Chapter 14 (3-in-1): "I chose them because they are very expensive."

Chapter 14 (3-in-1): "I chose them because they are very expensive."

After emptying his inventory to praise the big boss, Su Yi'ang patted his chest and breathed a long sigh of relief.

"Angang, if you have a problem with the big boss, you can try to persuade him with your words," Ye Hantao whispered, "criticizing him for not doing this or that will harm your mental health and affect your physical health."

Zhou Mingsheng added two more strokes to the training sheet without expression, punishing Su Yi'ang for tarnishing his image in Tao Tao's eyes.

Ye Hantao: "If you keep trying to fool him with your tactics, you'll be found out sooner or later."

She doesn't care about netizens' comments; lying to maintain her persona can restore her health and earn her a 10 million yuan reward.

Su Yi'ang was different from her; although she seemed to be complaining, she showed great respect for the big boss in her words.

Ye Hantao asked, "If the big boss finds out and he's disappointed in you, would you be happy?"

“…I,” Su Yi’ang was speechless, his face turning red.

In fact, he completed all the training tasks assigned by Maze, and even doubled his efforts.

However, in some everyday matters, Maze inevitably feels too strict.

"I don't want to disappoint the big boss."

Because he didn't want to disappoint the big boss, he habitually used the method he had been good at since childhood.

Remembering that they were still in front of the camera, Su Yi'ang quickly stopped talking and turned his face towards the camera.

In the video, he has a smile on his face, revealing two sharp little tiger teeth, exuding a fierce and unyielding spirit that suggests he could destroy the house if he let his guard down.

"I'll listen to you! I'll go back and persuade him with my words!"

[...Do you even have a silver tongue?]

I don't even want to mention the post-match highlights of your screaming and slurring during the game, your apparent loss of speech.

[Isn't Ye Hantao ashamed to say that?]

[I also want to say this! Ye Hantao has lied time and time again since the start of the live stream.]

[Lying about sweat allergies, lying about not minding family members driving electric tricycles, lying about owning furniture... the list goes on and on.]

These lies don't warrant this much criticism, do they?

If they can lie so readily in front of the camera, who knows what they're like in real life!

Wu Xia, who had overheard the entire conversation between the two, clutched the large-capacity thermos cup in his arms tightly.

When he looked up, his gaze fell on Su Yi'ang's profile. He still looked full of energy, but he wasn't as talkative as before.

Soon, everyone gathered on the second floor, and Ye Hantao pushed open the door to the first bedroom.

The program's task booklet mentioned that a total of four rooms had been prepared, all of which were guest rooms used to entertain friends on weekdays.

Considering the shared accommodation arrangement, all the double beds in the four rooms have been replaced with twin beds.

Off-camera, Director Wan remarked sincerely, "What a generous and straightforward person this big spender is."

Ten Hastens mattresses were delivered by staff that day, leaving the program's manager speechless with astonishment.

Providing ten mattresses is one thing, but they even chose the most luxurious mattresses out there. I casually asked about it in the middle of the day, and it turned out that a single mattress cost 30,000... US dollars.

The next day, he was given a lesson on the prices of furniture, paintings, and vases, and overnight he had the number of security cameras increased several times over, leaving no blind spot unchecked.

"Rooms 1 and 2 are on the second floor, and rooms 3, 4, and 5 are on the third floor." Since Chen Xiaofeng and his classmate hadn't arrived yet, the last room was reserved for them.

Ye Hantao, like a little tour guide, pushed open the door and then quickly went over to open the single windows on both sides for ventilation.

The camera then pans in, looking out the window at the distant, layered green mountains and the winding rivers nearby.

The vintage interior decor complements the natural landscape outside, creating an elegant and sophisticated ambiance throughout.

Jin Shiyue's uninterested gaze vanished abruptly when it fell on the mattress.

“This mattress…” She walked to the bedside and examined it for a while before sitting down.

In an instant, my whole body was firmly supported by the fluffy touch, and the steady and light rebound relieved the fatigue of the morning.

Jin Shiyue raised an eyebrow in surprise, "The production team is really something, using Hastens mattresses."

"..."

Zhou Ti and Ye Weizheng exchanged a glance.

Ever since the guests decided to look at the rooms, they have been paying close attention. To their surprise, Kim Si-wol seemed to guess the mattress brand even before sitting down, and confirmed it immediately after sitting down.

Ye Weizheng, who wasn't very knowledgeable about luxury goods, couldn't help but say, "You have a sharp eye. I even had the tags removed." Because he bought ten mattresses at once, he only bought the entry-level models, yet Jin Shiyue could still recognize them.

"Honey, will Tao Tao suspect anything?"

"The mattresses used in Peach House are not the Hastens models available on the market, so they don't match."

