Chapter 8

A month ago, the production team had converted the entire Jingdu Stadium into a viable filming location. With the help of the signs found everywhere, Jiang Xuxu soon led Qi Wu into a spacious break room.

They were not at the actual filming location yet. This was merely a place where the contestants could meet up with members of the production team.

There were already quite a few contestants milling about in the room. Some of them were huddled together while others sat by themselves.

“I’ve investigated many of them. Now, I’ll share all my information with you for free!”

With a mysterious air around her, Jiang Xuxu pulled Qi Wu down to sit in a corner.

Qi Wu did not protest at all and just followed along.

“According to the name list online, a lot of agencies have sent their rookies over for training. That means those people will definitely know more about what’s going on behind the scenes than we do, like the competition schedules and elimination rules.”

Jiang Xuxu spoke in a soft murmur.

This was something she only found out through the so-called top streamers flaunting in the group chats back when she was still a streamer.

There was no such thing as an actual rookie in a talent show.

The production team was not made of fools. Newcomers in the industry would not have anyone talking about them. No matter how grand the production was, the industry needed to be involved to provide a boost to the show’s popularity.

As soon as Jiang Xuxu finished saying that, Qi Wu calmly spoke up from beside her.

“We will not be divided into separate categories for the first three episodes. Everyone has to first go through training and assessment. The real competition begins after the third episode.”

Jiang Xuxu was at a loss for words.

She stared at Qi Wu with wide, disbelieving eyes.

Qi Wu looked at Jiang Xuxu and tilted her head. Her eyes were clear and honest as she asked, “Do you want to know about the elimination rules as well?”

Jiang Xuxu clicked her tongue. “Goodness… Did Chang Xun tell you all that?”

She soon received an affirmative reply from Qi Wu.

At that very moment, Jiang Xuxu yearned to interrogate Qi Wu. Chang Xun had already told her all about the competition. How could he not have signed her on as one of his talents?”

Could it be that he refused to sign on new talents just like that and wanted to test Qi Wu?

With that in mind, Jiang Xuxu started to feel anxious.

If Qi Wu and her divine beauty could not break into the entertainment industry, it would be a major loss in Jiang Xuxu’s mind.

She cautiously looked around before swiftly leaning in close to Qi Wu’s ear and said, “You can’t tell anyone else what you know.”

Qi Wu was so sweet that she might not even know when she was being used.

Even Jiang Xuxu had approached her with an ulterior motive in mind.

Qi Wu looked at Jiang Xuxu, who was beside herself with nervousness, and nodded in agreement.

Jiang Xuxu heaved a sigh of relief when she saw that.

“Contestant Jiang Xuxu, where are you? Please come here for your briefing.”

A staff member had called out from behind Jiang Xuxu just as she leaned back away from Qi Wu.

“Wait here for me. I’ll be back in a while.”

Jiang Xuxu barely had time to inform Qi Wu where she was going before she had to hurry off.

Qi Wu watched her walk over to the staff member before calmly looking away.

Not long after that, a stern-looking woman with short hair and dressed in a white business suit appeared before Qi Wu.

The other woman had a file in her arms. After taking one look at Qi Wu, she closed the file and put it away.

“You must be Qi Wu. I am Qu Man. I’ll be briefing you today.”

She spoke in a crisp voice that showed not a single trace of hesitation or reservation.

“We will officially start filming in an hour. There are two rules you must keep in mind at all times. One, if you quit the competition halfway through filming, you will need to pay double the early termination fee listed. Two, your phone will be confiscated once filming starts. The production team will provide you with a new phone, but you are not allowed to contact anyone outside the show while we are filming unless specifically requested.”

After she finished speaking, Qu Man glanced up at the woman standing before her, whose lack of makeup made her look extremely beautiful and otherworldly.

“Are there any questions?”

Qi Wu gave a small nod. “When do I clock off?”

Qu Man frowned, stunned. “Clock off? Well… after the filming is done. During filming, all contestants are to live in the living quarters provided.”

For an instant, Qu Man could sense the young woman standing in front of her instantly wilting and withering away out of disinterest.

She opened her mouth to say something, but she did not know what.

All of the information Qu Man had just listed was written in the contract. It was basic common sense, but Qu Man could not find herself to speak harshly to the young woman standing before her.

Qi Wu looked up and solemnly stared at Qu Man. “Does that mean I can’t even head home for dinner?”

Qu Man had to force herself to look away. “You can’t. We’ll be providing food and drinks… If you did not tell your family about this, you may call them now before I confiscate your phone.”

Afraid that she might become soft-hearted and do something she should not, Qu Man planned to walk further away and only return once Qi Wu was finished with her phone call.

She had barely taken a few steps when she heard Qi Wu’s soft and bell-like voice say to the person on the other end of the call, “Jin Si, this job says I can’t go home for meals.”

That one name forced Qu Man to screech to a halt.

Suppressing her astonishment and shock, Qu Man whirled around to stare at Qi Wu in disbelief as Qi Wu continued to speak into the phone with a distressed look on her face.

It was just a coincidence, right?

However, this was someone Chang Xun personally dropped off. It might not be a coincidence.

Conflicting emotions warred within her. Her principles told her to stop eavesdropping, yet her nosy curiosity compelled her to keep listening.

Her feet began to uncontrollably shift toward Qi Wu in an honest display of her desires.

“I’m also almost out of lemon drops,” Qi Wu continued, sounding extremely agonized.

“Well, if you’re out, you’re out.”

Jin Si’s voice was cold and indifferent over the phone.

However, what he said made Qi Wu scowl. “If I’m out of lemon drops, we can buy more.”

She looked so much like she was trying to argue with him with logic.

Jin Si chuckled. There was a mischievous lilt in his voice as he asked, “Do you have the money to buy candy?”

All of Qi Wu’s confidence vanished the moment she heard that.

She had no money.

However, it was clear that she still wanted to defend her desire.

Hence, with puffed-up cheeks, she retorted, “I’ll work hard to repay you.”

“I’ll be waiting.”

Jin Si grinned as he replied.

Even if Qi Wu were not there before him, he could still imagine her solemnly staring back at him as an image of him was reflected within the shadows of her deep, black eyes.

Now that he was done teasing her, it was time for him to pacify her.

A thought must have struck him, however, as he abruptly said, “What about the competition? What category will you choose?”

“Do you want me to go into acting?”

Qi Wu was blunter than Jin Si expected.

With just one sentence, she could tell what he really wanted to know.

“Would you like to?”

His steady voice and bland tone suddenly gave her a sense of déjà vu.

Would you like to?

That was one simple question, but it was the second time ever in her two lifetimes she had heard someone ask her that.

The soul that died under her blade once asked her that as well.

“Your Excellency, the majestic mountains and beautiful rivers outside these walls are not as interesting as this deathly silent temple of yours. Still, would you like to go?”

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