I need a minute. Just a minute. Nan Liujing is literally trembling, soaked, pale, head splitting with pain—and Helan Ying won't let her go. She's cornered, trapped against that mirror, and she can barely stand. Then Xiao Lingguang appears and she RUNS to him. Not walks. RUNS. Like he's the only solid thing in a world that's been spinning out of control. And then—she faints. Right in front of him. The veil blows open, her face flushed crimson from fever, and Nurse Fu is screaming for help while the princess's people just stand there doing nothing. Of course they do nothing. They're Helan Ying's guards. Xiao Lingguang doesn't hesitate. 'Let go.' He takes her from the nurse, lifts her into his arms, and carries her to the carriage. The text says she was 'as thin as a sheet of paper' and he was startled by how light she was. But he doesn't complain. Doesn't set her down roughly. He just... carries her. Then her hand reaches out from under the veil and grabs his fingers. 'Elder Brother...' That whisper through the veil. I literally gasped. She's half-conscious, burning up with fever, and her instinct is to hold onto the one person who showed up for her. Not Pei Liuyu. Not anyone she's supposed to be loyal to. Just Xiao Lingguang. Meanwhile Helan Ying watches them leave and goes completely still. Her expression shifts through several emotions before 'all feelings receded like the tide.' That line. That. Line. She's hurt. She's jealous. She's furious. But she buries it so deep even her own maid doesn't notice until she smashes that comb. This emotional tension is suffocating in the best way.
This chapter is a masterclass in escalating stakes, and I need to unpack why it works so well. It starts small — five points for a broken vase. Seems minor, right? But the narrative immediately establishes that five points is the difference between debut and elimination for Wen Jiuyi. The company's original plan hinges on precise positioning, and every variable that shifts threatens the whole structure. Small conflict, enormous consequences. That's good writing. Then it escalates. Cheng Yang voluntarily takes the penalty, which transforms a disciplinary issue into a team-building moment. Xi Ruqian reframes it again into a PR win. The conflict doesn't resolve — it mutates. Each character is solving for a different variable, and the tension comes from watching those calculations collide. But the real stakes reveal themselves in the competition rules. The group stage is thirty points. The solo stage is reserved for the top three. And the free stage — live battles where the winner gains three points and the loser loses two. Refusing a challenge costs one point. This is designed to force conflict, to pit contestants against each other systematically. Si Chang understands this immediately: "A battle, huh? That waste Gu Nanci is done for!" What makes the stakes feel real isn't just the points system. It's the personal cost. Gu Nanci is suing for her reputation while simultaneously trying to survive a competition designed to humiliate her. Si Chang is buying songs and manipulating lotteries because he knows that if he doesn't control the outcome, he loses everything. Wen Jiuyi's compassion isn't just a personality trait — it's a liability in a system that rewards ruthlessness. And Gu Nanci's secret relief when she draws number three? That's the highest-stakes moment in the chapter. She's not just playing the competition. She's playing the players. The suspense isn't whether she'll survive the stage — it's whether she'll survive the people on it.
Hello great author, I'm a huge fan of your work! Your book left a lasting impression on me, and I believe it has the potential to reach even more readers. I'd be honored to share some thoughts on how to enhance its impact and visibility. Would you be open to hearing my thoughts?
A thrilling blend of sin, power, and temptation—each chapter leaves you craving more. Can't stop reading! ?
The amount of drama on few first chapter are emotional engaging. So many unjustified thing happen to poor mc. She deserves better.
For Now everything looks good lets see how it progress.but as i think this is just the first novel i have read with such a intresting storyline i hope the author doesnt fuck it upp
I really enjoyed the first few chapters of this book! The storyline is intriguing, and the characters have already pulled me in. I can’t wait to see how everything unfolds, but I’ll hold off for now and wait for more chapters to stack up, this is definitely a story I want to binge-read!
Getting a lot of horror vibes from this book, should I say horror mixed with tragedy and stuff? And the way everything gets detailed makes it good to imagine. More chapters.
I’m really intrigued after reading the first few chapters and enjoying every bit of it. I can’t wait to see what’s going to happen next!
Shameless Author Review Hey there, lovely readers! Since we’re already eleven chapters in, I figured it’s the perfect time to drop a little author review. Now, you might be wondering why a 5.0 rating? Well, because I believe my book deserves it (hehe, gotta hype myself up, right?). Most of what I want to say is already in the author’s note in the prologue, so be sure to check that out! Also, if you have any questions or ideas about my book, feel free to drop a comment. I promise to read and reply to each one. This journey isn’t one I plan to take alone, because I want to share it with you, my amazing readers. Your support means everything! Now, over to you, what are your thoughts so far?
I would have put all stars but the truth of the matter is you update slowly. This is very interesting but you don’t update frequently enough and always leave us in suspense. I just want you to work on that but either way it’s a great story.
Honestly a good start, Author keep it up!