After resting at home for a month, Sheng Mingzhi finally remembered that he still had a profession: being an entertainer.
As the young master of Mingchen Bank, logically speaking, he should have been thriving in the entertainment industry especially since Sheng Mingzhi possessed a face so beautiful it was as if God himself were chasing him to feed him.
Unfortunately, when Sheng Mingzhi decided to pursue his great artistic ideals in the industry years ago, he faced opposition from his entire family. It was a case of “the late Emperor’s enterprise being half-finished before the budget ran out,” but he was also very backbone-stiff. He swore on the spot that he would not use any of the Sheng family’s power to pave his way.
As a result, after three years of struggling in the industry, he remained a “nobody” upon his return.
True to his original intention: a man stays a flop until he dies.
________________________________________
Today, Sheng Mingzhi only had to record a pilot for a dating variety show.
Let Me Be Infatuated with You was a dating show launched two years ago, featuring five permanent hosts and two guest stars per episode. Due to investors pulling out, the show had been on hiatus for a full year. This year, it secured sponsorship from a video site under the Shengjia Group. It returned early in the year to the eager anticipation of fans, and after four episodes, its popularity was as high as ever, averaging seven trending searches a week.
As expected of “Infatuated Niohuru,” who had snagged the thigh of “Daddy Shengjia.” With money comes confidence.
As a mysterious guest star, Sheng Mingzhi was participating in the fifth episode’s recording, serving as a background face on a popular show.
Opportunities like this were rare. Assistant Xiao Wang spent half the day earnestly explaining the script to him, only to find that this “little ancestor” wasn’t listening at all. He spoke up: “Mingzhi, did you hear a word I said?”
Sheng Mingzhi only picked the things he liked to hear; as for the things he didn’t like, he suffered from intermittent deafness. Sometimes, even when someone called his name to his face, he would take a long time to react.
Xiao Wang said: “Why are you so distracted? Did a fox spirit steal your soul?”
Sheng Mingzhi: “…”
For some reason, Lu Jiayan’s demonic face popped into his mind.
Thinking that Qiao Yan was also involved in the recording, Xiao Wang assumed Sheng Mingzhi was acting out of spite and comforted him: “Qiao Yan taking this show is clearly a move to not let you off the hook. He wants to drag you in to highlight the affection between him and Huo Yuzhe. But hype is a two-way street. As long as there’s heat—be it ‘black-red’ or whatever—it’s better than being a permanent flop. Besides, you still have CP fans with Huo Yuzhe. Let’s milk that wave of angst and turn those CP fans into your solo fans.”
Sheng Mingzhi finally seemed to snap out of it: “Qiao Yan is also in this show?”
Xiao Wang: “…”
He shouldn’t have offered extra concern to this little ancestor.
“The war between your two fanbases on Weibo is already insane. You’re only just finding out?”
Sheng Mingzhi really was only just finding out. He had been traveling for the past half month and hadn’t patrolled his own Weibo tags at all.
When he opened it, sure enough, the screen was full of “genital-themed” greetings and various Photoshopped funeral portraits of him. Faced with such a grand “page-slaughter,” Sheng Mingzhi showed no fear. It wasn’t even on the same level as the scale of when top-tier idol fans attacked him. He could even critique which of his funeral photos was edited better.
Seeing his attitude, Xiao Wang thought ridiculously: You’re actually quite proud of yourself?! Why do you need so many funeral photos? Enough for you to reincarnate seven times!
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The cause of the fight was the official Weibo of Infatuated, which had announced the guest stars Qiao Yan and Sheng Mingzhi half an hour ago, tagging them both.
@LetMeBeInfatuatedWithYou: Shhh! Who else has joined the big family of the Sweet Cottage? Let Brother Honey and everyone look forward to this encounter together! [flower toss] @QiaoYan @ShengMingzhi
Soon, anti-fans followed the official tag to Sheng Mingzhi’s Weibo and instantly occupied his comment section.
• [“?? Do you have no shame? Planning to tie yourself to that little couple for the rest of your life?”]
• [“The blood hasn’t been sucked dry yet, so of course Sheng Mingzhi has to keep leeching.”]
• [“Never seen such a high-profile ‘Third Wheel’ male.”]
• [“Wait, doesn’t Sheng Mingzhi’s encyclopedia say he’s married? How does he still have the gall to shamelessly cling to Huo Yuzhe?”]
• [“Hehe. Probably because his own husband is old and ugly.”]
