Beware of Fire, Theft, and Besties?

In Episode 9, a new voice abruptly rang in her mind, and supermodel Xu Qi froze mid-motion as she picked through the food with her chopsticks.

No way, no way?

She had kept herself restrained and stayed in the background precisely to avoid becoming gossip fodder, but what was coming still came. Had she known, she would have suppressed Du Huo no matter what earlier.

The other second-generation heirs of powerful families revealed naked, eager looks in their eyes.

What gossip? Hurry up and tell us!

Song Yichuan leisurely picked up a piece of fish.

Mm, delicious, delicious.

Human-Faced Yama Yan Jinyu made this? Doesn't look like it, but the returns are pretty good.

Eh?

What was Xu Qi's gossip?

Let me take a closer look.

Whoa, a kleptomaniac. The last time she got caught was when she tried to slip away wearing diamond panties and got nabbed by a luxury store. She spent a million to keep it quiet.

She had bought several pairs of those panties, and her family wasn't short on money. Why steal?

"I wasn't forced!"

Xu Qi explained with a panicked expression, but her voice was completely blocked out.

She anxiously swept her gaze around, only to find the expressions of those around her subtle. Clearly, they already believed this revelation.

Completely oblivious to the shift in atmosphere, Song Yichuan picked up her chopsticks again and reached for the steamed crucian carp, continuing to browse through the gossip collection.

So that was it. Honestly, Xu Qi was pretty pitiful. She had lived under immense pressure since childhood, forced to enter all kinds of competitions. Even on rest days, she had to rush nonstop to the training room. Her schedule was packed, and she didn't have even a moment to play.

Over time, of course something went wrong in her heart. When she told her parents, they didn't understand. Instead, they blamed her for being mentally weak, calling it training. Weren't children from other families raised the same way?

Please, how was that even comparable?

Could people really all be the same?

For example, Song Yichuan suddenly looked up at Yan Jinyu. Hey, the one across from her who came back for revenge was practically a self-discipline maniac, so outstanding she barely seemed human.

Hearing this, Xu Qi's sense of shame actually eased a little, and she even felt the urge to cry.

Finally, someone had said something fair for her. Right, it wasn't about stealing at all. That was just how she got infected by it.

Every time she experienced that secret thrill, it made her feel like her emotions had been released, as though she had rebelled for once too.

Xu Qi nodded frantically in her heart.

Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes! Exactly!

Still, this kind of behavior was wrong in the end.

Xu Qi was conflicted too. She wanted to break free completely, but she couldn't withstand the encouragement of her so-called best friend.

Whenever she hesitated, someone would whisper in her ear and keep brainwashing her, saying things like, so what if you got caught? Your parents would smooth it over for you. They cared most about their reputation. Besides, they were the ones who made you this way.

So, you really had to listen to your elders. Beware of fire, theft, and besties. She had stolen so many of your boyfriends over the years, and you never noticed at all?

At this point in the new voice's commentary, Xu Qi shot to her feet in agony. Fuck, she scared the hell out of me. Where's she going?

She wasn't eating anymore?

As expected of a model. She could really endure hunger.

The gossip-loving crowd sighed. Sure enough, behind every huge scandal was a heartbreaking side.

Lu Chen didn't understand Xu Qi's sudden departure, nor could he make sense of the other guests' strange expressions. With the restaurant's livestream cameras rolling, it was inconvenient for him to say much, so he could only find another chance to ask about it.

Although he was the son of a nanny, he had spent years moving through high society and had gathered quite a bit of intelligence, most of it highly accurate.

For instance, Xu Qi having designs on Yan Jinyu was something her longtime best friend had personally told him. It probably wasn't false.

If he could provoke a conflict between her and Song Yichuan, even if he couldn't reap the benefits while they fought, he could still enjoy the show and gain something from it.

As for that illegitimate son who had once been able to cover the sky with one hand in the Yan Family, if he wanted to become the one in power again, it was only a matter of time.

Lu Chen pondered in secret, his seemingly gentle gaze passing over the male guests one by one.

Before joining the variety show, he had done plenty of homework—which people he could approach appropriately, and whom he could keep around for future support.

He had long memorized his plan to win over those with formidable strength, but Yan Jinyu was an exception. He hadn't expected this mysterious person to suddenly descend into the show, leaving even the usually meticulous Lu Chen somewhat uncertain. Should he focus on Fu Zhouchi, the president who controlled entertainment industry resources, or win the favor of Yan Jinyu, who ranked first overall?

It was truly troublesome.

He would take it one step at a time. There was still plenty of time left for filming the variety show.

Lu Chen put down his chopsticks, the corner of his lips curving slightly. He looked serene and composed, forming a stark contrast to Song Yichuan beside him, who was wolfing down her food.

As an entertainment reporter, she had to eat quickly in pursuit of timely gossip. It was like going into battle—one step late, and the enemy would beat her to it.

Even though she had transmigrated, habits were hard to change.

Song Yichuan was stuffing her cheeks without a care in the world when a furious roar from upstairs startled her.

"You bitch, you're dead today! Just wait until I get back and deal with you!"

Everyone in the restaurant turned in unison and saw Xu Qi dragging a suitcase in one hand and holding a phone in the other. She looked so aggressive, as though she were about to fight someone to the death.

"You still dare argue with me? You hooked up with my ex-boyfriend in my kitchen!"

"Fuck you! I just checked the surveillance footage and downloaded the video. I'll upload it online in a minute!"

"Begging on your knees won't help. Just you wait!"

She rushed out in a blaze of fury. Song Yichuan's mouth hung open, too stunned to chew, her face full of shock.

Damn, after being an idiot for so many years, she suddenly got smart? That's pretty rare!

Seeing this, the director hurriedly rushed over. "Eh? Miss Xu, we haven't finished filming the show yet. Don't leave!"

"I can't keep filming. Have my assistant settle things with you tonight!"

Xu Qi shoved him aside. "I'm going to kill that bitch first!"

"No, don't! There's not even time to wave goodbye!"

The director hadn't expected Xu Qi's private car to be waiting at the entrance. He could only watch helplessly as the long-legged socialite left his filming location.

What the hell was this? On the very first day of filming, two guests had already left. Could this show even go on?

The director turned around, looking like he wanted to cry but had no tears, and saw Song Yichuan leaning against the doorway with her bowl in hand, watching the drama unfold.

Ah!

He didn't know whether it was an illusion, but he always suspected these bizarre incidents had something to do with Song Yichuan right in front of him!

To be safe, should he kick this troublemaker out?

Just as he was mulling it over, a staff member beside him spoke up. "Director, the results for the most popular male guest are out."

"Which guest?" the distracted director asked Song Yichuan.

"Who?"

The director turned back in astonishment. Whoever it was, it couldn't possibly be him!