Chapter 81 Refusing to "Buy Local Specialties?"

Chapter 81 Refusing to "Buy Local Specialties?"

At the end of August, Fuzhou was in the sweltering heat, and cicadas chirped everywhere.

Ye Hantao couldn't help but suspect that the hot weather and the high-frequency chirping were causing her to hallucinate.

Otherwise, how could I have heard those two sentences?

Another negative gratitude value, another -1 luck.

While doing the tie-dyeing, Ye Hantao secretly glanced at Ren Lang and was surprised to find a look of surprise on his face.

"..."

System, come back soon!

Your kind of people don't do anything worthwhile!

A system that can affect other people's luck—it must be infected with a virus!

Ye Hantao felt a little uncomfortable being in the same space as Ren Lang.

Ye Hantao wasn't the only one feeling uncomfortable; Ren Lang was completely bewildered.

How could the system deduct luck points?!

When Jin Shiyue unilaterally broke off relations back then, it only reduced his luck value to zero.

He had only just bound himself to Ye Hantao when he lost 1 point of luck.

It's no wonder that the system recognizes its future fortune as far exceeding Kintoki's target.

Even so, Ye Hantao shouldn't have suddenly lowered her gratitude level after he made the recommendation.

Ren Lang suspected that Ye Hantao had misheard what he said.

"Tao Tao, did you hear what I just said?"

Ye Hantao was indeed stunned.

"H-What did you hear?"

Will this person discover that she can hear his system's electronic voice?

Thinking of this, Ye Hantao subtly moved a step away to prevent Ren Lang from doing anything irrational.

The courtyard wasn't large; there were five groups of ten people, plus the cameramen, making nearly twenty people in total.

Amidst this lively atmosphere, Cheng Zhao kept an eye on Ye Hantao and Ren Lang, while also taking a break to complete a tie-dyeing task.

Seeing this, he took a long stride, passing Gu Fanghao and He Qiang next door, and strode over to Ye Hantao's side in two or three steps.

He said lazily, "You've finished your tie-dyeing? And you're still chatting here."

Although I didn't hear what the two were saying, Tao Tao's body language clearly showed that she was on guard.

Cheng Zhao had just stood still and hadn't decided whether to separate the two of them when he felt a soft warmth on his wrist.

The redness spread from the nerve endings to the neck and behind the ears.

Without saying a word, Ye Hantao grabbed his wrist and pulled him in front of her.

Cheng Zhao went out today wearing a wide-sleeved T-shirt, revealing his two strong arms.

Even with just this touch, Ye Hantao could feel the muscles encasing his bones in his arm, brimming with a sense of power ready to be unleashed.

Ye Hantao immediately felt at ease.

With Cheng Zhao around, there's no need to worry about Ren Lang finding out what she did after hearing the electronic voice.

Ren Lang had no interest in seeing Cheng Zhao, who had come uninvited, and breathed a sigh of relief.

"You really didn't hear me? I said you have a lot of talent for shooting commercials, and asked if you would like to come to Aurelia to shoot clothing commercials."

Ye Hantao also breathed a sigh of relief.

It turns out the question wasn't the system's electronic voice, but rather the previous one.

Ye Hantao released her grip on Cheng Zhao's arm.

Cheng Zhao lowered his eyes, wanting to follow the lingering warmth as he left, but he forced himself to hold back.

Cheng Zhao: I want to get close to Tao Tao :)

[Are you guys still shipping them?! Ren Lang is already asking Ye Hantao if she's going to do an Aurelia clothing ad!]

[That was just polite talk; Chen Xiaofeng had asked about the movie when they first met.]

[Chen Xiaofeng asks everyone he meets, is he doing the same with Ren Lang?]

Ren Lang continued, "I already work at Aurelia, so I have some say in the selection of people for advertising shoots."

He was being modest when he said that.

Since he brought Aurelia back to the ranks of top luxury brands a few years ago, he has wielded considerable influence within the group.

If it weren't for the recent reshuffling of the group's board of directors and the arrival of a nepotism hire eyeing the creative director position, he wouldn't have had to make this trip to participate in this low-class variety show.

