"Qingyu, this... this isn't appropriate, is it?"
Xu Yangyang struggled to maintain her composure, attempting one last effort to salvage the situation. "The promotional photos for the show have already been taken, and it's been officially announced that I'll be participating with you. Changing things at the last minute—what will the fans think?"
Xu Yangyang spoke as if casually, yet deliberately emphasized, "The fans will definitely think that you and Yan Xi are ganging up on me, stealing my resources. That won't look good for either of you!"
In the entertainment industry, when a show's guest is officially announced but then replaced at the last minute, it usually means one of two things: either the guest has been involved in a scandal, forcing the show to replace them, or the guest has had their resources snatched away and had no choice but to withdraw.
Of course, there are also cases where a guest is unable to participate due to illness or injury, but that would be the worst outcome for Xu Yangyang. She had no intention of pretending to be sick and giving the opportunity to Yan Xi.
Zhou Qingyu, though spoiled, wasn't foolish. She could easily guess the intentions of these entertainers in the industry. "Don't worry, you won't lose out. Come up with an excuse for withdrawing yourself, as long as it satisfies me, and the opportunity to join *Leisurely Life* will be yours."
Xu Yangyang's eyes lit up instantly.
Both *Let's Travel Together* and *Leisurely Life* were S-tier variety shows recognized by the platform. In theory, participating in either would be a huge win for an artist of Xu Yangyang's caliber.
However, in *Let's Travel Together*, Xu Yangyang would be a guest's friend, while in *Leisurely Life*, she would be a guest herself. The weight of the two roles was still different.
Xu Yangyang was overjoyed internally, but she didn't let it show on her face. She didn't want Zhou Qingyu to think she was taking advantage of the situation, so she deliberately put on a reluctant expression.
After all, Zhou Qingyu owed her this. Not to mention the one million yuan from the travel guide incident, which Xu Yangyang wasn't ready to bring up just yet. If possible, since they were already at a luxury mall, Xu Yangyang wanted to squeeze a bit more out of Zhou Qingyu.
"If Qingyu wants to participate in the show with her friend, then so be it!" Xu Yangyang said with feigned reluctance.
And so, the matter was settled. Zhou Qingyu contacted Qiao Yan, the talent director of Starlight Entertainment, explained the situation, and left the rest to Qiao Yan to handle.
Zhou Qingyu was still thinking about shopping. Compared to making a name for herself in the entertainment industry, she was more suited to the role of a wealthy heiress. After giving instructions to Qiao Yan, she dragged Yan Xi to the next luxury store.
Xu Yangyang didn't leave either, following Zhou Qingyu and carrying her shopping bags.
Next to the A-brand store was the B-brand store, which had just released a new crocodile skin bag that Xu Yangyang had been coveting for a long time. Every time she accompanied Zhou Qingyu on a shopping spree, Zhou Qingyu would buy her something. Xu Yangyang naturally assumed this time would be no different.
As soon as they entered the B-brand store, Xu Yangyang repeatedly tried on the crocodile skin bag she liked, trying to catch Zhou Qingyu's attention.
To her surprise, this time Zhou Qingyu didn't even glance at Xu Yangyang, instead pulling Yan Xi to try on other bags.
Yan Xi had gone shopping with Zhou Qingyu before and knew how fierce her shopping stamina was. But looking at the mountain of shopping bags on the floor, Yan Xi felt it was really too much.
She wasn't an octopus—how could she carry seven or eight bags at once?
Moreover, the luck points accumulated from shopping stopped increasing after reaching 2 points, leading Yan Xi to speculate that there was a cap.
She was about to advise Zhou Qingyu to go home and save the Zhou family some money when Xu Yangyang sidled up to Zhou Qingyu. "Qingyu, what do you think of this bag? It's crocodile skin, very small and delicate, and it's a limited edition!"
Zhou Qingyu glanced at it. "Wrap it up."
Xu Yangyang was thrilled. Although Zhou Qingyu hadn't explicitly said so, she clearly had no interest in this style of bag. Once the bill was paid, the bag would surely be hers!
The counter was piled high with Zhou Qingyu's purchases, and the sales assistant's eyes sparkled as she quickly tallied up the total with a calculator.
Meanwhile, Xu Yangyang quietly picked up the limited-edition bag, unable to put it down, already treating it as her own.
Yan Xi observed Xu Yangyang. She had met Xu Yangyang once before when visiting Starlight Entertainment to see Zhou Qingyu. Xu Yangyang was a fairly attractive celebrity who often followed Zhou Qingyu around, and Yan Xi had originally thought the two were close.
But everything in her dream had proven that Xu Yangyang was only after the Zhou family's wealth.
There were plenty of people who approached Zhou Qingyu because of her family's money, and Yan Xi didn't see anything wrong with that.
Being wealthy was, after all, an advantage.
But to kick Zhou Qingyu when she was down after the Zhou family went bankrupt was truly despicable.
