Dating Show Side Character, Getting Rich by Roasting People

CHAPTER 34: This Dating Show Actually Has a Real Couple!

　　“Alright, it’s off-duty time now. No work talk.”

　　Chu Ling said frankly, “If you want to stick with me, we can go together. If you want to do your own thing, we can split up.”

　　Sheng Yi didn’t even hesitate. “Two people together is definitely more fun than one.”

　　“You sure?”

　　Chu Ling raised an eyebrow and pointed to the east side of the park at the towering red roller coaster. “I’m starting with the highest one. Do you dare?”

　　This was the scariest and most famous ride in the whole park.

　　Because of its top speed, longest track, and highest height, all in one, it had become the park’s flagship attraction.

　　Many visitors wouldn’t even dare try it, just watching from below, let alone getting on.

　　Sheng Yi smiled. “You call this a challenge?”

　　The system told Chu Ling, “I’d say that counts as a provocation.”

　　For most people, hearing that would feel like being underestimated and might stir up a bit of annoyance.

　　But Chu Ling glanced at Sheng Yi and still didn’t catch a trace of negative emotion from him.

　　“Good news, what a coincidence,” Sheng Yi said. “That’s the one I’ve been wanting to try the most too. Let’s go.”

　　It was still normal operating hours in the park. Even though the staff were a bit surprised by Sheng Yi and Chu Ling coming back, they welcomed them enthusiastically. “Welcome to the ‘Flying Into the Clouds’ ride.”

　　She paused, looked back, and asked, “Just the two of you?”

　　“Yes. Filming is over, we just want to enjoy the ride ourselves.”

　　Chu Ling blinked. “Is that okay? Does this count as making you work overtime?”

　　The staff had been a little nervous when they saw Chu Ling return.

　　After all, rumors said she had a bad temper and liked to act like a diva. They thought they were in trouble again.

　　But her tone now was polite, with not a hint of celebrity attitude.

　　And up close, Chu Ling was even more beautiful than she appeared on screen.

　　The staff couldn’t help staring for a few seconds before smiling. “Not at all.”

　　“Even if no one else is here, we still clock out on time.”

　　She led Sheng Yi and Chu Ling to the roller coaster. The two of them exchanged a glance and, without saying a word, both chose the very front row.

　　The staff smiled and then fastened their seatbelts, starting the roller coaster.

　　The roller coaster moved forward slowly.

　　Sheng Yi asked Chu Ling, “What if they hadn’t agreed just now?”

　　“Then…”

　　Chu Ling shrugged. “We’d be leaving.”

　　She asked him back, “You really think I’d throw a fit, make things hard for the staff, or demand a special pass?”

　　She let out a small hum. “I have a bad temper, but I’m not crazy.”

　　…If you went by the rumors online, Chu Ling probably sounded like that kind of person.

　　Sheng Yi thought, but from what he’d seen, all those earlier rumors about her seemed completely wrong.

　　There was only one thing true.

　　Her tongue really was sharp.

　　The roller coaster slowly climbed, approaching the top.

　　Since they were in the front row, the view was breathtaking. At the peak, they could almost see the entire park from above.

　　The wind blew through their hair.

　　Sheng Yi suddenly asked, “Aren’t you scared?”

　　“No.”

　　Chu Ling said calmly, “Because I’m definitely not going to die.”

　　Come on, she was the wicked supporting character, an important role.

　　There was no way she was going to die in some random place like this. She still had to shine in her grand career of being universally hated.

　　She thought about Sheng Yi’s ending for a moment.

　　Even though the original story didn’t mention it, there were still plot points for him later, and he wouldn’t die here either. She comforted him, “You probably won’t die either.”

　　Sheng Yi: “…Thanks.”

　　Was that supposed to be comforting? The method was… unusual.

　　The roller coaster reached the top, paused for three seconds, then shot down at full speed.

　　Chu Ling’s world spun upside down instantly.

　　But she didn’t grab the handles. She spread her arms wide, welcoming the wind. The rushing wind didn’t scare her; it made her feel even freer.

　　This felt amazing.

　　Sheng Yi didn’t close his eyes either. He glanced at the scenery a few times, then turned to look at Chu Ling beside him.

　　Chu Ling had her arms wide open, smiling freely and beautifully. The sunlight hit her face, making her seem like she was glowing.

　　The wild wind messed up her hair, strands brushing against his arm, like little pokes stirring his emotions.

　　The rush of speed quickened Sheng Yi’s heartbeat, thump thump thump, hidden beneath the roaring track sounds so well that he barely noticed it himself.

　　After getting off the roller coaster, Chu Ling asked Sheng Yi, “How was it? Okay? Ready for the next ride?”

　　She had seen many people before. They always said they weren’t scared, but their legs went weak as soon as they got off.

　　“Of course.”

　　Aside from a faster heartbeat, Sheng Yi didn’t feel anything else. He even felt a hint of excitement. “Let’s go to the next ride.”

　　And just like that, the two of them spent an hour hitting every thrilling ride in the Amusement Park back to back.

　　After getting off the last giant pendulum ride, Sheng Yi looked at Chu Ling and smiled. “You’re really not scared at all.”

