The Vicious Female Supporting Character Goes Viral After Her Masks Drop During the Talent Show - Chapter 38

Lute’s Lament was the final group. As soon as the audience cleared out, the results of the second public performance were announced immediately.

Since the theme was a “Position Battle,” the results were released by category: Dance, Rap, and Vocal. Groups within the same position were compared against each other.

The voting rules were simple: after each performance, if a spectator liked the show, they voted for the member they found most impressive. If they didn’t like it, they abstained. The total group score was the sum of individual votes. The highest-scoring group in each category won a bonus of 200,000 votes per member, and the highest-scoring individual trainee in each category won an additional 200,000 votes for themselves.

The results began with the Dance position.

Zhong Yan’s primary concern was An Tao. An Tao’s performance had been stellar once again; under her leadership, her group showed the potential to be the best. However, her rival was Lin Tang, the trainee ranked second in the first eliminations.

In the end, the individual scores were announced: An Tao received 356 votes, while Lin Tang received 364. By a narrow margin of eight votes, An Tao placed second, narrowly missing the title of Top Dance Trainee.

Zhong Yan felt a twinge of regret, but that was quickly swept away when the group totals appeared. An Tao’s group had a higher overall score—698 votes—securing the title of Best Dance Group. An Tao and her teammates jumped for joy, hugging one another. As if sensing Zhong Yan’s gaze, An Tao looked through the crowd and gave her a brilliant smile, signaling that she was truly happy and there was no need for regret.

Next came the Rap position.

Jin Li’s results were the polar opposite of An Tao’s. She secured the title of Top Rap Trainee with 351 individual votes, but her group’s total was slightly lower, placing second overall. Being a true rapper with a straightforward personality, Jin Li didn’t hide her excitement over her individual win, and her teammates were cool enough to cheer her on without bitterness.

Finally, it was time for the Vocal position.

In the minds of the other trainees, the Vocal results should have been a foregone conclusion—a total sweep by Zhong Yan. However, after Xia Meng’s mistake, the “Best Group” title was now anyone’s game.

Most trainees agreed with Zhong Yan’s teammates: while Xia Meng’s error was obvious, another group had performed flawlessly. That group was led by Ning Yunyun, who was ranked 10th in the first round and had been exceptionally eye-catching today.

The Vocal category consisted of four groups. On the large screen, the rankings were displayed side-by-side. The scores were revealed simultaneously, starting from the lowest-voted member of each group.

In the Lute’s Lament group, the 4th place went to the classically trained folk singer, 3rd place went to Xia Meng, and 2nd place went to the cover artist. Although Xia Meng wasn’t in last place, it was a bit embarrassing that she—ranked 8th overall—had been outvoted by trainees ranked in the teens.

Even more embarrassing: with the votes of three members revealed for each group, Lute’s Lament was currently in dead last with only 89 total votes. Ning Yunyun’s group was in first place with 313 votes.

The trainees began to whisper. The gap was 224 votes. This meant Zhong Yan needed at least 225 more votes than Ning Yunyun for their group to win. Based on the Dance and Rap categories, the gap between top rivals was usually no more than 50 votes.

Catching up by 225 votes seemed impossible. It looked like even Zhong Yan couldn’t save Lute’s Lament this time.

The screen continued to update. The final scores for the other two groups were revealed, leaving them in 2nd and 3rd place. Only the scores for Ning Yunyun and Zhong Yan remained blank.

Ning Yunyun’s score appeared first: 409 votes.

The room erupted. This was the first individual score of the night to break 400. Her group’s total reached 722. Considering there were only 800 audience members, a score over 700 was massive.

The whispers grew louder. Everyone thought they were about to witness history—the moment Zhong Yan finally lost. The gap was simply too vast.

Suddenly, with a heavy thud of a sound effect, Zhong Yan’s score flashed onto the screen. Before anyone could process the number, the group rankings began to shift violently. Lute’s Lament, which had been sitting at the bottom, rocketed upward, instantly overtaking Ning Yunyun’s group to take the top spot.

