Chapter 1

Chapter 1

The story begins with an act of kindness.

More than a decade ago, an ordinary public servant, on his way back from a family visit, witnessed a woman attempting to jump off a bridge. Without hesitation, he leaped into the river to save her!

After a harrowing struggle, the woman was rescued safely.

Unfortunately, the currents during the flood season were too strong, and he eventually succumbed to exhaustion.

The woman regained her will to live, but the soldier who saved her left behind an unborn child.

From that day on, she had two sons: Wu Xuyang, her biological child, and Xue Jizhen, her adopted son without blood ties. As the boys grew up, the woman, worn out from her labors, could no longer carry on. She placed the bank card with the pension savings and the deed to their home before them, leaving a final message: "You two brothers must support each other in the future..."

Wu Xuyang was a year older, and Xue Jizhen had always followed closely in his footsteps.

Due to their mother's demanding work that kept her busy all year round, there was no one to look after him at home, so he was sent to kindergarten alongside his brother, resulting in him starting school earlier and being in the same grade as his sibling.

Though the brothers were cautious with their spending, they both had costly hobbies:

Wu Xuyang formed a band with his high school classmates and smoothly entered the Capital Conservatory of Music for university, where tuition was indeed steep.

Xue Jizhen's passion for shooting and skiing possibly stemmed from his father's genes; he even harbored dreams of following in his father's footsteps. However, the Air Force recruitment that year was extremely competitive, with only a handful of spots per province, barely reaching double digits. His academic performance wasn't outstanding enough to secure a provincial ranking, thus dooming his aspirations of a stable career in that field.

After the college entrance exam results were announced, Xue Jizhen enrolled in a polytechnic university near Wu Xuyang's.

In their third year without familial support, the two young men moved to a new city. Fortunately, they had each other for company. Though their lives were filled with bumps and bruises, they managed to cope.

By the end of their second year of university, Wu Xuyang began working on his debut album, often reversing day and night.

Coincidentally, Xue Jizhen was approached that summer by someone who claimed to be a talent scout from Starlight –

"Handsome guy, have you heard of our Starlight Talent Show? Dream of becoming a superstar? Want to be at the top of your game, with fans flocking to you and countless girls swooning over you? Join our competition! With your potential, it would be a waste to graduate and just become another corporate drone..."

Xue Jizhen held down two jobs; he had no time or energy to deal with random troublemakers.

Of course, he dismissed the encounter as nothing!

When he mentioned it to Wu Xuyang later, he even accused the man of being a fraud, saying confidently, "He didn't seem like an upright person at all. I didn't bother engaging him."

Wu Xuyang praised his younger brother, "That's right, don't talk to strangers outside."

Despite Xue Jizhen being already nineteen, Wu Xuyang still saw him as the little kid tagging along behind his brother, requiring daily chats and unexpected visits to his school...

Yet another week passed. When Xue Jizhen emerged from the basement, dusty and disoriented, to see the sunlight again, Wu Xuyang shivered in the blazing sun, realizing: His brother hadn't initiated a call for several days!

"Where have you been? Did they scam you into going to Myanmar to sell your kidneys?"

Xue Jizhen spoke guiltily, "I've been earning money."

Wu Xuyang was incredulous, "What did you say? Say it again!"

"I... I took a summer job..."

Xue Jizhen didn't know where to start. After he hastily recounted the events of the past few days, Wu Xuyang learned that indeed, his brother had been "conned": The Xingyao platform organized a talent show, and someone dropped out at the last minute. The production team couldn't gather enough participants, nor did they want to recruit too low-quality contestants. They ended up selecting candidates from two drama academies.

Come on, these were legitimate acting students!

Who would bother with an audition to become an idol when they could directly pursue acting?

Thus, Xue Jizhen, who was busy making milk tea for customers on the street and drenched in sweat, caught the eye of someone.

"The summer temporary store manager's commission is only one-third of the regular rate. Can you earn 20,000 yuan after two months of hard work? Who knows. But if I join a talent show as an extra, they'll provide food and accommodation, and pay me 28,000 yuan just for appearing! Do you know what prospects and special guests are, bro? They said that someone like me, with good looks, gets paid more~"

Wu Xuyang could feel his temples pulsating. "So you went?"

Xue Jizhen chuckled on the other end of the line. "I'm already here."

In this matter, Wu Xuyang knew enough to be cautious. He asked his brother about the contract details, the competition schedule, and the treatment of "wildcard contestants" like him.

Xue Jizhen could be considered a "working emperor," always keeping a sharp eye on his interests.

He wouldn't budge until the money was in his hands, unless there was a deposit first...

"The organizer said we can be eliminated after making it to the first round."

But earning money was never that easy.

Xue Jizhen would have to put in some effort too.

