Chapter 356: Rule Horror Story |
"I didn't expect it to be such a sensitive topic."
"The last season was way more explosive, okay? Several guests were from different countries, and they actually ended up discussing history. I couldn't hold back my laughter."
"I really want to know what the pure and flawless Lemon's view on choosing a spouse is like."
Yan Huan glanced at the live broadcast of the variety show on the platform. He mused to himself that it was indeed a highly promoted show by the Jinshi Group; the global viewer count was quite impressive. Even with the "select domestic language comments" filter turned on, the entire screen was still densely packed with scrolling text.
However...
'Are these special effects rendered in real-time by AI?'
'Is it really that advanced?'
On the live broadcast screen right now, as the camera angles shifted, the AI accurately mapped out special effects that would have required extensive post-production in his previous life.
Yan Huan watched for quite a while, surprisingly unable to find any glaring inconsistencies.
Besides, when he investigated earlier, the first season definitely didn't have this kind of technology...
Yan Huan minimized the video and glanced at the text written beneath the show's description: "Technical support for this program is provided by Yezi AI."
"..."
A chill ran through his heart. He quickly averted his gaze and sneakily peeked at Ye Shiyu, who was standing right in front of him.
"So, when we mention today's theme, what is the first thing that comes to everyone's mind?"
The host smiled warmly and immediately looked toward Lemon.
She gave a sweet smile and replied with a hint of manufactured hesitation,
"Ah, for me, I think of all the various scripts I've filmed before. There were quite a few scenes where I played someone's lover..."
"Oh, what about in reality?"
"I don't have any experience with that... After all, I've always been busy with work, so I haven't really paid much attention to those kinds of things."
On the screen, a bashful and shy expression surfaced on Lemon's face.
The number of comments visibly surged. It was obvious that Lemon's popularity was incredibly high.
Meanwhile, seeing Lemon feign such innocence, Bai Yi simply couldn't hold back and rolled her eyes.
All these lines had been rehearsed beforehand. Bai Yi knew exactly what she was going to say, but she still couldn't maintain her composure.
Compared to the incredibly thick-skinned Lemon, Bai Yi's experience in this area was simply too shallow.
"Yiyi, what are you doing?! We are still recording the show!"
Below the stage, Zuo Jiangqin's expression instantly changed when she saw this. She hurriedly hushed her daughter as a reminder, only to be dragged to the back by the director team.
"Did that girl named Bai Yi just roll her eyes at our Lemon?"
"I don't know, I didn't see it clearly..."
Yan Huan saw it too, but under the cover of the AI's real-time post-production effects, only a scattered few comments mentioned the incident.
Fortunately, not many people noticed.
"..."
The other female guests all had different answers. Aside from one who was already married, the rest each described a different aspect of the word.
Finally, the host turned to Bai Yi with a beaming smile.
"Yiyi, what about you? When love is mentioned, what comes to mind?"
"Ah? Me..."
Facing the question, Bai Yi had come prepared.
She had memorized her lines!
Something about inspiration for song creation...
Something about beautiful imaginations...
Something about... Yan Huan and Sakuramiya Hitomi dancing together...
Something about... Yan Huan watching her run away that day and not even chasing after her, yet she was still secretly helping him behind his back?!
'Hah?!'
'That scumbag...'
"Hmph!!"
As she thought about it, Bai Yi's small face gradually flushed red, and her cheeks puffed out inexplicably, instantly transforming her into a Pink Pufferfish!
"Eh?"
Seeing Bai Yi instantly switch into her pufferfish mode, the host was stunned for a second.
"Hilarious, is she trying to act cute here?"
"So casually pretentious."
"It's too deliberate. She looks like a circus clown."
Numerous comments drifted across the screen from viewers who thought she was a total poser.
But only a rare few knew that this was a genuine expression of Bai Yi's true feelings.
"..."
Looking at the suddenly puffed-up and furious Bai Yi on the screen, Yan Huan abruptly recalled that day. Feeling guilty, he hadn't wanted to deceive her, so he hadn't rushed forward to manipulate the situation...
As she ran, she had even looked back to see if he was chasing her.
Seeing that he wasn't, she had instantly entered this same pufferfish mode and ran away bawling.
So, he was probably being subjected to a death by a thousand cuts in her mind right now, wasn't he?
Looking at Bai Yi's adorable appearance, Yan Huan suddenly felt the urge to laugh.
