Chapter 64.1

The show aired as scheduled and quickly trended on social media.

There was no need to mention Song Chaowen and Shen Li; even a small clip of them would be enough to garner immense attention. Song Chaowen’s popularity was sky-high, and even though he was married, it didn’t affect his fame. On the other hand, Shen Li was criticized harshly, but their couple’s appearance on this show turned out to be the right choice. At least the fans who had initially criticized Shen Li gradually accepted her.

Isn’t it the case that idols are admired because they seem unreachable to fans?

How many sleepless nights had fans spent over his relationship and marriage? Did he know that such feelings might be a burden for an idol?

Since fans couldn’t be part of his real life or share in his joys and sorrows, when he found the person he thought was right for him, even if they couldn’t offer blessings, they shouldn’t hurt the one he loved.

After all, fans are just fans, and idols are just idols. They should keep some distance from his private life, given the wide stage and screen separating them.

Xu Yuan read the comments from Song Chaowen’s fans on Weibo and, for some reason, found herself understanding them a bit.

Song Chaowen was too good; he excelled as an actor and was perfect in many people’s eyes. He was a role model, and when he returned to family life, it was natural for fans to feel a bit reluctant and even experience an indescribable sadness.

Shen Li was actually quite good. At least Song Chaowen was happy with her, and that was enough.

Besides that, Xu Yuan and Meng Zhengrong had also been trending for a few days. Of course, she had anticipated this; in the second episode, the scene where she and Meng Zhengrong were gutting fish was not something the production team would cut.

In reality, gutting fish was nothing extraordinary. You could see it every day at the market, and even the cooks at home could do it. It was a bit strange that it became a highlight and a source of humor, but this era was odd. She and Meng Zhengrong were perceived as a wealthy couple, so their doing such things sparked discussions. What seemed trivial to them attracted netizens’ affection, while strangely, some stars who engaged in charity were criticized instead.

Who could explain this phenomenon?

Although Xu Yuan and Meng Zhengrong were indeed wealthier and lived more comfortably than average people, at the end of the day, they were still human. As humans, they grew up eating grains and living life like everyone else.

Looking at the comments on Weibo, Xu Yuan didn’t know whether to be happy or regretful that the goddess image she wanted to cultivate had completely failed.

— Hahaha, my God! I thought it would be Shen Li gutting the fish, but I never expected it to be Mrs. Meng is doing it herself! The key is how calm she looked! I tried holding a knife while looking at a live fish and almost peed myself! But I really like Mrs. Meng’s character; it’s completely different from my impression of a wealthy young lady!

— Am I the only one thinking about why Meng Zhengrong actively wanted to gut the fish later? I feel like he was scared by the young lady; I even took screenshots of his expression at that moment! Who wants them? Message me; I want the unmarked ones!

— I want them! I also think Meng Zhengrong was scared; he probably wanted to show his manliness, haha! Otherwise, why would he ask to gut the fish so early the next day? By the way, have you considered the fish’s feelings? Side note, I think the young lady and Meng Zhengrong’s personalities are a perfect match. They really complement each other. I never believed in fairy tales in life before, but now it’s right in front of me! They’ve turned their life into a fairy tale!

— I feel like Song Chaowen and Shen Li still have some idol baggage and aren’t as natural as the other two couples. Anyway, my favorite couple is Meng Zhengrong and Meng Tai. It’s probably because of their backgrounds; they seem very relaxed and natural, completely unrestrained. They seem much more comfortable to watch. They don’t rely on traffic or fans for their livelihood, so they perform even better. I really hope Song Chaowen and Shen Li can relax a bit more.

— Although I also really like Meng Zhengrong and Mrs. Meng, it’s not right to criticize Song and Shen’s couple. They’ve said they’re actors and will continue to develop in this industry. Some people really talk without understanding the situation. Who wouldn’t want to interact like Meng Zhengrong and Mrs. Meng? They have the money to be carefree! They can act however they want because they aren’t afraid of being criticized. After the show, they can still live well. Actors, on the other hand, have to be careful; if they say one wrong thing or don’t do something right on a reality show, audiences remember for a long time!

Meng Zhengrong didn’t maintain his enthusiasm for the show for long; he hardly browsed the comments on Weibo anymore.

In his words, “Once you see too much, it loses its charm. There’s nothing fresh about it anymore.”

However, Xu Yuan’s gutting fish incident still left its aftereffects.

For example, one day, Mother Meng invited Xu Yuan and Meng Pingting to have afternoon tea together. Xu Yuan guessed that Mother Meng wanted her to help persuade Meng Pingting.

Xu Yuan wasn’t particularly keen on this matter, but since Mother Meng had already made plans, it was hard for her as a sister-in-law to pretend not to know.

Even though it was winter, the weather was lovely that day. Xu Yuan checked the weather forecast before heading out, and it was nearly ten degrees.

Wearing cropped pants and comfortable white shoes, Xu Yuan felt warm and comfortable as she walked along the road.

When Xu Yuan arrived, Meng Pingting hadn’t yet shown up. Mother Meng noticed Xu Yuan’s outfit right away. Seeing her bare ankles, she couldn’t help but start to lecture her.

“What’s the point of looking good in winter? If you catch a cold, you’ll regret it when you’re older!”

However, just as Mother Meng was about to educate Xu Yuan, she thought of her calm demeanor while gutting fish on the show and suddenly didn’t know what to say.

