Chapter Two: A Subtle Rebuttal to the Pretentious Woman

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Sensing she had struck a sore spot, Gu Qing grew even more smug. “Teacher Shen Jiayu! It’s all over the internet. Teacher Yu can’t really pretend not to know, can she?”

There was a playful glint in Yu Zhi’s eyes as she glanced at Gu Qing.

“A washed-up male singer, I get it. Teacher Gu must be quite fond of Shen Jiayu to care so much.”

The photographer trailing behind couldn’t contain his excitement. Fortunately, he had managed to secure the chance to follow Yu Zhi; otherwise, if their rival broadcasted this explosive news first, it would drive him insane.

#YuZhiCritiquesShenJiayuWashedUpSinger#

#GuQingSecretlyInLoveWithShenJiayu#

#...#

Gu Qing’s face turned ashen. She struggled to control her emotions, unwilling to let Yu Zhi break her composure. Shen Jiayu was a has-been in Yu Zhi’s eyes, so what was she herself worth?

Keep pretending, she thought. She refused to believe that if they met in person, Yu Zhi could still keep calm.

Yu Zhi saw through Gu Qing’s little tricks; she didn’t even know Shen Jiayu was among the guests. Otherwise, she would have bargained harder with Jiang Weicheng to get a bigger cut for their company.

Her persistent ex-boyfriend occasionally released new songs to disgust her, flaunting his image as a devoted lover—pathetic.

The village path was full of potholes, making the ride bumpy and uncomfortable. Even holding herself steady in the vehicle was tough, and Gu Qing had no energy left to bother Yu Zhi. When the villagers’ tricycle came to a stop, Yu Zhi glanced at Gu Qing and smiled kindly. “Gu Qing, let me give you a gift.”

Yu Zhi pressed a handcrafted grasshopper into her hand, then jumped out of the vehicle. Unsurprisingly, a shriek followed.

“Ah!… Yu Zhi!”

Walking leisurely along the path, Yu Zhi turned back and waved at her, looking utterly harmless.

Did she really think she came unprepared? At least the little assistant had thoroughly gathered all the female guests’ weaknesses.

[Sss, Yu Zhi is a bit cruel, knowing Gu Qing’s fear of all insects.]

[Sister Yu is so clever, Gu Qing don’t throw it away, give it to me!]

[Be grateful she didn’t catch a live one…]

As for the male guests?

“They’re all just passersby…”

After a few steps, Yu Zhi caught a familiar figure in the corner of her eye.

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Could she really be that unlucky?

Suppressing her emotions, she quickened her pace toward the small room prepared by the production team. Upon entering, Yu Zhi realized she had underestimated the situation.

The cramped room held five people sitting closely together, all looking up at her.

Silently, she wailed inside. If possible, please let her stay far away from this show. Jiang Weicheng had told her to meet new people, but how did changing clothes make them newcomers?

A man and a woman sat opposite each other. Next to Shen Jiayu was a pair of phoenix eyes behind rimless glasses, a gentle and refined man. If not Li Ze, then who? Someone so busy teaching at school, yet still finding time to join a show?

Opposite him sat a man with a fox-like smile, warm and innocent in appearance but actually a master of various tea arts—Bai Fuyuan.

How had the production team so precisely gathered all her ex-boyfriends together?

It was crazy!

Yu Zhi’s dazed moment was short-lived. The person closest to the door greeted her first. “Zhi Zhi, you finally came. It’s been so long—I’ve missed you to death!”

“Ling Jie, didn’t expect you to join a dating show.”

Shi Hailing, a triple Golden Rooster Award-winning actress, had been out of the spotlight for years. Rumor had it she married into a wealthy family and had children. Yu Zhi had once played a minor role in one of her films early in her career and was surprised she still remembered her.

Shi Hailing affectionately pulled Yu Zhi to sit close by. “I heard that being in love keeps you young. Look at you—your skin is so radiant. Maybe there’s some truth to that. I should give it a try, too.”

Her words carried double meaning, befitting a seasoned industry veteran. Yu Zhi smiled faintly without replying.

“I’ve heard Yu Jie and Jiayu Ge have a long history. If you two are paired up for the show, wouldn’t that be unfair to the rest of us?”

Yu Zhi glanced at the woman opposite her. She shouldn’t be hostile toward Xia Shuang. Why was she undermining her?

You can’t expect her to take all the benefits alone, can you?

To a stranger, there was no need to indulge her. “You’re a lovely girl. It’s normal to have no vocal cords. I’ll let it slide this time, but don’t take yourself so seriously next time!”

[Hahaha, how does Yu Zhi manage to be so seriously funny?]

[She’s really crazy. Why do people indulge her while others are treated like madwomen?]

[Xia Shuang has a point! Why can’t people question her?]

“Yu Jie~ What a coincidence running into you on this show. Didn’t you say we wouldn’t meet again after we split? Looks like your words don’t hold much weight!”

Yu Zhi’s relaxed brow furrowed. That tea expert again! Couldn’t she just be strangers? Look at Li Ze—he behaved so well!

Shen Jiayu had been leisurely enjoying Yu Zhi’s awkwardness. Hearing Bai Fuyuan’s cryptic remark, he suddenly interjected, “Yu Zhi, you have quite a few brothers.”

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Everyone immediately recalled that this popular male singer was also a few years younger than Yu Zhi. In fact, the nickname for Yu Zhi that was trending online had originated from Shen Jiayu.

Shi Hailing subtly glanced at Shen Jiayu and quickly changed the subject to smooth things over.

“Zhi Zhi, who did you come with? Where are they?”

Yu Zhi took in every expression in the room and confidently declared, “I came with Gu Qing. She got a little scared outside but should be here soon.”

“What happened outside? Was Gu Qing the only one frightened?”

The person who had been the least noticeable since entering suddenly asked, drawing all eyes to him.

Yu Zhi knew full well Li Ze was subtly trying to trap her, but she couldn’t ignore the question.

Narrowing her eyes, she replied, “I just got scared. Got a problem with that?”

Li Ze lightly pushed up his glasses, smiling enigmatically without pressing further.

“Teacher Yu really loves to joke.”

[Yu Zhi is so good at stirring things up with every guest!]

[It clearly shows how terrible her relationships are. No idea why so many people want to work with her, risking not making money!]

[Everyone here looks weak compared to Yu Zhi. No sense of accomplishment at all.]

Speaking of which, Gu Qing walked into the recording studio under everyone’s watchful gaze.

She had made up her mind. This show was lukewarm before Yu Zhi joined. She had hoped to get more screen time traveling with Yu Zhi, but the latter didn’t play by the rules at all.

Well, she couldn’t blame herself. The entertainment industry lacked little, except for plenty of personas.

“So I’m the last to arrive. Sorry to keep you all waiting!”

“Yu Jie~ I really liked the gift you gave me just now. I don’t even know how to repay you…”

Yu Zhi inhaled sharply. If before meeting Bai Fuyuan her tolerance for Gu Qing was forty percent, now it was four.

She could hardly tolerate an extra tea expert in her presence.

“Done pretending?”