From Skid Row to Superstardom: An Idol System Novel-Chapter 150: Prince William’s Reign (4)

It was silent for a couple of seconds before everyone continued their work.

By the time Ari was called to do his interview, he had been assigned to the arrangement and lyric writing team with Benjamin and Carlos, while Haruto and Mathew would begin coming up with choreography, and Vishal and Nile were noting down the details for their stage direction, costumes, and makeup.

After a quick interview with PD Emily, asking him pointed questions about his relationship with William, Ari came back whistling at how well things were going.

Even if William was annoying, things were still running quite smoothly.

Still in a good mood, he opened the door to see Benjamin lazing on the ground in the empty room.

"Where’s everyone?"

"Willy dismissed us and went off somewhere so, making choreography, making choreography, left for the day, snack break, changing, and you just came back." Benjamin counted off on his hands before hopping to his feet.

"I didn’t want you coming back to an empty room, so I stuck around. Aren’t I nice?"

"The nicest."

"I know. I try. Speaking of which-"

Benjamin slung his arms around Ari’s shoulders and yanked him closer.

"Let me be nice once more and give you some advice. You need to watch the way you talk to that boy, yeah? You saw the way they edited you in episode 1, I guarantee it’ll be 10 times worse if you mess around with him. Even if the cameras are off, look sharp."

Even though Benjamin didn’t say Williams’ name, it was clear who he was talking about.

"I know."

It was just that every time Ari saw Williams’ smug face, an irrational urge to punch it came along.

Since he couldn’t do that, he would have to settle for disrupting him whenever you could.

"Listen, I know you don’t like him, and I certainly don’t rate him, but be careful. Remember when you saw him run out on me, you know that man went to report me for being aggressive and bullying him, and I got a warning from the production team to be less aggressive toward others. Me, of all people, being aggressive. Can you believe it?"

"I can’t believe it."

"Well, he did, and I got a stern talking to with a warning that if I continue acting aggressively toward contestants, I would get kicked off entirely."

What the heck?

Ari actually couldn’t believe it.

Caleb and Michael had literally grabbed each other by the neck and were seconds away from having a fist fight, but as far as Ari knew, neither of them got a warning or were told off for being aggressive, even though there was a literal yelling match in the practice room.

Benjamin was probably the most liked person among the staff and other contestants.

Sure, he was overly handsy and friendly, and was slightly imposing due to his tall height and leanly muscled frame, but Ari would never label him as aggressive at all.

"... Who gave you the warning? Was it Assistant PD David?"

"Oh? Good guess. Or rather, not a guess? Sounded a little too confident, innit? You know something..." The smiling expression on Benjamin’s face disappeared as he examined Ari’s eyes as if trying to find something.

"Not really."

"You’re lying, but it’s fine. Just be careful, yeah? I saw him throwing around the same accusations at you earlier, and sorry I didn’t say anything, but right now, I can’t have that man put anything else on me. This is my last bid after all."

"It’s fine. I don’t expect anyone to speak up for me, and thanks for sharing. I’ll be careful not to rock the boat and affect you."

"Thanks. Tossing aside the dark topic, what are your plans for the evening?"

"Learning the lyrics and then sleeping?"

"Nah, let’s work on it tomorrow whenever Carlos decides to grace us with his presence at practice again. In the meantime, let’s practice some things for busking. I can tell most of you kiddies have done it before."

"And you have?"

"Of course, mate. Semi-professional illegal and legal busker in the London tube, Piccadilly Circus, Leicester Square, and other hot spots here in the States. Put some respect on my name." As Benjamin’s usual smile came back as he pounded his chest, Ari rolled his eyes before laughing.

"Okay, busker extraordinaire. Go on, I’m listening. What do I need to know?"

"The first thing I’m going to teach you is how to get sturdy."

At the thought of what sounded like more exercising in his future, Ari’s smile immediately disappeared.

"Get sturdy? I’m not going to the gym with you and Jamie at 4 a.m. Or at all."

"...firstly, I’m going to pretend I didn’t hear that geezer-like comment. Secondly, it’s 4:30."

"I’m still not participating in any gym activities."

"I’m talking about teaching you a dance, bruv. From there, we’ll graduate to learning all the trending dances just in case we get challenged to a dance battle."

"What are you talking about? We’re going busking, not entering a dance battle." Ari looked at Benjamin as if he were crazy, but the other boy just laughed.

"Rap battle, dance battle, vocal battle. Anything can happen while busking, so we need to stay ready so we don’t have to get ready. Your vocals are fine, but your rapping can’t be saved. If only we had more time, I would teach you some legwork and more intense group dances, but we can save that for another day. Let’s warm up and do what we can. Don’t worry, I’ll baby your injured leg."

With an excited jump, Benjamin began playing a high-energy Caribbean song from the tablet.

Jump up

Jump up

Ah say jump and put your hands up

Jump up

Jump up

"1 2 3 4"

As Ari stared at him in confusion, Benjamin threw his hands around Ari’s shoulders and began dragging him from side to side while jumping and singing.

Palance! Mashing up de place

"Palance!!!!"

Palance! Jump up and break up de place

"Palance!!!!"

Even when Vishal came into the room, Benjamin just roped him in as well, forcing him to jump around and dance for the entire 4 minutes of the song.

By the time it finally finished, Ari’s entire body was drenched in sweat, and his legs ached worse than when he ran and completed all his repeat missions at once.

He couldn’t believe that this was Benjamin babying his injured ankle, and he stared at the boy with a look of betrayal.

Benjamin didn’t even have the courtesy to look winded or sweaty; he just looked as if he had gone on a walk on a cool evening.

"Get your cardio up, mate. The real practice starts now." Benjamin simply laughed at him before changing the music to a drill song.

Regretting not changing into his utterly adorable tracksuit, he resigned himself to the torture that Benjamin called busking dance practice 101.

When Mathew stopped by from choreography creation to join in on the fun, he and Vishal’s suffering was finally alleviated, and Ari gratefully went to bed after showering.

And the next morning, during their team practice after breakfast, William started with his nonsense.

"For this performance, you have to take off your face paint. I won’t let you ruin my team performance with that ugliness."

Ari: ಠ_ಠ

Good morning to you, too, you punk.

I hope you slept terribly!

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