Since all of you are so eager to watch the drama unfold…
Su Qinghe switched back to her profile and began drafting a new post:
[Su Qinghe V: I’ve seen the poll results. 370,000 people participated, and 89% wanted me to go. Fine, you win. Since everyone is so eager for some entertainment, I won’t be a killjoy. @OurLittleCourtyardOfficialWeibo, since all my lovely fans want me to join this variety show, I’ll look forward to a chance to work together~ ❤️]
The attached photo was a selfie she had casually taken moments earlier.
She was completely makeup-free, her hair was a mess, and she was wrapped in a blanket with a thoroughly exhausted expression that practically screamed, “I just woke up, what are you people doing?”
She hit send, then she set down her phone and went to wash up.
By the time she finished washing her face and came back out, her phone had exploded again.
She opened it and took a look.
Ten minutes.
Over one hundred thousand likes.
Twenty thousand comments.
The comments section was thriving:
[HAHAHAHA this girl is so real. She actually posted herself bare-faced.]
[LMAO that expression is way too relatable. That’s the face of someone who got pushed onto the stage by a bunch of chaos-loving spectators.]
[Su Qinghe: I was trying to leave gracefully, but you people dragged me right back.]
[Am I the only one who noticed she’s actually pretty without makeup?]
[Seriously. She always wore such heavy makeup before. So this is what she really looks like? Unexpectedly pleasing to the eye.]
[+1. This looks way better than all that heavy makeup.]
Su Qinghe raised an eyebrow.
Without makeup?
She glanced down at the selfie.
It really was bare-faced. She had been too lazy to put on makeup and simply snapped the picture.
The original owner’s features were genuinely beautiful.
The problem was that she had previously piled on such heavy makeup and deliberately pushed herself toward a flashy, seductive image, which ended up hiding her naturally delicate appearance.
After some thought, she posted again:
[Su Qinghe V: By the way, I mentioned before that I’d be making vlogs on Douyin. Everything’s already in preparation. What should my first vlog be about? Give me some suggestions. Vote or leave your ideas in the comments.]
After posting, she switched over to her Douyin account.
The newly registered account was called “Su Qinghe Isn’t Crazy Today”, with a cat meme as its profile picture.
Current followers: 120,000.
Su Qinghe: “???”
She had registered the account only yesterday and hadn’t uploaded a single thing.
Where did 120,000 followers come from?
She tapped into the comments section.
[Came here from Weibo to see what this girl is planning to film.]
[Same. Waiting for the vlog.]
[Su Qinghe, if you dare make content related to Lu Zhiheng, I’m unfollowing.]
[Don’t worry. She already clarified things on Weibo. She probably won’t.]
[Looking forward to the birth of a comedy blogger.]
Su Qinghe laughed.
Good grief.
Every single one of them was here for entertainment.
Perfect! Traffic was exactly what she wanted.
Whether they were fans or haters didn’t matter.
Anyone who brought her attention was a valuable follower.
She scrolled through the comments and selected several highly liked suggestions.
[Film a vlog responding to your haters. I want to see how you roast people.]
[Just film your daily life. I want to see what you’re really like.]
[Cooking! You said you can cook, but I don’t believe you unless you prove it.]
[Tell us about your emotional journey while pursuing Lu Zhiheng. Just kidding… unless?]
Su Qinghe rolled her eyes at the last one.
Her emotional journey while pursuing Lu Zhiheng?
They’d have to ask the original owner about that. How would she know?
However…
A sudden idea popped into her head.
Meanwhile, in Lu Zhiheng’s office.
Assistant Xu pushed the door open once again. His expression had already become completely numb.
“President Lu, Su Qinghe is trending again.”
The pen in Lu Zhiheng’s hand paused briefly, though he didn’t look up.
“What did she do this time?”
Assistant Xu replied, “She posted a poll asking her followers whether she should join Our Little Courtyard. Eighty-nine percent voted yes. She’s now tagged the production team and said she’s looking forward to working together.”
At last, Lu Zhiheng looked up.
“Our Little Courtyard?”
“Yes! The same variety show you were previously invited to attend as an investor. Miss Jiang Nian has already been officially announced, and we’re still coordinating your schedule.”
