Joining A Dating Show With Five Exes - Chapter 15

Chapter 15: The Most Dazzling Star

Chen Chuxing’s concert was a resounding success.

When she paused on the stage, the hair at her temples was damp with sweat. Only after catching her breath did she pick up the microphone and smile, telling the fans who had been waiting for her to speak that she truly wasn’t as young as she used to be.

The fans protested vehemently, some shouting themselves hoarse that she was clearly ageless—

Chen Chuxing couldn’t help but let out a soft laugh.

“Actually, this concert today is dedicated to the person who gave me the greatest support when I was lost and confused.”

“I named the theme of this concert ‘Picking the Stars’ because there was such a shining star illuminating me when I was stuck in the mire.”

“I send this blessing to all of you, and I hope that there will always be such a dazzling star in your lives.”

Amidst the overwhelming response, only Ji Sheng, who had arrived backstage early, slightly curled her lip in disdain.

Perhaps to Chen Chuxing’s fans, these moving words would be taken as a grateful acknowledgement of their years of unwavering support.

But only those who knew her past, like Ji Sheng, a member of the Cheng family, understood immediately that Chen Chuxing’s speech was an indirect gift, intended for Cheng Shiyuan who was present.

A more obvious look of mockery appeared in her eyes.

However, although she wasn’t interested in the so-called program reward, the thought of spending a small amount of money to hire someone to cause trouble for Cheng Shiyuan made Ji Sheng willing to waste some precious time.

Thinking of the previous inept attacker, although he ultimately showed some professional ethics by not daring to betray any information about her even under pressure from the Xie family, Ji Sheng could no longer tolerate such a failure.

To completely ruin Cheng Shiyuan’s reputation, a more “professional” person was needed.

But this was no reason for Chen Chuxing to put on airs in front of her.

“Inform your big celebrity Chen that my schedule is very busy; I’m in a hurry.”

Sitting in the fully booked fan meet-and-greet hall, she unceremoniously urged the staff.

However, the person at the door not only didn’t rush but came over, smiling, to explain that Chen Chuxing’s plans had temporarily changed, and she would have to rush to the airport tonight.

Regarding the price of the meet-and-greet tickets, they would offer three times the compensation and would also provide VIP seats for the next concert.

—Who wants compensation? And who cares about going to her next concert?

Ji Sheng didn’t even lift her eyes, flicking a business card over: “Go tell your Big Celebrity that it’s a member of the Cheng family waiting for her.”

Until the figure who had slowly removed her makeup walked towards them, she couldn’t help but sneer: “It seems your boss isn’t as busy as you claimed. Isn’t she quite free?”

Chen Chuxing heard her words clearly from a distance.

But the smile on her face didn’t change at all, even showing the courtesy due to a distinguished guest:

“May I ask which senior member of the Cheng family is visiting?”

Ji Sheng stood up straighter, enhancing her presence: “It’s your honor to meet me.”

Chen Chuxing tilted her head slightly: “I’m sorry, who are you?”

Someone timely handed her the business card.

The familiar paper quality and printing, even the group name, completely matched her memory.

Only the name that should have followed the job title—Cheng Shiyuan—had changed to the unfamiliar Ji Sheng.

She instinctively began to scrutinize the young person who had usurped the position.

The business card was twirled between her fingers twice, and Chen Chuxing had already concluded: “Never heard of you.”

This blunt, impolite assessment instantly caused Ji Sheng’s face to flush.

She recalled the media’s portrayal of Chen Chuxing, who, due to her years spent in the competitive world of fame and fortune, had a pair of “piercing eyes” that could tell if someone was truly wealthy or just pretending after just three seconds.

That “Never heard of you” was like an authoritative debunking. If anyone in the room repeated it, Ji Sheng’s embarrassing attempts to appear rich would spread throughout the entire high-society circle tomorrow.

Ji Sheng unconsciously clenched her fist, but then lifted her chin again: “You might not recognize the person, but you can’t fail to recognize money, can you?”

Although the entire Cheng family had once looked down on this actress whom Cheng Shiyuan insisted on bringing home, it was this very person who caused the always smooth-sailing Cheng Shiyuan to stumble badly.

