Chapter Fourteen: Seduction

The next two questions ended quickly. Not long after, it was Song Wan Ning’s turn.

As soon as she stepped onto the stage, the live broadcast shot up in popularity several times over. Yet, unlike the others, whose streams had been peaceful and harmonious, Song Wan Ning’s arrival transformed the chat into a barrage of insults.

“Song Wan Ning? It’s Song Wan Ning! That shameless woman has arrived!”

“My god, is she the one who used to ignore her fiancé, but when she realized he was rich and kind, started seducing him?”

The audience’s comments were venomous, so much so that some viewers couldn’t understand why Song Wan Ning was so hated.

“In fact, I think Song Wan Ning is pretty good. Aside from some initial discomfort and minor tantrums when she arrived at the resort, she’s been diligent with the tasks ever since.”

“How can you be so sure?”

“Exactly, what if she only puts in effort when the cameras are rolling, and slacks off once the livestream ends?”

“Look at her today—no tasks, just lying in a chair like a salted fish.”

“She seemed to be wandering around a bit, though?”

But there were so few positive comments, and those who spoke kindly were quickly drowned out by waves of vitriol. Over time, no one dared voice support for Song Wan Ning in her stream.

Compared to the chaos in the chat, the air was icy cold between Song Wan Ning and Li Weiwei. Neither liked the other much.

The reason was simple. Li Weiwei, as Wen Jing Xing’s sister-in-law, naturally hoped for a happy marriage for him, and didn’t approve of Song Wan Ning as a match. Although Song Wan Ning had changed a lot these past two days, Li Weiwei remained convinced it was only temporary; she believed Song Wan Ning couldn’t keep up the act for long.

Song Wan Ning, on her part, disliked Li Weiwei for being selfish. Everyone in the crew knew Nan Yan didn’t care for Yun Ze, yet Li Weiwei purposely brought it up for the sake of popularity.

Previously, Nan Yan had tried to help Song Wan Ning, and though she hadn’t succeeded, Song Wan Ning had not forgotten her good intentions.

Li Weiwei opened the questioning sharply: “When you first came to the resort, you made it clear you hated it. So why did you choose to join the show in the first place? Was it for Wen Jing Xing?”

Song Wan Ning considered. In the book’s storyline, the original character did seem to have someone she liked, but the Song family, eager to climb the ladder to the Wen family, forced her to agree to the engagement. So she hated both her family and the Wen family.

In the end, the one she liked married someone else, her former fiancé found a new bride, and the original character, consumed by heartbreak, died of grief.

But perhaps because she was merely cannon fodder, the story never revealed who the person she liked actually was.

Song Wan Ning answered honestly, “No.”

The viewers, intent on gossip, were stunned by her reply.

“What! Song Wan Ning doesn’t like Wen Jing Xing? Then why did the trending topic say she liked him?”

“Are you stupid? Maybe she only started liking him later.”

“No way, that doesn’t make sense!”

“Exactly. Logically, Song Wan Ning knew Wen Jing Xing was handsome and rich; how could she not like him at first, and then suddenly fall for him?”

“It just doesn’t add up.”

“Honestly, don’t trust those trending topics—they’re often fabricated by unscrupulous marketing accounts for hype.”

Jian An An, listening nearby, brightened at Song Wan Ning’s words. If Song Wan Ning didn’t like Wen Jing Xing, her own chances just became greater. She realized she would have to get close to Song Wan Ning and work on her “thoughts”...

Moreover, any man, if he heard his fiancée declare publicly that she didn’t like him, would be displeased. Jian An An shifted her gaze, casting a tender glance at Wen Jing Xing, hoping to catch his reaction.

Yet his expression remained unchanged, betraying no sign of unhappiness. His eyes, however, stayed fixed on Song Wan Ning, unwavering.

This made Jian An An feel a wave of frustration and jealousy. Why, after Song Wan Ning publicly denied liking him, did he still look at her so intently?

Jian An An tucked her hair behind her ear, and swept her locks from her shoulder to her back to reveal her curves. But no matter what she did, Wen Jing Xing never glanced her way.

Li Weiwei sneered inwardly. Song Wan Ning truly had a thick skin to admit such things so directly. She suddenly asked, “Was it because you had someone you liked that you so vehemently opposed your engagement to Wen Jing Xing?”

At her words, two people’s expressions shifted subtly.

Wen Jing Xing’s gaze turned cold, fixing Li Weiwei with a warning look, as if to caution her not to press too far. Li Weiwei saw this but pretended not to notice.

Meanwhile, Song Wan Ning eyed Li Weiwei sharply, deeply puzzled as to how she knew the original character had someone she liked. Could she also know who it was?

Song Wan Ning felt this was highly likely.

She didn’t know how the original would have responded, but as for herself, even if she disliked Wen Jing Xing, it was certainly not because of the person the original liked.

She looked up and answered sincerely, “No.”

But the audience refused to believe her.

“In my opinion, she’s probably lying.”

“I just don’t get it—even if the man she liked was amazing, could he be better than Young Master Wen?”

“If she were smart, she wouldn’t risk offending Wen by acting so dismissively at the resort entrance.”

“Sigh, Young Master Wen is really pitiful. Handsome, wealthy, and yet willing to play second fiddle.”

Li Weiwei’s eyes showed disbelief. She murmured, “Impossible…” Her voice was soft, barely audible.

Yet Song Wan Ning heard her. She didn’t question Li Weiwei, but said instead, “Director, you violated the rules.”

“Huh? Did the director say something?”

“How did the rules get broken all of a sudden?”

“I missed three seconds—what happened? Shouldn’t have gone to the restroom!”

Li Weiwei quickly returned to her usual demeanor, smiling, “Yes, so this round goes to you. Next up, Wen Jing Xing.”

Song Wan Ning nodded and left her seat.

When Wen Jing Xing sat down, he said nothing, merely fixed Li Weiwei with a stern look.

Li Weiwei, normally a strong-willed woman, found her smile faltering in the face of Wen Jing Xing’s icy expression.

“You…”

For a moment, faced with his cold, rigid face, she didn’t know what to ask.

“Do you have someone you like?”

Li Weiwei knew that audiences loved nothing more than romance and gossip, so she pressed on with the planned question.

“Ah! The director actually asked this—I absolutely adore the director!”

“I wonder how Young Master Wen will answer!”

“I hope he says no!!”