Everyone Spends Money to Make Me Debut as Center (GL) - Chapter 4

Chi Rui had read plenty of novels on web novel sites, so she was well-acquainted with the concept of “Golden Finger” systems. However, since she had been in this world for so long without one appearing, she had begun to think she had been abandoned by the transmigration authorities.

[System: Do you wish to continue transmitting target information?]

Chi Rui: No! What did that girl ever do to you? You’re exposing even private information like her measurements right in front of my eyes!

[System: Roger that. Understood.]

Fortunately, Chi Rui was someone who had weathered many storms. She quickly steadied her heart rate, masked her expression, and inquired about the function of this so-called “Golden Finger.”

Simply put, the numbers displayed above You Xiaotao’s head were what the system called the “Spending Index.” It represented the total amount of money she had spent on Chi Rui as a fan, in RMB. This meant that the girl in front of her, who looked to be in her early twenties, had spent over 100,000 yuan on her!

Chi Rui was stunned. Having spent her life buried in practice rooms, she didn’t know much about fan circles. She couldn’t imagine a young girl spending six figures on an idol.

This challenged her entire worldview.

The “Spending Index” was visible only to Chi Rui. People marked with these numbers were called “Targets,” and Chi Rui’s task was to expand her pool of “Targets” and increase the total “Spending Index.”

Chi Rui: So, what use is this index to me?

[System: You can exchange it in the Mall for the skills you need.]

Chi Rui opened the “Mall.” It was divided into three major categories: Singing, Dancing, and Variety Skills. Each category contained dozens of options—under Dancing alone, there was Latin, Ballet, Chinese Dance, Folk Dance, and more.

Chi Rui (Coldly): Is this the ‘Golden Finger’ you mentioned? For me, it seems… useless?

[System (Eyes wide): ???]

“Sister Rui, it’s time to draw the lot for the rehearsal order.” Xiao Li came to Chi Rui’s side to call her.

Chi Rui: I’m working now. You go rest.

[System (Reaching out like a dramatic hero): Wait! I think I can still market myself better!]

Back when she was a trainee, Chi Rui had occasionally performed as a backup dancer for seniors and, if lucky, appeared in music videos. She was quite familiar with the rehearsal process.

Xiao Li noticed that during the entire rehearsal, Chi Rui was calm, composed, and effortless. She didn’t complain about being tired once. He was so relieved he was almost scared. “Sister Rui, are you in a particularly good mood today?”

Chi Rui was currently communicating with the staff about lighting and positioning. She turned around. “Why do you ask?”

Seeing that she didn’t look like she was about to snap, Xiao Li gathered his courage and gave her a thumbs up. “Nothing. I just mean your performance today is super awesome.”

As soon as the words left his mouth, he wanted to slap himself. Didn’t that sound like he was saying her previous performances were bad?

To his surprise, Chi Rui just gave a good-natured smile. “Thank you.”

Standing right next to her, Xiao Li was hit point-blank by that radiant smile. He nearly stammered, unable to form a sentence.

After the rehearsal came a long wait. Chi Rui didn’t idle; she kept her headphones on and watched practice videos until a staff member called her name.

Chi Rui stepped onto the stage, her toes lining up with the yellow marker. She glanced at the audience. As expected, there were very few people, and likely half were paid by the advertiser to be there. A few middle-aged women holding coupons were pointing at Chi Rui’s red hair, and several young girls who recognized her looked far from friendly. The only exception was You Xiaotao, whom she had seen at the entrance.

Chi Rui met all their gazes with a smile.

As the intro began, she slowly sat on a high stool, her back straight and long hair draped over her shoulders. she opened with a popular ballad to warm up the crowd.

She took a soft breath, closed her eyes, and began to sing with a steady, beautiful voice. When she hit the high notes, her eyelashes fluttered like butterfly wings, exuding a fragile beauty. Several passersby stopped out of curiosity and moved toward the stage.

“Chi Rui’s singing seems a lot better than before. Is it just me?” a girl in a school uniform whispered to her friend.

“Probably lip-syncing. The brand probably had enough of her singing out of tune and made it a requirement.”

“True…”

The first song transitioned directly into the second—a dance track. During the short gap, staff members rushed up to remove the chair. The audience sensed a big move was coming; some even raised their phones to start filming.

Everyone knew dancing was Chi Rui’s weakness. Her most embarrassing moment involved forgetting her moves and tripping over her own feet at her own concert—a video that had gone viral.

Who would have thought this arrogant young lady would stoop to dancing at a mall event just to make a living?

But Chi Rui’s subsequent performance left those looking for a laugh speechless. This was someone who couldn’t dance? This was freaking explosive!

As the music intensified, Chi Rui ripped open the buttons of her distracting jacket in one bold move, revealing her beautiful collarbones and the elegant lines of her neck and shoulders. Her neatly groomed hair danced wildly with her body. Under the stage lights, her red hair looked like a dazzling ruby, leaving trails of bold color in the air. Her bangs became messy, but combined with her expressions, she looked incredibly alive.

