Wen Ying figured she’d only slept three or four hours — hardly worth the five-star hotel’s price.
She woke just past six in the morning.
Noticing Li Mengjiao still asleep, Wen Ying pinched her face. Li Mengjiao mumbled groggily, “…Time to do splits?”
“Splits, my foot! Get up and wash — we’ve got a busy day!” Wen Ying said.
She was right. While Li Mengjiao was still drying her hair, Yuan Fenghui knocked and entered, eyeing her critically from head to toe, shaking her head. “Wen Ying, after breakfast, take her to the stylist — I’ve set a time. The stylist has their own vision, but you keep an eye on things too!”
Wen Ying nodded, “Got it, Teacher Yuan.”
She knew better than anyone what kind of ambassador the dairy giant wanted.
Wen Ying couldn’t edit Li Mengjiao to match that contestant from memory, but she could get her as close as possible to the dairy giant’s needs.
Li Mengjiao’s looks were a huge advantage.
Anyone could see she was raised pampered — adorably unaware of her own charm, her sweetness genuine and refreshing.
Wen Ying thought Li Mengjiao wasn’t just perfect for dairy endorsements — snack brands like cakes would suit her too.
As for whether this would typecast her — it was too early to worry. No artist could land every ad; some fit, some don’t — greed wasn’t the answer.
Besides, a teenage girl being sweet and cute was normal. In her twenties, her vibe would evolve, and by her thirties, she’d enter a new phase.
Yuan Fenghui left hurriedly after her instructions.
Wen Ying took Li Mengjiao to the address provided — a styling studio in an office building near Xiang Province TV, with bright windows and upscale decor.
The stylist, with a Taiwanese accent, called Li Mengjiao “kawaii” on sight.
“Take a look — like it?” The stylist presented a pre-prepared dress.
Li Mengjiao gasped, “Wow, thank you — I love it!”
But once the stylist left with the dress, her face fell. “…So childish. Do I really have to wear it?”
Wen Ying pinched her secretly. “Of course you do — no sulking. Smile all day!”
Childish wasn’t quite right — it was dreamy. A white tulle lace dress, simple in cut, with crystal beads at the collar and cuffs. Too extravagant for daily wear, but for an audition, nothing was too much.
Lace could look cheap if mishandled, but this dress was high-end, borrowed through Yuan Fenghui’s connections.
When Li Mengjiao emerged in the dress, she touched her bare arms, unaccustomed to the mirror’s reflection.
April in Xiang Province was chilly — the dress alone would be freezing. Wen Ying checked the rack and asked the stylist if they could add a coat.
“It’ll ruin the overall look~” The stylist, good-natured but firm, smiled and refused.
No choice then — she’d wear her own coat and shed it for the audition.
The stylist gave Li Mengjiao a bun hairstyle and light makeup, with glossy lipstick.
Looking in the mirror, Li Mengjiao had a strange thought: in this outfit, she could not only audition but get married in a church.
She immediately shuddered.
A youthful beauty like her, thinking of something as mature as marriage?
“Wen Ying…” Li Mengjiao looked to her for help.
Wen Ying was frowning too.
It felt a bit too grand.
Li Mengjiao was auditioning for a dairy endorsement, not a Disney princess role — it was stunning but overdone.
Before Wen Ying could speak, more people entered the studio.
Talk about small worlds — Wen Ying turned and saw two familiar faces.
Xu Mei and Pan Li.
How did these two end up together?
Where was Xu Mei’s usual sidekick, Fu Jing?
With Xu Mei and Pan Li were a young man with gel-slicked hair and a commanding professional woman.
Pan Li’s eyes reddened upon seeing Wen Ying.
But Wen Ying’s focus was on the woman trailing behind — the infamous “godmother of talent shows.”
She decided who advanced, who got cut, and how to spark ratings — all from behind the scenes.
Manager Guan’s wife, Liang Dan!
Liang Dan personally accompanying Xu Mei for styling showed how much she valued her.
But only for now.
Xu Mei should cherish these fleeting good days. Once this year’s contest began, the era of Super Girl titans would dawn, and last year’s champion, Xu Mei, would crumble under the new stars’ impact.
No helping it — this year’s competition was fierce, with stronger contestants.
Last year had amateurs; this year, professionals were crushing the novices. Li Mengjiao’s runner-up finish last year was impressive — this year, making it out of the Rong City division would be a feat.
Wen Ying eyed Liang Dan, who didn’t care about her.
If Yuan Fenghui were here, Liang Dan might spare a glance — Wen Ying didn’t register.
But why was Li Mengjiao here?
Clearly getting styled.
Liang Dan knew Xiang Province TV hadn’t invited Li Mengjiao recently, so her presence meant one thing.
Yuan Fenghui had gotten wind of it.
Liang Dan’s gaze darkened.
“Sister Liang, what about this…” Young Master Cao wanted to stand up for Xu Mei, but awaited Liang Dan’s lead.
Liang Dan gave the three a reassuring look, then strode over, ignoring Wen Ying and Li Mengjiao, smiling at the stylist, Ah Feng. “We’re just a bit late — how come you gave Xu Mei’s dress to someone else to try on?”
Xu Mei’s dress?!
Li Mengjiao, already uneasy about the dress, nearly exploded at Liang Dan’s blatant lie.
Ah Feng was in a bind.
Being Taiwanese, he’d taken Yuan Fenghui’s request to style Li Mengjiao.
The dress was prepared for her.
But his studio, near Xiang Province TV, relied on their business.
One major event’s makeup could sustain his studio!
He knew the score but felt uneasy bullying minors like Wen Ying and Li Mengjiao.
Wen Ying coughed, signaling Li Mengjiao to stay calm and addressing Ah Feng, “Whether the dress was mixed up, you know best, Teacher Ah Feng — you’ll have to explain this to Teacher Yuan yourself!”
