Quick Transmigration: Saving The Crazy Villainess

Chapter 458: Side Story: Superstar System (1)

Side Story: Superstar System (1)

It would be many months later that Jiang Li would come to know that Liu De's system had long left him for another host.

The lucky one, you say?

The person in question made their first television appearance in a reality show - as a trainee competing against a hundred talented people hoping they could gain popularity and debut.

How would Jiang Li and Selena Tang deal with this superstar wannabe? Would 'she' be another enemy? Or...

...

It happened before Jiang Li and Selena Tang got married. It was a period when the two were still building their careers. Jiang Li switched from being a producer to being an actor and singer. Meanwhile, Selena had just returned from abroad.

At a cafe near Starlight's building, two people sat down and exchanged some dry greetings before proceeding into the actual discussion.

The loveliest (?) and most high-profile scriptwriter in the country, Selena Tang, raised her left brow at the bespectacled middle-aged man sitting before her.

"Idol Maker, what?"

Disregarding the fawning look on the other's face, she laughed like she just heard of something ridiculous and asked, "Did I hear correctly? You want me, Selena Tang, Tang Yue, a writer, in your show as a judge?"

The famous reality show director, Director Zhuang did not mind the unusual gaze from Selena Tang and acted like he did not hear the obvious sarcasm from her question which had emphasized her 'names' and profession.

Director Zhuang smilingly said, "Yes. The plan is to recruit 100 girls from different agencies and have them compete against each other for a debut chance. The group to be formed would only have around 10 members and the ones deciding who will gain the debut spots would be the audience." Fi𝒏d 𝒏ew upd𝒂t𝒆s on novel𝒃in(.)com

"So what's the judges' role?"

"Well, to be honest, they would be more like teachers imparting their experiences in the entertainment industry and helping them improve. The initial evaluation of the classes would depend on the mentors. Then the next evaluation results would all be from the online voters and the audience."

The woman nodded. She did not erase the smile on her face, albeit her brows furrowed, "I get the idea of the show. The format is not unique either, and has been implemented by other companies abroad. Now what I would like to understand is your reason for inviting me as a judge. What will I judge there, specifically in that so-called initial evaluation phase? Are these trainees making scripts? Am I to score their speeches or anything written every time we announced the vote ranking?"

In the latter part of her sentences, the words coming out of her mouth were spoken with stress, carrying out excessive annoyance. On her face, she was blatantly saying that the idea was so ridiculous and stupid. Her smile was quite intimidating when she asked, "Is that it, Director?"

'I'm waiting for your stupid reply, Director,' said her eyes that had no trace of a smile despite the curling of the corners of her beautiful lips.

The forty-five-year-old director felt cold sweat trickling down his back.

"Ms. Tang, wait, please calm down. We are sincere in our offer and we are not pranking you. We really want you in our production set."

Selena laughed coldly, "As what again? Listen to yourself. Do you think you sound like in your right mind?"

The directly froze a bit. The other's face was awkward. "Ms. Tang...."

Impatience showed on the woman's expression and so she stood up. Before trotting away on her high heels, she said, "Mr. Zhuang. I appreciate your time, but I'm busy so I will leave first. And about your proposal. No matter what your plan is, if it's to make a joke of your own show, or to pull my fiance into it, I reject it."

Dissatisfaction could be seen on her charming face.

Until now, Selena could not believe they had just wasted half an hour of her day in a conversation that basically went like this.

-Hello. Can you be part of our show?

--To write scripts for contestants or something similar?

-Oh. No, you be a judge?

--What? How do I judge in a freaking idol show?

In the entertainment industry, where would one find a conversation as dumb as this?

...

That day Selena Tang ended up walking out and going to another appointment.

However, she never expected that fate would play a joke on her.

On the day the trainees from the various entertainment companies who passed the selection arrived at the huge dome for an orientation, Selena was there. She was seated amongst the judges, with the audience behind her and the trainees one by one filling up the stadium-like seats in front.

... She ended up accepting because of Jiang Li. Now as she recalled the reason, Selena could not help but frown.

That unreliable fiance of hers...

Jiang Li said he would like to be with her on the same show and she reluctantly accepted. It was already late when she learned the man was talking about a different idol survival program. It was not the one Director Zhuang offered to her. Yet it was what she signed herself up for, thinking they were only being needlessly fussy for signing at different places and not disclosing the program name and the other judges.

"Miss Tang, I heard Mr. Jiang Li is on the other talent survival show of the rivaling company, do you know?"

Instead of dissing her for accepting the judging offer despite being a scriptwriter, the famous rapper invited by the crew smirked and thought of annoying her with something more absurd.

There were two more mentors sitting at the same table as them - one in charge of singing, the other dancing. The latter was also the so-called producer representative acting like the official emcee.

