However, things weren't all smooth sailing for Jiang Yuqi during rehearsals—after all, where there are people, there's conflict.
That day, as usual, she went to the restroom before practice—only to realize someone had followed her.
"Jiang Yuqi-jiejie, can we talk? Could you let me have the center position for the singing part just this once? You know I barely have any lines… I'll definitely repay your kindness."
Gao Ningchu had come to her after weighing the pros and cons. She knew Jiang Yuqi was an orphan and figured that if she spoke softly enough, maybe she could get her way.
After all, if she didn't even try to fight for it, Gao Ningchu wouldn't be content. But she didn't dare go head-to-head with the other strong, well-connected girls.
Coupled with her teary-eyed, pitiful expression, her request was downright nauseating.
This woman was calculated—she deliberately picked a spot with no cameras to make the request. What, did she think Jiang Yuqi was some soft-hearted pushover?
"Wow, this is the first time I've heard someone make such a disgusting request sound so noble and poetic. What, you think being weak makes you automatically right?"
Since there were no cameras, Jiang Yuqi didn't bother to play nice. She wasn't interested in putting on an act anymore.
She tore off the mask right then and there—after all, they were just temporary teammates.
Gao Ningchu trembled with anger. She thought lowering herself would at least earn her a polite rejection, not a direct slap in the face. More importantly—this Jiang Yuqi was nothing like how Zhang Kexin described her: soft, timid, and easy to manipulate.
Once they left, Zhang Kexin stepped out from another restroom stall. She had been secretly eavesdropping the entire time, and now she looked down at the voice recorder in her hand with a triumphant smile.
Perfect. She had the material to smear Jiang Yuqi. All she needed to do was trim and edit the audio a bit, and she could easily twist the poor orphan into an arrogant "bully who steps on her teammates to get ahead."
Of course, Zhang Kexin wasn't planning to strike right away. She wanted to wait until she had enough material and then drop the bomb at a critical moment. No way was she going to let Jiang Yuqi make a comeback.
Meanwhile, Jiang Yuqi, already walking away from the scene, allowed herself the faintest smile. She hoped the silent audio file would be "useful" to Zhang Kexin.
When Gao Ningchu first approached her, Jiang Yuqi had already sensed through her powers that Zhang Kexin was hiding nearby and eavesdropping. So she'd made a few subtle moves to alter the course of events.
Things had come far enough that Jiang Yuqi could now start identifying the people who had harmed her in her previous life. It was best to act swiftly—she couldn't give Zhang Kexin any opportunity to stir up more trouble.
That very night, the show's production team suddenly posted an emergency announcement on the official website: Contestant Zhang Kexin slipped while showering and suffered a fractured leg. She has been sent to the hospital for treatment as soon as possible.
As a result, the production team had invited a substitute contestant, Yuan Jiahe, to take her place in the remaining episodes. They urged viewers not to spread or believe in rumors.
The internet was soon abuzz with speculation—something didn't sit right.
"Wait, what happened to my favorite girl??"
"Sounds like some shady business behind the scenes..."
"Breaking a leg in the shower? Even soap operas wouldn't dare write that."
"So many contestants, and only Zhang Kexin gets injured? Sounds like bad luck to me."
"Stuff like this happens. Let's stay rational, people."
Meanwhile, in the VIP ward of the city's First People's Hospital:
Zhang Kexin was having a fit, throwing things and cursing nonstop.
"This hospital is useless! Bunch of quacks! They actually said I need three months of rest—why is my luck so damn bad…"
After venting, she broke down crying, covering her face in despair. Her dream of debuting in a girl group—gone just like that. She couldn't accept it. Why did she have to be the one hit by this random disaster?
Next to her, Nurse Xiao Li was mentally screaming in frustration. Why did I have to be assigned to this lunatic?!
At first, Xiao Li had been pleasantly surprised to see she wouldn't be dealing with elderly patients this time. Then she recognized the face—it was the currently trending trainee, Zhang Kexin.
Xiao Li had even been a casual fan. But that joy didn't last more than a minute.
From the moment Zhang Kexin found out about her injury, she hadn't stopped smashing things in the room—for over an hour.
Only after finally calming down did she notice the nurse nearby. But since she could no longer participate in the show, she had no reason to restrain her young miss temper.
She immediately called the phone that had been returned to her by the production team:
"Manager Wu, get the best orthopedic doctors from a private hospital on standby at home. And tell Driver Xiao Wang to pick me up from Room 106, First People's Hospital."
"Yes, Miss. Don't worry, I'll take care of it."
Even after hanging up, Zhang Kexin still felt indignant. She never imagined she'd fall so fast and so hard. And watching those poor nobodies rise to stardom? She refused to accept that.
At the same time, the system finally dared to speak after Jiang Yuqi finished her exhausting day of practice.
"Host, why did you go easy on someone who clearly means you harm? That's not like the ruthless host I know."
Jiang Yuqi: You must have misunderstood me—I had it all calculated.
"You're thinking about the bigger picture, huh? If Zhang Kexin died during filming, the whole show would probably be shut down, and then your mission target wouldn't even have a chance to debut."
"Exactly."
Actually, Jiang Yuqi had further plans she hadn't revealed.
She knew girls like Zhang Kexin—arrogant rich heiresses—never let go of a grudge. She wouldn't be able to keep her dirty thoughts to herself.
Jiang Yuqi was waiting for her to strike. She wanted to let Zhang Kexin suffer her own internet backlash, and then send her to prison to work a sewing machine.
Otherwise, she'd be letting the original host from her previous life down.
That's right. Zhang Kexin had caused the original host's death.
Breaking her leg now was just the appetizer.