CHAPTER 528: CHAPTER 528: MAKING A BET

Seeing that Chen Bin didn’t respond, Cong Lijie continued to smile and said.

"Even if you don’t say anything, I already know. You must like Wu Jie. After all, there are so many excellent hosts in the provincial TV station, why did you specifically choose her to host the Spring Festival Gala?"

With a dark expression, Chen Bin replied coldly.

"I don’t have time for your nonsense. Please leave!"

Cong Lijie remained where she was. A trace of malice flashed across her beautiful face.

"Actually, I like Nie Kang. Why don’t we work together to break them apart? That way, we can both get what we want."

Upon hearing this, a look of intrigue flickered across Chen Bin’s face as he regarded her.

"If I’m not mistaken, you’re the one who told her father about Wu Jie’s relationship, right?"

"Yes. I originally thought that someone like Wu Jie, a docile girl, would obey her family and break up with Nie Kang. Unexpectedly, she managed to withstand the pressure and continued dating him. Since that’s the case, I have no choice but to team up with you."

Despite his interest in Wu Jie, Chen Bin didn’t want to compromise himself by holding any leverage tied to a complete stranger.

So he replied blandly, "Sorry, Wu Jie doesn’t interest me. You should leave."

Cong Lijie, unfazed, answered with determination in her eyes.

"Alright then, I’ll leave you my number so you can consider it and contact me later."

With that, she placed a sticky note with her number on Chen Bin’s desk.

She then turned and left.

Certainly, this trivial disruption didn’t weigh heavily on Chen Bin’s mind.

He went back to planning for the Spring Festival Gala.

Given how well the last broadcast performed, Chen Bin decided that this year’s gala would again be pre-recorded and aired on the eve of the new year.

In addition to boosting viewership, he reached out to the panelists from the talent competition, inviting them to join the gala.

At the news of earning some extra cash, they gladly agreed, with their fees not being too high.

After all, not everyone was as headstrong as Wen Wan, who had burned her bridges.

The night before the gala recording, Chen Bin hosted a dinner gathering for well-known singers.

During the meal, the guests toasted one another exuberantly.

The topic soon turned to the talent competition.

Although the panelists appeared impartial during televised broadcasts, each had their preferred performers.

When someone mentioned Ni Baige, Chen Bin couldn’t help but speak up.

"Ni Baige has excellent singing and creative skills. Unfortunately, her personality is problematic and could lead to unnecessary trouble. That’s why I’ve avoided featuring her in any significant events."

"Could you elaborate, Chen Tai? What exactly is wrong with her?" someone asked curiously.

"Her situation is extremely complex, difficult to explain in a short time. Simply put, she won’t progress past the top twelve. Otherwise, it would go against broader policies."

At his words, the panelists exchanged uneasy glances.

They lamented the wasted talent of this prodigy.

The next morning marked the official recording of the Spring Festival Gala.

Ever since Tao Qian acknowledged Chen Bin as his mentor, his career regained stability.

His personality also seemed to have transformed—he became humble and approachable, a stark contrast to his once arrogant disposition.

Chen Bin appreciated the change.

Eventually, Tao Qian’s persistent pleading secured him a spot as one of the gala hosts.

Alongside the ever-consistent Lu Cailian, the other hosts were Yu Ou and Yan Kangli.

Given Yan Kangli’s outstanding performance during the talent competition, Chen Bin was quite satisfied with her work.

After the Spring Gala recording wrapped up, Chen Bin quickly instructed the staff to proceed with editing.

On the eve of the new year, Yanxi’s Spring Festival Gala aired.

The overall reception was quite favorable.

After Liao Ruoli arrived in Tianhai, her daily life was leisurely.

She spent her time dabbling in stocks or working out at the gym.

One day, upon returning home from a workout, she heard clear, rhythmic sounds of impact emanating from Liao Ruoji’s room.

Her curiosity piqued, Liao Ruoli silently approached the doorway.

Peering through the slightly ajar door, she saw Chen Bin pressing against Liao Ruoji, their bodies moving intensely.

Given how similarly she and Liao Ruoji looked, an involuntary sense of violation welled up inside her.

Her fists clenched tightly, a tide of anger surging in her chest.

Liao Ruoli initially considered breaking down the door to forcibly separate the two.

But after deliberating, she restrained herself.

She recognized that it wasn’t the time to act impulsively.

If she stirred up trouble now, she might end up losing Chen Bin to Liao Ruoji completely.

Determined to prove she was better than her sister, Liao Ruoli retreated to the guest room.

As she entered, she slammed the door shut.

Bam!

The loud sound startled the pair in the master bedroom, cutting off their activity.

But not long after, Liao Ruoji’s ecstatic cries resumed, louder than ever.

Liao Ruoli could scarcely endure it, burying her head beneath the covers.

Still, the earlier scene replayed vividly in her mind.

She couldn’t understand why Chen Bin, knowing she had arrived home, was engaging in such behavior with Liao Ruoji.

After a lengthy deliberation, she realized the misunderstanding likely stemmed from her earlier rejection of Chen Bin at the hotel.

This likely led him to believe she wasn’t interested, prompting such actions.

From then on, Liao Ruoli changed her approach.

She believed she was superior to Liao Ruoji.

If she agreed to sleep with Chen Bin, she was confident she could steal him away from her sister.

Unfortunately, before her plan could be put into action, the holidays arrived.

The sisters reluctantly returned to the Imperial Capital under Liao Benchang’s orders.

The talent competition continued, and Ni Baige’s performances remained exceptional, securing her a position in the top twelve.

Before the final pre-holiday contest, Ni Baige and Chen Bin crossed paths backstage.

Since slapping Chen Bin previously, Ni Baige had treated him coldly.

But restrained by his position as the provincial TV director, she didn’t dare openly provoke him.

At that moment, Chen Bin suddenly stopped, his gaze playful as he addressed her.

"Tonight’s the last round. Are you confident about advancing?"

Though she didn’t want to entertain him, Ni Baige instinctively replied.

"Of course I am!"

"How about we make a bet? Let’s wager on whether you’ll advance. If you don’t, you’ll kiss me."

With a slight frown, Ni Baige asked instinctively.

"And if I win?"

"Then I’ll kiss you."

"No way! If I win, you have to apologize to me!"

"No problem. Let’s wait and see!"

With those words, Chen Bin turned and walked off.

Ni Baige didn’t pay much attention to his antics.

She simply thought Chen Bin was trying to rattle her confidence and disrupt her chances.

At seven that evening, the competition began.

Determined to make Chen Bin apologize, Ni Baige performed passionately.

The audience responded enthusiastically.

Just as she felt victory was within her grasp, the panelists unexpectedly picked apart her performance.

Ultimately, she was eliminated.

Stunned by the outcome, Ni Baige broke down sobbing backstage.

She had invested so much preparation into the competition, only to face such crushing defeat.

When her emotions finally settled, Ni Baige recalled Chen Bin’s eerie smile before the contest, and anger flared within her.

Fuming, she stormed toward Chen Bin’s office...