Chapter 427: Love-Addicted to the Bone (Bonus Chapter)

The production team of "Trend Partners" was utterly despairing right now, completely shattered~

Not another scandal, a new account!

This show was only halfway through filming when the main star pulled this kind of thing?

Of course, Wu Youfan had previously been embroiled in scandals of manipulating fans; back in 2016, he had already faced a major backlash, and the nickname "Canada Cannon King" dated even further back.

But that time in 2016, it was just one woman named Na fighting alone, and she was also Canadian.

Cross-border litigation is extremely complicated.

Moreover, Wu Youfan was at his peak then, backed by powerful capital, and his team swiftly steered fans to attack the woman as a "clout-chaser" and "manipulative girl."

Some public figures even openly supported him, subjecting the girl to "slut-shaming."

The famous line, "Is there any fan benefit better than a celebrity having sex with a fan?" was uttered by a public figure named Ma Weiwei at the time.

Under this level of PR, he actually walked away unscathed, even crafting a "pure-hearted boy" persona.

As for this time...

The two women who have come forward now seem to demand that Wu Youfan apologize.

It feels like they're seeking some kind of explanation, and some of their remarks are even oddly childish: Why did you block and delete us on WeChat?

Sister Yanzi: Can you even handle this? Let me help you light the fire.

She was dumping her own dirt on them while quietly arranging counter-PR for these girls.

Even a declining top idol is still a top idol—his PR team still has some chops.

Those inexperienced girls likely had little defense against this, and with their emotions running high, they might easily reveal weaknesses that could be seized and endlessly amplified.

No problem, Boss Yan helps for free—no PR fees from them.

More powerful than a declining top idol's PR team? Of course, a dominant top idol's PR team!

Even their legal team was already prepared~

Girls, do you need legal assistance?

Yang Tianbao felt she also needed some legal assistance.

The filming of "Trend Partners" was indefinitely postponed, clearly waiting until Wu Youfan's scandal settled before deciding next steps.

Although half the episodes were already filmed, Bai Liang's two appearances could be heavily used with his footage, giving Wu Youfan a direct cut.

Fortunately, he himself had "been sensible" and avoided getting too close to Bai Liang.

But the first four episodes... we'll see whether they'll blur them or just reshoot entirely.

The loss isn't too great—just a stroke of luck amid misfortune.

But this was good news for Yang, who didn't care whether Wu Youfan lived or died, because the production team had actually considered inviting Bai Liang as a permanent cast member.

She of course wholeheartedly supported it—filming an entire season, she didn't just think she'd land it, she felt she could even have a second child~

Of course, this couldn't be settled in a hurry; Sister Yanzi was too busy to care about this crappy show.

It could only be put on hold for now.

Then, full of anticipation, Yang Tianbao—who had come to Nagoya under the same pretext of attending the Mnet Asian Music Awards—ran into Na Zha, who had been holding back for a while.

Na Zha: I haven't cursed in a long time, you know~

Na Zha, who had been smiling cheerfully at the airport waiting for Bai Liang, her expression full of anticipation, instantly changed her face the moment she saw Yang Tianbao.

After a brief probe confirming the woman was off, she launched full-scale assault without hesitation!

"Sister, which hotel are you staying at? Is there a car picking you up?"

"We're not staying at the organizer's hotel—I booked in advance."

"Which hotel? You don't need to know that."

"."

Na Zha grew increasingly rude, her expression tightening more and more, until she finally spat out:

"Did I give you the right to talk to me like that, old hag?!"

How to put it?

Wu Youfan's first reaction upon seeing Bai Liang was: "It's a ghost!"

Yang Tianbao's impression of Na Zha afterward was much the same.

She was completely stunned by the insults.

At first, Na Zha was polite for a couple of remarks, but then she stopped even pretending, and went straight for the verbal onslaught.

Honestly, even the fiercest feuds among the 85s didn't reach this intensity—let alone the earlier generation of "Shuang Bing Si Dan"?

Na Zha: Do you know how I cursed Dili Reba? This is nothing!

She's no longer the Na Zha who used to just cry and whimper—she's trained hard~

Her "brawls" with her fellow countrywoman had rapidly sharpened her skills in verbal warfare.

Look, she hasn't even used profanity yet—do you think she can't?

