Su Ci had eaten all kinds of rare and precious ingredients before, but she had seldom tried local specialty snacks.

Although the food before her smelled very foul and the scent was not pleasant, she was not someone who feared trying new things. Aside from rabbit meat — since rabbits were half her own kind and she did not eat it — she could still try these local specialty dishes placed before her.

The piece of stinky tofu she bit into had a crispy outer layer, and when she chewed, there was a fresh and spicy flavor. It was quite delicious. It really was “smelly when you sniff it, fragrant when you eat it.”

Because of the etiquette and upbringing she had been taught since childhood, even though Su Ci was eating stinky tofu at this moment, there was still an indescribable elegance and beauty to her. After just a few small bites, she finished that piece of stinky tofu.

Meanwhile, Qin Shiyan’s delicate brows were tightly furrowed. She only managed to catch her breath after a long moment. Feeling embarrassed, she smiled at the director and said, “Director, you really put effort into this, arranging such local specialty snacks for us.”

The first three episodes of this show had mediocre results and stirred no splash. Now that they had changed the guests, unexpectedly, the previous episode even made it onto the trending list and ignited heated discussion. Whether it was the popularity brought by Qin Shiyan, or Su Ci being scolded for not eating rabbit meat, it all created buzz.

It was as if the director had suddenly become enlightened, no longer focusing solely on tasting delicious food. This episode’s theme revolved entirely around “smelly” foods, and the main point was the guests’ expressions and reactions while eating these dishes.

The production team wasn’t afraid that they wouldn’t eat; as long as there were enough topics and enough things to watch, it was fine.

“Xiao Yan, you haven’t picked up your chopsticks yet? Try it, take a bite and you’ll find it really fragrant.” The director was a foodie to begin with, and he was eating happily.

Qin Shiyan saw that Su Ci across from her had actually eaten a piece of stinky tofu. A strange emotion flashed in her eyes, and she also picked up a piece.

However, the moment she brought it near her mouth, smelling that odor that resembled the foul scent in a restroom, Qin Shiyan’s face turned pale. For no reason, she recalled a news report she had once seen by accident — that some unscrupulous vendors used sewage to marinate stinky tofu to make its smell stronger.

“Urgh!”

Unable to hold it back, Qin Shiyan gagged again and immediately threw the stinky tofu away.

“Xiao Yan shouldn’t eat it, she’s about to vomit.”

“My heart hurts, why is the production team doing this to Xiao Yan? She can’t eat these things.”

“I saw her trying so hard to endure that her eyes were tearing up. She really doesn’t like it. Please, production team, be human.”

“Hugging Xiao Yan, if you don’t want to eat it, then don’t. Don’t force yourself. We can understand.”

“Can Qin Shiyan’s fans stop spamming? Every other guest can eat it, only your idol can’t? Last time when you all scolded Su Ci, that wasn’t what you were saying.”

“Yes, in the previous episode when Su Ci wouldn’t eat rabbit meat, Qin Shiyan’s fans scolded her terribly and even got it on the trending list. Now when their idol won’t eat, suddenly there’s a flood of ‘my heart aches’ posts. Famous double standards, that perfectly describes Qin Shiyan’s fans.”

“Oh, this one I know. Before, they called Su Ci pretentious. Now it’s my turn — Qin Shiyan can eat or not eat, she’s pretentious to death. Don’t argue. If you argue, you’re just learning from Qin Shiyan’s fans.”

“No need for this, can Su Ci compare to Xiao Yan? Outsiders probably don’t know Xiao Yan was pampered since she was young. It’s normal she hasn’t eaten local snacks like these.”

“Pampered since she was young? Her family background is that good? Never heard of it. If you’re filming a show, you should be professional — this is what you said to Su Ci before, let me return it to you now.”

“Xiao Yan is the Su family’s adopted daughter, you know that, right? Everything she wears and uses is the best. Of course she can’t accept these smelly foods. I don’t like them either, so what? Not liking something is pretending?”

“Ahhhh, Su Ci is eating so deliciously! Why does she even look good when slurping noodles? Thinking of how sloppy I look slurping noodles at home, I’m unworthy!”

“She somehow makes stinky tofu and luosifen look high-class.”

“Have to admit, in the entertainment industry, no one’s looks can beat Su Ci, right?”

“Absolutely no one. I love pretty young ladies, even the way she slurps noodles is so nice to look at…”

Su Ci hadn’t expected luosifen to taste so good. Its smell was strange when you sniffed it, but when you ate it, it was wonderfully fragrant.

Su Ci’s appearance was beautiful, and combined with her elegant table manners, her graceful way of eating instantly drew the netizens’ attention. Even Qin Shiyan’s fans had no choice but to admit that Su Ci was eating with genuine enjoyment, they wanted to slurp noodles too.

“Sorry, I need to step out for a moment.”

