【It’s me.】 The man couldn’t take it, irritably switched to the golden VIP real-name main account ID and came on.
Running Lighthouse：【Putting the words right here today! Shen Fu did not come for Chu Wei, I will definitely be in room 243443’s livestream eating poop!!】
Running Lighthouse：【Don’t think everyone forgot the things from three years ago! After the dating rumor was exposed and they broke up, Shen Fu even opened a small account to follow my Ge, that small account still updates from time to time, who doesn’t know this?! If you don’t want people to know, you yourself don’t do it!】
Rong Xiaozhen, dissatisfied, typed：【You saying that’s Shen Fu’s alt just like that? Bring evidence okay?】
Running Lighthouse was furious：【Laozi will check the IP tonight, just you wait!】
【I’m dying, go Post Master, waiting to watch the show.】
On this side, Shen Fu leaned against the door, standing for a while in the darkness.
After a long time, she slowly let out a breath.
System asked：“You forgot to log out of the alt that followed Chu Wei?”
Shen Fu jumped：“Talking suddenly next to someone’s ear is enough to scare a person to death.”
System：“Just finished today’s homework and came to check on you.”
“What small account?” Shen Fu froze for a second, then reacted.
Chu Wei was truly indecisive, even his strategy progress bar rose indecisively. When the romance was exposed and they were forced to break up, his progress bar toward Shen Fu was only at ninety-nine percent.
The strategy progress bar, if ignored for a long time, will slowly fall.
So at that time Shen Fu took advantage of the victory, opened a Weibo alt overnight to follow him, mechanically posted a whole night of sentimental sad text. Chu Wei really ate this set, and within a few days when they met again on the red carpet, his progress bar toward Shen Fu was already shoot shoot shoot full.
Shen Fu cleared the first stage, so of course she threw that stage’s monster behind her. How could she remember to go back and delete that small account?
System complained: “If that gets dug up you’ll be sprayed into a sieve by Chu Wei’s fans again.”
Shen Fu laughed：“Who knows that’s my alt, there’s no evidence.”
The alt was opened by the system, Chu Wei’s fans wanting to trace the IP, trace and trace and they’d discover a parallel world.
System stroked its chin, sizing Shen Fu up: “Your state this time is very different from before.”
When she strategized the previous three people, Shen Fu got more and more skilled each time.
Chu Wei had just debuted, unknown and lacking recognition, Shen Fu gave him approval and encouragement, accompanied him through the darkest time, then successfully got abandoned by him, gaining his guilty heart.
Xiang Lingyun had a difficult temper and strong competitiveness; when Shen Fu appeared before him she was basically always a weak dodder flower, getting full strategy value in a few months. Of course, always crying meant Xiang Lingyun quickly got tired, so Shen Fu finished the strategy and successfully broke up with him.
Wen Zhenghan had a white moonlight in his heart; Shen Fu could play a stand-in before him without blinking.
But now toward the fourth target, why does Shen Fu seem totally clueless?
Shen Fu was silent for a moment, then after a bit, said with a headache：“You don’t know, when I entered the Jiang house, he already hated me.”
When Shen Fu was fifteen she had a car accident; her maternal grandfather died on the spot, her parents became vegetative, relatives scrambled to seize the property.
Luckily the Jiang family’s grandfather generation had some friendship with her family and took her in for three years.
After she moved into the Jiang house, she learned the Jiang family had a little devil, racing every day, not returning at night, even as a high schooler secretly running abroad to race with a bunch of blond professional racers. And he happened to be absurdly good-looking, a genius in studies who was careless, casually reading and blood-crushing others, leaving no room to nitpick.
Old Master Jiang couldn’t control this grandson, saw Shen Fu was obedient and well-behaved, and let Shen Fu keep an eye on the devil a bit.
Back then Jiang Shu racked his brains trying to shake her off, seeing her then either glaring with knitted brows or turning his head and leaving, simply not wanting to see her.
At that time Shen Fu was someone living under someone else’s roof, and even her medical expenses were paid by the Jiang family, how would she dare not obediently follow Old Master Jiang’s words?
Back and forth, it turned into a grudge.
She had exams and Jiang Shu would adjust her alarm to make her late.
She wanted to eat sweets and Jiang Shu would deliberately tell the auntie to make it spicy.
One summer they even directly fought under the grape trellis, and she cried while scratching two bloody marks onto Jiang Shu’s neck.
The system listened with great interest, unknowingly lowering the hand that was doing homework: “Listening like this, you two were still little childhood playmates.”
“Childhood playmates, my foot.” Shen Fu looked deeply troubled. “Back then we couldn’t stand each other, the more we saw each other, the more annoying we found the other person. How could he possibly have any feelings for me now?”
