[BL] Debut on Earth After Retiring as the Healer of Interstellar

Chapter 38: Style

"It’s still not enough."

These were the words that Feng Rouyun heard again from the Head Choreographer Su Zhang after another round of practice. The man was looking at him with disappointment and a bit of frustration. This made him feel ashamed and could only hang his head and apologize in a low voice.

Su Zhang sighed. He wanted to continue putting words again but seeing the young man lowering his head made him speechless. He couldn’t even bear to say anymore because the young man looks very genuine in his apology. If it were the three he wouldn’t believe them at all given their wild temperament but this new member was like a bunny in a group of dogs trying to fit in. He looks obedient and timid.

He sighed again and waved his hand. "Alright, I’ll give you a ten minute break." Then he left the practice room.

Feng Rouyun stayed at his position while Gu Weiyi, who was watching what happened on the sideline, approached him.

"Do you know why Head Su kept on insisting that it wasn’t enough?" he asked.

Feng Rouyun raised his head and answered him without hesitation. "Because I can’t execute the movements well. I also couldn’t keep up on the speed and rhythm of the song." he sighs. "I think everything I did was a mess."

Gu Weiyi was speechless. He was so fast on saying those words to himself. He didn’t expect for Feng Rouyun to be this pessimist at all. During those days they spent while filming the concept trailer, he had seen his determination to learn how to be a proper idol. But even with some hardship, he just looks very eager and hardly expresses tiredness and frustrations.

Actually, even themselves, they are learning too. Acting is not their profession and they have no deeper idea about it except for Chu Xining from his family background. They do have a little experience from the shoots in their music videos as it was not the same as acting. For this, Director Cha could only cut some scenes because they are also in a hurry.

The company had long wanted to release something to stop what’s going on outside.

Now they are focusing on the choreography and vocals for the recording of the song and obviously Feng Rouyun is having a hard time.

"You’re right." Even though they are now on good terms, Gu Weiyi didn’t try to sugarcoat his words and agreed to Feng Rouyun. "You still need a lot of practice. However, Head Su isn’t just talking about how you execute."

The young man was confused. "What do you mean?"

Gu Weiyi leaned his back on the mirror wall and crossed his arms. "Do you know why the company arranged us with high intensity and complicated choreo? It’s not just because they knew we can handle it but also because they knew that we can deliver it into something that any group doesn’t have."

They came from a survival show that trained them without any mercy. They’ve been honed to become better than any possible trainees in order to deliver more quality than any groups. This made them adjust fast to their work when they debut and was able to catch whatever the company threw at them.

It’s actually one of the reasons why Head Su had a high standard. He had been with them since debut and he was used to their intensity. For someone like Feng Rouyun who doesn’t have any background, it’s not just him but also everyone around have to adjust— or rather to lower what they used to.

And this is not belittling Feng Rouyun but just the reality about him.

"You must also have your own style." He added.

"Style?"

He nodded and went to the speaker to turn on the music. "Watch closely."

In the next second, Feng Rouyun saw Gu Weiyi stand in the middle of the training room and start dancing the choreography. He couldn’t help but stare intently.

Gu Weiyi was like how they deliver their music. Sharp and feisty. Every movement of his limbs was coordinated and smooth. He danced without hesitation and even added small pops to align with the beat, no matter how fast it was, it seemed like dancing was just as he breathed.

Watching those closely was very different from their dance videos. There was something that as Gu Weiyi moves, he’s conveying something. And what is it?

"Conceal it but it’s no use for me

Hide it? Then it’s no better for you!"

Gu Weiyi opened his right hand and put it on his face without covering his eyes, however he didn’t directly touch his face but just placed it near him then threw his hand back and continued his other movements. Feng Rouyun had his observation particular to that because the latter sings it personally and even met his eyes briefly, as if he wanted to tell him something.

And he somehow got what he wanted to say.

Those lines were giving provocation to their enemies. At that point, Gu Weiyi’s eyes reveal cunningness, as if everything was under his control and he can manipulate everything— anyone he wanted just by grasping it in his hands. He was saying that there was no use in hiding something because it won’t do better to them.

This blatant emotion was something he remembered when they filmed the concept trailer. Director Cha emphasizes how important it is to showcase proper emotions because this is how they will deliver the hidden messages of every scene they’ll take.

As an artist, he must understand that learning how to convey a message in your own way is something that is more crucial than dancing and singing.

He must have his own style? What Gu Weiyi’s doing is showing him how he dances and expresses the song itself. Just like how he showed provocation when needed to align with the lyrics.

Feng Rouyun was in deep thoughts until the song ended and Gu Weiyi stopped. The latter didn’t even mind when he saw that he was actually not paying attention to his performance and continued speaking.

"Every member of Ellipsis has their own way of being an artist— no, actually everyone is different. No matter if they are performing together, as a group or even as a solo, every individual has their own style on the stage." Gu Weiyi looked him directly in the eyes. "What about you? What is your style as an artist, Feng Rouyun?"

"...." He stayed silent on that question.

Looking at the young man who fell into his own thoughts, Gu Weiyi straightened his clothes and left the room, wanting him to have more privacy on processing what he spoke.

****

After his practice and Head Su Zhang left, Feng Rouyun remained inside the practice room and opened his phone. Instead of watching the dance choreography, he searched for something else instead.

Top Alphas, the survival show where Ellipsis was made.

After their discussion, he became intrigued and curious how the three found their own style on stage. Thus he decided to watch the perfect show where everything begins.

It’s just that he didn’t expect what he saw on the videos.

Other than their usual practice, there’s one word that could describe them— chaos.

The trainees seem to have their own barriers and they have tensions. Even if others try to befriend someone, even just from looking at them from the screen, he could feel awkwardness and distance.

And this atmosphere even lasted longer than he expected. There was a segment about the official OST of the show where they will be graded by the mentors and to those top three, they’ll be the only trainees who will sing the parts of the song. As for the remaining? The mentor just bluntly said they’ll be the back-up dancers.

This made the once tense turn frozen. Each of them took that challenge as an individual and thus the tension grew thicker. Everyone begins practicing on their own harder, as if this part of the competition will mark into something for them.

But actually it is. Because whoever will get the spot, the limelight they’ll get after the shooting will inevitably point to them. When the episode is released, it’ll be no doubt that those top three will catch the netizens eyes. How is it important? It is, because this ensures a high vote for them to stay in the competition.

What caught Feng Rouyun’s attention was actually Gu Weiyi. Just like Yang Yueran said to him, their physique is somewhat similar in the past. Looking at Gu Weiyi who looks thinner than anyone else, it was obvious that his physical strength is lower too. Being an idol requires high stamina to perform high quality ones.

Feng Rouyun stays looking at Gu Weiyi. He watched him scrambling to maintain high energy even when just practicing. It was as if he would never let himself dance below his standard. His stubbornness was very extraordinary. Proper dieting and practicing non-stop until a staff member could only personally go to the training room and stopped him forcefully.

Gu Weiyi was more determined and stubborn than he expected. He is ruthless to himself too for dragging his body to that state.

What Feng Rouyun saw this time about his style was only one thing— desperation.

And what he also didn’t expect was that when he looked for Yang Yueran and Chu Xining, they were doing the same too.

It’s like even at this beginning stage, they already put their last card in front of everyone.

****