Chapter 23

“Let’s count down from 10! In 10 seconds, the online voting channel will be closed, and the bottom 20 trainees will be eliminated. The top 9 girls will successfully advance to Class A and will get the center position for the second performance!”

The performance venue erupted in wild screams.

The host suddenly raised her hand and then made a fist!

The venue became quiet.

The huge screen showed the real-time vote count.

Within 10 seconds, the bar for Fu Yilan’s votes soared to the top at an unimaginable speed, far surpassing Gu Jingjing’s votes!

The 10-second countdown ended, and Fu Yilan was impressively ranked first on the debut list announced by A-Station!

Under the long screen, the host and the trainees looked incredibly small. Fu Yilan’s name dominated the screen. The names of the other trainees were left far behind, out of sight.

This magnificent scene, this grand prestige, all belonged to a person who was not present. In this situation, the second, third, and even dozens of other people all became mere supporting roles for a person who couldn’t be found.

Fu Yilan sat in the changing room, repeatedly watching this clip, a triumphant smile on her face.

All the major media outlets, websites, and social media platforms were filled with information about her. Her legendary first performance was comparable to the shock Lu Jing caused the entire country when he terminated his contract with Country H and announced his return.

The day after the public performance, the topic of Fu Yilan winning the championship without even being seen was still being talked about. At the same time, A-Station’s official Weibo account released a solo promotional poster of Fu Yilan, allowing netizens to see her true face.

That day, Fu Yilan was given the title of “the cold, divine goddess.”

The comments on that Weibo post surpassed 50,000 in an hour.

Comments:

(My new idol! She didn’t even perform and still won first place in the preliminary competition! #ColdDivineGoddess)

(It’s just hype, right? #ColdDivineGoddess)

(I’ve never been a fan, but I used my phone number to vote for Fu Yilan for the first time! Seeing this face, I feel like I can borrow my whole family’s phones to vote for her! #ColdDivineGoddess)

(Uh… She doesn’t have much of a background, and she’s so pretty. Did she have to sleep her way to the top? #ColdDivineGoddess)

Fu Yilan scoffed.

Fu Haitang pushed the door open. “Are you ready? It’s time to go shoot the ad.”

Fu Yilan pointed at that comment: “Someone said my popularity came from sleeping with people.”

“…”

“Sleeping with me?” Fu Haitang pointed to her own nose, her two hands propped up on either side of Fu Yilan. Her five fingers were gripping the chair Fu Yilan was sitting on. She suddenly leaned in to kiss Fu Yilan. Fu Yilan was so surprised by the kiss that she leaned back.

She had just finished shooting the poster. Her styling was a pure college girl in a JK uniform, with twin ponytails and bangs, looking bright and energetic. This was the image she was presenting to the camera and the audience.

But at this moment, Fu Yilan’s lips were curved in a smile, with a single dimple faintly visible. Sitting on the stool, her peach blossom eyes looked up at Fu Haitang with a playful smile. Beneath that innocence, there was an air of seduction.

The omega closed her eyes and kissed Fu Haitang, feeling that Fu Haitang’s restrained tenderness was both moving and tormenting. The scent of crabapple blossom spread out. Fu Yilan’s pearly teeth bit the tip of Fu Haitang’s tongue, which made her pull back slightly.

The moist and sticky feeling lingered on her lips and tongue. Only then did Fu Haitang realize what she had done. Her earlobes were flushed, and she regretted it yet couldn’t help but savor the moment.

Fu Yilan licked her lips. The “cold, divine goddess” on the trending topic was now full of flirtatious charm, half-embraced by Fu Haitang.

Fu Yilan’s legs felt weak as she looked at her. “I’m going to take pictures now.”

Fu Haitang stared at her dark lips and said hoarsely: “Okay…”

Fu Yilan licked her moist lips. Before leaving the dressing room, she kissed Fu Haitang again, a quick peck, and before Fu Haitang could react, she pushed the door open and quickly ran away.

Fu Haitang then adjusted her wrinkled clothes, sprayed on an inhibitor spray, and waited for the flush on her face to disappear before calmly walking out. She then pretended to discuss Fu Yilan’s styling with her colleagues in the studio, her eyes fixed on Fu Yilan who was doing a reshoot.

Their eyes would occasionally meet, and they would both quickly look away.

A colleague laughed and patted Fu Haitang’s shoulder. “How is it? This styling is very successful, isn’t it?”

Colleague: “But I still think the JK uniform isn’t as good as the red dress.”

