CHAPTER 5: LITTLE WHITE RABBIT & BIG BAD WOLF 

Regardless of whether they were here to seriously pursue an idol career, chase after Zhao Qiuying, or simply watch some drama unfold, a large number of viewers had already rushed to the platform to watch the live-streamed teaser as soon as it aired.

The comment section was overflowing.

[YIYI’s girls are so sweet this year. YIYI really has money to burn—ugh, they’re all wearing Chanel. Total princess vibes.]

[Oh, please. = = Here we go again with the dead weight.]

[Sheng Yang’s sister really has that idol look.]

[Lin Sifeng ahhh!]

For a while, the chat was flooded with names.

Until the camera shifted—

[Whoa, who is this? She’s insanely gorgeous!]

[Looks like she’s from Sanjin… Sanjin really knows how to pick people this year. They’ve got all kinds of aesthetics, finally breaking away from the cookie-cutter beauty trend.]

[This must be heavy filters. With enough filters, anyone can look fair-skinned and delicate.]

[…No way filters alone could achieve this. She’s got naturally red lips and white teeth, her eyes glisten like water, and her brows are elegantly arched like distant mountains. Delicate yet graceful… Damn. She’s stunning. For some reason, I really want to squish her cheeks.]

[Ehhh, isn’t this the kind of face that screams “white lotus” and “green tea”? Why do you guys like her? Just wait—once Sanjin starts tearing each other apart, your illusions will shatter.]

Some of the girls in the competition already had a fanbase—even Yu Xinyan had a few supporters cheering for her in the comments.

But Jiang Su?

Before this, no one had ever heard of her.

That was why the platform barely allocated any screen time to her.

Yet in the few shots she did get, anyone who appeared in the same frame as her was instantly overshadowed.

More and more people started asking who she was.

As the livestream continued, the audience’s opinions became increasingly polarized. Those who liked her looks found her more and more delicate and endearing. Those who didn’t… couldn’t stop calling her a “white lotus.”

The platform’s staff noticed this trend immediately and reported it up the chain.

The assistant director held a stack of documents in his hand. After answering a phone call, he casually flipped through them before pausing.

“…Jiang Su? Oh, it’s her.”

He pulled out a photograph.

It was taken by Sanjin Entertainment as part of a standardized photoshoot. The background was a stark white wall, and the girl stood in front of it wearing a simple, unembellished red velvet dress. She stood there quietly, expressionless, unlike others who would pose dramatically, eager to make an impression.

Yet, she was striking.

Even if she were nothing more than a decorative vase standing there, she was impossible to ignore.

The assistant director exhaled slowly and muttered, “What a waste.”

The staff nearby were puzzled. What was there to pity?

But the assistant director didn’t elaborate. He simply set down the documents and instructed, “Give her a few more camera shots later. Let’s build up some buzz to make the show more engaging.”

The staff immediately complied and started adjusting the camera angles during the live broadcast.

Meanwhile, the livestream chat was buzzing.

[Why isn’t that Sanjin girl speaking? Doesn’t she know that talking more gets you more screen time?]

[She probably knows she wouldn’t be well-received, so she’s better off staying quiet.]

[What a waste. A beautiful statue.]

[You don’t get it. Quiet beauties are better—they won’t run their mouths and offend people. Some are good-looking, sure, but then they open their mouths and ruin it.]

As the introductions continued, viewers gradually formed their favorites.

[Wu Qingqing’s looks are absolutely stunning. Such a strong presence!]

[Lin Sifeng is so cute!]

Finally, it was Jiang Su’s turn.

[? Does W know her?]

[Shit, I remember now! She was on the trending searches with Zhao on his birthday. Wasn’t she about to jump into the river or something?]

[I heard she just slipped.]

[W is so sweet, omg. His expression changed immediately when he saw her.]

[She’s 19? Damn, she’s younger than me.]

At this point, the chat was still normal.

Then—

[HAHAHAHA what the hell is she talking about? Augusta?]

[Just looked it up—it’s a motorcycle brand.]

[? Is this girl a bit… slow?]

[She’s young, probably still in her cringey phase.]

[Zhao Qiuying looks so confused, hahaha.]

The chat exploded in laughter.

Zhao Qiuying was indeed stunned for a moment, but he quickly composed himself and gave a small nod. “Sure.”

He didn’t even know what it was, but if she said it, then it must be.

