Chapter 53: A Full Mahjong Table
Shen Xi dragged her suitcase down the hallway and swiped her key card to enter her hotel room.
The moment she stepped inside, a faint musty smell hit her. Or maybe it was just the smell of being broke.
After all, even as a mystery guest, she was still just a contestant. Getting a regular hotel room was already decent. She wasn’t some superstar judge who could expect a five-star luxury suite.
She set her suitcase down and flopped onto the bed, only to nearly fold her waist in half from how firm it was.
Well, it wasn’t that hard. Just nothing like the luxurious bed in her room at the Gu family’s villa.
Looking around at the tiny space, which was even smaller than the villa’s bathroom, Shen Xi sighed.
"Seriously? Am I actually complaining about a hotel now?"
Maybe what she wasn’t saying out loud was that… she kind of missed the villa.
By the standards of her past life, this hotel was already pretty good. But after getting used to the luxurious lifestyle of a wealthy socialite, it was hard to adjust back.
If this went on for another year or two, would she even be able to go back to living like a regular person?
She used to think that having 190 million in two years would be a lot. But if she just saved it…
Shen Xi pulled out her phone and did some quick calculations.
Hmm… she could make around 10,000 a day in interest alone. That would’ve been more than enough in her past life.
But even if she only maintained half of her current lifestyle, it still wouldn’t cut it.
She once saw a luxury mansion in a short video. It was a bit cheaper than Gu Hanling’s villa but still fully equipped with top-tier facilities.
The monthly rent alone was 3 million. Utilities and maintenance? Another 200,000 a month.
Even if someone gave her that mansion for free, just keeping it running would burn through 20 days' worth of interest every month. And that didn’t even include hiring maids and a Michelin-star chef.
Her life after being isekai'd felt like a real-life transformation reality show. She got to experience the high life.
Every other transmigrator she’d heard of managed to thrive, so why should she be any different? She wasn’t about to downgrade. That’s why she had to seize this opportunity with the variety show.
Once she had a solid financial foundation, she could also help children in rural areas. Something that had always been a personal goal of hers.
"Wait a minute!"
Suddenly, a thought hit her, and she sat up abruptly.
Back in the lobby, she vaguely remembered Lin Yueyue mentioning the judges, Weiwei and Yufei.
"No way… could it really be them?"
She had been so focused on practicing music theory and vocal training lately that she hadn’t even checked the show’s official lineup or promotions.
Pulling out her phone, she looked it up. Sure enough, the judges were Feng Weiwei and An Yufei.
That guy hadn’t even mentioned it to her. Maybe he thought she already knew.
"Don’t tell me… the male lead, Shi Jingyan, is coming too?"
As soon as she said it, she quickly clapped a hand over her mouth.
But given how things worked in this world, it was very likely. Whether she said it or not, it was bound to happen.
Well, great. Looked like they had just enough people for a mahjong game now.
Meanwhile, on the other side…
Shi Jingyan had been feeling miserable and frustrated lately.
After Shen Xi exposed his lies a few days ago, he had been too embarrassed to reach out to his usual group of rich, useless friends.
Feeling empty inside, he had instead spent time with a few high-class escorts, exploring the meaning of life.
But even in those fleeting moments of pleasure, he found himself missing Shen Xi’s cold and teasing attitude. At the same time, he also liked how obedient and eager to please Lin Yueyue was.
As the original novel’s domineering male lead, Shi Jingyan would never apologize to Lin Yueyue.
With his protagonist halo, he had never failed at anything, so he never considered himself in the wrong.
It was always other people who had to beg for his forgiveness. He would never lower himself to ask for theirs.
If Lin Yueyue couldn’t tolerate him and refused to compromise anymore, well, he’d just find someone else who would.
Just then, his phone rang. Glancing at the caller ID, a smug smile appeared on his lips.
Of course, it was Lin Yueyue, calling him first.
Over the phone, Lin Yueyue told him how difficult the past few days had been without him, how much she had suffered, how heartbroken she was.
