Is This How the Entertainment Industry Works? (GL) - Chapter 23

The fourth challenge was wilderness survival.

This was Yan Zhen’s forte. She used hexagrams to calculate the locations of caves and water sources, and relying on her protective talismans, she successfully avoided various dangers while discovering many new “delicacies” in the wild.

The audience on Weibo watched with watering mouths.

【Damn, is this a food show? Why can insects even be eaten like that?】

The other contestants lacked experience in the wild, though a few male contestants finally made a comeback and achieved decent scores. However, first place still went to Yan Zhen.

The fifth challenge involved attending a class at a university abroad. English wasn’t Yan Zhen’s strength, but she possessed vast knowledge and could see exactly what the students wanted to learn at a glance. She raised sharp, incisive questions and then solved them. This efficient teaching method received unanimous praise from the students.

【I originally planned to play on my phone the whole class, but who would have thought this teacher is even better than our professor? Whether it’s the teaching style or the depth of knowledge, she’s incredible! I really wish I could attend her class every day.】

—The top students in the class became Yan Zhen’s fanatical fans (the academic kind).

Yan Zhen smoothly took first place for the fifth round. Then came the sixth, the seventh…

Fang Hexu managed to maintain some presence at the start, but by the end, she couldn’t even be bothered to invent lies anymore. Watching the “little insect” she had looked down upon constantly take first place—anyone in her shoes would feel like they were eating dirt.

Yan Zhen took first place all the way. Eventually, the audience didn’t even bother guessing the outcome.

“I’ve seen this episode; Yan Zhen wins” even became a trending headline.

Episode after episode, the public went from skepticism to encouragement. By the end, no one questioned her anymore. Whether it was editorial shoots, cultural literacy, or acting ability, Yan Zhen was undeniably stronger than anyone else. She was like a thousand-year-old monster who had attained human form.

On the semi-final stage, only four remained: Yan Zhen, Fang Hexu, Della, and Xu Weiwei. Fang Hexu, unwilling to accept defeat, tried to bump into Yan Zhen hard. Yan Zhen didn’t let her succeed.

“I said at the very beginning that I wouldn’t come to expose your lies, but would prove myself through strength. Now, I’ve done it,” Yan Zhen said to Fang Hexu.

Fang Hexu still stuck to her story: “Who lied?! Everything I said back then was true!”

Just then, the online votes flashed on the screen. Fang Hexu’s votes were only one-twentieth of Yan Zhen’s—the lowest among the four. She fell silent. The slap of reality made her face sting with pain. In truth, she had chosen the wrong path from the start; her talent wasn’t bad, and if she had competed properly instead of focusing on devious schemes, her current votes might have resulted in a different outcome.

Afterwards, the judges combined the scores with the performance content. Yan Zhen and Della advanced to the finals; Fang Hexu took third place, and Xu Weiwei took fourth.

When the rankings were announced, Xu Weiwei covered her mouth and let out a gasp.

Yu Lian asked, “Little darling, are you too sad?”

Xu Weiwei’s eyes widened.

Yu Lian said, “Although you didn’t win the championship, your performance was outstanding.”

Xu Weiwei shook her head, glanced at Yan Zhen, and said nothing. She was simply remembering Yan Zhen’s prediction on the train. Back when they first met, Yan Zhen had accurately predicted the current situation and pointed out she would get fourth.

Xu Weiwei recalled the rest of the prediction: “In the entire competition, there is only one extremely powerful contestant.”

Isn’t she just talking about herself? So shameless.

But it wasn’t a dislikeable trait.

When Yan Zhen took first in the finals, reporters asked for her thoughts.

Yan Zhen’s first sentence was: “I’m finally one step closer to Zhao Baoshang.”

The reporters laughed. “You guys are already very close. Didn’t she come to see you often during the competition?”

“Because she is the investor and I am a contestant,” Yan Zhen said as if it were only natural.

The reporters were speechless, but they felt the truth wasn’t quite that simple. They continued, “Your history with Zhao Baoshang seems deep. Do you mind telling us how you met?”

“We met during filming,” Yan Zhen said. “She encountered some difficulties while filming at Qinglong Mountain, and I helped bring her to an inn.”

The reporters gasped. “An… inn?”

Yan Zhen nodded.

Reporters: “This is too explosive! What exactly happened??”

Yan Zhen felt that incident wasn’t suitable for public consumption, so she smiled and said, “It’s nothing. Would you like to ask about other topics?”

“Alright then,” the reporter didn’t push. “Now that you’ve won—a dream for many—what is your own dream, besides catching up to Zhao Baoshang?”

“I have roughly two,” Yan Zhen said.

The reporters held their microphones so close they almost poked into her mouth.

Yan Zhen leaned back. “One is to make more money to support my parents.”

A very honest thought. The reporters laughed.

“The other is to help Zhao Baoshang fulfill her heart’s desire.”

This sentence contained many layers of meaning. Yan Zhen was originally thinking of the “Death Calamity,” but then she thought of Zhao Baoshang’s “crush” on Xu Fengmei. She had planned to help Zhao Baoshang before the competition, but hadn’t found the time. Now that it was over, she was free to take action.

After the interview, Yan Zhen left the company. Outside, people who had just finished watching the show were drawn to her all-around talent, shouting at the door: “Yan Zhen, I love you!!”

The voice was so loud that even Zhao Baoshang, who was drinking tea on the 27th floor, heard it.

With a dark face, Zhao Baoshang called Yan Zhen and told her to get her butt up to the 27th floor.

After signing some autographs, Yan Zhen rushed up. The secretary poured tea, placed it before them, closed the door, and left. The steam from the tea created a hazy mist.

Zhao Baoshang looked at Yan Zhen sitting across from her and dazed for a moment. Although she had been watching Yan Zhen through the monitors, it felt like ages since they had been face-to-face. Ever since that kiss, Li Ping had suspected she was in a relationship and followed her everywhere. Finally, she had managed to send Li Ping on a business trip so she could spend a few days alone with her little fan.

And then she saw the little fan flirting with people downstairs.

Thinking of the shouting earlier, she asked angrily, “What were you doing downstairs?”

“Signing autographs for people,” Yan Zhen said, not knowing why Zhao Baoshang was upset.

She smiled and sat closer, pulling out a red bottle. Something seemed to be wriggling inside. Zhao Baoshang immediately thought of the “tea” Yan Zhen had made her drink before and nearly gagged as a reflex.

“This isn’t for eating.” Yan Zhen tapped the bottle thrice—thump, thump, thump—and the black objects inside separated. Zhao Baoshang saw clearly now: it was two pitch-black insects.

…Ugh. Insects again.

Is this little fan… asking for a beating?

Veins popped on Zhao Baoshang’s forehead.

Yan Zhen remembered Zhao Baoshang’s “wealthy lady” squeamishness and quickly tucked the dirty-looking thing away. She said to Zhao Baoshang, “This thing is called the Life-Death Gu.”

“Life-Death Gu?” Zhao Baoshang repeated.

“Where love resides, where the heart is tied. Accepting fate for the lord, keeping the lord safe,” Yan Zhen explained. “This is a Love Gu passed down from the Miao region. If you place the ‘child’ Gu on someone, that person will fall hopelessly in love with you. As long as the ‘mother’ and ‘child’ Gu remain healthy, you two will never be separated in life or death.”

Author’s Note:

Zhao Baoshang (blushing): W-what Life-Death Gu? Did you plant this in me before? No wonder I’m always—

Yan Zhen: Huh? I didn’t plant it in you.

Zhao Baoshang: …I don’t like you at all!!