Song Chu realized he had misspoken, quickly covering his mouth.

After checking to see if anyone had heard, he whispered, “Damn, I didn’t mean it like that!”

Ning Qiuxiu knew he didn’t mean anything by it; Song Chu was a bit rough with his words but had a kind heart.

Hearing this, Ning Qiuxiu asked a question she had been curious about since yesterday: “Why did you want to be on this show? Aren’t you worried about ruining your image?”

She remembered how his fans always praised him for being cute and polite.

She imagined their reactions if they saw his real side—probably a complete meltdown and mass unfollowing.

“Want to be famous, of course. There’s no other choice,” Song Chu admitted with a sigh. “Everyone knows that reality shows are a shortcut to fame.”

Even if he didn’t become famous, the show only took a few days to film, so the cost was low.

“……” That reason was refreshingly straightforward. Ning Qiuxiu patted him on the shoulder and encouraged him, “Keep going, you can do it.”

Although she thought the show seemed unremarkable and didn’t look like it could make someone famous…

“Ouch, that hurts!” Song Chu yelped as she patted him.

Ning Qiuxiu: “……”

She wasn’t using any special strength, it wasn’t like she had a superpower or anything.

“Chopping bamboo yesterday made me sore, and now I’m in pain,” Song Chu explained, looking at her. “Can’t you handle it?”

“……No, I can’t.” Ning Qiuxiu felt a bit guilty; she didn’t exert any real effort, thanks to the power of the strength talisman.

Song Chu: “……Sister Qiuxiu is indeed Sister Qiuxiu.”

Not only Song Chu, but also Lin Jin, who got up later, was complaining about being sore, both of them feeling half crippled.

It seemed the production team anticipated this outcome, so they assigned a simpler task—making nests for the bamboo rats.

The team had prepared materials for the nests, but since everyone wasn’t very skilled at it, they ended up just making a mess.

Even though the nests were crooked and looked like something a wild boar might have made, the process was full of laughter and great for the show’s effect.

The morning filming passed quickly. After lunch, they had an hour of rest.

Ning Qiuxiu had gone to bed early the night before and couldn’t nap, so she decided to gather some green vines she had seen in the backyard that morning to keep in her room.

Ning Qiuxiu took a small pair of scissors to the backyard and found someone already there.

“Qiuxiu.” Seeing her, Fang Jinran awkwardly put out his cigarette.

“!!” Ning Qiuxiu was stunned.

She hadn’t expected Fang Jinran, of all people, to be secretly smoking here.

This was a huge surprise.

“You’re here too?” Ning Qiuxiu felt like she had stumbled upon something private and was a bit embarrassed, though she realized the question was quite silly.

This is clearly an obvious thing!

“Hmm,” fortunately, Fang Jiran didn’t seem to care about how trivial the question was. He said, “I’m feeling a bit down. Did I scare you?”

“…… I’m not a three-year-old child,” Ning Qiuzhu walked over to sit beside him. “Do you need a listener?”

“Sure,” Fang Jiran replied straightforwardly.

The two sat down on the stone steps in the backyard.

Fang Jiran organized his thoughts and said, “My manager, despite my opposition, accepted a role in a plagiarized IP drama for me.”

“Ah?!” Ning Qiuxiu was incredulous. “Aren’t you considered a top star now? Don’t you have a say in what dramas you want to act in?”

She couldn’t understand why someone at Fang Jiran’s level would still be controlled by his manager.

Fang Jiran didn’t seem like the type of person who would be weak-willed.

“No,” Fang Jiran said, “including this variety show, and even the previous ‘pretend lovers’ reality show, which you were also approached for. I think we’re friends and shouldn’t create a fake CP; it would be awkward. I refused firmly, which upset her.

She then stopped consulting me and just arranged this current show for me, as a warning that my success is in her hands. If she wants to promote me, I get good resources. If not, I get these… lower-tier variety shows.”

Lower-tier…

Fang Jiran was being very diplomatic.

As a top star, participating in such a poorly funded web variety show, with a production team so poor they can’t even provide a good internet connection, was clearly beneath his level.

His manager was ruthless, clearly very dominant and controlling.

Ning Qiuxiu was a bit angry: “This manager is so overbearing. Can’t you have the company replace them for you?”

“She’s one of the company’s board members,” Fang Jiran said.

Alright, with such strong connections, it’s no wonder they can be so openly arrogant. “What about terminating the contract?”

Fang Jiran said, “I signed a 20-year contract with the company. Terminating it would involve a troublesome lawsuit and a lot of penalty fees. I… don’t have the money.”

“……” Hearing ‘don’t have money’ from Fang Jiran was quite out of place.

Although he had only been famous for less than a year, surely he had earned tens of millions in that time.

‘No money’ sounded ridiculous coming from him.

Had he been giving away money at casinos?

“Previously, my father’s business failed, leading to significant debts and high-interest loans. My mother became so stressed she lost her memory for a while, and the medical expenses were very high,” Fang Jiran explained.

Ugh, another melodramatic plot twist!

Ning Qiuxiu was speechless.

Couldn’t there be a bit more creativity? Were they mass-producing these clichés in a factory?

“And,” Fang Jiran continued, “my income share isn’t high.”

Ning Qiuzhu’s forehead twitched: “How much?”