“Although the red dress is good,” Fu Haitang said, folding her arms across her chest, “Fu Yilan’s first wave of loyal fans are the ones from the preview video who sympathized with her.

Fu Haitang: “If you give her a queen or a fiery rose look, it will break the first impression we’ve built for her.”

Colleague: “…Fine. You’re the planner. I can’t compete with you when it comes to hype.”

Fu Haitang covered the corners of her lips and whispered: “Once Fu Yilan forms a group and debuts, I’ll definitely ask you to do her champion styling.”

“Hey, hey!” The colleague was surprised. “Don’t get ahead of yourself! It’s still early! Are you so sure she’ll be popular? She might just be a flash in the pan.”

Fu Haitang scoffed. “I have to go. The coffee I ordered has arrived. I have to go get it!”

Styling colleague: “You have to run errands to get coffee too?”

From a distance: “I’m leaving now—bye-bye—”

Fu Yilan stared at Fu Haitang’s departing figure. Only when the photographer gestured did she come back to her senses. “Sorry, I want to get a drink of water.”

“Strange…” the colleague mumbled. Another person came over and startled her. “Oh, you’re done with the ad?”

The director: “I just wanted to thank you for recommending Fu Haitang. What were you two just talking about?”

The day after the first performance, Fu Yilan received a notice to shoot a toothpaste ad and that her solo promotional poster for the show “Group Show 07” was her reward for being number one in the first performance.

The first solo poster earned Fu Yilan another wave of popularity and officially sent a signal to the public that she had not been kicked out of the show. The salary for the ad would be transferred to her card within three business days, and it was over 200,000 yuan after tax.

Fu Yilan heard that all these things were Fu Haitang’s doing. Fu Yilan had the intention of asking about it, mentioning it subtly.

The stylist sighed: “You know, Haitang really has a tough life. She planned such a perfect first performance and made you popular, but she still has to run errands to get coffee for the office?”

“Running errands?” Fu Yilan frowned. She had never seen Fu Haitang do menial tasks.

Stylist: “Yeah. Didn’t you go to the hospital? Haitang couldn’t get out of trouble for that, but it’s strange. I heard she suddenly took a leave that day. I don’t know why.”

Fu Yilan finished the entire bottle of water. The stylist was reapplying her lipstick. Her lips were still slightly swollen. The stylist found it strange. “How did your lipstick come off?”

“Oh yeah,” Fu Yilan smiled. “I don’t know how it came off either.”

…

“The coffee’s here~”

In the planning team’s office, Fu Haitang got off the elevator with large and small bags, carrying and hugging them. She nimbly weaved through the cubicles on the entire floor with her high heels, receiving many sympathetic looks.

She knocked on Ren Qing’s office door. The assistant came out and took the items with a smile for Ren Qing. “Why are you in charge of getting the afternoon tea?”

Fu Haitang stuck out her tongue: “I…”

At that moment, Ren Qing came out with a file. She glanced at Fu Haitang and scoffed, interrupting her: “A senior who’s been with the station for half a year is also buying coffee. Why can’t a newcomer who’s been here for three months do it?”

“Yes!” Fu Haitang said with a sweet smile. “I’ll definitely prepare good afternoon tea for everyone!”

Ren Qing walked away in her high heels. “Everyone else, meeting room for a meeting!”

Fu Haitang was stunned and followed her, but Ren Qing’s assistant held up a hand to stop her. The assistant smiled and said: “Thank you for the coffee. Help me organize last week’s documents.”

Fu Haitang was stunned, then she smiled: “Okay.”

The cold shoulder in the workplace, though late, had arrived.

Fu Haitang shrugged, and Sini gave her a pitiful look.

That day.

Fu Haitang had the busiest day since she started her job three months ago. Fu Yilan’s ad was the last job she followed. The remaining tasks were to help colleagues print various documents, get takeout, make coffee, and so on…

She couldn’t let this continue. If this went on, the rumor that she had a “backer” at the station would fall apart. In a week at most, she would be forgotten in the corner of her cubicle.

Fu Haitang bit her lip and took out her phone to ask someone out.

(Get off work on time. Wanna go shopping?)

The message was sent to Ji Xiaotong.

Ji Xiaotong: (Has this workaholic been possessed?)

7 p.m.

At the mall, Fu Haitang and Ji Xiaotong had been shopping for two hours but hadn’t bought a single thing.

Ji Xiaotong held up a pair of triangle underwear: “What? This torn cloth is 4,000 yuan?”

“No, isn’t this just a scarf? It’s nine ninety-nine with free shipping online!” Fu Haitang tried on a scarf and was shocked when she saw the price tag.

