Chapter 16
Tang Yao’s feet halted, somewhat surprised. Was this a dream or a rebirth?
"At first, I didn't believe it either, but I realized that Xu Wan is really different from what I imagined."
Xu Haocheng's voice carried a hint of disappointment.
"What? You realized Elder Sister isn't the gentle and kind person you imagined, so you're trying to get attention from me? But since you had that kind of dream, you should know I don't like your Xu Family, right?" Tang Yao sneered.
"I know...I just wanted to remind you that Xu Wan will be participating in the next variety show. Be careful." With that, Xu Haocheng turned and left.
Tang Yao watched his retreating figure, remaining silent and still.
Xu Haocheng's words stirred up memories of a past she had almost completely forgotten.
She took a deep breath, then slowly exhaled.
Regardless of Xu Haocheng's intentions, she didn't want any involvement with the Xu Family now.
However, this thought hadn't lasted long before she saw Xu Haocheng again. It was already dark and he stood pitifully at the entrance of the guesthouse. Upon seeing him, Xiao Yue almost mistook him for a thief.
When Tang Yao went outside, Xu Haocheng was clutching his stomach and his face pale. He looked so fragile that he seemed ready to collapse at any moment.
Startled, Tang Yao quickly said, "Don't die at the door!"
Hearing this, Xu Haocheng, who was writhing in abdominal pain, gave Tang Yao a resentful look.
In the restaurant, Xu Haocheng ate two bowls of wontons before feeling alive again. Previously, he had left in shame and did not consider his penniless state. Upon returning, he had almost fainted from hunger on the street.
Knowing that he'd be laughed at by his friends for life if he told anyone, Xu Haocheng felt incredibly embarrassed and kept his face buried in his bowl the entire time.
Tang Yao was at a loss for words. Had he come to remind her or to cause her trouble?
After the meal, Tang Yao arranged a small room for Xu Haocheng to rest.
"Here's two hundred yuan. Take the money and leave first thing tomorrow morning, understand?" Tang Yao said coldly.
"Okay, I'm sorry for the trouble," Xu Haocheng said softly.
"Good that you know. Don't come again." Tang Yao said, turning and leaving.
Leaving Xu Haocheng standing there watching her retreating figure. His eyes filled with complex emotions.
The next morning, when Tang Yao got up, Xu Haocheng was already gone, leaving only a note with a phone number and the message: I'll pay you back.
Tang Yao didn't pay any attention and casually tossed the note into the trash can.
After staying for a few days, Ji Mingquan and Huang Hui had to return home because their children were worried about them.
Ji Mingquan pleaded for a long time before finally persuading Tang Yao to sell him a potted orchid.
Satisfied, he left carrying the flower.
On the way back, the flower sat in the passenger seat. It was thoughtfully fastened with a seatbelt, while Ji Mingquan and Huang Hui sat in the back, showing how much they cherished it.
…
Before the variety show aired, Tang Yao saw news about Xu Wan online. She had already become famous before even participating, making no attempt to hide her status as the daughter of the Xu Family. Her Weibo account gained tens of thousands of followers in just a few days.
Xu Wan posted photos of serene life and herself at the Xu Family villa on Weibo. Everyone praised her as a rich and beautiful woman.
Upon hearing that she was going to participate in the variety show, netizens bluntly said that with her wealth, she was just going to the entertainment industry for fun.
Various compliments appeared in the comments section of Xu Wan's Weibo. Xu Wan scrolled through the comments, a smile playing on her lips.
She just wanted Tang Yao to see the difference between them.
The second episode of the variety show finally began after a chaotic week.
After Ouyang Hua was arrested, a young boy named Sun Yi filled his place.
Sun Yi debuted through a talent show last year, and his handsome appearance made him quite popular with young girls.
As soon as the show started, netizens flooded into the live stream. A large portion were still Lu Bei's fans, and another portion were Sun Yi's fans. This time, surprisingly, a small group of Zhang Qing's fans also appeared.
"I've been a fan of Zhang Qing for many years, but after that happened, I could only secretly like her. Now I can finally say it openly, Qingbao, I love you!"
"I listened to all of Zhang Qing's songs; she's so talented."
"Qingbao is always so unassuming and never fights for anything. She swallows her grievances alone. It really breaks my heart."
Tang Yao saw everyone talking about Zhang Qing in the comments and was happy for her.
Du Meijuan and Shen Wentao, the two elderly people, gained a following due to their kind personalities.
Another group, naturally, consisted of Xu Wan's fans, who affectionately called her "Eldest Miss Xu."
Huang Yong, watching the lively online comments, was quite pleased. The show was finally starting to gain traction.
This time, the guests didn't arrive at the guesthouse immediately. Instead, the production team placed them in a small village next to Wanhua Town, requiring them to find their own way there.
Xu Wan hadn't expected to not only fail to make a stunning entrance in front of Tang Yao but also be left in this run-down place. Her expression immediately soured.
Her high heels sank into the mud, almost getting stuck.
Viewers laughed, finding the contrast between Xu Wan's demeanor and behavior endearing.