Tao Tao was frail and often sick as a child, and rarely slept soundly. But this child was exceptionally sensible from the age of three or four. She would not cry or fuss when she couldn't sleep, and would smile with her eyes crinkling when they came over.

Several days later, they realized that Tao Tao was having trouble sleeping.

Later, they lit sleep-inducing incense at home and extended the time for lullabies to lull Tao to sleep. Throughout the day, one of them, Weizheng, would always be by Tao Tao's side.

Tao Tao's mattress was also custom-made by Hastens' artisans based on the body data they provided, and gradually, Tao Tao was able to sleep soundly until dawn.

In the live stream, viewers were so envious they almost cried when they heard Hastens from Kim Si-wol.

[The production team went all out!!! Why did you use Hästens?!]

I tried lying down in the in-store before, and once I did, I didn't want to get up; it was so comfortable.

[The lady in front of me is also a rich woman, and I've never even seen one of their physical stores, sob sob.]

No way! The production team needs to come up with some segments, and I won't allow them to sleep on Hastens' mattresses all night!!!

"This!" Su Yi'ang didn't react when he heard Hastens. "Is it that super expensive mattress?!"

Jin Shiyue nodded slightly in response.

For several years, she was too busy with work and had very poor sleep quality. She often couldn't sleep well in hotels, mainly because only a few hotel mattresses could meet her needs.

“Their mattresses are really comfortable. I use the 2000T series, and it’s pretty good.” Jin Shiyue knew that Su Yi’ang, as an e-sports star, was not short of money. “If you have insomnia, you can buy one and try it out.”

Ye Hantao's ears twitched, and she murmured something like "Hastens," which sounded like a very expensive mattress.

Kim Si-wol's handbags cost 800,000 won, so the mattress she exaggerates about must also be very expensive.

He Qiang heard the voice, glanced over, and thought to herself, "I can't let Ye Hantao and Jin Shiyue get too close. I need to get them back on the right track before they completely turn into Jin Shiyue 2.0."

"It's all psychological," He Qiang commented coldly. "With a healthy body and a regular lifestyle, it doesn't matter what kind of bed you sleep in."

Jin Shiyue chuckled, "Some people should sleep with each other before discussing the difference."

Liao Jiayue sat down on the mattress next to her, becoming increasingly certain that these changes from the original story were related to her. Her gaze at the mattress held a hint of satisfaction, as if she were looking at her own belongings.

"I also have a Hastens mattress at home." As for the series, she didn't want to say, lest netizens compare it and mock her for not having a mattress as expensive as Kim Shi-wol's.

She patted the spot next to her lightly, "Tao Tao, come and experience this mattress that costs tens of thousands."

Ye Hantao sat down next to Liao Jiayue and asked in surprise, "It actually costs tens of thousands of yuan?"

Even though she guessed it would be expensive, she never guessed it would cost tens of thousands.

“It looks like the SUPERIA series.” Jin Shiyue felt refreshed after teasing He Qiang and was also interested in answering, “The price is probably around 160,000.”

100,000 or 160,000?

Ye Hantao's relaxed back straightened instantly, and she even shifted her hips, carefully feeling the mattress's rebound, before lying back to feel the support on her spine.

[Disease progression: 91.2%]

[As expected, his greedy nature can't be changed.]

[Upon hearing it was worth 160,000, he immediately collapsed.]

[Haha, Ye Hantao will have to take pictures and post them on her social media account later, saying she slept on a mattress worth 160,000 yuan.]

Some viewers were unhappy.

[Are you all so rich? You can resist sitting on or lying down in a 160,000 yuan mattress?]

[Ye Hantao's behavior is rather reserved. If it were me, I'd be doing somersaults on it, taking dozens of photos from every angle, and bragging to everyone that I slept on a 160,000 yuan mattress.]

Liao Jiayue's original intention was to use Ye Hantao's naiveté to highlight her own, but she didn't expect Ye Hantao to be so shallow that she actually lay down in front of everyone.

"Tao Tao, are you comfortable?" Su Yi'ang also wanted to lie down, but both mattresses were occupied, so he thought he would rush into the next room and lie down first.

Ye Hantao hummed in response and sat up. "Comfortable, isn't it?"

"Bar?"

"It's a little worse than the bed I sleep on at home," Ye Hantao said seriously. "It doesn't fit my neck well enough, and it doesn't relax me as much when I lie down."

[Disease progression: 91%]

As Ye Hantao listened to the progression of the illness, she gradually found the trick: by comparing products from brands with higher price tags to her own, she could steadily maintain her public image.

Even if she tells the truth, netizens still believe she is lying.

Like the Aurelia foundation my college roommate used, which costs 360 yuan a bottle, she felt it wasn't as smooth and lightweight as her usual 40-yuan niche domestic product.