The rankings locked. Everyone stared at the numbers following Zhong Yan’s name: 701 votes.

Total score for Lute’s Lament: 790 votes.

The studio fell deathly silent. People rubbed their eyes and looked again, then at each other, finding the same shock reflected in their peers’ eyes. Then, the screams of disbelief shook the room.

“701 votes! One person’s score is higher than an entire group!”

“790 total votes… that’s almost a perfect score from 800 people! What was I even doubting? As long as Teacher Zhong is here, the word ‘lose’ doesn’t exist.”

“This is the biggest ‘gap’ I’ve ever seen in the history of survival shows. This is what you call a ‘Grandmaster’ level top-tier!”

Zhong Yan’s other two teammates, who had thought they failed to “ride her coattails” successfully, were now reeling from the realization of what a real carry looked like. They hugged Zhong Yan and Xia Meng in excitement. The other trainees couldn’t help but feel a pang of jealousy toward Xia Meng. Who cares about a mistake? Just grab onto Teacher Zhong’s leg and you can win while lying down. 200,000 bonus votes just like that… so lucky, so envious!

With 701 individual votes and 400,000 bonus votes in total, Zhong Yan’s position at the top of the pyramid was now an unshakeable fortress.

The recording studio was in a different district, far from the training base, so the production team arranged buses to take the trainees back. Zhong Yan, however, was still focused on her “matchmaking mission.”

She had arranged to meet Lu Tingshen after the recording. As the trainees filed toward the back exit, Zhong Yan pulled Xia Meng aside. Just as she was about to text Lu Tingshen, a man in a sharp suit approached her.

The staff usually wore T-shirts and shorts for mobility; this man was clearly an outsider. He stopped before Zhong Yan and bowed slightly. “Hello, Miss Zhong. I am CEO Lu’s secretary, Wen Jian. CEO Lu is waiting for you. Please follow me.”

The passing trainees slowed their pace, their ears perking up. To send a secretary directly to the recording site without being stopped by staff—who was this “CEO Lu”? And seeing the secretary’s respectful attitude toward Zhong Yan, what was her relationship with him?

Teacher Zhong is already powerful enough; does she have some mysterious hidden background too?

Noticing the stares, Zhong Yan pushed Xia Meng forward. She said to Xia Meng, “Go with him.”

Xia Meng nodded and nervously smoothed her hair and dress. Secretary Wen, however, was confused.

“Miss Zhong, this is…?”

“Oh, she’s the one who has something to discuss with CEO Lu. He knows about it. Take her to him.”

Zhong Yan spoke with such certainty that Secretary Wen began to doubt himself. Does the CEO know? Why do I get the feeling he has no idea?

On the road outside the back exit, a black stretched Rolls-Royce Phantom sat in the distance. In the darkness, a warm yellow light glowed inside the car, faintly illuminating the handsome, sharp profile of the man within.

Lu Tingshen pulled a small, exquisite velvet box from his pocket. He opened it to reveal a heart-shaped purple diamond necklace. Purple diamonds were incredibly rare, and since purple was her support color, he felt this gift perfectly represented his feelings. He imagined Zhong Yan’s expression—the surprise, the tears of joy—and a look of irrepressible anticipation crossed his face.

Through the tinted windows, he saw the trainees boarding buses. Then, he saw Secretary Wen leading a girl in an ancient costume toward the car.

Lu Tingshen smiled, snapped the box shut, and tucked it away. He didn’t want to look too eager, so he turned his head to gaze out the opposite window. When the door opened, the humid night air and the costumed girl slipped into the cabin.

“You’re here.”

Lu Tingshen turned back with practiced nonchalance.

Xia Meng, shy and nervous, gripped the hem of her skirt. She lowered her head and whispered, “Hello, CEO Lu.”

Silence followed.

Xia Meng peered up cautiously, only to see that the “nonchalant” look on Lu Tingshen’s face had frozen mid-expression.

Lu Tingshen: “…Who the hell are you?”