Chapter 126: Checking Up On Me
“Who came up with this trick of putting a label on someone? Too ruthless.”
Qi Luo An was almost laughing herself crazy looking at the netizens’ comments. This move was truly ruthless, directly putting Qi Xi in a dilemma where he couldn’t advance or retreat.
After all, guiding fans to vote for the blind contestant opponent was a fact. Losing would mean negative competition and disrespecting vulnerable groups, while winning would mean deliberately voting for the opposite side to humiliate the opponent.
Stubbornly blocked from both ends, it was like being set up by the competition.
“Hater netizen, probably.”
As the organizer, Yu Wei hadn’t expected things to develop like this. Originally, each one trying to outdo the other in arrogance, this time they were finally sanctioned.
Just consider it as helping the competition get back to basics. Facing challenges head-on is the charm of the competition. Always thinking about outdoing each other in awfulness—what’s that about?
Labeling like this isn’t actually good, but sometimes you have to fight fire with fire…
“It’s just that too many hater netizens and mischief makers gave likes to Qi Xi. Yu Ting might lose.”
Netizens really want Qi Xi dead. They first gave 30,000 votes to others, but in the end they could still win. It’s really hard to say what will happen then.
“If we lose, we lose. One win or loss isn’t important anymore. We’ll make it up for her later.”
The “make it up” that Yu Wei mentioned definitely wouldn’t destroy the fairness of the competition. Clearly, he wanted to provide some props again.
“Want to give a song again? Aren’t you afraid that if the competition loses, the matter of giving a song will be confirmed?”
“I, Chen Bei Yu, have acted my whole life—why do I need to explain to others!”
Qi Luo An frowned thoughtfully, ultimately deciding to go along with him…
“Awesome, 666, so cool.”
Yu Wei ignored her sarcasm and turned to look out the window. Night was just falling, the city gradually quieting, and it was already quite late.
“Aren’t you leaving?”
It wasn’t really him chasing her away. Mainly, if she stayed longer, she might really have to stay overnight, and then shouting herself hoarse might not help.
“It’s only eight o’clock. Watch the program. I’ll leave after watching.”
Qi Luo An had come specifically for this. Previously, watching variety shows together online had been troublesome every time. Watching offline together should be fine, right?
She casually turned on the television like she owned the place, sat on the sofa with her legs crossed, her two legs relaxedly overlapping, and her two small feet in short socks quietly peeking out from under her knees, slightly perky in a playful way.
Yu Wei wasn’t suppressing anything, nor was he interested in girls’ feet. He was just amazed by her lazy posture.
This wasn’t casual at all—this was really treating the place like home…
“Do you sit like this at home?”
“At home I’d eat snacks.”
Qi Luo An pointed to the now-broadcasting fourth episode of Music Blind Box, beckoning him over to watch together.
Yu Wei didn’t say anything, just turned around and grabbed a few bags of chips. He occasionally ate them while writing too—cucumber flavor.
“Not lime flavor, bad review.”
But Qi Luo An also loved cucumber flavor. It felt like they could eat together in the future… Was he thinking too far ahead?
The fourth episode didn’t have many highlights. Current audiences had no interest in cloud tourism either, since the scenic spots in the videos were each more beautiful than the last.
The audience’s focus was on the two new guests, Su Jian and Shen Yutong. Both had appeared in Yu Wei’s novel, which sparked quite a bit of discussion.
Yu Wei really hadn’t lied to Su Jian. He became insanely popular with one song “giao.” This thing was already brainwashing, plus the competition’s boost and internet celebrities following suit—it swept the entire web.
He had now become a must-have option for oni videos, which was an unexpected delight for both Su Jian and his company.
As long as your face is thick enough, black-red lasts longer than true love…
“How about it? Yutong has great temperament, right?”
In the program, Shen Yutong in plain ancient-style clothes attracted the audience’s attention as soon as she appeared. The program team even added highlight effects for her.
She wasn’t the stunning first-glance beauty. Her appearance was light like a chrysanthemum. But once in ancient costume, she seemed completely transformed.
