CEO's Sweetheart is a Super Idol
Chapter 98 - 95 Reluctant Choice

Chapter 98: Chapter 95 Reluctant Choice

"Next, let’s welcome model agent Wang Na." Following the sound from the big screen, a woman with a "robust figure," slightly dark skin, wearing a tight cropped top, gray-dyed hair, and heavy Western-style makeup strutted onto the stage.

This woman left a memorable impression: her gaze was sharp and carried a distinctly streetwise edge.

"A model agent coming to join a girl group?"

"Are models doing worse than girl groups now?"

"Someone not in the profession trying to cross into this space to make a living?"

Many trainees couldn’t help but think this to themselves. However, upon seeing this woman’s appearance, they relaxed. As long as "Penguin" wasn’t blind, there was no way she’d make it into the group.

Her appearance was too mature—people might even believe she was thirty years old.

Nonetheless, she carried herself with immense confidence; her stage presence seemed formidable.

Sure enough, an intensely energetic piece of music started playing, and she began swaying to the rhythm.

It was evident she had some basic skills; despite her physique, her waist remained quite flexible.

But her dancing was only at the level of "some basic skills."

Soon, she finished her performance and walked off-stage.

However, her imposing demeanor caused quite a psychological impact on many people present.

"Next, let’s welcome models Yang Ying, Natasha, and Zhou Xinrui!"

As soon as the big screen announced this, many of the girls shook their heads helplessly.

This was truly a group effort—first the agent, now the models.

It seemed the modeling industry was also ridiculously competitive.

These three women were tall and thin, but aside from their reed-like figures, none could be considered beautiful.

The most striking was Natasha, who didn’t look like someone to be trifled with. Her messy yellow hair looked a bit malnourished, yet she was undeniably a genuine Russian girl.

What stood out the most about her was her height—at least 185 centimeters.

"The one in the middle looks somewhat decent," Bright Moon Girl Group’s Jiang Meixing said nervously. She felt the woman resembled a delinquent who might swing a concrete brick in a fight.

"But she’s way too tall!" Lai Ruoxuan muttered instinctively.

She wasn’t jealous of the other’s height, just making a practical observation.

Girl groups require uniformity; individual heights can’t vary too much, or it looks awkward—especially tall members, who can be visually disruptive.

The three sat and sang a song, which was mediocre at best.

Natasha sang slightly better, while the other two were completely off-key.

"All contestants have now completed their presentations. Based on their performances, we’ll select four to remain. They will then choose their challengers from among you." Long Zitao announced sternly.

The mentors returned backstage to decide which four would stay. The reasoning for not deciding directly on-site was to avoid making everyone excessively anxious.

Meanwhile, the production team handed each contestant a bottle of mineral water, though nobody had the heart to drink—it was all about eagerly awaiting the results.

Some girls couldn’t suppress their curiosity and began chatting amongst themselves, but Ye Yuwei and Lu Bingbing remained silent. Even when questioned by nearby girls, they responded with polite smiles.

They understood there were recording devices around them, capturing every single word they said. If their comments were maliciously edited, it could spell significant trouble.

Moreover, they believed "Penguin" might eliminate them at this stage. The platform would likely wait to gauge audience reactions once the show aired before making decisions.

The trainees who felt secure in their standings also remained calm, most concerned being those without strong backing, mediocre singing/dancing abilities, or who excelled in only one area.

After about half an hour, the mentors returned to announce the results.

The selected trainees stood in a row, with Wang Na, the shortest of them, positioned at the edge.

As expected, the ones who remained were Gao Yingxi, Wu Meiying, Shu Man, and Natasha.

"Next, we officially enter the PK phase," Long Zitao declared solemnly.

Everyone’s nerves became tightly wound once again.

"This time, they will each draw their opponents." Long Zitao continued.

Staff members wheeled in a cart filled with cards, and Long Zitao supervised as Gao Yingxi made her draw.

In a suffocating ten seconds, Gao Yingxi, with slender-looking but muscular limbs and an outward-angled gait, walked up with her card in hand.

The room fell silent. As she passed Yin Xiren from Class D, the 17-year-old nearly burst into tears.

Only after Gao Yingxi moved past her did Yin Xiren clutch her chest, relieved and glad to have avoided the confrontation.

"Hello, you are my opponent," Gao Yingxi smiled at a girl from Class F.

This girl was none other than the leader of "Three Suns," nicknamed "Little Dragon" Wang Xiaohua.

Next, the sweet and youthful Wu Meiying stepped forward.

"Sis, I’m sorry, but you’re my PK target."

