Chapter 57 Even if it means being a lowly mistress...
The girl who pushed open the door and entered was wearing a cheongsam embroidered with intricate patterns. She exuded poetic charm, and the exquisite cheongsam accentuated her beautiful figure, making her look like the most beautiful woman from Jiangnan who was slowly approaching.
Her hair was tied up with a jade hairpin. She lowered her head and carried the box into the room. A strand of naturally curly hair fell beside her fair face. She was as beautiful as a painting, and it was impossible to look away.
The guests present, both men and women, were all amazed by her beauty.
Chu Ruofu is so suited to wearing cheongsams; she has a delicate and graceful temperament, and is beautiful and charming.
When she first appeared on the dating reality show, she dressed very casually, in an ordinary dress and flip-flops. She was introverted, always with her eyes downcast, and looked rather plain and unremarkable.
She had fair and delicate skin and a good figure, which prevented her from being overshadowed by all the other female guests.
She used to be immersed in her own little world, but after coming to the dating reality show, she was forced to meet all kinds of outstanding guests and grew while communicating with them.
During this time, she became more confident and slowly blossomed with her own beauty. The guests no longer disliked her as described in the original text, nor did they think of her as an insignificant marginal figure.
After recording several episodes, the guests became familiar with each other, and each time they came to record the show, they felt the joy of meeting friends.
Clearly, Chu Ruofu was the biggest surprise for everyone; she was the only one dressed in a cheongsam to appear in the courtyard cottage, which was quite a sight to behold.
Chu Ruofu had never worn a cheongsam before. Xue Fangfei knew that the production team had changed locations to film the fifth episode, so she quickly dragged Chu Ruofu shopping that evening and bought two newly released cheongsams in Tangxi.
Tangxi offers customized services to its members, but unfortunately there wasn't enough time; otherwise, a tailor-made cheongsam would have better accentuated her graceful figure.
Seeing that the guests were all looking at her, Chu Ruofu awkwardly brushed a strand of hair from her cheek and greeted them with a smile, "Good evening."
Xia Yuqing snapped out of her daze and immediately exclaimed, "Chu Ruofu, your cheongsam is so beautiful!"
"Thank you." Chu Ruofu smiled. "I bought it at a physical store."
Something flashed through Xia Yuqing's mind, and she said, "I feel like I've seen this cheongsam of yours somewhere before."
Chu Ruofu looked at Song Yi: "I bought the cheongsam in Tangxi."
Song Yi smiled faintly: "Ruofu, you look so beautiful in this cheongsam. I'd like to invite you to be my brand ambassador."
Xia Yuqing suddenly remembered: "Isn't this the design sketch I saw with Sister Song before? It's already on the market so quickly?"
Song Yi said, "It was just launched a couple of days ago."
Chu Ruofu asked somewhat shyly, "Where are we staying?"
Gu Junsheng and Lu Xubai walked towards Chu Ruofu and stood in front of her at the same time.
"I'll take you there," Gu Junsheng said, heading to get his suitcase.
Lu Xubai simply grabbed the handle of the suitcase and said, "No need to trouble President Gu, I'll take her there myself."
The two men looked at each other with sharp eyes, their expressions carrying a hint of competition.
Live stream chat:
[My God, Fumei's arrival has created a chaotic scene.]
[I hope they don't start fighting again this time; these male guests are really a handful.]
I thought the male lead was the type to quietly support his partner, but he's openly competing with the third male lead for the female lead.
[It's only a few steps from the bedroom, is it really necessary to fight over that suitcase?]
Upon seeing this, Chu Ruofu quickly snatched the handle back into her hand and said, "My suitcase isn't heavy, I don't need your help."
She was really afraid that another fight would break out among the male guests, which would then make her a trending topic and turn her into a notorious "scumbag" and "sea queen" in the eyes of the entire internet.
"Make way, make way!" Xia Yuqing pushed the two men aside and said, "Chu Ruofu will still be sharing a room with me this time. I'll take her there."
Chu Ruofu looked up at Gu Junsheng. The two had spent two days together in private, and their concern for each other had grown considerably. Her eyes would unconsciously reveal a hint of intimacy to him.
Gu Junsheng met her gaze, his eyes gentle, and walked away.
Lu Xubai keenly caught the two people's gazes meeting, his hands hanging by his sides tightened, and his eyes darkened.
As a lawyer, he often observes people's micro-expressions in order to judge cases. He can tell whether a client is concealing the facts of the case by observing their words and expressions.
It was precisely because he was so perceptive that he immediately noticed the shady dealings between Chu Ruofu and Gu Junsheng.
Ever since her falling out and fighting with Li Yichen, Chu Ruofu has avoided him even more. The more assertive he is, the more she wants to escape. But if he keeps his distance, her attention will be diverted to someone else.
Lu Xubai's entire demeanor was gloomy, and all of this was seen by the CP fans in the live broadcast room.
