Chapter 17

In the heart of City A’s first ring, a kitchen partitioned into a few square meters had a monthly rent of 8,000 yuan. The average house price in the first ring was above 70,000 yuan, and high-end residences were above 100,000 yuan.

Gu Jingjing’s apartment was worth several million yuan. If it were a bit bigger, and if she sold the house after this job, it would be enough for Fu Haitang to go back to her hometown and live a comfortable retirement.

Fu Haitang looked at the ceiling light, constantly examining the key card in her hand.

Ji Xiaotong pushed open the door: “Do you want to eat instant noodles?”

“No,” Fu Haitang said.

“Oh.” Ji Xiaotong closed the door and then opened it again to come in. “Hey.”

Fu Haitang moved the key card aside and sat up: “What’s wrong?”

Ji Xiaotong: “How’s my mom?”

“Your mom?” Fu Haitang was confused. “Are you talking about Fu Yilan?”

Ji Xiaotong: “Who else could it be?”

“Hey!” Ji Xiaotong rubbed her hands and sat on the edge of Fu Haitang’s 1.2-meter single bed, waving her hands excitedly. “I watched the premiere of your show today. My mom is quite popular, but you didn’t tell me she suffered so many grievances!”

Fu Haitang tilted her head: “It was a little unfair, but by a strange coincidence, everything worked out for her.” The unspoken meaning was, What else are you dissatisfied with?

Ji Xiaotong’s mouth could hang an oil bottle: “How can that be enough? That’s not enough!”

Fu Haitang looked at her hesitantly. “Then what would be enough?”

Ji Xiaotong: “Of course, she should go viral! Without any obstacles or difficulties! Just blow up! Trample all the mocking and sarcastic voices under her feet! Especially mom’s aunt and uncle!”

Fu Haitang played with the key card in her hand, lost in thought.

Ji Xiaotong: “Fu Yilan! She’s…”

Ji Xiaotong’s bragging was like a slowly unfolding dream scroll. She talked about Patek Philippe and Audemars Piguet, cruise ships and yachts, private jets and luxury cars. Wineries and castles were also under Fu Yilan’s name.

She said that Fu Yilan was transitioning from the front of the stage to behind the scenes, and she had more than a dozen awards on the way. Her career was far from being summed up by the entertainment industry. She was destined to grow from under the thumb of capital to become capital herself.

She said that the aristocratic officials who looked down on actors would have to submit one invitation after another just to see Fu Yilan. And as for Lu Jing, the male protagonist alpha, he was just a small embellishment in Fu Yilan’s perfect life.

“Only a double harvest of love and career can be called a perfect protagonist!” Ji Xiaotong’s throat was dry from talking. She took a few gulps of water. “Do you understand now?”

Fu Haitang narrowed her eyes: “Then Fu Yilan is truly being wronged.”

“Of course!” Ji Xiaotong crossed her arms. “The protagonist’s life is something a passerby like you can’t compare to.”

“Ah!” Ji Xiaotong screamed and held her head. “What are you doing!”

Fu Haitang: “You’re a vagrant, and you’re mocking me?”

The instant noodles were ready. Ji Xiaotong lifted the lid: “…Me, Gu Jingjing can scold me, but I can’t scold her?”

Her slippers landed on the floor. Fu Haitang rummaged through her closet for clothes: “Although Gu Jingjing is the villain, she’s very rich.”

Ji Xiaotong: “You’re going out? It’s almost 2 a.m.!”

Fu Haitang: “Follow me.”

Ji Xiaotong: “Huh?”

“Let’s go see our new home,” Fu Haitang said.

Ji Xiaotong: “Huh?”

A few minutes later, Ji Xiaotong, holding her broken instant noodle cup, got into Fu Haitang’s BMW X. “Did you buy a car? Did you rob a bank?”

Fu Haitang: “Can’t you say something better?”

Ji Xiaotong: “You won the lottery!”

Fu Haitang said, “I got it by fishing.”

Ji Xiaotong: “Gu Jingjing!”

Fu Haitang started the car and drove toward the first ring of the city. She looked at the surprised Ji Xiaotong in the rearview mirror and sighed inwardly, Fu Yilan, don’t blame me.

