Chapter 17: The Sick Men

Lin Tong liked doing shady things too. “Then hurry up and release it, slap her! Get her face swollen!”

Rumors had been passed around so many times, becoming more and more ridiculous. All sorts of demons and monsters came out to grab the heat.

“@EntertainmentIndustryInsider: This show is too interesting! A friend of mine who was there said the catfight between the two female celebrities was unprecedented.”

“@IndustryWorker: It’s not as simple as just fans of Zuo Anran saying. I asked around, even the assistant director went to the back stage to try to mediate, and it looks like Lu Hui cursed someone out.”

“@StraightForwardPasserby: Just confirmed, it wasn’t just a verbal fight, someone even got physical (though I don’t know where she got the guts to do that).”

In short, these big exposure accounts and marketing pages, paid to stir things up, spread rumors with their eyes closed, steering the narrative.

The public eagerly followed the drama between the female celebrities. The overwhelming gossip made them believe everything without question.

“Verbal fighting is one thing, but now there’s physical violence?”

“One entertainment industry secret: being irrelevant equals being tough. Lu Hui doesn’t even fear Zuo Anran eating her alive? Those group fans are fighting hard!”

“I’m such a jerk, I don’t have any class, but I just want to see the fight!”

“So who won? Do female celebrities fight like we ugly people do, pulling hair and tearing clothes?”

“Do you guys even have hearts? Lu Hui hit someone, she hit someone!”

The comments were all over the place.

Zuo Anran suddenly appeared online, posting a selfie: “No matter what happens, we should remember to be happy (▽).”

Her fans were heartbroken, especially when they saw her red and swollen eyes in the selfie, rage rose inside them, and their spirits revived. They were ready for round two.

Lu Hui’s trending topic, “Lu Hui Can Fly,” started receiving a flood of insults and mocking.

“Maybe this is how mistresses are—no morals. Hitting someone isn’t enough, I bet she’ll be killing people next.”

“Trash gets what it deserves.”

“You’re dead.”

They were really harsh. Lu Hui enjoyed reading these insults, clicking her tongue and shaking her head. “They really have no class.”

Lin Tong was enraged. “This is driving me crazy!”

“Don’t get mad, you’ll be the one to suffer.”

“I’m going to ask the director for the footage. They had someone filming backstage! This is so unfair. She loses and then sells pity, getting her fans to attack.”

Though Lin Tong had seen more than his fair share of two-faced people and dirty tricks in this industry, he was still upset.

Always angry, always teary-eyed.

Lu Hui found time to comfort him, “Do you think the director will give you the footage?”

Lin Tong, unsure, replied, “What if they do? You performed really well in the first episode. They should be pretty satisfied with you.”

Lu Hui analyzed, “But I’m not as famous as Zuo Anran. Her management team is much stronger than ours. The production team wouldn’t risk offending her just for me.”

Lin Tong knew she was right, but still couldn’t help feeling frustrated. He was on the verge of exploding from anger.

“Should we release the recording now? Just hit her with a big hammer and finish her off. Small-minded people getting power, flaunting it.”

“It’s not time yet,” Lu Hui said, playfully winking.

Lin Tong eyed her suspiciously, “What are you plotting?”

Lu Hui grinned, “Hehehe.”

Lu Hui was very patient. Even though she had been bashed on the hot search for almost three hours, she didn’t react. It wasn’t until the production team couldn’t stand the constant phone inquiries that they released a statement.

The gist of the statement was that they apologized for the discomfort caused by the guests on the show and promised to work harder in the future to improve the program.

Naturally, both the onlookers and the fans were dissatisfied with this response. The prominent red font was filled with comments demanding Lu Hui’s dismissal.

To appease the dissatisfied fans, the production staff replied to the comments from their personal accounts: “There will be a warning, we’ll pay attention. Please stop the insults, we are really sorry.”

This raised the morale of the fans, who were overjoyed.

Lu Hui had predicted that the production team would target the softest target.

She took matters into her own hands and sent out an uncensored audio recording from Lin Tong’s secondary account:

“@LinXingRenZhaDiQiu: Private voice message, everyone listen fast.”

The recording was crystal clear.

“Tell the assistant director to come here. If she doesn’t leave, I won’t go on stage today.”

“What status, what treatment? A first-round elimination contestant shouldn’t challenge me.”

Her aggressive tone, her forceful attitude, and the arrogant and domineering words were undeniable.

