Brilliant!
Ye Shu and Xiaozhen exchanged glances filled with admiration.
They saw that Mrs. Zhuang was already struggling to maintain her composure.
But Xu Yanxia didn't say anything more to them. She just walked off-camera and asked them to help take off her hidden microphone.
Because there was another promotional video shoot coming up that required a costume change, Ye Shu and Xiaozhen needed to take Xu Yanxia to the dressing room.
However, before they even stepped out of the studio door, they were startled by the scene outside through the glass—
Hundreds of fans were gathered outside, completely blocking the exit corridor, and they were emotionally shouting at Brother Song, who was still in the studio—
"Songsong, is this show rigged? You are so excellent, why are you at the bottom?!"
"Yeah! Brother Song, is it because you don't have a sponsor? Don't worry, we'll crowdfund for you!!!"
"Yes, we'll crowdfund to sponsor you, Songsong!!!"
"Songsong, we support you!!! Don't be afraid, if no one has your back, we do!!!"
...
Xu Yanxia, who was still at the door, couldn't help but frown.
It should be known that according to the show's rules, none of the recorded content could be leaked before the official broadcast, especially important information like scores.
How could these fans already know the results less than half an hour after the recording ended?
Moreover, their implicit and explicit mentions of "having someone's back" and "sponsors" were actually aimed at her.
Ye Shu also realized this and quickly ran to coordinate with the producer.
Soon, the producer led Brother Song outside, first guiding the fans to one side, and then explaining with a megaphone, "Everyone, please calm down. We just finished recording the first round. There are still two more rounds of competition. The results of this round are not final, so please don't misunderstand!"
Brother Song also explained, "Babies, don't get worked up. This show isn't rigged, it's very fair! We haven't finished competing yet, so please wait for the final official results. Don't be upset!"
...
Taking advantage of the cleared path, the security guards quickly escorted Xu Yanxia and the others out.
...
Several more hours of recording passed. By the time Xu Yanxia completely finished her work for the day, it was already night.
To accommodate the tight schedule, all guests and staff had to stay at the hotel in the film and television base during the recording period.
Xu Yanxia had dinner with Ye Shu and Xiaozhen. By the time she returned to her room, it was past 9:30 PM.
Lu Jingming had sent her a WeChat message while she was eating. Taking advantage of the quiet moment, she immediately video-called him.
After two rings, it was picked up.
Lu Jingming's handsome and authoritative face appeared on the phone screen.
Judging from the background, he was also in a hotel. He was still wearing a dress shirt, though the collar was unbuttoned and the sleeves were rolled up. He still had his gold-rimmed glasses on, suggesting he was likely still working.
"Baby, you're finally done."
Seeing her, he immediately put down his work and asked her attentively, "How was it? Are you tired today?"
Xu Yanxia had a lot on her mind that she wanted to tell him. She sighed and said, "Not really tired, I just feel like it didn't start off as well as I expected."
"How so?"
On the other end, Lu Jingming immediately frowned. "Did someone bully you?"
"No, not that."
Xu Yanxia smiled. "Just some slackers again."
Since there was no one else in the room, she spoke directly, "For example, there's one who brags that his family has been imperial chefs for generations, but he doesn't even know the most basic common sense about imperial cuisine."
"There's also a couple who claim to be wealthy selling sauces, but it's full of chemical additives, and definitely exceeding the limits."
"Oh, right,"
She casually mentioned to him, "That man said he even had dinner with you in Hangzhou last time."
"Is that so?"
Lu Jingming frowned again. "What's his name?"
Xu Yanxia said, "I only know his surname is Zhuang, I don't know his full name. I heard them say their family is in the electronics business."
"Surname Zhuang?"
Lu Jingming thought about it seriously but still shook his head. "I don't remember anyone like that."
"It doesn't matter anyway,"
Xu Yanxia said, "Seeing how they are full of lies, their personas are probably fake too."
"True."
Lu Jingming nodded and asked her, "Anyone else? Didn't you say there were four people competing together this time?"
Xu Yanxia said, "There's another one who takes the fitness route..."
Just as she said this, she suddenly remembered Ye Shu's words from this morning and couldn't help but laugh.
Ahem, especially during dinner just now, Ye Shu showed her the photos of Brother Song flexing his muscles at the competition site again, and you could really clearly see his nipples protruding.
She couldn't help but laugh even harder.
"..."
Lu Jingming on the other end of the video paused and asked, "Did something funny happen today?"
Xu Yanxia kept smiling and said, "Nothing funny, I just feel like laughing."
Ahem, after all, this was a girl's sense of humor, she figured a guy like him wouldn't get it.
So she decided not to share it with him for now.
Little did she know, Lu Jingming on the other side paused and suddenly called her "Baby."
