Chapter 21: Excited to Hit the Trending Search (Second Update)…

After learning that their show would have a dinner gathering, Xie Ran nodded in agreement when the producer politely asked if he also wanted to join for a drink.

Then, naturally, he went to the backstage area, justifiably to find Lu Hui. But he didn’t expect Sheng Zhaoming to come along too.

Sheng Zhaoming glanced at him sideways and said, “Since you can come, can’t I?”

Xie Ran raised an eyebrow. “I just didn’t expect you to come too.”

Sheng Zhaoming felt that this remark was really sharp and sounded quite funny. “She’s my sister. As her brother, if I don’t take care of her, who will?”

Xie Ran’s expression was cold, and he sneered, “What were you doing earlier? Now you’re acting like she’s your sister again. Doesn’t that sound ridiculous?”

Sheng Zhaoming, bloodied from this prickly remark, said, “Mr. Xie, it seems you’re quite displeased with me.”

“I can’t afford to take the blame for this crime.”

A brief exchange of words, sharp as knives, the atmosphere tense. The two men’s energy didn’t mesh well.

The person who had brought them backstage was regretting it now, deeply regretting it.

She couldn’t handle this kind of battlefield.

Lu Hui was also playing hard to get, refusing to come out despite multiple requests and nudges. It seemed like she was intentionally making excuses to slip away.

On the other side, Yan Zhao, who had acquired a staff member’s ID, arrived at the lounge door.

He saw two unfamiliar men standing outside, and instinctively frowned. There was a natural air of hostility between them.

Lin Tong happened to return from the restroom and squinted at the man, asking, “Who are you looking for?”

He already had the answer in his mind.

The signature long hair, the unforgettable cold face—he didn’t need to guess. This was the man who claimed that Lu Hui was his fiancée.

“Lu Hui.”

Alright, another one.

Lin Tong was unfazed as she went inside to inform Lu Hui.

The three men waiting outside the lounge didn’t bother each other. There was no need for conversation.

The backstage area was a mix of people, and there were fans who had bought media tickets. Fans who came for other celebrities ran through the backstage, carrying equipment and finding their way to the artists’ lounge.

They paused, stared at the three men sitting outside, and immediately started to whisper in surprise. They forgot who they were actually chasing and began snapping pictures of the men, shutting off the camera shutters but still snapping away.

The gossipers, always ready to feast on the drama, couldn’t help but indulge in the spectacle.

They were familiar with the men sitting there—these were all rumored boyfriends of Lu Hui!

What a legendary scene this was! If the photo made it out, it would be a big scoop.

“Are they going to fight?”

“Please, no fighting! It would hurt the show’s image. What if they stop airing and my favorite brother gets affected?”

“Yes, yes.”

Outwardly: “Stop fighting, stop fighting.”

Inside: “Fight, fight!”

The paparazzi were already filming, capturing everything. After getting enough photos, they started recording videos, lowering their voices, chatting, “Lu Hui’s career is finally about to derail.”

“Heh, I can’t wait to see what kind of battlefield it will be when she comes out.”

None of the three were celebrities, so they were free to post their photos.

Of course, they didn’t dare use their main accounts, only their secondary accounts to share photos and videos in entertainment posts.

No malice, they just enjoyed the drama and didn’t mind stoking the flames.

The hottest entertainment group, with over a million people, exploded with posts:

【Live broadcast: Lu Hui juggling three boats, large-scale shipwreck scene. Photos and videos in the main post, watch and treasure it!】

They were professional photographers, never a bad shot, even with the terrible lighting, they still managed to make the men look great.

“Fun fact 1: The three men in the photo are Sheng Zhaoming, Xie Ran, and the unknown long-haired handsome guy.”

“Fun fact 2: Xie Ran has publicly acknowledged his fiancée, Lu Hui.”

“Fun fact 3: The long-haired handsome guy also claims that Lu Hui is his fiancée.”

“Fun fact 4: Lu Hui just denied any romantic news last week.”

Having one boyfriend was already impressive, but she was monopolizing three—people were definitely getting upset!

“Is Lu Hui’s other name Ying Dang?”

“I told you! The rumors online weren’t baseless! Wow, the show’s production team must know how many boyfriends she has, and she’s even involved with one of the mentors!”

Professional analysts were scrutinizing the photos more seriously than their own thesis papers, examining frame by frame.

As they drooled, they started commenting:

“The sister upstairs, tell us more about the mentor gossip.”

“Please keep us updated on the drama, you’re a lifesaver.”

“Been tired of her for so long, can’t she just shut up now? Go crawl, you’re done.”

The post was quickly marked HOT, with 300 replies in half an hour and over 1,000 in less than an hour.

People claiming to be “insiders” emerged like mushrooms after rain.

【The mentor gossip is true—he’s the most handsome one. They’re sweet together, joking around, a love-hate relationship. Otherwise, how could the harsh mentor in the first episode have voted for her?】

【I don’t know much about Xie Ran’s side, but I know a bit about the long-haired cool guy. A friend of mine works in the production team, and his family’s conditions seem pretty poor, but he’s a loyal and devoted man. He waits outside every day. Lu Hui and him must’ve known each other for years. Seems like she dropped her childhood sweetheart for someone richer.】

These words stung, right? Playing with the heart of a lovesick young man? That’s unforgivable!

