Grab The Heroine and Run Away Ch.23

“Universal Entertainment, Xu Heran, 1,092,144 votes!”

“Let’s congratulate Xu Heran, with a deduction of 420,000 votes, for winning everyone’s love again with a perfect stage and a new attitude. From 59th place, she’s back to the debut group!” Ning Yunfei declared loudly.

The ten trainees who had secured their spots and successfully entered the top 42 stood up and applauded with smiles.

Led by Xin Nuo, Xu Heran stood up and was pushed onto the stage. Like a beautiful, ethereal maiden, she looked up at the spotlight-shrouded stage, dumbfoundedly accepted the microphone, and instinctively thanked.

“I… 5th place?” Xu Heran felt like she was in a dream, repeatedly turning her head to look at Xin Nuo below the stage.

The large screen behind her began to play a privilege that only debut trainees enjoyed – a solo VCR showing exclusively their moments. The full one-minute video was entirely Xu Heran’s personal montage. Her aloof and god-like performance on stage, her lively and bouncy demeanor offstage, her clothes drenched with sweat during training, her determined gaze under wet hair… It all froze with her head tilted back, radiantly bright, and her eyes shining with a brilliant smile.

“I… Thank you, thank you!” Xu Heran bowed to the camera. As she stood up, transparent droplets traced down her face. She suddenly burst into laughter, her expression filled with satisfaction as if she possessed the entire world.

“I never expected that I wouldn’t be eliminated, and I even have such a good ranking. No matter how many times I say thank you, it’s not enough to express my feelings!” Xu Heran stood upright, her tone sincere. “But I also want to apologize to the Star Makers. I abused the vote count before, and I promise I won’t do it again. I guarantee it!”

“Also, I want to thank Sister Yueyin for giving me such a great song, Sister Fenghua and Sister Haya for choreographing such amazing dances! Laurel and Jiang Xiaoqiong, and everyone else for putting together such a fantastic stage!”

Xu Heran looked up, her gaze fixed on the bright lights, a river of light flowing in her eyes like a Milky Way.

Being watched by all eyes, being acknowledged, being encouraged, it turned out to feel like this. She could stand in the center of the stage once again, performing for everyone willing to listen to her sing.

“Finally, I want to thank Sister Nuo Nuo, my favorite Sister Nuo Nuo! I’m sorry for biting you just now. In the future, I’ll try not to bite you anymore!” Xu Heran tilted her head and blinked at Xin Nuo.

“You’ll definitely forgive me, won’t you?”

The girl whose eyes were still red just a moment ago now had a somewhat cheeky tone.

Sitting in the audience, Xin Nuo smiled, shrugged her shoulders, intentionally flipped her hair to cover the bite mark on her shoulder, shook her head at the camera, and acted as if she had no choice in the matter.

“I love you all!”

Xu Heran blushed and shouted loudly, then turned around in embarrassment, bouncing and hopping onto the stage, solemnly taking her seat on the fifth silver chair. She was so overjoyed that she even forgot to return the microphone to the staff.

Haya turned around, raised her hand, and Xu Heran immediately gave her a virtual high-five!

Shortly after, the fourth trainee, Sasa, took her seat beside Xu Heran, and the two friendly exchanged a handshake.

“Next, announcing the 39th ranked trainee’s name,” Ning Yunfei said, “39th place, Transcend Entertainment, Xu Yanran.”

Xu Heran, whose heart was still pounding, raised an eyebrow, a faint smile in her eyes as she watched Xu Yanran walk onto the stage. Xu Yanran wasn’t tall, she had a thin and delicate appearance, with a pale complexion that made her look like someone in need of protection.

Xu Yanran’s previous ranking was 27th, but this time she dropped to 39th. The pale girl’s eyes turned red, tears streaming down as she held the microphone and with a quivering voice said, “Thank you all for supporting me, for letting me enter the top forty-two, for not getting eliminated. I’m really grateful, and I’m so excited…”

Xu Heran propped up her face, silently watching her from behind.

“Though I don’t come from a prominent family, and I’m not great at vying for the spotlight, my skills might not be that amazing, and after a year of being a trainee, I still have many shortcomings. But I’m really thankful to everyone who voted for someone like me! I’ll train even harder in the future!” Xu Yanran wiped her tears while clenching her fist, giving a strong and resolute smile to the camera. “I’ll use the future stages to show everyone a better version of myself!”

After she finished speaking, she bowed deeply to the camera. The trainees in the audience looked at each other, and after a two-second pause, slowly started to applaud.

For some reason, hearing Xu Yanran’s speech felt fine, yet also a bit peculiar.

“Tsk.” Xin Nuo crossed her arms and smiled lightly, neither warm nor cold.

Jiang Qiong leaned in closer, stopping just outside Xin Nuo’s reach, and whispered, “Why do I feel like she was implying something with her words?”

“Shh.” Xin Nuo raised her index finger to her lips, gesturing for silence, and gave a faint smile towards Jiang Qiong.

Jiang Qiong immediately understood. So, Xu Yanran was indeed targeting Little Pearl? Could it be that she was referring to a trainee she had bullied before?

