Oops! I Became a Fan of My Rival Idol! - Chapter 31

“Advertisement?”

 

Qiao Huihui looked utterly bewildered. Even though she had gained a bit of fame, she was still just a small-time contestant who hadn’t officially debuted yet. Why would an advertising agency approach her?

 

At this, Li Shan’s initially cheerful expression turned slightly awkward. She explained, “The variety show you filmed last time has aired, and the sponsor was impressed by your performance. They want you to shoot an ad for their product…”

 

Variety show? We Love Farming?

 

Qiao Huihui’s intuition told her there was probably something fishy about this ad.

 

Could it be something like pig feed?

 

Sure enough, Li Shan chuckled sheepishly and said, “It’s a tractor ad. The sponsor thinks you’re a perfect fit for the product’s image.”

 

She meant well. Qiao Huihui didn’t have a manager or an agency—all her gigs were arranged through the show’s production team. This sponsor was offering an unusually high fee, and everyone knew Qiao Huihui came from a rural background, likely with financial struggles. Li Shan just wanted her to earn some extra money.

 

Though it was a bit odd for a female idol to shoot this kind of ad, judging by the trending topics on Weibo, it might actually help Qiao Huihui cultivate a down-to-earth image.

 

A win-win situation.

 

Still, the final decision rested with Qiao Huihui. They couldn’t overstep their bounds. Li Shan felt uneasy, sensing Qiao Huihui might refuse.

 

“Sure!”

 

“The pay is really good, you—huh?!” Li Shan’s persuasive words got stuck in her throat. She gaped. “You’re agreeing?”

 

Qiao Huihui gave her a strange look. “Yeah.”

 

She really didn’t have any idol baggage. Although the Qiao family was now quite wealthy, her relatives only knew how to make money, not spend it. To them, a hundred-yuan outfit was no different from a ten-thousand-yuan one.

 

Besides, Qiao Huihui herself had spent a lot of time in the countryside and never saw farming as anything shameful. On top of that, she had a grandfather with extremely rustic tastes—tractors were practically sacred relics in his eyes. Growing up around that, she naturally didn’t disdain them.

 

She couldn’t help but wonder—if she filmed this ad, would her grandpa see her on TV someday?

 

The thought of the old man’s stunned expression made her want to laugh.

 

Li Shan was momentarily dazed by her reaction, wondering if her own shock had been uncalled for. Qiao Huihui’s calm demeanor made it seem as ordinary as eating or drinking.

 

“Oh… alright then. Get ready—a car will pick you up tomorrow for the shoot.”

 

After relaying the details, Li Shan left, her mind anything but calm.

 

That night, in Dorm 401.

 

“What? You’re going to shoot a tractor ad?!”

 

Xia Niao’s stunned voice rang out.

 

She muttered, “This is… this is just too…”

 

Shu Bailian finished her sentence. “Too beneath you.”

 

“Exactly!” Xia Niao grabbed Qiao Huihui’s shoulders and shook her. “Wake up, sis! What kind of idol shoots such a tacky ad?!”

 

She hadn’t paid much attention when Li Shan called Qiao Huihui out earlier, never expecting her to return with such explosive news.

 

Don’t you see? Some agricultural and daily product commercials are downright tacky, and the actors featured are usually has-beens or those who were never popular to begin with. What’s more, appearing in such ads is essentially burning one’s bridges—it means never being considered for endorsements by high-end fashion brands again.

 

Qiao Huihui is currently at the peak of her popularity. Shooting this kind of ad would be nothing short of degrading herself.

 

Xia Niao thought despairingly—she could already imagine the nicknames future haters would give Qiao Huihui, something along the lines of “Country Bumpkin Qiao” or “Qiao the Peasant Girl.”

 

Yet Qiao Huihui looked completely unfazed, making Xia Niao want to crack open her skull to see just how much water had gotten inside.

 

“Do you think the production team did this on purpose?”

 

Qiao Huihui calmed her down with a shake of her head. “No way. Besides, they offered this much!”

 

She held up her fingers to indicate the number.

 

“How much?”

 

Shu Bailian immediately pounced, staring eagerly at the number she was showing.

 

Xia Niao’s jaw dropped in shock.

 

“For just a tractor ad?”

 

Qiao Huihui nodded, narrowing her eyes slightly. “I was startled at first too, but it’s a well-established company—completely trustworthy.”

 

Xia Niao, who had been trying to dissuade her just moments ago, fell silent, her expression complicated under the light.

 

Shu Bailian, on the other hand, was green with envy. She had recently landed a cosmetics ad and initially thought it was decent—now, she felt the sting of comparison.

 

To avoid turning into a sour lemon, she pinched Qiao Huihui’s cheeks hard and grumbled, “Fools have fortune!”

 

Shen Nanqing immediately frowned and pulled Qiao Huihui into her arms.

 

“Talk if you must, but keep your hands to yourself!”

 

Then she leaned down to inspect the reddened spot on Qiao Huihui’s face.

 

“Does it hurt?”

 

Qiao Huihui smiled sweetly. “Not at all.”

 

“Ugh!” Shu Bailian felt like her eyes were about to be blinded. The envy only grew worse.

 

Turning her head, she saw Xia Niao grinning like an idiot beside her and lashed out, “Moron.”

 

Xia Niao: ???

 

Her mental alarm bells instantly went off. “Personal attacks again! What did I ever do to you?”

 

Shu Bailian rolled her eyes and nimbly dodged Xia Niao’s swatting hand, darting into the bathroom.

