048 PK!

The sun was shining brightly.

It was eleven in the morning.

Su Yunjin finally woke up from her slumber, taking her time. After washing up, she sipped water and read a book, completing about half an hour of morning study before heading downstairs for lunch.

“Teacher Su.”

As soon as she entered the dining hall, Su Yunjin heard someone call her from behind.

Turning around, she saw Liang Feiyue and her assistant walking over with their trays. Perhaps because she was an actress, Liang Feiyue’s tray was almost bare, with just a single poached egg, a slice of bread, and a few sticks of vegetables.

In contrast, Maomao’s tray was much more abundant: steak, French fries, some stir-fried dishes—colorful and sumptuous.

Glancing at what they carried, Su Yunjin gave Liang Feiyue a slight bow. “Good afternoon, Teacher Liang.”

“Ah... um…”

Visibly flustered, Liang Feiyue was at a loss—not for any particular reason, but because she still wasn’t quite used to being greeted with a bow.

Though it was a tradition in their culture, such a simple gesture had long been abandoned in modern times. Encountering someone who still maintained this formality, she truly felt a bit out of sorts.

Still, Liang Feiyue understood Su Yunjin wasn’t putting on airs; this kind of etiquette was ingrained in her bones. She treated everyone this way.

Because of this, Liang Feiyue could never bring herself to hold any grudge toward this girl whom outsiders often accused of being calculating.

Sometimes she even wondered: could such a young woman really be as scheming as people said?

Of course, she hadn’t liked Su Yunjin much at first, but that was only because she thought Su Yunjin had pulled strings to get where she was.

After what happened yesterday, however, her opinion changed—Su Yunjin’s professional ability was well within her standards of approval.

So today, when she saw Su Yunjin, she went over to greet her.

She hadn’t expected that, prepared for a pleasant conversation, she would be thrown off balance by Su Yunjin’s unwavering courtesy.

“Teacher Liang, is that all you’re having for lunch?”

Seeing Liang Feiyue a bit flustered, Su Yunjin quickly changed the subject.

Liang Feiyue smiled. “Yes, this is already quite a lot. I had to add an extra glass of milk last night after staying up late. Now I’m afraid I’ve gained weight again.”

“I actually think you’d look better with a little more weight,” Su Yunjin said, glancing at Liang Feiyue’s figure.

She looked barely her age, but her body was already on the thin side. With her years of medical experience, Su Yunjin could tell Liang Feiyue’s condition wasn’t healthy.

In terms of traditional medicine, she needed nourishment.

Yet here was Liang Feiyue, still worrying about dieting.

“Ah, such is the hardship of being an actress. Medically, they say I’m underweight, but the camera always says I’m fat—what can I do?” Liang Feiyue sighed, then looked at Su Yunjin. “Oh, Teacher Su, you haven’t gotten your food yet, have you? Go get your meal, let’s eat together.”

“All right.”

Su Yunjin accepted the invitation, filled her tray with a few tasty dishes, and followed Liang Feiyue to a quiet spot by the window.

“Sister Su, why aren’t you reading today?” Maomao, having sat down, studied Su Yunjin seriously and asked.

“That book is just for leisure; I wouldn’t take it out at a time like this,” Su Yunjin replied, knowing exactly which book Maomao meant. Her book on cadaver dissection was really just a pastime—she wouldn’t carry it everywhere.

Especially not during meals. Otherwise, people might think she’d lost her mind.

“Maomao, eat your food,” Liang Feiyue chided, realizing what her cousin was referring to and frowning.

Chastened, Maomao shrank her neck and quietly focused on eating.

“By the way, Teacher Su, did you see the messages in the group chat?” Liang Feiyue switched topics.

“What messages?”

“Some comments about you on Weibo. After what you said yesterday, the netizens really liked it—they’re even telling their bosses to learn from you.”

At this, Liang Feiyue couldn’t help but admire Su Yunjin.

In that situation, Su Yunjin hadn’t focused on clearing her own name, but thought instead of the backstage crew.

After so many years in this industry, Liang Feiyue had seen her share of shocking, dispiriting things, especially regarding how many stars simply disregarded backstage staff.

Yet Su Yunjin offered them respect.

And it wasn’t for show—it was genuine, just like her bowing greeting. To Su Yunjin, it was merely habit.

“I didn’t think much of it. I just don’t want everyone’s time wasted on me alone,” Su Yunjin said quietly, without much joy on her face.

She rarely paid attention to online affairs, unless it was someone like Zhang Chuchu trying to slander her through the internet—then she would respond.

“By the way, did you get a call from Producer Zhang today? What about Tan Linfang’s group?”

“No,” Su Yunjin shook her head.

Liang Feiyue sighed. “Tan Linfang’s case is a real headache. They have the skills, but they’re just too arrogant.”

“I agree, but I won’t change my view—unless they’re willing to perform again. But that wouldn’t be fair to the other contestants,” Su Yunjin replied.

Liang Feiyue nodded. “True, if everyone got a second chance, it would lose all meaning.”

As the two spoke, there was a sudden burst of electronic noise—Maomao’s phone rang.

In the midst of wolfing down her food, Maomao hurriedly set it down, pulled out her phone, and glanced at it. She looked up. “Sister Yue, Sister Su, there’s news.

Producer Zhang says the decision is made—Tan Linfang’s group will be competing with Sister Su in the next round.

If they win, you’ll lose your mentor’s advancement rights and automatically drop to fifth place.

But if Tan Linfang’s group wins, they’ll enter the revival round—not advancing, but not eliminated either. However…”

“However what?”

Up to this point, Liang Feiyue’s face showed no emotion. But when Maomao said “however,” she became anxious.

Maomao placed her phone in front of Liang Feiyue and addressed Su Yunjin. “However, Producer Zhang wants you all to perform the song ‘Mountains, Rivers, Wind, and Moon.’

“Let me see,” said Liang Feiyue, her brows furrowing. After reading the message, she lifted her eyes to Su Yunjin, worry clear in her gaze.

She’d listened to “Mountains, Rivers, Wind, and Moon” yesterday. Even though she wasn’t well-versed in music, it wasn’t hard to tell from Tan Linfang’s group’s performance that the song was extremely challenging. She’d even listened to the original track last night.

The original was even harder than their rendition.

With such a level of difficulty—could Su Yunjin handle it?