Dating Show Side Character, Getting Rich by Roasting People

CHAPTER 78: Believing Me

　　The ‘Perfect Match’ CP had been one of the more popular, long-standing celebrity pairs in the entertainment circle.

　　Back when they starred in that hit historical drama, the show exploded in popularity. Once it ended, they officially announced their relationship, and many fans who loved their characters transferred that love onto the real-life couple, turning into hardcore real-life CP fans.

　　Over the years, the two had carefully maintained their public image as a couple. They appeared repeatedly on various couple-themed variety shows, earning a solid reputation as a model celebrity couple.

　　So for many people, their first reaction was disbelief.

　　【Maybe it’s just a misunderstanding】

　　【We haven’t even seen them in person yet】

　　【Did Chu Ling see anything just now?】

　　“Don’t know,” Chu Ling said, pretending to be clueless, “I’m just an ordinary passerby who has to catch a flight.”

　　She tugged at Sheng Yi’s sleeve. “Let’s go.”

　　Sheng Yi held the phone for her. “I told you we shouldn’t stream this.”

　　He wanted to cut the live stream, but the chat exploded.

　　【No!! Don’t cut it! We haven’t figured out the drama yet!】

　　【I really like the ‘Perfect Match’ CP… Don't ruin their reputation, they're so sweet.】

　　【They’re still filming couple variety shows, it shouldn’t be like this, right?】

　　【By the way, what do you think of Xie Qing and He Ming in real life? Are they still good as a couple?】

　　Sheng Yi hesitated for a moment but still showed the chat to Chu Ling.

　　Chu Ling thought for a moment. “About a couple’s relationship… I can’t really judge, but my impression is they seem pretty good.”

　　Sheng Yi looked at her, slightly surprised that Chu Ling would speak well of people she didn’t particularly like. But then she added, “Besides, on the first day we met them, this couple actually laughed at Sheng Yi and me together.”

　　Sheng Yi: “…..”

　　The chatroom immediately went into full-on gossip mode.

　　【What?!】

　　【They laughed at you?】

　　【No way, but when you met on the show, they seemed so friendly】

　　【+1, I thought maybe they lost a game later and were just embarrassed or something】

　　“Oh, it’s just that they act a little different on the show versus in private.”

　　“In private… they’re kind of high and mighty.”

　　Chu Ling used a deliberately vague, neutral word, then smiled lightly. “As for anything else, I don’t really know. I haven’t met them that many times, so I can’t make stuff up.”

　　【High and mighty?】

　　【They probably just looked down on our couple a bit】

　　【Haha, Chu Ling really learned to use euphemisms】

　　【They’ve been famous for a long time, so it makes sense they might be a bit aloof in private】

　　【True to Chu Ling’s house collapse law… not surprising】

　　【This Chu Ling really says anything, I’m actually worried she’ll get roasted】

　　【Fans are probably rushing in now】

　　【Fans, don’t rush to control comments yet. Better check your own houses first, in case they collapse】

　　【Chu Ling, you’re my only connection in the entertainment world! Any other news?】

　　Sheng Yi and Chu Ling soon reached the elevator.

　　“I really don’t know anything else, so don’t ask me,” Chu Ling said, waving at Sheng Yi’s phone. “We should get to our flight. Bye.”

　　Ding.

　　The elevator doors slowly opened.

　　Xie Qing, wearing a mask, was holding hands with an unfamiliar man inside the elevator. Just as she was about to step out, she saw Chu Ling and Sheng Yi waiting outside and quickly let go.

　　Sheng Yi hadn’t had time to stop the stream. Two seconds later, he finally moved the camera away.

　　But the chat had already exploded.

　　【Wow?!】

　　【What did I just see?!】

　　【I was ready to feel sorry for Xie Qing with some cheating scandal, but now it looks off??】

　　【What is the relationship between these four? I don’t get it】

　　【‘Perfect Match’ isn’t a fake CP, right?!】

　　【No way, didn’t they get married? And show their marriage certificate?】

　　【Or are they playing separate ways after marriage, but pretending to be a loving couple for the fans?】

　　【Oh no, the CP fans’ idol houses are really collapsing now】

　　This was a big scandal.

　　Sheng Yi, afraid things would spiral, decisively ended the live stream.

　　Chu Ling didn’t worry. She raised an eyebrow and even waved at Xie Qing. “Hi?”

　　Xie Qing ignored them and hurried out with the man beside her.

　　Chu Ling and Sheng Yi stepped into the elevator.

　　Once the doors closed, Chu Ling asked, “Did you end it?”

　　Sheng Yi nodded. “Yeah.”

　　His expression was complicated. “We should have ended it sooner. If those two actually have something going on, it’s going to be impossible to not blame us as the catalyst.”

　　“We didn’t know anything,” Chu Ling said, her expression innocent. “We’re just ordinary passersby. It just so happened that the live stream caught something we shouldn’t have. How is that our fault?”

　　She thought back to what she had just seen and chuckled. “Well, now things are getting really interesting.”

