You Guys Wouldn’t Have Taken My Casual Acting Seriously, Right Chapter 20

Not long after Shen Fu returned, Jiang Shu came back too. In his hand, besides the car keys, there was also a document envelope.

【D*mn, did his beauty give me the illusion that he’s uneducated? I nearly forgot he inherited the family business. He must have personal affairs to handle. No wonder he wasn’t around the whole day.】

【Did no one notice his car key changed again? Did he switch cars?】

【Hahaha I strongly suspect he joined the show just to show off his cars.】

Dinner was finally ready, and everyone sat in their seats.

After seeing Chu Wei get kicked out last time, no guest dared sit next to Shen Fu anymore, that seat belonged to Jiang Shu.

The place was left empty.

Everyone watched as Jiang Shu fed the fish before lazily strolling over to sit down.

“……”

Zuo Mei looked at the others’ expressions.

【Hahaha what is going on?】

【Why do I feel like the other guests are here waiting for a meeting, and D is here to conduct the meeting?】

Jiang Shu sat down and immediately rotated the seafood platter toward himself.

Everyone: “……”

【Other guests: ? No sense of reading the room??】

【Jiang Shu: I was born never needing to read anyone’s face.】

【Hahaha you two above are killing me.】

The atmosphere at the table was already stiff because of Chu Wei and Wen Zhenghan. Now Jiang Shu’s disregard poured another layer of oil onto the fire.

The production team broke the tension at the right moment: “Please check your phones. The second round of dates is coming. This session is called ‘Romantic Gifts’. Each male guest will prepare a gift, unsigned, and the production team will present them to the female guests. The female guest will blind-pick. Whoever’s gift she chooses will be the one she goes on a date with.”

The livestream chat’s attention was instantly diverted:

【F*ck this time it’s a blind pick??】

【So this means the existing CPs can easily be broken. Tomorrow’s dates will depend entirely on fate. From my experience, these segments often create god-tier plot twists. In one dating show I watched, Male No.1 and Female No.1 initially had feelings for each other, but during the gift-giving round, she happened to pick Male No.4’s gift. After one day of dating, she ran off with Male No.4.】

【The production team really knows how to play. They didn’t miss a single cue. I just want to see what gifts the men are giving hahaha.】

【In past shows, the average male guest would give things like long dresses, teddy bears, sky lanterns. But these four are loaded; they shouldn’t be giving such stingy stuff, right? Why can’t we fast-forward, ugh.】

【Then if Shen Fu is choosing, wouldn’t she pick whoever gives the most expensive gift?】

【F*ck are you Shen Fu herself, logging in with your main account?】

No one knew why, but this comment hit the chat’s funny bone, and suddenly everyone’s attention focused on Shen Fu.

Shen Fu antis and other fandoms were extremely annoyed.

At some point, the chat’s tone had gradually shifted.

Maybe it was because Shen Fu was a meme generator, and comments cueing her grew more and more frequent.

But would the production team not have considered this?

“Worried that certain male guests might bring gifts that are too expensive and exceed our show’s budget, we’ve added a new rule to this round: the price cap for gifts is one thousand yuan.”

【Hahaha “certain male guests.” They’re calling you out, Jiang Shu.】

As expected, Jiang Shu inexplicably glanced at the production team.

Shen Fu also glanced at the staff member announcing the rule.

【Hahaha Shen Fu looks so disappointed.】

【One of them is rich and the other is broke… they kind of match… d*mn it, I don’t want to ship this.】

The production team ended the announcement: “Next, male guests may freely leave the villa. You have one hour to prepare gifts. Female guests may rest for now. In one hour, the selection will officially begin.”

No one expected the second-round rules to be like this.

Chu Wei pinched his chopsticks and secretly glanced at Shen Fu.

This actually gave him a chance to go on a date with her.

Even if he couldn’t clear things up and get her forgiveness, he at least had to stop Wen Zhenghan, that hypocritical scumbag, from getting what he wanted.

Wen Zhenghan’s face was still dark, but he still had to clarify the rules: “What’s tomorrow’s date location and what will the date involve?”