Unfortunately, my roommate said that using a 40 RMB foundation would ruin my skin, so I didn't take her recommendation.

Not surprising at all.

[Hahahaha @production team, I'll say it again! Let ordinary people also do live streams during home-based broadcasts!]

[Ye Hantao would never agree to that; her home is probably very simple.]

Su Yi'ang guessed that Ye Hantao's praise of her own bed was probably due to the mentality that there's no place like home.

When they travel to other places for competitions, they stay in five-star hotels with brand-name king-size beds, but he is picky about the beds.

"I've finished looking at this room, now I'll go check out the next one!"

Su Yi'ang rushed out of the room without even calling Wu Xia, who would be sharing a room with him in the future.

Wu Xia didn't care much, but looking at the distant mountains, he closed his eyes and sincerely prayed: hoping that Su Yi'ang would not talk in his sleep, snore, grind his teeth, or sleepwalk.

Rooms 2 and 3 have a similar layout to Room 1, with floor-to-ceiling windows, a bathroom, and a walk-in closet.

The only difference is that number 1 is closer to the stairs, number 2 is closer to the tea room, and numbers 3 and 5 are further inside and closer to the study.

"This is room number 5, and our suitcases are here too." Ye Hantao pushed open the door, and everyone followed into the room. "After we've finished touring the room, we'll flip our hands to decide the order in which we choose our rooms."

Liao Jiayue glanced at the suitcases on the floor, a thought flickering in her mind.

"Tao Tao, I have a SAR T-shirt in my suitcase that I haven't worn yet. I'll bring it to you after we've assigned rooms later."

The moment he said that, he attracted the attention of others.

"Huh? Why do you want to give me a T-shirt?"

“You mentioned before that you wanted two sets of La Mer and Black Bandage skincare products, right? I’ve always felt guilty for not bringing them all, so I was thinking of making up for it with other things.”

Viewers in the main live stream: [Huh? Ye Hantao asked Liao Jiayue for high-end skincare products???]

The fans immediately perked up.

The main live stream audience far outnumbers them. If you haven't been to Liao Jiayue's personal live stream or watched the replay, and you actually believe that Ye Hantao is just a liar and vain person, you'll be constantly criticized by them.

In fact, Ye Hantao is still making money!

Jin Shiyue stared at Ye Hantao's face; her skin was so white it was dazzling, and it looked like you could squeeze water out of it if you pinched it.

She frowned and said, "Are you even twenty? What are you doing with winter plum blossoms and black bandages?"

"They have age requirements?" Ye Hantao scratched her face and admitted, "I'm attracted by their high price."

It's not expensive, so it's not greedy.

Fans: "!!!"

See? They weren't slandering her! Ye Hantao really is a swindler!

Ye Hantao spoke as naturally as if she were asking about the weather or what to eat for lunch. As soon as she finished speaking, the room fell silent, as if the air itself had been put on pause.

Yuan Kai and Ji Changtu exchanged a glance.

They were all aware that they had some prejudice against Ye Hantao, but Ji Changtu cared more about his reputation. Being repeatedly humiliated by Ye Hantao made him resentful.

"I like luxury brands..." His voice was so low that only Yuan Kai, who was standing next to him, could hear the gist of it, except for some viewers in his personal live stream.

Yuan Kai gently stroked the calla lily in the narrow-necked bottle with his fingertips. The trumpet-shaped flowers were blooming gracefully, fresh and flawless.

Jin Shiyue's gaze toward Ye Hantao was complex, a mixture of doubt, inquiry, and a barely perceptible awkwardness.

Why is Ye Hantao so open about the expensive brands she likes? Isn't she afraid of being looked down upon by the other guests and ridiculed by netizens for being poor at heart?

"Don't waste your time on superficial things like brand names at such a young age." He Qiang's expression showed a hint of displeasure. "The skills and knowledge you acquire are your greatest asset for the future!"

He Qiang really wanted to meet Ye Hantao's teacher. A person who could become friends with her teacher couldn't be superficial.

Who exactly influenced Ye Hantao to care so much about whether a brand is expensive or not? Perhaps it's due to her family's education and values?

She lied about a 39 yuan T-shirt being 399 yuan, and when someone casually made a polite remark, she not only failed to notice but also openly stated that she wanted an expensive brand. Jin Shiyue wasn't so naive as to reveal her desire for designer brands in front of strangers.

How would outsiders view Ye Hantao?

Having achieved her goal, Liao Jiayue quickly stepped in to speak up for Ye Hantao, "Teacher He Qiang, this isn't Tao Tao's fault. I was the one who offered to give Tao Tao two sets of skincare products. Tao Tao and I are close, so she just said which brand she wanted."

