After Transmigrating Back, I Became My Own Stand-in - Chapter 13

On the first day of the Lunar New Year, the mentor lineup for A World from a New Line was officially announced.

After the final reveal on the fourth day, Shen Tianqing was, without a doubt, the grand finale. Many people were shocked that someone so averse to public appearances would participate in this type of show.

Compared to the staggering number of anti-fans under Shi Xu’s post, the comment section for Shen Tianqing was a flood of praise.

– ??? Am I seeing this right? The special mentor is Shen Tianqing??? This sister is actually on a show?

– A once-in-a-lifetime sight. This mogul is cynical enough on the internet as it is; going on a show is basically going to be a firing squad, right?

– So funny—I’m thinking of that old clip where someone went to her set and got absolutely roasted. It’s a classic. I suddenly feel like this show just got exciting!

The Weibo thread below was buzzing, with people in the front rows “selling” old gossip. Shi Xu was also curious, reading along with great interest on the way to the set. Yao Fangfang, sitting beside her, was muttering: “This show records for so long, and the outline and script are so full of ups and downs… Xiao Heng, I’m really worried…”

Shi Xu: “What’s there to be afraid of?”

She felt this girl had quite the flair for drama herself; she’d be good at storytelling.

Yao Fangfang felt that her artist had become particularly “inflated” lately—specifically evidenced by the fact that when the big benefactor went to her apartment to sleep, her artist could actually wake the woman up and kick her out of the house.

So ruthless. What was even more shocking was that Shen Tianqing actually didn’t lose her temper.

Is this the popular dynamic now? Besides, Director Shen seems like a total Sadist.

The next day, she had looked at Shi Xu very carefully, terrified she’d see some kind of whip marks on her. But Shi Xu looked flawless on the surface and even pinched her cheek: “What are you thinking about?”

Yao Fangfang looked aggrieved: “I’m worried about you! You think the ‘Kink-gate’ happened for nothing?”

Shi Xu: “Give me a break. Adults are so exhausted every day, who has the time for all that ‘stuff’?”

Yao Fangfang scoffed, thinking her artist was still too young and hadn’t witnessed a veteran “Time Management Master” give a live lesson.

The recording location was on a small island near S-City; the commute wasn’t too far.

Shi Xu didn’t travel with Shen Tianqing. When she arrived, her room hadn’t been assigned yet, but cameras were already set up everywhere, waiting for the three rounds of rehearsals. The directing team was on high alert, preparing for the 7:00 PM live broadcast.

The actors participating in the variety show were all waiting in the hall. Seats weren’t labeled; they sat wherever. Shi Xu recognized a few faces, but none were close friends. Her persona as “Meng Heng” was that of a social pariah with no friends. During the months from her fall to her recovery, her WeChat had been depressingly quiet.

During the preliminary rehearsals a few days ago, some of these artists acted like they were old pals the moment they met, calling each other “Teacher” and huddling together. Shi Xu just sat quietly to the side, watching them chat.

The persona given to her by the script was to just keep being herself—no need to force the acting, just hit the points the production team provided. Since they paid so much, she was incredibly cooperative, using a flirtatious, “spoiled” tone that perfectly matched Meng Heng’s character.

At 7:00 PM, all the official Whale Video accounts reposted the live link for A World from a New Line.

In the New Year atmosphere, this variety show attracted a massive audience. The fanbases for the various artists had already created a grand presence before the show even started. If there hadn’t been a daily limit on “pay-to-vote” spending, the numbers would have been staggering before the first frame.

Shi Xu felt that current variety shows were essentially a test of acting—the show itself was a competition of “acting like you’re in a competition.” Everyone knew their initial rankings, yet they still had to display shock, regret, or speechlessness for the live cameras. It wasn’t easy.

The host was a “Gold Medal” host from the station, known for a humorous style. He introduced the actors with a naturally comedic vibe. Shi Xu could see a giant screen on set displaying real-time comments, though the broadcast camera didn’t capture it.

【The scene I’ve been waiting for is here!! There are real heavy-hitters and total hacks in here. I want to see the rankings!】

【Glad they didn’t list ‘representative works,’ but knowing Whale Video, they’ll probably mention them during the clip selection. How do these talent show idols even have representative works? They return from debut only to be as mediocre as ever—calling out Yuan Qi.】

【This row is so depressing. Real actors like Lu Qinghuai actually have to sit next to people like that. It’s truly…】

【I hope Chen Xiaoyin can make a comeback. Who says married women can’t have a second blooming? Wuu wuu!】

Since the positions had been rehearsed, Shi Xu relaxed her expression when the camera wasn’t on her, forming a sharp contrast with the person sitting next to her. Coincidentally, her neighbor was Yuan Qi, a former colleague from her talent show days who had actually made the debut group. However, since she ranked 9th and the limited group had disbanded, her resources were clearly lacking.