Because she was the eldest miss of the Xu Family and didn't rely on this for a living, the production team was considerate, giving her a hint behind the scenes.
Even with the hint, Xu Wan wasn't particularly happy, but she maintained her persona in front of the camera.
The guests' wallets and phones were all handed in.
A few days before filming, Lu Bei returned to the capital and had a doctor arranged by his older brother, Lu Nan, conduct a checkup.
The results brought a long-lost smile to Lu Nan's face.
Although Lu Bei had suspected something was up, he was still momentarily surprised when he saw the results.
He hadn't expected the guesthouse to actually have an effect on his condition.
Lu Nan had been worried about younger brother's illness, but unexpectedly, Lu Bei's condition had improved significantly after recording the variety show.
He was so happy he almost flew to the guesthouse to thank Tang Yao, but Lu Bei stopped him.
Lu Bei sat on the hospital chair. His gaze drifted through the hospital window to the courtyard.
The trees there were in bloom and a faint fragrance wafted in the breeze.
It felt like it had been a long time since he had been able to calmly appreciate the world like this.
In his previous film, he played a schizophrenic patient with eight distinct personalities.
To make his performance realistic, he spent three months in a mental hospital.
In one scene, he witnessed his mother jump from a building. This scene overlaps with his own reality, awakening Lu Bei's darkest memories.
For various reasons, Lu Bei couldn't detach himself from the role for a long time after filming. He seemed to have truly become one with the character, easily angered and irritable. His mental state was very poor and he even needed medication to manage it.
Returning to his senses, Lu Bei started walking forward. He suddenly longed to return to the guesthouse.
Perhaps frustrated with Lu Bei, Zheng Xinrui stayed close to the newcomer Sun Yi in this episode, acting like a little bird.
Regardless of his true feelings, Sun Yi outwardly treated Zheng Xinrui with great politeness.
Naturally outgoing Du Meijuan immediately struck up conversations with the townspeople, quickly becoming familiar with them and even managing to hitch a ride on a truck carrying eggs to Wanhua Town.
Shen Wentao was already well-liked by the older generation; he was the only actor recognized by the village elders. Given his good personality, everyone vied to take him to the guesthouse.
Throughout the journey, everyone provided plenty of laughs, causing the ratings to soar.
Finally, around noon, everyone gradually arrived at the guesthouse.
Having traveled in a van, Xu Wan’s carefully styled hair got disheveled from the bumpy ride and her makeup was no longer as polished as when she arrived.
In contrast, on Tang Yao's side, the staff waiting at the door were dressed in beautiful Hanfu, with exquisite makeup, looking neat and tidy.
Xu Wan was seething with resentment, unable to even maintain a smile.
Although the journey to the guesthouse was arduous, the arrival to the sight of beautiful women and delicious food was still very comforting.
Xiao Li had already prepared a table full of food to welcome everyone.
The sun was shining brightly today and the recording inside the glass restaurant was unbelievably beautiful.
The comments section shifted from praising the guests to praising the guesthouse.
"It's so beautiful! I praise it every time I see it."
"Once I'm done with my work, I definitely have to visit the guesthouse."
"Every frame looks like it's from a movie."
"These tables and chairs are so beautiful! Where can I buy such solid wood tables and chairs?"
"Actually, I've been wanting to say this for a while. This wood looks... unusual. It looks like rosewood, ebony, or sandalwood."
"How can that be? The person upstairs must be seeing things. If they are such expensive wood, why would the owner just put it in the restaurant like that?"
"Yeah, who knows how much oil gets spilled during a meal? The owner isn't stupid."
"But... it really does look like it!"
Various comments scrolled by quickly. The netizens just glanced at them and let it go; no one delved deeper.
"Hey, I don't see the owner? Doesn't the owner usually appear in the camera?" Xu Wan looked around and asked casually.
“Yes, the boss doesn’t appear on camera. If you need anything, just contact Xiao Yue or Xiao Ling,” Zhang Qing explained.
“It’s a real pity. I saw on the recent trending topics that the boss is very pretty,” Xu Wan said. “If she appeared on camera, she would probably have a lot of fans, and making money would be easier then.”
Xu Wan spoke sincerely, with a hint of concern on her face.
But everyone’s first reaction after hearing this was inevitably to think of the day Ouyang Hua tried to sexually harass Tang Yao.
Zhang Qing frowned slightly, subconsciously glancing at Xu Wan, only to see Xu Wan with her head bowed and her hair obscuring her expression.
“The boss would definitely be much better off in the entertainment industry than someone like me,” Zheng Xinrui followed with a tea tone.
Ever since seeing Lu Bei's amiable attitude towards Tang Yao, Zheng Xinrui had grown to dislike Tang Yao more.
Tang Yao witnessed this entire scene on her phone.
Xu Wan's targeting of her was understandable, but what was up with Zheng Xinrui?
“The boss is a very good person. She'll be fine no matter where she is,” Lu Bei, who had been silent, suddenly spoke up for Tang Yao.