170: Daniel

Xu Zhiyou's eyes flashed with surprise, as if she was seeing Kim Jennie for the first time.

Kim Jennie felt uncomfortable under her gaze and snorted lightly, "What kind of look is that? It's better than getting into a fight, right?"

"Tsk tsk tsk! I've realized you're the most ruthless of the ruthless!" Xu Zhiyou teased.

"Ya! What are you saying? Many people have used these methods, but I guarantee we haven't, we disdain such underhanded tricks."

"I've heard of this stuff, but never experienced it. Tell me more about the common routines, just in case someone tries to use them on me, so I can be prepared."

Kim Jennie massaged her forehead, looking at her speechlessly, "Bad guys are just bad, not stupid. With your lawless personality, who would be bored enough to provoke you?"

"Heh! See? In the end, fists still work." Xu Zhiyou said with a smug smile.

Kim Jennie felt a toothache; the violent girl's antics were truly exhausting. "Ya! I'm going back to tell Jisoo, and we'll team up, the three of them, to keep a close eye on you."

"Go ahead! It's just a matter of swinging my hands a few more times." Xu Zhiyou said indifferently.

It's really hard to deal with someone so impervious to reason. "Ya! Mmm mmm..." Xu Zhiyou forcibly made her shut up. "We're here. There are too many ears around. We'll talk about it after we get back."

Kim Jennie slapped her hand away. "You made me so mad, I'll settle the score with you later." She glared at her and walked into the practice room. Xu Zhiyou clicked her tongue, "Heh! Such a tsundere."

"Zoe Senior!" Another round of bows and greetings. Xu Zhiyou nodded in response and went back to her seat.

This time, she didn't say "no need." She had already come to terms with it in her heart. These people had been immersed in this kind of education since childhood. How could it be easily changed by her personal preferences?

Since it couldn't be changed, she would accept it with pleasure, so that everyone wouldn't have to worry about it.

Her gaze fell on Hanna, who was in the center of the stage. "Hanna, this is a dance assessment. Are you ready?"

"Zoe Senior, I'm ready."

"Very good, don't put too much pressure on yourself, you can do it!" Xu Zhiyou encouraged her.

"Mm! Thank you, Senior." Hanna nodded gently, her eyes sparkling with gratitude.

"Then, let's begin!"

...

The dance slowly ended. Hanna took a deep breath and turned to everyone. "Senior, teachers, my dance performance is complete."

"Good performance!" Giving some encouragement first was standard practice. After a pause, she continued, "There are still some minor flaws in your jumps and balance, but your footwork accuracy is very good..."

"I forgot to mention the most important thing: privately, focus more on stretching for flexibility, and your explosive power also needs to be strengthened. That's about all."

"Yes!"

"The next parts, posture and entertainment value, are not my responsibility. I'll be back later to assess the group. Keep it up, and you most likely won't be eliminated. Fighting~!"

Hanna's heart filled with joy upon hearing this, and she quickly bowed, "Yes! Kamsahamnida, I will definitely work hard."

"Mm! Go on." After she left, Xu Zhiyou continued, "Next, Daniel!"

"Senior!"

Xu Zhiyou looked up and saw a bright and sunny young beauty emerge. Wow! Isn't this a member of NewJeans? How did she end up at YG?

As soon as Daniel came out, she saw the Senior staring at her in a daze, which made her feel nervous too.

Kim Jennie massaged her forehead. At first glance, it was clear she saw a pretty girl and couldn't move. "Hey! Wake up, isn't Jisoo enough for you to look at?"

"Don't be silly! I'm just curious if the company plans to follow S.M.'s route?"

"Ya! I asked you to assess her abilities, not to comment on her looks. Can you be serious?"

"Pfft~~" Daniel was amused by her. She was naturally cheerful, and Xu Zhiyou's words almost made her burst out laughing.

