A Pair of Evil Women's Love - Chapter 32

Chapter 32

Saturday

The prequel for the second episode aired.

The content was just as she had expected.

The first shot was of the interview room. “Do your family members know you came to the TV station?”

All 72 trainees were interviewed one by one. Unlike the first time when they gave single-person shots, Ren Qing chose to give everyone an equal share, distributing the 90 minutes among all the trainees.

The format was monotonous, a series of interviews. Even with new backgrounds and sets, what fresh ideas could you get from over 70 trainees confined to one area within the TV station?

When Fu Haitang saw Sini’s work log, she knew that this broadcast format would only make the content seem fragmented and boring. An interview might be interesting with one, two, or even three people, but with so many, the content was bound to become redundant and repetitive, reducing the excitement. Viewers would inevitably get bored, and the click-through and drop rates would skyrocket. This episode was bound to fail.

What a shame. The first episode’s prequel and main show had such a high starting point.

It was a wise decision for her to take this vacation. When the higher-ups questioned the failure, she hadn’t been involved in the production, so the blame couldn’t be pinned on her. And if she was lucky, they might even ask who planned the first episode.

Even if Ren Qing was reluctant, she would have to mention Fu Haitang’s name. The credit she once stole would, in fact, return to its rightful owner with the thought, “No wonder this episode isn’t good. It turns out the main planner for the first episode was on vacation.”

Half an hour into the broadcast, the barrage of fan comments that had flooded the screen began to dwindle, and then dwindle more.

Comments:

• • (Is anyone here? Does anyone know which minute Miyuki is on?)

• • (Someone’s here.)

• • (Yep.)

• • (This is kind of boring.)

An hour later.

Comments:

• • (Why are there so many people this episode?)

• • (Why is it so different from the first episode?)

• • (Where’s the drama?)

• • (So boring… It’s all the same repetitive talk.)

• • (I know, right? The first two were a little interesting, but the rest are so boring.)

Fu Haitang sipped her cola, standing in the living room. After repeated urging from Ji Xiaotong, they finally reached their target.

Fu Yilan looked half-exhausted from her training. She sat down, took the cup of water from a staff member, and drank it all in one go before her breathing evened out.

Sini: “How was training? You’re sweating so much, it must be tiring.”

Fu Yilan was fixing her hair. She shook her head and then pointed at the camera. “Have we started? Can you give me ten seconds to fix my hair?”

Comments:

• • (Ahhhhhh, Lanlan you silly fool! It’s already recording!)

• • (My baby is so beautiful! My baby looks so good even without makeup!)

• • (Ahhhhhh so cute!)

The comments instantly came alive.

Fu Haitang curled her lips. The audience might not know, but she understood Fu Yilan well. This feigned naivete—what is it but an act?

Ji Xiaotong: “My Mommy must be exhausted. She’s so tired she’s talking nonsense.”

Fu Haitang clicked her tongue, forgetting for a moment that she was standing next to a die-hard Fu Yilan fan. “She’s rarely this honest.”

“Did your family know you were coming to the competition?” Sini brought the interview back on track.

Fu Yilan: “I don’t.”

“Oh? You don’t know, or you don’t have family?” Sini was puzzled, then realized her poor choice of words. “Uh… I hope you don’t mind, Yilan.”

Fu Yilan’s guard went up. “Why are you asking?”

“Just wondering if you’ve ever faced a lack of understanding from your family along the way,” Sini said. “I’m just curious. Asking this is just to help the fans get to know you.”

Fu Yilan lowered her eyes. “I’m sorry, my parents have passed away.”

“…What about brothers and sisters?” Sini’s voice trembled.

Fu Yilan gave a bright smile. “I don’t have any.”

The comments went wild.

• • (Ahhhhhhhh!)

• • (What kind of stupid host is this? You said you wouldn’t ask, so why are you asking?!)

• • (My heart aches for my baby, baby don’t cry, Mommy is here!)

• • (Lanlan baby, sob sob.)

Fu Haitang pursed her lips, crossing her arms as she watched the comments. For some reason, all those “baby this” and “baby that” messages were a bit of an eyesore.

Fu Yilan forced herself to hold it together, unable to continue the interview. “Do you have any other questions? If not, I’ll be going now.”

“Wait!” Sini stopped her.

At that moment, another voice asked, “Yilan, if at the end of the show, all the other trainees have family come to the final to congratulate them, have you thought about what it would be like to be alone?”

Fu Haitang fell silent. This part of the interview wasn’t Sini. It was a staff member on set who, after learning about Fu Yilan’s background, was deliberately using her weakness to create drama for the show.

