The Vicious Female Supporting Character Goes Viral After Her Masks Drop During the Talent Show - Chapter 7

Compared to mysterious contestants like Zhong Yan, who were still largely unknown, the trainees from Dingming Entertainment were clear favorites. Whether considering the show’s editing or the trainees’ screen time, the audience’s reaction to Dingming’s entrance was significantly more enthusiastic, creating an atmosphere of anticipation as if the “Final Bosses” were about to take the stage.

Tian Jingyu, An Tao, and Xia Meng walked out of the entrance tunnel one by one, each showcasing a distinct style.

Tian Jingyu had long, straight black hair parted in a 7/3 split. On her small, palm-sized face sat exquisite features paired with a confident, sharp gaze. Every gesture exuded dominance; she was clearly following the “cool and powerful” ace route.

An Tao sported long, chestnut-colored curls. Her porcelain-white skin and slightly soft cheeks gave her a gentler, more approachable aura, making her look like the kind, elder sister of the group.

While Tian Jingyu and An Tao already possessed the polished air of mature idols, Xia Meng was far more naive and innocent. Her long black hair was tied into “lop-ear rabbit” twin ponytails. Her large, round dark eyes flickered with curiosity and excitement, making her look exactly like a dazed, adorable white rabbit.

When Zhong Yan watched survival shows in her previous life, she had read a theory online: if an audience member wanted to distinguish between “featured” and “ordinary” contestants, they only had to count their microphones. Ordinary contestants wore a single mic, while featured contestants wore two—one to record their voice and the other to connect to the directors.

Zhong Yan observed the room and found that it was indeed true. For instance, she currently had two mics on her collar. Among the three from Dingming Entertainment, Tian Jingyu had two, while An Tao and Xia Meng only had one.

Although some ordinary contestants would become featured players and switch to double mics as their popularity changed once the show aired, the initial setup was telling. According to the original script, Xia Meng would eventually stage a comeback and become a fan favorite. However, out of the nine debut spots, only a few were reserved for those chosen by the public. The “priority” contestants favored by the production team from the start had complete storylines and massive screen time, giving them a massive advantage in attracting fans. They would ultimately occupy most of the debut seats.

In short, the “Royals” and the “Commoners” did not share the same starting line. If a trainee failed to catch the production team’s eye at the beginning, debuting would be an uphill battle.

Amidst the cheers and gazes of the other trainees, the Dingming trio climbed the stairs. Tian Jingyu strode confidently past the others, heading straight for the Top 9 sofa seats.

Catching sight of Zhong Yan sitting in the 9th seat, Tian Jingyu recognized her but didn’t acknowledge her. Instead, she walked straight to the very top of the pyramid—the 1st seat—and sat down without hesitation. The contestants had been gossiping about Zhong Yan for the past two days, and while Tian Jingyu had heard the stories, she didn’t take her seriously.

Though every contestant favored by the show was a competitor, Tian Jingyu was confident—both in herself and in the backers behind her. She was certain that no one was her match. The Center position was hers to take. Moreover, since Zhong Yan only dared to sit in the 9th seat, she clearly lacked confidence. Tian Jingyu dismissed her even further.

In contrast, An Tao was not as self-assured. She watched Tian Jingyu head for the 1st seat, her own footsteps hesitating. Having debuted before and struggled in the entertainment industry for several years, An Tao knew the “tricks of the trade.” She realized what it meant to only have a single microphone. She had arrived full of confidence, assuming that since she and Tian Jingyu came from the same girl group, the show would treat them with equal importance.

Now, it seemed she had been too naive.

Though she felt a wave of disappointment, An Tao forced herself to cheer up. After offering a polite smile and a greeting to Zhong Yan, she gritted her teeth and followed Tian Jingyu. She called out to Xia Meng behind her, and the two took the 2nd and 3rd seats, respectively.

As a complete rookie, Xia Meng didn’t understand the hidden politics of the industry. She joined the show for two reasons: her love for singing and her desire to chase her idols. Although she knew her current skills didn’t match those of her teammates and that she didn’t quite “deserve” the 3rd seat yet, she thought optimistically: As long as I work hard, I’ll catch up. I’ll treat this 3rd seat as a goal for myself.

Once the 100 trainees finished their introductions and seating, the room was filled with the excited, nervous chatter of girls. Just as someone asked, “Is it time for the Mentors and the Producer to appear?”, the studio lights suddenly shifted. The overhead lights on the seating area dimmed, leaving only blue and purple neon lights to outline the massive pyramid.

In their place, the stage lights slowly brightened, and the entrance tunnels on both sides began to shimmer with golden light.

“Next, let us welcome the Best Girls Mentors and the National Producer.”

As the resonant voice of the announcer faded, the room erupted in screams. The celebrity panel consisted of four Mentors and one National Producer: one Vocal Mentor, one Rap Mentor, and two Dance Mentors. Each would perform a short “Mentor Show” upon entry.

Mu Bin, the Vocal Mentor, was the first to appear. At thirty-six years old and twelve years into his career, he was a famous singer-songwriter with countless hit songs to his name. Following his soul-stirring ballad, Rap Mentor Qian Wei took the stage, igniting the room with a fiery new track. Qian Wei, thirty-four, was a former underground rapper who had skyrocketed to fame after winning a major rap competition a few years prior.

