47: Slowly waking up

Cheng Xiao was very concerned about Xu Zhiyou; just being able to debut on the Peninsula was impressive enough, let alone with a major company like YG.

She knew Wang Yibo, who had trained at YG, and had heard about the intense competition there; eighteen out of twenty-four hours a day were spent practicing.

At YG, it wasn't just about talent, but also perseverance and a good physique. This is why YG artists are known for their strong skills, and Cheng Xiao felt that even she couldn't keep up with the competition.

Also, during her time in high school there, she deeply realized the xenophobia. YG, knowing all these circumstances, still dared to make her the leader, which shows just how formidable Xu Zhiyou is.

She turned to Bona and asked, “What’s wrong with her?”

“See for yourself! It’s a bit disheartening, I don’t want to talk about it.”

Bona handed her phone to Cheng Xiao, letting her see for herself. Cheng Xiao took it and was shocked as she looked at the rankings.

“Isn’t it ridiculous? A rookie, debuted less than a day. Whose rookie is so strong right after debuting? Are they going to let us live? Sigh!”

Eunhee, who had returned with water, saw Bona staring blankly at Cheng Xiao with low spirits, while Cheng Xiao was engrossed in her phone.

If she didn't know their personalities, she would have really thought they were arguing.

“Unnie, Xiao Xiao, what are you two doing?”

“Looking at BLACKPINK’s song chart performance. Where’s my water?”

“Here, for you. How are the results?” Eunhee asked after handing the water to Cheng Xiao.

Wu Xuanyi, who was curled up in a corner, heard about BLACKPINK and came over. The leader of that group was from the same country as her, and she shared Cheng Xiao’s admiration.

“Yes, yes, yes, how are the results? They shouldn’t be too bad, right! After all, they’re so amazing.”

“Princess Bona, let me correct you. We only debuted half a year ago, so we’re still rookies. Besides, they are a creative group; their talent alone is invincible. What do we compare with them?”

Bona looked at her in surprise and said, “Aigoo, I didn’t expect silly Xuanyi to have a smart moment. Tsk tsk tsk!”

Wu Xuanyi really wanted to kill her. “Bona, watch your words. I’m just great wisdom appearing foolish, not an idiot.”

“Aren’t you? Then how do you explain all those weird behaviors of yours normally?”

“That was for variety shows, for program effect.” Bona just looked at her without speaking, as if she would be crazy to believe her.

Wu Xuanyi felt a bit uneasy under her gaze. “I’m warning you, don’t look at me like that. We people from Xia Country have all trained.”

“Hmph! Xiao Xiao, I believe she’s trained, but you? Forget it.”

Cheng Xiao watched the two of them bicker like elementary school students; the way peers greeted each other was always so strange.

“You two, that’s enough. Xuanyi, take this and look. I still need to practice gymnastics.” Although Wu Xuanyi was three years older than her, privately they just called each other by name.

Wu Xuanyi took the phone and casually asked, “Next month is the Idol Star Athletics Championships. How’s your practice coming along?”

Bona looked at her speechlessly. “You say you’re not dumb, but it’s comeback season. Where would she find the time to practice that?”

All sorts of promotions and music show stages, the busiest time is during a comeback, and she still has to squeeze in time for gymnastics practice. It’s truly exhausting.

“That’s true! Forget it, results are up to fate. Who told us we don’t have time to prepare for this.”

Starship Entertainment couldn’t compare to big companies like S.M., YG, and JYP. They didn’t have as many resources to give them, so they had to fight for them themselves.

If they could get a good ranking in the Idol Star Athletics Championships, it could also increase the group’s exposure.

“That’s not like you, is it? Aren’t you usually quite hardworking!” Bona didn’t expect her to say something so defeatist.

“What can I do? We have to practice for music show stages, run promotions, and do photoshoots. Where is the time to prepare for these?”

Bona, to be honest, had also given up on a good ranking at the Idol Star Athletics Championships. Just as Wu Xuanyi said, it was simply unrealistic.

“Speaking of music show stages, do you think we’ll run into BLACKPINK when we’re promoting?”

“Who knows? If YG didn’t have issues with MBC, maybe we’d even meet at the Idol Star Athletics Championships. It’s a pity, I really want to meet my compatriot.”

Cheng Xiao also nodded in agreement. She also wanted to meet Xu Zhiyou. Other things aside, who doesn’t love a beautiful woman? Her appearance was simply perfect in her eyes.

…

In the afternoon, the four of them slowly woke up. The first to wake was Kim Ji-soo. She felt a sharp pain in the back of her neck, thinking she had a stiff neck, and rubbed it to relieve the discomfort.

Xu Zhiyou had acted too quickly, and Kim Ji-soo was knocked out before she could react, so it was normal for her not to know. Lisa had the same reaction.

But Kim Jennie and Park Chaeyoung weren’t in such a good mood. Their necks were sore, and they wondered why Xu Zhiyou hadn't gone a little easier.

Kim Ji-soo saw Kim Jennie’s dead fish eyes and thought, “Sleeping must have been very comfortable!” She had an expression like her Kuma had died.

Kim Ji-soo thought she hadn’t fully woken up yet. She got out of bed and pushed her. “Jennie-oni, what are you doing? Hey, hey! Wake up.”

“Hiss! Gently, it hurts.”

Kim Jennie just wanted to bite Xu Zhiyou to death right now. To hit her so hard, it hurt her old bones. She was afraid of pain, and yet Xu Zhiyou still hit her. It was simply unforgivable.

“Did you also get a stiff neck? My neck is also sore.”

Kim Jennie turned to look at Kim Ji-soo’s innocent face. If she knew she had been knocked out by Xu Zhiyou, what would she think?

“Sigh! I must learn martial arts, absolutely.”

Kim Jennie encouraged herself. In the future, when she had time, she would sign up for a kickboxing class. If she could beat Xu Zhiyou, she would definitely kill her without hesitation.

“Are you sick! Get up quickly.”

Kim Ji-soo only thought she envied Xu Zhiyou’s skills and dreamed of learning them. She didn’t take it seriously and just walked out, but she accidentally strained her neck, and the soreness was truly unbearable.

“Ouch! I’m getting old. A stiff neck can even twist my shoulder. It hurts so much!”

“Pfft ha ha ha ~”

Kim Jennie, still angry, heard her words and inexplicably found it funny. What kind of thought process was that?

Kim Ji-soo was only 21, okay? How could she be so fragile? She had clearly been beaten, but she thought she had a stiff neck.

“What are you laughing at? We still need to practice dance synchronization. Why are you dawdling? Hurry up.”

Kim Ji-soo felt inexplicable. What was so funny about twisting her neck? She went out and saw Park Chaeyoung with a resentful expression and Lisa clutching her neck.

“What the hell, did you two also get stiff necks?” Lisa was also unaware, and Park Chaeyoung was still angry and not in the mood to talk to Lisa.

Lisa’s country believed in some strange things, and hearing Kim Ji-soo say that made her heart sink. Could it be that they had encountered something unclean?

She looked at Kim Ji-soo with some panic. She only had one thought: this house isn’t haunted, is it? “Jisoo, did you and Jennie-oni also get stiff necks?”

Kim Ji-soo saw Lisa’s panicked expression, and her mind worked faster than ever. Her memory was also incredibly good, and she instantly remembered the ghost stories Xu Zhiyou had told.

Park Chaeyoung watched the two of them from the side, and like Kim Jennie, she burst out laughing. It was too funny.