Chapter 5: I Want to Be on This Show Too

Jiang Wanti held her head, her fingers tightening as if she were about to tear her scalp off.

To Yuè Sū, she was just a stranger, someone with whom she had never even exchanged words.

But to Jiang Wanti, Yuè Sū was her greatest enemy.

She had debuted as a child star and was highly regarded when participating in the art exams, only to lose to Yuè Sū, who was from the same year.

Yuè Sū’s audition video was leaked and went viral for a while. Many people even compared her to Jiang Wanti.

That was the first time Jiang Wanti felt the taste of being stepped on.

Later, she didn’t attend the same university as Yuè Sū, but the shadow of Yuè Sū still followed her.

She couldn’t help but secretly keep an eye on Yuè Sū, comparing everything—from family background and appearance to physique, academics, and career. She was obsessed with outshining her in every way.

But the more she cared, the less it went her way.

Yuè Sū became a breakout star, gaining massive fame due to her looks, her spotlight once again overshadowing Jiang Wanti.

Even though they started from different points, Yuè Sū’s shadow was everywhere.

“You clearly said that Yuè Sū would never have a chance to make a comeback.”

Fang Tong looked at her coldly, his voice tinged with frost.

“What are you afraid of?”

So what if she made a comeback? She had been withdrawn for four years, and her reputation was filled with scandals.

Was appearing on a low-viewership family variety show really going to bring her back to fame?

“Jiang Wanti, look around. Your fans and even random netizens are on your side. What are you afraid of?”

To the public, Jiang Wanti, as Fu Xijin’s fiancée, would always be above Yuè Sū.

“What are you really afraid of?”

Perhaps Fang Tong’s words comforted her, as Jiang Wanti’s emotions calmed down somewhat.

She closed her eyes, letting her thoughts settle.

Yuè Sū had been withdrawn for four years, and with all her past scandals, she was far behind Jiang Wanti now.

She didn’t need to pay any more attention to Yuè Sū.

“She has a daughter. A little girl.”

Fang Tong sneered, disdain flashing in his eyes.

He was a handsome man, but his personality was cold and gloomy, with an air of distance that made others feel unwelcome.

With a smile on his lips, he somehow gave off a chilling vibe.

“Do you suspect that the child is Fu Xijin’s?”

Jiang Wanti looked up, her eyes reddened.

“Aren’t you suspicious?”

Fang Tong snorted. “Whether it’s his or not, does it matter? The key is whether Fu Xijin acknowledges it, whether the Fu family acknowledges it.”

In Yan City, where the so-called rich families resided, which one didn’t have its own hidden secrets?

There were plenty of illegitimate children, and whether a woman could use her child to gain status depended entirely on whether the family acknowledged the child.

Jiang Wanti absent-mindedly pondered, murmuring to herself.

“Ah Jin must have met Yuè Sū before. He must know about this child’s existence, but he hasn’t done anything.”

Fang Tong added, “Either the child isn’t his, or he doesn’t care. Ti-ti, stop bothering with Yuè Sū. She’s not worth your attention.”

Jiang Wanti’s expression grew distant, and she stared blankly at him.

After a long while, she shifted her gaze, her back relaxing as she bent slightly.

“Brother Tong, you can go now. I need to calm down.”

“Alright.”

Once Fang Tong left, the room regained its quietness.

She took out her phone and dialed.

“Sister Tongxin, are you free today? Let’s have a coffee.”

Fu Tongxin was Fu Xijin’s cousin, one of the few people in the Fu family who had a good relationship with him.

The Fu family was complicated, and it all started with Fu Xijin’s grandfather, Fu Guohua.

Fu Guohua came from a military background. After abandoning his wife and child, he secretly crossed to Hong Kong, where he built the Fu business empire, the Whale Group.

However, when he grew old, he found that there was no one to inherit his legacy, and that was when he remembered his son, Fu Xijin, from mainland China.

Fu Xijin inherited the Whale Group but was unwilling to stay in Hong Kong, so he moved the core of the business to the capital.

He had two wives, his first wife passed away, leaving him two sons.

Fu Tongxin was the daughter of Fu Xijin’s older brother, Fu Zhengye.

However, Fu Tongxin’s relationship with her family was poor, and she had cut ties with them years ago because of a poor boy she fell in love with.

Fu Guohua remarried an elderly woman, who bore Fu Zhenghe, Fu Xijin’s cousin.

Although Fu Xijin had a poor relationship with his cousin, he was deeply favored by the Fu elders.

Due to his exceptional abilities, Fu Xijin was closely trained by Fu Guohua and naturally took over the Whale Group.

Fu Tongxin had a good relationship with Fu Xijin because she had looked after him when they were younger.

