Love in the Limelight novel Chapter 567

"The stage is set. First contestant, get ready!" The director's voice crackled through Albina's headset. She adjusted her hat and barked, "Numbers one to five, on stage. Numbers five to ten, standby. Now make some noise, everyone, move it!"

No one dared to utter another word.

Astrid sat at the judge’s table, twirling a pen leisurely in her hand. Her demeanor was calm and unruffled, showing not a hint of anxiety. She was blissfully unaware that in the VIP section behind her, Mr. Lu was holding a support banner for her.

He sat among the audience like any other fan, snapping photos with his phone. To him, his wife was stunning, radiant in every shot. His disguise—a mask and hat—ensured that even the fans nearby didn’t recognize him.

The first group of contestants were tasked with carving animals out of carrots, with a thirty-minute time limit. A basic challenge for any skilled carver. Contestant numbers one and three, however, were so flustered that they broke two carrots each, leaving their pieces incomplete when time was called.

The spectators were visibly disappointed. They had come hoping to see masters at work, not amateurs trembling as they held their carving knives.

"What is this? Our restaurant’s chef could carve better than them!"

"What a waste of time. If I’d known it would be this bad, I’d have stayed home watching TV."

"I’ve missed my dance class for this, unbelievable."

"Number five was the only one who showed some skill. They looked confident, not nervous at all."

"Are these people here to make us laugh?"

The director sighed, "But Astrid, if the scores are too low, viewers might think we’ve chosen contestants with no talent."

Astrid replied, "But isn’t that the truth?"

The director, caught off guard by Astrid's earnest gaze, found himself at a loss for words. The contestants were ones he’d personally auditioned, and their stage performances were a far cry from their auditions. Whether due to nerves or something else, they were all falling apart.

"Astrid, the audience needs guidance from the judges and hosts. They can't tell what's truly professional. Just give higher scores to those who do okay, and compliment them."

Astrid didn’t want to butt heads with the director, but she was committed to her role as a judge. "Director, are you asking me to be a shill?"