As they arrived before the dressing room, Candy let Luo Xiaoxi enter on her own while she had other matters to attend to.

Luo Xiaoxi nodded and pushed open the door. The whole room fell silent instantly and everyone looked over with distain, inquiry, and incredulity.

“How she still has the nerve to come?” A girl spat as she drew her eyebrows. “I thought it took strength to win consecutive championships. Little did I know!”

This was probably what everyone was thinking of. The young girls looked at Luo Xiaoxi and waited for her to react.

However, Luo Xiaoxi would never shun verbal provocations.

She walked right over to the girl and leaned on her makeup table with her hand. She looked at the girl in the mirror, whose name she couldn’t even remember, and said, “You must be very upset with me right now, right? Let me tell you, I am not just the weekly champion, but also the final champion. You can tell this to the media and the headline tomorrow will be mine again.”

“You!” Obviously, the girl did not expect Luo Xiaoxi to be this confident. She stared at her for a while, not knowing what to say.

Luo Xiaoxi patted her shoulder as a seemingly consoling gesture. “Also, keep your nose out of my business. You’ll probably be eliminated this week, and you should worry about yourself instead of me.”

“Luo Xiaoxi!” With a clap, the girl snapped the brow pencil on the makeup table. “Don’t go too far!”

“Am I being too much?” Luo Xiaoxi blinked her eyes. “You started it first, and I was just being nice by warning you that you might be out of the game.”

“Luo Xiaoxi! You—!”

The girl was completely speechless while Luo Xiaoxi raised a provocative smile and walked over to her makeup table. The makeup artist and stylist immediately walked over for her makeup and style.

Although the company did not assign an exclusive makeup artist for her, whenever her job required, she was always assigned a famous makeup artist in the industry.

Just by comparing the amount of attention the company paid to her over other contestants, it was no wonder that the other girls were jealous of her.

The competition soon began. The contestants who had finished walking all went to the backstage to watch the live broadcast, and soon, only a few were left in the dressing room.

A girl walked over to Luo Xiaoxi and said, “I believe in you.”

Surprised, Luo Xiaoxi looked to her side and vaguely remembered that she had helped this girl last time when she was about to slip and fall. The girl said if they should become rivals and only one could go on, she would give way to Luo Xiaoxi.

Though she did not need anyone to make way for her, Luo Xiaoxi was truly touched by this girl’s trust in her.

“Thank you.” Luo Xiaoxi paused and added, “Good luck.”

The girl nodded and walked out. The next up was Luo Xiaoxi, and she began her preparations.

Not long after, the host announced Luo Xiaoxi’s name and the music rang. She adjusted her breaths and stepped out to the stage with her head and shoulder held up high.

In comparison to her previous performances, she looked prouder than ever, despising even. Strangely, it only made her more appealing, as if she was born to be on top of everything.

As she turned around on the stage, Luo Xiaoxi slipped a glance at the place where Su Yicheng used to sit, which was currently occupied by another person she didn’t know.

As a result of going to the Ancient Town, Su Yicheng had delayed much of the work that he needed to make up overtime tonight. Though he had informed her of his absence today, she still couldn’t help feeling upset.

He had always watched her from that position throughout weeks of competition.

When she needed him the most as she was overwhelmed with scandals this week, he couldn’t make it.

…

Having been trained professionally, Luo Xiaoxi was still able to deliver her best performance even though she was downhearted inside.

After her walk, she gave a short interview with the host, got back her phone from Candy and returned to the backstage lounge.

On the way, the phone in her palm lightly vibrated. She carelessly glanced at it, and it was a message from Su Yicheng.

—Your dress today is very beautiful.

Did he watch the live broadcast?

While she was still happily surprised at the first message, a second message came—Wait for me at home after you finished.

Unable to hold in her joys, the corners of her lips lightly lifted. She replied to his messages with her head down as she pushed open the door into the lounge.

Suddenly, everyone’s attention focused on her.

Luo Xiaoxi knew what they were thinking.

If it hadn’t been for her scandals, this week’s winner would inevitably be hers again.

But, the situation had changed since she was trapped in scandals. Therefore, during the studio audience voting, she might not quickly gain votes and supports.

“It looks like someone couldn’t be as proud today as in previous weeks, isn’t it?” The girl who provoked Luo Xiaoxi before the start of competition spoke again. “It’s truly uncertain as to who will win the championship this week.”

“Nevertheless, it won’t be you.” Luo Xiaoxi chuckled with her usual disdain. “But the one being eliminated this week… I’m sure it will be you.”

Unexpectedly, the girl did not panic even a bit, as if getting in the next round made no difference to her.

It was strange.

But Luo Xiaoxi did not bother to think too much. She sat down on an empty seat and waited for the rest of the contestants to finish.

Fifteen minutes later, it was time to announce the results.

Though the professional judges still gave high scores to Luo Xiaoxi, she did lose support from a majority of the live audiences. The dismal votes directly affected the overall rating that she received, and she was ranked at third this week. However, Luo Xiaoxi’s overall ranking was still in the leading position.

The champion of this week was Li Yingyuan, the “forever runner-up” who had always been ranked behind Luo Xiaoxi.

Li Yingyuan excitedly embraced the host and contestants around her. Her speech was emotionally touching that at one point, her eyes became slightly wet. After the audiences cheered her on, she bowed in respect to show her appreciation for everyone’s support.

