A Pair of Evil Women's Love - Chapter 42
Chapter 42: [VIP]
Fu Haitang was stunned. “Wha-what?”
Two drops of soy milk spilled, making her fingertips sticky and sweet. Fu Yilan tried to rub them off. “The one by Neruda.”
Why bring that up? Fu Haitang’s heart thumped. She picked up a cup of hot water nearby to soothe her throat, but when she put it to her mouth, she flinched, realizing she had picked up the soy milk she had packed to take home.
“Phew—” Fu Haitang awkwardly blew on her fingers. “Oh, that. I forgot where I put it.”
Fu Yilan lowered her gaze, holding her cup and bowl tightly. “Then how can I thank you?”
Fu Haitang looked away, her gaze uncontrollably moving back to Fu Yilan’s shoulder. “…No need. My helping you is also helping myself. After all, I just got promoted, and the show can’t have any problems.”
Fu Yilan: “I’m done eating.”
Fu Haitang grabbed the crutch. “Let’s go to the company together.”
Fu Yilan hummed in agreement, falling two steps behind to observe Fu Haitang’s back. This person was clearly evasive. When they first met, she had been confrontational, then she secretly helped her. After being exposed, they made some sort of gentleman’s agreement, and she confessed and offered all kinds of help.
So why was she backing down now?
Fu Yilan took a deep breath. As the car sped towards the TV station, Fu Yilan glanced at her phone.
Zeng Jingmeng had sent her a message late at night: (Holy crap, holy crap! Who is that woman next to you in the poster your TV station released?)
(She’s sooooo pretty!)
(Ahhhhh, you guys look so good together!)
(Can I ship you?)
(Is she an Alpha or a Beta? If she’s a Beta, you’ll have to make do.)
Fu Yilan: “…”
Fu Yilan lowered her head and began typing: (I have something to tell you.)
Zeng Jingmeng: (???)
Zeng Jingmeng: (Why does that opening line sound so wrong?)
Zeng Jingmeng: (You’re not going to talk about that jerk Alpha, are you?)
Someone’s phone had been buzzing all morning. Fu Haitang couldn’t pretend she didn’t notice, so she joked, “Who’s texting you so early in the morning?”
Fu Yilan pursed her lips and turned her body to block her phone. “A friend.”
“A friend?” Fu Haitang gritted her teeth over those two words, making them feel sour. “A good friend?”
(Even though we glossed over the confession, she’s actually really good to me.) Fu Yilan sent the message and, as expected, received dozens of bombarding messages.
“We’re here,” Fu Haitang reminded her.
Fu Haitang specifically chose a parking spot that was a little further away. After getting out of the car, she walked around to the passenger side to open the door for Fu Yilan. Usually, Ji Xiaotong would do this.
Ji Xiaotong said, “Hey, hey,” and rushed past Fu Haitang to grab hold of Fu Yilan. “Are you trying to steal my job?”
After an all-nighter, Fu Haitang was a bit tired. She held her lower back and smiled, waving her hand. “Then you go ahead.”
Ji Xiaotong took Fu Yilan to the elevator and then escorted her to the practice room. It was 7 AM, and the trainees were already in position. Fu Yilan threw herself into the practice, starting to cooperate with her teammates on some simple movements.
“Yilan, come here,” her teammate Jing Zhao called out.
Fu Yilan: “Jing Zhao?”
Jing Zhao was an Alpha, with short hair and a handsome, masculine demeanor. She also had a lot of fans.
Jing Zhao: “Even though we’re in the vocal group, if we don’t have any movements, the scene will be very stiff. What do you think?”
Fu Yilan nodded. “Whatever you want to do, I’ll cooperate.”
Jing Zhao hesitated a bit. “But… it might be a little difficult for you.”
Fu Yilan: “Just say what you want to say.”
Jing Zhao: “If you’re willing, you could give up the group’s C-position. This would allow for a lot of choreography.”
Fu Yilan’s leg injury made it difficult to move, which indeed added difficulty to the choreography. But Jing Zhao might have overestimated herself. She smiled. “I’m sorry, my C-position was voted on by my fans, one by one. I can’t give it to anyone.”
