Help! the four Alpha's are obsessed with me.-Chapter 210 A trip to the past V

Slowly and steadily, Daniel climbed the stage steps until he reached the wings where the others awaited. The woman hosting the event—the manager herself—stepped onto the stage to face the audience. Hundreds of parents who had brought their children, along with spectators eager for a good performance, broke into applause at the figure before them. Shortly after her appearance, she took the microphone and tapped it, smiling warmly.

"Hello everyone! Once again, welcome to our biannual event, designed to polish a new generation of artists the world can truly appreciate. I am your host, Mrs. Talia Wayne. It is wonderful to meet you all, so let us begin the three stages of the test before selecting our Top 20. Good luck to your children!"

Talia concluded her speech as the golden stage curtains swept open. The children were ushered through, led toward the hall where their trials would be conducted.

Daniel staggered through the jostling crowd. He heard the manager mention that only twenty would be chosen; with over a hundred contestants surrounding him, a wave of panic surged through his chest. He felt himself losing his cool, yet he knew he couldn’t afford to be noticed. Just as he was about to lose his footing in the crush, a firm hand took hold of his and dragged him clear. The sudden pull caused Daniel to lose his balance, falling against the stranger’s body.

The stranger’s scent was masculine, and his hands were surprisingly soft. Daniel wondered where he might have met him before. When he turned to face the boy, his eyes bulged in dismay. It was Xylander Wayne.

The son of the manager? Daniel thought, his heart sinking. This shouldn’t be happening; people might label him a leecher for clinging to the son of such a prominent member of the circle. Though young and naive, Daniel understood how the world of the wealthy functioned—it was far too easy to cast blame on someone tagged as weak, and he could not afford that reputation. He scrambled to his feet quickly before they could attract any more unwanted attention.

"You stood up fast. Why?" Xylander asked as they hurried toward the hall.

Daniel, still trying to dust off his outfit, was confused as to why the boy was still tagging along. Xylander’s friends were literally right there; he could have easily joined them instead of staying with a nobody.

"Fast? Didn’t you see the eyes I pulled? I can’t risk disappointing my dad—this is important to him," Daniel told him, hoping to shake him off, but Xylander kept pace.

Xylander wore a confused expression. Why was this so important to the boy’s father? Wasn’t this supposed to be for Daniel himself?

"You’re the one doing the singing. Shouldn’t you be thinking of yourself?" Xylander flashed a boyish, grinning smile—one so infectious that Daniel found himself smiling back like a fool before catching himself.

He shook his head, pulling his thoughts back together. Everything had its time, and this definitely wasn’t the moment for distractions. "It’s personal, and I’d appreciate it if you didn’t ask. It makes me feel... bad."

Seeing the sudden shift in Daniel’s expression, Xylander apologized quickly. "Sorry for prying. I should get going, but one thing, Daniel—as I said before, you’re going to kill it. Don’t panic; it’ll make you lose your cool. Just breathe and imagine you’re on your own. That’s how you handle this."

Daniel watched as Xylander dropped this surprisingly grounded advice. He wanted to offer a proper thanks, but Xylander hurried off before he could speak. Watching the retreating figure, Daniel let out a tired sigh.

He was naturally shy, but more than that, he suffered from paralyzing stage fright. This was his first public performance, and his hands hadn’t stopped shaking. His father, as usual, remained oblivious to his state of mind. Following the others, he entered the hall and took his seat as the first stage commenced.

Papers were distributed to every desk. When the proctors rang a bell to signify the start, Daniel looked up to see cameras mounted on the ceiling, rotating to capture every angle. With hundreds of lenses overhead, his hands began to fidget uncontrollably. He forced himself to take up his pen and begin.

The task was to compose a song fitting a range of emotions: pain, happiness, and pure agony mixed with sadness.

This was his moment. It felt as though he had been told to write about his own life. He began to draft the lyrics one by one, oblivious to the ticking clock until a blaring bell rang out alongside a booming voice.

"You all have less than five minutes!"

Daniel’s eyes snapped wide. He worked feverishly to round up his thoughts. As he reached the final line, the papers on the desks vanished into slots that mysteriously appeared in the tables. Just like that, it was over.

Daniel’s face showed no trace of relief; he looked miserable in his seat. All around him, the other kids were laughing and discussing how easily their parents could get them into the palace regardless of the result. To them, failure wasn’t an issue. Daniel could only feel a bitter envy; his situation was entirely different. In his home, failure was a crime. Any sibling reported for not being the best was brutally disciplined, and he feared his punishment would be the worst of all. 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

While sitting there, he saw a group of students approaching. Xylander was among them. Daniel prepared to hide his face, but Xylander walked right past him as if he didn’t even exist.

Daniel froze. He hadn’t expected the cold shoulder. Looking back, he saw Xylander talking to another kid who was dressed in stunning, expensive clothes. Daniel turned back to the front with a sense of distaste.

Of course, he thought. What was I thinking? He was stupid to think he had found a friend. They weren’t on the same level, and the way he was being ignored proved he was beneath them—at least, that was how they treated him.

Finally, the results were posted on the wall. A massive crowd rushed forward like clustered crabs, eager to see their fates. Daniel waited for the swarm to clear, standing back and praying in his heart.

Heaven, please let this work, he pleaded. Unless you want me dead.

He slowly walked toward the board, his finger tracing the list for "Daniel Lancaster." He scanned the Top 20 once, then twice. His name wasn’t there.

In that moment, the life drained completely from his face.