After Transmigrating, I Joined a Dating Show with the Fake Heiress Actress - Chapter 29

When Bai Man returned to Wetland Park, everyone had already finished eating and drinking.

 

Liu Heng and Zhang Jiale, unburdened by celebrity status, sprawled across a camping mat, while the others sat in a circle, enjoying fruit and admiring the distant scenery.

 

From their vantage point, they could see a small island in the distance, its lush vegetation thriving in the lake’s embrace, adding an air of mystery to the scene.

 

Su Qingwan sat absentmindedly on the mat, occasionally glancing back. Her previous attempts had ended in disappointment, but this time, she locked eyes with Bai Man, who was approaching.

 

Though several meters still separated them, Su Qingwan’s heart involuntarily quickened the moment their gazes met.

 

She hastily averted her eyes, telling herself to stay calm and not be swayed by Bai Man’s presence.

 

Yet Bai Man seemed to possess a magnetic pull, constantly drawing her gaze back.

 

Noticing Su Qingwan’s discomfort, Bai Man suppressed her own irritation and settled onto another camping mat.

 

Liu Heng turned and immediately spotted her. He sprang to his feet. “Ms. Bai, you’re finally back! Ms. Su specially saved you some grilled fish. Wait here, I’ll go get it for you right away.”

 

When Su Qingwan realized they were talking about her, she quickly lowered her head. As expected, the gazes didn’t fall on her.

 

Logically, she should have felt relieved—avoiding Bai Man’s scrutiny. But why did her heart feel so empty?

 

Bai Man must be angry, she thought, angry that I pushed her away.

 

Eager to know the outcome, Liu Yue swallowed the fruit in her mouth and immediately turned to Bai Man. “Ms. Bai, what happened? Who did this?”

 

Wen Yi held out his phone, gesturing for Liu Yue to look for herself.

 

Liu Yue took the phone, glanced at the trending topics, and handed it back to Wen Yi without a word.

 

Her reaction caught Zhang Jiale’s attention. He snatched the phone, clenching his fist. “Just as I suspected—they’re behind this!”

 

His words snapped Su Qingwan out of her thoughts. She hurriedly pulled out her phone, opened Weibo, and saw the trending topics:

 

#SpoiledLittlePrincessCan’tHandleDefeatResortsToDirtyTricks

 

#SpoiledLittlePrincessAbusesHerPower

 

#YuMengAndSpoiledLittlePrincessAreBirdsOfAFeather

 

#YuMengAndLittlePrincess’sEngagementIsPurelyForProfit

 

#BankruptHeiressBaiMan’sArmCan’tTwistTheLittlePrincess’sThigh

 

#BaiManForcedToSwallowHerPride

 

Just from the headlines, she knew yesterday’s incident was connected to Shangguan Yu.

 

Given Yu Meng’s agency’s PR capabilities and Shangguan Yu’s family’s immense wealth, the scandal should have been suppressed immediately. Instead, it was escalating.

 

She instinctively looked up at Bai Man. Could Bai Man be behind this?

 

Logic told her Bai Man couldn’t possibly wield such power, but deep down, she still felt Bai Man was involved.

 

She asked herself again: Did she truly know Bai Man?

 

In the past, Bai Man had always greeted her with mockery or provocation, making Su Qingwan avoid her. She only knew Bai Man loved shopping, was competitive, and harbored a deep-seated inferiority complex. The current Bai Man, however, was aloof, confident, composed in crises, and rarely smiled.

 

Hesitating, she finally turned to the side and opened WeChat.

 

Su Qingwan: Does the current Bai Man resemble the Bai Man you used to know at all?

 

Su Qingyue: No.

 

Su Qingwan: Is it possible the current Bai Man is an entirely different person?

 

Su Qingyue: Sis, get a grip. It’s undeniable the current Bai Man is very different from before, but what you’re suggesting is absurd. This is a technological age.

 

Su Qingyue: Hold onto your heart. Don’t entrust it to someone so uncertain.

 

Su Qingwan gripped her phone tightly, her mind in turmoil.

 

Liu Heng returned with the fish and immediately sensed the tense atmosphere. Catching Song Jie trying to hide his phone out of the corner of his eye, he snatched it away and saw the trending search. He whirled toward Yu Meng and the others, cursing loudly, “Damn it! I hate these backstabbing bastards who pull shady tricks behind people’s backs—”

 

Song Jie rose and clamped a hand over Liu Heng’s mouth, signaling him with a look to stop talking.

 

If Shangguan Yu was resorting to such tactics during the show’s filming, who knew what she might do once she left the Production Team?

