After Kissing the World-Weary Female Supporting Character [Transmigration] - Chapter 60

Selecting a shop, negotiating, finalizing the decoration style, starting construction, purchasing equipment, determining packaging, sourcing quality ingredients…

Opening a store sounds simple, but when actually executed, it is incredibly troublesome. Especially since Song Xingzi was full of confidence in her shop and insisted on handling everything personally. Half a month flew by. The preliminary trailer had already been filmed, and the reality show was about to begin, but her new store hadn’t officially opened yet.

The preliminary trailer simply introduced the program information, including why the main guests chose to participate, why this theme was selected, and so on. The vast majority of these trailers are produced and aired separately to attract traffic. Before the show, apart from special guests, the information about the participants is usually shared with each other so the actors can prepare in advance.

The reality show Song Xingzi selected was called “Rural Great Campaign”. It was a lifestyle variety show that, under the banner of “immersive rural life experience,” rode the popularity wave of outdoor reality shows. As soon as the preliminary trailer was released, the rating surpassed 7. In addition to the fans of the various celebrities, it successfully attracted many ordinary viewers.

The production team was veteran, having produced many popular variety shows, and the planning team was notorious online for its wild tactics. To maximize traffic and program effect, they were extremely skilled and merciless when it came to messing with the guests. This program was somewhat different from their previous travel-themed shows; the resident guests were almost entirely trending celebrities who couldn’t tell the difference between their four limbs and the five grains, barely knew how to cook or make a fire, let alone do farm work.

Therefore, Song Xingzi, who kept delaying checking the information and only thought to search for guest details online right before departure, was dumbfounded.

The crew’s pairings were quite fair, the leaked information suggesting a combination of two men and two women. Besides her, the other female resident guest was Ji Han, known as the “Ice Flower of High Zero.” She was rumored to be a fuerdai (second-generation rich) dabbling in the entertainment industry—a delicate little starlet who would have to go home and inherit billions if she didn’t work hard. Without a doubt, she would be a pampered princess who couldn’t lift a finger.

The two male guests included Cheng Shui, a popular original singer-songwriter and producer known for his singing and dancing. He was the dark horse of a talent show two years ago, whose song (Wuwang/No Wish) became a nationwide hit. Standing six feet two inches tall, he was fair-skinned and slender, clearly the frail, scholarly type who couldn’t shoulder a burden or carry anything.

The other was a slightly older actor named Yu Shun, around thirty years old. According to his fans, he was an honest, hardworking, big-hearted man in the entertainment industry. Although his looks were excellent, he hadn’t become popular in the ten years since his debut. Last year, he gained some traction with Starlight’s major male lead drama  (The Way of the Chancellor), and his management company immediately sent him to participate in this reality show to solidify his popularity.

This one seems more reliable.

Song Xingzi nodded to herself, feeling a flicker of confidence about the month-long shoot. The reality show had a shooting period of one month. During this time, the production team would take the guests to three locations—a mountain village, the seaside, and a small town. The footage would later be edited by location and was expected to air in twelve episodes. The time span was relatively long. Even if Song Xingzi could carry three people, she couldn’t constantly manage everyone else’s food, drink, and sleep. Therefore, seeing one relatively reliable guest sparked a strange sense of relief in her.

It’s not easy, she sighed, clicking on Yu Shun’s Weibo homepage. Aside from the pinned post, the top three posts all featured pictures of food.

“No way??? What are these black, murky things? Is this Braised Eggplant in Oil? Is this Braised Lion’s Head Meatball?”

Song Xingzi, with the expression of an old man on the subway looking at his phone, clicked on the comment section of the food pictures. Beneath was a chorus of, “Hahahaha, 66, please take a break!”, “66, your chef dream is shattered!”, “I’m sorry, I’m laughing too hard! You’re so persistent, ten years without change!”…

Song Xingzi: No, I can’t take this. I regret it! Separating from Ji Ji for a month is bad enough, but now I have to babysit three children??? Wuwuwu! Uncle Lin tricked me! He said it was simple? This is clearly Hell Mode!

Speak of the devil, and the devil calls. Lin Shu called, bringing good news.

“What did you say? Ji Ji is also participating in this reality show, but she never told me before!” Song Xingzi was incredulous, drawing out her words. “Oh my god—is that true? Isn’t she supposed to be busy with work? She told me this period is crucial for her to work hard and reverse the stock price. Why is this so sudden?”

As the timeline stretched, the Li Corporation in the original work slowly began to target the Ji Corporation, gradually attacking its stock price and merging its industries through a method of first nibbling and then swallowing. Now that the situation was reversed, the silent war between the two families had begun. Ji Ruyue was busy controlling the vast Ji Group on one hand, and fighting the dominance of fate on the other.

As the original book’s Female Lead, the task Ji Ruyue assigned her was to be obedient, be herself while going through the original plot, and continuously break down the storyline. This was consistent with the advice given by the Mengmo (Dream Demon). That’s why Song Xingzi could bear to separate from her Moon and go to the distant South to participate in the reality show.

But under these circumstances, why would Ji Ruyue spare the time to participate in a meaningless reality show?

It couldn’t be just to accompany me, could it? Song Xingzi scratched her head, asking in confusion, “That’s too strange! Why would she do this?”

Lin Shu: “Don’t you want to go with CEO Ji?”