The written description and the live scene were entirely different. Fu Yilan’s departure was too rushed, and the loneliness in her eyes was so genuine that Fu Haitang couldn’t tell if it was fake or not. Her own heart seemed to clench.

Comments:

• • (F**K the production team!)

• • (They did this on purpose, didn’t they? Does this make you feel important?)

• • (Stabbing her in the heart! You have parents, so you think you’re so great?!)

• • (Is Lanlan an orphan?)

• • (Good, they’re trying to get sympathy from the fans, right? I’m broken. I’m going to vote for her!)

Fu Haitang turned off the TV, then turned to find Ji Xiaotong with a tear-streaked face. She was startled. “You…”

“Waaah, Mommy, ah!”

Fu Haitang: “…”

Fu Haitang sighed, took out her phone, and walked to the balcony. She made a phone call to Sini.

“Thank you, you’re the best.”

After hanging up, Fu Haitang looked up at the stars. She was actually feeling sympathy. Just two weeks ago, she was mocking Fu Yilan’s script-like life.

She had been unable to empathize with a storyline where a character’s parents were set to be dead just to create a “beautiful, strong, tragic” persona.

But now, seeing it happen to Fu Yilan, were all that pain and loneliness, all the tragedy of being without a family, fake?

“You’re crazy, Fu Haitang,” she murmured, her brows furrowed. “Do you really think a main character needs your pity?”

…

…Ji Xiaotong was woken up from her sleep.

“What’s the big idea, so early?” Ji Xiaotong complained.

Fu Haitang pushed her into the bathroom. “Go take a shower and wash your hair, then put on two sets of clean clothes.”

Ji Xiaotong looked at the time. It was 5 p.m. Her midnight. God knows that I’ve been suffering the most during Fu Haitang’s vacation!

“Ugh…” Ji Xiaotong sighed.

Fu Haitang was doing her makeup in her room. Today, she had changed her style with a new eye makeup, a mature hairstyle, and put on her most alluring pencil skirt, along with arm sleeves and a small hat.

Finally, she put on a mask.

Perfect!

When Ji Xiaotong changed and saw Fu Haitang’s elaborate outfit, she couldn’t help but be surprised. “Wow, why are you all dressed up with a mask on?”

Fu Haitang: “You’ll see.”

Ji Xiaotong: “You’re so sneaky. Are you planning something to mess with me?”

“No,” Fu Haitang said, examining herself in the full-length mirror. “Can anyone tell it’s me?”

Ji Xiaotong was confused and nodded. She walked closer to Fu Haitang, then stepped back to get a better look.

Fu Haitang had a great figure. The pure black pencil skirt highlighted her curves, and her long, seaweed-like hair gathered around her waist, emphasizing her perfect proportions from shoulders to waist to hips.

Ji Xiaotong sighed. “You seem to have gotten prettier.”

“What are you talking about? Was I ever ugly?” Fu Haitang said with a slight frown.

Ji Xiaotong: “Money really does wonders. You’re so different from when we first met. You’re almost glowing like a main character!”

“Short-sighted,” Fu Haitang scoffed. “There are so many beautiful people in this world. Open your eyes! And I’m one of them!”

Ji Xiaotong chuckled. “I never saw you this arrogant before!”

Fu Haitang picked up her bag. “It’s almost 7. Let’s go.”

“Where are we even going?” Ji Xiaotong got in the BMW. After thinking about it for a bit, she asked, “Why am I so obedient to you?”

Fu Haitang sneered. She drove out of the community and headed towards the TV station.

Ji Xiaotong: “Why are there so many people outside the TV station?”

From a distance, a massive crowd was swarming, surrounding the TV station in layers. Fu Haitang parked the car far away and pulled Ji Xiaotong out by the collar of her shirt.

Ji Xiaotong shrugged, took out her phone, and looked at it. “Hey! Tonight is Mommy’s second public performance! You brought me here to watch her perform!”

Fu Haitang: “Mm.”

“Waaah, Haitang,” Ji Xiaotong cried with joy. “Thank you!”

Fu Haitang’s eyes curved into a smile. “You’re welcome.” She then held up two tickets for the main venue. “I won’t charge you for the tickets.”

Ji Xiaotong nodded frantically. “Okay, okay, okay!”

“Tonight, you’ll do whatever I tell you to. Can you do that?” Fu Haitang asked.

Ji Xiaotong: “Understood!”

“OK!” Fu Haitang raised a hand and pointed ahead. “You go line up at the entrance. Call me when you get close to the front. I’ll go rest and buy us some drinks.”

Ji Xiaotong: “…”

The coffee shop was bustling today.

As soon as Fu Haitang entered, she saw the store manager Fu Yilan had mentioned.

