Chapter 110: Can You Be More Responsible?

Translator: Henyee Translations  Editor: Henyee Translations

Towards the end, her voice got softer and weaker. She was choked with emotion but she held it in.

“I said no means no.” Song Chuyi wiped his mouth with a piece of tissue and was no longer in the mood for breakfast because of her.

Changqing looked at him for a while without saying a word and asked again, “Then why did you get married to me? You said you’re busy with work and don’t want to waste time on dating, so why did you date Guan Ying for so long?”

Song Chuyi’s eyes darkened and he said after a while, “Perhaps it was because you’re pretty. Besides, didn’t I tell you before? The first time I did a checkup on you, I realized your hymen was still intact. Although it was infected, it was clean in a certain aspect. Truth be told, some women look pure and clean on the outside but they might not actually be. If I spent time matchmaking or getting to know other women, I might not even meet anyone as clean as you. Although the hymen can be surgically made… I can still tell from the touch.”

He said it so bluntly that Changqing’s face felt as though it was burning all of a sudden. She lowered her head and didn’t even dare look at him straight in the eye.

She suddenly recalled that he mentioned this back at the dinner party in the Manor; it was just that both of them were angry and she didn’t take it to heart. This time, he expressed himself clearly and Changqing realized there was nothing to be suspicious about anymore.

“Alright, I’m off to work.” Song Chuyi stood up. “I have a conference tonight and I’ll be back late.”

“Oh.” Changqing lowered her head and held the bowl in her hands, drinking the dumpling soup and not daring to look at him.

Not long after Song Chuyi left, Chuyi went to the broadcasting station too.

Not long after she reached her office, Changqing was called to Mei Zong’s office, the head Director of “Challenge to the End.” Zuo Qian was there as well. Upon seeing her entering, Mei Zong showed them the recent ratings for the show.

After Changqing and Zuo Qian looked at each other, they didn’t make a sound.

Mei Zong folded his arms and leaned into his chair, saying helplessly, “Last week, the program that’s always been vying for the top rating with us successfully took first place in viewership for this week because news spread of their host, Xie Zhixin, throwing a fit. Two weeks ago, they invited the industry’s newest couple, Huo Yanke and the gang, and there was enough talk about them. If this goes on, it’ll be very disadvantageous for our program.”

“Your program is the hit of our station. If we’re unable to make a comeback with our viewership, this would affect the status of our station in the industry.”

Changqing felt a little uneasy. Actually, she discovered this recently too, but she was too busy shooting the drama series.

“Yesterday after the meeting, the station head called me over and we had a long chat.” Mei Zong looked at Zuo Qian. “Nowadays, television programs are no longer vying for viewership but explosive news.”

Zuo Qian’s eyes darkened and he asked indifferently, “Most of the things have always been done according to the script the crew came up with…”

“But you two aren’t doing enough.” Mei Zong turned to look at Changqing. “Have you two really followed the script? If so, we wouldn’t be suffering in terms of viewership.”

Changqing was silent. She didn’t follow some parts because there were many parts in the script that required her to perform and look infatuated in the guests. She did so in the program before but she was unable to perform actions that asked for too much, like before, the scriptwriter required her to actively ask for a kiss from a popular idol guest…

Zuo Qian frowned. “We’re a program that’s filled with positivity…” he paused and seemed to feel a sense of helplessness. “Then Brother Mei, what explosive news do you want?”

“Hype up a ship,” Mei Zong said simply. “Changqing can come up with some scandal with this week’s guest and get on the news.”

“Brother Mei, I can do other things but I really can’t hype a ship.” Changqing shook her head. She didn’t even want to hype up a ship before she was married, not to mention now that she was married. If Song Chuyi found out, he would scrape a layer of skin off her and besides, the Song Family wouldn’t allow it either.

Mei Zong lifted the teacup and brushed the cover, saying softly like the rising mist, “Changqing, that’s right. You might have Fu Yu as your backing and your family’s condition isn’t bad either, but as a host, there are some situations where the station head wouldn’t dare to cover up for you even if he wanted to. If the program’s ratings keep dropping, the decision from above will always be to switch out the hosts first. Take a look at the many stars and celebrities—don’t they have confidence and style?”

“But according to the current situation, they can only work with the station and hype it up. Even if you weren’t working at our station today, it would be the same at other stations. How many times has Chi Yining appeared on headlines this month? How about you? You debuted earlier than her, but you aren’t as good as her in creating news, so your fame isn’t as high as hers.”

Changqing was stumped. She admitted that what Mei Zong said was true.

Mei Zong looked at her for a long time and Changqing felt a real sense of helplessness. Just then, Zuo Qian suddenly said, “Get Zhang Zixin to be our guest if she’s willing to come.”

Changqing was startled. She looked at Zuo Qian in astonishment and complexity.

Four years ago, Zhang Zixin and Zuo Qian were dating and their relationship was known by everyone. They were together for five years but broke up in the end. The outside world found it a pity and these two had never shared the same stage ever since the breakup, so everyone was anticipating it.

The leader of the station mentioned it several times but Zuo Qian always rejected it. To think he would actually agree this time.

Mei Zong was surprised. “Alright, I’ll personally give Zhang Zixin a call later. The two of you together would definitely increase our viewership.”

