Rebirth from the Ashes

Su Ruowan was dumbstruck the moment her eyes lay on the photo.

No.

No way!

How did she become like this?

The person in the photo was not her! It was not her!

She had used waterproof cosmetics and even tested her makeup with water beforehand. There was no issue, so what was this?

The host could not bear to watch any longer. He thought some people did not mind showing their bare face, but judging by the look on Su Ruowan’s face, he could be certain she simply had no idea her makeup was gone instead of not minding her bare face shown.

Gloats and taunts laced with disdain, pity, and sympathy were written all over the trainees’ and other fans’ faces.

Su Ruowan stood there blankly, surrounded by all kinds of looks. She felt like she was a clown, exposed to mockery in public.

No, that was not right. She was made a clown since the water balloon popped. Clutching the photograph tightly in her hands, she kneaded the print beyond recognition.

Hanging her head low, she was overwhelmed with humiliation and inferiority for the very first time. The self-loathing drove her to the edge of insanity while the booing from the audience brought about a dizzy spell.

“Su Ruowan.” The host worriedly uttered as she stood still with the photograph in hand.

With a lot on her mind, Su Ruowan could only see herself drowning in the dark sea of laughter. She was gasping for air as her limbs, dignity, and pride were being torn apart.

She was stripped naked in front of the public for people to watch, make fun of, and point fingers!

“I’m sorry!” Unable to stand the judging and ridicule, Su Ruowan apologized and ran off the stage with the photo still in hand.

She could put up with anything, including the time she had to keep a straight face on stage when she was exposed to plagiarism and the time she sucked it up before apologizing to the media, fans, and audience.

However, she could not stand being exposed to what she really looked like.

“Su Ruowan,” the host cried once more.

In fact, the fans were relieved to see her take off. Refusing the signed poster handed by the host, the fans turned and fled faster than Su Ruowan as though a ghost was on their tail.

The audience, who never took to Su Ruowan, believed she had it coming. She deserved it for plagiarizing others’ work. Now that her bare face was brought to light, her fans had nothing else to boast about.

Su Ruowan’s fans were overcome with a mix of emotions, especially those who liked her for her looks. The thing they were once proud of Su Ruowan was no more.

Among the mentors, Su Muyan looked grimacing. His mind was stuck on Su Ruowan’s bare face despite getting over the shock. It was absurd.

He could not believe that this was her true appearance. Was the girl he had seen in the past all a fake?

Was she wearing makeup the whole time at home?

He had seen her after taking a shower and just after she had woken up? Was she wearing makeup then too? Su Muyan had never noticed nor would he have had the time to pay attention.

Gu Yang glanced at Su Muyan, too hung up to say a word. He had always thought Su Ruowan was good-looking. Not only was her talent a scam, but her looks were also packaged by cosmetics.

Fang Yao surprisingly eased up. Her heart was in her throat moments ago when Su Ruowan was climbing higher in ranking.

She could imagine herself being put as the face of widespread public antipathy if Su Ruowan really made it to showbiz. It would definitely put Fang Yao on a spot.

She gave Su Ruowan pointers yet failed to realize the latter was a copycat. This was enough reason for the upright citizens to get in her face about being in cahoots with Su Ruowan.

As Su Ruowan’s direct mentor before the scandal surfaced, Fang Yao was both a friend and teacher to Su Ruowan. Su Ruowan’s fans would come at her for not taking Su Ruowan’s side.

She had hoped Su Ruowan would understand herself better. As a daughter to the Su family, Su Ruowan was not short of cash and needed not to go into showbiz. What was better than becoming an heiress?

Xia Mi and He Sumo were firmly against plagiarism and all for original creations, especially in the music scene. With Su Ruowan falling out of favor with the mentors following the scandal, Xia Mi and He Sumo were pleased with this result.

Artists with a track record of stealing and plagiarizing should just give up. Try as these artists might to sweep it under the carpet, but the lingering taint on their ethics could never be washed away. The production team did a good job with the mini-game segment.

Shen Xi was coldly fixated on where Su Ruowan disappeared to. Her lips instinctively curled scorn. She believed Su Ruowan had lived through the feeling of getting her hopes squashed again and again.

Having a complete breakdown, Su Ruowan covered her face and kept running until she reached the pitch-black stairwell before drooping against the wall and burying her face into her knees. Her body was shaking violently.

It took a while before she abruptly picked her head up. Her bloodshot eyes bore wickedness and the darkest curse, threatening to tear the world apart.

There was always a b*tch out to get her!

Who was it this time?

It was not water in the water balloon. Her makeup was waterproof and she was sure about it!

Who was behind this? Was it the network?

Whomever it was, she vowed to catch the mastermind and rip their limbs apart to grind and feed to the dogs. Nevertheless, it would not be enough to appease her burning hatred.

Wiping away her tears, Su Ruowan told herself not to be knocked down. She must stand up, and like the last time, it was no big deal. Since she was still in the lead in vote counts, she could make it in the top seven.

Su Ruowan was going to debut and make those fools pay!

The production staff went in search of Su Ruowan, afraid she might take things too hard and do something stupid. It did not take long before she returned by herself. By then, she was wearing a mask gotten from somewhere.

The staff members were fascinated. Indeed, only the strongest heart and the thickest skin could survive showbiz. In fact, celebrities could have the entertainment world in the palm of their hands by having no shame.

According to the real-time polls, Su Ruowan was hanging tight at seventh place.

Everyone was stunned to see Su Ruowan walking back up on stage with an exquisitely painted face.

F*ck! How thick could she be to get on stage in such a situation?

Some agitated audience began to throw profanities while other hotheads hurled stuff to the stage, screaming for the plagiarizing hag and b*tch to get lost.

Among them were Su Ruowan’s otaku fanboys who turned antis not too long ago. The deeper the admiration from before, the harder the hatred now. Nevertheless, it was a distance away from the stage for things to be hurled onto.

The mentors held it together as they had already received the news in advance. Still, they were burdened with a mix of emotions at the appearance of Su Ruowan.

The other trainees were shocked to find Su Ruowan returning.

Song Wenye looked at Su Ruowan in disdain before whispering to Han Yan, “I told you she’ll come back. Your fans better pick up the pace and outdo hers!”

Not only were Su Ruowan’s fans blind and dumb, but they must also be shitheads too!

Looking helpless, Han Yan let out a sigh. She would be lying to say she was not disappointed, upset, or angry as she wanted a spot to make a debut too. Alas, the votes were not on her side.

The host was amazed by Su Ruowan’s courage. The polls were about to close in the next few minutes. It seemed like a done deal for Su Ruowan to debut at seventh place as Han Yan was two thousand votes under.

With two minutes left on the clock, everyone’s eyes were glued to the screen. Su Ruowan, in particular, stared at both her and Han Yan’s names and votes with clenched fists.

The difference of vote counts between her and Han Yan was growing tighter.

She prayed so hard, hoping that Han Yan would not overtake her. Su Ruowan was never going to allow anyone to stand in her way after everything she had put in and withstood!

Ye Weiyang, Song Wenye, Han Yan, Mr. Xixi, and the godd*mn fans could go to hell for all she cared!

The host was talking in the background. Complementing the tension in the air, he spoke at record speed as he announced the rankings and polls. “One more minute. We are at the final minute. We can see that Han Yan’s votes are fast approaching. Uh oh, Su Ruowan is in danger.

“Su Ruowan’s numbers are not backing down. It’s still going, and going… You better keep up, Han Yan’s supporters! 30 seconds on the clock! 30 seconds! Su Ruowan’s votes are… Ah! Han Yan’s…”