Chapter 220:

Barbara nodded in agreement. “That reasoning makes perfect sense.”

The camera continued its sweeping journey, capturing devoted audience members holding handmade signs bearing Vivian’s name in bold, colorful letters.

Millie’s eyes narrowed into calculating slits as recognition dawned—these were undoubtedly the very people Vivian had spoken of, the ones capable of manipulating the live voting results through sheer vocal force.

In reality, live audiences rarely maintained complete objectivity in their judgments. Most attendees inevitably developed personal favorites and preferences. That fundamental bias explained why online voting carried significantly more weight in the final scoring.

There was nothing inherently flawed with the established scoring system. However, Millie had consistently found herself swimming upstream due to her feed’s inferior production values, which paled in comparison to her competitors’ polished presentations.

Fortunately, the first two competitive rounds had served mainly as introductory showcases and had not resulted in massive eliminations, allowing Millie to successfully advance through the preliminary stages.

Yet, given the carefully orchestrated circumstances surrounding this round, Vivian’s behind-the-scenes manipulation had become glaringly transparent and undeniable.

This round, however, would unfold according to a completely different script.

“Thank you from the depths of my heart,” Vivian whispered, pressing delicate fingertips beneath her glistening eyes before gracefully lowering herself into her designated seat.

With that carefully choreographed moment of sentiment, the competition officially commenced with renewed intensity. Contestants took the stage one after another, each determined to leave an indelible mark on the evening’s memory.

The stakes had escalated dramatically—five contestants would face elimination while one fortunate performer would earn a chance at resurrection, driving every participant to pour their entire essence into their fleeting moment under the blazing lights.

gαℓησν𝒆𝓁s․c𝓸𝗆 brings imagination alive

At long last, fate called Millie’s name.

Adorned in a breathtaking mermaid gown that caught and scattered light like captured starlight, Millie glided onto the stage with measured, hypnotic grace.

“As our next performance, Serena brings us the song ‘Deep Sea,'” the host’s voice rang out as the lights on stage began to dim.

Slowly, the sapphire lights flickered to life, casting their glow on the woman standing in the center of the stage. She wore a deep-blue mermaid-style dress, its fishtail cut flowing gracefully around her feet. Her waist was narrow, her arms soft and bare, and the glitter on her skin caught the light. A half-face mask, laced with tiny gems that mimicked scales, clung to her face, adding just the right amount of mystery to her beauty.

It took no more than a second for every eye in the room to lock on her. Vivian’s eyes fixed on the woman on stage, certain that her carefully planted trap was about to snap shut.

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