Don't Step on My Seven Hundred Bucks

The production team was no fool. They had invited popular celebrities, while ordinary people were only there for novelty and gimmicks. If one or two of them happened to become famous, that would be a bonus. So the ordinary participants did not get much screen time. After the first recording, they would come in roughly once every two weeks.

Zhu Lian arranged for Wen Shuang and Chen Zong to meet in advance.

Last year, Chen Zong had taken on a web drama. His male lead role was highly faithful to the original, handsome and deeply devoted, and he became famous overnight. His fan count soared from an unnoticed eight hundred thousand to ten million. With Zhu Lian's skillful management, Chen Zong had broken into the third tier within half a year.

Chen Zong had just returned from filming when he met Wen Shuang. His looks went without saying—anyone who could make it in the entertainment industry would not be lacking in that department. Fair-skinned, big-eyed, with sharply defined features, he looked Wen Shuang over without any malice, though there was still a sense of distance in his gaze. Chen Zong had more plans ahead, so after a brief greeting, he hurried off.

Wen Shuang knew exactly where he stood and had come prepared. He was just a supporting leaf, there to complement Chen Zong, the dazzling flower. Chen Zong would keep being handsome and keep attracting fans; it would be enough if Wen Shuang could liven up the atmosphere. Zhu Lian promised him that he would receive no less than one hundred thousand for the full recording of the first episode, not including whatever he might earn through other channels if he got lucky and gained popularity.

One hundred thousand was a very good start. Wen Shuang was tempted. He needed to save up—alone in this unfamiliar world, he had to get himself a little home no matter what.

Tempted or not, he could not skip delivering meals.

Xuan Zhe was Wen Shuang's shield, at least for now. So Wen Shuang racked his brains over him and put immense care into it. For five days in a row, not a single meal was repeated. Once, Cao Nanyu pushed open the office door while starving, only to be so bewitched by the aroma that he forgot what he had come to say.

Cao Nanyu had seriously asked Wen Shuang, "Have you considered becoming a chef?"

Wen Shuang seriously considered it, then shook his head. "I cook slowly. And I don't have money."

Today's meal was saliva chicken, stir-fried pork liver, plain cabbage, and old duck soup that had simmered over low heat all night. Xuan Zhe raised his brows slightly. His manner remained steady, but he visibly brightened by a degree or two. Wen Shuang had known him for quite some time now and could already sense those subtle changes.

"Try it." Sunlight fell into Wen Shuang's eyes like solidified white amber. Humans were social animals, and Wen Shuang was not withdrawn, so he wanted to interact with people too—to receive a compliment or two that could make him happy all day.

This lone wolf, Xuan Zhe, understood what he was thinking. He took a small sip of the old duck soup, then sincerely praised, "It's delicious."

Wen Shuang immediately broke into a smile. In his previous life, he had loved cooking, making a whole table of dishes at home and inviting friends over to eat. In this life, he did not even have the hair of a friend, but Xuan Zhe was a very good person to confide in. Their exchanges were never obvious, hidden in occasional glances, spoken sentences, and brief silences.

Xuan Zhe's feelings were changing bit by bit. Sometimes, he wondered whether Wen Shuang had truly turned over a new leaf.

It was just that he had turned over that leaf so thoroughly that it was hard to find him irritating.

"You're going to record the show tomorrow?" Xuan Zhe asked.

"Mm. In the morning."

Xuan Zhe lifted his chin slightly. "Got it. If anything comes up on my end, I'll notify you. Keep your phone on."

Wen Shuang heard the dismissal in his tone. "All right, President Xuan. Please enjoy your meal." When he reached the door, Xuan Zhe added, "This month counts as full attendance for you. Focus on the recording."

Wen Shuang spun around like a burly man, laughter dancing in his eyes. "Thank you, President Xuan. You're so nice!"

After the door closed, Xuan Zhe ate while thinking about what Wen Shuang had just said. A few seconds later, he gave a quiet scoff. Some said he acted decisively and ruthlessly, while others said he was cold by nature and cared nothing for family ties. Wen Shuang was truly the first person to call him nice.

Early Saturday morning, Wen Shuang was ready to head out. Zhu Lian had sent him the recording location, a facility Power One had built last year. The equipment and venue were naturally top-notch. The moment he pushed open the door, he saw a bustling crowd. How should he put it? The farther someone drifted along the edges, the more insignificant they were. Then he looked at the few people in the distance, dressed elegantly and either pretty or handsome. Wen Shuang guessed they were also ordinary participants for this show.

But even ordinary participants came in ranks. Two women and one man eagerly surrounded another man, and Wen Shuang guessed that person must have good resources. Zhu Lian had mentioned there would be some prearranged spots and told him to keep his mindset steady. Wen Shuang was as calm as an old monk in meditation. He was here for the money, did not think he could become famous, and had zero interest in the entertainment industry.

