Qi Wu glanced at Jiang Xuxu but did not say anything.
She had sensed that someone was staring at her through the camera just now.
The rest of the contestants continued to stream into the hall. Soon, the spacious hall was packed with 100 contestants.
When Jiang Xuxu looked around and saw that most of them were industry rookies who had yet to debut or had only just made their debut, her worry dissipated a little.
Suddenly, she let out a gasp of surprise.
"Sweetie, look at the corner on your upper right-hand side."
Qi Wu understood "sweetie" to be the nickname Jiang Xuxu had given her, so she looked in the direction Jiang Xuxu told her to.
However, she only took one glance before looking away.
In that corner was a young woman sitting all alone as the people around her seemed to be avoiding her out of disdain.
There was a dark and gloomy look on her face that seemed very unfriendly and disdainful, but Qi Wu could sense her determination and resolute heart.
Qi Wu turned to Jiang Xuxu and asked in confusion, "What is it?"
Jiang Xuxu clicked her tongue. "You really are new to the industry. Don't you recognize Tong Luo? Did you even do your homework before coming on the show?"
"Do I need to know her?"
There was a solemn look on Qi Wu's face. She did not sound like she was joking at all and actually just wanted to know.
Jiang Xuxu was rendered speechless by Qi Wu's response. It took her a long while before she could say anything.
After a while, she let out a hoarse chuckle and gave in to the urges that had been plaguing her this entire time—she pinched Qi Wu's cheeks.
She pinched those two fair cheeks so hard that there were faint lines left behind by her fingers, but those soon disappeared.
"Tong Luo… She was a very famous child star. She made her debut at eight and won the Gilly Blossom Award for Best Newcomer. Unfortunately, it was exposed that she was the illegitimate daughter of some rich and powerful family, so her agency killed her career."
Jiang Xuxu glanced at Tong Luo and heaved a mournful sigh. "Who would have known that she would participate in a talent competition eight years after she disappeared? Look at her now. She will be a very strong opponent."
"Yes."
Qi Wu's soft reply was a confirmation of what Jiang Xuxu stated in the end.
Jiang Xuxu was going to continue observing the situation but then she spotted a familiar face in the crowd.
Her face twisted. Suddenly, all interest had fled from her voice.
"That woman is everywhere."
As soon as she muttered that, Song Qi entered the hall.
The moment Song Qi stepped into the room, every contestant who had been chattering away immediately fell silent. In unison, they stood up and greeted him.
"Good day, Mr. Song!"
Song Qi looked around with a blank look on his face.
Wherever he looked, the contestants would subconsciously tense up. Some of them even shifted to standing like a soldier at attention.
There were two main reasons for the grandeur of "Rookie Assembly"; the show had some of the best sponsors, and Song Qi was the lead director and one of the mentors of the show.
Song Qi had always been known for having a stern, emotionless face and a prickly, nitpicky personality. However, all of his works ended up as undisputed classics. Thus, he had a great reputation.
As Song Qi's gaze swept past Qi Wu, his brows twitched when he saw her let out a lazy yawn.
Chang Xun would never just shove a random person in just so he had someone, right?
While Qi Wu's face would indeed draw audiences in, she was way too unmotivated!
He suppressed his displeasure and solemnly cleared his throat.
"All 100 of you have been carefully selected from the tens of millions in this country. I hope you're ready for the challenges that have been waiting for you from the moment you choose to join the show," he declared.
"The next three months will be filled with challenges, and the one who lasts until the very end will be the winner. The path to fame is one sought after by many. Newcomers come and go like the wind. Will you be burned to ashes or ascend to the stand with the stars? That is all up to you."
As a famous director, Song Qi certainly knew how to set the mood with just a few simple sentences.
By the time he was done speaking, many of the contestants had flames of ambition blazing in their eyes.
Most of the people who joined this talent show came intending to become famous. Song Qi's direct approach also made them throw away their hesitations.
Jiang Xuxu gently nudged Qi Wu with an elbow.
"Mr. Song is amazing. I could feel motivation burning in me. I'm here because I want to be famous anyway. You must feel the same, right?"
Qi Wu shook her head and said in a clear voice, "Work. Money."
Jiang Xuxu fell silent.
Her mouth was gaping wide open as she stared at Qi Wu with confused eyes.
After thinking about it for a few moments, she finally understood what was happening.
If Qi Wu really wanted to join the entertainment industry, she would have already received multiple offers due to her beauty. Why would she have waited until now?
Jiang Xuxu had planned on being more tactful with her next question but ended up just blurting out her question as her brain was stuck on a single train of thought.
"Are you that short on cash?"
She immediately regretted asking that question. How could she have brought up something so painful for Qi Wu?
However, Qi Wu was not an overthinker like Jiang Xuxu was. Hence, she calmly nodded. "Yes."
She sounded so serious that Jiang Xuxu felt her heart ache in sympathy.
One look at Qi Wu's beautiful face and Jiang Xuxu could already imagine she was a naive young girl forced to work because of a major change in the family.
Jiang Xuxu took a deep breath and made up her mind. "I'll do my best to help you."
Qi Wu glanced at her in confusion.
"You can all head to your rooms now. We have already assigned everyone to a room in the living quarters. You'll know where you'll be staying and who your roommate is by the names listed on the door."
Song Qi then immediately walked out of the hall without a pause or hesitation.
The silence in the hall was eventually broken after he left as the contestants started chattering with each other.
Some of them were already heading toward the living quarters.
Seeing that, Jiang Xuxu felt the urge to know who her roommate was now.
As she pulled Qi Wu along, she excitedly commented, "How nice it would be if we could share the same room."
However, just as they were about to leave the hall, someone walked over and blocked their way out.
It was a woman with her face covered in a thick layer of makeup. From the way she dressed, one could vaguely see hints of Jiang Xuxu's style. Nevertheless, no matter how thick her makeup was, nothing could hide the sinister look in her eyes.
"What a coincidence, Xuxu. You're really here."
There was a scornful smirk on her lips as she giggled at Jiang Xuxu.
Jiang Xuxu frowned out of impatience. As she did not want to be outdone, she shot back, "Same to you, Qiu Yan. What? Are you so used to being number two all the time that you have to follow me wherever I go?"
The phrase "being number two all the time" seemed to have triggered Qiu Yan as she coldly scoffed. "I'm here because I signed on with a talent agency. What about you? Would any talent agent even want you?"
"Tsk."
Jiang Xuxu did not seem to take Qiu Yan's words to heart as she softly grumbled to herself, "Who knows how you got the agent to take you on in the first place?"
"You!" Qiu Yan screeched, furious. However, she soon stopped when she noticed Qi Wu standing nearby. She turned to Qi Wu and smiled.
"Well, Jiang Xuxu, let's not throw stones just yet. After all, we don't know who will be the last one laughing."
After that confusing statement from Qiu Yan, she haughtily strutted out of the hall.