Blame your good “daughter” for provoking me.

…

In Qiaoxi Senior Apartments, Fu Haitang swiped her card to enter the residential area and drove into the underground parking. The parking lot floor was as clean as new. The elevator mirror clearly showed Fu Haitang’s haggard face from not having a good rest for half a month.

12th floor.

Unit 1208.

She swiped the card to enter the room, and Fu Haitang turned on all the lights.

“Wow!” Ji Xiaotong’s gasp of surprise broke Fu Haitang’s own astonishment.

The minimalist decor, with a floor-to-ceiling glass window, showed a skyline of colorful neon lights. The city’s prosperity was in full view. Soft carpets were laid on the marble floor. The tabletops were clean, and there was a cleaning lady who regularly came to maintain the apartment.

Two fake fish floated in the fish tank next to the TV, a decoration. The genuine leather sofa sank and bounced back up. Ji Xiaotong rolled around on it excitedly: “Is this my bed?”

Fu Haitang propped her chin on her hand, looking at the Lu Jing poster on the wall, thinking it was unnecessary. The black record player next to her had dark gold lines. She tried to put a record on, and Beethoven’s music flowed soothingly.

A central control system adjusted the light, temperature, humidity, and sound environment in the room with one click.

The open-plan kitchen and dining area had an Italian island counter. The master bedroom suite continued the low-key luxury. The walk-in closet had full-length mirrors, which were now empty, waiting for their owner to move in.

The bathroom bathtub could accommodate three people. The spacious sink area alone was the entire size of Fu Haitang’s rented apartment outside the fifth ring!

Ji Xiaotong ran around excitedly: “This is great! I can finally move out of that doghouse!”

Fu Haitang walked out to the balcony, spread her arms, and looked at the starry sky. The air on the 12th floor was refreshing! She already had her answer!

…

5 a.m.

Fu Yilan woke up to go back to the TV station to rehearse. At 6 a.m., the other trainees also started to arrive one after another.

7 a.m.

Everyone was here!

Fu Yilan was surprised to see Li Qingqing and Fang Qian.

Chen Na: “Didn’t they say they were dropping out because they didn’t have performance outfits?”

“Maybe the clothes issue was resolved,” Fu Yilan said.

8:00 a.m.

Fu Haitang drove out of the apartment. A security guard talked to her and asked for her license plate number, saying that when Fu Haitang came home from work in the evening, her car could drive directly in without swiping a card.

Fu Haitang smiled and put on her sunglasses. On the other side of the security booth, Ren Qing turned on her blinker. She looked to her right and was surprised to see Fu Haitang driving away.

8:15 a.m.

Fu Haitang swiped her access card to clock in. Ren Qing caught up with her from behind. “Haitang?”

“President Ren?” Fu Haitang was surprised. “Good morning.”

Ren Qing: “Good morning. Do you also rent in Qiaoxi?”

“Yes, I also live in Qiaoxi,” Fu Haitang said with a smile. She deliberately emphasized the word “live” and then asked, “Does President Ren also live in Qiaoxi?”

Ren Qing’s expression stiffened for a moment: “…Yes, I rent… I also live in Qiaoxi.”

Fu Haitang smiled gently. She had slept on a high-end Simmons mattress and under a silk quilt all night. The four and a half hours of deep sleep from 3 a.m. to 7:30 a.m. had completely eliminated her fatigue. She was refreshed and in high spirits! Her beauty had returned!

9:00 a.m.

Lu Jing returned to the station. He immediately went to supervise the live rehearsal of Class D. During this time, he frequently stopped Fu Yilan to adjust her movements and perfect the details.

After 2:00 p.m., the station organized the final live rehearsal.

Gu Jingjing: (Fu Haitang, there’s not much time left.)

Fu Haitang received the message, and a thin layer of sweat appeared on her palms.

…

4:00 p.m. in the evening, a fiery red cloud appeared over City A.

Before the official performance, the production team gave each trainee a post-interview and a letter for them to write to their future self after the public performance.

The first public performance was an elimination round, and 22 people would be eliminated.

7:45 p.m., Fu Yilan’s post-interview ended. Fu Haitang walked over to collect her letter.