【That's because you think you're a sucker, Yueyue!】

My older sister asked me what brand I wanted, and after I said "Winter Plum," I couldn't open my mouth to ask for anything else.

[Jealous that Yueyue gained popularity and made money.]

Ye Hantao shook her head, "No matter who said on the phone that they wanted to give me two sets, I would always choose the more expensive one."

It's rare to see someone so obviously trying to profit...

I can respect someone who earns money to satisfy their desires, but someone who leeches off others? Hahaha.

He Qiang was exasperated and thought, "How stupid of me! I should have just kept it to myself; why say it out loud!"

She scolded, "You're so young and you're already being held hostage by brand influence. Your mind will only become more and more restless!"

Jin Shiyue sneered, "He Qiang, you still haven't gotten rid of your 'educational' tendencies?! Don't try to apply your methods to others!"

She didn't really want to stand up for Ye Hantao; she just believed that those the enemy disliked were their own people. The more He Qiang tried to educate Ye Hantao, the more she sided with her.

Su Yi'ang scratched his head, "Teachers, aren't you taking this a bit too seriously? Tao Tao was obviously just joking around for the sake of the variety show!"

As he spoke, he frantically winked at Ye Hantao, then halfway through, remembering Ye Hantao's comment, his eye twitched, "..."

Ye Hantao wanted to say no, she just thought that valuing the expensive brand would convince netizens that she was vain and greedy.

However, Su Yi'ang pointed out that after the joke, both teachers' expressions softened slightly.

To prevent the stalemate from continuing, Ye Hantao reluctantly admitted, "I was just joking, please don't take it seriously, teachers."

Anyway, I didn't get any feedback from netizens after saying the brand was expensive, so I guess the method I used is no longer effective.

[Disease progression: 90.8%]

Oh, this must be a persona of a liar.

"Hahahaha, how come Ye Hantao has such a talent for variety shows? She's really good at creating drama." Chen Xiaofeng, who was staying in the Maasai Mara, slapped his thigh with laughter when he heard Ye Hantao say that she liked them because they were expensive.

He didn't think that way because of her looks, but after being a director for several years, it's inevitable that some people would try to curry favor with him for money and resources. The desire for fame and fortune surging in those people's eyes is definitely not like Ye Hantao's.

At six or seven o'clock, the vast grassland was shrouded in morning mist, and the rosy glow spread a pale gold across the horizon.

Not far away, a lion suddenly pounced on a zebra and knocked it to the ground. Its sharp teeth ripped open the prey's neck bone, and blood and bits of flesh splattered everywhere.

It looked over, drawn by the loud, accented laughter, and unexpectedly met a pair of deep gray-blue eyes, filled with a primal aggression that almost rivaled its own.

The lion shook the blood off its mane and buried its head again to devour its dead prey under its claws.

The pride of lions, waiting to share the food, swarmed forward.

Cheng Zhao knelt on one knee in the grass, his body enveloped in the damp morning mist. The wind carried a faint smell of blood, but he was oblivious, his eyes fixed on the target frantically feeding in front of the camera.

The smell of blood grew stronger.

He leaned forward, adjusting the camera's focus. His shoulder blades, hidden beneath his black windbreaker, rose and fell with the movement, exuding a wild, burgeoning power.

"Hey! Are you done filming yet?! It's been ages!"

Chen Xiaofeng, protected by a group of professional bodyguards carrying "truth," stood further away in the middle, shouting at the top of his lungs, "Uncle Cheng! Please, have some mercy and come and take a look at this program!"

The classmate he had asked went racing last weekend, but he was careless and crashed into a ditch with his car. He was just wheeled out of the operating room yesterday and is now lying in the ward with one arm in a sling and both legs supported.

After scrolling through the list, Chen Xiaofeng approached Cheng Zhao again.

"Young Master Chen, the boss has already rejected you." Surrounded by bodyguards, Cheng Zhao's personal assistant, Guan Sen, reminded him helplessly, "Even if you chase him all the way to the Masai Mara, it won't make a difference."

He was sent by Mr. Cheng to assist his son when Cheng Zhao was in high school, and over the years, he has never seen the boss change his mind.

Chen Xiaofeng chuckled, "Whether it's useful or not, I'm going to bother him anyway!"

"Our friendship over the years... I called him the other day to invite him over, but he hung up without even listening."

Holding his phone, whose signal was intermittent, Chen Xiaofeng loudly denounced, "Cheng Zhao has no brotherly feelings! Cold-blooded! Heartless and ungrateful! With that kind of character, he deserves to be single!"

The bodyguards around him all raised their guns in a flash.

Chen Xiaofeng shuddered, his dark face instantly turning wary, though his tone wasn't particularly panicked, "What's going on?! Can't I even explain?! Marcela doesn't allow firing indiscriminately!"

