CHAPTER 74: CHAPTER 74: HELLO BROTHER CHENG, I’M SHU RAN

After the recording ended and everyone had eaten and drunk their fill, they exchanged goodbyes and gradually left the restaurant.

Only Shu Ran, along with her agent, walked back and forth in the corner with arms akimbo for a bit, then left without saying a word.

Once they were out of the entire set, Shu Ran put on her mask, frowned, and got into the car. As soon as she closed the door, before the car even started, she asked anxiously and eagerly, "What’s going on? How did it get so serious all of a sudden?"

Huang Can wasn’t in a good mood, roughly pulled over the seatbelt and fastened it, without turning his head, "You’re asking me? I want to ask you instead! How could your performance be so awful these past two episodes? Wasn’t it good before?!"

Shu Ran was practically grinding her teeth, "I performed the same way as before! I didn’t do anything out of character and even communicated more with them. How would I know they’d be so strange!"

"Then you should flatter them! Haven’t I told you that the guests on this show are mostly bigger stars than you? Do you think you’re still in charge?!"

Flatter?

This kind of derogatory term, no matter how many times it’s said, always makes Shu Ran feel nauseated!

"Easier said than done!" She suppressed the urge to lash out, keeping her voice down, "Do you know how much I’ve sacrificed for this show? How much I’ve been snubbed? You even turned down all the other well-managed jobs I had for me!"

"That’s the company’s decision!"

"What has the company given me?! They created a persona I don’t even like! It’s this persona that those people dislike!"

Huang Can raised his voice, pointing at her and shouting, "If the company hadn’t given you this persona, would you have become famous back then?! Everything was going fine before, but somehow this crucial show just isn’t working out! I think you’ve become conceited just because you’ve got a few fans! Even that amateur inside is doing better than you! Instead of reflecting on yourself, you’re blaming the company?!"

The car was filled with tension, the atmosphere suffocating.

Shu Ran shouted back at Huang Can, gradually calming down.

With her throat feeling blocked, Shu Ran swallowed down her anger and, putting on a compromising demeanor, stiffly asked, "So how bad is it this time?"

Huang Can didn’t look happy either, "Fans from several groups have already initiated topics to boycott you, and some of your fans have unfollowed you. Now everyone thinks you’re unfit for the show, and rival groups’ smear articles are everywhere; the public opinion is very unfavorable to you!"

After finishing speaking, he signaled impatiently for the assistant to start driving, then grabbed something from the side and tossed it to Shu Ran in the back without even looking.

"A show we were initially preparing to accept has decisively rejected you; the drama the company planned to assign to you has also been temporarily shelved. Now we’ll see how this side reacts," He glanced at her in the rearview mirror without much emotion, "This is Changtong’s first variety show investment, going for distinctiveness, choosing highly influential artists. Now you’ve messed it up like a bad apple spoiling the batch, and Changtong might very well drop you. You should check out other possible jobs first."

No one wants to be compared to a bad apple, especially not by someone who’s supposed to be a colleague.

With a wooden expression, Shu Ran took it and stared fiercely at the document in her hands.

The company increasingly turned unfriendly toward her after they used her to cultivate a few newcomers. Clearly exploiting her fans and popularity, they’ve now turned on her like a farmer putting down his dog after it caught the hare.

Resentment and disgust surged inside Shu Ran. As she opened the document, her grip on the edge tightened, her palm marked with a red stripe, her fingers turning pale from the pressure.

...

After the show ended, Cheng Zhirang politely said goodbye to everyone, then under Assistant Wen’s protection, donned a baseball cap, sat in the car, and prepared to go home.

While driving, Assistant Wen glanced at the man resting with eyes closed in the rearview mirror and said, "Sister Chen rushed to send Chengcheng to Auntie’s house, and then the company made her take two newcomers for auditions, so she didn’t come."

Cheng Zhirang nodded, "Alright, got it."

Assistant Wen was silent for a moment, unable to resist asking, "Brother Cheng, why were you paired with that amateur again in this episode?"

What kind of question is this?

Cheng Zhirang opened his eyes, looking past the brim of his cap to see Assistant Wen’s expression in the rearview mirror.

He felt a bit puzzled, "Why? Can’t I team up with her?"

This phrase "together" is ambiguous. If paparazzi overhear it, they might take it out of context, publishing it as if it’s harmful gossip about the female guests. Assistant Wen hasn’t spoken so rashly in ages.

Assistant Wen mumbled a bit, "I just think since the last episode you two were paired up, and now you’re allying again, it might give the audience or the program group a misconception, making them think you’re... sort of involved."

"Don’t speak nonsense," Cheng Zhirang frowned, "We have no relationship, don’t misunderstand."

"Oh, okay. Then, Brother Cheng, I noticed while watching the show that when Miss Mu was on the swing and got pushed for the third time, it seemed like she was push strongly from the right side, Miss Mu almost fell..."

"It was Shi Yuhuai," Cheng Zhirang’s face remained unchanged, merely stating a fact rather than complaining, "He probably slipped forward a little, losing balance. Quite obvious?"

"Yes, it was quite noticeable, mainly because it was a live broadcast. Everyone could see Miss Mu almost fell due to an abrupt strong push from the right side. Perhaps the audience will make an issue out of it."

Cheng Zhirang tapped his fingers beside him, saying lightly, "You might want to remind his staff to take precautions."

Assistant Wen nodded in agreement, avoided looking at the rearview mirror, and drove carefully, taking a turn from Jiaozi Avenue to the road leading to Half Mountain Villa.

It grew quieter, with fewer cars on the road. The car was also quiet. Cheng Zhirang closed his eyes to rest, and Assistant Wen dared not disturb him, even trying to shift gears as quietly as possible.

"Ring ring ring——"

The sudden ringing of the phone startled Assistant Wen, who quickly looked at his own phone.

No caller ID.

Then he looked at the rearview mirror.

"Hello? Who is this?"

Just at that moment, Cheng Zhirang had been awakened by the noise, answering the call with a slightly hoarse voice.

Even though he was woken up, his tone was still polite. Assistant Wen regularly marveled at Cheng Zhirang’s good temper. If it were him, after a long day, finally getting some rest only to be disturbed by an assistant and then woken up by the phone, he would’ve definitely blown his top.

A vaguely familiar voice came through the phone, tentatively calling Brother Cheng.

Cheng Zhirang took off his cap, pinched the bridge of his nose, cleared his throat by covering the receiver, and then spoke to the other end.

"Who is this?"

"I’m Shu Ran."

————————

Did you guess it right? Tsk tsk, I bet many didn’t guess correctly. Would you even guess it was Qiuqiu?

Mu Qiu: I’d like to, but lacking the courage despite the intention.

Assistant Wen: Miss Mu! Please stay away from idols’ private lives, and don’t get too close to our Brother Cheng!

Mu Qiu: I’d like to try getting closer, care to understand a bit?