Fake Cannon Fodder A Becomes a Sensation in Romance Variety Shows - Chapter 53

The results of the Chinese Medicine Hospital’s recruitment exam for the second half of the year were out.

Liang Yuan had applied for a position with three candidates advancing to the final round, only one of whom would be selected.

She ranked fourth, one point short. Another rejection.

In the first half of the year, she had made it to the interview but came in second. Rumor had it that the position was already reserved for someone else, so even getting to the interview stage was pointless. Truth or gossip, it didn’t matter.

What could she do? Her residency training hadn’t gone well, she hadn’t secured a government job after graduation, and campus recruitment had been a bust nothing had gone smoothly.

In a fiercely competitive society, without a solid background, every step from university onward was an uphill battle. Education and work were the only springboards for someone like Liang Yuan, born into a humble beta family.

Even joining a dating show was just a way to boost her visibility and pave the way for her career.

Liang’s father had said, “Yuanyuan, you’ve brought honor to our family!”

“Your mother and I have talked it over. Once you’ve settled in the city, we’ll throw a banquet for the whole village.”

“And if you marry a wealthy omega, our Liang family will truly have restored its glory!”

“Restored its glory” Liang Yuan had heard that phrase all her life.

She was the alpha born from a beta family’s genetic lottery, raised like a chosen one within her beta-class surroundings. The praise had gone to her head, making her believe she was special.

It wasn’t until university, when she encountered real alpha circles, that she realized her true place.

Her family wasn’t wealthy. Her mother suffered from liver disease, and the monthly treatments were a significant expense.

Yet her father insisted on keeping up appearances. He claimed their ancestors had once produced a top scholar, and though the family had fallen on hard times in recent generations, their dignity must not be lost, they would rise again someday.

Banquets, fine clothes, household expenses nothing could be lacking.

Outwardly, they had to shine; the bitterness was swallowed in private.

During the summer after high school, while her classmates traveled, Liang Yuan told friends her family was taking her abroad then quietly took on odd jobs for quick cash.

It wasn’t that her family couldn’t afford tuition. She just wanted extra savings to buy nice things, to avoid embarrassment at university.

She replaced all her domestic electronics with premium brands, and the clothes and bags she wore on move-in day were all respectable labels.

Liang Yuan walked tall, smiling brightly until a single remark from her wealthy alpha roommate shattered her composure:

“Whose chestnuts are these in the fridge? I’m throwing them out. The bag wasn’t sealed, and now everything smells like them. It’s crawling with bacteria.”

“Sorry, they’re mine. I’ll be more careful next time,” Liang Yuan hurriedly apologized. The chestnuts had been sent by her mother from their rural hometown. At home, no one ever thought to wrap them.

Another roommate chimed in, “Just throw them away if you can’t finish them. Who eats day-old food anyway?”

Right. Her roommates didn’t care about money. Nor did they care if they trampled on someone else’s dignity.

Least of all did they imagine that among them was a so-called “chosen one” from a poor beta family in a backwater town.

On her first day at university, Liang Yuan learned one thing: the gap between beta and alpha families wasn’t just about money and power.

Even something as simple as what went into the fridge and how was an insurmountable divide.

There was no “restoring glory.” Only desperate imitation, one cautious step at a time.

Liang Yuan began observing her roommates, mimicking their habits, following their trends, exhausting herself just to fit in and keep up.

She asked herself, Liang Yuan, aren’t you tired?

Yes, she answered.

But there was no other way.

When she looked back at the path she’d walked, there was no turning around, only a sheer cliff behind her.

The Abyss.

The medical bills for her mother, the monthly mortgage reminders, the greetings from relatives and fellow villagers, the carefully curated social media posts her father forwarded, the social obligations with colleagues and friends…

And then there was her identity as an alpha.

Liang Yuan. Keep moving forward.

From the moment she threw away that unsealed bag of chestnuts, there was no turning back.

The burger buns in the food truck were running low.

If she submitted the inventory list in the morning, the supplies would arrive by noon. Nine a.m. was the perfect time for restocking.

Ke Yuxin watched Liang Yuan silently leaning against the display window and felt a surge of irritation. Why wasn’t she restocking? Was the alpha really waiting for an omega to do the work?

Seeing the other three groups of guests working together harmoniously, enjoying themselves, only made Ke Yuxin more annoyed.

“Yuan-jie, are you just going to lie there like that?”

Liang Yuan lifted her face from her arms, her complexion slightly pale. “What’s wrong, Xinxin?”

Ke Yuxin immediately swallowed her scolding words and replaced them with a concerned expression. “Oh, Yuan-jie, you don’t look well. Are you feeling unwell?”

It wasn’t her body that ached, it was her heart.

In a few months, Liang Yuan would turn thirty-one. The requirements for the civil service exams were getting stricter, and age restrictions were tightening. How could she not feel anxious?

Liang Yuan had never been one to share personal struggles, especially not humiliating ones. But Ke Yuxin had extensive connections she even claimed to know someone from the Health Commission.

