Chapter 140: The Turbulence of the Night

Nan Qiao had been lingering in the United States for a vacation during this period. While on leave, she rarely paid attention to the gossip and drama on the domestic entertainment web, preferring to avoid upsetting news that might disrupt her peace.

However, this afternoon, the person she was supposed to meet stood her up at the last minute. Cooped up in a luxury hotel with nothing to do, she felt a sudden whim to surf the domestic web. She inadvertently stumbled upon some livestream screenshots of Ye Fangfei and Lu Zhou, and, piqued by curiosity, clicked into the livestream room for *Shall We Exchange? Exes*.

She had never followed this variety show and was quite confused by the lack of context, so she chose to watch the individual camera feeds of the two people she knew: Lu Zhou and Ye Fangfei.

Originally, she had only intended to pass the time; she had never taken such variety shows seriously, knowing they were essentially scripted. Although the assistant director, Liu, had mentioned to her that the script participation for this season was very low, she hadn't believed it. Consequently, when she saw the somewhat intimate interactions between Lu Zhou and Ye Fangfei in the livestream, she simply assumed they were following the script.

However, the further she watched, the more something felt off.

Especially when she saw Ye Fangfei and Lu Zhou practicing that sweet love song on the campus of Beilai University—a song requested on the spot by fans—her brow couldn't help but furrow.

Ye Fangfei had changed.

Others might not be fully aware, but for Nan Qiao, whose positioning in the music industry was somewhat similar to Ye Fangfei's, she had kept a close eye on her despite them being in different companies. She was quite familiar with Ye Fangfei's situation in the entertainment industry.

Ye Fangfei had debuted in the music scene a long time ago. Her style was quite diverse, and she had experimented with many fields along the way. Yet, there was one area she had never touched: music strongly associated with romantic love.

In the music market, romantic elements were a major category. Logically, Ye Fangfei was at the perfect age for this kind of music, but she never ventured there.

It was very strange. It wasn't that she lacked talent; rather, she couldn't channel any genuine emotion into such songs. They were pure technique, sounding incredibly stiff, and always felt like something was missing.

Huaxuan Music had once been troubled by this and encouraged her to date, but to no avail. They had even found a psychologist for her. After a long period of consultation and diagnosis, the doctor gave an uncertain conclusion: mild romantic emotional deficit disorder. She subconsciously rejected romantic love, possibly due to some past emotional trauma, though the specifics remained elusive and could not be drawn out.

Later, Huaxuan Music completely gave up on having Ye Fangfei attempt love-themed music—or perhaps it wasn't the company that gave up, but Ye Fangfei herself.

This was the general information Nan Qiao had gathered through her connections.

So, although the outside world always felt that her style and Ye Fangfei's were somewhat similar, their music actually involved different elements. In the lane of romantic music, Nan Qiao could easily outperform Ye Fangfei.

But at this moment, seeing the changes in Ye Fangfei on the livestream, Nan Qiao was deeply shocked.

A love song like "Wish Sticky Note"? Based on what Nan Qiao knew, not only would Ye Fangfei basically never sing such a song, but even if she were forced to, it was unlikely she could capture the right feeling.

The song wasn't difficult, but the performance of a duet didn't rely solely on voice and technique to evoke a sense of heart-fluttering romance.

Yet, this time, Ye Fangfei hadn't just broken the mold by singing with such sweetness; she had performed better than ever before. Moreover, the shy, girlish expressions she displayed during the performance didn't seem faked for the stage at all!

In her singing, there was no longer the taste of pure technique, only emotion! Only emotion!

She had broken through herself!

And this breakthrough appeared to have been brought about by Lu Zhou.

Nan Qiao couldn't hide her shock. She picked up her phone, exited the livestream, and dialed the number of her talent manager, Liu Yali. "I just watched that *Exes* show. Based on this development, the situation looks tricky."

...

Likewise, the entire process of Ye Fangfei and Lu Zhou singing "Wish Sticky Note" in the livestream also brought shock to the higher-ups at Huaxuan Music.

It wasn't because the song was amazing or the stage was exceptional, but because they felt as though they were seeing a Ye Fangfei completely different from the one they had known.

She had definitely tasted the flavor of love at that moment! Otherwise, she wouldn't have found the right feeling.

The executives at Huaxuan Music were overjoyed!

It seemed that if things progressed smoothly, after Ye Fangfei finished the dating show, she might be willing to loosen up and attempt a new musical direction. Perhaps her inspiration would explode!

"What do you think of the two of them? At this rate, is there a chance they'll successfully end up together?"

