【You simp, you mmp!】
Which male celebrity’s fans could tolerate being called that?
Wen Zhenghan’s fans immediately showed their true fighting power, starting to tear apart the passerby comments in the barrage.
They had tolerated the CP between him and Zuo Mei before. After all, Zuo Mei was someone Wen Zhenghan personally approved of, a girl he liked back in college.
He had attended Zuo Mei’s wedding, and when she divorced, he helped her comeback.
Plus, the Emperor-Empress CP fans were longtime veterans. They had been clashing with CP fans for years. They were tired and worn out, so they often turned a blind eye.
But who was Shen Fu? How could she even compare to their guy? Even if she gained some fans recently after joining the show, her status with Wen Zhenghan wasn’t in the same league.
【Don’t think us Film Emperor fans are naive. Don’t come and parasitize on him. Stop dreaming your Mary Sue fantasies!】
Casual viewers were bewildered. How many fans did Shen Fu even have? And now it seemed like it was Shen Fu fans shipping them? No, clearly it was these casual viewers shipping!
Wen Zhenghan’s fans didn’t dare insult the large base of casual viewers. They only targeted Shen Fu’s fans, which was pretty cowardly.
So they rushed to defend Shen Fu’s fans: 【Who’s standing in front of the room door looking shocked? Who’s being rejected and not wanted in the same group? Your Film Emperor! If you have the guts, contact the company so your Film Emperor stops acting presumptuous in front of the girl’s room!】
The more Wen Zhenghan’s fans insulted Shen Fu, the more it provoked casual viewers’ reverse psychology.
Those on the edge of the pit might have directly jumped into Shen Fu’s fan pit after such scolding.
Chu Wei’s fans, frustrated for so many days, saw a new simp rise and secretly delighted, mocking: 【Exactly, exactly.】
【Your Film Emperor is worse than our guy. My Ge at least said a few words to Shen Fu that day. Your Film Emperor only got a “No.” Laughable, old man with no charm, worse than a dog.】
Wen Zhenghan no longer cared what the audience thought.
He stood outside Shen Fu’s door, his expression frozen. In his memory, Shen Fu had never been this cold to him before.
Chu Wei and Gu Qingshuang came up from the stairs.
Chu Wei glanced at Wen Zhenghan and asked with concern: “What’s wrong, Zheng Ge? Are you motion sick? You look a bit pale.”
Could it be that what he said to Zuo Mei had effect? Did Wen Zhenghan’s two-boat strategy backfire?
Let him laugh at him in the storage room! He wasn’t someone easy to mess with either!
Wen Zhenghan’s face was dark. Too lazy to waste words with him, he left in a hurry.
Chu Wei was in a great mood. Smiling, he helped Gu Qingshuang carry her luggage into the room, then returned to his own.
Wen Zhenghan’s fans were furious: 【Chu Wei is so fake-sweet.】
Chu Wei’s fans: 【Smelling like tea is better than smelling like an old-man scent. Men go downhill after twenty-five.】
Wen Zhenghan’s fans: 【……】
Several groups of guests returned to the inn one after another.
As soon as Gong Kuan came back, he rushed upstairs to knock on Shen Fu’s door, inviting her to talk in the courtyard downstairs.
The live chat fans watching felt a wave of envy.
At this rate, was Gong Kuan’s movie offer really landing on Shen Fu’s head?
Earlier, some forums were still guessing which actresses he might invite. They guessed through all the suitable first- and second-tier actresses and still didn’t guess it would land on Shen Fu, an eighteenth-tier nobody.
Who knew that after Shen Fu appeared as a flying guest on one episode of Drama Like the Galaxy, she sealed the deal.
But once Shen Fu filmed this, she wouldn’t be eighteenth-tier anymore.
Maybe she’d jump straight to second-tier.
Zuo Mei felt she was losing face. Not wanting to show emotion, she hurried back to her room.
Gong Kuan was paired with her, she was his flying guest, yet the moment they returned to the inn, he went straight to find Shen Fu. Was he treating her like she didn’t exist? Men these days, whether ugly or handsome, were all equally lacking in gentlemanly manners.
At first, she thought coming on this show would be a downgrade.
Among the four female guests, who outranked her? Who had more achievements than her?
Her agreeing to appear on this variety show was already a huge favor to the production team and the other guests.
But not even mentioning being treated like a star, even Wen Zhenghan’s recent attitude toward her had noticeably changed.
Zuo Mei was furious. Her manager, watching the livestream, felt even more anxious.