“Be right back in a few minutes, I’m going to make some luosifen.”

“Hahaha, I’m doomed. I just finished eating, and I was hesitating about whether to get another bowl. Forget it, I’ll just order takeout again. Dieting is tomorrow’s problem.”

“Don’t think I didn’t see it — before eating, Su Ci still looked a little disgusted, but now she’s loving it. Luckily I was prepared and ordered luosifen takeout just now.”

“Crying, the bread in my hand instantly stopped smelling good.”

“Ahhh, why did I have to watch this show while I’m at work?”

“Sister in front, I’ll slurp first to pay my respects.”

“No one can escape the ‘true fragrance law’ of luosifen.”

Netizens saw that not only was Su Ci slurping noodles, but Nan Yi, Xie Yumin, Guan Jing, and even the director were eating luosifen. The entire show was filled with the sound of slurping noodles, making everyone laugh to death. Yet only Qin Shiyan sat there looking wronged, not moving her chopsticks. This scene felt familiar.

The difference was that in the previous episode, the one who got scolded was Su Ci, while this time Qin Shiyan was the one being pitied by fans.

After the recording ended, the studio was still filled with that pungent smell, thick and lingering. As soon as the director finished the closing remarks, Qin Shiyan fled, quickly getting up and heading out the door.

Guan Jing had also eaten a lot this episode. Now, supported by her assistant, she was heading to the restroom to induce vomiting.

Nan Yi still looked unwell, leaning against the chair as he waited for his assistant to bring stomach medicine.

The most relaxed were Su Ci and Xie Yumin, they could eat however much they wanted. Luosifen was a little spicy, so after a few bites, Su Ci took several sips of coconut juice before she recovered.

Her small lips were reddened from the spice, looking very pretty. “Come with me for a bit, I have something to give you,” Su Ci said to Xie Yumin.

Xie Yumin was a little curious. “Okay.”

The two walked out of the recording room, taking deep breaths of the fresh air outside, finally feeling awake again. The recording room had been far too smelly, and even their clothes seemed to be carrying the odor.

At that moment, the set next door had also finished filming, and a burst of noise came from there.

Then, Su Ci saw several staff members surrounding a tall male celebrity as they escorted him past her.

The male celebrity saw Su Ci standing to the side — so beautiful it was shocking — and he instinctively glanced at her twice.

“That’s Zheng Hao, the singer who’s been very popular recently. He’s holding a concert next month, and he was probably shooting the promotional video next door just now,” Xie Yumin said. Seeing Su Ci staring unblinkingly at the male celebrity, she thought Su Ci was interested in him.

So that male celebrity was Zheng Hao. Su Ci had heard many people mention him before — Zheng Hao was the rising star of Chuangshen Company. That meant Zheng Hao was an artist under her own company.

Su Ci withdrew her gaze. “Which date is his concert next month?”

“The 8th.” A smile appeared on Xie Yumin’s usually cold face. “Do you want to go?”

Su Ci shook her head.

Just now, she had seen that Zheng Hao’s life value was a red bar — with only one month left. Today was the 8th, and there was exactly one month until his concert next month.

That meant Zheng Hao would die on the day of his concert.

This was far too tragic. Would it be from illness? Or an accident?

There was still another matter waiting, so Su Ci could only temporarily press down her thoughts. She turned to Xie Yumin and said, “Let’s go, I’ll give you the thing.”

Back in the lounge, Su Ci took out a document and handed it to Xie Yumin. “Open it and take a look.”

This information was something she had asked someone to investigate — they had already found out who was behind leaking Xie Yumin’s scandal earlier.

Xie Yumin opened the envelope and pulled out the documents inside. At that moment, a few photos slipped out and fell to the floor.

She picked them up, and the moment she saw what was in the photos, her hands trembled in fear.

“How do you have these photos?” Xie Yumin looked at Su Ci in disbelief.

“Look at the contents of the file first.” Su Ci sat down on the sofa.

She spoke leisurely, “On the day of my birthday banquet, these photos of yours were originally going to be exposed online. But I had someone delete them immediately. And I also had the person behind this checked out for you.”

Looking at the name “Guan Jing” on the investigation report, Xie Yumin felt cold all over.

The photos showed her dining with some investors earlier, drunk and being helped out. The man had tried to take her away, but fortunately, her agent stopped him in time.

She never expected that she had still been photographed.

The investor supporting her was a married man. If these photos were really exposed, whether she was a victim or whether anything actually happened, her reputation would be ruined and her career destroyed.

That day, she had indeed told Guan Jing that she had a dinner meeting, and Guan Jing had even asked for the location.

So, Guan Jing had been waiting to set her up.

Xie Yumin’s personality was not as strong as her cold exterior made her seem. Betrayed by a friend, attacked by the internet, and already dealing with depression, she could not withstand the pressure and chose to take a large number of sleeping pills.

