Lin Siyan was a little annoyed when the receptionist told her that the chairman was busy and asked her to leave the suit behind. She asked the system: "[Is Xu Zifan's favorability rating really 10 points?]"
[System: Yes, host.]
Lin Siyan pursed her lips, smiled, and handed the wrapped suit to the receptionist. "Hello, Mr. Xu helped me, but I can't thank him in person, which is a real pity. Could I have a notepad? I'd like to write a few words."
The receptionist smiled and handed her paper and pen. "Of course, please go ahead."
Lin Siyan thought for a moment and wrote on the note: Mr. Xu, thank you very much for your help last night. I regret that I cannot thank you in person. I have a favor to ask. I understand that the old lady last night is living in very difficult circumstances, and Mr. Xu seems to be involved in a charitable foundation. I wonder if it would be possible to apply for some financial assistance for that old lady? If so, please let me know. I look forward to your reply.
She then wrote her phone number and name at the bottom before handing the note to the receptionist, saying, "It's finished. Please give it to Mr. Xu along with the clothes. Thank you very much."
"Okay." The receptionist smiled and nodded, then put the note down.
Lin Siyan frowned as soon as she left the company. Her first step had failed. She would have to be extra careful to plan the next chance encounter, otherwise Xu Zifan would definitely suspect her ulterior motives. A natural and plausible chance encounter was really difficult; it seemed this was indeed a difficult target to approach.
[System: Host, don't be discouraged, I believe in you.]
Lin Siyan curled her lips into a smile. "I believe I can too. If this chosen one of destiny were easy to approach, I wouldn't have a chance to win him over. Just imagine his cold, aloof demeanor; it would be so interesting to see him fall at my feet someday. By the way, are there any other chosen ones in this world?"
[System: No, each world only has one or two chosen ones, which is very rare. Furthermore, the target has already been designated as Xu Zifan. Even if you pursue anyone else, it won't count as completing the mission and you won't receive the reward.]
[I know, I just thought that if there were other chosen ones, I could seize their destiny; it has nothing to do with the mission.]
[System: Host, your current identity has no connection with Xu Zifan, making you difficult to approach. This attempt to win him over will be very challenging. We advise you not to create unnecessary trouble. Xu Zifan has had no scandals in recent years, suggesting he's serious about relationships. If he discovers you're associating with other men, you might not be able to win him over. Host, you must be cautious. If you fail to win over the chosen one, this will be your last world.]
Lin Siyan took a taxi home and replied nonchalantly, "I know what I'm doing."
She looked out the window, pondering her next move to get closer to Xu Zifan. Upon seeing a huge billboard, she suddenly asked the system, "Does Xu Zifan also have a company in the entertainment industry?"
[System: Yes, host. The Xu Group primarily focuses on real estate, followed by the entertainment industry. The Xu Group owns cinemas, entertainment venues, and shopping malls throughout the country. Xu Zifan invested in an entertainment company two years ago, which has now reached a certain scale and is currently in a growth phase.]
Lin Siyan smiled. "A rising period is great! It gives me a chance to shine. I'm going to buy a Beauty Pill and the 'Lingering Melody' skill."
[System: Host, do you want to be a star?]
That's right, you have to try every possible opportunity to get in touch with Xu Zifan. It's hard for him to notice you if you're just an employee of his company, but it's better to become a star under his management, the kind that's famous throughout the country.
[System: Okay, the item has been stored in the storage compartment. Please check it.]
Lin Siyan opened the virtual screen invisible to others and checked her storage compartment. She already had what she had just bought. Although it cost a lot of points, it was useful and a worthwhile purchase. As for whether she could become famous as a star, she didn't need to worry about that at all. With the good stuff in the system shop, she didn't know how many cheat codes she could gain. In this era, some people could become famous just by their looks; if she also had a skill, it would be even easier.
Lin Siyan went to Xu's Entertainment Company to register as a trainee, while Ji Yawen finally picked up the suit and notepad from the front desk while running errands downstairs.
She saw the message on the note and thought to herself, "Why don't you apply for a grant through the foundation? What's with contacting the boss? It's obvious he wants to make an appointment. I just don't know if the boss will agree to it."
Ji Yawen took out the suit and inspected it thoroughly, making sure it was clean and free of perfume, lipstick, hair, or other unusual substances. Only then did she take the suit in when delivering documents to Xu Zifan. After reporting the contents of the documents to Xu Zifan, she said, "Chairman, this is the suit Miss Lin returned. I've checked it. Should it be hung in the lounge?"
"Um."
"Here is also a note, a message from Miss Lin to you, Chairman."
Xu Zifan thought to himself that the strategist was indeed making a move. He looked up, took the note, glanced at it, and casually threw it into the trash can. He said, "You don't need to report anything about this Miss Lin to me in the future. I won't see her if she comes again."
