After a Contractual Romance with the Scumbag Movie Queen - Chapter 8

Arriving in City A at noon.

On the way to the recording location, Jiang Tian gazed out the car window, where a large screen on a shopping mall displayed the promotional poster for Stellar Path.

The show hadn’t even started filming yet, but the hype had already been building both online and offline, a clear sign of how much importance Puxing Entertainment placed on this talent show.

The first episode was set to begin recording at four in the afternoon.

As an independent trainee, Jiang Tian had no one to arrange things for her, she had to rely entirely on herself.

Judging by past talent shows, only a handful of independent trainees managed to successfully debut. On one hand, they lacked the support of a mature training system; on the other, the show’s editing tended to favor artists from major entertainment companies.

But Qi Puzhi had said the night before, “Compared to previous talent shows, the editing this time will strive to be fairer. Puxing will strictly oversee it.”

Shows like this, where various entertainment companies gathered, were inevitably riddled with behind-the-scenes power struggles. Pursuing fairer editing naturally meant sacrificing a lot of potential benefits.

Yet, it could also lead to better public reception and allow truly talented individuals to shine.

This was actually an idealistic gamble, one that heavily relied on luck. A single misstep could lead to total failure, resulting in wasted money and mockery from rival companies.

But Qi Puzhi had always been a high-stakes gambler in her career. And yet, with her sharp foresight, she had never lost a bet so far.

Before the evaluations began, the entrance footage would be filmed first.

The vast studio was divided into two sections: one side featured a spacious performance stage, while the other was arranged with 99 tiered seats.

After several rounds of competition, only seven out of the 99 would ultimately debut as a group.

At the moment, trainees from several companies had already entered the studio.

As the screen in the studio switched scenes, a female voice announced, “Next, please welcome the trainees from Puxing Entertainment.”

Accompanied by music, the large screen at the front of the studio played information about Puxing Entertainment.

“Puxing Entertainment’s artists include Qi Puzhi.”

Some of the girls in the audience immediately squealed, “Puxing Entertainment!”

“Qi Puzhi, ahhh.”

“I’m calling her my wife right now!”

Amid the chorus of fangirl screams, the trainee from Puxing Entertainment entered, instantly drawing envious gazes and attention from everyone.

In contrast, whenever the female voice announced the entrance of an “independent trainee,” the chatter always died down a little.

But when a tall, long-legged young woman walked in, gasps erupted throughout the studio.

There was no other reason. She was simply breathtaking.

The woman looked to be in her early twenties, with ethereal, striking features cool and jade-like, exuding an air of noble elegance.

She appeared to be over 1.7 meters tall, with impeccable proportions and an exquisite figure.

Her expression was indifferent, and when she slightly lowered her gaze, her hooded eyelids carried a hint of lazy detachment, making her seem both aloof and irresistibly alluring.

Even among a room full of beautiful girls, she still managed to stand out as stunningly captivating.

“She’s so pretty.” one girl murmured unconsciously, her mouth slightly agape.

As Jiang Tian walked past, several girls greeted her proactively. She responded with polite nods,neither overly warm nor flustered by the attention.

In the end, she casually took a seat in an empty spot, far from the crowd.

“Her aura doesn’t seem like someone from an ordinary background,” someone whispered.

“Yeah. And she’s so beautiful and cool, she seems really aloof.”

The 99 seats gradually filled up.

The girl sitting next to Jiang Tian couldn’t help but glance at her. “Hey, which company are you from?”

Although the information was clearly printed on the number tag pinned to her chest, Jiang Tian still answered, “Independent trainee.”

She had only spoken those five short words when the girl beside her exclaimed, “Your voice is so nice!”

” Jiang Tian paused slightly before replying softly, “Thank you.”

The girl was very outgoing and chatted with her. “I’m an independent trainee too.”

After exchanging a few words, noticing that Jiang Tian seemed cool and not particularly warm in her responses, the girl stopped talking.

Once all the candidates had entered, it was time for the mentors to take the stage, there were well-known singers, dancers, and even top idols who had debuted from previous survival shows, all big names in the industry.

The session began with performances by the mentors, followed by the grading evaluations.

Before anyone could fully recover from the mentors’ dazzling performances, the announcement that the grading was about to start sent a collective gasp through the room.

“Ah, I’m so nervous.” The girl, perhaps overwhelmed by tension, instinctively reached out and grabbed Jiang Tian’s sleeve, only for Jiang Tian to subtly shake her off without a word.

The girl didn’t seem to notice, her eyes fixed on the first group taking the stage as if she were standing there herself, her legs trembling with nerves.

After three groups had performed, with the highest rating so far only a B, the girl muttered, “The judges this season are way too strict.”

The famous singer glanced at the list and said, “The previous groups were all team performances. How about we take a look at an independent trainee next?”

Hearing this, the girl shuddered and shot Jiang Tian a panicked look. “It’s not us, is it.?”

Almost immediately, the mentors announced the next contestant:

“Jiang Tian!”

Jiang Tian stood up at once and walked down the steps with composed grace.

Hearing the murmurs and discussions rising from the audience, the top idol chuckled in surprise. “This independent trainee seems to have quite the popularity.”

Jiang Tian took her place at the center of the stage.

The room fell silent, hundreds of eyes now fixed on her, all eager to see if someone with such striking looks had the talent to match.

The renowned dancer A-He was reviewing her resume. “Jiang Tian, I see you won the championship at On That Stage. Have you prepared a street dance performance related to that?”

“Yes.”

“Then begin.”

On That Stage was the most prestigious youth street dance competition, and its champions were anything but ordinary. A-He, who prided himself on his own talent, had only managed to place third when he competed years ago, so he was particularly eager to see Jiang Tian’s skills.

