She would never endure such humiliation.

As stirring and majestic music filled the hall, Fang Zhijing walked onto the stage at a measured pace.

The audience finally quieted their inner speculations, their attention now fixed entirely on this grand master of Dragon Country's music production. It was his first public appearance since announcing his retirement, and though well past sixty, he looked in excellent spirits, his gaze sharp and penetrating.

Having weathered many years in the turbulent world of Dragon Country’s pop music, he possessed a massive fan base; indeed, many of the uncle and auntie-aged audience members were present solely for him. Even Du, the host known for his bold and humorous style, reined himself in considerably during the customary interview.

When the interview ended and he stepped off stage to waves of cheers, Fang Zhijing waved graciously to the audience and, guided by the ceremonial staff, began to exit. As he passed by the contestants, his eyes, owing to his history with the Ji family, settled upon Ji Fanxing and Ji Shengxue.

He stopped before Ji Shengxue, and, with the warmth of an elder to a junior, offered an encouraging smile. “Girl, do your best.”

Then, turning to Ji Fanxing, his eyes took on a hint of admiration as he nodded to her in a gesture of goodwill—an unexpected action, but Ji Fanxing responded with a poised and generous smile.

Due to the camera angle, the audience only caught the interaction between Fang Zhijing and Ji Shengxue, and Ji Fanxing’s sudden smile toward him. This immediately sparked a flurry of speculation in the crowd.

“Fang Master actually greeted Ji Shengxue!”

“Shengxue is amazing! The invitation is definitely hers this time.”

“I like Ji Fanxing a lot, but since Ji Shengxue has performed so many of Fang Master’s songs on the show, I think he’ll favor her.”

“I’m not surprised at all—this is just how the entertainment industry works here. Still, Ji Shengxue is talented enough to deserve the invitation.”

“Just now, Ji Fanxing even smiled at Fang Master, but he ignored her.”

Ji Fanxing touched her chin, finding the whole thing quite amusing. The entertainment industry here was always a murky pond—big cliques wrapped around smaller ones, and even the best resources were rarely accessible to outsiders.

Fang Zhijing’s action was so blatant—what did it mean? If it was intentional, that made things even more interesting. Normally, people would keep such things under wraps, not be so forthright. Was it the confidence of someone with unassailable status, or did it hint at dissatisfaction? And what about the look he had given her at the end—what was he trying to say?

Was he hinting she could fight for the invitation?

But the truth was, Ji Fanxing had never intended to obtain that invitation. Its greatest value lay in the chance to receive guidance and recommendation from Dragon Country’s top musicians. Yet, with the nation’s music scene so far behind, the musical ideas in Ji Fanxing’s mind were already far more advanced.

She saw no need to exhaust herself in such a vanity fair.

Once all the mentors were seated, the contestants, accompanied by family and friends, took their seats for the selection of the first seat.

The final venue was completely different from before. Nine groups of sofas surrounded round tables, each set apart at a respectful distance and monitored by individual cameras. The “king” was directly assigned a luxurious private room next to the mentors.

Viewers watching the live broadcast could not only follow the main program, but also choose to watch a split screen focused on their favorite idols.

Ruan Lin, always picky about her environment, declined the alternative arrangements offered by the staff, insisting on sitting with her eldest daughter, Ji Shengxue. She and Ji Rufeng had been waiting at their seat for some time, and when Ji Shengxue arrived, they stood up to greet her.

“Shengxue, don’t worry. Your father has confirmed it—this invitation is definitely ours.”

She looked at her eldest with deep affection, her feelings toward her second daughter, Ji Fanxing, turning all the more sour.

“Thank you, Mother… but…” Ji Shengxue couldn’t shake the unease in her heart from Fang Master’s interaction with Ji Fanxing on stage, as if a heavy stone pressed on her chest.

“Fanxing seems to really want this invitation too. She even tried to curry favor with Fang Master on stage just now…”

Unconsciously, Ji Shengxue recast the events, altering the truth as she retold them. Ruan Lin and Ji Rufeng, who had both witnessed the scene on the big screen, believed her version completely.

Xu Mo, who was with Ji Shengxue, frowned. He remembered clearly that it was Fang Zhijing who had nodded to Ji Fanxing first, and only then did she respond…

“But… maybe I saw it wrong. Sorry, Mother. I’ve just been too sensitive lately…” Ji Shengxue’s half-hearted retraction eased Xu Mo’s doubts, and he relaxed, feeling sorry for her. Such an outstanding person, yet she faced setback after setback in this competition.

What he didn’t realize was that, to Ruan Lin and Ji Rufeng, Ji Shengxue’s ambiguous words meant something else entirely. They only felt more tenderness for their daughter’s grace and understanding, and their dislike for the competitive Ji Fanxing deepened.

Just then, Ji Fanxing passed by, arm in arm with Ning Ze.

Ji Rufeng saw Ji Fanxing naturally enter the private room reserved for the "king," and suddenly it all made sense. So the person he’d seen in the corridor really had been Ji Fanxing. Having grown up at his father’s side, Ji Rufeng had seen plenty of women from the entertainment world.

He didn’t think his sister had become prettier; rather, his preconceived notions led him to judge her as no different from the scheming women who hovered around their father.

Vulgar.

And now she had the brazenness not to even greet their mother.

How could his deskmate possibly think someone like that was the best in the world?

Ji Rufeng suddenly remembered his purpose here: to tear the mask off Ji Fanxing! Young and hot-blooded, he could restrain himself no longer and strode directly toward her.

At the makeshift corner, just as Ji Fanxing was about to head upstairs, she was blocked by him.

Ji Rufeng had never regarded Ji Fanxing as his elder sister, and his words were sharp and rude.

“Ji Fanxing! Do you think you’re so great sitting here? You’re nothing but a useless nobody, and you still dare steal the spotlight from your sister!”

Ning Ze frowned—what nonsense was this brat spouting? He was about to retort, but Ji Fanxing gently stopped him.

She glanced around; they were right in a camera blind spot. She nodded in satisfaction.

Last time, this little brother had been just as disrespectful, and she’d been looking for a chance to properly deal with him. Unexpectedly, he’d delivered himself to her today.

Ji Fanxing’s eyes narrowed, a dangerous smile curling her lips. If this were Earth, anyone seeing her expression would have kept as far away as possible.

Unfortunately, this was her home, Star W, and Ji Rufeng stared at the woman in confusion.

“What’s so funny?!”

Ji Fanxing took two steps forward, standing on the staircase so she could look down on him from above.

“Little brother, you need to understand something: I earned this position—I didn’t steal it.”

“You earned it?”

Her gaze was razor-sharp, and Ji Rufeng, overwhelmed by her presence, instinctively took a step back but still refused to back down.

“You’ve never beaten your elder sister! She’s so talented—if it weren’t for you causing her injury and putting her at a disadvantage, there’s no way you could have beaten her!”

Ji Fanxing’s lips twisted in a mocking smile. This foolish brother had been blinded by years of prejudice and could no longer distinguish right from wrong.

She had no intention of swallowing such an injustice.

So she dropped all pretense. Using her long reach, she grabbed her troublemaking brother by the cheeks and pulled hard on both sides, distorting his handsome face as she spoke:

“Ji Rufeng, can’t you use your brain? Our big sister hurt her leg—this is a singing competition. How does that affect her?”