Chapter 125: Voluntarily Forfeiting Eligibility for the Challenge Tournament

All the contestants and celebrity mentors returned to the stage. Every other group paired up in twos—except for Qiao Yuezhu.

She stood alone on the stage, solitary and isolated.

The four judges, who were not allowed to use their phones during the intermission, were unaware of what had transpired and curiously asked Qiao Yuezhu, "Where did Zheng Tianwang go?"

Hearing this, Qiao Yuezhu’s face flushed with embarrassment.

She didn’t know how to respond. She couldn’t just say he left abruptly midway...

The key was, Ke Min had also disappeared.

Now, she was the only one left standing on the stage.

The moment she stepped onto the stage, Qiao Yuezhu suddenly sobered. She shouldn’t have gone on alone. Judging by the expressions on Zheng Wenyan and Ke Min’s faces earlier, something had clearly gone wrong. In such a situation, she definitely shouldn’t have taken the stage.

But being clear-headed now was useless.

She was already standing there.

Even if she wanted to leave now, the backstage crew wouldn’t allow it.

“Zheng Tianwang had an emergency,” Qiao Yuezhu said softly.

Normally, her voice was ethereal, and coupled with her pure appearance, whenever she spoke this way, she would win many people’s favor. But this time, the audience only responded with a chorus of sighs, and their gazes toward her were filled with disdain and disgust.

The boos from the crowd were loud.

Naturally, Qiao Yuezhu heard them.

For a moment, panic surged within her.

What on earth had happened?

Yet on the surface, Qiao Yuezhu had to maintain her image of innocence and sweetness, preserving her white-lily façade.

Meanwhile, backstage at the production crew, they knew exactly what had exploded online but deliberately chose not to inform Qiao Yuezhu.

This was pure publicity!

This was traffic!

They wanted Qiao Yuezhu to stand on stage and endure the scrutiny of thousands of eyes, to stir up the topic and maximize the hype, so this episode of “Road to Stardom” could break the ratings record.

As for what happened to Qiao Yuezhu afterward...

What did that have to do with the production team?

Before joining the show, everyone had signed contracts, and the production team hadn’t violated any terms. They were simply following the program’s schedule by having Qiao Yuezhu take the stage.

“Focus the camera on Qiao Yuezhu, close-up,” a young woman excitedly directed.

This woman was named Mu Xin.

In her early twenties.

Rumor had it she was the kept woman of a powerful figure in Beijing, even bearing him a son. But due to her status as a mistress, she had never appeared publicly. Originally, Ji Mei was set as the official director for this episode of “Road to Stardom,” but Mu Xin suddenly stepped in and took Ji Mei’s place.

In some ways, she and Qiao Yuezhu were the same kind of woman.

But Mu Xin’s methods were far more cunning.

At once, all cameras focused on Qiao Yuezhu on stage.

Why must women torment other women?

Especially when they were the same kind.

Mu Xin looked at Qiao Yuezhu, who was forcing a calm expression in front of the cameras. No, this wouldn’t do! Audiences loved emotional twists and turns; Qiao Yuezhu’s unchanged expression wouldn’t satisfy them.

Her eyes flickered.

“Turn on the earpiece and subtly reveal a little about the trending online gossip concerning Qiao Yuezhu and Zheng Wenyan, but don’t tell her everything—just a hint,” she ordered.

Upon hearing this, the other crew members were taken aback.

Good grief!

This woman’s heart was truly dark.

Informing Qiao Yuezhu about the online rumors now was clearly intended to provoke her into losing her composure. As soon as Qiao Yuezhu’s expression faltered, dozens of camera angles would broadcast it online. The audience would love the spectacle.

But only revealing a little would torment Qiao Yuezhu’s mind. She would desperately want to know all the details, yet standing on stage, she couldn’t check her phone.

A pure psychological torture!

Exactly.

Mu Xin wanted to torment Qiao Yuezhu’s mental state until she broke down crying on stage.

But there was no choice.

Mu Xin had powerful backing.

The crew were merely employees; they needed the money and had to obey Mu Xin’s orders. They began whispering a few words into Qiao Yuezhu’s earpiece.

Sure enough!

On stage, Qiao Yuezhu’s expression shifted.

She was utterly flustered!

Backstage, the staff apologetically informed her that paparazzi had exposed photos of her and Zheng Wenyan entering and leaving a hotel together.

Qiao Yuezhu’s eyes darted nervously away from the camera. Her usually smiling cheeks stiffened, cold sweat beaded on her forehead. Despite it being summer, the venue’s air conditioning was strong—it was more chilly than warm.

Gradually,

Her body began to tremble.

She desperately wanted to leave the stage to check the online news on her phone.

But could she leave now?

No!

Leaving rashly would only confirm her guilt and anger the production team. What if they sued her for breach of contract and demanded a huge sum?

Qiao Yuezhu found herself trapped in a dilemma.

Staying on stage was torture.

But leaving was torture too.

Uncontrollably, red veins appeared in Qiao Yuezhu’s eyes. Her hands clawed at the dress she wore. She couldn’t even hear what the judges were saying.

“Contestant Qiao Yuezhu?”

“Contestant Qiao Yuezhu??”

The Foxy Diva called several times, but Qiao Yuezhu didn’t respond.

Finally, Duke, standing beside her, gently touched her shoulder and whispered, “Qiao Yuezhu, the judges are calling you.”

In that instant,

Qiao Yuezhu snapped back to reality.

“Ju... judges... I... am... listening,” she stammered.

The four judges wore strange expressions.

The audience’s jeers made them realize that something unknown to them had happened, and obviously Qiao Yuezhu was at the center of it.

“I said your group with Zheng Tianwang scored the lowest. Unfortunately, you are the last-place contestant this episode,” the Diva Judge announced.

Qiao Yuezhu couldn’t care less about the results now.

All she wanted was to get off the stage.

Thousands of eyes felt like blades piercing her heart.

“Thank you, judges,” she lowered her head.

She felt every gaze in the audience focused on her. She longed for the vanity and sense of accomplishment that came with being the center of attention, but at this moment, that “spotlight” made her want to die.

“According to the show’s rules, you qualify for the challenge round.”

“You may challenge the first-place contestants Chen Fang and Wang Situ.”

“Do you wish to start the challenge round?” the Diva Judge inquired.

Challenge my ass!

Qiao Yuezhu was on the verge of tears, tears swirling in her eyes. Forcing a smile, she said, “I voluntarily give up the challenge round.”

Damn it!

Just let me get off the stage!

Qiao Yuezhu screamed silently in her heart.

She gave up?

The four judges froze.

They exchanged glances.

If Qiao Yuezhu forfeited the challenge, did that mean this episode ended here?