Chapter 32

Cheng Xiyang was handsome; otherwise, he wouldn't have stood out among all the contestants to become one of the top two in popularity. His peach-blossom eyes, in particular, always carried a hint of a smile, leading fans to jokingly remark that he looked affectionate even when "staring at a dog."

However, at this moment, those eyes could not hide his astonishment.

The audience: "..."

[She really is Ning Shiyue’s sister, even more brash than he is. She just said straight out that she doesn’t know Cheng Xiyang.]
[I declare that this round goes to Ning Yuxuan. Cheng Xiyang couldn't even handle that response.]
[Am I the only one who thinks Ning Yuxuan really doesn't know him? That confused look is too authentic; it’s exactly like me when I’m face-blind.]
[But... he was Ning Shiyue’s former teammate in Euphoria-A, right? And he’s so famous. Does Ning Yuxuan really not know him?]

Ning Yuxuan truly did not know him. She admitted that the man had a nice face—delicate features and clear skin—but there were so many handsome male celebrities in the entertainment industry; how could she be expected to recognize every single one of them at a glance?

Cheng Xiyang finally recovered from his surprise, a trace of scrutiny entering his eyes. What was Ning Yuxuan getting at? By claiming she didn't know him while identifying as Ning Shiyue’s sister, was she looking down on him, or was she hinting that Ning Shiyue had completely severed ties with Euphoria-A and didn't want to bring up his boy-band past?

With a flurry of thoughts in his mind, Cheng Xiyang suppressed his emotions and replied, "My name is Cheng Xiyang." He paused, then asked, "You don't know me, Yuxuan?"

He asked this out of curiosity, but also to further test her stance.

Ning Yuxuan was even more perplexed. Should she have known him? Judging by his tone, he seemed to know Ning Shiyue, so perhaps he was an actor who had worked with her brother. Maybe she had seen him while watching a show but just couldn't place the name.

With this in mind, Ning Yuxuan asked with sincere curiosity, "Have you been in any hit dramas lately? Which character did you play? Tell me about it, maybe I’ll remember."

Cheng Xiyang’s expression faltered. Ning Yuxuan’s question, though seemingly casual, hit him exactly where it hurt. Everyone in the industry knew that in the current domestic climate, the best career path for idols emerging from talent shows was to transition into acting. As the two most popular members of Euphoria-A, both he and Ning Shiyue had taken that route.

At the beginning, they had advanced in parallel. Ning Shiyue had a breakout hit playing the second lead, and Cheng Xiyang’s drama, where he played the lead, followed shortly after, gaining him a wave of fans. However, Ning Shiyue went on to star in several subsequent hit dramas, firmly establishing himself in the television industry. Conversely, every drama Cheng Xiyang had led in the past year had been a flop.

Cheng Xiyang still had a massive fanbase from his idol days and remained a "top-tier" star for now, but if things continued this way, he would eventually run out of momentum. There were too many examples of this in the entertainment industry. This was precisely why he had chosen to participate in this variety show—to gain exposure on a high-traffic program, combined with the话题-generating potential of his relationship with Ning Shiyue, hoping to return his popularity to its peak.

In those few short seconds, countless thoughts raced through Cheng Xiyang’s mind. This woman before him appeared carefree, but she was actually deep-thinking and not to be underestimated. Otherwise, how could she have deflected his question so easily while effortlessly hitting his sore spot?

Cheng Xiyang looked at Ning Yuxuan and spoke in a humble tone, "I wouldn't dare call my recent works 'hit dramas.' With so many distinguished actors here, I’d better not make a fool of myself."

Ning Yuxuan frowned. He wouldn't even say what he had acted in—how was she supposed to remember who he was?

***

Cheng Xiyang did not want to bring up his work again, so he smiled and changed the subject. "It seems Shiyue doesn't mention me to his family often. That’s fine; it allows everyone to form their own impressions without bias. I wonder, since this is our first meeting, what is your first impression of me, Yuxuan?"

Ning Yuxuan looked at him strangely. This Cheng Xiyang seemed unusually interested in her. They were supposed to be in a simple greeting segment, yet he insisted on pestering her with questions. She was starting to get annoyed.

Ning Yuxuan answered perfunctorily, "It’s alright. Sixty points."

Cheng Xiyang’s smile stiffened. The top-tier star's fans hadn't arrived on the battlefield in large numbers yet, and the livestream was filled with casual onlookers.

[Hahahahaha, I’m dying. A vivid demonstration of what it means to humiliate oneself.]
[Not bad, not bad. At least it’s a passing grade.]
[Don't be sad, Cheng Xiyang. Ning Yuxuan is just as blunt with her own brother; she isn't targeting you.]

Cheng Xiyang hadn't yet reacted to the score, but his mother, Liu Yufang, who stood beside him, was displeased. In Liu Yufang’s eyes, her son was the best; how could anyone give him a mere sixty-point passing grade? She stepped up to her son to back him up. "Xiyang, don't worry about other people's opinions. In your mother’s eyes, you are always a hundred!"

Cheng Xiyang nodded awkwardly. "Thanks, Mom."

The atmosphere turned overly subtle, and the production team, likely unable to watch any longer, quickly moved to the next segment. A staff member brought out a box. "Inside this box are comments from Weibo netizens about our show’s guests," the staffer explained. "There are both positive and negative comments. We will now take turns drawing them, reading them aloud, and then responding."