She said she had finally realized just how much she loved him and was willing to forgive all his past mistakes.
But… she had one small request. She wanted to join the talent show Masked Singer as a mystery guest, just like Shen Xi.
The Shi family had some connections with the director of Su City TV, especially Director Chen. Years ago, Jingyan’s parents had saved his life by funding his medical treatment.
Out of gratitude, Director Chen had once said that as long as it was within his power, he would return the favor.
To Shi Jingyan, this was no big deal. It was just a guest slot on some singing show, so he agreed right away and arranged a meeting with the TV director and Director Chen.
In the original storyline, Shi Jingyan had actually used this same favor to leverage Director Chen’s resources, helping the Shi family get through tough times and setting himself up for future success.
But now, just to impress his woman, he was calling in this favor early.
After hanging up the phone, Lin Yueyue was so excited she practically bounced around the room. If Shen Xi could use the Gu family’s connections to get in, then so could she!
Besides, she had never heard Shen Xi sing before, while she had placed in the top three of the campus singing competition every year.
There was no way she would lose to some spoiled rich girl like Shen Xi.
……………………………………
The Next Day.
Shen Xi got up early and headed toward the TV station.
On the way, she caught the attention of several passersby. Today, she wore a simple yet elegant white dress.
She didn’t put on any makeup, just a light layer of lipstick, making her look fresh, refined, and naturally graceful.
She wanted to leave a good first impression on the TV directors and vocal coaches. A habit she had developed from years of work experience.
It wasn’t her first time wearing a dress. And since performing on stage would definitely require short skirts and crop tops in the future, she might as well start getting used to it now.
Upon arriving, she followed the directions to Director Chen’s office.
Knock, knock.
She gently tapped on the door, and a deep male voice responded from inside.
“Come in.”
Shen Xi pushed the door open and saw Director Chen buried in a pile of planning documents. He looked up when he heard her enter.
For a brief moment, a flicker of surprise flashed across his face.
She was stunning, but not in an overly flashy way. There was an understated, elegant beauty about her that was impossible to ignore.
But soon, his brows furrowed as he studied her carefully.
She looked even more beautiful in person than in her profile photos. Her unique aura gave off the vibe of a classic white moonlight heroine. The type of woman a powerful CEO would cherish above all else.
No wonder she got in through connections.
But that was exactly the problem. If this were a dating show, she would definitely become a viral sensation.
But Masked Singer was a singing competition, and since all the contestants were masked, what was the point of being pretty? What was she going to do, get eliminated early and then shock everyone with a face reveal?
That would be useless. The audience would just mock the show for inviting a pretty but talentless guest singer.
“You’re Shen Xi?”
Director Chen’s tone was a little cold. It was clear he wasn’t too thrilled about this mystery guest. Shen Xi nodded politely and smiled.
“Yes, Director Chen. It’s a pleasure to be part of Masked Singer King.”
Director Chen didn’t return her smile. In fact, his expression became even more serious.
“It’s not just a recording. By the time you go on stage, it’ll be the semi-finals, and the show will be broadcast live, both online and on TV. The standards are much higher.”
“It’s not just about singing skills. You also need strong stage presence and the ability to connect with the audience. Do you think you can handle that?”
Shen Xi sensed the change in his attitude and felt a little confused. But she didn’t ask any questions. She remained calm and composed.
“Director Chen, I may not have much stage experience, but I believe in my abilities and my dedication. I won’t disappoint you.”
Director Chen frowned. He clearly wasn’t satisfied with her answer. Just as he was about to say something else, the office door suddenly swung open.
Shi Jingyan walked in, holding the hand of Lin Yueyue, whose eyes were still red from crying. Without knocking, he stepped inside.
“Director Chen, hello, I’m Shi Jingyan.”
As soon as he finished introducing himself, his eyes instinctively landed on the graceful figure in white standing in the room.
His gaze froze for a moment. It had been days since he last saw her, and somehow… she looked even more captivating.
It sent a ripple of emotion through Shi Jingyan, causing his heart to skip a beat...