But didn’t Xu Heran apologize to the trainees she had bullied and gained their forgiveness? Did Little Pearl forget about Xu Yanran?

Jiang Qiong was puzzled.

Xu Heran, sitting in a higher position, shook her head playfully and smiled brightly at the camera.

‘Hey, I’m wealthy and powerful, so what? And I’m good-looking too, so even if I bite someone, they won’t get ~angry. Getting angry is being a loser,’ Xu Heran thought proudly.

After Xu Yanran, Ning Yunfei announced the 40th and 41st ranks. They were individual trainees Shao Weiwei and Perfect Entertainment’s Pei Ting, without Jiang Qiong. Now, only the top three and the final 42nd trainees remained to be announced.

In other words, Xin Nuo made it to the top three!

Xu Heran’s eyes brightened, and she looked happily at Xin Nuo. But when she thought of Jiang Qiong, her mood soured, and her heart fluctuated between these two emotions.

“For the fourth round of rankings, the trainee placed third is—” Ning Yunfei took a deep breath, “Best Entertainment’s Youyou, with 1,514,241 votes!”

From Team Nine, a lovely and cute girl hopped onto the stage, ran excitedly, and thanked everyone. When she smiled, deep dimples appeared on both sides of her cheeks.

“Top two!” Xu Heran couldn’t help but clench her fists, nervously swallowing.

“For the fourth round of rankings, the trainee in second place… is one of these two trainees.” As Ning Yunfei’s words fell, the large screen displayed the images of two girls.

Xin Nuo, who was absentmindedly gazing downward, was momentarily stunned. She subconsciously lifted a smile, sat up straight, and waved at the camera. The other trainee was the leader of Team Four and also the 7th ranked trainee in the third round of rankings—Mu Yueliang.

“Number one, number one! Nuo Nuo is number one!” Xu Heran began her hand gestures again.

Sasa and Sang Shiyi looked at her curiously, puzzled by her elaborate finger movements.

“The second-ranked trainee is!”

For dramatic effect, the camera switched between the two, and while others were not too concerned, Xu Heran was even more nervous than waiting for her own ranking. The intricate hand gestures she was forming were becoming more complex, almost forming a shadow!

Sasa reached out to imitate.

“It’s… Congratulations, Fish Harmony, Mu Yueliang, with 1,724,124 votes!”

Mu Yueliang let out a breath, touched her chest, shook her head, and walked onto the stage, lifting the microphone. “Thank you, I’m really happy to have reached this position, and I’m grateful to all the ‘Star Makers’ who voted for me! But my goal is to debut! I will bring a better stage to meet everyone!”

Her words were ambitious yet forthright, her ambitions laid out in the open.

Xu Heran, who only knew how to clap, didn’t hear a word she said. Her mind was consumed by a single thought.

Number one!

Nuo Nuo is number one!

Nuo Nuo is number one!

Before Xin Nuo even took the stage, Ning Yunfei, who had been facing away from her seat, pressed her earpiece and suddenly turned around, raising the microphone. “Classmate Heran, please behave yourself, fasten your seatbelt, and don’t jump around in the aisle.”

Xu Heran, who was excited like she was the one who had taken first place, awkwardly rubbed her face. The smile at the corner of her mouth just wouldn’t subside. She stuck out her tongue, quickly sat back down, and pressed her hands onto her knees. She sat up straight, a beaming smile on her face as she looked in the direction of Xin Nuo’s entrance.

In the fourth round of rankings, the top debut position, Xin Nuo walked onto the central stage with a calm smile and accepted the microphone.

At this moment, all the cameras were focused solely on her.

The large screen on the wall played a VCR, showing the girl with cascading long hair starting her dance. Her expression alternated between aloofness and allure, and she gazed innocently at the deity who controlled everything. With lowered eyes, her lips curled gently, leaving people perplexed—is she a deity or a lamb? Who is truly submitting to whom?

As the video reached its end, it froze on the girl illuminated by the ending stage lights. Her expression was enigmatic, a hint of a smile at the corners of her mouth, and her gaze cast toward another girl at the center. Deep within her eyes, a touch of indistinct tenderness was concealed.

In this moment, Xin Nuo, who held the stage, stood under the spotlight and spoke calmly, “Thank you all for supporting me and allowing me to enter the top forty-two. To achieve first place, I’m truly grateful and excited…”

Xu Heran nodded, “Excited, I’m so excited!”

“Although I don’t come from a prominent family background, I’m not good at vying for the spotlight, and my skills might not be that exceptional. As an individual trainee, I still have many shortcomings. But I’m grateful to all of you for voting for someone like me. I will train even harder in the future!” Xin Nuo addressed the silent auditorium in a soft and gentle tone.

“I will use the future stages to showcase a better version of myself!”

Having said that, she lowered the microphone, smiled slightly at the camera, her demeanor natural.

“Huh?” Xu Heran momentarily froze, a smile immediately blooming in her eyes.

Nuo Nuo…

Ning Yunfei maintained her composed expression as she spoke, “Trainee Xin Nuo, as the first-place finisher in this ranking, you’ve received 3,524,254 votes! Please take your seat and enjoy your moment of glory!”

