Chapter Ch114.1 - Duel

translator: xiin

editors: apricot & juurensha

The White Moonlight Team’s last day in Floating City went by quickly.

After Wen Lin achieved his three consecutive wins in the underground survival show, Wu Jin and Zoe both rushed out joyfully from behind the curtain with fireworks in hand.

Their week of training had ended.

When the four of them returned to the White Moonlight building, they needed to not only prepare for the next part of the show, but also pay attention to the upcoming reserve selection for the Stardust Cup.

Wu Jin gnawed at a yoghurt straw and waited in the corridor for the PR team’s assessment. Caesar was currently kicking up a ruckus inside.

White Moonlight’s PR assistant: “You’re about to make your debut. You can’t be a fool all the way to the end…”

Caesar was shouting loudly in protest, “Who’s a fool? Where’s this fool?!”

While waiting for his turn, Wu Jin studied the billboards on the walls.

The slogans that were used to recruit trainees for the Crosson Show had been torn down, revealing the yellowed, previously covered up <Azure Competition Zone White Moonlight’s Top 16> poster.

The date on the poster was June 3013, when the White Moonlight Battle Team had been at its peak. At the time, Blood Pigeon had just retired, and Ying Xiangxiang was still a struggling, unknown actress. R-Code and White Moonlight were both going strong, and Jingyi also hadn’t yet started its decline.

Wu Jin looked at the poster that had been pushed to the end.

The man in the poster was holding a trophy. His tattooed arms were wrapped in bandages, and his aura was as fierce as the desert.

He even looked a little like the big boss.

Wen Lin saw where Wu Jin was looking and explained in a gentle tone, “That is the R-Code Battle Team’s captain, Captain Shao. He was once a seeded contestant in the Azure Competition Zone, but he later disappeared.”

“Only our team captain would leave his poster here––it’s probably to remind White Moonlight of the shame of being thoroughly defeated by R-Code.”

Wu Jin was curious. “Why did he leave R-Code?”

Wen Lin shook his head. “I don’t know. I heard that it was either due to physical reasons or because he just wanted to retire.” He said emotionally, “Before retiring, Captain Shao ruled the entire Azure survival show scene and was named the most perfect of the genetically modified humans.”

Wu Jin: “What was his name?”

“Shao Yu.”

Wu Jin paused as his memories churned.

“Shao Yu is the first sword of the Federation… he’s the scabbard…”

The door to the PR department squeaked open.

Caesar stomped out angrily, and Secretary Qu smiled benignly at Wu Jin. “Little Witch, it’s your turn!”

Wu Jin made a sound of acknowledgement and kneaded his temples as he stepped inside.

After his public persona was determined, there was a series of comprehensive quality tests and pressure training.

Wu Jin was busy until late into the night.

The light for the trainees’ individual dorm rooms was a little bright, and the little rabbit night light was crouching at the head of the bed. Wu Jin petted Brother Rabbit while opening up the terminal, taking notes while watching several videos from White Moonlight’s recent games.

He was trying to figure out the difference between himself and the professional players.

One o’clock in the morning.

The training plan attached to the head of the bed was torn off, and a new training plan replaced it. The proportion of close combat and tactical command training had increased.

Wu Jin stroked Brother Rabbit a few more times before placing it back in the drawer.

The little Pterosaur flew out to play again. It had come back once a few hours ago and gifted Wu Jin with a dead mouse, tossing it with a screech onto the balcony window––later, it had been swept away by the cleaning robot. When Wu Jin came back, he’d seen the robot repeatedly wash its hands beneath the tap.

Wu Jin rolled around twice in the quilt, settling himself in.

There were only three elimination matches left before the final round of the Crosson Show.

He had to go all out.

The next afternoon, the White Moonlight team all arrived back at the Crosson base.

Wu Jin was shocked and amazed.

During the players’ one week holiday, the entire base had been redecorated with flowers and roses. The program producer had even put together two flower swings to replace the shoddy seesaw that had been left over from three seasons ago.

Over twice the usual amount of cameras was inserted amongst the flowers, and quite a few of them carried the blue Hyacinth logo.

The female trainees who were part of the Hyacinth Show had already arrived.

The female trainees had make-up on their faces, and their temperaments were elegant. They talked with the players of the Crosson Show in groups of twos and threes, and the atmosphere was warm and harmonious.

Zoe quickly pointed out for Wu Jin, “That one over there! The one with a red dress that’s holding a box––Silver Thread Roll Entertainment’s Ning Fengbei. She’s the Red Rose!”

Wu Jin looked over with rounded eyes.

Zoe: “One of Hyacinth Show’s two goddesses, along with the White Rose Vera. Let me look for her.”

Wu Jin suddenly thought of something, “Silver Thread Roll… the same company as Brother Thin?”

Zoe nodded.

There was a burst of noise from the crowd in the distance, and the Red Rose stuffed a box over to Thin Fire. “The masks you told me to buy for you.”

Thin Fire was pleasantly surprised. He immediately accepted the box and winked at Ning Fengbei, then smiled like a fox towards the crowd of female trainees, “…Yes, I’d like to invite all you ladies to my place for a face mask party in the evening…”

“It’s no trouble, it’s no trouble! This spa mask is very special. The essence and powder are mixed together to stimulate repair activity. It has to be applied to the face within five minutes. My face is small, and I can’t use it all, so it’s perfect to share it with everyone. After using it, your face will be like a boiled egg without the shell…”

By the suspension car.

Caesar retched exaggeratedly, “This coquettish man is saying that he has a small face?!”

However, Zoe was currently thinking it over, “It’s a high level move! This move helps him win the favor of the female players before the match even starts. And, it also kills two birds with one stone, helping the Red Rose push out the White Rose. What do female players hate the most?! Of course it’s not getting invited to a tea party!”

