Dating My Drama Queen Girlfriend On A Slow-Paced Variety Show - Chapter 26

[It’s only been five days since the Late Countryside teaser, and my Luo Shen’s (Luo Mingzi) name is already gone from the trending searches. How lonely.]

[I told you it was just gimmicky editing. Did you see the production team or Huaguan respond at all to such a big fuss?]

[We’re the only ones reacting! Dammit, were we tricked again? But who would say another person looks like their girlfriend? Doesn’t that basically mean they have a girlfriend!]

[Don’t worry, it airs in two days. Let’s wait and see.]

[I can’t sit still!]

[Luo Shen is so calm. I saw airport photos of her yesterday, she’s been in Imperial Capital these past few days. Someone filmed her entering and leaving the Imperial Capital Grand Theater.]

[Huh? Why would Luo Shen go to such a scary place! Wouldn’t she feel humiliated? The One Dream of Tiannan incident just passed, why does it feel like it happened ages ago?]

[Speaking of which, just to keep up with the gossip, I binged the drama Luo Mingzi and Zhong Qingquan filmed.]

[You’re ruthless!]

[How was it?]

[How should I put it… I’d only seen clips from commentary channels before and expected it to be an eyesore, but it actually felt okay. You can feel Luo Mingzi trying hard to act sometimes she’s stiff and forced, but it’s not as unbearable as I thought. It’s watchable. Also Luo Mingzi is so beautiful! I finished an episode just by staring at her face, hahaha.]

[You! You won’t even call her Luo Shen!]

[Luo Mingzi’s most famous role was that Little County Princess from when she debuted, right? Truly nimble and cute, she captured that innocent vibe of someone pampered by thousands who knows nothing of the world. I feel like all her later roles have a bit of that princess’s shadow.]

[She’s still “ignorant of the world” now, isn’t she? That’s why people mock her for being a “Rich Young Lady.” By the way, has anyone dug up her family background yet? There are all sorts of rumors online.]

[No, but some say Luo Shen is intentionally playing up a “Rich Young Lady” persona. I don’t think so; her elegance seems to come from her bones. Sometimes listening to her talk, you can tell there’s a wall between her and ordinary people. Many things that are normal to her sound like “Let them eat cake” to us.]

[Tsk, don’t be too obsessed. Anyone can fake a persona! Maybe those lines were intentionally scripted by the company!]

[…You think Luo Shen has the acting skills to pull that off? Who are you giving credit to! ]

[Hahahaha]

[Luo Shen isn’t in the martial arts world, but her legends are everywhere! Your mouths are full of hate, but your eyes are full of love. Luo Shen, the eternal Goddess.]

Liu Xinran stepped out of her car. Before she could take out her phone, several people approached her. Her heart jolted as she thought: In broad daylight, is someone actually going to try something against a director like me!

She was ready to scream for help when one woman and two men walked up. All three were in suits, the men were tall and imposing, looking like bodyguards, while the woman in front had a refined, scholarly, and sharp temperament.

“Director Liu, we’ve been waiting for you for a long time.” The woman extended a hand and smiled. “I am Yan Qian, Special Assistant to the Board at Mu Lin Sen. I came here to discuss the previous matter with you face-to-face.”

Liu Xinran forced a smile, shook Yan Qian’s hand, and said, “Hello, hello.”

Then she sighed, “I’m quite busy and heading out on a business trip soon. How about next time? Definitely next time?”

Yan Qian’s smile was bright, but she didn’t budge an inch. “Why don’t we chat now? Director Liu, you should know that Mu Lin Sen has a fair amount of capital. Partnering with a young and promising director like yourself would be a win-win! I heard you have two projects currently seeking investment? Let’s put it this way: as long as you agree to our request, you can name your price!”

Liu Xinran thought to herself, Name my price? You’re just signing blank checks. She was promising, but not as young as the woman thought.

She laughed it off: “Good, good, let me go back and think about it carefully.”

Yan Qian asked with a smile, “And the fifth episode of Late Countryside?”

“The fifth episode has already been sent to the TV station, passed review, and is scheduled for broadcast. It’s out of my hands,” Director Liu began passing the buck. Yan Qian’s smile deepened as she said, “We’ve spoken to the station. The person in charge said it depends on you. As long as you’re willing, the station will swap it immediately.”

“Director Liu, I heard that to cooperate with Huaguan, the original sixth episode was moved up to the fifth? If you feel our terms aren’t sincere enough, we can switch it back. We can discuss it properly over the coming week?”

