What Should I Do if My Best Friend Is a Green Tea? [Transmigrated Into a Book]

Upon arriving at the Licheng Museum, the two groups went their separate ways.

Jiang Tao entered the museum from the perspective of scouting locations, while Zhou Qingyu and Yan Xi approached it as tourists. Since their directions were different, there was no need to travel together.

Before parting, Jiang Tao couldn't resist saying, "Zhou Qingyu, if you want to star in my work, it's not impossible. We have a role for a mafia boss's daughter—"

Zhou Qingyu cut him off, "Stop right there. I'm not interested in your projects!"

Zhou Qingyu was telling the truth. Most of her acting was for Pei Yubai, and she couldn't be bothered with projects unrelated to him.

Jiang Tao's face darkened. "I didn't even want you to act in it anyway!"

His invitation to Zhou Qingyu was partly to secure investment, but he still had his pride. Jiang Tao believed in his own abilities—after all, Zhou Qingyu wasn't the only one with money in the world!

With a work as good as *The Bottom Line*, he was sure he could secure funding!

In the morning, Yan Xi and Zhou Qingyu explored the Licheng Museum together and later bought a lot of souvenirs at the small shop next to the museum. They also visited other attractions, with a stretch Lincoln providing transportation throughout, making their travels convenient.

By noon, it was time for lunch.

Since they were in Licheng, it was only fitting to have authentic French cuisine.

Louis recommended a top-tier French restaurant located by the Seine River. The unique Gothic architecture and the arched bridge spanning the river complemented each other beautifully. In front of the restaurant, there was a circular sunken square where white pigeons soared and landed on the stepped plaza, attracting many passersby who stopped to feed them.

Yan Xi and Zhou Qingyu sat by the window, and Louis brought a small bag of corn to scatter for the pigeons outside.

Yan Xi sighed, "Living here must be so relaxing. You can even feed pigeons in your free time."

Zhou Qingyu looked at the plump pigeons pecking at the corn and remarked sincerely, "Indeed, they're so fat and plump. Their meat must be even more delicious."

Yan Xi: ?

Louis: ?

Zhou Qingyu flipped through the menu, "This restaurant's specialty is pigeon meat. I think steamed would be nice, or would you prefer French-style braised?"

Louis: "No! Pigeons are so cute, how could you…"

Yan Xi: "French-style braised! Thank you!"

Louis: "…"

[Pigeons are so cute, of course, they should be braised!]

[People from Sichuan say spicy stir-fried pigeon deserves a mention!]

[Braised squab is the best! No arguments!]

The interior of the restaurant was elegantly decorated, with a classical architectural style that transported diners back in time.

After ordering, Zhou Qingyu's phone rang with a work-related matter, and she stepped aside to take the call.

While waiting for the food, Yan Xi casually fed the pigeons, wondering which unlucky one would end up on her plate.

Not far away, a commotion broke out as some pigeons startled a group of guests who had just entered the restaurant. Waiters rushed out to shoo the birds away.

Yan Xi looked up and saw a man and a woman walking in.

The woman appeared to be around her age, wearing a pink dress with a string of pearls around her neck. The man was dressed in a tailored suit, his posture upright, clearly resembling a wealthy young master.

As they entered the restaurant, the woman clung tightly to the man's arm, "Chu Mo, those pigeons are so scary~"

The man, Chu Mo, gently stroked her hair, "It's okay, they're gone now. Don't be afraid."

Yan Xi let out a long sigh.

Licheng was such a big city, yet she never expected to run into Lin Ranran and Chu Mo here. It truly was a small world.

The restaurant was nearly empty, so Lin Ranran and Chu Mo also noticed Yan Xi.

"Sister?"

For a moment, Lin Ranran tightened her grip on Chu Mo's arm, but her smile grew even brighter. "Sister, it really is you! It's been so long!"

Yan Xi glanced at the cameraman behind her, signaling him not to film this part.

Then, she turned to Lin Ranran, her tone indifferent, "Yes, it has been a while."