【I’m about to explode from holding in my laughter. The Film Emperor still hasn’t recovered from the tree-moving segment.】

Wen Zhenghan’s fans were unhappy: 【What’s so funny? Stop laughing.】

Normally, the day’s date details were announced right before the date itself. But seeing Wen Zhenghan’s expression, the director nudged the staff, and they explained early:

“Tomorrow we’ll arrange all four CPs to go to the same place and experience an ordinary person’s day. You’ll need to find ways to earn money like ordinary people. By the end of the day, whichever CP earns the most will receive points.”

It didn’t sound very hard.

Unlike last time’s clamming trip, it didn’t require skill or knowledge. It depended entirely on public appeal.

Whoever had more street-level fans would draw more people and earn more money.

Someone like Shen Fu, who acted in cliché idol dramas, might be known only by teenagers. How many aunties and uncles would know her?

And in broad daylight, most passersby would be middle-aged.

In other words, they would be her competitors’ fanbase.

Zuo Mei glanced at Shen Fu, already confident. In terms of national recognition, not to mention eighteenth-tier Shen Fu, even among everyone present, only Wen Zhenghan and Xiang Lingyun could surpass her.

The humiliation she suffered last time, this time she’d win it back.

Hearing the rules, Xu Tiaotiao and Gu Qingshuang also worried for themselves.

But compared to them, Shen Fu might have even more reason to worry.

At least one of them had a breakout serious drama, and the other had a song that went viral everywhere.

Gu Qingshuang instinctively looked at Shen Fu.

Shen Fu didn’t react much, only twitching an ear when she heard “points.”

【We’re doomed. Why does this round feel specifically targeted at Shen Fu?】

【I feel that too. If she partners with D, it’s even worse. Shen Fu has no middle-aged fanbase. D has an untouchable face. Can they really earn money from passersby?】

【Targeting Shen Fu? I’m dying of laughter.】

A hater finally found an opening: 【Do Shen Fu fans all have persecution complexes?】

“Don’t argue with them.” Rong Xiaozhen couldn’t help worrying, but worrying was useless. Thankfully, now that they had Director Gong Kuan’s resources, their situation was much better than before.

Even if they lost, it wouldn’t be too embarrassing.

She ordered in the group chat: “Post more positive comments about looking forward to Shen Fu.”

After dinner, the male guests left the villa under the show’s arrangement.

Although Chu Wei had been scolded by his company, he was still their cash cow, and they wouldn’t mistreat him. He asked for a new car, and the company immediately got him one worth several million.

Holding the luxury car key, Chu Wei finally had confidence.

When he pressed the key fob, his posture was far straighter than during the spring date disaster.

But unexpectedly, while he worked so hard to change cars, Jiang Shu was basically driving a different car every day.

Looking at the stylish streamlined headlights, Chu Wei’s newly straightened spine immediately slumped.

He resolved that next time he left the villa, he absolutely wouldn’t walk near Jiang Shu.

Jiang Shu had no idea about Chu Wei’s dramatic inner turmoil. He only saw Chu Wei follow behind him out of the elevator, then suddenly retreat for no reason.

The other two came out first, and only after that did Chu Wei finally exit, staring at his own car with a complicated expression.

“……”

This idiot wants to secretly scratch his own car?

Jiang Shu’s fist tightened.

When Chu Wei looked over, Wen Zhenghan and Xiang Lingyun also couldn’t help taking a glance at his car.

Under his sunglasses, Jiang Shu glared at each of them.

Still looking?

Look again and I’ll punch each of you.

The audience could never guess how much turmoil could brew inside a few men who looked calm on the surface, even expressionless.

After Jiang Shu was the first to step on the gas and leave, Wen Zhenghan and Xiang Lingyun finally opened their car doors and got in.

Their internal thoughts were exactly the same as Chu Wei’s.

Absolutely cannot let their own engine sounds ring out at the same time as Jiang Shu’s car.

That car of his looked insanely cool. If they sounded at the same time, they’d lose.

Chu Wei didn’t want to face Jiang Shu head-on, but facing Wen Zhenghan, he refused to give even an inch.

Still burning with the anger from the afternoon, he looked at Wen Zhenghan’s BMW in front of him with extreme annoyance. One overtake, and he instantly drove ahead of Wen Zhenghan, leaving the parking lot before him.

Wen Zhenghan had originally been in second place, but suddenly became third. And seeing Chu Wei deliberately roll down his window to throw him a glance, as if on purpose.

