"You heard what I said earlier, right? Meena's family is pushing her to get married," Xia Qingtian said. "Though you probably knew that already."
"Someone like Meena, a legal loli, would have men lining up from here to the capital who like her. Of course, plenty of women like her too," Xia Qingtian looked at Tong Nian Zhe and said, "If you keep acting like this... Meena might not be able to withstand the family pressure and end up marrying someone she met through a blind date..."
"It would be one thing if the person was caring and attentive towards her, but what if he's just some old pervert who's into lolis? How many years could Meena maintain this appearance? Ten years? Fifteen years?"
"Everyone faces skin aging and their body shape changing. Plus, she's short... In the future..."
"She might have a really miserable time..." Xia Qingtian deliberately exaggerated the situation, and sure enough, it provoked Tong Nian Zhe.
"I won't give Meena to anyone else," Tong Nian Zhe said coldly.
The person he had cherished for three years. He had pursued her into the entertainment industry. Knowing Ji Meena was participating in a dating show, he ignored the company's decisions and his agent's objections, canceling his concert plans and diving headfirst into it.
It was all for Ji Meena, for the Ji Meena who had given him a glimmer of light when he was most lost and lonely.
Though, Ji Meena herself might not even remember.
Back then, in Ji Meena's eyes, he was probably just an unremarkable fan among her many male admirers.
"Then take action!" Xia Qingtian was anxious too.
Although the two of them were truly sweet after they got together, and she had enjoyed their interactions, that was three years after the dating show ended. During that time, there were rumors that Ji Meena was engaged to a civilian entrepreneur outside the industry. Not long after, that entrepreneur was found to have committed crimes, the engagement fell through, and Ji Meena almost withdrew from the entertainment industry due to depression and cyberbullying.
After so many twists and turns, it was incredibly difficult for these two to end up together.
Xia Qingtian really hoped these two could have a smoother journey.
"How, how do I take action?" Tong Nian Zhe stammered, looking at Xia Qingtian.
He had only ever liked Ji Meena since he was a child. After pursuing Ji Meena into the entertainment industry at nineteen, he had very few opportunities for normal interactions with women, and he had even encountered multiple betrayals.
He had once been drugged and placed in the bed of a high-ranking executive's wife. If he hadn't jumped out the window to escape, the consequences would have been unimaginable.
Even a female artist he had kindly tried to help had, in turn, arranged for paparazzi to take intimate photos of them. If his agent hadn't discovered it early, the consequences would have been unimaginable.
As his fame grew, everyone who approached him seemed to be using him, which made him develop a prickly exterior for self-preservation.
It wasn't that he didn't want to speak to Ji Meena properly; he had tried, but he didn't know why his words always turned into hurtful ones.
Seeing this, Xia Qingtian slapped her forehead.
Fine, who else but her had "shipped" this couple herself?
What could she do? She had to try and play matchmaker!
So, Xia Qingtian and Tong Nian Zhe discussed Ji Meena's personality and hobbies, and successfully reached a consensus.
The two chatted pleasantly and were about to continue their conversation when staff members reminded them that their time was up and they had to leave the private meeting room.
Only then did they reluctantly leave the private meeting room side-by-side, turning their listening devices back on.
"It's a shame. Each guest can only invite a different person into the private meeting room once per week," Xia Qingtian said, shrugging.
Tong Nian Zhe had already invited her this week, so he couldn't invite her again, and she couldn't invite Tong Nian Zhe. They could only invite others.
This was also a rule set by the production team.
"Let's talk next week," Tong Nian Zhe said. "Four weeks from now."
He was now filled with confidence. In the next four weeks, he was determined to make Ji Meena see him.
He had waited for three years, what was a mere four weeks?
"Okay." Xia Qingtian made an "okay" gesture. "I'm heading back."
Tong Nian Zhe nodded, waved goodbye to Xia Qingtian, and a rare smile appeared on his lips.
Xia Qingtian also skipped back to Ji Meena with a beaming smile.
[No way! Young Master Tong actually smiled?] Those in the live stream waiting to see Xia Qingtian make a fool of herself were stunned. [What's going on! Why does Young Master Tong look like he's still wanting more?]
[Damn! Young Master Tong doesn't actually like this kind of flashy, slutty type, does he!]
