Backstage in the studio.
All members were ready.
The host held a microphone and announced, "After a week of intensive practice, I’m sure everyone’s singing and dancing skills have improved dramatically. The audience is eagerly awaiting your performances. But first, let’s play a little game to ease the tension."
Rong Ruoyao frowned slightly.
At a time like this, they were playing games instead of giving them rehearsal time?
The host smiled and continued, "The game is simple—a team relay of push-ups. The group with the highest count will get priority in choosing their performance order."
The moment these words were spoken, the room erupted in groans.
"I can’t even do a single push-up!"
"If it’s tied to performance order, you’ll have to figure it out."
"Eight people in a group, ten each—that’s eighty push-ups. Let’s work together, girls!"
Even for dancers, push-ups weren’t easy, let alone for the vocal-only contestants.
Rong Ruoyao lowered her gaze in thought before raising her hand. "My team only has seven people. Can we request an external helper?"
He Qiqi had dug her own grave and been kicked out, leaving their group short by one.
The host checked with the production team via walkie-talkie before responding, "You may choose someone from the staff."
Without hesitation, Rong Ruoyao pointed at a cameraman—a burly man with well-defined arm muscles, clearly no stranger to workouts.
The moment her finger landed on him, the live chat exploded.
"Playing games with a bunch of girls, and Rong Ruoyao picks a man? How interesting."
"I really thought she was kind-hearted, but turns out she’s just scheming."
"Did Rong Ruoyao break any rules? If the show allows it, she can pick whoever she wants. Who are you to judge?"
"She has the freedom to choose, and we have the freedom to criticize. What’s the problem?"
"Oh please, her team is short a person—is that fair? She’s just trying to secure a good performance slot, and now she’s getting hate?"
"Looks like some anti-fans sent their rabid dogs here to bark nonsense!"
The live chat descended into chaos as fans of different contestants clashed.
Inside the studio, the expressions of the dozens of girls weren’t much better.
But with dozens of cameras rolling and countless eyes watching, no one dared to voice their displeasure openly, afraid of being torn apart by Rong Ruoyao’s fans.
The host, however, was thrilled. Conflict and drama? That’s what drove engagement.
In this industry, shows thrived on controversy.
He immediately raised his voice. "You have five minutes to warm up. The game starts in five!"
Su Tian looked like she was about to cry. "Back in P.E. class, the teacher forced us to do push-ups, and I could barely manage five. Oh my god, I’m going to drag the team down."
Li Ying'er flexed her toned arms proudly. "Don’t worry, I can do forty."
"Then you go first—crush their morale right away," Rong Yu suggested. "The rest of us can arrange ourselves however. I’ll take the last spot."
The other girls were roughly at the same level, so their order didn’t matter much.
Five minutes flew by, and with a sharp whistle, the push-up relay began.
In Rong Ruoyao's team, the male cameraman was arranged to go first. He appeared slightly nervous under the spotlight, but his eagerness to perform was undeniable.
In no time, he effortlessly completed over fifty reps and still had energy to spare.
Meanwhile, the other teams had already cycled through their third or fourth members.
"Sixty-seven, sixty-eight… seventy-two!"
The number left the entire room in awe.
The combined efforts of all the girls from the other teams might not even reach seventy.
A faint smirk curled at the corner of Rong Ruoyao's lips.
She knew it wasn’t entirely fair.
But she had to secure first place in this round.
Doing so would grant her the privilege of choosing the performance order.
Last time, Rong Yu's team had performed last, leveraging that advantage to clinch the top spot in the public ranking.
She wanted that same closing slot.
Her gaze drifted toward Rong Yu's team. Li Ying'er had managed forty-one reps, while Su Tian barely scraped three. The rest of the girls performed poorly, their total barely surpassing sixty.
A mocking smile played on her lips.
By the time it was Rong Yu's turn, Rong Ruoyao's team had already amassed a staggering one hundred thirty reps. Rong Ruoyao herself merely went through the motions, stopping after three.
"Yu-jie, don’t push yourself too hard," Su Tian said, massaging her shoulders. "With Lisa's team at the bottom, the worst we’ll get is second-to-last. No pressure."
Lisa, from the last-place team, silently took a sip of her milk tea.
Rong Yu shrugged off her jacket and stepped forward. She dropped into a perfect push-up position, her long neck arching gracefully, hands planted firmly on the ground.
In her era, nearly everyone served in the military. Her brothers were soldiers, and she often tagged along to the barracks, training alongside the raw recruits.
Push-ups were child’s play to her.
But this body hadn’t endured rigorous training, so she wasn’t sure how many she could manage.
Without so much as a flicker in her lashes, Rong Yu began—her body lowering until her nose nearly brushed the floor, then rising with arms fully extended.
All the other girls had long finished. Only she remained on the stage.
The noisy room fell silent.
Meanwhile, the live chat exploded.
"Holy crap! She’s insane!"
"Rong Yu’s form is flawless—has she trained before?"
"It’s like she’s got a metronome inside her. Unreal!"
"Her core strength is next-level…"
Su Tian stood frozen in shock.
She’d assumed Rong Yu would cap out at ten, maybe. Never in her wildest dreams did she expect her to approach a hundred in one go.
"Rong Yu!"
"Rong Yu!"
Li Ying'er’s voice rang out first, soon joined by the rest of the team.
Even Lisa set down her milk tea and cheered, "Rong Yu, you’ve got this!"
To her, Rong Ruoyao’s victory felt hollow.
She’d rather see Rong Yu’s team take first than watch Rong Ruoyao gloat.
"Rong Yu! Rong Yu!"
The chants shook the room.
Rong Yu glanced up at the host. "How many was that?"
Her breathing remained steady, betraying no sign of exhaustion.
The host blinked, stunned. "Your team’s total… is one hundred forty."
Rong Ruoyao’s team, previously in the lead, had only managed one hundred thirty-three.
It was just a simple little game—Rong Yu didn’t need to prove anything. With one hand braced on the ground and the other behind her back, she held her position steadily for three seconds before executing a flawless rise back to her feet.
Someone started clapping first, and soon, cheers surged like a tidal wave.
Su Tian, Li Ying'er, and the others rushed over, lifting Rong Yu high into the air.
"Stop, stop, stop!" Rong Yu quickly protested. "It’s just first place in a game, not first place in the actual performance. Why are you all so excited?"
"Haha, it just feels so thrilling anyway!" Su Tian beamed with excitement. "Sis Yu, you’re seriously amazing. I hereby declare you my idol from now on!"
"Congratulations to Team Rong Yu for taking first place! You now have priority in choosing your performance order," the host announced. "Team leader Rong Yu, please discuss with your teammates and give us your decision."