At over fifty years old, she had never gutted a fish in her life, and to her, it seemed like a terrifying task. Yet her daughter-in-law had done it without batting an eye.

Forget it; the house had heating, and Xu Yuan wouldn’t be staying outside for long. She would be in and out by car, so she probably wouldn’t get cold.

No need to say too much and annoy her daughter-in-law. Hmm.

Seeing Mother Meng’s hesitance, Xu Yuan smiled and asked, “Mom, what’s wrong?”

Mother Meng shook her head. “It’s nothing. What do you want to eat? Let’s order something first. I don’t know when Peiting will arrive.”

Xu Yuan felt that Mother Meng wanted to say something but couldn’t quite get it out. She decided not to press the issue and sat next to Mother Meng, waiting for Meng Pingting to arrive.

Before long, Meng Pingting arrived. She looked much thinner than in the past; the baby fat she once had was gone.

Mother Meng felt a pang of sympathy for her daughter, but as a parent, some things could be compromised, while others concerning her daughter’s future couldn’t be. They couldn’t simply indulge her.

Some might say that with a family like the Meng, even if Meng Pingting didn’t study abroad, she would still live better than most. But being in such a family didn’t allow her to drift through life aimlessly. She had to be more exceptional than most.

After Meng Pingting greeted Xu Yuan, she sat down. The waiter soon came in to serve snacks.

Seeing that neither Meng’s mother nor Meng Pingting was in the mood to eat, Xu Yuan felt quite hungry herself, so she didn’t say anything and picked up her chopsticks to start eating. After finishing a small basket of shrimp dumplings, she still felt unsatisfied and called the waiter for another basket.

Once she polished off a basket of chicken feet, Mother Meng slowly spoke up, “Pingting, have you thought about studying abroad?”

Meng Pingting’s expression was flat as she replied, “Thought about it? Did you give me a chance to think?”

… Sigh. Xu Yuan thought to herself that the young girl was too blind in love.

Mother Meng shot Xu Yuan a glance, hoping she could help persuade Meng Pingting. After all, they were of similar ages, and her daughter had always had a good relationship with her sister-in-law. She hoped that Xu Yuan could say a few words that might get through to her.

Now, Xu Yuan felt compelled to intervene since her mother-in-law had summoned her, and Meng Peiting was her sister-in-law.

But she had to think carefully about how to approach the conversation with Meng Peiting without making her feel resentful.

The atmosphere turned silent. After finishing a custard bun, Xu Yuan had gathered her thoughts. She turned to Meng Pingting, “Pingting, I think my dress’s zipper is down. Can you come to the restroom with me?”

Meng Pingting knew why her mother was asking her sister-in-law to come along, and although she was unwilling, she still got up to go to the restroom with Xu Yuan.

Mother Meng let out a sigh of relief. For some reason, she inexplicably had a lot of faith in her daughter-in-law. She felt that if Xu Yuan helped to persuade her daughter, Meng Pingting would probably soften her stance.

In the restroom, Xu Yuan and Meng Pingting touched up their makeup. As they prepared to head back, Xu Yuan pulled Meng Pingting to a quieter corner and, ensuring no one was around, slowly said, “Pingting, I’m neutral in this matter. I’ll just ask you one question: do you want to be with Wang Lin for a long time?”

Meng Pingting felt like a hedgehog, bristling at anyone who tried to persuade her.

However, just as she was about to snap at Xu Yuan, the image of Xu Yuan calmly gutting fish on the show came to mind, and she forced herself to hold back.

At that moment, it became clear that Meng Zhengrong and Meng Pingting were indeed siblings; all three shared the same disposition on this matter.

Meng Pingting, feeling somewhat frustrated, replied, “… Of course, I want to.”

Her tone softened unconsciously.

Xu Yuan looked at her and said, “Your parents aren’t forcing you to break up with Wang Lin right now; they just want to see how deep your feelings are and whether Wang Lin is someone you can trust.”

Seeing Meng Pingting wanting to say something, Xu Yuan spoke first. “You know what Wang Lin is like, but your parents don’t. Pingting, if you want to be with Wang Lin, then I suggest you study abroad. This way, Wang Lin can focus on his work for a few years and prove that he can give you happiness.”

“…” Meng Pingting wanted to refute but couldn’t find the words.

“If you believe that your feelings for Wang Lin are deep, then what’s there to fear about these few years? A few years can lead to a lifetime. Which is a better deal? You already know, right? Unless you lack confidence in your feelings, why not study abroad?”

Meng Pingting grew anxious. “Of course, I have confidence!”

Xu Yuan noticed that Meng Pingting wasn’t as stubborn as she seemed, so she sighed, holding her hand as they walked back, saying softly, “Since Mom and Dad aren’t opposing it now, you should be secretly happy. Pingting, really, you need to think about this carefully. By the way, what did Wang Lin say?”

Meng Pingting replied gloomily, “He also said I should go abroad.”

Hearing this, Xu Yuan smiled with relief. “The person who truly loves you wants you to be better and better. Pingting, life isn’t just about love; you need to have your own life plans. If you want to be with Wang Lin, then don’t argue with Mom and Dad anymore. Otherwise, you might even lose this opportunity. Think about it carefully.”

At least Meng Pingting didn’t say anything more.

When they returned to their seats, Mother Meng noticed her daughter seemed deep in thought, which made her feel at ease. As long as her daughter was still willing to listen, everything was good.