Xiao Lan simply didn’t dare to say that she was the first to enter the Zhou family’s residence. After all, Jiang Lianqin was covered in blood and the severity of the wound was obvious at a glance. If the accident was associated with her, given Jiang Lianqin’s fanatical fans, it would definitely stir up trouble.

She pondered in secret how to delete the recording clip to prevent it from circulating online and tarnishing her reputation. Therefore, when she spoke, she shifted all blame onto Jiang Lianqin, deliberately showing a look of sadness and fear on her face to appear exceptionally innocent.

But the cameraman standing nearby didn’t believe her words. Just now, to ensure a better effect, he fell behind not too far from the two female celebrities. He saw with his own eyes that it was Xiao Lan who first stepped through the gates of the Zhou family’s yard.

However, Xiao Lan was a popular actress in the entertainment circle, and behind her stood the entire Yunlai Entertainment. The cameraman dared not offend anyone and could only swallow the words that had risen to his throat.

As she spoke, Xiao Lan used her fingertips to wipe away the moisture at the corners of her eyes. She turned to look in the direction where the ambulance was departing, choked up as she said, “I don’t even know how Lianqin is doing right now. She’s the most dazzling star on stage when she dances. If she permanently injured her leg because of this accident, I’m afraid she won’t be able to bear the blow. If I had known it would turn out like this, I wouldn’t have agreed to switch tasks with Meng Zhen……”

The reason she said those words was to shift the blame onto Meng Zhen.

Jiang Lianqin was currently the hottest female idol. Idol fans were usually younger and more fervent than fans of actors and actresses, with stronger fighting power. If they were convinced that Meng Zhen was the culprit, they would latch onto her like bloodsuckers and completely drag her down to hell.

At the thought of it, Xiao Lan quickly lowered her head, concealing the smile at the corner of her lips.

Recording this show today didn’t go as she had imagined, but fortunately, it reached the same goal. As long as it could block Meng Zhen’s path to advancement, Xiao Lan wouldn’t have to worry about someone else taking Meng Zhen’s place.

———pr

This translation is by Pocketrobbin at S h a n g h a i f a n t a s y . c o m

At the moment when Jiang Lianqin was injured, Meng Zhen was still in the store buying seasoning. Before she could take out her wallet to pay, the cameraman following behind hurriedly approached her, speaking anxiously, “Teacher Meng, it looks like we can’t continue filming this episode. Teacher Jiang was bitten by a village dog and has already been taken to the hospital by ambulance.”

Meng Zhen was visibly taken aback, and after the initial surprise, she felt speechless. Originally, Jiang Lianqin and Xiao Lan had conspired together to use that village dog to create an accident. Now, the accident had happened, but it implicated Jiang Lianqin instead. Was this considered reaping what one sowed?

Even though Meng Zhen thought that way in her heart, she didn’t show it on her face. She furrowed her brows slightly and asked, “Is she okay?”

“They say she injured her leg, luckily, not in any vital part.” The cameraman, carrying his equipment, couldn’t help but mutter to himself, “Jiang Lianqin is really unlucky. Among the six guests and the staff recording the show, she’s the only one who got bitten by a dog, and it happened in a village with quite a few residents. It’s really strange.”

Upon hearing the cameraman’s reply, Meng Zhen didn’t inquire further. Her relationship with Jiang Lianqin was far from harmonious, especially since the other party had the intention of harming her. Meng Zhen couldn’t bring herself to genuinely care about Jiang Lianqin, so she just politely offered a perfunctory word of sympathy.

Meng Zhen and the cameraman hurried back to the farmhouse rented by the production crew. As soon as they entered the living room, they saw Xiao Lan sitting on the sofa with swollen eyes, clutching her phone tightly in her hand. When Xiao Lan caught sight of Meng Zhen, a glint of determination flashed in her eyes.

Meng Zhen tightened her grip on the shopping bag and sat opposite Xiao Lan.

“Zhenzhen, I never expected Lianqin would encounter something like this today. It’s all my fault. I shouldn’t have taken the initiative to swap tasks with you. There’s still no news from Lianqin’s side. She’s only just come of age. If she ends up with any lasting effects, her life will be ruined……” Xiao Lan lifted her head and stared intensely at Meng Zhen. Two tears rolled down her cheeks and coupled with her exquisitely beautiful face, she looked particularly pitiful.

Seeing Xiao Lan cry so sadly, her assistant reached out and gently wrapped her arm around her shoulder, hinting at something as she said, “Sister Lan, please don’t cry. This matter is not your fault at all. It’s all because a certain someone is acting high and mighty, which led to Teacher Jiang ending up in the hospital.”

Meng Zhen placed the shopping bag on the coffee table and ignored the assistant’s insinuations.

Based on Meng Zhen’s understanding of Xiao Lan, she’s a very utilitarian person, never wasting effort on useless actions. Acting out such a drama in front of the program team was surely not just about tarnishing Meng Zhen’s reputation in public. Xiao Lan must have had a next move planned.

In her previous life, Meng Zhen had spent a full three years in an extremely ruthless and greedy place. She not only served as a singing girl but also learned to deal with all sorts of people. Unwilling to succumb to decadence or be a wealthy young master’s caged canary, she diligently studied various subjects. It was that effort that allowed her to seize the opportunity to star in silent films, gradually becoming one of the country’s most renowned actresses of her time.