But the moment he remembered that Ye Shiyu was still right in front of him, the smile vanished from his face.
"By the way, Xiao Huan, this is for you."
Before him, Ye Shiyu revealed an expression of 'as expected' after seeing Bai Yi's clownish behavior.
She retracted her gaze from the screen, looked at Yan Huan, and suddenly spoke.
"This is..."
Ye Shiyu slid a black room card across to him.
"This is an employee dormitory that Mama specifically arranged for you. I've been to see it; it's on the top floor of the dormitory building. There's no one else on that floor..."
After pushing it over, Ye Shiyu tilted her head and said expressionlessly,
"Normally during the lunch break, if Xiao Huan is tired, you can go there to rest anytime.
"Moreover, Xiao Huan lives in the South Ward, so you must spend a lot of time commuting every morning and evening, right?
"If you don't want to spend too much time on the road, you can rest there at night and sleep in a little more every morning."
Her words were light, yet they carried a considerate tone, as if she were truly thinking of Yan Huan's well-being.
But...
Looking at that pitch-black room card, for some reason, Yan Huan couldn't shake off an ominous premonition.
'I'll just accept it for now. I'm definitely not going to live there anyway,' he decided.
"Ah, thank you, Sister Shiyu. I'll go take a look later."
With that thought in mind, Yan Huan smiled and accepted the room card.
"Mhm."
Ye Shiyu nodded without saying anything further.
"Ah, for me, um... I'm not really sure either. If I had to say, someone interesting?"
Right at that moment, the first major highlight of the premiere episode emerged from the mobile phone:
The discussion regarding the young women's criteria for a partner.
Lemon had answered first, and the rest offered a blooming variety of responses.
The bisexual one admitted to being bisexual, the married one showed off her affection for her husband, and there was even a steadfast celibate...
Finally, it was Bai Yi's turn again.
"So, back to Yiyi. What about you? What kind of person do you like?"
Bai Yi blinked, her hands gripping her dress tightly once more.
This answer wasn't in the script; she had been told to improvise.
'Umm...'
'The person I like...'
'In any case, it's definitely not that scumbag Yan Huan!!'
Bai Yi coughed lightly, returning to her aloof and cool persona.
"As for me, I like... well, someone who supports me in doing what I love. And then..."
As she spoke, she pursed her lips, causing her next sentence to come out much quieter by comparison.
"Someone who will firmly choose me."
On the screen, whenever it cut to Bai Yi, the volume of comments would noticeably decrease.
Or, they would still be talking about the other idols.
But because the comments thinned out, Yan Huan was able to clearly see Bai Yi's face as she spoke those words.
"..."
Hearing this, the host finally completed the warm-up segment and looked at the screen, planning to introduce the next part of the show.
"I see~"
At this moment, inside the studio venue, Lemon's assistant walked over to Zuo Jiangqin, who was being held to the side by the staff members.
The assistant glanced at Zuo Jiangqin, then looked toward the live recording—specifically, at Lemon—and gave a subtle nod.
"..."
Seeing her assistant nod, Lemon knew that the task she had entrusted her with was complete.
"Hehe..."
Consequently, the smile on her face grew even more radiant as she clapped her hands, welcoming the upcoming segment.
"Click~"
It was almost dinnertime when the variety show finally ended.
For a premiere, the overall effect was fairly solid, contributing quite a few iconic moments.
Presumably, Bai Yi would gain a fresh wave of face fans, wouldn't she?
Who knew...
In any case, that was what Zuo Jiangqin was hoping for.
"Oh my, if only my Yiyi were like that Lemon. They are around the same age, yet their star status is worlds apart...
"And she still insists on writing songs. By the time she makes a name for herself through songwriting, it'll be too late. She could become famous just by shooting a single movie, yet she insists on suffering through the music industry to build seniority."
At that moment, she was sitting alone in Lemon's lounge. Surveying the exclusive room—which was countless times larger than Bai Yi's—she muttered her grievances under her breath.
"Well, to be honest, Auntie, I think the same."
Just then, Lemon's voice suddenly came from behind, causing Zuo Jiangqin to stand up immediately and force a wide smile.
"Oh my, Miss Lemon, I was just speaking off the cuff. Did... did you need me for something?"
"Ah, of course. It's nothing, Auntie, please sit down."
Lemon looked at Zuo Jiangqin and politely invited her to take a seat.
Seeing such a massive celebrity treating her with the courtesy of a junior, Zuo Jiangqin couldn't help but feel a surge of pride.