Upon hearing his response, Jiang Su’s indifferent expression finally showed a hint of a smile—

Like a little girl receiving her first piece of candy.

Easily satisfied.

For some reason, Zhao Qiuying suddenly found himself reluctant to look at her smile too closely. His mind was filled with questions—“Why were you in the water that day?” “Did you go home afterward?” “What did the doctor say?”—but none of them were appropriate for the show.

So, he swallowed them all back down.

“Uh… anything else you’d like to introduce about yourself?” Zhao Qiuying asked.

“I’m from Sanjin Entertainment.”

Zhao Qiuying was speechless.

Was she really that bad at handling this kind of situation? Shouldn’t she be trying to make an impression?

He tried again. “Among the four mentors, do you have a favorite?”

Jiang Su hesitated for a second.

She had no idea who the other three even were.

The only one she had met before was Zhao Qiuying.

Noticing her silence, Zhao Qiuying’s mind wandered.

Sitting next to him was Xuan Wen, who debuted even earlier than he did and was once at the peak of popularity. Though he had transitioned into other fields in recent years, his fanbase was still massive. Could Jiang Su be one of them?

And further down the table sat a legendary music producer, once a superstar in the industry. Even at 42, he still had plenty of young female fans.

Then, a little further…

Jiang Su finally spoke. “I like… you, I guess.”

Zhao Qiuying froze mid-motion, gripping his cup awkwardly. “…Oh.”

Jiang Su bowed. “I’ll head out now.”

Zhao Qiuying: “…Oh.”

But he remained dazed for a long time.

The chat went wild:

[???]

[“I guess”? Why does it sound like it was such a struggle to say?]

[LOL, every other contestant has been gushing about how much they love Zhao Qiuying. They can even recite his song titles backward. And then there’s her.]

[Unbelievable. She clearly doesn’t actually like him but is pretending. She’s too calculating.]

[? Nah, if she was pretending, wouldn’t she act more enthusiastic? Saying something sweet would get her in his good books. Wouldn’t that be smarter?]

[Honestly, she should’ve at least researched the mentors beforehand. Now she can’t even fake some polite flattery. Seriously, did Sanjin just send her here to waste time?]

The chat devolved into arguments.

After that, Jiang Su didn’t get much screen time.

With over a hundred contestants, everyone had to introduce themselves one by one.

Once the introductions were finally done, the mentors led them into the elevators to head upstairs.

Zhao Qiuying spoke in an unhurried tone. “Your dorms will be on the 27th, 28th, and 29th floors of this building. The 27th floor consists entirely of six-person rooms, with set hours for hot water and meals, as well as shared vocal and dance practice rooms.”

As his voice fell, the elevator chimed, and the doors slid open.

The moment they stepped out, everyone gasped in amazement.

Every detail of the decor exuded wealth. As they walked forward, their feet sank into the thick, soundproof carpeting—soft and luxurious.

However, when the grand doors swung open, what lay beyond was a layout reminiscent of a student dormitory.

Apart from the cutting-edge facilities, there was nothing particularly extravagant.

Curiosity and a sense of competition immediately ignited among them.

What would the 28th floor look like?

Would the 29th floor be even more lavish?

Zhao Qiuying continued leading them upward.

“The 28th floor consists of four-person rooms. Each of you will have your own desk, a personal computer, and a brand-new smartphone provided by our sponsors. You’ll enjoy 12 hours of hot water, meals, and access to three dedicated vocal training and dance rooms.”

Further up—

“The 29th floor features single rooms, only ten in total. Every round, those who receive an A ranking will be eligible to stay here. These rooms are equivalent to presidential suites.” Zhao Qiuying unlocked the biometric door and pushed it open.

Inside, the space was vast. The bedroom, living room, and study were clearly separated, and there was even a private kitchenette.

[Holy—! All the smart home appliances are from Cheng Group’s top-tier line! You can control everything while lying in bed!]

[The rocking horse and that thick plush carpet—I’m in love QAQ]

[Even the computers are high-spec. And the smartphones—aren’t they the latest, highest-end models from Cheng Group’s Hongniao Tech?]

[And a massive bathtub—!!]

Zhao Qiuying activated the voice control.

The curtains silently drew open, revealing a massive, curved floor-to-ceiling window. Sunlight poured in, turning the floor a brilliant gold.

[Aaaah! Why is Cheng Group so ridiculously rich?! This is insane! Compared to that other lame show, this is next level!]

