Chapter 3: Trainee No. 07

 Suddenly, a small head peeked out from behind the screen, revealing a pair of big, doe-like eyes, shimmering with innocence. The moment she spotted Han Chen, her eyes widened in surprise. Jian Han leaped out from behind the screen, her delicate face barely able to contain her joy.

 She wanted to smile, but restrained herself, biting her lips, revealing a hint of her white teeth. The elderly man in the middle brightened up and nodded approvingly, saying, “Heart bursting with joy.” Indeed, looking at Jian Han right now, one phrase came to mind—**heart bursting with joy**. Jian Han took tiny, excited steps toward Han Chen. She tried to control her pace but couldn’t hold back her speed, practically jogging to him. Then she cautiously stepped back, as if seeing something precious she wanted to approach but didn’t dare to get too close. Han Chen’s face darkened.

 “What the hell are you doing?!” The joy on Jian Han’s face vanished in an instant. Her small face turned pale, lips trembling. The elderly British gentleman in the middle thought she might break into tears like a scolded child. But instead, Jian Han gritted her teeth, puffed out her cheeks, and glared at Han Chen—more like a child sulking than someone genuinely angry. Han Chen was so furious he let out a laugh. “Oh, really? You—” Before he could finish, Jian Han’s pout disappeared, and she turned away. 

Her shoulders drooped as she slowly walked to the wall. Then, she slid down into a squat, her back turned to the judges. Her small, lonely figure seemed to spell out one word: **heartbroken**. Han Chen clenched his jaw, not wanting to say another word. He finally realized that this girl was using him like a live prop! Now that she had expressed joy, anger, and sorrow, he was curious—how was this girl going to show **happiness**? Apparently, the other two judges, the suited man and the British gentleman, had the same thought. 

They stared intently at Jian Han, waiting to see what she’d do next. Sensing their attention, Jian Han slowly turned around, her eyes glistening with tears. She fumbled in her pocket and pulled out her phone. Jian Han was clearly in touch with modern trends—her phone was the latest iPhone 6 Plus, with a large screen and an equally large sticker on the back. The sticker was big enough for all three judges to instantly recognize the face on it: Han Chen. The British gentleman blinked in surprise, while the suited man shot Han Chen a meaningful glance. 

 Han Chen leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms with a smug smile. He had seen plenty of obsessive fans, so this didn’t faze him at all. Jian Han extended her hand, her long, manicured nails tapping rhythmically on her phone case. The judges could easily imagine Han Chen’s handsome face being scratched and ruined. Both the suited man and the 

British gentleman couldn’t help but smirk. Han Chen’s expression darkened even further. “Pfft—” Suddenly, Jian Han let out a laugh. Her face still had traces of tears, but her smile was bright and beautiful, like the sun breaking through the clouds. It was impossible to look away. Han Chen couldn’t hold back his anger and shouted, “What’s so funny?! Do you think laughing like an idiot counts as the ‘happiness’ part of the emotions?” 

 Jian Han lifted her head and mischievously looked at him. She raised her phone, playfully sticking out her tongue. On the phone, Han Chen’s handsome face was perfectly intact, but the lower half of the sticker had been peeled away, leaving the body replaced with a chubby, round pig. Even the curly tail was drawn on. “Heh heh—” The suited man burst into laughter, and even the British gentleman couldn’t hold back his chuckles. Jian Han stood up confidently, walked over to the three judges, and gave a sharp bow. Smiling, she said, “Teachers, I’m done with my performance!” The suited man and the British gentleman exchanged glances and simultaneously reached for the scoring tablet in front of them. Han Chen’s eyes narrowed, sensing something was wrong, and he quickly spoke up, “Hey, wait, you’re not seriously going to give her five stars, are you?” 

 The British gentleman smiled at him and pressed the five-star button without hesitation. He said calmly, “She improvised well, used the scene and props effectively, and her performance of joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness was genuine. She even managed to draw us into her emotions. Why wouldn’t we give her a high score?” He paused, then teasingly glanced at Han Chen. “Aren’t you known for being fair and strict? Are you planning to give her a one-star rating out of spite?” 

 The suited man pressed the five-star button with a smile, also looking at Han Chen expectantly. Under their gazes, Han Chen’s face tightened. After a long pause, the suited man raised an eyebrow, “Hmm?” Han Chen let out a cold huff, reluctantly extended his hand, and slapped the five-star button with a resounding smack. At the same time, outside, both Fang Hui’s and Tang Jun’s phones buzzed. They exchanged glances and pulled out their phones in unison. 

The moment they looked, Tang Jun shouted, “What the hell?!” Fang Hui rubbed his eyes in disbelief. Trainee number 18—Jian Han—was rocketing up the ranks, surpassing competitor after competitor, finally landing in the 12th spot, her score soaring to 4600 points. The talent agency had originally selected 1,000 trainees from tens of thousands of applicants. After several rounds of screening, 30 outstanding candidates were left. These were Glory Entertainment’s trainees—essentially stars-in-training. 

 Over the next year, these trainees would receive professional training in acting, dancing, posture, and music. Every month, they would undergo an evaluation, judged by three people: one from the company’s upper management, one of the company’s stars, and the third a director or producer from a popular show or film. The best trainee of the month would earn a chance to appear on-screen. 

 For each evaluation, the judges could rate performances between one and five stars, with each star equaling 100 points. If a trainee was cast in a TV show on a major network, that alone could earn them 500 points, while a local channel gig would earn 200 points. Even a small role in a film or show would net them 100 points, while supporting roles garnered 500. Glory Entertainment’s star-making project was now in its fourth month. 

Most trainees hovered around 3,000 points, and all the top 10 had well over 5,000 points. Fang Hui scrolled to the top of the rankings, where trainee No. 07, Su Che, had a staggering 10,800 points, leading second place by a full 2,000.

 — Author’s Note: That was quite an exciting chapter. Feel free to shower me with compliments!  Thank you, Xiaoyu, for the reward!  Don’t forget to support me by reading on the official Qidian app and stay up-to-date with all the latest chapters.