[How is that possible! Young Master Tong hates manipulative women the most!]
[If you ask me, it's the power of capital. Someone is deliberately promoting Xia Qingtian. Even someone as noble as Young Master Tong has to bow his head and play a supporting role for Xia Qingtian, fulfilling her "popular all-rounder" persona. I'm so curious about how powerful Xia Qingtian's backer is!]
[I agree with the person above. Bringing money into the group is amazing. Xia Qingtian is truly disgusting!]
[Poor Meena, she still thinks of her as a good friend. She can't even see that Xia Qingtian is deliberately trying to seduce men! Disgusting!]
[I hate Xia Qingtian. I've already joined the Xia Qingtian Haters Committee. There are already over a hundred thousand members in the committee. Sisters, hurry and join!]
[Coming, coming! Let's join together! Resist Xia Qingtian!]
[I heard that the Xia Qingtian Haters Committee is planning a big event soon to make Xia Qingtian permanently leave the entertainment industry. It seems they've found a lot of dirt! Sisters, hurry and join!]
[I heard that too. The head of the Xia Qingtian Haters Committee got a hundred thousand, and others followed with hundreds of thousands just to take down Xia Qingtian. I'm going too!]
[Is that for real! So exciting! I'll go rally the sisters to spread the word! Everyone must join! Make Xia Qingtian get out of the entertainment industry!]
Within a day, the Xia Qingtian Haters Committee had hundreds of thousands of followers. Everyone was sharpening their swords, waiting for a big move to make Xia Qingtian completely leave the entertainment industry.
Of course, that was a story for another time.
At this moment, Xia Qingtian returned to the living room and saw Ji Meena, Qiu Xinxue, and Lin Yirou chatting on the sofa.
"He didn't bully you, did he?" Ji Meena held Xia Qingtian's hand and, after confirming she was alright, said, "Tong Nian Zhe is the worst. Don't choose him, no matter who you pick. Don't fall for him! Someone with such a foul mouth will never find a girlfriend. Whoever marries him is a complete idiot!"
Xia Qingtian looked at the "idiot" herself, who was speaking with righteous indignation, and showed a very subtle smile.
"Qingtian is still so charming. Someone invited you out so early," Qiu Xinxue said with a hint of sarcasm, her smile a bit stiff.
Lin Yirou, sitting beside her, cast a glance at Qiu Xinxue and subtly moved away.
"No, we just chatted casually," Xia Qingtian said vaguely, not wanting to elaborate, and changed the topic to something else.
The female guests gathered to chat, while the male guests returned to their rooms, appearing aloof and uninterested in each other.
"Do you guys have any male guests you admire?" Qiu Xinxue asked. "I don't know anyone yet..."
"Me neither... I feel like I'm about to embarrass myself. I feel more at ease with you all," Ji Meena said. Having been smaller than her peers since childhood, coupled with her innocent and cute appearance, she was often bullied by mischievous boys at school.
She hated boys the most. Even now, she felt uncomfortable being around men.
"I don't know them well either," Lin Yirou chimed in, then lowered her head to play with her hair again.
"Qingtian, how about you?" Qiu Xinxue asked.
"From an admiration perspective, it would definitely be my idol, Ling Feng Han," Xia Qingtian was a die-hard fan of Ling Feng Han. No matter who asked her about her favorite, the answer was always Ling Feng Han.
Mentioning her idol, Xia Qingtian's eyes lit up. "Have you guys heard Ling Feng Han's latest single? I have it on my phone, I'll play it for you! Listen to it! Isn't it good? Want to listen again?"
[Hahaha, Xia Qingtian trying so hard to recommend it is exactly like how I enthusiastically and humbly recommend my idols to classmates!]
[Hahaha, we know Qingtian baby's favorite is Ling Feng Han, we all know!]
[After all, it's the friendship of ten pairs of socks. Ling Feng Han's ten pairs of socks were worth it!]
Xia Qingtian's live stream remained cheerful and peculiar.
Meanwhile, Mr. Gu, watching the live stream in his office at Gu's Entertainment, narrowed his eyes and tapped his fingertip on the edge of the desk.
Xia Qingtian, likes Ling Feng Han that much?
How come he didn't know.
Hmm?