Chapter 93

Chapter 93

The live broadcast was interrupted again.

But this time, it wasn’t due to the production team; it was because of the massive surge in traffic, which overloaded the live streaming platform. The livestream stalled for a few seconds and then completely blacked out.

However, it didn’t extinguish everyone’s enthusiasm.

The entertainment industry hadn’t seen a "live one" for so long.

An Ye’s appearance was like dropping a deep-water bomb into a stagnant pond. The calm surface exploded into a series of bubbles, and the splashing water affected many people. An Ye’s contract termination, An Ye’s mental health issues, An Ye being forced by her manager to switch careers, An Ye in love, An Ye’s rumored relationship with Huàn Zhòu executives, Huàn Zhòu investing in opposite-gender friends, An Ye’s schedule at Huàn Zhòu—all of these became hot topics.

There were so many key points, fans were like fish that had just been awakened by an explosion, scrambling everywhere. They finally realized what was happening in places they didn’t know about—what their youth dreams, their idol they were proud of, the person they called "wife" or "husband" every day, was going through in secret.

Qí Wèi continued to leak information.

From Huàn Zhòu’s financial reports in recent years to internal management chaos, to Yán Wàn’s mental oppression of his artists.

None of it mentioned An Ye directly, but it all supported the statements An Ye made during the live broadcast.

For the moment, Huàn Zhòu fell silent.

They didn’t expect An Ye to directly reveal the one thing she feared to make public the most. All the rumors about her and Guān Shèng Yù that they had previously manufactured, with the timeline placed during the few weeks each year when An Ye disappeared (when she was sleeping, and couldn’t provide proof that she wasn’t with Guān Shèng Yù)—now all of those timelines were rendered useless.

The most favorable evidence was directly extinguished by An Ye’s side. Huàn Zhòu hadn’t anticipated that their plan to suddenly create a scandalous, all-network black-marketing campaign would end up in such an awkward situation.

Who could have guessed that a top-tier movie star could, in a still-shooting reality show, look straight into the camera and say, "I have mental health issues, and I am receiving psychological counseling"?

With such confidence, as though she only had a mild cold.

Her attitude greatly influenced the public’s opinion. Mental illness was often something people hid in society, a kind of unwritten rule for adults—if you had a mental illness, you hid it; if you had a flaw, you did your best not to show it.

Because it was shameful.

But An Ye spoke out confidently. She admitted that she had some mental health issues and was actively seeking treatment. Her speech during the live broadcast was clear, directly contradicting Huàn Zhòu’s words. Her emotional intelligence and IQ were both high.

This was a huge plus for her.

So, this became a weakness that could not be attacked openly.

Hidden weaknesses are constantly brought up because they’re hidden, but a weakness that is openly acknowledged will fade away. At least for now, no one would dare to use this as a means to attack her.

Huàn Zhòu’s attempt to diminish her commercial value through this smear campaign before she left was clearly a failure.

Half an hour later, the live platform restored the broadcast.

According to the plan, An Ye’s interview should have been followed by a segment with the regular cast member, Chí Tuō. However, when the broadcast resumed, the screen had already shifted to the eight of them having dinner together.

Chí Tuō did not give an interview. He said that An Ye had already said everything that needed to be said, and her stance was his stance.

Of course, this was the public response.

Internally, Chí Tuō was unusually quiet.

After An Ye exited the interview room, Chí Tuō only flicked her earlobe as he passed by and didn’t say anything more.Because they still had to record, An Ye didn’t actively try to talk to Chí Tuō.

She was actually a little scared.

Chí Tuō usually spoke more when his emotions were stirred, so this sudden silence was something she had never encountered before.

Fortunately, though, despite not speaking, his expression still seemed pretty normal.

Actually, the two of them were probably the most normal ones at the moment. The other three pairs of guests, after An Ye dropped that huge bombshell, had slightly stiff expressions on their faces.

When the director called for the countdown to the live broadcast, all six guests turned to the camera and forced a stiff smile.