It had been five years since she left the Lin family.

Lin Ranran was puzzled by the camera behind Yan Xi but didn't ask further.

She let go of Chu Mo's hand and approached Yan Xi, linking arms with her affectionately. "Sister, why did you leave without saying goodbye back then? You could have stayed with the Lin family. Even though I'm the true Lin heiress, you're still a foster daughter. Staying with the family would have been better than living alone outside, wouldn't it?"

"A young woman like you, all alone out there, not dressing well, not eating well…"

Lin Ranran casually spouted the mocking words she had prepared, but as she spoke, she noticed the brand of Yan Xi's dress—more expensive than her own—and the upscale restaurant they were in. She paused.

She forced a laugh, her eyes filled with jealousy and suspicion. "Sister, your dress… it's quite nice. But as a foster daughter of the Lin family, buying knockoffs isn't appropriate. If outsiders find out, where would Mom and Dad's dignity be?"

Lin Ranran refused to believe that Yan Xi could fare better after leaving the Lin family.

Yan Xi calmly withdrew her arm from Lin Ranran's grasp. "You don't need to worry about me. I've been doing just fine since I left the Lin family."

"Sister, why are you being so stubborn?" Lin Ranran covered her mouth with a light laugh. "With your meager scholarship, how could you afford A-brand clothes? Or eat at such an expensive restaurant? Come back with me, apologize to Mom and Dad, and they'll surely forgive you…"

Yan Xi suddenly laughed, her voice as clear as a silver bell.

She looked at Lin Ranran with a playful expression. "Lin Ranran, do you really want me to return to the Lin family? Aren't you afraid I'll steal your spotlight again, making everyone say I look more like the Lin heiress than you?"

Lin Ranran's expression froze, and all the ridicule and disdain she had faced when she first returned to the Lin family came flooding back.

Lin Ranran would never forget how, despite being the true Lin heiress, she was criticized as an uncultured wild child during her early days in the family.

No matter how hard she tried, she could never measure up to Yan Xi.

After all, one was an orphan who had spent fifteen years in an orphanage, while the other was a well-bred young lady raised in the Lin family for fifteen years. How could they compare?

Lin Ranran had finally managed to drive Yan Xi out of the Lin family, and she certainly didn't want her to return. Yet, seeing Yan Xi reminded Lin Ranran of her past humiliations, so she wanted Yan Xi to come back and see how successful and cherished she was now in the Lin family.

Moreover, she had even taken Yan Xi's fiancé.

Chu Mo, who once adored Yan Xi, was now her man.

A sense of pride swelled in Lin Ranran's heart. Yes, she was the true Lin heiress, while Yan Xi was just a fake. Yan Xi had nothing now.

Lin Ranran knew she had already won.

She lifted her chin, clinging to Chu Mo's arm, her face glowing with the smile of a victor. "Sister, since you don't want to come back, I won't force you. Chu Mo and I are about to get engaged. I hope you'll attend our engagement party!"

Yan Xi glanced at them both. "I don't have the time."

Lin Ranran raised an eyebrow. "Oh, I'm sorry, Sister. I forgot that Chu Mo used to be your fiancé. I must have touched a sore spot. My apologies…"

Chu Mo's gaze lingered on Yan Xi, his eyes filled with complex emotions.

When it was revealed that Yan Xi was not the Lin family's biological daughter, the Chu family immediately demanded the engagement be called off or replaced with Lin Ranran, as a fake heiress couldn't represent the Lin family's interests.

Chu Mo had been reluctant. Although Yan Xi wasn't a heiress, she was beautiful, and he couldn't bear to let her go.

His mother had comforted him, saying that Lin Ranran could be groomed—some beauty treatments here and there, and she'd grow into a pretty young woman.

But five years later, Lin Ranran had only grown fairer and slightly plumper. In comparison, Yan Xi had blossomed even more, her once pure and innocent face now exuding a delicate allure that made Chu Mo want to reach out and pinch her cheeks.

