Chapter 4 (1/2)

“Qingyu, this… this doesn’t seem right!”

Xu Yangyang struggled to maintain her composure, desperately attempting a last-ditch effort to salvage the situation. “The promotional photos for the show have already been taken, and it was officially announced that I’m attending the show with you. What will the fans think if we suddenly change this at the last minute?”

Xu Yangyang made it seem like she was speaking casually, but she deliberately brought up the issue. “If you do this, the fans will definitely think you and Yan Xi are trying to suppress me and steal my opportunities. That’s not good for either of you!”

In the entertainment industry, if a guest is officially announced and then replaced, it’s usually due to one of two reasons: either the guest’s reputation collapses, and the production team has no choice but to replace them, or the guest’s opportunities are taken away, forcing them to withdraw.

Of course, there are also cases where guests are injured and unable to participate, but this would be the worst outcome for Xu Yangyang. She certainly didn’t want to fake an illness and give up her opportunity to Yan Xi.

Zhou Qingyu was spoiled but not foolish. She could easily read the intentions of these entertainment industry people. “Don’t worry, you won’t lose out. Come up with an excuse to withdraw from the show, and as long as I’m satisfied, the spot for Leisure Life will be yours.”

Xu Yangyang’s eyes instantly brightened.

Both Let’s Go Traveling and Leisure Life were recognized as S-tier variety shows by the platform, so joining either would be a huge opportunity for an artist of Xu Yangyang’s rank.

But in Let’s Go Traveling, Xu Yangyang’s role would be as a guest’s friend, while in Leisure Life, she would be a guest herself. The difference in status was significant.

Xu Yangyang was thrilled, though she didn’t let it show on her face. She didn’t want Zhou Qingyu to think she was taking advantage, so she deliberately feigned hesitation.

After all, Zhou Qingyu owed her. Not to mention the one million for the travel itinerary, which Xu Yangyang wasn’t ready to bring up just yet. If possible, since they were already at a luxury store, Xu Yangyang wanted to extract a little more from Zhou Qingyu.

“Since you want to attend the variety show with your friend, let’s go with that then,” Xu Yangyang said, acting reluctant.

The matter was settled just like that. Zhou Qingyu contacted Qiao Yan, the head agent at Xingyao Entertainment, and explained the situation to him. The rest was left to Qiao Yan to handle.

Zhou Qingyu was still thinking about shopping. Compared to navigating the entertainment industry, she felt she was more suited to the role of a rich young lady. After giving instructions to Qiao Yan, she dragged Yan Xi to the next luxury store.

Xu Yangyang hadn’t left and was still following Zhou Qingyu, carrying her shopping bags.

Next to A-store was B-store, which had just released a new crocodile leather handbag that Xu Yangyang had been eyeing for a while. Every time she accompanied Zhou Qingyu shopping, Zhou Qingyu would buy her something, so Xu Yangyang naturally assumed this time would be no different.

As soon as they entered B-store, Xu Yangyang kept trying on the crocodile leather handbag, making sure to flaunt her presence in front of Zhou Qingyu.

However, this time, Zhou Qingyu didn’t even glance at Xu Yangyang, instead dragging Yan Xi to try on other bags.

Yan Xi had shopped with Zhou Qingyu before and knew how fierce Zhou Qingyu’s shopping power was. But looking at the pile of shopping bags around them, Yan Xi felt it was really too much.

She wasn’t an octopus, and couldn’t carry seven or eight bags at once!

Moreover, the accumulated Fortune points from shopping had already reached 2, and it seemed they didn’t increase beyond that, so Yan Xi suspected there was an upper limit to it.

She was about to persuade Zhou Qingyu to go home and save some money for the Zhou family when Xu Yangyang came over to Zhou Qingyu’s side. “Qingyu, what do you think of this bag? It’s made of crocodile leather, really small and exquisite, and it’s a limited edition!”

Zhou Qingyu glanced at it, then said, “Pack it up.”