Even though there were cameras around focusing on her face, Selena did not restrain her expression. She glared openly at the thirty-four-year-old rap mentor, Feng Lu, then simply warned. "Mr. Feng. With all due respect, I don't think we should be discussing this. I suggest you don't bring up this topic to me again if you don't want to know fully why even directors are careful not to anger me."

The others were a bit taken aback. This flower-like beauty was so fierce even though the recording had already started? Was she not aware that she was the most unqualified to sit on the panel?

The woman seemed to have guessed what was on their mind and swept her gaze to her side. As they collectively looked away, they had to admit that she indeed looked cold and terrifying.

"Ahem. Let's behave ourselves, judges. The trainees can see us. Let us not make them more nervous by showing an intense atmosphere to them." The twenty-nine-year-old veteran singer, Ruby, tried to mediate, attempting to kill the awkward atmosphere before it even escalated into something worse.

Selena did not heed her though. She kept her disinterested expression on and leaned her back on the sofa chair while crossing her arms. Nobody dared to pick on her anymore, not even the directors and producers since they remembered who this young lady really was.

'Forget it, this girl of the Tang family can't be provoked.' The majority thought while the marketing team decided to ask for a copy of this scene for promotion and hype. The latter planned to leak the video so they could use the drama to get more attention in the future.

"Hello, everyone. Hello, coaches..."

Shortly after, the initial evaluation phase began. Trainees were called by group depending on the agency they came from.

Selena looked bored as she held her mic and stared at the five stars attached to a female contestant's shoulder. She welcomed them wearing a serious expression, "Hi."

"Hello, Miss Tang."

"Tell me about yourself." Prior to saying that, Selena already lowered her head to read the bio-data of the female teenager standing at the center of the 5-member group sent by her agency.

'A trainee for a mere 7 months... Uh-uh. Yet she dared pin 5 stars on her clothes.'

Her critiquing eyes went back to the trainee's face when the latter began her speech. "My name is Miley Xu. I am from Gentle Moon Entertainment and my hobby is singing and dancing."

"Every contestant here treats singing and dancing as their hobbies," Selena remarked disinterestedly.

"I also love composing poems and songs. If the coaches would allow me, I would like to present one of my creations." There was a harmless smile on Miley Xu's face. But a moment later, her expression changed as she hastily added, "Of course, if possible, only after our group's performance. We worked really hard for this opportunity."

Selena flashed a meaningful smile as she took on the minute changes in the expressions of the beautiful ladies before her. Although the displeased look on the faces of the other girls flickered only for a second, she saw it all clearly.

She noticed the cue from the staff, but Selena went on, "So it says here that your actual training period is quite short. What gave you the confidence to wear that?"

Everyone followed her eyesight. The number of stars on Miley Xu's would not have been so eye-catchy if not for the gold background that differed from the silver plating of the other numbers. Obviously, the production team intentionally did it for this kind of moment.

Yes. The trainee in the middle of the stage was really pretty. Even when compared to Selena herself, she could be said to be not inferior at all. However, in this place right now, there were about a hundred girls with stunning looks.

Hearing that Miley Xu had short training time, people could not help but become skeptical since even some five-year trainees shied away from wearing 5-star emblems.

Yet even when confronted with doubtful gazes, the girl kept her bright smile, "I am fully aware that I might not be deserving of this rating. But it is not because somebody told me to wear this that I picked it up from the basket in the waiting hall. It is more like a reminder... or it is like I am silently putting pressure on myself so that I will strive to become worthy of this 5-star emblem. That's the kind of idol I want to be, striving for the best that I could in order to give inspiration to others."

Exclamations echoed right after. The audience seemed to have liked her humbleness, or maybe it was because they were expecting an answer filled with confidence so the contrast with their expectation created a positive impression. Even the rap mentor, Mr. Feng, and the vocal mentor, Ruby, nodded in approval. The latter warmly commented, "I like your mindset, Miss Xu. To take the emblem as a goal and a form of pressure on yourself to always give it your best. I will gladly watch your journey."

"Thank you so much for the encouragement." The already bright smile Miley Xu had on her face blossomed even more, enchanting many from the audience.

The famed scriptwriter erased the playful grin on her lips and picked up her pen.

"Well, you're still the first girl to pin 5 stars on your own clothes. Your teammates are more conservative and chose 4 stars. Confidence is good. Having a goal is also good. But this is a competition so let's hope your predicted rating is what we would give you after your performance."

Selena Tang then leaned back and held the evaluation sheet with both hands.

As if the signal they were waiting for finally arrived, the girls went to their position.

The good-looking emcee tacitly smiled and said, "Without further ado. Ladies and gentlemen, let us all welcome. Miley Xu, Hana Lin, Rana Tang, Ke Lina, and Fu Renyu of Gentle Moon Entertainment, performing 'Lover's Vow'. by J.E.W.E.L!"