Xiao Yanjin found herself at the center of a storm brewing on social media. She glanced through the trending topics on Weibo, her heart sinking as she read the comments.

“#XiaoYanjinGotKickedOut”

“#XiaoYanjinIsNowhereNearComparableToMissJi”

“#XiaoYanjinAdmitsShe’sTrashA”

The headlines were buzzing with gossip about their families entering the hotel together. It was as if a whirlwind of discussion had been unleashed.

“Can you believe Xiao Yanjin dared to go on a blind date with Ji Yunuo?”

“Isn’t Ji Yunuo the one who studied abroad at a prestigious university, won a piano award, dabbled in acting in her childhood, and comes from the wealthiest family? What does Xiao Yanjin have to offer in comparison?”

“Exactly! Xiao’s family is bankrupt, yet they dare to set up a blind date with Ji’s daughter? Are they out of their minds?”

“I don’t care; I’m going to give this trash A a piece of my mind!”

“Yeah, Xiao Yanjin is notorious for frequenting bars and dating various girlfriends. If I were Ji Yunuo, I’d have nightmares knowing she was going on a blind date with her.”

“Sisters, we’ve watched Ji Yunuo grow up; we absolutely cannot let them be together!”

Xiao Yanjin sighed, shutting off her phone with a sardonic smile playing on her lips.

The original host’s reputation had hit rock bottom.

“This is infuriating!” Xiao Liangmu fumed. “These netizens are just a bunch of ungrateful wretches, kicking us when we’re down because of our family’s bankruptcy!”

“What should we do?” Liang Zhiniang fretted. “How can the Ji family be so arrogant? We’ve known each other for so long, and yet they speak to us in such a condescending manner!”

“You know how Ji Lao Ye is,” Xiao Liangmu sighed. “He’s always had a temper. I remember getting my ears pinched by him as a child. It’s probably because he can’t bear to see his precious granddaughter with anyone else.”

“But it just doesn’t sit right with me,” Liang Zhiniang frowned, turning to Xiao Yanjin. “Their granddaughter is the precious one, but ours isn’t?”

“Ah Jin, I’m curious, how did you manage to memorize ancient poetry?” She recalled Xiao Yanjin spending her days either playing games or lazing around at home. Even at school, she barely put in any effort, always ranking near the bottom.

“Huh? I’m just naturally smart. I read some ancient poetry once in a while and remember it,” Xiao Yanjin replied casually.

Liang Zhiniang remained skeptical, but she decided not to press further. After all, it was her daughter; there wasn’t much to question.

The atmosphere in the car grew stifling, prompting Xiao Yanjin to open the window. A gust of wind blew in, carrying with it a poster.

Curiously, she picked it up. It was a recruitment poster from an entertainment company.

“Entertainment company recruiting new talent—Don’t just pass by, if you’re interested, come sign up now!”

Xiao Yanjin had only two hobbies in life: singing and writing.

Originally, she had wanted to study drama and become a playwright, but she ended up attending a prestigious university’s Chinese literature department.

After getting into the music academy for her postgraduate studies, she started composing songs. However, her works were repeatedly plagiarized, and her original creations were overshadowed by others’ success. Frustrated, she developed a deep resentment towards the music industry.

While Xiao Yanjin didn’t mind how netizens perceived her, she still needed to earn a living.

So the next day, she hurriedly made her way to the entertainment company for the audition.

It turned out the company had connections with drama productions and even had positions for playwrights, so she decided to give it a try.

The company was housed in a small office building, with their space occupying just one floor.

As Xiao Yanjin stepped out of the elevator, she saw several girls gathered at the entrance, each holding a registration form and chatting eagerly.

One of the girls glanced at Xiao Yanjin and asked, “Are you here to sign up too?”

Xiao Yanjin nodded.

The girl, dressed in fashionable attire, gave Xiao Yanjin’s sporty outfit a disdainful look but was visibly surprised when she took in Xiao Yanjin’s appearance.

“You can stand behind me then,” she said.

Xiao Yanjin raised an eyebrow in confusion. Were all aspiring playwrights expected to dress so stylishly nowadays?

But as she looked ahead, she realized this wasn’t quite what she had expected.

The girls auditioning before her were either singing, dancing, doing both, or even flipping their hair dramatically. However, none of them seemed particularly skilled; even the most basic moves looked awkward.

Just as Xiao Yanjin contemplated making a swift exit, someone called her name.

“Xiao Yanjin.”

The interviewer, an alpha male Omega, smiled. “Are you here for the audition as well?”

The Xiao family was well-known, and although they weren’t as famous as celebrities, the company owner had dealt with enough wealthy heirs trying to make it in showbiz to recognize them.

“Hello, my name is Zhang,” the interviewer said, standing up to shake Xiao Yanjin’s hand. “Are you auditioning for a role?”

