High-Altitude Worker, Unfortunately a Cannon Fodder Female Supporting Role - Chapter 31

“Don’t say a word. Just let me down first.”

Leaving on a whim was, of course, impossible.

The show was still filming, and Ming Yue, as a contestant, had to prepare for her first public performance. She couldn’t just abandon her responsibilities.

After Zhao Ke consulted with the Production Team, they discovered there would be a half-day break immediately after the first public performance.

And conveniently, there was a skydiving base just outside City A.

Good grief, these mentors are going all out for their trainees! Taking them on variety shows and music festivals is one thing, but now skydiving too?

I vaguely recall Director Qu not assigning them any KPIs…

Maybe the competitive spirit of the survival show has ignited within them, haha!

Ming Yue was still dazed when the pickup truck dropped her off at the skydiving base entrance.

Wait, how did I even end up here?

And is skydiving something you can just decide to do on the spur of the moment?

“Sister Coco,” Ming Yue called out, grabbing Zhao Ke’s sleeve as she strode toward the entrance. “Are you sure you’ve thought this through?”

Ming Yue felt Zhao Ke was taking this far too lightly.

Her outfit was hardly suitable for skydiving: a satin half-sleeved white blouse, black wide-legged leather pants tailored like dress pants, and studded biker boots.

Zhao Ke looked like she was dressed for a fashion magazine shoot, not for extreme sports like skydiving.

She awkwardly twitched her lips, not that she’d chosen such flashy attire.

As a participant in the show, she was required to wear the clothes provided by the sponsors.

This flashy outfit might have looked fine in a TV studio, but it felt completely out of place at a skydiving base.

Zhao Ke hadn’t been exposed to the sun or wind lately, and in just a few days, her complexion had become even more radiant, glowing with a healthy, rosy hue.

Her porcelain-like neck reflected the clear morning sunlight with a translucent sheen, as pure and sacred as a sculpted statue.

“You’re the one who should be worried about me,” Zhao Ke said, wrapping her arm around Ming Yue’s shoulder and guiding her into the base’s main hall.

“Brother Wang,” she called out, waving to the coach chatting nearby. “Could you please take my sister skydiving?”

Coach Wang nodded and approached with the skydiving gear.

Ming Yue looked like a fledgling about to be separated from its mother, turning back every few steps.

“Then who’s going to take you, Sister Coco?”

Zhao Ke waved dismissively. “Don’t worry, Sis has a license.”

??? What license? A skydiving license?

Why does Zhao Ke keep leveling up in these weird skills?

I thought she was going to say, “Your sister’s waiting for you down there,” but Zhao Ke just said she had a certificate. Holy moly!

I’m starting to suspect Zhao Ke wants to jump herself. Nothing she does would surprise me at this point.

She’s taking someone with her.

At an altitude of 4,000 meters, the pounding of their hearts threatened to drown out even the roar of the helicopter.

Zhao Ke stood on the landing skid outside the helicopter cabin, gripping the door frame with one hand.

“D-D-DON’T—W-W-WORRY! W-W-WE’LL—F-F-FIND—A—S-S-SOLUTION!”

At this altitude, shouting was the only way to be heard.

Ming Yue and Coach Wang were strapped together with tandem skydiving gear.

Having not experienced such unrestrained freedom in ages, Ming Yue was so overwhelmed she could only give Zhao Ke a thumbs-up.

“E-E-EMOTION—C-C-CONTROL! I—R-R-REMEMBER!”

Talk about dedication, kid.

I told you, let me down! Let me down! Aaaaaah!

I didn’t say I wanted to jump! Why are you taking me?! Waaah!

Thank you, 5G internet cafe kid! Not a single lag even at this altitude!

Zhao Ke gestured to Coach Wang, indicating she would go first.

“W-W-WAIT—FOR—ME! I’LL—B-B-BE—W-W-WAITING—FOR—YOU—D-D-DOWN—THERE!”

Zhao Ke gave an OK sign, then put on her goggles.

Wait! I’m not ready yet!

