After Divorcing the Scummy Alpha Movie Queen, I Became Extremely Popular - Chapter 15

Seeing Tan Jizhu Again

The blog post from the “Journey of Cultivating the Heart” production team was likely a scheduled post. At 12:00 PM, they released the posters for all the guests in order of age. No one expected the news of Tan Jizhu and Luo Jingyun’s divorce to break at the exact same time. In an instant, the internet became as chaotic as a bowl of eight-treasure porridge, with every trending topic followed by a dark red “Explosive” tag.

Tan Jizhu and Luo Jingyun Officially Announce Divorce

Tan Jizhu Wins Best Actress Award

Tan Jizhu Says Chen Shidong Is Her Goal

Luo Jingyun Attends Houdu Awards Ceremony

Tan Jizhu, Luo Jingyun, and Chen Shidong to Join “Journey of Cultivating the Heart” Together

Luo Jingyun was completely bewildered. “What’s going on? Why are Tan Jizhu and Chen Shidong participating in this show too?”

Lu Qiu grumbled at Jiang Xian, “Why did you let Tan Jizhu sign up as well?”

“I didn’t let Tan Jizhu sign up!” Jiang Xian ruffled her hair in frustration. “It’s my fault too. I only talked to the production team about Yunyun signing up; I didn’t bother to ask who else they had invited.”

Jiang Xian looked at Luo Jingyun anxiously. “Yunyun, did you not know that Tan Jizhu was participating in ‘Journey of Cultivating the Heart’ either?”

Luo Jingyun recalled for a moment. “Tan Jizhu did mention before that Chen Shidong introduced her to a variety show. I just didn’t expect it to be this one.”

Lu Qiu asked, “Who is Chen Shidong?”

Jiang Xian explained, “She was Tan Jizhu’s competitor for the Best Actress award at the Houdu Awards, and last year’s winner. Not long ago, rumors of a scandal between her and Tan Jizhu started spreading.”

“A scandal?” Lu Qiu turned to Luo Jingyun. “Yunyun, did you know about this?”

“I knew. I even helped them clarify it at the time.” Luo Jingyun looked annoyed. “It’s just as well that Tan Jizhu and I are divorced; it clears the way for her.”

Lu Qiu stopped placing blame. She scrolled through the trending topics, seeing one piece of information after another related to her daughter. The online comments were a tangled mess, with everyone holding their own opinions. Just by browsing a few, Lu Qiu saw a myriad of perspectives.

Tan Jizhu’s solo fans were ecstatic, celebrating that their “sister” had not only won the industry’s highest honor but had also shed the partner who had always held her back.

Fans of the Tan Jizhu and Chen Shidong “CP” (couple) felt vindicated. The previous clarification had drained their spirits, but now the official divorce announcement allowed them to boldly ship the “struggling artists in a rental” narrative.

Chen Shidong’s solo fans, meanwhile, insisted that their idol was beautiful on her own and shouldn’t be dragged into the mess.

As Luo Jingyun’s number one fan, Lu Qiu used her secondary account to post a comment: “Luo Jingyun, focus on your career now that you’re divorced!”

Putting her phone down, Lu Qiu said to Jiang Xian, “You know a lot of people in the entertainment industry. Find some resources for our Yunyun and get her some acting roles.”

“Sure, that’s easy enough.” Jiang Xian handed the phone back. “But what about ‘Journey of Cultivating the Heart’? Should I contact them to take down Yunyun’s official announcement post?”

Lu Qiu made a decision. “Take it down. Our child isn’t going.”

“Don’t!” Luo Jingyun stopped her two mothers. “Who said I’m not going?”

Jiang Xian and Lu Qiu looked at each other in confusion before turning back to Luo Jingyun. “You’re going?”

“Yunyun, even after all this, you still want to go? You don’t still have lingering feelings for Tan Jizhu, do you?”

“What lingering feelings?” Luo Jingyun countered. “Didn’t you two sign me up? Why are you stopping me now?”