Hearing Lin Ranran invite Yan Xi to the engagement party, Chu Mo seized the opportunity. "Xi Xi, we grew up together. How could you miss my engagement party? I've missed you all these years…"

Chu Mo's words made Lin Ranran's heart ache with jealousy, but before she could complain, a glass of water was splashed in Chu Mo's face!

Chu Mo was stunned, unable to react, while Lin Ranran let out a piercing scream. "Yan Xi, how dare you! You actually splashed us? Do you have a death wish?"

"I splashed you on purpose!" Zhou Qingyu set down the glass. "What kind of greasy man are you? Have some shame!"

Chu Mo wiped the water from his face and finally recognized the woman before him.

"Zhou Qingyu!" Chu Mo growled through clenched teeth, his face red with anger. He instinctively raised his hand to slap her, but the restaurant's security guards rushed forward and forcefully restrained him.

Chu Mo roared, "What are you doing? She was the one who splashed me first! If anyone should be arrested, it should be her. Why are you grabbing me?"

Lin Ranran also nervously chimed in, "We are guests here to dine. You can't treat us like this!"

Louis came out with the restaurant manager and spoke sternly in French, "Please handle these troublemakers. They are disturbing my guests."

The manager nodded obsequiously, "Of course, of course. Since they are Louis's guests, they are also our esteemed guests. We will certainly take good care of them!"

The manager then ordered the security guards, "Get these two out of here!"

Chu Mo and Lin Ranran cursed and grumbled but were eventually escorted out by the security guards. The Chu and Lin families were prominent figures in Haicheng, but this was Licheng, and their influence didn't extend here.

"Louis," Zhou Qingyu turned to Louis, "I was only gone for a moment, and you let troublemakers in?"

Louis quickly apologized, "I'm sorry, Miss Zhou. It was my oversight. I'll ask the manager to reserve the entire restaurant so no one disturbs you again!"

Yan Xi patted Zhou Qingyu's hand, "I'm fine."

Lin Ranran's so-called "combat skills" were nothing more than a few verbal jabs, and she couldn't even win an argument. Yan Xi wasn't intimidated.

Seeing Yan Xi's nonchalant attitude, Zhou Qingyu also sighed in relief. She had brought Yan Xi here to relax and was worried that Yan Xi might feel wronged again.

Yan Xi had once been a wealthy heiress. If it weren't for her background, she and Zhou Qingyu would never have met.

Five years ago, the Lin family discovered that Yan Xi wasn't their biological child—Lin Ranran was. After Lin Ranran returned to the Lin family, she constantly targeted Yan Xi, accusing her of usurping her place. The Lin family's attitude toward Yan Xi also worsened, blaming her for their biological child being lost for so many years.

But how could Yan Xi, who was just a baby at the time, have known any of this?

Later, Yan Xi borrowed money from Zhou Qingyu to repay the Lin family's upbringing. At the time, Zhou Qingyu was only a high school senior and didn't have that much money.

It was Zhou Qingyu's father who stepped in, paying off Yan Xi's debt and requiring her to work for the Zhou Group for ten years after graduation.

Yan Xi agreed.

Zhou Qingyu was unhappy about this. She felt that Yan Xi was her friend and that her father shouldn't have pressured Yan Xi like that. But Yan Xi believed it was necessary and was genuinely grateful to Zhou's father for lending her the money.

Even though it wasn't her fault, she had occupied Lin Ranran's life for fifteen years. She needed to repay everything so that she could hold her head high when facing Lin Ranran and the Lin family again.

After leaving the Lin family, Yan Xi enrolled in university, supporting herself through scholarships and working on her professor's projects.

As for her biological parents, since Lin Ranran was an orphan, Yan Xi didn't know who her real parents were.

On her personal records, the "parents" column was left blank. She had learned to see herself as an orphan.

During lunch, Zhou Qingyu cautiously asked Yan Xi, "Aren't you going to look for your biological parents?"

Yan Xi shook her head.