While the others congratulated Li Yingyuan, Luo Xiaoxi’s expression remained slightly aloof, with an unknown emotion in her eyes.

Li Yingyuan was currently ranked second. If Luo Xiaoxi lost in the next knockout rounds, the championship would unexpectedly fall into Li Yingyuan’s hands.

Therefore, the person who benefited the most from Luo Xiaoxi’s scandals was obviously Li Yingyuan.

Therefore, could it be that the post on the Internet was related to Li Yingyuan? Or… perhaps Zhang Mei was involved as well?

After the live broadcast, Luo Xiaoxi got changed and got into the car with Candy. Candy patted her on the shoulder and said, “Don’t be upset. You are still first in the overall ranking. Besides, we still have a chance next week.”

“I’m fine.” Luo Xiaoxi smiled. “Take me to Su Yicheng’s place.”

With a tut-tut, Candy said, “That was straightforward. But… Are you really OK?”

Luo Xiaoxi nodded in certainty.

She had prepared herself for this a few days ago. Knowing that she might lose this week’s championship, she was not as shocked and impacted by the result.

Feeling relieved, Candy started the car to take Luo Xiaoxi to Su Yicheng’s apartment.

The night outside the window was boundless. As they passed a commercial street, the street lights on the side of the road dashed by from time to time. Luo Xiaoxi felt a little tired, so she pulled down the curtain and adjusted the seat down to rest.

She missed a sight outside the window—

Zhang Mei stood in front of a hotel with her arms crossed. She walked back and forth but did not enter the hotel. Instead, she looked inside of the hotel from time to time as if she was waiting for someone to come out.

Moments later, Father Luo walked out with a few middle-aged men, laughing and chatting. Zhang Mei greeted them. “Mr. Luo.”

Seeing that a young and pretty girl like Zhang Mei was waiting outside in the middle of the night with a clear intention, the middle-aged men all looked to Father Luo with ambiguity. Zhang Mei was quick to ease the embarrassment.

She held out her hand to Father Luo. “Hello, I am Zhang Mei from XX Investment Co., LTD. I…”

In a few words, Zhang Mei expressed that she was here purely for business. The others lost interest and soon left.

Father Luo looked at Zhang Mei confusedly. “I have not heard of the investment company you mentioned. Besides, we have not met before.”

“Of course not, because that company does not exist.” Zhang Mei smiled and put away the previous professional attitude. “I came to you for your daughter’s matter.”

Father Luo’s look turned serious upon hearing Luo Xiaoxi. “What do you want to say to me?”

“Two months ago, Luo Xiaoxi was suspected of leaking commercial secrets of Cheng An Group. This Sunday, rumors about Luo Xiaoxi flew all over the world…” Zhang Mei reviewed the events that happened to Luo Xiaoxi during these time and her lips drew a smile. “Do you want to know who did these?”

Father Luo instinctively thought Zhang Mei had a trump card to bargain with him, so he led her into a nearby cafe and said directly, “Just say it, how much do you want?”

“I can tell you these inside stories for free,” said Zhang Mei.

Father Luo was a businessman who always valued profit the most.

Therefore, he didn’t believe in such thing as a free meal.

He stared at Zhang Mei, and his look slowly became cautious and dangerous.

Zhang Mei lightly moved her red lips and uttered five words, “I did all of them.”

“…”

Bang! Upon hearing Zhang Mei’s words, Father Luo dropped the coffee cup onto the cup holder. He got up to leave the coffee shop and took out his cell phone.

But looking at Luo Xiaoxi’s number, he hesitated.

Well, he would give her one last night.

In contrast to the angrily and discomfited Father Luo, Zhang Mei appeared rather at ease. Looking at Father Luo’s back, she took a sip of coffee and a smile crawled up her lips. It replaced her previous elegance in place for a rather “ferocious” look.

Having admitted everything to Father Luo, she didn’t believe that he would not meddle between Su Yicheng and Luo Xiaoxi.

But Luo Xiaoxi was unaware of this and what the future held for her.

She felt at ease at Su Yicheng’s apartment, watching a movie while waiting for him to come back.

When it was almost midnight, the door clicked open. Soon, Su Yicheng’s slender figure appeared on the other side of the living room. Looking tired, he held a portfolio in his hand.

“I’m back.” Luo Xiaoxi walked up to him and Su Yicheng handed her the portfolio. With some doubts, she asked, “What is it?”

“Take a look,” said Su Yicheng inattentively as he eyed Luo Xiaoxi’s pajamas up and down.

Luo Xiaoxi became curious. She tore open the seal and poured out the stuff which turned out to be a stack of photos.

They were the photos they took at the Ancient Town. Most of them were photos of the two together, and several photos of Luo Xiaoxi alone, either taken or snapped by Su Yicheng.

She looked at them one by one and in the end, she asked Su Yicheng, “Why did you have them developed?”

She looked up at him, only to find his eyes lingering on her body.

She had removed her makeup and taken a shower after she came back, and she was wearing pink pajamas.

A rare and unnatural expression swept across Luo Xiaoxi’s face. “Why are you looking at me like that? I’ve worn it before.”

Su Yicheng lifted his brows, revealing a malicious desire at the corner of his eyes. “I thought last time… it was ruined.”