Chapter 72: A New Look

The commotion alarmed the store manager.

A middle-aged woman hurried out. When she saw the black gold card, her expression shifted, and she immediately plastered on a fawning smile.

“Oh my, such a distinguished guest. I apologize for our staff’s rudeness.” She glared at the wavy-haired girl. “What are you standing there for! Apologize to the customer, then get out!”

The wavy-haired girl, relieved, bowed repeatedly and fled in disgrace.

Hua Mu’ai snorted coldly and pointed at Chu Yuyao, who was still in a daze.

“Find some outfits that suit her.”

“You can count on us.”

The manager quickly called over the remaining sales associates and ushered Chu Yuyao into the fitting room.

For the next hour, Chu Yuyao was like a puppet, being tugged and pulled by the salesgirls as she tried on one outfit after another.

Hua Mu’ai sat on the sofa, sipping the juice the manager had personally brought, offering ruthless commentary.

“This one’s too frumpy, change!”

“Too dark, change!”

“Low cut, she can’t pull it off, change!”

Until Chu Yuyao put on a light blue floral dress.

The hem landed just above her knees, revealing a pair of straight, shapely calves. The cinched waist perfectly accentuated her slender figure.

Hua Mu’ai’s eyes lit up.

“This one. Pack all the ones that were decent in her size.”

The manager couldn’t stop smiling as she hurried to write up the order.

Chu Yuyao stared at her reflection, almost not recognizing herself. The dress was pretty, but paired with her bangs and glasses, it still looked off.

“Alright, clothes done. Now for the main event.” Hua Mu’ai grabbed her hand. “Let’s go upstairs.”

Top floor, Linhai City’s premier private styling salon.

“Cut those bothersome bangs and get her some contact lenses. And a light makeup.” Hua Mu’ai pushed Chu Yuyao into a chair and gave instructions to the stylist.

The stylist, a young man with a man bun, studied Chu Yuyao’s face carefully and nodded confidently.

“No problem. Leave it to me.”

Scissors flew, snippets of hair fell. Chu Yuyao kept her eyes shut nervously.

Over an hour later.

“Okay, open your eyes and take a look.” Hua Mu’ai’s voice came from beside her.

Chu Yuyao slowly opened her eyes. A completely unfamiliar girl stared back from the mirror.

Her bangs had been trimmed into airy wisps, revealing a smooth, full forehead. With the contact lenses, her previously hidden eyes now looked clear and bright, like pools of spring water.

The stylist had given her a natural, no-makeup look, slightly tweaking her eyebrow shape and adding a light rose lip gloss. The once dowdy ugly duckling had instantly transformed into a pure, lively goddess.

Chu Yuyao looked at herself, stunned, tears threatening to fall.

Was this really her? She never knew she could look this good.

“Don’t cry, you’ll ruin the makeup.” Hua Mu’ai was very satisfied.

She pinched Chu Yuyao’s slightly chubby cheek.

“See? I told you you had potential. With the way you look now, you’d definitely advance in the talent show.”

Chu Yuyao looked at Hua Mu’ai, the girl who had given her courage.

“Mu’ai, thank you.” Her voice caught.

“Alright, alright, cut it out.” Hua Mu’ai turned away awkwardly, cheeks flushing slightly. “I just didn’t want you to lose too badly.”

With that, she grabbed Chu Yuyao’s hand.

“Come on, let’s get some good food. After we eat, we’ll game, and you’re carrying me to Platinum, got it?”

“Mm!”

****

On the opening day of the “Sing with Tian Lanxing” event.

Chu Yuyao’s phone screen lit up with a message from Hua Mu’ai.

“Don’t be scared. You sing better than all of them. If anyone bullies you, tell me.”

She read the words several times, her heartbeat steadying slightly.

The bus stopped in front of Starflare Entertainment’s training base.

The doors opened, and a hundred selected girls filed off one by one. Here, they would compete for the chance to share the stage with Tian Lanxing.

Chu Yuyao stayed at the back of the crowd, tugging at the hem of her light blue floral dress.

She habitually tried to lower her head and hide behind her bangs, but the airy wisps did nothing to block her view. The world was suddenly clearer, including the appraising looks from the other girls.

“That girl’s pretty.”

“Yeah, so pale-skinned. Why haven’t I seen her before?”

A few whispers reached her ears. Chu Yuyao’s cheeks burned as she quickened her pace to the registration desk.

“Name.” The staff member didn’t look up.

“Chu, Chu Yuyao.”

The staff member paused mid-motion, then looked her up and down.

“Oh, you’re that Chu Yuyao who was added last.” He marked something on the list. “Alright, take your number badge and find your bed in the dorms.”

His voice wasn’t loud, but it was overheard by those nearby.

The girls behind her huddled together.

“Added last? What does that mean?”

“You don’t know? The audition list was posted online a while ago, but someone was swapped out at midnight.”

“Wow, a parachute drop?”

“I heard she was eliminated but used connections to get back in. These days, the entitled are so blatant.”

…

Chu Yuyao nearly dropped the number badge she had just picked up.

The little confidence she had built crumbled under the gossip. She wished she could disappear into a crack in the floor as she fled the registration area.

The “Sing with Tian Lanxing” training camp was fully enclosed and live-streamed 24/7.

The hundred contestants were divided into ten groups of ten, each group sharing one large dorm.

Chu Yuyao kept her head down and found Group 7’s dorm.

She pushed open the door. Several girls were already inside, unpacking.

At the sound of the door, they turned around.

“Hi there.” A gentle voice greeted her.

Chu Yuyao looked up and froze.

The girl standing before her had an immaculate aura. It was Qin Xuzhi, the vice president of Holy Sakura Academy’s student council.

“Qin… Qin-senpai?” Chu Yuyao stammered.

Qin Xuzhi stepped forward and took her bag.

“What a coincidence we’re in the same group.” Qin Xuzhi smiled warmly. “Let’s look out for each other in camp.”

Chu Yuyao’s nerves relaxed a little. In a strange, hostile place, meeting someone she knew who was friendly was reassuring.

“Thank you…” she murmured.

“Oh, if it isn’t our class’s quiet little Chu Yuyao.”

A sharp voice came from a corner of the dorm.

Sun Yuanyuan poked her head out from the top bunk. She was Zhang Li’s close friend and had often joined Zhang Li in bullying Chu Yuyao at school.

She stared at Chu Yuyao’s pretty floral dress and transformed face, jealousy flickering in her eyes.

“Clothes really make the man, don’t they? In a different skin, I almost didn’t recognize you.” Sun Yuanyuan climbed down from her bed and circled Chu Yuyao. “But a pheasant is a pheasant. Even in a phoenix’s feathers, it can’t fly up the branch.”

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