The atmosphere was so awkward one might say— I felt embarrassed for them.

Zhou Xun, in disbelief, looked first at Jian Xingsui and then An Ran. Though he wanted to lash out after being kicked unexpectedly, especially in front of his crush, confronting Shen Xingchen was out of the question.

After all, by his own admission, the Zhou family were merely nouveau riche, whereas the Shen family held deep-rooted prestige. He didn’t want to make a formidable enemy on day one.

Retrieving an ID card from his pocket, Shen Xingchen announced, “I found this card by the sink. Whose is it?”

An Ran's eyes lit up. She reached out with her delicate, pale hand, looking pleadingly at Shen Xingchen, "It's mine."

Under different circumstances, the beautiful young lady who lost her card meeting the handsome young man who found it could have been a sweet encounter. But the previous events had tainted the mood.

Shen Xingchen took a sharp breath and handed the card to An Ran, “So this is your card?”

An Ran nodded softly in response.

"Why didn’t you search near the sinks instead of causing a commotion out here?" Shen Xingchen questioned, looking baffled. "Trying to snatch my card at that."

Overwhelmed by Shen Xingchen's imposing manner, An Ran's eyes started to well up with tears, "I... didn’t mean to."

Seeing his crush upset, Zhou Xun couldn’t hold back, “Mr. Shen, this isn’t entirely Ran's fault. There’s something you might not know about this person," he pointed at Jian, "He has a questionable character and has bullied An Ran before. That's why there was a mix-up.”

Jian Xingsui never imagined he could be stabbed just by standing still.

Yet, he sighed inwardly, suspecting that after hearing Zhou Xun's words, the young master Shen before him would no longer defend him. After all, who would have a soft spot for an expendable character?

However, to his surprise, Shen Xingchen gave Jian Xingsui a skeptical look and scoffed, "Do you all think I'm blind? The moment I came out, I saw you surrounding him as if you were mobsters collecting debts. He's bullying you? If I hadn't shown up, even my card would be gone by now!"

Zhou Xun choked up, struggling to find words.

An Ran, standing beside him, gently tugged at his arm and whispered, "Let it go, Zhou Xun. We were wrong. Don't take it to heart."

Shen Xingchen didn't understand his own feelings. He generally liked good-looking boys. Had there not been this altercation, he might have been fond of such a pretty lad, even protective. But now, he was in a foul mood and found the boy's sobbing extremely irritating: "Why are you apologizing to me? If anything, you should be saying that to him."

An Ran turned to Jian Xingsui. He had always been the one receiving apologies and never imagined a day when he would apologize to Jian Xingsui. His eyes reddened, full of hurt, as he muttered, "I'm sorry."

Jian Xingsui felt uneasy, "It's fine, just go."

For the protagonist to receive an apology was unbelievable. If fate was against Jian, he might face dire consequences the next day. And his nonchalant attitude made the others view him as arrogant. They cast disdainful glances at him and then left, rallying around the visibly distressed An Ran.

After they left, Shen Xingchen's gaze returned to Jian Xingsui: "You..."

Jian Xingsui, somewhat fearful, interrupted, "I should go too. Goodbye."

"Wait!" Shen Xingchen grabbed him. "Why are you running off? I wasn't done talking!"

Jian Xingsui stiffened, "What do you want to say?"

Shen Xingchen raised an eyebrow, "Do you have a beef with those guys?"

"...Not exactly."

"So, do you or don't you?"

"...A bit."

"I knew it!" Shen Xingchen exclaimed, acting like a righteous youth, "The moment I came out, I could tell they had a problem with you. I've always despised those who bully others with their numbers or status!"

Jian Xingsui realized that beneath his tough exterior, Shen was genuinely kind-hearted. Sometimes, true kindness didn't necessarily wear a gentle face; it could be hidden behind a leather jacket and a punk hairstyle.

"Thank you," Jian Xingsui said genuinely, "Without you, I wouldn't have been able to explain myself."

Complimented, Shen Xingchen was inwardly pleased but tried to maintain his cool façade, "It's nothing. Those guys are nothing to me. You're here for the audition, right? I only helped because you retrieved my name card. If they bother you again, just mention my name."

Jian Xingsui thought he was adorable.

Nonetheless, today's event served as a wakeup call for Jian Xingsui. His innate trait of attracting trouble meant he always ended up in such confrontations. He couldn't stay in this show for long. After the initial recording in a few days, he had to make a swift exit. Having Shen's protection, in the long run, wouldn't make much of a difference.

Still, Jian Xingsui was genuinely grateful, "Thank you."

...

The next day...

The program officially started recording, with 108 contestants gathering outside the plaza.

No one from the production team showed up, only a group of photographers. The placement of these contestants was deliberate. Those from larger agencies, who had previously debuted, held influence, or were favored by the production, stood at the front, capturing more camera time, while the amateurs and those without backing stood at the back.

Concurrently, various live-streaming apps began featuring this event on their homepages, with a massive influx of viewers tuning in:

"Right on time, here I am!"

"For Brother Fu! I came just for him!"

"Ah, I can finally see him!"

Even as just a mentor on the show, Fu Jinxiao's popularity was enormous. His mere name brought the show's viewership to its peak.

On set, someone with a megaphone announced, "Everyone, please take your props. Follow me into our 'Starlight' camp. On your first day, please choose your dormitory on your own."

A contestant asked, "Are we really choosing our own dormitories?"

A crew member nodded, "Of course!"

At the signal, the contestants were ready to dash. Everyone knew that securing a dormitory early meant getting a better spot. So, many rushed in as soon as they heard the call.

But, there were exceptions.

Like Jian Xingsui, who strolled leisurely at the back. He didn't care where he stayed. After all, he assumed he'd only be there a couple of days before being eliminated.

The camera panned to the front, introducing viewers to the new contestants:

"This one looks quite handsome."

"This young idol seems decent too."

"Is it just me, or do they all look pretty similar?"

As the audience began to form their impressions, a figure slowly entered their view—Jian Xingsui, wandering at the back. He didn't vie for camera attention or make exaggerated expressions for viewers. He simply ambled along, a stark contrast to the other contestants' frantic energy.

Some viewers commented:

"Who's that?"

"He seems so relaxed, is he sure he's here to compete?"

"Did this young man get lost or something?"

While others made no impact despite their best efforts, the calm and casual Jian Xingsui caught the public's attention.

The dormitory scramble might seem chaotic, but there's an unspoken order. Celebrities from big agencies tend to room together. Those with inherent talent or pre-selected for success naturally become sought-after roommates.

By the time it was Jian Xingsui's turn, most of the dormitories were full. A considerate cameraman pointed out, "There's a spot available in the room ahead."

Jian Xingsui replied, "Thank you."

Based on his assumption, the only dorm rooms left with vacancies must be occupied by novices like him; individuals lacking both charm and fame. However, as he approached the entrance to one such room, a boisterous voice sounded from within, “What’s with this batch? Have they all found roommates? Why are there still two beds left here?”

...

Recognizing that voice, Jian Xingsui had an unsettling premonition.

But when he stood fully at the door, a quick glance met the assertive gaze of the spikey-haired individual inside. Shen Xingchen, looking pleasantly surprised, quirked an eyebrow and smiled, “Oh, it’s you!”

Jian Xingsui managed a wry smile, “Indeed, it is.”

“Did you come specifically for me?” Seemingly oblivious to the fact that many avoided sharing a room with him due to his temper, Shen Xingchen grinned, “I appreciate the gesture. From now on, you're my wingman. I've got your back!”

“…”