Sheng Mingzhi’s face remained expressionless. He scrolled down a few pages and picked a few comments to snap back at.
• [“Everyone knows looking at handsome guys helps you live longer. Since he’s a dead man, of course Sheng Mingzhi wants to suck the life force out of the handsome Huo Yuzhe to live a few more years (tongue out).”]
o (SMZ: Life shortened by 20 years. [crying emoji])
o
• [“We don’t make dates with flops. Come look at beautiful pictures of Huo Yuzhe and Qiao Yan [perfected PR photos].”]
o (SMZ: Finished looking. Selling a pair of depreciated eyes.)
o
• [“Are you really married? Why do you keep clinging to Huo Yuzhe? Is your own husband really that embarrassing to show off?”]
o (SMZ: ‘Little swallow wearing flowery clothes, coming here every spring…’ I asked the swallow, ‘Why do you come?’ The swallow said: ‘Mind your own business.’)
o
There was also a netizen named “Big Watermelon Euler” who commented:
• [“What else can you do besides shouting at people on Weibo?”]
o (SMZ: I can watch Big Watermelon Euler bark like a dog. [Heart emoji])
o
It had to be said, Sheng Mingzhi’s fighting strength was formidable. He was essentially one against a hundred. In the realm of internet feuding, he was invincible. Whether it was the opposing fans or anti-fans, they were all left speechless by his barbs, fuming in powerless rage.
After finishing his “slaughter” of the netizens, he felt refreshed. He selected a few styled photos from his album and sent them to Shen Ling. After a moment’s hesitation, he also sent a few to Lu Jiayan.
He wanted to reclaim the dignity he lost last night due to being photographed looking like he was 1.4 meters tall. He also wanted to humiliate Lu Jiayan: taking photos like that was purely the photographer’s lack of skill and had nothing to do with the model himself.
________________________________________
Lu Jiayan was currently in a high-level meeting. His private phone buzzed once, showing a message from Sheng Mingzhi.
He clicked it open. In the photo, Sheng Mingzhi was wearing a white shirt under a gray knit pullover sweater. His hair was slightly curled, giving him a strong “academic” vibe.
After Sheng Mingzhi sent it, he didn’t expect a reply, but the other party replied within seconds.
[How come you aren’t wearing your ring?]
Sheng Mingzhi froze and subconsciously looked at his left hand. He usually took off his wedding ring when recording shows especially since Infatuated was a dating show.
Sheng Mingzhi: [Recording a show.]
Lu Jiayan: [What kind of show?]
Sheng Mingzhi paused: [A dating show (smile).]
After a long pause, the other side replied slowly: [I don’t recall receiving an invitation from the production team.]
Sheng Mingzhi was in a great mood: [Oh. I didn’t say I was dating you. (tongue out)]
Nice! Finally won a round!
Upon seeing the message, Lu Jiayan’s expression stiffened for a fraction of a second. In truth, his micro-expressions weren’t obvious, but in a high-level meeting at Shengjia, any change in Lu Jiayan’s expression was enough to make everyone tremble.
The executive responsible for the report stopped cautiously: “President Lu, is there a problem?”
Lu Jiayan snapped out of it, placed his phone face down, and said calmly: “No.”
The air pressure for the rest of the meeting was significantly lower. After it ended, Lu Jiayan kept Yao Shen behind, his tone level: “Find out what show the Second Young Master is recording.” After a thought, he suddenly added: “Send me the recording location.”
________________________________________
Sheng Mingzhi put down his phone. The door to the lounge was pushed open, and Qiao Yan appeared with his manager. The fact that the two of them were on bad terms was common knowledge in the industry; in private, they didn’t even bother to pretend.
The moment Qiao Yan sat down, sarcastic words began to pour out: “Long time no see, Sheng Mingzhi. I thought you’d already quit the industry. You’re as much of a ‘nobody’ as a civilian now.”
Here we go.
Xiao Wang gave a dry laugh, knowing this little “Green Tea” Qiao Yan wouldn’t miss any chance to bicker with Sheng Mingzhi.
Sheng Mingzhi looked lazily at Qiao Yan through the makeup mirror and countered nonchalantly: “Teacher Qiao is still the famous one. So famous that even a ‘nobody’ like me heard you lost two endorsements and a movie, and you didn’t even manage to sign with Hemu Entertainment.”