How did Zuo Mei manage to ruin such a perfect hand?
Within moments, the phone rang: “Mei Jie, what is going on with Zheng Ge? Just now he was shut out by Shen Fu. It’s already trending.”
“What?” Zuo Mei stood up in anger.
The manager froze: “You didn’t know?”
“How would I know?! I was just in the car with Gong Kuan!”
The manager couldn’t worry about upsetting her anymore: “Before the show, you said you two had years of friendship, and he would definitely help you fully…”
Zuo Mei held back her anger: “Are you blaming me now? At a time like this, shouldn’t you be thinking of solutions? Do I pay you people to eat for free?”
The manager didn’t dare speak anymore.
Zuo Mei calmed herself and slowly sat back on the bed: “Don’t panic yet.”
Men were the easiest to provoke into competitiveness. What they can’t get is what they want most. Wen Zhenghan’s repeated favoring of Shen Fu was most likely because of Chu Wei.
Once he actually got Shen Fu, he might not even stay that invested.
Thinking that way, Shen Fu really had skills. She understood men’s psychology far too well.
Everybody knows the principle of “playing hard to get,” but who would’ve thought she mastered it to such perfection?
Why not learn from her?
Wen Zhenghan stood on the second-floor balcony, calmly watching Shen Fu speaking with Gong Kuan in the courtyard below, and a trace of suspicion appeared in his heart.
Was Shen Fu doing it on purpose?
If she truly intended to sever ties with him, truly didn’t care, she wouldn’t have done something like slamming the door in his face. She clearly knew the more she did that, the more it stirred him.
So now the choice was in his hands.
Did she want to see whether he would back down, or whether he’d simply lay everything bare and go after her?
Unlike Chu Wei, who debuted halfway as an idol, Wen Zhenghan came from a wealthy family. After entering the industry, everything had gone smoothly, fame and fortune came hand in hand. Whatever he wanted, it would be delivered to him. Never had he needed to pursue someone with effort.
If it were before, noticing such a small “retreat to advance” tactic, with his aloof personality, he would have mostly ignored it, refusing to give her the satisfaction.
But somehow, Shen Fu’s attitude these past days felt like a thick cloud pressing on his chest, making him restless. The feeling that something was slipping from his grasp grew stronger and stronger, making it hard to stay calm.
He lowered his gaze, thinking, maybe this time he should follow Shen Fu’s lead.
Soon, it was dinner time.
The guests sat down one after another.
Because no one chose him in the gift segment, Jiang Shu didn’t come this time, so the seat beside Shen Fu was now occupied by Gong Kuan.
Someone in the livestream chat complained: 【I watch this show while eating. Crown Prince switched to Director Gong, and now I can barely swallow my food.】
【Lmao, are you that looks-obsessed? Director Gong is talented, okay? But yes, for the sake of our appetites, the production team should consider fewer close-ups of Director Gong’s big, plate-sized face.】
Without Jiang Shu, that strange oppressive feeling disappeared. Chu Wei felt much more relaxed.
He stood up, picked up the serving chopsticks, grabbed a shrimp, and placed it in Shen Fu’s bowl: “Shen Fu, this one tastes good.”
【Is the simp about to make his move?】
【I said it, the guests were too reserved these past days. I almost forgot this is a dating show. Chu Wei being this open and straightforward is great.】
Chu Wei’s fans were angry at first seeing the word “simp,” but now they didn’t even blink.
So what if he was a simp? Simps are adorable! Woof woof woof!
Doing this at the table was no different from declaring ownership.
Sure enough, all the other guests looked over.
Shen Fu had been enjoying her food, but now she could barely eat.
Wen Zhenghan’s fans seized the chance: 【This is what a real simp looks like. Don’t slap that label on my guy every time there’s a tiny sign. My guy isn’t even interested in your Shen Fu, okay?】
No sooner had that been said, Wen Zhenghan suddenly stood up, poured a cup of hot coffee, placed it by Shen Fu’s hand, returned to his seat, glanced at her, and said, “It’s cold here. Eating seafood makes your stomach hurt. Don’t eat it anymore, drink something warm.”
Wen Zhenghan’s fans: 【……】
Shen Fu’s appetite had already dropped by thirty percent.
Chu Wei’s fans were about to die laughing: 【Tsk tsk tsk, isn’t this even more simping than my Ge?】
Before that comment even finished appearing on screen, Chu Wei suddenly stood up, walked over, grabbed the coffee next to her, and went to the pool to pour it out.
