I Turned a Competitive Variety Show into a Dating Show - Chapter 43

Every time Shi Xu embraced Jian Zhi, she felt her heart calm almost instantly. Jian Zhi was like a mythical fairy whose touch purified all things; simply being near her made Shi Xu’s negative emotions slowly dissipate.

The minutes ticked by, neither woman breaking the silence. They seemed to be waiting for the other to speak first.

Shi Xu had no intention of ruining the moment. She wished time could freeze in this embrace, so why would she ever let it end?

Jian Zhi knew that as long as the little dog didn’t let go, no amount of pushing or resistance from her would make a difference. She decided it wasn’t worth the effort to argue.

After a long while, a noise from outside startled Jian Zhi awake from her reverie. Her first thought upon regaining her senses was to realize the little dog was secretly licking her neck.

No wonder her neck felt wet and warm—it was all this little rascal’s doing.

Jian Zhi gripped Shi Xu by the scruff of her neck, her eyes narrowing as she gazed down at her. Shi Xu glanced up at her before slowly averting her gaze.

“What are you doing?”

“Your neck is dry, Elder Sister. I’m just helping to moisturize it.”

Jian Zhi scoffed, tearing Shi Xu off her and quickly changing her clothes to leave. Shi Xu trailed behind her like a puppy needing to relieve itself.

Jian Zhi couldn’t bear to see her like this. Just as she was about to step out, she suddenly turned around, cupped Shi Xu’s face in her hands, and vigorously pinched and rubbed her cheeks until they flushed red.

“There, that’s enough. Don’t follow me now. Come out later.”

Shi Xu looked crestfallen. “Can’t we go together?”

Jian Zhi glanced at her flushed cheeks, a faint smile tugging at her lips. “No, it would be too obvious if we went out like this. People might think I’m mistreating you.”

“That’s okay. I like it when Elder Sister mistreats me.”

Both froze, as if struck by a shared memory. Shi Xu didn’t realize Jian Zhi was thinking the same thing; she had always assumed Jian Zhi had forgotten about that incident.

Jian Zhi yanked the door open and hurried out, her movements slightly flustered. As the door slammed shut, Shi Xu thought she saw Jian Zhi’s ears turn red.

Eh? Is she blushing?

Shi Xu’s heart began to race, a strange heat spreading from where Jian Zhi had touched her. As her pulse quickened, the burning sensation consumed her mind, slowing her reactions.

It was half an hour after Jian Zhi left before Shi Xu finally left her dorm.

The moment she arrived at the practice room, Shu Yueyao greeted her with a radiant smile, making it difficult for Shi Xu to snap at her. As the saying goes, “Don’t hit a smiling face.” In this world, it seemed that those with morals truly suffered.

“Did you see the trending topic? This time, I didn’t buy it—the fans themselves are shipping us!”

“……” Shi Xu took a deep breath, brushed past her, and walked over to the vocal coach to begin learning the song.

This was a singer-songwriter stage, and apart from her and Shu Yueyao, the other three participants were experienced veterans. Naturally, they wouldn’t be as nervous as the newcomers, which explained why only the two of them had arrived early.

“Have you divided the lyrics yet?” The new vocal coach was a doll-faced beauty who looked young and had a voice as sweet as sugar water.

Shi Xu shook her head and sat down cross-legged. Shu Yueyao walked over and sat beside her, saying, “Teacher, why don’t you teach us both?”

It was obvious what she was after—the cameras would be here soon.

Shi Xu couldn’t understand why Shu Yueyao had chosen her out of all the people present. In terms of popularity and fame, she was far behind the top-ranked actresses and singers. Moreover, her reputation was so terrible that everyone avoided her. Only Shu Yueyao had been enthusiastic from the start, and now she was forcibly trying to create a couple’s image, disregarding Shi Xu’s wishes entirely.

Someone as ruthless as Shu Yueyao, who would stop at nothing to gain fame, wouldn’t act blindly. Choosing Shi Xu from among so many other sisters must mean she saw some potential benefit. This meant Shu Yueyao had likely known Shi Xu’s true identity from the beginning. Shi Xu glanced at her, and Shu Yueyao smiled back, her eyes curving into crescents.

