There's Something Wrong With My Little White Flower - Chapter 57

Chapter 57: Obscure Idol X Top Girl Group Member

In recent years, various talent selection shows have emerged endlessly, sparking a considerable “idol wave” in the country. However, after watching too many similar programs, the audience’s tastes have become increasingly demanding. Road to Stardom was born out of this environment.

Its producer is the famous media platform Tianxing, known for its massive traffic. The competition format of Star Catcher adopted a star mentor battle style, where three popular mentors each selected trainees they liked to form teams. They competed in themed PK rounds every two weeks, ultimately vying for one winner to become the “New Star King.”

The heat was striking on Qionghua Island in June. Tall palm trees contrasted with the blue sky and sea, creating a Southern China ambiance. Ruan Jiyun sat in a speeding Toyota Alphard minivan, still feeling like she was in a dream.

The car was definitely not provided by her agency. According to the program’s arrangement, contestants were supposed to report to the staff upon arrival at the airport, and then be uniformly transported to the filming location by bus. Ruan Jiyun had planned to do just that. However, upon arrival, she saw Mu Qing waiting for her by the air bridge.

“My family arranged a car, you come with me,” she said succinctly, taking long strides forward.

Ruan Jiyun remembered Sister Rong’s words, “You can only be on the show if you are obedient,” and hurriedly dragged her suitcase to catch up with Mu Qing.

She hadn’t expected Mu Qing’s car to be a white Toyota Alphard. Ruan Jiyun had only ever seen celebrities use such luxurious minivans for transportation. Seeing this, she carefully stepped aside, intending to let Mu Qing get in first.

However, Mu Qing looked up behind her, then walked forward and opened the car door.

“You go up first,” she signaled Ruan Jiyun with a nod of her chin.

Ruan Jiyun was confused but saw Mu Qing resting one hand on the car door, her slightly raised eyebrow suggesting a hint of impatience. She quickly said “Oh,” and clumsily dragged her suitcase over. What surprised her even more was that Mu Qing took her suitcase, signaling her not to worry about it.

This treatment… wasn’t it a bit too good?

However, within a few seconds, Mu Qing demonstrated that this was indeed impossible. Just as Ruan Jiyun settled in, she heard Mu Qing say: “Okay, come down.”

She was slightly bewildered but obediently got up and stepped out of the car. This time, Mu Qing didn’t wait for her but got into the car first. Just as Ruan Jiyun felt lost, she heard footsteps behind her. A man wearing a baseball cap and holding an SLR camera walked past her, saying as he did: “Not bad, not bad, well shot.”

He said this while offering the camera to Mu Qing as if it were a treasure. Mu Qing only glanced at it with little interest: “Just make sure you got the shot. It’s boiling hot, let’s go.”

After saying this, she seemed to remember the person still standing outside the car. After a thought, she said with a hint of distaste: “Don’t bother with the bus. I’ll give you a ride.”

This time, she genuinely meant to let her get in the car.

Ruan Jiyun suddenly realized that everything Mu Qing had just done was part of her “business” performance. Pulling the car door for her and carrying her luggage were all services for her carefully crafted “persona,” purely to take a usable photo. Seeing Mu Qing’s expression grow more displeased, Ruan Jiyun quickly agreed and quietly climbed into the car again.

The launch of Road to Stardom was massive. Thousands of young women from major agencies and art academies were filtered through an initial round of selections by the chief director, with three hundred eventually chosen. In their first week on Qionghua Island, they would participate in a mentor-themed assessment to compete for seventy-two spots.

For the convenience of filming, the production team, being very rich, chartered the entire seaside resort for the contestants and staff. Ruan Jiyun was instantly overwhelmed upon entering the lobby.

Nearly every conceivable type of beautiful, young, and radiant girl was present. She recognized several familiar faces, and even a few minor celebrities were hurrying by accompanied by staff.

It was then that she truly realized how correct Sister Rong’s words, “If you rely solely on hard work, you might still be cutting it close,” were. Everyone here looked fully prepared. Many had already formed small social cliques and were actively competing for camera attention.

Ruan Jiyun’s dazed look only increased Mu Qing’s disdain. Mu Qing’s “cool and aloof sister” image was painstakingly crafted by an expensive PR firm. Pairing her with a soft and sweet girl would yield the best CP effect, yet the company’s pick was this apparent simpleton.

She thought of Ruan Jiyun as just a tool, who might even leech off her resources. It would be safer to network with several popular contestants now.

With this thought, Mu Qing involuntarily lowered her voice: “Although the company wants us to push the CP, it’s better if we act separately for now. You go find your dorm yourself.” She didn’t wait for a response and walked straight toward other trainees she recognized.

Hearing this, Ruan Jiyun was actually a little relieved. The CP arrangement came out of nowhere, and she was worried about how to handle it. Seeing Mu Qing actively going to talk to other popular contestants, she felt a slight weight lift off her shoulders.

“Xiao Ruan Ruan!” As she was curiously looking around, she suddenly heard someone call her name. Turning around, she saw Zhou Wanyue running towards her.

Compared to how she looked on the set, Zhou Wanyue seemed to have changed again. Her complexion was fairer and brighter, her nose looked more refined, and her fluffy perm made her face look very small. Seeing Ruan Jiyun, she cheered happily: “This is great! I was just wondering if you’d make it! Do you want to be roommates with me?”

“Can I?” Ruan Jiyun was happy to see a familiar face, but then remembered something, “Don’t you need to stay with people from your own company?”

Zhou Wanyue pouted: “Those people… they’d rather I kept my distance.” Her family was somewhat wealthy. They spent a large sum to secure the last spot for her in this audition, which annoyed several senior colleagues in her company who feared she would steal their traffic.

