Running Over The Head Of My Ex [Rebirth]

Chapter 30

The format of the finals was different from usual. Although it was called a final, it was more like a mini-concert. Each contestant had carefully prepared a solo performance, presenting a visual feast for the audience.

Starting at 9 a.m. the day before yesterday, the vote count was reset, and the voting channel was reopened until the live broadcast ended and voting stopped. The competition between the two groups was just the final showcase, the final vote rally, with no additional vote counts or multiplier rewards.

As usual, the mentors rated the performances with grades from A to F, multiplied by the number of votes. The finals were live, with no edits or audio adjustments, so the audience could see the true performance without any backstage manipulation by the program team or the mentors.

Idol Era V: Less than 12 hours until the live broadcast, the dream is within reach. Looking back at the sleepless nights and the days soaked in sweat, as long as you keep striving, your brilliance will surely shine. Ten years of sharpening a sword—let’s see it today! Tonight at 9 p.m., let’s not miss it!

The accompanying image was a nine-square grid, with one photo of the mentors, one group photo of the contestants taken from the front of a vehicle, and the rest were pairs of contestants sitting together.

The fans of the CP (couple pairing) were enthralled, particularly following the broadcast of scenes featuring dumplings and regular rehearsals. The popularity of the Qingwei CP surged, with fans nearly losing their minds with excitement.

The proud and domineering girl became unexpectedly obedient; the cold girl shed her indifferent exterior; and her gentle, shy smile was like the spring breeze bringing peach blossoms to bloom.

That day, the weather was perfect, with sunlight slanting in through the glass. The girl’s long eyelashes fluttered lightly under the sunlight, seemingly dyed gold, looking sacred and beautiful.

“Awei is dead!!! Official sugar rush, the most lethal, I’m done.”

“Absolutely stunning couple. I suspect the photographer is a hidden Qingwei fan within the Idol Era, capturing the perfect moment of Weiwei stealing a laugh while Qi was sleeping.”

The finals were approaching, but Tao Jinghan was like a mountain pressing down on the two contestants. The CP fans were both anxious and rational, rallying support separately in the individual and CP forums, regardless of whether the CP fans wanted to enjoy their own space.

“Today is the last chance! Whether you’re NXJJ or ZYJJ, we’re all one family. The urgent task now is to pull down the top 1. Qi and Weiwei are respectively short by six million and eighteen million votes. What does this mean? It means the top-ranking position is not unshakeable! Let’s unite and work hard to push our two contestants to the center stage! Other matters can wait! Internal conflict will only let TZJJ take advantage!”

The fans weren’t stupid; Tao Jinghan’s fighting power was too strong. Since He Qingqi surpassed Tao Jinghan last time, Tao Jinghan’s fans have been fighting fiercely, and the gap between the three contestants’ votes has kept widening.

If they didn’t form an alliance, Tao Jinghan might end up debuting in the center position, which wouldn’t look good for anyone. Even if they ended up third, they reached a consensus, and the votes for the two contestants visibly increased, soon surpassing Tao Jinghan’s ranking.

However, the alliance between Naixi and Zhuoyue wasn’t solid. It collapsed the moment Tao Jinghan took the top position again, turning into a three-way battle. Tao Jinghan quickly regained the top spot, leaving the others far behind.

This back-and-forth continued until the live broadcast began.

The event was grand, with the program team sparing no expense and inviting many big names to watch, including the well-known W.S. group, the male version of Idol Era, the Giant group, and several popular actors and actresses.

Ninety-eight girls returned to the stage, performing the complete theme song once more.

After the solo performances, fourteen girls changed into stage outfits. He Qingqi’s group wore various styles of oversized white shirts paired with black hot pants, with the shirts’ hems just covering the shorts.

The end of the stage was the position they had all dreamed of. He Qingqi and her group gazed at the towering structure with unwavering resolve.

He Qingqi started the opening of “Journey.” As soon as the prelude sounded, she did a neat backflip, spinning three or four times in a handstand, revealing a corner of her T-shirt and the sweat-drenched abs underneath.

The audience’s screams were deafening; each scream was the greatest encouragement for He Qingqi.

After three months of training, she danced energetically, having regained the feeling of street dancing. Every move was precisely on the beat, with her hip sways and confident demeanor fully showcasing her unique charm.

The dance was challenging, but every girl on stage seemed tireless, bringing a determined, do-or-die spirit to their final performance on this stage.

Near the end, stepping to the beat, seven girls strode forward, exuding confidence as they interacted with the audience along the flower path.

