Chapter 53

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Chapter 53: Title

The bottom-ranked contestants were Gong Yu and Liu Tian, both with thirty points.

The voting portal opened at 10:00 AM. Each phone number could cast one vote, restricted to accounts with over seven hours of live-stream viewing—a partial safeguard against ballot-stuffing, though determined voters could still register new numbers and watch replays.

Initial votes remained neck-and-neck. Despite the audience disliking Gong Yu’s on-screen behavior, his boyband fanbase mobilized quickly.

Initial votes remained neck-and-neck. Despite audience dislike for Gong Yu’s on-screen behavior, his boyband fanbase mobilized quickly. The program group added a post-vote sharing feature, allowing eligible users to publish results with images/videos. While early shares featured fans promoting their idols with flattering clips, the trend soon shifted.

A self-proclaimed neutral voter shared a compilation from the first Match Day after supporting Liu Tian, captioning: "This is why I didn’t vote for Gong Yu." The viral video juxtaposed scenes of Gong Yu persistently urging Wei Yao to pull carts while he socialized with guests, followed by Song Yutian’s iconic remarks:

"Wouldn’t handsome youths pulling carts better attract tourists?"

"You only see women’s appearances as consumable commodities."

Public outrage erupted:

[I never knew Gong Yu did this! I used to like him!]

[He kept pressuring her after she refused! Disgusting!]

[Thought he was gentlemanly, but he’s actually sexist! Voting against him now!]

Song Yutian’s viral clapbacks drew fresh attention:

[This contestant speaks the truth! Makes me want to watch!]

[These quotes prove Song Yutian’s integrity!]

[Is the person confronting Gong Yu in the video that same Song Yutian who trended yesterday?]

[Wow, Song Yutian has such strong principles! I’m suddenly a fan!]

Song Yutian’s fans quickly arrived to promote her.

[No regrets joining the fandom! Watch the show to witness Sister Song’s beauty!]

[Come see how Sister Song claimed first place in the program!]

Song Yutian’s social media account gained countless new followers within a day.

Meanwhile, many viewers who had watched the show but skipped voting recalled Gong Yu’s behavior after seeing the trending posts and rushed to support Liu Tian.

A small group of "enthusiastic netizens" even registered new accounts, binge-watched seven hours of recordings, and voted for Liu Tian after discovering the controversy.

Liu Tian’s votes steadily widened the gap from Gong Yu.

Despite Gong Yu’s fans rallying support, they couldn’t bridge the distance.

The competition’s outcome became evident.

That afternoon, Gong Yu posted an apology video.

Unshaven and weary-looking, he addressed the camera:

"I deeply regret drawing attention through such negative circumstances. My desperation to win led me to ask Wei Yao to pull the cart—a thoughtless decision in hindsight…"

"Certain remarks were misinterpreted, but many were spoken in haste and did not reflect my true beliefs. I genuinely respect women and…"

"I apologize to all netizens, as I have fully recognized the inappropriateness of my actions…"

The three-minute video failed to appease viewers:

[Apologizing only after trending? Too late!]

[Your apology should go to Wei Yao, not netizens!]

[Respect is shown through actions, not empty words.]

["Not your intention"? More like revealing your true self!]

[Pathetic attempt at looking remorseful with that scruffy face. Couldn’t even groom for an apology video?]

At dusk

Song Yutian arrived at the address from her notes—her "mother’s" residence.

Though logic warned against bonding with this body’s family, she hesitated before knocking.

Her appearance remained identical post-transmigration, fueling hope that this mother might resemble her own from her previous life.

In her original world, her mother had divorced early, raising Song Yutian alone. After joining the dance theater, Song Yutian had planned to pamper her mother, only to lose her to illness a year prior.

Though she knew this wasn’t her biological mother, Song Yutian knocked anyway.

The wait felt longer than her first live recording.

A familiar face answered. The woman immediately grabbed slippers while chattering:

"Come in! New slippers and bedding! Stay tonight, yes?"

