Chapter Four: I Like You Very Much!
“You brat! You’re the first person to dare talk to me like that. Not only did you call me a tigress, but a Northeastern tigress!” Meng Ziyi spat out the harsh words sharply, but they held no real sting.
They almost made her seem weak and easy to push around, delicate and fragile.
“That’s only because you haven’t met me before. If you had met me earlier, you would have heard it already.”
“Hey! Hey! Hey! Enough! Don’t I have any pride? I’m at least a female celebrity, you know!”
“Oh.” Xu Xiu just pursed her lips, then popped a slice of watermelon into her mouth.
Seeing Xu Xiu’s expression, Meng Ziyi was nearly infuriated.
“What’s your name?”
“Xu Xiu.”
“You little brat, just you wait—I'll make sure you regret this!”
“Don’t be ungrateful. Besides me and Mianbei, no one else is truly loyal to you.”
Meng Ziyi was dumbfounded (๑•̌.•̑๑)ˀ̣ˀ̣.
Her mind tingled, as if it was about to start working.
Her little brain spun, yet she still couldn’t figure out what Xu Xiu meant.
But the audience instantly understood.
“Kidneys, huh? You really know how to use metaphors! Is that how you describe it?”
“Hahaha, Sister Meng looking so embarrassed is just adorable—I love seeing her so clumsy yet playful.”
“Xu Xiu! Don’t cross the line! Our Sister Meng isn’t some soft dough! If you bully her, watch out—I’ll smash your face!”
“Wait, isn’t this person a little too forward? They don’t even know each other but are already joking around?”
“Guys in front, I’ve been waiting for comments like yours. When the guests hold back, you say it’s boring; when they let loose, you say they’re too familiar! You think you can do better?!”
*
The three in the car fell into silence.
This scene made Meng Ziyi, a longtime resident of Taohuawu, feel she should liven up the atmosphere.
She turned to Xu Xiu: “You... don’t want to ask my name? Aren’t you a little curious?”
Xu Xiu immediately shook her head!
Meng Ziyi’s face turned green; her one attempt at being outgoing was met with a lifetime of introversion!
Annoying you—
I’m not talking to you anymore!
If Xu Xiu knew her thoughts, she’d definitely mock her.
---
Talking to you gets me called too familiar; not talking to you makes you anxious!
Who understands these handsome guys? They’re all useless!
Thinking she wouldn’t talk to Xu Xiu, Meng Ziyi nonetheless honestly continued, “My name is Meng Ziyi, remember that now?”
“You already said that!”
“Huh? Did I? I don’t remember,” Meng Ziyi frowned in thought.
Xu Xiu ignored her confusion, remaining silent—he had the right to stay quiet!
Ten minutes later, the three finally arrived.
It was a filming location built by the seaside. After parking, they still had to walk a bit. Seagulls occasionally called out.
Whether it was good luck or bad luck, it began to rain just as they got out.
Especially by the sea, the wind was stronger than usual.
Meng Ziyi’s umbrella was immediately broken by the wind, her long black silky hair plastered all over her face.
She looked like some mysterious woman from a ghost story; luckily it wasn’t night, or she might have scared someone to death.
“Hahaha.” ×2
Xu Xiu and Wang Chuanjun nearby both laughed hysterically.
This infuriated Meng Ziyi; she didn’t expect that in her misery, these two would still mock her!
“Jiumin~ Can you stop laughing for a moment and help me out here?”
Xu Xiu and Wang Chuanjun barely suppressed their laughter, each sharing half an umbrella with Meng Ziyi. The three struggled to reach the filming house.
Unexpectedly, they were the last to arrive. Eleven people were already seated inside.
This variety show had many guests; the first season had fifteen participants.
Season two continued the same style, still fifteen.
Returning from season one were Song Dan, Wang Sulong, Lamu, Li Xueqin, and Meng Ziyi.
The rest were newcomers: Xu Xiu, Dong Xuan, Wang Chuanjun, Wu Dajing, Song Yanfei, Chen Yu, Paipai, Xu Zhisheng, Wu Muye, and Fei Qiming.
It was basically an old-meets-new format, with only a few regulars.
When the three appeared, everyone stood up.
“The peach blossoms of Taohuawu have arrived,” a few longtime residents shouted out.
They knew how to praise Sister Meng and what she liked to hear.
But when Meng Ziyi appeared, her hair disheveled, the group froze.
“Ah—my hair! Look at my hair!”
The new residents didn’t know how to respond since they weren’t familiar yet.
But Song Dan, a true veteran artist, carried that calm and composure naturally. She embraced Meng Ziyi and said, “It’s okay, dear, you’re still beautiful.”
---
Hearing this, Meng Ziyi’s smile almost couldn’t be contained.
Heehee—being complimented makes me so happy!
Right behind was Wang Chuanjun, who looked extremely socially anxious, lowering his head as he shook hands with everyone one by one, repeatedly introducing himself.
“Hello, I’m Wang Chuanjun.”
“Hello~”
“Hello...”
Seeing Meng Ziyi and Wang Chuanjun enter, Xu Xiu finally strolled out at her own pace.
The moment people saw Xu Xiu, their minds froze simultaneously.
What????
What kind of outfit is that?
While everyone was baffled, Xu Xiu flicked her spiky emo bangs.
“Hi everyone, my name is Xu Xiu. I like singing, dancing, rapping, and basketball!”
｜д•´)д•)д)))……
Everyone was dumbfounded, unable to recover for a long while.
“What kind of style is that?”
“Seriously, what the heck?!”
“Are you okay? Maybe take a few steps if you’re ill!”
Most importantly, who taught you to introduce yourself like that? Listen to yourself—does that sound reasonable?
Just as the atmosphere turned awkward and silent, Wang Sulong stepped up to ease the tension. Pointing at the watermelon Xu Xiu held, he asked:
“What’s the watermelon for? Part of your style too?”
“Um... no! It’s just to keep cool.”
“Alright, alright, I’ll give that answer a 94. The remaining 6 points I’ll deduct but then gift to you.”
Xu Xiu blinked and looked seriously at Wang Sulong.
“Brother Long, you know what? I really like you!”
“!!!”
“???”
The few standing near the door froze, turning their gaze to Xu Xiu and pricking up their ears, afraid to miss any detail.
Wang Sulong’s face turned green. He wasn’t new to fan confessions, but those were usually playful or from female fans. What on earth was she?