"Is this really free for me to listen to?"
The director, seeing the suggestive glances from the staff behind him, weighed his options. Finally, with a broad smile, he said, "Xing Zong, the people in the live stream are also very eager to hear about Teacher Ji's past scandals!"
"Perhaps you could say a few words?" the director asked with a smile.
"Sure!" Xing Yuan, feeling a bit carried away, nodded without hesitation.
The next second, her mouth was covered by Ji Wen Yue, who was on the verge of anger.
"Mmm... mmm." Xing Yuan struggled in Ji Wen Yue's grip.
She looked at the camera with a smile, full of apology, and said, "I'm sorry, my little friend is a bit ignorant and doesn't understand the rules of this industry. I'll teach her."
With that, Ji Wen Yue pulled Xing Yuan into the nearest room.
"Is there anything I, a paying viewer, can't hear?"
"Yeah! What's the point of going into a room?"
"I bet a bag of spicy chips that Teacher Ji is definitely bribing my Xing Zong."
"Funny! Does Teacher Ji need to bribe Xing Zong? But I'll start a betting pool. When Xing Zong comes out of the room, she'll definitely change her tune."
"66666"
"What nonsense are you talking about?" Ji Wen Yue asked angrily.
Did she know she was a celebrity? How could she talk about her past scandals in such a public place?
If she really wanted to say something, couldn't she just say it privately?
Xing Yuan broke free from Ji Wen Yue's hand, blinked innocently, her doe eyes clear as she looked at her and accused, "Sister started talking nonsense first."
Although her work was very busy, she still watched her sister often! Why did her sister say she didn't watch her much, making it sound like their relationship was bad?
Ji Wen Yue chuckled, "It's all for the show's effect. Besides, what I said was the truth."
Wasn't it? How many times a year did they see each other? It was only occasionally at formal contract signings or when she needed something that she would remember her.
Although she was willing to work for her, it didn't mean she wouldn't feel wronged or angry.
Xing Yuan opened her mouth, wanting to tell Ji Wen Yue that she used to sneak off to see her. But thinking that Ji Wen Yue had never noticed, and if she suddenly said it, she worried Ji Wen Yue might get angry, so she pouted stubbornly.
"Alright! Besides, what past scandals do I have?" Ji Wen Yue asked gently, testing the waters.
"Hmph! When you were in school, you often sneaked out to eat snacks, and I was the one keeping watch for you! Also! You were in a relationship early!" Xing Yuan listed Ji Wen Yue's wrongdoings.
Ji Wen Yue looked bewildered, "A Yuan, can you tell the difference between a past scandal and something else? Never mind!"
Ji Wen Yue sighed, feeling she couldn't push Xing Yuan too hard. "But when was I in a relationship?"
Ji Wen Yue carefully searched her memory. When she first started developing feelings, she already had someone she liked. How could she have been in a relationship with someone else?
She wasn't the type to settle.
Speaking of which, Xing Yuan had something to say. "It was in junior high. When they were busy taking care of my brother, I stayed at your house."
"Then, every day after school, you would hide in your room, messaging someone. I..." Realizing that what she did wasn't entirely above board, Xing Yuan's voice faltered for a moment before continuing:
"I was young then! Curious, so I secretly opened your phone to take a look. And then I found out you were in a relationship early."
Being in a relationship early was wrong! If the person she was in a relationship with was herself, she could reluctantly consider it.
She remembered that she had used the excuse of her sister having exams and shouldn't play on her phone so often, affecting her studies, to get her uncle and aunt to confiscate her phone. She had been quite unhappy for a long time then.
After a brief pang of guilt, Xing Yuan became righteous again. She was doing it all for her sister's own good.
There was just a tiny bit of selfishness involved.
Ji Wen Yue narrowed her eyes and said in a low voice, "Back then, only you saw my phone, so you were the one who reported me about that makeup, right?"
Xing Yuan guiltily turned her head away.
Ji Wen Yue was amused to the point of anger. She also remembered what had happened back then. She had merely been discussing some personal matters with a classmate, and it had suddenly escalated to a moral issue.
At that time, her feelings were confused, and that classmate claimed to be a "sea king" (someone experienced in relationships) and knew a lot about these things. She had sought his advice, but before long, she was discovered, and her phone was confiscated.
Her parents had even talked to her several times, subtly and directly. It turned out that the manipulative Yuan in front of her was the one causing trouble!
Overwhelmed with emotion, Ji Wen Yue pinched Xing Yuan's ear. "You really... are ruthless!"
"I was doing it for your own good!" Despite her guilt, Xing Yuan's mouth remained defiant.
"Heh!" Ji Wen Yue sneered, checked the time, and warned,
"Swallow all these things and keep them to yourself. I'll settle the score with you after the live stream ends."
Ji Wen Yue turned to leave, but Xing Yuan tightly grabbed her sleeve.
"Then! Was Sister really in a relationship early?"
Ji Wen Yue's molars were grinding so hard they felt like they would break. She turned around, gritted her teeth, and said word by word, "No! From birth until now, I have never been in a single relationship."
Xing Yuan was very satisfied with Ji Wen Yue's answer. In the live stream that followed shortly after, she behaved obediently.
"Um, although there was a brief interruption earlier, I still want to ask, what past scandals does Teacher Ji actually have? The audience in the live stream is very curious!"
Xing Yuan smiled, feigning thoughtfulness for a moment before saying, "It must have been when she was very young. We were all immature back then. Sister Ji was an only child and always wanted a younger sister."
"Our families were very close back then, so one time when she came to my house to play, she secretly coaxed me into her house while the parents were chatting, and gave me a lot of delicious food!"
Although Xing Yuan's words were full of praise for Ji Wen Yue, Ji Wen Yue covered her eyes, unable to bear it.
This was even worse than before! This history was darker.
"As expected, I knew our Xing Zong had backbone. Finally, we Ji fans are getting some real gossip from the main person herself."
"It doesn't make sense! Did Teacher Ji educate her for nothing? Why does Xing Zong look so radiant?"
"Do you think there's a possibility that Xing Zong's EQ is too low to grasp Teacher Ji's point?"
"What the person above said makes sense. Anyway, I don't believe Xing Zong would have the courage to deliberately go against Teacher Ji."
The director appropriately changed the topic, "Everyone has been very candid!"
"The purpose of our variety show is to let the audience get to know the real you. So, the next task is: let's walk into the manor together."