Lu Qiu explained her reasoning. “We signed you up before because we wanted you to stop revolving your life around Tan Jizhu and consider your own career. Now that you’ve signed the divorce papers, there’s absolutely no need for you to be on a variety show with her.”

“So? Who says I can’t participate just because Tan Jizhu is there?” Luo Jingyun said dismissively. “Besides, the contract is already signed. If I suddenly breach it, it’ll reflect poorly on me.”

Jiang Xian reassured her, “Don’t worry about that. With Mommy here, there won’t be any negative impact even if you terminate the contract.”

“Mommy, I’m twenty-four years old. I can take responsibility for myself. I’ve decided—since I signed the contract, I should stick with it. Otherwise, it’ll be difficult for the production team to find a replacement on short notice.”

Lu Qiu raised her hand in a ‘stop’ gesture. “Yunyun, don’t be so high-minded. I’ll ask you one question: are you staying on the show for Tan Jizhu?”

Luo Jingyun felt speechless. She pressed a hand to her forehead. “Mommy, do you really think I’m that spineless? Since I’ve signed the divorce papers, I will absolutely not ‘eat old grass’ (rekindle an old flame)!”

“Then…”

“I’m choosing to continue for two reasons. First, breaking a contract is bad form. Even if we settle with the production team, the staff might still complain about me, which would hurt my reputation. Second, Tan Jizhu and I reached a friendly agreement to divorce. If I run away and avoid the show, it’ll look even more like I still have feelings for her! Besides, if we’re talking about who signed first, I probably signed before her. If anyone should quit, it’s her.”

Lu Qiu asked uncertainly, “Yunyun, is that really what you think?”

“Of course,” Luo Jingyun said. To convince them, she recounted what Tan Jizhu had said to her. “After everything Tan Jizhu said, there’s no way I’m looking back.”

“Alright, Mommy believes you.” Lu Qiu reached out to stroke Luo Jingyun’s hair. “Since you’ve made your decision, then go for it. Your mothers are your strongest support!”

At the thought of Luo Jingyun starting a journey of farming in the countryside, Lu Qiu and Jiang Xian took her to a luxury restaurant for a massive feast and bought her several beautiful outfits. It was so intense that Luo Jingyun felt like she was having a “Last Supper.”

On the day of departure, Lu Qiu and Jiang Xian saw Luo Jingyun off at the airport and were reluctant to leave.

“Yunyun, maybe you shouldn’t go.” Lu Qiu held her hand. “The company project is almost finished. Why don’t the three of us go on a trip?”

Jiang Xian quickly chimed in, “Yes, let’s go together. Didn’t you always want to go to an island for a vacation?”

Luo Jingyun acted a bit smug. “Regretting it now? You’re the ones who signed me up in the first place! But it’s too late to regret it now. My mind is made up. Besides, won’t it benefit our family if I do this show? I’m an adult now; I should contribute to the family’s growth.”

Taking her suitcase, Luo Jingyun waved goodbye to her mothers and walked toward the check-in counter.

Once she was gone, Lu Qiu took Jiang Xian’s arm. “Xian, have you arranged everything? Is it all okay?”

Jiang Xian patted the back of Lu Qiu’s hand. “Don’t worry, I’ve already spoken with another participant. I asked her to keep an eye on Yunyun and report back to me if anything happens.”

Lu Qiu was still worried, but Luo Jingyun’s figure had already vanished from sight.

“The child has really grown up.”

…

As a VIP user, someone came to handle everything for Luo Jingyun after only a few steps.

“Ms. Luo, please rest in the VIP lounge. Someone will escort you to the gate when it’s time to board.”

After thanking them, Luo Jingyun headed to the lounge with only her handbag. Just as she was tasting the snacks brought by the staff, another figure appeared at the door.

“Luo Jingyun?”

Luo Jingyun had prepared herself to see Tan Jizhu again, but she thought it wouldn’t happen until filming started. Meeting at the airport was a case of “enemies crossing a narrow path.”

She looked at the woman. Tan Jizhu was wearing a casual tracksuit, looking as youthful and vibrant as a college student. Even though they were divorced, Luo Jingyun had to admit that Tan Jizhu’s proportions and figure were top-tier; she would have been a successful model regardless.

