Chapter 89: 89. The Actress Whose Reputation Lies in Ruins (4) Part 2

Bai Qian nearly burst out laughing inside. How could this girl deliver such black-and-white twisted logic with such a straight face?

But she couldn’t let it show. A Little Drama Queen had to act the part—

“If she helps me with my luggage and cooks for me, she definitely wouldn’t make me hang around in the kitchen. I’d just lounge on the sofa, watch some TV nice and comfy, and dinner would be served. Why wouldn’t I do that?”

He Nianyou kept right on badmouthing her without a shred of guilt. “How do you know she’d actually cook for you? You can’t expect someone who slacks off at her job to put real effort into making you dinner!”

Bai Qian shrugged. “Then I’ll go ask if she wants to cook for me.”

Afraid she might actually leave, Little Dog backed down with a pout. “Fine, I get it! Go wait on the sofa. I’ll call you when it’s ready. That work?”

“Mm. Make my portion with extra pineapple. I don’t like green beans or carrots—you can use them to season, but don’t put a single one in mine.”

Bai Kitty issued her instructions without a hint of remorse and sauntered out of the kitchen.

Leaving He Xiaogou all alone, pitifully setting to work on their dinner for two.

【I’ve got serious reason to suspect He Xiaogou’s been totally PUA’d! This is way too much! I apply to hit the island and dish out some justice to this naughty Kitty!】

【How could we let big sis handle this? Little sis has got it covered!】

【He Xiaogou looks so pitiful and hilarious right now. Can animals in this country really not turn into spirits anymore? I’d kinda love to see He Xiaogou shift back to dog form, apron and all, slaving away in the kitchen all mopey for Little Kitty (not really lol)】

【Even now, Bai Kitty’s gotta shout out Teacher Shen. Money-saver squad approves of this hidden candy!】

【Cat-Dog CP ain’t having it! Where my friendship squad at? Hands up!】

【Right here! Little Dog dragging Little Cat into her camp and stepping on Teacher Shen? Comedy gold hahahahaha!】

【He Xiaogou’s cooking now—why do they all have such pretty hands? Hands that gorgeous, it’d be a crime not to train ’em on iron palm (doge)】

【Any sisters on Camera 6? Can you tell me which food blogger video my wifey’s watching? I wanna watch too—round it off, and we’re basically dating!】

【OP sis, that’s some next-level rounding lol.】

【Angle’s no good—can’t see clearly from here.】

【Other cameras say the same, can’t make it out.】

【Why does He Xiaogou’s step right now look just like one from that food blogger I follow?】

【So many food bloggers on Weibo—how’d you spot that?】

【’Cause that blogger always sneaks a taste while prepping ingredients, exactly like He Xiaogou’s doing now.】

【How is she so clueless? She actually thinks sneaking bites of ingredients is a required step in cooking? I don’t even know how many times I’ve laughed myself sick. This has to be an all-comedy cast, right?】

【Hey, the one above—you wouldn’t happen to be following “Little Candy Food Diary,” would you?】

【That’s why the sneaking bites sounded so familiar when you all mentioned it. If it’s “Little Candy Food Diary,” we’re doomed. Is there anyone who can stop He Xiaogou?】

【What’s the dirt on “Little Candy Food Diary”? She’s just following her videos to cook. She shouldn’t get dragged down, right?】

【No, no! Didn’t He Xiaogou just say that food blogger hasn’t updated in half a year? It’s because the blogger always screws up, and the last time was the worst—she ended up getting rushed to the hospital for a stomach pump right after eating. And get this: the last dish she made was pineapple fried rice. The exact same one He Xiaogou is about to attempt.】

【Is He Xiaogou here to join a variety show or to take people out?】

【Anyone trying to seriously learn cooking from a disaster food blogger would baffle you no matter who it was. But once you realize it’s He Nianyou doing it, suddenly it all makes perfect sense.】

【Hahahahahahahaha, upstairs you’re savage!】

【Everyone stop laughing—can someone notify Bai Kitty? Have her stop He Xiaogou from cooking, just like she successfully stopped her from singing last time?】

【Didn’t the Program Team say the guests would check the barrages and interact with us? What’s up with this bunch? They’re all so disobedient. Guests like these shouldn’t just be stuck on the island for a month—they should be locked up for a year!】

【A year? Too lenient. Make it a lifetime.】

The barrages went wild @-ing Bai Qian, desperately hoping she’d stop He Nianyou from attempting murder a second time.

Bai Qian, the one everyone was calling for, remained blissfully unaware.

After leaving the kitchen, she had curled up on the living room sofa, remote in hand as she scrolled through the options. In the end, she settled on a currently popular crime-solving drama.

Footsteps echoed down the stairs, and Bai Qian instinctively turned her head. There was someone descending from the second floor.

It was Xia Hengtao.

Born in a watery town in the south, she always spoke in a soft, gentle tone during her streams. Add in her monthly donations to charities, and her fans had long dubbed her the very picture of “beauty with a heart of gold.”

The girl was a year younger than her. Catching Bai Qian’s gaze, she smiled and greeted her warmly. “Bai Qian-jie.”

With such a mild-mannered attitude, Bai Qian had no reason to stir up trouble. “Good evening.”

“Nianyou-jie is still in the kitchen, right?”

She blinked in mild confusion. “Yeah. Something up?”

Xia Hengtao waved the program-provided phone in her hand. “Bai Qian-jie, take a look at the barrages.”

Hearing that, Bai Qian patted her pockets on reflex, searching for her own phone. She patted herself down, only remembering after a moment that she’d left it in her room.