Although it was shocking, the voice clearly belonged to Zuo Anran, who had debuted with a gentle and sweet image.

The hammer fell, buzzing with the impact.

Audio recordings had far more credibility than marketing rumors.

Both the weak production team and the bullying Zuo Anran were ruthlessly criticized.

“I’m just a melon eater, getting played badly. The production team and their red-and-white appearance are truly ugly.”

“Can’t deny it, the most vicious woman’s heart—Zuo Anran’s tactics are impressive. No wonder she made it from trainee to debut.”

“The recording must have been released by Lu Hui’s manager, damn, they’re not easy either. Both of them are awesome.”

The audio Lu Hui released not only slapped Zuo Anran in the face but also stomped on the production team’s reputation.

She wanted to make it clear that she wasn’t someone anyone could bully at will.

After the recording was exposed, the assistant director deleted their earlier reply to the comments.

Zuo Anran’s sweet and gentle image collapsed in an instant. Fans who were unaware of the truth changed their profile pictures and unfollowed her.

She had never been bashed this severely since her debut. Every comment she clicked on was negative.

This wasn’t the first time she had bullied a newcomer, but what she didn’t expect was that Lu Hui, the seemingly harmless girl, had secretly recorded her!

As soon as the wall fell, everyone pushed. Many small-time people came forward, claiming they had been scolded or bullied by Zuo Anran before.

Former assistants, ex-trainees from the same company, and even some makeup artists who had worked with her also spoke out about being insulted by her.

The next day, Star 1V1 officially announced that Zuo Anran would no longer continue with the program due to “health reasons.”

Xiao Hui Xiang became famous overnight. Lin Tong was elated, and the production team’s attitude toward their staff was noticeably more polite.

The discussion around the first episode was almost entirely dominated by Lu Hui. The viewership rose, surpassing expectations.

The producer, who had initially planned to eliminate Lu Hui in the second episode, immediately changed his mind and told the director: “Let’s hold off on voting her out for now. Let’s see her performance.”

“Alright, I agree.”

“Lu Hui’s public image is better than I thought.”

“She’s quite likable and has some talent.”

After the dust settled, Lin Tong praised Lu Hui enthusiastically. “Watching palace dramas wasn’t a waste! Now I need to start on political dramas, learning all my life.”

“Lin ge, you’re so smug.”

“Give me some sunshine, and I’ll shine! What’s wrong? Zuo Anran is getting trashed online, and several idols’ relationships are exposed. On such a sad day for everyone, even though I shouldn’t laugh, I really can’t help but burst into laughter.”

“Then go ahead and laugh.”

“Baby, are you famous now?” Lin Tong was a little confused.

Lu Hui responded, “No, I’m still a nobody in the waiting group.”

Lin Tong patted her shoulder heavily, “It’s okay, gold will always shine. I’m already satisfied with the attention you’ve gotten now.”

From now on, no matter what role she played, she wouldn’t have to worry about not getting a job.

Such encouraging words were something Lu Hui hadn’t heard in years. “Then I’ll take your good words to heart.”

Right now, Lu Hui had no work other than the variety show.

On her days off from recording, she generally chose to stay at home watching dramas and sleeping.

When she got hungry, she’d order takeout, eat, then sleep, and repeat. No desires, carefree and relaxed.

During her time off, she completely vanished, with no updates at all.

Her new fans were getting impatient, crying and begging Xiao Hui Xiang to come back to work.

The beautiful girl had been through so much and must be healing herself. She was so strong, so simple, so kind!

Lu Hui was lounging around at home, completely at ease. She noticed that Sheng Zhaoming had been staying home a lot more frequently.

Every time she went downstairs to eat, she would see him in the living room. The way he looked at her was filled with pity and sympathy.

It was as if…

As if she were about to die tomorrow.

Lu Hui had gotten used to men having intermittent mood swings and wasn’t surprised anymore.

Sheng Zhaoming’s phone hadn’t stopped ringing, and whenever his friends saw him staying at home, they would ask if he had a “fairy” at home.

There is no celestial beauty, but I have a younger sister.

His friends looked at him strangely, feeling that Sheng Zhaoming was acting very out of character. He used to find it annoying to even hear Lu Hui’s name.

The two of them had always been at odds, a fire and water relationship.

But Sheng Zhaoming kept his mouth shut, and they couldn’t pry the details out of him. They wildly speculated that Lu Hui had used her charms on him, perhaps casting a spell.

