Chapter 6 — The Beauty Drainage System

The music swelled, and I began to dance. I knew my condition was not yet at its absolute peak, but my movements were clean, the rhythm was precise, and my expressions hit the mark. When I finished, scattered applause drifted up from the audience below. It was not much, but it was there. Han Zheng stared at me for a few seconds before speaking.

Luc Niam, you have improved immensely.

Just four words. Yet the prevailing wind within the broadcast room shifted entirely. Wait, is this Luc Niam actually not bad? Was her talent buried all this time? Compared to Song Quiao Quiao, at least looking at her is much more pleasing to the eyes. The second round voting results arrived: Song Quiao Quiao: Twenty-sixth place. Myself: Eighteenth place. The gap was closing. No. It was reversing.

Between the second and third rounds, there was a one-hour break. In that single hour, three notable things occurred. First, the president of Song Quiao Quiaos fan club published a lengthy manifesto announcing their departure from the fandom.

Starting today, the Song Quiao Quiao fan club is officially disbanded. We have been deceived for three months. Her beauty was fake, her persona was fake, everything was completely fake.

Second, the conditions of the three trainees who had previously been drained by Song Quiao Quiao began to recover. The dark circles under Zhang Little Fish's eyes faded, and Her Me Qi's hair stopped falling out in clumps. A girl named Lim Dora also suddenly found her acne clearing up entirely. They gathered together, murmuring in low voices.

Do you guys feel like ever since we distanced ourselves from Song Quiao Quiao, our health has gotten so much better?

Me too! I haven't practiced with her this week, and yet my skin is healing all on its own.

How bizarre...

Third, Chu Yi Tang sought me out.

Luc Niam, do you know something?

She leaned against the wall, crossing her arms as she gazed at me.

About why Song Quiao Quiao is becoming so hideous.

I do not know.

Stop playing dumb.

She raised an eyebrow.

Lately, you have been eating junk food every single day, while she grows heavier day by day. Did you really think I wouldn't notice?

I remained silent.

I don't care what methods you are using.

Chu Yi Tang lowered her voice.

But I want to cooperate with you.

Cooperate on what?

The third round is a team battle, two people per team. I am going to team up with you.

Why?

Because I want to win.

She stared straight into my eyes.

My father's money can guarantee I won't be eliminated, but it cannot guarantee I get to debut. I want to debut.

Does teaming up with me mean you can debut?

Your condition is on the rise, while Song Quiao Quiao is plummeting. If we coordinate well in the third round, making it into the top ten will be effortless.

I pondered for a moment.

Very well. But I have one condition.

Name it.

On the third-round stage, I must take the center position.

Chu Yi Tang was startled, then burst into laughter.

Agreed.

The third round was a team-versus-team showdown. Chu Yi Tang and I formed a team, pitted against Song Quiao Quiao and her Group A teammate, Sun Dian Dian. Sun Dian Dian was the person who always followed closely behind Song Quiao Quiao. Throughout the past three months, she had constantly hovered around her, helping carry bags, handing her water, and serving tea. Yet today, Sun Dian Dian's expression as she stood beside Song Quiao Quiao was remarkably strange. This was because Sun Dian Dian's skin was also visibly improving to the naked eye. The closer someone had been to Song Quiao Quiao previously, the more severely they had been drained. But now, as the system intercepted garbage and transferred it in reverse back to Song Quiao Quiao, those around her were instead beginning to heal. Clearly, Sun Dian Dian had also realized something. The gaze she directed at Song Quiao Quiao was no longer one of adoration, but had transformed entirely into vigilance.

The music played. The coordination between Chu Yi Tang and myself exceeded all expectations. Although her basic skills were not stellar, her aura was immensely strong. Just standing on stage, she possessed the commanding grace of a wealthy young lady. Meanwhile, I handled all the high-difficulty choreography. Three months of indulgence had not dulled my dancing skills. On the contrary, because the waste within my body was continuously being siphoned away by the system, my physical stamina was even better than when I had first entered the camp. I executed a series of cartwheels flowing directly into a split, landing firmly on the ground. Gasps of astonishment instantly erupted from the crowd below.