When the Lin parents had cursed her for usurping Lin Ranran's place, her heart had turned to ash. If her adoptive parents, who had raised her for fifteen years, could treat her like that, how much could her biological parents, who had abandoned her, possibly care about her?

Being abandoned once by her biological parents and then again by her adoptive parents—Yan Xi had had enough. She didn't want to meet her biological parents and risk being abandoned by them again for some unknown reason.

Being alone was fine.

At least she still had Zhou Qingyu.

Yan Xi tightly held Zhou Qingyu's hand.

When her identity as the "fake heiress" was exposed, all the wealthy friends she had once been close to distanced themselves from her, mocking her lowly status behind her back.

Only Zhou Qingyu never looked down on her.

—To her, whether Yan Xi was a Lin family heiress or an orphan, she was still poor.

Zhou's father had Yan Xi work for the Zhou Group for ten years, and Yan Xi accepted it willingly. She didn't feel wronged. She chose to major in finance so she could help Zhou's father and Zhou Qingyu in the future.

She hoped Zhou Qingyu would be well and that the things in her dreams would never come true.

After lunch, Zhou Qingyu took Yan Xi to a nearby mall.

Zhou Qingyu wasn't good at comforting people. Whenever she tried to cheer Yan Xi up, she took her shopping. Spending money was the easiest way to forget your troubles.

If one bag couldn't bring happiness, then buy two!

Walking past rows of shelves, Zhou Qingyu pointed at several bags, "This one, this one, this one..."

Louis had called over a sales assistant who spoke Chinese. The assistant smiled politely, "Shall I wrap them all up?"

Zhou Qingyu, "These are so ugly. Why would I buy them?"

The assistant, "...?"

Zhou Qingyu, "The rest are decent. Wrap them all up!"

The assistant, "!!!"

[Wrap them all up? How much would that cost? Let me calculate...]

[At least eight figures?!]

[How rich must Zhou Qingyu's sugar daddy be to let her spend like this?!]

[Ugh, I'm so envious! Shopping like this must feel amazing!]

[But, will Zhou Qingyu even use all these bags? There are so many!]

Yan Xi also had her doubts, "Do you really need this many bags?"

Zhou Qingyu wrapped her arm around Yan Xi's shoulder and started counting, "This one is for you to carry when shopping, this one is for parties, this one is for traveling..."

Yan Xi couldn't help but laugh, "I'm not an octopus!"

Her eyes scanned the bags. Without Zhou Qingyu's keen fashion sense, Yan Xi felt that several of the bags looked quite similar. "I feel like I've seen similar styles at your house before."

"Those are out of season!" Zhou Qingyu waved her hand dismissively. "Who would wear out-of-season items? Except for the classics, of course, it has to be the latest collection!"

"What about the out-of-season ones?" Yan Xi asked.

Zhou Qingyu thought for a moment. She had too many out-of-season fashion items at home and usually didn't bother with them. "Just leave them there. The housekeeper will handle it."

[What a waste.]

[But this is the daily life of a wealthy heiress. They only wear the latest collections, unlike us, who have to use a luxury bag for years!]

[I'm so envious. I wish I could wear new items every time!]

[Pfft, wealthy heiresses don't shop like this. They're supposed to be cultured and refined. Yiyi and Lingling are proper heiresses, and they don't spend like this. Zhou is clearly a gold digger, spending her sugar daddy's money like crazy so she won't be left penniless when he dumps her!]

[Exactly, Zhou is the epitome of a nouveau riche. Real heiresses aren't like this!]

Zhou Qingyu had bought so much that the hotel the production team had booked couldn't hold it all. Fortunately, she owned a villa in Licheng, so she had Louis send most of her purchases there, keeping only a few favorites with her.

Yan Xi thought for a moment, "Qingyu, are you sure you don't need those out-of-season bags and clothes at home anymore?"

"Nope!" Zhou Qingyu replied casually, then looked at Yan Xi, "Why? Do you want them? But they're out of season. I can buy you new ones. Just tell me what you like—it's not like it costs much!"