"Look at the atmosphere when they're in the same frame; the pink bubbles are almost overflowing the screen. In all these years, have you ever seen Fangfei have this kind of intimate atmosphere with any man?"

"Indeed, never..."

"If Fangfei makes up her mind to do something, no one can stop her. Looking at her state now, she should have made her own judgment. I think there's a ninety percent chance they'll end up together."

"Then have the PR team prepare a plan! If they really get together, the internet will probably go wild for a while."

"Also, regarding Lu Zhou..."

"Yes?"

"I've decided: sign him! Regardless of what happens with Fangfei, signing him would at least stimulate her. Find someone to scout what bait Jinhua Entertainment is planning to throw at Lu Zhou."

"Fine."

...

In the United States, in a hotel presidential suite.

Night had fallen. There were no lights on inside, but the curtains of the floor-to-ceiling windows were open, letting in the light from the skyscrapers outside, casting a faint glow into the dark room.

A man in a suit sat on a rattan chair, gently swirling a glass of red wine, his gaze fixed on the livestream on his phone screen.

After a long while, he tilted his head back to take a sip of the wine, savoring it carefully until he finally swallowed. A faint smile curled at the corners of his mouth.

His phone rang then. He glanced at it, saw the name glowing on the screen, and answered with an expressionless face.

"Are you done with your work?" A woman's gentle, pleasant voice came through the receiver.

"Just finished and got back," he said.

"Shall I come over to see you?"

"I still have some work to process tonight, I can't keep you company." He lifted the red wine for a sip, looked out at the night, and said, "I have a flight back to the country tomorrow morning. It's a rare vacation, you should enjoy yourself here for a few more days. If you need anything, look for Xiao Wu; he'll be staying here for a while longer."

"Oh, alright..." The tone on the other end was laced with disappointment.

"Be a good girl," the man said with a faint smile.

...

That evening, the four experimental couples on *Shall We Exchange? Exes* finished their afternoon outings and returned to their respective hotels.

At Hotel A, Qi Jiajia and Xu Junze were tired from horseback riding. After resting briefly in their separate rooms, they met at the hotel restaurant for a candlelight dinner.

"It's almost over; how are you feeling?" Qi Jiajia cut a small piece of steak, put it in her mouth, and looked at Xu Junze sitting opposite her, trying to strike up a conversation.

"Almost over? The night has only just begun," Xu Junze said with a smile after taking a sip of wine. "I had a great time with you today."

"I didn't mean the day, I meant the show." Qi Jiajia corrected him with a laugh, covering her mouth.

"Alright, misunderstood. I thought you were saying the day was almost over." Xu Junze thought for a moment, let out a long breath, and smiled. "Indeed, it's almost over."

"Why do you sound so heavy?" Qi Jiajia noticed his sigh.

"It's not exactly heavy, just a bit sentimental." Xu Junze savored his own feelings; he didn't think it was heaviness. "Actually, I'm not afraid of you laughing at me, but there was a period during the show where my mentality really collapsed. I was overwhelmed, feeling like I couldn't find myself here. Later, I slowly came to terms with it, and now I feel much more relaxed and at ease. This mental journey makes me a bit sentimental."

Qi Jiajia was surprised by Xu Junze's sudden honesty, and his words inexplicably resonated with her.

"My goodness, I have the exact same feeling as you." She responded with some excitement, as if she had found a close friend. "So, I'm not the only one?"

"Every day there are so many emotions. One second I'm happy, the next I'm inexplicably sad. Sometimes I feel very clear about my heart, but for some reason, I feel an invisible pressure, and sometimes I feel anxious and lost."

Qi Jiajia was quite moved.

"I guess this is the 'dating show syndrome'." Xu Junze clinked his glass with hers and asked with a smile, "Do you feel a lot of pressure being with me today?"

"Do you want the truth?" Qi Jiajia suddenly smirked.

"Of course I want the truth."

"The truth is, today was actually quite relaxing. We were just out to have fun, so there was less psychological burden, and I didn't think about all those messy things." Qi Jiajia said happily, taking a sip of wine.

"That's good." Xu Junze watched her for a moment and decided not to beat around the bush. He asked directly, "Do you have any fixed standards for your future partner?"

"Huh?" Qi Jiajia was stunned, not reacting for a second, then laughed. "So direct?"

"It's almost over, is there any need to dance around it?" Xu Junze gestured with his hands and smiled. "Of course, if you don't want to answer, we can talk about something else."

"For a future partner, my ideal type is, of course, handsome, tall, fit, smart, talented, and most importantly, loyal to me."

As Qi Jiajia listed the conditions, she couldn't help but laugh. She waved her hand and said, "Haha, what am I saying? Does such a man exist? Ideals are just ideals, reality... hmm..."