Guan Sen tugged at Chen Xiaofeng's sleeve, "The Lion King is glaring at you."

It was lying near the zebra carcass, which had been gnawed beyond recognition, its narrowed beastly eyes indifferently surveying Chen Xiaofeng, who was surrounded by the crowd.

Chen Xiaofeng panicked and hunched over, hiding behind his bodyguards.

Guan Sen: "..."

That's good. With Young Master Chen here, these people sent by the old man don't have to worry about being kicked out by the boss.

It's just that Chen Ershao was deeply influenced by his aunt since childhood, so his accent is a bit heavy. If you talk to him too much, you can easily be led astray.

The lion lazily withdrew its gaze and led its pride slowly into the depths of the grassland.

The golden rays of the rising sun rippled across the sky and fell upon Cheng Zhao's shoulders and back.

He picked up his camera, got up, and walked out through the thick morning mist, his down jacket still covered in grass clippings, dust, and a faint smell of blood.

The wisps of hair on her forehead were slightly ruffled by the wind, and the sharpness in her gray-blue eyes had faded, leaving only a hint of nonchalance and impatience.

As the man approached, his tall and imposing figure exuded a sense of oppression, towering over Chen Xiaofeng, who was 1.8 meters tall, by half a head, and his eyes glanced downwards.

"You haven't left yet?"

"Your words are hurtful!"

"A medical miracle! Your rotten heart is still intact?" Cheng Zhao handed the camera to Guan Sen, then took a damp towel and wiped his neck and hands.

Chen Xiaofeng had already developed an immunity to Cheng Zhao's influence, and pleading while holding his phone, "Brother! Grandpa! Please come with me to this classmate variety show!"

It's true that they are three years apart in age, but Cheng Zhao skipped a grade, so they were "fortunate" enough to be classmates for two years in high school.

Chen Xiaofeng cried and sobbed, yelling in his loud voice, "I swore to Lao Wan that I would definitely be there tomorrow! We can't be people who break their promises!"

The signal was poor, and the variety show live stream was choppy. Cheng Zhao glanced at it but wasn't interested.

Suddenly, the screen flickered, and someone leaned close to the screen and said something.

Her features were obscured by the dense barrage of comments, except for a pair of long, almond-shaped eyes that were bright and clear, brimming with an upward vitality.

Cheng Zhao's gaze fixed on those eyes, and he abruptly said, "The one who agrees you're mentally challenged."

Chen Xiaofeng: "???"

"Luckily, she didn't scold me."

"...?????????????"

[Family members, I'm just waiting to see Jin Shiyue teach Ye Hantao a lesson!]

This woman is incredibly demanding and has a princess complex when it comes to her lifestyle. Last time, Jiang Nian was so angry that she almost had to take nitroglycerin pills.

But Jin Shiyue did speak up for Ye Hantao.

[Because it was He Qiang who criticized Ye Hantao! If someone else had criticized Ye Hantao, Jin Shiyue wouldn't have helped!]

"Sister Shiyue, we have to leave in fifteen minutes." Ye Hantao called out towards the bathroom, just as a breeze blew in through the open window.

She raised her hand and used a hair tie to tie her long, loose hair into a high ponytail, leaving only a few stray strands clinging to her cheeks.

The diamond-shaped ear clips shimmered in the sunlight, making the earlobes appear pink, like rouge spreading on rice paper, bright and dazzling.

Chen Xiaofeng guessed that the scene had been restored as soon as Cheng Zhao spoke.

Hearing Ye Hantao's voice, she ignored Cheng Zhao's sarcastic remarks and quickly snatched back her phone, watching it while muttering, "This variety show is so fun! Your life is just too monotonous, otherwise you could have been single for 21 years?"

"Fixed team or random?" Cheng Zhao lowered his eyes, grinding a piece of grass he had plucked from his windbreaker between his fingers. "Can't the live stream be turned off?"

Chen Xiaofeng's eyes lit up, sensing an opportunity. "I have both! Even if it's a full-time classmate team, I wouldn't dare ask you!"

After making that joke, he said seriously, "The live stream probably can't be cut off."

Aside from those questions, he proactively explained the live stream schedule, duration, and general process without Cheng Zhao even asking. Seeing Cheng Zhao listening attentively, Chen Xiaofeng was extremely excited.

"Shall we sign the contract right away? I'll call Lao Wan and have him prepare."

Cheng Zhao didn't even fully lift his eyelids, just glanced at him sideways, and smirked maliciously, "That sounds boring, I'm not going."

After saying that, under Chen Xiaofeng's gaze that seemed to want to kill him, he flicked away the grass clippings.

In a fit of anger, Chen Xiaofeng spat heavily onto the grass clippings on the ground, "Understood! I, a nobody, can't afford to hire you!"

