The Trending Topic Herself: The Villainess is the Superstar!-Chapter 165: Why So Bad?

Maya Monroe and the rest stood on the same starting line, all other participants posed, ready to rush to the high platform and take the most advantageous position once the signal was given.

Maya slightly turned her head to admire the pattern on the big screen.

Beside her, Leo Lancaster reminded, "Maya, get ready, it’s about to start."

Maya nodded, but her stance didn’t change a bit.

Leo looked at her and suddenly thought of something, "Never mind, just protect yourself later. In this kind of game, it’s inevitable to have some bumps. It’s best for you to stay on the side, so no one will pull you. It’s okay to climb slowly."

What Leo said was exactly what Maya wanted: "I won’t compete with them."

Looking at Maya’s obedient demeanor, Leo felt a slight tug at his heart.

He couldn’t remember the last time he had seen her so well-behaved. After growing up, she had changed into a difficult and irritable person, unable to take advice from others.

But recently, Leo had found that familiar feeling in her again. She was no longer reckless, and her occasional meekness amazed him.

"Maya..." His eyes moved, finally turning into one sentence, "Be sure to protect yourself."

Maya nodded once again.

Her gaze turned to Kiki Monroe, who wasn’t far from her. This round she must make sure the heroine wins, or the storyline can’t continue. She hoped Kiki’s protagonist halo could come into play.

With the sound of a whistle, all the participants mustered their strength and rushed onto the high platform. Luckily, the platform was wide enough; otherwise, accommodating all participants would have been challenging.

Of course, Maya did not move; only after other participants climbed a distance did Maya leisurely move to the soft mat below the platform.

She clasped her hands and watched the commotion, her expression relaxed and free. Both Brian Bennett and Bella Sanford, the hosts, had joined the game, leaving Maya completely unrestricted. She simply and decisively sat cross-legged on the mat.

With no other means to pass the time, Maya looked up at the other participants struggling on the high platform. 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

The game had only been going on for a few minutes, yet the high platform was already filled with an atmosphere of intense competition. The space was fixed, and there was only one flag, prompting all the participants to exert every effort to climb up.

Some even resorted to dirty tricks, like stepping on others’ shoulders to climb higher, not forgetting to kick them in the process.

This was allowed in the game, as there weren’t many rules. Most participants adhered to the philosophy of "achieving their goal by any means necessary."

The steep and smooth slope caused many participants to uncontrollably slide down.

Maya carefully examined the platform; actually, the slope had some uneven protrusions, but they weren’t obvious. Obsessed with winning or losing, participants paid them no mind.

"Why are you pulling me!? Don’t grab my ankle!!"

"Help! I’m going to fall!"

Maya’s gaze shifted, and she quickly moved aside.

The next second, two people fell where she had just been sitting.

Falling onto the mat didn’t hurt much, though they still grumbled a bit.

It was only when they looked up that Maya realized one of them was Brian Bennett.

Brian stood up, straightened his clothes, and after locking eyes with Maya for a few seconds, asked, "Maya? Did you fall down too?"

Maya nodded.

"Ah... Then why are you sitting here now? It’s normal to lose the first time you play; you’ll get it after a few more tries."

Maya paused, "I have my own strategy."

After thinking it over, Brian nodded.

In this game, some had taken advantage of others wrestling each other to claim a great benefit. The saying "when two dogs strive for a bone, a third runs away with it" applied; maybe Maya had the same intent.

His gaze towards Maya carried an extra hint of admiration, "Young people are so quick-witted!"

After speaking, he braced himself and plunged back into the fray.

The usually good-natured participants were fiercely competing for that single flag, employing all sorts of pushing and pulling tactics.

Maya delightedly watched the lively scene below, thoroughly engrossed.

Suddenly, she heard the audience below calling out to her, seemingly urging her to make a move to the top. In a good mood, Maya responded with a cheeky smile to the audience below and then returned her focus.

A moment later, she heard a wave of screaming from below.

How crazy...

Suddenly Maya’s eyes paused for a moment.

Kiki Monroe was in the highest position. Her petite frame wasn’t particularly advantageous in size, but as if being divinely assisted, everyone ahead of her had fallen.

Kiki naturally became the leader, but her joy was short-lived as a hand suddenly gripped her ankle.

Looking down, it was Alisa Shelby.

The other’s venomous gaze slightly stunned her, before she realized what happened, she was dragged down.

Kiki only had time to let out a scream.

Seeing Kiki land, Maya’s gaze held a complex emotion.

"So weak."

Kiki clumsily got up from the ground. When she turned her head, she saw Maya leisurely sitting on the side, her gaze fixated on her, those beautiful eyes filled with disdain.

Disdain...?

For a moment, Kiki thought she was seeing things. The look Maya gave wasn’t mocking or hate, but more like disdain for her incompetence.

Kiki felt a delayed sense of shame, more humiliating than when she was pushed off, in front of Maya.

Even aware of the cameras, she couldn’t help it and angrily muttered, "What do you mean by this?"

Maya was simply unwilling to bother with her; how could the heroine be so clueless?

Wasn’t she supposed to have a protagonist halo? How could a minor character push her down? Truly useless...

Noticing Maya’s growing disdain, Kiki felt increasingly uncomfortable, clenching her fists.

The other wasn’t willing to engage, as if she didn’t consider her worthy of attention at all.

Why? She had captivated a great director, and people surrounded her, praising her to high heavens. How could Maya look down on her?!

Meanwhile, the whistle sounded, indicating the first round was over.

Leo Lancaster held the flag, slowly sliding down from the high platform.

All the participants straightened their clothes and stood together.

Brian Bennett’s hair was slightly tousled. He ran a hand through it, then picked up the microphone, "I’ve long heard Leo likes fitness, and it shows because..."

Brian suddenly shrugged his shoulder, "Leo just pushed me a bit, and I’m still aching from it!"