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Yezhi was so exhausted that she didn't even have the strength to speak, lying on the bed like a corpse. There was nothing she could do; her popularity, good character, and friendly nature meant that Barefoot Aunt had to come up with a reason to fend off the villagers' enthusiasm, saying that Yezhi was allergic and couldn't be exposed to the wind. However, the villagers were worried since they hadn't seen Yezhi in person and insisted on taking a quick look. Yezhi had no choice but to wrap herself in a floral cloth for them to see. With the arrival of a group of children, things became even livelier. One Egg even stayed behind to help Aunt Zhou with chores, chopping wood and gathering herbs.
Aunt Zhou prepared some medicine and forced two bowls down Yezhi's throat. Whether it was the medicine or the black powder's effect, she had gone to the bathroom eight times since the afternoon and felt completely drained.
"Sister Ye, I'll come back tomorrow to help Aunt Zhou. You need to rest well and get better soon," One Egg shouted from the window.
"One Egg, thanks for today, but you don't need to come tomorrow!" Aunt Zhou replied.
"Aunt Zhou, I'm coming tomorrow. As long as Sister Ye isn't well, I'll come every day," One Egg said before dashing off.
Barefoot Aunt brought a steaming bowl of medicine and sat down by the bed. "Dear girl, drink this while it's hot." Yezhi propped herself up, took the bowl, and blew on it lightly before drinking. Aunt Zhou brushed Yezhi's messy hair aside. "One Egg is such a good child; we owe him a lot for running around today." Yezhi nodded. "Aunt Zhou, I think we shouldn't eat the wild boar meat anymore; let's have your Cart Master take it all to the city to sell and use the money to buy a piglet instead. By New Year’s, we won’t have to worry." Aunt Zhou looked at Yezhi and sighed before continuing, "Dear girl, I see how clean you've kept the pigpen. I know that after raising pigs, you might not be used to it; it won't stay as clean as it is now when you go to the bathroom..." Aunt Zhou struggled to finish her sentence.
"Aunt! I'll do whatever you say!" Yezhi put down her empty bowl and tightly grasped Aunt Zhou's hand. Only then did Aunt Zhou relax and smile. "Alright then, rest well. May heaven bless you to feel better tomorrow."
"Don't worry; I will be fine. Am I looking paler?" Yezhi playfully waved her dark face in front of Aunt Zhou's eyes. Aunt Zhou laughed and patted Yezhi on the head before taking the empty bowl out of the room. Watching Aunt Zhou's departing figure, Yezhi fell into a daze.
"Master, what's wrong?"
"Nothing; I just feel very lucky and happy."
"Luck is good fortune! Happiness is so abstract; Xiao Fang doesn't understand."
"Happiness is a kind of joy and satisfaction that comes from within." In the 21st century, after turning eighteen, Yezhi had been living alone and eating alone. She had friends and parents; they all had their own families too. It couldn't be said that they didn't love her or care for her; it was just that all their love was limited. No matter how much love they gave her, it could never fill her loneliness or longing heart. Now she was nourished by so many people's affection; if she were still unsatisfied, she would be struck by lightning.
Xiao Fang's head was filled with question marks as Yezhi tapped its head lightly. "If you don't understand, forget it; go play by yourself; your master needs to sleep."
"Master, you can't sleep," Xiao Fang exclaimed.
Yezhi looked at Xiao Fang in confusion, waiting for its reasoning!
"Master, the competition for 'Ugliest Star' is about to start," Xiao Fang reminded her.
In truth, she hadn't forgotten; she just didn't want to go. She thought she could delay it for a while longer. "Master, Miss Dulisa has sent ten emails urging you."
Yezhi accepted her fate as Xiao Fang faced the vast sea of stars. Xiao Fang opened the virtual Social Network interface, and several golden stages came into view. She clicked on one of the stages, which magnified and rotated towards her. A flash of golden light illuminated Yezhi, who floated in mid-air on the golden stage. A warm yellow light shone down on Yezhi, slowly raising a large photo of her from the center of the stage. Yezhi widened her eyes; it was indeed her, grinning with all 24 teeth showing, her eyes squinting into slits like a fool. On either side of the photo appeared two glowing gates, one labeled "Contestant Entrance" and the other "Audience Entrance." She walked towards the contestant entrance, passing through a corridor flashing with white light.
Yezhi stood in a white three-dimensional space. As she moved forward, a small platform rose in the center of the space. "Welcome, Contestant No. 20. Please step onto the lift in the center of the stage," a deep male voice announced. Following instructions, Yezhi walked to the center of the platform and stood still. The silver light in the white space flashed rhythmically as she heard a countdown: "10, 9, 8, 7...!" Her heart raced as if it would leap out of her chest, and her hands nervously clutched her coarse black pants.
When it reached zero, the white space opened like a box. Yezhi shot upwards with the lift into a bustling world.
"Welcome, Contestant No. 20! She comes from the distant Solar System Earth; please give her a warm welcome!" The host, dressed in a white robe, introduced her while facing away from Yezhi.
Standing on the right side of the stage, Yezhi had a number tag reading 20 around her waist. She sensed someone beside her but couldn't see them due to the laser curtain blocking her view. Hearing the host's introduction, she lowered her head slightly and waved her right hand.
