Chapter 137: Sheng Ning Tears Into Chi Ye
“No one left for me to call out.”
Sheng Ning scanned the room, unexpectedly giving off a terrifying vibe like a homeroom teacher calling roll.
“It’s fine, everyone, no need to be nervous. Relax a bit.”
Chi Ye saw Sheng Ning playing the bad cop, Sister Shang muting herself directly, so he had to play the good cop, but his words were hard to believe coming from a 36° mouth: “Teacher Sheng Ning probably can’t remember that many names.”
The audience below instinctively burst into laughter, then quickly realized something, their faces turning pale as they restrained their expressions one by one and bowed their heads pretending to be dead.
Sheng Ning glanced at Chi Ye: “I really can’t remember that many.”
“Yes.”
Chi Ye pulled a notebook out of his pocket: “No problem, I’ve got them all written down.”
“Hahaha.”
The audience below laughed out again, but this time after laughing, everyone’s faces looked worse than crying.
“I… I’ve done it too.”
A little internet celebrity timidly raised her hand and stood up. She was also well-known for having done it, and she had actually regretted it a bit earlier. This “shot-grabbing” opportunity had been snatched by Lin Jingyi first.
Seeing Chi Ye pull out the “list” at this moment, she got it.
Since she couldn’t be first, she’d be second!
“I’ve done it too.”
Qing Sister-in-law felt she had to support the captain, standing tall: “But what I did wasn’t my face, it was my chest and butt, the kind where the body gets bigger or smaller!”
“Also, the medical beauty place I went to, I recommend it to everyone. What they do is really realistic…”
“Stop, stop, stop!”
Ji Zhua Zhang next to her saw the program team’s security coming over and quickly tugged at Qing Sister-in-law, signaling: That’s enough, too over the top!
Qing Sister-in-law cleverly stopped… um, there would definitely be people asking her later.
Ask your horse!
The program team director flew into a rage upon seeing this: “What is this Qing Sister-in-law? Doesn’t she know we only mooch off others, when can others mooch off us? Cut her out, keep the attention-grabbing body size changes, cut all the advertising!”
“Where’s Ji Zhua Zhang? He keeps eating chicken feet…”
“No problem, Photoshop our program team’s logo onto his head!”
“…”
On the other side.
You’re getting proud now.
Chi Ye grumbled inwardly. He wasn’t convenient to speak on this topic, so he looked toward Sheng Ning.
Sheng Ning huffed, still with a sour face.
Li Qian, seeing this, lightly coughed twice: “…It’s human nature.”
“Hahaha.”
The audience below laughed out for the third time, but this time the atmosphere became a bit more harmonious, and several renovation masters who had been called out before stood up one after another.
A bold female idol couldn’t help asking Chi Ye: “Teacher Chi, did you really prepare a list?”
“Of course not. How could I know about such private matters?”
“Then you…”
“Straight up, I love telling little white lies.”
Chi Ye admitted frankly: “Didn’t expect so many people. Yeah, can’t remember them all.”
“Cough cough… hum…”
Li Qian had a low laugh threshold. She really hadn’t expected Chi Ye to pull off this cheeky move… no, earlier she had been puzzled, thinking during the backstage discussion, she hadn’t seen him taking notes.
It made sense; how could the contestant actors report such things to them?
Sheng Ning glanced faintly at Chi Ye, said nothing, but sneered inwardly. Indeed, he didn’t look like a good person; this kind of trick came so naturally to him.
“Teacher Sheng Ning, are you in a bad mood? Why the long face all the time?”
Chi Ye felt inexplicably uncomfortable seeing Sheng Ning’s “sour face,” always feeling like it was aimed at him.
Sheng Ning, seeing him speak to her first, instinctively jabbed: “You’ve never done it, right?”
Chi Ye: “What? You’ve done it?!”
“Haha…”
“!!”
Everyone first laughed, then immediately looked at Chi Ye in full shock.
He could clap back directly like that?
They were them, Sheng Ning was Sheng Ning!
The program team director slapped his hand down hard: “Fuck! Chi Ye is too badass. How did he know we’re setting up the consultant group mentor conflict gimmick later?!”
Everyone: “…”
On stage, after hearing this, Sheng Ning’s phoenix eyes flashed with anger, but not real anger—more embarrassed annoyance.
Whether I’ve done it or not, don’t you know?
Acting all innocent, like this is still Yue Na?!
Bastard!
“Um… let’s move on to the next question.”
Li Qian watched from the side with some trepidation and quickly changed the topic.
