Chapter Fifty: True Intentions Revealed at a Glance

There was some connection between Bai Ling and Bai Ling, but not much. The other person, named Wen Huaiyu, was an artist of traditional opera. Last time, she had shown a strong interest in Bai Ling. After meeting, the two greeted Bai Ling warmly.

Leng Yan, however, was less enthusiastic. He was probably used to maintaining a cold and aloof persona, so he merely nodded at Bai Ling and paid little attention to the others. Even the young actor Lin Yubai, whose status was quite remarkable, received scant acknowledgment from him.

But Wen Huaiyu was different. She came forward cheerfully to chat with Bai Ling.

"Little Bai, it’s been so long since we last met," she said. "I’ve heard everything about what you've been through. It’s hard to imagine how you managed to get through it. But don’t worry, Aunt Wen knows you’re a good child. If you ever face any difficulties, come to me. I may not be able to do much, but whatever I can help with, I certainly will."

Bai Ling looked into her eyes. Often, sincerity can be seen in a person's gaze, and Bai Ling now felt the genuine concern from Wen Huaiyu. It was not feigned. For someone older, with a family and children, after learning of Bai Ling's past, it would be hard not to feel empathy and affection. Moreover, Bai Ling had already proven herself with her own abilities, which only made Wen Huaiyu more eager to cherish her talent.

Bai Ling smiled lightly. "Thank you for your concern, Aunt Wen. Here, let me help you with your luggage. Let’s go upstairs. You must be tired after your journey."

As for the two senior figures in the industry whom Bai Ling hadn’t met or known before, she greeted them with a polite smile. Of course, what she meant by not meeting or knowing them was that she hadn’t interacted with them directly. Bai Ling had always been an obscure member of a girl group, with neither resources nor connections. Even the other members excluded and ignored her, and when trouble struck, they quickly stepped forward to slander her without hesitation. How could she have any ties to these industry veterans?

But knowing their names wasn't difficult. Even if Bai Ling pretended to be oblivious to everything outside her window and cared only for her own happiness, she could at least call them by name.

Teacher Wen Haiquan and Teacher Jin Chenglin.

Both men, advanced in age, carried themselves with the air of seasoned veterans.

If Bai Ling remembered correctly, Teacher Wen Haiquan seemed to have some familial connection with Wen Huaiyu. Of course, Bai Ling wasn’t entirely sure about the specifics.

What surprised Bai Ling was that all four newly arrived seniors seemed quite interested in her. On the way to the guesthouse, their eyes lingered on her as if assessing her. During the subsequent conversation, Bai Ling understood why—it was still about that infamous "Year of the Pig" incident. When the four teachers arrived together, whether by checking trending topics or suggested news, they had learned about her situation. Thus, they became curious about Bai Ling, which left her both amused and helpless.

After reaching the guesthouse and settling the teachers in, the next important task was dinner. The Zhou family couple had already prepared the ingredients, but the actual preparation and who would cook was still up for debate. It was entirely up to the guests.

In previous seasons, the younger participants usually volunteered to showcase their cooking skills. Sometimes things went wrong, sometimes they received much praise. Many artists gained the reputation of being able to both grace the stage and handle the kitchen, earning the title of "ideal man" or "ideal woman." It was another way to build their personas.

Of course, even if the young ones couldn’t cook, there were always the seniors to rely on. If all else failed, the hosts would step in. There was little risk of disaster.

As for this episode, Bai Ling naturally remained silent. She had no choice—she couldn’t cook. Wen Yan took the opportunity to display her diligence. In fact, she was just a privileged heiress; how could she possibly know how to cook? But she had studied ahead of time, so with some effort, she managed to present a dish of stir-fried pork with chili.

Even for such a simple dish, everyone had to raise their thumbs in praise. There was no helping it—a princess descending to debut, whether good or bad, had to be celebrated by all.

Of course, Wen Yan seemed unaware, even a little smug. Only when she tasted it herself did she realize it was far too spicy and began gulping water, leaving her unable to join the dinner conversation—a truly anxious moment.

Bai Ling could only watch with amusement.

These were all minor matters. Through such performances, Bai Ling could understand why certain plotlines in novels seemed like deus ex machina, impossible to resolve. It was probably because the story unfolded from Wen Yan’s perspective. And people, after all, only want to see what they wish and ignore what they don’t.

"No wonder, from my view, Lin Yubai and Zhuge Ming don’t seem as enamored with the heroine as the novel portrays. Mary Sue stories, after all, are tinged with a young girl’s fantasy and embellishment."

"Thankfully, I live in reality," Bai Ling mused, waiting quietly for dinner.

Though still a female celebrity, Bai Ling had drawn a lucky reward that suited her foodie persona—she could eat without gaining weight. Such an ability must be put to good use; no point wasting it. She couldn’t afford to let herself suffer.

Bai Ling knew well that many artists, striving for a camera-ready figure, would desperately control their diet. There were even people who would eat a single cucumber in the morning, another with two eggs at noon, and yet another cucumber at night. Bai Ling had always marveled at how ruthless people could be—especially girls, who pursued beauty so fiercely.

The original Bai Ling had done the same, so now, a single recollection brought back the pain of those days.

The good news was, Bai Ling could soon enjoy delicious food. While everyone else was busy cooking and discussing recipes, Bai Ling only needed to be a good listener, with nothing else to worry about.

Before long, the meal was ready. As everyone brought their signature dishes to the table, the aroma was intoxicating.

The excitement in the live broadcast matched the feast.

"It looks amazing."

"Teacher Wen’s skills are fantastic—three main dishes in one go!"

"I never expected the cold young master to cook—what a shock!"

"I wish I could dine with them. It looks so appetizing."

"When I get rich one day, I’ll buy a phone that lets me smell the food. Woe is me!"