　　She even seemed to get braver the more she rode.

　　“If I were scared, I wouldn’t have come.”

　　Chu Ling lifted her chin and said to him, “You’re not bad either.”

　　Back when she was in school, she had come to the amusement park alone.

　　She wasn’t very popular, and the few friends she had didn’t dare try these rides. So she had queued again and again by herself, hitting every thrilling ride.

　　Since this time’s experience was so much fun, she even thought that in the future she could have Sheng Yi as a park buddy, and it would definitely be enjoyable.

　　“Almost done with all the rides, and it’s getting close to the park’s closing time.”

　　Sheng Yi asked, “Hungry?”

　　Chu Ling touched her stomach.

　　The sun was setting in the distance; it really was dinner time.

　　“A little,” she said. “But the food inside the park isn’t very good.”

　　Their lunch had been a flop, luckily it hadn’t cost her own money.

　　She tilted her head. “I’ll take you out for a proper meal.”

　　Sheng Yi had originally planned to invite her, so he was caught off guard. After a moment, he said, “Sure, we can eat, but there’s no way a girl should pay. I’ll take care of it.”

　　“Don’t argue with me.”

　　Chu Ling tapped the painted “king” on her forehead and put her hands on her hips, very bossy. “Today, whatever I say goes.”

　　She was in a great mood.

　　Not only had she found a perfect park buddy, but her earnings were about to hit ten million. Paying for a meal was nothing; she was happy to play the generous spender for once.

　　She asked Sheng Yi, “What do you want to eat?”

　　Sheng Yi asked, “You want me to choose?”    

　　Chu Ling nodded, but added, “But I don’t want fancy Western food this time. Let’s pick something else.”

　　Previously, almost every date with a male guest had been at high-end Western restaurants. The food was good, but after a while, it got a little tiring.

　　Well, there was no helping it. High-end Western restaurants had the right atmosphere, perfect for showing off.

　　But today, since there was no filming or posing for the cameras, Chu Ling would rather eat street food than another fancy meal.

　　Sheng Yi didn’t seem like that kind of person either.

　　Sure enough, after a moment’s thought, he gave the answer Chu Ling wanted to hear. “Then how about hot pot?”

　　—

　　The two of them went to a nearby hot pot restaurant. To avoid being recognized, Chu Ling had booked a private room in advance on her phone.

　　The weather today was hot, but luckily the restaurant had air conditioning. The steaming hot pot arrived, and it didn’t feel too warm inside.

　　“Our band basically goes for hot pot every time after a show,” Sheng Yi told her. “At first, the money we earned was just enough for the four of us to have one hot pot. We'd consider it our paycheck, and then we'd all go home.”

　　Hearing that… it sounded really rough.　　

　　Chu Ling blinked and asked, “What about now?”

　　“Well… now one show can probably cover several hot pot meals,” Sheng Yi said. He thought for a moment, then looked at her. “But before I joined this show, did you even know who I was?”

　　Chu Ling hesitated, then shook her head honestly.

　　Sheng Yi smiled. “See, still not quite there.”

　　Chu Ling thought for a moment and said, “But after this show airs, your band’s popularity should rise along with it.”

　　“…Hopefully,” Sheng Yi replied. He didn’t dare say that was exactly why he joined the show. He quickly swirled another slice of meat in the hot pot, trying to hide the slight nervousness on his face.

　　Chu Ling, however, was thinking two steps ahead of him.

　　Sheng Yi’s public image was pretty good for now, and there wasn’t anything wrong with it. If he behaved normally until the show ended, even without ending up with any girl, he could still boost his popularity.

　　Of course, if he could actually become a couple and stir up some ship rumors, the attention would be even bigger.

　　So she asked, “Did you come on this show to fall in love?”

　　Sheng Yi had been tense about being noticed just moments ago, but hearing this question made his heart tighten. His hand holding the chopsticks froze for a moment.

　　“If that’s the case, you need to pay attention,” Chu Ling warned. “If you like Wen Shu, this roundabout approach won’t win her over. It’s better to be direct and tell her how you feel. She might actually consider it seriously.”

　　Sheng Yi froze. “…Ah?”

　　“This is just my suggestion. You can take it or leave it,” Chu Ling added. She was in a good mood, so she generously gave him a piece of advice. If he didn’t take it, then just treat it as her being nosy.

　　“No,” Sheng Yi blurted instinctively, “I didn’t—”

　　He didn’t like Wen Shu.

　　Then he paused and remembered that the script the show gave him was for a love triangle involving Qin Shuo and Wen Shu, and he had indeed been following that direction.

　　Even though there were no cameras rolling right now, what if Chu Ling found out?

　　What would she think of him?

　　Wen Shu was still her good friend on this show.

　　If Chu Ling knew that everything he was showing was just part of the script, would she end up disliking him for it?

　　Sheng Yi slammed on the brakes in his mind, cutting off his words. His expression instantly became complicated.

　　Chu Ling sensed something was off. She looked up at him and tentatively asked, “Or… have you changed your mind just now?”