Of course, there were a few replies on Lu Hui’s side, maybe twenty or thirty, but they were easy to ignore.

Lu Hui’s fans were few but fierce. They didn’t cry and whine when bullied, instead, they fought back, showing everyone what internet warriors could do.

“Stop pretending to be a bystander, you disgust me. Look at how you act, you’re more repulsive than those who are famous!”

One die-hard fan of Lu Hui stood tall against a hundred critics: “Don’t be too cautious with your defense, okay? Can’t you see that our Xiao Hui is about to blow up again? We can see through your little schemes. Your sister Lu is destined to be famous. Got it?”

The sound of furious typing echoed as they vented all their frustrations. It felt incredibly satisfying to fight back with full force.

The hot post eventually became a battleground for insults. Villains should be dealt with by other villains; everyone became part of the online mob.

The people on the other side were furious. Before admitting defeat, they threatened, “I’m waiting for the host’s update. You’ll see, Huixiang fans, I’ll make sure you and your useless idol get to the trending list tomorrow.”

But the host did not update.

Because their equipment was confiscated by security, and if it weren’t for the work badges around their necks, they would’ve been kicked out of the backstage. Now they were hiding, squatting in the corner of a hallway, using the wall to shield themselves.

When Lu Hui came out of the rest area and saw these three men, her expression remained neutral. “Do you need something?”

Sheng Zhaoming was the first to respond, “No.”

He thought only one person in the room was interested in his sister. Well, it turned out there were two.

Xie Ran’s voice was hoarse, “Huihui, I’m selfish. I can’t bring myself to leave.”

Lu Hui had never expected him to listen. “Do as you wish, it’s none of my business.”

Xie Ran smiled bitterly, his eyes filled with cold, bloodshot desperation. “I’ve already decided on my fate.”

She would die.

And he would die with her.

Don’t despise his filthy soul or rotting body, he still harbored the hope of being buried with her.

At that moment, Lu Hui desperately wanted to apply for work-related injury benefits. Surely, she could claim a level-one disability for the immense emotional trauma she had endured.

She didn’t have lofty aspirations, but why were there so many stumbling blocks in her path to a normal life?

Yan Zhao threw his suit jacket over his arm and handed it to her. She angrily swatted it off. “What are you doing?”

Yan Zhao, ever the man of few words, replied, “It’s too revealing.”

Seeing these men in front of her, Lu Hui’s mood soured instantly. She snapped, “None of your business, old man!”

It wasn’t wrong to call him an old man.

In the world of cultivation, Lu Hui had only lived to sixteen or seventeen, while Yan Zhao, a ruthless character, had lived for over 500 years. He was definitely old enough to be her ancestor.

Yan Zhao frowned. “You are my wife.”

“…” Lu Hui responded sincerely, “I’m not worthy.”

Was she worthy? Of course not.

The person who reacted more strongly than her was Xie Ran. The man grabbed Yan Zhao by the collar, his fingers almost choking him, and slammed him into the wall. His hoarse voice sounded like a beast fighting to defend its territory. “What did you say?”

Yan Zhao, no weaker than him, kicked Xie Ran away, his face darkened as he coldly responded, “She is my wife.”

“She is my woman.” Xie Ran’s eyes turned bloodshot, and he warned Yan Zhao in an icy voice.

The two men, driven by those two sentences, began to fight fiercely. Neither of them liked the other, and each move was deadly.

Tables and chairs were shattered, fists and kicks flew, and both of them ended up with bruises.

Lu Hui’s heart remained calm, even slightly amused. Let them fight, let them kill each other—it was all just trash.

Sheng Zhaoming, the first observer, looked at her in shock and confusion. “You cheated on them?”

Lu Hui responded, “Yep, in my past life I was a mess, you know. When it comes to shipping couples, I can’t be biased, right? If one of us wears a green hat, everyone gets one.”

One man took her kidney.

Another took her heart.

So what if she got beaten? She couldn’t die either way.

The other one took seven years of her youth and fourteen years of heartfelt, unspoken love.

But the dead one could be left out for now.

Xie Ran and Yan Zhao fought like they had nothing to lose, their overwhelming murderous aura forcing everyone within ten meters to retreat. Each step they took seemed to leave traces of blood on the ground.

Lu Hui watched for a while. At first, it was somewhat entertaining, but soon she grew bored and sleepy.

She had no interest in this.

She wanted to leave work.

She had to go to the Quick Wear Bureau tomorrow to claim her work injury fund.

She yawned. “I’m tired of watching. I’m leaving.”

At the same time, the forum host finally updated the post.

[Host: I’m speechless. I’ve really seen it all. Both handsome guys already know they’ve been cheated on, yet they’re still fighting each other to the point of bloodshed.]

She is my wife!

You’re lying! She’s my woman!

What is this, a Taiwanese idol drama? Can’t they consider the psychological state of the live audience?

#LuHuiScandal

It quickly made its way to trending.