In the afternoon, Lu Hui had just woken up, her eyelids drooping, when she rummaged through the fridge for instant noodles and eggs. She hadn’t even torn the package open when Sheng Zhaoming appeared behind her, saying, “Don’t eat instant noodles. They’re not nutritious.”

Lu Hui pretended not to hear, putting the noodle cake into the boiling water and cracking an egg into it, covering the pot.

Sheng Zhaoming looked displeased. “There’s cooked food in the fridge.”

Lu Hui licked her lips. “But I want instant noodles right now.”

Sheng Zhaoming felt like he was hitting a brick wall. He snapped the gas off.

Lu Hui frowned and glanced at him. “Do you have a problem?”

Is he going to control the air I breathe too?

Sheng Zhaoming opened the fridge, took out the food from lunch, and tilted his head. “Eat this.”

Lu Hui reminded him, “It’s cold.”

Sheng Zhaoming said, “I’ll heat it up for you.”

Lu Hui questioned him, “Do you know how to use a microwave, young master?”

Sheng Zhaoming’s face darkened. “Who are you insulting?”

It seemed like he was about to lose his temper, but then he said, “Forget it, I can’t be bothered to argue with you.”

Lu Hui, still loving her instant noodles, watched them get overcooked in the hot pan.

Sheng Zhaoming pointed outside. “Go out.”

Lu Hui hesitated. “Why are you suddenly being so nice to me?”

She was afraid of this kind of inexplicable kindness and couldn’t help but suspect there was a plot behind it.

Is Sheng Zhaoming planning to poison her food? It wasn’t impossible.

Sheng Zhaoming was stunned by the question, not quite knowing how to respond. He looked a little uncomfortable. “No.”

Lu Hui’s suspicious gaze lingered on his face for a long time, but seeing nothing unusual, she withdrew her gaze.

She scooped up her noodles, added seasoning, and brought them to the table. As soon as she sat down, Sheng Zhaoming placed the reheated food in front of her. “Eat this.”

Lu Hui was focused on her noodles.

Sheng Zhaoming’s cold face, with his icy eyes, watched her. “Why aren’t you eating mine?”

Lu Hui replied, “I’m afraid you poisoned it.”

“…”

“Are you afraid of death?”

“Of course.”

“I thought you weren’t afraid.” Sheng Zhaoming’s tone paused when he mentioned death, and his cold face looked like it could freeze someone.

Just a few days ago, he had received the results of his assistant’s investigation. What she had said to Xie Ran wasn’t just a hasty lie; it was the truth, and her condition was real.

It turned out that she had been diagnosed with a terminal illness long ago, and it was already in the advanced stages.

Terminal illness. Advanced stage.

Those four words were heavy and filled him with despair.

Sheng Zhaoming couldn’t bring himself to say those words in front of her. He subconsciously wanted to avoid facing the reality.

How could someone so resilient be diagnosed with a terminal illness?

She was still in her twenties, so young.

Sheng Zhaoming found out that she had stopped going to the hospital for chemotherapy long ago, and she hadn’t taken any more medication either.

He couldn’t think too deeply about what that meant.

She had given up. She didn’t want treatment anymore. She wanted to die.

Lu Hui would never be the one to call him, crying and asking for money.

Sheng Zhaoming felt a tightness in his chest and his vision darkened. His head was dizzy and painful.

Gradually, he calmed down and asked, “Are you full?”

Lu Hui finished the last sip of noodle soup. “I’m full.”

She placed her bowl and chopsticks in the dishwasher, wiped her hands, and was ready to head upstairs to continue her ‘sleeping’ routine.

Sheng Zhaoming stopped her. “Don’t give up.”

Lu Hui was full of questions.

Sheng Zhaoming’s eyes were bloodshot, and he endured the painful discomfort, speaking in a low, soft voice. “Don’t give up.”

He had already asked his friends studying abroad to help her contact the best doctors.

She couldn’t just die like this.

Lu Hui was confused. “?”

She ignored anything she didn’t understand as if it were some form of illness.

---

Lu Hui’s leisurely life didn’t last long. With only seven days left before the second episode of filming, she drew the singing and dancing category.

Lin Tong was nervous for her.

But she remained calm and collected, saying she wasn’t worried.