He scrolled through the various groups on his phone again, thinking, "Let's ask Yang San. He's a physics genius, and he can bring me prestige."

"Oh, the one who changed eight exes in half a year, regardless of gender, and was dubbed the 'loving bastard'?" Cheng Zhao suddenly spoke up, his voice a little lazy, "Birds of a feather flock together, and you're a rotten person too."

"..." Chen Xiaofeng crossed out this not-so-close friend, "And Zhu Er! He only ever had one."

Cheng Zhao lowered his eyelashes, his gray-blue eyes devoid of emotion, and made a sarcastic comment, "Like a bomb without a fuse, ready to explode at any time."

Chen Xiaofeng had no rebuttal.

After all, Zhu Er had been nicknamed "Zhu the Firecracker" since childhood, meaning he was more flammable and explosive with strangers.

After being denied twice in a row, he angrily grabbed a handful of his hair, making the already messy hair at the back of his head even more disheveled. Chen Xiaofeng finally realized what was happening and blurted out a curse, "Damn it! Are you coming or not?!"

Cheng Zhao grabbed a chair, casually propped his long legs up with his knees wide apart, and said, "Give me your phone, I want to take another look."

"!!!" Chen Xiaofeng eagerly handed over his phone, "It's a pity the signal is too bad, watching ten seconds will cause a half-hour delay."

"Oh, I brought a few satellite internet devices." He took the phone, twirled it with his fingertip, and then mischievously added, "The pro version."

Chen Xiaofeng: "..." You damned bastard.

He must have committed many sins in his past life to become classmates with Cheng Zhao in this one.

With the internet access device, the previously laggy variety shows became smooth.

[Knock knock knock]

"Tao Tao, are you busy?"

"Jiayue? Wait a moment." Ye Hantao quickly put down the half-made bed sheet and ran to open the door. "What's up?"

Liao Jiayue looked around the room from a different angle but couldn't find Jin Shiyue. No wonder Ye Hantao looked so relaxed and carefree. "I promised to give you the SAR T-shirt. Here it is."

A white T-shirt with the classic SAR print was handed to me.

Ye Hantao gently hooked the hem of the dress with her fingertips and carefully took it. She would have to return it sooner or later, so she couldn't let it get dirty or torn.

The soft fabric nestled between her fingertips, its texture exquisitely delicate. She asked, "How much is this dress?"

Even though she tried to ignore her preference for her own clothes, she still felt that the fabric wasn't as comfortable as the T-shirt she was wearing, but it was much softer than some of the T-shirts she and her college roommates had seen on the pedestrian street.

Liao Jiayue smiled gently and said, "It's not expensive, around 1000."

The T-shirt that she was required to buy as part of the purchase quota was not worthy of her status as a wealthy heiress. She brought it this time purely to give to Ye Hantao in front of the camera and gain some positive publicity.

Is this why Yueyue, fearing Ye Hantao would be criticized, specifically said their friendship couldn't be measured in price? 1000!!!

Liao Jiayue was a great friend, but unfortunately, her teammates couldn't carry her; they couldn't even pretend properly.

Ye Hantao hurriedly returned the 1000 yuan T-shirt, as if throwing away a hot potato, saying, "Take it, I don't want it." A 1000 yuan T-shirt! Did they put gold thread in it?!

After coming to this show, she had a real eye-opening experience.

A bag costing 800,000 yuan, a mattress costing 160,000 yuan, and even a regular T-shirt costing 1,000 yuan!

Without saying a word, Ye Hantao pushed the T-shirt into Liao Jiayue's arms, using the back of her hand to push it in, as if afraid that her fingernails might snag the seam.

The problem is, this T-shirt doesn't feel as comfortable as the one I'm wearing.

Holding the clothes that had been returned to her, a hint of mockery flashed in Liao Jiayue's eyes. Was it too late to start pretending now? She asked worriedly, "Tao Tao, do you feel it's too valuable and you're embarrassed to accept it?"

She observed Ye Hantao's expression, her voice slightly seductive, "You're in college now, you should have a few quality clothes hanging in your closet. Besides, it's just a piece of clothing, I, as a brand ambassador for SAR, can afford to give you one. Don't put too much pressure on yourself."

When the topic turned to brand ambassadors, Liao Jiayue, as expected, noticed the change in Ye Hantao's expression and was pleased.

Even brand ambassadors have to pay for it!!!

[Waaaaah, I wish I had a best friend who would buy me a 1000 RMB T-shirt.]

[Is a T-shirt used for order fulfillment, worth around 200 yuan on a second-hand platform, really worth bragging about?]

[Wow, which sour grapes is jumping up and down again? You don't have a SAR T-shirt? Do you just not want one?]

