Chapter 26: The Price of a Perfect Posture

However, the system’s daily task demanded a full ten minutes of exercise to be considered complete. She had no desire to work out for just five minutes, then wait and resume for another five, uncertain if the system would restart its timer.

This exact scene unfolded when Qin Yu, meticulously timing her, announced that her training was complete.

“You can put them down now!”

Yet, Lin Ziyao, still biting down on the chopsticks and maintaining her smile, shook her head, utterly unwilling to release them.

Witnessing this, Qin Yu could only sigh. “When it came to starting the training, you were completely unwilling. Now, you’re just as unwilling to stop.”

Hearing this, Lin Ziyao, unable to drop the chopsticks, could only glare fiercely at her. She resolved to have a proper talk with Qin Yu once the task was done, making a mental note to add to her ‘debt’ for now.

However, Qin Yu caught that fierce glare, and her heart wasn’t exactly magnanimous.

She rose and approached Lin Ziyao, prompting her to stand.

“I think, besides your smile, you need another lesson from me.”

Qin Yu instructed her to lean against the wall, then fetched a book and placed it on her head for her to balance.

“This lesson is called ‘Posture’!”

Beyond a captivating smile, maintaining a graceful posture is crucial when facing the camera. Lin Ziyao, whether sitting or standing, naturally exuded an adorable charm on screen.

But now, standing against the wall, corrected by Qin Yu, the innate elegance previously hidden within Lin Ziyao’s body effortlessly emerged. Both her smile and her bearing unconsciously drew the photographer’s lens.

While Lin Ziyao herself might not readily notice this enhanced camera presence, Qin Yu, observing from the side, was the most astute in pinpointing this transformation.

“Hello?”

Lin Ziyao’s call brought Qin Yu back to reality. Five slender fingers waved before her eyes, attempting to capture her attention.

“Giving up so soon?”

Seeing her apparent surrender, Qin Yu prepared to demand an explanation.

“I stood for five whole minutes! You’re the one who zoned out!” Lin Ziyao retorted, hands on her hips, a triumphant look on her face.

The moment the task completion prompt appeared, she had swiftly released the chopsticks and the book, relaxing herself. Noticing Qin Yu lost in thought, she had decided to go check on her.

‘Was she captivated by Lin Ziyao’s camera presence?’

She didn’t answer Lin Ziyao’s question, instead continuing to ponder, head bowed.

She had unearthed a hidden charm within Lin Ziyao, a realization that Lin Ziyao was, in fact, born for the stage – not only for her effortlessly composed songs but also for her inherent camera appeal.

An absurd thought surfaced in her mind: ‘Perhaps, in agreeing to this collaboration, it was *she* who stood to gain the most?’

“Qin Yu!”

Lin Ziyao’s voice broke her reverie. She cleared her mind of all thoughts, offering Lin Ziyao a smile.

Regardless of who profited more from their collaboration, one thing Qin Yu knew for certain:

From the very first moment they met, when Lin Ziyao had taken the initiative to speak, their two parallel paths had been given an opportunity to converge.

“What are you smiling about?”

Lin Ziyao looked at Qin Yu, finding her sudden smile a little peculiar. Yet, there was no chilling sensation that Qin Yu was concocting some mischievous plan.

Instead, upon seeing Qin Yu’s smile, a warmth spread through her heart, and she unconsciously softened her voice when addressing Qin Yu.

“It’s almost time. I need to go down and start cooking,” she murmured, then rushed out of the room as if fleeing.

Qin Yu watched her hurried escape, a sudden smile gracing her lips. It was like a *Queen of the Night* blooming in the darkness, intoxicatingly fragrant. If anyone had witnessed it, they might have been utterly lost in its beauty.

However, this fleeting beauty, much like the *Queen of the Night*, vanished in an instant, leaving no one enough time to truly appreciate it.

She composed herself, then followed Lin Ziyao down the stairs.

Since their trip to the supermarket had taken a considerable amount of time, the sun was now gradually setting on the balcony, and most people had returned to the villa.

The evening routine began once more, with Lin Ziyao in her familiar role of chef. Thanks to Director Chen’s generous spending, she had purchased many excellent ingredients at the supermarket. When she finally brought the dishes to the table, Tang Wenjie and Xu Li, who had just returned, were genuinely startled.

Once everyone was seated at the dining table, Xu Li playfully remarked to Director Chen, who was eagerly awaiting the meal, “Director Chen, did Ziyao spend your entire week’s budget on just this one meal?”

“Well, after the last shoot wrapped up, I was so busy celebrating with the crew. So, I figured, with filming resuming today, it’s a good chance to celebrate with all of you too!” Director Chen declared, raising his glass of juice.

“Cheers!!!”

The first episode of the show was set to air the day after tomorrow. However, thanks to the live performance in the second episode, the song “Most Dazzling Ethnic Style” could now be heard everywhere, from bustling streets to quiet alleyways, garnering significant attention even before the show’s broadcast.

Online interest in the program was surging wildly. Even those typically uninterested in variety shows found themselves unconsciously searching for related information, brainwashed by the catchy song. This led to *A Week with the Stars* breaking a million pre-orders on Tencent Video on the very first day its reservation feature went live.

Consequently, the show’s guests also saw a significant boost in their popularity. Tang Wenjie, for instance, received numerous invitations for other programs during his current break.

Even more so for a seasoned host like Xu Li. It was well-known that the primary demographic for “Most Dazzling Ethnic Style” was the elderly men and women who danced in public squares, and Xu Li’s audience largely comprised this very group.

His agent had even suggested that after the duet version of the song was complete, he should record a dance tutorial, performing the dance again. This two-pronged approach would further engage the middle-aged demographic.

“Nevertheless, attracting this much attention is largely thanks to Ziyao.”

Xu Li was keenly aware that Lin Ziyao was responsible for the current buzz. Years of ups and downs in the entertainment industry had prevented him from being swayed by the illusion of fleeting popularity. Her ability to produce two distinct songs across two episodes demonstrated astonishing creative potential.

With one song already validated by the audience, he eagerly anticipated what kind of impact her next song would bring.

“Teacher Xu is right,” Yang Tian interjected at the dinner table, his words a subtle probe. “Ziyao, you’re currently an independent trainee. Are you interested in joining Starlight Entertainment? My agent specifically told me that if you become a trainee, they guarantee your debut within a year, and your treatment will be even better than mine.”

Before returning to the film set, his agent had specifically discussed with him that if Lin Ziyao were to join Starlight Entertainment, the company would offer her the best treatment among all trainees.

Initially, when Starlight Entertainment first saw her, they considered extending an olive branch. At that time, based purely on Lin Ziyao’s appearance, bringing her in as a trainee and debuting her as a minor idol seemed like a straightforward prospect.

Subsequently, her performance on the live stage, which exploded online, only increased Starlight Entertainment’s interest. However, when Yang Tian returned to the company and mentioned that she had produced more than just one original song, the situation dramatically changed.

The very nature of her potential shifted. With her striking looks combined with her talent for original songwriting, such a talent warranted the company offering her even better terms. Any further advancements would depend on the impact of her other song.

“Please thank your company for the invitation, but I’ve already signed a contract with Qin Yu!”

She politely expressed her gratitude for the olive branch extended by Starlight Entertainment.