The music started fast-paced beats, a fiery melody.

No one in the room could have expected that the cool, reserved girl from earlier would now move with such explosive energy and commanding presence.

Every motion was perfectly timed to the rapid rhythm, blending power and fluidity. Her jumps and spins were sharp and precise, while her controlled drags and transitions showcased the body’s elasticity and grace to perfection.

She hadn’t chosen a routine packed with flashy, dizzying tricks, but that only made the precision of her execution even more impressive.

And every single detail was flawless.

By the end, the entire room was screaming. Even A-He, known for his arrogance, gave an approving nod.

“I think we’re about to see the first A,” one girl murmured.

After the performance, Jiang Tian reverted to her usual aloof and distant demeanor, as if the person from moments ago wasn’t her at all.

The singer cleared his throat. “Young lady, your dancing was excellent. Have you prepared a song to sing?”

Having just finished an intense dance routine, Jiang Tian wasn’t even slightly out of breath. She picked up the microphone, her voice clear and melodious like pearls falling onto a plate. “Yes, I have.”

There was a piano on stage, and she walked over to it.

Her fair, slender hands rested on the keys, fingers slightly curved, and a beautiful melody flowed forth.

It was an English song, sometimes lively, sometimes lyrical. The composition was rich in structure, yet perfectly balanced neither overly elaborate nor too simplistic.

The stage lights illuminated her, casting her profile in an ethereal glow, softening her usual coldness.

When she finished singing, the singer toyed with his pen, pausing in thought.

The girls on the steps couldn’t help but whisper among themselves: “What? She sang that well is he not satisfied?”

“Her dancing was great, and now her singing and piano skills are this impressive? Forget the first A rank, I feel like she’s already secured the debut spot.”

The singer was deliberately feigning contemplation, but the young woman remained composed, showing no trace of nervousness or tension.

Realizing this tactic was meaningless against Jiang Tian, he finally spoke. “What’s the name of this song?”

“For You.”

“Who’s the original singer?”

In truth, the judges already had the evaluation tracks in hand. The singer was only asking to emphasize a point.

Jiang Tian understood he was trying to help her, so she played along. “I wrote it myself.”

Hearing the gasps from the steps, the singer smiled. “I see you graduated with a degree in composition. Your skills are indeed impressive.”

The rapper couldn’t resist chiming in. “Jiang Tian, you excel at singing, dancing, and composing, don’t tell me you’re also good at rap?”

Jiang Tian replied, “No, teacher. I can’t rap.”

The rapper looked a little disappointed. “You could try it in the future.”

Jiang Tian politely agreed.

Throughout the entire evaluation, the atmosphere on stage remained harmonious and pleasant. Unlike the previous groups, where the mentors often followed the “You did well, but…” critique format, this time, it was all praise.

So, her A-rank was no surprise.

Just as the girls began to develop the illusion that the mentors were gentle and easygoing, the subsequent C and D-rank evaluations quickly wiped the smiles off their faces.

The next A-rank went to the trainee from Puxing Entertainment. Her rap had a distinct personal style, and her dancing was also strong.

While chatting with her, the mentors teased, “He Jing, you’re from Puxing Entertainment, do you ever interact with Teacher Qi?”

Since this show was produced and funded by Puxing Entertainment, casually mentioning Qi Puzhi wasn’t out of place.

He Jing blinked, looking slightly regretful. “Only twice.”

After the initial evaluations, the trainees were assigned dorms and uniforms based on their ranks.

The A-rank dorm was spacious and elegantly decorated in pink, with matching pink uniforms.

“Jiang Tian!” A girl exclaimed in delight when she saw who had entered. “I’m He Jing! I really liked you during the evaluations!”

Jiang Tian had noticed her earlier, she was the trainee from Puxing Entertainment.

She offered a polite smile in greeting.

Jiang Tian had a naturally cool and detached aura, her expression often neutral, making her seem aloof and unapproachable. But when she smiled, a single dimple appeared, softening her demeanor and even adding a contradictory touch of sweetness.

Her faint eye color, however, softened that hint of sweetness.

He Jing froze for a moment before rushing over to stand in front of her. “Jiang Tian, you have dimples when you smile! So cute!”

She playfully reached out to pinch them, but Jiang Tian, unaccustomed to close contact with others, tilted her chin up and took a step back.

He Jing paused, awkwardly retracting her hand, only to hear Jiang Tian say, “Sorry, I’m just not used to it.”

He Jing, who had thought she’d uncovered Jiang Tian’s adorable side, suddenly realized she’d misjudged. This girl might have a sweet-looking dimple, but her cool, aloof core remained unchanged.

She quickly waved her hands. “No, no, I was the one being too forward.”

The dorm room housed four people, but since Class A only had seven students, their room only had three occupants.

While organizing her things, a photo slipped out. He Jing, who happened to be nearby, caught sight of it and exclaimed in delight, “Teacher Qi?”

Jiang Tian calmly picked it up, brushing off nonexistent dust.

“Are you a fan too?” He Jing asked, smiling at her careful handling of the photo. “I absolutely adore Teacher Qi.”

Jiang Tian tucked the photo away. “Mm.”

“I’ve met her before,” He Jing boasted, unable to hide her pride. “Let me tell you, Teacher Qi’s beauty is next level completely unedited. She’s even more stunning in person than in retouched photos. Can you believe it?”

Jiang Tian paused, then replied softly, “I can.”

Jiang Tian: Guess why I can?

He Jing, after their relationship is exposed: Oh, you’re amazing, so high and mighty.