"I'm not feeling pressured, I just want to say that your clothes don't feel as comfortable as the ones I'm wearing."

[Disease progression: 90.5%]

Ye Hantao has already concluded that the SAR brand is overpriced. How can a product that costs around 100 yuan in the mall be sold for 1000 yuan just because it's branded with SAR?! And Jia Yue is actually a close friend of this brand.

Compared to the production team and Ji Changtu, Liao Jiayue was still her classmate, and she couldn't help but say, "Jiayue, how about I take you to the clothing store on the back street of my neighborhood to buy clothes another day? Don't waste any more money."

Liao Jiayue: "?"

Fans: "??"

[Disease progression: 90.2%]

Ye Hantao: "???"

[Damn! Is she implying that the clothes Yueyue gave her are worse than cheap, low-quality items from a street stall?]

[Yueyue's sincere heart has been wasted!!!]

How could you even have the nerve to say that?!

[This is making Yueyue feel sorry for him, so he wants to get even more! !!!]

[Ugh, I feel nauseous.]

Chen Xiaofeng stared at the negative comments on the screen and scoffed, "For an ordinary person, the public opinion surrounding them is almost as bad as the entire internet's anti-China campaign."

Previously, Cheng Zhao found the bullet comments annoying, so they always watched the live stream with them turned off. But watching the live stream without netizens spouting witty remarks was always a bit lacking. He quickly turned on the bullet comments when Cheng Zhao wasn't paying attention, but as soon as he did, the bullet comments were flooded with mockery.

The production team handled it quickly, but the speed of deletion couldn't keep up with the frequency of posting.

Chen Xiaofeng scanned the numerous malicious comments from people with the same IP address in the comment section. The faint scar at the end of his eyebrow twitched as he raised his eyebrow, but he didn't expose anything. He simply said, "Cheng Zhao, this little girl is in trouble."

Cheng Zhao leaned back in the folding chair, his tall figure taking up most of the chair surface, his gray-blue eyes half-closed.

The scrolling comments on the screen became a blurry background in his eyes.

His gaze was heavy and downcast, like vines extending from the darkness, growing wildly and unrestrainedly toward the light.

He snapped back to reality when a comment appeared on the screen saying "Pretending to be innocent to stand out," and quickly clicked the report button, thinking, "A bunch of foul-mouthed bastards."

I reported every single comment in the live chat, whether it was insults or nitpicking.

Chen Xiaofeng didn't hear clearly and turned his head, "What did you just say?"

“I’m saying,” Cheng Zhao casually reported a few more comments, his voice low and cold, “does this variety show still need investment?”

"What do they lack? They live in villas, eat organic fruits and vegetables, and their sponsors are rolling in money."

What about guest subsidies?

"???" Chen Xiaofeng stared at him as if he'd seen a ghost. "What kind of supplements are you talking about??"

Cheng Zhao ignored him and beckoned his personal assistant, Guan Sen, over, "Tablet."

When Guan Sen handed him the tablet, Cheng Zhao lowered his eyes and quickly tapped the screen, his black hair falling down and partially obscuring his brow bone.

Chen Xiaofeng curiously leaned closer and saw a line of text on the screen: "[A special subsidy of 100,000 yuan will be provided to unemployed guests.]"

Chen Xiaofeng glared at him, "Brother, do you have too much money to burn?"

Cheng Zhao paused, then deleted the "拾" (shi). Seeing this, Chen Xiaofeng hadn't even breathed a sigh of relief when, right in front of him, Cheng Zhao typed "佰" (bai), meaning one million yuan.

“You’re right.” Cheng Zhao rarely agreed. “I’m so rich, 100,000 yuan is too stingy.”

Chen Xiaofeng stared at Cheng Zhao's profile for a moment, then suddenly realized something and immediately looked up the introductions of the non-celebrity guests compiled by netizens in the comments section: Ji Changtu, tea shop owner and jade shop owner; Su Yi'ang, e-sports player; He Qiang, master of traditional Chinese painting; Ye Hantao, college student.

"..."

"…………"

What's the difference between his brother's subsidy and any underhanded dealings?

Immediately afterwards, he heard his brother instruct his assistant, "Find a few online troll teams; they'll praise it."

Chen Xiaofeng: "".

You're so abnormal.

During the show, Liao Jiayue repeatedly reminded herself that she was still in front of the camera and couldn't be criticized, and said with a look of surprise, "Okay, after we finish recording this episode, let's go to the store together and pick out some clothes?"

After saying that, she casually asked, "The store that sells clothes for 399 yuan apiece?" Ha, they have the nerve to ask me to buy those cheap clothes for 39.9 yuan apiece. How shameful.

Ye Hantao remembered what the shop owner had said in the store last time, and quickly added, "That store is open only at certain times. I'll call you again when it reopens."