"Okay, I understand." Ji Yawen hung her suit jacket in the closet of the lounge, tidied up everything in the lounge, and then quietly left the office. The boss didn't make the appointment; it seemed that Miss Lin would be disappointed. She wondered what kind of woman could possibly catch the boss's eye.
Xu Zifan couldn't hear Ji Yawen's inner thoughts and was unaware of the richness of her inner world. Judging solely from her performance and his memories of her, he found her quite composed and mature. Ji Yawen was only 22 years old, just one year younger than him. She had returned from studying abroad, completing her credits ahead of schedule, and had already been working for the original owner of this body for two years. Based on her performance that day, he was very satisfied with this assistant.
As for the one who tried to get close to him
He thought for a moment and lowered his favorability rating from 10 to 5. This was one of his side abilities; he could freely control his favorability towards the target, regardless of his inner thoughts. It was just a bit of a pity that he couldn't hear the target's thoughts right now. He could only hear the conversation between the target and the system when the target was within ten meters of him; otherwise, he really wanted to know what the target was feeling.
[System: Ding! Xu Zifan's favorability -5!]
Lin Siyan was getting out of the car when she heard this notification and almost twisted her ankle! She slammed the car door shut, frowned, and asked: "[-5? Only 5 points left?]"
[System: Yes, host. It seems your actions just now have offended Xu Zifan, causing a significant drop in his favorability.]
Lin Siyan entered the elevator and remained silent until the doors opened and she stepped inside. Then she said, "That's right. Since Xu Zifan was able to take over a multinational corporation at eighteen and defeat so many of his clansmen, he must be a very capable person. In his position, he's seen and experienced a lot; many women must have tried to get close to him. He probably hates people who use underhanded tactics to get close to him. I miscalculated just now."
[System: Host, what do we do now? How do we clear up his misunderstanding?]
"The more I explain, the worse it gets. I can't contact him right now, and I can't run into him, otherwise it'll arouse his suspicion. I'll try to participate in the talent show and make a splash first." Lin Siyan sat down on the sofa, her face looking rather grim. Although she spoke rationally, she was still in a very bad mood. A bad start was very unlucky, making things much more difficult for her. Now, arranging a second chance encounter was really hard to manage.
She looked around. The house was very simple. The original Lin Siyan was an orphan who had just graduated from junior college and couldn't find a job. She could only rent a cheap little house by doing odd jobs. The surrounding environment wasn't good either, and she was uncomfortable living there. She needed to earn money to improve her life first.
Lin Siyan thought carefully for over two hours, meticulously reasoning through the logic of each step in her plan, and finally devised her next move. She was an orphan, she had no money, and based on the persona she cultivated in front of Xu Zifan, she should be a kind-hearted person who wanted to help the old lady. It was reasonable for an orphan to care for other orphans and the elderly after growing up; she could even fabricate some heartbreaking past experiences to gain sympathy, which would also provide a reason to enter the entertainment industry and earn money.
She doesn't know anything else, except she sings well and is pretty. She could become a star, earn money, donate to the orphanage where the old lady grew up, do volunteer work at orphanages and nursing homes, and then create a buzz around it. It would be good for both her career and Xu Zifan's image. Then Xu Zifan wouldn't suspect her of having ulterior motives anymore, and might even regain his favor because of his past misunderstandings.
She was certain that Xu Zifan would appreciate kind-hearted people who help the elderly and orphans, and she wanted to stick to this, while also gaining a good reputation in the entertainment industry.
After making her plans, Lin Siyan started searching online for the latest talent shows. Suddenly, she discovered that a TV station was producing a girl group talent show, and it was the first girl group in China. Many trainees signed up, and the promotion was huge and very eye-catching.
Where there are many women, there are many topics to discuss, and the debut of the center position in the first girl group will definitely be trending frequently. As long as there is enough buzz, the company will pay attention to this person, and then Xu Zifan might notice her. After all, his entertainment company is still developing, and if there is a key talent to cultivate, the person in charge will definitely report it to him.
Thinking of this, Lin Siyan hurriedly asked the system: "System, is there any way to get the video of my meeting with Xu Zifan last night?"
[System: Yes, the score is quite high. What do you need this for, host?]
[I'll save this for later. Once I've gained some fame, I'll release this video and immediately link it to Xu Zifan. Then I'll have the scandal, the buzz, and the connection.]
[System: Host, Xu Zifan has always had zero scandals, is that alright?]
[Don't worry, you're here, aren't you? Xu Zifan won't be able to find out I released the video. Even if there are rumors, I'll still be the victim. Besides, I'm under their company, so he has to protect me. We'll figure out the specifics later.]
[System: Okay. Host, the video footage extracted from the surveillance cameras near the hotel has been stored on a USB drive in the storage compartment. Please check.]
