Chapter 19 One-Handed Hug
But he is not included.
Ling Zhao's expression remained unchanged, but his scalp was already tingling.
From their very first meeting, Mu Jiu asked him to provide her with all the songs from her albums, and she also listed the names of the TV dramas she had participated in.
At the time, he was wondering why the other party even asked for a copy of the deleted demo sample. Now it seems that she must have been a top student who was good at predicting exam questions during her school days.
Unfortunately, he was watching from the latest chronological order, and even watching at double speed, he still couldn't finish watching the list of TV dramas Mu Jiu had starred in.
Simply put, he had no recollection of those melodies, let alone the song titles.
When Ling Zhao heard Deng Minzhou say with absolute certainty, "You definitely know," her heart almost stopped beating.
This kind of sentence segmentation, which gives a conclusion directly without any reasoning process, made him fully recall the fear he felt when he was in school. He would just bend down to pick up a pen, and when he looked up again, he would find that he could no longer understand the math problems taught by the teacher, and he would be called on to answer questions.
Fortunately, for some reason, the other person didn't ask him to answer the questions he couldn't answer.
Relieved, Ling Zhao looked at Mu Jiu, who was deep in thought in the crowd.
Although he had long known that the man would not fight a battle unprepared.
But when he heard her accurately recite the names of all her songs, he suddenly felt sorry for misspelling her name on the first night.
Even though he had anticipated this, he still underestimated the extent of the other party's efforts.
While Ling Zhao was distracted, he heard a voice coming from not far away.
"Didn't you think about anything when you saw Mu Jiu's answer?"
Deng Minzhou, who was left standing aside, still felt that something was wrong.
He instinctively felt that Ling Zhao wasn't a good-tempered person, at least not the type to be easily manipulated. His gloomy demeanor, or rather, his completely subdued posture, seemed quite unnatural.
Deng Minzhou couldn't believe that Ling Zhao was completely oblivious to the fact that his ex was so familiar with his business and willing to reveal it.
Seeing that the other person was staring blankly at Mu Jiu, Deng Minzhou asked the question that had been on his mind.
This time, the other party's answer was no longer flawless.
"...She tried so hard, but I couldn't reciprocate in the same way...I feel sorry."
Snapping out of her reverie, Ling Zhao's expression hardened, and she firmly denied it: "No, I wasn't thinking anything."
However, Deng Minzhou had already subconsciously finished what he hadn't said.
[She tried so hard, yet I couldn't reciprocate with the same level of effort? Trust? Or... feelings?]
The more details I learn about these two people, the more curious I become about their past.
Unfortunately, both of them were too vigilant, which prevented him from uncovering the deeper story.
Deng Minzhou shook his head with some regret.
Meanwhile, the girls' group was not far away.
After answering a few questions on her own initiative, Mu Jiu belatedly realized that everyone around her was looking at her.
Especially when she came into Xiang Wan's view, she immediately realized that something was wrong.
Ling Zhao's album songs were indeed too simple for her.
This is certainly not because she has a deep musical talent.
Just to prevent being asked questions like "What do you think of your ex's work?" and making this "past relationship" seem too fake because of her ignorance, Mu Jiu listened to the audio every night before bed after receiving it.
She and Ling Zhao didn't talk face-to-face very often, but because she listened to his songs every day, she could already simulate his voice in her mind.
The first few seconds of these songs are no different from the first few seconds of an alarm clock that make your heart stop.
Aside from these factors, what led her to this point was her damned competitive spirit.
If she hadn't been completely oblivious to other people's work, others would have only seen a ruthless question-and-answer machine and wouldn't have had this misunderstanding.
But now, there's no way to explain it anymore.
Ignoring the stares of others, Mu Jiu finished answering the last question and then casually retreated back into the crowd.
"The game is over. Now, we announce the winners of the boys' and girls' groups... They are Fang Yucheng and Meng Shuning!"
"Next, please have the leading group enter our dressing room first to choose their favorite outfits!"
Wow! As expected of a powerful duo!!
[What's the difference between this and a young couple shopping for matching outfits?! Tell me, what's the difference?!]
The production team has done so many good deeds today, so we won't be criticizing you in the supertopic for now.
Amidst enthusiastic applause, Fang Yucheng and Meng Shuning were the first to enter the dressing room.
The following rankings were Mo Chuhe and Mu Jiu, Qi Youxiang and Guo Zifu, Deng Minzhou and Xiang Wan, and Ling Zhao in last place.
In order, during the waiting period, the executive director will select a few questions to interact with the guests and warm up the atmosphere.
"Both Mu Jiu and Director Mo performed exceptionally well just now. I have a few questions for you both."
The executive director smiled and handed over the microphone: "Ladies first, I'd like to ask Mu Jiu, of those songs you guessed correctly, which one is your favorite?"
Those songs perfectly represent the stages of first love, passionate love, breakup, and letting go.