“And after you scratched Jiang Shu, that pampered young master actually didn’t run to his grandfather and complain about you?”
Without hesitation, Shen Fu replied, “He’s the type who values his pride more than anything. He lost a fight to a little girl. How could he possibly tell anyone about something that embarrassing?”
“At the time, after school every day I had to go to the hospital, and because of Grandpa Jiang’s orders, I also had to constantly outwit Jiang Shu. I was exhausted physically. On top of that, day after day I watched my parents lying in hospital beds, barely maintaining vital signs with no sign of waking up. The psychological pressure was enormous.”
Shen Fu spoke slowly. “One morning, I asked for leave from school early because I was planning to go to the cemetery. It was my grandfather’s death anniversary.”
“But that morning, of all times, Jiang Shu refused to let me go out. He did everything he could to delay me. He even sent all the Jiang family cars away so none of them could take me to the cemetery.”
The system widened its eyes. “That’s a bit much.”
“My temper was much worse back then than it is now. All the old grudges and new grievances came flooding up at once. I really couldn’t hold back anymore, so I rushed at him and we got into a fight.”
“Just now, when he dragged his suitcase past the doorway, I noticed there are still two faint marks on his neck.” A little embarrassed, Shen Fu rubbed her fingertips together.
The system spat in disdain. “He deserved it.”
Shen Fu shook her head. “However, when I finally reached the cemetery around noon, I found a huge crowd gathered there. My eldest uncle, second uncle, aunt, and a bunch of relatives I knew and didn’t know were all there. The people being surrounded were members of the Jiang family. There was even a bodyguard in a black suit who often followed Jiang Shu around, I recognized him. The two groups were shoving each other.”
“Somehow, my relatives had heard that when I buried my grandfather, I had buried several valuable family heirlooms with him.”
As she recalled the past, Shen Fu lowered her head expressionlessly. “They actually organized people at three or four in the morning and rushed over to dig them up. They even said that despite being so young, I was vicious and selfish that I’d rather give valuable things to a dead man than to living relatives like them.”
“They’d been at a standoff from three or four in the morning all the way until noon.”
“At the time, Grandpa Jiang wasn’t home. It was Jiang Shu who sent people to drive them away. Only then did I realize he probably didn’t want me going to the cemetery and seeing all that mess.”
The system pieced things together and finally reacted. “Then Jiang Shu wasn’t actually that bad to you back then, was he?”
Shen Fu couldn’t help laughing. “On the way back that day, he even bought me egg tarts while acting all arrogant and full of himself.”
Lost in memory, she recalled how, after returning from the cemetery, she cried harder and harder until her eyes were red and swollen. For the first time ever, Jiang Shu let her ride in his car. The two of them sat in the back seat while rain poured outside. Once she started sobbing, she couldn’t stop. With the bloody scratch marks still on his neck, he impatiently told her to stop crying or else—
The system immediately asked, “Or else what?”
Shen Fu instantly snapped out of her memories. “Are you seriously sitting here listening to gossip?”
The system said, “Aren’t I worried about your life? You only have two months left! From what you’ve told me, I don’t think Jiang Shu is that hard to win over. At least there’s some history between you two.”
“What history?” Shen Fu shook her head. “In the second year, our relationship did improve somewhat. But in the third year, something happened.”
“The rumors online are true. It wasn’t as dramatic as him literally throwing me out on the street, perhaps… but I really was driven out of the Jiang family by him.”
Recalling the cold expression on Jiang Shu’s face that day, the smile gradually faded from her lips.
“And after that… I ended up bound to you.”
The system couldn’t help asking, “What happened in between?”
“It’s a long story.” That was the only answer Shen Fu could give.
And that was exactly why she felt so lost this time around.
The other three targets had all started with zero affection toward her, but at least none of them disliked her.
Moreover, each of them wanted something. It was easy enough to figure out what kind of person they liked, and Shen Fu could tailor her approach accordingly and steadily raise their favorability.
But with Jiang Shu, his affection toward her might have started below zero.
She didn’t know exactly how low, but she suspected it was at least negative fifty.
She also had absolutely no idea what kind of person Jiang Shu liked.
Back in their school days, forget dating, he barely even glanced at girls. His arrogant brain was occupied entirely by racing and taekwondo.
Shen Fu seriously suspected he was sexually attracted to cars.
Under those circumstances, trying to win him over was practically a death sentence.
Especially when there were rumors that he had come here because of Gu Qingshuang.
“How about pretending you don’t know him?” the system suggested mischievously. “The more you ignore a guy like him, a heaven-blessed golden boy, the more interested he’ll become. That’s how it always works in TV dramas.”
Shen Fu replied, “Do you spend your free time watching Meteor Garden inside my head?”
The system paused. “…How did you know?”