Chu Wei’s fans: 【……】
Wen Zhenghan: “……”
Everyone else: “……”
Chu Wei brewed a new cup of hot tea, placed it back on Shen Fu’s table, and smiled: “The Film Emperor is right, better not eat seafood, but the inn’s owner said the tea here is a local specialty. Instead of drinking tasteless aged coffee, why not try the tea here.”
Wen Zhenghan’s fans: 【Hehe, your Ge is still the bigger simp.】
Not even two seconds later, Wen Zhenghan picked up Chu Wei’s tea and dumped it out.
“The tea smells terrible. I’ll make you some brown sugar water.”
Wen Zhenghan’s fans: 【……】
Chu Wei’s face darkened. He glared fiercely at Wen Zhenghan. Wen Zhenghan looked at him calmly, a smile that wasn’t a smile.
The atmosphere at the scene instantly tightened like drawn swords.
Bullet comments: 【……】
Gong Kuan stared at the two, shocked. Then he glanced at Shen Fu. Seeing she had no intention of explaining, he couldn’t help asking Zuo Mei: “Are they love rivals?”
Zuo Mei was so angry her features twisted, but she still had to restrain her expression and pretend nothing was wrong.
Gu Qingshuang looked shocked, and also couldn’t help glancing at Zuo Mei.
Wait, didn’t Zuo Mei say the Film Emperor went on this show for her?
Then what is this now?
The air at the dinner table went dead silent.
Gu Qingshuang suddenly realized she might have misunderstood something.
Not just her, the bullet comments slowly discovered a truth: 【Is it possible that Chu Wei has been acting all sour toward the Film Emperor these past few days not because the Film Emperor scolded Shen Fu, but because… the Film Emperor likes Shen Fu?】
D*mn, unbelievable.
【Holy sh*t holy sh*t holy sh*t, that actually makes more sense!】
【Earlier the Wen Zhenghan × Zuo Mei CP fans were still calling Shen Fu’s fans Mary Sue, but this scene… this is really Mary Sue incarnate…】
Zuo Mei’s fans and the “Emperor × Empress” CP fans also realized it, and exploded in the comments: 【What the h*ll?! Is Wen Zhenghan a scumbag? Is he?? He acted all good to the Film Empress before, and now what the h*ll is THIS? Not even a single transition?! Absolutely ridiculous!!】
【……I must be cursed to ship this CP. Divine romance my *ss!】
【Zuo Mei is too pitiful. Men are seriously unreliable nowadays!!!】
Wen Zhenghan’s fans were also shocked by his actions, but seeing this group of CP fans turning against him, they couldn’t help cursing back: 【Are you shameless? You’re the ones who shipped the CP, and now you’re the ones yelling. My Ge was only being gentlemanly to the Film Empress before, what nonsense are you people imagining?】
“Blue Sea and Sky” had long predicted this would happen: 【It’s not like there was no transition. I’ve felt for a while that the Film Emperor and Film Empress were… subtly off.】
Chu Wei’s fans took the chance to stomp on others: 【The Film Emperor hides so deep. Still not as manly as my Ge.】
The bullet comments instantly turned chaotic.
Finally, a passerby couldn’t help trying to mediate: 【Hahaha, stop fighting, Shen Fu’s two harems. If you keep fighting, I won’t be able to see who Shen Fu chooses.】
【Harem your f***ing *ss, harem!!!】
Wen Zhenghan’s fans were extremely aggrieved, but they couldn’t refute it.
When had Wen Zhenghan ever acted like this for anyone? Not even for Zuo Mei had he fought over someone like this. And he even used his precious hands to brew tea for Shen Fu!!!
And that wasn’t even the worst part, Shen Fu looked completely indifferent.
D*mn it, infuriating!!!
The atmosphere at the dinner table was frozen, and no one knew how it would end, when suddenly the sound of a jeep engine stopping came from the courtyard outside.
Several guests’ attention shifted. They turned and saw Jiang Shu, wearing a military coat, rushing in from outside, looking dusty from travel. He must have come too fast, he hadn’t even applied hair gel, only wore sunglasses.
【Holy sh*t, why did D suddenly come? Did he come to… 】
Then Jiang Shu strode over to Shen Fu, picked up the chopsticks, shoved the shrimp into his mouth whole, then snatched Wen Zhenghan’s brown sugar water and drank it all in one go.
