Chapter 99: The Masterful Performance of Xi Rouer

She couldn't help but glance once more at Yun Fu in the distance.

Yun Fu lounged on the sofa as if she had no bones, yet she didn't seem sloppy or careless in the least. It was clearly just a simple gesture, but somehow, when she did it, it carried a distinctive personal style. Now, nearly everyone present was captivated by her charm.

This was the thing she found hardest to accept. Even with the incident of the missing funds, everyone seemed willing to gloss over it so easily. What if the person who lost the funds had been someone else?

Xi Rou'er’s expression grew increasingly grim, but the words she spoke only made it seem like she was considering everyone’s welfare.

She said, “We have three days left, and we’re strangers here, don’t know the language—it’ll be hard to find work… Maybe we should ask the director’s team for some leniency?”

[Yeah, what are we supposed to do now? Why should everyone bear the consequences of Yun Fu’s mistake?]

[Rou’er is right, we’re in an unfamiliar place. How are we supposed to earn money, especially with the language barrier?]

[Yun Fu is such a pretentious troublemaker—why does she attract so much drama?]

[I’m fed up just seeing her now.]

Tong Zhenzhen stood beside Xi Rou’er, listening to her words. The thought of not knowing what kind of life awaited her in the coming days made her seethe with anger.

“If Yun Fu lost the funds, shouldn’t she be the one to bear the responsibility? We’re all adults here.”

The room fell silent at her words.

Xi Rou’er was the first to react. With an apologetic expression, she tugged gently at Tong Zhenzhen’s sleeve. “Zhenzhen, how can you say that? We’re a team, we…”

As she spoke, her gaze caught Yun Fu suddenly rising from the sofa.

Yun Fu’s gaze was so intense that, for a moment, Xi Rou’er felt as though every shadow in her heart was laid bare before Yun Fu.

Yun Fu strode over and stopped in front of Xi Rou’er. She curled her lips slightly and spoke in a cool, clear voice: “One person bears the consequences for their own actions?”

“…”

“In that case—so be it!” As soon as she finished, Yun Fu reached out and, before Xi Rou’er could react, pulled an envelope from her pocket.

The envelope was identical to the ones the production team used to hold their funds.

Yun Fu’s expression remained unchanged, her slender fingers opening the envelope as if she were unwrapping a work of art. Inside, the funds were intact, not a single bill missing.

The room was so quiet, you could hear every breath.

“Snap.” The sound of the envelope hitting the table.

Yun Fu lightly dusted her hands, as if she’d touched something dirty, glanced at the camera, and turned to ascend the stairs.

[Holy shit! What’s going on? Isn’t that the funds? Didn’t they say it was lost?]

[Stop asking—I’m just as confused! If we weren’t live, I’d think they were filming a TV drama.]

[So… did Xi Rou’er frame Yun Fu for losing the funds?]

[I’m shattered—what is happening here?]

The audience wasn’t the only ones thrown for a loop; the guests themselves felt like the game had taken a wild turn. But these were seasoned veterans of the entertainment industry—He Fang was the first to smooth things over.

“Must’ve forgotten, right? All these pockets, what a hassle.”

Xi Rou’er forced a smile that wouldn’t come. Her head buzzed, her face burned with shame.

Her years of acting saved her; she quickly followed He Fang’s lead. “Haha, turns out I put it in this pocket. Oh, production team, why did you give me an empty envelope?”

Production team: “…”

After a few more awkward laughs, the matter was treated as resolved—the funds were found, and everyone acted as if nothing had happened.

As for Yun Fu, she was upstairs, laying on the bed, chatting with Mo Day.

[That woman is shameless, daring to plot against you—should I deal with her for you?!] The message was accompanied by an image full of murderous intent.

[No need, let her be.] Yun Fu narrowed her eyes, thinking of something. Her intuition told her that Xi Rou’er had secrets, and they were far from simple.

She was exceptionally sensitive—more accurately, sharp—and that sensitivity had saved her many times throughout her career.

Now, she was certain Xi Rou’er was a problem, and she trusted her instincts completely.

The incident of the missing funds was suppressed by Xi Rou’er’s team and the production crew, so it didn’t stir up much trouble. But the viewers who watched the livestream weren’t fools; from then on, Xi Rou’er seemed odd to them.

After dinner, everyone gathered together.

Xi Rou’er suddenly stood up, holding a drink, her face full of apology, and addressed Yun Fu, “Yun Fu, I’m truly sorry about today—I didn’t clarify and misunderstood you. Will you forgive me?”

Yun Fu glanced at her, then acted as if she hadn’t heard a thing.

Such acting, she thought, was an eyesore.

Xi Rou’er stiffened, drained her drink herself, and sat back down.

“Zhenzhen, you said harsh words to Yun Fu today. You should apologize to her.”

The barrage of comments flooded with praise for Xi Rou’er’s gentle and thoughtful demeanor, though a few found her performance contrived. But those voices were quickly drowned out.

Tong Zhenzhen stood reluctantly, about to speak when Yun Fu said, “Sit down.”

A fool who didn’t even realize she was being used as a pawn.

With the atmosphere so awkward, the production team made no further attempts at interaction, and everyone dispersed.

Fortunately, Mu Bai was lively, pulling Yun Fu and Gu Haoyuan into a game, and the mood finally lightened.

—

The next day, the production team assigned them a task—learn to cook a special local dish.

“Oh, I can’t cook at all! You’re making things hard for me,” Mu Bai wailed, but to no avail.

So they set out together, planning to find a restaurant to learn from.

Yun Fu was in charge of translating. Whatever she said, the restaurant manager agreed to their request.

Mu Bai whispered to Yun Fu, “Xiao Fu, what did you say to him?”

“We’re here to help them advertise to an audience of millions.”

“…”

[Haha, Yun Fu is brilliant! The advertising is just a cover; they’re really here to learn the chef’s secrets.]

[I found a friend who speaks the local language to translate—the manager was told they’d be recommending the restaurant, so they needed to record the chef’s signature dish. So clever.]

[No wonder the manager was so happy—this audience is bigger than their whole country’s population!]

[Yun Fu is such a cunning fox, making up stories with a straight face. I’m dying of laughter.]

They thought learning to cook would be a simple matter, but who could have guessed they’d hit a snag with the chef.

The manager walked over apologetically and said, “I’m sorry, but my chef refuses to be filmed. You’ll have to find another restaurant.”