May My Sponsor Always Stand Tall

Chen Sinian asked in confusion, "You posted yours?"

Su Tangtang gave a little "Mm-hmm," picked up her ski poles from the snow, and continued skiing downhill.

Curious, Chen Sinian and the viewers went to check her Weibo. She had included the required hashtag and posted a GIF of the moment she had accidentally knocked him into the snow.

Except she had edited him out completely, leaving only his legs showing, and added the caption: Love, Here I Come!

"..."

It didn't quite meet the requirements, but honestly, it fit the show pretty well.

[Great, saved it. Sending it to my crush later!]

[Everyone else posted gorgeous couple photos. Why did yours turn into this? /facepalm/]

[What do you know? She has to make herself stand out. Why else would they call her that fake innocent bitch?]

After looking at the post, Chen Sinian turned toward the producer who had just handed them the mission card. She held up her phone to indicate she needed to call and check, so he waited where he was.

Two or three minutes later, the producer nodded at him, and he finally resumed his laborious journey downhill.

By the time he reached the bottom, Su Tangtang had already made who knew how many runs. Seeing how enthusiastic she still was, Chen Sinian didn't rush her.

Still, Su Tangtang felt bad making him wait too long. She went down one last time, then joined him to return their equipment and change.

They headed out to eat together at a restaurant Chen Sinian's assistant had found, with a private room already reserved.

There was no helping it. He was famous, and there were fans everywhere he went.

Su Tangtang got to enjoy the perks by association.

[Aaaaaah, I want to be Su Tangtang so badly!]

[Jealousy has twisted me beyond recognition. /distorted/]

After ordering, Su Tangtang glanced at Chen Sinian. Seeing him looking down at his phone, she took out hers too.

"Miss Su, your lemon tea." Before long, his assistant returned with her drink.

Su Tangtang took it and thanked him. "How much was it? I'll transfer you the money."

The assistant smiled. "No need. The boss will reimburse me."

Su Tangtang looked up at his boss. He had already put down his phone and was pouring tea. He asked her, "Want some?"

Su Tangtang shook her head.

She was curious. Was he messaging his young sponsor just now?

Oh-ho! His young sponsor came over?!

They're meeting in the men's restroom later? That kinky?

Chen Sinian: "..."

Did she think he was Liao Xuliang, getting horny everywhere he went?

The kid just missed him and had come over to see him.

Huh!

Chen Sinian paused mid-sip.

That exclamation probably meant something big!

He sipped his tea while pricking up his ears.

His young sponsor's stepmother's son isn't his dad's biological child? Su Tangtang hurriedly scrolled further. Holy crap, even the daughter born a few months ago isn't his! His dad played around so much when he was young that he couldn't get it up by his thirties. People mocked him plenty for it. Those people took his money, pretended to please him in bed, then ridiculed him mercilessly out of it. Only the stepmother praised his prowess both to his face and behind his back. That's how she got such a firm grip on his heart.

Tsk, tsk. The son and daughter are both their special assistant's kids. His young sponsor's dad is a complete sucker. Not only has he spent all this time raising someone else's children, but they're going to steal his fortune too!

Chen Sinian could no longer sit still.

With a rare look of urgency, he rose from his chair, said, "I'm going to the restroom," and hurried away.

Su Tangtang blinked as she watched him leave. That eager? He's going over without even eating?

What am I supposed to do? Do I have to wait for him when the food comes?

Her stomach started singing, and she couldn't help cursing inwardly. Damn it! I hope his little buddy won't be able to stand up later!

Chen Sinian: "..."

Already at the private room's door, he paused and turned around. "Tangtang, start eating when the food comes. Don't worry. No one's going to criticize you."

Su Tangtang: "!!!"

So my sponsor is this nice!

Looks like I was judging a gentleman by my own petty standards! May my sponsor always stand tall!

"Okay, Chen Sinian," she answered sweetly and meekly.

Chen Sinian said nothing more and walked away.

He didn't return until Su Tangtang was nearly full. She quickly urged him, "Chen Sinian, hurry and eat. There won't be anything left if you don't."

She could have eaten more, but Sister Du had just messaged her with another warning about docking her pay.

Sigh.

Life.

So short, yet the suffering lasted so long.

After eating a piece of lettuce to keep Chen Sinian company, Su Tangtang put down her chopsticks and told him to take his time.

He nodded slightly and began chatting with her intermittently.

Seeing the producer beside them hold up a sign, he read it aloud. "What's your impression of everyone? For example, if you had to rank the seven of us, including me, how would you do it?"

Su Tangtang spotted the sign too as she lifted her lemon tea for a sip.

Of course, she didn't let it show on camera, lest everyone accuse them of following a script.

She smiled. "Chen Sinian, don't set me up. Haven't I been torn apart enough already?"

"But," she added, changing tack, "if I really had to rank everyone, you'd definitely come first."

You're my sponsor, after all!

The corners of Chen Sinian's mouth lifted slightly. It seemed that three million had been money well spent.

[Seriously, dude, why are you smiling again? You like her that much? She says you're number one, and you smile!]

[Does this count as them choosing each other?]

[No! I won't allow it! Chen Sinian is mine!]

After the meal, he asked Su Tangtang, "Anywhere you'd like to go?"

The producer held up a sign saying there were no arrangements for the afternoon. They could decide for themselves and go anywhere they liked, including back to the villa.

"I'm fine with anything," Su Tangtang replied, then started checking the likes on their Weibo posts. Naturally, the first person she ruled out was herself.

She had at least that much self-awareness.

After comparing the remaining seven, she saw that Chen Sinian ranked third. Alarm bells immediately rang!

"Your fans seem to be slacking a little?" She poked Chen Sinian's arm with her phone.

She had initially thought she could just touch him directly since they were practically girlfriends, but then remembered that the viewers didn't know that. Better to use her phone and spare herself another round of insults.

Chen Sinian glanced discreetly at the gesture and replied, "They've always been like that. I've told them to get their own lives in order before chasing celebrities."

Su Tangtang gave him a thumbs-up. No wonder his seventy million-plus fans can't even win an argument against Xue Ruyin.

Whatever. It's just one chance to arrange the dates. Having it or not makes no difference.

She suggested aloud, "Why don't we head back?"

Chen Sinian replied, "Sure."

They returned to the villa together, only to discover, unexpectedly, that An Ruzhi and Qi Zhaoyi were back too.