Liu Xinran quickly said, “Don’t listen to their nonsense. I’m just a small director. I don’t have that much say.”

As the two went back and forth, a neon green Volkswagen Beetle chugged into the garage, circling around looking for a parking spot. Both speakers fell silent, staring as the car pulled into a nearby space.

Yu Bilan hopped out of the car, satisfied. “I’m a genius! Swapping the big car for a small one makes it so light and easy to park!” As expected of her.

The passenger door opened, and a pair of long, straight legs stepped onto the dark green floor of the garage. The newcomer wore a white shirt and high-waisted dress pants, the tailored fit accentuated her graceful curves. For a moment, it felt as if the garage ceiling had been ripped off, revealing a vast blue sky.

Li Yue wore silver-rimmed flat glasses, her black hair falling over her shoulders. She glanced calmly at the four people blocking the path and gently closed the Beetle’s door. Her cold temperament and elegant movements made it seem as if she were stepping out of a stretched limo for a banquet.

Even though there was no limo only a neon green Beetle.

“Director Liu?” Yu Bilan clapped her hands and ran over happily to shake Liu Xinran’s hand. “I didn’t expect to run into you here!”

Director Liu was exceptionally warm, grabbing Yu Bilan’s hand. “Hahaha, I’m here handling some business. Let’s head up together. Li Yue, how have you been? I heard you’re filming a variety show, a music one?”

Li Yue walked over, smiled slightly, and said, “Yes. I brought the pilot episode, would you mind giving me some guidance, Director Liu?”

“Sure!” Director Liu agreed, wanting to lead Li Yue and Yu Bilan away.

From the moment Li Yue appeared, Yan Qian had stopped speaking, silently stepping aside. Director Liu had expected a war of words after all, Mu Lin Sen was targeting Li Yue but from start to finish, Yan Qian didn’t say a word, nor did she even look at Li Yue’s face.

However, as Li Yue passed Yan Qian, she paused. She turned her head, her gaze behind the lenses falling on Yan Qian’s face, and said calmly, “Please send my regards to your aunt and uncle.”

A question mark immediately popped up in Director Liu’s mind, and Yu Bilan peeked over, her eyes full of curiosity too.

Aunt and uncle?

Yan Qian nodded, lowered her upper body in a slight bow, and led her people away.

The two groups went their separate ways. Once the three were in the elevator and the doors closed, Director Liu pressed the floor button, patted her chest, and said, “Mu Lin Sen is persistent. This feels like a scene from a melodramatic urban drama. Is some CEO or Chairman going to block my path next time?”

She looked Li Yue up and down, puzzled. “What did you do to make Mu Lin Sen target you?” They were hell-bent on her cutting all of Li Yue’s footage from Late Countryside.

Li Yue smiled and didn’t explain, saying softly, “It’s not my problem. Thank you for insisting on keeping me, Director Liu.”

Director Liu waved her hand. “It’s because you performed well. If your performance had been mediocre, I might have given in to Mu Lin Sen’s pressure and temptation.”

Li Yue’s smile deepened. When the elevator doors opened, she held them for Director Liu and smiled. “The fact that you can say that shows you aren’t someone who bends for immediate profit. That is why you’ve carved out a place for yourself in the industry and at Mingyue Station.”

Director Liu scratched her head and said, “What’s going on? I know you’re just buttering me up, but hearing it from your mouth feels different than hearing it from anyone else, huh?”

“I’ve always been honest,” Li Yue chuckled softly.

Seeing them conversing so happily, Yu Bilan breathed a sigh of relief and quickly stepped forward. “Director Liu, did you see the trending searches from a couple of days ago? Huaguan is planning to collaborate with Mingyue Station for our own music variety show. We’d love for you to give us your expert opinion. If it looks good, could you say a few kind words to the Copyright Department? Look, Inspiration Explosion has Li Yue, it’s a ‘buy one, get eight’ deal! Think how perfect that is!”

Mingyue Station was a giant in the industry. Beyond its television channels, it owned a video app with a massive market share. Programs like Late Countryside and Sound Because of You (Li Yue’s debut show) were broadcast on both TV and the app, making them high-status variety programs.

Mingyue Station never lacked content every year, the station had various internal projects under strict review. Meanwhile, Huaguan had received many olive branches recently from parties wanting to acquire the broadcasting rights for Inspiration Explosion. After weighing their options, Huaguan decided to aim for Mingyue Station, at least to secure a spot on their app.

Yu Bilan had brought Li Yue along specifically to showcase the future star of Huaguan’s Music Department to the copyright holders! She was talented, valuable, and a guaranteed win for any buyer.