If Su Ci hadn’t intervened, Xie Yumin would already be gone.

“I’ve given you all the information. You can decide how to handle it yourself.” Su Ci stood up, preparing to give Xie Yumin time to think.

When she reached the door, Su Ci suddenly paused. “Someone who sets you up isn’t worth being friends with. Since she’s not a friend, there’s no need to keep her in your heart — even less to do something foolish because of her.” She looked at Xie Yumin. “Am I right?”

The dazed look in Xie Yumin’s eyes gradually cleared. She looked at Su Ci, feeling an inexplicable sense of support rise within her.

Xie Yumin sincerely thanked her. “Thank you.”

Su Ci smiled. It was enough that Xie Yumin could think things through. She pushed the door open and stepped out and right outside stood Guan Jing.

Guan Jing had just come back from the restroom after inducing vomiting. Seeing Su Ci, she greeted her warmly with an eager smile, but received only a cold expression in return.

Watching Su Ci walk straight past her, a hint of displeasure appeared on Guan Jing’s delicate face.

She turned around, and immediately met Xie Yumin’s gaze — filled with anger.

After Su Ci left the lounge, Xu Duo came to find her, informing her that she had made the trending list again.

Su Ci had always been someone who trended easily, so she didn’t think much of it. But Xu Duo felt differently — Su Ci had only recorded two episodes, and she had already hit the trending list twice. In the future, she would definitely explode in popularity.

Xu Duo asked Su Ci, “Do you and Qin Shiyan have some kind of conflict? Qin Shiyan’s fans are putting your photos and hers side by side, saying the mole at the corner of your eye is imitating her.”

Xu Duo glanced around, then lowered her voice. “Qin Shiyan has a powerful background. Don’t offend her lightly. If there’s any friction during the recording, you’re a newcomer — endure it if you can.”

In the entertainment industry, those who hadn’t yet risen to the top were frequently suppressed.

Su Ci caught the key point. “Qin Shiyan has a powerful background?”

Xu Duo told her, “You only just entered this industry, so you might not know. People in the circle all know that Qin Shiyan is the Su family’s adopted daughter. You should know the Su family’s status, right? So you must never offend Qin Shiyan.”

Su Ci gave Xu Duo a strange look. “The Su family doesn’t have an adopted daughter.”

Her parents only had her, a single daughter. Where would an adopted daughter come from?

And Qin Shiyan — was she worthy?

Today, Xu Duo was still dressed entirely in green, with a red tie, looking like a Christmas tree carrying a gift. Hearing Su Ci’s words, he widened his eyes. “You must never say that in front of Qin Shiyan. You’ll offend her.”

Seeing Su Ci’s confused, inexperienced appearance — like a little lab mouse — he couldn’t resist teaching her. “Qin Shiyan has very close relations with the Su family. She often comes and goes freely from the Su residence. Even if she isn’t their daughter, her relationship with the Su family is deep. I heard Qin Shiyan is also close friends with the Su family’s young miss.”

“No matter what her relationship with the Su family is, you absolutely cannot offend her. Otherwise, with how you’re not even considered a third-tier actress right now, one sentence from Qin Shiyan could cut off your future career.” Xu Duo advised earnestly.

Hearing this, Su Ci almost wanted to laugh. “Qin Shiyan is popular right now?”

“Yeah.” Xu Duo was very knowledgeable about these things. “She has the Su family backing her. It’s impossible for her not to be popular.”

Su Ci blinked. “Alright, I know.”

“What do you know?” Xu Duo raised his voice as he watched Su Ci walking away. “Remember what I told you!”

Once Su Ci got into the car, she took out her phone to look at the trending list. The topic was ranked fourth, with very high heat — it would likely climb higher.

She clicked in, and as expected, the photos were of her and Qin Shiyan.

The person who posted them was very crafty. They deliberately chose a half-profile photo of her eating, which happened to highlight her small teardrop mole at the outer corner of her eye. As for Qin Shiyan’s photo, it was clearly carefully selected — she was in an evening gown, with professionally styled hair and makeup.

Su Ci pressed her lips together in displeasure. No matter how blind netizens were, they couldn’t possibly think she was uglier than Qin Shiyan. So this was why — the problem was the photos.

Using an unflattering screenshot of her and placing it beside a heavily edited, glamorous photo of Qin Shiyan — this kind of cheap trick was so low-level she could only sneer at it.

Opening the comments below, Su Ci grew angrier as she read.

“Good grief, this random influencer keeps leeching off our Xiao Yan’s trending topics twice in a row.”

“I’m dying laughing. Marketing accounts see our Xiao Yan trending and keep using her for hype? Don’t compare every nobody to our Xiao Yan.”

“Xiao Yan shines on her own. No need for comparisons.”

“When Xiao Yan debuted, she was a once-in-a-century beauty. That person next to her — what kind of trash is that? How could she compare with Xiao Yan?”