Chapter 33 Legality and Compliance

This statement was like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, instantly causing an uproar in the live stream.

[What happened? What's going on?]

[Holy crap, I woke up from a nap after using the "Morning and Evening" product and the sky has fallen!]

[This feels familiar, like someone messed up. /winking emoji]

[Does nobody know that the guy with the two-character name has already been beaten to death? Check out the top comment in last night's live stream replay.]

[What? So that leak is true?]

The production team has been severely affected this time.

[Really? The filter disappeared all of a sudden, how come every fan I followed collapsed?]

[The official channels haven't released any information at all. We're waiting for an official statement. I'm really worried about how the situation on the Chinese internet changes every day.]

...

Not only were the comments on the screen vague and confusing, but the guests at the scene also expressed their doubts to varying degrees.

"Everyone, please be quiet."

The executive director cleared his throat, drawing everyone's attention back: "Let's get back to the event schedule. Tonight is the crucial moment for determining the date pairings for all the guests."

"The male guests must have already heard some rumors that their exes will choose their dates tonight."

"Since we will only have a handful of dates with other guests left, the outcome of our choices and communication this time will be especially important."

Upon hearing this, Deng Minzhou put on an exaggerated performance, gaping in shock: "What? I've never heard of this before? Why are the female guests choosing dating partners for us male compatriots? Is the production team biased towards women?"

Guo Zifu laughed and elbowed him: "What's wrong with the choices made by us women? Or... are you not satisfied with my choice?"

Although Guo Zifu had a smile on her face, anyone who listened could hear the blatant threat in her words.

This interruption, however, fueled the excitement of the audience. Not only did the guests enthusiastically take sides, but the viewers in the live stream also recovered from the surprise of the unexpected news and began chattering amongst themselves.

[Hahaha, my ex is watching you/winking emoji]

[Great banter makes me spin]

Even after breaking up, Guo Zifu and Deng Minzhou will remain a couple in a different kind of competitive relationship.

Choosing dates for your ex is a form of NTR (Netorare) you're doing yourself.

Everyone here has broken up, okay? What's the point of using the word "study hard"? Elementary school kids shouldn't be showing off.

[This is so exciting! Do you think the couple who's at their worst off will actually start fighting?]

[I guess the previous sentence was about Wanwan and Qi, but I can only say wishful thinking. Some creatures wouldn't even bother fighting with their hands.]

...

"Now, it's time for everyone to make a decision."

Seeing everyone enthusiastically cooperating to liven up the atmosphere, the executive director's expression softened slightly: "Now, guests who need to have a final conversation with their exes, please go to the 'Heart-to-Heart Talk House'."

"During this period, the female guests who have made a decision can get an invitation letter from the staff and go to the 'mailing area' to fill in the name of their ex-date. The rest of the guests can stay in the living room for the time being."

Upon hearing this, Guo Zifu turned her head and arrogantly raised an eyebrow at Deng Minzhou: "The rest of the personnel."

Guo Zifu originally had the appearance of a refined and mature woman, and this expression she made was not annoying at all. Instead, she looked like a noble cat, making people want to give way to her.

Her ex-boyfriend was already very familiar with her behavior and was immune to cuteness attacks.

Deng Minzhou crossed his arms and raised an eyebrow: "What? Don't you want to have a heart-to-heart talk with me?"

The two stared at each other with feigned indifference for two seconds before bursting into laughter. Everyone else was also amused by the two clowns.

In a joyful atmosphere, Guo Zifu gracefully tossed her long hair and gave Deng Minzhou a casual glance, as if she were looking at a handbag carrier. Deng Minzhou readily followed her.

After someone stepped forward, Xiang Wan let out a soft sigh of relief and stood up to look at the other side: "Qi Youxiang."

This time, he spoke with his full name, without any intimacy or expectation in his tone. His coldness was so intense that Qi Youxiang didn't even have time to react before instinctively standing up.

[Xiang Wan's tone was so cold; it didn't sound like she was calling her ex, but rather an enemy.]

[Wanwan has finally pulled through! She was crying in her room every day for the past few days, it broke my heart.]

[Hasn't Qi Youxiang's career already collapsed? It seems his backer is powerful enough to keep him on the show.]

[Xiao Xiang is just dating normally. Please tell me rationally which law he broke?]

[Exactly, they were dating with both parties knowing about it, so nothing really happened, okay?]

...

Just as Mu Jiu was looking away from Xiang Wan's figure, his phone suddenly vibrated in his pocket.

She glanced at the name of the person who sent the message, then stood up calmly and said in a natural tone, "Excuse me, I need to go to the restroom first."

Although guests are required to cooperate with all the arrangements made by the production team during the live broadcast of the event, they are not allowed to leave their seats without a valid reason.

