Chapter 22: Angered by Failure to Make Good 2.0 Part 1

People can always grasp some inexplicable omens in the dark.

Before this, Li Tingzhou had sensed subtle feelings several times, but many happy moments converged into a sustained force, driving away those hazy shadows.

It was a pity they weren’t truly gone, just waiting for an opportunity to surge back.

For a split second, Li Tingzhou vividly remembered his last trans-Pacific call with Li Li. The always strong-willed she had sobbed before a lover seven years her junior:

Love isn’t compromise, nor chains; love should be uplifting and fulfillment.

If Li Tingzhou couldn’t provide it, then don’t stop her from seeking it herself.

These words still influenced his emotions even now.

Li Tingzhou couldn’t help but think: Did Xi He harbor similar thoughts?

If she truly was willing to accept compensation, all Li Tingzhou could do was let go and wish her well.

Before setting out to pick up Xi He in the evening, Liu Lusi stopped him.

“Don’t have too much psychological burden. No matter what, her proactive ambition is a good thing. If public opinion really flares up, and Xi He hesitates to take the first step due to one concern or another, she might regret it later.”

Especially watching her boyfriend’s ex-girlfriend gain popularity from a variety show.

Before this, platforms had made marriage documentary reality shows. Whether the guests ended divorced or reconciled, they all gained more possibilities: some switched careers, some started businesses. With attention, opportunities were never lacking. It was foreseeable that, whether famous or infamous, Li Li’s career was about to take a turn.

While her own life had no waves, even seeing the bottom at a glance…

For Xi He, this would definitely become an ever-growing knot in her heart.

“That’s all I have to say. From a female perspective, I hope she seizes the opportunity.”

Li Tingzhou was silent for a few seconds, then nodded.

Liu Lusi silently watched his departing figure until he was completely out of sight before turning back, meeting Mao Maoyu’s gossipy expression: “Li Li is going on a marriage observation reality show with her husband?”

“Can’t she? It’s not the era of ‘family shame must not be aired’ anymore.”

Mao Maoyu curled his lip: “Then wouldn’t our Mengmeng be leeched off?”

“The disadvantage you perceive isn’t necessarily a disadvantage. Look at it another way: broke up with the ex-boyfriend, now fighting with the husband on TV after marriage, and still needs the ex-boyfriend’s fame to draw widespread attention. What do you think the audience will think?”

“If I were a Melon-eating Spectator, I’d naturally compare Mengmeng with her husband!”

“Then how are Mengmeng’s odds?”

Mao Maoyu naturally followed Liu Lusi’s line of thought.

He mulled it over briefly and sucked in a cold breath: “Tsk, hard to say…”

“How old was Mengmeng back then? He hadn’t even finished school. A normal adult woman wouldn’t entrust her future to a boy who just came of age, right? Although Mengmeng is great now, a woman’s youth is so precious, the cost of waiting for a boy to grow up is too high.”

If mishandled, it’s the predecessor planting the tree, the successor enjoying the shade.

Liu Lusi replied: “See, you’re very clear about it too, aren’t you?”

“I…” Mao Maoyu choked, then stood back on Li Tingzhou’s side, “Alright, Li Li couldn’t afford to wait, but when she chose Mengmeng back then, he was a solidly legal 18 years old! That’s an unchangeable fact. Did she only realize she was so much older than Mengmeng at the moment of breakup?”

Mao Maoyu didn’t want to maliciously speculate about a woman, but deducing the process from the result, both Li Li and Zong Xincheng had been keeping their options open back then.

He met Liu Lusi’s meaningful, half-smiling gaze, and suddenly felt relieved.

“The netizens’ eyes are sharp. When the time comes, His Honor the Impartial Judge will naturally preside.”

~

J City’s old town area was quite congested. When Li Tingzhou received Xi He’s message, he was still two intersections away from the meeting point, coincidentally hitting a very long red light.

After waiting a full two minutes, the long procession of cars slowly started moving.

When he arrived at the meeting point, Li Tingzhou happened to catch them finishing their dinner and dispersing. Everyone was of similar age, similar build and aura. Except for Xi He, who wore a cap, most were essentially unobstructed.

“Hello.”

“Ah, you must be Mengmeng! I know you, I’ll go support your group with First Sister when I get back. Don’t worry, I’ll remember to watch the live stream.”

The speaker was one of Xi He’s seniors in the troupe, also her Senior Male Fellow Apprentice.

Obviously, he was the most socially adept character in the crowd, greeting everyone with a smile, paired with the bearing from years of training since childhood—possessing an indescribable affinity, practically the male version of Ren Shiyu.

Li Tingzhou shook his hand in thanks: “Many thanks for the support.”

Xi He smiled and said: “Actually, he just found out about you today.”

“Don’t expose me, ah. Although I just learned about Mengmeng, I truly regret not knowing him sooner!”

With this Senior Male Fellow Apprentice breaking the ice, other classmates also dared to come up and talk to Mengmeng.

Knowing Xi He was dating a boyfriend in showbiz was one thing; seeing him just arrive to pick her up like this surprised many: Mengmeng was simply dressed, wearing a baseball cap, no airs, no attitude. Ignoring his excessively handsome face (which was actually impossible to ignore), his demeanor was completely ordinary and unassuming!

So the group chatted a bit more, during which Li Tingzhou treated everyone to milk tea.

It was only when Ying Cong came out supporting his mother that everyone flocked over like fledglings waiting to be fed, greeting their teacher before heading home, each more well-behaved than the last.

Ying Cong spotted Li Tingzhou in the crowd immediately. He wanted to speak but held back.

