C2 Late to the Party

In the backstage corridors of MTC TV, everyone wore their professional smiles, hurrying back and forth. Even when spotting a big-name celebrity, they didn't pause but politely stepped aside or nodded in passing. Outside the room where the directors and producers worked, a staff member suddenly knocked on the door.

"Come in," a woman's voice called from inside.

The staff member turned the doorknob and entered. "Director Faang, everyone's here."

"Oh? Everyone's finally here?" The room contained only one woman in an off-white business suit, Director Faang Qing. "A small rookie group almost being late? Not a great start," she remarked, clearly unimpressed. The show was set to start in twenty minutes, and they had just arrived.

"Actually, one of the girls got here quite early," the staff member recalled. "She’s been waiting for over an hour, quietly reading her script and getting her makeup done when it was time."

"Oh?" Director Faang's expression remained unchanged, but her voice carried a hint of curiosity. She glanced at the staff member, her glasses catching the light as she moved. "Which one?"

"Her name is Shan Ruoshui. It's a pretty unique name," the staff member noted, remembering it.

"Shan Ruoshui, the one criticized for her singing?" Director Faang chuckled. "Even if her singing isn't great, her diligence is quite endearing."

"Yeah, the other two just arrived with their manager, who’s been apologizing non-stop," the staff member added, clearly disapproving of their lateness. "If they had come earlier, there’d be no need for apologies."

In the dressing room, the makeup artist was working quickly on the two girls who had arrived just in time. Despite her professional smile, her eyes betrayed her deep disapproval. Meanwhile, Shan Ruoshui sat on the large sofa at the back, her makeup already done, looking both elegant and gentle. She sat quietly, holding a well-thumbed script with slightly curled pages, a testament to her dedication. In contrast, the scripts of the other two girls lay on the table, still pristine, highlighting Shan Ruoshui's hard work.

Meng Hao stood against the wall, arms crossed, his face showing impatience with the two young women he usually supported.

As soon as Faang Qing entered, she noticed the scene. A hint of appreciation flickered in her eyes, directed at Shan Ruoshui. It seemed she had some doubts about the media's portrayal of Ruoshui.

Ruoshui looked up and saw Faang Qing, her eyes thoughtful. She quickly stood up, a bit nervous. "Hello."

It was only then that Meng Hao noticed Faang Qing. He certainly recognized the renowned MTC director. He quickly put on a smile. "Hello, Director Faang. I'm sorry, these two were delayed because of traffic. I hope you don't mind."

"No problem." Faang Qing glanced at the two young women, who were being held back by the makeup artist, then looked at their reflections in the mirror. Their faces were becoming more beautiful and refined, but there was something about them that didn't quite sit right with her. She shook her head, knowing her personal opinions didn't align with the industry's trends. As for Ruoshui... Faang Qing looked at the graceful young woman standing there, her hair styled in soft waves with a hint of pink, wearing a simple, intellectual outfit—a white shirt under an oversized beige sweater. Her eyes, enhanced with light brown contacts, gave her an elegant aura.

She was a beauty, one with potential worth nurturing.

Faang Qing nodded, her eyes showing a bit of admiration. "You're Shan Ruoshui?"

"Yes, hello, Director Faang." Ruoshui could see the admiration in Faang Qing's eyes, realizing she had made a good impression. Her smile became sweeter.

Faang Qing glanced at Meng Hao, thinking how he failed to notice such a gem. "Step outside for a moment. There are some things in your script that need changing. I'll explain." With that, Faang Qing left the dressing room, leaving Ruoshui with a sense of opportunity.

Shan Ruoshui quickly followed outside. Meng Hao's expression turned grim. What made him even more displeased was seeing the placement assigned to Shan Ruoshui at the start of the show. Originally, she was supposed to stand at the far edge of the group, which was also the edge of the stage. But now, she was positioned closer to the center of the stage within the group.

However, the script's specific flow hadn't changed much. The main focus was still on the two popular girls, with Shan Ruoshui receiving very few solo shots and lines. The audience's reaction to her was equally sparse. Throughout, she maintained a gentle smile that matched her appearance, responding appropriately to everything the host introduced. This was all scripted. In the entertainment industry, this was just how things were.

​