Page 35

Mo Zi glanced at Zhang Chujie, then at the astonished Qiao Lin beside her, but said nothing.

Lu Hengzhi immediately chimed in with a smile. "We like Brother Jie too."

Tang Shi echoed, "Mm, I like Brother Jie's Heartless Swordsman best. There's still a poster of Ouyang Ming in my bedroom—the character Zhang Chujie played in Heartless Swordsman!"

The small disturbance was glossed over amid everyone's tacit attempts to change the subject.

Yet the next day, the entertainment headlines were indeed about the Sugar Juice Duo presenting a song to song-and-dance diva Qiao Lin at the competition venue. Even Zhang Chujie's offhand "teasing" remark was blown wildly out of proportion. Some tabloids even dug up the supposed "whole story" behind why the Sugar Juice Duo had given Qiao Lin a song...

For a time, rumors such as "Sugar Juice Duo member Tang Shi in an older-woman-younger-man romance with song-and-dance diva Qiao Lin" and "Sugar Juice Duo members acting like big shots at rehearsals before even becoming famous" once again swept through the entertainment industry at full force.

Under the arrangement of certain interested parties, the whole matter only grew more intense. In the end, with no other choice, Li Mei could only agree to an interview request from one of the station's programs, Qilu Gossip. She agreed for the Sugar Juice Duo to take time out from rehearsals to make an appearance, clarify the rumors, and promote Dance Miracle while they were at it.

This was also the first time members of Dance Miracle had left their own program's stage to accept an interview from industry media.

35 Chapter Thirty-Five

Like Dance Miracle, Qilu Gossip was a variety show under Apple TV Station. But unlike Dance Miracle, a new program that had exploded onto the scene this year, sweeping ratings championships everywhere and repeatedly breaking major viewing records, Qilu Gossip had always been one of Apple TV Station's highly valued variety programs. Its defining trait was that it had gossip when gossip was wanted and depth when depth was needed, striving to uncover the truest sides of celebrities behind the spotlight.

Since it first aired at the start of the millennium, Qilu Gossip had consistently claimed the ratings crown for the Saturday night ten o'clock slot. Its host, Qilu, had also become Apple TV Station's top female host because of the show's popularity. Thanks to the program's influence, the guests invited for interviews were all either the entertainment industry's most influential A-list stars or controversial rising idols with explosive popularity. For complete newcomers like the Sugar Juice Duo to receive an interview invitation before even debuting... it was simply unprecedented.

That was precisely why Qilu Gossip found it especially unbelievable when it sent an invitation to Dance Miracle, hoping the Sugar Juice Duo could come record an episode, only to receive Li Mei's tactful refusal. Fortunately, Li Mei had a good personal relationship with Qilu. After Li Mei explained sincerely and in detail why she did not want the Sugar Juice Duo to receive too much exposure, Qilu expressed her understanding. She did not hold it against Dance Miracle or the Sugar Juice Duo.

Who could have expected how unpredictable things could be? Only days after Li Mei's refusal, all kinds of rumors about the Sugar Juice Duo appeared out of nowhere in the media, shattering Li Mei's original intention of letting them compete quietly. To clarify the rumors and restore their image, Li Mei had no choice but to contact Qilu again, hoping the two boys could make an appearance on Qilu Gossip. She also earnestly asked Qilu to take good care of them during filming. The Sugar Juice Duo had no prior experience recording programs, and without Qilu looking after them, the Qilu Gossip production team might very well dig plenty of traps for them to jump into in order to create buzz and boost ratings. That was not an outcome Li Mei wanted to see.

Naturally, Qilu agreed to her old friend's request. She even intentionally or unintentionally revealed a few things over the phone. The details Qilu disclosed left Li Mei worried for the Sugar Juice Duo after she hung up, while also making her furious enough to see red. She even quietly began planning how to get even.