After a brief moment of thought, Mu Jiu replied: "No trace of the past."
First love, passionate love, and breakup all represent strong feelings of longing or pain. The only song related to letting go is "No Trace of the Past".
The other person paused for a moment, then asked, "Is it related to the fact that this is the only song you wrote after breaking up with your ex?"
This is also the only song that Ling Zhao recently posted on social media.
However, answering this question will only put you in the other person's rhythm, and you might even fall into a pre-prepared trap.
So Mu Jiu changed his answer: "I just prefer the name of this song."
Inside the live stream, because Fang Yucheng and Meng Shuning's perspectives were cut off, various opinions gathered in the chat:
Nobody cares why you like this song.
Why can't the live stream be fast-forwarded? Why aren't there any shots of Meng Xiang and Cheng Zhen choosing outfits?
Compared to Mu Jiu, Qi Youxiang's scandal is clearly more conclusive. What are some people even trying to prove?
[I've already blocked a bunch of keywords, so why are there still so many offensive comments?]
...
Fortunately, this segment didn't last long. By the time the staff notified the second group to come inside and choose their clothes, Mo Chuhe had just finished answering the host's last question.
Before the smile on his face had faded, his gaze fell on Mu Jiu almost imperceptibly.
He had seen her work; to be precise, he had seen the first work she had collaborated on with Fang Yucheng.
What impressed him most was her red dress that accentuated her snow-white skin and her ambitious eyes.
Having such a stunning performance at the age of twenty-something, if the subsequent marketing and resources were in place, she shouldn't have faded into obscurity.
But in the end, she was overshadowed by Fang Yucheng's brilliance.
However, there are too many people like that in the industry.
The smile on his lips completely faded when he entered the house.
The footsteps ahead stopped.
Following the other person's gaze, Mo Chuhe examined the dress on the model: it was a pink, high-waisted ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), bright and cheerful in color, and it also looked quite charming and girlish.
It's understandable to be drawn to such clothes, but compared to the girlish attire, he believes Mu Jiu's advantage lies in her looks and temperament.
"This one isn't as nice as the bright red one."
Noticing Mu Jiu's gaze, Mo Chuhe didn't meet her eyes. Instead, she stared at the clothes in front of her and calmly stated, "Attracting more attention in this variety show won't do you any harm."
Bright red.
Mu Jiu looked at the bright red on the other side.
The mannequin wears a semi-transparent red veil on its head, a brightly colored strapless top, and a red tulle overlay that reveals a large area of its waist and abdomen, adorned with a gorgeous gemstone waist chain. Combined with wide-legged tulle pants that taper at the bottom, it almost completely replicates her most famous Western Region dancer look.
She knew how this outfit would look on her, and she knew even more what wearing it meant.
Although she didn't know what Mo Chuhe was thinking, she found it hard to imagine that the production team left the outfit without any intention of causing trouble.
"Thank you for reminding me."
Mu Jiu dismissed his suggestion calmly: "But I've already decided what I want to choose."
The production team blatantly used classic looks from the drama, clearly intending for her to recreate those scenes.
Mu Jiu could easily imagine that after she put on this outfit, there would be a flood of trending topics like #DreamingBackToMuJiuChengzhenFirstMeeting# every day.
She's not thinking about which outfit looks better right now, nor does she intend to bring up any more topics through this segment.
She just wanted an outfit that seemed ordinary at first glance, and that she wouldn't remember anything about the person after watching the show.
Choosing good-looking clothes can be difficult, but the reverse is easy.
Mu Jiu quickly selected the light blue arrow-sleeved outfit and followed the staff into the changing room.
Mo Chuhe, who was decisively rejected, simply shrugged and took the clothes she had chosen into the men's changing room.
He didn't care how the other person would interpret his words.
To be precise, he came to this show regardless of what others thought about him.
He didn't care whether Mu Jiu listened to his advice or not; at most, he would only regret that the other party didn't know how to properly capitalize on his popularity.
But to his surprise, the other party not only did not choose the clothing he suggested, but even chose a completely opposite track.
In his opinion, that outfit completely failed to highlight any woman's figure or temperament advantages.
If I had to say, among the female guests, Guo Zifu is probably the one who suits this outfit best.
Because she can draw people's attention away from her simple robes and back to her flamboyant behavior; her naturally cheerful and generous temperament can neutralize the dullness of the outfit, preventing the audience from feeling bored...
As he pulled back the curtain that blocked his view, he heard the crisp sound of pearls clashing together, and out of the corner of his eye, he noticed the hem of his clothes brushing past, and he subconsciously looked up.
It was as if a metallic sound suddenly rang out.
For a moment, he thought he saw a sharp sword sheathed in a precious scabbard.
Those fox-like eyes, often perceived as having a seductive quality, held a clear, unwavering gaze, devoid of any lingering emotions. The crisp, clean gathering of her sleeves added to her air of decisiveness.