Yan Xi smiled, "I was thinking, since you don't need them anymore, why not give them to your fans as a giveaway?"

Since Zhou Qingyu didn't want them anyway, it was better to put them to good use.

Zhou Qingyu raised an eyebrow, "Give them to fans? Would they even want them?"

Yan Xi opened her phone and showed Zhou Qingyu the comments in their live stream.

Their live stream had climbed to the second spot in popularity, and the comments were filled with fans clamoring—

[I want them! I don't mind!]

[With the amount Zhou Qingyu buys, even last year's collection should be pretty new, right? I want one!]

[I don't mind either! I want a luxury bag!]

[Even if it's 70-80% new, you could sell it for 20% off in stores! Why not take it!]

For the first time, Zhou Qingyu realized that so many people wanted the out-of-season items she didn't even wear.

She sighed sincerely, "You guys really aren't picky, huh?"

Since they were still digesting their meal, Zhou Qingyu contacted the housekeeper at her home in Haicheng and asked her to dig out all the unused items.

The housekeeper asked, "Miss Zhou, which year are you looking for? Last year's? The year before? Or even earlier?"

Zhou Qingyu, "Just bring them all out."

The housekeeper went to the storage warehouse next to Zhou Qingyu's villa and started a video call, pointing the camera at the warehouse.

Inside the warehouse, rows of shelves were packed with bags and clothes.

All the items were kept in near-perfect condition, showing no signs of use. Some clothes still had their tags attached, as Zhou Qingyu had never worn them. They were simply discarded because they were out of season.

The warehouse was filled to the brim with out-of-season clothes and bags, almost as large as half a small shopping mall.

[Oh my god... how much is this...]

[Wow! That dress is last year's new release from C brand! The tag is still on!]

[And that shoulder bag! It's the latest from D brand! I remember it costs around seventy or eighty thousand, and it's just sitting here collecting dust?]

[This is heartbreaking! Miss Zhou, how can you treat these clothes and bags like this? Let me take care of them! I can turn into an octopus and carry eight at once!]

Zhou Qingyu was amused by the barrage of comments. "It seems like everyone really doesn't mind," she said.

Yan Xi chimed in, "We can pick some items to give away as fan rewards. Your fans have supported you for so long; they deserve some appreciation."

Zhou Qingyu nodded in agreement and instructed the butler to select items from the warehouse, including both bags and clothes. After all, it was a giveaway. If the fans didn't like what they got, they could always give it away or sell it second-hand.

Since the butler needed time to make the selections, the giveaway was scheduled for 5 PM that afternoon.

Yan Xi picked up Zhou Qingyu's phone and used her Weibo account to post the giveaway details. All fans had to do was follow Zhou Qingyu and leave a compliment to participate.

As soon as the post went live, the comments exploded, filled with nothing but flattery for Zhou Qingyu.

This was the first time Zhou Qingyu had seen so many people praising her, even if it was just for the sake of the giveaway.

The post quickly went viral, and soon related hashtags like #PraiseZhouQingyu started trending. Curious netizens clicked on the trending topic, expecting to see photos of Zhou Qingyu, only to find the giveaway post.

Regardless, who would pass up a chance for free stuff? All it took was a follow and a compliment! So more and more people followed Zhou Qingyu and tuned into her livestream—

[Zhou Qingyu is the most beautiful! I'm here for the giveaway. How many winners will there be? I hope I get a chance!]

[Zhou Qingyu is both beautiful and adorable! Judging by the setup, there must be at least ten winners, right?]

[Zhou Qingyu is the most beautiful woman in the entertainment industry! I don't care, seeing her is a win! Giveaway gods, please let me win!]

[Zhou Qingyu is just using the giveaway to boost her popularity. Once the giveaway is over, the hype will die down! Zhou Qingyu is a stunner.]

[Zhou Qingyu has terrible character. I'll leave as soon as the giveaway is over! Zhou Qingyu is really pretty.]

[You two are shameless! If you have the guts, don't participate!]

