Her Majesty The Empress Has Made Her Debut In The Center Position [Ancient to Modern] - Chapter 22

After a chaotic flurry of activity, Ji Zhao wrapped herself in a towel retrieved from the wardrobe, her long hair dripping wet over her shoulders. She sat on the sofa, calmly observing Yu Cheng. “Explain. What happened just now?”

Yu Cheng’s expression remained unflinching. “Nothing happened.”

Ji Zhao leisurely dried her hair. “You must know what the crime of treason is, right?”

Yu Cheng pursed her lips.

Ji Zhao narrowed her eyes. “I’ll make you pay, and your entire clan!”

Yu Cheng: “I…”

“Oh, you don’t even have a clan for me to punish,” Ji Zhao realized, frowning in frustration. “You didn’t lie to me just to avoid this, did you? Ah, just like a tiger forced down from the mountains—”

Yu Cheng interrupted: “No, Your Majesty!”

Ji Zhao gave a meaningful “oh.” “So you are lying to me after all.”

Yu Cheng: “……”

Yu Cheng was a military general known for her strict discipline and strategic mind. But when it came to setting traps for others, she was no match for the Emperor. Trapped by Ji Zhao’s wordplay, she conceded defeat. “It’s nothing serious.”

“If you don’t want to talk about it, that’s fine,” Ji Zhao said. “Death is spared, but punishment remains.”

Yu Cheng clasped her hands. “Your subject willingly accepts the penalty.”

Ji Zhao tossed her a towel. “Your punishment is to dry my hair!”

Though a hairdryer was available, Ji Zhao found holding it too tiring. She lounged contentedly on the sofa, letting Yu Cheng’s fingers weave through her hair, chasing away the steam, while she pulled out her phone.

Connecting to the internet, she opened the Xiao Le Exclusive App. Under Yu Cheng’s curious gaze, she adjusted the timeline. Everything that had happened at the door during her bath immediately appeared on the screen.

Yu Cheng’s hand froze mid-air, the hairdryer paused.

Ji Zhao, not even looking up, said, “Don’t stop.”

Yu Cheng lifted Ji Zhao’s long hair, cradling it in her palm, and directed the warm air from the hairdryer. In a soft voice, she teased, “Your Majesty, you’re acting like a spoiled child.”

Ji Zhao didn’t seem ashamed at all. “It’s not like this is the first time,” she retorted. “In fact, I’m just being clever.” She even started lecturing: “You’ve fought battles for years and studied military strategy. You can’t rely solely on brute force, can you? You know how to outsmart your opponents, right?”

Finally, she added pointedly, “You haven’t forgotten your lessons, have you?”

“I haven’t!” Yu Cheng protested.

Satisfied, Ji Zhao relented. “That’s better.”

Yu Cheng: “……”

Something about this felt… off.

But Ji Zhao had always been the type to act spoiled since childhood. Having been on the receiving end of her antics more than once, Yu Cheng wasn’t angry. By the time Yu Cheng finished drying her hair, Ji Zhao had reached the end of the video.

Ji Zhao sat up and turned to look at Yu Cheng, hesitating.

Yu Cheng’s heart raced with uncertainty.

Finally, Ji Zhao spoke: “Even if the true meaning of ‘girlfriend’ in this era has surpassed our understanding, you didn’t need to react so dramatically, did you?”

She reached out and pressed her hand against Yu Cheng’s chest. “Let me see if your heart’s still racing.”

Yu Cheng’s eyes widened slightly.

Her heart hadn’t been racing before, but now it was definitely speeding up.

The next day was uncharacteristically sunny, with not a cloud in the sky. The azure heavens were occasionally streaked by jet contrails. The early summer sun blazed down on the city, bathing it in a vibrant, flourishing glow.

City A Stadium, the largest in the city, had hosted countless concerts, meet-and-greets, and sporting events since its opening. The stadium staff were long accustomed to celebrity sightings.

Yet when the Debut! Girl production team’s bus pulled up to the stadium’s plaza and a diverse group of beautiful girls spilled out, chattering excitedly, it was impossible not to turn and stare.