　　“…Maybe not exactly in the way you think,” Sheng Yi replied. He thought for a moment, then turned her own question back on her. “So why are you on the show? To fall in love?”

　　“What do you think?”

　　Chu Ling let out a short laugh. “Of course it’s to make money.”

　　Who goes on a show to fall in love?

　　With the people on this program, aside from her own naturally disliked aura, anyone wanting romance could easily get it offline. Coming on the show was always for something else.

　　Sheng Yi didn’t expect her to be so straightforward. “…That direct?”

　　“Of course.”

　　Chu Ling swirled two slices of beef in the hot pot and casually said, “Do you really think anyone here came just to fall in love?”

　　Probably only Qin Shuo, chasing his wife, had serious romantic intentions—but even his chances were fading fast.

　　After saying that, she seemed to realize something and suddenly laughed. “I get it. You’re not here for that either.”

　　No wonder he asked.

　　He was testing her stance.

　　Sheng Yi felt a jolt in his chest.

　　He hadn’t expected Chu Ling to figure it out so easily.

　　Should he admit it?

　　If he told the truth, there was a risk Chu Ling would catch him in a flaw and maybe even put him on her blacklist. Then he’d have no escape from being roasted by her.

　　If he lied and she found out, the consequences could be even worse.

　　…Maybe his teammate was right. He really should stay away from Chu Ling. She was just too sharp.

　　“I knew it. You look like you came on the show to promote your music.”

　　Chu Ling suddenly seemed to realize something, then let out a long, relieved breath. “Well, that’s perfect.”

　　Sheng Yi’s thoughts were still tangled, and he instinctively asked, “Why?”

　　Chu Ling said, “I was still debating whether I should bring it up with Wen Shu.”

　　From what Sheng Yi could see, there was no real problem right now. The only issue was that Wen Shu didn’t seem interested in him, so even if Chu Ling wanted to help, it wouldn’t be appropriate.

　　Since he wasn’t serious either, Chu Ling found the situation quite amusing. “It’s the script the production gave you, right?”

　　“…You could say that.”

　　Now Sheng Yi had no choice but to admit it.

　　Chu Ling guessed everything perfectly, whether because she had seen a lot in the entertainment industry or simply because she was naturally smart.

　　“Makes sense.”

　　She thought for a moment. “The show definitely wants to hype Qin Shuo’s romance as a selling point, and you’re just the fuel they added.”

　　According to the original storyline, his character would make Qin Shuo jealous, thus furthering the relationship between the original male and female protagonists.

　　But now it seemed… that love line was having the opposite effect.

　　Chu Ling sighed. “I originally thought you were picking on Qin Shuo because you were a rival.”

　　Turns out it might just be the script.

　　So insulting him wasn’t necessarily personal.

　　“…I’m not a rival, but it really is how I feel.”

　　Sheng Yi said, “What he says and does—who could just stay silent?”

　　Chu Ling raised an eyebrow. “Really?”

　　“Really.”

　　“Good. Great minds think alike.”

　　Chu Ling smiled in satisfaction. “Keep it up! Even if you don’t like Wen Shu, as long as you don’t like Qin Shuo, we’re good friends.”

　　Sheng Yi couldn’t help but laugh. “You really dislike him that much, huh?”

　　“No obligation to flatter him.”

　　Chu Ling said.

　　Seeing that she had no intention of teasing him, Sheng Yi finally felt a weight lift off his shoulders.

　　He still felt a little uneasy and asked, “You’re not going to tell anyone, right?”

　　“Tell what? That you’re not here to find love?”

　　Chu Ling laughed. “Everyone’s the same.”

　　She had known from the start that most people on this dating show had their own hidden agendas and little schemes. That was totally normal.

　　“Besides, just from the money you make, it’s obvious your band is barely scraping by.”

　　Chu Ling said sympathetically.

　　No wonder Sheng Yi hadn’t even wanted to talk about dreams with her last time. In this situation, talking about dreams really did seem a bit ridiculous.

　　System: “…Where’s the kindness in that?”

　　Talking this through cleared the knot in Sheng Yi’s mind that had been bothering him all along.

　　He finally relaxed and happily finished the hotpot with Chu Ling.

　　When it came time to pay, he wanted to sneakily cover it, but Chu Ling had already paid through her phone when she ordered.

　　“Then next time it’s my turn, right?”

　　Sheng Yi asked.

　　“Fine, fine, next time it’s yours.”

　　Chu Ling waved it off without any fuss. She quietly acknowledged there would be a next meal.

　　Sheng Yi smiled to himself. “Alright, it’s a deal.”

　　After eating, the two of them called a car to head back.

　　On the way, Chu Ling wanted to check how people had been talking about her today.

　　After all, she was about to hit ten million. There was no room for slacking!

　　She searched for the Heartbeat Lab headlines, but what popped up wasn’t discussion about today’s episode. It was a gossip post.

　　【Insider news, guaranteed: Heartbeat Lab has at least one real couple!】

　　【After the live stream ended, only these two secretly went back to the amusement park to play! Just the two of them! Who can understand this? This is clearly a real couple!!】

　　Chu Ling almost spat out her drink.

 

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