Wen Zhenghan’s face darkened immediately.

Does this kid ever stop? Does he not want a future anymore?

A future? Bullsh*t.

Let the audience scold him. Chu Wei had already earned enough money in the few years since debut. He now had a “screw it all” attitude.

He’d already lost his temper impulsively this afternoon. At this point, no amount of PR could fix it, so he might as well lean into a genuine-temperament persona.

Wen Zhenghan was famously known in the industry as a gentle gentleman, not someone who would bicker with Chu Wei.

But after Chu Wei drove in front of him, he deliberately slowed his speed to a crawl, almost inching forward.

Staring at Chu Wei’s rear bumper, the fire in Wen Zhenghan’s chest kept rising.

Xiang Lingyun’s car was at the back. Watching the two cars in front playing chase, he felt impatient too and couldn’t help honking.

Are you driving or not?

The speed wasn’t even five miles per hour, like snails crawling. Meanwhile, Jiang Shu in front had long disappeared.

Wen Zhenghan, urged by Xiang Lingyun behind him, was also irritated.

He rolled down his window and turned his head to glare at the production team.

The production team also looked anxious. They only had one hour. If they kept dawdling here, tonight’s schedule wouldn’t finish.

The production team hurriedly sent someone running over to knock on Chu Wei’s window: “Teacher Chu Wei, could you please drive a little faster?”

Chu Wei rolled down his window, glanced at the car behind him, and showed his trademark obedient smile: “Mm-hm, stay away from scumbags. I’ll drive faster now.”

After saying that, he stomped on the gas and sped off.

Production team: “……”

Wen Zhenghan: “……”

Xiang Lingyun: “……”

This kid is really crazy. No saving him.

Wen Zhenghan’s face was so dark it could drip water.

Even if the audience had been slow before, they could now tell these two did not get along.

【I’m shocked, was Chu Wei throwing shade or just outright cursing just now?】

【What on earth happened!】

Wen Zhenghan’s fans were the first to break: 【Is Chu Wei sick? The Film Emperor didn’t provoke him. He’s been acting insane since the afternoon.】

Chu Wei’s fans fired back: 【Who knows what your Film Emperor did privately. Our guy is the most righteous and pure person. For him to be this angry, that means someone is probably actually a hypocrite! A scumbag!】

Back and forth, they started fighting.

Inside the villa, aside from Gu Qingshuang who had been taken for a post-recording interview, the other three were washing dishes in the kitchen.

Zuo Mei hummed a tune, looking in a very good mood.

Xu Tiaotiao rolled her eyes, avoided the camera, and leaned close to Shen Fu’s ear to whisper: “What are you planning to do tomorrow?”

Shen Fu wiped the plate in her hands: “We’ll talk about it tomorrow.”

“I want to be paired with Xiang Lingyun. You get it, right? When choosing gifts later, can you let me pick first?”

Xu Tiaotiao had a bit of scheming, but not in a way that made people dislike her. And she was honest enough that it was almost cute.

Shen Fu glanced at her, wanting to say something, but swallowed it. Xu Tiaotiao probably didn’t want to hear whatever she was about to say. Shen Fu said: “Okay, I’ll let you choose first.”

Hearing this, Xu Tiaotiao beamed: “Great. Then I’ll help you pick the most expensive one.”

Shen Fu nearly choked.

Was her desire to earn money that obvious?

Xu Tiaotiao didn’t lower her voice for the last sentence, and the comments almost died laughing: 【Hahaha Xu Tiaotiao is killing me.】

【Yes, Shen Fu, don’t question your life. It’s very obvious.】

Zuo Mei and Gu Qingshuang were closer, always whispering in front of Xu Tiaotiao, or going for afternoon tea together, never inviting her.

Xu Tiaotiao wasn’t actually that close to Shen Fu. What she was saying wasn’t even urgent. She could’ve said it during the gift selection later.

But she just wanted Zuo Mei to feel what it was like to have three people together and one left out.

D*mn, already this old and still playing elementary-school cliques. Have some shame.

Never inviting her to their flower-arranging tea hangouts.

Thinking of this, she pinched Shen Fu: “Can you please not either have errands out during the day or be sleeping your life away in your room?”

