CHAPTER 8: Persona Collapse: 8%

◎ Turning Point ◎

Life Dash was a long-running variety show.

It had been airing for five years. Though it never topped the ratings, its content consistently captivated a loyal segment of viewers, so its viewership had always remained decent.

Each episode invited a mix of celebrities and regular folks to team up and compete in challenges across various supermarkets.

The most talked-about segment was the timed supermarket sweep. The team that came in first got to take home all the loot—it always got the blood pumping.

This episode of Life Dash happened to be filmed in Linhai City.

At the crack of dawn, the production team and all the guests had already assembled.

This time, the show had invited nine regular participants, divided into three teams, each led by a celebrity. They would compete in different supermarkets.

Of the three celebrities, Yang Zhan—who had only debuted a year ago—was the least popular.

It was only because of a last-minute cancellation that he got the chance to join. Otherwise, someone at his level wouldn’t have made it on the show at all.

So naturally, when it came time to assign locations, he ended up with the worst supermarket.

Siyan Supermarket.

Looking at the faded and dingy photo in his hand, Yang Zhan was cloaked in quiet dread.

The sign looked ancient. Of the four characters, three weren’t even lit. The front entrance bore the heavy marks of time, and through the glass doors, all he could see was a dim interior, messy shelves, and chipped walls that made it look like the place came straight out of the last century.

His manager tried to reassure him:

“The show’s filmed in Linhai several times already. All the big, clean supermarkets have been used. There were only a few left to choose from. Otherwise, Siyan wouldn’t even be in the running. You probably won’t get much camera time at this one, but hey, at least you’re on the show.”

Yang Zhan had already accepted that they were going to lose, but he still felt a little sorry for the three teammates he was leading.

As the sky just began to brighten, Yang Zhan brought his team and a camera crew to their destination.

The moment that dingy supermarket sign came into view, even the production team was stunned.

They’d expected it to be shabby, but not this shabby.

A signboard was supposed to be a store’s face—this one was practically in ruins. They didn’t even dare imagine what the inside looked like.

It was still early. The supermarket lights were off, and the place looked like a dark cave.

A peek through the glass left everyone pale-faced.

Yeah, they were definitely going to lose this round.

There weren’t many people around. Just one girl sitting at the entrance of the supermarket, cradling a chubby black-and-white cat while scrolling on her phone.

The first rays of morning sun broke through the clouds and bathed her in golden light, casting a halo around her. She looked so radiant, it was completely out of place with the worn-down store behind her.

Yang Zhan assumed she was an NPC arranged by the production team, so he walked over and asked politely:

“Hi, we’re filming Life Dash. May I ask if we can rent Siyan Supermarket as a filming location?”

Qin Yangyang had gotten up early that morning to trip Ji Jingxiu a few times and earn a little cash. After watching him storm off with a dark face, she brought her cat to Siyan Supermarket.

Yesterday, she and the staff had launched a bold overhaul of the store. Everyone was still feeling nervous about it and had already sent her multiple messages asking for updates.

She was in the middle of responding and calming them down when a voice suddenly sounded above her.

Qin Yangyang looked up and spotted the filming crew not far away.

She just saw people watching this show yesterday.

The nanny, the housekeeper, and even the part-time cleaners had all gathered around the TV, eyes glued to the screen. Even the butler had paused to listen in.

It showed just how well-known the show was among the general public.

Last night, she’d been worrying about how to make the supermarket gain exposure. Who would’ve thought the opportunity would come knocking on her door so soon?

Having Life Dash shoot here and broadcast it on national TV—it was practically a golden ticket straight into the public eye!

Qin Yangyang gave Zhaocai a stroke down the tail and said calmly:

“No need to rent it. It’s free.”

Seeing their surprised expressions, she smiled and added:

“Welcome to film at Siyan Supermarket. I hope your team wins first place. We’ll even provide the prize—no charge at all.”

Yang Zhan smiled wryly at her words.

“Thank you, but…”

He’d just seen the photos the other two teams had shared. Their assigned supermarkets weren’t top-tier, but they were clean and well-lit—nothing like the black pit standing in front of him.

It looked like his team was doomed to lose.

As Yang Zhan mulled over the situation, Qin Yangyang noticed the worry on his face and smiled slightly.

