Showbiz Scandal: The Official Announcement of My Ex and Myself-Chapter 132: Why Pretend Not to Know Me?

The issue with the seating arrangement was almost resolved before they returned to the dormitory.

Xie Qingci didn’t call Yu Xia, considering that she was going to join the crew tomorrow, so she’d probably want to go to bed early tonight.

So at eleven o’clock, when the dormitory area hadn’t completely quieted down, he didn’t go back to the dorm either. He took a walk around the base, standing by a window to feel the breeze.

Right now, he was quite fed up with Song Xi, eager to accelerate his progress, leave this ivory tower sooner, and secure a job opportunity just for himself, where he wouldn’t have to hide even when sending a single message.

Yu Xia was steadily moving forward, while he was still trailing behind, bound and unable to take a step, which already made him quite agitated.

After calming down in the wind for a while, Xie Qingci finally headed back.

As he walked through the corridor in the dormitory area, in the midst of the gradually quieting surroundings, he suddenly heard someone crying.

He paused, turned his ear to listen, and the staff nearby prompted him, "It seems to be coming from the interview prep room, you should go in and take a look."

Xie Qingci turned back, stood at the door, and knocked.

"Need any help?"

The crying inside ceased, and then someone opened the door. Pei Lu stood behind the door, pulling him inside.

Xie Qingci quickly frowned, shook off his hand, and asked, "What’s wrong with you?"

Pei Lu closed the door and then walked to the chair in the middle and sat down, choking up as he said, "Please don’t tell anyone that I cried today, okay?"

"I’m not that bored." Having said just a couple of sentences, he already wanted to walk away.

Pei Lu seemed unable to read his expression, bowing his head for half a minute before forcing a smile and asking, "Do you all hate me?"

Many people knew that quite a number of viewers online were boycotting him. Xie Qingci didn’t answer, instead asking, "Do you want everyone to like you?"

Pei Lu: "Of course, don’t you want everyone to like you?"

"If you want people to like you, you know what to do. Keep practicing, focus on yourself, and someone will surely notice your efforts."

He pulled out a high stool, his long legs bent as he stepped on the footrest, making any casual movement a sight to behold.

Pei Lu shook his head, his voice still choked, "I’ve worked really hard. Besides, time is so short, I may be eliminated before I get a chance to deliver an outstanding performance. Unlike you, you’re already in the top spot, debuting is certain for you."

"Thanks for the kind words." He replied blandly, and didn’t say anything else, leaving Pei Lu at a loss for what to say.

After a while, Pei Lu murmured quietly, "I don’t want to be like this either. I practice hard every day, trying my best to get along with everyone... Why is it like this?"

Xie Qingci was a bit impatient.

Sticky cries and complaints didn’t solve any problems, they only added to the annoyance. He couldn’t understand why a grown man would act this way.

Seeking sympathy, perhaps.

"If you don’t need my help with anything, I’ll head back to sleep."

Pei Lu was taken aback, "You’re leaving just like that?"

"Aren’t you just trying to vent? I’m not a good listener, can’t help you, but I can call someone else for you. Who do you want to talk to?"

"..." Pei Lu’s expression turned sour, "No need to call anyone, I’ll just stay here by myself for a while."

"Hmm," he replied, and as he walked out, he turned at the door and said, "Actually, you look quite good without makeup."

There’s no need to put on makeup to resemble Cheng Yiding’s appearance.

After just saying that, he closed the door and returned to the dormitory.

In the dormitory, only Ning Yunchao was there, Wei Yaoyao didn’t return from other dorms until twelve.

Returning with furrowed brows, but with eyes full of excitement.

"Sigh." The first thing he did when he got in was let out a sigh.

Ning Yunchao asked him, "What’s wrong? Why are you sighing?"

"You guys didn’t know, but Pei Lu cried," he sighed again, "Sigh, maybe the pressure is just too much."

Xie Qingci was browsing through a book on the table and casually asked, "How do you know he cried?"

"When he returned to the dorm, his eyes were red and swollen. Sigh. Others went to comfort him, but he didn’t say anything, just forced himself to sleep."

Xie Qingci turned to the next page and silently chuckled.

After talking about this, Wei Yaoyao curiously asked, "Hey, Xie Qingci, is Yu Xia really your team’s guest supporter?"

"Yes."

"Well, your theme fits well. Ning Yunchao, is Shu Ran your team’s guest? Do you know who ours is?"

Ning Yunchao already knew, "It’s Bai Shu."

Even after knowing, Wei Yaoyao was still delighted, "Sister Bai Shu is amazing, I’ve seen a lot of her stage performances."

After all, she was the leader of a girl group from a previous selection show. But she’s very busy with work, she came in a rush and left after just ten minutes.

Ning Yunchao chimed in, "Then shouldn’t you practice harder? Doesn’t your team have a lifting move?"

"Yes, but I’m not the one doing the lift. Xie Qingci, doesn’t your team also have a lift?"

Xie Qingci, his interest in reading interrupted, closed the book, turned around and said, "No, we changed it."

"Changed to what?"

"To something like a Latin dance waist spin."

Wei Yaoyao clapped like a seal, "Looking forward to it, I heard your stage is very different, I’m just waiting to spy on your practice."

Xie Qingci looked at him, and after a moment he nodded, "Sure, come by anytime."

Wei Yaoyao then unrestrainedly chatted with Ning Yunchao. It seemed that his earlier questions were just out of his love for excitement.

But recently, Xie Qingci noticed that the one who mentioned Yu Xia the most in front of him wasn’t Song Xi, but Wei Yaoyao. Could he have noticed something?

Lost in thought, he glanced at Wei Yaoyao a couple more times before grabbing his clothes and heading to the bathroom.

...

On the new Monday, Yu Xia discreetly went to the shooting location of the "Different Paths" crew, which was not far in the city and decently close to the "Limited Youth" program base.

There was an opening ceremony before filming, requiring all actors to bow with incense.

She wore a mask and sunglasses, standing in the first row, calmly listening to the director speak. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

Beside her stood a tall, sturdy man, wearing the crew’s lucky opening T-shirt, with only a mask on. His deep-set eyes squinted slightly against the glaring light.

After listening to the director’s speech for two minutes, Yu Xia was unbearably hot and was just about to lift her mask to fan herself when a snicker came from beside her.

"What, Yu Xia, pretending not to know me?"

"..." She brusquely pulled off the mask, fanning herself without glancing at him, simply replying, "Knowing someone doesn’t mean you have to greet them warmly."

Yu Zhi also didn’t turn his head, continuing to look forward and conversing.

"Doesn’t have to be warm, but ask yourself, did you say hi? Even when standing at attention, you’re trying so hard to avoid suspicion, your hand is practically broken off, just to avoid touching me, right?"

His voice wasn’t low, and the actors behind overheard and couldn’t help but laugh.

At this, Yu Xia turned her eyes at him, as if to say, see what you’ve caused.

Yu Zhi raised his eyebrows, "What are you rolling your eyes at me for?"

By now, Yu Xia was back to her proper demeanor, casually replying, "The wind."

Yu Zhi: "Look at you giving yourself away, you’re wearing sunglasses and I can see you roll your eyes?"

"..."