Live stream chat:
Sigh, I feel so sorry for Brother Lu. He clearly likes Sister Fu so much.
Is the Fu Bai couple going to have a bad ending?
[Our Fu-Bai CP won't have a bad ending! Didn't you see Fu-mei didn't choose anyone?]
[The Fu-Bai couple used to be so sweet, how did it turn out like this? It's all the other male guests' fault! Stay away from Fu-mei!]
[I love watching male guests suffer unrequited love; Fu Mei is awesome!]
Xia Yuqing carried Chu Ruofu's suitcase into the room.
The bedroom is on the second floor. Opening the window, you can see the Emerald Lake in the backyard. The rockery is exquisite, the water flows gently, and plump koi swim around in the lake. It is a lush green landscape full of life.
Xia Yuqing escorted her to her room and then went downstairs.
Chu Ruofu opened her suitcase, took out her clothes and hung them in the wooden cabinet. She looked around the new Chinese-style bedroom. Living in a room with a strong sense of antiquity made her feel like a young lady from the Republic of China era.
The production team of "Romantic Encounters" truly lives up to its reputation as the richest dating reality show on the internet. Initially, there were only five or six sponsors, but as the show progressed, the number of sponsors grew to over twenty. So many that sponsor-branded items could be seen everywhere in the "Heartbeat House" where the show was filmed.
After packing her luggage, Chu Ruofu, wearing high heels, went down the stairs.
She wasn't very skilled at wearing high heels, so she walked carefully, afraid of accidentally falling. As she turned the corner, she met someone under the eaves.
Shen Wuyang changed his usual youthful attire, wearing a black shirt and trousers, his dyed gray-blue hair was neatly combed, revealing a hint of maturity in his youthful appearance.
His temperament, somewhere between a boy and a young man, is very attractive; he possesses both youthful spirit and mature charm, making him handsome and dashing.
Shen Wuyang walked towards her with a smile on his face, holding a rectangular box in his hand: "Fufu, it's been a long time."
Chu Ruofu said, "Actually, it's only been a few days, not a long time."
Shen Wuyang said anxiously, "It's been a long time for me. I'm sorry, Fufu, I didn't know you were being cyberbullied and slandered. I didn't have time to care about you."
His eyes revealed a hint of regret as he said, "I've been worried about you every moment these past few days, afraid that something might happen to you."
Chu Ruofu smiled slightly at him: "I'm fine, it's all over."
Hearing her speak so casually about the past, Shen Wuyang felt even more distressed. He had also been the target of a massive online campaign of rumors and knew how painful it was to be slandered.
Cyberbullying is a form of verbal strangulation; countless people have been killed by rumors and gossip.
This kind of thing can't just be forgotten.
Shen Wuyang pursed her lips and said, "It's all Li Yichen and Lu Xubai's fault. They fought in front of you, causing Fufu to be misunderstood by people online. It's all their fault."
Chu Ruofu opened her mouth as if to say something, but seeing his angry expression, she couldn't bring herself to speak.
Shen Wuyang was genuinely worried about her, and she shouldn't have rejected his good intentions.
"Let's not talk about them anymore." Shen Wuyang opened the rectangular sandalwood box in his hand, revealing a jade hairpin inside. The pure jade was exquisite and beautiful. He looked at her expectantly: "This jade hairpin is the gift I want to give you this time."
The jade hairpin is exquisitely crafted, carved with a phoenix that is lifelike. The lustrous and translucent jade shines brightly, exuding a magnificent style.
"Fufu, do you like it?" Shen Wuyang asked.
This jade hairpin is so beautiful that Chu Ruofu could tell at a glance that it was made of genuine jade. She hesitated for a moment and said, "This is too precious."
"It's not expensive." Shen Wuyang said, her eyes like stars, "It's worth it as long as you like it."
Chu Ruofu still didn't really want to accept such a valuable item.
Shen Wuyang lowered his eyes and said in a low voice, "Fufu, you used to accept my gifts. If you don't like this jade hairpin, I'll find a way to prepare a new gift for you."
Seeing his dejected expression, Chu Ruofu felt a little guilty and said, "There's no need to give me a new gift. I really like this jade hairpin."
Shen Wuyang raised her face, her voice cheerful: "Then I'll put it on for you."
The white jade hairpin that Chu Ruofu wore was a cheap, casually bought item from a jewelry store. It didn't look particularly striking on her head and was nowhere near as good as a genuine jade hairpin.
"I'll do it myself."
Shen Wuyang took out a jade hairpin from the box and said in a sweet and affectionate tone, "Fufu, when I bought the hairpin, I specially learned how to use it to style your hair. I'll help you with it and I promise it will be done quickly."
Chu Ruofu had thick, abundant hair, making it difficult for her to pin it up with her hand behind her back. Seeing Shen Wuyang's sincere, puppy-dog-like eyes, she hesitated for a moment before nodding in agreement.
Shen Wuyang raised his hand, removed the white jade hairpin from her hair, put it in the box, and said, "Fufu, can you hold this for me?"