Another member of "Three Suns" stepped forward—this time, the girl nicknamed "Little Butterfly," Ji Mingyue.

Ye Yuwei internally sighed. "Penguin" was truly ruthless, eliminating two members of the girl group while leaving one behind to stir drama and attract fans for conflict—drawing more traffic.

The "Three Suns" members, though only high schoolers, had already spent a year navigating the industry and understood much about its workings.

Furthermore, their management agency was well aware of the production team’s intentions.

During the show’s start, the girls had already been set up by the production team. Even if they didn’t fully grasp the situation, their company did.

One note worth making: for this recording session, the production deliberately didn’t confiscate everyone’s phones. It was meant to leak certain information outside—blurring lines between truth and lies—and allowing the companies behind the girls to fuel the hype.

The three of them were both furious and helpless, their faces pale with anger. Their lack of expression management betrayed their shallow emotional maturity.

At this point, they should’ve either displayed immense self-confidence, fighting with all their might...

... Or bid farewell tearfully and affectionately to the remaining "Flower Spider" Fan Xiaona, creating a heartwarming "sisterhood moment" far superior to their current expressions.

The former would show fans they had an indomitable spirit. Even if defeated due to insufficient skills, it would be an honorable loss.

The latter would touch fans and earn public sympathy for believing in the show despite external reasons forcing their departure.

"Penguin" wouldn’t dare edit out such emotional content to ensure maximum traffic.

But now, their petty frustration and immaturity made them appear rather weak.

Yang Xiaoyue watched their reactions on-screen, unable to suppress a smirk of triumph. These girls were ultimately too inexperienced.

"Cameraman, record every detail about them without leaving anything out."

The PK results were already predetermined—there was no way two untrained girls could compete against high-level dancers like Gao and Wu.

Despite their opponents’ visible defeat, the joy of these two victors barely crept into their demeanor. All of this had been orchestrated by their management companies.

For every star’s rise to fame, countless "bones and tears" pave their paths.

Next was Shu Man’s turn to draw. After picking a card, she smiled and walked unhesitatingly toward the pyramid’s summit.

All eyes followed this graceful, long-haired woman’s every move. Could it be she intended to challenge Fu Xiaoyu, sitting at the pyramid’s peak?

Fu Xiaoyu’s face turned pale, her body trembling slightly.

"Is the production team trying to stir drama for ratings?"

"Build someone up high, only to slam them down hard later?"

"Is this my fate—to return to that coffin-like rental, wasting away my youth while waiting for vague opportunities that never come?"

Fu Xiaoyu’s mind surged with inner turmoil, her eyes flashing traces of "fury." The beauty in her face was now tinged with menace.

"No, I refuse. Since I’ve ascended to this throne, I won’t descend. I’ll fight to the death, even if it means staining the battlefield with blood—even if it means my utter destruction. Fu Xiaoyu won’t fear any challenge."

Before she could stand, fueled by adrenaline and resolve, Shu Man suddenly stopped on the second-to-last step.

She turned to look toward Lin Jiayi and Ye Yuwei’s direction.

Small but curvy, Lin Jiayi, whose figure rivaled Lai Ruoxuan’s slightly smaller "peaks," smiled confidently and fearlessly stared back at Shu Man.

This was no longer the self-proclaimed "little cutie" Lin Jiayi seen onstage—it was the fang-bearing "snow leopard" of Tianshan.

"Ye Yuwei, you’re my opponent," Shu Man smiled at her stable-seated target.

Ye Yuwei sighed inwardly. "Penguin" hadn’t neglected her faction—it simply saved the headline showdown for last. With her group’s ability to attract attention, they wouldn’t miss the chance.

As for why Shu Man didn’t challenge Lu Bingbing, it was clear—Lu Bingbing’s singing and dancing skills were average. As long as Shu Man avoided major mistakes, Bingbing would certainly lose.

But Ye Yuwei was a different case. Her dancing matched Shu Man’s level, and her singing was near-professional. Naturally, she was "Penguin’s" best choice.

This match would guarantee Ye Yuwei’s victory, while Shu Man would become either her sacrificial lamb or the show’s martyr.

Perhaps "Penguin" didn’t intend to do this—it would only enhance the prominence of Old Mu’s representative, Ye Yuwei—but they had no alternative.

The problem was Lu Bingbing’s mediocrity. As they couldn’t eliminate her yet, they begrudgingly handed Ye Yuwei the spotlight.

"Circumstances create heroes—heaven won’t abandon me," Ye Yuwei reflected, standing up slowly.

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