Song Jiangjiang, seated near the front, had led the trainees in singing the show’s theme song during the bus ride. As soon as the bus stopped, she naturally took on the role of tour guide: “Trainees, welcome to our next stop: City A Stadium! What catches our eye first is—Zhaozhao! Yu Cheng!”

A trainee from the back of the bus called out with a laugh, “So Zhaozhao and Yu Cheng are the first things that catch your eye, huh? You’re ditching us for your teammates? Shen Xin, look at her!”

Shen Xin, who loathed all such events, yanked off her blindfold and stuffed it into her bag, smoothly deflecting attention: “Qiao Yue, look at her.”

Qiao Yue smiled gently. “Look, Zhaozhao and Yu Cheng are waiting for us.”

Zheng Dongqing said enviously, “If I’d known this, I wouldn’t have pushed for the Initial Center transfer…”

The trainees: “……”

Is that something you can actually say?!

The “Perfect Pair” Group, adhering to the principle of “if I’m not embarrassed, then the embarrassment belongs to others,” ignored the trainees’ shocked expressions and turned their attention to Ji Zhao and Yu Cheng, whom they hadn’t seen since the previous night.

“You must have had a blast last night!” Song Jiangjiang said jealously.

“What did you two do all night?” Qiao Yue asked, genuinely curious.

“If it were me, I wouldn’t have slept at all—I would have pulled an all-nighter,” Zheng Dongqing said regretfully.

Shen Xin snapped, “Can you guys stop speaking in innuendos?! What exactly were you doing all night? Just say it clearly!”

She directed the last question at Zheng Dongqing, who shrugged. “Of course, grinding game ranks. I haven’t even touched my phone lately, and I’m still Bronze in the new season.”

Song Jiangjiang elaborated, “Having a phone, Wi-Fi, no curfew, and no training? You guys had it so good!”

Qiao Yue tried to mimic the tone, opening her mouth then closing it, sounding genuinely hurt. “My question wasn’t suggestive at all! Xin-jie, are you overthinking things?”

Shen Xin: “……”

It was her fault, her mind full of dirty thoughts, misunderstanding the innocent little girl.

Yu Cheng and Ji Zhao, who had just gotten out of the car and hadn’t even had a chance to speak, were forced to listen to their teammates’ stand-up comedy routine. They stood there silently.

Ji Zhao simply changed the subject. “What’s the plan for today?”

“We’ll gather for blocking first, then get hair and makeup in shifts, and finally shoot the stage.” Song Jiangjiang naturally took on the role of assistant. “Those who finish their makeup first will have to do interviews.”

“Interviews?” Ji Zhao walked into the gymnasium.

“I heard our show hasn’t been getting much attention lately, and it was hard to attract sponsors. But just in the last couple of days, we somehow secured a huge investment, and our popularity skyrocketed overnight! Now some independent media outlet is even asking to interview us!”

“I’ve heard this place is notorious for their sharp-tongued interviews,” Qiao Yue said, sounding worried. “They’ll ask questions specifically tailored to each trainee’s background.”

“So what?” Shen Xin replied nonchalantly. “I’ve already taught you all the high-IQ responses you need.”

Zheng Dongqing hummed in agreement. “If all else fails, just say they have food stuck in their teeth.”

Ji Zhao wasn’t particularly concerned either. Noticing Yu Cheng silently trailing beside her, she paused and asked quietly, “Why so quiet? What’s on your mind?”

Yu Cheng answered honestly, “If they speak ill of you, can I punch them?”

Ji Zhao’s expression darkened. “Absolutely not!”

Yu Cheng looked puzzled. “Why not?”

“Violence doesn’t solve problems.”

“But it can solve the people causing problems.”

“……”

“Your Majesty, why aren’t you answering?”

“……”

Yu Cheng’s logic was so sound that Ji Zhao found herself momentarily speechless!

“Anyway, no hitting people,” Ji Zhao declared firmly.

Yu Cheng muttered a reluctant, “Oh.”

“This is an Imperial Decree,” Ji Zhao emphasized.

“…Understood,” Yu Cheng replied.

She would do her best to follow the decree.

After all, there’s also a saying: “A general on the battlefield may disregard his sovereign’s orders.”