Jing Zhao: “…You.”
Jing Zhao frowned. “Yilan, if you don’t give up this position, and our performance score is too low, many of us in our group will be eliminated.”
Fu Yilan’s eyes narrowed, a smile flashing in them. “Whether we stay or leave, everyone has to rely on their own ability.”
“Being in a group isn’t just about one person! We’re a team! Fu Yilan!” Jing Zhao said loudly.
Fu Yilan: “But the spots are crucial. Jing Zhao, I respect you for being kind and thinking of the team, but I’m not that kind of person. You don’t have to say anything else.”
“You… Yilan, I thought that after you went through something so unfortunate at the station, you would understand. Besides Meixue and Meilin, the rest of our group and I are just ordinary people. We want to stay, that’s why I came to beg you, Yilan… Please think about it. I’m begging you.”
“Isn’t that just moral blackmail?” Meixue moved next to Fu Yilan. “You’re afraid of being eliminated, so you’re ganging up and wanting the most outstanding person in the team to make a sacrifice. Wow~”
Fu Yilan: “I won’t agree.”
“Of course you can’t agree!” Lin Meixue smiled. “Go for it.”
Fu Yilan chuckled softly. “Go for it.”
Throughout the day, the rehearsal process was filled with many frustrations. The dance steps were mostly finalized, and although Fu Yilan’s movements were few, she was stubborn and insisted on not making any concessions.
Fu Haitang’s lips curved. Fu Yilan was very spirited on camera. That stubbornness was truly unique.
“Please send Teacher Guo to Vocal Group B. Ask her to figure out how to change a few movements,” Fu Haitang said, hanging up the phone and walking out of the monitoring room. She instructed the editor to cut and send this part of the practice room footage from today.
Editor: “This broadcast might negatively affect Jing Zhao.”
“If it’s aired, it will be like adding fuel to the fire. I told you, as long as Fu Yilan’s popularity is high, I will blatantly promote her.”
The editor was silent for two seconds. “It’s a very cool thing to do, but it’s also a little inhumane.”
Fu Haitang: “…”
In the evening, a new dance instructor arrived at Vocal Group B.
At the same time, “Group Show 07” aired the conversation between Jing Zhao and Fu Yilan in the practice room from the afternoon.
[Fu Yilan’s eyes narrowed, a smile flashing in them: “Whether we stay or leave, everyone has to rely on their own ability.”
“Being in a group isn’t just about one person! We’re a team! Fu Yilan!” Jing Zhao said loudly.]
Weibo Hot Search:
#FuYilan #JingZhao #Teamwork #MoralBlackmail
Comments:
(Holy crap???)
(Is this production team crazy?)
(Is Jing Zhao even human?)
(Oh my god, oh my god, so exciting, so exciting, so exciting!!!)
(Who allowed this clip to be aired? This is the kind of drama we need! So satisfying!)
(Lanylan is right. It’s supposed to be about individual ability. What gives Jing Zhao the right to morally blackmail her!)
(That’s not what Jing Zhao meant!)
(Malicious editing!)
(This show is insane. What’s wrong with them? Stirring up trouble among their own people? They must be desperate to get popular!)
(Jing Zhao fans are here. We’re taking Zhao Zhao and we’re out!)
(Hehe, do some people not know how Lanylan’s leg got injured? Did she want to get hurt herself?)
“They’re arguing online again,” a person said, bringing a plate of vegetarian food and leaning against Gu Jingjing. “You know, does this Fu Yilan have some unique quality? Otherwise, why is she trending every day?”
Gu Jingjing clenched her phone. “Someone is helping her.”
Cao Wenjing said, “Who?”
“How should I know?” Gu Jingjing rested her face on her hand, viciously scrolling through the Weibo hot searches. “I’m not close to her!”
Cao Wenjing tutted, rolled her eyes, and muttered to herself, “Your person? You don’t even know that your person is sleeping in the same bed as her. You only have eyes for Lu Jing.”
Gu Jingjing: “What are you mumbling about?”