With a click, she pressed the switch beside her.

Overhead, the lights snapped on one by one, illuminating the store from the entrance inward in cascading waves.

Each new light was like pulling back a curtain.

The interior of the supermarket gradually revealed itself.

A forest-themed design made it look like a whimsical dreamscape straight out of a fairytale. From the overall layout and lighting to the playful details on the shelves, everything was unexpectedly delightful.

No one could’ve guessed that beneath the run-down sign was a hidden wonderland!

The stark contrast stunned everyone, and the moment the lights came on, a collective gasp rang out.

“Wow—”

Qin Yangyang smiled and raised a hand.

“Welcome to Siyan Supermarket.”

The store had undergone a complete transformation.

The production team rushed inside, unable to believe their eyes. Besides their shock, one question echoed in their minds—

How did this even happen?

They even wondered if they had come to the wrong place.

Linhai City was a bustling metropolis, filled with countless large supermarkets, each with their own unique features.

When Life Dash decided to shoot in Linhai City, they had specifically researched the top-rated supermarkets. Although Siyen Supermarket had been around for a long time, its decor and overall style were outdated and dull, making it unappealing on camera and bad for broadcast.

So during filming, they avoided it as much as they could—until this time, when they had no other choice and reluctantly accepted it.

But what they didn’t expect… was such a huge surprise!

Just six months ago, when they had come to inspect the place, it hadn’t looked like this at all.

Qin Yangyang explained, “We made a few small changes.”

A few?

This was clearly a complete overhaul!

The store clerks heard that guests had arrived and quickly ran out of the break room, lining up neatly in a row. Seeing the clear amazement on everyone’s faces, their expressions turned proud.

This was the result of their full day of hard work yesterday!

The supermarket usually didn’t get many customers, so the filming didn’t require closing the store—they could start right away.

Cameras were set up in various corners. Qin Yangyang and Assistant Director Zhou Hongwan sat together in the monitoring room, watching the footage on the screen.

All the program guests were already in position.

“Everyone ready—action!”

At the director’s command, Qin Yangyang simultaneously sent a message to the employees:

[Whether Siyen Supermarket can make a comeback depends entirely on your performance!]

When this message popped up in the staff group chat, the clerks on duty immediately straightened up, their expressions turning serious.

Life Dash’s filming was divided into two segments.

The first part was a scavenger hunt.

The production team would randomly draw product names from a box, and the guests had to find them within a set time.

This segment was not as easy as it seemed.

Because the guests were unfamiliar with the layout, in previous shows, only about half the participants managed to complete it successfully.

Qin Yangyang recalled how they had rearranged the product placements with the staff yesterday. She wasn’t sure how it would go. Then she saw the production team draw the first task from the box.

A Rubik’s Cube.

To draw such a hard-to-find item for the first round—what rotten luck.

“I’ll do it.”

Yang Zhan volunteered for the task and dashed off the moment the timer started.

He was a little worried.

Although the revamped Siyen Supermarket looked impressive, it was a bit flashy, and didn’t seem very user-friendly for finding things.

And… which section would a Rubik’s Cube be in?

School supplies? Toys?

As he was thinking, he looked up and saw a striking sign. He turned the corner, still wondering where the Rubik’s Cube could be, when suddenly a colorful cube appeared in his line of sight.

A chance encounter around the corner.

He actually found it this quickly!

Yang Zhan was stunned. He’d thought he would have to wander around this unfamiliar store for ages!

Suppressing his excitement, he immediately grabbed the item from the shelf and bolted back.

Meanwhile, at the cashier’s counter—

The production crew felt a little guilty.

By right, since filming had just started, they should’ve picked an easier task. Who would’ve thought their random draw would produce something so difficult?

Talk about a rough start.

Their luck was just awful.

Just as they were thinking this, they suddenly saw Yang Zhan returning!

With a colorful Rubik’s Cube in hand!

So fast!

“Found it!”

Yang Zhan rushed over and pressed the pause button. The timer stopped at 15 seconds.

He had used less than half the allotted time!

“Not bad—he found it really fast!”

Assistant Director Zhou, sitting in the control room, couldn’t help but exclaim.

When the guests cleared their first difficult challenge, no one thought much of it. But then, strange things started happening one after another.