"Dear Yezhi, look this way! Your sister is here!" Dulisa called from the front row of the audience, wearing an eye-catching red dress with sheer fabric that revealed her shoulders. Her red hair flew wildly, and her silver eyes sparkled as she blew kisses to Yezhi. Seeing Dulisa made Yezhi feel strangely calmer and less nervous. "Go for it, Yezhi!" shouted a robust boy with red skin and big eyes next to Dulisa. Feeling a bit dizzy, Yezhi looked closely at Dulisa, noticing two others standing nearby: one dressed entirely in black with only silver eyes visible; and another girl pale as a refugee.
"Red Bean, Tiansuo, Xiao Nan, what brings you all here?" These three were new friends that Yezhi had made on the Social Network. In fact, seeing herself looking like a piece of charcoal made it clear that she wished no one recognized or knew her.
"Ugliest Star, in this first round we will have one-on-one PKs. The winner will be announced on the Cosmic Social Network for one month before entering the finals of Ugliest Star." The host paused deliberately as intense drumming erupted. The audience stood up and clapped along with the rhythm; both Dulisa and Red Bean joined in joyfully while Tiansuo and pale Xiao Nan stood still without reaction.
"Next up is PK between Contestants No. 19 and 20! Please welcome Contestants No. 19 and 20!" As Yezhi slowly walked to center stage, she finally got a good look at the host—a handsome guy with golden hair and blue eyes whose long eyelashes were enviable, his face radiating an enthusiastic smile.
"The stage is now yours!" The handsome host said before gracefully stepping off stage. Only then did Yezhi see her opponent for No. 19—how could she describe him? His upper body resembled a spiral-shaped A Lump, transparent yellow with an eye as big as Yezhi's head in the center, short arms and legs curled up; he truly looked like a piece of A Lump poop. How could this competition continue? Everything felt surreal to Yezhi, as if she were dreaming—no, having a nightmare.
"Next up is the talent show," announced the handsome host.
Yezhi forced a smile; was there even any point in competing? Winning would mean being recognized as uglier than A Lump poop across the universe; losing would mean being publicly humiliated by being compared to it for an entire month—what a bizarre world this was.
Unexpectedly, A Lump twisted its body and sang a song that Yezhi couldn't understand but had quite a rhythm to it. The audience was swept up in excitement and began to dance along; both Dulisa and Red Bean joined in joyfully while roses were thrown onto the stage after the performance.
When it was time for Yezhi, both Dulisa and Red Bean stood up excitedly waving their hands. "Yezhi! Yezhi! Go for it!"
Yezhi stood there with messy hair and a serious expression, wearing a floral top and black pants, unsure of what to perform. After scratching her head, she began to chant, "1234, 2234, 3234..." under Dulisa's urging, and started the eighth set of children's radio calisthenics. Her movements were very precise; this was no exaggeration. From elementary school to high school, Yezhi's class had always ranked first in school competitions. After practicing for over ten years, every action was ingrained in her bones.
The audience was quiet as Dulisa exchanged glances with Hong Dou. Xiao Nan smirked slightly while Tiansuo half-closed his silver eyes.
In the still atmosphere, Yezhi completed her routine and looked at the silent audience. She felt no pressure at all. After bowing, she stepped aside to wait for the results; it was all the same to her.
"Ha~ha~, thank you to both contestants for their wonderful performances. Now, I ask all the audience members to press their number cards. The ones who can advance in Ugliest Star are 19 or 20! Please make your choice!" The handsome host stood in the center of the stage, signaling the audience to press their buttons.
As the music played, support for Yezhi from the audience kept rising. With Dulisa and Hong Dou's excited expressions, Yezhi knew without looking that she had advanced. What an unfortunate outcome!
After the host announced the results, contestant 19 looked very disappointed but still graciously congratulated Yezhi. Yezhi was surrounded by an excited Dulisa and Hong Dou. "Dear Yezhi, you were amazing! That dance you did for so long without any apparent meaning was truly inspired."
"Yezhi, you sang the numbers 1234 and 2234 in just one tone! I want to learn that so next time I sing, no one will laugh at me for being off-key," Hong Dou said with a laugh.
Yezhi nodded at Tiansuo and Xiao Nan before turning to Dulisa and venting, "Now my infamous name has spread across the universe; how delightful." Dulisa smiled with a twinkle in her silver eyes and said softly, "Well, you've got 10,000 Bodeton now. For the next round, it's up to you. If you don't want to go, I'll handle it for you; no one will mock you."
Yezhi was a bit confused. "Is it because of the beginner language pack? I've already bought it. Even if you help me, it would be better if you just lent me 10,000 Bodeton." As soon as she finished speaking, Tiansuo's deep and magnetic laughter echoed. Yezhi looked puzzled at Tiansuo. "Dulisa is quite wealthy, but money doesn't stay in her hands for even a minute; she spends it by the second." Before Tiansuo could finish his sentence, Dulisa fiercely pulled him away.
"Dulisa's beauty pageant finals are in three weeks; remember that!" Xiao Nan reminded Yezhi before leaving with Hong Dou.
Yezhi stood smiling in the empty venue, her heart fluttering. She was indeed right; she was lucky and happy.
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