Chapter 1
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Chapter 1: Title
The phone clattered against the sofa cushions before settling into the corner.
Song Yutian massaged her temples and exhaled slowly.
What could be worse than discovering that you only have 241.5 yuan left across all financial accounts after an exhaustive check?
Well, the precise sum meant careful budgeting could stretch it for at least a week.
Wait – how had she fallen this far?
Song Yutian closed her eyes, retracing events.
Stage lights, orchestral swells, her body spinning across the grand theater floor – the usual curtain call met with roaring applause. Then came darkness. Silence. Waking in an alien bedroom.
Initial confusion turned into clarity upon checking the bedside phone: unfamiliar contacts, social media feeds peppered with vaguely recognizable names among strangers. A rapid name search confirmed it.
She’d transmigrated – with 99% certainty – into that trashy celebrity novel.
The original work, Delicate Darling: CEO’s Exclusive Sweetheart, had caught her eye when her name was plastered across the synopsis. Curiosity led her to Chapter 1.
Disaster. "Song Yutian" was textbook cannon fodder – stunning but talentless, rejecting non-lead roles, and now 18 months unemployed. Her last variety show appearance spawned a "low EQ" backlash that nearly ended her career.
At some banquet, "Song Yutian" targeted the second-generation heir Gu Feng, mistaking his polite reciprocation of her flirting for genuine interest. To Gu Feng, this beauty-without-brains wanting to be his official girlfriend was pure delusion.
To "win" Gu Feng, "Song Yutian" strong-armed her agency into getting her a spot on Unexpected Challenges – Gu Feng’s current project – agreeing to be blacklisted if she failed to improve her reputation.
On the show, "Song Yutian" batted her lashes at Gu Feng, grew jealous of his special treatment toward protagonist Su Moying, attempted sabotage, and was publicly humiliated. Subsequent chapters showed the character spiraling into disgraceful retirement while Su Moying flourished under Gu Feng’s patronage.
The finale depicted Su Moying announcing her retirement at a concert to become Mrs. Gu.
Boring.
Song Yutian closed the browser tab after skimming.
Now, cosmic irony had made her inhabit this melodramatic novel.
The phone’s shrill ringtone shattered her reminiscence.
"Song Yutian, packed? The program group’s car will arrive at 8 a.m. tomorrow."
"…Oh."
"This is my final appeal to the company. No results mean no more resources. Understood?"
"The contract and program group guidelines have been emailed. Don’t mess this up."
After speaking, the call ended abruptly, leaving Song Yutian no chance to reply.
Setting down her phone, Song Yutian pondered briefly. The caller must have been her agent in this world, and tomorrow’s filming would be for the reality competition show Unexpected Challenges mentioned in the novel’s opening chapters—where the male lead, female lead, and her own cannon-fodder character all participated.
Song Yutian opened her email and scrolled down to locate the contract mentioned by her agent. After skimming through it, she mentally noted several crucial points:
First, this was a fully livestreamed program. Except for nightly rest periods, participants would be constantly followed by cameras and production teams. Participation meant consenting to 24/7 surveillance.
Every action during filming would be captured and instantly broadcast to viewers.
Second, the show followed an elimination system with daily payment based on actual participation days. Fees varied according to celebrity status. As the original host—an obscure actress with a poor reputation who hadn’t booked roles in years—her rate was set at 8,000 yuan per day.
Surviving until the finale could accumulate over 100,000 yuan total. For her current situation, this was a fortune.
Conversely, her company had warned her that poor performance could potentially cut off all future resources. Early elimination would leave this uneducated, inexperienced woman unemployable even in factories. Considering her current physical condition, returning to professional dancing wasn’t feasible either.
Staring at her bank balance showing under 300 yuan, Song Yutian vowed internally: Career first! Earn money!
As for the male lead? Men were nothing but distractions.
After reviewing the contract, Song Yutian opened the email titled Program Recording Guidelines, which detailed filming schedules and locations. She noted the production group’s restriction against bringing personal staff—including stylists or assistants.
Recalling the phone conversation, she guessed her company wouldn’t provide support even if it were permitted. Tomorrow’s styling and makeup would be entirely her responsibility.
Song Yutian gazed at her reflection—naturally beautiful without cosmetics. She smiled confidently.
What was there to fear?
