Chapter 158: Fickle in Affection

Both Yan Ningxi and Bian He were at the hospital and simply had no time to check the trending topics on Weibo. However, their respective managers discovered the commotion and immediately went to handle it. Yet, driven by netizens' curiosity, the topic not only failed to die down but instead grew increasingly popular.

Yan Ningxi's manager furrowed his brow in deep anxiety, pacing back and forth in his office. "What on earth is going on?"

The manager had other matters to attend to and hadn't accompanied the crew for this recording, but his assistant had gone along.

Watching the topic climb the trending list and seeing the released video, the manager recalled that Yan Ningxi had made it clear before joining the romance reality show that falling in love was strictly off-limits. Yet, during the previous live broadcasts, Yan Ningxi had first taken an interest in Sang Yijia's family nurse, and now she was embroiled in a scandal with Bian He. The manager felt a splitting headache coming on.

"Brother Yang, I'm not entirely sure what happened either," the assistant said, looking equally bewildered. "Little Sisi has just taken Bian He to the hospital, and we are completely in the dark about anything else."

"Tell Little Sisi that I will look into this matter," said manager Yang Jie, whose intuition told him that someone must be pulling strings behind the scenes to push this topic onto the trending list.

Weight was a matter of great importance for female actresses in the entertainment industry, but Yan Ningxi belonged to the music circle. While one could not say the two spheres were completely unrelated, the practical difference was still quite significant.

Besides, Yan Ningxi could sing and dance; so what if she had put on a little weight?

Unable to stand the fans constantly throwing dirt, Yang Jie turned around and hired paid internet commentators to steer the public opinion, while simultaneously marketing Yan Ningxi's persona as a foodie to stabilize the situation.

Still, looking at the hashtag on the trending list, Yang Jie was quite curious about how much Yan Ningxi actually weighed right now, though as her manager, he knew better than to ask, nor was it appropriate.

***

At this very moment, inside the car, the moment Sang Yijia connected to the internet, several messages popped up. Many were from her second brother, Sang Qiwu, while the rest were from her manager, Mo Yani.

"I've accepted Bian He's web drama, playing the second female lead," Sang Yijia suddenly recalled. "In it, I'm a wealthy heiress with an unrequited love."

"Oh?" Lu Wenchuan asked, looking puzzled. "How does that suit you?"

"Besides, didn't you say you wanted to rest earlier? Why did you suddenly take on a web drama?" Lu Wenchuan was still deeply concerned about Sang Yijia's health. "What did the doctor's examination show?"

"Nothing wrong, everything is normal." Sang Yijia let out an exclamation as she looked at her phone. "Little Sisi and Bian He are trending."

"Mm." Lu Wenchuan showed no interest in the matter and shifted the topic. "How does Western food sound?"

"Anything is fine," Sang Yijia thought for a moment before adding, "provided you don't mind the steak being well-done."

The first time Sang Yijia went to a Western restaurant was with her classmates. At that time, her classmate ordered medium-rare steak; not daring to eat raw beef, Sang Yijia had asked for well-done.

As a result, she was laughed at by the restaurant waiter. Her classmate didn't show much expression, merely saying that everyone's choices were their own, but advised her that the next time she went to a Western restaurant, she could order medium-well.

Yet Sang Yijia simply couldn't stomach food containing blood, and for a long time after that, she never set foot in a Western restaurant.

Later on, she went again with colleagues from her company. They ordered well-done steak just like she did, and even remarked that the degree of doneness for a steak was a personal choice with no bearing on anything else.

After that, Sang Yijia let go of her inhibitions—she would eat whatever she wanted, as that was her choice. So what if she ordered a well-done steak at a Western restaurant?

There was completely nothing wrong with it.

Clearly not expecting Sang Yijia to ask such a question, Lu Wenchuan thought about it for a moment and found nothing amiss. "You can have your steak cooked to whatever degree of doneness you like."

"I have no objections whatsoever."

After sending a few messages to Sang Qiwu, Sang Yijia exited the WeChat interface and turned her head to look at Lu Wenchuan. "Well, I thought you might say I was embarrassing you."

After all, that university classmate had never invited her to a Western restaurant again. Although Sang Yijia was reluctant to dwell on it, she had privately overheard that classmate telling friends that dining with her that time had been utterly embarrassing.

"Why would I?" Seeing someone about to cross the street ahead, Lu Wenchuan slowed the car to a smooth stop while flicking on the turn signal to alert the vehicles behind them of pedestrians crossing.

"I don't think there's anything wrong with it," Lu Wenchuan said, resuming driving after the pedestrians had crossed. "If someone were to mock another person simply over a matter like that, I believe the problem lies with the person doing the mocking."

Sang Yijia paused. "You're right."

"Let's have Chinese food instead." Sang Yijia changed her mind. "Western food isn't filling."

With those chunks of meat, Sang Yijia didn't see what was so delicious about them.

"I still prefer our staple food—rice."

"Very well." Lu Wenchuan turned on the navigation system. "I remember there's a good Cantonese restaurant around here; the food is lighter."

"And you are suited for a light diet right now," Lu Wenchuan explained before Sang Yijia could speak.

Sang Yijia shrugged. "I'll listen to you this time."

The reality show's cameras were right inside the car, recording everything.

Yet the production crew members watching the footage in the other car felt a slight ache in their teeth.

***

The recording for the three-day-two-night trip had only just begun on its first day, and Bian He had already been injured. Director Chen looked at the updates sent back by the subgroup director; Bian He was likely unable to return to the recording anytime soon.

And if Bian He could not return, Yan Ningxi would find herself entirely alone and without amusement.

"What should we do now?" Director Chen lit a cigarette, took a deep drag, and exhaled a plume of smoke.

"What did Bian He's manager say?" Director Chen looked toward his assistant. "The contract has been signed; we can only postpone."

"Director Chen, Bian He's side just called."

Before Director Chen's words could fully fade, another staff member hurried in to report, "Bian He says he can continue recording, though he might not be able to participate in certain activities."

"As long as he can continue, that's fine. The planning team can just modify the tasks," Director Chen nodded with satisfaction. "Also, release some other behind-the-scenes footage so netizens don't focus entirely on the penalty."

Director Chen paused. "Cut more sweet moments between Sang Yijia and Lu Wenchuan."

"This pair is a real CP; the audience should be willing to ship them." Director Chen always kept abreast of new vocabulary; shipping CPs was a term he simply had to master.

Having received their instructions, the production team began editing swiftly, and before long, the show's official account released a behind-the-scenes clip.

#TheSweetMomentsOfTheSangLuCP#

[????]
[What on earth is this?]
[Is there anything even remotely interesting about these two?]
[Wasn't Sang Yijia chasing Shen Jin just a while ago? Why change targets so fast?]
[To the person above, did your village just get connected to the internet?]
[Sang Yijia already stated in the previous live broadcast that she has nothing to do with Shen Jin.]
[Ridiculous, as if the internet has no memory?]
[This kind of woman is fickle, and that Lu Wenchuan fellow is no good either to be able to fancy someone like Sang Yijia.]