Cao Wenjing: “…Nothing. I just saw those two from the other group getting a little close to Fu Yilan recently. Look over there…”
Lin Meixue said, “Ah,” looking at Fu Yilan’s dinner and then at the food in her own bowl. “Hey, why does your food look the same as mine?”
Lin Meilin: “Yeah, isn’t this our secret recipe for body management?”
Fu Yilan glanced at the food in the other two’s bowls, took out her phone, and looked at the picture she had sent to Fu Haitang five minutes ago. “…Where did you get your menu?”
“Jingjing sent it. She has connections. This menu is sent to our Class A group chat every day according to the trainees’ cafeteria menu, just when it’s time to eat,” Lin Meixue said, growing more and more puzzled. “How do you have it too? Doesn’t Jingjing hate you the most?”
Lin Meilin: “Do you have access to this too? Or do you know this nutritionist?”
To save money, Fu Yilan’s meals at the TV station were always just two simple vegetable dishes and a free rice ball. For more than half a month, Gu Jingjing and the people in Class A had been eating according to her menu?
Fu Yilan held her forehead. “…It just so happens that I like these dishes.”
…
(Why is Fu Yilan trending again? Fu Haitang, you said you’d help me get three first places. With all this drama from Fu Yilan, how am I supposed to get first place in the online vote?)
When Gu Jingjing sent the message, Fu Haitang had just finished a video conference.
(Young Miss, don’t worry. I contacted many trolls today. I’m just waiting for a hot moment. When it’s time for the live performance, as long as I buy enough trolls, I’ll definitely be able to get you first place!) Fu Haitang typed her reply.
Gu Jingjing: (Here’s 5 million. If it’s not enough, just ask for more. For the hot searches and the trolls, buy everything you can! I can’t let Fu Yilan’s limelight outshine mine anymore!)
5 million was deposited into her account.
Fu Haitang almost dropped the cup of water in her hand.
(Yes, Young Miss!)
(I will complete the task perfectly!)
In just a few months, she had earned more money than she could ever earn in a lifetime of work. Fu Haitang sniffled. Her nose suddenly tingled. “This might also be the last time I earn money.”
Thinking about it, she felt a little sad to say goodbye to the Young Miss.
She had to get to work! She would arrange this hot search immediately! Fu Haitang contacted a group of trolls and bought a hot search for the Young Miss, a spot in the top 10 for 300,000, and then spent 20,000 to buy a bunch of bots to hype it up.
#AStationGuJingjingStage
After the lights were turned off at night.
Gu Jingjing tossed and turned in her dorm bed, unable to sleep.
Cao Wenjing suddenly poked her head out. “Jingjing, it looks like you’re trending!”
Gu Jingjing was stunned. She immediately jumped up, then, feeling her reaction was too big, she twisted her body and lay back down. “Oh, I know.”
“Look! Quick, look!” Cao Wenjing said loudly. “Hey, it’s dropping!”
Lin Meixue took out her phone. “Congratulations, Jingjing. Let me see what kind of hot search it is.”
Gu Jingjing scoffed. “What’s so special about being on a hot search? You can look if you want. I’m going to sleep.”
Lin Meixue clicked on the hot search. When she saw it, she had a bad feeling. She opened the comments and saw the same content repeated over and over again, and all the accounts were low-level new ones.
Anyone who had been in the industry for a while could tell it was a purchased hot search, and it looked like they had specifically bought a spot during a less popular time to save money.
Lin Meixue: “…Who is it? That’s so awful.”
…
“Is Fu Haitang working overtime again today?” At night, Fu Yilan couldn’t sleep and wandered into the living room. “Xiaotong?”
Ji Xiaotong flopped over on the sofa like a lazy fish. “She loves working overtime too much. When she only managed Group B, it was fine. She could still come back and sleep for a few hours. Now that she’s been promoted, she has to manage both behind the scenes and in front of the camera. She’ll probably be sleeping at the station from now on. She deserves it!”
Fu Yilan went back to her room and glanced at the bedside table. The level of the medicinal oil was a foot lower. Fu Yilan frowned. “Did it spill?”
At the station, Fu Haitang sneezed more than a dozen times in a row at her desk.
“…Just how many people are cursing me?”