Little Drama Queen naturally wasn’t about to make a special trip upstairs for something like that. Instead, she adopted the same demanding tone she used with He Nianyou. “My phone’s in my room, and I don’t feel like going back up. Lend me yours.”

She figured this spoiled act would come off as obnoxious and unlikable. Little did she know, her stunning features softened the haughty edge in her eyes and brows, making her look instead like a cat grown bold and capricious from too much doting by its owner.

—Who could stay mad at such an adorable, pampered little cat?

Seeing her like this only deepened the gentle amusement in Xia Hengtao’s eyes. Her already soft voice grew even softer, and her address turned noticeably more affectionate. “Sure thing. Borrow mine all you want, jie.”

With that, she came over to Bai Qian’s side and handed over the phone before making to leave. “You look at it yourself then, jie. I’m heading to the kitchen first.”

“You dislike me that much? Already trying to leave so soon?”

Xia Hengtao patiently explained in her warm voice. “If you want company to watch TV, I’ll come back and keep you company later. But right now, Nianyou-jie’s situation takes priority.”

Bai Qian was baffled, momentarily forgetting to keep up her drama queen act as surprise slipped out. “Huh? What’s wrong with her?”

Luckily, Xia Hengtao’s attention was mostly on the kitchen by now, so she didn’t notice the slip. “The barrages say Nianyou-jie picked the wrong food tutorial. I’m worried something might go wrong, so I came down to check.”

“You know how to cook?”

She smiled tenderly. “Yeah. I was going to invite you both for dinner tonight, but I get a little socially anxious, so I didn’t say anything earlier. Starting tomorrow, let’s eat together, jie. Whatever you want, I’ll make it for you.”

Bai Qian couldn’t help thinking this girl bore an odd resemblance to He Nianyou. One had questionable taste in aesthetics; the other seemed to have a skewed idea of what “social anxiety” really meant.

If you’re so socially anxious, then why proactively greet me earlier? Why come downstairs on your own to help?

“Sis, why don’t you sit here and wait a moment? I’ll go help out Nianyou-jie in the kitchen, and I’ll call you when the food’s ready.”

In the face of her sudden kindness, the Little Drama Queen didn’t question the motive. Instead, she accepted it with perfect ease. “Then you know what to tell He Nianyou, right? I don’t eat green beans—”

“No green beans or carrots, so not a single one in the fried rice, got it?” Xia Hengtao gazed at her, her eyes brimming with a tenderness that seemed long-buried. “Sis, you’re just like my cat at home. Not only do you look alike—you even hate the exact same things.”

【So is Bai Kitty running a body-double script?】

【Wasn’t Xia Hengtao supposed to be faking her whole persona now? Why does she seem so genuine to me?】

【I feel the same. If she can fake it this convincingly, it’d be a shame for her not to act.】

【I watched that black-faced video. Xia Hengtao’s expression was genuinely awful—no emotion at all. And just now, when she faced Yu Jingqing, she was ice-cold too. You can’t fake that.】

【So why is she so gentle with Bai Qian? Aren’t they meeting for the first time?】

【Anyone upstairs clearly didn’t read carefully. Didn’t Xia Hengtao say it herself? Bai Qian looks just like her cat. Love me, love my pet! (Not sure if that’s the right usage, but you get the idea.)】

【Side note: I have a cat too, and petting cats is the best! It’s like a drug—go a day without and you’re itching. So now that Bai Kitty’s been cat-ified, what’s the chance Xia Hengtao pets her over the next month? A. 100%. B. One hundred percent. C. All of the above.】

【The wholesome vibe just turned spicy.】

【No way! Bai Kitty belongs to Teacher Shen. If anyone’s petting, it’s Teacher Shen herself. Isn’t Xia Hengtao paired with Best Actress Yu by the production team? She’s definitely the bottom there, and Bai Kitty’s the ultimate bottom. Two bottoms can’t make it work!】

【Bai Tao CP super topic is up! Sisters who ship, come play!】

【At this rate, won’t Chi Hua fall to Bai Kitty’s oblivious charm offensive too?】

【Yu Jingqing: A movie for six people, and my name’s not on it?】

【Replying upstairs: Film Empress already met Bai Kitty earlier. No conquest on first contact, so probably not later either. Pass!】

Xia Hengtao was a top streamer in the dance category.

Just like her and Bai Qian, she was all looks and no talent, with little else to her name.

—And that was exactly what He Nianyou admired most.

That was why her attitude toward Xia Hengtao was worlds better than it had been with Shen Yunchu.

In the kitchen, the two of them toiled away, united in their mission to feed a certain Bai Kitty.

Xia Hengtao took the lead on cooking, while He Nianyou assisted.

He Xiaogou declared bluntly, “I admire you too. It’s just a shame we met so late. Before I knew you, I’d already found my soulmate in art. But no matter—people with noble pursuits in art are all connected at heart. So you’ll be my best friend after Bai Qian.”

Xia Hengtao had been idly watching the others’ streams from her room earlier, just like the audience. She clearly knew about He Nianyou’s skewed tastes but didn’t call her out on it. Instead, she smiled faintly. “But my dancing isn’t that good.”

“Then you need to learn from me and Bai Qian.”

“Hm?”

He Xiaogou’s expression was utterly sincere. “You’re too lacking in confidence. You dance so well—how can you sell yourself short like that? Don’t worry. From now on, hang out with us more. Mindsets are contagious. Stick around us long enough, and you’ll gain that confidence naturally! You’re just one confident mindset away from being the perfect dancer! You got this—I believe in you.”