Lin Siyan checked the footage. Because the area around the hotel was brightly lit, her face was captured very clearly, as was the process of Xu Zifan asking someone to give her clothes. Furthermore, when Xu Zifan turned around to get into the car, his face was also clearly captured. Absolutely perfect!
Lin Siyan smiled and hummed a song in a wonderful mood. She took the beauty pill, and soon her face turned dark, which was excess impurities from the minor adjustments to her skin and bones. She washed away the impurities, took a nice bubble bath, and thoroughly enjoyed herself.
[System: Host, Xu Zifan's favorability rating towards you is only 5 points. Aren't you worried?]
[Don't worry, winning someone over is a long-term battle. If one method doesn't work, try another, and if that still doesn't work, try yet another. You'll eventually succeed. If I had a system and still couldn't win over a man, I might as well not live, haha.] Lin Siyan had already won over three men before, each time with great success. This time was no exception; it would just be a little more difficult and take a little longer. She believed that Xu Zifan would eventually fall deeply in love with her and dedicate all his luck to her.
[System: Host, please be extremely cautious. The difficulty of the targets is increasing. Xu Zifan is more difficult to conquer than the previous three targets. Do not let your guard down, or we will be stuck in this world. Please remember your initial purpose for becoming a conqueror.]
Lin Siyan frowned impatiently. "I understand."
In her world, she was in a serious car accident, becoming a vegetable and disfigured. Only by completing the missions and obtaining enough...
Only with points and luck can she return to regain her health and beauty, so of course she won't give up. But before that, she wants to enjoy herself in each world, which is equivalent to living several lifetimes, isn't it? How worthwhile! So she doesn't need to worry about the cost of buying things, and she doesn't need to rush to accumulate enough points to go back.
The next morning, someone from Xu's Entertainment Company called to inform Lin Siyan that she had passed the audition and could sign a contract with the company to become a trainee.
Upon hearing this, Lin Siyan smiled and asked, "Can I participate in the competition for the top girl group by becoming a trainee of your company?"
The other party paused for a moment, then said, "I'm sorry, the company's spots for girl groups are full, and you've already registered. The company will arrange other opportunities for you."
Lin Siyan said apologetically, "I'm sorry, but I really like the show 'First Girl Group' and I want to participate in the competition. Since your company's spots are full, I'll postpone signing a contract and participate as an individual trainee."
So many people want to become trainees, this is just a regular "recruitment." After hearing her say that, the other party politely wished her well and hung up the phone.
[System: Host, didn't you say yesterday that you wanted to become a star under Xu Zifan's company to attract his attention? Now, can you really compete on your own?]
Lin Siyan sang two lines of a pop song, then casually said, "You heard it, didn't you? I sing really well! And my image is excellent, so of course I can't miss this opportunity to debut in a girl group. This will definitely be more exciting than other shows, and if there aren't any, I'll create them. Xu's Entertainment will contact me then, and maybe we can even discuss the contract level."
[System: Okay, good luck, host!]
Girl group programs collaborate with all entertainment companies, with each company providing a few spots, and everyone responsible for a certain amount of promotion—it's a bit of a quid pro quo. Individual trainees are extremely rare, but when Lin Siyan signed up, she wore hot pants that showed off her straight, fair legs, and a fitted white t-shirt that accentuated her figure. Combined with her high颜值 (good looks), her appearance perfectly matched the characteristics of a girl group.
So the organizers gave Lin Siyan a chance. After Lin Siyan opened her mouth and sang a song, she was immediately approved and became an individual trainee in the competition.
The first recording session involved contestants entering a hall and choosing their own seats. The seats were arranged in a pyramid-shaped tiered pattern, with each seat labeled with a number, for a total of one hundred seats. The first twenty or so people who went in were a bit reserved and embarrassed. Although their eyes lingered on the number 1 throne for a long time, none of them went up to it, afraid of losing face, and chose seats in the middle.
When Lin Siyan entered, she stood confidently before everyone with a composed expression and said, "Hello everyone, I'm Lin Siyan, an independent trainee. My specialty is singing, but I'm not very good at dancing. Before participating in this program, I was about to sign a contract with Xu's Entertainment to become a trainee, but I heard that Xu's Entertainment's quota for auditions was already full, so I didn't sign and can only participate as an independent trainee. I'm a newcomer, so if there's anything I do wrong, please criticize and correct me, and please be kind to me. Thank you!"
She was beautiful, had a fantastic appearance, and was so confident, that everyone applauded enthusiastically. Lin Siyan smiled and walked straight to the throne. Everyone gasped in amazement, whispering about who Lin Siyan was, their curiosity only growing as they couldn't find an answer. During the talent show segment, Lin Siyan sang a pop diva's signature song, and what's more, she seemed to sing it even better than the diva!