Having had such experiences, Meng Zhen could instantly perceive others’ malicious intentions. As a celebrity, she wouldn’t be able to escape the relentless criticism of online public opinion, no matter how she tried to handle it herself. So even if the program team attempted to suppress news of Jiang Lianqin’s injury, Xiao Lan would proactively release the information online.

Having grasped Xiao Lan’s thoughts, Meng Zhen couldn’t be bothered to pay attention to the duo echoing each other across from her. She toyed with the hazelnut-shaped wool felt at her fingertips, a small gift Lei Yin had made during winter break. Meng Zhen had hung it directly with her keychain, finding it quite cute.

Catching a glimpse of Meng Zhen’s expression, the assistant held back a surge of anger in her stomach and gritted her teeth, saying, “There are actually such malicious people in the world, causing others to end up in the hospital, yet acting like nothing happened. Absolutely lacking empathy!”

Xiao Lan wiped her tears with a tissue, then gently held the assistant’s hand, signaling her to stop talking.

Just then, Gu Ting walked in with a dark expression, exuding an intimidating presence around him. His voice was icy cold as he said, “If you’re dissatisfied with someone, just say it straightforwardly. There’s no need for this indirect sniping.”

Despite Xiao Lan’s current popularity, her status in the entertainment industry couldn’t compare to Gu Ting’s. He had become a movie king at a young age, known for his impeccable acting skills. Moreover, he frequently donated money to out-of-school children and was dedicated to charitable causes, greatly enhancing his reputation compared to Xiao Lan’s.

Even a popular actress of Yunlai Entertainment couldn’t touch Gu Ting, let alone a mere assistant. At this moment, his words had frightened the assistant so much that her face turned pale and her body trembled slightly.

The assistant couldn’t understand why Gu Ting was defending someone like Meng Zhen, who was selfish and self-centered. Besides her appearance, what other qualities did she have? In contrast, Xiao Lan was at least a graduate of a prestigious film school. Wasn’t she much better than someone illiterate?

Gu Ting was truly blind!

The assistant director went to the restroom to smoke and returned to the living room with a worried expression. Probably too worried, he failed to notice the tense atmosphere. He sighed and said, “None of us wanted to see this accident today. Teacher Jiang has already been taken to the hospital. She’s a kind person and surely will recover soon. Since something unexpected happened in our show, I urge all the guests to keep it confidential and refrain from making any statements online to avoid unnecessary controversy.”

Those were instructions given by the station’s management. 《Flavor》 has decent safety measures and the inherent risk in the program itself wasn’t high. After all, it was just about traveling across the country to explore cuisine, mostly visiting rural areas. Who could have anticipated such an accident happening?     

Upon hearing the assistant director’s words, Xiao Lan’s eyes flickered repeatedly. She murmured softly, “Assistant Director Liu, we can’t suppress this matter as we wish. Lianqin is a very active idol with a fixed weekly exposure. It’s impossible to keep her injury hidden.”

The assistant director also understood this truth well. He felt a headache coming on and started pacing back and forth in the living room like a headless fly.

Lin Yu sat in front of Meng Zhen, squinting as he observed the calm-faced woman. She caused Jiang Lianqin to end up like this, yet there wasn’t even a hint of remorse on her face. Meng Zhen was indeed as Xu Xuero had described her, cold-hearted to the extreme.

“Meng Zhen, you should apologize to Jiang Lianqin.” Unlike Xiao Lan, Lin Yu was not only a popular celebrity but also the young master of the Lin Group. He didn’t hold the same deep apprehension towards Gu Ting as Xiao Lan did. With a stern expression, he glared at Meng Zhen with evident displeasure.

Meng Zhen placed the keychain into her bag, tilting her head slightly upward. Her clear eyes locked onto Lin Yu’s, illuminated by the warm winter sunlight streaming through the glass window. She looked as exquisite as a person who had stepped out of a painting, but the words she uttered caused Lin Yu’s face to darken.

“Teacher Lin, I don’t understand what you mean. I’m not the owner of the dog. Why should I apologize?”

Stimulated by her words, Lin Yu suddenly stood up from the sofa and pointed at Meng Zhen, his eyes filled with intense and indelible disgust. “At a time like this, you’re still pretending to be clueless? If it weren’t for your antics, Jiang Lianqin wouldn’t have been injured. If you have any conscience left, you should apologize immediately instead of shirking responsibility here.”

To be honest, Meng Zhen really looked down on Lin Yu’s personality. She saw him as a spoiled child who had gained fame and success using the power of the Lin Group’s wealth and influence. She found him too naive and reckless, never bothering to think things through carefully. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been manipulated by someone like Xu Xuero. If it hadn’t been for the Lin family’s protection, Lin Yu wouldn’t have gotten so far in the entertainment industry.

Gu Ting stepped sideways to shield Meng Zhen, placing her behind him. He calmly said, “Meng Zhen can’t foresee the future, nor does she need to take responsibility for Jiang Lianqin’s injury. Lin Yu, you’ve crossed the line.”

Lin Yu had always regarded Gu Ting as his role model. Yet now, seeing Gu Ting unable to distinguish right from wrong and insisting on defending Meng Zhen, whom he saw as a malicious woman, Lin Yu felt as if his role model had been bewitched.

“Teacher Gu, don’t let Meng Zhen deceive you. She’s not a good person at all. In her bid to compete for her parents’ affection, she directly caused her sister to end up in the hospital. If it weren’t for timely medical intervention, her sister’s life would have been in jeopardy. I’m not slandering her. Meng Zhen has a history of doing things like this!”