The mentor bench was impressive: Zhao Manchun, a second-generation Chinese director with a historic style; Ji Qiao, a national-level actress; and Chen Caiwei, the top female director who started as an actress.

When the final guest was revealed to be Shen Tianqing, the “surprise” was complete.

The directors greeted everyone, and their representative works appeared on the screen. When the camera turned to Shen Tianqing, many finally saw the high-definition face of this arrogant young director.

Shen Tianqing’s social media was more active than other directors, characterized by her love for using “Martian script” (internet slang). If someone tagged her to insult her, she would climb through the internet cables to roast them back. She had zero “grace” and was quite petty, yet you couldn’t do anything about it because she actually bothered to respond. Consequently, a group of people found joy in cursing her, hoping for her “royal attention.”

The high-definition “face-staring” lens now revealed her true features. Her hair was rareley styled up, purple cherry blossom earrings hung at her shoulders, and her makeup was clear and dewy. She wore a silk camisole dress with ancient cloud patterns under an indigo blazer.

Barrage: Where did this “Young Madam” come from? Stick a flower behind her ear and she can go straight to a Republic-era film set.

Shen Tianqing hadn’t attended rehearsals the past few days. Shi Xu heard she went to stay in a temple for the New Year. She had arrived only forty minutes before the show started.

Shi Xu heard Yuan Qi gasp next to her. People in the front rows were also whispering.

“That’s Director Shen? So young… and so beautiful. I always thought she followed the ‘Old Cadre’ style.”

Shi Xu: What Old Cadre? More like ‘Old Psychopath’ style.

Shen Tianqing didn’t give a long speech of encouragement like the others. She took the mic and said: “I wish you all a successful promotion.”

Utterly perfunctory, as if she had been dragged there at the last minute.

The first live episode was mainly to introduce members and rules. Actors sat in assigned spots according to their initial ratings. Shi Xu held her card and acted shocked when she saw the “S” on it, though she felt the producers were prioritizing commercial value over actual talent.

【WTF, why is Meng Heng an S? I’m stunned. Chen Xiaoyin has been out for so many years and won Best Actress, yet she’s a B!!】

【Our domestic entertainment is doomed .jpg】

【Meng Heng’s ‘I deserve this’ face is making me so mad. I want to punch her!】

Shi Xu pretended to cover her mouth in surprise and took a deep breath.

【She’s so fake!! She gets the prize and still acts like she’s the victim!】

【Heaven, please give us a real S, I’m literally crying.】

Out of the forty actors, only five occupied the “Supreme S” seats. Aside from the childhood goddess He Xinyu, the rest were all “traffic” stars (idols). This rating system immediately boosted the show to the top of the trending topics.

While the mentors were chatting off-script, Chen Caiwei said to Shen Tianqing: “Long time no see, Little Shen.”

Shen Tianqing smiled respectfully. “Our last meeting was a rush. Didn’t you say you were going to buy me dinner?”

Chen Caiwei: “You only remember that? I didn’t think you’d come.”

Shen Tianqing’s metallic chain rings glinted. She saw Shi Xu take her seat out of the corner of her eye and laughed: “Well, I’m here for a ‘rescue mission,’ aren’t I?”

Meanwhile, on an anonymous forum, an old post from two years ago was being revived:

《Compilation of clues regarding ‘Traffic Flower’ Sun Sitiao being ‘kept’ by a benefactor》

A new update appeared: “Sun Sitiao fell in love with her benefactor and is now on a variety show planning to chase them.”

At that moment, Shi Xu was walking toward her seat alongside fellow “S” rank Sun Sitiao. It was normal not to talk, but Shi Xu was puzzled—she didn’t understand why this beauty seemed to have such a grudge against her.

Shi Xu sat on the luxurious central sofa, reached out, and took a grape, looking like she was there to watch a movie. The real-time comments immediately attacked her.

【She has the nerve to act like she’s at a cafe! Infuriating! Too relaxed!】

Shi Xu turned to a staff member: “Could I get a cup of coffee, please?”

She thought: This way, I won’t break my persona, right?

She then asked the beauty next to her who looked annoyed: “Would you like some?”