If she could get this person into the show to spite Cheng Shiyuan—

Ji Sheng suppressed her rising anger, gathering her last bit of patience.

“Name your price? Your ex-girlfriend seems to harbor some lingering fantasies about you. I’m kindly offering to buy your time for a while, to let her play at rekindling old flames… and then you can dump her.”

“That shouldn’t be a problem for you, Big Celebrity, right? After all, it’s not the first time you’ve engaged in this kind of deal?”

Her arrogant expression.

It was exactly the same as the Cheng family elders in Chen Chuxing’s memory, not bothering to hide the contempt in their eyes.

In her ear, the echo of the past rang: “Fill in a number on this check. How much will it take for you to stop bringing ruin upon Cheng Shiyuan?”

Chen Chuxing suddenly found the Cheng family incredibly amusing, so she let out a soft laugh, raising a hand to cover her lips.

She lightly stated a price: “Two hundred million.”

“…?”

Ji Sheng doubted her hearing for a second: “Why don’t you just rob a bank?”

Chen Chuxing genuinely laughed this time, assessing the young person who seemed to be bluffing in every aspect: “What, can’t afford it? Well, you’re not as generous as your elders.”

“In that case, little Ji, come back and buy my schedule after you’ve asked your parents for enough pocket money.”

Ji Sheng’s greatest annoyance was constantly being reminded of her surname, which didn’t fit in with the Cheng family.

Seeing her about to explode like a cat whose tail was stepped on, Chen Chuxing somehow guessed something and smiled again, interrupting:

“Of course, after all, the Cheng family is my premium client.”

“I also accept installments. Two hundred million. Give me the deposit, and I’ll push off my other commitments tonight and move into the location arranged by the reality show. How does that sound?”

When she left the private meeting room.

Chen Chuxing’s mind was still clearly fixated on Ji Sheng’s contorted face, a mix of heartache and anticipation.

Thinking that Cheng Shiyuan, despite giving up the family business, could still be treated as an “eyesore” by this new successor, a slight smile appeared on Chen Chuxing’s lips.

It was a confident sense of pride, the certainty that Cheng Shiyuan was destined to be the focus of everyone, making others worry about her, no matter where she was.

“I really don’t understand you.”

Seeing her finally emerge from the meeting room, her manager, Sister You, who had been waiting for a long time outside, couldn’t help but ask in her Hong Kong-accented Mandarin:

“You were the one who actively asked me to contact the dating show producers, and now you’re the one constantly making excuses to delay reporting.”

Finding the rough Mandarin clumsy, she switched back to Cantonese:

“What exactly do you want?”

Chen Chuxing’s smile faded slightly. She recalled observing the show and seeing one guest after another inserted into the program—all of whom just happened to have an emotional entanglement with Cheng Shiyuan—and her eyes became thoughtful.

But Sister You suddenly interrupted her deep thoughts: “Are you thinking of getting back together with her?”

She still remembered that Chen Chuxing’s unusual behavior started after a high-end fashion gala years ago.

With the perspective of someone the Hong Kong media called the “Gossip Queen,” what kind of sight of a rich person spending a fortune hadn’t she seen? Yet that day, she exchanged contact information with a little sister who had only bought a few million worth of jewelry.

A few days later, she heard Chen Chuxing specifically asking her driver to pick someone up in the middle of filming a scene.

When that adorable little sister, wearing an ordinary intern badge, swaggered into Chen Chuxing’s dressing room, what else was there for Sister You not to understand?

She witnessed almost the entire evolution of their relationship, from fan and star to colleagues working together.

Even when their busy schedules separated them far and wide, they would find time to buy flights at midnight for a fleeting meeting, and after just a few hours of insufficient sleep, they would wake up to buy the earliest tickets back to the set.

Sister You felt tired just watching them, but in the midst of their day-to-day, undiminished, passionate romance, she began to anticipate the day they would get married.

Until Cheng Shiyuan suddenly disappeared from Chen Chuxing’s life one day.

During that time, Chen Chuxing had a major movie she participated in start its preview run. Watching this person, who seemed tireless and full of energy when it came to making money, become so dejected that she asked her to find excuses to skip several roadshows.

