Chapter 148: Boy Band Performing a Girl Group Dance
Host: “The second round is about to begin. Our randomly selected challenge is girl-group choreography!”
Girl-group choreography?
The moment they heard the theme, the artists from Just Studio stood dumbfounded, exchanging bewildered looks.
They had not misheard, had they?
Girl-group choreography?
Nearly all of the dancers at Just Studio were male artists!
The female artists could not dance at all. They were all acting specialists—film and television performers.
How were they supposed to dance a girl-group routine?
This round was utterly meaningless. Just Studio was certain to lose.
The flustered male artists instinctively looked toward the SY artists standing not far away.
Mu Ran stood before the ten performers, selecting the three female artists who would take the stage to challenge the girl-group dance.
Although SY’s female artists could not compare with their boss Mu Ran in beauty, they were still considered outstanding—practically the ceiling of the industry.
The three women selected in particular were not merely beautiful. Even their shimmering costumes seemed made for an energetic performance onstage.
“President Li, what are we going to do?” Ji An moved close to Li Gang, his voice filled with worry.
Everyone knew how important this round was. They did not want to lose. They did not want to become SY’s appendage.
Li Gang remained utterly unconcerned. “Any one of our male artists could hold his own. Are you saying we can’t win?”
Her words did nothing to reassure them.
“President Li, that’s girl-group choreography—and there are several of us grown men.”
Ji An was the biggest star at Just Studio and could speak freely even in front of Li Gang.
He turned to look at the several young men nearby, all of them robust and brimming with masculine energy, and could not help feeling irritated.
How were a few grown men supposed to dance a girl-group routine?
Li Gang said nothing. The corners of her lips curved upward, revealing no trace of concern. Following Ji An’s gaze, she looked toward her male artists.
“You, you, and you. You three will dance onstage in a moment. Do whatever looks best. Don’t hold back. You’re in show business to entertain people, so just let yourselves go.”
The corners of the three men’s mouths twitched. They dared not argue, though their eyes revealed deep reluctance.
They were supposed to become a future boy band, with a style that was roguishly handsome.
How could they possibly perform a coquettish, sensual girl-group dance?
Li Gang naturally noticed their resistance. She walked over and undid two of the buttons on one man’s shirt.
“Relax. I’ll go onstage and campaign for you. Just take it easy and compete.”
Campaign for them?
The three artists stood ramrod straight, afraid to move. Each of them inwardly resisted whatever bizarre method their boss had in mind for winning votes.
They would rather lose than let President Li campaign for them in a way so mortifying it made their toes curl.
“You don’t need to be overly seductive. You’re all capable dancers, and it’s perfectly fine to adapt the choreography a little. Just remember to dance with your own style. Keep it fresh—don’t make it greasy!”
The three artists pressed their lips together and said nothing, still worried about the embarrassing spectacle awaiting them onstage.
“President Li, should we wear high heels?”
One of the younger boys grinned sheepishly and scratched his hair. “President Li, do we really have to wear high heels? I secretly wore my mother’s high heels when I was little and twisted my ankle. I can’t dance in them.”
“Exactly, President Li,” Ji An chimed in. “Even though it’s girl-group choreography, a little adaptation shouldn’t be a problem. The audience only needs to enjoy it. Let’s not make them wear high heels.”
Li Gang’s eyelid twitched. She shot the boy a deeply disdainful look before replying coldly, “When did I ever tell you to wear high heels? Where am I supposed to find a pair in sizes that large?”
The artists fell silent.
“You’re about to go on. Hurry up and dance. Show them your own style.”
Li Gang clenched one fist and gestured toward the three male artists, who were poised and ready.
“Come on! You’re all my…”
The three artists turned around in unison at her unfinished sentence, their expressions strange. They were terrified that her next word would be “gods.”
President Li! We’re your artists, not your gods!
After a moment, Li Gang finished, “You’re all the artists I have the highest hopes for!”
The artists collectively exhaled in relief. In perfect unison, they adjusted their collars, exposing their elegant collarbones.
The male artists at Just Studio all had the refined looks of boy-band idols.
They were handsome and delicate, dressed in stylish, fashionable clothes, and excelled at both singing and dancing.
The lights went out.
The three men walked onto the stage and took their places at its center.
The lights came back on, and the music began.
The accompaniment for “Girl-Group Dance” was the signature song of Cotton Candy 101, currently the hottest girl group in Huaguo.
The melody was lively and dazzling, while the original choreography was alluring and sensual.
Stage lights fell across the faces of the three male artists.
The comment feed exploded—
[Boy band doing girl-group choreography!]
[This is thrilling!]