He Qingqi caught sight of her grandparents among the crowd. Hearing her grandmother join in the chants of “Qi’er,” her cool expression nearly cracked.

Turning around, she met Zhuo Zhiwei’s gaze, smirking mischievously, and got a playful shove in return.

The “Tomorrow” group also did not disappoint. Tao Jinghan changed the song again, performing a long rap in at least four languages.

He Qingqi was stunned. It seemed her friend was serious this time, showcasing her hidden talents.

Later, she discovered that Tao Jinghan selected “Tomorrow” because Bian Suetong and others had created the song for their competition. She was accustomed to Bian Suetong’s style, making the changes smoothly.

The fourteen girls changed into dresses, standing in positions according to the rankings from three hours ago. He Qingqi stood in the center, while Tao Jinghan, for the first time, dropped to third place. She fixed her gaze on the ground in front of her, appearing somewhat lost in thought.

To build suspense, the program started announcing from the middle positions, with the guests being members of the Giant group, their seniors from the Idol Era.

“The moment we’ve all been waiting for is finally here. First, let’s invite Giant’s Tan Zhen to announce fourth place!”

Tan Zhen picked up the card: “She received 115,647,596 votes. She is… Cheng Yi! Congratulations, Cheng Yi!”

Since the show began, Cheng Yi has consistently held the fourth position. Her performance of “Thunder” was unexpectedly successful, showcasing her versatility, sometimes with innocent and pure eyes, other times with a cool and distant charm, boosting her popularity.

She had a cheerful personality and loved making the girls laugh, with her half-long blonde hair exuding a youthful vibe, contrasting He Qingqi’s rebellious aura. If He Qingqi was the most defiant teenager, Cheng Yi was like the carefree little prince, exuding a milk-like warmth. She was the real CP powerhouse of the show, matching well with anyone.

She was confident about her victory on the night of the final group formation, but hearing her name still brought tears to her eyes.

She delivered her emotional speech, walked the flower path, and paid tribute to the fans, mentors, and her past opponents, who were now her future teammates.

“Next, we’ll announce the fifth place.”

“She, diligent and perseverant, often practiced alone in the dance room late at night. She once dropped a grade due to low popularity. She is!” Giant Star’s Sun Yang glanced around at the contestants.

Qiu Ming and Zhang Xiaoyu clenched their fingers, their lips turning white, nervously watching him. They both met the criteria mentioned. The announcement of each position diminished their chances, causing them to lose their composure.

“A girl…”

The two of them were so nervous that their hearts felt like they were in their throats. Just as they were about to relax, Sun Yangzhou announced, “Congratulations to Qiu Ming!”

Upon hearing her name, Qiu Ming’s eyes instantly reddened. She looked blankly at the stage, then back at He Qingqi, and asked in disbelief, “Is it me?” She pointed to herself.

He Qingqi stepped forward to hug her, and the others gathered around to comfort her. “Yes, that’s you. You deserve this, don’t you?”

No one knew Qiu Ming’s efforts better than He Qingqi. Qiu Ming often said she wasn’t very smart, and she truly believed it. Her memory wasn’t great; what others could remember in one or two tries often took her three or four attempts. She worked twice as diligently as everyone else.

He Qingqi always believed that, aside from emotions, hard work always paid off.

Qiu Ming hugged back He Qingqi, her face covered in tears. “Qingqi, thank you, really! If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t be standing here today.”

“Don’t say silly things!” He Qingqi smiled brightly, gently rubbing her back. “This is the result of your own hard work! Only you can be your own savior!”

“No, you don’t understand, Qingqi…” Qiu Ming kept shaking her head.

He Qingqi could only helplessly wipe her tears. “Alright, go on; everyone is waiting for you!”

Qiu Ming nodded and walked forward to give her speech amidst envious and jealous gazes, then headed down her flower-strewn path towards her bright future.

He Qingqi couldn’t foresee her future but felt gratified watching her go. In her previous life, Qiu Ming didn’t make her debut and faded into obscurity. Whether she stuck to her dreams or not, He Qingqi never knew. However, this summer, I gave this girl the reward she deserved.

Zhang Xiaoyu still stood in the waiting area, looking a bit desolate. Wang Qiyu patted her shoulder, whispering, “It’s okay; there’s still a chance.”

She didn’t respond; she just remained silent, lost in thought.

The sixth place went solidly to Wang Qiyu.

Now, only the last spot remained.

Zhang Xiaoyu’s eyes turned red with anxiety. She turned away, stamping her feet in frustration. Waiting was pure torment, and she spoke with a hint of tears in her voice, “Just give me the verdict already.”