Thus, his main job was to be a supporting character, serving as a tool for the show's editing team. Whether it was being a foil to the main contestants or playing the role of a villainous foil to highlight the contestants' virtues, it all depended on the post-production script and the director's instructions.

In short, wherever he was needed, Xue Jizhen had to be there!

"I've been assigned the role of an idiotic foil with just a pretty face, clueless about singing, dancing, and rapping, and always seeking to provoke others."

Wu Xuyang: ...

Xue Jizhen found it novel. "There are two more tasks like this, and I even have lines!" Others were given tasks like rolling their eyes, reluctantly clapping, or secretly ostracizing others – low-level provocations.

*

A week later, Wu Xuyang called again, as if visiting someone in prison.

"Are you free to come out yet?"

Xue Jizhen's voice sounded weak. "I don't think so, bro. We've already recorded our initial stage appearance. Let me tell you a ghost story – someone has been holding up my giant headshot to greet me when I arrive and leave work through the passage..."

That headshot had been taken from afar, using a telephoto lens across a busy street.

Even now, Xue Jizhen could still recall the emotions he felt back then –

Amazement and confusion intertwined.

Incredibly, he also felt immensely flattered!

He thought to himself, Am I someone worthy of your affection?

"I feel like their judgment is questionable. My singing only earns high scores from karaoke machines, and my dancing is even more forgettable. For my talent showcase, I perform a set of military boxing. Yet, there are still people who like me solely for my appearance. Even after hearing rumors about my lack of talent, they remain steadfast in investing in me..."

Wu Xuyang fell silent for several seconds after hearing this.

Actually, Xue Jizhen had a decent singing voice; he was a KTV deity in his own right.

After a few seconds of silence, he still tried to reassure her, "It's not that bad."

"Alright, apart from you, they say the same thing."

Referring to his roommates and teammates, Xue Jizhen continued, "Right now, I'm in a bind where I can't advance nor retreat. It seems like I've developed some feelings for them." That's how fast friendships could blossom between guys. "On top of that, the production team secretly returned my phone, suggesting that there might be a chance for me to stay, and they want me to organize a fan group or something."

Wu Xuyang remained astonished, "Where did you suddenly get a fan group from?!"

"I asked the same thing. The production team said it's something the fans initiated on their own."

"..."

Do you still remember that you're there to be a sacrificial lamb?

Xue Jizhen chuckled softly and said, "Let's just take it one step at a time."

*

A few more days passed when Wu Xuyang saw his younger brother on TV.

Indeed, Xue Jizhen's entrance was distinct from the other favored contenders.

He was strikingly handsome, with an untamed wildness in his demeanor, an unapologetic fearlessness mingled with a hint of innocence and naivety.

At first glance, he indeed appeared to be a sacrificial pawn.

At best, she was an individual trainee; what about him? He was an outright amateur!

That being said, while Xue Jizhen's abilities were not the worst, they were far from exceptional: from a professional standpoint, his singing was all emotion and no technique, with notes that, while consistently on pitch, were only marginally better than untrained vocals. After performing a popular, copyright-infringement-free song, he met the judges' hesitant and ineffable expressions with a robust display of standard military physical training exercises.

This set of military boxing successfully created a few seconds of silence on the scene.

No joke, an amateur's boxing was more dramatic than any script!

Perhaps due to his "presence," Xue Jizhen managed to secure nearly 20 seconds of screen time.

In those 20 seconds, even more people noticed him...

Wu Xuyang checked the online version again, and the comments were surprisingly mild!

"Although Prince Xue is useless, he's genuinely beautiful!"

"@StockBuyers, your favorite waste of beauty is here!"

"Do you believe that Xingyao would give a script to a complete amateur, or in my Qin Shi Huang?"

"This guy is truly untouched by makeup in every sense..."

"I can't take my eyes off him; I'll admit, he's a true amateur!"

"It seems like I'll be out in the first round. Well, it's time to move on."

That same evening, Wu Xuyang received another call from his younger brother.

"The show has aired, did you catch it? Ha-ha, I got my appearance fee!"

Wu Xuyang chuckled awkwardly before asking, "So when are you coming back?"

Xue Jizhen instantly turned meek and hesitant, "After the first round, I advanced with a narrow margin. The production team asked me to sign an additional contract, so, so..." He still had to stay here and work.

Having smoothed over that topic, Little Xue began to share about his training life.

"I've been eating chicken breast salads every day, I've lost almost 8 pounds!"

"Someone secretly told me the WiFi password for our dorm."

"However, the internet speed isn't great. I was planning to register for next semester's electives while I'm at it."

"When winter comes, I'll have enough money for a top-of-the-line snowboard, hehe~"

Amidst his brother's enthusiastic chatter, Wu Xuyang suddenly felt less anxious.

Well then.

As long as he was happy.

What harm could it do to let the little rascal have his fun for two months?