Qi Luo An’s words had a bit of probing intent. She knew Yu Ting was pure-hearted and desireless, but what about Yu Wei?
“You’re too much of a green tea. Good-looking is good-looking. Saying only great temperament means the person isn’t good-looking, right?”
“?”
Qi Luo An finally experienced the feeling of being labeled. When praising someone, you definitely latch onto their strengths to praise. Those who stir up fights should be killed!
But thinking carefully, it seemed like she had bad intentions asking that question. Yu Wei’s counterattack was fair enough, but she hadn’t expected it to be so cutting.
“By the way, what’s your exact relationship? You seem to get along well, but also a bit at odds.”
“Best friends. Isn’t it normal for best friends to pit each other a little?”
By that logic, Yu Wei and his readers were originally best friends?
Then the program’s style suddenly shifted, starting to broadcast the scene where Yu Wei let his tourists freeload on the class to listen, full of program effect.
Although Qi Luo An had been on-site, she really didn’t know about this segment. Seeing Yu Wei relentlessly repeating like a repeater machine made her burst out laughing during filming.
“Kinda cute.”
“Thanks.”
Yu Wei couldn’t tell if she was sincere or sarcastic, but “cute” was definitely the first time someone used that adjective for him.
No, his readers had used it too, like ending a chapter with a short “also very cute”…
Then the program reached the part where Yu Wei sang for the tourists. Actually, many netizens had seen the on-site short video.
They knew Yu Wei sang at the scenic spot, but not the reason. Turns out it was to take care of the tourists’ emotions?
It’s normal not to know tour guide knowledge. It’s nothing if you can’t lecture when filling in temporarily. But Yu Wei still took care of the tourists’ emotions—this personality is indeed impeccable.
Good personality is good, but he really knows how to stir things up. Writing novels every day and making some noise—netizens can’t keep up with his mischief speed.
Reasonable to suspect he has a mischief system…
“I seem to have forgotten the director’s words.”
Yu Wei realized belatedly. Cheng Xu had told him then: try to avoid novel mischief during program broadcast time, but today it still clashed.
Although there wasn’t much fan circle infighting fun, Qi Xi being in hot water now had drawn quite a few onlookers.
But this wasn’t something he could predict. The program team should understand—fake programs aren’t easy to make either.
The scene of Yu Wei singing in the program was very clear, much sharper than bystanders’ shots, with top-notch audio too. The audiovisual experience was definitely much better than short videos.
He took a deep breath, picked up the guitar, and stood in the center of the camera. His gaze swept over the distant scenery, and his fingertips plucked the strings.
“Why does it feel a bit awkward?”
Yu Wei sang perfectly in control, inevitably immersing himself. It was fine on stage usually, but outdoors it felt oddly uncomfortable.
“Where’s the awkwardness? It looks pretty good.”
Qi Luo An watched intently. This mature style of Yu Wei was so handsome. This guy next to her just blabbered nonsense—does he understand Yu Wei?
“I’m as free as the wind
Just like your tenderness can’t hold me back.”
In the program, Yu Wei closed his eyes and tilted his head back, his Adam’s apple rolling, as if pouring the program’s days of competition, fatigue, and loneliness into the lyrics.
Qi Luo An’s crossed legs fidgeted restlessly, seeming very happy watching.
“Between singing me and usual me, which do you think is more important?”
Yu Wei suddenly asked such a question out of nowhere. He didn’t know why he thought of it, but he did care a bit.
“Both are pretty important… But if I have to compare, usual you is more important.”
Qi Luo An pointed at the singing person on the TV. “After all, if it wasn’t you singing, I might not watch.”
She watched singing because of Yu Wei, not Yu Wei because of singing. How to put it… She didn’t just like the tofu in mapo tofu—she liked the tofu itself.
In the entertainment industry, four-legged toads are hard to find. Are two-legged singers hard to find?
“Thanks.”