Fu Yilan handed the letter over, then pulled it back, looking at Fu Haitang with suspicion: “Are you going to peek?”

Fu Yilan’s right hand was still pressing on the notebook. Her body was leaning off the high stool, and her shirt rode up, revealing a strip of her waist.

Fu Haitang looked away: “I won’t.”

Fu Yilan nodded, “I believe you.” The look in her eyes, however, said the exact opposite.

Fu Haitang: “…”

“That,” Fu Haitang pointed at Fu Yilan’s personal clothes. “Hurry up and change into your performance outfit. The live broadcast is about to begin. It starts at 8 p.m. sharp, and you still have a drawing session.”

7:50 p.m.

Fu Yilan rushed to the changing room: “Okay.”

Fu Haitang pursed her lips and added, “What about your bag? What about the inhibitor I gave you?”

Fu Yilan: “It’s locked in the locker in the changing room.”

Fu Haitang: “I’ll go with you. Time is a little tight.”

“Time is tight, and you made me the last one to be interviewed?” Fu Yilan gave Fu Haitang a sharp look.

7:52 p.m.

Fu Yilan opened her locker, took out her clothes to change, and Fu Haitang held her bag. She found the inhibitor and a war broke out in her mind.

In the waiting area for the performance.

Class D.

“The live broadcast starts at 8 p.m. Why isn’t Fu Yilan here yet?”

Chen Na: “She was the last one to be interviewed. Maybe she was delayed.”

Li Qingqing and Fang Qian walked over in their performance outfits. “Don’t wait for her. Our turn to draw might not be first anyway. Just wait. Besides, wouldn’t it be better if she didn’t come?”

The others: “…”

On stage.

Ren Qing received a text message from Fu Haitang.

(President Ren, my heat started early. I need to rest for a while and won’t be able to stay for the live show.)

A vein throbbed on Ren Qing’s forehead. (Find an empty place to rest. Didn’t you use your inhibitor?)

(My pheromones are out of whack.) Fu Haitang replied. (The inhibitor might have been stored for too long and isn’t working well.)

Ren Qing: (You rest well. Don’t come to the live show. We can’t have a public heat incident!)

Fu Haitang: (Sorry, President Ren.)

Ren Qing rubbed her temples and cursed under her breath. She pressed the walkie-talkie and called Sini: “Sini, you take over Fu Haitang’s hosting shift.”

Sini: “Yes!”

7:55 p.m.

Fu Yilan, dressed in her outfit, walked out. “Give me the inhibitor.”

“There is none,” Fu Haitang said, then opened Fu Yilan’s bag. There was nothing inside.

Fu Yilan was stunned: “You… that’s impossible! I clearly put it right here!”

Fu Haitang: “Look around. Maybe it fell somewhere!”

7:58 p.m.

The on-site director started the countdown. “On-site countdown begins. 120, 119, 118…”

“Lights! Camera—”

Ren Qing said, “In 60 seconds, we’ll cut to the waiting area. Opening dance teachers, please get ready.”

8:00 p.m. sharp.

Sini walked onto the stage: “Hi~ Babies, I’m here!”

All 99 girls cheered, “Teacher Sini!”

Sini gripped her script. She was a backup host and never expected Fu Haitang to bail on her at the last minute and make her take over. She was sweating nervously.

Live comments:

• • I’m here!!!

• • Ahhhhhhhh!

• • So excited, so excited! It’s finally on!

• • So punctual!

• • I’m here to see my baby Yilan!

• • There are too many people. The camera shots are so few!

• • Have you guys seen Fu Yilan?

On-site coordinator in the waiting area: “President Ren, Fu Yilan is missing.”

Ren Qing held her forehead: “The live show can’t stop. Sini, you continue to move things along.”

Sini’s expression didn’t change. “Let’s draw lots! One person from each class is enough!”

Ren Qing took off her walkie-talkie and rushed into the hallway to make a phone call. The phone showed that the other party had turned it off. Ren Qing was furious. “Damn it!”

Fu Haitang locked the door of the changing room, lowered her head, and turned off her phone as well. As she turned around, she was met with a furious Fu Yilan. “You set me up?”

Fu Haitang: “…”