[180° panoramic view! You can lie in bed and admire the entire cityscape. I wanna stay here for just one night QAQ]

Jiang Su narrowed her eyes slightly as the sunlight hit her face.

Meanwhile, Zhao Qiuying continued his smooth, measured explanation. “This is the top floor of the building. If you earn an A, you’ll have access to unlimited hot water, two hours of private use in the vocal and dance studios daily, and the ability to order any food you desire through the smart home system. No matter what time it is, a delivery robot will bring it straight to your door—whether it’s rice, noodles, or even rare fruits.”

“But I’d advise against doing that,” the only female mentor, Yelena, chuckled. “Constant snacking will make you gain weight, and you’ll look bad on camera.”

The mentor who had been silent until now, Xuan Wen, finally spoke in a slow, deep voice. “Though you’ll also have a private gym.”

Hearing his voice, several contestants stole quick glances at Xuan Wen, blushing as they murmured a response.

Standing at 1.88 meters, Xuan Wen had debuted overseas, and his fashion leaned toward an international style. Clad in a black jacket and gold-chained jeans, he exuded a faint, effortless charisma—both striking and cool.

Some contestants favored Zhao Qiuying, while others preferred Xuan Wen.

Only Jiang Su kept her head slightly lowered, lost in thought.

Zhao Qiuying’s gaze flicked past the top of Jiang Su’s head before he paused. “Now, you will each write down your self-assessed rating. You all start with a base score of 10, which will determine your initial ranking. If you choose F, your score remains the same. If you choose E, you gain one point. The higher you go, the more points you add. However, if you select A but end up receiving an F in the initial evaluation, you will be deducted 10 points. If you get an E, you lose 8 points, and so on.”

“Treasure the opportunity in your hands. When it’s time to be bold, seize what you deserve.”

“The winner will stand here, gazing out from this panoramic window—seeing the entire city bow before them.”

The energy in the room spiked.

The livestream chat exploded with excitement.

[This is insane! The production team really knows what they’re doing!]

[Damn, Zhao Qiuying’s so soft-spoken, but why does his every word make my blood boil?!]

[Go, girls! Status, wealth, and glory are waiting for you!]

…

At this moment, everyone was indeed fired up.

Wealth and prestige were laid out before them, and the show’s contract had already made it clear—those who successfully debuted would receive prime commercial opportunities, endorsements, top-tier stage resources, and even acting roles.

These mentors would be their strongest allies, pushing them to the top.

Yu Xinyan was so overwhelmed that she bit into her sleeve, on the verge of letting out a muffled sob.

Wan Yue, too, was brimming with barely-contained excitement.

And Jiang Su…

Jiang Su remained expressionless.

Was this supposed to be difficult?

She tilted her head slightly, blank-faced.

Surely, this wasn’t harder than assassinating the President of M Country, right?

As Jiang Su silently weighed her thoughts, Zhao Qiuying once again felt a twinge of helplessness.

Had she even been listening? After all that, she still hadn’t reacted. Did she even know why she was here? Was she tricked into joining this show?

…

Soon, they returned to the 21st floor.

The staff handed out paper and pens. Everyone sat at their small tables, but no one moved to write.

Yu Xinyan, nervous as always, couldn’t help but whisper, “Jiang Su, what are you writing?”

Hearing this, Wan Yue scoffed. “Why would she tell you? If someone sees, they can easily trip you up. Just trick her into choosing A, and she’ll crash and burn!”

The moment she finished speaking, Wan Yue suddenly remembered—the cameras were still rolling. Her face stiffened as she quickly glanced at the cameras, hoping they hadn’t caught her.

Unfortunately, the camera was aimed right at them.

Wan Yue cursed silently.

All because of Jiang Su—and that idiot Yu Xinyan.

[Oh, oh, here we go again—Sanjin Entertainment’s classic in-fighting tactics.]

[Honestly, these fights are pretty entertaining ( :з」∠ ) Keep going! Make it even more dramatic!]

Yu Xinyan gave an awkward smile.

Then, Jiang Su’s cool, indifferent voice rang out, “What are you choosing?”

Yu Xinyan relaxed and was just about to answer when Jiang Su curled her fingers and pointed at her ear. “Just tell me.”

[? What’s going on? Jiang Su looks so delicate and soft, but when she does that ear-pointing gesture, why does she feel kinda dominant?]

[No way, no way—are two of Sanjin’s contestants actually going to show some team spirit this year? Nooo, you guys are better at drama and tearing each other apart.]

