Everyone Spends Money to Make Me Debut as Center (GL) - Chapter 10

“The dorms are on the third and fourth floors. Should I take you up to see them?” Out of politeness, Chi Rui offered.

Ling Yu didn’t say a word. She just stared at Chi Rui with those pitch-black eyes.

Chi Rui: Is this… the legendary “provocation”?

“Okay, thank you.”

If Ling Yu had waited a second longer to speak, Chi Rui would have thought she was about to throw a punch. But the key was that her tone was incredibly sincere. Instead of “provocative,” it would be more accurate to describe her as socially sluggish.

And so, Chi Rui had to steel herself and play the role of a tour guide. The problem was, she was talking until her throat was dry, while Ling Yu remained silent from beginning to end, quietly trailing behind her like a ghost without a trace of human warmth.

“That’s about it. Rooms are first-come, first-served. Do you want to pick one?”

Ling Yu: “Whatever.”

Chi Rui: Sister, your specialty isn’t rapping—it’s how to kill a conversation, isn’t it?

Chi Rui almost wanted to turn to the VJ for help; after all, it wasn’t her job to worry about the lack of footage.

“Ah.” Ling Yu’s eyelashes suddenly fluttered, as if she had just remembered something. “The luggage…”

“It’s still downstairs,” Chi Rui said, trying to restart the conversation. “Do you need me to help you carry it? Your suitcases look pretty heavy.”

One second… two seconds…

Ling Yu went silent again.

Chi Rui felt that while she was smiling on the outside, her heart was weeping. The biggest stumbling block on her path to success wasn’t Bai Chang, but this girl right here.

“Ha… do you dislike people touching your things? If you don’t need help, I’ll go grab a rag for you first. You’ll definitely need it to clean the dorm.”

With that, Chi Rui turned back into the bathroom. Because her back was turned, she didn’t see Ling Yu open her mouth half a beat late, silently mouthing the word “Okay.”

The VJ following Chi Rui happened to capture Ling Yu’s small, tentative hand hovering in the air. The hand stayed there awkwardly for a moment before dropping down dejectedly.

Two minutes later, Chi Rui came out with the rag only to find the hallway empty. She walked downstairs and saw Ling Yu standing frozen in front of the two oversized suitcases, as if her feet had taken root. Her tall, slender silhouette looked incredibly thin and pitiful.

“Ling Yu?” Chi Rui called out.

The girl turned around instantly, her beautiful eyelashes blinking. This time, her speech was finally fluid. She said, “Help me.”

Ling Yu was afraid that if her reaction was slow again, Chi Rui would turn and leave. Her tone was no longer the flat monotone from before; it was tinged with urgency, and her eyes held a trace of watery helplessness.

For some reason, looking into those eyes, Chi Rui suddenly remembered a little black dog she had raised back at the orphanage. It was also shy around strangers; unlike other small dogs that barked constantly, it was very quiet. But once it grew up, it was incredibly clingy, following Chi Rui wherever she went.

Being stared at by a dog like that was enough to make her heart melt, let alone a girl this exquisite and beautiful.

Damn it! Chi Rui cursed inwardly, instantly throwing Tang Yu’s warning to the back of her mind.

Chi Rui walked over and, without a word, lifted one of the suitcases. She did it effortlessly. During her time at home, she had done plenty of physical training to fix the “Little Princess’s” scrap-metal body—the difference in dancing between someone who trains and someone who doesn’t is massive.

Ling Yu picked up a handbag and followed closely behind her, offering sincere praise: “You’re so strong.”

The VJ was turning red from holding back laughter. The first time Ling Yu from Lemon Entertainment actively spoke to Chi Rui from the former MK, it was to praise her strength?

This segment had to stay in the final cut! Seeing the expressions on the faces of the Lemon executives—who had deliberately sent their most difficult-to-communicate trainee—would be priceless.

Chi Rui moved the luggage in two trips without breaking a sweat. Then she asked, “You haven’t picked a room yet, have you?”

“Where are you staying?”

“I… huh?” Chi Rui realized Ling Yu probably wanted to be roommates with her.

Wasn’t it said that Lemon and MK were like “two tigers on one mountain,” incompatible at every level? Did she forget to mention she used to be from MK during her self-introduction? But even if she didn’t say it, could Ling Yu really be unaware of Chi Rui’s (admittedly negative) fame? Even if she didn’t know, surely her manager had warned her?

But seeing Ling Yu’s innocent face, Chi Rui felt that her own thoughts were perhaps a bit too petty. If the other girl didn’t care, why should she worry on her behalf?

“I want to stay in the same room as you.” Ling Yu realized she sounded too excited and forcibly suppressed the curve of her lips.

Being looked at with such expectation, Chi Rui felt it would be immoral to refuse. Where did this inexplicable sense of guilt come from?

“0312.”

After a flurry of activity, Chi Rui finally helped Ling Yu push her suitcases into the room. Then, she noticed the girl was staring blankly at the bare bedboards again.

Chi · Tool Person · Rui: “Perhaps… do you need help?”

Ling · Eager · Yu: “Yes!”

She was just short of a tail wagging behind her.

VJ (Behind the lens): Carrying suitcases is one thing, but helping change the sheets too? Are you two sure you want to be this harmonious and loving? What exactly am I filming?

Throughout the sheet-changing process, whether Chi Rui was standing up to switch sides or just shaking out a quilt, Ling Yu followed every movement with a gaze bordering on worship. Chi Rui rubbed her forehead, feeling a bit mentally exhausted; Ling Yu’s dog-like, persistent gaze was just too high-presence.

“You’re so amazing.” This was the second sentence Ling Yu initiated today.

With that level of praise, Chi Rui felt as though she hadn’t just made a bed, but saved the world.

Bai Chang had just emerged from the makeup room and gotten into the car driven by Bai Yuanyuan. Today was the first day of filming for National Girls, and as the Program Representative, she naturally had to make an appearance.

Since Tang Yu had to follow Chi Rui’s schedule today, Bai Yuanyuan—who knew Bai Chang best—had to act as the proxy manager. She was great at everything, except she was a bit too chatty.

Even with her hands on the steering wheel, Yuanyuan’s mouth wouldn’t stop. She couldn’t help it; Weibo had been so lively lately that her “gossip soul” was burning!

“Sister Bai Chang, have you been following the news about Chi Rui lately? Since the official announcement, she’s been cursed every day. She’s hit the Hot Search several times just from the hate. I checked her Super Topic, and there are barely any supportive posts, just anti-fans flooding the comments. At this rate, it’ll be hard for her to debut even if she has talent.”

“Yuanyuan, are you my manager or hers? Why are you so concerned about her?”

“I didn’t mean it like that! Being the manager for Sister Bai Chang—even if only for a day—makes me super happy!” Yuanyuan’s voice dropped a bit, sounding guilty. “I just mean Sister Chi Rui is quite pitiful like this. Maybe you could take a stand or something? Or I could use the studio account to draft a statement?”

Previously, Yuanyuan would never have dared to make such a suggestion. But ever since Bai Chang allowed that “accidental” Like on Chi Rui’s fancam to stay, she felt her boss still cared a little about the “Lady of the House.”

“Don’t you think so, Sister Bai Chang…?” After a long silence, Yuanyuan waited for a red light and looked back, only to find Bai Chang with her eyes closed, seemingly taking a nap.

Yuanyuan (Thinking): Boss, with an attitude like that, you deserve to stay single for the rest of your life!