After Redeeming the Female Lead, I Faked My Death and Escaped - Chapter 50.1

Thanks to the director’s hints, Xu Ying didn’t have to exert much effort during the afternoon games, easily securing several first-place finishes.

On the show’s cumulative scoreboard, both their names topped the list.

Throughout the afternoon, Gu Qingzhu was in an unusually cheerful mood.

Most of what was captured on camera was her bright, unguarded smiles.

By Xu Ying’s side, she revealed a side of herself the public had never seen before her “real” self.

Xu Ying, however, suddenly grew quiet, rarely speaking. When she did, it was only about the show’s procedures.

It was as if she was deliberately avoiding contact with Gu Qingzhu, yet the latter seemed completely oblivious, even bringing her up proactively. After a few such instances, Xu Ying returned to her usual faint smile, her gaze lingering around Gu Qingzhu like a sentinel guarding its territory.

That night, the production team would host a beachside party.

The highest-scoring contestant could pick ingredients first and, with hints from a “special guest,” draw a reward. The rewards ranged from cash to sponsored vehicles, or even game action cards that required others to complete certain challenges.

This was a recurring segment. To prevent rigging and maintain entertainment value, the show often invited fans of the artists’ rivals to serve as “guests.” There had been plenty of jokes where the winner ended up with nothing despite their ranking.

Gu Qingzhu was the first to choose. She casually pointed to “7,” instantly sparking a wave of shocked comments.

Her fan was in Room 7 selected as Xu Ying’s “rival.”

[Always knew they loved rigging, but awards shows weren’t enough? Now they’re doing it on variety shows too.]

[First of all, which variety show doesn’t have rigging? Second of all, who said Gu Qingzhu rigged it? Can’t it just be good luck?]

The comments section was flooded with accusations of unfairness.

Until the cameraman turned to interview Gu Qingzhu, and the omega casually remarked, “A friend’s birthday is in July, so I picked it.”

Immediately, the comments section erupted with wild speculation.

[Is this friend’s name Xu Ying?]

[Is this friend an alpha?]

[Is this friend a friend or a girlfriend?]

Gu Qingzhu thought the cameraman was asking because she had picked her own rival. But when she saw the fan in the room wearing bamboo-themed accessories, she realized it was just a lucky coincidence.

For the next ten minutes, the solo livestream was muted, showing only the two of them talking. Gu Qingzhu appeared unusually relaxed, a stark contrast to her usual cold and distant on-screen persona.

At the end of their chat, the fan handed Gu Qingzhu a bouquet of sunflowers.

“No matter what, we’ll always support you.”

“Hope you and Xu, Miss Xu find happiness.”

The livestream, which had just resumed audio, caught this line perfectly.

[You do remember you’re supposed to be Gu Qingzhu’s rival fan, right?]

[Bet they’ll announce their relationship tonight.]

[Get married tomorrow, Xu Ying quits the industry the day after to be a housewife. Always knew alphas were only good for mooching.]

The floral fragrance lingered in the air. Gu Qingzhu wanted to explain, but when she caught sight of the figure waiting outside the window, she instantly fell silent.

“Thank you.” All explanations ultimately condensed into just two words.

The moment they met, Xu Ying instinctively reached to take the flowers from Gu Qingzhu’s hands.

Noticing the camera, the alpha paused her movements. But the gesture was too obvious and still caught by the barrage of comments, which promptly dissected it.

“What did you talk about?” Ying Xu asked.

“Just some academic and life matters.” Gu Qingzhu didn’t want to delve into others’ privacy and instead asked, “What about you? Whose fan did you run into?”

Ying Xu thought of the nervous fan who had tightly gripped her hand, urging her to treat Cheng Jun better:

Her response was casual, and Gu Qingzhu didn’t press further, her fingers idly playing with a flower as the corners of her lips curled up slightly.

The fans they encountered had practically handed them all the game hints, making the evening’s challenges, whether gathering ingredients or completing tasks effortless. Others weren’t so lucky; the worst off ended up with just a single ear of corn and had to complete additional missions.

Under these circumstances, some couldn’t bear the “hunger and cold” and turned to Ying Xu for help.

“Our team has always been led by Qingzhu,” Ying Xu replied gently, only to be met with an incredulous, “Really?”

But it was obvious to everyone that while others’ words went in one ear and out the other, Gu Qingzhu only took Ying Xu’s suggestions seriously.

“You can ask her yourself,” Ying Xu said. “She won’t refuse.”

After hesitating for a while, the person finally approached Gu Qingzhu.

In the distance, waves crashed against the rocks as dusk settled in, the faint red glow of twilight casting an unusual hue over the scattered seashells on the sand.

By the time Gu Qingzhu finished organizing the ingredients, Ying Xu had already wandered off. The cameraman hinted that this might be part of a spontaneous task.

Pursing her lips, Gu Qingzhu ultimately didn’t probe further. They were together, after all it wasn’t like Ying Xu would get lost.

