The Movie Queen's Demon Sect Leader [Transmigration] GL - Chapter 9
“Today marks the first day of our selection competition, which is relatively relaxed compared to the entire competition format. I hope that in the coming time, all contestants will be able to showcase their unique charm to the judges and millions of viewers.”
Mu Ling’s voice had a unique allure. A few light words could ignite the latent fighting spirit within everyone.
Meng Xiaomeng stood beside Luo Xuange. She had long forgotten that the show she was participating in was entirely live-streamed online, while Luo Xuange still wasn’t clear what “entirely live-streamed online” meant. So, the two stood in an inconspicuous corner, chatting softly.
“Xuange, I heard someone will be chosen to go to a small room for an exclusive interview later. Do you think it might be you?” Meng Xiaomeng flashed a naive, sweet smile: “I think it’s very likely they’ll choose you.”
“Why?” Luo Xuange asked.
“Because you just performed the hand ocarina, and in today’s competition, only your hand ocarina and the chest-breaking-stone act are unique performances!” Meng Xiaomeng said with a hint of adoration.
Luo Xuange seemed to understand, nodding: “What are the specific contents of the exclusive interview?”
“I’m not very clear.” Meng Xiaomeng frowned in thought: “I’ve watched TV, and it seems like they first thank someone, then talk about their unfortunate experiences. It’s best if you make it sound as tragic as possible.”
Meng Xiaomeng summarized these points from her jumbled thoughts.
Live Stream Chatroom:
Seven Cool: Foolish Xiaomeng, pay attention! What you’re talking about are acceptance speeches LOL.
So Lame: I already feel like black-bellied Luo is about to be ridiculed by foolish Xiaomeng. Light a candle!
The Husky Next Door: Suddenly feel like my foolish Xiaomeng is also a schemer, hahahaha.
••••
Luo Xuange: “Oh, I see. Competing to see who’s more miserable?”
“Exactly, exactly! You have to win sympathy. That way you can get sympathy points!” Meng Xiaomeng genuinely suggested.
Luo Xuange frowned tightly: “How miserable do I have to be to get sympathy points?”
“Let me think.” Meng Xiaomeng frowned in deep thought, counting on her fingers: “Ideally, your parents couldn’t understand your entry into the entertainment industry, but you persisted anyway. And your friends poured cold water on you and attacked you during your toughest times. When you were about to give up, someone gave you hope, and then you worked hard and finally came out on top.”
“Mmm, that’s what they always say on TV,” Meng Xiaomeng added.
Sect Leader Luo leaned against the wall, her expression not good.
“I’m an orphan; I don’t have parents. From the time I can remember, I was in the hands of human traffickers. We would fight over a single grain of rice, so I had no friends. Later, I went to an orphanage, and I didn’t find any friends there either. I don’t think I’ve ever had a ‘toughest time’; every day has always been harder than the last.”
Luo Xuange recalled the original owner’s memories: “When I was very young, the best thing I ever ate was leftover rice that hadn’t gone bad yet. When I was about to give up, a little girl told me that if I lived, I could be saved. Later, I was rescued, but she had both her legs broken by the human traffickers.”
Meng Xiaomeng was sniffling and wiping away tears.
“Xuange, you… are so miserable!”
“Eh? Is that how you say it?” Luo Xuange didn’t think it was that miserable. In her previous life, she lived life on the edge every day, just as the Right Protector said, with a knife constantly at her throat, ready to lose her life at any moment if she wasn’t careful. Comparing her previous life to the original owner’s, she actually thought the original owner was very happy. At least Uncle Director was very kind, and there was a warm landlady, and she even knew the honest and good-natured crowd leader.
“No! Xuange, I suddenly remembered that everyone says they’re miserable, so that’s not original. You should say something else.” Meng Xiaomeng suggested again, but before she could finish her remaining words, someone called out Luo Xuange’s number tag.
Luo Xuange said goodbye to Meng Xiaomeng and left with the staff.
Meng Xiaomeng followed the main group to the lounge, where four contestants were arranged to stay in the same room. This was to increase the show’s appeal and also to reveal the contestants’ true personalities through small details of their daily lives.
Luo Xuange arrived at the interview room, where host Mu Ling had already prepared her questions.