She showed no girlish mannerisms in her demeanor, nor did she exude a domineering or arrogant air.
Her steps were perfectly measured, subconsciously evoking the image of lush, verdant bamboo groves.
[I was just wondering when a sixth male guest appeared, and that he was such a handsome young man, and it turns out it's Mu Jiu?!]
[This is the right way to use your face! Male idols in the Chinese entertainment industry who play aristocratic young masters should really learn from Mu Jiu's demeanor!]
[Family members, I initially thought Director Mo looked quite refreshing and handsome after dressing up, but when Mu Jiu came out, I couldn't take my eyes off her. Is this normal?]
The sensation caused by Mu Jiu wasn't limited to the live stream chat. Meng Shuning, who had already changed her clothes and was waiting outside, surrounded her the moment she appeared.
"Mumu, you're so handsome! Photographer, please take a picture of me and Mumu!"
Meng Shuning's hair was loosely tied in a bun, with a pearl hairpin dangling from it. Her pale yellow dress made her look like a cute little sun.
As she ran towards Mu Jiu, the live chat was filled with amazement.
When the two are in the same frame, even the most sarcastic solo fans can't say anything bad about Mu Jiu.
The mere sight of the two of them standing together automatically conjures up a story of a female police officer disguised as a man meeting a carefree rich young lady.
Guided by Meng Shuning, Mu Jiu blankly completed a series of poses. Before she could even say anything, Meng Shuning, still eager for more, asked, "Mu Mu, can you perform that kind of pose?"
That kind?
Although he didn't know what it was, Mu Jiu keenly sensed something was wrong.
Meng Shuning: "You're so amazing, you can definitely do it, right?"
Amidst the other person's sweet, coquettish voice, Mu Jiu tilted her head in confusion.
When Xiang Wan came out, the awkwardness of being in the same room with Qi Youxiang choosing clothes hadn't faded yet when she heard Meng Shuning's excited voice calling out, "Wan'er, come here quickly~"
Then, she saw Mu Jiu holding Meng Shuning in one arm, looking at her.
Wait, a one-handed carry?
Although she didn't know what had happened, before her brain could process it, she was already standing in front of Mu Jiu.
Mu Jiu: ...?
When Guo Zifu, the last girl in the group, came out, she attracted everyone's attention. Her red Western Region dancer costume fully demonstrated her slender figure.
But before the crowd could even express their amazement, she immediately noticed a small group gathered in the corner.
Guo Zifu: "What are you guys playing? I want some too!"
As she got closer, she saw Mu Jiu's attire and her eyes widened in surprise: "I was wondering where this handsome man in ancient costume came from, and it turns out to be Mu Mu!"
After circling Mu Jiu twice, and as Xiang Wan awkwardly put her arm around Mu Jiu's shoulder to get down, Guo Zifu confidently extended her hand: "It's my turn!"
[Mu Jiu was a robust woman; I forgot the beginning and the middle, but in short, she had a broad chest that allowed Shushu and Wan'er to lean against her.]
Is this correct?
Wow, Fufu, you're this tall too?
[Oh my god, Mu Jiu actually picked him up!]
[I initially thought it was unbelievable that female celebrities could be so strong, but I just did some research and found out that Mu Jiu used to wield a meteor hammer in her past films, yes, the kind of meteor hammer you're imagining.]
【ah? 】
When Ling Zhao appeared, the male guests were looking at the girls making a ruckus on the other side with subtle expressions.
Guo Zifu was excitedly explaining to the camera what it felt like to be held with one hand when Meng Shuning "spoke" to her a few times before she reluctantly got off Mu Jiu.
After working on the automatic one-handed carrying machine for a while, Mu Jiu saw a figure approaching from a distance. She had already bent down and prepared to move, but when the other person stopped in front of her, she suddenly realized that something was wrong.
After carefully observing for a few seconds, he realized that the other person was Ling Zhao.
It's not that the makeup artist's skills were particularly amazing, but in her preconceived notion, the other person always appeared in front of her wearing loose and simple clothing in plain, cool colors.
Now, he was wearing a crimson-purple lapel robe, with the wide-open collar revealing a dark green undershirt underneath. Even the collar alone showed clusters of intricate patterns woven with "gold thread." A leather belt hung at his waist, and his trousers were Persian-style gold-threaded trousers.
It possessed the flamboyant aesthetic of an ancient nouveau riche, appearing like a dazzling butterfly.
If it weren't for that striking silver-gray hair, Mu Jiu would probably have remained dazed for a while longer.
But... what does he want with her now?
Coming to her senses, Mu Jiu's eyes slowly became wary. When the other party still didn't say a word and only tried to communicate with her eyes, she finally realized something.
Mu Jiu: "..."
Mu Jiu: "You don't need to think about it anymore. Don't you have any idea about your own weight?"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com