5 – They throw mud at me, I slap them hard
Gong Yan’s voice came from the other end of the phone, “I was just about to look for you. There was indeed a job offer for you last night.”
“What kind of job offer?”
Bo Zhi was quite surprised. With her terrible reputation, she actually had a job offer coming to her on its own.
Gong Yan: “A romance reality show.”
“A rom—”
Bo Zhi quickly lowered her voice and glanced furtively toward the bathroom.
She tiptoed to the balcony to continue the call. “A romance reality show?”
Did she look like someone who would date others?
Gong Yan sighed, “It’s a long story. You’d never guess who recommended you.”
Bo Zhi replied, “Zhu Luoling?”
Gong Yan was stunned, “How did you know?”
“Is it hard to guess?” Bo Zhi played with her fingers idly. “The rumors about her joining a romance reality show have been spreading like wildfire lately. She even broke up with Chen You for it—she’s desperate to get famous.”
Besides, with romance reality shows being so popular these days, how could an opportunity like this ever fall into the lap of an unknown actress like her?
Gong Yan said, “You’re quite clever.”
Zhu Luoling had indeed broken up with Chen You to join the romance reality show.
As a rising star with little substantial work to her name, she needed new buzz to maintain her popularity once the hype around her relationship faded. That’s why she signed up for the show.
As for why she recommended Bo Zhi…
It all started when a photographer posted a stunning photo of Bo Zhi walking the red carpet last night, which quickly went viral and was hailed as iconic by netizens.
【No wonder she’s called the goddess whose career may collapse but never her looks. Absolutely stunning!】
【Those legs, that waist, those incredible proportions—Mom, I’ve seen an angel!】
【So pale, so pale—I’m talking about the red carpet. [drooling]】
【Let’s be honest, if Bo Zhi just focused on acting, her face alone would be enough to sustain her career for a lifetime, right?】
Then, one of Zhu Luoling’s die-hard fans left a mocking comment in the replies.
【LOL, a homewrecker trying to cling to fame, and a bunch of simps are practically worshipping her.】
Some casual observers were speechless. They were just complimenting her looks—what else were they supposed to say?
Bo Zhi’s anti-fans had always been cheeky and couldn’t stand Zhu Luoling and Chen You either.
Having criticized Bo Zhi for so long, they knew her well—this stubborn girl was too proud to ever look at Chen You, let alone be a homewrecker.
So they left a comment saying the iconic photo was actually a group shot of Bo Zhi and Zhu Luoling.
Zhu’s fans: Stop trying to ride on her coattails, okay? A group shot? Where’s our Zhu Zhu?
Anti-fans: See that blurry spot? That’s your idol.
Casual observers: Pfft—
Zhu’s fans exploded on the spot.
The two sides immediately launched an all-out war, but Zhu’s fans were no match for Bo Zhi’s anti-fans.
Fan wars usually involve attacking the other side’s idol, but Bo Zhi’s side was already made up of anti-fans.
They had nothing to lose, standing alone with no one behind them.
In the end, they arrogantly left a final remark: A bunch of little Zhu fans can’t even curse as fiercely as we usually do. Absolutely no lethality.
The damage was minimal, but the insult was profound.
Zhu Luoling always kept an eye on her fans’ activities. Combined with the red carpet incident, she couldn’t possibly swallow this insult.
“So she’s sending money my way?” Bo Zhi asked, puzzled.
Gong Yan: “…”
She said, “You’re being too naive. I heard Chen You will also be on the romance reality show.”
The three of them appearing together on a romance reality show—who knows what kind of storm that would stir up online.
Bo Zhi’s reputation was already in the gutter. If she appeared alongside Chen You, she’d be torn to shreds all over again.
Gong Yan was still hesitating about whether to send her.
Bo Zhi said, “Go, of course I’ll go. Why wouldn’t I?”
Gong Yan was surprised. “Aren’t you afraid of being attacked again?”
Bo Zhi said indifferently, “At this point, what’s there to be afraid of?”