After leaving Mei Zong’s office, Changqing was enshrouded with inexplicable emotion. She walked behind Zuo Qian and her throat felt parched. “Teacher Zuo, I’m sorry. Because of me…”

Zuo Qian turned around, and his hazel brown eyes were brimming with a hint of affection.

Changqing’s words were stuck in her throat.

Zuo Qian said gently, “Actually, I’m just like you—I don’t agree with creating scandals. When I was learning to host, my teacher only taught me the skills a host needs to adapt and control the situation, but this society is developing faster and faster. Sometimes, to survive, there’s no choice but to go with the times. Changqing, I suggest you should think about the path you want to take and what kind of host you want to become. On a variety show, it’s inevitable for hypes and scandals to happen. I’ll help you out today, but what about tomorrow and the day after? If me sharing the stage with Zhang Zixin can help us get top ratings, I’ll definitely be very happy, but if we don’t…”

“The worst thing is the strong competition between stations. Viewership in the future won’t change much. If you’re constantly unable to let go to the maximum degree…”

He didn’t go on but Changqing understood.

Zuo Qian stroked her head sadly. “Changqing, I’m very fond of how you are now. I actually don’t like hosts who overdo scandals but…”

But they were very popular with the outside world.

Changqing lowered her lids in desolation.

After parting with Zuo Qian, Changqing sat alone on the roof for a very long time.

Changqing got home in the evening. Only Auntie Wang was around.

Auntie Wang had good culinary skills and she made many dishes. Changqing bit her chopsticks as she asked, “Auntie Wang, have you seen the variety programs I’m in?”

“Yes, I especially like the one you do with Zuo Qian.” Auntie Wang smiled and nodded. “My daughter likes it too. Last time, I said that I was working part-time in your house and she even wanted me to get an autograph.”

“Sure.” Changqing quickly grabbed a pen and signed an autograph for Auntie Wang. “Auntie Wang, do you like Chi Yining?”

“Chi Yining?” Auntie Wang shook her head. “I don’t like her. My daughter said she always exposes her chest and legs.”

Changqing laughed.

After Auntie Wang left, Changqing felt that what she did was redundant.

Auntie Wang only represented herself after all. The ratings were the best evidence of her popularity.

At 11 that night, Song Chuyi returned. After showering, he opened the door to Changqing’s room.

It wasn’t locked.

He lifted his lips into a smile. Very good. She finally knows to leave the door open for me.

He entered the room and Robben wanted to come in as well but was kicked out by him.

In the room, Changqing’s back was facing him, pretending to sleep.

She was really exhausted and was afraid he would be exuberant and want it again.

Song Chuyi climbed into bed and cuddled her. After a few seconds, he suddenly said, “Stop pretending to sleep.”

Changqing froze. Was he talking to her or was he testing her out?

Half a minute later, she gave in and opened her eyes. She turned around and pouted her lips. “How did you know I wasn’t sleeping?”

“You’re not a good sleeper.” Song Chuyi lowered his head and kissed her forehead.

Changqing was speechless for a long while. Am I such a bad sleeper?

However, seeing that Song Chuyi didn’t make any further advancements, she heaved a sigh of relief and continued to turn her back to him. After a while, she said, “If I were to hype a ship, would your family allow it?”

“What does hyping a ship mean?” Song Chuyi asked.

Changqing was speechless. There was actually someone in this era who didn’t know what a ship was. “A ship is basically a matched pair, something like an onscreen couple. Nowadays, there are many celebrities who have a ship they’re tied to in order to raise their fame.”

Song Chuyi stroked his hair. He admitted he was a rare talent in medicine, but he was really bad with internet slang. “What you mean is… you’re going to create a scandal with another man. A married woman still needs to be in an onscreen couple?”

Changqing nodded cowardly. “Our station’s viewership is low and it’s closely tied to us hosts. Everyone is creating scandals now. I cannot escape from it either.”

“No, never.” Song Chuyi let her go and in the dark, his face couldn’t get any darker.

Changqing covered her head with the blanket in frustration. “Today, our director came to talk to me. If I don’t do it, I might not be able to stay in the program for much longer.”

“I’ll talk to Zhan Mingwei tomorrow,” Song Chuyi said lightly.

“There’s no use talking to him—he isn’t the only one at the station.”

Song Chuyi raised his lips into a cold smile. “You want to hype up a ship so much?”

“If I wanted to, I would’ve done it long ago. Why do you think I would’ve waited till today?” Changqing turned her back to him angrily. She didn’t want to talk to him.

Song Chuyi didn’t speak anymore either.

The next day around six, Changqing was woken up by the alarm clock.

Song Chuyi woke up at around the same time. Both ignored each other. Changqing happened to be rushing and rushed off to the horse ranch without even having time to have breakfast.

When she left, Song Chuyi gave Zhan Mingwei a call.

Zhan Mingwei wanted to scold him outright. “It’s not even seven—why are you calling me? You’re a weirdo who can’t fall asleep, but can you not bother me?”

“Your broadcasting station is forcing my wife to hype up a ship. What’s going on?” Song Chuyi said coldly, “Can’t you use something more meaningful to compete if you have low viewership?”

Zhan Mingwei’s brain turned quickly and in addition to the recent meetings that were held, he immediately understood. “Old Song, you don’t know about things at broadcasting stations. You don’t even pay attention to them. Other than the medical field where you’re up-to-date, you’re basically ignorant about other fields of expertise.”

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