You shameless, filthy bitch!

Honestly, in other situations she might still hold back for the sake of the bigger picture and face, but she hadn't seen Bai Liang in months.

At a time like this, anyone who dares to ruin her sweet date gets erased!

Even if she couldn't out-insult them, her palm was already ready to slap.

Of course, this was just Na Zha's own fantasy—she wasn't entirely sure how far she could actually go.

Maybe she'd just cry and throw a tantrum with Bai Liang~

Actually, Yang Tianbao wasn't this weak in combat—her rise to power back then proved she wasn't ordinary.

Back then, Huang Jiaozhu was also a hot commodity, just not as overwhelmingly dominant as Bai Liang is now.

But she still won—successfully promoted to Lady Huang.

And the smooth path of her later life had gradually worn down her "edges"—she was no longer the girl who, at barely eighteen, dared to roam the martial world.

The halo of a top-tier female star bound her, but it could not bind that love-struck fool.

Top-tier female star? She is too~ She's even a top-tier heavenly female star—two top-tiers, and the advantage is mine~

Moreover, when pushed to the brink, Na Zha truly could lash out without hesitation.

After carefully reviewing and reflecting on the whole affair, Yang Tianbao couldn't help but call Unlike Unlike Unlike Ni Ni.

"Miss Unlike Unlike Unlike Ni Ni, do you know Gu Li Na Zha?"

At that moment, Unlike Unlike Unlike Ni Ni had just stepped off the plane and froze at the call—Huh? She hadn't heard Yang Tianbao had any connection or conflict with that lunatic Gu Li Na Zha.

Right, to Unlike Unlike Unlike Ni Ni, Na Zha was insane.

A love-struck fool at that level—what else could she be but a lunatic?

She'd even suspected Bai Liang had cast some kind of curse on Na Zha.

Her love-struck obsession ran bone-deep.

Unlike Unlike Unlike Ni Ni knew well: after she herself had clashed with Miss Jing Tian, Na Zha immediately turned around and crushed Jing Tian.

Add to that, she'd once "lucky" witnessed Na Zha's verbal brawl with Re Ba—these post-90s girls are fierce!

So when she learned what Yang Tianbao had gone through, Unlike Unlike Unlike Ni Ni barely held back a laugh.

Okay, okay, you like sneaky maneuvers, huh?

I, Miss Unlike Unlike Unlike Ni Ni, can still play cat-and-mouse with you—but Na Zha? She's got a "short fuse," the kind who explodes at the slightest provocation.

She directly mocked him over the phone, then delivered the killing blow: "Baby, listen to me—I told you he's Tang Sengrou, and there are far too many eyes on him. You, as a mother, will never take his side."

"I was just caught off guard today," Yang Tianbao retorted stubbornly.

So what? You want to fight about it?

Isn't Yang Tianbao's greatest asset her face? But before Na Zha, does she really have an advantage?

Besides, Na Zha's figure has been kept excellent—not some flat, emaciated look, she's got curves.

It's a targeted annihilation of her.

And Unlike Unlike Unlike Ni Ni admitted she dared not provoke either of those two new rivals—in fact, she wasn't even very bold about confronting Miss Jing Tian.

They're all terrifying.

Don't be fooled—these girls all seem like gentle, adorable kittens before Bai Liang, but when they fight, they turn into tigresses.

Even today, Unlike Unlike Unlike Ni Ni still couldn't figure out how Bai Liang had managed to avoid a full-scale bloodbath.

It felt like that "pressure cooker" should've exploded long ago.

After much thought, she had only one sly guess: Bai Liang must be incredibly potent. Ahem.

It made people crave it~

Want to taste.

As for Yang Tianbao, Unlike Unlike Unlike Ni Ni thought her mindset would eventually lead to her being beaten one by one—she'd only realize it when she was spun into a top.

Although Unlike Unlike Unlike Ni Ni had never gotten her hands on him, her intelligence gathering was extensive.

When they filmed together, he never avoided answering her calls or messages.

So deep down, she had a rough list—several heavyweight contenders, whose existence Yang Tianbao clearly had no clue about.

And besides, she's no longer Lady Huang.

On the other side, Na Zha—who had successfully pulled off an underdog victory—walked away with her "spoils," head held high.

