Since Yibo had recovered from his angina much faster than the doctor expected, he was able to participate in training again after only one, instead of two weeks. Even though he still felt a bit weak, he gritted his teeth and fought his way through the training. Probably his hatred for Alessia was what gave him the most strength.

Ever since Yibo woke up from that confused dream about Zhan and Alessia, he hated Alessia even more than before. Even though it was only a dream, it seemed so real to him that he believed it was really happening. At least as far as Alessia was concerned. He was not sure about Zhan. He rather assumed that his wishful thinking had contributed to dreaming about Zhan in this way.

Although he would just have to ask Seungyoun if Zhan had really tried to wake him up and really helped carry him to the infirmary and really whispered something briefly in his ear, he didn't dare ask Seungyoun about it. It was clear to him, however, that Cheng certainly could not have helped carry him. Not with the plaster Cheng wears around his hand and up to his elbow.

Yibo just didn't want his dream to be destroyed. The dream in which Zhan cared about him and in which Zhan whispered something in his ear that he couldn't understand. So if he asked Youn about what really happened and Youn said it was anyone else who helped, he probably wouldn't just be disappointed.

What Yibo found a little strange, however, was that neither Youn nor Cheng talked about Zhan on their own. Or about what had happened. He suspected, however, that they just didn't want to put Yibo through any more stress so that he could recover quickly. At least that was the only logical explanation for Yibo.

When Yibo finally returned to training and classes, the question of who should get the solo dance at the big live performance came up again. Because in Yibo's absence, Alessia cleverly brought herself back into the game. The ballet coach was a great help to her. Because Alessia turned to her and she had then summoned her colleagues to reconsider, since Yibo would be absent.

But now Yibo was back and again the coaches discussed who would get the spot of the solo dance and who would not. But no matter how long they discussed, they came to no decision. Half of the coaches were for Yibo. The other half of the coaches for Alessia. And to let the two opponents compete against each other in a battle was not possible. Because both of them excel in dance and Yibo was not fit enough for it.

No one wanted to take the risk of sending Yibo back to the boards immediately by overtaxing him again. So a dance battle was not possible. And since the big performance is about a solo dance, no other category was possible. So what were they supposed to do? How should they come to a decision?

In fact, it was then Cheng who made the best suggestion. "Upload videos of the two of them dancing on the Internet and let the viewers decide." Demanded Cheng and the other students agreed.

"Exactly! There were quite a few videos made during the training and there are the videos of the performances of the two. You can upload them and let the fans of the two decide." Youn now interfered as well. Whereby he actually said nothing different than Cheng. Yibo thanked him anyway, but thought he was just saying something to get some recognition like Cheng before. Which also worked.

Just two hours later, there was a new vote on the Keno Academy's social media page. "Yibo vs. Alessia! Which of our two amazing talented students do you think should have a solo dance performance at our next online event? You decide!" It said. Underneath there were several videos of the two of them training and performing.

For three days the viewers and fans could decide whether Yibo or Alessia would get the solo performance at the big online live event. And before that no one was able to see who got more votes. Alessia didn't seem very confident and complained several times that Yibo had an advantage because he is from this country and she is not.

She always seemed only too happy to overhear that worldwide votes could be cast. She just whined and complained far too readily. Which only made Yibo angrier. Because unlike her, Yibo had never performed abroad. She was already well known before the Keno Academy and participated in competitions in many countries. Yibo, however, only in China. So it was actually Alessia who had the clear advantage.

And it was precisely this unfair advantage that Alessia had that also worried Yibo. He trusted in his abilities and his talent. But outside of China, very few, if any, knew him. Still, he tried to stay positive and not get crazy about it.

When the day of the decision finally came, the director had all the students of the Keno Academy come to the auditorium, where he announced the evaluation of the voting to the students and live on the Internet. Yibo and Alessia both had to come on stage and stood next to the director, who once again explained why there was this voting and how to vote.

Nervously, the two competitors stood next to each other. Alessia kept bobbing up and down. While Yibo stood there as if nailed down and with a neutral look. Everyone who saw him had to assume that he was not nervous. But actually he was so nervous that he froze and couldn't move a muscle.

After the explanations, the principal made a few more jokes and reminded the students to come up with a plan B. Then, he received an envelope with the results and said, "Okay, now that we're all a little more relaxed, we can announce the results. I won't keep you in suspense any longer, and I'm announcing that the Solo Dance will be..." The director paused, looked at the sheet of paper in confusion, and continued with a furrowed brow, "It's Alessia Milan. Congratulations."

Immediately voices were raised in the ranks shouting, "This is cheating! It can't be!"

"Um, I think we will check the result again." Said the director, turning in a whisper to his assistant, who then looked like he was trying to search for an explanation. "So according to my assistant, 72% voted for Alessia Milan. What makes the result so strange is that we checked this morning and it was the other way around and 72% had voted for Wang Yibo. I will go now and assign someone to check the voting." And then the director left, leaving the confused students behind.

Yibo didn't even know what to think now. Had it really looked better for him in the morning? And if so, how could it change so quickly in just a few hours?

Seungyoun stepped onto the stage and brought Yibo down from there. Alessia, meanwhile, was being celebrated by the male students from her year, who were so smitten with her that they didn't realize what the director had tried to explain moments before. Namely that he does not believe the result of the voting and assumes a manipulation.