Reading comments wasn't an innovation of *Mother*; many variety shows did it. However, none of the guests present had participated in such a segment before, and the audience in the livestream was looking forward to their reactions to the negative comments.

The first to draw was Qin Man, who pulled a positive comment about Ning Fei. "Teacher Ning Fei, you are so beautiful! I am your super fan; I’ve watched all your movies more than three times! When will you film a new work? I’ll definitely drag my whole family to the cinema to support you!"

Qin Man had excellent delivery; not only were her words clear, but she also read with emotion. After finishing, she nodded. "I’ve watched all of Teacher Ning’s movies, too. They are truly excellent works."

[Wuwuwu, I’m shipping these two legendary actresses. As expected, truly excellent people appreciate each other!]
[I'm so glad this show exists; otherwise, I would have been misled by the gossip columns into thinking Teacher Ning and Teacher Qin didn't get along.]

Ning Fei was a bit embarrassed by the praise. "Thank you to the audience for your love. I feel very honored. As for a new work, it might not be that soon, but if there is definite news, I will definitely share it with everyone first."

The filming for *Misdirected Letter* hadn't been fully finalized, so Ning Fei didn't disclose it prematurely. However, her statement signaled her intention to end her ten-year hiatus and return to the film industry.

[Wow, so Teacher Ning really is going to film a new movie!]
[That’s great! Is it the movie rumored to be a collaboration with Teacher Qin? I’m so excited!]

Next, Jiang Ning’an drew a positive comment about herself, with a fan expressing their love for *Tale of the Heart*.

The third to draw was Ning Fei. After unfolding the note and seeing the words, she frowned slightly. Seeing her expression, everyone guessed it must be a negative comment.

[This is really hard on Teacher Ning. Of all people, she is the one I least imagine reading a negative comment.]
[Yeah, Teacher Ning seems like such a gentle person; she would never speak ill of anyone.]

***

Ning Fei glanced at Ning Yuxuan. Ning Yuxuan realized the comment was directed at her. "Mom," she said to Ning Fei, "let me read it for you." Before Ning Fei could react, Ning Yuxuan took the note from her hand.

Ning Yuxuan scanned it briefly and read it in a calm tone: "Of all the guests, the one I dislike most is Ning Yuxuan. She always acts like she’s so great. Who does she think she is? Other than having a good mother, she is absolutely nothing."

After reading, Ning Yuxuan first gave a reassuring look to the worried-looking Ning Fei. Then, she smiled. "To this netizen: My mom only has two children, Ning Shiyue and me. I am Ning Shiyue’s sister, so you tell me—who do I think I am?"

[Hahahahaha, no flaws in that logic! Sister Xuan is the boss!]
[Hahaha, I knew Ning Yuxuan wouldn't take the conventional path; her train of thought was completely unaffected by the netizen.]

"And thank you for your affirmation of my mother," Ning Yuxuan added. "She is indeed a very good mother."

Ning Fei squeezed her daughter’s hand with a smile; seeing that her daughter wasn't upset by the malicious comment, she felt relieved.

When it was Ning Yuxuan’s turn to draw, she paused after pulling out the slip, appearing deep in thought. With the previous guests, the audience could generally guess the type of comment from their expressions. For example, Qin Man and Jiang Ning’an had shown faint smiles, clearly having drawn positive comments. Ning Fei had frowned immediately upon seeing the negative one. Only Ning Yuxuan displayed a look that revealed neither joy nor anger, only contemplation.

[What’s going on? Does Ning Yuxuan not understand the content of the note?]
[Whether it’s praise or a roast, she shouldn't have that expression, right? So what exactly is written on the note?]
[Read it, read it, you’re making me curious!]

Ning Yuxuan finally looked up after a moment of thought and turned to Cheng Xiyang. "So, you and Ning Shiyue were in the same group?"

Cheng Xiyang: "..."
The audience: "..."

[Hahahahaha, thank you Ning Yuxuan, for making me burst out laughing for the first time today.]
[I dare say, Ning Yuxuan, you really don't know Cheng Xiyang. You didn't even know he was once Ning Shiyue’s teammate.]
[Looking at that expression, it doesn't seem like acting. She genuinely just discovered this fact.]

At this moment, Cheng Xiyang’s heart was filled with confusion. If Ning Yuxuan was faking it, her acting was too good. But Ning Yuxuan was Ning Shiyue’s biological sister—how could she not know who his teammates were? Especially since he was the most famous of all Ning Shiyue’s teammates and also his direct rival. Cheng Xiyang even began to doubt himself: Was he not as famous as he thought?

No, that was impossible. Ning Yuxuan was definitely playing the fool to catch the tiger! She must know about the competition between him and Ning Shiyue and was taking this opportunity to suppress him.

"Yes," Cheng Xiyang replied. "Shiyue and I were both members of Euphoria-A, and we were good friends."

Ning Yuxuan nodded and began to read the comment on the note: "Cheng Xiyang’s popularity couldn't compare to Ning Shiyue’s back in the Euphoria days, and his drama performances were inferior to his as well. Now, he’s actually come to join the same variety show as his mother and sister. He really has no shame."