　　“Those supposedly inseparable couples… either they’re secretly cheating and doing their own thing, or they’re faking the whole couple act for CP points. Either way, after all these years, their model-couple image is taking a huge hit.”

　　They had been pushing their couple image for so long. Their brand, their image, and probably their biggest income source were all tied up in it.

　　“If they lose this reputation, that’s like losing their main source of revenue. Rather than getting mad at us, they should think about how to handle this quickly.”

　　—

　　The incident was quickly reposted across every platform and soon went viral. People speculated whether it was a marital breakdown or some kind of scam.

　　【Oh my god, my idol house is collapsing!】

　　【So it’s not true love after all. They just look good on the surface but are actually distant?】

　　【They’re still filming couple shows while faking CP? Isn’t that straight-up fraud?】

　　【How many real CPs are even on these shows? Weren’t there fake CPs exposed in the first few episodes too?】

　　【Could it be that our couple, Overbearing CP, the ones everyone says are contract partners, are actually the real deal?】

　　【Overbearing CP are really genuine. Someone spotted them at the airport boarding a plane together.】

　　【Apparently, they didn’t even bring assistants. Just like ordinary couples, holding hands and sticking close. Private moments are even sweeter than on the show.】

　　【Haha, and it was captured during Chu Ling’s live stream? Talk about drama.】

　　【The master of idol-crashing strikes again. Nine out of ten times, she’s involved. Her curse is too strong.】

　　【What’s that saying again? Don’t mess with Chu Ling, or her lightning will strike you on the road!】

　　—

　　On the plane.

　　Before takeoff, Sheng Yi finally turned off his phone and teased Chu Ling, “You don’t actually have some kind of curse, do you?”

　　“Maybe,” Chu Ling laughed. “But what’s there to be afraid of if you’ve never done it? Those so-called idol crashes… they happen because there were problems from the start. You just see the traces of it in how they treat me.”

　　Not even mentioning the ones who fell hard on those shows.

　　Lin Zirun, after leaving the program, had his constantly hyped new book exposed for plagiarism. People laughed that he polished his words for the confession and polished the book for publication.

　　Zhou Yu had a minor rise in popularity after the show, but his inconsistent image, plus flipping sides in other shows, caused his public reputation to tank. His small entertainment career goal essentially failed.

　　Chu Ling also checked on Qin Shuo’s latest.

　　His studio had boldly released a statement claiming the show colluded with Chu Ling to frame the artists. But since the show aired normally afterward, they couldn’t produce new evidence, and suing was out of the question. Many fans were disappointed.

　　Combine that with the secretly married scandal Chu Ling hinted at, which was slowly verified to have some truth, a large number of fans left. The artist’s public persona completely collapsed, commercial value fell to rock bottom, and casual viewers remembered him only as problematic.

　　“Crashing like this? They got exactly what they deserved,” Chu Ling declared firmly.

　　Sheng Yi thought for a moment. “Agreed.”

　　“But if there really is some kind of curse, then that would mean…”

　　Chu Ling looked at him and teased, “You know, if you ever treat me badly in the future, your ending will be pretty miserable.”

　　Sheng Yi just smiled. “If I can dare to like you, doesn’t that already mean I have the confidence?”

　　Chu Ling raised an eyebrow. “What confidence?”

　　Sheng Yi’s expression softened. “The confidence that I will never betray you.”

　　After he said that, he looked at Chu Ling and noticed something in her expression. It wasn’t exactly moved or happy, and it wasn’t disdain either. It carried a complicated mix of emotions, like she wanted to say something but couldn’t.

　　“…..”

　　Sheng Yi understood and chuckled. “You’re the type who doesn’t really trust other people’s promises, right?”

　　“Not exactly…”

　　Chu Ling had intended to say something sweet to soothe her new boyfriend, but seeing Sheng Yi’s serious, probing gaze, she laughed. “Alright, fine. Maybe just a little.”

　　It wasn’t that she didn’t believe in promises. She hardly trusted anyone’s so-called sincerity.

　　Too many people had been attracted to her because of her looks, then left after getting to know her personality. The people she’d met and the sides of human nature she’d seen had taught her that very little in this world was permanent. Sometimes hatred lasted longer than love. So when people spoke sweet words, she often scoffed quietly to herself.

　　And yet, after living so long thinking she was clear-headed but also a little bitter, she had suddenly met someone with a passionate, genuine heart. Someone who matched her rhythm perfectly. It made her feel a tug-of-war between emotions she hadn’t felt in years.

　　She knew it wasn’t fair to Sheng Yi. He was speaking romantically, but she struggled to respond, which probably made her seem unenthusiastic.

　　Chu Ling thought for a moment and was about to say she would try to change. But Sheng Yi spoke first. “That’s my fault. I haven’t done well enough.”

　　“I’m also in my first relationship,” he continued gently. “I’m still learning. I hope that one day I can do better, so you’ll be able to truly believe in my promises.”

 

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