Sheng Ning calmly said: “Done what? Had murderous thoughts? Yeah, I’ve had those.”
“OMG…!”
Everyone on site instantly gaped. Sister Shang, who had been listless, had her eyes light up, staring dead at Chi Ye and Sheng Ning—I knew it! Wherever there’s Chi Ye, it can’t be boring.
They’re fighting! Two consultant group members clashing before the show even airs!
Awesome! Keep fighting!!
Hearing this, Chi Ye sat back down instead and said: “I thought you’d had thoughts of liking me. I’ve been mooching off you so long, and you never got mad, right?”
!!
“Holy crap… how much did this program team pay to get these two to go all out like this?”
“This show was worth coming to. Even if I get eliminated, it was worth it.”
“Captain’s got that familiar flavor, about to go off the rails again, but Sheng Ning’s actually going off with him… damn.”
“…This is talent?!”
Yang Zi was dumbfounded, eyes showing defeat.
Aaaah!!
Shang Youshu went crazy.
Is this content I can even see?!
Program team, you’re my god!!
Everyone almost thought this was a famous scene cooked up by the 《Actors Please Take Place》 program team, because this team was different from others—truly traffic over everything, no holding back.
They weren’t new to this; last season, someone of Teacher Zhang’s star power could tear into other mentors.
Not to mention this time.
But only Chi Ye and Sheng Ning on site knew it wasn’t any program team script—just pure natural improv!
If the two didn’t run into each other, fine, but meeting on the program without trading barbs would betray those years of “old and new grudges.”
Just… now maybe those grudges were only for Chi Ye.
For Sheng Ning, when she heard Chi Ye say “I thought you liked me, never got mad after all that mooching,” her phoenix eyes visibly narrowed, chest heaving—she was really pissed.
I’m not mad?
I want to tear you apart!
She grew more disappointed in Chi Ye from her perspective. The old Chi Ye was a liar; though he never told her Yue Na’s truth, never dragged her down when she was thriving—okay, a bit of conscience… but not much.
—He totally exploited their mutual understanding that she wouldn’t go too far, mooching crazily. At worst, it tanked her career, reputation got smeared everywhere, work halted.
It once drove her to mental breakdown.
Always so fearless.
And ironically, that’s what she hated most about herself, making her hate Chi Ye more than ever.
“Like you? I’m not that desperate. Who’d like a phoenix man?”
“I don’t like older women either.”
“…”
The scene was spiraling out of control; even the program team was scared.
Luckily, Sheng Ning knew not to say more. She sat back down, dropping the topic.
The site was noisy for a bit, then quieted down quickly. Because of the previous suspension, the room was sensitive; live broadcast wasn’t convenient, so this segment was always recording—maybe why Chi Ye and Sheng Ning “let loose.” But the program team would edit.
The director was already red-faced directing: “Quick, post what we shot online, fast fast fast!”
Staff hesitated: “Is this okay… it involves Sheng Ning after all…”
“No problem, we posted Teacher Zhang’s, Sheng Ning’s is even finer! Traffic first!”
“…Alright then.”
“Oh right, make the video look like it was shot on mobile by on-site contestants… put our program team’s LOGO in the most obvious spot!”
“Got it!”
Staff started working heads down.
Meanwhile.
On stage.
A brief “big gossip” storm gradually died down. With the two parties not discussing it, others wanted to eavesdrop but didn’t dare stir again.
The five mentors behind exchanged glances. Teacher Zhang smiled at the corner of her mouth, looking like she was enjoying the show. Jiang Kaige was expressionless. Wu Zhenyu and Teacher Zeng shook their heads, sighing youth was great—real clashes.
The final international film empress seemed half-understanding, flashing a business smile.
Li Qian, as consultant group guest, asked the second question: “Everyone here, those with live commerce experience, please stand up.”
The briefly “lively” atmosphere stalled, but this question wasn’t as sensitive as plastic surgery, so over a dozen stood up right away.
Among them, Ji Zhua Zhang was standout, standing tall, showing off the “Xianming Chicken Feet” logo on his chest.
Chi Ye couldn’t help saying upon seeing it: “Does your toilet clog often?”
Ji Zhua Zhang was stunned, shocked: “Huh? Captain… how did you know?”
“Little schemes maxed out.”
“…”
“Hahaha…”
Today’s recording was packed with elements; in just over an hour, everyone’s moods had shifted countless times.
From tense suffocation to relaxation, then gossip shock, then relaxation again…
Chi Ye, well-deserved reputation!