She even dared to hang up on that boss’s phone call right in front of her.

Sister You sighed, looking at this superstar who even kept secrets from her. She had almost forgotten what the little girl who bravely blocked her path and begged her to take her on, promising to earn her money, looked like.

Catching sight of outsiders at the end of the corridor, she switched back to Mandarin, deliberately making the atmosphere lighter:

“In short, you can’t rely on your experience in this industry and the charm of your previous work to do whatever you want in front of her.”

“Miss Cheng is doing quite well now, too. Look, she just won a Best Actress award, and she’s younger than you. I just saw those crazy fans chasing her; they’re even more exaggerated than the ones who used to chase you.”

“Anyway, if you are truly serious about getting back together—”

Interrupting the manager’s heartfelt advice was a text message notification.

Chen Chuxing took out her phone and looked at it.

Seeing the sender’s name, she looked somewhat surprised.

It was Xie Zhiqing.

Chen Chuxing didn’t even need to open it to guess what the other person would say. In her ear, she could almost hear the more immature voice of a younger Xie Zhiqing.

After all, the Cheng family wasn’t the only one who came to find her back then.

So Chen Chuxing smiled, casually swiped her finger, and tossed the text message into the trash without looking.

However.

The competitor, whose methods were equally immature back then, seemed to have improved over the years.

From a distance, Chen Chuxing saw the four impassive, black-suited gatekeepers standing at the door of her lounge.

It seemed someone else thought the same as her.

Both were very clear that the one they had already had was the best.

Chen Chuxing was not intimidated by the bodyguards and walked straight toward the door they were guarding.

She spread her hands, even voluntarily showing them her empty pockets, and then said with a smile:

“Then, I’ll trouble you all not to let anyone else in, except for me, okay?”

Afterward, she paid no mind to what the bewildered bodyguards were thinking.

She eagerly pushed open the door—

Behind the door was the figure she had been preoccupied with throughout the entire performance, starting from the rehearsal.

But she found the room empty.

Chen Chuxing subconsciously frowned, looking around.

And less than a step behind her, a hidden Cheng Shiyuan held her breath, contemplating her next move.

Twenty minutes earlier.

After leaving the viewing platform with the best perspective, and bearing the program’s mission to prepare a “special welcome ceremony” for Chen Chuxing, Cheng Shiyuan, holding a handheld camera, returned to the lounge with Chen Chuxing’s assistant, who had helped her purchase gifts.

She looked around the room, which showed Chen Chuxing’s dedicated work style, with posters of fellow performers on the walls and acting books with curled edges scattered on the floor.

She was still thinking about how to set up the scene when a staff member couldn’t help but remind her:

“Teacher Cheng, I thought we were here to invite and welcome Teacher Chen to the program?”

Cheng Shiyuan didn’t blink: “That’s right.”

The staff member pointed to the things she had people buy: a horror doll packaged in a beautiful gift box, a bag of potato chips that, when opened, would launch a fake python at one’s face, a party popper that would trigger accidentally and startle someone, a cushion that would make a loud noise when sat on…

They even saw Cheng Shiyuan secretly tuck two plastic cockroaches under the cushion.

Recalling Chen Chuxing’s famously strict style of conduct, the reality show staff members were filled with despair for a moment:

“Are you sure you genuinely want to invite Teacher Chen?”

Cheng Shiyuan stated matter-of-factly: “You didn’t specify that the particular form of the welcome ceremony couldn’t be a prank?”

With a face that made anything she said sound convincing, she smiled, slowly tempting them further: “Besides, perhaps Teacher Chen particularly likes this type of surprise? I’m simply trying an unconventional approach.”

The staff members, overwhelmed by her charm, could only be skeptical yet willingly allowed her to command them to set up the scene.

Cheng Shiyuan stuck out her tongue in her mind.

She was lying to them.

What Chen Chuxing feared most back then was watching horror movies.

When intentionally coaxed to watch one with her, a person who was usually so proper and concerned with her image would instinctively grip her hand, using those eyes, which revealed panic yet struggled to remain calm, to tell her not to be afraid, that it was all just fake illusions created by props.

Chen Chuxing was that kind of person who desperately tried to save face.