Lu Zhiheng fell silent for two seconds.
He remembered the show.
The reason he had agreed in the first place was because he heard Jiang Nian would be participating.
He wanted to use the opportunity to get to know this rising young actress and see whether she might be suitable for signing.
And now…
Su Qinghe was going too?
A slight frown formed between his brows.
Hadn’t that woman sworn she’d never pursue him again? Why was she suddenly joining the same variety show?
He recalled her Weibo post.
“Mr. Lu Zhiheng and I have no relationship whatsoever. We never did before, and we never will in the future.”
She had sounded so certain.
And now?
Setting down his pen, Lu Zhiheng leaned back in his chair, his gaze deepening.
He wanted to see exactly what kind of game she was playing.
“Assistant Xu.”
“Yes, President Lu.”
“My schedule for Our Little Courtyard is fine. Tell them I’ll attend.”
Assistant Xu was momentarily stunned.
“Understood. I’ll contact them right away.”
He turned to leave, then glanced back at Lu Zhiheng, clearly hesitating.
Lu Zhiheng looked at him.
“If you have something to say, say it.”
Assistant Xu carefully asked, “President Lu, are you joining this show because of… Miss Jiang Nian, or because of Miss Su?”
Lu Zhiheng shot him a cold glance.
Assistant Xu instantly shut his mouth and fled.
Silence returned to the office.
Looking out the window, Lu Zhiheng lightly tapped his fingers against the desk.
Jiang Nian? Or Su Qinghe?
Suddenly, he remembered that night.
The image of that woman sitting on his lap while apologizing with complete sincerity.
And her promise: “If I ever chase after you again, may every milk tea I drink for the rest of my life come without pearls.”
At the time, he had thought it was utterly ridiculous.
Now, for some reason, the memory almost made him smile.
Lu Zhiheng rubbed his forehead.
He must have gone crazy.
Three days later, the official Weibo account of Our Little Courtyard announced the full cast lineup:
[@OurLittleCourtyardOfficialWeibo: Welcome our permanent cast members! @LuZhiheng @JiangNian @ZhouYichen @LiuYinuo @ZhaoMuyan @ShenCi @SuQinghe (listed in no particular order). Let’s begin a slow-paced countryside lifestyle together~ Stay tuned!]
The comments section immediately exploded:
[Holy crap? Su Qinghe actually joined?]
[HAHAHAHAHA the battlefield I’ve been waiting for is finally here.]
[Lu Zhiheng and Su Qinghe in the same frame, with Jiang Nian there too. What kind of heavenly lineup is this?]
[Zhou Yichen and Liu Yinuo: We only came here to work. Why is everyone around us trapped in a romantic battlefield?]
[Su Qinghe, please get it together this time. Don’t embarrass yourself by acting lovestruck again.]
[Can’t wait! I’ve already prepared my sunflower seeds and cola!]
Su Qinghe reposted the announcement with her own caption:
[Su Qinghe V: Received! Getting ready to set off~ Let me say this first: I’m genuinely just going to enjoy country life. No causing trouble, no stirring up drama. I’ll work hard and cook seriously. If any awkward moments appear on the show, they are definitely editing effects and have nothing to do with me. 🐶]
The comments section erupted with laughter.
[HAHAHAHA preemptively shifting the blame, are we?]
[Su Qinghe: Let me clarify in advance. If things get awkward later, don’t blame me.]
[LMAO! This girl is getting more entertaining by the day.]
[Looking forward to your vlog! Don’t forget to film behind-the-scenes content!]
Putting down her phone, Su Qinghe looked out at the sunlight and stretched lazily.
Fine! Since there was no avoiding it, she would go.
After all, she wasn’t the original owner.
She wasn’t going to turn into a lovestruck fool every time she saw Lu Zhiheng.
When the time came, she’d eat when it was time to eat, drink when it was time to drink, and work when it was time to work.
As for Lu Zhiheng? What did he have to do with her?
All she wanted was to make good vlogs, gain followers, and earn money.
Once she had fame and money, finding a cute younger boyfriend wouldn’t be difficult at all.
Relationships were easy enough to find.
A good career opportunity, on the other hand, was much harder to come by.