 

He also discovered from the comments that Shangguan Yu had already targeted Bai Man. This spoke volumes about her vindictive nature.

 

Unlike Bai Man’s fearless spirit, the others present lacked such courage. Though their hearts burned with anger, they knew it was best to pretend nothing had happened, to ensure a smoother path forward.

 

Yet one question lingered: With Bai Man’s intelligence, she should understand the stakes better than anyone. So why would she still…

 

The incident had soured everyone’s mood. They sat on the camping mats, each lost in their own thoughts.

 

Their reactions were exactly what Bai Man had anticipated.

 

She rose and walked to the lakeside, listening to the rhythmic lapping of the water against the rocks and watching seagulls glide across the surface. Her thoughts drifted into the distance.

 

On the way to the police station, she had received a call from Sheng Hao, the general manager of Tiansheng Group. Knowing the photographer was present, she immediately hung up and replied with a text message: Seize the opportunity.

 

During bidding processes, a company’s reputation is as crucial as its financial strength and strategic planning.

 

This was precisely why Shunyang had ramped up its charitable activities over the past year, naturally improving its public image. Moreover, the company had adopted a low-profile approach in its operations.

 

By maintaining both internal and external vigilance, Sheng Hao found it increasingly difficult to exploit Shunyang’s weaknesses.

 

But now, she had given him the opening he needed.

 

When dealing with intelligent people, few words are necessary. Sheng Hao seized the opportunity, allowing the online narrative of Shangguan Yu’s inability to accept defeat to fester, further enraging her.

 

Driven by intense fury, Shangguan Yu would inevitably retaliate, most likely by targeting the Hengjie Garment Factory behind Bai Man.

 

However, merely venting her anger would no longer suffice. Shangguan Yu would now relentlessly pressure the Hengjie Garment Factory, tightening the noose until its complete collapse.

 

To achieve this, Shangguan Yu couldn’t rely on her family alone, and that was Sheng Hao’s opportunity.

 

Still sitting on the camping mat, Su Qingwan glanced at Liu Heng grilling fish. After hesitating for a moment, she picked up a yogurt drink.

 

She awkwardly extended the yogurt, saying, “It’s not good for your stomach to skip meals.”

 

Bai Man didn’t take it, turning to stare directly at Su Qingwan, as if seeing through her thoughts.

 

Bai Man pressed her lips into a thin line. Why would Su Qingwan, who resents me for what my original self did to her, suddenly care about me?

 

Su Qingwan’s scalp tingled under Bai Man’s gaze. In a panic, she grabbed Bai Man’s hand and shoved the yogurt into it. “Here, I’m leaving now.”

 

But Bai Man gripped her hand in return, preventing her from pulling away.

 

“If you have questions, just ask,” Bai Man said firmly.

 

Su Qingwan’s heart skipped a beat. Bai Man saw through me? Was I really that obvious?

 

She brushed aside a stray strand of hair ruffled by the wind, avoiding Bai Man’s eyes. “Did you suspect Shangguan Yu during yesterday’s incident?”

 

Bai Man didn’t release her hand, turning to gaze into the distance, her silence serving as tacit confirmation.

 

Su Qingwan shifted closer to Bai Man, standing shoulder to shoulder, but she couldn’t maintain Bai Man’s composure. She hesitated, then said, “I don’t think we should confront her directly.”

 

“There’s no need to worry. She’s already done what you fear.”

 

Su Qingwan’s eyes widened in disbelief, and she turned urgently to Bai Man. “The garment factory…”

 

“It’s just a few trolls. They can’t make a real difference,” Bai Man said casually. The livestream had been running for days, and many viewers had already received their orders. The exceptional value alone would prevent most from being swayed by the trolls’ comments. The only ones likely to be deterred were new fans entering the livestream for the first time.

 

But with the enthusiastic netizens flooding the chat to counter the trolls, even that impact would be minimized. The worst-case scenario would simply be a slight dip in sales.

 

Su Qingwan grew even more anxious. Glancing at the cameraman in the distance, she lowered her voice. “Now the whole internet knows Shangguan Yu can’t handle losing. She’ll definitely hold a grudge against you. What if she targets Hengjie Garment Factory again? What will we do then?”

 

Bai Man turned to face Su Qingwan, lifted her free hand, and tucked a stray strand of windblown hair behind Su Qingwan’s ear. “Do you trust me?”

 

Su Qingwan nodded without hesitation.

 

Bai Man was pleased with this answer, her round eyes softening with tenderness. “Then leave it to me. Hengjie Garment Factory will be fine.”

 

On the way back, she had already sent a text message to Bai Shanheng, instructing him to remain calm no matter what situation arose and to stick to the plan.