Jiang Wanti had a limited acquaintance with Fu Tongxin, but they shared a good friendship.

“The coffee hasn’t even been served, and you’re sighing already. I think you’re not here for coffee; you’re just upset.”

Fu Tongxin was dressed in a chic C-family outfit, radiating the charm of a socialite.

She resembled her cousin with sharp eyes and an energetic personality, contrasting greatly with Jiang Wanti’s melancholic character.

Jiang Wanti furrowed her brows and forced a smile. “Did you see the trending searches?”

Fu Tongxin didn’t frequent the entertainment industry and didn’t pay much attention to trending topics.

Upon hearing Jiang Wanti’s question, she immediately took out her phone and looked at it.

“Yuè Sū? She’s going on this show too?”

Jiang Wanti’s heart skipped a beat, and her voice became urgent. “Also? Sister Tongxin, is there anyone else joining?”

Fu Tongxin replied, “There are six pairs of guests for ‘The Amazing Island,’ you know? Right now, only the first three pairs have been announced.”

Jiang Wanti stared at her, her lips trembling, as if waiting for her verdict.

Fu Tongxin sighed, a bit helpless. “She’s been nagging about going, but her dad’s too busy, and I don’t want to go either. The island just happens to be Fu Xijin’s private island, so I had him take her and sign her up.”

Nao Nao was Fu Tongxin’s only daughter, named Shi Yin.

When Fu Tongxin had severed ties with her family to marry a poor guy, she had given birth to Nao Nao, who was now a young rising star in Yan City’s tech industry. Fu Xijin had known her for a long time.

Although Fu Xijin seemed cold and detached, he doted on Nao Nao, and Jiang Xinn was also spoiled by him.

Fu Tongxin often joked, “If you ever have a daughter, I don’t know how spoiled she’ll be.”

Jiang Wanti’s face turned pale, and she swayed slightly.

Fu Tongxin sighed. She understood Jiang Wanti’s concerns but thought it was unnecessary to worry this much.

“Wan Ti, you know Fu Xijin’s character, right? Why overthink it?”

If Fu Xijin had any lingering feelings for Yuè Sū, he wouldn’t have been so ruthless in the past.

He was the most decisive and ruthless person, and it was impossible for him to rekindle any old feelings with Yuè Sū.

“Don’t torment yourself.”

Jiang Wanti gripped her coffee cup, her palms sweaty, her eyes reddened.

“Sister Tongxin, Yuè Sū has been with him before.”

Fu Tongxin shook her head and looked out the window.

“As long as Fu Xijin denies it, there’s no connection with Yuè Sū. It wasn’t before, it’s not now, and it never will be.”

Fu Tongxin had met Yuè Sū. She was a proud girl who had decisively stepped away from the limelight when things got difficult. It was impossible for her to return to Fu Xijin’s side.

Even if Fu Xijin had any thoughts, Yuè Sū wouldn’t.

“Wan Ti, you’re not lacking. There are plenty of good men out there, no need to…”

Jiang Wanti’s breathing quickened, her voice trembling. “But I like Fu Xijin! Xinn also likes Fu Xijin. She just wants him to be her father.”

Fu Tongxin was taken aback, knowing that she couldn’t change her mind, so she didn’t say more.

“Sister Tongxin, I also want to be on this show. Can you help me arrange it?”

Fu Tongxin hesitated. It wasn’t that she couldn’t help, but she wasn’t sure if she should.

She feared Fu Xijin would be impatient, and she also feared for Jiang Wanti’s emotional well-being.

“This show is a bit controversial, are you sure you want to go?”

Jiang Wanti’s expression was determined. “I want to go.”

Since she was so insistent, Fu Tongxin had no reason to refuse.

After parting with Fu Tongxin, Jiang Wanti visited her family.

She preferred living with her daughter outside, but since she was adopted by the Yuan family, she occasionally visited.

The Yuan family was a well-established business family in Yan City, with deeper roots than the Whale Group’s empire.

Yuan Laoye, the patriarch, was over seventy but still in good health.

He and his wife, Tong Ying, were one of the few couples with a harmonious relationship, having two sons.

Jiang Wanti had been adopted by the Yuan family’s eldest son.

Yuan Laoye and Tong Ying were very affectionate, and they had two sons, but when their daughter had disappeared, they adopted Jiang Wanti.

She came to the Yuan family when she was seven. At first, Yuan Laoye and Tong Ying wanted her to take their surname, but her biological father refused.

Jiang Wanti adjusted her expression, putting on an appropriate smile as she greeted everyone.

She went to the main house to see Yuan Laoye and Tong Ying, but they weren’t home, so she breathed a sigh of relief and went to visit Yuan Jiaojing, the eldest daughter.