Chapter 2: Steadfast and Loyal Group Stans

Jin Li's mood was like riding a roller coaster, soaring and plunging dramatically.

Her math skills were decent; before scratching the final ticket, she had lost two thousand yuan across the other ninety-nine tickets.

After scratching that last one, she leaped into the middle class with two hundred thousand yuan in savings.

She still remembered the call from the Shuiwu Bureau a few days ago inquiring about her taxes; it was March, and the process of tax refunds and supplementary payments was in full swing.

When the Shuiwu Bureau official asked if she had underreported her income, Jin Li answered firmly, "No."

One knows one's own situation best.

Having inherited this body's memories, she knew the original Jin Li was an honest person with social anxiety, inept at social interactions, leaving all financial matters to the company.

Since switching to this small company three years ago, Jin Li's monthly income had been stable, relying entirely on the basic salary deposit, with only occasional event appearances bringing in ten or twenty thousand yuan.

How much was the basic salary?

Exactly five thousand yuan, not even reaching the tax threshold; it was a utterly ordinary pension-style base pay.

The staff member couldn't help but blurt out, "No way, is your income really that low? You're quite famous!"

Jin Li said without a shred of humility, "I'm just living off past glories; I haven't participated in many events these past few years."

This body was too weak; during her first year as a debut idol, she had worked from dawn till dusk every day, depleting the original owner's already poor health even further.

All the money earned previously had been spent on medical treatment.

The staff member asked about the situation several more times before finally hanging up the phone with a sigh.

Jin Li shook the scratch-off tickets in her hand, humming a happy tune as she walked down the mountain.

Jin Li, who had quickly redeemed her prizes and left, did not know that shortly after her departure, the lottery station strangely experienced a surge in customers, with all scratch-off tickets sold out within half an hour.

Those tourists had even come running to buy them!

The scene was so intense that the shop owner thought something major had happened and nearly called the police.

Even less did Jin Li know that a short video of her burning incense and scratching lottery tickets had been quietly uploaded to the internet by a netizen.

Back at her rental apartment.

Jin Li first paid this month's utilities and rent, feeling a wave of relief wash over her body.

"True Lord Mingwu Hongdao is a good person," Jin Li thought. "Not only did he give me money, but he also improved my health."

The house she lived in was rented by the company, a luxury studio apartment in the center of Nancheng, just a few steps from the subway station with excellent transportation links.

With two units per floor and each covering 120 square meters, the company covered two-thirds of the rent, leaving the original owner to pay only one-third.

Even the second-tier young starlets promoted by the company lived in small single rooms in this commercial district where land was priced like gold; what could Jin Li, who had transmigrated here, say?

Just two words: gratitude.

She changed from her hoodie into a short-sleeved shirt, put on a sun-protection jacket over it, and prepared to go out to buy groceries and cook.

Just as she was about to leave, she bumped into her agent, Sui Lingfang, who was wearing a women's suit in the hallway; Jin Li obediently called out, "Sister Fang."

Sui Lingfang had come specifically to find Jin Li.

As the company's top agent, she managed Jin Li, but she did not revolve her entire schedule around Jin Li alone.

Sui Lingfang examined her carefully for a few moments. "Is your health improving? You look much better."

That little face was rosy and tender as a piece of tofu; with an oval face and almond-shaped eyes, she looked obedient and cute at a glance.

At 1.7 meters tall, she was not short for a female star; her figure was slender and well-proportioned, and the calves wrapped in long trousers revealed a graceful curve.

Sui Lingfang glanced at Jin Li's cleavage, feeling satisfied; this was what it meant to look slim when dressed and well-endowed when undressed.

Jin Li thought for a moment and answered honestly, "I've been feeling much better lately."

Sui Lingfang hesitated slightly before asking, "Then can you start a livestream this afternoon? The fans really want to see you."

Jin Li blinked, understanding immediately.

Yesterday she had seen the news: Ji Qinglian, a former teammate from the same girl group, had been officially announced as a mentor for "PICK~Next Diva," sparking a wave of nostalgia among netizens.

Four years ago, the "Pink Girls" group had appeared like a meteor, becoming instantly popular across the entire internet with momentum like the midday sun, hailed as the new generation's supreme girl group; no one expected they would disband due to company issues.

All five members were still active in the entertainment industry, none having any scandals exposed, regarded by many group fans as the white moonlight in their hearts and the cinnabar mole they could never obtain.

With varying levels of popularity among the members and no public meetings since, fans were eager to see them reunite, causing the group's anniversary to trend on search engines every year.

The anniversary was not far away now.

Jin Li's dark eyes looked at Sui Lingfang, her eyelashes lowering slightly as if she were pondering something.

The atmosphere became somewhat subtle.

Sui Lingfang couldn't help but stare at Jin Li, noticing her eyelashes were very long, thick, and curled, just like a little eyelash fairy.

Jin Li suddenly tilted her head, their eyes meeting: "Does livestreaming make money?"

Sui Lingfang was stunned for a moment, then nodded repeatedly. "Yes, the company has a dedicated partnership with a livestreaming platform; they've always wanted you to host an interview livestream so the fans can see you."

"Then let's do it," she said calmly.

Sui Lingfang paused, then asked again, "Are you really okay health-wise?"

It wasn't that she was being overly cautious; during Jin Li's first month after signing with the company, while chatting with fans in a livestream, she didn't know what the fans had asked, but in a fit of excitement, she actually coughed up blood in public!

This had immediately frightened Sui Lingfang, who had seen many storms in her career, leaving her at a complete loss.

That was the first time she realized Jin Li's body was extremely weak.

No wonder those big companies hadn't fought to sign Jin Li; the high profit-sharing ratio the company offered her was a bid shouted out during competition with other small firms.