Wu Jin immediately expressed his admiration for Zoe.

Caesar sighed emotionally, “The world of women…”

He went back and corrected himself, “The world of women and coquettish men…”

The four of them arrived at the dormitory with their luggage, and the little Pterosaur swished in to hang upside down from the lamp.

Zoe was thoughtful, “Next time, don’t let Secretary Qu show him the animal world. It’s treating itself like a bat!”

Wu Jin quickly put the little Pterosaur upright, “You’re a Peteinosaurus, not a frog mouthed Pterosaur. You’ll fall off if you hang like this!”

Wu Jin let go, and the little Pterosaur soon toppled over again, chirping happily to express that it wanted Wu Jin to play with it again.

“……” Wu Jin could only lay out a mat beneath the lamp in case the little Pterosaur fell asleep and fell off.

They were now less than one week away from the fifth elimination match. The teams had to be set up within two days, and the trainees couldn’t be absent––

When Wu Jin went back to the dormitory again, he finally saw that the big boss’s luggage had shown up.

The youth’s eyes brightened, and he bounced downstairs.

Crosson Show’s broadcasting hall.

Everyone sat together. Thin Fire had gathered three full circles of female trainees around him and was immediately the target of hate of the other trainees.

The program producer was on the stage, holding up a loudspeaker as he announced the rules of the game, “…Quiet, quiet! During the competition, the first dance is a very important matter! Partnership is a two-way process. First of all, our Crosson Show contestants should express their intentions, and then the various goddesses will fill in the gaps… Oh, that’s not right, they’ll be picking from among our male trainees…”

Off-stage, the tardy White Rose Vera finally arrived.

This young woman had a distinctly Western appearance. Her profile was delicate, with deep contours, and her long hair was a pale flaxen color. Her long skirt floated behind her, attracting countless eyes as she made her way past.

Ning Fengbei gave her a haughty glance.

Vera sent back a similarly prideful look.

Zoe, Wen Lin, and Caesar immediately changed their seating positions. “There’s a show, a show! Little Witch, quickly come and watch!”

Wu Jin, who was currently looking for the big boss amongst a sea of shifting people, was forced to change directions. “……”

Ning Fengbei, who was wearing orange, sunset inspired make-up, gave Vera with the spring peach flower make-up a shallow smile, “Your eyeliner’s not bad. No wonder you spent two hours on it.”

Vera: “You too, you too. Has elder sister formed a team yet? I heard you’ve been left hanging. How about you make do with Contestant Thin…”

The cameras suddenly swept in.

The two goddesses instantly straightened their postures, smiled graciously, and created an atmosphere of sisterly feelings.

The cameras left.

The plastic sisterhood cover popped open immediately.

Ning Fengbei sighed, “You’re talking about forming a team? My eyes are dazzled from all the choices; I just don’t know who to pick. Could it be that you’ve already made your choice?”

Vera’s lips curved, and she turned.

Caesar: “Why is she looking at us… Oh, oh, oh, she’s looking at Little Witch!”

Vera blinked at Wu Jin and then looked back at Ning Fengbei, “Elder sister has to wait until the results come out before choosing, but it’s different for me.”

“In my case, I’ve already received someone’s intentions.”

Wu Jin froze and glanced reflexively towards the big boss who was off in the distance.

The big boss raised his eyebrows.

Wu Jin bounced up with a swish. “I, I, I have to go out for a bit!”

Zoe pressed Wu Jin back down. “No, team formation is about to begin.”

In the middle of the hall, the virtual screen changed instantly. The voting interface was opened up again, showing that nearly one third of the 180 Crosson trainees had expressed their intentions for forming a team, of which Wu Jin ranked the highest.

In the Hall of Mirrors of the Palace of Versailles.

Wu Jin was holding a little red heart as he bounced around Vera, his soft angel wings fluttering happily. There were two or three other players around them, and further out––

The little Angel Wei Shi stood there alone, holding the mended red heart pillow and looking at Wu Jin with tears in his eyes.

Off-stage, Wu Jin trembled and shivered.

Wei Shi narrowed his eyes.

On the screen.

After the little Angel Wu Jin finished bouncing and jumping, Angel Wei Shi immediately held out his mended heart and tugged at Wu Jin’s sleeve.

This is my little heart! Do you want it?

Little Angel Wu Jin pulled his sleeve away and shook his head before bouncing away… the little Angel Wei Shi wailed and burst out crying!

Off-stage, Red uttered a ‘holy shit’.

Wei Shi was expressionless as he turned slowly towards Wu Jin––

Zoe wondered out loud, “Hey, that’s a bit mean? Also, it’s a little chilly, isn’t the air too cold?”

Wu Jin, who’d just had his sins made public, was in a trance.

The scrolling comments for the live stream room instantly exploded.

The program producer leisurely picked up a list and looked at the rankings. He read down from the top, “Wei Yan. Little Wei, come, come, pick a dance partner.”

Wei Yan accepted the microphone that had been passed through the crowd and said woodenly, “No need.”

The program producer shook his head, “This child. It’s already 3018, yet you’re still refusing free love! But this doesn’t mean I won’t just assign you someone at random! Alright, the next one is Little Witch––”

“Ah, right. Little Witch’s already chosen.”

The little stage manager to the side immediately stuck Wu Jin’s name next to Vera’s.

“Little Thin!”

Thin Fire was very smart and chose Ning Fengbei who was from the same entertainment company as him.

The Red Rose smiled gently.

“Botang!” When Zuo Botang came on stage to select a partner, Ming Yao even cheered for his captain.

“Wei Shi!”