“Do you even need to remind me? Do you think I’m stupid?”
Even rolling her eyes, a cute person remains cute.
Wang Shuang wasn’t convinced. “If you’re not stupid, who is? You’ve got a sharp tongue, but you’re just a paper tiger. Anyone who’s even slightly nice to you, you’re ready to hand over your heart.”
Wen Ying, overhearing this, deeply agreed.
After getting to know Li Mengjiao better, Wen Ying could tell she was a bit naive.
Protected too well by her family, with a smooth-sailing life, she lacked vigilance.
Li Mengjiao, embarrassed and annoyed, pounded Wang Shuang several times. Just then, the competition was about to start, and Wen Ying and the others were ushered out of the backstage area.
Wen Ying and Xie Qian walked at the back, and Xie Qian suddenly spoke:
“Li Mengjiao’s chances of winning tonight are slim.”
Wen Ying was surprised. “Why would you say that? The judges all like Li Mengjiao, and she has high audience popularity. Her chances of winning should be strong. Didn’t you hear? Because of Li Mengjiao’s presence, the other contestants, including Xu Mei, have lost confidence in tonight’s competition.”
Xie Qian shook his head. “That’s not how it works. The TV station has to consider ratings and social impact. Li Mengjiao is too young.”
Does Li Mengjiao have talent?
Definitely.
However, her appearance and age lead people to assume her strength is inferior to others, that she’s winning through charm and cuteness.
Despite Producer Yan’s warm treatment of Xie Qian, her professional decisions prioritise the show’s ratings. Even if she supports Li Mengjiao, this is a talent show hosted by Mango TV, with Rongcheng City TV merely co-organising.
Li Mengjiao winning would satisfy some audience expectations, but if she doesn’t, the competition becomes more surprising, with a bigger twist, sparking greater discussion.
Xie Qian’s words left Wen Ying silent.
She suddenly recalled the 2004 Super Girl competition from her previous life. A contestant similar to Li Mengjiao—also a minor, also highly popular, with strong pre-final buzz for the championship—ended up with a twist in the finals, taking only second place.
If Mango TV hadn’t changed the rules, the runner-up wouldn’t even have qualified for the annual national finals in Hunan!
If Li Mengjiao doesn’t win, who’s most likely to take the crown?
—Xu Mei!
Xu Mei’s popularity is just behind Li Mengjiao’s.
Li Mengjiao is a high school student, while Xu Mei is a university student.
When a minor and an adult compete, the latter’s victory is more convincing.
Xu Mei’s popularity may be slightly less than Li Mengjiao’s, but her appearance is just as striking. In the entertainment industry, she might even have an edge over Li Mengjiao.
Hosting a talent show, besides earning advertising and sponsorship fees, the winning contestant is a cash cow. Perhaps, in the eyes of the Super Girl organisers, Xu Mei has greater commercial value.
Following Xie Qian’s reasoning, Wen Ying found herself unable to argue back.
With twenty minutes until the live broadcast, Wen Ying didn’t know that just after she, Xie Qian, and the others left, Producer Yan brought a few people backstage.
These people carried contracts and went straight to the five finalists, urging them to sign.
Li Mengjiao’s mother frowned upon hearing their intentions. “So urgent? It has to be signed tonight?”
“Yes, tonight. As Li Mengjiao is a minor, you, as her guardian, can sign on her behalf. We’ve devised a comprehensive plan to tailor each contestant’s unique qualities, turning them into rising stars. With Li’s popularity, with just a little push from us, she could become a nationwide sensation!”
Some people are born to be stars, like Li Mengjiao, the frontrunner in the Rongcheng division.
Young and highly popular, she’s highly mouldable.
Whether it’s making a quick profit or nurturing her as a long-term cash cow, she has immense potential.
Li’s mother skimmed the contract and didn’t outright refuse, responding tactfully, “Let’s discuss it with Mengjiao’s father after the competition tonight.”
In her heart, Li’s mother was against signing.
Businessmen don’t make losing deals. Any contract would never be solely about the company nurturing Li Mengjiao—they’d demand returns.
What could Li Mengjiao offer? Nothing but expending her popularity, following the company’s arrangements, performing in one commercial gig after another to make money.
That wouldn’t do!
The family agreed to let Li Mengjiao join the talent show because she loved singing and dancing. But signing a contract with a company as a minor, earning money through commercial performances? Li’s mother was absolutely against it.
The Li family wasn’t fabulously wealthy, but they weren’t so poor that Li Mengjiao needed to sacrifice her studies to support them.
Li’s mother envisioned that after the Super Girl competition, her daughter’s life would return to normal.
The couple had modest expectations for Li Mengjiao—just that she’d get into university. After graduation, they’d arrange a leisurely job for her. Whether she earned a lot or a little didn’t matter; they’d work hard to secure her future.
Li’s mother tactfully declined, and the people pushing the contract immediately showed displeasure.
Producer Yan smoothed things over: “This is a big decision. It’s only right for both parents to sit down and discuss it. Can we talk after the competition tonight?”
With difficulty, she calmed the contract-pushers, but they were unhappy, and Li’s mother was equally displeased.
This wasn’t the first time signing had been brought up. After the top 7-to-5 competition, people had approached the five finalists.
The company claimed it was voluntary, with no pressure to sign. Qin Yi firmly opposed Xu Mei signing, and none of the other four finalists signed either.
Yet the company didn’t give up, choosing to barge backstage with contracts twenty minutes before the live final.
Li’s mother was fuming: Was this signing a contract or issuing a threat?
Would a disobedient contestant be denied the championship?
Li’s mother stood firm against signing, and the group promptly shifted their focus. Li’s mother sighed, “Jiaojiao, don’t blame Mum.”
Both Wen Ying and Wang Shuang saw Li Mengjiao as naive, but naivety has its own way of endearing her to friends and ensuring her survival. At this moment, Li Mengjiao’s reaction carried a touch of unassuming wisdom. Though she didn’t think as deeply as her mother, she didn’t go against her.
“Why would I blame you? Mum, you’d never harm me. Sign or don’t sign, I’ll listen to you and Dad!”
Li’s mother was greatly comforted, carefully adjusting Li Mengjiao’s collar. “Go on stage and sing well later. Don’t worry about anything else.”
On the other side, Qin Yi wasn’t as calm as Li’s mother.
Xu Mei wanted to sign!
Qin Yi pulled Xu Mei aside. “You can’t sign this contract. It’s too harsh on the contestants—not mutually beneficial, just outright exploitation. Plus, if you sign, you’ll have to follow the company’s performance schedule. What about your studies? Are you giving them up?”
This contract was a typical新人 entertainment industry deal—high company cuts, heavy restrictions on the contestant, and a sky-high penalty for breaking the contract!
After the top 7-to-5 competition, this contract had been presented to the Rongcheng division’s five finalists, and Qin Yi was the first to refuse.
Now, with ten minutes until the live final, they brought the contract again, clearly intent on forcing the issue.
If none of the five finalists signed, the organisers, no matter how displeased, would have to delay the matter. With the live final starting soon, they couldn’t possibly cancel it last minute.
Xu Mei lowered her head, silent. Qin Yi thought of the hardships Xu Mei had endured during the competition and softened slightly. “If you really want to enter the entertainment industry, after the competition, we can find a better company together. My family can pull some strings—”
Xu Mei seemed stung.
“Qin Yi, I don’t want to rely on your family’s connections. If I enter the entertainment industry, I want to do it on my own.”