 

Bai Shanheng didn’t ask for details, simply replying with a single word: “Okay.”

 

That simple word, brimming with trust, was all the motivation Bai Man needed to ensure Bai Shanheng’s victory.

 

Su Qingwan’s lips parted slightly, but she remained silent.

 

“I’ll give you one more chance,” Bai Man said softly. “Is there anything else you want to ask me?” Since arriving here, she had never deliberately concealed anything. Even if Su Qingwan hadn’t known the original Bai Man well, after spending so much time together, she should have noticed the many differences between them.

 

Should I ask? Su Qingwan’s heart pounded in her chest.

 

Clap, clap, clap…

 

The sudden applause startled her out of her thoughts. She turned to see Director Xu standing by the camping mat, waving them over.

 

She murmured, “Let’s go over there.”

 

Bai Man’s brow furrowed slightly as she shot Director Xu a cold glance.

 

The moment Su Qingwan took a step forward, she belatedly remembered she had come to deliver yogurt to Bai Man. The yogurt that should have been in Bai Man’s stomach was now in their clasped hands.

 

She quickly withdrew her hand, her cheeks flushing slightly. “This yogurt tastes good. You should try it.” Before she could finish, she had already taken another step forward, as if bewitched by Bai Man once again.

 

Her mind was always so easily captivated by Bai Man.

 

She took several deep breaths to calm herself. Once composed, she cautiously glanced at Bai Man, who seemed to know what she wanted to ask.

 

She recalled a line from a book: “When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.”

 

So, had Bai Man truly become someone else? The idea was utterly absurd.

 

If that were true, where did this Bai Man come from? Where had the original Bai Man gone? Would Bai Man leave again?

 

“Your moods might have been affected by a misunderstanding,” Director Xu said, gesturing toward the lake. “Look at this beautiful sunny day. Every tourist here is in high spirits, but then they see your long faces.” He spread his hands. “Poof! Their good mood vanishes. So, do you want to stay and wait for the sunset, or go back to the Courtyard house and rest?”

 

The awkward humor fell flat. No one seemed to appreciate it.

 

Liu Heng got up from the camping mat. “Let’s go back.”

 

Someone nodded, and others quickly agreed.

 

“Alright then, pack up. We’ll go back and recharge. Tomorrow brings new challenges.”

 

Zhang Jiale curled his lip. “After all that talk, this is what you were waiting for us to do.”

 

Director Xu coughed awkwardly. “You young people really need to work on your emotional intelligence.”

 

Zhang Jiale: “……”

 

The others: “……”

 

Livestream Chat:

 

Don’t tell me they’re just brushing this off with a “misunderstanding.”

 

What else can they do? Against absolute capital, everyone’s just a pawn.

 

Bai Man, stand up for yourself! We can’t let them get away with this. The Little Princess needs to learn we’re not to be trifled with.

 

Can you guys upstairs quiet down? Bai Man is a person, not a god. What do you expect her to fight the Little Princess of the financial conglomerate with? Her sharp tongue?

 

Sigh, I knew it. Wanwan always runs away first, but she’s also the one who always comes crawling back to Bai Man. Wanwan, you need to stand up for yourself! Don’t let Bai Man manipulate you.

 

They’ve been standing by the lake for so long. What are they even talking about? Photographer, do your job! My 800-meter-long blade is already on its way.

 

Ugh, every single one of them is a coward. They know Shangguan Yu did it, but they’re too scared to even fart.

 

 

After packing up their camping mats, the group gathered at the self-service stall, where they had sold out of both fruit and ice.

 

Liu Heng quickly had Song Jie check the day’s earnings on his phone. When the total reached 4,000 yuan, he jumped up and down in excitement. “Great! We completed the mission!”

 

Seeing Yu Meng and Shangguan Yu approaching, he stopped and asked, “You’ve worked hard all day. Did you complete your mission too?”

 

With just a glance at Yu Meng and Shangguan Yu’s stiff expressions, Song Jie immediately knew they hadn’t succeeded.

 

Liu Heng had just rubbed salt in their wounds.

 

Song Jie frantically tried to signal Liu Heng with his eyes, but Liu Heng acted as if he didn’t notice. “Didn’t complete the mission? That’s going to be tough. There are only a few hours left before the day ends.”

 

Shangguan Yu tightened her grip on Yu Meng’s arm and forced a smile. “This is none of your concern.”

 

Liu Heng shrugged and nodded. “True. Since we all completed our missions, the punishment won’t fall on us anyway.”

 

The thought of having to perform in public for an hour as punishment made Yu Meng’s brow furrow deeply.