It was hard to say whether Yang Zhan’s luck was good or bad. Half of the items they drew were high-difficulty challenges, with a historical completion rate of under 20%.

But each time, they managed to finish the tasks with jaw-dropping speed.

Ten tasks in total—none of them went overtime.

“They’ve got amazing luck, always just happening to find the items.”

Someone couldn’t help but remark.

But Assistant Director Zhou, who had begun to catch on, said nothing.

Could it really just be luck?

He’d filmed at hundreds, if not thousands, of supermarkets, and with one glance, he could tell this store’s layout had been carefully designed.

Otherwise, how could Yang Zhan and the others have completed every task so smoothly?

And just now, he had learned that the one behind this entire setup was that radiant young person sitting in the corner.

Qin Yangyang sat with a cat in her lap, lazily stroking it with her fingers, occasionally glancing up at the monitor.

Every time Life Dash aired, it would more or less influence the business of the featured supermarket. So during filming, the store’s manager would usually be watching nervously on the side—sometimes even more anxious than the guests on screen.

But this person—so young—was completely calm and composed, sitting quietly, every move exuding confidence.

Confident that the guests would win.

Confident that Siyen Supermarket would never disappoint.

At this moment on screen, the guests led by Yang Zhan had already cleared the first round and were about to enter the highlight of the day:

Shopping.

They would use the funds provided by the production team to purchase the required items, and then use the leftover money to buy as many other products as possible. After that, the teams would compete against each other.

The winning team would get to keep everything they bought.

This was the most anticipated segment by viewers, and the one with the highest ratings in the entire show.

As soon as the mission was announced, Yang Zhan immediately led the guests into action.

They charged into the supermarket and started sweeping the shelves.

Fresh food section, produce section, daily necessities section…

The neatly arranged shelves were packed with dazzling products.

At the various weighing stations and sales counters around the supermarket, the staff—who had been waiting for a long time—perked up with bright, enthusiastic smiles.

They’re here!
Finally, it’s time for us to shine!

Ten minutes later, when Yang Zhan and his group came out pushing three overflowing shopping carts, the cashier staff were stunned.

What’s going on?

The program’s budget shouldn’t be enough to buy this much stuff!

Did they go over budget?

But Assistant Director Zhou Hongwan, who had been watching everything on the surveillance footage, knew the truth—although it looked like a lot, they hadn’t actually gone over budget.

Using just a thousand yuan to buy all that—this was a first in the entire show’s history.

With that in mind, Zhou Hongwan couldn’t help but glance toward the young woman in the corner again. Her posture had changed.

She was resting her chin on one hand, smiling brightly at the screen. Her eyes were curved like crescents with joy.

Round after round, Yang Zhan’s team emerged like a dark horse. Despite their disadvantage, they managed to beat the other two groups and took first place.

The moment the result was announced, the guests at the other two supermarkets were completely dumbfounded.

On screen, Yang Zhan and his team were celebrating wildly.

Qin Yangyang walked up to the assistant director, her eyes curved in a soft smile.

“Congratulations. As promised, all the items they’ve collected will be given to them for free by Siyan Supermarket.”

Zhou Hongwan stood up, his expression suddenly much more serious as he looked at her.

“Thank you. This episode went so smoothly all thanks to Miss Qin’s help. If there’s ever anything I can do for you in the future, please don’t hesitate to ask.”

With that, he quickly exchanged phone numbers with her.

The staff nearby were a bit surprised by the assistant director’s enthusiastic attitude.

She’s just the owner of a small supermarket. Why is Director Zhou being so friendly?

They’d filmed in plenty of much larger and fancier supermarkets before, but they’d never seen him act like this.

It wasn’t until the production team left Siyan Supermarket that someone finally asked out of curiosity:

“Director Zhou, it’s just a small supermarket. Why are you being so nice to them?”

Zhou Hongwan shot them a glare.

“What do you know? Siyan Supermarket is part of a chain. It’s been on the decline in recent years because of its outdated style. It was on the verge of shutting down. But now they’ve got Qin Yangyang. The boss’s daughter—I never knew she was so good at design.”

“After this episode airs, this supermarket is going to blow up!”

It was going to be an unprecedented boom!