Ying Ping gestured them over. The two stepped forward. Xi He actively introduced him: “Teacher, his name is Li Tingzhou, currently a music Producer.”

Li Tingzhou openly accepted Ying Ping’s scrutiny, until she slowly smiled.

“A fine couple.”

Xi He pressed her lips together: “Then, we’ll be going now!”

Ying Ping said: “Go ahead, I should head back too. Ying Cong? Ying Cong, go get the car—”

She turned her head to find her son’s lips slightly parted, seeming to forget to breathe, his eyes almost locked onto Li Tingzhou, his face flushing red then pale under the street light.

“He’s perfectly fine, you’ve seen him now.”

Ying Cong came back to his senses and instinctively said: “I’m fine.”

Meeting his mother’s knowing gaze, he stressed again: “I stopped liking her a long time ago, it’s not what you think anyway.”

“Then what do you mean?”

Ying Ping rarely interfered in her son’s decisions, whether life or work.

Today was originally a teacher-student dinner. When Ying Cong heard Xi He was coming, he suddenly insisted on joining. The only reason Ying Ping could think of was those lingering feelings. In the past, she wouldn’t demand her students show special respect just because Ying Cong was her son. Now, she wouldn’t separate a couple for Ying Cong’s sake either.

“Mom, I wanted to talk to Xi He, to invite her to my project.”

“Your word doesn’t count here, unless Xi He comes to tell me herself.”

~

No wonder showbiz was called a circle.

So many relationships intertwined, seemingly complex, yet going around always revealed overlapping points.

In the car, Li Tingzhou and Xi He sorted through their connections, concluding:

Everyone were acquaintances.

“Ying Cong clearly didn’t inherit many of Teacher Ying’s good points. His facial structure is too angular and hard. That frame of his just couldn’t soften no matter what. He went straight to the Central Academy of Drama for the Art College Entrance Exam, then switched majors during his master’s. I originally thought he wanted to be a director who makes films. Never expected this.”

At this point, Li Tingzhou had already guessed they were talking about the same matter.

Ying Cong and Xu Yuenan were from the same teacher’s line. Though their bond was limited, once interests were involved, everything became logical.

“So what are your thoughts?”

Xi He held the milk tea cup, her fingertips slightly moist: “I…”

She turned her face to gauge Li Tingzhou’s expression, instinctively trying to discern his stance—support or disgust? She was too unsure. She wanted to try something new, yet feared the judgmental eyes around her.

“If you’re still unsure, how about listening to my side first?”

“Okay.”

Li Tingzhou briefly summarized the background, then directly entered the marketing war that Xi He better understood and was more interested in.

This was an unavoidable scene. He had some psychological preparation, but Xi He, caught in it, didn’t. Past news related to Mengmeng’s relationship, Liu Lusi had intentionally concealed any details about Xi He. It was one thing for fans to privately know, but everyone tacitly agreed not to proactively expose anything regarding the civilian party.

Now it was different.

Whether Xi He was willing or not, after this massive marketing campaign, her information was likely no longer an unspoken secret.

“…That’s the current situation. Because of me, you might get hurt. Maybe you’ll be walking to work and suddenly someone will rush up and say all sorts of nonsense. Maybe your social media accounts will receive inexplicable private messages. Maybe strangers will add you as a friend with malicious intent, insulting you for no reason. I’m very sorry. You’re not a public figure, yet you have to suffer due to association.”

Xi He was stunned for several seconds: “I, I actually had some ideas about it.”

She had imagined receiving attention because of Li Tingzhou; as long as they were together for a day, the label “Mengmeng’s Girlfriend” would follow her for a day.

But she’d never thought of using this name to do anything self-serving.

Xi He instinctively asked: “If I’m treated like this despite being unrelated to them, then what about you usually—”

Meeting her gaze, Li Tingzhou’s internal struggle completely stopped at this moment.

“Sister, though it sounds very pragmatic, I hope the harm you suffer because of me can be compensated. You mentioned before that a show Producer invited you to participate in her project, right? She is actually Ying Cong’s Senior Sister. If everything goes smoothly, this show will start filming in autumn.”

Xi He got a certain premonition in a very short time, her heart suddenly pounding!

“Why are you telling me this?”

“You were a bit interested before, right?”

Li Tingzhou sighed softly: “The project is about to mature and launch. Sister Lusi will help you negotiate a full-season contract. No matter the outcome, sister, you can try your best.”

“I…”

Xi He wanted to say, she was actually a bit scared.

But more than fear, what filled her heart now was excitement, anticipation!

“You said this is compensation?”

Li Tingzhou nodded helplessly: “Yes.”

Xi He took a deep breath, her mood rapidly falling back to baseline for a moment: “Okay, alright, I accept. I’ll go. You don’t need to feel sorry for me. I’m the one using your fame to go on a show.”

“Don’t think like that. I’m very willing to let you use it.”

“Since we’re already talking about this, is there anything else?”

Li Tingzhou didn’t hide it: “Li Li and Zong Xincheng will join a reality show on Whale in the third quarter, a marriage documentary observation type. Besides them, there are several other couples. Basically, they’ll film a group travel process, letting guests find their lost selves in marriage.”

Xi He suddenly understood: Oh, no wonder, so they’re all converging together.

She’d originally felt inexplicably guilty about borrowing her boyfriend’s fame, but now she felt much more relieved.

Even the married ex-girlfriend could leech off it, yet she, as the official girlfriend, was full of hesitation and scruples.

That didn’t make sense!

Thinking of this, Xi He said softly: “Send me Sister Lusi’s contact info. If she needs anything, she can contact me directly. Posting on Weibo, posting on Little Red Book, in any case, your matters are more important right now.”