Bai Liang: Fair enough. Whoever wins, I go with them.

But if Na Zha couldn't win, he'd secretly lend a hand.

After all, he had a strong sense of justice—he couldn't stand seeing the strong bully the weak.

"Um… I was so harsh just now. Do you think badly of me?"

After getting into the car, Na Zha grew timid, eyes wide, looking like a child awaiting judgment.

Hard to believe she'd just successfully silenced Yang Tianbao without a word of reply.

Bai Liang thought for a moment: "Wait a second—I'm thinking of the right words."

Na Zha: Huh? Has it come to the point where he needs to think up words to scold me?!

Instantly her expression turned pitiful—she thought if he scolded her too harshly, she'd start throwing a tantrum.

Then Bai Liang said: "From the Himalayas to the Mariana Trench, your victory is known to all!"

Let fireworks celebrate this utterly one-sided triumph!

Looking at that firm thumbs-up, Na Zha tilted her head: Huh?

Instantly joy flooded her heart; she flung herself into Bai Liang's arms, hugging him tightly and rubbing against him twice before looking up, clinging sweetly: "I knew you wouldn't blame me~"

"You clearly didn't know—just now you looked so nervous."

"Oh, don't say it out loud—it makes me look silly~"

Not a fool, and wouldn't act like her either.

One thing Na Zha hadn't lied to Yang about: she really had booked the hotel herself.

She'd come all the way to Japan—of course she'd enjoy the hot spring resort!

Bai Liang was also quite curious about it—he'd even asked Xiao Liu about mixed-gender hot springs.

Xiao Liu told him: Yes, they exist, but they're rare now, and the only ones who go are overweight middle-aged women.

Bai Liang: Wow, this kid really went!

But then again—could a mixed-gender hot spring possibly have a naked Na Zha waiting there?

That kind of scene only exists in adult anime.

Even when soaking in a private hot spring with Bai Liang, she wore a bikini.

"Why do you need to wear clothes when taking a bath?" Bai Liang asked, genuinely confused.

He, by contrast, was quite gentlemanly, utterly unselfconscious.

Na Zha pouted and gave him an unexpectedly surprising answer: "Guess why I especially like receiving packages?"

"What do you mean?"

"Oh come on, silly! It's the joy of unwrapping the package~"

Bai Liang understood—it was a figure of speech.

She was comparing herself to a package. Indeed, an international one, specially shipped all the way from Japan for him to open.

In the steaming hot spring, the scanty bikini fabric soon floated atop the water's surface.

The ripples spreading across the pool seemed to make the private bath's temperature rise even further.

By the way, Japan does have this specific thing called a hot spring.

But in just a few minutes, the two of them got out of the hot spring pool.

There was no choice—Na Zha was "unhygienic," with a history of this sort of thing.

Considering they'd have to soak in this same pool again later, it was best to get out now, to avoid feeling weird or disturbed.

For nearly the entire day, the two never left the hot spring hotel.

Only when both teams arrived with formal gowns and suits did they remember they still had to attend a Korean award ceremony.

Bai Liang was fine—he could quickly put on clothes and do a simple hairstyle.

Na Zha, however, had a bit of trouble.

Her whole body felt limp, and she'd even considered staying in bed and refusing to get up.

Her assistant had to coax her endlessly, saying that since she'd already agreed, ditching the ceremony on the day would look terrible—finally, she was pried off the tatami mat.

While she changed into her gown and got her makeup done, her assistant explained today's schedule.

"Sis, you're presenting the award for Best Solo Dance Performance—the winner is Kim Cheong-ha, her Korean name transliterated into Chinese is 'Chong Ha'."

Na Zha nodded drowsily, "Got it, got it~"

Beside her, Bai Liang—who had already prepared—felt he'd heard a vaguely familiar word, and asked casually: "Are you presenting the award in Chinese? Did they give you a translator?"

"I'll use English~" Na Zha rubbed her cheeks, admiring her own reflection in the mirror—her skin flushed pink, in perfect condition—and her confidence surged.

I'm the queen—confidence radiates!

If her legs weren't still weak, she'd stand up right now and walk a few steps to see just how good she looked overall.

She'd totally dominate the entire Korean idol scene!