Fans on the other side felt immense pity.

[Don’t cry, Xiaoyu.]

But with the voting channel closed, they couldn’t do anything more for their girl. All they could do was endure this torment alongside her.

“In seventh place, congratulations! Jin Zhiyang!”

In that moment, Zhang Xiaoyu was stunned, tears streaming down her face. She was just one step away from her dream, but she couldn’t cross it. She had lost, and she had to accept it.

He Qingqi sighed and patted her shoulder.

Jin Zhiyang, a Korean, had mastered good Chinese. During her speech, she unexpectedly mentioned Tao Jinghan.

Even Tao Jinghan was surprised, snapping out of her daze and listening attentively.

Jin Zhiyang, with a gentle smile, looked at Tao Jinghan with a gaze full of tenderness. “You might not know, but I’ve always liked you and waited for your debut for three years.”

Tao Jinghan’s eyes widened in shock. Jin Zhiyang continued, “You are like the sun to me, distant yet within reach, bright and warm, constantly inspiring me. I learned four languages for you and shared my youthful years with you.”

“Because of you, I learned Chinese, singing, and dancing, though my rap still isn’t great. Because of you, I came here and experienced a different kind of hardship, but I never regretted it. I thank you this summer for letting me catch up to you and meeting my fans.”

Jin Zhiyang bowed to the audience along the flower path. “Because I once had an idol, I understand your feelings and your love. I’m still adjusting to the transition from fan to idol. I love you! Thank you!”

Apart from He Qingqi and her two friends, the seven other contestants, despite their loss and disappointment, applauded. Their journey in “The Idol Era” ended here, but their dreams hadn’t. There were countless other paths to achieving them.

The ranking of the top three was the only suspense remaining.

Following the host’s instructions, He Qingqi pulled Zuo Zhiwei on her left and Tao Jinghan on her right, standing together in front of the microphone.

The top three’s combined presence excited the audience, and waves of cheers erupted from behind them.

“From the 20th to now, the top three received a total of 564,542,515 votes.”

“Now, let Giant’s Lu Shen announce the third place!”

“Who is in third place?”

“He Qingqi!” “Zuo Zhiwei!” “Tao Jinghan!” Fans of all three shouted frantically, trying to drown out each other’s voices.

The three names also flooded the live comments.

“Congratulations, Zuo Zhiwei!”

Even the usually indifferent Zuo Zhiwei showed a flash of disappointment in her eyes. She quickly composed herself and bowed sincerely to the mentors, the audience, and the contestants behind her. Regardless of the result, she accepted it calmly; her fans had given their all, providing her with the best gift.

“Hello, everyone, I’m Zuo Zhiwei.” Overwhelming cheers greeted her self-introduction.

“You once said that meeting me this summer was your greatest gain, and for me, it’s the same.” Zuo Zhiwei’s eyes softened, and her lips curve slightly. “Now, this might be my happiest moment. I met many important people in my life—my mentors, Qingqi, Jinghan, other friends, and most importantly, you, my fans.”

“I used to be very insecure, but you helped me regain my confidence. You brought me here, letting me feel so much love. Thank you! I will continue to work hard. You’ve worked hard too; thank you!”

Zuo Zhiwei hugged each of them, mouthing “I’ll wait for you” to the other two before taking her place.

Tao Jinghan and He Qingqi exchanged a glance, then looked at the top spot, tightening their grip on each other’s hands.

On the other side, Chai Xu and Qiu Xinyu held the cards, deciding their fates and watching them from over twenty meters away.

Qiu Xinyu took the microphone first. “I hold the name of the first-place winner. Who is she? What are her characteristics?”

He Qingqi’s heart pounded like a drum, almost leaping out of her throat. Though she had just danced and felt warm, her body was slightly trembling.

Qiu Xinyu suddenly sped up her speech. “She is, Tao—Jinghan!”

Chai Xu: “Congratulations also to He Qingqi for securing second place! Like clouds in the sky, He Qingqi’s brightness never fades. This summer, she stayed true to her dreams and herself. You are always my number one!”

Upon hearing the result, He Qingqi felt a sudden pang, her heart seeming to stop for a moment. Her expression faltered, and her pupils dilated slightly, but she quickly recovered, smiling and bowing.

Fans watching from behind the screen felt a deep ache seeing He Qingqi like this, but with everything settled, regrets were pointless.

[This summer will always be my eternal heartbreak.]

One comment on the live stream echoed the sentiment of countless viewers.