Chapter 23: Excuse Me, Who Are You?

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Heavens, what on earth just happened? Why does Mr. Yu look so sad?
Of course he’s sad! He woke up so early to film the show, finally made it to the mission site, just when it seemed things were about to start, someone just dozed off. Isn’t this deliberately dragging out the mission?
Mr. Yu is only upset, not angry. That’s already very gracious of him!
I can’t take this anymore. Can’t someone wake her up? Where are the program staff? Are they really going to let Baichuan just sit there the whole time?
Honestly, the crew ambushed them so early and forced them awake; of course people get sleepy. It’s better for LWB to nap before the show starts than to fall asleep during the broadcast, right?
This is the crew’s fault—it has nothing to do with Baichuan! I don’t care, I just can’t stand seeing Baichuan sitting there all by himself, looking so bored! Hurry up and wake that woman!
Letting Yu Baichuan wait like that isn’t great, but it’s not Li Wanbai’s fault she fell asleep. Didn’t any of you ever nap during class? Waiting alone like that would make anyone drowsy.
That’s hilarious! Did you see Yu Baichuan look sleepy while sitting there?
Everyone, stop arguing! This is clearly the program’s fault! The stream started so early, even I just stayed up all night waiting.
...

The barrage of comments erupted into a heated debate, successfully shifting the blame onto the production team.

Of course, the director couldn’t just stand by; he notified the on-site staff. The usually cold and unfeeling cameraman received the order, strode over to Li Wanbai, and reached out to wake her, only to have his wrist seized by Yu Baichuan.

Lowering his voice, Yu Baichuan said, “Leave her be. Let her sleep a while longer.”

“But...” the cameraman hesitated.

Yu Baichuan glanced at the walkie-talkie clipped to the man’s waist and said calmly, “I make the call. Let her rest—she must be exhausted.”

Though his voice was soft, it brooked no argument.

Swallowing nervously, the cameraman, caught between the director’s orders and Yu Baichuan’s, quickly chose the latter. He retreated two steps and returned to his camera.

See, see! Look how Yu Baichuan defends Xiaobai! Does this look like a couple with a bad relationship?
LWB’s fans, can you stop jumping in? At most, this just shows Yu Baichuan has class. What’s that got to do with their marriage? Any decent person would do the same!
Exactly. If I saw a classmate sleeping, I wouldn’t wake them either!

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Why don’t you trust him? Afraid he’ll get cranky like a certain actress?
That’s hilarious—a certain actress with the surname Ye still has a sour face! Who wakes up and goes straight to do makeup?
Don’t be petty. Actresses aren’t ordinary people; of course the first thing they do after waking is check their look. That’s professionalism.
...

No one knew how much time passed before the third guest finally arrived at the villa.

The man had striking features, a lollipop in his mouth, and a baseball cap pulled low. He strode quickly into the villa, glanced around with a slight frown. “Yu Baichuan? Li Wanbai?”

Wow, it’s our precious Quan Hao!
I almost didn’t recognize him when I scrolled into the stream. Didn’t Quan Hao always refuse to do variety shows? Why is he here?
If Yu Baichuan can join, why wouldn’t Quan Hao have the status to accept?
You wanna start a fight? Quan Hao’s influence abroad is way bigger than Yu Baichuan’s!
That’s a joke. Yu Baichuan’s international reach can’t compare to Quan Hao?
Yu Baichuan was in a boy band, but Quan Hao comes from a lineage of actors—his family’s in show business, and his acting is beyond question.
Who’s talking about acting? Even then, Yu Baichuan’s no slouch—I’ve rewatched “Young Emperor” countless times.

There was plenty of bad blood between Yu Baichuan and Quan Hao.

Quan Hao’s father was a renowned film director, his mother the first actress to win a grand slam both at home and abroad. After coming of age, Quan Hao joined the entertainment industry as well, blessed with both talent and looks. Everyone thought he’d follow his mother’s path and become the first grand slam actor, but Yu Baichuan swooped in and snatched away the last major award.

Since then, the two seemed locked in rivalry, always releasing award-contending works at the same time, often vying for the same honors.

Every time, Quan Hao fell just short, and every time, Yu Baichuan took the prize.

Their fans battled fiercely, and the two men themselves seemed at odds.

With the lollipop still in his mouth, Quan Hao spoke indistinctly, “You got here pretty early.”

Yu Baichuan glanced at him and said quietly, “Keep your voice down. Can’t you see Li Wanbai is sleeping?”

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“What does Li Wanbai sleeping have to do with me?” Quan Hao snorted, then shouted loudly, “Wake up! Who sleeps during a reality show? Don’t you want any screen time?”

A top graduate of the Drama Academy, Quan Hao’s enunciation was impeccable, his voice powerful.

Startled awake, Li Wanbai opened her eyes, still groggy and half-convinced she was back in her high school classroom. Choking up, she mumbled, “Yu Baichuan, don’t be so fierce.”

At those words, a strange silence fell over the entire villa.

Oh my god, I can’t take it—my secondhand embarrassment is acting up again!
Who did she just call? Who did she mistake for whom?
Is she trying to ride on Yu Baichuan’s coattails even now?
Let’s be fair—she probably wasn’t trying to chase clout. It was just a reflex. After all, it was Quan Hao who woke her, but even if she did nothing, she’d draw traffic from Quan Hao. She couldn’t possibly think riding Yu Baichuan’s wave is better than Quan Hao’s, could she?
You might be onto something!
Exactly. Is Quan Hao’s popularity even comparable to Baichuan’s? LWB isn’t stupid—she knows whose popularity brings the best returns.
Stop spouting nonsense. Quan Hao’s popularity isn’t any less than Yu Baichuan’s. Why wouldn’t LWB want to ride on Quan Hao’s fame?

Behind the scenes, the production team stared at their screens in bewilderment. What just happened? Why did the chat suddenly turn into a popularity contest?

No wonder Li Wanbai is called the Queen of Controversy—one offhand remark and the comment section’s in chaos. Incredible!

He was speechless—absolutely speechless! He’d have to invite her again for the next show.

Meanwhile, Li Wanbai rubbed her eyes, finally realizing what was happening. Oh, it wasn’t high school anymore. Inevitably, she felt a pang of disappointment. She hadn’t gone back in time; she and Yu Baichuan were still entangled in the present.

“What’s that look for? Disappointed to see me?” Quan Hao crossed his arms and sneered, “Fine, I get it—you’re disappointed to see anyone.”