The production team’s staff were exceptional at organizing things. They managed to schedule the time of all 108 trainees in an orderly manner: some getting their makeup done, others having their hairstyles styled, and some practicing their stage movements. Cheng Feiwan personally came to the scene to guide the trainees on how to interact with the cameras.

Ji Zhao, as the Center Position, was the top priority. Cheng Feiwan called her onto the stage for detailed instructions, with a cameraman trailing behind to film the scene. After all, footage of the Mentor was guaranteed to make it into the final cut.

However—

The Assistant Director quietly reminded Ji Zhao, “Add a bit of a smile. Don’t keep that blank expression.”

How can such a cute little girl always have such a cold face? the Assistant Director wondered. Could it be because she knows about the Initial Center Curse and has given up already?

No! Ji Zhaozhao, don’t ignore the camera! I still need my program effects!

Ji Zhao paused, then realized he was right. She’d heard the final cut would be streamed online for viewers. Having her constantly expressionless wouldn’t make for good viewing. She took a moment to gather herself, a warm smile blossoming in her eyes and a gentle tone in her voice. “Please go on, Teacher Cheng.”

She’d pulled off this innocent act at Zishan Hall too. Even in a different time and with different people, she was still as adept at manipulating the situation.

Cheng Feiwan had initially thought Ji Zhao’s lack of smiles meant she held a grudge. Seeing her respond to the Assistant Director’s prompt, finally showing some emotion, secretly relieved her.

For some reason, Ji Zhaozhao was incredibly intimidating when she wasn’t smiling.

Cheng Feiwan, with ten years of stage experience, shared everything she knew with the trainees, teaching until her throat was dry. The assistant director promptly handed her a bottle of water and offered a sip.

Cheng Feiwan chuckled, teasing the assistant director about being too frugal. “Do you know I don’t have any competing endorsements?”

The assistant director replied, “Just being efficient. It’s not easy securing sponsorships these days.”

Ji Zhao silently noted the key points.

In this era, commerce reigned supreme, and competition within industries was fierce. Brands often hired well-known figures for endorsements to boost sales, and these endorsers were prohibited from mentioning or using competing products in public.

Since Cheng Feiwan didn’t have any beverage endorsements, she could drink the sponsored drink on the show.

Ji Zhao had tried it before; the taste was quite good.

The busy hours flew by. By the time over a hundred trainees had finished their makeup, styling, and rehearsals, dusk had fallen. The trainees now stood in their positions on stage, awaiting the director’s command.

Ji Zhao stood at the exact center of the main stage, with Yu Cheng and Song Jiangjiang positioned behind her, one on each side. Yu Cheng tugged at her skirt, her brow furrowing slightly. “This skirt is too short.”

Song Jiangjiang heard clearly. “Come on! The Qing Dynasty fell ages ago!”

Yu Cheng ignored her words, her gaze flickering as she caught a glimpse of Ji Zhao’s long, pale legs out of the corner of her eye. Her hands clenched at her sides, her throat tightening. As if remembering something, she turned to Song Jiangjiang and said, “Look to the left.”

Song Jiangjiang turned her head to the left. “I’m looking. What is it?”

“Look carefully,” Yu Cheng urged.

Song Jiangjiang strained her eyes. “I’m looking! What am I supposed to see? I see Teacher Cheng—she’s so beautiful! I want to hug her! Yu Cheng, seriously, what are you making me look at?!”

“Just look,” Yu Cheng replied cryptically.

Look at anything, she thought, just don’t look at Your Majesty.

Even after the recording session ended, Song Jiangjiang was still baffled by Yu Cheng’s instructions. The hundred-person shoot had been grueling, and by the time Cheng Feiwan finally declared it satisfactory, it was past midnight. Still muttering about the “look to the left” directive, Song Jiangjiang demanded an explanation from Yu Cheng as they exited the studio.

“Look to the left?” Ji Zhao asked, having overheard the conversation. She glanced at Yu Cheng.

Yu Cheng guiltily looked up, avoiding eye contact.

“That’s right!” Song Jiangjiang exclaimed. “What was there to see to the left?”

“Oh,” Ji Zhao said, understanding. “Your shoulder and neck have been tense lately. Your neck was a bit stiff. Yu Cheng was telling you to look left to help you relax. Don’t you feel better now?”