But that was a matter for later. For now, it would not be mentioned. Since the Sugar Juice Duo were still contestants on Dance Miracle and had not signed with any management company, there was even less reason to discuss managers. To ensure the two boys did not make any mistakes during the recording, Li Mei specifically sent Brother Chen, who was responsible for taking care of all Dance Miracle contestants, to accompany them. Brother Chen had dealt with the Sugar Juice Duo twice before and felt that the two boys had good natures and great potential, so he readily agreed.

The recording was scheduled for eight in the evening. After a full day of dance rehearsals, the Sugar Juice Duo returned to their dorm, washed off their sweat, changed into clean clothes, and prepared to head to the television station building for the recording.

Brother Chen stopped them in the dorm. He handed four paper bags to the two members of the Sugar Juice Duo and said flatly, "Change into these first."

Tang Shi and Lu Hengzhi looked down at the clothes and shoes in the bags. They were not from some top international luxury brand, but they were still from a very well-known label. One outfit cost around seven or eight thousand yuan—something the Sugar Juice Duo could afford at present, but would absolutely never spend money on.

Seeing their expressions, Brother Chen's eyes carried a faint smile as he said, "Sister Li thought everything through. She knew you had an appearance to make and no clothes to wear, so she specially borrowed these for you. Be careful wearing them. You have to return them after recording."

In truth, it would not have mattered if they did not return them. As the contestants drawing the most ratings on Dance Miracle, the Sugar Juice Duo deserved some rewards. Considering that the contestants were becoming more and more famous and had attracted quite a few management companies looking to poach them, the production team also needed to take measures to win people over and keep the contestants steady. Giving them two outfits was nothing, and it would even show the production team's thoughtfulness and generosity. But considering the other contestants' thoughts and attitudes, Li Mei felt it would be better for these two to keep a low profile.

If the production team wanted to bestow favors and win people's loyalty, they could do so through other contestants. As for these two... with the current uproar so intense, it was better for them to lie low.

Tang Shi had not considered any of that at all. Everyone loved beauty, and he had never worn clothes this expensive—not in this life, nor even in his previous one. He carefully took the clothes from the bags and shook them out. Lin Zhaoran, who was in the dorm, came over to look as well. Seeing the price tag beneath the clothes, he could not help clicking his tongue. "They're so expensive!"

Song Lijia even took a large step back and warned Tang Shi and Lu Hengzhi, "Be careful wearing them. If they get damaged, you'll have to pay for them."

Tang Shi and Lu Hengzhi exchanged a smile, then went into the washroom to change and remove the tags. When they came out, they found Cui Yujin had arrived too. Holding the camera Tang Shi and Lu Hengzhi had recently bought for him, he said with a beaming smile, "I've never seen what recording a program is like. I talked to Auntie Li just now, and she said I could come along and watch too."

As soon as he said that, Lin Zhaoran and Song Lijia immediately looked over with envious eyes. But Brother Chen pretended not to notice, and Tang Shi and Lu Hengzhi could not really say anything either. Lin Zhaoran could only pout in disappointment and wave goodbye to them.

Brother Chen led the group into the Apple Television building and took the elevator straight to the sixth floor, where Qilu Gossip was being recorded. Though it was already past six in the evening, Qilu Gossip's backstage area was still bustling with people. Those present noticed Brother Chen and the others entering and smiled as they nodded. Some curiously sized up Tang Shi and Lu Hengzhi behind him. There had been so much positive and negative news about the two lately that even people within the industry had become rather curious.

Since Tang Shi was wearing an outfit that seemed unbelievably precious to him, all his attention was focused on his clothes. He was afraid of brushing against something by accident, so he barely noticed the looks directed his way. As for Lu Hengzhi, whenever he went out, he always wore that calm, smiling, supremely confident air. This time was naturally no exception.