She was a completely different person from the one singing quietly just moments ago!

People in the crowd began swaying to her rhythm. A few brave students even raised their arms in support. The host standing by the side was stunned. Is this a promotional event for Alfredo? Or a Chi Rui solo concert?

“There’s no way she’s lip-syncing. I heard her taking breaths just now. To do those moves and not be out of breath is insane,” the girl from earlier said, pushing her friend closer to the front. “Let’s get closer. Is that really Chi Rui?”

The cynical friend had stopped talking and was busy filming. “Looking at this momentum, she’s definitely making a comeback. Honestly, if not for those scandals, that face of hers is a total fan-magnet.”

Thanks to Chi Rui’s high-energy performance, the coupons and signed photos—which previously no one wanted—were snatched up instantly.

After five consecutive songs, Chi Rui didn’t feel tired; instead, she grew more excited. Though the audience was small and the stage was temporary, the thrill of being the center of attention was something she never wanted to let go of.

At the audience’s request, she performed two encores. During the final song, she walked to the very edge of the stage, standing directly in front of the girl who was looking up at her with starry, adoring eyes. She met her gaze and sang softly:

“It was your gaze that gave me courage. If I could, let me take your hand and walk forward together…”

This was a song Chi Rui had originally written for her fans. You Xiaotao had listened to it on loop countless times, but she never imagined that one day, Chi Rui would stand right in front of her and sing it to her personally.

Is this a dream? Originally, she had come here to see Chi Rui one last time before saying goodbye to her “crazy” fan girl days. She hadn’t expected to be re-eled back in so hard by this incredible performance.

“Thank you for coming to see me today.” Chi Rui reached out her hand to the dazed You Xiaotao.

You Xiaotao covered her mouth, looking like she was about to cry. She met Chi Rui’s soft gaze and tremblingly extended her right hand.

Chi Rui remembered her! Her idol actually recognized her in a crowd!

Chi Rui gently supported You Xiaotao’s hand. “I wasn’t perfect in the past, and I disappointed my fans many times. But if I can, I want to do exactly what the lyrics say—take your hands and walk forward together.”

“WOOOO! CHI RUI! CHI RUI!” The crowd, caught up in the atmosphere, chanted her name.

The host exchanged a confused look with Xiao Li. “Which marketing account said your Chi Rui doesn’t love her fans? Looking at this, I’d believe she was about to propose.”

Xiao Li scratched her head with a silly grin. How would she know? She also felt like her boss had become a different person.

Host: “Wait, can you help me get an autograph from her?”

Xiao Li: “I… I think so?”

Unlike previous events, Chi Rui didn’t leave immediately after the show. She went behind the stage and took out a pen to sign for the fans waiting there.

She observed the group. Most of the young fans had three or four digits over their heads, while You Xiaotao’s long string of numbers stood out brilliantly.

“Chi… Chi… Chi Rui, can… can I have an autograph?” It was finally You Xiaotao’s turn. She still hadn’t recovered; her arm was shaking as she held out the album.

“Of course.” Chi Rui smiled and pointed to the phone in her hand. “Want to take a photo together, too?”

“Can I?!”

Chi Rui nodded and took the phone herself, considerately standing closer to the lens to make You Xiaotao look better, raised her arm, and smiled for the shutter.

You Xiaotao looked like she had hit the jackpot. As Chi Rui handed the phone back, she held out a gift she had prepared. “This is a gift I wanted to give you… I designed this doll myself to look like you. I hope you like it…”

“Thank you.” Chi Rui took it with both hands, took the handmade doll out, and held it next to her face. “So cute. You’re very talented.”

“Really?” What could be better than being praised by your idol? You Xiaotao felt like she was about to fly!

“Yes, and the handmade mung bean cakes you gave me at the last signing event were delicious, too,” Chi Rui said with a smile. “But I remember you also gave me a designer bag once? Don’t send such expensive gifts next time. Just writing letters makes me very happy.”

“You said in your last letter that you found a job you like, right? Congratulations.”

After speaking, Chi Rui dazed for a moment. How did I know all that?

Then she remembered what the system had said. As the host, she could view any relevant information about “Targets.” The higher the Spending Index, the more information she could access. There were five grades: D, C, B, A, and S.

When she saw You Xiaotao earlier, the system mentioned she was an A-Grade Target. No wonder she knew her details so intimately.

[System: See? I am useful!]

Perhaps because Chi Rui’s gaze was so gentle, You Xiaotao felt moved to tears.

“I… I… I…” You Xiaotao thought it was rare enough that Chi Rui remembered her face, but she actually remembered every gift! She had read all her letters!

Leave the fandom? No way! She was going to be a Chi Rui fan for the rest of her life!