“…”
“Anyway, this is basically nightmare difficulty.” The more Shen Fu thought about it, the more her head hurt. “I’ll do my best, but we should probably start preparing to pay the ten billion.”
The director of the Bureau of Life Management on the system’s side had already said it clearly: If you don’t want to pursue the target, then pay up, ten billion per person.
When she was eighteen, Shen Fu had been completely desperate and felt that even selling herself wouldn’t let her scrape together forty billion. But after clawing her way through several years in the entertainment industry, she had at least earned one or two billion.
As for the rest, maybe she could borrow it from friends and Liang Xiaochun. It wasn’t entirely impossible.
Even if for the next ten years she had to work for the company, acting in some rotten-tomato idol dramas, if it could exchange for her parents waking up, it was worth it.
Shen Fu changed clothes and left the room, the program team had already informed everyone that dinner was starting.
Because today was the first day, dinner and late-night snacks were prepared by the program team. Starting tomorrow, dinner would become one of the variety show segments, and each day one male guest and one female guest would take turns preparing dinner.
The dining table was for eight people, Shen Fu went over relatively late, only two seats left.
Across the table were Xiang Lingyun, Gu Qingshuang, Wen Zhenghan, Chu Wei.
On this side of the table Xu Tiaotiao sat across from Gu Qingshuang, Zuo Mei sat across from Wen Zhenghan.
Shen Fu only had two choices: across from Xiang Lingyun or across from Chu Wei.
The barrage had already gotten excited once while watching everyone choose their seats, and the hottest discussion was about shipping Zuo Mei and Wen Zhenghan’s CP line.
【So sweet, film emperor and Film Empress are really inseparable.】
Xu Tiaotiao’s fans were a bit unhappy: 【Chu Wei didn’t sit across from Xu Tiaotiao?】
When Shen Fu appeared, the battlefield instantly upgraded.
Chu Wei’s fans almost wished they could use a magnifying glass to watch Shen Fu’s micro-expression.
【D*mn, just now when she walked past the hallway her gaze seemed like it was always toward Chu Wei’s seat.】
【The one above didn’t see wrong, it really is… 】
Before this barrage finished, Shen Fu suddenly stopped walking, and with great interest added some food to the goldfish tank by the hallway.
【……】
【Pfft… she was staring at the goldfish right? Forgot she said on some variety show that she keeps fish.】
Chu Wei’s fans tried to save face: 【Just wait and see, only two seats left, if she dares sit across from our Gege, we’ll curse her to death.】
Another one pretending to be Xu Tiaotiao’s fan: 【Only recognize Xu Tiaotiao as sister-in-law.】
“Running Lighthouse”’s comment was especially eye-catching: 【What are you all fighting over, look at her posture, she’s clearly walking toward Chu Wei’s direction.】
Just as that barrage was sent, Shen Fu pulled out the chair across from Xiang Lingyun and sat down.
Barrage: 【……】
Running Lighthouse: 【……】
【LOL.】 Finally a passerby couldn’t help but send: 【You Chu Wei fans, do you love Shen Fu or hate her? Are you her toxic solos or what?】
Chu Wei fans: 【Get lost.】
Wen Zhenghan’s gaze lightly swept over Shen Fu, then returned to the distant projection screen, silently furrowing his brow.
Going on the variety show for Chu Wei was fake, he knew Shen Fu long ago didn’t even remember what sort of person Chu Wei was. Probably because last month she got angry and packed up and left his villa, regretted it but couldn’t find a way to come back, so she chased into this variety show.
Shen Fu ignored Wen Zhenghan and Chu Wei’s gazes; she felt among the three exes, compared to the other two, Xiang Lingyun should have the least interest in her.
But just as she thought this, the man across from her lifted his head and looked at her meaningfully.
Shen Fu: “……”
【? What’s up with Xiang Lingyun?】
【Isn’t it normal to look at the person who just sat across from you? No way Shen Fu fans are climaxing over this?】
Gu Qingshuang greeted Shen Fu softly, Shen Fu cooperatively exchanged a couple of commercial compliments. Wen Zhenghan and Zuo Mei chatted a bit about past things, a few words of small talk at the table, and very quickly it went quiet again.
Celebrities were indeed different from ordinary people; even if they hadn’t met, they’d heard of each other. Going on other types of variety shows was one thing, but suddenly going on this kind of dating variety show, it really was easy to have awkward silence.
The program team had anticipated this long ago, preparing countless variety segments in advance.
But today was still the first day, for now they were only at the step of getting to know each other.
Zuo Mei smiled and suggested: “Everyone here often appears on news online and on screens, I think self-introductions aren’t needed, why don’t we talk about at what age everyone had their first love.”
“You’re kidding right?” Xu Tiaotiao tapped her cheek with her bright red nail polish, blinked: “Zuo Mei Jie, going big right away?”
