That evening, the program aired.
The young girls in the practice room were given permission to gather and watch the episode.
Everyone was very enthusiastic and excited!
The TV screen showed the entire process of their second position assessment performance. Lin Muchen sat in a corner, while Yang Weiyang stared intently at the screen, then suddenly gasped.
It wasn't just Yang Weiyang.
Almost all the girls were stunned because the program clearly showed the entire process of Huang Ying, Tong Yali, and Yin Hupo conspiring to splash cold water on Lin Muchen's head.
Shattered ice blocks floated in the cold water bucket, making one shiver just by looking at it.
Lin Muchen curled up in the practice room, drenched with cold water by them with malice.
It made one's scalp tingle, clench their teeth, and feel incomparably heartbroken.
Yang Weiyang turned to look at Lin Muchen, grabbing her wrist, her heart aching so much she was about to cry.
Lin Muchen just shook her head. She sat in the corner, her face still bearing a resilient smile.
But those who truly felt like they had fallen into an ice cave were.
Huang Ying, Tong Yali, and Yin Hupo!
Their faces were indescribably grim, and a single thought echoed in their minds.
How could this happen?
They had meticulously planned, even finding out that the surveillance cameras wouldn't be on that night, which was why they did it.
But how could they have been captured on camera? How could they have been edited into the footage?
This time, they were truly finished!
After this episode aired, the click-through rate soared past ten million overnight.
Lin Muchen's "Iceberg Mermaid" fancam had been released earlier, and people had only marveled at her strong professional abilities and her singing voice, which was like heavenly music.
But when this episode revealed the story behind "Iceberg Mermaid," it made everyone gasp, their hearts aching immensely.
Drenched with cold water?
It was winter!
Lin Muchen's fans were going crazy.
My daughter Xiao Ci has suffered so much! Is the production team not managing this? Letting people publicly bully our Xiao Ci like this?
Our Xiao Ci didn't do anything wrong.
Xiao Ci has really suffered so much, sob, she stayed up late to help others practice dancing, falling asleep in the practice room out of exhaustion and not wanting to disturb anyone, only to be doused with cold water and still have to go on stage to sing. How could she still smile? Oh god, my heart is breaking, why are they bullying her like this?
Why are they bullying her like this?
Do you have any hearts! Doesn't your heart hurt?
Countless anti-fans immediately became fans.
Lin Muchen was genuinely the "beautiful, strong, and miserable" person. The more perfect her stage performance was, the more tearfully sympathetic everyone felt.
And when training ended.
Lin Muchen walked down a corridor where there were no cameras and called her mother, Ms. Lin Cuiping, at home.
On the other end of the line, her mother was also sobbing uncontrollably, crying as if the sky and earth were collapsing.
Xiao Ci, sob, sob, we won't film anymore, let's go home. Mommy doesn't want to see you suffer.
Lin Cuiping was crying so hard she almost fainted.
Lin Muchen had to comfort her.
It's okay. It's not suffering. Those girls who bullied me will be eliminated. And I'm doing fine here. Didn't you see I ranked first again this time? I've also made friends.
Lin Cuiping was still sobbing.
But Mommy really can't bear to see Xiao Ci suffer. Xiao Ci, come home.
Lin Muchen said earnestly.
I can't. If I back out, I'll be a deserter. A person can only go all the way down one path. Mom, I'm someone who wants to win, I don't want to lose.
Her tone was particularly stubborn. Lin Cuiping on the other end of the line finally began to reflect on herself.
It's all my fault for not being capable. If Mommy were capable, I could protect Xiao Ci too.
Lin Muchen said.
I can protect you too, in the same way.
As long as I'm not bullied, not beaten down by this world, does it matter who protects whom?
Lin Cuiping sobbed.
Lin Muchen cruelly hung up the phone.
She could imagine Ms. Lin Cuiping, the middle-aged girl on the other end of the phone, crying heartbrokenly, when a long, narrow shadow was cast from the end of the corridor. She stared at the shadow, hearing the boy's cool, mint-like voice in her ear.
You have some backbone.
The boy, immaculate on stage.
Off stage.
Yandere and sarcastically passive-aggressive.
Lin Muchen said.
Those without backbone don't go far.
The system reminded her in her mind.
It was Ling Qianhe who helped you adjust the camera records. The practice room cameras are not turned on late at night, but there are exceptions. There is a hidden camera that records twenty-four hours a day, it's just not uploaded. He negotiated with the production team and insisted on including the footage of those girls bullying you.
The seemingly cold Qianhe brother also knows how to care.
Lin Muchen was about to brush past Ling Qianhe. Ling Qianhe looked at the girl's profile, her stubbornness appearing as if she were made of steel. Ling Qianhe didn't say anything further. Lin Muchen smelled the minty scent on him, but for some reason, a hint of bloodstain also clung to it.
She fell silent for a moment, then suddenly turned to look at Ling Qianhe. She walked up to him.
He was wearing a white shirt. Lin Muchen grabbed his cuff, her fingertips touching a mottled wound. A wound was bleeding through, it was new.
He had self-harmed again.
Anger surged in Lin Muchen's eyes.
Ling Qianhe! Why are you doing this! Is hurting yourself fun!
She was truly angry.
Ling Qianhe fiercely shook off her hand. He slowly put down his cuff, covering the wound on his wrist.
You don't need to worry about my business.
What does it have to do with you? You don't like people like me who hide demons in their hearts, do you?
Lin Muchen was angered to the point of laughter.
You scoundrel!
What does he think of himself as? Does he think he's so deeply in love?
A pathetic coward, a timid fool!
That psychologist was not wrong at all.
Ling Qianhe is a pathetic worm who only dares to cry "yin yin yin" in the dead of night!
She shouldn't have pitied him!
During the program interview that night, the production team asked her for her opinion on the mentors, especially focusing on her views on Ling Qianhe.
She snorted coldly.
I respect him. Nothing else.
The system cried out loudly in her mind again.
You clearly felt heartbroken!
A stream of air in Lin Muchen's chest surged left and right. Her eyes were filled with a coldness like icy mist, yet she had to restrain her emotions. She said.
I highly respect Mentor Ling Qianhe.
I have learned a lot from him.
I am very happy to be his student.
Anyone can say polite words, but the system heard the host's internal complaints.
Ling Qianhe can die from love or not, anyway, he loves self-harm, let him do it, let him self-harm however he wants!
Even if a knife were at her neck, she wouldn't be moved for that damned little brat!
The system said sarcastically.
It's best if it's like that.
I think you'll be proven wrong sooner or later.