Xu Junze watched her smile for a long time and said, "I've gained enlightenment."

"What have you gained?" Qi Jiajia gave him a strange look.

Xu Junze took another sip of wine, feeling slightly tipsy. He smiled and said, "A secret."

Qi Jiajia snorted. She rested her chin on her left hand, picked up a roasted potato cube with her right, and shoved it into her mouth. Recalling the progress of the show, she mumbled, "Hey? It seems we've already had two dates on the show, right?"

"Three, sister. You're too inattentive." Xu Junze corrected her.

"You're older than me, how are you okay with calling me 'sister'?" Qi Jiajia looked speechless. She furrowed her brow and flipped through her memory, puzzled. "Are there three? Why do I remember only two?"

Xu Junze listed the details for her. After listening, Qi Jiajia retorted, "That partner session doesn't count as a date!"

"Why doesn't it?" Xu Junze raised an eyebrow.

"Hmm... I don't think it does. That was just completing a task."

"Doesn't there have to be an emotional clash between people while completing a task? Why wouldn't it count?"

"Fine, three, that's quite a lot. Why do I keep running into you?" Qi Jiajia said with a laugh.

"Wasn't this time your own choice? Why are you asking that?" Xu Junze smiled. "Why did you choose me this time?"

"Ah?" Qi Jiajia was stunned. Perhaps because she had been drinking tonight, she didn't hide her thoughts and replied directly, "Because my first choice didn't choose me, and you were my second choice."

Xu Junze raised a hand to his forehead. Even though he knew he was her second choice, hearing her say it aloud felt very subtle. He tipped his head back and finished his wine, saying, "Speaking of which, when we had our first date, I was also your second choice."

Qi Jiajia: "..." Now that he mentioned it, she remembered.

Awkwardness filled her brain; it was social suicide.

She cupped her face in her hands, peering at him through her fingers, and laughed. "Can this date even continue properly?"

Xu Junze let out a loud laugh.

Livestream comments:
[Hahaha, Xu Junze is the eternal stand-in.]
[Friendly reminder: Their first date was when Qi Jiajia chose Zhang Chen, got rejected, and then chose Xu Junze.]
[So embarrassing, Jiajia wants to crawl into a hole.]

...

At Hotel B.

Because of a round of live-fire shooting, Zhang Chen and Chu Yao had inexplicably become like "bros"...

The two had finished eating out and returned to the hotel. The night was long, and sitting in the living room staring at each other was boring, but they were too sore and lazy to go out for other entertainment.

"What do you think the others are doing now?" Zhang Chen lay on the sofa, starting to imagine what Ye Fangfei and Lu Zhou might be doing in their hotel at this moment. The more he imagined, the more ridiculous the scenes became.

"Don't know. Eating? Shopping? Probably not like us," Chu Yao replied.

"Then do you want to find some other entertainment?"

"What kind of entertainment?"

"Cards?"

"Just the two of us?"

"...Forget it, it's boring." Zhang Chen turned his gaze to the wine rack, wanting to drown his sorrows. "Want a drink?"

"I don't drink." Chu Yao shook her head, feeling that drinking in a room alone with a grown man wasn't safe.

Zhang Chen didn't force it and poured himself a glass.

Chu Yao glanced at him but didn't say anything.

Zhang Chen turned on the TV, which blared with a foreign language, finally adding some noise to the room. He downed a gulp of wine and remarked with feeling, "What kind of date are we even on?"

Chu Yao watched the TV and replied listlessly, "A bro-date, maybe."

Zhang Chen almost spat out his wine. He wiped his mouth and looked at Chu Yao with a smile. "Fair point. If we can't talk about feelings, aren't we just talking about brotherhood?"

"By the way, did you have feelings for me at the beginning?" Zhang Chen asked with a confident, curious smile.

Chu Yao hadn't expected him to ask this suddenly. She was stunned for a moment, then answered with a question: "What about you? Did you have feelings for me at the beginning?"

She recalled their second date and his behavior. Although the show hadn't aired the key segments, she was the one involved and could perceive that intimate atmosphere.

If she really said Zhang Chen hadn't been moved by her at the time, she wouldn't believe it.

However, she also knew very well that human hearts were fickle; a brief moment of attraction didn't mean anything. She was like that, and so were others.

After getting to know each other better, they had both changed, hadn't they?

Facing Chu Yao's sudden counter-question, Zhang Chen was also stunned for half a second, then immediately lied through his teeth: "No!"

It was a livestream! Not a single frame would be cut! He couldn't say yes...