Sales associate: “…”

The luxury goods section of the First Ring was clearly beyond Fu Haitang’s purchasing power. She wandered for a long time and finally, under the subtle guidance of a sales associate, she arrived at the spring clearance section.

Ji Xiaotong: “You work at a TV station. If you don’t wear something nice, do you want to keep grinding coffee beans for people?”

Fu Haitang took a deep breath, clenched her fist, and let out a loud shout, startling the sales associate. Then she angrily walked toward the current season’s counter.

“This, this…”

“This and this.”

100,000 yuan bought her two dresses and a formal suit. The inner layers weren’t obvious, so Fu Haitang made an agile adjustment and spent 20,000 yuan on a few camisoles in the off-season clearance section.

Fu Haitang stood in front of the mirror in an outfit worth 50,000 to 60,000 yuan. Ji Xiaotong praised and sighed, giving her a thumbs-up: “It’s true that clothes make the man.”

…

She went to pick up Gu Jingjing at night.

Fu Haitang didn’t drive last night because she drank. Today, she went to the bar’s parking lot to get her car. As soon as she opened the door, she was overwhelmed by the lingering pheromones inside.

She turned on the car’s ventilation, rolled down all four windows, and a silent air purifier was running. A bottle of inhibitor spray was in the center console. With everything ready, the traces on her body and in the car gradually faded.

By the time she arrived at the TV station, Gu Jingjing had already changed and was coming down.

Fu Haitang wore her new clothes tonight. The camisole and tube top made her waist very thin. There was a decorative butterfly tie on her back. On the bottom, she wore a pair of sporty dress pants.

She stood in front of the BMW. A black suit jacket was draped over the open car door. Her hair was casually draped over her shoulders. Her posture was relaxed. Gu Jingjing walked down the stairs and almost didn’t recognize Fu Haitang.

When she saw Gu Jingjing coming out, Fu Haitang lifted her foot to extinguish the cigarette in her hand. Then she opened the car door and put a small shawl over Gu Jingjing. This way, Gu Jingjing was completely covered and was half-embraced and protected by Fu Haitang into the car.

Since she was out in violation of the rules, she had to act discreetly.

Gu Jingjing looked at Fu Haitang, a little dazed.

Fu Haitang noticed her gaze and laughed: “What’s wrong, Miss?”

Gu Jingjing felt that Fu Haitang was a little different today. After a careful observation, she suddenly realized: “Not bad. You finally decided to buy yourself some nice clothes.”

“Thank you, Miss,” Fu Haitang said with a sincere smile.

Gu Jingjing thought for a moment: “What about the watch I gave you last time?”

Fu Haitang pursed her lips: “Uh…” It had already been sold.

“And here.” Gu Jingjing raised her hand to her neck, indicating Fu Haitang’s empty neck. Fu Haitang’s heart skipped a beat.

Gu Jingjing said unhurriedly: “Jewelry is what best shows a person’s wealth.”

Her racing heart slowly calmed down. Fu Haitang almost thought there were traces of her and Fu Yilan’s passion left on her neck. It turned out Gu Jingjing was just criticizing her for not wearing any jewelry.

“I’m already doing very well like this,” Fu Haitang said with a smile. “Thanks to you, Miss.”

Gu Jingjing rolled her eyes, pulled the car door shut: “A bumpkin is a bumpkin. You have no taste. Whatever. Just go pick something from my jewelry box later.”

Fu Haitang was shocked: “How can I do that? Your jewelry is too precious, Miss. I…”

“Enough, shut your mouth!” Gu Jingjing said, displeased. Then she opened her bag, rummaged through it, and found a VIP shopping card she had never used. She threw it to the driver’s seat. “Take this! A co-branded discount card from three luxury brands!”

Fu Haitang was surprised: “You have something like this?”

“Tch,” Gu Jingjing rolled her eyes. “It’s a useless card they give you for spending over ten million a year. I never use it. You can take it and use it. There are 120,000 worth of exchange credit in it.”

Fu Haitang’s jaw almost dropped: “Thank you, Miss!”

“If I hear another low-class word from you, you can get out!” Gu Jingjing said fiercely.

Fu Haitang: “Miss, don’t worry. I’ll make sure to look presentable from now on!”

The car sped away from the TV station.

“I heard,” Gu Jingjing’s topic suddenly changed, “that Fu Yilan’s sudden popularity was all planned by you.”

Fu Haitang’s heart sank, and she broke out in a cold sweat!