However, the executive director felt a little guilty towards Mu Jiu because the news was suddenly revealed without prior notice.

He didn't question this obvious excuse for leaving temporarily.

The guests who noticed Mu Jiu's actions had different expressions, those who were familiar with her cast concerned glances, and the viewers in the live broadcast room also speculated about the reason for her sudden departure.

But Mu Jiu could no longer heed these voices.

After leaving the living room with a calm expression, she did not choose to go to the public area on the first floor, but went straight into the bathroom attached to the bedroom on the second floor.

Only after the door lock clicked shut did she deftly turn off her microphone, then took out her phone from her pocket and unlocked the screen.

After quickly scanning the information he had just received, Mu Jiu closed his eyes and pondered for a few seconds.

When she opened her eyes again, she immediately pulled up her contacts and dialed a number.

The cold, sticky dampness in the bathroom clung to my ankles, and as time passed, the temperature of my fingertips gradually decreased.

"Beep...beep..."

During the long wait, just when Mu Jiu almost thought the number would never be reached, a faint sound rang out.

The call was connected.

But after that brief initial ring, there was only silence on the other end. If it weren't for the countdown timer, one would almost think the call hadn't gone through.

After a few seconds of silence, Mu Jiu didn't delay any longer and asked directly, "You've been kidnapped?"

"..."

The unexpected opening broke the heavy silence, and a slightly hoarse voice finally came from the other end of the phone: "Didn't you see the trending topics?"

"I saw it."

Mu Jiu leaned against the cold tile wall and said matter-of-factly, "So when are you coming back? You didn't even discuss the suspension of recording with me beforehand. Was it your manager or the company that made this decision on their own?"

This makes it sound like she's the real boss, able to replace his agent and company with just a word.

Ling Zhao, who was already somewhat disheartened, didn't know how to react upon hearing this.

Not receiving an immediate response, Mu Jiu's thoughts drifted off.

Everything that happened after I woke up felt like a dream, as if I had been on a roller coaster on the edge of a cliff.

Since last night, she and Ling Zhao have suddenly become much more popular than they could have imagined before.

However, just one day later, before the daze of her and Ling Zhao's CP becoming an unexpected hit had even subsided, the tide turned sharply, and her collaborator suddenly disappeared.

The timing is too coincidental.

It's impossible to say that this turn of events is completely unrelated to this sudden surge in popularity.

So in the few seconds after receiving the news, a million conspiracy theories flashed through Mu Jiu's mind.

The most likely guess right now is that the popularity of the "Chaomu CP" has blocked someone's path.

It could even be one of the other candidates for the MG perfume ad...

"Since you already know what happened, why did you call me? It's not too late to distance yourself from me now."

The voice on the other end was still the familiar indifference, but because it came through the phone so close, Mu Jiu was momentarily reminded of the voice from the other person's record.

His hoarse voice and slight weariness contrasted sharply with the abundant emotion he displayed when singing sad love songs.

When asked to do a character analysis, the first thing she wrote down was that the other person probably has a sentimental, sensitive and delicate heart.

And what the other person said was pretty much what she expected.

Ling Zhao: "...I heard that you actually received many solo commercial offers, but you only accepted MG's advertisement."

Ling Zhao: "You have your works, and you have the attention and audience's affection that should belong to you. Taking this opportunity to completely break free from these ties will be more beneficial to your future career."

Ling Zhao: "I'm not going either..."

"I don't have much time, so I'll keep it short."

Mu Jiu interrupted him bluntly: "In short, no one has the right to speak without investigation, so I investigated you."

"..."

Perhaps stunned by her words, the other end of the phone fell silent again.

However, Mu Jiu didn't have time to speculate and gave a direct ultimatum: "If your difficulties are only the problems mentioned by the marketing accounts, and not being locked in a prison with your hands and feet tied, then pack your bags and come back tomorrow."

Although it's unclear who's behind that marketing account, they've completely misjudged the situation if they're trying to make a fuss about it.

After angrily hanging up the phone, Mu Jiu quickly typed a text message and sent it to his agent.

[mujiu: I'll post this tonight; please cooperate with me in sending the lawyer's letter.]

Mu Jiu received an instant reply from his agent as soon as he sent the message.

[Agent: !!!]

[Agent: Wait, sir! What are you trying to do?!]

[Agent: Don't tell me you're going to be love-struck again?]

Mu Jiu slightly curled the corners of his mouth, but when he looked at the silver mirror in the bathroom, there was a coldness in his eyes that seemed to be burning with the flames of war.

[mujiu: How could that be?]

[mujiu: What I'm doing is legal, compliant, and well-founded.]