His current goal: buy a house, buy a house, buy a house!

That man noticed Wen Shuang, and a glint flashed through his eyes. He made as if to approach, but he could not compete with Zhu Lian's whirlwind speed. In a blink, Zhu Lian was already in front of Wen Shuang.

Zhu Lian's makeup was exquisite. She looked Wen Shuang over and saw that he was dressed simply but not shabbily. His bearing and outfit were balanced at just the right level, never enough to outshine Chen Zong. She knew she had chosen correctly. Unlike those people nearby, who looked as though they could not wait to dress up like flowering branches and strut onstage. She had no idea how their companies had trained them.

"Very good. Come with me. I'll have the stylist put on a layer of powder so you'll look more energetic later." Without waiting for Wen Shuang to react, Zhu Lian grabbed him and headed straight for the center.

If Wen Shuang had shown up in extravagant dress today, Zhu Lian's expression definitely would not have been as sunny as it was now.

"Oh my, this skin is so good. Use the lightest shade!" The stylist was another person who talked to himself, patting the compact before immediately going at Wen Shuang's face.

Wen Shuang closed his eyes, so he did not see Chen Zong quickly frown at the stylist's words.

The recording began soon after. The host took the stage with great enthusiasm. Since the show emphasized lighthearted entertainment, he was especially animated when he got worked up, veins bulging as he gave it his all. Wen Shuang stood in the ordinary participant area, completely out of place amid the nervousness and unease around him. He calmly swept his gaze over everyone onstage and, in his heart, began scoring them from the position of a "mentor."

That smile is too forced. The wrinkles at the corners of his eyes are showing. Six points.

Going for a cool, aloof style? But it clashes with the atmosphere of the show. Seven points for the ab lines beneath that T-shirt? No, no, no. Not nearly as good-looking as President Xuan. Five points!

Hm? Someone stepped onstage, and Wen Shuang's eyes lit up. The other man had a clear voice and introduced himself as Jiang Ning.

Jiang Ning's resources had exploded over the past two years, and everyone had been guessing who was backing him. Not only was he handsome, but he was also highly recognizable. Among all the pale-faced young actors, his wheat-colored skin brimmed with vitality. Wen Shuang gave him nine points.

Chen Zong's performance was about what one would expect. Since they were all popular stars, unless they took an unconventional approach, none of them could truly stand out. People like Jiang Ning were rare.

Next came the ordinary participants' screen time. For the recording, each star would be paired with an ordinary participant, and there would be interactions afterward. One person stepped forward and lightly bumped Wen Shuang with his shoulder, lowering his voice. "I'm from Fengsheng Media. President Zhao got me in. What about you?"

It was the man who had been surrounded earlier.

For some reason, he seemed rather concerned about Wen Shuang. Revealing his own background now was also a way to sound Wen Shuang out.

Wen Shuang answered honestly, "I'm from Power One Media. I came for the money."

The other man froze. "How much?"

Remembering that wealth should not be flaunted, Wen Shuang discreetly held up five fingers!

The other man was slightly startled. "Five hundred thousand?"

"Fifty thousand!" Wen Shuang declared firmly.

Wen Shuang felt that the guy clearly wanted to roll his eyes, but with cameras all around, he forcibly held it in.

The other man took a deep breath and tried again, clearly unconvinced. "Tell me the truth."

"It really is fifty thousand."

"Keep making things up! How could you possibly—" Before he could finish, Wen Shuang saw Zhu Lian turn around and gesture to him, signaling him to go onstage.

Unexpectedly, that man followed behind him. They still had several steps to climb after leaving backstage, but they were already exposed to the cameras. Wen Shuang wore a smile, intending to coast through it, when pain suddenly shot through his heel. His shoe was stepped off, and when he put his foot on the next step, only a snow-white sock covered it.

"Sorry, sorry." The other man did not sound sincere at all. He even seemed a little pleased with himself.

Zhu Lian's expression darkened. From her angle, she had seen it perfectly clearly—the ordinary participant behind Wen Shuang had done it on purpose! Which company was he from?

Everyone thought Wen Shuang would fly into a rage or turn red with embarrassment. Several cameras aimed at them at once, seeing whether it would be worth keeping in the final edit. An ordinary participant pulling hair right from the start would be a decent little highlight and add to the show's entertainment value.

But Wen Shuang slowly turned around, looked at the shoe with an expression of heartache, then bent down and patted the other man's knee. In a soft voice, he said, "Don't step on it. It cost seven hundred." He had bought it specifically for the show.

Because the room had fallen silent, his words came through especially clearly.

"Pfft!" Jiang Ning covered his mouth and laughed out loud.