“It’s nothing. I didn’t do well on the exam. A lot of candidates say the positions are already reserved, but I think it’s just that my abilities aren’t enough.”

“Skill is important, but connections and luck are part of the game too. Yuan-jie, you want to get into the system?”

Liang Yuan chuckled. “Everyone in our line of work does.”

Ke Yuxin said, “Have you considered starting as a contract hire? Get inside early, gather intel, and it’ll be easier to navigate the interviews.”

“Even contract positions are hard to come by. All these years, I’ve never even had a shot…” Not just no shot, the opportunities were snapped up internally before they were even announced.

Ke Yuxin sat beside her, her voice sweet. “That’s not a problem. Friends are there to help in times like these. Don’t worry, I’ll ask around for you. If there’s an opening, you’ll be the first to know.”

“Thank you. Then I’ll wait for your good news?”

“Count on it! Yuan-jie, we’re out of burger buns. Time to restock.”

Only then did Liang Yuan remember she needed to write the inventory list.

Ke Yuxin’s appearance perfectly matched Liang Yuan’s aesthetic a delicate, nostalgic first-love face.

Her personality was a bit affected and spoiled, but she was an omega, from a cultured and well-off family. A little princess attitude was to be expected.

And compared to the Ke family’s wealth and connections, those minor quirks were nothing.

Would Ke Yuxin like her?

Liang Yuan didn’t think the odds were in her favor.

Once the show ended, their names would just gather dust in each other’s contact lists. That’s how it had been for most guests in previous seasons even the couples who had “matched” on-screen.

Celebrities sought fame, ordinary people sought connections. That was the simple truth of reality shows.

As for love,

Liang Yuan finished the list, folded it, and handed it to the crew.

She rolled up her sleeves, tied up her voluminous curls, and began organizing the burger ingredients she didn’t even like.

Love was a luxury.

A privilege for the fortunate few.

She was walking a tightrope over a cliff, with no way back. How could she drag someone else into her precarious existence?

“I really want to win. I don’t want to come in last,” Ke Yuxin’s coquettish voice murmured beside her.

Liang Yuan encouraged her: “Let’s work hard together. Your burgers are delicious, you should have more confidence in yourself.”

“You’re right, Yuan Yuan! We can’t lose to them! Especially Ye Zhuoyan her fermented rice balls are just sugary water. What’s so great about that?”

＊

The second night of the New Year’s food competition.

By 7 p.m., even before sales began, a long line had already formed outside the food trucks.

The mini hot pot truck was still the most popular, but the number of customers for the fermented rice balls had noticeably increased compared to the previous night.

Many couples stood in line.

“All because of that ‘Winter Lovers’ thing you mentioned yesterday.”

“Well, you taught me well.”

Ye Zhuoyan and Wen Huiyun exchanged a glance, sharing a soft, sweet smile.

Cheng Xiaoming set down the dough and asked Wen Huiyun, “Aren’t you busy over there? You’ve been helping us roll rice balls for an hour. Aren’t you worried about Jiang Yining handling your ‘Worry-Free Eatery’ alone? Don’t let her ruin your reputation.”

She was genuinely concerned. Cheng Xiaoming had experienced Jiang Yining’s mischief more than once or twice.

To this day, that old scenic wall with the sign “No Urinating or Defecating Here” still haunted her nightmares.

Wen Huiyun had no idea what had happened between Cheng Xiaoming and Jiang Yining. She only saw Jiang Yining as quick and efficient prepping ingredients, handling the cash register, and engaging cheerfully with fans. What was there not to like?

But Wen Huiyun really should return to her own food truck. The competition would start in half an hour.

“Any surprises today?” Wen Huiyun asked Ye Zhuoyan.

“Hmm… wait and see?”

“Okay.”

Wait and see that meant there was a surprise!

Wen Huiyun happily returned to her truck.

Jiang Yining had a row of small pots boiling in front of her, steam rising vigorously.

“Oh, so you do remember to come back? Why not just move in over there? This place is mine alone now solo show!”

Wen Huiyun grinned even brighter. “Should I switch places with Xiaoming then?”

Jiang Yining poked her with a strainer. “Stop running your mouth! Get cooking!”

“Wen Huiyun, what were you doing over there? You came back grinning like a flower.”

“Zhuoyan said there’s a little surprise today.”

“Another surprise? The two of you were already over the top with that livestream last night gave me goosebumps.” Jiang Yining shuddered.

Wen Huiyun just smiled without responding.

At 7:30, the program team played festive music, and with the strike of a gong, the competition began.

All four food trucks lit up with neon lights, bustling with energy.

Gu Rufeng’s band had also arrived. Mi Tao stood guard at the window while Gu Rufeng sat in the outdoor seating area, improvising music and interacting with customers.

Ke Yuxin wore an adorable mascot costume to attract customers and even prepared cute hair ties to give to girls and kids who voted for them.

Everyone was putting in their best effort.

Amid Jiang Yining’s enthusiastic order calls, Wen Huiyun worked tirelessly, blanching vegetables and replenishing ingredients.

“Please vote for us!”