But it was a pity; “a twisted melon is not sweet.” Luo Jingyun warned herself: she was here for her future career and to bring honor to her family, not to get bogged down in romance. She gave a slight nod in Tan Jizhu’s direction as a greeting.

The surrounding staff had also seen the news on the trending topics. These two had just announced their divorce yet were participating in the same show. Now, even the air in the VIP lounge smelled like gossip.

“Excuse me, I’d like to rest for a bit. There’s no need to come back before the flight.”

Tan Jizhu’s words were a clear dismissal. No matter how much the staff wanted to gossip, they knew when to leave.

Once they were alone, Tan Jizhu walked quickly to Luo Jingyun and questioned her, “Luo Jingyun, what kind of game are you playing?”

Luo Jingyun took a sip of tea. “I’m not playing any games.”

“No games?” Tan Jizhu didn’t believe her at all. “Then why are you participating in the same variety show as me? Haven’t you been out of the spotlight for a long time?”

“I’m participating because my family’s group invested in this show, and also because I want to pick up the acting career I abandoned for so long.”

“You never wanted to pick up your acting career before, but suddenly you do right after our divorce? And you’re joining the same show as me?”

“Please, you never told me you were participating in ‘Journey of Cultivating the Heart.’ I only found out you were in it after the production team’s official announcement.”

Tan Jizhu still didn’t believe her. “Now that you know you’re on the same show as me, why don’t you quit?”

Luo Jingyun acted as if she had heard something hilarious. “Why should I be the one to quit? If we’re talking about who was here first, it should be me. After all, when I signed the contract, no one told me you’d be joining.”

Tan Jizhu thought back. When she had asked Chen Shidong who else was participating, Chen Shidong only said there were some female artists of a similar age, but she hadn’t listened further. It seemed Luo Jingyun did indeed fit that description.

“There’s no point in discussing who was first now. Since we’ve already signed the divorce papers, you should quit to avoid any awkwardness.”

Luo Jingyun rolled her eyes. “If you think it’s awkward, why don’t you quit?”

“I’m accompanying Chen Shidong, of course I can’t quit!” Tan Jizhu could have found a better reason—like the fact that the filming location was her hometown—but in the heat of the moment, she blurted that out. Deep down, she desperately wanted to see Luo Jingyun’s reaction to those words.

Luo Jingyun paused. It was just as the CP fans had speculated. “Goal to strive for” my foot—Tan Jizhu really did like Chen Shidong!

“It has nothing to do with me who you’re accompanying. Regardless, I’m not quitting.”

Tan Jizhu analyzed the situation. “This variety show is about rural assistance. It involves hard labor and will be difficult. It’s not suited for you, so you should quit.”

“What makes you think I can’t handle hardship?”

Tan Jizhu’s eyes swept over Luo Jingyun, who was still wearing a dress. “Is there a single part of you that looks like you can handle hardship?”

“Tch, don’t look down on people. I’ll definitely make you see me in a new light!”

Hearing this, a smirk played on Tan Jizhu’s lips. “A new light? After all that, is this just another step in your ‘playing hard to get’ strategy?”

“Huh?” Luo Jingyun felt like she couldn’t understand Chinese anymore. What did she mean by ‘playing hard to get’? Who was she playing games with?

Tan Jizhu felt she understood perfectly. “Did you regret it after signing the divorce papers? Are you planning to use this show to win me back?”

So that’s the ‘hard to get’ she meant. Luo Jingyun wiped away a non-existent bead of sweat from her forehead. She never knew Tan Jizhu was this narcissistic.

Luo Jingyun stood up abruptly, causing Tan Jizhu to take two steps back from the sudden movement. Luo Jingyun seized the opportunity to press forward. “Tan Jizhu, I don’t know if my past actions gave you a wrong impression of me. Since I’ve decided to divorce, I will never look back! Being on this show isn’t ‘playing hard to get’; it’s because I have a clear conscience!”