Chapter Thirty-Two: Lu Jiacheng’s Double Standards

This time, it was just a quick little pre-meal game. The whole thing moved at lightning speed. There were only twenty-five meters to cover—not far at all.

After everyone confirmed which foot to start with, Bai Yang blew the whistle to signal the beginning.

Yu Tang and Zhou Ziheng had carefully discussed their plan beforehand—up, down, left, right, left, right, BABA. But as soon as they started, it was as if all their previous discussion was for naught.

Both Yu Tang and Zhou Ziheng stepped out with their left foot at the same time. Yu Tang almost lost her balance and was nearly tripped to the ground. Luckily, her extraordinary sense of balance kicked in, and her left foot landed steadily on the ground.

The other teams weren’t so lucky. Some tripped, others tumbled. Especially the pair of Xiao Yufei and Xiang Youran. Xiang Youran prided herself on her experience and skill, but Xiao Yufei was impatient and fiery, refusing to listen. The two of them stumbled along, having to pause every two steps.

Yu Tang took stock of the situation, quickly straightened up, and reset her state of mind. After a brief moment of thought, she simply put her arm around Zhou Ziheng’s shoulders, pulling them closer together. Zhou Ziheng stiffened instinctively, but Yu Tang, oblivious, lowered her gaze and focused intently on their steps, her eyes burning with the desire to win.

“When I say ‘one,’ you step with your right foot, and I’ll step with my left,” Yu Tang said, her voice cool and calm. After all this time on the show, it was rare for her to speak with such neutrality. Zhou Ziheng, who had always been treated differently, couldn’t help but overthink it. Was she holding herself back, acting distant because she actually liked him? Otherwise, why would she have hinted at her feelings before?

While Zhou Ziheng was lost in his thoughts, Yu Tang had already started calling out the rhythm and moving forward. Zhou Ziheng, a grown man, was nearly pulled off his feet. When he snapped back to reality and saw Yu Tang’s stormy expression, he felt a rare pang of guilt.

“Let’s… let’s try again,” Zhou Ziheng adjusted his glasses, his voice uncharacteristically soft.

[There’s no love in Yu Tang’s eyes, only the thirst for victory.]

[This is hilarious—Yu Tang’s strength nearly toppled Zhou Ziheng!]

[Why is Yu Tang suddenly so serious? Is she in a hurry to clock out?]

With each adjustment, Yu Tang and Zhou Ziheng’s coordination improved, and their pace quickened. Beside them, Xiao Yufei dragged Xiang Youran forward with great effort, while Shen Tianshi took good care of Chen Cheng, moving steadily together. Xie Yi and Lu Zhiming were also surprisingly in sync, close on the heels of Yu Tang and Zhou Ziheng.

Twenty-five meters isn’t long or short. In the end, Yu Tang, relying on her extraordinary balance, led Zhou Ziheng across the finish line first. Xie Yi and Lu Zhiming trailed closely behind, with Xiang Youran and Xiao Yufei bringing up the rear.

[No way, Xiang Youran finished last again? Is it really that bad?]

[Is the young lady on a diet lately? Why does she seem so reluctant to eat?]

[Is it that she doesn’t want to eat? She can’t even get the chance!]

[I get it now—whoever stands under the cherry blossoms looks beautiful, and Yu Tang can win with anyone.]

[This is killing me. Four missed meals in two days.]

[Zhou Ziheng and Yu Tang actually make a good pair, don’t they?]

Bai Yang watched as Xiang Youran and her partner crossed the line last, feeling somewhat at a loss. Wasn’t Yuan Yi’s side supposed to say that Xiang Youran was good at these mini-games, with a great sense of balance and strong dancing skills? How could she not even score on such an easy round?

Thinking of the call he’d just received, Bai Yang felt himself falling apart. “Sumimasen, Mama-chan,” he thought, “I think I’ve messed this up.”

Once everyone had finished, Bai Yang could only sigh helplessly, picked up a megaphone, and announced, “That’s the end of today’s game.”

“To reward our guests for all their hard work on the show, we’ve prepared a surprise for everyone.”