He said with a serious face, "I also work out regularly."
Xu Yanxia was stunned for a moment, then just let out an "Oh."
Ahem, actually, when she was crying in his arms that day, she had already felt it.
But...
She asked, not quite understanding, "Why are you suddenly telling me this?"
Lu Jingming, "..."
Never mind.
He said "It's nothing," and then earnestly told her, "If you're not happy, let's just stop recording. I'll pay the breach of contract penalty for you. Don't force yourself."
"That won't be necessary,"
Xu Yanxia immediately said, "The judges this time are pretty good. Two of them are very professional, and the public judges are also quite fair. I still really want to keep recording."
"Besides, I need to promote our brand. After all, if those slackers can make money, we should definitely be making money. Maybe one day we can even open a branch in Jingbei."
"Alright then,"
Lu Jingming said, "If anything makes you unhappy, tell me right away."
"Mm,"
Xu Yanxia smiled and nodded, then asked him, "When are you coming back?"
"I'll finalize the contract tomorrow morning, and once it's signed, I can head back."
He asked as he spoke, "Did you miss me?"
His eyes carried a smile, and his voice was very gentle.
Xu Yanxia also smiled, nodded, and said, "I did."
Lu Jingming laughed too. "I missed you too."
Saying that, he flipped his camera to point at his computer desktop on the table. "Look at this."
Xu Yanxia saw that his desktop background had been changed to a selfie of the two of them eating ice cream, taken the day he accompanied her shopping for clothes.
In the picture, she and he were each holding an ice cream cone, smiling very happily.
But because she was the one holding the phone at the time, her face appeared a bit larger in the photo.
She couldn't help but frown and said with a hint of disdain, "My face looks so fat in this picture!"
"I think it looks great,"
Lu Jingming smiled and said, "Round and cute, like a little apple."
What on earth...
Xu Yanxia immediately said, Let's take a few more pictures when you get back. You hold the phone this time.
Sure, Lu Jingming agreed without hesitation.
But then she changed her mind. I'll send you a few pretty pictures of myself later so you can change it first.
Alright. Lu Jingming agreed with a smile, showing his excellent temper.
They chatted for a while longer. Seeing that it was getting late, the two hung up the phone.
Xu Yanxia switched her phone screen to the photo album. Just as she was about to send the pictures to Lu Jingming, the doorbell suddenly rang.
She got up to open the door and saw an unexpected person.
It was that borderline soft-core, oh wait, fitness guru Brother Song.
She was a bit surprised.
Before she could speak, he looked at her apologetically and said, I'm sorry, I came to apologize. My fans said some inappropriate things today without knowing the situation. I hope you won't take it to heart.
Saying that, he handed her two bottles of beer. I didn't bring any other local specialties. This is some dark beer we brought with us. If you don't mind, please take it and have a drink.
...
As a girl, this was the first time someone had given her alcohol as a gift.
Xu Yanxia quickly and politely declined, You don't need to be so polite. I didn't take it to heart at all. Besides, your fans really didn't know the truth, so it's fine.
Brother Song, however, insisted, Please take it. I really didn't bring any other gifts, and I can't go out to buy anything right now.
He looked a little embarrassed as he continued, To be honest, I'm a fan of yours. I've been following your account for a while now and have learned how to cook quite a few dishes from you. I was really happy to meet you in person today. It's just that I didn't get a chance to talk to you in the studio earlier.
Xu Yanxia, ...
Was he serious? This guy was her fan???
Alright then.
But no matter what, she couldn't just casually accept this gift.
She smiled at him again and said, Thank you very much for following me, but I really don't drink. It would be a waste to give me these two good bottles of beer. You should keep them for yourself.
I appreciate the thought, and I'm also very happy to be able to talk with you in person. You really don't need to be so polite.
...Alright then.
Seeing that she firmly refused, he had no choice but to nod and bid her farewell.
Xu Yanxia didn't pay it much mind. She just closed the door, went back into the room, and continued choosing photos for Lu Jingming.
A while later, with a buzz, Lu Jingming, who was far away in Shencheng, received the beautiful photos from his girlfriend.
He opened and looked at them one by one, downloading them all with a smile on his face.
Then he conveniently selected one of them and set it as his phone's lock screen wallpaper.
After doing all this, he turned off his phone screen. Just as he was about to continue reading the documents on his computer, he heard his phone buzz twice.
He opened it to take a look and saw that he had received a photo via text message, but it wasn't from Xu Yanxia.
Instead, it was from an unknown number.
He tapped to open the picture and saw that the background of the photo was a hotel corridor.
A muscular man was standing at the door of a room talking to Xu Yanxia, and both of them had smiles on their faces.
The man was also holding two cans of beer in his hand.
...
Lu Jingming frowned.
