Chapter 546 - 28: After Divorce, the Cannon Fodder Joins a Romance Variety Show

"Look at you, why are you still giving him hope, making him think you still like him and care about him?"

"Otherwise, what should I do? He can help me complete my task, and it’s not like I’m losing anything.

Besides, the one who had entanglements with him was the original person, not me. To me, he’s just a plain old jerk.

I’ve seen worse than him. If I get angry with every one of them, I’d be exhausted."

Little Buding watched her, suddenly enlightened and full of admiration.

"Indeed, the highest level of dealing with a jerk is to be like you, calmly interact with him, and then squeeze out every last bit of value."

Jiang Lai at most just doesn’t like him.

He’s not worth her wasting much emotion on.

The smartest approach is obviously to make use of him well, and then help herself complete the task.

The female lead needs to boost her Heartbeat Value, right?

Then let her keep doing it.

In the evening, there was a bonfire gala.

As usual, every guest had to perform a show.

After the seafood feast, Shang Qingrao volunteered to clear the dishes and help with washing.

Jiang Lai was scrubbing dishes by the sink, and Liang Qizhou was also helping. Shang Qingrao proactively walked over.

"Jiang Lai, you’ve cooked and now you’re washing dishes too, that’s too much. Let me help you, go sit and rest, have some fruit."

"Sure."

Jiang Lai stepped aside immediately.

The sink was just filled; Jiang Lai left without touching a drop of water.

Shang Qingrao put on an apron and stood next to Liang Qizhou.

"Senior, you and Jiang Lai get along really well, right? Don’t hide it in front of your junior, do you like Jiang Lai?"

The live broadcast camera was right above the sink.

[No way, absolutely no way!][It’s really easy to misunderstand; wherever Jiang Lai goes, Liang Qizhou follows. ][Qingqing, be careful with your words. Don’t underestimate the power of Liang Qizhou’s fans, or they might tear you apart too.][Seriously, Jiang Lai is really riding the hype, it’s annoying just watching.]

Liang Qizhou’s fan base indeed has a significant portion of girlfriend fans.

After all, he debuted as a child star, and a sizable part of his fan base is quite young, many in their teens. Not to mention, there are quite a few irrational career fans who can’t stand seeing their idol having any hints of romance.

Last episode, just because Shang Qingrao talked a bit more with Liang Qizhou, she was chastised by his fans for riding the hype without shame.

Clearly, getting caught in a scandal with him would entail facing significant challenges next.

Shang Qingrao awaited Liang Qizhou’s response.

No matter what he says, Jiang Lai is bound to be in trouble.

She’s the one who foolishly seeks to latch onto someone with a bigger stature without considering if she can bear the consequences.

Even speaking a few more words with him as Liang Qizhou’s junior sister gets her scolded, let alone Jiang Lai, who is already mired in scandals.

"Why would you think I like Jiang Lai?"

Caught off guard by the question, Shang Qingrao was momentarily stunned.

"Haha, everyone can see it, you went diving with her, and now you’re cooking and washing dishes together."

Liang Qizhou looked at her.

"Isn’t that just ordinary, everyday stuff? I thought for someone to misunderstand that a person likes another, you’d have to see him giving gifts, confessing, or singing love songs.

Turns out diving together, cooking, and washing dishes can also be misunderstood.

If that’s the case, then I better not wash dishes with you, to avoid you being misunderstood too."

With that, Liang Qizhou wiped his hands and turned to leave, striding away from Shang Qingrao to ensure no chance of physical contact.

In the kitchen, the sound of water gushing, Shang Qingrao stood alone by the sink, almost crushing the plate in her hand out of frustration.

[Hahahahaha, hahahahahaha]

[Hahaha, Zhou Zhou’s straight-man approach is killing me with laughter]

[Oh my god, what a treasure I’ve discovered, truly a virtuous male artist]

[Help, Shang Qingrao is really so manipulative, she already got scolded for riding the hype, and now she’s stirring up trouble for Jiang Lai]

Everyone was preparing for the next performance, except Shang Qingrao.

Hu Peiyuan was busy tuning his guitar, and Coco had gone inside to change clothes for her upcoming dance performance.

Jiang Lai was looking at the sheet music in her hands when Zhou Luo started a conversation.

"What are you going to perform next?"

"The piano."

Murong Yan, listening in, couldn’t help but look over, occasionally rubbing his chest, his face looking unwell.

Hearing that Jiang Lai was going to perform the piano, he cracked a faint smile.

Hu Peiyuan curiously asked.

"Can you play the piano? I’ve never seen you play before."

Murong Yan also wanted to ask this because he had never heard of Jiang Lai playing the piano in all the years he knew her.

Probably just cramming for the second episode show.

Jiang Lai smiled.

"I learned it in middle and high school."

"Can you still remember?"

"Yes, I was pretty good back then, right Zhou Luo?"

Zhou Luo, suddenly addressed, couldn’t help but shiver and then nod.

"Yes, indeed, she was quite good at piano in high school."

Everyone else chimed in immediately.

"You knew each other in high school?"

Zhou Luo nodded.

He had never mentioned it before, as he didn’t want to have any more involvement with Jiang Lai, but now with them being in the show, their old schoolmate status could facilitate further interaction.

"We even sat together for a year."

Hu Peiyuan looked astonished.

After all, the two of them had been acting like complete strangers before, and now they’re suddenly old schoolmates who even shared a desk.

Murong Yan hadn’t expected that despite knowing Jiang Lai for so long, he didn’t know Zhou Luo was her high school classmate.

If they were ordinary classmates, why be so evasive like now?

Something must have happened before, causing them to act blind to each other.

But why suddenly acknowledge it now?

Murong Yan looked at Zhou Luo, a subtle glint of scrutiny in his eyes.

Just then, Liang Qizhou happened to walk over and sit down, also hearing Zhou Luo talking about his and Jiang Lai’s schoolmate status.

Everyone looked at Jiang Lai.

Even the usually silent Gao Yanwei was watching her.

"He’s changed quite a bit, very different from high school, and he even changed his name, so I didn’t dare recognize him at first. Now I’m sure, there’s an old classmate right in front of me."

As soon as she said this, Hu Peiyuan immediately patted Zhou Luo’s shoulder.

"A big change? Where’s the change? Did you secretly use tech on your face?"

"What nonsense are you talking about! This is my original face!"

"Then why didn’t Jiang Lai recognize you?"

Zhou Luo looked at Jiang Lai, his eyes filled with a hint of complaint.

She must have said it on purpose, it’s the same face, even if his physique had changed it shouldn’t be unrecognizable. What’s more, they weren’t just ordinary classmates in high school, Jiang Lai couldn’t possibly not recognize him.

This shows she still harbors some resentment towards him.

So Zhou Luo said nothing.

Meanwhile, the usually silent Gao Yanwei’s gaze flitted between Jiang Lai and Zhou Luo.

Finally, she suddenly chimed in.

"Did you two have some kind of story in high school?"