction.

"Not necessarily."

Only Mu Xingchi disagreed, "We don't know her skills, how do we know if she's being arrogant or objectively evaluating herself?"

"Jiang Ye... right?"

Mu Xingchi stared at her profile information for a moment, then tapped on his notebook, "Let's wait and see her performance in two days."

•••

Two days later, in the makeup room.

Since the initial stage had a lot of freedom, all the trainees' costumes and makeup were prepared by their own company's stylists and makeup artists.

Although Shengrui Entertainment only had Tan Meng and Jiang Ye.

But the company also sent a makeup artist and a stylist for them.

However, they were a bit special.

Since they weren't performing on the same stage, their costumes were completely different.

The program team's staff came over to see how they were preparing and to fit them with microphones.

After they left, Tan Meng came out of her dressing room.

Seeing that Jiang Ye was still in another dressing room, taking her time, Tan Meng held it in for a while but couldn't help but ask, "Hey, Jiang Ye, how many microphones do you have?"

Jiang Ye: "What?"

"How many microphones do you have?"

"You don't know the unspoken rules?"

"Whether you have a microphone or not, and how many microphones you have, shows how much the program team cares about you."

Jiang Ye was stunned for a moment, and her memory suddenly flashed back.

Microphones.

Indeed, this was an unspoken rule in the industry.

The program team would assign different numbers of microphones based on their assessment of different trainees.

One microphone was for the trainee's normal sound recording, while the other microphone's recording would be cut to the backstage monitoring.

Backstage monitoring could record the trainee's movements at any time, and use it as a reference to plan an exclusive script line for her.

In Shining 101, the number of microphones for each trainee was agreed upon by the program team and the company.

How much money you spend on the trainee, which trainee you want to push, can all be reflected in the number of microphones.

Jiang Ye looked down at herself.

Outside, Tan Meng heard her not say anything for a long time and was a little panicked, "You... even if you don't have a microphone. You wouldn't cry, would you?"

"Of... of course, I, with a microphone, wouldn't sympathize with you."

Jiang Ye didn't speak because she was a little dazed.

She remembered clearly.

In her previous life, she didn't have a microphone during the initial evaluation, she only got a handheld microphone when she went on stage.

But this time, she had a microphone on her collar and on her waist.