The second episode of the program was recorded live once again.
Long before 9 o'clock, many contestants had already arrived on the red carpet, walking one by one, signing their names, and greeting the cameras.
A sizable crowd of fans had gathered outside, most of them die-hard supporters of Rong Ruoyao and Lisa, shouting frantically.
"Fly fearlessly, Yao Yao, your fans will always be with you!"
"Lisa's smile lights up the world!"
The two fanbases seemed to be competing, each chant louder than the last.
Rong Ruoyao and Lisa stood on the red carpet, both wearing smiles, but there was a subtle undercurrent of rivalry between them.
Amidst this atmosphere, an unexpected voice rang out.
"Rong Yu, Rong Yu, the starlight never fades!"
It wasn’t the name "Rong Yu" that stood out—it was the unmistakable voice of an elderly person.
A group of teenage and twenty-something girls turned their heads in unison toward the source of the voice. Sure enough, it was an old man.
Hunched over, leaning on a cane, wearing a baseball cap, and even holding up a light sign with two bold characters: "Rong Yu."
"Oh my, someone that old still chases celebrities?"
"He can barely walk. If he gets crushed in the crowd, the show’s producers will be held responsible."
"Let’s stay far away—don’t let him try to blame us if something happens…"
The crowd of young girls quickly backed away.
Old Master Ji strode forward confidently: "Rong Yu, Rong Yu! The starlight never fades…"
Everyone: "……"
Rong Yu had just stepped onto the red carpet when she heard the old man’s booming voice. She stumbled, nearly falling face-first.
She turned around and glared at him sharply.
Old Master Ji rubbed his nose sheepishly.
He had stayed up all night learning how to be a fan—he was just doing what everyone else did. Nothing too outrageous, right?
But he didn’t dare test Rong Yu’s patience any further and quickly shuffled away.
Rong Yu finally let out a sigh of relief.
It wasn’t that she was worried about anything else—
She just didn’t want Yingbao to trip and break a bone or get squeezed in the crowd and struggle to breathe. At his age, with his frail health, he really shouldn’t be stirring up trouble like this.
She walked down the red carpet, signed her name on the backdrop, and then headed toward the recording hall.
Rong Ruoyao was chatting with someone when she looked up and saw Rong Yu walk in.
Even though Rong Yu was wearing the simplest of dresses, with no extra accessories, she somehow stood out brilliantly—the kind of presence that instantly drew the eye in a crowd.
"That outfit she’s wearing…" Lisa spoke up. "Isn’t that Noir’s dress from last season?"
The dress might look minimalist, but it was anything but simple—premium fabric, not just plain white, but strikingly radiant. The cut was cleverly designed to perfectly accentuate the body’s curves…
Her white sneakers weren’t ordinary either—they also seemed to be Noir’s design.
She carried a brown canvas bag, adding a touch of chicness to the look.
Every piece seemed casually thrown together, but in reality, it was meticulously styled. Most importantly—it was expensive. The total cost of these items was close to a million.
Rong Ruoyao smirked.
Boldly wearing counterfeit goods—her sister was becoming more and more embarrassing.
During the first recording, she had also carried a fake bag. But strangely, after the episode aired, no viewers had mocked her online.
Could it be that the audience didn’t recognize these luxury brands?
As Rong Ruoyao was lost in thought, a girl approached Rong Yu. "Your bag is so unique—it looks amazing on you. Where did you buy it? Could you share the link?"
The girl was He Qiqi, the third-place contestant from the first round.
She held Rong Yu’s bag, reluctant to let go.
Rong Yu replied, "I just picked it up at a store. There’s no link."
He Qiqi stiffened. "Don’t worry, I’ll get a different color—I won’t copy your exact style…"
"It’s not that…" Su Tian couldn’t help interjecting. "This is the latest Hermès bag. You probably can’t buy it online."
He Qiqi froze. "Hermès? What’s Hermès?"
Another contestant nearby burst out laughing. "You don’t even know Hermès?"
Then, remembering they were filming, she quickly softened her tone and explained kindly, "It’s a top luxury brand. Even their simplest bags cost over 200,000."
He Qiqi gasped.
Her family was middle-class—200,000 was her entire household’s annual income. Yet for the wealthy, it was just the price of a bag.
Before she could process this, Lisa walked over. "Rong Yu, that canvas bag is a members-only exclusive, right? Are you an Hermès VIP?"
Rong Yu replied coolly, "No."
Not wanting to dwell on the topic, she took her seat.
Lisa frowned.
If she wasn’t a member, how did she get a members-only bag?
"There are cameras everywhere," Rong Ruoyao whispered as a reminder. "Let’s all save face."
Lisa immediately understood.
It was a fake.
She had actually thought Rong Yu was a VIP and had even considered asking her to help purchase a limited-edition Hermès leather bag…
She shut her mouth and returned to her seat.
Meanwhile, the live chat exploded.
"That really is a members-only design. It might look like a simple canvas bag, but it costs over 700,000."
"I checked—last episode, Rong Yu was also carrying an Hermès limited-edition tote, priced at over 800,000 on the official site."
"Oh my god, how rich do you have to be to afford bags that expensive?"
"Hermès’ top-tier VIPs are a handful worldwide, monopolized by elite families across nations. Rong Yu, from the Rong family? Never heard of them."
"This is interesting. Is she really bringing fake bags to the show?"
"Pretending to be a socialite—is she trying to marry into a wealthy family through this program?"
"……"
Amid the heated discussions online, the host arrived, and the show officially began.
In the first episode, there were 88 contestants.
Now, in the second, only 80 remained—the bottom eight had been quietly eliminated.
"This episode will raise the difficulty. First, we’ll divide into groups based on song selection. The eight performance tracks will now play on the big screen…"
"The top eight contestants will automatically become group leaders, choosing songs in order of their rankings…"
Rong Yu was ranked 73rd—very low.
Su Tian, who was close to her, was ranked 74th.
She kept muttering to herself.
"This song has too many high notes—I can’t sing that."
"The choreography for this one is insane—so many floor moves? That’ll kill me."
"Oh no, there’s even an English song…"
The eight songs finished playing.
Su Tian clasped her hands together. "Lover’s Grass—I need Lover’s Grass. Please don’t let anyone else take it."
This was a once-popular hit across the region, its melody instantly transporting listeners back to that era. The lyrics were uplifting, the rhythm lively, and the dance moves full of energy.
Rong Ruoyao knew her strengths.
Her sweet smile made her a perfect fit for this song.
Ranked first, she had the first pick—and without hesitation, she chose Lover’s Grass.
The other leaders quickly selected their songs, and then it was time for the remaining contestants to choose—both their song and their leader. Everyone pondered carefully.