One of the five mentors is Lin Li, a singer-songwriter from Xu's Entertainment, who is very talented in songwriting. Most importantly, Lin Li and Xu Zifan seem to know each other; entertainment gossip outlets have photographed them dining together, speculating about their relationship, but nothing came of it. However, since they can eat together, their relationship must be quite good. Therefore, when Lin Siyan sang, she purchased a "Heart-Touching" skill from the system and cast it on Lin Li. This skill is one-time use, inexpensive, and its effect is to make people feel attracted to what they see, touching their hearts.
Lin Li's eyes lit up after listening to Lin Siyan sing. He felt that her song was particularly moving and stood up to praise her, "It's amazing! Your singing skills are good enough to debut! I don't think I can give you any guidance."
The dance teacher next to him laughed and said, "Lin Li, be more reserved, be a little more reserved."
Lin Li spread his hands and said, "Don't you guys think it's great? I really can't hold back when I see someone so talented. I can hardly believe it myself. My thoughts are flowing like a spring right now, and I really want to write a song for her."
The mentors all laughed. The dance teacher said, "Lin Siyan, you sing really well, but I'd love to see you dance. I was watching your self-introduction just now, and you said you're not good at dancing, is that right?"
Lin Siyan laughed and said, "Yes, teacher, I have never skipped it. I just sing a few songs because I am more interested in singing."
Lin Li understood the implication: "You haven't even learned to sing?"
Lin Siyan smiled shyly, "No, I studied business administration in school. I thought this major would make it easy to find a job, but I found out it was a real rip-off after graduation. Then I wondered what I could do, and someone said I had a nice voice and could sing well, so I thought I'd give it a try."
"So you're treating your debut as a job, hoping to find one through this competition?" one of the mentors joked. After everyone finished laughing, he continued, "You said before that you almost signed with Xu's Entertainment? Wouldn't it be safer to become a trainee first, systematically learn some things, and then participate in the competition? If you give up signing a contract and participate under your own name, what if you fail to get selected here and don't get a contract there either?"
Lin Siyan lowered her head, her smile fading. "Um... I know it's a pity to miss this opportunity, but... if I can stay after recording the show, I'll be paid." She hesitated for a moment before saying, "I met someone who really needed help a few days ago..."
Grandma, I urgently need the money right now, so I cherish this opportunity to record the show even more.
She flashed a bright smile and said, "I think I've always been pretty lucky, and I hope I'll be lucky this time too. That is, to solve the current difficulties and successfully sign the contract."
Lin Li nodded and blurted out, "Based on your singing skills alone, I would recommend you to the company. I look forward to you becoming my junior sister."
This is a very high compliment. Lin Siyan's singing is indeed excellent, and she has been rated A-level, temporarily securing her throne.
As soon as this episode aired, Lin Siyan, just as she had hoped, became a trending topic along with the show. This trainee, whom no one had ever seen before, actually sat on the throne right from the start, so confident, and sang so well. Moreover, she almost signed with Xu's Entertainment, and Lin Li even appreciated her and said he would recommend her—she truly received a boost right from the start!
Many netizens like her, appreciating her looks, singing skills, straightforwardness, and kindness in helping the elderly woman. Of course, there are also those who mock her, saying the show is clearly promoting her, giving her so much screen time, and that she must have connections. Others say she immediately tries to gain sympathy, claiming she has no money but still wants to help the elderly woman, which they find fake. Still others say she's too arrogant, lacking humility and manners in front of other somewhat famous trainees.
Lin Siyan's newly registered Weibo account saw a rapid increase in followers. This combination of fans and haters easily leads to arguments, but it also attracts more attention. This first step generated a lot of buzz, and she's been very successful. Furthermore, she's now linked to Xu's Entertainment, leading some to speculate that Xu's Entertainment will definitely sign her.
After seeing Lin Li's comments on the show, the company immediately summoned him to the office and told him not to be so blunt in the future. Unexpectedly, Lin Li actually produced a newly written song and enthusiastically recommended it to the company, saying that Lin Siyan definitely had the potential to become a huge star, and that her singing was amazing!
The company acknowledges Lin Siyan's singing ability, but whether someone becomes famous depends on many factors. The company manager has shelved Lin Li's new song, wanting to wait and see how Lin Siyan's overall qualities far off.
Lin Li felt somewhat dissatisfied. He admired Lin Siyan, that was true, but his recommendation was for the company's sake. The company needed talented newcomers, and Lin Siyan's singing skills were clearly superior to all the trainees in the company, even surpassing his own. This was without Lin Siyan having learned any techniques; Lin Siyan was practically a rough gem!
The company belongs to his cousin, and of course he doesn't want this gem to be snatched away by another company. Otherwise, he wouldn't have said those things on the show; he wanted to "reserve" it in advance. He felt he should recommend her to his cousin privately again, so as not to miss out on such a promising talent. He had a feeling that Lin Siyan would definitely become famous.