Song Xingzi immediately nodded. “I do! But Ji Ji is very busy.”

“Then there’s no problem,” Lin Shu added. “Haven’t you checked Weibo? Right? The production team was teasing everyone online before, saying a heavy-hitting mystery guest was coming? A top-tier guest crossing dimensional walls, no less. It completely whetted the audience’s appetite. Did you know about this?”

“I didn’t,” Song Xingzi honestly shook her head. She had too much to do every day and simply didn’t have time to scroll through Weibo. Furthermore, she hadn’t grasped the joy of using Weibo, so naturally, she still hadn’t taken action after agreeing to her manager last time.

“But what does that have to do with Ji Ji joining the show?”

Lin Shu drew out his words, “Because that person, he is…”

Song Xingzi interrupted him, “Oh, I know! Could it be that the mystery guest is Ji Ji? She must have done this to give me a surprise and make me happy: not telling me beforehand, and then surprising me with her sudden companionship.”

“You think too much,” Lin Shu was touched by his artist’s steel-reinforced narcissistic nature, and coldly and ruthlessly gave the real reason. “Zhang Yuan said the mystery guest is Li Yebai. As soon as CEO Ji heard that CEO Li was going, she followed suit. I don’t understand why CEO Li is participating, nor what CEO Ji is worried about.”

Song Xingzi scratched her head, feeling a physical aversion toward the domineering Male Lead, who constantly stole the spotlight. “Li Yebai? How is he involved in this again?”

After Song Xingzi taught Li Yebai a lesson last time, whether it was because her illusion was realistic enough or because the domineering Male Lead was too easily fooled, Li Yebai acted as if he knew nothing about his mugging experience. Instead, he inexplicably became infatuated with Song Xingzi. He got her contact information and harassed her repeatedly, even following her to event locations.

Song Xingzi tried to deal with him a few times, but it had no effect. The Male Lead seemed to have awakened his masochist tendency and liked her even more because of it.

It wasn’t until the battle between the two families became fiercely contested that Li Yebai didn’t have the leisure to bother her.

Now he’s back again? Is he a human adhesive?

Song Xingzi rolled her eyes, feeling disgusted just thinking about the Male Lead’s “confident” declarations.

“I don’t know the specifics. I’m calling to notify you this time because I’m afraid you haven’t read the script again. The filming will start as soon as you get off the plane, and there will be a dedicated person following you. You must pack your things today, don’t forget. The first stop for filming is near Xishuangbanna. The weather there is very hot, and the signal isn’t very good. Get ready.” Lin Shu rambled on like an old father. “Oh, right, also, Director Zhao Yu has a new literary film. The female lead role in that script is perfect for you. He asked me to ask if you are interested?”

“No, no, no, I’m not,” Song Xingzi quickly denied. “I’m about to open my store. Let’s leave the opportunity for those who need it.”

“Alright, I’ll decline him and tell him to find another actress,” Lin Shu nodded. “Oh, right, after you finish packing, remember to look up your partners, don’t be blind! Your drama has already started airing, and with CEO Li and CEO Ji both there, and you being called… ahem, never mind. The production team will definitely use you for a wave of traffic. You must behave well in the South and not cause trouble.”

Song Xingzi seized the important part. “Called what?”

Thinking of the online chatter about their “twisted love story between the mistress and the original partner,” Lin Shu felt his head throb. “It’s nothing. Also, according to the program team’s usual tradition, they will definitely ask you to hand over your phone and wallet when you enter the village. You need to cooperate.”

This really is an authentic love rivalry, how difficult. Young people in love just enjoy being provocative. Not like us old folk—plain and simple is the real deal.

Thinking of his lover who was currently mentoring newcomers, Lin Shu’s aging face broke into a happy smile. He quickly concluded the conversation. “That’s all for now. Pay attention to the time.”

“Okay, I know!”

After hanging up, Song Xingzi packed her luggage with the help of the maidservant and then fell into a period of boredom with nothing to do. So, she opened her phone and finally obediently scrolled through Weibo.

Song Xingzi’s main account was managed by her team. She usually used a small, anonymous account—the kind that was often dragged in as a zombie fan.

So she clicked on the long list of people she passively followed and saw her own name, sighing: It’s true that no one doesn’t buy fake fans.

What did Uncle Lin say just now? Maybe I should search for myself. It’s boring anyway.

Her fair, slender fingers flew across the screen. Then, suddenly thinking of Ji Ruyue, who worked eighteen hours a day at the company, her fingers paused. She typed in the search term “Song Xingzi Ji Ruyue.”

The small circle in the center of the white screen spun for a moment, and a Weibo post with a small blue diamond icon popped up:

@EighthGroupGirlTianTian: [crying][crying][crying][crying] Fish Seed is real!!! The first meeting in Episode 2 was so beautiful!!! Go watch it now!!! I knew they were gay while reading the novel! This CP of Song Xingzi (The Mistress) X Ji Ruyue (The Original Partner) is too amazing! I can’t help but ship them in real life! [kneel][kneel][heart][heart] I love Fish Seed for ten thousand years!!! [picture][picture][picture]…

Fish Seed? Me and Ji Ji? Mistress X Original Partner? What kind of filthy remarks are these?

Song Xingzi’s face tightened, and with an expression of disgust—like an old man on the subway looking at his phone—she clicked on the Weibo details.