Lu Hui went to the venue for rehearsal, and the staff no longer dared to look down on her. When they saw her, they all respectfully greeted her as “Teacher Lu.”

There were no all-round idols in this era.

Those who could act couldn’t sing, those who could sing couldn’t dance, and those who could sing and dance had no acting skills.

In the eyes of the staff, Lu Hui was a “three-no” person: no acting, no singing, no dancing. The previous episode happened to match her strengths.

But this time, she might not be so lucky.

So, no one really cared about her rehearsal.

Lu Hui practiced every day, sweating. That day, the staff was unusually excited, whispering to each other in the dark.

“Did you see that handsome guy standing at the A6 entrance?”

“Yes, yes, he’s really handsome! I swear, just looking at him makes my life ten years longer.”

“Is he a contestant from our show? Or a trainee from a different show? Can I watch this level of beauty for free?”

“I don’t know, but I can’t wait to get off work. I’m going to see the handsome guy!”

“I asked him, he said he’s waiting for someone, his fiancée.”

“Ah, I’m dying.”

Lu Hui had just finished changing when she overheard their discussion. She slowly walked over and saw a tall figure standing still in the rain at the brightening A6 entrance.

He wasn’t using an umbrella, and his long hair was soaking wet. It seemed like he wasn’t afraid of the winter rain.

In the past, on rainy days, Lu Hui would often give him an umbrella, or jump onto his back to help him hold it.

Yan Zhao had always been like that, so she assumed things would be the same now.

Lu Hui lowered her head, bypassing his side, and walked away directly.

Yan Zhao silently clenched his hands, feeling more pain than confusion.

The next day, Yan Zhao was still the same.

The day after that, he was the same.

Whether it was raining or snowing, he stood there alone at the entrance, not holding an umbrella, not avoiding the wind.

Lu Hui ignored him, didn’t ask, and didn’t care. She wouldn’t fall for such petty tricks. The black-hearted lotus didn’t fall for that stuff.

These dog-headed male leads had already died in her heart.

After Lu Hui finished her practice, she bumped into Cen Yueze at the exit. Even on a rainy day, Mr. Cen was wearing sunglasses, with no fans blocking the VIP passage, and he had his bodyguards clearing the way. His hands were in his pockets, looking cold and aristocratic.

Lu Hui was amazed by his flamboyance and thought to herself that this person must have some mental issues.

Cen Yueze seemed to hear her inner thoughts and let out a chuckle, “Can’t help it, I’m too popular. Someone—Miss Lu, who’s been eyeing my pants for a long time—has been pursuing me so crazily that I have to protect myself.”

Lu Hui said, “Speak properly, don’t insult people.”

“…” Cen Yueze’s lips curled into a cold smile, “Fine.”

Lu Hui said, “I’m not a man, I can’t do it.”

Cen Yueze truly had cultivated his composure, “Heh.”

He paused for a moment, then asked, “That post outside, is that pillar there waiting for you?”

Oh, he was referring to Yan Zhao.

Lu Hui thought for a moment, then replied, “Yes, I don’t have much, but I have plenty of licking dogs.”

They can’t be driven away.

“He’s quite a good blower,” Cen Yueze narrowed his eyes, staring at the long-haired man in the rain for a moment, then suddenly warned her, “If you dare fall in love, I’ll immediately eliminate you.”

Lu Hui thought to herself, that’s not possible. She still had hope for normal love.

She shamelessly replied, “Then eliminate me, I want to fall in love.”

Cen Yueze was so angry that he didn’t speak and turned away.

Lu Hui was in a good mood and started walking forward, thinking that Yan Zhao would continue standing there as the pillar.

The man moved his feet, and the rain mist blocked half of his face. He slightly curled his lips and said, “Lu Hui, do you know why my path to immortality failed?”

Lu Hui didn’t know, nor did she want to know.

Yan Zhao raised his face, “Because I became emotional. The one who follows the path of detachment can’t afford to have true feelings. That’s why I haven’t ascended for hundreds of years.”

He spoke slowly, his expression increasingly cold. His face was pale, and his lips were also pale, “At first, I thought I was in love with Cong Lu, so I killed her with my own hands to ascend.”

A sword through her heart, no corpse was gathered, swiftly cutting off the last tie of affection.

Lu Hui: What the hell.

Yan Zhao’s face was snow-white, and raindrops slid down his chin. “But I still failed. Only now do I realize that I was in love with you. It seems that I have fallen for you.