"Second place, Rong Ruoyao, with 834 votes in personal popularity, and second place in the team competition, adding 90 points, totaling 924 votes."
The host's voice snapped Rong Ruoyao out of her thoughts.
Second place. Hah, she had come in second.
If it had been Lisa who surpassed her, she would have accepted it without complaint—after all, Lisa had considerable popularity overseas.
But no, it had to be Rong Yu.
Why did it have to be her half-sister? Why!
Yet no one could answer her question.
The host continued announcing the rankings.
"Sixth place, Lisa, with 824 votes in personal popularity, seventh place in the team competition, adding 40 points, totaling 864 votes."
Lisa's face was tense.
Her personal popularity hadn’t changed much, but her team’s low ranking meant fewer bonus points, causing her overall position to drop significantly.
"Seventh place, Su Tian…"
As soon as the host spoke,
Su Tian froze, covering her mouth in disbelief. "That’s my name? Me? Seventh place? Oh my god, this is insane! I actually made it to seventh!"
The show’s final debut lineup consisted of nine spots, so seventh place was well within the cutoff. No wonder she was so ecstatic.
Rong Yu spoke up. "Your opera-style singing was stunning. This ranking is well-deserved."
"Wahhh!" Su Tian grabbed Rong Yu’s head and planted several enthusiastic kisses on her face. "If it weren’t for your encouragement, I never would’ve tried the opera style! Sis Yu, you’re my guiding star!"
Rong Yu: "…"
She silently wiped the lipstick marks off her face.
No sooner had she cleaned them off than Li Ying'er smacked another kiss on her cheek. "Ahhh! Sis Yu, I’m fifteenth! How did I get so popular? Mwah! Sis Yu, I can’t control myself!"
Rong Yu quietly stepped away from them.
Every member of her team had seen a dramatic rise in their personal popularity rankings, and the entire group was over the moon.
Jiang Shuang, who had ranked sixteenth in the previous episode, had now fallen to twenty-sixth.
She was trembling all over.
She shouldn’t have—shouldn’t have chosen Lisa.
She should have stuck with Rong Yu.
She regretted it deeply.
She wanted to talk to Rong Yu,
but the seven girls in Rong Yu’s group had her surrounded, leaving no room for Jiang Shuang to squeeze in.
"The personal popularity rankings have now been announced," the host said. "Here’s a new rule: this week, the show will open an online voting channel for team leaders. The top eight contestants in the voting will automatically become team leaders in the next episode. The higher the ranking, the greater the priority in selection…"
Rong Ruoyao steeled herself.
She had to secure first place in the online voting. She absolutely would not let Rong Yu outshine her again.
After some closing remarks from the host, the recording finally ended.
They had been filming since 8 a.m., and now it was past 7 p.m. Even someone as tough as Rong Yu was feeling the exhaustion.
After changing and removing her makeup, she stepped out of the dressing room—only to find the Rong family waiting for her.
Rong Wangtian, Shen Lin, and Rong Ruoyao.
Rong Ruoyao’s eyes were red, her nose swollen—clearly, she had been crying.
"Xiao Yu, you must be tired after such a long recording," Shen Lin said with a smile. "Your father has arranged a meal at the hotel. Let’s all go together."
Rong Yu replied, "No, thank you."
"It’s been so long since our family sat down for a meal," Rong Wangtian frowned. "We’re all here now—how much time would it take? Besides, you won two first places today. Consider it a celebration."
Rong Ruoyao bit her lip. "Yeah, sis, let’s eat together."
She hated the idea of sharing a table with Rong Yu,
but her parents had persuaded her—since they were family, why draw such clear lines?
Rong Yu’s popularity was soaring. As her sister, why not ride on that wave?
Rumors were swirling that the show’s skyrocketing ratings had brands scrambling to collaborate, selecting contestants to film mid-show advertisements.
Last time, it was Rong Yu.
This time, it had to be her turn.
She needed to seize this opportunity.
"Sis, please?"
Suppressing her disgust, Rong Ruoyao reached out and took Rong Yu’s hand.
If someone snapped a photo of their family dinner, the news of their sisterhood would surely trend…
Shen Lin nodded in approval.
Her daughter was finally learning to capitalize on the moment.
She coaxed, "Xiao Yu, your father specially ordered your favorite dishes. Don’t let his kindness go to waste, okay?"
"Oh?" Rong Yu looked up. "Then tell me, what are my favorite dishes?"
Rong Wangtian froze.
Shen Lin was mortified.
She had only said it as a pleasantry—who knew her stepdaughter would take it so literally?
For a moment, she was at a loss.
And she couldn’t help but blame her husband—how could he not even know his own daughter’s preferences?
"Eighteen years without a shred of concern, and now that I’m an adult, you suddenly care?" Rong Yu said coolly. "I have things to do. Excuse me."
She didn’t need to think hard to know they wanted something.
What it was, she didn’t need spelled out.
Why should she play along?
She turned to leave.
"Stop right there!" Rong Wangtian’s temple throbbed with anger. "No matter how old you are, you carry the Rong bloodline! I brought you into this world—do I have to beg for your favor now?"
Rong Yu smiled. "Ah yes, that’s the one thing you can still claim credit for."
Compared to her real father, Rong Wangtian didn’t deserve the title.
Rong Wangtian’s lips trembled with rage. "You—you—!"
Rong Yu had no interest in continuing. She walked away.
"How can Sis be like this…" Rong Ruoyao murmured, biting her lip. "Dad spent so much sending her to the best high school, and instead of gratitude, she spouts such ungrateful words…"
Rong Wangtian suddenly remembered.
Aside from the initial expenses when Rong Yu first returned to Haicheng, he hadn’t spent a single cent on her since.
Her living expenses, clothes, school supplies, social activities—where did the money come from?
Ruoyao got 30,000 a month in allowance.
Did Rong Yu?
The realization made him sigh.
He really had neglected her. No wonder things had turned out this way.
He turned to Shen Lin. "From now on, whatever you give Ruoyao, give the same to Xiao Yu. Whether she takes it or not is her choice, but we must offer."
Shen Lin nodded. "Understood."
As Rong Yu walked out, a crowd of classmates swarmed around her, congratulating her on her victory.
Ji Zhouye announced loudly, "To celebrate Rong Yu’s amazing achievement, I’ve prepared a barbecue party! Who’s coming?"
It was Saturday, with no school the next day—perfect for unwinding. Naturally, no one refused.
The group surged out together, buzzing with excitement.
