Chapter 4

Chapter 4

Jiang Ziyi looked around but didn't see Yi Tiantian hiding in the corner. He had to patiently coax Jiao Xiaohua again, "Yi Tiantian just wants to stir up trouble. Don’t listen to her."

Jiao Xiaohua wanted to believe him, but his previously calm heart now rippled with doubt.

He asked hesitantly, "What’s going on between you, Xiao Ren, and Chenchen?"

"It was them who came onto me," Jiang Ziyi said shamelessly. "You know how young people these days always want to take shortcuts."

Seeing that Jiao Xiaohua still didn’t fully believe him, Jiang Ziyi immediately put on an impatient expression.

"Xiaohua, I am truly sincere with you," Jiang Ziyi licked his thick tongue. "If you really don’t believe me, I have evidence to prove my innocence."

Jiao Xiaohua desperately wanted to believe Jiang Ziyi, so he eagerly wanted to know what the evidence was.

Jiang Ziyi raised an eyebrow, a smug smile on his face. He took out his phone from his pocket and played a recording for Jiao Xiaohua.

Jiao Xiaohua listened intently, hearing Jiang Ziyi's voice coming from the phone.

"How could I do something so despicable? What we’re doing is all consensual..."

The recording ended there.

Jiang Ziyi looked smug. "See? I told you it was them who came onto me. I couldn’t resist at the time, but my heart still belongs to you!"

Jiao Xiaohua felt a mix of emotions.

He clutched his shirt, feeling a deep sadness inside.

After listening to the recording, he actually believed Jiang Ziyi.

But he still couldn’t accept that the person he loved had been with other contestants...

"Sickening. Does anyone actually believe this?"

"Why not include the parts where you say incriminating things? Only keep the parts that make you look good?"

"If you’re so good at editing, why don’t you become an editor instead of a singer?"

"Jiao Xiaohua, don’t believe this liar. It’s all taken out of context!"

Jiang Ziyi, who had never considered becoming an editor: ...

Yi Tiantian, lurking outside, made it impossible for Jiang Ziyi to lie inside.

Jiang Ziyi launched another round of sweet talk at Jiao Xiaohua. "How could I do such a thing? Xiaohua, after this show ends, shall we go public within the industry?"

Jiao Xiaohua’s eyes widened in surprise at Jiang Ziyi’s sincere promise. "Really?"

"Really!" Jiang Ziyi would say anything to save himself.

Jiang Ziyi looked smugly at Jiao Xiaohua.

He knew how love-struck minds worked.

Just give them a promise, and they’ll convince themselves.

Thinking Jiao Xiaohua would be fooled again, Jiang Ziyi was about to wrap his fat arm around him, but Jiao Xiaohua instinctively dodged.

Jiao Xiaohua hesitated and then said coldly, "But too much has happened today. I need to think it over..."

With that, Jiao Xiaohua pushed open the door and hurried away.

Yi Tiantian quickly moved aside.

It was already past eleven o'clock, time to sleep.

Yi Tiantian yawned, having had her fill of gossip, and slowly returned to her dormitory.

As she walked, she thought: I hope Jiao Xiaohua can see through that old man’s true nature soon.

.

The third group performance was about to begin, and all the contestants were nervously rehearsing their final routines.

Yi Tiantian and Jiao Xiaohua were in the same group for the third performance.

While Yi Tiantian didn’t care, she practiced diligently under Jiao Xiaohua’s lead to avoid holding back her teammates.

There were only thirty minutes left before the final performance, and the atmosphere was tense.

All the contestants had stopped rehearsing, the audience had arrived, and the guest mentors were seated.

The program’s big screen began the final thirty-minute countdown.

Jiang Ziyi, who had been slapped and punched by two contestants yesterday, sat calmly in his mentor’s chair, his injured cheek more heavily concealed than the day before.

Yesterday’s events seemed to have no impact on him today.

Instead, he wore a greasy smile, chatting happily with idol Wenwen beside him.

Wenwen didn’t want to talk to Jiang Ziyi, but as a junior, she awkwardly smiled along.

However, Tianhou Bo Xiao, the mentor next to Wenwen, noticed Wenwen’s discomfort.

She called Wenwen over, and the two girls started chatting and laughing together.

Jiang Ziyi had intended to continue flirting with Wenwen, but the tactless Tianhou kept interfering and pulled Wenwen away.

He was extremely annoyed.

But...

Jiang Ziyi's face, resembling that of a toad, suddenly broke into a lecherous grin.

There’s going to be good drama soon!

The staff present were all busy preparing for the upcoming third public performance, while the contestants nervously rehearsed their lyrics and dance moves over and over again.

