C3

Quietly standing on stage like a still-life painting, Ruoshui scanned the room with a sense of boredom.

"Hey? The punishment for this round is singing. Let's see who gets the short end of the stick!" The female host's words snapped her back to reality.

Ruoshui glanced at the host, who had drawn the paper indicating the singing punishment. According to the script, it was supposed to be Su Tian, a member of their group, who would get this punishment because she had the best voice and was the best singer among them.

The host was working the crowd, building excitement as she approached the box to draw the name.

"Can I draw it instead?" Just as the host was about to reach into the box, a girl next to Ruoshui spoke up. Ruoshui looked over, surprised. The girl was Liu Xinrui, another member of their group, who met her gaze with a hint of disdain.

The host was taken aback—this wasn't in the script. The names were supposed to be predetermined. She glanced at Faang Qing, who was standing with arms crossed in the audience, looking displeased. However, when he nodded in agreement, the host went along with it. "Since Xinrui wants to help me draw, I'm more than happy to let her!" she said, masking her surprise with a cheerful demeanor, as if Xinrui's help was genuinely welcome.

In the entertainment industry, everyone's a performer.

Xinrui knew that while her little maneuver might be slightly annoying to some, it was ultimately harmless. She flashed a charming smile at the host, got up, and walked over to the box, reaching in to draw a name.

Faang Qing assumed it was just a rookie's attempt to stand out, so he allowed it. After all, showcasing talent was usually predetermined by the artists' team. He glanced at Meng Hao, who stood nearby, suddenly looking extremely displeased. Faang Qing frowned and turned his attention back to the stage just as the result was announced.

"Is it Ruoshui?" The sweet, innocent-sounding voice masked a mischievous intent that only the staff present could begin to guess.

Liu Xinrui proudly waved the slip of paper in her hand, making sure the camera caught the bold letters spelling out Shan Ruoshui.

Faang Qing's eyes flared with anger. Everyone knew Shan Ruoshui's singing skills were lacking, yet Liu Xinrui dared to have her sing. Was she trying to ruin the show?

"So it's Ruoshui!" The female host's smile nearly faltered, but her excellent professionalism kept it in place, reviving the slightly tense atmosphere. "Come to think of it, Ruoshui hasn't had a chance to showcase her talent today. This is a great opportunity!" Yes, an opportunity. Shan Ruoshui, please sing well...

Shan Ruoshui scoffed, loud enough for Su Tian, seated a spot away, to hear clearly. This little trick might be a real test for Shan Ruoshui, but who was she? She was Jian Yan. The name Jian Yan explained everything.

Shan Ruoshui stood and walked over to the female host, a shy smile on her face. "I didn't expect it to be me." She caught Liu Xinrui's gloating expression out of the corner of her eye, her gaze turning cold. Such a person was truly beneath notice.

"Oh, our Ruoshui, so shy! Don't be nervous~" The female host gave Shan Ruoshui an encouraging smile.

"I-I'm not..." If she had to play the shy part, she might as well do it convincingly.

The female host was quite fond of this seemingly harmless girl, especially in contrast to Liu Xinrui. She gently asked Shan Ruoshui, "Do you have a favorite singer, Ruoshui?"

"Yes," Shan Ruoshui replied with an adorable smile, her eyes sparkling like stars when she mentioned the name. "Senior Jian Yan."

"Oh?" The host was surprised. Many admired Jian Yan as an actress, as her acting career was far more prominent than her singing. It was rare to hear someone say their favorite singer was Jian Yan. "So Ruoshui likes Jian Yan. What's your favorite song by her?"

"The song I love is 'Redemption,'" Shan Ruoshui announced, dropping a bombshell by choosing one of the most challenging songs. "Ms. Jia, I also want to sing 'Redemption.'"

Ms. Jia, the host, was visibly taken aback. Everyone knew this was one of Jian Yan's toughest songs. Why on earth would Shan Ruoshui choose such a difficult piece instead of something simpler? If the camera weren't on her, she might have been pulling her hair out in frustration.