 

News of Shangguan Yu’s inability to accept defeat had spread like wildfire. Tourists not only pointed and whispered about them but also refused to patronize their stall, making it impossible to raise the remaining 300 yuan.

 

Yu Meng had considered selling the fruit at a loss, but vendors took advantage of her desperation, driving prices down mercilessly as her fruit began to wilt. Tourists who wanted to buy the fruit were deterred by the lack of knives for immediate consumption, waving her off and walking away.

 

Now, her only hope lay in selling the remaining fruit. She planned to return to the street and sell it below market price.

 

Bai Man saw through her plan. Turning to Song Jie, she said, “Hand over all the money we’ve earned these past few days to the Director.”

 

Song Jie immediately understood: Bai Man was deliberately humiliating Yu Meng.

 

Out of the five teams, four had completed their tasks. The remaining team’s failure to meet the deadline at the same time clearly indicated a lack of competence.

 

For an ordinary person, this might be a minor setback. But for the fiercely proud Yu Meng, it was worse than a slap in the face—a far more devastating blow to her pride.

 

Yu Meng’s hands clenched into fists at her sides, shame and fury surging through her. Only a sliver of rationality stopped her from making Bai Man pay for her actions right then and there.

 

Bai Man had trampled her pride into the dirt. If she had to endure another hour and a half of this performance, she would be utterly humiliated, inside and out.

 

Forcing her voice to remain calm, she turned to Director Xu. “Director Xu, I recall you assigned us a three-day deadline. It hasn’t even been three days since we started the task, has it?”

 

Director Xu nodded with a smile. “That’s right, that’s right.” He glanced at his wristwatch. “You still have seven hours left.”

 

“Then we won’t be returning with you. We’ll go handle the remaining fruit first.” Yu Meng shot a sidelong glare at the composed Bai Man, her voice laced with barely suppressed fury. “We’ll complete the task on time, no matter what.”

 

“Then be careful out there,” Director Xu cautioned, turning away. As he brushed past Bai Man, he couldn’t help but sigh softly.

 

Live Stream:

 

I knew Bai Man wouldn’t let this go. This is so satisfying! With just a few words, she completely crushed Yu Meng’s pride.

 

Reason tells me Bai Man is courting death, but it’s so satisfying! Is this what they mean by “killing without drawing bl00d”?

 

Why doesn’t Bai Man look even slightly worried? Bai Man, your livestream chat is blowing up with trolls again! You need to do something about it!

 

No worries, no worries. I might not be good at much, but I can handle trolls. I’ll go teach those keyboard warriors a lesson they won’t forget.

 

Amitabha. I think I already know how this will end for Bai Man and her family. I just hope she doesn’t regret this decision when she’s begging on the streets later.

 

Bai Man is being reckless! Where’s her brain? Did the dogs eat it? She’s delusional if she thinks she can move a mountain with a toothpick. The corporate giants could crush Hengjie Garment Factory with a flick of their pinky.

 

…

 

Bai Man remained oblivious to the online chatter, and even if she had known, she wouldn’t have cared.

 

Back at the courtyard house, she had just entered her room when she received a text from Sheng Hao: Arrangements have been made.

 

She put her phone away, pulled out her laptop, and began researching Shunyang’s activities over the past few years.

 

Meanwhile, Yu Meng and Shangguan Yu had arrived at the street and were standing in front of their fruit stall.

 

The street bustled with people, but no one stopped at their stall, leaving Shangguan Yu feeling discouraged.

 

“Mengmeng-jie, maybe we should just give up. We—”

 

Yu Meng raised her hand in a silencing gesture, signaling Shangguan Yu not to continue. She understood the implication: fake it.

 

Find an excuse to step out of frame, scan a small cash payment with her phone, and be done with it.

 

But she refused to do that. She disdained such pretense.

 

Shangguan Yu listlessly averted her gaze. Then, as if struck by an idea, she pulled out her phone and began typing rapidly. The moment the message was sent, her spirits lifted, a flash of triumph flickering in her eyes.

 

Courtyard house.

 

Su Qingwan returned to her room, restless and uneasy. After much deliberation, she finally approached Bai Man’s door and knocked softly. “Bai Man, are you free right now?”

 

“Come in.”

 

With permission granted, she turned the doorknob and pushed the door open.

 

After taking a few steps inside, she couldn’t see Bai Man anywhere. However, the sound of dripping water came from the bathroom.

 

Bai Man was showering.

 

Su Qingwan turned to leave, but before she could take a step, Bai Man’s voice rang out: “My clothes are wet. Can you grab me something dry?”