Brother Chen stepped forward and exchanged a few smiling pleasantries with a staff member whose hair was pinned up, who wore a white blouse, a black wrap skirt, and a staff badge. He then instructed Tang Shi and Lu Hengzhi to follow her to the dressing room for makeup.

The staff inside looked at the Sugar Juice Duo's clothes and shoes, then gave Brother Chen a meaningful glance.

As for the wardrobe stylist, he put away the clothes he had prepared. Given the Sugar Juice Duo's current status, he had assumed they would not have anything decent to wear for the recording and had been worried about it. After all, the two were too young. They had the slender frames of teenagers, yet both stood over one meter seventy-eight. The station did not have clothes particularly suited to their current temperament and figures. He had not expected Dance Miracle's side to be so considerate. It also showed from another angle that their production team truly valued these two contestants.

Thinking of some rumors circulating around the station, as well as Brother Chen standing nearby as their guardian, the Qilu Gossip staff became even more attentive and patient with the pair.

Tang Shi and Lu Hengzhi sat down in the dressing room. To keep the clothes clean and tidy, Tang Shi even pulled two clean, large towels from his bag and draped them around himself as though he were getting a haircut. His overly cautious appearance made several makeup artists and stylists laugh. They had not seen such a funny and straightforward newcomer in a long time.

During the makeup process, someone brought over two scripts and briefly confirmed with Tang Shi and Lu Hengzhi what they could say and what topics were off-limits. This was standard procedure for recording a program, but given the Sugar Juice Duo's current position, they had no right to be picky. So the two basically accepted the script without any objections.

The staff member accompanying them gave the two a few surprised looks, then turned to Brother Chen and said with a smile, "Everyone on your side said these two kids were difficult and disobedient, but they seem pretty well-behaved to me!"

Brother Chen folded his arms and leaned against the doorway. Hearing her words, he shook his head and smiled. "That's because they're not familiar with you yet, so they're pretending to be good. Let them come a few more times and get comfortable, and they'll give you a headache."

Tang Shi and Lu Hengzhi shrank their necks sheepishly and stuck out their tongues. The staff member beside them smiled as well. Yet inwardly, she laughed. How was that a complaint or dissatisfaction? It sounded more like scolding one's own children. His words claimed they were this bad and that bad, but his heart clearly did not mean it that way.

Still, thinking of the relationship rumored around the station between the Sugar Juice Duo and Li Mei, the staff member felt she understood.

Since they were two boys and were already delicate and handsome to begin with, the makeup artists merely gave them simple makeup and styled their hair, enough to ensure they looked healthy and energetic on camera.

Brother Chen nodded in satisfaction from the side and praised the makeup artists and stylists. "As expected of the best makeup and styling team at our station. This image suits both of them perfectly!"

Clean and handsome, obedient and sunny—they gave people a good impression at first glance and made them think of younger members of their own families.

Hearing that, the makeup artists smiled with considerable pride. "Naturally. They're talents our station is grooming. If we don't take good care of them, who will?"

Just as they were chatting and laughing, host Qilu arrived as well. Because of Li Mei's instructions, Qilu treated the Sugar Juice Duo warmly and kindly. Yet she was not as polite as she would be with other celebrities. There was something of an elder's tolerance and care toward juniors in her manner. That warm familiarity without distance quickly dispelled Tang Shi's original restraint and nervousness. Seeing that her efforts had worked, Qilu smiled and said, "Don't be too nervous when we start recording later. You've both read the script, right? Just answer however you should answer when the time comes..."

Before she could finish speaking, a large group suddenly flooded in through the door. Tang Shi and Lu Hengzhi looked over instinctively and saw a sweet, innocent-looking girl wearing sunglasses enter surrounded by seven or eight assistants. Because the backstage lighting was too dim, neither of them could make out who she was.

Only after the girl entered the dressing room and removed her sunglasses did Tang Shi and Lu Hengzhi recognize her as the female lead of a popular idol drama from some time ago—and Cui Yujin's most beloved idol lately.