That day, the crew resumed work as usual. Li Baixi was busy directing a group of people in the makeup room when he suddenly felt someone tap his shoulder. Turning around, he saw a familiar face.

Ma Koukou, dusty and tired but smiling brightly, said, “Surprise!”

Li Baixi, not in high spirits, didn’t feel like playing along. “Weren’t you participating in that beauty show back home? Got eliminated with low scores?”

Ma Koukou’s expression instantly changed to one of tearful sorrow. “Your junior has caused me great suffering.”

It turned out that Ma Koukou had been cold-shouldered from the first episode. Despite her actual skills placing her in the top tier among the contestants, and her personality being lively and humorous, her junior, a judge on the show, seemed determined to erase her presence entirely.

The junior wouldn’t give her absurdly low scores, as he knew that extreme scores could draw attention. Instead, he consistently gave Ma Koukou mediocre scores with bland comments, and the other judges followed suit. As a result, Ma Koukou was almost invisible in the final edits of the episodes.

Fueled by a grudge, Ma Koukou once performed exceptionally, producing the best makeup look of her career. Confidently, she challenged her junior with her eyes, as if saying: “Let’s see how you ignore this.”

To her surprise, the junior calmly gave her a fair score but only commented, “Technically good, but lacks depth.” Meanwhile, he conducted a three-minute solo interview with a popular contestant, discussing the core of the work and the universe’s end, praising the contestant as a true artist.

Ma Koukou’s expression could no longer remain composed. Though she knew the cameras were unkindly focused on her, her smile twisted with each passing second.

Beauty makeup is subjective, and most viewers just watch for fun, relying on the judges’ words for understanding. The junior’s comments essentially defined Ma Koukou’s reputation. Her mentality collapsed, and in the next episode, she faltered. The junior seized this opportunity to eliminate her justifiably.

Having already recorded the episode where she was eliminated, Ma Koukou came to seek comfort from her master, not wanting to face the days of darkness alone.

“It’s a ruthless move, labeling me as brainless, directly blocking my career path… and those comments, so insidious, stepping on your face while scolding me!”

Tearfully, Ma Koukou pleaded, “You must stand up for me.”

Li Baixi sighed, “I’ll think about it later; I’m dealing with my own issues.”

He glanced at Ma Koukou and then changed his mind, “Let’s help each other out. You give me advice, and I’ll do the same for you.”

Ma Koukou: “?”

Li Baixi led her to a quiet corner, carefully choosing his words: “How can you make someone who thinks they’re a top voluntarily step down?”

Ma Koukou: “???”

Li Baixi: “…willingly lower their status?”

A millennium passed.

Ma Koukou barely pieced herself together: “Are you implying that you are the top?”

Li Baixi: “What else?”

Another millennium passed.

Ma Koukou tearfully lamented: “I’ve been top-less and aimless all these years, only to recognize you as the ultimate top?”

Li Baixi: “…”

Ma Koukou then slowly realized: “And the person who thinks they’re the top… is Cheng Ping?”

Li Baixi nodded.

Ma Koukou’s eyes lost their light: “So, in this world where true tops are rare, you two rare species are struggling internally and asking me for subtraction tips?”

Li Baixi: “…”

Ma Koukou decisively said, “Pretend I’m dead.”

Li Baixi: “Don’t be like that. Seriously…”

Ma Koukou: “I can’t hear that word anymore.”

Li Baixi: “Just to be clear, Cheng Ping hasn’t truly experienced it; he just assumes. Forcing it won’t work; we need to guide him to take a step down.”

Ma Koukou, expressionless: “I only have experience persuading people to top for love, not in such strange matters.”

Li Baixi: “But the principles are the same. Think it over. My bright future rests on your shoulders.”

Despite his words, Li Baixi didn’t really expect Ma Koukou to come up with a brilliant plan.

When Cheng Ping came in for makeup, they both pretended nothing had happened the previous night, making polite yet awkward small talk.

After recovering from his cold, Cheng Ping returned to the crew and resumed his efforts to chat with everyone to practice his English.

The assistant director, having faced public humiliation shortly after quarreling with Cheng Ping, left the crew members wondering if the two incidents were connected. However, they quickly dismissed the thought, believing that the assistant director’s misfortune was self-inflicted and that Cheng Ping, being straightforward, wouldn’t scheme against anyone.

Cheng Ping’s persistence in socializing started to pay off. His focus shifted from pronunciation to emotions, and he began receiving more praise from the director. Even Albert, who played opposite him, broke his usual aloofness to compliment him.

Cheng Ping was flattered and quickly thanked him. Albert’s reaction, a rare smile, broke the ice: “No need to be so formal. Your eye acting is very rich and subtle, leaving a strong impression.”

Cheng Ping suddenly found Albert less pretentious and genuinely smiled back.

The next moment, Li Baixi’s voice interrupted: “Cheng, it’s time for makeup.”

During the touch-up, Cheng Ping asked, “What’s the matter?”

Li Baixi: “What matter?”

Cheng Ping: “My makeup was just touched up half an hour ago, and I didn’t sweat. You pulled me over for a reason, right?”

Li Baixi felt awkward. He just wanted to pull Cheng Ping away from that smiling scene with Albert.

Li Baixi, thinking deeply, Cheng Ping suddenly remembered: “Is Ma Koukou back?”

Li Baixi finally found a topic: “…Yes, and I’m troubled by it.” He then explained the situation with his junior.

He was just making conversation, but Cheng Ping started thinking seriously: “The show’s broadcast will definitely affect her reputation. To counteract that, she needs good PR. I’m not an expert, but I can ask my agent.”

His agent had already returned home after Cheng Ping recovered.

Li Baixi quickly said, “No need to trouble her.”

Knowing that Li Baixi and his agent had reluctantly collaborated for his sake, Cheng Ping smiled: “No worries, I won’t mention you.”

Cheng Ping called his agent: “I need your advice on something. I have a friend…”

Agent: “You?”

Cheng Ping: “No!”

Agent: “Li Baixi?”

Cheng Ping: “…”

The agent sighed: “Alright, tell me what happened to him.”

In public relations, speed is crucial.

The day before the show’s broadcast, several marketing accounts leaked spoilers, posting two images: “I heard Ma Koukou’s work (left) was compared with the right, criticized for having no soul, only technique, and won’t go far in the industry. The contestant’s face changed on the spot. What do you think?”

Li Baixi had a large fanbase, but few knew Ma Koukou was his apprentice—most didn’t even know Ma Koukou existed. The show had failed to attract any significant following for her.

The comments were mostly mocking: “Face change? The judges were too kind. Soulless is true, and the technique is questionable.”

“Really ugly, far worse than the right one…”

“The right one looks very high-end!”

The next day, the show aired.

The marketing accounts quickly apologized: “Sorry, the information was incorrect. The left one is Ma Koukou’s work!”

Audience: “…”

Audience: “?”

This dramatic mix-up went viral.

More people flocked in, mocking from a different angle: “Taking rumors as fact, you all think you understand the soul? All Dementors?”

Even the show’s production team found this amusing and pushed the narrative further, creating the trending topic: #NoSoul#.

The junior’s critique became a joke amidst the uproar.