"Your smile is very charming and vibrant, it feels like finding money. Maintain that, it will be your biggest competitive edge."

"Yes! I'll remember that."

After answering, she stared at Xu Zhiyou's face. After observing closely, she finally understood why fans called her Kpop's #1 visual.

Xu Zhiyou saw her scrutinizing herself and decided to tease her. "Daniel! Are you satisfied with my looks?"

Daniel blurted out instinctively, "Satisfied!" Only then did she realize she seemed to have made a mistake.

She glanced around, saw the strange looks from the people nearby, and her expression froze. She no longer dared to smile.

What had she done? This was a senior, after all. She belatedly started to feel scared. "Aniyo! Mianhae, Senior! I didn't mean to, I..."

Xu Zhiyou felt speechless. "Stop, stop, stop! Why are you trembling? Am I that scary?"

"Mianhae, I didn't mean to..."

Xu Zhiyou saw she was about to cry. "Hey, hey, hey! Please don't cry, give me some face, I beg you, hold back your tears, okay?"

"Pfft~~" Daniel was really about to cry, but Xu Zhiyou's antics made her unable to. "Senior! I won't cry."

Kim Jennie turned her head away, ignoring her. What a disloyal little person. She knew she shouldn't have come with her, teasing a young girl right in front of her.

And making the other person cry. She would report her crimes when they got back; a ten-thousand-word essay about Xu Zhiyou's misdeeds was being outlined in Kim Jennie's mind.

"Come on! Your profile says your specialty is vocals, show us."

"Yes! *Hiccup*~~"

After a sudden silence, another clear hiccup sounded. Daniel immediately covered her face in embarrassment.

Xu Zhiyou looked at her, unable to hold back her laughter. "Pwahahaha! Daniel, you hiccup, you hiccup, why cover your face?"

"I... *hiccup*~~" She covered her face even tighter.

"Never mind, we'll talk about vocals later. You're like this because of me. It's not too late to take the assessment after you've recovered."

"Yes! Kamsahamnida, Senior!" With that, she ran to a small corner, continuing to battle her hiccups. "Haha! I never thought this little girl would be so cute."

Xu Zhiyou turned her head to Kim Jennie. "Dumpling Ni! You agree, right..."

"Hmph~~"

Kim Jennie turned her head away, unwilling to even look at her. She wondered what she had done to offend this difficult and tsundere woman.

Without thinking further, Xu Zhiyou continued to assess the other trainees. When Daniel seemed okay, she called her over. "Are you ready?"

"I'm ready."

"OK, begin."

...

After the song ended, Xu Zhiyou commented, "Your pitch isn't a big problem, but the high notes are a bit weak and need more attention."

"Yes! I will."

"Oh, and also pay attention not to 'squeeze' when you sing..."

Daniel listened very carefully. The person in front of her was someone who swept the charts. While she couldn't speak for other aspects, her composition and vocal skills were absolutely beyond reproach.

...

The assessment lasted until nine o'clock in the evening. The two walked side by side on the way back to the dorm.

"Zoe! The company wants them to learn Park Bom Unnie's vocal style, but you, on the other hand, directly said 'squeezing your throat.' Is that really appropriate?"

"I'm just pointing out the trainees who aren't suited for Park Bom's vocal style, like Daniel and Chaeyoung. They have their own unique characteristics. Why should they become a second Park Bom?"

"But..."

"Are you working hard your whole life to become someone else?"

"Of course not! I am me."

"Exactly! You are you, a unique existence..."

"Hehe! Of course, I am me, a different kind of fireworks."

"See? If you put yourself in her shoes, isn't Chaeyoung the same? She doesn't want to be called 'Park Bom 2.0.' She is her. Her natural vocal talent is excellent. Why should she keep imitating others?"

"Huh???"

"Speaking of this, it makes me frustrated. A perfectly good voice is taught to be 'squeezed' to death. It's simply a waste of natural talent. *Sigh*~"