Chapter Four: Joining the Variety Show

Zhang Hong froze in place.

Damn it, when did Yu Tang start looking a little attractive? This won’t do—she’s bound to steal You Ran’s spotlight like this.

After pondering for two seconds, Zhang Hong looked Yu Tang up and down, then cleared her throat. “After you go on the variety show, you should dress just like this, got it? This kind of little white dress suits you best; you look so pure and innocent.”

“And don’t wear makeup. These days, netizens prefer the natural look. Understood?!”

Yu Tang rolled her eyes. Trying to manipulate her? She was already twenty-five—what was the point of acting innocent? She was all about that West Coast vibe.

“Got it,” she said. But as soon as Yu Tang left the building, she bought herself a whole new wardrobe—bright and stunning.

Unfortunately, she was almost out of money.

Shopping lifted her spirits. Although her current face didn’t quite match the clothes, Yu Tang believed that one day, she’d reclaim the looks she had in her previous life.

The variety show was a dating program. To ensure authenticity, the director used a live broadcast format, which kept its popularity consistently high.

The regular cast comprised two men and two women. Each episode also featured two male and two female guest stars, whose identities were kept secret until the broadcast.

Among the regulars: rising heartthrob Xie Yi and perennial third- or fourth-tier actor Shen Tianshi. The two women were Chen Cheng, a gentle heiress, and Xiao Yufei, a rock singer.

After signing the contract, Yu Tang lounged at home for three days. When the production crew arrived, she was still wearing a face mask.

Aiming for realism, the crew arrived with their giant cameras, broadcasting live as they knocked on Yu Tang’s door.

[Because you were often photographed unflatteringly and those pictures were posted online, netizens have come to believe that’s what you really look like. Adding to that, the real heiress frequently shares her grievances online, which led to you being cyberbullied. Later, when you tried to clear things up via livestream, you’d already turned into a haggard woman, confirming the rumors.]

[Task: Livestream in front of the whole internet and receive genuine compliments.]

[Reward: Restore your exquisite twenty-two-year-old features.]

Yu Tang’s eyes lit up. Livestreaming? Easy.

She grabbed her phone and was about to set it up when a knock sounded at the door.

Yu Tang put down her phone and, still wearing her mask, went to open the door.

“Ms. Yu, surprise! We’re here to take you to the filming location!” The director beamed.

Yu Tang: ...Her fists clenched involuntarily.

[Who is this woman? Not fake at all, actually kind of real.]

[I can’t stop laughing—her obliviousness is off the charts. The camera’s right in her face and she’s still doing her skincare routine.]

[I feel like the look she just gave the director could reduce him to ashes. I’m a little scared.]

[She’s so authentic. I’m a fan now.]

Yu Tang was just about to swing at the director when the system’s voice sounded again.

[Because you’ve been so maligned online, you’ve become deeply insecure. To livestream again in front of everyone must have taken great courage and effort. Congratulations, mission accomplished—reward incoming.]

Hearing this, Yu Tang turned her would-be punch into a casual chest stretch, then smoothly lowered her arm.

She peeled off her face mask, smiled brightly, and invited, “Come in, Director. I’ll just wash my face and we can head out.”

With the mask gone, her refined features, flawless skin, and captivating smile stunned the viewers.

[Oh my god, she’s gorgeous.]

[She must stay up super late—her complexion looks a bit pale.]

[Who cares about her sleep habits? Why does she look so familiar?]

[I know! She’s Yu Tang, the lead actress from “Summer Confession.”]

[No way! She’s the lead from “Summer Confession”? I watched that show every day in high school!]

Even the director paused, scratching his head in confusion.

“Huh? Oh, all right.”

Wait, this wasn’t what he’d been told. Wasn’t the plan to catch Yu Tang off guard and expose some dirt? No one had mentioned she looked like this. How was this supposed to be a scandal?

Yu Tang changed clothes and followed the director to the set of “A Little Bit of Love.”

This episode was filmed in a small rural town, where the guests would spend two days and nights together.

Unlike other dating shows with sweet, scripted dates, here the guests had to fend for themselves.

The regular cast was already waiting inside the cottage when Yu Tang arrived. They were energetically speculating about who the new guests might be.

Just then, Yu Tang entered, dragging a massive thirty-eight-inch suitcase that looked impossibly heavy.

All eyes turned toward her.

[You once spoke harshly to a rising actor on a variety show, insulting him. As a result, he detested you, and after the scene aired, his fans hated you too. Even after your downfall, they never let it go.]

[Task: Get the rising actor to greet you voluntarily.]

[Reward: Restore your youthful glow at age twenty.]

Yu Tang was beautiful, but years of late nights and overthinking had left her haggard, with dark circles under her eyes.

Hearing the task, she was delighted—until the system failed to specify the actor’s name.

Dragging her suitcase, she greeted everyone with effort. “Hello, everyone, I’m Yu Tang.”

“Yu Tang?! You’re this episode’s guest?!” a voice exclaimed incredulously.

Yu Tang turned toward the voice, raising an eyebrow when she saw who it was.

Shen Tianshi?

Shen Tianshi, noticing Yu Tang’s momentary pause, assumed she was intimidated by him. He lifted his chin proudly and sneered, “What’s wrong? Surprised to see me here?”

“I’ll tell you now—I’m not gonna help you win!”

He spoke with ferocious bravado.

Yu Tang found it amusing. “Dude, did you really think I haven’t watched previous episodes?”

Shen Tianshi, who was always stuck with leftovers and played the civilian in every game of Werewolf: ...

[Do these two know each other?]

[Shen Tianshi is so adorably fierce.]

[Looks like there’s bad blood between them, haha.]

[Why does Yu Tang talk like that? She doesn’t care about anyone’s feelings.]

[Her emotional intelligence is so low...]

Xie Yi, unaware of Yu Tang and Shen Tianshi’s past, noticed her suitcase seemed heavy. Blushing, he went over, took the suitcase from her, and said, “Hi, Sister Yu Tang~ Go have a seat.”

“Welcome, Yu Tang!” Chen Cheng clapped to greet her as well.

[Your relationship with Xie Yi was once antagonistic. For him to greet you first, you must have made a real effort to change.]

[Congratulations, task complete. Reward is being processed...]

Yu Tang was stunned. That was it?

She checked her reflection on her phone. She already looked seventy percent like her past self—just a bit thin on top, her hair parting too wide.

Some viewers noticed her subtle transformation.

[Wait, did Yu Tang just get prettier?]

[You’re not seeing things. I thought so too. Did she sneak off to put on makeup?]

[Hmph, maybe she came with makeup on. So much for “bare-faced”—as if that would fool you gullible fans.]

[The director gave her screen time right from the start. Is she royalty or something?]