Chapter 11: The Fox’s Tail

Lin Qian’s idea was indeed good, and the show’s production team agreed that it had potential after hearing it.

However, this wasn’t a live broadcast; it was a pre-recorded, edited show. Therefore, they needed to inform Tong Yue in advance. If she refused to record, it would be problematic.

The production team could accuse Tong Yue of being difficult and halting the recording, but Tong Yue wouldn’t stand for that. She would surely defend herself.

To avoid any trouble, they decided to talk to Tong Yue’s agent. Wu Yingnan refused outright. Regardless of whether this was the director’s idea, the staff’s implication was clear: Tong Yue’s fame was so great that she didn’t need to concern herself with such trivial matters.

Fame? Ha.

It was precisely because of her fame that she needed to be even more careful. You can’t just handle things carelessly.

This wouldn’t benefit Tong Yue but instead turn her into a tool for others to climb higher.

The production staff didn’t expect Wu Yingnan to refuse so quickly, so they had no choice but to go to the director. After all, Tong Yue had worked with this director before, and if the director approached her, she would likely give him some face.

“What are you all doing?” Director Zhang was very unhappy with the staff’s approach.

Their show was aiming for quality. It wasn’t about deceiving the audience or creating a scandal to get trending topics.

For a show to have longevity, it needed a good reputation. It couldn’t rely solely on stirring up drama among the actors.

Director Zhang had already expended a lot of his personal connections to invite these highly popular young actors. How could he demand more? If it were just some lesser-known young actors, perhaps he could push a bit harder.

But for actors who were both talented and popular, they needed to be treated with more consideration. Besides, Tong Yue was the wife of the heir to the Meng Group. Even if she were easy-going, they shouldn’t handle things so carelessly.

“Director Zhang,” one of the staff members said helplessly, “I didn’t make this decision alone…”

“It doesn’t matter if you didn’t decide on your own. Couldn’t you at least think it through before saying anything?” Director Zhang was furious and immediately called Tong Yue to apologize.

When Tong Yue received the call from Director Zhang, she naturally answered.

“Hello,” Tong Yue said, still appreciative of the director. Although he could be harsh on set, it was always to keep things under control.

Director Zhang, sounding quite embarrassed, apologized to her and said they would follow Wu Yingnan’s previous suggestion. Casting a group of teenage boys was also a good idea. Tong Yue herself had grown up as a child star, so observing these younger boys could even spark discussions.

“You’ve already done well,” Tong Yue said with a smile. “If you had tried to persuade me, I really wouldn’t have continued recording.”

She trusted that Director Zhang wasn’t that type of person. He was someone with principles.

“Of course not,” Director Zhang replied. “Even though I don’t get offers to direct TV shows anymore, I can’t go against my own principles.”

If the line is lowered once, it will keep dropping until, eventually, there’s no line left.

Many directors of variety shows often go for more controversial actors. Hosts also tend to focus on those currently trending, neglecting the lesser-known ones.

However, these are simply facts. The most popular celebrities naturally deserve more screen time. The host can’t let personal preferences dictate their decisions; they need to focus on what the audience wants and give the hottest stars the spotlight.

Once Director Zhang got involved, the issue was more or less settled.

Director Zhang then turned to the staff member. “Don’t talk about compromising with capital. Sometimes, principles are a kind of capital too.”

Because of Tong Yue and Director Zhang’s displeasure, the staff member was naturally unhappy, thinking it was all Lin Qian’s fault. If Lin Qian hadn’t run her mouth, saying this could earn them some credit, how would anyone have agreed, and he wouldn’t have been the one thrown under the bus.

He thought Lin Qian had just become a ‘Qin Girl’ and was already so full of herself, even trying to step on Tong Yue to climb higher. She was really bold.

Lin Qian had originally thought she would appear on the show alongside Tong Yue. However, not only did the production team not arrange for her to share the stage with those top stars, they even put her with much younger actresses.

The production team did this on purpose, annoyed at Lin Qian for causing them trouble.

If Lin Qian performed well, it would be attributed to her age. If she didn’t, it would be proof that she couldn’t compare to those younger actresses. Then they could say, “Look at her! Trying to compete with a superstar like Tong Yue while she’s just a Qin Girl. She’s just someone who loves to release press pieces to overshadow others.”

“How annoying!” Lin Qian gritted her teeth upon learning about the production’s arrangements. But she couldn’t give up on the show. Participating in it would at least maintain her exposure.

The fox remained silent. This was all Lin Qian’s doing, targeting others for no reason.

Meanwhile, the fox was only concerned about her fur, hoping it wouldn’t fall out. She wished Lin Qian would hurry up and gather some faith energy.

At the Meng residence, Tong Yue was scrolling through Weibo when she noticed that some celebrities, after their popularity had waned, started opening Taobao shops, selling face masks and skincare products. She thought she could do something similar but then reconsidered. She was a goddess, after all—what did she need so much money for?

“Selling elixirs?” Tong Yue thought in surprise as she stumbled across a Weibo account selling what seemed like pills.

That the account hadn’t been flagged was surprising. Of course, they weren’t calling them ‘elixirs’ but simply pills and potions.

But as Tong Yue read the descriptions, they matched those of ancient elixirs exactly. There were claims about ancestral secret formulas and how they required many days of refinement.