Yu Wei was very satisfied with this answer, even a bit comforted. Not exactly moved, but it warmed his heart a little.
“I give you lasting free memories
I give you all but can’t stay.”
In the program, Yu Wei’s singing grew more passionate, carrying a faint fatigue.
“Thanks for what? Pretty words anyone can say—cost is too low. I hope you thank me for who I am, not for what I say.”
Qi Luo An inexplicably said some strange things influenced by him. Sentimentality is really contagious…
“Enlightened.”
Yu Wei hadn’t expected her to say that, but she was right. If pretty words worked, there wouldn’t be so many eunuch authors.
“It’s all your fault, affecting my listening to music.”
In the program, Yu Wei’s performance entered the finale. The song ended, he released the guitar and panted slightly, and the scenic spot erupted in thunderous applause and whistles.
“Go back and watch the recorded broadcast. Those words earlier won’t have a recording.”
You can listen to songs anytime, but chances to chat real talk aren’t many.
“Okay okay okay, when I get back I’ll clip out your final panting from exhaustion and listen to it a hundred times alone…”
“?”
Although he knew Qi Luo An was joking, that kind of talk was still a bit too scary. Don’t get too abstract, kid.
As Yu Wei finished singing, Qi Luo An once again noticed Shen Yutong’s focused gaze in the crowd.
Can’t blame her—this glance would make anyone overthink. The photographer didn’t give a close-up, but Shen Yutong stood out too much in the crowd. This appreciative little gaze would definitely spark some CP shipping.
But Qi Luo An wasn’t afraid of this. What CP could beat the author-protagonist abstract CP? Back then even her peak popularity got crushed.
Next was the theater acrobatics watching scene. When the program shot this, Qi Luo An should have been on the road rushing over on horseback.
“Do you think I’ll appear on camera?”
Qi Luo An wasn’t a contestant or guest, so logically the program team wouldn’t give her special shots, but wide-angle might catch her.
“No problem, just treat it as an ordinary tourist.”
To this day, he still didn’t know why Qi Luo An rushed so far over. Maybe performance art.
The program didn’t directly show the afternoon scenes, but first covered the situation with Su Xinnan and Su Jian. One intermediary, one salesperson—they were busy half the day too.
Su Xinnan even closed a deal relying on her popularity. The other party bluntly said the house had been blessed by Sister Nan and signed the contract directly.
By the time the camera returned to Yu Wei’s side, Qi Luo An had no more interest in looking for him. No patience for that.
“See that? Is that you?”
Yu Wei paused casually, pointing to a familiar back in the wide-angle shot. Besides her, probably no one dressed like that.
Qi Luo An was wearing the first-meeting clothes then, which ironically became the perfect anchor—recognizable at a glance.
“It really is.”
The shot flashed by, but when filming the street scene, it landed on Qi Luo An’s face again. This time it was quite clear—people familiar with her should recognize her.
There were no more shots of her later, including when Qi Luo An and Shen Yutong chatted idly. The program team completely didn’t capture it.
“Free of charge for two shots—huge profit.”
Six hours drive just for two shots, and the shots weren’t even useful to her—what ultimate idleness?
No, there was also that towel…
Qi Luo An was speechless for a moment, not knowing how to explain. This seemed unnecessary, and indeed it was.
She was about to tease a bit when the phone ringtone beside her suddenly rang, startling both of them.
Qi Luo An picked up the mobile phone, glanced, and her expression instantly turned serious. Yu Wei leaned in for a peek—the caller ID was just one word: Mom.
Her mom calling?
Yu Wei suddenly felt inexplicably guilty. At this hour, a call from the girl’s family—checking up, right?
If it was Qi Yunming calling, he wouldn’t be this nervous. Old Qi was laid-back, but this Aunt Chen he really didn’t know well.
Qi Luo An’s pupils also shrank sharply. Usually she cut off the net and turned off her phone to play dead in advance, but this time she overlooked the program’s wide-angle—no preparation.
What to do now?
Day 4 of 10,000 words today—so tired, about to burn out…