“Whoa—three million five hundred twenty-four thousand!”

“We don’t even have that many votes combined for our ranks.” At the bottom of the stage, a certain trainee remarked to those around them, receiving nods of agreement.

Mu Yueliang, seated in the second position, had a change in expression. Xin Nuo’s vote count was actually double hers!

Xin Nuo bowed to the audience below, then took measured steps up the staircase lined with a red carpet.

Radiant light cascaded behind her as Xin Nuo ascended the stairs. Her gaze angled slightly, and she bestowed a gentle smile upon the resentful visage of Xu Heran. 

Xin Nuo!

Xu Heran!

A surge of hatred almost overflowed in Xu Yanran’s heart. It was because of Xu Heran that Xin Nuo was targeting her!

As the first-place finisher, Xin Nuo’s expression of gratitude would definitely not be deleted. However, her words were almost identical to Xu Yanran’s. The production team might likely remove her expression of gratitude. Even if the director didn’t remove it, airing this segment would surely cause controversy.

Originally, she just wanted to indirectly target Xu Heran. Even if someone intentionally asked her, she could pretend not to know and pass off her words of gratitude as something said in the heat of the moment, without any other meaning. But Xin Nuo’s actions immediately exposed her intentions.

Why did Xin Nuo target Yanran? Because Xu Heran’s speech was aimed at Xin Nuo. This cause-and-effect relationship was obvious, especially given that everyone was aware of Xin Nuo and Xu Heran’s relationship!

With Xin Nuo’s current ranking and her three million five hundred twenty-four thousand votes, who would her fans support? There’s no need to ask, right?

Too ruthless… Either she would lose the spotlight or be criticized by fans. Xin Nuo usually appeared cool and calm, sometimes gentle, but who would have thought she would be so ruthless?

If Xin Nuo knew what Xu Yanran was thinking, she would probably shake her head and laugh. Was this considered ruthless? She hadn’t seen what true ruthlessness was.

Facing Xu Yanran’s resentful gaze, Xin Nuo walked to a higher spot. Right next to the aisle was Xu Heran’s seat.

The girl with golden-brown long hair looked up, her gaze filled with genuine trust as she locked onto Xin Nuo. Her eyes sparkled like a loyal puppy that had found its owner. If she had a tail, it would probably be wagging in the air right now.

Xin Nuo chuckled at her own thoughts. She lifted her slender leg and ascended the steps leading to the throne. When her gaze intersected with Xu Heran’s bright eyes, she suddenly extended her hand and quickly hooked her index finger under Xu Heran’s sharp, white chin.

Xu Heran was taken aback. Following the gentle force of Xin Nuo’s fingertip, she tilted her head back, and her eyes met the radiant gaze that Xin Nuo poured out.

“Good girl.”

A gentle voice murmured softly in her ear.

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The author has something to say:

Xu Heran: Ugh—

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Let’s post the current top 42 trainees:

4-1 Xin Nuo (Individual)

7-2 Mu Yueliang (Fish Harmony)

8-3 Youyou (Best Entertainment)

5-4 Sasa (Angel Entertainment)

59-5 Xu Heran (Global Economy)

9-6 Sang Shiyi (Thunder Entertainment)

1-7 Lin Weining (Angel Entertainment)

2-8 Sun Lingxi (Fish Harmony)

3-9 Tan Yutong (Dream Entertainment)

6-10 Jing Rui’ai (Love Entertainment)

15-11 Wen Shuyun (Love Music Economy)

44-12 Song Fenghua (Years of Work Studio)

11-13 Shu Yue (Fish Harmony)

17-14 Manda (Individual)

13-15 Ke Yan (Best Economy)

14-16 Jing Teng (Infinite Economy)

21-17 Lin Ran (KPP Entertainment)

10-18 Liu Yueming (Dream Entertainment)

35-19 Wen Yangbaiyun (Economic Economy)

64-20 Haya (Blast Entertainment)

34-21 Sheng Ruanxin (Thunder Entertainment)

12-22 Luo Xi (Thunder Entertainment)

18-23 Jiang Xi (Happy Economy)

19-24 Song Yu (Dream Entertainment)

63-25 Laurel (Unique Voice)

65-26 Jian Yueyin (Angel Entertainment)

22-27 Ai Lin (Dream Entertainment)

23-28 Yu Nuannuan (Fish Harmony)

24-29 Xi Erda (Dream Entertainment)

20-30 Bu Xingyue (Echoing Economy)

25-31 An Risong (Watch Economy)

26-32 Ye Shaojing (Thunder Entertainment)

33-33 Shang Qiang (Crazy Creation Economy)

28-34 Jia Li (Angel Entertainment)

29-35 Danielle (White Cloud Economy)

30-36 Yu Sitong (Perfect Entertainment)

31-37 Rong Siyu (Fish Harmony)

32-38 Qian Tian Sana (Love Music Economy)

27-39 Xu Yanran (Transcend Entertainment)

36-40 Shao Weiwei (Individual)

16-41 Pei Ting (Perfect Entertainment)

70-42 Jiang Qiong (Fantasy Economy)

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Translator: Glariosa
Editor: Sinensis

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