Chapter 1 — The Beauty Drainage System

On the very first day I stepped into the training camp, I became the resident clumsy laughingstock who dragged everyone down. Whether it was the grueling four-in-one-morning physical drills or the intensive midnight dance sessions, every extra hour I pushed myself left my reflection in the mirror looking just a shade duller. Meanwhile, my teammate, Song Qiaoqiao, strolled in late and left early every single day without ever missing a single midnight snack. Yet, her skin remained radiant and glowing, her waist so impossibly slender that a single hand could easily span it. She was the undisputed darling of the coaches and the absolute favorite of every camera lens. Whenever rankings were posted by group, she securely claimed the top spot. As for me, having started at twelfth place upon entering the camp, I plummeted steadily down to thirty-seventh. Day after day, Song Qiaoqiao would shove all sorts of skincare products and rigorous training schedules into my hands, whispering encouragingly:

Nian Nian, do not let your spirits drop. If your skin looks dull, just use more sheet masks; if your waist is thick, focus more on core workouts. As long as you persevere, you will definitely become beautiful!

Believing every word she said, I drove my training intensity to the absolute limit of the entire camp. Yet, during last week's live performance, while I danced my absolute heart out, the cameras did not grant me a single second of screen time. Coach Han Zheng even delivered a harsh public critique right in front of everyone:

Lu Nian, your condition is deteriorating by the day. Your skin is dull, your figure is out of balance, and you possess virtually no audience appeal.

If you continue like this, your name will undoubtedly be on the elimination list for the next round.

Just as I plunged into the depths of despair, lines of glowing text suddenly materialized before my eyes: The female lead is so gorgeous! Phrases like "skin as white as ice and bones like jade" were literally invented for Song Qiaoqiao, right? I have loathed that dark, ugly creature for ages. By what right does some country bumpkin occupy a slot here? I wish I had the female lead's beauty-siphoning system too. Then I would not have to waste money on plastic surgery! I am so looking forward to the next performance. Can't wait for the female lead to siphon another batch, stunning enough to break the internet!

I understood now. From the very beginning, I had been working myself to the bone entirely to nourish her appearance.

Chapter 1

No wonder every morning when I woke up for a four o'clock run, my skin felt increasingly rough. No wonder I strictly monitored my dietary intake, yet my weight continued to creep upward. No wonder Song Qiaoqiao did practically nothing, yet grew fairer by the day and slimmer by the hour. The comment streams continued to cascade endlessly past, filled with adulation for Song Qiaoqiao and mockery of me. Lu Nian, this ugly supporting character is still trying to thrash about. She has no idea she is merely a beauty-generating machine. Exactly. The more disciplined and hardworking she is, the prettier and more radiant the female lead becomes. I'm dying of laughter!

I clenched my fists so tightly my knuckles turned white. Since that was the case, I wanted to see if this system truly possessed zero flaws. I refused to believe I was born solely to serve as someone else's nutrient source.

Song Qiaoqiao approached me once again, holding a bottle of high-end serum and offering consolation:

Nian Nian, my mother brought this bottle back from abroad, and its brightening effects are extraordinary. Would you like to give it a try?

As long as you keep using it, your skin will definitely return to its fairness!

This time, I did not reach out to take the bottle. Gazing at her blindingly luminous face, a sudden wave of nausea washed over me.

No need.

Song Qiaoqiao looked momentarily stunned before pasting a look of affectionate concern back onto her face.

Nian Nian, has the pressure been getting to you too much lately? Or perhaps I should stay and practice overtime with you tonight?

Of course she wanted me to train overtime. Because as long as I pushed myself to the brink, she could continue draining away my beauty. Without answering, I spun around and strode out of the practice room. Reaching the end of the corridor, I halted, staring intently at my own sallow, bloated reflection trapped in the glass door. Three months ago, when I first stepped into the training camp, my skin had been the finest in the group—rosy, smooth, and so delicate it seemed a gentle breeze could tear it. And what about now? Dark circles, hidden blemishes, deepening smile lines, and an overall aged appearance that had added at least five years to my youth. Meanwhile, three months ago, Song Qiaoqiao had possessed sallow skin and a heavy frame, sitting firmly at the bottom of the entire cohort. Currently, she had transformed into a "chosen daughter of the heavens," an peerless beauty whom destiny itself chased down to spoon-feed her success.

