Chapter 25

The following day in the evening, the afternoon tea was held on the 23rd-floor rooftop terrace.

A grassy area had been laid out, with the setting sun painting the sky.

A long rectangular table separated the girls’ seating from the production crew.

Sini began with an opening speech: “Hey, girls!”

The entrance was a flower-adorned arched doorway. The girls appeared one by one, following the script to greet the cameras.

“Our dinner?”

“There’s so much good food here?”

The table was filled with delicious food, including beef, lamb, pork, and a complete selection of desserts and drinks.

“Wuwuwu, I’m so touched I could cry. Is this a treat for us now that the first performance is over?”

Sini laughed: “Just a few of you came? We said today was a day to let loose. Why isn’t everyone here?”

Most of the girls from Class J and Class I were eliminated, so the show’s 99 participants were now reduced to 79.

The purpose of tonight’s relaxed get-together was to encourage the girls to socialize and get to know each other, paving the way for the reclassification.

The trainees arrived one after another, and the venue gradually became lively.

…

The underground parking lot was relatively quiet in the evening. The TV station had an astonishingly high number of workaholics, and the overtime rate was shocking. By the time work was supposed to end, not many people were leaving, and even fewer were getting in their cars.

Fu Haitang stood outside the car with her arms crossed, silently calculating the time. She turned to urge the makeup artist, “Are you done yet?”

The makeup artist grumbled: “My hourly rate is 6K, and you’re making me do makeup in a car! Seriously! There’s no room for my things here.”

“My dear,” Fu Haitang turned and propped herself against the car door, “Is this your first time on an outdoor set?”

Makeup artist: “…”

Fu Yilan let out a giggle.

Fu Haitang shook her head helplessly.

Three minutes later, a slender hand was extended from the car door. Fu Haitang moved her left hand out of the way, bent down, and took the hand. Fu Yilan curved her lips, got out of the car, and gave a slight curtsy. Her posture and demeanor were all perfectly elegant.

Fu Haitang escorted her to the elevator entrance, pressed the button for the 23rd floor, and said, “Go on.”

Fu Yilan held her head high like a proud princess. As the elevator doors closed and the floor numbers climbed, she looked at her exquisite reflection in the mirror and suddenly felt like she was a completely different person from just ten days ago.

“It’s best not to be the last to enter,” Fu Haitang’s instructions from last night echoed in the elevator. “But don’t be too early either. You need the audience and the applause. Sini will help you.”

A chef pushing a food cart passed the elevator. The elevator chimed, and the doors opened on both sides. The chef subconsciously glanced over and froze on the spot.

Fu Yilan lifted her dress: “Excuse me.”

Fu Yilan walked slowly into the dining area.

Sini’s elegant greeting was replaced with a simple “Holy crap” when she saw Fu Yilan.

All eyes at the table instantly fell on Fu Yilan.

The air froze. Only the sizzling sound of a medium-rare steak on the grill could be heard.

Fu Yilan’s expression went from nervous to flustered. After seeing that everyone else was wearing training uniforms, a touch of awkwardness and embarrassment was added to her expression.

These stares were not friendly, and Fu Yilan stood frozen.

…

Fu Haitang’s instructions from the night before rang in her ears: “The close-up camera is at the third spot from the entrance. You can stand there for as long as you want.”

Fu Yilan: “Won’t that steal someone else’s screen time?”

Fu Haitang wrapped her arms around her, pressing her against the washbasin. “They’ll do reshoots. Don’t you worry about it.”

“What if I get attacked online?” Fu Yilan held Fu Haitang’s mischievous hand, her breathing rapid. “I can’t get the dress dirty…”

Fu Haitang breathed and pulled away. “Sorry, what did you just say?”

…

“I’m so sorry, I’ll go change immediately,” Fu Yilan seemed to realize her mistake and was about to leave in a hurry. Unexpectedly, her high heel wobbled, and she fell right off the stage!

Fu Yilan’s eyes widened. Her terrified expression and her flailing limbs were captured in a series of shots by several high-definition digital cameras.

…

Fu Haitang, kissing Fu Yilan, said between their lips: “You just need to make a small mistake… The audience will love you so much, they won’t even have time to be suspicious.”

…

Fu Yilan fell. She secretly pinched her thigh and finally lost control, sobbing loudly. “Ah—wuwuwu—”

Sini was startled: “Holy crap!?”

The staff members rushed to her side.

“Are you okay?”

“What happened?”

“Should we call an ambulance?”

“Oh my gosh—”

“Did you sprain your ankle?”

Fu Yilan’s sobs grew quieter. She pursed her lips, her eyes red like a little rabbit that had been badly bullied.

…

“How should I act?” Fu Yilan asked in confusion.

Fu Haitang looked at her eyes. “Cry.”

Fu Yilan: “A mistake? Can I fall?”

“Clever!” Fu Haitang said. “Come with me.”

In the closed coffee shop, Fu Yilan propped her chin up, watching Fu Haitang polish her shoes. “Based on your background, you’ve probably never worn heels. When you walk, it would be difficult for you to…”

Fu Yilan scoffed: “I’m not that bad.”

…

Sini examined the high heel in her hand. “The heel is broken.”

The medic stood up and said, “She’s fine, just a little shook up.”

Fu Yilan’s face was tear-streaked. After crying for a long time, she finally managed to blurt out the most heartbroken thing: “My shoes, the shoes I spent so much money on…”

Sini: “Hahahahahahaha!”

