Ji Fei was the last to arrive. As soon as she came, she scanned the room. Good, everyone was present.
Now only Pei Mingxuan was following the top-tier group. Gao Hao was mainly focused on handling Qin Zhao's overseas affairs.
Pei Mingxuan wasn't very familiar with the top-tier group yet. Seeing Ji Fei's excited expression, eager to get started, and how Qin Zhao and Qin Rong's expressions changed the moment Ji Fei appeared, their eyes practically gleaming, she felt somewhat confused.
What's going on with them? Didn't they all just say they didn't want to come? Why did she have a bad feeling about this?
Ji Fei looked at the few staff members behind the Director and Producer. At this moment, they were exchanging meaningful glances and smiles, then secretly peeking at the Director, Producer, and Yu Rouyin.
The Director and Producer, of course, couldn't see any of this.
Diagonally across, Yu Rouyin seemed not to have noticed those unfriendly glances. She still stood to the side with a smile, as if she hadn't heard those malicious rumors earlier. Only when her gaze turned towards their group did it change slightly, her eyes containing a different light, because Pei Mingxuan hadn't given her an answer yet.
No rejection meant there was still hope.
The veteran actor Zong Chun, though still maintaining the air of an approachable senior, kept casting affectionate glances at Yu Rouyin.
[Although age isn't an issue when it comes to love, for someone twenty years older to look at a person like that is a bit... Uncle, can't you see that Yu Rouyin is actually avoiding your gaze?]
Qin Zhao and Qin Rong couldn't help but look over. In the previous few episodes, Zong Chun wasn't so obvious, but now it felt like he had completely let loose. Was he planning to be unrestrained after his divorce?
However, Madam Zong was still clinging tightly to his side, as if trying to prevent Zong Chun from abandoning her to find Yu Rouyin.
Even his gaze, Madam Zong wanted to block, but she simply couldn't. However, soon a tall figure came to her aid.
Yu Rouyin noticed Zong Siqi standing close to her, and her expression changed almost imperceptibly.
Actually, Zong Siqi was considered their supporting actor. Usually in this situation, he wouldn't need to come over.
"Who's that?" Ji Fei asked curiously, seeing this person suddenly appear.
"Probably a supporting actor, don't know him," Qin Zhao said.
Not knowing his name naturally meant they couldn't gossip about him. Ji Fei just felt he was standing too close and was a bit worried he might be a creep too.
Pei Mingxuan immediately answered, "Zong Siqi, Zong Chun's eldest nephew, a newly entered actor, bit of a slacker. Madam Zong specifically arranged for him to come in, aiming to help her keep an eye on people."
Everyone immediately looked at Pei Mingxuan in surprise, as if shocked that she knew so much detail.
"I'm a manager," Pei Mingxuan said displeased, as if everyone's surprise was an insult to her professional abilities.
Everyone immediately gave her a thumbs up, showing their approval.
[If that's the case, then it's not harassment but protection? Not interested then. Let me check how Madam Zong's plans are coming along?]
The Director started talking eloquently about the matter at hand. In the top-tier group, apart from Pei Mingxuan and Xiao Tao, everyone else was lost in their own world, gossiping. It was as if they hadn't come at all.
[It's so toxic, it's really too toxic. It's a good thing the directing team has professional ethics.]
[It's sinful, to think we gave them the inspiration. Is slandering someone like this not considered defamation?]
[Since your Ladies' Club is so willing to smear someone without evidence, then there's nothing for us to be concerned about if we act it out that way.]
Ji Fei's inner thoughts weren't detailed, which made Qin Zhao and Qin Rong very anxious.
What exactly is it? Don't leave us hanging! We're willing to be spoiled, the earlier we know, the earlier we can prepare. What if we can't handle it?
Just as they were internally screaming, they saw Ji Fei suddenly pause. At this moment, the Director had just finished speaking and said together with the Producer, "That's about it then, wishing everyone good luck in the competition."
Just as everyone thought the meeting was about to end, Ji Fei suddenly stepped forward excitedly, "I have a question I want to clarify, otherwise I'm afraid it might affect the fairness of the competition."
