Running into the men's fitting room and meeting the shirtless male lead

The weather that day: rain.

"Shiba, we're joining the production tomorrow. I want to buy some clothes. Will you come with me?"

She's stirring up trouble again. The cast list is already on Weibo, and she's still trying to squeeze me out.

"Let's go. I want to buy some too."

The two of them took a car to the mall.

System: She hired some Anti-Fans to attack you, hoping you'll get hurt and have to miss the show.

Wow, Anti-Fans! I've never met any. This is the perfect chance.

Sure enough, as they browsed, Tang Xueqing disappeared, and several girls approached Tang Shiba.

They seemed to recognize her and shouted, "It's Tang Shiba, that washed-up nobody! She embarrassed our Film Emperor last time. Let's get her and avenge him!"

They charged at her, looking vicious enough to devour her alive.

Without another word, Tang Shiba took off running.

She headed straight for Tang Xueqing's hiding spot. If she couldn't beat them, they could go down together.

Her eyes lit up when she spotted Tang Xueqing.

"Xueqing, there you are! Run! The Anti-Fans are catching up!"

She grabbed Tang Xueqing and ran.

Tang Xueqing was wearing high heels. One careless step sent her tumbling to the floor.

Tang Shiba quickly stripped off her jacket and tossed it over Tang Xueqing's head.

"Cover yourself! Don't let them recognize you!"

Then she ducked into a menswear store and watched the spectacle, clicking her tongue.

With her foot throbbing, Tang Xueqing didn't manage to pull the jacket off before the fans rushed up, pinned her head down, and started hitting her.

"Bitch! Trying to run? You can run, but you can't hide!"

"Ah!!! You've got the wrong person! I'm not Tang Shiba!"

"Trying to apologize? Too late! Girls, give her a couple of punches, then let's go!"

"Remember to take pictures! Let everyone online see what a wreck this washed-up nobody is."

Mall security came running over, and the Anti-Fans quickly gathered their things and fled.

"Miss, are you all right?"

Tang Xueqing trembled all over with pain. Seeing the crowd gathering around her, she panicked.

She hurriedly wrapped her head up.

She couldn't let anyone photograph her. One picture would destroy the image she had built.

She struggled to her feet and rushed away with only her eyes showing.

The onlookers whispered among themselves.

"They caught a homewrecker."

"Broad daylight, and they didn't even rip her clothes off? If it were me, I'd tear that homewrecker's clothes to shreds and parade her down the street."

"You just fucking want to watch, don't you? I'll give you an eyeful!"

Another married couple started fighting, and everyone took pictures and posted them on Weibo.

#WitnessedAHomewreckerGettingCaughtPicturesToProveIt#

#HomewreckerHidingHerFacePossiblyAPublicFigure#

#HeardItMyselfTheWomanBeingBeatenWasTangShiba#

"Haha! That's what you get for pretending. Hurts now, doesn't it?"

"Seen enough?"

A deep male voice sounded behind her.

Startled, Tang Shiba spun around, only to find herself facing an eight-pack, and...

Oh my god, a naked man! Drool.

She looked up, and a strikingly handsome face with sharply defined features came into view.

Oh my god! This man is gorgeous!

The man frowned.

Was that her inner voice?

She didn't recognize me?

Tang Shiba hurriedly apologized. "Sorry, sorry! I didn't mean to! I'll leave right now. Immediately!"

She turned and bolted, terrified of being caught.

How had she ended up in someone else's fitting room? This was mortifying.

System: That was the male lead, Host. He saw everything that just happened.

He'll meet the female lead on this variety show, then fall for her. To win her over, he'll turn the Tang Family into cannon fodder.

Only after the Tang Family actually goes bankrupt will Tang Xueqing reluctantly agree to be with him. What happens afterward is unclear.

Tang Shiba clicked her tongue in amazement.

If he can fall for a woman like Tang Xueqing, this male lead can't be any good either. I'd better stay away from him before he drags me into trouble.

Host, there's some gossip about you.

You met the male lead before the female lead did, so this time, you've caught his attention. Once you're on the show, he'll give you trouble every now and then.

Wait, why come after me? Does he want to breastfeed? I've got nothing for him.

Because he falls for the female lead at first sight, he'll bully you to get her attention.

Fuck. Suddenly, she didn't want to go on the variety show anymore.

She was just cannon fodder! All she wanted was a little inheritance and a peaceful retirement.

When Tang Shiba reached the parking garage, the car, the driver, and Tang Xueqing were all gone.

With no other choice, she took a cab home.

Online, Tang Shiba was being condemned again. Tang Xiao somehow got hold of her number and called her.

"Xueqing said she went shopping with you and got beaten up by your Anti-Fans. Is that how you protect your little sister?"

Not listening, not listening. Just a bastard droning on.

"I don't know anything about it. I was scared too. I almost got bitten by a dog."

"That doesn't mean you can abandon your sister and run off alone! Xueqing is seeing a therapist now. Go home and apologize properly, or you can forget about going on that show."

"Sure. You go instead!"

He paused, then changed the subject.

"Anyway, buy Xueqing a present and cheer her up. She doesn't hold grudges. She'll forgive you."

Tang Shiba hung up, turned off the light, and closed her eyes to sleep.

Who couldn't pretend to be ill?

"Shiba, why aren't you coming down for dinner?"

Mrs. Tang came to knock on her door, while Mr. Tang stood beside her, listening.

"Mom, I don't feel like eating."

That's a lie. My second brother told me to apologize to Tang Xueqing, and I'm not doing it.

She was the one who hired Anti-Fans to beat me up, but she ended up falling flat on her face. Her face stayed hidden, though. She got off easy.

Mr. and Mrs. Tang exchanged a look.

Tang Xueqing had stirred up trouble again.

Tang Shiba went downstairs for dinner after all. Tang Xueqing was sitting dazedly on the sofa, looking pitiful.

When she saw Tang Shiba approach, she shrank fearfully into Mrs. Tang's arms.

"Boo-hoo... Mom, I don't dare go out with Shiba again. Her Anti-Fans are terrifying."

"What if the Anti-Fans come to our house one day and hurt us?"

"Xueqing, neither of you is to blame for this. Those haters were simply too irrational," Mr. Tang said.

Tang Mom quickly agreed. "Exactly. Neither of you could have expected something like that."

No! That wasn't how this was supposed to go. Mom and Dad should have made Tang Shiba move out, not let everything slide.

Why weren't they speaking up for her? Why did they keep siding with that bitch?

Tang Shiba ate happily, gulping down her food. "Little sister, I did pull you along with me. It's not my fault you fell. I even covered your face with my jacket to protect your reputation."

"What if some of your Anti-Fans had been there? If they'd seen your face, they might have disfigured you."

"Mom, Dad, it's fine. Everyone online says I was the one who got beaten up. I took the blame for her."

So, apart from getting a beating, Tang Xueqing had achieved everything she wanted. What did she have to be unhappy about?

Tang Dad frowned. "Have your brother pay to get those posts taken down."

"Dad, there's no need. They didn't get my face. Let them say whatever they want."

Tang Xueqing had meant to use this as an excuse to make Tang Shiba move out, but somehow Tang Shiba had steered the conversation completely off course.

Wasn't she the biggest victim here?

She had actually been beaten up!

Her goal had been to get Tang Shiba injured so she couldn't go on the variety show. How had it turned out like this?