Keke, are you sure you don’t want to double-check? You’re only taking that small backpack.

I want to go home! Aaaah!

Zhao Ke had spent months practicing tirelessly in her previous life to earn her skydiving certification, only to die shortly after obtaining it. Now, she had finally found the perfect opportunity to skydive again.

She raised the small camera securely strapped to her wrist and panned it around to capture her surroundings.

Her expression remained calm, but the wind whipping through her hair betrayed her excitement.

The live chat was already on the verge of a nervous breakdown.

Okay, okay, we get it—you look cool. But can you please sit back down? Don’t stand on the edge!

Help! Zhao Ke, are you really going to skydive in that “refined villain” outfit?

Honey, Mom’s leaving now. I’ll come back after you’re done.

A smile tugged at the corner of Zhao Ke’s lips as she flashed a three-two-one countdown to the camera before leaping off the edge.

With her arms spread wide, Zhao Ke seemed to float effortlessly in the air, buoyed by the rushing wind.

The gale roared around her, yet she plummeted downward with the fearless abandon of a fallen angel, defying gravity’s judgment.

Tucking her knees, Zhao Ke executed a flawless mid-air somersault with fluid grace.

Serene, elegant, and utterly at ease—qualities utterly incongruous with freefall—were embodied perfectly in her descent.

Her deep, gentle gaze, tinged with amusement, pierced through her goggles and met the camera’s lens, as if proclaiming her mastery over the sky. All the fervent souls floated freely, even the earth below fading into insignificance.

So cool! Aaaaaah!

Woman, you’re seducing me!

Came from the trending topics, fell straight into the pit, and now I’m lying at the bottom, refusing to get up!

Everyone, I have a feeling this outfit is going to blow up!

The moment the parachute deployed, Zhao Ke raised both hands and gripped the ropes.

The canopy fully opened, her descent abruptly slowed, and the distant ground gradually sharpened into focus beneath her feet.

“Having fun?” Zhao Ke moved closer to the camera.

Fun, fun, fun! (Forced smile version)

It’s pretty fun, but why are my pants wet?

My toes are cramping from clenching so hard!

Zhao Ke, is there anything you can’t do?!

“Everything will pass,” Zhao Ke called out from nearby as Ming Yue landed.

Her head buzzed, her bl00d surged, and she shouted back, “I’m definitely going to debut!”

Zhao Ke stiffly lowered her arms.

Alright, kid, it’s good you have that fighting spirit.

Youth is truly wonderful.

So inspiring!

Waaah, everyone’s working so hard for their dreams. I want to cry!

Sun Yue still kept in touch with Zhao Ke from time to time.

 Exchange Cola:  “Nice one, kid! You’ve pulled off another stunt.”

 Exchange Cola:  “The endorsement is finally paying off.”

 Master Zhao, AAA High-Altitude Installation:  “Indeed, a pleasant surprise.”

 Exchange Cola:  “You should be on your knees thanking the fans who edited this.”

Zhao Ke’s skydiving footage had been re-edited, set to a high-energy rock soundtrack, and instantly went viral across various platforms.

The video opened with a cinematic black screen, followed by an upward-angled shot of Zhao Ke. Dressed in high fashion, as if she had just stepped out of a glitzy runway show, she hung from a helicopter like a Mission: Impossible agent.

A faint smile played on her lips, as if she were calmly withdrawing after a successful mission, completely in control.

Without hesitation, she leaped into the air, performing daring stunts with effortless grace, celebrating victory and rebirth.

Though the clip was only a minute long, it left viewers wanting more, sparking endless speculation.

!!! Where did this masterpiece come from?!

Can’t advertisers shoot commercials at this level? Can’t they?! Answer me!

Photographers rack their brains, but Zhao Ke’s spontaneous brilliance shines through.

Keke is so cool! Take me skydiving, Coach Keke!

I’m begging Coach Keke to start a class! I’ll learn on my knees!