These words were clearly directed at the Director and Producer.
After all, they organized the show, so they were certainly responsible for ensuring its fairness.
Ji Fei's sudden statement made the Director and Producer feel a bit guilty. After all, the order and themes of the PK were actually somewhat rigged, but they felt this wouldn't really affect the fairness of the PK, so under the pressure of authority, they had compromised.
Did the top-tier group know about this and were very concerned about it?
Zong Chun and Yu Rouyin were actually unaware, so the only anxious person on that side was Madam Zong. But earlier, Madam Zong had clearly mentioned this to Ji Fei.
After the draw, Ji Fei and the others hadn't reacted, so Madam Zong thought they were turning a blind eye to it.
The Producer was panicking internally, but on the surface, he still smiled apologetically and said, "The show is going to be broadcast live tomorrow. If you feel there's a problem, we can certainly discuss it."
The Director was also sweating profusely, constantly nodding and agreeing.
Ji Fei deliberately turned her head to look at Yu Rouyin.
Yu Rouyin was startled, and just as she was puzzled, she heard Ji Fei speak in a harsh tone, "I heard that Teacher Yu slept with the Director and Producer for the sake of the PK. How can we trust the fairness of the competition like this?"
With these words, Yu Rouyin's face lost all color.
She rarely lost her composure when faced with others' malicious words. Perhaps it was because Ji Fei and the others' previous behavior had made her feel they were people full of righteousness, and she had been harboring a kind of naive expectation.
But she didn't expect that three people could indeed create a tiger out of nothing. Such rumors had indeed spread, and she knew that generally in this situation, it was impossible to stop rumors. No one would believe her words. Apart from pretending to be deaf and dumb, nothing she did would be of any use.
She just didn't expect the top-tier group would misunderstand her too. It seemed her contract signing was out of the question now. She suddenly felt greatly discouraged.
She wanted to cry, but tears wouldn't come. She had long been used to such blows.
But this time was different, because it was said in public, equivalent to public humiliation.
She had experienced being slapped and having her hair pulled in public before, and then those men would carry away those crazed women, but they wouldn't leave a single word to prove her innocence. Everyone at the scene would just look at her, those gazes making her feel chilled to the bone. No matter what she said, no one would believe her.
And now it was almost the same scenario. The whole place fell silent, everyone looking at her, their gazes like knife edges.
She instinctively opened her mouth, wanting to defend herself, but felt as if her throat was being choked. In the end, she numbly gave up.
But the next second.
"What!" The Director exclaimed in shock.
The Producer's face also turned pale. "Teacher Ji, you can't speak carelessly like that."
The two were clearly angry.
Others were either embarrassed, gossiping, or excited.
Yu Rouyin was stunned. She realized that this time there was indeed a different situation, because the Director and Producer truly had never had any inappropriate thoughts about her. Perhaps this time she could argue a bit.
Yu Rouyin looked up and found Ji Fei watching her. She was slightly taken aback, her throat tightened, and she quickly said, "Teacher Ji has misunderstood. I don't have any improper relationship with the Director and Producer. Those are all rumors. I... I'm completely innocent..."
After she finished speaking, there was no questioning or mockery. She looked up and found Ji Fei looking at her with a smile at the corner of her mouth, her gaze filled with delight. Yu Rouyin was dumbfounded.
Ji Fei turned her head and said in a confused manner, "Ah? It's a rumor? But I clearly heard it from the Director's assistant."
As soon as she finished speaking, Ji Fei pointed at three girls behind the Director and Producer whose faces had suddenly turned pale, and said, "They were just saying in the restroom that Teacher Yu had a threesome with the Director and Producer, and it lasted for an hour. They said they saw it with their own eyes. The purpose was to beat us!"
Ji Fei ignored the sudden change in reactions of those present and shrugged, "Hearing such words, I was certainly anxious, so I had to speak up to clarify. Since all parties involved are present, let's have a confrontation."
The Director and Producer turned back to look at those three people in disbelief.
The three were instantly exposed under everyone's gaze, their legs trembling.
[Under the light of truth, can filth and corruption still hide?]
