Chapter 55: One Person Still Hasn

Looking at the convincingly acting Ako, Shengzai slowly picked up a wavy long hair from the computer desk and smiled: “Yuko-nii has long straight hair, while I have short black strands—so whose hair is this, Ako-nii?”

Facing the troublesome adoptive mother and sister before him, Shengzai let out a deep sigh, then explained his intention to film “Genren.”

Because Shengzai felt that if the misunderstanding wasn’t cleared quickly, given the personalities of Yuko and the others, they might pull off something even more suffocating.

So to avoid trouble, Shengzai clarified that his recent conversation with Ma Jianai was part of the “Genren” fictional couple relationship.

Of course, Shengzai could not tell Yuko and the others about his deal with Akuya or the discovery of the mastermind behind it all.

The events of that year were also a massive upheaval in Yuko’s life.

Especially for Ako, who once sought death, only now, after years, had she finally stabilized her mindset—Shengzai naturally would not reopen old wounds to provoke her.

The next morning, Shengzai arrived at the meeting location as given by Kanzaki Katsuya.

Since “Genren” is a school-themed production, the filming location was naturally also within a school.

However, the production team chose not Yangdong High School, but another high school in the same city.

To avoid disrupting other students’ lives, “Genren” films only on weekends, continuing for a month with two episodes released weekly.

As a dating reality show, there were virtually no acting requirements and no need for rehearsals.

Since “Genren” mostly features low-popularity newcomers or internet idols, they had already arrived at the meeting location before the production team showed up.

After all, newcomers must have the mindset of newcomers; though young, they at least understood basic manners.

When Ma Jianai arrived at the school filming location and saw two boys and three girls already gathered at the gate, she was momentarily stunned.

She had thought she was early, but Meixiangdao someone had arrived even earlier.

Yet after a brief surprise, Ma Jianai nodded in approval of their behavior.

If she had possessed such awareness as a child, she wouldn’t have ended up in her current state.

The group waiting at the school gate, upon seeing Ma Jianai step out of a taxi, returned polite smiles.

Anyone who came to school on weekends, especially a beautiful girl of their age with outstanding looks, could only be here to film “Genren.”

They all found Ma Jianai vaguely familiar, yet couldn’t recall her name.

Soon, one of them—a petite girl with blue-purple short hair—stared at Ma Jianai in shock and blurted out: “Ma Jianai!”

Thanks to the boy’s reminder, the others suddenly looked enlightened: “I remember now—that genius child star?”

“That’s right, that’s right—I used to listen to her song ‘Big Green Pepper.’”

“Is Ma Jianai also one of the guests for this ‘Genren’?”

When she heard the phrase “Green Pepper Exercise,” Ma Jianai’s eyes twitched visibly.

If this were her childhood self, she might have exploded on the spot—but now she was no longer the naive girl who didn’t understand social conduct.

Considering these people would be filming a reality show with her, Jianai forced a smile and greeted them all.

Through conversation, Ma Jianai quickly learned the names of those present.

Washimi Yuki: a beautiful girl with blue wavy hair, first-year high school, professional fashion model.

Kumano Nobuyuki: a sunny, handsome guy, second-year high school, professional dancer.

Morimoto Ken’go: a seemingly literary intellectual handsome guy, third-year high school, professional band member.

MEM-chu: a playful, cute petite beauty, third-year high school, professional popular internet blogger.

Finally, when Ma Jianai looked at the blue-purple short-haired girl among them, her forced smile visibly cracked.

“Kurokawa Aka, second-year high school, professional stage actress—please treat me kindly, Ma Jianai!”

Looking at Kurokawa Aka’s outstretched hand, Ma Jianai’s face twitched uncontrollably as she shook it.

“Ma Jianai, second-year high school, professional actress—please treat me kindly too!”

No sooner had Jianai finished speaking than Kurokawa Aka put on an exaggeratedly surprised expression: “Oh, so Jianai-chan is still acting? I thought you’d retired long ago.”

Budebushuo , Kurokawa Aka’s remark was an absolute devastating blow to Ma Jianai.

Yet immediately, another hat-wearer retorted without backing down: “Though my fame has faded, my acting skills are still far superior to those of some unknown stage actress.”

Watching the aura radiating from the two, MEM-chu and the others—even if they were slow-witted—could tell these two knew each other and had some history.

“Did I come at a bad time?”

Just as Ma Jianai and Kurokawa Aka were locked in confrontation, Akuya slowly approached from afar, greeted the group, and introduced himself.

“With Akuya-kun added, we now have three boys and four girls—according to past ‘Genren’ rules, that means one male guest hasn’t arrived yet?”

“Do you know who the remaining person is? The meeting time is nearly here, and the production team’s van has already arrived—how could this person be so late?”

On one hand to ease the tension between Ma Jianai and Kurokawa Aka, on the other hand, genuinely curious.

Washimi Yuki directly voiced the topic everyone present was keenly interested in.

The entertainment industry places great importance on seniority; though all of them were handsome and beautiful, good-looking boys and girls were a dime a dozen in this circle.

If they were major stars, that would be one thing—but as eighteen-line celebrities who couldn’t even reach “modest fame,” getting this chance to appear was already rare.

Though the meeting time hadn’t yet come, as juniors, arriving early at the set was basic etiquette.

Ma Jianai, who debuted as a child star, was the only one here who could afford to be a little late—and yet she arrived early.

But this last person still hadn’t shown up—didn’t he fear that Kanzaki Katsuya would be angry?

Thus, Washimi Yuki couldn’t help but wonder: was their final companion truly clueless about etiquette, or did he have such status?

(End of Chapter)