*

After the second episode aired, the show's popularity soared, accompanied by several memorable moments that transcended its niche audience. The program's index and number of advertising sponsors continued to rise, indicating a strong potential for a massive breakthrough. Unless something unforeseen happened, it was on track to become the hottest variety show of the summer.

As the competition progressed, fans from each camp quickly formed and showcased their creative support.

Given that Xingyao had allotted more screen time to Xue Jizhen, his role as a sophisticated supporting character, with his insufficient skills yet ample charm, made him the perfect candidate for a beloved couple trope!

Regardless of the pairing, ship it first and discuss later!

Thus, emotional connections – or rather, romantic storylines – emerged between him and the frontrunners.

Even if these discussions and buzz were byproducts, and even though the CP fans were more attached to their favorites, for Xue Jizhen, who was on the brink of elimination, the accumulation of attention could bring about a significant change in his fate, potentially securing his "survival"!

People around Wu Xuyang also started discussing the talent show.

"It's decent. A few of them have evident potential."

"They're all princelings from big companies; it's just a stage for them to make an early appearance."

"The quality is acceptable, but to be frank, we can't aspire to such opportunities."

"I only found out about this when they were already halfway through the second episode..."

Sure enough, it had gained popularity and was following established procedures...

Wu Xuyang pretended to be a bystander and asked, "Who do you like?"

"Who cares! Princelings everywhere, it doesn't matter to me who ascends the throne."

He casually mentioned Xue Jizhen's name, expecting a different reaction, and indeed, the response was starkly contrasting!

"With that face, that physique, you tell me he's an amateur? I don't believe it!"

"Many people are investing in him, but to be honest, he does have that star quality!"

"The fun of talent shows lies in watching their growth."

"He's definitely got the plot twist vibe. Relax, he'll make it."

Wu Xuyang appeared calm on the surface, yet his heart was turmoil: Seriously? You guys actually believe Xue Jizhen can debut? The post-production team at Starry might deserve those million-dollar salaries...

Strangely enough, netizens were unusually lenient towards Xue Jizhen.

When other contestants played up romantic rumors, they lashed out,

"How disgusting, this Wei Feng and Ma Fu drama! They're all men, why not compete based on talent?"

But when Xue Jizhen stumbled or made mistakes, they laughed like doting mothers,

"I get it, this is the fate of the charming Little Xue, being fought over by all. Mommy will judge their male etiquette for you, and never let you invest your feelings wrongly~"

When other contestants sang off-key or forgot dance moves, netizens nitpicked every word, frame by frame, listing each fault and punishing them equally. Yet, when Xue Jizhen erred, encouragement took precedence over criticism, as if spoiling him: He has no prior experience, his goal is just to pass, and he's already doing great. What more do you want?

Xue Jizhen's fans dared not make a sound, wondering, "Wait, who exactly is the fan here?"

Wu Xuyang watched with cold sweat breaking out on his forehead. Thankfully, he could see that his younger brother was visibly improving.

When Xue Jizhen called later, Wu Xuyang poured out a barrage of advice: "Don't be too greasy when trying to be cool, tone it down a bit in front of the camera, and be more cautious, watch out for others trying to set traps..."

Xue Jizhen sighed. "The contestants are male, the mentors are male, the staff are male—who can I possibly show off my charm to on stage?"

"..."

That was quite a predicament!

Letting out another sigh, Wu Xuyang asked, "Can you get eliminated next time?"

Xue Jizhen, unusually bashful, replied, "But someone wants to advance together with me."

"Who?"

"Would you know them if I told you?"

A surge of inexplicable anger flared within Wu Xuyang, and his tone turned sour and confrontational. "In your various pairings, you're either on top or at the bottom, running around from one room to another. You only get to rest in your own bed one day out of seven – it's like you have multiple partners! How could I not know?"

Blushing from his brother's words, Xue Jizhen felt guilty. "It's Ye Min!"

"Wu Xuyang retorted, "He ranks higher than you and has more popularity. What does he gain from it? Is he helping you out of poverty?"

Frustrated and embarrassed, Little Xue shot back, "We're friends!"

Wu Xuyang laughed it off, "Oh, friends, huh? The kind of friends whose heads together trigger cute sound effects in post-production? The ones where if one gets scolded by the teacher, the other takes the blame willingly? Or the friend who covers up for you when you sneakily dump the egg yolk into his bowl?"

Xue Jizhen reluctantly tried to change the subject. "Anyway, let's just wait a bit longer!"

"Very well, I'll wait then."

Wu Xuyang casually inquired, "What will you do when your friendships deepen and your fans' expectations become unshakable? Do you plan on taking a break from school to venture into the entertainment industry?"

The youth on the other end of the line fell silent for a considerable moment.

"I can learn, and I'm already in the process of learning. Just give me some time, and I'll master it."