"Half a year without visiting! You ignore my calls! At least before, I saw you on TV…"

"Why the tears, child?"

Song Yutian rubbed her eyes. "Nothing."

The doppelgänger of her late mother triggered unexpected emotion. Though she suppressed tears, her reddened eyes betrayed her.

The flustered woman patted her arm. "Hush now. Rest before dinner. All your favorites are ready."

"Yuan’an’s playing ball," the woman added. "I told him to return early. Talk properly tonight—you siblings were so close growing up."

Song Yutian froze.

Sibling?

In her past life, she’d been an only child. This "Song Yutian" apparently had a brother.

At five-forty in the evening, there was movement in the hallway.

Then, with the sound of a key turning, the door opened.

A teenage boy in a white T-shirt appeared at the doorway, locking eyes with Song Yutian.

The lanky youth had obvious baby fat on his face, appearing to be a high school student.

A middle-aged woman’s voice came from the kitchen: "Yuan’an, you’re back!"

The boy stared at Song Yutian without speaking.

Song Yutian mirrored his silence.

What should I say now? Song Yutian wondered. Hello? Or…

Fortunately, Mama Song hurried out from the kitchen:

"Yuan’an, why are you standing there dumbly? Put your bag down and sit. Your sister hasn’t returned home in so long—shouldn’t you talk to her?"

The boy finally spoke: "Why did you come back?"

Song Yutian: "…"

Mama Song frowned: "What nonsense is that? This is your sister’s home too. Of course, she can return."

Her tone softened: "Now now, your sister missed you terribly. She even cried when she first got home."

Song Yuan’an immediately looked at Song Yutian.

Song Yutian blinked: "No no, Mom’s exaggerating."

The woman shook her head: "Ah, this child—still being shy?"

Song Yutian: "…"

Song Yuan’an finally spoke with a furrowed brow: "If it’s too hard, just quit. You’re not making much money anyway, getting ordered around all day."

Song Yutian chuckled. Her brother seemed mature at first glance, but his words revealed he was still childish.

Song Yutian asked: "If I quit, how would I survive?"

Song Yuan’an retorted, "Find simpler work! Dragging carts and dancing from dawn to dusk—aren’t you exhausted?"

"But I don’t get to choose…" Song Yutian paused. "Wait—you watched the stream?"

The program had only filmed for a week, with no edited version released yet. Yet, Song Yuan’an casually mentioned her show activities.

Song Yuan’an averted his gaze. "Summer break’s boring. I glanced at it occasionally."

Mama Song chimed in, "Yutian, you should know—your brother’s been glued to his phone watching that stream. I peeked too but couldn’t follow. Your brother understands, though, right, Yuan’an?"

Without waiting for a reply, she added, "Enough chatter. I’ll finish cooking—dinner’s almost ready."

She returned to the kitchen, leaving the siblings alone.

Under the mutual gaze, Song Yuan’an slowly said, "…I really just skimmed it."

Song Yutian couldn’t suppress a laugh.

Song Yuan’an demanded, "What’s funny?"

Song Yutian simply shook her head.

The siblings’ relationship wasn’t as strained as she’d feared. At least her brother paid attention to her. And he clearly couldn’t conceal his thoughts.

Song Yutian teased, "Since you watched it… any favorite contestants? I could get autographs."

"I…" Song Yuan’an hesitated.

Song Yutian studied him curiously—her casual question seemed to strike a chord.

Song Yuan’an glanced at her. "No one special."

"Really?"

"Why would I lie?" he glared.

"Fine, fine." Song Yutian sighed. Teenage boys were inscrutable.

Dinner arrived shortly. Though the siblings spoke little, Mama Song’s constant chatter prevented awkwardness.

"Yutian, visit more often to manage your brother," Mama Song said. "All summer he’s been phone-bound. Yesterday, he ignored meal calls while glued to the computer."

"I was working, not playing!" Song Yuan’an protested.

Mama Song scoffed, "What ‘work’ could a high schooler have?"

"I keep telling you—video editing!"

"That’s just play!"

Song Yuan’an sulked into silence.