Losing to Alessia really hit Yibo harder than he would have thought, even if the director raised doubts. He had lost, at least for the moment, to Alessia. Youn tried to build him up, telling him that surely there was a mistake and not to worry too much. But Yibo did not hear him at all.

But then the student speaker from the senior year came up to him, reached out his hand and said so loudly that everyone had to hear him, "We haven't determined a solo dance for our senior year yet, and we'd love for you to take the solo dance." The graduating class cheered.

"Me? But I'm not in your year. I'm sure that's against the rules. And besides, I'm not good enough." Yibo replied in disappointment.

"Wrong. You're not good, you're Fantastic. And we can decide for ourselves who does the solo dance. No one tells us what year the student should be from. And we all have already contracts and we don't have to rely on this solo dance." Explained the other student.

"I see. If that's true, that would be amazing. Just awesome." Said Yibo, beaming with happiness.

"It's true. We've all seen you dance. On the internet, on TV, the videos on the voting site and of course here at the academy. You're better than most of us who are already in our fourth year here. And as far as I know, you even have your first endorsement contract already, right?"

"Mn. I did."

"See? None of us had that in our first year. And if it turns out someone rigged the voting and you did win, be prepared to do two solo dances. We were going to ask you to do the solo dance with us anyway."

"Really?"

"Mn. Like I said, we're excited about you. Now keep your head up and go practice. Then tomorrow we'll talk about your performance okay?"

"Yeah okay. Great. Thank you." Yibo cleared his throat and called out to the others, "Thank you all." He was so amazed that he didn't even know what else to say. He would have loved to hug the older student out of sheer joy and cheer quite loudly.

The student went back to his people and Yibo was about to go over to the Keno Academy with Youn and start training again right away when the director came back on stage and said: "I declare the voting invalid. There is clear evidence that the voting has been manipulated. I have spoken briefly with my colleagues and we have decided to use the results from this morning. According to it, 72% voted for Wang Yibo."

Yibo and Youn looked at each other with wide eyes. The director once again announced clearly that Yibo will have the solo dance and the student speaker told the director that they will give Yibo their solo dance. "Okay. So that means Wang Yibo will have two solo dances?" Asked the director to make sure he understood everything correctly.

"Yes sir." Replied the student speaker.

"Well, I have no problem with that. You guys can use whoever you want. But maybe you could give the spot to Alessia Milan?"

"No sir. We want Wang Yibo to do it. We know that the solo dances are also in the competition. And with Wang Yibo, we definitely have a chance to win. It can't be any other way, because he is really great."

"Good, then we will put it on our website like that. Any more questions?"

"Yes! I have a question!" Said Alessia with an angry look at Yibo.

"And what would that be?" Asked the director.

"Why does Yibo get to do two solo performances and I don't get to do any? I didn't manipulate the voting. Why should I be punished now, too?"

"You wouldn't have won. That means you wouldn't have had a solo performance either way. And you can't claim what you don't deserve. What do you think how many e-mails we received in this short time, with complaints that they didn't vote for you, but for Wang Yibo? That the vote was rigged is clear by now and we'll find out who did it!"

"But I earned that solo dance."

"So did everyone else. But Yibo won because he was better than you. That's what the coaches said before and that was proven by the voting. You'll just have to try harder."

"But I..."

"Enough now Miss Milan."

"Sir!"

"No, that's enough now. Go back to your seat."

"Okay."

"So and before we turn off the Livestream now I have something to announce. Due to further construction at the Paradise Academy, the students will come here again starting next week and stay for 3 weeks. That is at least the preliminary status. And again, we will look into the matter of the manipulated votes. Now, go back and enjoy your free time." Said the director and left. With that, the Livestream was turned off as well.

The assistant of the director came to Yibo and handed him an envelope. "This is once again a written confirmation that you won the vote. And inside it is also a contract we reviewed for you. It's about the shoot for a promotional video. The contract is completely in order. Read it over at your leisure, we've highlighted the most important part for you too, and if you agree, sign the contract and we'll send it to the agency so they can pass it on and start shooting soon."

"Oh wow, thank you so much." Said Yibo and had a big smile. He already knew that Keno Academy has a lawyer review the contracts before the students get them and sign them. That's how they want to protect the students. And he was glad that he didn't have to take care of it himself.

Happy about this outcome of today and the vote, Yibo and Youn went back to the academy to train. And only when they arrived there, Yibo asked, "Did he say Paradise Academy is coming here for three weeks?"

Youn laughed and said, "Yes, why? Are you afraid to see Zhan again? After all, he called you his cutie when he tried to wake you up and shooed everyone away from you when you were lying unconscious on the floor. And he insisted on carrying you to the infirmary with me."

"Why are you just telling me this now?"

"Because you didn't ask and I thought you didn't care."

"Um no, I do care. And he really called me his cutie?"

"Mn. Several times, actually. He said, "Come on my cutie, wake up." But you didn't respond. And then a couple of students tried to help, but he immediately shooed them away and wouldn't let anyone touch you. Not to put too fine a point on it, but I think maybe not all is lost after all. Maybe you have a chance after all."

"Maybe. Let's not speculate now and rather train." Said Yibo and turned on the music.

He would have liked to speculate further. But he didn't dare discuss this in the rehearsal room. Because if what he had dreamed was true, then maybe what Alessia said and did was also true. And that means, in the future he must be careful what he says and where, so that he cannot be overheard again.