The manager was a beta with medium-length hair and a sincere smile. He was handing out flyers at the entrance. “Hello, would you like some coffee? You can get a half-priced coffee with a message receipt from voting for the show.”

“Yes, yes. If you vote for Fu Yilan, all consumption in our shop has a chance for a discount for 24 hours.”

“Boss,” Fu Haitang greeted him. “Is it really half-price?”

Fu Haitang ordered two colas and a coffee to go and smiled. “You shouldn’t do this promotion anymore.”

“Huh?” the manager asked, confused. “Why?”

Fu Haitang just smiled without answering. An hour later, Ji Xiaotong sent her a message. Fu Haitang got a refill for her cola and passed through two security checks to enter the venue.

There were a thousand people in the audience. Fans from different groups were hiding among them, with bags full of support items.

At 8 o’clock, the TV station began the live broadcast on time.

Fu Haitang and Ji Xiaotong finally found their seats ten minutes before the show started. As they sat down, this was the first time Fu Haitang was in the audience. She noticed how high the stage was and how dazzling the spotlights were.

Click, click, click.

Before Fu Haitang could finish her thoughts, she heard the frantic sound of Gu Jingjing’s camera shutter as she took photos with the stage.

Fu Haitang: “…”

(Good luck with your performance, don’t be nervous.) Fu Haitang typed, head down.

Fu Yilan: (Thank you.)

They hadn’t spoken for two days, other than the lunch and dinner menus that Fu Yilan resumed sending. There were no extra greetings. Fu Haitang pursed her lips, a smile she couldn’t control playing on her face.

“Countdown to the live show.”

The director’s voice echoed throughout the studio.

The fans began to scream.

“Ten!”

“Nine!”

“Eight!”

“…”

Fu Haitang felt inexplicably nervous.

“Three!” The stage lights suddenly went off. It was pitch black!

Ji Xiaotong grabbed Fu Haitang’s arm. “Is it about to start?”

The tight grip made Fu Haitang wince. “Ouch…”

“Two!”

“One!”

“Welcome, everyone, to the second public performance of Show of Groups 07!” Fu Rongdie walked onto the stage in high heels.

The live camera showed the audience. The fans were clapping frantically. “Let’s welcome our audience here and at home with thunderous applause!”

“And let’s welcome our mentors!” The mentor section lit up, and Lu Jing’s appearance brought the energy of the crowd to a fever pitch. Screams erupted one after another, and the director gave the audience a 30-second shot.

The camera scanned across the crowd, capturing fans who were all clapping and shouting. Only Fu Haitang, with her face covered by a mask, stood quietly with her arms crossed. She stood out in the crowd of lively fans.

She glanced at the camera, and it quickly passed by, but not without being noticed and resented by countless Lu Jing fans in the comments.

• • (-Who’s that mean-faced lady!)

• • (-If you don’t like it, you can give your chance to be here to a fan!)

• • (-I’m speechless. Did I see that right? An audience member rolled their eyes at the camera?)

Dozens of comments like these flashed by.

Fu Rongdie and another host worked together. After the opening speech, they turned the topic to the trainees. The moment the show began, all the trainees, including Fu Yilan, stood under the spotlight.

“Lanlan—”

Fans in the audience screamed.

Fu Yilan was in the center position. She stood in the middle of everyone, raising her hands high to wave to the crowd.

“Lanlan!”

“Mommy!” Ji Xiaotong screamed at the stage with a hoarse voice.

Fu Yilan was stunned, and then looked over.

At the same time, Fu Haitang raised her phone and took a photo, leaving behind a piece of evidence that she had been there.

(You’re not alone.)

She sent the text message along with the photo.

After the opening, Fu Yilan returned to the waiting area. The text message remained on her phone.

The class that had been chosen to perform first was already on stage.

Before their performance, their interview would be played as a three-minute clip.

When it came to Fu Yilan’s turn, the scene was predictable. Her weakness would be used as a selling point again, to be served up for others to consume, to gain sympathy and attention.

What was being torn open was the most painful part of her life that she never wanted to face.

But now.

Fu Yilan clenched her phone.

In the photo, Fu Haitang had taken off her mask. The heavy makeup couldn’t hide her smile.

(Your sister is here.)

• • (-Why not my sister?)

• • (Dream on!)

• • (-Did you make this bad plan?!) Fu Yilan interrogated.

She thought she would get a goofy, joking reply, but the answer was unexpectedly serious:

(Fu Yilan, it’s true that I work in the media, but I never wanted to use your true pain for attention.)

“Pfft,” Fu Yilan let out a soft laugh, but in that moment, her heart felt like it was being squeezed.

The blatant interview and attacks hadn’t made her break down, so why did she feel like crying now?