Liang Dan was formidable — even bullying minors.
Stylist Ah Feng couldn’t have mixed up the dresses, and Xu Mei surely had other options.
Liang Dan’s claim about the wrong dress wasn’t about securing it for Xu Mei — it was to leave Li Mengjiao with nothing to wear.
Despicable behavior.
A direct insult to Li Mengjiao.
Without Wen Ying there, how could a high school freshman like Li Mengjiao endure such humiliation?
Ah Feng’s request for Li Mengjiao to remove the dress was a blow to her dignity.
Liang Dan likely did it on purpose.
If Li Mengjiao’s mindset collapsed, her audition could fail.
Wen Ying not only cautioned Ah Feng to think before speaking but also didn’t spare Liang Dan’s feelings: “You’re a big shot in Xiang Province — have you no shame? We’re keeping this dress — if you’ve got guts, take it up with Teacher Yuan!”
Liang Dan, far from angry, laughed.
No wonder youngsters were naive.
In the workplace, those too concerned with face were long trampled by Liang Dan.
Wen Ying said she couldn’t compete with Yuan Fenghui? Liang Dan pulled out her phone and called Yuan Fenghui on the spot: “I’m taking the dress — and the endorsement. If you’re not convinced, come fight for it!”
“Liang Dan, you—”
Before Yuan Fenghui could finish, Liang Dan hung up.
“Little girl, think I’ve got the guts now?”
Wen Ying’s face flushed, fists clenched, as if itching to punch Liang Dan.
Ah Feng’s phone rang incessantly — he thought it over and ruthlessly hung up.
“It was indeed my mistake with the dress.”
Clearly, Ah Feng chose profit over friendship.
Wen Ying looked disappointed, her face red and bewildered, as if unable to grasp why Yuan Fenghui’s name didn’t carry weight.
Tears welled in Li Mengjiao’s eyes. “What lousy dress? If they won’t let me wear it, I don’t even want it!”
She stormed into the changing room.
When she emerged, she’d not only shed the dress but undone Ah Feng’s bun, grabbing makeup remover from the counter to wipe her face clean.
Such fierce defiance was classic Li Mengjiao.
A young girl’s temper seemed especially pitiful in that moment.
Wen Ying’s flushed, speechless look delighted Xu Mei and Pan Li.
Xu Mei was pleased because, though Li Mengjiao was in Xiang Province, with Liang Dan there, she’d never audition smoothly. Liang Dan’s aggression stemmed from her confidence in securing the endorsement contract, hence her brazen bullying of the girls.
Pan Li nearly laughed aloud.
Every encounter with Wen Ying had left her humiliated — she’d never seen Wen Ying take a hit.
But that was the past.
Wen Ying’s tactics didn’t work in the entertainment world.
No high position, no financial backing — why would anyone give her face?
As Wen Ying seemed about to explode, the studio staff, quick on their feet, politely but firmly “escorted” her and Li Mengjiao out.
Li Mengjiao left crying, Wen Ying fuming, throwing out some hollow threats.
Once they were gone, the others felt refreshed.
Seeing Ah Feng’s sour face, Liang Dan smiled. “You made the right choice — I never let my friends lose out. Alright, show me the dress — is it suitable for Xu Mei?”
Having made his choice, Ah Feng wasn’t one to dwell. Pleased with Liang Dan’s assurance, he had staff prepare the dress for Xu Mei to try.
“This dress was hard to borrow.”
Ah Feng showed off its details.
Normally, Xu Mei wouldn’t touch Li Mengjiao’s “hand-me-down,” but this was different — snatched from her rival, it was a trophy. She was tempted to try it.
But it didn’t fit her usual image, so she stayed silent.
Young Master Cao urged her, “If you don’t like it, we’ll switch.”
Liang Dan nodded, and with Pan Li’s encouragement, Xu Mei reluctantly went to change.
Ah Feng’s character might be lacking, but his eye was sharp.
On Li Mengjiao, the dress was princess-like; on Xu Mei, it was elegant.
Older than Li Mengjiao, Xu Mei carried it better.
Ah Feng kept her makeup simple, skipping the bun for loosely curled, twin braids over her shoulders — youthful and playful with a touch of elegance. A stylist’s hand could turn the ordinary into magic with a mere style shift.
Liang Dan nodded approvingly. “This is it — no need to change. We’re heading back to the station now.”
Today, the dairy giant’s reps were visiting Xiang Province TV.
Liang Dan had no intention of letting them see Li Mengjiao.
Once the contract was signed, Yuan Fenghui’s efforts would be futile.
Xiang Province TV was Liang Dan’s turf — she wasn’t worried about Yuan Fenghui causing trouble.
…
Wen Ying and Li Mengjiao were “escorted” out of the studio.
Wen Ying’s flushed face gradually calmed, and Li Mengjiao’s tears dried quickly.
Wen Ying handed her a tissue. “Wipe your face.”
Li Mengjiao wiped, laughing. “Haha, how was my acting?”
Wen Ying gave her a thumbs-up.
“Tears on cue — those acting classes paid off!”
Li Mengjiao blushed at the praise. “It wasn’t all acting — I was really mad.”
Crying needed emotional buildup — her anger and tears were real. Liang Dan had gone too far.
Without Wen Ying, Li Mengjiao would’ve been angrier, truly provoked by Liang Dan. If she couldn’t wear the dress, neither would Xu Mei — she might’ve torn it in the changing room. But what good would that do? Xu Mei wouldn’t wear it, and she’d have to pay for it.
Wen Ying’s presence kept Li Mengjiao rational.
She had blind faith in Wen Ying, believing she wouldn’t let her be bullied for nothing.
This unspoken trust let Li Mengjiao play along with Wen Ying’s performance without question.
Wen Ying, red-faced from anger?
Fake!
Definitely fake!
She just had to follow Wen Ying’s lead.
“It’s right to be angry, but anger alone won’t do. Once we secure the endorsement, they’ll be the ones fuming. We acted so hard — Xu Mei will cherish her ‘stolen’ prize and wear that dress,” Wen Ying reassured.
The dress was nice but wrong for the audition.
Li Mengjiao looked at Wen Ying expectantly. “What now? I didn’t like the dress or styling, but going to the audition like this — isn’t it too plain?”
Wen Ying’s phone rang.
It was Yuan Fenghui.
“I’ll take Teacher Yuan’s call.”
Yuan Fenghui didn’t ask about the earlier incident, first ensuring Wen Ying and Li Mengjiao were safe. Relieved by their confirmation, she said, “I just got word — Xiang Province TV moved today’s audition earlier. Liang Dan’s bringing all last year’s signed contestants but deliberately left Mengjiao out. Since we’re here, we’re attending. Find a way to get Mengjiao ready and come to Xiang Province TV — I’ll meet you at the entrance. The audition’s at 10 a.m.!”
Yuan Fenghui offered a new stylist, but Wen Ying, wary from the earlier ordeal, declined.
“Teacher Yuan, I’ll do Mengjiao’s makeup myself.”
Yuan Fenghui, on the other end, was speechless.
Wen Ying doing Li Mengjiao’s makeup?
She feared Li Mengjiao would show up with clownish blush like a monkey’s rear.