Mu Ling had watched the live broadcast earlier. In fact, after Luo Xuange finished her hand ocarina performance, she had followed Luo Xuange’s live stream, but unexpectedly witnessed the conversation between Luo Xuange and Meng Xiaomeng.
She initially thought Luo Xuange was joking, but then she pulled up Luo Xuange’s profile and discovered that Luo Xuange was indeed an orphan. As for whether other details were accurate, she asked a few friends to conduct a simple investigation and found that there had indeed been a human trafficking incident involving children more than a decade ago, and Luo Xuange’s name was found among that group of children.
Mu Ling put aside her role as a host; she genuinely sympathized with Luo Xuange. But from a professional standpoint, she felt Luo Xuange was not a simple person. Seemingly muddled, she actually had her own opinions and obstinacy in many matters.
Luo Xuange walked into the interview room with confident strides and sat down in front of Mu Ling. The live stream audience was still immersed in the impression of “Luo Xuange is truly miserable.”
Mu Ling: “Hello, I watched your performance today, and I was deeply impressed. But I have a small curiosity: regarding learning the hand ocarina, did you study under a famous master, or are you self-taught?”
“An old man in the mountains taught me when I was a child.” Luo Xuange naturally wouldn’t say that the Right Protector taught her. Moreover, even if she did, no one would believe her, so she might as well tell a lie. Anyway, no one knew the specifics of the original owner being abducted by human traffickers.
“I see. So what was the name of the piece you performed today? It was beautiful and deeply moving. But we saw many viewers in the live stream, including myself, who didn’t know what piece you performed,” Mu Ling asked.
Luo Xuange: “It was a piece composed by a friend of mine, but unfortunately, she and I are no longer in the same world. The piece is called Wind and Snow in the Jianghu.”
The phrase “but unfortunately, she and I are no longer in the same world” was spoken very subtly by Luo Xuange. To Mu Ling’s ears, it implied that the friend had passed away.
Mu Ling’s voice was full of apology: “I’m sorry.”
“It’s fine. Anything else you want to ask?” Luo Xuange suddenly took control of the conversation. Through Mu Ling’s apology to her, Mu Ling would no longer dig pits for her to fall into in this Q&A, and might even help her due to her slight guilt.
Indeed, Mu Ling, who usually used sharp topics to dig pits for guest contestants to fall into, was surprisingly accommodating when facing Luo Xuange today.
“Tomorrow, contestants will play a small game and then make their own lunch. Can we look forward to your cooking skills in advance?”
Sect Leader Luo understood a lot when she heard this. Mu Ling was revealing to her that there would be a cooking competition tomorrow. Such a blatant hint was truly rare.
However, Sect Leader Luo was puzzled by another matter: how should she answer to be considered humble?
“My cooking skills are merely adequate.”
When Mu Ling heard Luo Xuange’s words, she suddenly felt that this person’s answer was very good. She knew how to leave herself an out, so no matter whether it was good or bad, she wouldn’t embarrass herself. However, the next second, Luo Xuange said something that petrified her.
“Just barely better than imperial chefs, that’s all.”
Barely? Better than? Imperial chefs? That’s all?!!
Mu Ling looked at Luo Xuange’s solemn face, and she silently retracted her previous thoughts. Luo Xuange’s head must have a hole in it!
At this point, Mu Ling felt she couldn’t talk to Luo Xuange anymore. In the past, she was the one digging pits for others to fall into. Today, she had kindly built a small mound for someone, hoping Luo Xuange would stand taller. Yet, Luo Xuange had dug a pit for herself and buried herself.
Sect Leader Luo, who had once entered the imperial palace as a chef to steal a map of royal treasures, and was eventually bestowed the rank of Fifth-Grade Head of the Imperial Kitchen by the emperor, now wore a proud expression: This one was truly humble today!
Mu Ling watched Luo Xuange’s retreating back, her mind replaying Luo Xuange’s arrogant words from earlier. In that moment, Mu Ling felt she could already foresee Luo Xuange publicly humiliating herself tomorrow.
Author’s Note:
Sect Leader Luo: Honey, let me tell you a dry joke. Someone thinks I’ll slap myself tomorrow, LOL.
Movie Queen An: …