The staff also burst into laughter.

Gradually, the looks of contempt in the girls’ eyes turned into smiles.

“Yilan!” Chen Na shouted. “You’re so clumsy!”

Fu Yilan pouted, walked barefoot to Chen Na’s side, and accepted the tissues offered by many female alphas: “I’m sorry for making a fool of myself…”

“It’s adorable.”

“Did you do your makeup today? You look like a fairy.”

Fu Yilan: “Really?”

“Of course!” A mirror was then handed to her, and Fu Yilan saw that her makeup had been ruined by crying.

Fu Yilan: “…”

Fu Yilan’s pretense made her own teeth hurt: “Don’t bully me.”

“Hahahahaha!”

“Oh, she’s so cute!”

The venue erupted in a second round of roaring laughter.

…

Fu Yilan slapped Fu Haitang’s hand away. “You want me to act dumb?”

“No… of course not.” Fu Haitang reached out for nothing. “I’m helping you build your image.”

Fu Yilan stood up, trying to walk in high heels.

Fu Haitang propped herself up with her hands behind her. Her lips were red and plump from the passionate kissing. They were so moist they looked like they would bleed if they were touched again.

Fu Haitang yawned: “The first round of the competition has already eliminated those who have no resources, no popularity, and no ability. The next step, the opponents you face will be wealthy second-generations, people with real talent, or artists with company backing.”

Fu Yilan turned around. In the light of the coffee shop, her legs were elongated by the high heels. Her full thighs were as soft as cherry skin.

Fu Haitang stared unapologetically.

“Stunned? Go ahead, touch.” Fu Yilan laughed.

Fu Haitang didn’t hesitate to touch her. “Does this count as me taking advantage of you?”

The omega was almost kneeling in front of her. Fu Yilan enjoyed the feeling of looking down on her, curving her eyes: “Of course. You gave me money and helped me come up with a plan… Ah!”

Fu Yilan’s words were interrupted by a sudden movement. She took a few steps back and propped herself against the wall to keep from falling. “Fu Haitang!”

“I promise I won’t get your dress dirty,” Fu Haitang said vaguely. “You just have to hold back and not get your panties dirty.”

…

Fu Yilan found a seat. A feeling told her that a certain gaze was watching her. Fu Yilan turned her head and met the eyes of Gu Jingjing in the middle of the long table.

Gu Jingjing plunged her fork into her steak!

Fu Yilan narrowed her eyes and waved at her.

Gu Jingjing: “What a fake!”

“Jingjing,” Lin Meixue leaned in. “What are you saying? Hey, let me tell you, I just looked up Fu Yilan’s dress. It’s only a few tens of thousands of yuan! It’s so beautiful!”

“A few tens of thousands?” Gu Jingjing frowned. “That’s not even enough to pay off a servant. How can she have the nerve to wear it!”

Lin Meixue immediately put away her phone and smiled flatteringly: “Oh, Jingjing, you’re so powerful!”

The dark cola reflected Fu Yilan’s tear-streaked eyes. She stared at the bottom of the glass, seemingly seeing a familiar face. Fu Haitang was holding up a cola, toasting her, and saying triumphantly: “Planning Team B, I’ll be back one day.”

Fu Yilan picked up the napkin in front of her. She held the two corners and folded it, then pressed it to the corner of her mouth.

This was the standard way of using a napkin during a Western meal.

However, Fu Haitang’s last words suddenly popped up. As they were parting ways, Fu Haitang opened the car door and raised her hand to smooth out Fu Yilan’s hair. “After you do all of this, remember to keep a low profile. You’re a grassroots girl now, not a rich young lady.”

Fu Yilan raised an eyebrow. She crumpled the napkin in her hand and then used it like a regular tissue, haphazardly wiping non-existent cookie crumbs from her dress.

“Oh, my,” Chen Na said with a heavy heart. “This napkin is specifically for wiping your mouth during a Western meal. It’s not a dishcloth.”

Fu Yilan seemed to suddenly realize: “I was wondering why it was so white!”

Chen Na was helpless: “Whatever. Use it however you want!”

Fu Yilan nodded, then copied Chen Na’s movements, scraping a dab of mashed potatoes with a cookie and putting it into her mouth. She took two bites, then timidly looked up at her surroundings, meeting the half-smiles and looks of disdain.

“Do foreigners like sweet and salty?” Fu Yilan mumbled to herself.

Chen Na said: “There will be games later. They might involve physical work, so eat more.”

Fu Yilan propped her chin up: “I’d rather go back and look after the shop.”

Chen Na whispered to her: “I’ve never been to the shop where you work part-time. Is it fun?”

Fu Yilan thought of Fu Haitang, the kisses and hugs, and her focused figure in the light, polishing her high heels. She suddenly smiled. “It’s fun, it’s incredibly fun.”

…

At that moment in her apartment, Fu Haitang sneezed several times. Before she could react, Ji Xiaotong’s hand threw a blanket at her. “Don’t catch a cold.”

Fu Haitang pulled off the blanket and screamed loudly at the empty document: “Aaaaaaaah!”

Ji Xiaotong was startled: “What’s wrong? What’s wrong? Is there an earthquake?”

“Your blanket hit the delete key! My plan!” Fu Haitang chased after Ji Xiaotong to hit her. “You haven’t gotten a beating in three days!”

Ji Xiaotong: “Wait! Wait, I’m about to enter a team fight—Ah!”