He brought a spare phone with him beforehand, and the fact that the production team handed over his phone didn't stop him from researching Ye Hantao online last night.

Aside from the e-sports legend's older brother and the renowned traditional Chinese medicine practitioner's great-aunt, who were exposed online, the other parents were an accountant at a small company and a real estate agent, respectively.

In a family like this, Maze is the only one who is presentable.

As for Zhou Shumiao?

Zhou Shumiao was truly devoted to Ye Hantao's family, and in previous years she wouldn't have looked down on them for living in the old neighborhood.

This time, Zhou Shumiao chose to take the opportunity to expose herself on the show, simply to make a name for herself in the circle of the wealthy.

Although there was still Cheng Zhao whose identity was unknown, thinking of this, Ren Lang glanced at Cheng Zhao nearby. This person spent 20 million at the auction, but did not bring Ye Hantao any other high-end endorsements.

Ren Lang was used to seeing similar pairings in the industry.

The two are still in the ambiguous stage of their relationship, and Ye Hantao probably wants to maintain the impression of being independent, hardworking, and not materialistic.

He then extended an olive branch, and Ye Hantao couldn't bear to refuse. She had probably only reluctantly said "no need to trouble yourself" earlier out of youthful pride.

She might even think he's pitying her, otherwise it wouldn't make sense for her gratitude level to suddenly drop.

Ye Hantao lied and said she didn't hear clearly, probably because she was afraid he would stop the conversation there.

Ren Lang looked directly into Ye Hantao's eyes, his husky voice gentle: "Taotao, your image and personality are very much in line with Aurelia's style."

He sincerely said, "As the creative director of Aurelia, I cordially invite you to shoot the advertisement."

He's just a close friend; he can still make the decision.

The audience, who initially believed he was just being polite: [???]

[What happened to the polite words?! Why are they so sincerely inviting Ye Hantao to film an advertisement?!]

[His behavior is so undignified!]

"Impossible!" Liao Jiayue swept everything off the table, her eyes fixed on Ye Hantao on the screen, her jealousy almost tangible, with a hint of fear deep in her eyes.

The employees sent by the agency stood guard nearby, trembling with fear, not daring to say a word.

He suspected that Liao Jiayue was not quite right in the head.

From the moment Liao Jiayue met Ren Lang in the live stream, she kept muttering that it was impossible. Now, upon hearing that Ren Lang had invited Ye Hantao to shoot an advertisement, she flew into a rage.

The employees were a little worried about the upcoming PR live stream.

The agency's emergency solution was to push the agent out and make him take the blame.

Anyway, the recording only contained the agent's instructions. All Liao Jiayue needed to do was cry and admit her mistake on the live broadcast, saying that she hadn't noticed the agent's wrongdoing in time.

There will definitely be a group of people who don't believe it, but as long as the fans are kept in line, the fans will imagine all sorts of conspiracy theories and feel sorry for their idol.

Liao Jiayue was unaware of the staff's feelings.

She gripped the press release tightly in her hand and growled, "He can't possibly be here!"

The fear of the plot spiraling out of her control made it impossible for her to calm down.

Ren Lang will leave Aurelia next month to go solo. He often faces setbacks in the early stages, but it is not until six months later that he regains his reputation in the fashion industry thanks to the female lead.

The female lead is Ren Lang's benefactor and muse, so why would Ren Lang agree to participate in "Classmates Are Coming"? She, the female lead, isn't even here!

Now, Ren Lang has not only appeared on variety shows, but also invited Ye Hantao to shoot clothing advertisements for Aurelia.

Even she hasn't gotten an endorsement deal with Aurelia yet, not even for the least valuable brand ambassadorship position!

Liao Jiayue gritted her teeth, "Why does Ye Hantao have the right to do this?!"

What makes Ye Hantao so special?!

I also want to ask! What merits does Ye Hantao possess?!

[What does "what merit or ability" even mean? Ye Hantao has nearly eight million followers and has even filmed an advertisement for Ruihuaxiang.]

[Ren Lang was referring to an Aurelia advertisement, a top international luxury brand, okay? Even someone of Liao Jiayue's caliber couldn't secure an endorsement deal with them.]