Just then, the camera zoomed in for a close-up of the two of them. Shi Xu impatiently waved her hand, signaling the cameraman to back off.

Sensing her displeasure, the teacher asked sweetly, “Shall we start learning the song now? We can divide the parts once the other members arrive.”

Shi Xu had no objections. Enduring Shu Yueyao’s torment was far worse than getting down to business. She wanted to learn the song quickly so she could go to the practice room next door and see Jian Zhi.

Sister, I miss you so much! ╥_╥

Shi Xu learned quickly. Having played various instruments in her rebellious youth, music theory came naturally to her. By late morning, the other three members finally arrived, immediately vying for the center position and the chorus, staging a full-blown palace intrigue. Shi Xu, the wide-eyed newcomer, watched in stunned silence.

These are established figures in the industry. Can’t they maintain some dignity?

The answer was a resounding no.

The deadlock persisted, leaving the other members caught in the middle, torn between sides. The vocal coach tried to intervene, only to be bombarded by the trio’s collective ire, shrinking into a corner like a scolded child. Shi Xu felt a surge of inexplicable anger.

“Ladies,” she said, pausing deliberately and sweeping her gaze across the three. “Anyone watching this group would think we’re doing a musical. Do you really think this is appropriate?”

“Exactly, sisters,” Shu Yueyao chimed in, naturally siding with Shi Xu. “Let’s focus on the stage performance.”

“Just because you’ve headlined a few concerts and written some hit songs doesn’t mean you’re above needing to work together,” Shi Xu continued. “This kind of infighting is pointless.”

Shi Quan, content with others avoiding her, had no desire to socialize. After a moment’s thought, she recalled that this person had debuted through a talent show, specializing in rock music and gaining popularity for her straightforward and genuine personality, earning praise from fans for her skills.

“So, according to you, the songwriting stage should only feature professionals, with each of your groups crushing ours with every line? Then our group might as well not even compete, and this show could just end right now. You guys can form your group and be done with it, right?”

“I didn’t say that. I just mean professionals should handle professional tasks. If you don’t understand, just let us spoon-feed you the answers instead of interrupting with all this nonsense.”

“Oh, you’re so professional, yet you don’t know that forcing rock elements into a sentimental ballad would sound completely out of place?”

Jiang Yun was so furious she couldn’t speak. Another member stepped in to confront Shi Xu. Though their group lacked internal unity, they wouldn’t tolerate outsiders questioning their professionalism.

“Jiang Yun isn’t wrong. To make this stage stand out, we need to add something different. Otherwise, how can we compete with groups that have more popularity?”

This one was even harder to judge. To showcase her “talent,” she actually wanted to insert a poetry recitation into the middle of a song.

Who wouldn’t find that absurd?

“So, that’s your reason for insisting on the poetry recitation?”

Chu Qian choked slightly, forcing herself to say, “I only meant we could try it. I didn’t say we absolutely had to add it.”

“Good. I misunderstood you. I didn’t realize you were so reasonable. My opinion is that we absolutely shouldn’t add it.”

Chu Qian was speechless, her face as sour as Jiang Yun’s.

“What about you, Sister Wei?” Shi Xu tossed the question to Zhang Wei, the group’s oldest member, who appeared agreeable but had been stirring up trouble from the start.

“I’ve said from the beginning that I’m fine with whatever. It’s up to you young people. You understand the audience’s preferences better than I do, so just go with your ideas.”

“Excellent. Then there are no further issues. Let the vocal coach divide the parts based on timbre. The half-minute break in the middle is enough for you to showcase your skills.”

The three “vocal powerhouses” still seemed unconvinced. Shi Xu turned directly to the camera and said, “Come on, if any of you have objections, please voice them to the camera.”

Seeing the camera shift toward them, the trio finally fell silent.

The vocal coach looked at Shi Xu with gratitude, instantly becoming a devoted fan.

After restarting the rehearsal, the atmosphere was much calmer. Shi Xu didn’t compete for the x-part; he had no intention of joining the group anyway. He just focused on singing his own part well.

They practiced until the coach declared it good enough. Shi Xu immediately packed up and slipped out, not wanting to linger a second longer in the stuffy rehearsal room.