 

Xia Niao, furious, ran over and banged on the door. “Open up, open up, open up! Don’t hide in there pretending you’re not home! Little White Lotus, if you’ve got the guts, come out!”

 

Qiao Huihui couldn’t bear to remind her that, given their physical disparity, if Shu Bailian actually came out, Xia Niao would be the one howling in pain.

 

Shen Nanqing gently massaged Qiao Huihui’s cheek with her slender fingers, her expression so serious it was as if she were handling a priceless treasure. Qiao Huihui looked up and met her gaze, her face instantly flushing red.

 

Still half-leaning in Shen Nanqing’s embrace, she took a deep breath, inhaling the crisp, delicate fragrance clinging to her.

 

“Your perfume today smells amazing!”

 

Shen Nanqing’s eyelashes fluttered slightly as she asked meaningfully, “You like it?”

 

Qiao Huihui didn’t think much of it and nodded.

 

She knew Shen Nanqing was a passionate perfume enthusiast, with an entire cabinet full of fragrances, and she wore a different scent every day. But today’s aroma seemed particularly captivating.

 

Footsteps passed by outside the door, startling the two apart—putting nearly half a meter of distance between them.

 

After realizing, they exchanged a glance and simultaneously curved their lips.

 

“You have an advertisement shoot tomorrow. Let me help you pack your things.”

 

“Mm.”

 

With an affirmative response, Shen Nanqing turned to grab a backpack and began carefully organizing items inside.

 

Since it wasn’t a long-term shoot and didn’t require overnight stays, daily necessities weren’t needed. Instead, she packed plenty of masks, sunglasses, and hats.

 

Suddenly, Shen Nanqing picked up an item and waved it. “Should we bring this?”

 

Qiao Huihui looked over and felt her heart nearly stop.

 

It was her drawing tablet!

 

Her unlocked drawing tablet!

 

It contained numerous… indescribable drawings, including some of the very person standing before her.

 

If these were accidentally seen… Qiao Huihui covered her face—she might as well die of shame.

 

She forced a nervous smile. “No need for that.” Then she tried to casually take it back.

 

Her poor acting naturally didn’t escape Shen Nanqing’s notice. With a subtle glance, Shen Nanqing slowly raised the item higher.

 

Qiao Huihui approached and reached out, but… couldn’t quite reach it?

 

Height was indeed a disadvantage.

 

“Teacher Shen, stop teasing. Give it back.”

 

“Then tell me first—what’s on here?”

 

Qiao Huihui blinked her large eyes, attempting to charm. “Just drawings~”

 

Shen Nanqing chuckled. “I know they’re drawings. So—what kind of drawings?”

 

Qiao Huihui fell silent.

 

Silence was tonight’s Cambridge.

 

“Hmm?” Shen Nanqing continued teasing with a mischievous glint.

 

“Well…” Qiao Huihui rolled her eyes, looking impish. “Teacher Shen, bend down. I’ll whisper it to you.”

 

Shen Nanqing curved her lips and obediently leaned down.

 

Suddenly, her hand felt empty. When she looked again, Qiao Huihui was already on the other side, hugging the tablet and laughing.

 

“Hehe, Teacher Shen, fooled you!” She even playfully stuck out her tongue.

 

A flicker of amusement crossed Shen Nanqing’s eyes. “Yes, yes. Huihui is so clever.”

 

Qiao Huihui frowned warily, sensing something odd about the other’s expression. Was this the reaction of someone who’d been tricked?

 

She cautiously stepped back, guarding against Shen Nanqing rushing to snatch the tablet. Yet even after she locked it away in a drawer, Shen Nanqing remained completely unfazed.

 

Qiao Huihui stared at her blankly, looking rather silly.

 

Shen Nanqing resisted the urge to ruffle the hamster’s head and instead lightly rubbed her hands on her clothes.

 

Too adorable!

 

She hadn’t genuinely meant to trouble Qiao Huihui earlier and had naturally taken the opportunity to return the item.

 

While hamsters were cute and fun to tease momentarily, pushing them too far would make them bristle.

 

Whatever secrets Qiao Huihui had, Shen Nanqing would learn them all one day. There was no need to rush.

 

Pressing her lips into a smile, Shen Nanqing lowered her head and continued meticulously organizing the backpack.

 

Early the next morning, Li Shan personally came to the dorm to fetch Qiao Huihui, forcibly dragging her out of bed.

 

“Get up! You still need to do makeup there!”

 

Qiao Huihui groaned under the covers, reluctant to rise. After finally getting the dance practice down, she’d hoped to sleep in today—only to find that shooting an advertisement also required such an early start.

 

Coincidentally, Shen Nanqing had just returned from outside. Seeing the scene before her, she immediately understood what was happening.

 

She walked to the bedside and gently touched the top of Qiao Huihui’s head peeking out from the covers, whispering, “There’s a huge crowd outside the dorm watching the commotion. Are you really not getting up?”

 

Hearing this, Qiao Huihui’s foggy mind instantly cleared, and she bolted upright in bed.

 

“I’m getting up right now!”

 

Still half-asleep, she threw off the blankets and stumbled out of bed, nearly missing the ladder. Fortunately, Shen Nanqing was there to catch her, wrapping an arm around her waist to lift her down safely.

 

Qiao Huihui had no time to dwell on it—she frantically glanced toward the door only to find it completely empty.

 

Realizing she’d been tricked, she glared furiously at the woman before her. “You lied to me!”

 

Shen Nanqing chuckled and simply replied, “Mhm.”

 

This entire exchange left Li Shan standing by in stunned silence.