Seeing Ruan Jiyun had no objection, Zhou Wanyue happily took her arm: “Let’s go, hurry up and register. Even if it’s just one round, we have to stay for a week. It’s more fun with someone you know.”

The two ran to the front desk to register and collect their room cards. The staff recorded their information and handed each of them a card, instructing: “This is your ID card. Besides accessing your room, this card can be used for free in the resort’s restaurants and practice rooms. Be careful not to lose it.”

Hearing about the free practice rooms, Ruan Jiyun’s eyes lit up. She quickly asked a series of detailed questions about the location of the practice rooms and the usage rules.

True to a big-budget production, the practice rooms were open 24 hours a day. Contestants could apply directly through a reservation system. Since the contestants arrived at Qionghua Island at different times, the first two days were free activities, and official filming would only begin on Wednesday afternoon.

Zhou Wanyue was so tired that she collapsed onto the bed upon entering the room, refusing to get up. She complained that she had partied too hard during her trip to Korea and told Ruan Jiyun to go ahead with her free activities without worrying about her. Seeing that Zhou Wanyue was indeed too sleepy to keep her eyes open, Ruan Jiyun changed into light clothes and went to the practice room by herself.

It was noon. The bright sunshine through the window cast a dazzling golden light on the floor. In the empty dance studio, Ruan Jiyun stretched her limbs, turning and kicking to the rhythm of the music, diligently familiarizing herself with the track she would perform during the initial selection.

This dance was specified by Mu Qing’s side, and the style was naturally cool and powerful. Many movements required great strength. When Ruan Jiyun received it, Mu Qing had already had one-on-one instruction from a teacher for many days. Ruan Jiyun had to work hard to catch up.

Drops of sweat rolled down her forehead. When Ruan Jiyun looked up again, she suddenly saw a reflection of a person in the floor-to-ceiling mirror.

She involuntarily stopped moving and turned around.

Standing at the doorway was a tall young woman. A casual white T-shirt and denim shorts gave her a naturally confident charm. Her long hair was casually tied back, revealing a smooth forehead and her signature phoenix eyes, which were smiling at Ruan Jiyun.

Seeing that she had interrupted her, Jiang Peifeng smiled, her eyes curving: “I’m so sorry, I heard the music and it sounded familiar. I was curious and came to look. I apologize for interrupting you.”

Despite being the widely popular leader of a top girl group, her attitude was extremely humble. Ruan Jiyun felt even more awkward. After a while, she murmured: “No interruption at all.”

She had already heard that the three mentors invited for Road to Stardom were all famous artists, but she hadn’t expected to meet Jiang Peifeng so quickly.

While Ruan Jiyun silently struggled to find a topic, Jiang Peifeng was also observing her.

In this life, she and Ruan Jiyun didn’t have many intersecting connections. Jiang Peifeng was already famous and popular, while Ruan Jiyun was an unknown trainee. She was wearing the uniform T-shirt provided by the program. She was thin and fair, like a graceful little white flower. The hair on her forehead was plastered to her face with sweat, but those eyes were still shimmering, flashing with the brilliance Jiang Peifeng was familiar with.

“The song you were just dancing to, is it my ‘Powerful Love’?” Jiang Peifeng was the first to break the silence. She asked with interest, trying out a move with her hand as if eager to try. The T-shirt slightly lifted with her movement, revealing a section of her flexible, fair waistline.

Ruan Jiyun looked away, embarrassed: “I don’t dance it very well.”

She watched Jiang Peifeng lightly stretch, then her waist moved smoothly, and her entire body bent backward like a flower branch. Using her strong core strength, she flipped her body to the side and back, returning to the starting point.

That movement… was stunning. Unlike Mu Qing’s deliberate posturing for coolness, it possessed a sharper, gentle-yet-firm power. Ruan Jiyun couldn’t help but exclaim: “That was wonderful…”

Jiang Peifeng smiled: “I can’t do it anymore. My back isn’t as good as when I was eighteen.” She winked playfully and beckoned Ruan Jiyun over. “Try it again. When you do this movement, the power bursts from the muscle. You have to do it firmly.”

Having the original artist personally guide her was a stroke of luck for anyone. Ruan Jiyun didn’t dare to be negligent and immediately redid the movement according to her advice.

“Mmm, the point of force should be closer to your core… like this…”

Following her words, Ruan Jiyun suddenly felt a warmth on her waist. Jiang Peifeng had moved to her side, likely trying to guide her direction of force, and lightly supported her waist with her right hand.

She smelled a faint scent of perfume. Ruan Jiyun’s eyes widened slightly, looking at the face she usually only saw on screen. Jiang Peifeng was only half a step away from her. Up close, her face was even more beautiful, with delicate jawline, lips the pink of a cherry blossom, curved slightly upward…

She felt her heartbeat completely lose its rhythm. The music flowed, and that hand seemed to carry a magnetic pull, guiding her to bend, turn, and connect the fluid movements seamlessly.

“That’s right this time,” she heard Jiang Peifeng laugh. “You’re a very fast learner.”

She wanted to say something more, but her phone suddenly rang. Jiang Peifeng glanced at the caller ID and said helplessly: “Oh no, my manager thinks I’ve disappeared again. I have to go.”

She walked toward the door as she spoke, stopping at the threshold to wave and smile at Ruan Jiyun: “Keep up the good work, little sister. I look forward to seeing you again.”

Ruan Jiyun was always slow to react in social situations. She stood there stunned until Jiang Peifeng’s figure disappeared outside the door before quietly saying: “Good… goodbye…”

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