Shen Fu: ?

Wasn’t that topic jump way too sudden?

Meanwhile, Gu Qingshuang was doing the post-recording, and as usual, entered her own livestream room to interact with fans.

Today’s topics were already almost entirely about Chu Wei and Wen Zhenghan, plus Shen Fu and Gong Kuan.

Then add the explosive scene just now outside the villa, Gu Qingshuang’s livestream was filled with questions about why Chu Wei suddenly tore into Wen Zhenghan.

“Um… is this something I’m allowed to talk about?” Gu Qingshuang looked at the production team with difficulty.

“I’m guessing it was for Shen Fu.”

The staff beside her twitched their brows. It was already too late to stop her.

Gu Qingshuang continued in a low voice: “Maybe Chu Wei thought Wen Zhenghan bullied Shen Fu for Zou Mei’s sake?”

“Last time Wen Zhenghan called Shen Fu into the storage room, Chu Wei saw it. I guess Wen Zhenghan might have been scolding Shen Fu as a senior.”

Gu Qingshuang was completely guessing.

That day she saw Shen Fu being called into the storage room by Wen Zhenghan, and also noticed that Chu Wei’s expression was ugly the entire night. Then today, Chu Wei clashed with Wen Zhenghan again.

If it wasn’t this, then what?

Wen Zhenghan didn’t know Shen Fu before, so it’s impossible he called her in to reminisce?

Zou Mei said Wen Zhenghan came to the show for her, treating her as his white moonlight, and Zou Mei and Shen Fu were rivals. That day during the seafood-catching PK she even almost cried out of anger.

Then of course Wen Zhenghan would show his manly bravado and stand up for her.

【Woc woc what kind of earth-shattering gossip is this????】

The viewers in the livestream were all stunned. They didn’t expect Gu Qingshuang to be this bold, actually answering everything asked.

Gu Qingshuang didn’t care. She was just an outsider.

Now that she said it, it could help hype up the Wen Zhenghan × Zou Mei CP, and Sister Zou Mei would thank her. Their CP fans would also have a good impression of her.

The only ones who might get hurt were Chu Wei and Shen Fu. But those two, one kept being nice to her yet couldn’t let go of Shen Fu, sending cake to two people at once, scumbag; the other received text messages from three men on the show, not exactly a good person either.

【F*ck f*ck f*ck huge gossip!】

The viewers who were watching the kitchen or the male guests choosing gifts almost all ran over to watch the drama.

【Finally got it straight. So it’s: Chu Wei wants to get back together with Shen Fu, Shen Fu refuses, but Chu Wei still can’t let go. That day after Shen Fu beat Zou Mei in the PK, Wen Zhenghan called her into the storage room to pressure her as a senior. Chu Wei found out, so he started being pissed at Wen Zhenghan?】

【Seen this way, Chu Wei is so deep in love, my god. He’s literally a simp. Chu Wei fans said Shen Fu clung to him desperately, it’s reversed, right??? Now I’m starting to suspect Shen Fu’s old scandals too. Maybe there’ll be a reversal later.】

【No wonder during chess that day Chu Wei kept looking somewhere. I just checked the villa layout, isn’t that exactly the storage room?】

【Woc woc, everything lines up. Got goosebumps.】

【The Film Emperor and Film Empress CP is so good to ship, woo woo woo. Thank you Little Shuang for the sugar.】

【Is it just me who thinks that going to scold a girl because your crush lost a PK match is a huge turn-off? Suddenly my goodwill toward Film Emperor plummets (assuming what Gu Qingshuang said is true).】

【+1, did he think Shen Fu’s status was low and easy to bully?】

The chat instantly descended into chaos.

The different fanbases were basically having a Huashan-sword-fight in the chat over Gu Qingshuang’s few words.

The four guests shot up the trending list.

Chu Wei’s fans were about to explode. They defended Gu Qingshuang days ago, and now Gu Qingshuang actually sold out their guy.

Yes, their faces had been slapped swollen these past few days by Chu Wei himself, but as long as THEY didn’t admit it, then the matter of Chu Wei wanting Shen Fu back didn’t exist.

But now Gu Qingshuang personally stamped it?

The last piece of stubborn denial was forcibly ripped away!