“I heard Inspiration Explosion was your idea? I looked at the program pitch,” Liu Xinran said to Li Yue. “Original shows are hard to pull off, and the nature of this show relies heavily on the guests’ capabilities.”

Li Yue replied, “I have confidence in everyone.”

Liu Xinran arched an eyebrow, she had heard that kind of talk too many times. Li Yue paused to consider, then added: “Furthermore, my friends in the Huaguan Music Department have a unique aura about them. If a director cares about variety show chemistry and impact, they will definitely love them.”

Yu Bilan nodded repeatedly, looking as if she wanted to pull a whole bunch of bananas out of her bag right then and there to offer to the famous director as a token of the Music Department’s friendliness and passion!

Hearing Li Yue’s words, Liu Xinran immediately thought of the viral “Four Owls Crossing the River” meme. She was finally intrigued. She laughed out loud and said, “I’m actually quite curious about your first episode’s content. Quick, let me see it. Since you’re the manager of Huaguan’s Music Department, you probably know I have plans to produce a music variety show myself, right?”

“That’s exactly why we asked for your expert eyes!” Yu Bilan laughed along, pumping her fist behind her back. Li Yue calmly raised her hand, and the two of them shared a subtle fist bump behind Liu Xinran’s back.

“If you’re satisfied after watching, we’re fully ready to cooperate, whether you want to hand-pick talent or take the show over to adapt and expand it!” Yu Bilan recommended enthusiastically. “Most importantly, it’s cheap! You can do whatever you want with it!”

Director Liu: “Hahaha!”

Li Yue also smiled, and the three of them headed into a conference room. As Li Yue opened the door, she took out her phone. The “doggy” avatar had sent several emojis throughout the morning, with the final message being: In pain, but happy.

Imperial Capital Grand Theater.

Luo Mingzi was collapsed on the floor, her hair disheveled and her eyes vacant, her broken state impossible to hide.

Two instructors holding thermoses of goji berry water shook their heads. “She enters the zone fine for lighthearted scenes, but her performance in heavy or tragic moments is too thin. Her previous roles were too similar, she hasn’t accumulated enough experience. She’s young and lacks life experience. Though her intellectual understanding of the characters is spot on, she can’t mobilize that emotional empathy. She doesn’t ‘stick’ to the role…”

For every sentence the teachers spoke, Luo Mingzi crumbled a bit more.

Wu Xuezhen said, “But she is smart. I don’t want her acting to become formulaic. We’ll practice the basics first, and the two of us will write her a reading list. She needs to go home and read more books.”

“Mingzi, do you usually read?”

Luo Mingzi scrambled up, swaying slightly. “I don’t really read, and I don’t have time. I’ve studied piano, violin, traditional Chinese painting, sketching, and oil painting. My calligraphy isn’t bad either. I was a science major in high school and originally planned to study abroad, but my family couldn’t bear to let me go, so I stayed.”

The two instructors exchanged looks and nodded. A girl from a wealthy family.

The other instructor smiled and said, “She really is good-looking!”

Luo Mingzi raised her hand to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear, looking bashful. “I do possess a bit of beauty, heehee.”

Wu Xuezhen: “…” She clapped her hands and said, “Practice hard! Or I’ll add extra lessons so you won’t have time to see ahem.”

Luo Mingzi instantly turned tragic: “Nooo!”

“Oh? That burst of emotion was good!” The other instructor laughed. “Fine, as long as there’s a trigger for emotional outbursts. It’s ahem, right? In the future, if you can’t get into a tragic state, just substitute in ahem.”

Luo Mingzi puffed out her cheeks and whispered, “I don’t want to substitute her.”

Wu Xuezhen covered her mouth and laughed. “Young people these days… just the thought makes them reluctant.”

“Hahaha.” The other instructor patted her. “Speaking of which, is the new episode of your show airing tonight? I also want to know who Mingzi’s girlfriend is. Can’t you tell me in advance? Is it ahem?”

Luo Mingzi: “Cough cough!”

She covered her face with both hands, her eyes curving into crescents. Oh, how shy!

South Sea. Li Yue carried her noodles back to the dormitory.

The moment she opened the door, a pair of pink slippers sat waiting by the side, as if someone would return shortly to step into them and leap into her arms. The corners of Li Yue’s mouth curled up. She put on her own slippers, entered, and turned on the TV.

The familiar music began. The long-awaited fifth episode of Late Countryside officially started broadcasting across the entire internet.