I let out a cold, cynical laugh. Destiny was not spoon-feeding her success. I was the one chasing after her, feeding her with my own life.

Chapter 2

During the group rehearsal the very next day, I made a decision. I wanted to see what would happen if I ceased to be disciplined entirely.

That morning during physical training, I deliberately arrived ten minutes late. Coach Han Zheng frowned deeply at me before making a note in his ledger. I paid him no mind. During the break, while everyone else sipped black coffee and meal-replacement shakes, I strolled over to the vending machine and purchased a bottle of full-sugar milk tea.

Upon catching sight of it, Song Qiaoqiao immediately trotted over with a smile.

Nian Nian, aren't you strictly avoiding sugar? Milk tea is terribly high in calories.

I feel like drinking it today.

Right before her eyes, I tilted my head back and drank half the bottle in one go. That evening, upon returning to the dormitory, I skipped my pre-sleep yoga, omitted the sheet mask, and ignored the skincare serums entirely. I sprawled flat on my bed, scrolling through my phone until two in the morning before finally drifting off.

Waking up the next dawn, I peered into the mirror. Nothing outwardly had changed. But what about Song Qiaoqiao? As she pushed herself upright from the opposing bed, I immediately noticed a tiny red blemish erupting on her chin. It was minute, almost imperceptible. But it undeniably existed.

The comment streams materialized once again: What is happening? Why does the female lead have a pimple on her face? System notification: Input values from the beauty source have declined, transmission efficiency reduced by thirty percent. It is fine, it is fine. As long as Lu Nian resumes her self-discipline, the female lead will quickly return to normal.

I stared fixedly at that tiny red spot, the corners of my lips curving upward. This was getting interesting.

Over the next three days, I deliberately let myself go. It was not a total abandonment, merely cutting my training volume in half, swapping my diet shakes for regular meals, and adjusting my alarm from four in the morning to seven.

Three days later, the single pimple on Song Qiaoqiao's chin had multiplied into three. Her skin no longer glowed like ice, having regressed to the normal tone of an ordinary person. She began anxiously checking her mirror constantly, hurriedly reapplying her makeup over and over.

Nian Nian, have you not been training as hard lately?

A thread of frantic impatience laced her voice.

I haven't seen you out for your morning runs, and you haven't been attending the night classes either. Are you feeling unwell?

Mm, a bit tired.

Then you must rest properly, but you cannot simply stop training altogether. Next week is already the second public performance.

She thrust a training schedule into my hands, its surface densely packed with a rigorous daily itinerary. A five o'clock morning run, body shaping classes in the morning, vocal training in the afternoon, extra dance rehearsals at night, and a full hour of stretching before bed. The workload exceeded even my previous grueling schedule. Naturally, she wanted me to push myself harder. The more desperately I suffered, the more breathtakingly beautiful she became.

Thank you, I will have a look at it.

Casually, I stuffed the schedule into my pocket and turned away. Minutes later, that very piece of paper was repurposed as a placemat beneath my instant noodle bowl.

Chapter 3

The group assignments for the second public performance were officially announced. Song Qiaoqiao and I were placed in separate groups. My assigned teammate was another trainee by the name of Chu Yitang. Chu Yitang hailed from a wealthy background and had entered the training camp purely for amusement. Her technical skills ranked dead last, yet her social connections were vast, maintaining private ties with several influential coaches.

On the day the groups were formed, she looked me up and down before curling her lip in disdain.

Given your current state, make sure you don't drag me down.

I paid her no mind whatsoever. Throughout rehearsal, Chu Yitang spent the entire session glued to her phone, refusing to follow a single choreography movement. When the choreographer corrected her three times, she finally rose at a leisurely, unbothered pace.

What is the rush? My father sponsors twenty percent of this show's advertising budget. No matter who gets cut, I am untouchable.

The other members exchanged glances, none of them daring to utter a single word of protest.