Oh my god! Since when has Luc Niam been this strong?

That flexibility is simply incredible!

Was she deliberately hiding her true strength all this time?

On the opposing side, Song Quiao Quiao's performance was too atrocious to watch. Her body was far too heavy, every movement half a beat too slow. When she tried to spin, she nearly stumbled and fell. Sun Dian Dian, dancing right beside her, suddenly stopped. She stood upon the stage, gazing at Song Quiao Quiao who was panting heavily, sweat pouring like rain, and then performed an action nobody expected. She stepped two paces to the side, widening the distance between herself and Song Quiao Quiao by a full position. Then, she continued dancing on her own. She no longer coordinated with Song Quiao Quiao, nor did she adjust to her rhythm anymore. Song Quiao Quiao froze in shock.

Dian Dian?

Sun Dian Dian did not look at her, finishing the remaining movements by herself. The music ended. Silence hung heavy over the audience. Han Zheng picked up the microphone.

The voting results are in. The team of Luc Niam and Chu Yi Tang is the winner.

Applause rang out. It was no longer a few scattered claps, but genuine, roaring applause. I stood in the center of the stage, the spotlight pouring down upon me. Thirty million people were watching me. New voices began to emerge within the comment section: Luc Niam is so cool! Why didn't I notice her before? A dark horse! Absolutely a dark horse!

I did not smile, nor did I bow. I merely turned my head to look at Song Quiao Quiao. She stood at the edge of the stage, where the spotlight no longer chased her. Her face was submerged in darkness, bloated, sallow, looking utterly wretched and distressed. Three months ago, she had stood in this very spot, stepping upon my face to welcome the cheers of everyone present. Now, it was her turn to stand in the shadows. The third-round voting results displayed: Myself: Ninth place. Song Quiao Quiao: Thirty-second place. Falling far below the elimination threshold.

After the third round concluded, the backstage area was thrown into absolute chaos. Song Quiao Quiao's manager, Lin, was on the phone. Her voice was so loud it echoed down the entire corridor.

I don't care! You need to contact the production team immediately right now. Quiao Quiao cannot be eliminated! She still has eight commercial contracts left to fulfill. If she gets dropped, who is going to compensate for the losses?

The person on the other end said something, and manager Lin's expression turned even uglier.

What do you mean the audience votes cannot be altered? Then think of another way!

She hung up the phone, turned around, and spotted me standing in the hallway. Her gaze instantly turned icy.

Luc Niam.

Hello, manager Lin.

Come here.

She yanked me into a vacant corner, lowering her voice.

I don't know what you did to Quiao Quiao, but let me warn you, you better stop while you're ahead.

I haven't done anything.

Stop playing dumb.

Her gaze was razor-sharp.

Quiao Quiao's condition suddenly collapsed, and the timing coincides perfectly with when you started letting yourself go. Did you really think I wouldn't notice?

Perhaps it is merely a coincidence.

Luc Niam, listen to me very carefully.

She stepped closer.

The resources backing Quiao Quiao are not something you can possibly imagine. Her fans, her commercial endorsements, her connections—pulling out just a single one of them is enough to crush you to dust.

If you stop right now, I can pretend none of this ever happened. I might even grant you a good position, allowing you to trail behind Quiao Quiao and debut together.

Trail behind her?

Indeed. You can serve as her supporting act, and a portion of the resources will be shared with you. Everyone wins.

I looked at manager Lin's shrewd face and suddenly burst into laughter.

Manager Lin, do you happen to know Phuong Vien Vien?

Her expression flickered momentarily.

Phuong Vien Vien has nothing to do with this matter.

When she left, she had lost fifteen pounds, and half her hair had fallen out.

I stared straight into her eyes.

Were you her manager?

No.

Then do you know why she ended up in such a state?