Soon it was time for the recording of the second round of the live show. The arrival of this moment meant that a large number of contestants were about to be eliminated. Some were happy while others were sad. Xiang Yutang remained as carefree as ever.
On the night before the performance, the director's team distributed mobile phones to everyone, saying it was for them to relax. Although most people were desperately practicing at this critical juncture and few would actually use the phones, Xiang Yutang was obviously an exception. Not only did she play with her phone, but she also sneaked into Zhu Zhengchu's room to drink milk tea.
"The director's team is being so kind today," Xiang Yutang complained while munching.
Zhu Zhengchu gave a mysterious smile. "I arranged it."
"Why?" Xiang Yutang looked at him curiously.
Zhu Zhengchu said, "Click on Weibo and you'll know."
Xiang Yutang clicked on Weibo without a clue. As soon as she logged in, she saw Xia Helan's name topping the hot search list.
"Wow, she's on the hot search. I remember this girl really wanted to be on it. If she saw this, she'd be over the moon."
Zhu Zhengchu clicked in. "Read it through before you comment."
The hot search about Xia Helan was anything but good. It was nothing more than so - called "insiders" revealing that she had bullied her teammates and acted like a spoiled princess during the recording.
Xiang Yutang sipped a tapioca ball. "Did you do this?"
"Yep. But I didn't exaggerate. She knows very well whether she did these things or not." Xia Helan had been so arrogant because there was a powerful capital force behind her. Her company had always covered up for her previous misdeeds and created an image of a beautiful young lady for her. But now that Zhu Zhengchu had stepped in, even her company couldn't stop it.
Zhu Zhengchu noticed that Xiang Yutang had been silent, looking seriously at her phone. He began to worry. Although this girl hated Xia Helan, would she think he was too bad for causing such a big stir? Well, he was really troubled.
"What's wrong? You look so serious."
Xiang Yutang put down the milk tea. "I'm memorizing the sentences people use to scold Xia Helan. I'll recite them in front of her tomorrow."
Zhu Zhengchu: ...
Sure enough, he had been over - thinking.
"Do you think what I did was wrong? I've ruined a girl's lifelong dream. Do you feel sorry for her?" Zhu Zhengchu asked her.
Xiang Yutang looked at him. "You should ask Xia Helan if she thought about ruining my whole life when she made me eat peanut butter. And when I was being slandered before, she was laughing so hard that the corners of her mouth almost reached the sky. I feel sorry for her? I'm already being nice for not punching her." She was no saint. She wouldn't be kind to those who were mean to her.
"Besides, I managed to get through the tough time when I was being slandered. If she has the ability, she can get through it on her own." Xiang Yutang continued to drink her milk tea.
Zhu Zhengchu watched her red lips around the straw, his eyes darkening.
Xiang Yutang looked at him. "What? Do you want to drink my milk tea? No way!"
Zhu Zhengchu flicked her forehead. "Heartless girl. Don't you even think about who brought you the milk tea."
Xiang Yutang stuck out her tongue at him.
Zhu Zhengchu looked at her cute little face and liked her more and more. "There will be a three - day holiday after the second live show. But you still have to stay here. It's just for you to relax. There's a really good variety show that wants you. Do you want to record it?"
"No. It's fine for me to play with my phone in the dormitory. Why go out to work?" A real worker's instinct: play whenever you can instead of working.
Zhu Zhengchu threw out an allure. "You can go out and play on your own after the recording. And you can ask Zhuo Ziyu to go with you."
Go out and play! Xiang Yutang's eyes immediately lit up.
"Then I'll go back and ask Ziyu."
"Okay. It's getting late. Go back and rest."
Xiang Yutang tried hard to suck up every tapioca ball and then stood up.
"Good night, Master~"
Zhu Zhengchu took a tissue and wiped her mouth. "A girl should pay attention to her image."
"It's just drinking milk tea."
Xiang Yutang was completely unaware of Zhu Zhengchu's affectionate gesture.
"Okay, I'll walk you downstairs." If he didn't, Xiang Yutang would probably climb down the building again.
The two walked downstairs through the back door. Zhu Zhengchu instructed along the way, "Don't mock Xia Helan today. Wait until she messes up and affects tomorrow's performance. You should have a good rest first."
"Got it." Xiang Yutang answered crisply.
The quicker she answered, the more worried Zhu Zhengchu became.
"If you quarrel with Xia Helan, I won't buy you milk tea anymore."
"Definitely not!!" Xiang Yutang quickly promised.
Zhu Zhengchu walked her to the door. "There are cameras these two days, so I won't go in with you. If someone asks why you're back so late, just say you've just finished training."
"Got it. Don't worry. I'm very smart!"
Zhu Zhengchu pinched her face. "You're not smart when you should be." He had dropped so many hints, but Xiang Yutang was still so naive and really regarded him as just a master.
Xiang Yutang suddenly said seriously, "Master, do you have body odor?"
Zhu Zhengchu was shocked. "No, I don't!" He had always smelled good since childhood. How could he have such a thing!
Xiang Yutang continued, "Then why are you as charming as a little fox?"
Zhu Zhengchu: ...
"Hahaha, isn't this pick - up line so cheesy? I just saw it!"
Zhu Zhengchu rubbed his temples. "Silly girl, go back, go back."
Xiang Yutang left happily. Zhu Zhengchu shook his head looking at her back. Even her pick - up lines were so funny. It was really...
As Zhu Zhengchu had expected, Xia Helan panicked when she saw all the bad things she had done being exposed. She stayed up all night, trying to figure out with her company how to clear her name.
But with the videos as solid evidence, passers - by were scolding her like crazy, and even her fans were about to abandon her. Her company didn't know what to do either.
Early the next morning, they had to get up for several more rehearsals and then change into their performance costumes. Xia Helan made countless mistakes during this period. Other tutors didn't say much because of the company behind her, but Zhu Zhengchu wasn't afraid. He said seriously, "How can you go on stage in this state? If you can't adjust your state, don't perform. You'll just drag your teammates down."
It was the first time Xia Helan had been criticized so harshly by a tutor. With so many people watching, she could only awkwardly step aside, her eyes red as if she was about to cry.
Xiang Yutang went up to "comfort" her.
"Helan, it's okay. If you can't perform, it's fine. Anyway, even if you perform, no one will vote for you. Just go home obediently~"
"Xiang Yutang!"
"Hey~ What's wrong? I remember you said something like this to me when I was being slandered. I'm just returning the favor. Are you happy?"
Xia Helan was so angry that she was shaking all over. Xiang Yutang waved at her. "Goodbye~ I'll remember to leave a message on your Weibo after you're gone. Miss Xia was a decent person when she was here~"