The third to appear was the only female mentor, Ye Shi, thirty. One of the Dance Mentors, she had debuted in an overseas girl group years ago to massive popularity before returning home to become a powerhouse solo artist.

As Ye Shi’s performance ended, Zhong Yan heard the voices around her shift from cheering to breathless anticipation.

“Is the Producer coming out next? Ahhh, I love Yan Shi so much!” “Wait, there’s still the other Dance Mentor, Senior Yu Junran. He should be next!” “Oh right! I’m so excited I almost forgot. I love Yu Junran too!” “You superficial fan, you just love every handsome guy, don’t you?”

Backstage

While the first three mentors were already seated in the studio, only Yu Junran and Yan Shi remained backstage.

Yu Junran stepped out of his dressing room, preparing to take the elevator down to the studio level. As he entered the hall, he saw Yan Shi waiting there as well. Seeing him, Yu Junran’s pace faltered, a flash of displeasure crossing his face.

Hearing the noise, Yan Shi glanced sideways. His cold, handsome face remained expressionless. His gaze lingered on Yu Junran for less than a second before shifting back to the floor indicator above the elevator. He offered no reaction and no greeting.

The hallway was eerily silent, occupied only by the two of them. The silence was broken by the “ding” of the elevator. As the doors slid open, Yan Shi stepped inside. After a moment’s hesitation, Yu Junran followed.

The doors closed, and the elevator began its descent with a low hum. In the cramped, enclosed space, the two stood side-by-side. Yu Junran suppressed his irritation and spoke first.

“Long time no see.”

Yan Shi didn’t look at him, giving only a slight nod as a strained response. Though the descent was only one floor, it felt eternally long to Yu Junran. After what felt like a thousand internal struggles, he forced a fake smile and extended his right hand.

“Let’s have a good collaboration.”

Yan Shi lowered his eyes slightly, glancing at the hand offered to him. Just then, the elevator chimed again, and the doors slid open. Yan Shi did not reach out. He looked up, his face devoid of emotion, and strode out of the elevator without a backward glance.

Yu Junran’s entrance was to the left; Yan Shi’s was to the right.

Yu Junran dropped his hand and stepped out, watching Yan Shi’s departing back. Rage and humiliation flared in his eyes, twisting his handsome features into something dark and distorted.

“Trash,” Yu Junran hissed, clenching his fist as he turned toward the left entrance.

“Next up is our Dance Mentor—Yu Junran!”

As Yu Junran emerged from the radiant tunnel, the girls’ cheers nearly took the roof off the studio. Only Zhong Yan remained silent. On stage, the boy was tall and lean with short brown hair, his bangs styled into a trendy “heart” shape. He waved at the girls with a beaming smile, looking like the bright, cheerful “campus crush” from a university.

Three years ago, Yu Junran had debuted as the Center of Best Boys. Since the temporary group disbanded, he had been active as a solo artist. He performed his latest song on stage, a track filled with fresh energy.

With the mentors’ performances finished, they took their seats. Only the center seat of the panel remained empty. The National Producer served as the host; though they didn’t perform, the show always invited the most popular star of the moment for the role. Their arrival was the most anticipated event of the night.

The girls held their breath.

“Finally, please welcome the National Producer of Best Girls—Yan Shi.”

A spotlight hit the massive floor-to-ceiling screen opposite the pyramid. As the screen split and slid open, the climactic bridge of the song “Unfailing” filled the room.

“Unfailing” was the theme song of the hit drama Hate the Spring Breeze. As soon as the music started, the room went wild. The melody was classical and elegant, but the bridge featured soaring drum beats and the original singer’s infectious high notes, evoking a sense of “rebirth from the ashes.”

Yan Shi stepped out from behind the curtain into the center of the spotlight. His journey from an ignored extra to a legendary “top-tier” star was, in itself, a rebirth.

When Zhong Yan first saw Yan Shi, a line of ancient poetry flashed through her mind: “As solid as jade, as green as the pine. A man of peerless beauty, unique in all the world.”

With a face of smooth, elegant lines and eyes that were cold and sharp, Yan Shi’s beauty possessed a tension that balanced strength and grace. He was like a verdant pine or a tall bamboo—cold, deep, and upright. Yet, he was also like the bright moon or fine jade—elegant, refined, with eyes like stars.

Dressed in a perfectly tailored black velvet suit that outlined his tall, lean physique, he wore a white patterned shirt underneath with a traditional Chinese frog-button collar. A silver dragon brooch added a touch of “gentlemanly” elegance that perfectly suited his temperament. The warm yellow spotlight danced across his black clothes and hair, reflecting in his obsidian eyes like scattered gold—revealing a hidden, burning power within the coldest of colors.

As the music faded, the Best Girls theme song began to play. The lights over the contestant seats came on, and all 100 trainees stood up. Their youthful faces were filled with excitement, joy, and determination.

Yan Shi looked at the shimmering pyramid of girls before him. He smiled slightly and raised his microphone. His melodic voice rang through the studio:

“I hereby declare that Best Girls has officially begun.”