It was then that the contestant in last place cautiously approached. When she mentioned that Ying Xu had sent her, Gu Qingzhu’s brows lifted slightly. “What do you need?”

The girl was momentarily stunned before timidly pointing to some leftover ingredients. To her surprise, Gu Qingzhu also shared some of the meat.

It was just a game Gu Qingzhu didn’t care. As long as Ying Xu’s favorites were saved, the rest could be given away without a second thought.

As smoke rose from the grill, the other contestant volunteered to skewer and cook the ingredients for Gu Qingzhu. While thanking her, Gu Qingzhu’s gaze drifted into the distance.

She hadn’t triggered any tasks all day and had no idea what Ying Xu was seeing. Maybe she could watch the replay later, the version without Sheng Qiuyu and Cheng Jun.

Five minutes before the live broadcast officially started, the woman couldn’t contain her curiosity any longer and whispered, “Um, Sister Gu?”

“Hmm?” Gu Qingzhu responded, only to hear, “Are you and Ying Xu really, that kind of relationship?”

That kind of relationship?

Gu Qingzhu had only ever heard rumors about other celebrities and never imagined she’d become the subject of gossip herself, let alone be asked directly.

Frowning, she hadn’t even begun to formulate an answer when the other woman, mistaking her silence for displeasure, hastily backtracked, “I was just asking casually”

“Wow.” Cheng Jun suddenly appeared, smiling brightly. “What are you talking about? Can I join?”

At the sight of Cheng Jun, Gu Qingzhu instinctively frowned.

She despised all alphas an aversion that had long become second nature.

Fortunately, Cheng Jun’s scent suppressant patches worked well. Gu Qingzhu couldn’t detect even a trace of alpha pheromones, and her expression gradually smoothed out.

The person beside her seemed quite familiar with Cheng Jun, and within a few words, Cheng Jun had skillfully led them elsewhere.

This technique was particularly polished. Recalling that both Ying Xu and Sheng Qiuyu were nowhere to be seen, Gu Qingzhu asked with interest, “Where’s Sheng Qiuyu?”

The moment she saw the two again, Gu Qingzhu was reminded of the day she first arrived on the set of Redemption. Sheng Qiuyu had publicly clashed with her, and Cheng Jun had further provoked her emotions, making the situation extremely awkward.

She had thought the two were like fire and water, incompatible, and hadn’t paid it much mind. Who would have guessed that after the incident, they would reunite and even seem to get along well?

Who had acted as the mediator to facilitate their ‘truce’?

Cheng Jun seemed to guess her thoughts and smiled lightly. “Don’t worry, Actress Gu. Xiao Yu just went off to complete a task and won’t disturb Ying Xu.”

“You seem to know her quite well,” Gu Qingzhu remarked. “And you’re also on good terms with Ying Xu.”

“Though you’ve only known each other briefly, they both trust you deeply.” Gu Qingzhu’s tone carried a hint of sarcasm. “What do you want?”

Cheng Jun immediately straightened her expression. “Ying Xu and I are just friends. Inviting her to the variety show was a spur-of-the-moment decision. Besides, when discussing it, I mentioned you, Actress Gu.”

When Ying Xu had brought up the variety show, Gu Qingzhu had assumed she simply wanted to help Cheng Jun and hadn’t thought much of it. Only now did she realize it might have been another one of Ying Xu’s subtle ‘tactics.’

Just as Gu Qingzhu was willing to undergo desensitization therapy related to cats, Ying Xu was also using her own methods to help Gu Qingzhu overcome her fear of live broadcasts.

Gu Qingzhu didn’t let her emotions show, fiddling with the ingredients as if she hadn’t heard a thing.

Cheng Jun didn’t mind being ignored. After a while, she casually remarked, “By the way, Actress Gu, did you know Opal recently announced a new spokesperson? They had approached Ying Xu before, but she turned them down.”

For the first time, Gu Qingzhu looked directly at Cheng Jun.

Having collaborated with the brand for years, she naturally remembered it well. It was also the first brand to terminate its contract with her when she was embroiled in controversy.

After cutting ties with her, they had immediately reached out to Ying Xu.

If Ying Xu had agreed, how would the public have reacted to her then?

But fortunately, Ying Xu had refused.

In public and in private, she remained equally steadfast.

Gu Qingzhu gazed into the flames, the unease in her eyes finally settling into a quiet resolve.

Just then, the other guests returned, carrying a pile of tools.

Cheng Jun tactfully stood up to leave, but Gu Qingzhu suddenly spoke. “I don’t want to interfere with her friendships, but it’s best if you don’t apply the same tactics you use on others to her.”

Ying Xu was a good person. If she was willing to be used, Gu Qingzhu wouldn’t stop her, but she had plenty of ways to stop those who sought to take advantage of her.

“I don’t understand what you mean, Miss Gu,” Cheng Jun said.

“You’ll figure it out one day,” Gu Qingzhu replied nonchalantly.

This was the first time, and it would be the last.