Yu Xinyan and the others had no idea what the livestream chat was saying at that moment.

She happily leaned in and whispered into Jiang Su’s ear, “I’m choosing F. That way, even if my initial ranking isn’t great, I won’t lose any points!”

Jiang Su had to remind her of a harsh reality. “But you might get eliminated.”

Yu Xinyan felt like she took a blow to the knees. “…”

She whispered back, “What about you?”

Jiang Su didn’t respond. Instead, she openly spread out her paper, picked up her pen, and swiftly wrote down an elegant “A” in cursive.

Yu Xinyan gasped, sucking in a sharp breath. She quickly said, “Aren’t you going to hide your paper? Wan Yue said we shouldn’t let others know…”

Jiang Su capped her pen, her delicate expression unchanged, but her words were anything but weak. She said nonchalantly, “It doesn’t matter. I’m choosing A. Who could possibly trick me?”

Yu Xinyan: “…Damn, that makes sense!”

Behind them, Wan Yue’s face changed.

Choosing A?

Sure, Jiang Su had performed well in training. But that was only within Sanjin. Now that she was stepping onto a bigger stage with stronger competition, she still dared to pick A?

She wasn’t good at talking, couldn’t grab screen time, and had a hard time winning over audiences. If anything, viewers would probably just criticize her—saying she was overestimating herself and taking on more than she could handle. Even if the mentors gave her high scores, the audience would just get angrier, accusing her of relying on industry connections.

Go ahead.

Wan Yue sneered internally.

If she gets ten points deducted, that’ll be satisfying.

Yet, in some hidden corner of her heart, Wan Yue felt a tinge of envy—of Jiang Su’s confidence, boldness, and carefree decisiveness.

Wu Qingqing wanted to say something to dissuade her, but since they weren’t that close, she hesitated and shut her mouth.

Giving advice at a time like this could easily backfire, making her responsible for someone else’s bad decision.

The camera panned across the contestants, capturing each of their expressions and their chosen rankings.

[Tsk, with the deduction rule in place, no one dares to aim high anymore.]

[Lin Sifeng, the forever King. She’s definitely going to choose A!]

[In this round, those with industry backing will absolutely pick A or B—they don’t fear point deductions. Smaller company trainees, though… You can basically spot the “royalty” now.]

[It’s not that simple… Some might actually be skilled, and others are just taking a bold gamble. Let’s wait and see.]

[Whoa, the Sanjin girl picked A… She barely said a word the whole time, and she’s this confident? Is she planning to perform a feat as crazy as crossing the Yellow River?]

[Thanks, I just died laughing.]

[The other three Sanjin girls chose C, C, and F… Wu Qingqing and Wan Yue played it safe, but Yu Xinyan seriously lacks confidence.]

[Wait, what? Jiang Su said something to her? Yu Xinyan changed her choice?]

[She switched to D.]

[…Jumping from F to D? Wouldn’t E be safer? What did Jiang Su say to her? Did she trick her?]

[Damn, I knew it! That girl is a total manipulator! Just watch—who knows how many people she’s going to drag down with her!]

…

Before they knew it, the Sanjin trainees had unexpectedly become some of the most attention-grabbing contestants.

Meanwhile, Lin Sifeng deliberately dragged out her decision for three whole minutes, playing up the drama for the show.

The livestream chat flooded with anxious messages:

[Where’s Lin Sifeng? Why hasn’t she picked A yet? I’m getting nervous! Babe, you’re the best!]

Lin Sifeng took a deep breath, finally ready to write.

Just then, a staff member began collecting the papers and handed a few to Zhao Qiuying. He glanced at them and casually said, “…The first person to choose A has already been decided.”

No way?!

Lin Sifeng’s head shot up in disbelief before she quickly lowered it again to avoid being caught on camera.

She wasn’t the first?

Lin Sifeng frowned slightly.

If she had known, she wouldn’t have stuck to the script, pretending to hesitate for the sake of showmanship.

The chat went silent for a moment before exploding.

[No way. She was really the first to pick A? That bold?]

[…A little bunny with the soul of a big bad wolf? Orz]

Meanwhile, back at Sanjin Entertainment—

The director slammed his hand on the table. “That was reckless!”

At the same time, Yan Yucheng smacked the desk hard and burst out laughing. “Brilliant!”

The director: ?

Wait, is that really how you praise a girl?