[Can the moderators kick these people out? We don't need them increasing the pool of participants!]

In no time, thanks to the Weibo promotion, Zhou Qingyu's livestream soared to the top of the charts.

And since most of the viewers were newcomers hoping to win the giveaway, the chat was flooded with compliments for Zhou Qingyu. Even the occasional negative comment was drowned out by the sea of praise.

Some people even went overboard with their flattery—

[Zhou Qingyu's skull is so beautifully shaped! She has a perfectly round head!]

[Zhou Qingyu's ears are adorable too! They're like elf ears, making her face look smaller!]

[Even Zhou Qingyu's toes are cute!]

[Every strand of Zhou Qingyu's hair is adorable!]

[Help! I'm dying of laughter! Zhou Qingyu's nose is also super cute!]

Within half an hour, several new hashtags like #ZhouQingyuCompliments, #ZhouQingyuCuteToes, and #ZhouQingyuElfEars started trending.

The system, which was keeping up with the online buzz, was in disbelief. [Oh my god, host! In the novel, Zhou Qingyu trended multiple times, but it was always for being criticized. This is the first time she's trending for being praised!]

[And Zhou Qingyu's livestream is now number one! She's surpassed Ye Luoyi's numbers; she's in first place!]

Although the system knew that most of the compliments in the livestream were because of Yan Xi's giveaway requirement, they were still compliments!

Yan Xi had anticipated this. Money talks, and most people are willing to throw out a few compliments for a chance to win something. It's a win-win situation!

If they happened to have nothing better to do, tuning into Zhou Qingyu's livestream wasn't a bad idea.

From the start of the show until now, Zhou Qingyu had performed well. Even if her variety show skills were mediocre, her stunning looks alone might attract some fans!

The system was emotional. [Sniff... Host, you're so good at this! If this keeps up, Zhou Qingyu might really escape the fate of being universally hated!]

.

Meanwhile, on the other side...

"Little Leaves, this is a small restaurant Lingling and I discovered! According to the reviews on Instagram, it's reasonably priced and serves authentic food. Let's give it a try today!"

After stepping out of the subway station, the scorching sun hung high in the sky. Ye Luoyi and Su Lingling were drenched in sweat, their bangs sticking to their foreheads as if glued by the heat.

Su Lingling looked exhausted, her usually pristine face now showing signs of fatigue. She had stood the entire subway ride without a seat, and her legs felt like they were filled with lead. She had complained to Ye Luoyi countless times.

Ye Luoyi hadn't gotten a seat either. Her calves, still sore from a recent Botox treatment, felt swollen and weak. She had nearly stumbled several times, but with the PD's camera always on her, she forced herself to stay energetic.

Thankfully, it was finally lunchtime, and they could finally rest.

Ye Luoyi had chosen a small restaurant tucked away in an alley. The place wasn't big, but it was known for serving decent French cuisine at an affordable price. Outside the alley was Li City University, and the restaurant was popular among students for its great value.

[I went to this place when I was studying in Li City! It's super delicious!]

[YiYi has such great taste! The decor of this little place is so cozy and interesting!]

[Following YiYi's livestream, I've discovered so many interesting spots in Li City. I'll definitely visit them on my next trip!]

Shortly after ordering, the steaming French dishes arrived. Su Lingling had been looking forward to it, but her excitement waned when she saw the lack of presentation.

The French toast was rich and creamy, but a bit too sweet. With one bite, the milky filling nearly splattered onto Su Lingling's clothes. The shrimp sandwich was tasty, but the shrimp felt a bit tough after a few chews.

Su Lingling, being the daughter of the Su family, had eaten fifty-dollar bowls of beef noodles, but she had never tried fifty-dollar French cuisine. In her mind, French food was supposed to be elegant and refined, not served in a small, not-so-clean restaurant on the street.

The lunch left Su Lingling unimpressed.

Ye Luoyi also found the food underwhelming, but her acting skills allowed her to praise it without batting an eye.

