016 Iron Maidens!

Su Yunjin’s thoughts were, in truth, rather straightforward. She disliked trouble and was not someone who courted it. Even more, she didn’t want her future return to the sect in the mountains to be marked by a difficult transition.

Yet, at this moment, her words made Wang Tao, Shao Xinghui, and the two makeup artists all glance—intentionally or otherwise—at Luo Zhen and Zhang Chuchu. Just now, those two had mocked Su Yunjin, saying she couldn’t even afford a new phone. But now, did it seem that Su Yunjin couldn’t afford one? Clearly, she simply refused to let herself be shackled by such a device. Reflecting on it, how many of them had become slaves to their phones! If they were suddenly deprived of their phones, what would be left of their lives? Going to bed at eight, rising at six—something they could manage as students, but now?

The two makeup artists shot a look at Luo Zhen and Zhang Chuchu. Not long ago, they’d been ordered around like servants by those two, forced to listen to their ostentatious displays of superiority. Now, though, the distinction was clear. True grace was never expressed in such shallow ways.

“Teacher Su’s words really opened my eyes,” one of the makeup artists said with a bright smile.

“Indeed, I never used to let my phone leave my side, but now I think I should learn to live with a little more discipline,” the other chimed in, also beaming.

“Hey, Teacher Su’s hairstyle isn’t done yet. Let me design something for her—I just learned a new style a few days ago,” one of the stylists, having finished her previous work, offered eagerly.

At that moment, another stylist stepped up to Su Yunjin. “Let me help too.”

“Why don’t you go pour Teacher Su a glass of water?” someone suggested.

“Of course,” came the ready reply.

Suddenly, all the staff began to gather around Su Yunjin. This was a level of attention Luo Zhen and Zhang Chuchu had never received, despite their efforts. Su Yunjin, for her part, had said nothing to invite it; the staff simply gravitated toward her of their own accord.

Witnessing this, Luo Zhen and Zhang Chuchu seethed, grinding their teeth. But after Zhang Zhichang’s intervention earlier, neither dared to voice their anger.

Soon, someone cracked open the backstage door and poked their head in. “Three minutes until the broadcast starts—teachers, please get ready.”

“Understood,” Wang Tao replied promptly.

Shao Xinghui nodded as well. Luo Zhen and Zhang Chuchu rolled their eyes and, as soon as the staff member left, stalked out of the room.

On Su Yunjin’s side, however, the stylist looked anxious. “Three minutes isn’t enough, this is going to be rough.” She had been planning to give Su Yunjin a new hairstyle, but there simply wasn’t time now—barely enough to tidy her hair.

“No worries, I’m just a mentor; there’s no need for anything extravagant. Do you have a hairpin?” Su Yunjin asked.

Immediately, the other stylist produced a jade-green hairpin strung with pearls from her makeup bag. “Here.”

“Thank you.” Su Yunjin took the hairpin and swept up her hair in one fluid motion. Her ink-black tresses were instantly gathered and secured with the jade-green pin, lending her an air of effortless grace and freedom.

Su Yunjin was already beautiful; now, the simple gesture only added to her ethereal, otherworldly aura.

As she finished pinning up her hair, on stage, the new contestants were already choosing their seats.

This time, the C-Position girl group required teams to register either as a company or as individuals, and then perform on stage for advancement. Groups of three or five moved about, selecting their spots. The seating was arranged in an upright triangle—highest to lowest—reflecting each contestant’s confidence in her own abilities.

“Let’s sit over here.”

“This spot in the middle looks good.”

“The highest seat... we don’t dare go there.”

Most of the girl groups chose seats in the middle or lower rows; only a few dared to sit higher up. Cautiously, the contestants picked their places.

Meanwhile, in the livestream chat, viewers were abuzz with commentary.

“Who’s going to sit at the very top?”

“Maybe they’re saving it for Su Yunjin.”

“Haha, I get the sarcasm in that comment.”

“Sarcasm? He’s the least capable one here! If it were me, I’d go straight for the top seat and challenge Su Yunjin!”

Fans of Morning Dew were lying in wait, eager to mock and disdain Su Yunjin.

Just as Morning Dew’s fans were growing indignant, a girl group took the stage—a trio. The woman leading them looked to be twenty-seven or twenty-eight, nearly thirty. Behind her were two girls about sixteen or seventeen.

Without hesitation, the woman walked straight to the highest seat. The younger girls, not to be outdone, took places on the second row where there were exactly two seats.

Their arrival made all the other contestants turn to look.

Unlike the others, who appeared nervous and cautious, these three radiated a commanding presence, as if to announce: “I’m the boss here.” They were neither polite nor social, and didn’t even spare a glance for the dazzling stage.

The force of their presence unsettled the other contestants.

“Who are they?”

“No idea. Could they be seniors?”

“Seniors? No way—this is a show for newcomers, isn’t it?”

While the girl groups whispered in surprise, viewers in the livestream were equally curious about the trio’s boldness.

“What’s going on?”

“They look like they’re here to stir up trouble.”

“Yeah, those girls look like real troublemakers.”

Unlike the contestants, who had no one to answer their questions, the livestream chat was full of experts. Before long, someone recognized them.

“No way—isn’t that the Black Widow team?”

“The Mentor Slayers? They’re here? Things are about to get interesting.”

“What’s this about Mentor Slayers and Black Widows? Can someone explain?”

Someone quickly supplied the answer: “Black Widow and Mentor Slayer are their nicknames. Their real group name is Iron Maidens. These three are notorious—always stirring up trouble, having taken part in countless talent shows and clashing with the mentors every time. Their specialty is defeating mentors at their own game. The captain, especially, is skilled in all manner of traditional music—many famous industry mentors have been left speechless by them.”

“What? Does that mean Su Yunjin’s finished?”

“Hahaha, finally someone’s going to put Su Yunjin in her place—I’m sticking around for this.”

“I guarantee, there’s no rigging on this show!”

Many viewers had grown tired of Su Yunjin’s treatment of the C-Position girl group, but with the sudden arrival of the Iron Maidens, their interest was reignited.

Defying the judges.

Making the judges squirm.

Wasn’t that exactly what they wanted—a voice for their own frustrations online?

Su Yunjin, your days are numbered!