“The effects are quite good,” Mrs. Meng suddenly spoke.

She had walked in just in time to see the Weibo page on Tong Yue’s iPad and saw the elixir advertisement.

“Your Aunt Li uses those. They’re pricey, but worth it,” Mrs. Meng added. “This account is verified, so we should trust the brilliance of our country’s traditional medicine. Just because ancient people couldn’t treat typhoid well doesn’t mean other areas aren’t advanced.”

Nowadays, young people tend to trust Western medicine more and often overlook the value of traditional medicine.

But people Mrs. Meng’s age still placed a great deal of trust in local medical practices. Such methods had been passed down for centuries, refined over many years, and certainly contained valuable wisdom.

“You’re right,” Tong Yue nodded. “Maybe I should learn more about it.”

Still, she had no plans to sell elixirs herself. She felt she should leave some opportunities for other creatures and cultivators.

Tong Yue figured that, as a goddess, she shouldn’t compete with them. The account had verification, after all, and plenty of followers. Perhaps it was managed by a specific organization.

Should she summon a celestial organization of her own?

But in her inherited memories, it seemed this planet didn’t have many gods left.

“It’s exhausting,” Mrs. Meng sighed. “We don’t lack money in this family. Let others handle it.”

Her daughter-in-law deserved to enjoy a beautiful life. She didn’t need to burden herself with learning so much. Madame Meng figured that she herself didn’t know much either, and things had turned out fine.

That same day, when Tong Yue went to the TV station to sign her contract with her agent Wu Yingnan, Lin Qian also appeared.

Lin Qian wasn’t there to sign a contract. She had only heard that Tong Yue would be there that day and intentionally showed up, hoping her fox spirit would snap a photo of the two of them together.

But Lin Qian had miscalculated. The fox was just a heavily injured spirit creature and still relied on Lin Qian to gather faith energy.

How could such a fox compete with a goddess? Even if this goddess was newly ascended, the fox was no match for her.

“Oh? What do I see here?” Tong Yue smiled.

“What?” Her assistant, Xiao Luo, was curious.

“A tuft of fox fur.” Tong Yue held up the fur.

“If the fur falls off the charm, it won’t look as good,” Xiao Luo immediately thought of the fluffy charm on Tong Yue’s phone and her bag. She wasn’t sure if it was real fox fur.

The fox was still in spirit form, invisible to others, but she couldn’t escape since Tong Yue had grabbed her tail.

She couldn’t communicate with Lin Qian, nor could she let Lin know she had been caught.

The fox didn’t want Lin Qian to find out either. She rolled her eyes, desperately trying to show the goddess that she meant no harm and wasn’t trying to embarrass her. It was all Lin Qian’s doing.

The fox and Lin Qian hadn’t signed a true master-servant contract, nor was it an equal one. It was just a temporary pact.

Only someone as clueless as Lin Qian would believe that being reborn made her Heaven’s favored child.

Ha! And now she had run into a brick wall.

“Sister Tong Yue.” Lin Qian clearly didn’t realize the trouble she had gotten herself into. She still believed that Tong Yue’s marriage to the heir of the Meng Group was merely a contractual one and that he was nothing more than a paper tiger—ready to fall apart at any moment.

A paper tiger soaked in water wouldn’t be intimidating at all.

Lin Qian thought she would soon be more famous than Tong Yue. In her eyes, Tong Yue only had so many resources because of Meng Yuqi. But Lin Qian, with her ability to foresee the future, would definitely surpass her.

Tong Yue glanced at Lin Qian but didn’t respond. She simply grabbed the fox and walked away. She still had a contract to sign and no time to waste on Lin Qian.

Meanwhile, Lin Qian thought the fox must have taken some photos and videos of them together by now. Surely the fox would alter Tong Yue’s voice and replace it with some mocking words, right?

The poor fox, even if she hadn’t been caught by Tong Yue, wouldn’t have been able to escape. Now, she could only sit quietly, waiting for Tong Yue to finish signing her contract and deal with her later.

At that moment, the fox started considering finding the Monster Management Bureau, worried she might end up as a bald fox. Being bald would be lucky—she was more afraid of losing her life.

“Who does she think she is,” Lin Qian huffed. “She’s just a woman who sold her body!”

After signing the contract, Tong Yue didn’t return to the Meng household. Instead, she went to a roast chicken shop. Sitting there, she happily ate her roast chicken, while the fox silently watched.

The fox clutched her tail and trembled, sniffing the air longingly. She wanted to eat that roast chicken so badly.

But she didn’t dare extend her claws, fearing that if she did, they’d be chopped off.

The fox was certain that Tong Yue had come to the roast chicken shop on purpose, just to eat in front of her.

“Xiao Luo, come on, eat more. Girls should have some meat on them. Being too thin isn’t good,” Tong Yue said, handing her assistant a chicken drumstick. “Here, a delicious drumstick.”

“Brother Wu told you to watch your diet,” Xiao Luo reminded her. Brother Wu had just left, and now Tong Yue was eating like this. Could Xiao Luo’s bonus for the month still be saved?

“Do you want to keep your bonus this month?” Tong Yue raised an eyebrow. Her agent loved using the bonus to threaten Xiao Luo.