Whether the food was good or not didn't matter; what mattered was that the livestream looked good and the fans enjoyed it.

And indeed, the viewers of Ye Luoyi's livestream seemed to love it—

[I'll follow YiYi's route for my Li City trip!]

[YiYi's travel spots are so interesting. I was planning to visit M Country this summer, but now I'm thinking of going to F Country instead!]

[YiYi's travel route feels so much more authentic than the other one. The other one is just flashy and even has a giveaway? Isn't that just a ploy to attract viewers?]

[Can't compete on content, so they resort to money. Pathetic.]

[Wait, the other livestream has a giveaway? I need to check it out!]

Ye Luoyi couldn't see the livestream comments, but she was confident in her broadcast.

From the start of her livestream yesterday until now, even with a twelve-hour break due to her flight, her livestream had remained at the top of the charts when she resumed this morning.

Ye Luoyi naturally assumed that after all her hard work, her livestream's popularity should have grown even more.

Moreover, Tianhui had already started its operations. With the momentum from yesterday and this morning, the company had purchased several trending topics about her, which were bound to climb the charts. Ye Luoyi planned to make the most of the variety show "Let's Travel Together" to elevate her popularity even further!

After a few more bites of the French toast, Ye Luoyi couldn't eat anymore and sipped her juice instead.

She glanced out the small window of the restaurant, where the leaves swayed gently in the breeze. "I wonder how the other guests are doing."

The crew members who were also eating at the restaurant had been keeping an eye on the other guests' livestreams and shared updates with Ye Luoyi. "Teacher Qin and Teacher Kang have been visiting Li City's famous landmarks. They're now at Li City Cathedral, taking photos."

"Director Jiang and Screenwriter Xiao went to a coffee shop. They might choose it as one of the filming locations since it offers a great view of the Li City Tower."

"Teacher Zhou and Teacher Yan just finished their meal and are now shopping at the mall."

"Shopping at the mall?" Su Lingling couldn't help but laugh. "Who would broadcast a shopping trip on a travel variety show? Don’t we have malls in China?"

Su Lingling knew that luxury goods in foreign malls were usually cheaper than in domestic ones, which was why many tourists went shopping abroad. But in terms of product variety, there wasn’t much difference between malls at home and abroad.

"It’s mainly because they didn’t plan ahead! So Qingyu doesn’t know where to go for fun." Ye Luoyi sighed deeply and looked at the camera. "So, everyone, it’s better to have a plan when traveling. If you’re unsure about your itinerary, you can refer to the one Lingling and I have put together. It’s really fun and offers great value for money!"

As for Zhou Qingyu’s livestream, Ye Luoyi chuckled to herself. It had already degraded to broadcasting a shopping trip, so she doubted there were many viewers left.

Ye Luoyi had initially been worried that Zhou Qingyu’s livestream might climb to second place in popularity, but now it seemed like maintaining third place would be a challenge!

French meals usually take a long time, and with the small restaurant being crowded, the dishes were served even slower.

Bored and curious, Ye Luoyi found an excuse to go to the restroom.

Once inside the restroom stall, she immediately pulled out her phone to check the livestream situation.

—Even though she had guessed that Zhou Qingyu’s livestream wasn’t as popular as hers, Ye Luoyi still needed to see it for herself to feel at ease.

Ye Luoyi happily opened the official Weibo page of *Let’s Travel Together* and quickly found the livestream status of the four guests. To her shock, Zhou Qingyu’s livestream was sitting firmly at the top of the popularity chart.

Ye Luoyi’s eyes widened. How was this possible?

How could a boring shopping trip livestream be number one?

Ye Luoyi immediately clicked into the livestream to see what was going on, only to discover that Zhou Qingyu had organized a giveaway. The chat was now flooded with comments praising her.

Ye Luoyi gritted her teeth, her fingers gripping the phone so tightly they turned white.

Because of the hype around Zhou Qingyu’s giveaway, the few trending topics Ye Luoyi had bought were now buried beneath Zhou Qingyu’s, looking pitifully lonely.