Hehe, it feels so good to be a fan of Ye Hantao.

Oh no! I can afford Ruihuaxiang's silver jewelry, but my wallet can't handle Aurelia's clothes.

In the live stream, Ye Hantao shook her head again, "I don't want to go to Aurelia to shoot an advertisement."

Ren Lang: "???"

The audience: "???"

Ren Lang found it hard to believe.

He took Kim Si-wol abroad back then without giving her any resources, yet Kim Si-wol was incredibly grateful.

This time, Ye Hantao not only refused after hearing the explanation, but also showed no gratitude whatsoever?

Zhou Yi raised an eyebrow, "Beautiful!"

With him around, their Tao Tao wouldn't need Ren Lang's recommendation to shoot any commercials.

Zhou Mingsheng glanced at the person who had stuck to his dormitory since arriving at the base, "Do you know anything about Ren Lang?"

“A little, but not much.” Zhou Yi lay sprawled on the sofa, a lollipop dangling from his lips. “Ren Lang’s design talent is undeniably outstanding. A few years ago, I even considered poaching him from the group.”

Zhou Mingsheng awaited his next words.

His uncle had a million ways to poach people, both legitimate and illegitimate.

The fact that Ren Lang has not been apprehended yet indicates that his uncle has not taken any action.

Zhou Yi added, "But his skill level is very inconsistent."

The first show featured stunningly beautiful designs, but the next two shows were a complete disappointment.

He could pick any intern from the group whose designs were more appealing than Ren Lang's.

Ren Lang relies solely on the fame he gained in the past few years; even if he designs a garbage bag, people will still argue for him.

Zhou Yi was too lazy to pay for some "beauty" that he couldn't appreciate.

After being rejected by Ye Hantao a second time and without receiving any gratitude points, Ren Lang's smile had vanished.

In his opinion, Ye Hantao's repeated attempts to play hard to get were somewhat naive; did she really think that the fake popularity on social media platforms was so powerful?

Any one of their Aurelie ambassadors and close friends would have millions of followers online.

Ye Hantao was unaware of Ren Lang's true thoughts.

She remained vigilant about the system on Ren Lang.

I thanked him this morning for helping me get the tissue box, and he linked it to my account without even asking. Now I wouldn't dare accept his invitation to shoot an advertisement.

After rejecting Ren Lang, Ye Hantao threw herself back into her tie-dyeing business.

Cheng Zhao didn't leave.

Their group's tie-dyeing was just one last step: untying and cleaning; they just had to wait.

When the camera focused on his face on the show, Ren Lang made a regretful expression, saying, "Looks like I spoke up too late. Did some brand already invite you in advance?"

Upon hearing this, Ye Hantao immediately said vainly, "That's true. Many brands have invited me to shoot commercials, and I'm comparing the treatment they offer."

After waiting, there was still no response from the character's perspective.

Ye Hantao sighed softly.

Netizens have an inexplicable confidence in her popularity.

[I knew it! Besides Jin Gu and Aeterna Gem, there must have been other brands that contacted Ye Hantao!]

One of these brands is the pinnacle of domestic gold jewelry, and the other is a top international luxury jewelry brand. They even posted on their official website that they look forward to collaborating with Ye Hantao next year.

The most luxurious jewelry brands are all queuing up.

It's not impossible that a few more top fashion brands will line up!

Ye Hantao thought this couldn't go on. Vanity wouldn't do, so she decided to be greedy for money.

She looked at Ren Lang and asked, "How much did Aurelia get paid for shooting commercials?"

Upon hearing this, Ren Lang knew that Ye Hantao was panicking because he was no longer inviting her.

He said with difficulty, "I haven't really paid attention to this aspect. Do you have a predetermined target for compensation?"

Ye Hantao nodded, "It can't be lower than one..."

Is one million not enough for greed?

But wouldn't it seem too unbelievable to say it's ten million?

Ye Hantao recalled several big brands that offered jewelry for free, and then changed the subject, "Let's not talk about compensation for now, at least I should be able to choose any clothes from all the brands I want, and wear them whenever I want."

Those big brands only offered a selection of jewelry; she was talking about all the clothes this time!

