Chapter 36: The Livestream’s Second Explosion

Thanks to Sang Zhiyi’s “thoughtful” reminder, even though Lou Yanchen was not in the center of the frame and only half his face was visible in a corner, many viewers still noticed him.

[Oh my god, President Lou’s expression is really terrible!]

[Has President Lou ever had a good expression on this show?

Wait, hold on, I’m just now seeing how terrifying his expression is this time!]

[Holy shit…

I’m scared…

Before, no matter how bad Lou Yanchen’s face looked, it was more internalized, with a low-pressure aura.

This time, he feels completely externalized, like he’s about to explode at any moment!]

The person who had pointed out Lou Yanchen’s expression was Sang Zhiyi herself, and Lou Yanchen understood her words perfectly.

This touched Lou Yanchen’s red line far more seriously than his beloved first love being stolen away by a substitute.

After all, the latter couldn’t actually give him a green hat, but the former truly had encroached upon his power.

Back when he hadn’t known, Zhong Yueyi had not only been inciting and encouraging other artists at Starlight to make things difficult for Ren Xiaoqian, but had also reached out this far, even having a hand in this dating show he had spent considerable effort to join?

What did Zhong Yueyi take him for?!

Mindful that he was still exposed in front of the cameras, Lou Yanchen held back again and again, ultimately not exploding.

But his expression was already somewhat undignified.

As soon as the production team noticed, they quickly moved the camera away from their financial backer.

[Ah, the camera cut away, and I didn’t get to see!

Someone must have taken a screenshot on Weibo.

I’ll look for it later!]

[President Lou’s anger is clearly directed at Zhong Yueyi, but isn’t Zhong Yueyi Starlight’s top female artist?

Why would she have such a big grudge with the president of Starlight?]

[This rumor might not be reliable, but supposedly, Zhong was just heavily fined by Starlight recently.]

[?!

Doesn’t Zhong Yueyi have a pretty good reputation?

What did she do?]

[I smell the scent of a melon!]

Many others were more focused on the content in the center of the frame.

[Qian Bao is praising the girls again!

She’s praised Sister Yingru and the little princess before, and now she’s not letting the new Sister Zhong Yueyi off either, hahahaha!

Qian Bao’s eyes are sparkling, she’s so cute!]

[I bet three spicy sticks that Zhong Yueyi will also be successfully won over by Xiao Ren later and become a member of the harem [doge]]

[So it’s all thanks to Sister Zhong Yueyi that our Qian Bao could even be on the show!

Thank you, Sister Yueyi!]

[I feel like something’s a bit off…

But Ren Xiaoqian looks so sincere that I don’t feel comfortable guessing wildly…]

[The reason Zhong Yueyi’s expression was bad just now was probably because of President Lou.

I don’t know what’s going on over there, but with Ren Xiaoqian welcoming her so warmly and gratefully, like a warm little sun, Zhong Yueyi’s expression isn’t so hard to look at anymore.]

Zhong Yueyi’s expression did gradually improve.

After the initial shock of being caught off guard, Zhong Yueyi quickly calmed down and realized that what she had been most worried about didn’t actually need to cause so much anxiety.

After all, Lou Yanchen cared so much about his pride; things that would make him lose face were only ever handled privately.

Greatly relieved, Zhong Yueyi put on her usual cheerful smile.

“Of course, I wasn’t expecting to be greeted so warmly by such a sweet girl as soon as I walked in.

I’m quite flattered!”

In one sentence, she easily smoothed over the awkwardness of Sang Zhiyi’s question, “Sister Yueyi, are you feeling unwell?”

As for Lou Yanchen’s side, since he wouldn’t do anything in public anyway, Zhong Yueyi simply chose to ignore him and warmly clasped Sang Zhiyi’s hand in return.

“Oh, and I haven’t even congratulated Xiaoqian yet!”

“The segment where you came to our Feng Chun set as a guest star—everyone who’s seen it has been raving about it.

Even if the character herself stepped out of the book, she couldn’t compare to you!”

Sang Zhiyi’s smile grew even sweeter.

The same old trick, wasn’t it?

Miss Zhong Yueyi really did like to use praise to elevate someone and set them up for a fall.

Last time it was “I’m afraid no one else in the entire entertainment industry can compare to you,” and this time it was “even the character herself couldn’t compare to you.”

Feng Chun was an adaptation of a novel of the same name, and the original book had considerable popularity.

After the live-action adaptation, before any official promotion had even been done, Zhong Yueyi was stepping on the original character to praise her—what kind of public opinion would that bring her?

The barrage indeed reacted to this.

[What?!

Qian Bao did a guest spot on Feng Chun?!]

[???

What the hell, what role did Ren Xiaoqian play that she dares to say she’s better than the original character?!]

[To be fair, that wasn’t Ren Xiaoqian who said that; it was Zhong Yueyi…]

[Our Yueyi has always been a straightforward, outspoken big sister.

It’s not like only Ren Xiaoqian can praise people.

Yueyi also says whatever she sees.

She and Ren Xiaoqian have such a good relationship; it’s normal to exaggerate a bit.]

[I can’t wait to see Sister Yueyi’s Qin Qiulu!

When will Feng Chun be scheduled for release?!]

“It’s because Sister Yueyi likes me that she thinks everything about me is good,” Sang Zhiyi said, her eyes curving into crescents.

