Chapter 11: Idol Program: Game Begins

Qin Yanzhou stepped out of the sleek black car, one polished shoe touching the pavement with practiced grace.

As he straightened to his full height, adjusting the cuff of his suit jacket, his assistant followed closely behind, clipboard in hand. Together, they began walking toward the audition hall.

The moment the trainees caught sight of him, chaos erupted.

"Kyaaa! Qin Yanzhou! Can you sign my shirt? I'm your biggest fan!""Wait—me too! Please, just one autograph!"

A wave of eager girls surged toward him, eyes sparkling with admiration and hands holding out pens, phones, and whatever they could grab.

Qin Yanzhou didn't say a word. He simply tilted his head down slightly, allowing his hat to shadow his eyes, and walked past them without slowing.

His assistant gave a small, apologetic smile and spoke up in a calm, practiced tone.

"President Qin has work today, I'm afraid he can't stop. Please understand."

The trainees blinked in surprise for a moment—then immediately straightened up and stepped aside like well-trained fans.

"Ohhh, right! Of course, he's busy!""We understand! Good luck with work, President Qin!"

They nodded enthusiastically, whispering excitedly among themselves but no longer blocking the way.

Xia Lan watched the scene unfold, raising an eyebrow as the crowd of girls quickly quieted and stepped aside, still beaming like they'd been blessed.

She glanced at Su Xin and muttered under her breath, "He has… obedient fans, huh."

Su Xin giggled softly, her expression warm."Yeah. President Qin's fans are some of the most loyal I've ever seen in this industry. It's like they worship him."

Xia Lan's eyes lingered on Qin Yanzhou's retreating back, thoughtful."Loyal, or scared?" she murmured, more to herself than to Su Xin.

As Xia Lan watched Qin Yanzhou pass through the crowd with such effortless authority, a thought surfaced—unbidden and sharp.

Just like the assassin organization's leader…Wherever he went, people instinctively stepped aside. No one dared to stop him. Fear, respect—sometimes both.

Her eyes narrowed slightly.

"Is it the same with him?" she muttered to herself. "No… probably not."

As Qin Yanzhou walked past the group of trainees, his gaze briefly swept across the room—calm, unreadable.

But then his eyes landed on Xia Lan.

She wasn't squealing.She wasn't starstruck.She simply sat there, expression indifferent, as if the man everyone else was fawning over was just another face in the crowd.

He blinked—just once—slightly surprised by her unbothered demeanor.Then, without pausing, he continued walking.

Xia Lan watched his retreating back and thought silently to herself,

Sure, he's handsome… but what use is a face like that if he can't kill?

Her lips curled into a faint, dismissive smirk.

Xia Lan's eyes shifted toward the stage as movement caught her attention. The judges had arrived.

And seated just beside them—legs elegantly crossed, expression carved from ice—was none other than Qin Yanzhou.

He looked like a statue of authority: cold, sharp, and unreadable.

Xia Lan narrowed her eyes slightly but said nothing, her gaze drifting away just as the speakers crackled to life.

The head judge stood up and spoke into the microphone, voice echoing across the auditorium:

"Hello, audience! Today, we reveal the results of the Idol Auditions. After that, the Actor Audition segment will begin!"

Excitement rippled through the room.

The crowd erupted into cheers, applause filling the air.

Another judge—an older man with a kind smile—adjusted his glasses and said warmly,

"Now, let's display the list. The names you see on screen have passed the idol selection round. These trainees will enter the program and have a chance to become the next idols of China!"

As the screen behind them flickered to life, the entire hall held its breath.

Clap. Clap. Clap.

The sound of clapping surrounded Xia Lan, but her eyes were fixed on that screen—calm, focused, waiting.

Beside Xia Lan, Su Xin clasped her hands tightly and whispered fervently,"Please, please, let me get selected… God, I really want this…"

Xia Lan turned to glance at her—and for a split second, her vision blurred.

In place of Su Xin, she saw Lu Zhi from her past—hands clenched, eyes shut tight, bouncing on her feet as she begged fate for a miracle.

Xia Lan's face twitched. A laugh nearly escaped her lips at the vivid memory, but she caught herself just in time.

One look at Su Xin's hopeful, sparkling expression reminded her this wasn't the time to tease.

She swallowed the chuckle and looked away, keeping her face composed.

It would've been rude to laugh right now.

In the office behind the auditorium, Shao's face was lit up with smug satisfaction.

"Hahaha," she laughed under her breath, eyes gleaming with arrogance. "Even if my name's not on that stupid list, do they really think I won't be selected?"

She leaned back in her chair with a proud tilt of her chin.

"They clearly don't know who my parents are. One word from my dad, and I've already got a personal invitation to the Idol Program."

But as her thoughts drifted to Xia Lan—her face darkened.

The memory of how Xia Lan had humiliated her earlier made her blood boil. Hatred twisted her smile into a scowl.

"Just wait," she muttered coldly, her voice venomous. "Once we're inside the Idol Program… I'll show you who really runs the show."

She clenched her fist, nails digging into her palm.

"Hmph."

The screen lit up, and the list of selected names appeared one by one.

At number five—Xia Lan.

At number three—Su Xin.

Su Xin gasped, her hands flying to her mouth. Her eyes widened as they brimmed with tears of joy.

"Ehhh?! I got selected! Yes! I'm going to become what I've always dreamed of!"

She twirled in place, her joy radiating like sunlight.

Beside her, Xia Lan allowed herself a faint smile. But as she turned to look at Su Xin's glowing face, her expression slowly cooled. Her hands twitched slightly.

A wave of memories surged through her.

The day she received her university admission letter… the overwhelming joy that had lit her heart back then.

And then—her aunt's face surfaced in her mind like a stain.

Her smile faded completely. Her fists clenched tightly.

"Huh... I should kill her again. Just like I did in the previous life…"

The thought whispered through her mind like a blade.

Su Xin turned toward her, startled by the sudden shift in energy.

"Sis Xia Lan… aren't you happy? Why do you look so angry…?"

Xia Lan blinked, quickly composing herself. Her lips curled into a calm, almost unreadable smile.

"I'm happy," she said softly. "Don't worry."

The lead judge stood up, adjusting the microphone before addressing the room with a professional but warm voice.

"All the girls whose names appeared on the list will receive official invitations shortly. Their audition videos will also be uploaded online later today."

A wave of excitement rippled through the selected girls. Faces lit up with joy, some even bouncing on their toes, barely able to contain their happiness.

Meanwhile, those whose names weren't called stood frozen in place—shoulders trembling, eyes glistening. A few bit their lips to hold back sobs, while others silently clenched their fists, struggling to stay composed.

The room held both the euphoria of dreams realized… and the heartbreak of dreams deferred.