Song Jiangjiang had an epiphany. “So that’s how it works!”

She nudged Yu Cheng with her shoulder. “Good friend, you’re so thoughtful!”

Yu Cheng: “……”

When it comes to pulling the wool over people’s eyes, Your Majesty takes the cake.

After filming wrapped, the trainees were to return to the estate in buses. Some unlucky ones, who hadn’t secured an interview during their makeup breaks, would have to wait until after the shoot to be interviewed.

The “Perfect Pair” Group was among them.

Six members were led to the interview room and seated in two rows of three. No sooner had they sat down than staff members rushed over, attaching microphones while instructing them, “Just answer the questions truthfully. Try to make it interesting, but don’t worry if you make a mistake—we’ll edit it out later.”

“You guys…” The staff member, having finished setting up the microphones, took a step back. “Since you’re not from the same company, just sell yourselves however you want. Be genuine!”

With that, the staff member left, leaving the six trainees staring at each other.

Song Jiangjiang asked, “What does ‘be genuine’ mean?”

Shen Xin asked, “Can we just tell the interviewer to hurry up and finish the interview so we can go home? Overtime is the worst thing humans do. Whoever wants to stay late can, but I want to go home and sleep!”

Qiao Yue asked, “Can we really be that genuine?”

Zheng Dongqing was about to speak when the door to the interview room opened. The camera was already set up, and the interviewer seemed eager to leave, skipping even the usual pleasantries. After having the trainees introduce themselves, they dove straight into the questions.

As Qiao Yue had feared, this media outlet was known for its sharp-tongued reporters, and the questions were brutally pointed. The atmosphere only eased when they reached Shen Xin. Perhaps put off by her stony expression, the reporter simply asked, “What was the most interesting thing you learned during training?”

Shen Xin pondered. “Probably when we learned how to make high-IQ remarks.”

“Tell us more,” the reporter pressed.

Shen Xin smiled. “We’ll find an opportunity to demonstrate it for you. Don’t be impatient.”

The reporter was left speechless. Shen Xin had already handed the handheld mic to Ji Zhao. The reporter’s eyes lit up. He glanced at his prepared questions, cleared his throat, and asked, “I wonder if Zhaozhao has heard of the ‘Initial Center Curse’ on this show?”

“I have.”

“Now everyone online is saying you’ll be eliminated in the first round. I just want to ask, what are your plans after being eliminated? After all, you must have some skill to have become the Initial Center!”

The trainees frowned simultaneously.

This question wasn’t just sharp—it was downright rude and offensive. Before Ji Zhao could answer, Song Jiangjiang beside her suddenly grabbed the microphone from her hand and leaned in. “You want a high EQ response? Here it is: Don’t you think you’re being a bit too clever?”

The reporter froze, stunned.

Behind them, Shen Xin shrugged. “Are you trying to embarrass Zhaozhao with that question?”

The reporter was dumbfounded.

Zheng Dongqing leaned in as well. “If you keep asking like that, we’ll all hang ourselves in front of the production team’s office tomorrow.”

The reporter was shocked.

Qiao Yue hesitated, then whispered, “You have some food stuck in your teeth.”

The reporter immediately licked his teeth.

While the other team members continued to make tactful remarks, Yu Cheng stood up and asked bluntly, “What do you mean by that?”

The reporter was taken aback. Her first thought was: Is this also supposed to be tactful? Why does it feel so different from the earlier snarky comments? Why does she look like she’s about to punch me?

Ji Zhao quickly raised her hand to stop Yu Cheng. Smiling, she straightened the microphone. “Our plans for the future? I heard the Seven Stars Alignment is coming up soon. I’m packing my bags to make the journey.”

The reporter chuckled awkwardly. “You’re joking, right?”

Ji Zhao smiled. “You are too.”

Her gentle retort effectively shut the reporter’s mouth. The reporter forced a smile. “Well, since Zhaozhao is so confident, we’ll just have to wait and see.”

Ji Zhao hummed in agreement. “Wait and see.”

The following evening at 8 PM, the first episode of Debut! Girl Season 4 officially aired.

At the same time, the voting channel officially opened.

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