After Divorcing the Scummy Alpha Movie Queen, I Became Extremely Popular - Chapter 17

I Wish You Success in Chasing Chen Shidong

Luo Jingyun looked back at the hotel, which in her eyes could only be described as a ruin. Brainstorming the living conditions Tan Jizhu had mentioned, the retreat drums in her heart beat out a complete melody.

“I…” Maybe I should just quit. Why suffer for nothing?

Luo Jingyun subconsciously looked at Tan Jizhu. The other woman’s eyes were devoid of expression, just as they had been throughout the years they had known each other.

No. Since I’ve already bragged to my moms, I can’t give up! Besides, quitting is exactly what Tan Jizhu wants. I absolutely won’t let that happen!

Luo Jingyun made up her mind and answered, “Sister Yuqi, don’t worry. Since the original intention of this program is to help impoverished areas, no matter how harsh the conditions are, I won’t give up!”

Liu Yuqi was very happy. “Jingyun, I believe you. At the same time, I’m looking forward to seeing the changes in you after participating in this show.”

Moved by these words, Luo Jingyun nodded firmly.

“Alright, you two get some rest.” Liu Yuqi handed them their respective room cards and left first.

After checking in, Luo Jingyun dragged her two large suitcases toward the elevator.

Just as the elevator doors were about to close, a pair of beautiful, strong hands blocked them. Tan Jizhu walked into the elevator with a cold expression.

Luo Jingyun ignored her, using her phone to message her moms and let them know she had arrived safely.

“Luo Jingyun, you’ve been given so many opportunities. Why haven’t you quit yet?”

Luo Jingyun looked up at Tan Jizhu. “I’ve said the reason many times. I don’t want to repeat it.”

“I lived with you for a while. I know how particular you are, Miss Eldest Daughter. Even after I described how terrible the situation is, you still won’t quit. It seems you’ve really gone all out just to chase me back.”

“What?” Luo Jingyun’s expression turned to one of pure horror. “Tan Jizhu, what kind of bullshit are you talking about?”

“Isn’t it true? Since you can’t let go of me, why were you so decisive about the divorce and so quick to sign the papers? Now you realize you’ve played yourself?”

Luo Jingyun lowered her head, her shoulders shaking uncontrollably.

From Tan Jizhu’s perspective, it looked as though Luo Jingyun had been caught in her true feelings and was weeping. Just as she was about to say something mocking, Luo Jingyun looked up and burst into loud laughter.

“Hahahaha! Tan Jizhu, you are going to be the death of me! How did I not know before that you were such a narcissistic person?” Luo Jingyun laughed so hard she hit her suitcase. “Don’t you feel ridiculous saying those things? Me, doing this for you? Bullshit!”

“Luo Jingyun, stop laughing!”

“I can’t,” Luo Jingyun gasped, clutching her stomach; she had never laughed like this before. “It’s just too funny. How do I have to prove it to you so you’ll believe I’ve truly given up on you? Do I need to wish you a speedy success in chasing Chen Shidong?”

“You…” Tan Jizhu frowned. “What are you talking about? This is between us. Why are you bringing Senior Sister into this?”

“Fine, fine, I won’t bring her up.” The elevator reached Luo Jingyun’s floor. She dragged her luggage out without giving Tan Jizhu another look.

Staring at Luo Jingyun’s back, Tan Jizhu slammed the elevator button in anger.

This person does whatever she wants. Hanging around me even after the divorce—if it’s not to win me back, what else could it be! But I am absolutely not looking back! Luo Jingyun can just wait to be rejected!

The next day at 8:50 AM, Luo Jingyun appeared in the hotel lobby early. Seeing her, Liu Yuqi greeted her, “Jingyun, did you sleep well last night?”

Luo Jingyun looked full of resentment. “Not well at all! I only slept for a few hours.”

“Was it insomnia?”

“The bed was too hard, and the quilt and pillows were extremely uncomfortable. To sum it up, there isn’t a single thing about this hotel that satisfies me.”

“…” Liu Yuqi was speechless.

Luo Jingyun gave a polite smile. “But I will do my best to overcome it. I definitely won’t quit the show.”

“Alright. The other guests have arrived too. Go and get familiar with them.” Liu Yuqi had things to do and pointed toward a group of people chatting nearby.

Luo Jingyun’s gaze followed that direction and, as expected, saw Tan Jizhu surrounded like a star among moons, with Chen Shidong by her side. Although the two had no physical contact, standing side-by-side already showcased their close relationship.

Heh, no wonder Tan Jizhu is so worried I’ll try to get back with her. She’s already found her next option.

Society was open enough now that there was no prejudice against two Alphas being together. It was probably just as the netizens said: if she hadn’t been in the way, Tan Jizhu and Chen Shidong would have been together long ago, writing a romantic tale from “rental house literature” to the top of the world.

Luo Jingyun didn’t feel particularly sinful, she just felt a bit of pity for the time they had spent together.

Perking herself up, Luo Jingyun hesitated about whether to join the group conversation. The entertainment industry was realistic: if you were famous, people would flock to flatter you just by you standing there. If you weren’t, you stood on the sidelines. Tan Jizhu and Chen Shidong were currently at the height of their popularity due to the Houtu Awards, so they were naturally the focus.

In contrast, Luo Jingyun had always been flattered by others in the past because of her family’s protection. But in recent years, she hadn’t appeared much in public and didn’t intentionally broadcast her background. Others just saw her as an 18th-tier has-been who hadn’t acted in a long time.

Sigh, striving is so hard. How did my mom’s persist back then?

“Luo Jingyun! Luo Jingyun!”

