one.

                                    

                                          
ㅤ 
one.
ㅤ 
                          
ㅤi left my bags on the floor while i looked at the buildings in front of me. it was a big complex with gardens, big enough to hold 101 boys, all the staff and the mentors. plus 1,000 other people if necessary. i was stunned for a few moments. it all reminded me of produce 101, when i was still a trainee. i remembered arriving with the other girls from our agency. we couldn't even eat or sleep because we were so nervous. my legs began to shake after thinking about all we had to suffer during that time. however, i kept away those thoughts. it wasn't like that anymore. i didn't have to go through that again. now the feeling was totally different. i had already earned a position in that industry and was there to help others get what i had achieved.
                          
ㅤ i grabbed the bags again, ready to go. however, i stopped two steps further. i had no idea where to go. as much as it looked like the recording location of produce 101, it wasn't the same place and i had no idea how it was organized there. a staff member had accompanied me from the car to the entrance of the complex, but had quickly disappeared after giving me some quick directions that i clearly didn't understand. it was partly my fault because i wasn't paying much attention.
                          
ㅤ i looked around. there was a central building that i thought would be where the contestants' rooms would be. i could take a chance and try the other buildings, which was one of my chances. but i could also find someone from the staff to tell me where the mentor's rooms were.as if someone knew i was lost, someone came running out the door of the main building. i had my glasses on so i could see him even though he was far away. he was wearing a white short-sleeved shirt, but he was wearing a black long-sleeved shirt underneath to keep out the cold. he also wore a black cap. i smiled. it seemed that they had already gotten rid of the sweatshirts that marked their grade with colors. during my first evaluation at produce 101 i hated those sweatshirts with all my soul. all they did was limit and embarrass us continually with the color. if you didn't have pink it meant you had a lot to improve because you didn't have the minimum level. i used to envy all the girls who could wear that sweatshirt. it wasn't because i liked the color, but because of what it meant.
                          
ㅤ the guy, who i deduced was a contestant, ran past me, heading for the building across the street. for a moment he was going to pass by, as he was focused and looked worried, but as soon as he saw me standing in the middle of the road, he stopped next to me.
                          
ㅤ "good afternoon" he said, with a smile on his face as he bowed. i imitated him, greeting him as well. "i'm sorry, for a moment i didn't even see you and i was going to pass without greeting" he laughed, scratching the back of his neck uncomfortably.
                          
ㅤ "don't wo..." i replied. or at least i tried, because he interrupted me.
                          
ㅤ "it can't be" his eyes and mouth opened at the same time as he looked at me closely. his hand pointed at me, while i kept the word in my mouth. "huang xinyue? i'm an idiot! i didn't recognize you. i'm sorry, i'm sorry, i..." he added, bowing again. a smile was formed on my face. i didn't expect to be recognized so quickly. i clearly knew that i was famous, but it was still amazing that someone knew my name and, on top of that, that they sounded so happy to see me.
                          
ㅤ "it's okay" i laughed and shook my hands, trying to play it down. "really, you can stop apologizing" i added, after seeing that he was about to do it again.
                          
ㅤ "i admire you so much. my name is ding zeren. i'm a trainee in the program" he said, still smiling.
                          
ㅤ "nice to meet you" i bowed to him. "my name..." i was going to add, but suddenly i stopped and let out a little exclamation. when i was nervous, i'd say things that didn't make sense and i'd mess up. just like in that moment. zeren started laughing and i followed him. "sorry, i'm not used to being recognized" i quickly excused myself.