Chu Ruofu held the box, the old hairpin was put into the box. Shen Wuyang stood behind her. He looked thin and tall, and was much taller than her when he stood behind her.
Shen Wuyang looked down at Chu Ruofu, who was standing obediently, and a shy and satisfied smile appeared on his lips.
It doesn't matter who Fufu likes, as long as she gives him a glance, that's enough, and he will always be by her side to love her.
As the saying goes, if you swing your hoe well, you can dig down any city wall. Even if Chu Ruofu doesn't choose him after the dating reality show, there are always more solutions than problems. He will find a way to get close to her.
He would keep pestering her, even if it meant becoming her a lowly mistress.
Shen Wuyang ran his fingers through her smooth black hair, lowered his head and gently sniffed the strands, revealing a mesmerizing expression.
Chu Ruofu was clearly unaware that the boy's emotions had developed to such a twisted state. She lowered her eyes slightly and waited for him to help her tie up her hair with a hairpin.
Shen Wuyang held her hair with his slender fingers, skillfully gathering the strands and securing them with a jade hairpin.
Under the ancient-style corridor, lanterns cast a dim yellow glow, reflecting the figures of two people. In this life, he only wants to tie up her hair with his own hands. This scene is just like a drama from the Republican era, and the picture is very atmospheric.
"Alright," Shen Wuyang said in a clear voice.
Chu Ruofu took a step forward, turned around, and gave a slight smile: "Thank you."
Shen Wuyang's handsome face flushed slightly, and he smiled shyly: "Fufu, you and I don't need to be so polite. As long as you're happy, I'm willing to do anything."
Chu Ruofu's eyes flickered as she said, "Don't say such things. I don't need you to do anything. You should love yourself more."
Shen Wuyang pursed her lips and said, "In my heart, you will always come before me."
The boy's straightforward affection was like the most sincere and dazzling thing in the world. Chu Ruofu quickly looked away and changed the subject: "Let's hurry to the restaurant, or we'll be late."
Shen Wuyang gave a soft "hmm". He was the subordinate in the relationship and could only attract her attention with his actions, silently praying that she would feel some affection for him.
The restaurant had long wooden tables, and the production team prepared local delicacies for the guests to enjoy.
The guests had all arrived. Chu Ruofu and Shen Wuyang entered one after the other, and everyone's eyes fell on the two of them.
Xia Yuqing immediately noticed that Chu Ruofu had changed her hairpin and said, "Your hairpin is so pretty, where did you buy it?"
Chu Ruofu hesitated for a moment, then told the truth: "Shen Wuyang gave it to me."
Shen Wuyang glanced around and smiled, "This jade hairpin is a gift I specially made for Fufu. It's priceless and unavailable."
The other three male guests' expressions changed slightly upon hearing this, and they stared intently at Chu Ruofu.
Live stream chat:
My family sells jade; this jade hairpin is worth at least tens of thousands of yuan.
[Not only that, this quality looks worth at least tens of thousands of yuan. The fourth male lead is really willing to spend money on gifts for the first female lead.]
[Hahaha, the other male guests must be furious.]
[A jade hairpin was a gift given to a first wife in ancient times. The fourth man has great ambitions; he wants to become the wife's husband.]
Xia Yuqing quickly asked, "How much did it cost to customize? Was it expensive?"
The show's producers had a strict rule against flaunting wealth, and Shen Wuyang didn't want to show off in front of Chu Ruofu; he just wanted to give her a gift she would like.
Shen Wuyang pursed his lips and remained silent.
Xia Yuqing knew Shen Wuyang's temperament; he wouldn't talk even if she forced him to, so she gave up on pressing him further. Her gaze fell on the exquisite jade hairpin in Chu Ruofu's hair, and she felt a little envious.
Halfway through the meal, Qiao Yimo arrived late, looking pale and listless, as if she hadn't had a good rest.
She has been overwhelmed these days. On one hand, she has to deal with the marketing accounts that Lu Xubai is suing, and on the other hand, she has to spend money on public relations to deal with the 'collapse' incident. In just a few days, she has lost several million fans.
These fans are all her active fans, and money can't buy them. They will affect her future TV dramas and advertising endorsements. Without active fans to generate data and spend money, investors won't see any profit in her, and she will be kicked out.
Qiao Yimo walked up to Chu Ruofu, her voice trembling with tears, "Teacher Chu, I failed to control the fans. I apologize to you. Please forgive me, okay?"
Chu Ruofu did not expect that Qiao Yimo would suddenly come over and apologize to her in person during the recording of the dating reality show.
Qiao Yimo's eyes were red and swollen, and she looked frail and pitiful, as if she had been driven to the brink of despair.
Chu Ruofu felt a sliver of doubt. Had she really made a mistake? Was it not Qiao Yimo who was cyberbullying her, but rather her fans who were mindlessly attacking and spreading rumors about her?
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Author's note: First update.
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