I Dominate the Entertainment Industry with My Styling Skills

IDEMS Ch. 1 - Crossing Over to the Talent Show Scene

"It's almost time to go on stage, and Qi Yanning is actually sleeping in the dressing room?"

"He can't go on stage, so of course he's given up!"

"Besides, what does he care? He's already cozy with the director."

"He's different from us with no connections. No wonder he's terrible at both singing and dancing but still managed to rise in popularity. Who knows what shady things he's done behind the scenes!"

"Too bad for him, though! Cozying up to the director didn't help, and now he's been kicked out of the competition."

"That's what happens when you're ruthless and still end up like this. Serves him right!"

So noisy. A group of men gossiping, sounding more chaotic than the emperor's harem of Jǐngdé.

Qi Yanning furrowed his brows in annoyance.

His mind was in a fog, and he couldn't understand what they were saying. But the last person who dared to disturb his sleep had long been exiled to some remote corner of the palace, left to live out their days in obscurity.

"Be quiet!" A different man's voice rang out, clear but dripping with insincerity.

This person clearly had some authority, as the group quieted down.

"Don't be so harsh on Qi Yanning. He's already been forced out of the competition by public pressure, so no need to rub salt in his wounds."

The hypocritical voice feigned concern, but to Qi Yanning, the smug undertone was barely concealed.

"Qi Yanning, wake up!" The clear-voiced man approached, extending a hand to shake him awake.

Qi Yanning wasn't fully conscious yet, but when he sensed someone coming close, he instinctively grabbed the approaching hand and twisted it sharply—

"Ah! Let go! It hurts, it hurts!!" A panicked scream echoed.

Chaos erupted around him.

"Qi Yanning, how could you hurt someone?"

"Exactly! You've been disqualified, but A-Heng still has to perform!"

...

The commotion finally roused Qi Yanning from his stupor. He opened his eyes to an unfamiliar environment and unfamiliar faces.

It was a small room, filled with mirrors that revealed every detail of a person's face. Countless bright lights around the mirrors made the room almost blindingly bright.

Memories surged into his mind, causing his head to ache. He frowned, irritation rising from the pain.

The memories quickly fell into place.

Oh, he had died.

Qi Yanning squinted as he recalled.

He wondered how the imperial banquet ended after he blocked the blade for Emperor Jingde. An assassin appearing at such a grand occasion would have certainly enraged the emperor, and the Yong dynasty's court would have been thrown into turmoil for some time.

But none of that concerned Qi Yanning anymore.

Now, he was merely an "idol" on a talent show, already criticized for his lack of ability. Worse yet, he'd been photographed entering and leaving the director's room, causing a media storm filled with endless speculation and malice.

He had been boycotted by the entire internet, forcing him out of the competition. And just the night before the final performance, the director had expelled him from the show, citing harm to its reputation.