She was the top-tier starlet, the most popular person on the show. How could Zhou Qingyu surpass her?

Walking up to the mirror, Ye Luoyi touched up her makeup, making her natural look appear more vibrant. She then forced herself to regain her usual gentle expression and returned to her seat at the restaurant.

Su Lingling keenly noticed something was off with Ye Luoyi. "Yi Yi, what’s wrong? You look a bit pale."

Ye Luoyi: "It’s nothing, maybe just low blood sugar. I’ll have some juice and I’ll be fine!"

She took a sip of juice, but it only tasted overly sweet and made her stomach churn.

For the rest of the time, Ye Luoyi made several more trips to the restroom.

Zhou Qingyu’s appeal to the netizens was just a giveaway, right? Once they followed her and praised her, they’d leave, wouldn’t they?

Her popularity was just a flash in the pan. It would surely drop soon!

Who would even watch such a boring livestream of shopping and showing off bags?

My livestream is much more interesting. The audience should be watching me instead!

Each time, Ye Luoyi snuck into the restroom with this mindset, checking on Zhou Qingyu’s livestream. But to her frustration, Zhou Qingyu’s livestream remained at the top of the popularity chart!

After shopping at the mall, Zhou Qingyu took Yan Xi to a dessert shop—just an ordinary chain store, the kind you could find in China too. What was so interesting about this livestream?

And yet, people were watching.

【Zhou Qingyu is such a beauty! The desserts look really delicious!】

【Zhou Qingyu is the top star in the entertainment industry! There’s a branch of this dessert shop near my place. I just placed an order, hehe~ So, in a way, I’m eating the same dessert as Yan Xi~】

【Even Zhou Qingyu’s hair is adorable! When’s the next giveaway? I can’t wait!】

【Zhou Qingyu is absolutely stunning! The giveaway is at 5 PM, just over three hours to go! So excited!】

Excited? Excited my foot!

Ye Luoyi angrily put down her phone. Staying in the restroom for too long wasn’t good either. She combed her hair in front of the mirror, took a deep breath to calm herself, and returned to the restaurant.

Su Lingling looked at Ye Luoyi suspiciously. "Yi Yi, you’ve been to the restroom six times today. Are you having stomach issues?"

Ye Luoyi’s expression froze for a moment. She had built her public image as a serene, unbothered fairy-like figure. How could a fairy have "stomach issues"? That was a mortal’s problem.

Ye Luoyi gracefully pulled out her chair. "No, it’s just—"

*Screech—*

The chair made an odd scraping sound against the floor, which, at first listen, sounded eerily similar to a certain bodily noise.

"..."

"..."

Silence. Nothing was more awkward than silence.

Su Lingling was the first to break the tension, quickly covering her nose.

Ye Luoyi: ?

Ye Luoyi’s face instantly turned pale. "That wasn’t… that was just the chair scraping!"

But the people around her, as well as the livestream audience, couldn’t discern such subtle differences. Combined with the fact that Ye Luoyi had already made six trips to the restroom, the sound inevitably led to some… imaginative conclusions—

【We all eat grains, so it’s normal!】

【It’s just a fart, Yi Yi. No big deal! Everyone farts~】

【I feel like Yi Yi has become more relatable now~ No worries, we get it! It’s just a stomachache!】

【It’s the restaurant’s fault, not Yi Yi’s!】

Some people around them instinctively held their breath, their faces showing disgust.

A few staff members, trying to be polite, turned their heads and covered their noses.

Ye Luoyi: "..."

This was so awkward that even Su Lingling didn’t know what to say. But as Ye Luoyi’s best friend, she felt she had to stand up for her.

She opened her mouth to defend Ye Luoyi, but just then, the waiter brought over a plate of blue cheese. The pungent, overpowering smell instantly filled the air, hitting Su Lingling like a wave. She blanked out for a moment, then covered her nose and shouted, "What on earth is this? It smells so bad!"

Ye Luoyi’s vision went dark.

Now there was no way to clear her name.