After finishing, he even glared at Xiang Lingyun, who had been looking this way.
Shen Fu holding her chopsticks: “……”
Wen Zhenghan / Chu Wei: “……”
Xiang Lingyun: “……”
Bullet comments: 【……】
The Crown Prince charging in like this, what’s the difference between that and two people fighting and him running over to punch each of them once?! Other people go on dating shows, he goes on a boxing match?!
Every day it’s 1v3. What did Xiang Lingyun do to deserve this?!
“Thanks.” Jiang Shu turned the cup upside down to show he’d finished it.
He dragged a chair over, sat at the head seat, and turned to the production team: “Add a set of tableware here.”
After that, he glanced at the still-standing Wen Zhenghan and Chu Wei: “Why are you standing there? Do you want to pour me another cup?”
“……”
Chu Wei decided not to fight this lunatic for now and hurried back to sit down.
Wen Zhenghan glared at Jiang Shu with an ugly expression: “That’s the head seat.”
“I know.” Jiang Shu raised a brow. “You wanna squeeze with me? Or serve me food?”
Wen Zhenghan: “……”
Gong Kuan already regretted ever coming to this d*mn show as a guest. On Galaxy of Drama he had the highest status, and what he said went. Here, no one even looked at him! And d*mn it, the place was full of silent gunpowder. He was about to get hit by stray bullets.
Work injury. Severe work injury!
He was about to say something to break the heavy atmosphere when he happened to glance at Shen Fu, calm, eating by herself, as if all this had nothing to do with her, her soul wandering outside. Suddenly, a spark of inspiration struck him, an absolutely brilliant idea.
“Holy sh*t, Shen Fu, I just figured out what kind of character our Ailibisi should be!”
Gong Kuan’s project wasn’t even a single movie. It was an entire cyberpunk hero universe for China, a whole new story system.
Just now in the courtyard, after he told Shen Fu a bit about his idea, several proposals about the villainess Ailibisi’s character were rejected by Shen Fu. Gorgeous, a painful past, those have been done too many times in Western films. Way too cliché.
Shen Fu finally spared him a little attention: “What?”
Gong Kuan’s spirit soared: “Sunlight shining on a beautiful statue.”
Shen Fu showed some interest: “A statue?”
Gong Kuan continued: “Think about it. A beautiful statue receives thousands of pilgrims. Or you could say it has countless simps throwing themselves at her. The sunlight shines on her, and what people see is her beauty and holiness, but what they cannot see is her darkness, not only that, they don’t even know they’re standing under her shadow, about to be devoured by it.”
“We might as well shape her into someone who doesn’t even know her own evil. Yet her ignorance and beauty are exactly the greatest evil. Of course, such a character is too unrealistic. The audience won’t like it. We still need to give her a contrast.”
“Contrast?” Shen Fu thought for a moment. “Why not have her search for a donkey.”
Gong Kuan froze: “Why?”
Shen Fu said, “I feel that adding this point on top of your setting would be more interesting.”
Gong Kuan’s eyes lit up: “Thousands of simps fall for Ailibisi and come for her, kneel for her holiness while being devoured by her darkness. But from the very beginning, Ailibisi appears in this story for the sake of searching for a donkey she raised when she was young. These people help her search recklessly, wanting her favor, fighting desperately, never expecting that what she wants to find is actually just a donkey! Holy sh*t, that’s interesting!”
Shen Fu said, “According to your setting, it should still be a cyberpunk donkey.”
Gong Kuan’s inspiration hit suddenly. He threw down his bowl and chopsticks and ran upstairs to call the screenwriter.
Everyone else at the table: “……”
Barrage: 【……】
The barrage’s expression was very subtle.
Wen Zhenghan and Chu Wei were fighting like crazy over here, and she was over there discussing a donkey with someone?!
Wait, why does this setting sound familiar?
……
Dinner passed in a very subtle atmosphere. No one said another word afterward.
Jiang Shu had been sent over by his family’s private jet. On the way, he watched the livestream and, after getting mad at Wen Zhenghan being grouped with Shen Fu, he didn’t eat anything at all. Now he was truly starving and added several bowls of rice.
Shen Fu watched him wolf down his food, turned her head toward the filming crew, and while the camera wasn’t pointed this way, poured a cup of hot water and placed it beside him.
Jiang Shu took a second to sneer: “I don’t drink tea or coffee, and I don’t drink brown sugar water either.”
Shen Fu: “……” Then don’t drink it. It won’t kill you.