“Fifty percent.”

“Damn!” Ning Qiuxiu was furious when she saw the numbers. “This company is taking advantage too much.”

This commission rate is something new people get; established stars usually receive 80% or even 90%.

After splitting 50/50 and paying taxes, earning 1 million might leave him with only around 400,000.

The company knows his situation well and is keeping his commission low, knowing he can’t leave.

Ning Qiuxiu was so angry that she accidentally used some force, and with her strength talisman, she deformed the small scissors she was holding.

Ning Qiuxiu: “……”

Fang Jinran: “……”

“Sorry, sorry, I… I’m just so angry.” Ning Qiuxiu awkwardly explained.

“Hmm.” Fang Jinran watched her try to straighten the deformed scissors with a complex expression.

Using popular terms, Ning Qiuxiu was truly a wolf in sheep’s clothing.

“I’m fine,” Fang Jinran smiled at her. “Talking about it helps a lot.”

“It will get better,” Ning Qiuxiu said. Besides being a listener, she didn’t have much to offer, so she tried to comfort him. “What goes around comes around; your agent will eventually face consequences.”

Ning Qiuxiu thought about how her own plans had been delayed and felt renewed enthusiasm.

If she had a company, she would recruit Fang Jinran immediately.

Though it might initially involve losses and lawsuits, in the novels, Fang Jinran’s future was always bright, and he would quickly make back the money.

The first episode of “My Daily Life with Cute Bamboo Rats” only took two days to film.

By evening, the recording was over, and everyone went their separate ways.

Qu Hua traveled from afar to pick her up. As she got into the van, Ning Qiuxiu looked at him warily. “Is there another work arrangement?”

“Don’t think so poorly of me! I’m hurt,” Qu Hua said with a pitiful tone. “We haven’t seen each other for a long time; I’m just here to pick you up.”

“Afraid you might be plotting against me.” Ning Qiuxiu was blunt.

“Where would that be?” Qu Hua said, leaning in with gossiping curiosity. “I heard you didn’t buy a return ticket to A City or book a hotel, so I just wanted to see if you’re in for some springtime romance or blooming peach blossoms~”

“Yeah, who knows, maybe one day there will be a wedding with a baby on the way. Are you happy about that?”

“……A wedding with a baby,” Qu Hua was shocked. “Oh my little sweetie, have you two already moved in together?”

“……” Blind spot found, Hua.

“So quickly moved in together? My cabbage has finally been eaten by the pig, woo woo woo~” Qu Hua pretended to cry.

“……” Ning Qiuxiu was too lazy to deal with him.

She put in her earplugs, and the world became quiet.

“Alright, alright, I won’t talk about this anymore,” Qu Hua said as he took off his earplugs.

He didn’t have much curiosity about the details.

He pulled out two tickets and handed them to her. “Here, these are tickets for the chrysanthemum exhibition in G City. I heard it’s quite nice. You and your partner should go.”

Ning Qiuxiu hesitated for a moment, then took the tickets.

It might be a good idea to encourage Zhang Qingyue to go out for a bit.

When she got home, it was already evening.

Zhang Qingyue was in the living room of the villa… playing with a dog.

It was a half-grown Husky, very handsome with its black and white fur.

Zhang Qingyue held something in his hand and let the dog sniff it before tossing it onto a nearby shelf.

The little dog, unable to reach it, barked and whined, spinning around with its tail wagging, unable to get to the object.

Ning Qiuxiu: “……”

Why did Zhang Qingyue make even playing with a dog seem so unique?

“You’re back,” Zhang Qingyue looked up and said, “This is Miao Miao. A friend gave it to me.”

Hearing its owner call it, Miao Miao immediately forgot about its task and ran over, wagging its tail happily.

Zhang Qingyue then took a ball, let it sniff, and gently tossed it under the nearby sofa…

So Miao Miao was once again tricked by its owner and began struggling with the sofa, trying to retrieve the ball it couldn’t fit under.

“You’re bullying even the dog!” Ning Qiuxiu couldn’t watch any longer and felt sorry for Miao Miao.

“I’m training it, its intelligence,” Zhang Qingyue said unashamedly.

“??? Are you sure?”

“Yep,” Zhang Qingyue said, “This lesson is called ‘Learning to Give Up.’”

“……”

She thought Zhang Qingyue would make students revolt if he became a teacher.

But thinking about it, Zhang Qingyue wasn’t very self-sufficient now, spending his days in a wheelchair and having little to do.

Finding some entertainment was understandable, or he’d probably end up with depression.

Otherwise, he might end up with some serious mental issues.

When Miao Miao heard the unfamiliar sounds, it immediately stopped searching for the ball and came over to nudge Ning Qiuxiu’s feet, even nibbling at her skirt, treating her like a friend.

Ning Qiuxiu found it hard to handle Miao Miao’s nuzzling and nibbling, trying to pull her skirt away. “Don’t bite that, hey…”

Zhang Qingyue said firmly, “Miao Miao!”

Miao Miao heard Zhan Qingyue calling it and instantly stopped bothering Ning Qiuxiu.

It flattered its way to Zhan Qingyue’s side, clearly understanding the situation and knowing who was easier to deal with and who wasn’t.

In front of Zhan Qingyue, it only dared to wag its tail and whine, not daring to approach him.