[Oh my god, please don’t let it be painful to watch!]
[Reject greasy male idols!]
[No man has ever danced to this song before!]
[I’ve always loved the looks of these three! Please don’t let them get too flirtatious!]
[Once men get flirtatious, women don’t stand a chance!]
The accompaniment began.
It was a familiar tune that had recently gone viral in short videos.
The moment they heard it, everyone involuntarily pictured female idols dancing with fiery, seductive movements.
Many people secretly worried that the performance by these three male artists would be unbearable to watch.
But it was not.
Onstage, the men danced with tremendous force. Their movements were neither effeminate nor greasy, and there was not the slightest sense of incongruity.
They were indeed performing girl-group choreography.
Every movement was exactly the same as the choreography of Cotton Candy 101, yet the overall impression was utterly different.
Each man played his role, singing and dancing with vigor. They infused the originally seductive movements with a distinctly masculine power.
In short, the three male artists delivered a flawless performance of “Girl-Group Dance.”
At the very end of the song, they even added an improvised rap, making the performance of these originally underestimated artists even more spectacular.
Power, creativity, impact, and an astonishing sense of style—their polished singing and dancing skills had it all.
When the performance ended, the three men bowed and left the stage.
Applause and cheers continued to erupt throughout the livestream venue.
Although most of the audience present consisted of SY employees, the astonishing performance had made them forget their positions entirely.
The livestream chat was overflowing with praise.
[I never expected men to dance girl-group choreography without looking feminine at all!]
[They’re so talented! That rap section was incredible!]
[Boy band doing girl-group choreography! Absolutely legendary!]
“How was that, President Mu? Those three boys from my studio did a pretty good job, didn’t they?”
As soon as the performance ended, Li Gang scampered over to Mu Ran, who had been watching with rapt attention, and began chattering enthusiastically.
Mu Ran gave her a sidelong glance, her expression slightly impatient. Still, she did not skimp on her praise for the three artists.
“Excellent. They could debut as a group.”
“Mm, that’s what I think too. After a while, I’ll arrange for them to appear on a televised survival show.”
Li Gang raised a hand and rubbed her chin with her thumb and forefinger, looking like a seasoned schemer.
“But I’m worried those shows are rigged. The online voting might not be transparent.”
At that, Mu Ran finally responded. Her brows lifted, and the corners of her lips curved upward. The aura around her was no longer cold as she said to Li Gang,
“It’s good that you know. Survival shows won’t be able to continue in the future.”
Li Gang believed her without the slightest hesitation.
“Then what are we supposed to do? These boys are all excellent prospects!”
They were young men with looks, physiques, and every other desirable quality.
They were valuable talent. She could not allow them to be ruined in her hands.
Mu Ran knew that Li Gang, like herself, cherished talent. She did not bother to beat around the bush.
“Have them sign with SY.”
Li Gang’s heart jolted, and a surge of anger rose within her. She pointed at Mu Ran’s expressionless face, her hand trembling slightly.
“How can you be so greedy? You want to take every promising talent for yourself! Are you trying to leave anyone else alive?”
That Mu Ran was such a tyrannical monopolist!
“I’m only making a suggestion. Whether you listen is up to you.”
Onstage, the host invited the SY artists to begin their round.
Mu Ran and Li Gang stopped talking.
SY’s female artists could sing and dance, and their beauty was dazzling. They perfectly recreated Cotton Candy 101’s girl-group choreography.
“You’re not planning to debut these girls as a group, are you?”
Li Gang felt that the women were tall, attractive, and skilled dancers. They had enormous potential as a group.
“No. They don’t work well together,” Mu Ran replied lazily.
Sometimes, she truly did not want to deal with the talkative Li Gang. But out of politeness—and because Li Gang was still, for the time being, an SY shareholder—she patiently humored her.
Life in society often left one with no choice.
Li Gang failed to notice Mu Ran’s impatience and continued questioning her relentlessly.
“How can you tell?”
“From their dancing.”
Li Gang was puzzled. “What about their dancing?”
The three young women were perfectly synchronized, and their movements were impeccable.
Mu Ran smiled—a cold smile devoid of any warmth in her eyes.
“They’re stealing the spotlight and fighting for the center position. Didn’t you notice?”
Li Gang fell silent.
She truly had not noticed.
Mu Ran’s eyes were frighteningly perceptive.
The SY artists finished their performance.
After Mu Ran and Li Gang both went onstage to campaign for votes, the viewers in the livestream began voting.
The final vote count showed a tremendous disparity.
Just Studio received more than twice as many votes as SY Pictures.
After two rounds of competition, the two companies were tied.