Chu Wei’s fan groups were cursing: “I’m so mad I’m so mad. At this point I’m more annoyed with Gu Qingshuang than Shen Fu.”

“What is she doing? My guy is going crazy and now she’s going crazy too?”

The trending list almost made Weibo crash. The guests, having had their phones confiscated, were completely unaware.

Gu Qingshuang walked out of the post-interview room, glanced at the people washing dishes, and naturally wouldn’t take the initiative to say anything.

The filming crew holding the camera were stunned.

“Earlier we were saying if they’re too calm we might need to script some drama. Turns out… we don’t need any scripts at all.”

The director murmured: “Our show hasn’t left the trending list once. We’re making insane money!!”

“F*ck, insane money.” Wang Xuanheng’s older brother in the office couldn’t help slapping his thigh.

Before Wang Xuanheng invested in this show, he wasn’t optimistic. He thought the kid suddenly wanted to meddle in the entertainment industry, even listening to that Jiang brat’s advice, setting such a high points-prize pool, if they didn’t lose their pants it’d already be considered good.

Probably bullied by that Jiang surname again.

But no one expected the ratings to climb day after day, breaking ten years of variety-show records!

…He just didn’t understand why one of the shareholders was someone surnamed Shen.

***

When the male guests returned to the villa after buying gifts, the crew looked at Chu Wei and Wen Zhenghan with complicated expressions.

Chu Wei and Wen Zhenghan were both confused.

As they came out of the elevator, Chu Wei deliberately bumped Wen Zhenghan.

Wen Zhenghan’s suit jacket wrinkled into a mess. His good temper was about to run out; his expression was terrible.

Two idiots.

Jiang Shu held the gift box, frowned, and glanced at the two men ahead.

He was even more arrogant, directly shoving both of them aside from behind and squeezing forward.

Chu Wei: “……”

Wen Zhenghan: “……”

What was HIS problem? This inexplicable and unwavering hostility?

Chu Wei changed shoes and entered the living room, naturally looking instinctively for where Shen Fu was.

The viewers in the chat didn’t know what he was always looking for in the living room before. Now that they knew the truth, they followed his gaze and saw Shen Fu quietly washing dishes by the sink.

【Ahhh I’m going to cry, who understands.】 A passerby commented: 【This is the ultimate BE aesthetics.】

【Back then their relationship was exposed, they broke up, and years later reuniting on a dating show, the guy can’t let go, but everything is long past for the girl. So on the first day of filming, Chu Wei knocked on Shen Fu’s door. On the second day he invited her to walk several times. On the third day he chose her for the spring date. Later during the texting round, during the three minutes in the dark, every time, round and round, his choice was always her!】

【And you forgot the cake incident. “To carefully give that cake, he even made two.”】

【God, what kind of “broken mirror cannot be mended” novel plot is this! I’m f*cking shipping them to death.】

【So in the end it’s still Chu Wei’s fans’ fault, right? Back then they tore apart the CP, and now they mock Shen Fu every day. Who knew she doesn’t even pay attention to your guy, it’s your guy who can’t forget his old love. A bunch of evil mother-in-laws!】

Chu Wei’s entire fanbase turned green.

How did things develop to this point?

Ah!!!

F*ck, why???!!!!!!

Anything Chu Wei’s fans posted was instantly scolded back.

The whole fandom was practically in a state of total collapse.

Several group admins said through tears: “At this point, instead of being scolded as ‘crazy,’ ‘low EQ,’ and ‘disrespectful to seniors,’ it’s better to let passersby think he is ‘love-stricken,’ a ‘red-eyed literary male lead.’ Maybe he can even win some passerby goodwill.”

“We’re not saying we should ship with them, but right now we can’t stop the passersby.”

Jiang Shu walked over, put on another pair of gloves, and pushed Shen Fu aside: “With how you’re washing these, is even one clean? Leave the rest to me.”

Listen to that, is that something a human says?

“You think you can do it? Then do it.” Shen Fu immediately got angry.

Jiang Shu pushed Shen Fu back to her room, stood in her spot washing dishes, then slowly lifted his head and glared at Chu Wei: “Keep looking and I’ll dig your eyeballs out.”

His voice wasn’t quiet at all.

Chu Wei: “?”

The barrage that had been happily shipping suddenly choked: 【？】

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