"Oh, oh... alright."
"It's like this... Yiyi is still in school, so Auntie, you're usually the one managing her work affairs, right?"
"Yes, yes."
"Well, regarding the program we just recorded, I felt that Yiyi's performance was quite impressive... So, I'm interested in collaborating with her down the line.
"I've looked into it, and she signed a singer contract with the Jinshi Group, leaving her film and television portfolio completely blank.
"So I wanted to ask what you and Bai Yi think... Ah, Auntie, it should be fine for me to discuss this with you, right? You can make the decisions?"
In truth, Bai Yi never wanted to discuss her singing work with her mother; at most, she left it to her agent to worry about.
But she was her mother, so of course she could make decisions on her behalf!
Especially when Lemon was offering such generous conditions.
Taking Yiyi to collaborate?
Good heavens, Lemon was a big shot who had starred in so many famous movies. If she were to mentor her...
However, why would such a good thing suddenly fall into Yiyi's lap?
Her performance on stage today had nearly left Zuo Jiangqin dumbfounded.
Even so, this Lemon actually still...
"Um, pardon my interruption, Auntie just wants to ask... what exactly did you see in my Yiyi that makes you willing to help her?"
"..."
The question caught Lemon slightly off guard, but she was naturally prepared for it.
"Actually, Auntie... I won't hide it from you. Do you know Yan Huan?"
"Ah, of course, of course. He and my Yiyi seem to be..."
"Mhm, actually, Auntie, I also grew up in Linmen. I used to be very close with Older Brother Yan Huan; he often took care of me when we were kids."
Lemon smiled sweetly, her eyes curving into charming crescents.
"I caught up with him recently and wanted to repay his kindness from when we were young... but you know Older Brother Yan Huan, Auntie, he kept saying he didn't need anything.
"So I figured I could help out his girlfriend instead..."
In truth, these words harbored malicious intent.
She had investigated beforehand. At the High Table Dinner, Yan Huan seemed to have danced with another girl and made her his girlfriend, not choosing Bai Yi at all.
By saying this, if Zuo Jiangqin knew the truth, Lemon could silently lead her into mistaking that Bai Yi might be acting as a mistress.
Hehehe...
"Ah, that's wonderful... that's wonderful!"
However, Zuo Jiangqin immediately believed the story and set her worries aside.
"I didn't expect that Yan Huan, who looks so poor, would actually know someone as amazing as you... Oh my, this is truly... Auntie will definitely thank him later!"
Hearing this, Lemon's expression stiffened slightly, and for a moment, her smile nearly shattered.
'She has absolutely no idea what happened with her daughter at the High Table Dinner?!'
'Furthermore, it seems she is completely oblivious to the complicated romantic entanglements between Bai Yi, Yan Huan, and the other girls?!'
"Uh, hehehe... So, how about freeing up a few months? I happen to have a new movie shooting in Linmen..."
'It's fine. I have other backup plans anyway!!'
Lemon adjusted her breathing before continuing in a soft voice.
At those words, Zuo Jiangqin's eyes instantly lit up.
"Alright—"
She was just about to agree, but then suddenly remembered that Bai Yi was only passionate about songwriting, and she couldn't help but sigh.
"Sigh, but my Yiyi still has to write songs and all that. A few months might be a bit..."
"Mhm... So, Bai Yi still wants to develop in the music industry? Maybe my perspective is a bit narrow, but standing out in that circle is much harder than in ours. At least in acting, if you have resources, there are shortcuts you can take..."
Hearing this, Zuo Jiangqin felt like she had found a kindred spirit and immediately started complaining.
"Yes, yes! I've told her a long time ago... being a singer is totally unreliable!
"Look, she doesn't listen to me at all! Would I harm her? She spends all day pondering over her unreleased new song and doesn't even take variety shows seriously. Just look at the stage today, so many messes were made..."
However, when she heard "new song," Lemon's expression finally underwent a subtle change.
She put on a pitying look and leaned back against her chair backrest.
"I used to think that way too, Auntie. It's fine; with some things, until she suffers a setback, she won't know the severity of it."
"Exactly..."
"How about this, Auntie. Could you show me the sheet music for the new song she wrote? I'll find a professional to look at it for her. If it is genuinely well-written, then just pretend I never invited her..."
As she spoke, Lemon suddenly seemed to recall something and looked at Zuo Jiangqin.
"If it's just average, the two of us can persuade her together. How does that sound?"