Wen Zhenghan’s face was iron-blue for the entire meal.
He walked over to talk to the filming crew. This time, seeing how terrible his expression looked, the director finally took the hint and stopped filming him.
The audience noticed that Wen Zhenghan briefly disappeared from the livestream.
After Shen Fu finished eating, she stood to help the production team throw away the trash from the table.
Jiang Shu stuffed food into his mouth while saying, “Wait. I’ll go with you.”
“Just eat.” Shen Fu moved some dishes that no one had touched closer to him.
Shen Fu carried two bags of trash outside.
There was a pond behind the inn. After throwing the trash away and circling back, as she stepped under a streetlamp, she saw Wen Zhenghan leaning against the wall, looking at her with a complicated expression.
“You owe me an explanation.” Wen Zhenghan straightened.
Instead of guessing, he might as well ask directly.
He truly couldn’t understand why Shen Fu seemed like a completely different person before and after joining the variety show.
Before the show, when they broke up, he thought she was just having a momentary tantrum. But he never expected things to spiral further and further out of his control.
Shen Fu looked around and realized no cameraman had followed.
Wen Zhenghan said coolly, “No need to check. I told the production team not to film.”
It was making him furious.
“You really want to know?” Shen Fu asked.
Wen Zhenghan stared at her, for a moment thinking Shen Fu must have some hardship.
Could it be the old man from his family gave her money to make her stay away?
Or did Zuo Mei pull something behind the scenes?
Otherwise, it was hard to explain her indifference now.
Wen Zhenghan felt he had used every ounce of patience in his life: “Shen Fu, say it. I’m listening. No matter what happened…”
Shen Fu held out her palm: “Fifty million. Bank transfer or Alipay?”
Wen Zhenghan: “?”
Shen Fu hesitated: “Not sure if Alipay can transfer that large an amount. Better use a card. Payment first, information later.”
“What do you mean?” The icy mask on Wen Zhenghan’s face almost cracked.
Shen Fu said sincerely, “I mean if you send me fifty million, I’ll tell you.”
“You’re joking, right?” Wen Zhenghan frowned.
“No?” Shen Fu turned to leave. “Then I’m going.”
Wen Zhenghan was truly angered by the expression on her face, “Not having three billion is fine, but how have you been in the industry so long and don’t even have fifty million?”, and grabbed her wrist. “Wait.”
Wen Zhenghan called his assistant, telling him to transfer fifty million to Shen Fu immediately, right now.
The assistant didn’t know what had happened, but hearing Wen Zhenghan’s furious tone, he didn’t dare delay even a second.
After Shen Fu checked the payment, Wen Zhenghan asked coldly, “Now can you tell me your hardship?”
Shen Fu finished counting the zeros, then looked up: “Mm. I can.”
“Watch closely.”
After she said that, her expression toward Wen Zhenghan changed instantly. Under the streetlamp, her eyes seemed to shimmer with clear ripples, full of love: “It’s okay. Even if I’m treated as a substitute, it’s okay. As long as it’s you…”
Wen Zhenghan’s breathing stuttered.
Yes, the Shen Fu he knew was back.
Wen Zhenghan instinctively stepped forward.
However, in the next second, Shen Fu had already returned to her expressionless face.
“Is that so?” She lifted her eyes indifferently.
“……”
“……”
The air suddenly became so quiet it felt like even a needle dropping could be heard.
Wen Zhenghan looked as if he had been struck by lightning.
His worldview had never shattered like this before.
Shen Fu raised her hand and waved it in front of his eyes. Seeing he didn’t react, she turned around to leave: “It’s too cold outside, so why don’t you stroll around a bit?”
“I’m going inside. If you want me to act again, you have to pay again. No discount, still fifty million for three minutes.”
Wen Zhenghan stared at her back, almost unable to catch his breath.
……
Not far away, Chu Wei, who was coming over with garbage, dropped both bags onto the ground.
After a long while, he finally picked them up in shock.
So… that relationship between Shen Fu and Wen Zhenghan, Shen Fu was just acting for Wen Zhenghan?
In that case, he won!
At least Shen Fu had genuine feelings for him!
Chu Wei glanced at Wen Zhenghan’s stunned back and suddenly felt like gloating.
——————–
Author’s note:
Still randomly sending 100 red envelopes.
Jiang Shu, lifeless: “Am I also one of the simps?”
Shen Fu: “No, you’re the donkey.”
Jiang Shu: “……” Why does it still sound like an insult?
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