【Oh my god, I’m scared to death. Why do they all look like puppets sitting at the dinner table as soon as the show starts?】

【Aaaaahhh, An Ye, I’m here!! Don’t be scared, An Ye!!】

【… An Ye doesn’t seem scared. She and Number Three look the most calm right now.】

【… So this live broadcast is just going to show them eating, right? No one’s talking?】

【Hahahahaha I believe this live broadcast doesn’t have a script anymore. All eight of them have “nothing to say” written on their foreheads. Hahahahahaha.】

【Although I’m a fan of Fei Fei, in this episode of the live broadcast, I want to watch An Ye and Number Three.】

【What’s the point of this show about opposite-gender friends? Wasn’t it supposed to be a slow reality show about friends? Why does it feel like a dating show now?!】

【What else can it prove? It proves that there’s no way for opposite-gender friendships to be pure!】

【?? Thanks, but I’ll take my Fei Fei and not date.】

【Aaaaah, I want to see my little Diāo Tóng!!! Aaaahhh, Guān Shèng Yù, I’ll kill you! Why did you drag my little Diāo Tóng into your internal struggle!!!】

【It’s been a minute, and no one has said anything. I’m going to feel secondhand embarrassment!】

【An Ye’s behavior on the show isn’t great. She’s affecting the others.】

【If she hadn’t talked about that during the live broadcast today, she’d just be Guān Shèng Yù’s ex-girlfriend—ungrateful, cheating on her childhood friend. Wouldn’t that also affect everyone else?】

【It’s really sad, being forced into this position by her previous company.】

【Waaaaahhh, don’t say any more, my eyes are crying so much I can barely see!】

【Aaaah!! I finally saw it! Lawyer Number Three served An Ye a bowl of soup!!】

An Ye also saw that bowl of soup.

They had been silent for two whole minutes, and she had already seen the director’s face turn green.

But honestly, she didn’t know what to say. The eight of them had only been together for two days, and their relationships weren’t close enough for them to try and change the subject to help An Ye out in a moment like this.

After all, An Ye seemed to have declared war on the entire Huàn Zhòu, and no one could predict what would happen next.

They still had to fill in forty minutes of live broadcast time, and An Ye had already prepared herself to stay silent for those forty minutes.

She had also thought it through—Yáo Ruò and Zhào Pī’s fans would probably be more understanding. This time, she would definitely be hated by Lù Yī Fēi’s fans.

She had stolen the spotlight, grabbed the topic, and even took the camera time.

Although this wasn’t what she wanted, and even though Qí Wèi had already leaked all the variety show resources suitable for them during the previous meeting, otherwise, the other three managers wouldn’t have cooperated so much.But all of that was behind-the-scenes deals. What everyone could see on the surface was that she had stolen the spotlight.

She sat there, head lowered, calculating what she would face after this live broadcast, with a bowl of soup placed in front of her.

"Drink some." Chí Tuō patted her head. "You hardly ate anything at lunch."

An Ye tilted her head to look at Chí Tuō.

Chí Tuō raised an eyebrow, pointing at the meat in the soup. "Although I really don't want to use this joke again, but this soup seems to be shiitake mushroom and old goose soup..."

An Ye: "…"

She didn’t know where her smile came from, but suddenly her eyes and brows were full of laughter. Realizing the camera was on her, she quickly lowered her head.

【Ohhhhhhhhhhhh...】

【Aaaah, I’m dead.】

【Ah, the tough person just now actually has red ears…】

【Actually, I was quite worried. Every time the camera focuses on An Ye, I’m afraid she’ll suddenly stand up and pull out a big knife to chop everyone at the table…】

【Actually, I +1】

【Fei Ge, Fei Ge, brave fly, Fei Fei's fans will always follow.】

【Suddenly, I feel like my baby can consider romance films in the future.】

【So is Number Three going to debut? What will they act in? I need to watch.】

"Is this old goose soup?" The person who spoke was Zhào Pī. He remembered how Chí Tuō had jumped down without hesitation yesterday to prepare to save him. Although his manager told him to wait and see, he thought, as a second- or third-tier singer, speaking up wouldn’t really offend Huàn Zhòu, right?

"Yeah, I saw it in the back kitchen." Chí Tuō took a sip. "Not bad."