This struck Qiao Yan’s sore spot instantly. He glared fiercely at Sheng Mingzhi: “Don’t get cocky too soon.” As if remembering something, Qiao Yan sneered: “So what if I lost an endorsement? Sheng Mingzhi, let me warn you: you better stop eyeing my boyfriend. No matter how much you cling to him, he won’t ever look at you!”
“That’s great.” Sheng Mingzhi’s tone was flat, but his words were incredibly punchable. He mocked: “Thank God. I must have done a lot of good deeds in my past life to ensure Huo Yuzhe doesn’t look at me in this one.”
Low laughter came from around the lounge. Qiao Yan was humiliated by the sudden face-to-face insult, and his ears turned red. The only thing that answered Sheng Mingzhi was the sound of the door being slammed in a fit of rage.
Until the door shut, Sheng Mingzhi didn’t even give Qiao Yan a direct look.
________________________________________
“Why are you getting angry at an 18th-tier flop like him?” Qiao Yan’s manager spoke the moment they left the lounge.
“He started it!” Qiao Yan was so angry he lost his filter, kicking a trash can hard: “I get angry just looking at him.”
“Fine,” the manager said. “Don’t forget that you need this show to turn your reputation around. Without him, who’s going to highlight the affection between you and Brother Huo?”
When the manager put it that way, Qiao Yan calmed down. He thought about the recent turmoil—losing endorsements, the delayed contract and how the manager at Hemu was making excuses without giving a straight answer. It made Qiao Yan wonder if he had offended someone powerful. He had even wondered if Sheng Mingzhi was behind it, but what kind of waves could an 18th-tier flop make?
The manager patted his shoulder: “Don’t worry. During the recording later, I’ll have a word with the directing team and arrange for Brother Huo to come and visit you on set.”
At this, Qiao Yan’s face finally softened a bit: “Mm.”
________________________________________
Halfway through the recording, Huo Yuzhe successfully “airdropped” onto the set of Infatuated. Instantly, the cheers from the fans almost blew the roof off, and Qiao Yan perfectly performed a look of surprise.
Sheng Mingzhi just wanted to roll his eyes. He wondered why Qiao Yan had been so well-behaved on the show; turns out he was charging up for a “limit break.”
To spite Qiao Yan to death, Sheng Mingzhi finally took a serious attitude toward “business.” Whenever the production team cued him, he would lie with a straight face. His “ideal type” template was a total fabrication designed to be the exact opposite of Huo Yuzhe. He determinedly refused to be a romantic foil for this dog couple.
Throughout the show, Sheng Mingzhi was focused and professional, and the effect was surprisingly good. On the contrary, the interactions between Huo Yuzhe and Qiao Yan were a bit awkward. During the show, Huo Yuzhe’s gaze frequently drifted to Sheng Mingzhi’s vivid, striking face. Qiao Yan’s face beside him had turned as black as coal. The moment recording ended, he slammed the door and left.
Sheng Mingzhi encountered Huo Yuzhe on the way back to his van. The other man had come alone and called out to him: “Mingzhi!”
Sheng Mingzhi sneered: “Are we that close?”
Huo Yuzhe looked at him awkwardly: “Teacher Sheng.” After a pause, he explained: “I didn’t know you were recording with Yanyan today.”
“Oh.” Sheng Mingzhi mocked: “Do I need to say thank you? So once again, you ‘unintentionally’ slapped me in the face?”
The atmosphere was tense and awkward. Sheng Mingzhi’s patience with Huo Yuzhe had reached its limit; his face was full of undisguised irritation. If he didn’t have to stay in the industry and maintain some decorum, his fists would have already introduced themselves.
After a long while, Huo Yuzhe suddenly changed the subject: “Were you serious about what you said on the show? That you like ‘overbearing little wolf-dogs’ and someone younger than you?”
He was two years older than Sheng Mingzhi.
Sheng Mingzhi raised an eyebrow: “Of course it’s true.” He spoke with disgust, raising his voice for emphasis: “I’m looking for a partner, not a father!”
After saying that, Sheng Mingzhi turned to leave. Suddenly, as if having a premonition, his right eyelid twitched.
Sheng Mingzhi looked up and saw Lu Jiayan leaning casually against a Maybach across the street.
The man looked as if he had no bones, his whole vibe lazy and relaxed. It was impossible to tell how long he had been there or how much he had heard. He just stood there, waiting at his leisure, looking at him with an indifferent gaze.
The smile was missing from those peach blossom eyes, and his look was a bit chilly.