A surprise? That was far too tempting.

Yu Tang’s eyes lit up.

[Don’t tell me everyone has to do another mini-game at the end to compete for the final prize, haha!]

[That would be evil. I bet it’s just an early wrap so the guests can go eat on their own!]

[You don’t know Bai Yang. He gives practical gifts. Gold prices are up lately—my guess is he’s giving out gold.]

The chat was buzzing with speculation.

Bai Yang smiled mysteriously. “The surprise is that the show has already prepared lunch for everyone.”

“Everyone gets a share! The little game just now was simply to help you work up an appetite!”

Everyone fell silent: …Do you even hear yourself?

“Damn it, Bai Yang, are you messing with me?!”

Yu Tang was the first to rush forward. If everyone got to eat, what was the point of all her effort just now? Did it just prove she had physical strength?

Seeing Yu Tang so agitated, Bai Yang instinctively backed up two steps, only to be shoved forward again by the assistant director behind him. Bai Yang dug his heels in, but even his infected toe couldn’t withstand the assistant director’s brute strength. The assistant director’s ambition was at its peak.

“Good luck, Bai Yang,” he seemed to say.

Bai Yang looked stricken, while the assistant director grinned in triumph.

Xiao Yufei, seeing Yu Tang so riled up, hurried over and hugged her tightly.

“Don’t—don’t get upset! Just let him off this time, for my sake!”

After all, this was her only chance at a proper meal.

Yu Tang froze, turning to look at Xiao Yufei.

“You… Sigh! You… Sigh!”

[This is hilarious—Yu Tang is the embodiment of wanting to say something but holding back.]

[Is this round even fair? Tell me, who’s the real royalty—Xiang Youran or Xiao Yufei?]

[Isn’t this just messing with people?]

[Still, you can’t really let Xiang Youran go hungry for four out of two days’ worth of meals.]

In the end, Xiao Yufei and Xiang Youran managed to get a meal.

The sun was shining brightly. Everyone sat around a long table, eating and chatting, the atmosphere the most harmonious it had been in two days.

……

Meanwhile, at Yuan Yi Media, in the president’s office.

“President Lu, since Miss Yu appeared on the variety show, she’s gotten a lot of endorsements and some scripts are coming her way.”

“Should we handle these resources as usual?”

Zhang Hong spoke with some hesitation.

Lu Jiacheng, wearing a flamboyant red silk shirt and sporting white-dyed hair, sat in his office chair, his features striking and devilishly handsome. At these words, he lifted his brows, leaned back, and a wicked smile played at his lips.

“All of them for little Yu Tang?”

“I knew my little Yu Tang would make us proud. Back then, just one Confession of Midsummer made waves. Who dares say she’s no good? My little Yu Tang is amazing.”

His tone brimmed with pride.

But Zhang Hong didn’t look happy, her expression complicated. If you said Lu Jiacheng was good to Yu Tang, he always blocked her opportunities and mercilessly handed them to his favorites. But if you said he was bad to Yu Tang, he always spoke of her so intimately.

Sometimes, Zhang Hong couldn’t see through what Lu Jiacheng truly wanted.

Lu Jiacheng looked up at her, eyes smiling. “You’ve been with me this long and still don’t know how to handle it?”

Beneath the gentle look was a hidden sharpness.

The moment their eyes met, Zhang Hong’s heart skipped a beat. “Yes, President Lu, I understand. I’ll negotiate with the brands to see if we can switch the ambassador to Youran.”

She finished, sneaking a look at Lu Jiacheng, holding her breath, hoping she’d guessed right.

Lu Jiacheng nodded with a smile, signaling her to leave.

Zhang Hong let out a long sigh of relief—she’d guessed correctly.

After Zhang Hong left, Lu Jiacheng sat alone in his swivel chair. Staring at the computer screen, a hint of obsession flickered in his eyes.

On the screen, a livestream clip from “Those Little Things About Love” was playing.

Yu Tang’s smiling face filled the screen.

“Tang Tang, see, when you married Song Zhiyan back then, you didn’t get anything out of it either…”

His voice was a low murmur, as if in gentle reproach.