Chapter 43: Each Excels in Their Own Way

In the morning, Li Wanbai suggested performing on the streets, and by afternoon, the production team had already negotiated with the local authorities and hired numerous professionals to ensure the safety of these celebrities.

“Let’s split into groups,” Li Wanbai said with a bright smile. “We can’t really let Yu Baichuan earn all that money on his own.”

[Anyone could say that, except Li Wanbai herself! Wasn’t she the one who proposed street performances in the first place? And now she’s pretending to be so magnanimous!]

[Oh, come on, don’t be so harsh on her. Though she only has her looks—perhaps even a surgically enhanced face—she can’t sing, can’t dance, can’t act, and her modeling walk is a mess, but she’s clever enough to come up with the genius idea of sending a top actor to perform on the street. That makes her a successful star!]

[The real question is, what talent does LWB actually have? She said that just so Ma Xu would have to suffer along with her.]

[True, among them, only Ma Xu has any talent to show, since he debuted in a boy band. You can’t have Quan Hao dance, right? If he dared, would you dare to watch?]

[How dare you insult Master Quan like that!]

[Li Wanbai talks better than she sings. I thought she was acting normal yesterday—maybe she finally became decent—but she’s still the same as ever!]

[Why would she want to split into groups? Li Wanbai couldn’t possibly be trying to ease Baichuan’s burden. She probably wants to scatter everyone else and have Baichuan all to herself.]

[Probably? She definitely is! Everyone sees through her, no need to defend her.]

[Shouldn’t we at least let Li Wanbai explain herself? Maybe she secretly learned some new skills behind our backs?]

[Nonsense! With her flashy personality, if she’d learned anything, everyone would know by now!]

[As if she could learn any skills! Is it her terrible voice that can sing, or her limbs that can dance?]

[…]

Quan Hao raised his brows at her, “So? You came up with this idea yourself—are you secretly learning to sing and dance?”

“How could I? That stuff is way too advanced for me,” Li Wanbai shook her head repeatedly.

Ye Xiruo smiled gently, “Wanbai, not to criticize, but isn’t that a bit unfair? If you don’t have any talent to show, why suggest splitting into groups? Surely you’re not planning to exploit our talented, handsome little brother who can sing and dance?”

Her words were lighthearted and her demeanor warm and gentle, as if she were simply joking among friends.

But she barely knew Li Wanbai or Ma Xu, and mentioning it on camera, whether intentional or not, instantly sent the audience’s emotions soaring.

[Ye Xiruo finally said something sensible! Li Wanbai definitely has ulterior motives!]

[I just don’t get it—is Li Wanbai some giant baby? Raised and pampered by her family, thinking the whole world revolves around her? People like her are a menace from the start! She used to torment Yu Baichuan, now anyone on a show with her suffers!]

[Don’t miss this chance—let’s count Li Wanbai’s bizarre behavior on “Us”! 1. Arrived at the location and immediately slept instead of waiting for others. 2. Insisted on sharing a room with Xiao Yezi. 3. Refused to let Xiao Yezi buy good food for everyone. 4. Has no talent, yet drags Ma Xu down with her. I’m sure she’ll do even more baffling things in future episodes. Other production teams, beware inviting her!]

[If it weren’t for Baichuan, I wouldn’t bother watching. Her face is nauseating.]

[…]

Li Wanbai asked the crew for a sheet of paper and a pen.

Yu Baichuan’s eyes lit up as he watched her—almost incredulous.

Could she be about to…

No, impossible!

She hadn’t done it once in ten years, why suddenly now?

Ye Xiruo glanced curiously at the items in Li Wanbai’s hands. “What are you going to do with those?”

A word flashed in her mind, but she quickly dismissed it.

She’d spent enough time with Li Wanbai to know her limits, which was why she dared to provoke her.

Li Wanbai was foolish enough—even if she sensed malice, she wouldn’t turn confrontational.

With this thought, Ye Xiruo’s smile turned ever more gentle and radiant, quietly fueling the fire, “Wanbai, did you secretly learn to draw behind our backs? Oh my, that would make you incredible!”

Ye Xiruo knew perfectly well that Li Wanbai couldn’t draw. The higher she praised her now, the harder she’d fall later. This tactic, tested and true, was almost second nature.

Li Wanbai thanked the staff, heard Ye Xiruo’s words, turned to her, and replied with a bright smile, “I can draw a little.”

Her childhood dream was to be a jewelry designer—of course she could draw.

She was an art student.

“She’s an art student,” Yu Baichuan suddenly interjected, his eyes filled with nostalgia, glancing at Li Wanbai and then with a hint of confusion.

Quan Hao looked at Li Wanbai with an inquisitive expression.

Ye Xiruo froze, blurting out, “Mr. Yu, did you know Ms. Li in high school?”

Yu Baichuan glanced at her and smiled, saying nothing.

Ye Xiruo quickly recovered. Seeing Yu Baichuan didn’t elaborate, she realized he didn’t want to delve into that, which suited her fine.

Although Li Wanbai had never mentioned it, she preferred to keep her options open. If Yu Baichuan really confirmed it, she could later market them as childhood friends. Whether people believed it or not, it would greatly benefit Li Wanbai, and in turn, diminish Ye Xiruo’s status at Sunny Entertainment, shifting resources away from her.

She had worked hard to wrestle some good opportunities from Li Wanbai and couldn’t afford to lose them again. Changing the topic swiftly, she looked at Li Wanbai and spoke earnestly, “Wanbai, the market is complicated and saturated now. Casual children’s drawings won’t sell. If you don’t have real skill, it’s better not to embarrass yourself—I’m being blunt, don’t take offense. I’m just worried you won’t make any money and will feel anxious, so I wanted to be upfront with you.”

Li Wanbai twirled her pen, a little confused, and casually asked, “You’ve never seen me draw, so why assume my work is just children’s drawings? Besides, children’s art has its own meaning—I don’t see it as derogatory.

Anyway, I have a skill and the determination to earn money. What about you? What do you have to show?”