Everyone Spends Money to Make Me Debut as Center (GL) - Chapter 9

Chi Rui had done her homework before coming, so she didn’t show a hint of surprise when she saw a room full of cameras.

The production crew was lined up along the entrance of the second-floor lobby. The place was decorated decently enough, but there wasn’t a single place to sit.

The moment Chi Rui stepped inside, a follow-cam VJ (Video Journalist) immediately trailed her. She instinctively tilted her head and smiled at the lens; the middle-aged cameraman’s ears turned bright red instantly.

Her makeup artist had dressed her simply: high-waisted flared jeans that accentuated her long legs, paired with a knit off-the-shoulder top that revealed her charming collarbones and slender shoulders. Her accessories were basic and low-key, and with the perfect touch of light makeup, she looked incredibly refreshed and pleasing to the eye.

This was likely Tang Yu’s idea—to keep a low profile in the early stages. However, that red hair was a total eye-catcher. Wherever Chi Rui drifted, it was as if she were carrying a red lantern on her head; it was impossible to ignore her. This was actually her tactic—with this hair, the audience would find it hard to miss her even if she were at the very edge of the frame.

The VJ had filmed many beautiful female artists before, but none were quite this captivating with just a glance. Chi Rui’s entire state made it seem as if she were facing stage cameras twenty-four hours a day; she would seize any gap to treat the lens like a fan and “electrify” it. Every frown and smile seemed to come with its own soft-focus special effect.

“Welcome. You are the first trainee to report.” In the crowd of staff, a girl was speaking through a megaphone. Chi Rui turned and saw that it was Xi Yaozhi, the one Tang Yu had given her a business card for. She was looking down, reading something like a script. “There are a total of twenty-five four-person dormitories. Room occupancy is first-come, first-served. Since you are the first to arrive, you can freely choose your room.”

The third and fourth floors were both dormitories, and the layouts were mostly the same, differing only by whether they faced the sun or the shade.

Chi Rui’s suitcase was light and small. After the crew collected her phone, she picked up her bag and headed upstairs. She chose the sun-facing room furthest from the stairs so that her rest wouldn’t be disturbed by the sound of people going up and down.

The room was sparse: four sets of bunk beds with desks and chairs underneath. The spacious room felt a bit empty.

A large green Oxford bag sat on the bedframe, likely containing the bedding. Chi Rui ran a finger along the ladder railing; a thin layer of dust coated her fingertip. It clearly hadn’t been cleaned in a long time.

The VJ quickly pointed the camera at her face, not wanting to miss the expected expression of shock. To his surprise, she simply blew the dust off her finger and silently pulled a rag out of her suitcase. Within half an hour, she had scrubbed the dorm from top to bottom. The floor was mopped to a reflective shine. Not only that, her movements in finally laying out the bedsheets were so practiced that the VJ began to question his life.

Wait? According to the normal progression, shouldn’t Chi Rui have thrown a tantrum or at least complained? But what was with this aura of domestic elegance and virtue she was radiating, like a “Snail Maiden” (a helpful folk spirit)? Was he actually filming the real Chi Rui?

In reality, chores of this level were nothing to Chi Rui. Growing up in an orphanage, she was self-sufficient in everything. By age seven or eight, she was helping wash dishes and mop floors. Once she grew older and stronger, she could even do simple woodworking and handle power saws and soldering irons.

Chi Rui soon realized that staying silent through the whole process wouldn’t provide much material for post-production editing. While washing the rag, she turned toward the camera with a smile. “This is your conspiracy, isn’t it? I bet as soon as a roommate arrives, I’ll have to help them make their bed too.”

The VJ’s forehead broke out in a sweat, feeling the guilt of being seen through. “It looks like other trainees have arrived downstairs. Do you want to go take a look?”

This was a cue for her to follow the “process.” Chi Rui had, after all, debuted and been famous for a few years; her interactions with regular trainees would definitely be a highlight. Between “arrogant and aloof” and “approachable and kind,” most viewers would bet on the former.

It was a joke, right? Chi Rui was someone who had slapped Wei Xike—a top-tier female singer. Could she really speak nicely to a few unknown kids?

Chi Rui wiped her wet hands and nodded. “Okay.”

The stairs led directly to the second-floor lobby. Before she even reached the bottom step, she could see two oversized, half-man-high black suitcases. Standing by the bags was a girl wearing a black camisole and cargo pants. A thick, long silver chain hung from her slender neck, and silver crosses dangled from her earlobes. Only her face, white as wallpaper, looked soft and delicate.

Chi Rui immediately took a step back. Her ordinary face from her past life had taught her one thing: never stand next to someone with “cold-white” skin in a photo. Even A-list stars can’t survive that!

Chi Rui: System, you there?

System: You’re looking for me!

The tone was incredibly eager. It had tried to market the various skills in the shop to Chi Rui countless times, only to be ignored. It was worried about its performance reviews to the point of balding.

Chi Rui: How long does it take for a skill exchange in the Mall to take effect?

System: Instantly! Immediately! No waiting!

Chi Rui quickly opened “Variety Skills” and selected “Skin Tone” under “Appearance.” The price showed that 10,000 Spending Index points could whiten or tan her skin by one degree. Without a second thought, she gratefully invested the 200,000 “invested” by her soon-to-be ex-wife. Only then did she put on a smile and walk forward.

“Hello, I am Chi Rui from HM Entertainment.” (HM Entertainment was the name of Bai Chang’s studio).

“Ling Yu.” The girl shook Chi Rui’s hand, her ink-black eyes so deep they seemed to pull people in. “Lemon Entertainment. Specializing in RAP.”

The smile in Chi Rui’s eyes gradually faded, and she felt her expression stiffen.

This has to be a script! Tang Yu had just finished telling her to avoid people from Lemon Entertainment, and the program team immediately delivered one right to her doorstep?