It seemed that ever since they began their relationship, she had relied on being a few years older and having more experience to unilaterally assume the role of her protector, as if she couldn’t wait to hide her in her arms and shield her from all the storms outside.

Unfortunately, that was precisely the thing Cheng Shiyuan disliked most about her now.

Thinking that the other party cared most about her performance on camera, if she were truly scared pale by these things—

Cheng Shiyuan licked her lips.

It was a pity that before she could meticulously set up the “surprise” for Chen Chuxing, the director team sent a reminder that the concert had ended.

Cheng Shiyuan instinctively rushed to find a place to hide.

Since the lounge wasn’t convenient for hiding people, the camera crew had left the scene ahead of time, leaving only a handheld camera for her, asking her to personally film the footage for this special welcome ceremony.

Gently opening an imperceptible crack in the wardrobe, Cheng Shiyuan adjusted the camera’s angle and settings, holding her breath and waiting for the protagonist of this play.

She suddenly noticed that, due to her haste, several small props had been left on the table!

This was blatantly warning the person involved that “something is amiss.”

Cheng Shiyuan was still debating whether to rush out and hide the props, but the door was pushed open first.

Unlike Chen Chuxing’s usual composure, the footsteps this time sounded somewhat hurried.

Perhaps even “eager”?

Cheng Shiyuan couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow: She’s even abandoned her star demeanor. Did I miss something when I checked earlier? Was Chen Chuxing secretly hiding something else in the lounge?

Curiously, she pressed closer to the wardrobe crack.

But she never expected that after glancing around for a moment, Chen Chuxing—perhaps too fatigued after the high intensity of the concert—actually ignored the unusual small props on the table.

Instead, she simply picked up the prank potato chip can from the table.

—With a loud “POP”!

Accompanied by exaggerated electronic laughter, the simulated snake hidden in the chip bag sprang out, heading straight for Chen Chuxing’s face.

Caught off guard, Chen Chuxing seemed startled, instinctively backing up a few steps, landing perfectly in the next trap Cheng Shiyuan had meticulously designed.

The interlocking pranks were all triggered. Even the glamorous superstar’s hair was ruffled, and she lost that flawless on-camera charm.

Yet, she didn’t look flustered at all. Instead, it added a touch of dishevelled, casual beauty, transforming her from an unreachable screen goddess into a vibrant, real lover who seemed touchable.

However, it was only a brief illusion.

Feeling that she had successfully recorded this precious moment, Cheng Shiyuan picked up the party popper, ready to complete the final welcome ritual, while contemplating how to use this footage to negotiate with the director team for rules that would benefit her lifeline.

She could bet that even if the director team scoured the entire entertainment industry, they wouldn’t find footage like this!

This was a priceless commodity.

Because the image-conscious Chen Chuxing would never allow herself to look this disheveled on camera.

Thinking this, the win-win (meaning she wins twice) Cheng Shiyuan couldn’t help but reveal a bright, crinkled-eye smile.

Holding the camera steady with one hand, she decisively pulled the string on the party popper!

With a loud “BANG.”

Using the loud noise the party popper made in the small room, the prank’s mastermind, who had been hiding in the darkness for a long time, approached the victim like an agile kitten, lightly and quickly from behind.

“Ha!”

But the instant she spoke, Cheng Shiyuan was about to put on a menacing expression when she unexpectedly crashed right into another pair of gentle, smiling eyes.

There was no surprised look of being startled.

—Chen Chuxing, who should have been facing away from her, seemed to have eyes in the back of her head. Prepared, she reached out and caught her with a turn.

The fluttering ribbons drifted down from the air, covering them both.

Cheng Shiyuan didn’t react for a moment. She could only blink helplessly, watching that all-too-familiar face slowly, and with great reverence, move closer.

Until their foreheads touched.

“Did you record all the footage? Are you satisfied with my cooperation, Miss?”

“Do you want to check the camera and run through the blocking again?”

Having concluded the concert named “Picking the Stars,” Chen Chuxing bent down and slowly embraced the most dazzling star of her life, asking her softly, with the same doting affection she showed during their passionate romance.

“Whatever your wish is, I will grant it.”