Gong Yan: “…”
True, it couldn’t get any worse.
“It’s impressive you can think that way,” Gong Yan sighed. “They throw mud at you, and you use it to grow flowers.”
Deep down, she actually quite liked Bo Zhi.
Beautiful, good-natured, just occasionally a bit sharp-tongued.
After a few seconds of silence on the other end of the line, Bo Zhi suddenly sneered, “On their graves?”
Gong Yan: “?”
Bo Zhi narrowed her peach blossom eyes dangerously. Grow flowers?
She said darkly, “They throw mud at me, I slap them across the face.”
Gong Yan: “??”
With that, Bo Zhi began rubbing her hands together and flexing her wrists.
“I’ve been holding back against that guy for a long time. This show is perfect—I get paid and get to beat someone up.”
Gong Yan: “??”
Unable to hold back any longer, she yelled into the phone, “Bo Zhi, I’m warning you, you’re joining a romance reality show, not a dance competition!”
“Beep beep beep—” The busy tone sounded.
Gong Yan: “What the hell?”
Where was her emergency heart medication?
…
Bo Zhi had another reason for deciding to join the romance reality show.
The guests on the show had to stay in the Sparkling Cottage arranged by the production team, which meant she wouldn’t have to live with Fu Jingyan anymore.
She could also collect rent on the side—killing two birds with one stone.
After happily planning it all out, Bo Zhi turned around and saw the man leaning lazily against the balcony doorway, leisurely sipping coffee as he glanced at her.
“…”
Bo Zhi nearly dropped her phone in fright.
Her eyes flickered as she demanded, “When did you get here?”
Had he heard everything?
Fu Jingyan leaned halfway against the sliding door, his silver-blue hair slightly damp, his pale, slender fingers slowly swirling the coffee cup.
He answered casually, “Just now.”
Bo Zhi let out a slight sigh of relief.
He took a sip of coffee, glanced at her with a faint smile, and asked offhandedly, “Which show are you joining?”
Bo Zhi’s heart, which had just settled, tightened again.
Telling her fiancé she was joining a romance reality show… didn’t seem appropriate, right?
Especially since this man was a peerless little white flower, adept at playing the victim and tattling to her parents.
Bo Zhi lightly tapped the edge of her phone and brazenly declared, “A talent show.”
Fu Jingyan looked up. “A talent show?”
Seeing his slightly surprised expression, Bo Zhi lifted her delicate chin and retorted, “What? Is that not allowed?”
Could only he sing and dance? Couldn’t she, Bo Zhizhi, do it too?
Fu Jingyan recalled how she had once topped the blacklist of Yicheng’s wealthy playboys with her rendition of “The Most Dazzling Ethnic Style.”
A group of friends had shared their victim testimonies in the group chat.
[Ming Family’s Young Master]: Next time there’s a karaoke session with Lady Bo, don’t invite me, okay?
[Shen the Fishpond Owner]: If Lady Bo hits even one note in tune, I’ll livestream washing my hair while doing a handstand [lights a cigarette with a sigh]
[Ji the Little Puppy]: My grandpa has been in a wheelchair for three years, but after hearing Zhizhi’s singing, he got so excited he got up and danced a breakdance:
“…”
Bo Zhi seemed to recall the same painful memory, her confidence suddenly wavering.
Then she heard the man’s clear voice say, “No.”
He leisurely sipped his coffee, speaking with elegant dignity. “You debut in the morning, apologize at noon, and quit the industry by night?”
His tone was calm, devoid of mockery, yet more mocking than mockery itself.
Bo Zhi felt a bit offended. “I’m just a little bad at singing, is it really that serious?”
Fu Jingyan curled his lips. A little? More like a lot.
“Not about that,” he said, casually glancing at her bright, pretty face in the morning light. “Idols can’t date.”
Fu Jingyan tapped his coffee cup slowly with his long fingers, emphasizing his point. “Bo Zhizhi.”
“You already have a fiancé, and you still dare to become a girl group idol?”