Damn it! This outfit was already sold out on the official website! How are you all so fast?! (Raging ineffectually)

What?! It’s gone?! I was just about to check the physical stores!

There might still be a chance at the physical stores, sisters! Hurry!

Zhao Ke hadn’t expected that the creative director, who had shown little enthusiasm during the official announcement shoot, would not only retweet several skydiving-related videos and photos on Weibo but also immediately call Liu Tiande to discuss renewing her contract.

Liu Tiande was overjoyed. He called Zhao Ke, his voice brimming with excitement. “Haha! You won’t believe how many brands have contacted me today! Not just clothing brands—makeup, jewelry, you name it!”

Zhao Ke chuckled in agreement, her tone tinged with resignation. “Am I supposed to skydive every time I endorse a brand?”

Liu Tiande’s initial euphoria gradually cooled at Zhao Ke’s pointed remark.

Right, he thought. Zhao Ke’s effective endorsement this time was solely due to the skydiving video going viral and attracting a massive casual audience. Her existing fanbase, mostly gained from variety shows, lacked significant influence.

Liu Tiande’s expression sobered. “I understand. Zhao Ke, focus on your variety show appearances. I’ll handle the behind-the-scenes arrangements.”

Zhao Ke thanked Liu Tiande and said nothing more.

Liu Tiande seemed genuinely unaware of the details surrounding the nude photos.

So why had he excitedly informed Zhao Ke about the script she’d received from the production team, only to quickly retract his statement?

The entire situation was shrouded in mystery, and Zhao Ke had no one to discuss it with.

After the first public performance, Ming Yue’s team secured the most votes, advancing all members to the next round.

For Ming Yue, however, her individual ranking mattered even more. Even a single-place improvement would significantly enhance her chances of selecting a favorable song for the second performance.

The rankings would be announced the following morning.

That night, Zhao Ke and her two assistant managers huddled together, working tirelessly to promote voting and monitor online trends in real-time.

The trio sat with coffees, their eyes silently glued to the fluctuating numbers on their phones.

“Thank goodness Teacher Zhao spent those extra hours coaching Liang Xiaoxiao on her dance,” Fang Jingqiu, the manager responsible for Liang Xiaoxiao’s promotion, sighed, clutching her chest. “Otherwise, she definitely would have fallen out of the top thirty.”

“Ah, Xiaoxiao is a good kid, but she lacks ambition,” Cheng Xiaotong, another manager, lamented. “She’s always talking about quitting the industry. This ‘laid-back’ persona is a double-edged sword—it can easily backfire.”

Despite her seemingly docile nature, Liang Xiaoxiao was the most stubborn of the five trainees.

Zhao Ke rested her chin in her hand. “Was she always like this, even when she first joined the company?”

The two agents paused, tilting their heads in thought. “I don’t think so. When she first joined the company, she was brimming with confidence, you know?”

“Exactly! Not just ordinary confidence—the kind where she’d shout in the dance studio, ‘I’m going to be the next top idol!'”

“Later, well, after Brother Sha Kaiyun started scolding her so much, she became like this.”

“Ah, so it was Brother Sha,” Zhao Ke murmured, her eyes narrowing slightly.

Oblivious, the agents continued, “Brother Sha is definitely the strict type. Xin Zhuo and He Jingxue both rose to fame after being scolded by him.”

At 2:00 AM, the voting channels officially closed.

Ming Yue’s skydiving stunt had earned her a wave of new fans, and her strong performance in the public showcase boosted her ranking by two places, securing third place overall.

Zhao Ke stood up, stretching languidly. “Alright, let’s get you two home.”

“Thank you, Sister Coco.”

“Wait, wait!”

Suddenly, the lounge door burst open, and a disheveled Production Team manager rushed in, her hair a mess.

“What’s wrong?” Cheng Xiaotong stepped forward. Even the managers overseeing the trainees should be resting at this hour.

The manager leaned against the doorframe, shaking her head to clear her dazed thoughts. “The control room just called. Liang Xiaoxiao didn’t return to her dorm after dance practice. We don’t know where she is.”