When the live stream ends, everyone will see it's 39.9 for a clearance sale; they all know she's lying anyway.

[Hahaha, feeling guilty now, huh?]

[She probably didn't expect Yueyue to be so unconcerned about cheap goods and willing to lower herself to go with her.]

Liao Jiayue: "Okay, I'll go back now."

After seeing Liao Jiayue off and closing the door, Ye Hantao returned to the bedside and hesitantly rubbed the white T-shirt she was wearing with her hand. Hmm, this one does feel more comfortable.

Next time the store reopens, let's invite Jiayue along. That way, Jiayue will know how much of a brand premium SAR has.

Ye Hantao bent down and shook out the sheets piled on the bed.

The midday sun slanted in, and the light silver-gray fabric seemed to be shrouded in a thin moonlight, gleaming with a soft luster. It felt silky smooth to the touch, with a slightly cool sensation.

These are fabrics her mother bought wholesale from the market, and then asked her neighbor, an elderly woman with a sewing machine, to help her make several sets of bedding.

The phone screen lit up, and Ye Hantao guessed from the time that it must be an update from a legal education blogger she was particularly following, so she straightened up to pick up the phone that was placed on the bedside table.

The hem of the T-shirt flared up slightly, revealing a slender waist, as white and pure as bamboo covered with a layer of snow.

A gentle breeze blew outside the window, causing the hem of her clothes to flutter.

[...Leaving aside her character for now, her waist is so white!]

That one glance sent shivers down my spine.

Ye Hantao's looks and figure are good enough for acting; at least she's pleasing to the eye.

If she's filming, I'll definitely take a second look.

Not long after, several viewers who had praised Liao Jiayue's fair and slender waist in the live chat received notifications in the background that they had been reported. "???" Liao Jiayue's fans are so petty!!

Ye Hantao unlocked her phone, putting on a sheet and pillowcase while listening to the latest video from a legal education blogger.

"Family members, this is Xiao Pu. Today, we're going to talk about something that could happen to you too: friction between you and your roommate due to lifestyle habits."

Ye Hantao nodded secretly. After starting university and living in the dormitory, there were indeed some minor conflicts, such as the air conditioning temperature, the time spent in the private bathroom, and the alarm clock for waking up early.

"First you couldn't stand each other, then you started arguing and bickering, and since you didn't resolve the issues, the conflict escalated to the point of physical violence—"

Ye Hantao slowed down her movements as she put on the pillowcase, glancing towards the bathroom. She decided to ask Shi Yue about her habits later; Shi Yue was so tall, she looked like she could fight.

In the bathroom, just a door away, Kim Shi-wol applied a layer of bright red lip gloss in front of the mirror.

Her face is square with high cheekbones, so even though she loves pink, she has always used red lipsticks for ten years, which makes her look more powerful and no one dares to underestimate her.

The bathroom was filled with the rich scent of roses, just like the fragrance she usually used at home. With her eyes closed, it was as if roses were quietly blooming all over the room, exuding elegance everywhere.

"When we go out later, I'll make a list of rules with Ye Hantao. She has to use the rose scent I brought for her bedroom. I can't sleep if I use other brands."

Kim Si-wol's last time sharing a room with someone on a variety show was a year ago. Her mind raced: "The air conditioner can only be set at 23°C, not too high or too low; the window seat in the wardrobe must be reserved for me to hang my clothes, that side is auspicious for me; I can't go to bed later than 11 pm, I need to get my beauty sleep."

Jin Shiyue recalled what other rules needed to be explained in advance, and how she could keep Ye Hantao in check before she went to bed at night, so as not to disturb her beauty sleep.

"My phone must be on silent before I go to bed, not even on vibrate; and the bathroom and sink are no exception—"

He listed them one by one, about thirty in total. Jin Shiyue checked them in his mind and was sure he hadn't missed anything.

Pushing open the bathroom door, she spoke with a hint of command in her voice, "Ye Hantao, let's talk about the rules—"

An unfamiliar male voice drifted from the other side of the bed.

"It was this minor everyday conflict that caused Zhang San, who was usually mild-mannered and always smiling, to completely explode. He grabbed a fruit knife from the table and stabbed his roommate Li Si thirty-two times!"

Ye Hantao quickly turned off the video, turned around, and smiled, "Sister Shiyue, is there any lifestyle habit you'd like to mention in advance?"

...How can you even say that??

After a moment of eye contact, Jin Shiyue's hand trembled as she leaned against the doorframe, her throat tight, "N-nothing."

-----------------------

Author's Note: Jin Shiyue: [Crying uncontrollably]

--Draw 30 small red envelopes--

(Updates will be at midnight for the next three days, please support me! I'll also be giving away small red envelopes with each chapter [cat paw])