CHAPTER 253
A staff member came over to record Arianna's number, and it was displayed on the large screen for everyone to see.
Jane immediately burst into laughter.
"Would you look at that? Acting tough, and now she's stuck with number one. Even fate couldn't take it and decided to humble her."
Another contestant chimed in, "Well, we’ll get to see her ‘skills’ soon enough. Let's see if she can live up to being Mrs. King."
A third contestant added, "Exactly. Why not just enjoy the luxury of being a rich wife? If she wanted to show off, those lighthearted variety shows would’ve been a better fit. I can’t imagine why she’d sign up for a competition like this, where real ability is on display and any flaws can’t be hidden."
Someone else joined in, sarcastically saying,
"Maybe she’s got real talent and wants to show us all just how capable she is."
The room erupted in laughter at that comment.
Real talent?
No one seemed to believe that.
Harmony, however, remained silent amidst the chatter. She quietly unfolded her slip and saw the number 15 printed in bold.
As the staff recorded her number and displayed it on the screen, the attention shifted to her. Seeing her draw the last spot, the contestants couldn’t help but express their envy.
"Now that’s real luck! She's got the golden ticket!"
"Fifteenth? She’ll have the most time to prepare! So jealous!"
"Say what you want, but Harmony is undeniably stunning. Even as a girl, I can’t help but admire her beauty. It’s so different from *that* other person. Sure, she’s pretty too, but let’s be real—she probably spent a fortune on plastic surgery. That’s the only reason she could marry into the Kings."
Arianna listened to their snide remarks, completely unfazed. If anything, she found it amusing. But when they insinuated that she had undergone plastic surgery, it struck a nerve.
Her appearance was completely natural. She had never touched a scalpel!
She had struggled so much financially in the past that she could barely afford food, let alone cosmetic procedures.
She cast a glance at the contestant who commented, thinking,
*'Talk about projection. She’s probably criticizing everyone else because she’s been under the knife herself!'*
Harmony, on the other hand, didn’t appear smug about drawing number 15. She leaned over to Arianna and offered kindly,
“If you want, I can switch places with you. I don’t mind going first, Arianna.”
Arianna blinked in surprise, not expecting Harmony’s offer. Before she could respond, the other contestants began murmuring once again.
“Wait, did I hear that right? Does anyone want to swap with Arianna? That means she’d go first! Is she just sucking up to Mrs. King, or does she have the confidence to go first?”
"It doesn’t seem like she’s trying to win anyone over," one contestant remarked.
"Maybe she genuinely has the talent and just wants to help Arianna. She’s too generous!"
Arianna quickly regained her composure and smiled, “No, thanks.”
Harmony didn’t press further. “Best of luck,” she said kindly.
Then she turned to the rest of the group, “I’m fine with any number. Does anyone else want to switch?”
The contestant with number two shot her hand up immediately. “Me! Please switch with me, Harmony! I’m not ready to go second!”
Harmony smiled graciously. “Alright, let’s switch. I’ll take number two, and you can have my number fifteen.”
“Thank you so much! You’re amazing!” The contestant hurried over, giving Harmony a quick hug. After swapping numbers, she beamed and said,
“I’m rooting for you, Harmony. I’m sure you’ll take first place!”
“Thanks.”
Finally, everyone’s numbers were displayed on the big screen.
Arianna was number one, Harmony number two, and Jane was number three…
Soon, the breaking news video began to play. The screen flickered to black for a moment before lighting up with the unfolding events.
All eyes were glued to the footage, each contestant carefully analyzing the details, preparing mentally for their presentations. Some scribbled notes furiously as they watched. Arianna, however, sat still, not writing a single word.
Three minutes later, the video ended, and the screen went dark once more.
The contestants let out a collective groan. It felt like the video had barely started before it abruptly ended.
One contestant raised a hand and asked, “Mr. Schuck, could we see it again?”
William remained expressionless. “No. That’s all you get.”
He glanced at his watch and added, “Alright, your five minutes start now. Contestant number one, Arianna King, will present first, followed by number two, and so on. If you can’t present, step down. Time is ticking!”
As soon as he finished speaking, the countdown began.
None of the contestants dared to waste a second. They scrambled to organize their thoughts and jot down a coherent news report.
Arianna mentally replayed the breaking news segment she had just watched. She quickly pinpointed the key points and began structuring her sentences for the report.
Five minutes flew by, and William’s voice broke the silence. “Time’s up! Contestant number one, Arianna King, please present your report.”
Arianna closed her eyes for a moment, her hands clenching slightly. Taking a deep breath, she opened her eyes and stood, walking purposefully toward the stage.
The other contestants paused their work, eyes following her every move. Most were eager to see her fail. Five minutes wasn’t nearly enough to gather the relevant details, let alone deliver a polished presentation. They were certain Arianna was about to embarrass herself.
Arianna took her seat on the news stage, facing the camera. Her hands remained tense, a reflection of her nerves.
William’s voice echoed, “Begin!”
Arianna parted her lips, but no words came out.