"I'll have some." Yáo Ruò reached out. "I’m not kidding, I had nightmares all night because of the goose yesterday."

Of course, she was exaggerating.

But everyone laughed.

The ice was broken. Lù Yī Fēi stood up and served a bowl of old goose soup to Xiè Xiǎolíng.

Xiè Xiǎolíng’s round eyes instantly grew as big as ping pong balls. She jumped up, moved her seat to the empty space, not caring whether she was now facing away from the camera.

Lù Yī Fēi, who was originally thinking that since everyone was breaking the ice, he should break the ice too, said: "... Why are you running?"

Xiè Xiǎolíng: "…"

Big brother, your Fei Fei fan army could write a whole encyclopedia just by typing one letter per person. Don’t you have a clue in your heart!

Lù Yī Fēi, after looking down on his friend, stared at Chí Tuō for a while.

Chí Tuō looked up at him.

Lù Yī Fēi: "You're really not planning to debut?"

It's such a big scene! Why not take advantage of the traffic! Why not give it a shot!

Chí Tuō: "… No."【???? What the hell, Fei Fei, what are you doing?】

【Hahahahahaha, I suddenly realized that Lù Yī Fēi’s brain… You Fei Fei fans are really lucky.】

【That Number Five, hahahahaha, suddenly I feel like we might be sisters.】

Amidst the laughter, An Ye quietly lowered her head and drank her soup.

Chí Tuō glanced at the structure of the table, and even his handshake under the table was fully visible.

So, he could only bring his hand back up from under the table and pretend to continue eating nonchalantly.

The atmosphere had already improved a lot, and there was no need for Chí Tuō to look for an opportunity to break the ice anymore. His messy thoughts gradually calmed down.

He felt terrible.

When An Ye mentioned her narcolepsy during the interview, he felt like he almost forgot how to breathe.

Her analysis of their relationship, that line "She's a friend, a family member, also a lover, and sometimes, she's herself," almost encapsulated all of his long-held obsessions with intimate relationships.

She was beautiful during the interview. That resolute, gentle, contradictory feeling made his heart ache with every beat.

She had planned to say all those words.

No wonder she had been so nervous just now during the live countdown.

"What's wrong?" An Ye noticed that Chí Tuō hadn't spoken amidst the lively atmosphere, so she leaned in and asked.

Chí Tuō pressed his earphone, which was recording, against An Ye's ear and whispered something.

On camera, the icy, poker-faced An Ye—who was often called the "most poisonous woman’s heart" by her fans—softened, and her eyes and brows became playful as she glanced at Chí Tuō.

【? Is there something that I, as a privileged member, shouldn’t hear?】

【What did he say ahhhhhhh, I want to go to the fan forum, isn’t it better to ship them than to ship real people?!】

【Public displays of affection make you die fast! But when you're showing it, it’s so sweet ahhhhhhh!】

【Is Number Three going to debut? You see, he even knows how to adjust his earpiece when speaking.】

【The one who’s been asking if they’re going to debut, I’ve been watching you for a while. Are you Lù Yī Fēi’s manager?】

【I suddenly realize the comments are so much more harmonious without Number One.】

【So what did he say ahhhhhh, I want to hear it ahhhhhhh!】

【A friend variety show has me feeling dry-mouthed, blushing, and red-faced, is this reasonable?】

【Holy shit, look at An Ye’s hand!!】

【Aaaah, ten fingers tightly interlocked!!】

【Aaaahhh, you guys get married, I beg you, after you get married go on a marriage variety show, then go on a parenting show after having kids! Keep having kids, and I’ll keep watching!】

【... Don't go too crazy. An Ye left Huàn Zhòu precisely because she didn’t want to transform.】

An Ye squeezed Chí Tuō’s fingers.

His palm was slightly sweaty, probably from the panic attack she experienced during the live broadcast earlier.Chí Tuō originally wanted to tell her that the camera under the table could capture them, but when he touched An Ye’s fingers, he didn’t feel like moving anymore.

If it gets caught, then it gets caught.

After the camera moved away, An Ye even tugged on Chí Tuō’s hand like a child.

Chí Tuō chuckled.

An Ye also smiled softly, lowering her head.