Chapter 56: The Reversal of Fortune for the Transmigrated Supporting Actress (Part 7)

If she wanted to prevent the supporting female lead from successfully making a comeback, she would naturally have to help the original female protagonist rise to the top. Unfortunately, all she received was an outline, and even that used labels like “female lead,” “male lead,” “original female protagonist,” and “supporting female lead” instead of actual names, leaving her clueless as to who the original female lead really was.

Moreover, since the plot merely borrowed character frameworks, the story would only select people whose destinies best matched those character settings—yes, Mu Yin felt that this plot overlay was not unlike casting for a play.

What she received was minimal: just a brief outline of the plot, and even that only pertained to the female lead. The original female protagonist was only mentioned at the start as someone whose opportunities had been snatched away by the supporting character.

Therefore, Mu Yin had to focus on this “female lead.” The plot she received did mention this variety show: Qin Chang would clinch first place in this competition, officially debut, and then go on to smoothly advance in showbiz using songs and scripts from a parallel world thanks to her transmigration.

Now, she was determined not to let Qin Chang succeed. What's more, she felt certain that the original female protagonist must also be here; once she found her, everything would fall into place.

But even when it came time to select the center position for the theme song, Mu Yin hadn’t noticed Qin Chang paying special attention to anyone. The center, naturally, would be chosen from among the A-class contestants. Since the program did not differentiate between male and female competitors, the contest for the center spot was even fiercer.

Mu Yin, being quite capable, became a strong contender for the center after she solved the initial challenges. Aside from Qin Chang, her main rival was a young man named Liao Minmao, a strikingly handsome eighteen-year-old whose looks differed from the current crop of pretty-boy idols; he had the refined elegance of a gentleman, as delicate as jade.

In the final selection for the center, the contestants voted themselves. Mu Yin and Liao Minmao tied, both surpassing Qin Chang, but there was no clear victor. Ultimately, the production team decided that both would serve as dual centers.

When the live broadcast began, each class stood in positions according to their rank, forming a triangle like a pyramid. As the centers, Mu Yin and Liao Minmao stood at the forefront; later, they would move to the middle as the pyramid formation became complete.

Because the dual centers were one male and one female, the dance instructor even choreographed several interactive dance moves for them. Fortunately, both were quick learners and managed to master the steps before the live performance.

“Perhaps I am not bright enough to light up the entire sky, nor accomplished enough to stand atop the highest peak. Yet I firmly believe that as long as I am confident, I become the brightest presence on stage. I am not the sun that illuminates the earth, nor the moon that lights up the night, but I am that single lamp in the city—together with you and me, we will light up the whole world.”

Singing these shining lyrics and dancing, some participants had simplified choreography—after all, not everyone had a dance background. Lyricists, composers, screenwriters, and directors got easier routines, but for actors and singers, there was no such luck; both required extensive practice.

Thus, the dance had layers of difficulty, with the center’s moves being the most complex. That’s also why they had three days to prepare for the theme song, whereas other shows were lucky to get two: the first day was for practice and evaluating who advanced or was demoted, the second day for choosing the center, the third for rehearsals and run-throughs, and the fourth for the live broadcast.

Meanwhile, the variety show Mu Yin had previously participated in was about to air. Thanks to the college entrance exam, she still enjoyed some popularity, and the program was eager to capitalize on the buzz—especially since this time, the grand prize had finally been won, making for a perfect headline.

The final prize for “Escape Room Mastermind” had at last been claimed. Who would walk away with the big reward?

A formidable contestant had appeared on “Escape Room Mastermind” and taken home the two-million grand prize.

Even before airing, as soon as Mu Yin entered the new show, the “Escape Room Mastermind” crew began their promotions. The show had already run for numerous seasons and built a solid viewer base, and with its unconventional content and challenging puzzles, it remained quite popular.

Many people knew the show had been running for several episodes without anyone making it to the end and winning the jackpot. The sudden announcement that someone had finally won naturally attracted a lot of attention.

In the preview, Mu Yin’s brazen words caught the eye of many viewers, prompting comments such as:

Date Unknown: “Hey, isn’t she the idol who made headlines for waking up from a coma and acing her college entrance exams?”

Grass Carp: “She really is. So was all that publicity staged? They’re not afraid of backlash? And to speak so boldly on the show—she’s got guts.”

Knock Your Keyboard: “You’ve got it wrong—those were real events, not a fabricated persona. She’s a member of Pursuing Dreams, and even the group’s visual. She was in a coma for over two years after an accident at a concert, only waking up half a year ago. Since then, she’s been live-streaming her rehab, studying for the college entrance exam, and the art exam. We’ve followed her journey all along.”

Mumu I Love You: “Our Mumu got into the Film Academy two years ago, but couldn’t attend after what happened at the summer concert. Now she’s back, finally awake.”

Peeling Oranges: “Even if she’s smart, she shouldn’t be so confident. The puzzles on ‘Escape Room Mastermind’ are famously difficult and cover so many fields—it’s not something you can tackle just because you’re good at exams.”

Salty Radish: “What’s the fuss? Just wait and see tonight.”

Keyboard warriors, former haters, the original protagonist’s old fans and new admirers all started heated debates online. Lan Lu naturally took notice, but seeing things develop positively, she didn’t intervene—on the contrary, she even fanned the flames a bit. In show business, it’s better to face controversy than to be forgotten.

Although Mu Yin’s brand was definitely not that of a scandal-driven, flash-in-the-pan celebrity, as long as public opinion didn’t turn truly negative, it was worth riding the wave of attention.

Just two days before the talent competition aired, the first episode of “Mastermind” was broadcast. Unexpectedly, the episode included a segment that had never been shown before: the moment when the contestants received the puzzle booklet.

Yet, when viewers saw the booklet, with its over a thousand illustrated questions, no one thought the contestants were cheating by following a script. Even with ten days to prepare, it would have been impossible to solve them all.

After all, the sheer number of questions was staggering, and each episode only used seven or eight of them. Unless someone had a photographic memory, having the booklet was as good as useless.

The first episode naturally featured the Stone Chamber, beginning with the failure of Li Wen’s group and ending with only one person making it through. Audiences had grown used to these outcomes; complete wipeouts weren’t uncommon at all.