In the dream alone, Zhou Qingyu had gifted Xu Yangyang items worth at least several million yuan, if not tens of millions. Yet when the Zhou family fell from grace, Xu Yangyang publicly mocked Zhou Qingyu, driving her to the brink of suicide. The thought of it still made Yan Xi furious.
Now, watching Xu Yangyang admiring the bag, almost slinging it over her shoulder, Yan Xi raised an eyebrow. "Oh, Qingyu, this bag is so pretty! I've never carried such a beautiful bag before!"
She pointed directly at Xu Yangyang's crocodile skin bag.
Zhou Qingyu, busy swiping her card, didn't even look up. "If you like it, take it."
Yan Xi: "Oh, I couldn't! Sister Yangyang clearly likes it too. I'll just admire it from afar!"
Xu Yangyang scoffed softly. When Yan Xi mentioned the bag, she had thought Yan Xi was trying to compete with her, but thankfully Yan Xi still knew her place!
Xu Yangyang watched as Zhou Qingyu finished paying and was about to sling the bag over her shoulder when, in the next moment, Zhou Qingyu took the bag and placed it in Yan Xi's hands. "If you like it, take it. What's with all the fuss between us?"
"Qingyu, you're the best!" Yan Xi hugged Zhou Qingyu.
Xu Yangyang: ?
Hello? Does anyone remember her?
Zhou Qingyu finished paying and glanced at the bag in Yan Xi's hands. She had completely forgotten Xu Yangyang's earlier praise for the bag, only relieved that Yan Xi was so focused on shopping that she wasn't dwelling on her breakup.
Zhou Qingyu instructed the sales assistant to have the items delivered to her home, then linked arms with Yan Xi and happily headed to the next store.
Only Xu Yangyang was left behind, her face green with anger.
It was deliberate! Yan Xi had definitely done it on purpose!
Out of all the bags, why did she have to pick the one Xu Yangyang liked?
Xu Yangyang's face, filled with Botox and hyaluronic acid, twisted in frustration, her muscles twitching uncontrollably.
The sales assistants in the store stared at her in surprise. Feeling their gazes, Xu Yangyang struggled to regain her composure, plastering on her usual smile and quickly catching up to Zhou Qingyu and Yan Xi.
It's fine, just one bag.
Yan Xi might have snatched it this time, but could she keep doing it?
Later, during the shopping spree, she'd just find something of equal value!
Half an hour later, Xu Yangyang realized that Yan Xi was indeed targeting her!
Every single time, Yan Xi managed to intercept her:
"Qingyu, this dress is so pretty! I've never worn anything this beautiful before!"
"Qingyu, are the diamonds on this necklace real? Wow, they're stunning!"
"Qingyu, these shoes are limited edition! They're amazing! Can I try them on?"
Zhou Qingyu was all too happy to oblige, waving her hand dismissively: "Buy it! Buy it! Buy it!"
In the past, when Zhou Qingyu gave Yan Xi gifts, Yan Xi would refuse anything too expensive. But today, perhaps because of her breakup, Yan Xi's latent shopping desires had been unleashed.
This is how it should be! Being heartbroken over a man isn't worth it!
It was supposed to be a shopping trip for three, but Xu Yangyang might as well have been invisible. Of course, Xu Yangyang could have bought things herself—after all, she still had a fresh one million yuan in her account—but the luxury items here were a fortune to her, and she couldn't bear to spend the money.
Meanwhile, Yan Xi not only snatched the things Xu Yangyang wanted Zhou Qingyu to pay for but also threw in some sarcastic remarks: "Sister Yangyang, it's just because I'm heartbroken that Qingyu is being extra nice to me. You're not upset, are you?"
Xu Yangyang's mouth twitched, her Botox-filled eyes straining as she forced out a response: "Of course... not."
Yan Xi smiled sweetly. "I knew you'd be understanding, Sister Yangyang!"
By the end of the afternoon, Yan Xi had not only intercepted everything Xu Yangyang had wanted Zhou Qingyu to buy but also managed to increase Zhou Qingyu's luck points by another 1. Clearly, preventing non-Zhou Qingyu allies from benefiting financially from her also contributed to her luck.
Including the 1 point from stopping Zhou Qingyu's date with Pei Yubai and the 2 points from Zhou Qingyu's gifts, Yan Xi had accumulated a total of 4 luck points for Zhou Qingyu that day!
To achieve such results in just one afternoon, Yan Xi was very satisfied.
By 5 p.m., Yan Xi's legs were finally giving out. She was naturally weak, spending most of her time at school sitting in front of a computer writing papers and working on projects. She couldn't compare to celebrities like Zhou Qingyu, who had to stay fit for the camera, and her stamina was somewhat lacking.
Zhou Qingyu also noticed this and decided to take Yan Xi to a spa for some pampering.
Zhou Qingyu’s reasoning was, “We’re filming a variety show live tomorrow, so of course, we need to look our best today!”
Xu Yangyang also tagged along, and Yan Xi didn’t stop her.
Xu Yangyang was an artist under Starlight Entertainment. If she looked good, it would mean more money for Starlight Entertainment, which, in turn, meant more money for Zhou Qingyu.