Only Yi Tiantian, after mentally running through her part once, started scrolling through her phone.

"Damn it, this old Deng is really something!"

This loud exclamation shook everyone present.

Immediately afterward, they heard Yi Tiantian's sharp outburst.

"Aaaaaah!!!! How could he have the nerve to expose these pictures!!!!"

"This old scoundrel is turning things around on us!!!! Accusing the victim first!!!!"

Everyone exchanged glances, then silently checked their phones to see the trending topics on Weibo.

Sure enough, two hot topics were high up on the trending list.

#StarAvenueXiaoRenChenchenSexualHarassmentMentor#

#StarAvenueXiaoRenChenchenInappropriatePhotosExposed#

Everyone was stunned, and the venue erupted in exclamations.

The audience began whispering among themselves, most of them browsing Weibo in disbelief.

Xiao Ren and Chenchen felt their fingertips go cold as they trembled while opening the trending topics.

The first post was from the marketing account "Today's Entertainment Industry," featuring a series of private photos showing Xiao Ren and Chenchen with extensive skin exposure.

The caption read: Who would have thought that contestants from the top talent show Star Avenue would resort to using their bodies to advance their careers? These young people are truly hardworking!

The implication was clear: Xiao Ren and Chenchen had traded their bodies for their future prospects.

Their intentions were evident.

Jiang Ziyi realized everyone had seen the trending topics, and his smile grew wider, his fat features bunching together in a revolting way.

These two contestants might expose themselves after debuting anyway, so he might as well do it first.

This way, not only would it ruin their public image and reduce their chances of debuting, but it would also forever tarnish their reputations in the entertainment industry, branding them with a scarlet letter.

Even if they tried to clarify later, who would believe such minor contestants?

Jiang Ziyi believed his plan was foolproof.

It was practically perfect!

As for Yi Tiantian...

Jiang Ziyi's expression turned vicious as he muttered his grievances to himself.

He was determined to make her pay dearly!

"But... this old Deng doesn't realize what trouble he's caused yet?"

"Hahahaha!"

Yi Tiantian's hearty laughter echoed throughout the venue, audible only to those in the entertainment industry.

The contestants and staff were puzzled; how could she still laugh when the shameless old Deng had succeeded?

And what kind of trouble was Yi Tiantian talking about?

They were dying to know!

Everyone perked up their ears, listening intently for the next thoughts.

Especially Xiao Ren and Chenchen, pacing back and forth like ants on a hot pan, eager to get to the bottom of it.

Jiang Ziyi remained unperturbed, convinced his move couldn’t possibly fail!

Yi Tiantian was just bluffing!

"Three, two, one."

Everyone waited for the juicy details, but instead, Yi Tiantian calmly began counting down.

Everyone: ?????

Jiang Ziyi: ?

As soon as the countdown ended, Jiang Ziyi's phone vibrated in his pocket.

After checking the caller ID, Jiang Ziyi’s face turned awkward, and he began trembling uncontrollably.

It was his mother calling.

He had to answer.

Taking advantage of the fact that the recording hadn’t started yet, Jiang Ziyi quickly answered the call.

As soon as the call was answered, the woman on the other end launched into a torrent of scolding, criticizing Jiang Ziyi mercilessly.

Jiang Ziyi's eyes welled up with tears, his expression full of grievance, but he did not dare to utter a single word in rebuttal.

Finally, he could only stammer, "I know, I'm sorry, Mom."

"Hahahaha, indeed still afraid of getting his bottom spanked by Mom when he goes home!"

Yi Tiantian's laughter seemed endless, leaving everyone present scratching their heads, wondering what had happened.

Jiang Ziyi hung up the phone, his face filled with displeasure.

Beside him, idol Wenwen even saw a string of tears rolling down his cheeks.

This string of tears on Jiang Ziyi's pudgy face instantly hit Wenwen's funny bone, and she struggled to hold back her laughter.

After laughing, Yi Tiantian finally revealed the truth.

"Turns out this old dunce is still not allowed to date because his mom forbids it!"

"The paparazzi took Jiang Ziyi's money one moment and then tattled to his mom the next, saying he was fooling around outside."

"Then Jiang Ziyi's mom directly contacted the website to take down all the photos and trending topics, and called to scold Jiang Ziyi!"

"This old dunce was scolded until he cried hahahaha!!"

"But who would be almost fifty and still not be allowed to date? Truly hilarious hahahaha!!"

After hearing Yi Tiantian's words, the entire venue turned into an ocean of laughter.

Everyone laughed without restraint, no longer holding back.

Only Jiang Ziyi stood there with tear stains on his face, trembling with anger.

At that moment, he had no idea what he was about to face.