Chu Yao wasn't surprised by his answer. After all, he had made the production team cut the intimate scenes from the main show, so naturally, he wouldn't admit to having been moved in the livestream. Otherwise, how could he answer to Ye Fangfei?

He was here to reconcile with Ye Fangfei, which everyone knew.

Chu Yao smiled and changed the subject. "I'm a bit curious about your view on love."

"What view on love?" Zhang Chen didn't immediately understand what she was asking about.

"Like, how do you choose a romantic partner? Do you make choices purely based on the impulse of love? Or do you think calmly before choosing? Do you want to find someone with similar interests? Or someone with a complementary personality? And are you dating with marriage in mind? And so on."

Chu Yao gave him some directions.

Zhang Chen shook his head with a smile and downed a large gulp of wine. Facing this question, many thoughts suddenly flooded his mind.

Judging by his dating history, he was the type who preferred impulse. If he liked someone, he went for it; if he didn't like them anymore, he broke up, and the next one would be better.

Where was the calm thinking? The only calm thinking in his life regarding a romantic partner was probably Ye Fangfei...

No, not calm thinking—it was impulse plus calm thinking.

Was he dating with marriage in mind? Honestly, he hadn't before. Who dates with marriage in mind? It was just to please the body and mind.

But now... he was dating with marriage in mind... it's just that she wasn't interested.

Damn it, the more he thought, the bitterer he felt. Zhang Chen tipped his head back and downed another gulp of wine.

"I'm not that complicated. If I like someone, I chase them. Of course, I'm aiming for marriage, otherwise, why would I put in so much effort?"

Zhang Chen picked the appropriate questions to respond to.

"Love, there are no such formulas."

"Like is like, dislike is dislike."

"Before meeting the right person, listing out criteria beforehand is meaningless. Those so-called standards will seem less important once you meet the right person."

Listening to these points, Chu Yao nodded in agreement. She suddenly felt that Zhang Chen must be the impulsive type. He probably really liked Ye Fangfei; otherwise, he wouldn't be so desperate to keep getting close to her...

As for herself, after a brief analysis, she seemed to be more of the calm-thinking type? But that didn't seem entirely right either; she also seemed to have moments of being hot-headed.

Thinking about it, she felt that Zhang Chen's statement, "Love doesn't have that many formulas," was quite good.

"What are your thoughts now? Do you have many standards for a partner?" Zhang Chen asked curiously.

"Me?" Chu Yao shook her head and laughed.

"Can't really say what standards I have. It mainly depends on the specific feeling, but it's definitely best if we can be on the same frequency. The man has to allow me to independently pursue my own career, and he can't be a playboy."

Zhang Chen chuckled: "You call that having no standards?"

Chu Yao gestured with her hands, "My requirements aren't that high, right?"

"So, among us here, is there any man you've taken a liking to? Besides me." Zhang Chen's spirit of gossip burned brightly.

"Heh." Chu Yao smiled. "Spoilers would be boring. But, one thing is for sure: I don't have a thing for you right now."

Zhang Chen's mouth twitched: "..."

Livestream comments:
[Hahaha]
[That was a perfect stab by Chu Yao!]
[This show has really had a major reversal in the end.]

...

Not long after, a topic became widely discussed among domestic media and gradually made it to the hot search.

#Reason for Chu Yao and Xu Junze's breakup#

[Chu Yao mentioned "the man must allow me to independently pursue my career" as a standard. I guess her breakup with Xu Junze was due to career conflicts!]
[One is a boss of an internet celebrity company, the other is an internet celebrity! I guess Xu Junze might have wanted to swallow Chu Yao's IP, leading to a huge conflict of interest!]
[I don't think it was necessarily about swallowing the IP, right? They were dating with marriage in mind from the start. Since that's the case, it would be joint property after marriage anyway, so what Chu Yao earns is in a way Xu Junze's. Would he go as far as swallowing her IP? Could it be that he personally hoped the woman would look after the home more and didn't want his woman out in the public eye pursuing a career?]
[You guys have such wild imaginations, thinking of all that from one sentence? Isn't it a very normal dating condition for a woman to hope the man supports her independent career? It's the new era; not many women want to be housewives. If it weren't for the pressure of life, who wouldn't want to go out and have their own career?]
[By the way, Chu Yao also mentioned "don't be a playboy," why aren't you guys imagining that Xu Junze might have cheated? Why associate it with swallowing the IP?]
[If he cheated, would he have the face to be so affectionate about wanting to reconcile with Chu Yao at the start of the show? Can you guys have some logic?]
[To the person above, you really haven't seen a thick-skinned, shameless person.]