“I also really like Sister Yueyi, so I think your Qin Qiulu is truly perfect!”

The corner of Zhong Yueyi’s mouth stiffened almost imperceptibly.

Sang Zhiyi had crossed the trap she had set so easily.

Moreover, even when praising her, Sang Zhiyi only used words like “perfect” without comparing her to the original character Qin Qiulu, let alone putting anyone else down.

If anyone paid attention to this detail in the future, the comparison between the two would be clear at a glance.

And that wasn’t the end of it.

Immediately after, Sang Zhiyi turned her face toward the camera, subtly pulling her hand out of Zhong Yueyi’s grasp, and waved to the audience.

“I’d like to take this opportunity to express my support for the show!”

“The screen adaptation of Feng Chun will be meeting everyone soon.

It’s a work that all of us actors and behind-the-scenes staff have put great care into.

I hope everyone will support it when the time comes.

Thank you!”

After speaking, Sang Zhiyi stepped aside two steps, naturally distancing herself further from Zhong Yueyi, and then bowed to the camera.

[Oh my god, I knew Xiao Ren was sincere, but I didn’t expect her to be this sincere with us, too!]

[That bow was so earnest.

You can feel the full sincerity even through the camera.

Okay, okay, I’ll definitely watch Feng Chun when it comes out!]

[Although it’s well known that Ren Xiaoqian has no acting skills to speak of, Zhong Yueyi’s praise must have some basis, right?

Ren Xiaoqian’s performance on Limited Season has been completely different from the impression she left before.

Maybe she’s improved in acting, too?]

[I’ll definitely support Qian Bao!

But Qian Bao, who exactly do you play in Feng Chun?]

[I just took a look at Ren Xiaoqian’s official Weibo and realized her last post was half a year ago.

What is Starlight doing?

It was understandable when Ren Xiaoqian wasn’t popular, but now that her mermaid has gone so viral, they’re still completely ignoring her? 

Feng Chun is such a big deal; even a guest spot should be properly promoted!]

The corners of Zhong Yueyi’s mouth were practically stiffening.

Sang Zhiyi had also taken this opportunity to promote the Feng Chun crew.

With Love of a Limited Season‘s immense popularity, everyone on the crew would be thrilled when they found out, and everyone would remember the favor Sang Zhiyi had done them.

After all, she, the female lead of Feng Chun, hadn’t been so timely in bringing traffic to the crew.

This episode of Love of a Limited Season had more than one special guest.

After Zhong Yueyi’s entrance, the second new guest walked into the villa.

The moment his figure entered the frame, the live stream’s barrage went crazy.

[???

Am I seeing this right?

Best Actor Yu?!]

[Zilin!

Husband Zilin, aaaaaaaaaa!]

[This presence!

This face!

I don’t know what to say except scream!!!]

[It’s Zilin in casual clothes!

So pleasing to the eye, so handsome, so amazing, aaaaaa!]

[Holy shit, holy shit, holy shit, what did Limited Season do to deserve bringing in the Best Actor?!]

[Although it’s not his first time on a show like Jiang Yingru, Best Actor Yu rarely does variety shows either!

And this is a dating show!]

[Rational analysis!

Rational analysis!

Best Actor Yu was also an artist at Starlight before, right?

Later, he started his own independent studio, but he’s still maintained a cooperative relationship with Starlight.

Isn’t President Lou an investor in the show?

Did he use his connections to get the Best Actor?]

It wasn’t just the live stream audience who were shocked by Yu Zilin’s arrival; most of the guests on set were, too.

Both Lou Yanchen and Song Ying looked completely surprised.

Zhong Yueyi gasped out loud.

“Oh my god, Best Actor Yu?!”

She looked like a little fangirl meeting her idol.

Sang Zhiyi also hadn’t expected that the production team of Love of a Limited Season could bring in such a big name.

Although this dating show had become popular much faster than in the original plot development, Yu Zilin wasn’t someone just anyone could invite.

His popularity and value were unmatched by any artist in the entertainment industry.

Sang Zhiyi quickly retrieved from her database the relationship between Yu Zilin and Starlight from back in the day.

But first of all, it was questionable whether Yu Zilin’s friendly cooperative attitude with Starlight after going independent was just a surface-level pretense.

And as for Starlight’s side, Lou Yanchen himself had come on Love of a Limited Season to pursue Jiang Yingru—oh, and maybe now also to pursue her.

With Song Ying already making him unhappy, would he specifically find himself such an excellent competitor?

As if aware that his arrival was somewhat sudden, Yu Zilin, after walking into the hall, calmly looked around at the other five guests and then spoke first.

“I heard your interview outside, asking each guest what their reason was for coming on this show.”

[Aaaaah, the Best Actor’s voice is so magnetic!

This deep voice is so pleasing, it makes me cry!]

[Honey!

Honey, could you please participate in more shows?

I don’t just want to see you on screen—]

[Wait!

Does that mean Best Actor Yu is going to actively tell us why he came on Limited Season?!]

Yu Zilin wasn’t the type to like dragging things out.

He continued quickly.

“I came because I actively asked to.”

[?!

What?

I didn’t hear that wrong, did I?

The Best Actor actively came on this dating show?

A dating show?!]

[Oh, right, this is a dating show!

Am I about to lose him?!]

Yu Zilin lifted his gaze, his eyes looking directly at Sang Zhiyi.

“—Because of her.”