Just as she was about to wait in a corner for filming to start, she heard someone calling her name. She looked toward the source and saw a high-energy person among the guests waving at her. Luo Jingyun thought this was a good chance to blend in.

She had seen this person before. Their official announcement post was right before hers. The name written there was Park… Park-something.

Luo Jingyun walked up to the person but still couldn’t remember the name, so she gave an awkward smile. “Hello!”

“Hello, Luo Jingyun. I’m Park Soo-ah,” the person introduced herself.

Luo Jingyun greeted her familiarly. “Hi, Park Soo-ah! I’ve actually watched the dramas you’ve been in before!”

Park Soo-ah smiled slightly. “Which of my dramas is your favorite?”

“…” Crap. I dug a hole for myself!

“I… uh, that one… what was it called, just that one, that one…”

Park Soo-ah picked up the thread. “I know which one you’re talking about.”

“Haha, as long as you know.” Luo Jingyun tried to muddle through with an awkward laugh.

Just as Luo Jingyun was planning to look up Park Soo-ah’s profile, she heard a familiar voice giving orders. “Alright, we’re about to start recording. Everyone, stop chatting.”

The speaker was Tan Jizhu. Everyone followed her lead and dispersed to make final preparations. With the others out of the way, Tan Jizhu and Chen Shidong also moved toward their positions for the recording.

As she passed her, Luo Jingyun noticed Tan Jizhu give her a complex glance.

Seriously? She’s all smiles for people she barely knows, but gives me a stinky face. Tan Jizhu isn’t even pretending anymore.

Liu Yuqi sat behind the camera and announced, “All departments ready! The first episode of ‘Journey of the Cultivating Heart’ is about to start recording!”

Following the director’s command, the staff prepared, and all the guests stood by in their positions.

According to fame and status in the industry, Tan Jizhu and Chen Shidong naturally stood in the center. Because Luo Jingyun had no works for several years, she stood off to the side.

“Hello, viewers! Welcome to the recording of the first episode of ‘Journey of the Cultivating Heart’.”

Starting from Chen Shidong, each guest introduced themselves.

The second to last person to introduce themselves was Park Soo-ah.

“Hello everyone, I’m Park Soo-ah. I’m very happy to participate in this show after returning to the country. Everyone usually sees me singing and dancing on stage, but this time I hope to show a different side of myself. Please look forward to it!” After speaking, she made a finger-heart at the camera.

Seeing this standard idol “fan service” combined with her introduction, Luo Jingyun suddenly realized this person was an idol who had debuted abroad.

My god, I just said I liked her dramas. How embarrassing.

Just as she wanted to find a hole in the ground to hide in, Liu Yuqi suddenly cued her.

“Jingyun, why don’t you introduce yourself to everyone.”

Luo Jingyun was stunned for only a split second before snapping back into state. “Hello everyone, I’m Luo Jingyun. I’m very happy to be part of ‘Journey of the Cultivating Heart’.”

The introduction was standard and safe. Even if people looked back at it later, they wouldn’t find anything to use against her, but it still added to her exposure.

After all the introductions, Liu Yuqi’s voice-over announced the mission.

“As urbanization becomes more widespread, the rural areas that have carried farming culture for thousands of years are gradually diminishing. Agricultural products are languishing, labor is being lost, and intangible cultural heritage is hard to pass down. Problems are arriving one after another.”

“This time, ‘Journey of the Cultivating Heart’ will temporarily leave behind the noise and glamor of the city and return to the simplest countryside. We aren’t just here to help high-quality agricultural products reach the outside world and revitalize the village; this is also an inward ‘cultivating’ journey to find the true essence of life in the scent of the soil.”

“Before our journey begins, the first thing we must do is ‘say goodbye.’ Because transport capacity is limited, each guest needs to streamline their luggage.”

As soon as Liu Yuqi finished, other staff members handed out several woven bags.

“Everyone, please put your essentials into this bag now. You cannot carry anything else. Everything else will be kept by our staff. You must choose carefully.”

As soon as those words were out, Luo Jingyun looked at the small woven bag and then at her two large suitcases and began to fret. Since she put them in the suitcase, they were definitely essentials!

Luo Jingyun didn’t plan to be the odd one out in the very first segment. She picked and chose, but after putting in just a few pieces of clothing, the bag was mostly full. Fortunately, the most important things like suppressants, pheromone blocking patches, and sanitary pads didn’t take up much space; she squeezed them into the gaps between clothes.

After much deliberation, Luo Jingyun gave up the bedding her mom’s had packed (out of worry that the hotel wouldn’t be hygienic) and instead stuffed in two sets of pajamas, a sleeping bag, an eye mask, earplugs, and a small blanket.

The woven bag was now bulging like a wide-mouthed monster. Luo Jingyun really wished the bag was a monster so it could swallow all her things.

Taking her makeup bag out of the suitcase, she only kept some basic skincare and sunscreen. However, because of their unique bottle designs, these jars were very hard to stuff into the gaps. She struggled immensely without success.

Luo Jingyun looked up at the others and found that Tan Jizhu and Chen Shidong had already finished packing and were holding their woven bags with one hand while being interviewed.

“Teacher Tan’s bag looks very light. What did you bring?”

“‘Journey of the Cultivating Heart’ is a public welfare program for rural assistance. I think we should keep everything simple and practice ‘danshari’ (decluttering), so I only brought daily essentials.”

Luo Jingyun felt indignant. She could tell Tan Jizhu was subtly sniping at her.

Hmph, when this person gets tanned into a piece of charcoal by the sun, I’m definitely going to be the first one to laugh at her!

“Get in! Get in there!” Luo Jingyun was still fighting with the woven bag when a figure blocked her view.

Luo Jingyun looked up, staring at the newcomer in confusion. “Do you… need something?”