[Disease progression: 28%]

So Ye Hantao's refusal was a negotiation?

It's obvious.

Even Ruihuaxiang didn't say that Ye Hantao could freely choose from all the jewelry under its brand, did it?

[Fun fact: Ye Hantao only filmed an advertisement for a certain series of Ruihuaxiang silver jewelry.]

Ye Hantao is just acting recklessly now that her popularity has increased.

[Go ahead and criticize me all you want. I even said that Ye Hantao didn't want to shoot commercials anymore, which is why she made that impossible request.]

Ren Lang stopped talking after hearing this.

He planned to give Ye Hantao a break, to stop her from thinking she was something special.

Cheng Zhao's eyebrows twitched.

The terms Tao Tao requested were on the contract he had someone draft.

An hour and a half later.

After all the groups finished their tie-dye works, the five blue and white tie-dyed fabrics were hung on the bamboo rack.

Viewers in the entire live stream couldn't tell which group had which dyed their hair, so they could only vote based on their own aesthetic preferences.

Aunt Ge announced with a smile, "The group with the most votes is the third floral-themed tie-dye fabric. Congratulations to Group C!"

Group C consists of He Qiang and Gu Fanghao.

Ye Hantao clapped, "Senior Sister and Fang Hao are really amazing!"

Jin Shiyue glanced at it, then turned her face away disdainfully, without saying anything that made it look ugly.

Gu Fanghao blushed, "I'm only doing this because of Teacher He Qiang."

He Qiang showed no joy on her face, and simply asked, "What place did you get in Group E?"

Group E consists of Ye Hantao and Ren Lang.

According to the rules, the first place winner gets 10 points, the second place winner gets 8 points, the third place winner gets 6 points, the fourth place winner gets 4 points, and the fifth place winner gets 2 points, which are related to their lunch.

Ye Hantao also snapped out of her excitement for her senior sister and Gu Fanghao and waited for Teacher Ge to announce the remaining rankings.

"From second to fifth place, they are Group E, Group A, Group B and Group D respectively."

Gu Fanghao beamed with joy, "Taotao, our combined points are 18, enough for a very nice lunch!"

Ye Hantao and she held hands, their faces full of smiles.

Su Yi'ang couldn't smile; he was in last place, and his teammate was Wu Xia.

"The production team will select five viewers from these five entries to receive as gifts during the live stream," Ye Hantao announced, referring to the task card. "Viewers who wish to participate in the lucky draw, please click on the lucky draw box in the live stream."

After finishing their tie-dyeing, they boarded a bus to go have lunch, which was hot pot arranged by the production team.

As soon as Ye Hantao got out of the car, a strong aroma of butter wafted towards her.

This restaurant is an open-air hot pot restaurant, with eight tables arranged in a staggered manner on the viewing platform halfway up the mountain.

A waiter dressed in a Shu embroidery uniform led them to their reserved table.

Looking down, Ye Hantao saw the forest below shining brightly in the sun.

Four or five meters above the table is a glass dome, which dazzles in the sunlight.

Ye Hantao looked away and saw Ren Lang, who was walking in front, trip over the steps.

Is this what Luck-1 is?

Suddenly, a black dot fell from mid-air and hit Ren Lang right on the head.

Ye Hantao's pupils trembled slightly.

Ren Lang also felt something fall on his head.

As he reached up and touched his head, he joked with those around him, "Is this because I invited Tao Tao to shoot an ad before and she refused? Now the wind blows things only at me?"

Ye Hantao opened her mouth, "No—"

ah……

It was too late; Ye Hantao had already seen Ren Lang touch her.

Because he had just been talking to other people, they all looked over.

Under their watchful eyes, the bird flapped its wings and flew away, leaving Lang to spread out his sticky hands.

A patch of unidentified, semi-solidified paste, white and yellow in color, stuck to his palm and between his fingers.

Everyone fell silent.

In the silence, Cheng Zhao suddenly whistled, "Director Ren, what is this...?"

laugh.

After a light chuckle, he said nonchalantly, "Buying local specialties?"

Ren Lang: "..."

Others: "..."

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Author's Note: Peach: Retreat, retreat, retreat!