“Then let’s pick a rep to talk about it. Why does an actor do live commerce.”
Li Qian followed the script, scanning below.
Ji Zhua Zhang and the dozen other standing “sales promotion actors” exchanged glances, immediately raising hands like elementary kids eager for a question they know.
Pick me, pick me!! I want this shot, I want this shot!!
Li Qian paused, skipping the program team’s original insider, spotting Ji Zhua Zhang: “Um… Zhang Xianming was Teacher Chi’s teammate before, right? Your chicken feet are selling hot.”
“Hahaha…”
Below roared with laughter, but the dozen competing with Ji Zhua Zhang inwardly cursed: Fuck, another insider!
Knew it, Rise connections work!
Li Qian called: “You then. As an actor, why do live commerce?”
Chi Ye glanced at emotion-brewing Ji Zhua Zhang and spoke truth for his good teammate: “Because he’s not an actor.”
“Haha… um… cough cough.”
Li Qian cracked again; the just-rising atmosphere instantly eased.
Ji Zhua Zhang cracked too: Captain, don’t shoot, friendly fire!
Of course, live commerce was a sensitive topic in the entertainment industry, but not that sensitive.
Undeniably, it was industry-consensus low-class, “self-debasement.”
But sales promotion actors had their say—no roles, how to survive? How to feed a big family, a whole team?
So, this was a whitewashing chance.
“Chi Ye said it well.”
Jiang Kaige’s old phlegm voice sounded.
One sentence tightened hearts again; surroundings quieted.
Ji Zhua Zhang adjusted emotions, “tearfully” saying: “No no, though I don’t film much, since kid my mom and dad told me, kids from poor families…”
“Why not start from Pangu creating the world?”
Chi Ye was speechless, prompting: “Can you get to the point?”
“…Yeah, really no roles.” Zhang Xianming deadpanned, wiping nonexistent tears, pointing at chest chicken feet: “For survival, and to stay in entertainment industry, I can only do sales promotion. My dream now is to be a people’s entrepreneur!”
“But at the same time, I want to state to all teachers here.”
“I really want to be an actor, because… my captain, Rise’s former captain Teacher Chi, Chi Ye, is sitting up there. He’s a great actor, and our group’s role model all along…”
Ji Zhua Zhang paused, not sparing Peng Chen, thinking though you didn’t come, your name must be here—Chi Ye said you’re more famous, so definitely mention!
“Oh right, and Peng Chen, my good bro… I think it’s these two ‘great actors’ from our group giving us huge encouragement and support. I hope on this program to grow into a real actor, like captain and Chen Chen!”
Ji Zhua Zhang finished, wiping tears and sitting.
Full house thunderous applause.
On-stage mentors and guests all gave Chi Ye weird looks; even below idols, internet celebs, actors sneaked glances at him.
Great actor, great captain, huh?
Chi Ye was utterly speechless now, thinking mention Peng Chen fine, why drag me in?
What do I owe you? Always clinging to mooch!
He was about to “scold” this, but Sheng Ning saw his speechless face, paused, lips curving into a smile—first smile today, at Ji Zhua Zhang: “Um, very moving, very good. In fact… we all know the market’s tough now, most actors’ filming opportunities keep shrinking… I actually understand this emotion.”
Ji Zhua Zhang wept with joy—real joy, awe-struck.
He got praised by Sheng Ning?!
Superstar Sheng Ning smiled at him?!
Damn, this show was right; even without earnings, the psychological satisfaction was maxed.
Great Sheng Ning, from now on I’m Sister Sheng Ning’s diehard fan!
“Um… yeah, live commerce is normal.”
Teacher Zeng, who hadn’t spoken, rasped seriously: “I just think there’s nothing wrong. Actors endorse stuff anyway; live commerce channels quickly close distance between actors, fans, consumers—even actors test products themselves.”
“This ensures quality, gives back to fans—normal business like endorsements, announcements. So we should legitimize live commerce!”
Sister Shang felt awkward listening, whispered to Chi Ye: “Why’s Teacher Zeng legitimizing sales promotion? He… connected to Ji Zhua…?”
Chi Ye silent: “Teacher Zeng does it too.”
Sister Shang: “…Oh, got it.”
Below thunderous applause, “actors” wept with joy, moved to tears by Teacher Zeng’s “legitimizing sales promotion.”
Program hit first “climax.”
Sister Shang thoughtfully eyed them: “Looks like everyone’s doing it.”
Chi Ye nodded: “Yeah, all sales promotion elites, veteran leek cutters.”