"Ah, that would be wonderful! Coincidentally, her sheet music is still sitting in the lounge..."
"Mhm, mhm."
Lemon watched with a smile as Zuo Jiangqin happily got up to leave, even waving at her.
"Click~"
As the door clicked shut, the smile on Lemon's face slowly faded away.
She took a deep breath and turned her head to cast another glance at the file her assistant had just brought her.
"Zuo Jiangqin, illegal immigrant. The immigration bureau has records of her lacking a visa, as well as criminal records; later married Jiang Xion and obtained legal status in Linmen through a marriage visa..."
"Bai Letian, currently detained in Linmen Second Prison. Accused of multiple charges including fraud and illegal fundraising, sentenced to 22 years in prison..."
Looking at the two documents in her hands, Lemon's expression gradually grew ferocious.
"Bai Yi, you little bitch. How dare you hit me. I will definitely make you pay the price...
"Blame yourself for having a mother as stupid as this."
"Xiao Yan, we're heading out~"
"Ah, alright."
"Bye-bye, see you tomorrow."
"Mhm, see you tomorrow."
At Ye International, it was nearing the end of the workday.
Yan Huan bid farewell to a few colleagues, then promptly packed up his belongings, planning to go home and rest.
"Phew..."
Pondering the details of today's Battle Defeat CG, as well as how to handle the situation with Ye Shiyu going forward, Yan Huan took the elevator downstairs.
He didn't walk toward the subway entrance. Instead, he turned and headed toward a relatively low-rise apartment building situated behind a black building not far away.
Arriving at the ground floor, he took out the black room card, swiped open the access gate, and stepped into the elevator.
After pressing the button for the top floor, he checked the time.
"I got home pretty early today. Maybe I should go out to eat with An Le tonight..."
However, in the very next second, Myau-chan, who was perched on his shoulder, widened his eyes and stared at Yan Huan.
"What do you mean, got home meow?! What... what what what what are you doing here, Yan Huan?!"
"Hm?"
Hearing Myau-chan's voice, Yan Huan's eyes widened, and only then did he observe his surroundings.
"Whir..."
He was currently inside an elevator.
But how could his rundown public rental housing in the South Ward possibly have an elevator?!
Yet, right up until the moment Myau-chan reminded him, he hadn't realized this at all. Instead, it had felt exactly the same as his usual commute home on the subway!
"Ding-dong~"
The very next second, the elevator doors slowly opened, revealing a quiet corridor that resembled a high-end hotel.
"Gulp."
On this entire floor, there were only two rooms.
Yan Huan's eyes widened, and he subconsciously turned around to leave immediately.
But when he looked back, the elevator he had just been standing in had vanished without a trace.
"..."
This confirmed it:
It was hypnosis!!
"We're doomed, Myau-chan. We're under hypnosis. Ye Shiyu definitely planted a suggestion in me that I must return here every day after work!"
"Meow..."
Hearing Myau-chan's voice, Yan Huan's face darkened.
"Why didn't you warn me earlier that I was walking this way!!"
"How was I supposed to know what you were doing meow?! I thought you had some business here!"
"What freaking business could I have?! Every day after work, I want nothing more than to run away immediately, terrified of bumping into Ye Shiyu. Don't you know that?!"
"..."
Hearing this, Myau-chan blinked, revealing a guilty conscience.
Immediately, he silently turned his head away.
"I know meow... I wasn't in a good state just now, so I forgot meow..."
"You obviously just didn't know! Boiling Fog!"
"Meow?!"
Myau-chan was about to meow defensively to refute Yan Huan, but suddenly, he caught sight of something and hurriedly patted Yan Huan with his paw pads.
"Yan Huan, look at that meow!"
"What?"
Yan Huan blankly turned his head in that direction and saw a notice pasted on the wall.
"Dear Employee, welcome to the Ye International employee dormitory. We are dedicated to erasing the exhaustion of your daily work and creating a comfortable resting environment for you.
"While residing in this dormitory, to ensure the experience and safety of our residing employees, please adhere to the following rules.
"Any losses incurred due to the violation of these rules will be borne at your own risk."
Staring at the "rules" that displayed obvious handwritten traces under the light, Yan Huan was completely dumbfounded.
The text was written with a calligraphy brush, and in proper regular script at that...
"1. This floor is exclusively open to Ye International employees holding access room cards. It is forbidden to invite any female into your room.
"Except for your Older Sister."