And so, while basking in her own confidence, she also worried about Bai Liang's issue: "What about you? Are you using English too? I remember you speak English pretty well."

"It's a Korean award ceremony held in Japan... let me think about it."

"Huh? You can still think about it?"

"Sis, Brother Xiao Bai speaks Korean and Japanese," her assistant said, barely holding back a laugh.

"Oh! I forgot!" Na Zha suddenly remembered—during that previous event, this troublemaker had chatted happily with Lin Yue'er.

If not for the language barrier, that wild verbal battle between Na Zha and Reba might have ended up insulting even her.

Lin Yue'er: Not one bit of Chinese dared to be admitted—what a terrifying scene!

"You're so amazing! You know so much!" After recalling that, Na Zha didn't forget to shower Bai Liang with full emotional value—the adoration of a cute girl.

But Bai Liang didn't rush to enjoy it; instead, he said first: "Want to practice twice? The award speech and the winner's name?"

Na Zha waved her hand dismissively: "No need—I'm pretty great too!"

Really?

According to Na Zha's habits, she wouldn't walk the red carpet with Bai Liang this time—she wanted to avoid suspicion.

Though Bai Liang didn't quite understand—she'd happily join him in skydiving on variety shows, yet here she was pretending not to be seen together.

But avoiding suspicion—Na Zha was serious.

Hadn't she just said on a variety show that she'd been rejected twice?

She never said who, but almost everyone assumed it was Bai Liang who'd rejected her.

She seemed to think this was another way of avoiding suspicion—and perhaps even believed her method was clever.

To this, Bai Liang could only shrug with a little bear gesture: As long as you're happy~

Outside the Nagoya Dome, the long red carpet and dense rows of media cameras had long been ready.

There were also many Korean fan groups present, cheering.

Mostly Koreans and Japanese, but likely some Chinese too—after all, Korean idol groups have a solid market in China.

Those female fans loved crossing oceans to see their favorite idols—otherwise, why would they spend so much effort on the Chinese market, buying promotions and trending topics?

Before Bai Liang stepped onto the red carpet, another group had just arrived—probably a certain idol group posing and waving.

The commotion was considerable; their popularity seemed high.

Unfortunately, after a quick glance, Bai Liang still couldn't identify them—he simply didn't know much about these Korean groups.

Before departure, he'd glanced briefly and only remembered BTS.

Because it was the only group written directly in Chinese—the rest were all combinations of English letters.

The group currently on the red carpet seemed to have overstayed their time—Bai Liang's car arrived precisely on schedule at the end of the red carpet.

He didn't wait inside the car; he stepped out immediately.

In just a few steps, the air around him felt as if it had been sucked dry.

This was the silence before the scream.

When the exaggerated noise erupted, the members of the group ahead—GOT7—instinctively turned around.

They wanted to see who had such overwhelming popularity.

"Holy crap! He actually came!" Wang Jia'er blurted instinctively.

He figured it was no wonder those fans and media felt so real.

He was about to give his teammates a quick rundown of who this person was, so they wouldn't be clueless and offend him, only to find that every single one of them already knew.

Except for one loudmouth who claimed Bai Liang was Lin Wan'er's scandal boyfriend.

Scandal partner? Lin Wan'er couldn't even get a number for the queue.

After a reminder from the on-site staff, they hurried through the red carpet — after all, if they stayed any longer, no one would pay them any attention.

The attention of the media and fans on-site was entirely drawn away by Bai Liang.

"Jackson, you know him, right? He's a big star in your country."

Wang Jia'er scratched his head: "I'd love to know him, but he might not know me. I'll find a chance to get acquainted later."

At the same time, he was also a little curious — why had Bai Liang shown up here? As far as he knew, in the singing-and-dancing field, this gentleman couldn't really be called an all-rounder like he was in other areas; at best, he was barely passable, and clearly hadn't put many skill points into it.

So he was only here as an award presenter?

Yet after doing a little digging, this guy fell silent.

The organizers were really shameless enough — before the awards ceremony even began, they had brazenly cooked up another award out of thin air.

Called something like Asian Artist of the Year.

There had never been such a thing before, and now it suddenly appeared — who it was meant for was obvious without saying.

Damn it, this is a music ceremony!

—

Third watch, begging for monthly tickets!

(End of chapter)