“All the soup bases are new today, and there’ll be different flavors tomorrow too.”

“Thank you for your support.”

Fans held up light boards as they picked up their orders, smiling at Wen Huiyun. “Yunbao! I’m a fan of you and Yanyan!”

“Thank you!”

“Yunbao, Yunbao! Have you seen your fan group? I’m your die-hard fan, my ID is ‘I Love Yunbao’! Remember me, okay?”

Wen Huiyun vaguely recognized the ID, it belonged to a hyperactive moderator in the “#WenYe Ship#” super topic.

“Got it! Thank you all!”

The fan turned around, asking Wen Huiyun to sign her T-shirt before striking a pose with her mini hot pot for a photo.

“Hehehe, today our fan group has a special event organized by one of our big contributors. Yunbao, don’t be too surprised later!”

Wen Huiyun knew that fan clubs often organized events, mostly interviews and interactions. She nodded and said, “Okay, I’m looking forward to it.”

The fan was unusually excited and bounced away with her friends.

A strong beam of light flashed by.

Wen Huiyun shielded her eyes and looked up. Across the way, a red-and-black food truck had turned on a circular fill light, while a support assistant helped Ye Zhuoyan set up a live-streaming tripod.

Beside the “Winter Lovers” billboard adorned with red hearts, a group of fans wearing “#WenYeCouple” light-up headbands had gathered.

As if by telepathy, Ye Zhuoyan glanced over through the bustling crowd.

With a radiant smile, she waved.

Wen Huiyun felt utterly enchanted.

Jiang Yining saw it too. “Seriously? Again? Can you two not do your sappy live streams during the competition?”

And this time, they even brought their shippers along! What are they trying to do?!

The other two food trucks noticed as well.

Gu Rufeng pointed it out to Mi Tao, who said dreamily, “So romantic.”

Gu Rufeng’s bandmate teased, “Our Rufeng is romantic too writing songs for you. The next album’s called ‘Peach.'”

Gu Rufeng told him to shut up.

Mi Tao glanced at Gu Rufeng and couldn’t help but laugh. She wasn’t much for romance either. Maybe she’d just grill two extra boxes of oysters, she noticed Gu Rufeng liked them.

The line at the fourth food truck, serving burgers, was the shortest.

Ke Yuxin was already in a bad mood. Seeing Ye Zhuoyan and Wen Huiyun live-streaming made her grit her teeth, taking her frustration out on the patties.

A customer called out, “The patties are about to burn!”

“Ah, sorry!”

Ke Yuxin fumbled in a panic, but Liang Yuan stepped in to save the situation. “It’s fine, I’ll handle it.”

“We’ll remake your order and throw in a free Coke.”

Ke Yuxin sat to the side, shredding lettuce in frustration.

Liang Yuan gazed at Ye Zhuoyan’s food truck, surrounded by neon lights and fan signs. Ye Zhuoyan said something to Wen Huiyun, laughing happily while fans clapped excitedly.

Liang Yuan couldn’t help but look on with envy.

How nice. Alphas and omegas like Wen Huiyun and Ye Zhuoyan, from such good families, could freely pursue love.

It wasn’t a luxury. It was two hearts embracing.

“Wait is this an actual shipping fic?!!”

Wen Huiyun’s shocked voice echoed through the vibrant air.

Ye Zhuoyan smirked mischievously. “Yep, this is the one. Just read it first.”

With trembling hands, Wen Huiyun clicked on the trending post in the fan group forum.

【[Featured]#WenYeCouple# Winter Lovers (Part 1): Rut Serenade】

【[Featured]#WenYeCouple# Winter Lovers (Part 2): Heat Symphony】

Seriously, what kind of proper fanfic has titles like these?

Ye Zhuoyan said, “I promised the fans that if we sold 520 servings of Winter Lovers’ fermented rice wine, we’d each read one shipping fic. They picked these two. You read one first, then I’ll read the other.”

Noticing Wen Huiyun’s evasive gaze, Ye Zhuoyan pressed, “I already promised them. A word once spoken can’t be taken back, you can’t bail on me.”

Then, turning to the crowd of shippers, she announced, “Everyone’s here to listen. Wen Huiyun has to read, right?”

In unison: “Right!!!”

Their energy was like a rainbow piercing the sun, shattering the night sky.

Ye Zhuoyan’s pleading tone left Wen Huiyun no room to refuse. Covering her flushed cheeks, she laughed, “Alright, alright, I’ll read.”

Ye Zhuoyan adjusted the mic near Wen Huiyun’s lips, eyes brimming with amusement. “Go ahead.”

Countless pairs of eager eyes sparkled in anticipation.

Wen Huiyun read the fanfiction about an omega forcefully claiming an alpha and shyly murmured, “I know she’s different from before. I want to make her mine.”

“Listen to the first snowfall.”

“Watch the first sunrise.”

“Stir the first wave of passion and tenderness.”

Wen Huiyun’s ears burned red as she read.

Who on earth was the author of such shameless fanfiction?

She checked the post’s signature.

Wen’s Lawful Wife.

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