From this perspective, Yan Xi even hoped Xu Yangyang would become a huge star.
Once they arrived at the spa, the receptionist asked Zhou Qingyu to present her membership card.
Zhou Qingyu rummaged through her handbag but couldn’t find it. “Forget it, just register with my phone number,” she said.
The receptionist diligently registered the membership card using Zhou Qingyu’s phone number. Just then, the spa manager came out, spotted Zhou Qingyu, and immediately rushed over.
“Ms. Zhou! You’re here!”
“Hmm,” Zhou Qingyu lazily lifted her eyelids. “I forgot my card, so I told the receptionist to register with my phone number.”
The manager exclaimed, “Oh my! A VVIP like you doesn’t need to register! It’s our new receptionist’s mistake. Please, this way!”
The manager personally escorted Zhou Qingyu and the others to the treatment room.
While lying on the bed, Yan Xi curiously asked Zhou Qingyu, “Do you come here often?”
Yan Xi remembered that Zhou Qingyu preferred having beauticians come to her home for services. She had even enjoyed such home services at Zhou Qingyu’s house before.
“Not really, but I came once to support them when they first opened,” Zhou Qingyu replied.
Xu Yangyang seized the moment to flatter her, “That must be because you’re so stunning, Ms. Zhou! The manager remembers you!”
Zhou Qingyu stroked her chin, “Well, this spa has hosted many celebrities. It’s probably because I recharged a million yuan last time but didn’t get a chance to spend it. That’s why they remember me so well.”
Yan Xi & Xu Yangyang: !!!
Yan Xi had always known that the Zhou family was wealthy, one of the top-tier elite families in Hai City. But after recalling the novel’s plot, she finally gained a clearer understanding of just how rich the Zhou family was.
Zhou Corporation was the wealthiest enterprise in Hai City and ranked among the top ten globally. The chairman of Zhou Corporation could earn hundreds of millions in a single day.
And the chairman of Zhou Corporation was Zhou Qingyu’s father, while the CEO was her older brother, Zhou Yanci. Even though Zhou Qingyu and her brother weren’t on good terms due to professional rivalry, her father was still her father, and the money would always flow her way.
For someone like Zhou Qingyu, money was just a number. She already held shares in Zhou Corporation, with daily dividends exceeding a million yuan.
So, recharging a million yuan at a spa was nothing to her.
Xu Yangyang subtly flattered Zhou Qingyu a few more times. Soon, the beauticians came in to perform the spa treatments, and the room was filled with the faint aroma of plant-based essential oils.
This spa was one of the most luxurious in Hai City, owned by a wealthy socialite. It primarily catered to celebrities and high-society individuals, with a single session costing tens of thousands of yuan.
Yan Xi and the others lay comfortably on the spa beds, each attended by three masseuses who provided comprehensive care, from their faces to their bodies, hands, and feet.
The spa offered high-end branded masks and skincare products. Yan Xi didn’t recognize most of them, only the logos. Xu Yangyang secretly scanned a barcode with her phone to check the price and discovered that a single mask cost 500 yuan.
That was much more expensive than the masks she usually used. If she could, Xu Yangyang would have happily taken the entire box home.
Zhou Qingyu noticed Xu Yangyang’s little act and scoffed, “You’re an artist under Starlight Entertainment. Are you really going to act so uncultured over a few masks?”
Xu Yangyang awkwardly touched the tip of her nose.
During the spa session, the establishment also served a variety of refreshments, including red wine, desserts, and fresh fruits. Considering that most of their clients were conscious about their figures, the desserts were low in sugar and calories.
By the end of the session, Yan Xi felt completely relaxed, with no more aches in her legs or feet. Her skin felt so soft and supple that it seemed like water could be squeezed out of it.
Yan Xi finally understood the joys of being a wealthy socialite—spending the afternoon shopping, buying bags, and indulging in spa treatments was truly delightful!
Zhou Qingyu had once enjoyed this simple, carefree life of a rich socialite. Unfortunately, after meeting Pei Yubai, she was drawn into the entertainment industry due to the plot’s control.
After finishing the spa, they walked to the entrance of the spa. It was almost dark outside, and Yan Xi checked the time—7 p.m., time for dinner.
Only Yan Xi and Zhou Qingyu stood at the entrance; Xu Yangyang hadn’t come out yet.
A moment later, Zhou Qingyu’s phone rang. It was Xu Yangyang, saying she had something to attend to in the evening and wouldn’t be joining them for dinner.
Zhou Qingyu didn’t mind Xu Yangyang’s absence and pulled Yan Xi along to find a restaurant.
In her mind, the system’s little glowing orb appeared: 【Host, I noticed Xu Yangyang hasn’t left yet. She’s still inside the spa.】
Yan Xi was puzzled, “What’s she still doing there?”
【What else? Zhou Qingyu probably won’t come back to this spa again. Since she won’t be using it, the money left on the membership card will go to waste. Xu Yangyang wants to sneakily use it. After all, it’s over 800,000 yuan—why let it go to waste?】