Shu Yueyao chased after her, and Jian Zhi quickly ducked into the adjacent practice room, pulling Shi Xu behind her for cover.

“Sister, save me~”

Jian Zhi, initially worried something had happened, understood immediately when Shu Yueyao flashed past. “Are you really that scared of her?” she asked, exasperated. “Where’s all that sass you usually have?”

“Even a martial arts master fears a kitchen knife,” Shi Xu retorted. “She’s like sticky candy, clinging to me. I can’t hit her, so I have to hide.”

Sticky candy? Jian Zhi thought. Well, there’s one right here.

“Sister, wanna grab dinner together?” Shi Xu asked, resting her chin on Jian Zhi’s shoulder and nuzzling her cheek.

Jian Zhi’s ear tickled. She tilted her head away. “I want to finish practicing this section first. Go ahead if you’re hungry.”

Shi Xu sat cross-legged on the floor, propping her chin in her hand as she watched Jian Zhi. “I’ll wait for you.”

Jian Zhi didn’t want Shi Xu to see her clumsy dance moves. Just as she was about to shoo her away, Shi Xu said, “You don’t want me getting tangled up with bad people, do you, Sister?”

Jian Zhi paused, then said, “Let’s go.”

Shi Xu grinned, looking like a sly fox who had just outsmarted her prey.

After dinner, they returned together. As they passed the restroom, they overheard Chu Qian on the phone, complaining about Shi Xu’s behavior earlier that day.

“She’s completely arrogant, showing no respect for her seniors. She acts like she owns the TV station, bossing us around like we’re her subordinates.”

Jian Zhi tilted her head to look at Shi Xu, who immediately shook her head in denial.

“But with her reputation, we don’t even need to smear her. Just subtly guide the narrative during the broadcast, and she’ll be torn to shreds by the audience. Hahaha!”

Shi Xu hadn’t been particularly bothered at first, but the woman’s shrill laughter grated on her nerves.

“Sis, you should go to the practice room. I need to step out for a bit.”

Jian Zhi grabbed her sleeve. “Don’t do anything rash.”

Shi Xu chuckled. “Relax, I’m not going to pick a fight with her.”

Jian Zhi gave her a skeptical look.

“So, you really think I’m some kind of hotheaded brawler?”

Jian Zhi remained silent, her expression clearly conveying, “Well, aren’t you?” Shi Xu wanted to laugh but reluctantly pushed her into the practice room.

“I’m really not going to start a fight. I’ll be back in an hour at most.”

Half an hour later, in Shi Mu’s office.

“You came all the way here just for this? You’ve got a wife and forgotten your sister already!” Shi Mu pouted, feigning displeasure.

Shi Xu pulled out the gift she’d prepared. “I waited in line for ages to get this. It was so hot, my clothes are soaked through. Look, look!”

Shi Mu’s eyes curved into crescent moons, revealing her small fangs. “So you do have a conscience after all, knowing I love this.”

Seeing her tactic work, Shi Xu whispered, “Then about what I mentioned earlier…”

“Keeping their footage isn’t difficult, but if we don’t cut a single second, the show’s runtime will exceed the limit. The director and producers might not agree.”

“Extending it by ten minutes isn’t a big deal. Don’t they all listen to you anyway? As long as you approve, it’ll be fine.”

Shi Mu pretended to ponder before saying, “Alright, since my adorable little sister is asking, I naturally have to grant your wish.”

“Adorable? I’m going for a mature, sophisticated look now, okay? It’s supposed to be cool and sexy.”

Shi Mu couldn’t help but laugh, teasing affectionately, “Alright, alright, Miss Cool and Sexy, would you do me the honor of having dinner with me?”

Shi Xu felt too awkward to refuse, especially after asking her sister for a favor. She couldn’t just leave without showing any gratitude.

Besides, she needed to explain exactly what had happened so Shi Mu would understand the situation. Otherwise, her sister might think she was abusing her influence to sabotage people she disliked.

But this wasn’t about targeting them. She wasn’t fabricating anything; she was simply presenting the truth to prevent viewers from misunderstanding her.

Since they were using seniority and status to bully her, they couldn’t blame her for retaliating with the same tactics.