Song Yutian interjected, "Mom, video editing’s real work. Many earn money from it."

Song Yuan’an glanced at Song Yutian in surprise.

Mama Song asked, "Huh? Really? Can that thing actually make money?"

Song Yutian nodded. "Of course. And if you have enough followers, earning enough to buy multiple houses isn’t unusual."

"Alright, alright," Mama Song said, still skeptical. "I’ll never understand you youngsters."

Song Yutian turned to Song Yuan’an. "What’s your video account name?"

Song Yuan’an hesitated. "I just edit casually."

Song Yutian chuckled. "No need to tell me. I understand."

High school boys deserved their privacy.

Song Yuan’an fidgeted. "It’s not that, just…"

Mama Song interrupted, "Enough with this nonsense. Let’s eat."

After dinner, Mama Song insisted Song Yutian watch TV with them.

Song Yuan’an reluctantly sat through two hours of programming.

Later, Song Yutian declined to stay overnight.

The two-bedroom apartment meant Mama Song had prepared Song Yuan’an’s room as her guest quarters, complete with fresh linens.

Staying would force the boy to sleep on the sofa.

"Are you sure?" Mama Song pressed. "Yuan’an’s young—one night on the couch won’t hurt. Right, Yuan’an?"

After a pause, Song Yuan’an mumbled, "It’s manageable."

Song Yutian smiled. "I’ll return after the show wraps up."

"Promise you will," Mama Song sighed. "Don’t disappear for half a year again."

"I promise."

"Yuan’an, walk your sister to the gate."

"No need—"

"Coming?" Song Yuan’an already stood in the hallway.

The silent walk to the community entrance took two minutes.

"I’m off," Song Yutian announced.

Shadowed under his cap, Song Yuan’an grunted.

Typical teenage aloofness, she thought.

"Last chance for celebrity signatures before I start filming. Even autographed photos?"

After prolonged silence, he muttered something indistinct.

"What?"

"Nothing! Go already—wear your mask properly."

She waved goodbye. He waited until she vanished before turning home.

Back home, Song Yutian texted Mama Song as promised.

The reply overflowed with health reminders. After responding, Song Yutian reiterated the importance of scheduling a physical exam.

She exhaled deeply.

Her mother existed here. She had family.

Even her sharp-tongued brother secretly watched her shows.

A realization struck her.

She opened the social media platform, locating yesterday’s viral video dissecting Qin Yuanzhuo’s incorrect game show answer.

The anonymous gaming blogger’s profile revealed nothing—until she noticed their earlier content.

The account previously focused on gaming tutorials with erratic view counts. Only the recent entertainment analysis video had exploded, garnering millions.

Scrolling through past uploads, she paused at a gameplay clip.

The background shelf matched their living room exactly—complete with childish fruit stickers she’d always found garish.

Sure enough, the video was posted by Song Yuan’an.

At that time, she had been puzzled about how the analysis video could be released so quickly—unless someone had been monitoring the trending topics and immediately started scripting and editing as soon as the program group released the Q&A session footage.

It appeared Song Yuan’an cared much more about his sister than he outwardly showed.

After some thought, Song Yutian opened her contacts and sent a message to her brother:

Thank you for that video.

After waiting without a response,

Song Yutian sent another message:

I’ll remember Moying’s signed photo.

Upon careful recollection, Song Yutian concluded that Song Yuan’an’s whispered words at the neighborhood entrance had indeed been about Su Moying.

This time, a reply finally came.

Song Yuan’an: Unnecessary! Just focus on filming your show!

Song Yutian couldn’t suppress a chuckle.

After a three-day hiatus, the Unexpected Challenges program resumed live streaming.

The dramatic withdrawal incident had propelled the show’s popularity to new heights.

By noon, the live stream audience had tripled compared to the premiere’s initial numbers.

Regardless of whether this constituted a blessing in disguise, the director beamed at the metrics.

The live feed showed all ten contestants assembled.

Alongside seven familiar faces from the first half, three newcomers joined the roster.