Wen Zhenghan shrugged, casual: “I have no problem.”
Xiang Lingyun neither agreed nor disagreed.
Chu Wei scratched his head, looking embarrassed and shy.
The barrage exploded with the spicy question.
【hhhh Zuo Mei Jie is great, she knows exactly what we want to see.】
【Reasonably suspect film emperor is this calm because his first love is sitting right across from him, I’m shipping it.】
【Wei Ge so cute.】
Gu Qingshuang glanced toward the rooms, softly said: “There’s still a guest who hasn’t come.”
【Little Shuang seems especially concerned about the fourth male guest kwsl】
As the words fell, Jiang Shu, who had finished showering and changed clothes, came over from the hallway.
His hair wasn’t fully dry yet, wet black, and after removing the sunglasses, his handsome face looked even more defined and perfect, his lips thin, the curve showing coldness.
The barrage instantly became full of face-licking again.
【D*mn, only the seat across from Chu Wei is empty now.】
【Across is Chu Wei, left is the already taken Film Empress, hahaha feel bad for Young Master Jiang.】
Jiang Shu swept a glance over the table: “Can we change seats?”
【! What is Young Master Jiang doing? Could he already have a target?】
【So bold.】
Everyone raised their heads to look at him, Zuo Mei froze a second, quickly reacted, smiling: “You can change, Mr. Jiang, who do you want to switch with?”
Jiang Shu walked behind Xu Tiaotiao: “Please switch with me.”
Xu Tiaotiao was stunned by his aura to the point her heart skipped a beat, after a few seconds of daze, stood up: “No problem.”
Xu Tiaotiao sat across from Chu Wei.
Jiang Shu wordlessly pulled out the chair and sat down in her seat.
Gu Qingshuang across from him hadn’t recovered for a long time.
When the families introduced them previously, Jiang Shu hadn’t stayed at the dining table for more than ten seconds, and it was said he had been tricked by the old master into coming.
But now how……
Could it be he’s that kind of offensive type?
The barrage exploded across the screen:
【？？？？】
【F*ck, this direct?】
【Who was it earlier spreading gossip that the fourth male guest came for Gu Qingshuang? This crown prince and Gu Qingshuang really look like there’s something.】
【Can we ship now? Whatever, I’m starting.】
【But he didn’t even look at Gu Qingshuang, how are you all so sure? He’s still sitting next to Shen Fu on his left.】
【Shen Fu fans are going to stick their foot in again right? Isn’t one ex-boyfriend at the dinner table enough? You’re dreaming again that the crown prince came for your idol? Your fandom is like… a bit too iced.】
The barrage started tearing each other apart.
When Jiang Shu pulled out the chair, a drop of water on his short hair fell onto the back of Shen Fu’s neck, so cold Shen Fu shivered.
Shen Fu forced herself not to move.
He just sat down on Shen Fu’s right, lazily leaning on the chair. Shen Fu could practically feel the chill on his skin from just stepping out of the air-conditioned room. He lowered his eyes carelessly, black lashes casting shadows on cool white skin, not knowing what he was thinking.
Jiang Shu didn’t look at Shen Fu, so Shen Fu also didn’t look at him.
Right now it’s the “ignore each other, not interested” relationship.
The system still made some sense.
If she pretended to not know him now, what else could he do? Go up to her and act familiar in front of the whole country?
The topic quickly shifted to Shen Fu.
“Shen Fu.” Zuo Mei reminded her: “Your turn oh, talk about when your first love was.”
Everyone looked at Shen Fu.
Chu Wei glanced at her, then retracted his gaze, tips of his ears slightly red.
Barrage: 【My Ge is really so pure. Even though I know Shen Fu and my Ge might be each other’s first love, I still get mad thinking about it. You gave your love wrong, Ge!】
Jiang Shu also turned his head, staring at Shen Fu.
Shen Fu almost felt his face pierced through by the gaze from her right, and untimely remembered one very ordinary afternoon, the end-of-class bell ringing, the boy obsessed with racing waking up startled, falling off his chair, the whole class laughing, him scrambling up with a streak of dust on his handsome face, glaring in shame and anger, the class instantly silent.
Shen Fu was in the front row holding back laughter.
“It should be something from three years ago.” Shen Fu smiled. “When I debuted at twenty.”
Even though they heard her first love was Chu Wei, Chu Wei’s fans on the barrage were a bit unhappy, but somehow relieved.
Chu Wei’s handsome face under his chestnut curls was burning.
Reconciliation successful.
Jiang Shu, on the side, folded his arms, suddenly giving a cold laugh.
“……”
The whole dining table’s air froze.
Chu Wei: “……?”
Barrage: 【？？？】
Shen Fu: “？”