“No, I’m here to audition as a playwright,” Xiao Yanjin replied.

“Do you have a background in literature or playwriting?”

“Well…”

“Although our company is small, we understand the importance of professionalism. Even for an assistant playwright position, we can’t hire someone without a college education and experience.”

Xiao Yanjin thought about the realities of the world she found herself in. Despite her talents, education seemed to be the gatekeeper, and without it, she felt like she was hitting a wall. But in the world of music, there seemed to be no such barrier. Regardless of education, as long as one could sing and write songs, and most importantly, have songs that became popular, success was attainable.

Taking a deep breath, Xiao Yanjin realized she needed to adapt to this world if she wanted to survive. With her family facing financial difficulties, she was at risk of being pursued by debt collectors at any moment. If she was here in this world, she needed to align herself with the times and plan for her future accordingly.

“So are you trying to recruit me?” Xiao Yanjin chuckled, deciding to sign up. Entering the entertainment industry was at least a step in the right direction. She’d show them.

Three days later, Xiao Yanjin realized her boss was indeed a piece of work.

In the news report, there were four other girls along with her.

Two alphas, one beta, and one Omega.

Among them, two alphas named Jiang Nan and Zeng Heshi stood out the most.

“Do you know about ‘Goddess 101’?” Mr. Zhang, the interviewer and also the company’s CEO, asked.

Jiang Nan’s eyes lit up with excitement. “Of course, I do! Jime and Xu Zhi Xia both debuted there!”

“It’s so amazing; I dream of shining on stage like them.”

Xiao Yanjin suppressed a smirk; she recognized the names Jime and Xu Zhi Xia. They were not only members of a famous girl group but also a married couple, one a singer and the other a film actress.

But that was beside the point; she only knew about them thanks to Ji Yunuo.

“Now, the second season of ‘Goddess 101’ titled ‘Chasing Dreams, Girls’ is about to start after six years of hiatus!” Mr. Zhang’s gaze swept over the girls’ faces. “Are you excited?”

“We are!”

Xiao Yanjin rolled her eyes; excited my foot.

“Are you willing to participate?”

“We are!”

Xiao Yanjin smirked; willing my foot.

“Very well. The audition will be held in A City in a week’s time. We need to train hard and hope to get at least two or three of you in.” Mr. Zhang’s gaze lingered on Xiao Yanjin. “Yanjin, I have high hopes for you. Don’t disappoint me.”

Xiao Yanjin said nothing, feeling a surge of determination. She hadn’t watched any talent shows, and she disliked competitions. She hated being ranked. Looking at Mr. Zhang’s sarcastic demeanor, she couldn’t help but wonder if she had stumbled into a scam.

If that was the case, then just wait and see.

“Chasing Dreams, Girls” was indeed a nationally recognized variety show, drawing contestants from all walks of life. Within a day, the square was filled with tens of thousands of people, all vying for a chance.

Only 101 would be selected, with seven eventually making their debut. The odds were slim.

As Xiao Yanjin watched people file out one by one, she leaned against the wall, lost in thought.

At that moment, a group nearby began to gossip.

“Isn’t that Xiao Yanjin who was trending on Weibo for ages?”

“You’re just noticing now? I’m surprised she even dares to audition. Isn’t it embarrassing for someone like her to be here?”

“But let’s not forget, even if she auditions successfully, can someone with so much scandal actually debut? She’s just trash A!”

By the afternoon, it was finally the turn of “Sing and Dance Entertainment Company.”

Mr. Zhang named their five-member group “Good Girl.”

A… very stylish name indeed.

During the audition, each person showcased their talent, and when it was Xiao Yanjin’s turn, she stepped forward.

“Good afternoon, gentlemen. My name is Xiao Yanjin, 19 years old, 178 cm tall, from Lan City. Today, I’ll be performing a song called ‘Hero Song.'” After her introduction, Xiao Yanjin noticed the interviewers’ surprised expressions. Clearly, they couldn’t fathom why a rich kid would audition here for a living.

Hah, none of their business.

“As the great river flows eastward, and the stars in the sky…” The song “Hero Song” was quite rousing, but Xiao Yanjin’s expression remained impassive, exuding an air of forced performance. She deliberately sang several words incorrectly and even went off-key. Would the interviewers still want to let her in after this?

“I’ve finished my performance. Thank you for listening, gentlemen.”

“Do you know how to dance?”

“No.”

“Do you know how to rap?”

“No.”

“Can I ask why you want to participate in this audition?”

“I’m being forced by my boss.”

One of the interviewers chuckled, looking up. “I knew it was you, Xiao Yanjin.”

“Thanks for the recognition.” She knew they probably saw her trending on Weibo!

Without another word, the interviewer ticked a box on the list.

“You may go now.”