Xu Yangyang felt a wave of joy inside. Although Zhou Qingyu didn’t explicitly say it, she knew that Zhou Qingyu wasn’t interested in this style of bag. She would definitely end up buying it for herself once they went to check out!

Yan Xi observed Xu Yangyang quietly taking the limited edition bag into her hands, already treating it as though it were hers. Meanwhile, the sales associate was quickly tallying up the total price of the items Zhou Qingyu had selected, her eyes gleaming with excitement.

In the past, when Yan Xi had visited Xingyao Entertainment to see Zhou Qingyu, she had briefly met Xu Yangyang. She knew that Xu Yangyang was a pretty star, always trailing behind Zhou Qingyu. Yan Xi had once assumed the two had a close relationship.

But everything that had unfolded in her dreams showed that Xu Yangyang was only after the Zhou family’s wealth.

There were many people who approached Zhou Qingyu because of her family’s fortune, and Yan Xi didn’t think much of it. After all, having money was a strength.

However, after the Zhou family’s downfall, for Xu Yangyang to kick Zhou Qingyu when she was already down—it was too much.

In the dreams, the gifts that Zhou Qingyu bought for Xu Yangyang were worth millions, if not tens of millions. In the end, when the Zhou family fell from grace, Xu Yangyang publicly mocked Zhou Qingyu, driving her to the brink of suicide. Just thinking about it made Yan Xi angry.

Now, seeing Xu Yangyang admiring the bag and almost putting it on, Yan Xi raised an eyebrow. “Hey, Qingqing, this bag looks really nice! I’ve never carried such a beautiful bag before!”

She was pointing directly at Xu Yangyang’s crocodile leather bag.

Zhou Qingyu, who was swiping her card, didn’t even lift her eyelids. “You like it? Go ahead and take it.”

Yan Xi responded, “How could I? Sister Yangyang obviously likes it too. I’ll just take a look!”

Xu Yangyang scoffed lightly. When she first heard Yan Xi mention the bag, she thought Yan Xi might try to snatch it from her, but fortunately, Yan Xi still had some self-awareness!

Xu Yangyang saw that Zhou Qingyu had paid, and she was about to grab the bag. But the next second, Zhou Qingyu took the bag and handed it to Yan Xi. “If you like it, take it. What’s our relationship? Why are you still nagging me!”

“Qingqing, you’re the best!” Yan Xi hugged Zhou Qingyu.

Xu Yangyang: ?

Hello? Does anyone still remember her?

Zhou Qingyu had paid, and then glanced at the bag in Yan Xi’s hands. She didn’t even remember that Xu Yangyang had complimented the bag earlier. All she thought about was that Yan Xi was focused on shopping and not dwelling on her breakup, which made her feel at ease.

Zhou Qingyu instructed the sales associate to have the items sent to her home and linked arms with Yan Xi, happily heading to the next store.

Only Xu Yangyang was left, her face turning green with anger.

It was deliberate! Yan Xi must have done it on purpose!

Out of all the bags, why did she have to choose the one Xu Yangyang liked?

Xu Yangyang’s face, which had been injected with Botox and hyaluronic acid, twisted in anger, her muscles twitching.

The sales associates in the store stared at Xu Yangyang in surprise. Feeling the astonished gazes around her, Xu Yangyang managed to regain her composure and put on her usual smile, quickly catching up with Zhou Qingyu and Yan Xi.

It’s fine, it’s just a bag.

Yan Xi might have taken it from her once, but can she keep taking everything?

After they finish shopping, Xu Yangyang would just find something of equal value to replace it!

Half an hour later, Xu Yangyang realized that Yan Xi was doing this specifically to target her!

Every time, Yan Xi would perfectly beat her to it:

“Qingqing, this dress is so pretty! I’ve never worn such a beautiful dress!”

“Qingqing, are the diamonds on this necklace real? Wow! So gorgeous!”

“Qingqing, these shoes are a limited edition! So amazing! Can I try them on?”

Each time, Yan Xi seemed to take the spotlight, making Xu Yangyang feel sidelined and increasingly frustrated.