Chapter 100: A Traitor Lurks Among Us! (Congratulations to the Alliance Heroes’ Hollywood Celebration!)

For Zhao Jin Zhi to have successfully joined the drama troupe’s cast, Wu Ming maintained a sunny and pleasant demeanor on the surface. Yet, throughout the entire afternoon, watching Li Shixin rehearsing lines with Zhao Jin Zhi on stage, he silently crushed four teacups in his hands.

Even after returning home that evening, he still couldn’t swallow his frustration.

His status as the top fan in the support group was no longer secure!

This was unacceptable.

Back home, Wu Ming didn’t cook dinner; instead, he sat down heavily on the sofa, lost in thought.

He had to, immediately, come up with a plan.

He would take back control!

...

In just a few days, the school would enter one of those rare periods of calm and monotony that came only twice a year.

Chen Boshi, a student who had been summoned by the final exam question committee to pre-test the exam paper and verify its difficulty, was walking home from school brimming with joy.

Ah,

The holidays were finally here!

With this excitement, Chen Boshi pushed open the front door.

“Ah!”

Seeing the room plunged in darkness, she switched on the living room light. As the light flooded the space, she was startled.

“Grandma, why didn’t you turn on the lights at home? You scared me!”

Upon seeing her granddaughter, Wu Ming’s eyes lit up.

How could she have forgotten about this mischievous girl?

Her stern expression instantly softened, like a warm spring breeze.

“Boshi, come here.”

Chen Boshi, suspicious of her grandmother’s uncharacteristic tone, set down her bag and moved closer. “What is it?”

“The holidays are starting soon, right?”

“Ah, yes.”

Wu Ming smiled and pulled the little girl beside her, revealing a cunning grin like a crafty old wolf.

“That’s perfect! Grandpa Shixin has recently set up a small theater. During your holiday, you can help welcome the audience, hand out flyers, and assist Grandma in planning how to draw a crowd when the theater opens.”

What?!

Chen Boshi’s eyes immediately widened.

Not that old man’s nonsense again!

It had only been a few days of peace, and now he was launching another small theater project?

That old scoundrel was even more active than young people!

Facing Wu Ming’s request, Chen Boshi quickly averted her gaze.

“I’ll be busy with extra classes during the holidays.”

“Oh?” Wu Ming’s smile vanished. “Which tutoring classes? Have you signed up? Do you want me to add some more for you?”

Ah!!!

Pressed by her grandmother’s general-like command, Chen Boshi snapped, “Don’t think you can coerce me with such low tactics! Grandma, ever since the incident where I rebelled, I’ve lost all my friends at school!”

Tears of bitterness welled up in Chen Boshi’s eyes.

“Even though I’m so outstanding that I don’t really need classmates, Grandma, you have to understand that one’s excellence and confidence need a group of beings called classmates to complement it!”

“Think about it: when you get first place in the entire school, no one secretly envies you and then comes crawling to flatter you. When you wear pretty clothes, no one feels ashamed and runs over to praise you. When you get accepted into Peking University or an Ivy League school, there won’t be a group of classmates stuck in second-tier colleges who fake tears, begging you to remember them when you return home...”

What’s the point of all the struggles in life without that?

Recalling how her close friends who once chased after Liu Xin had isolated her after the rebellious incident on Weibo, her school life had become incredibly dull...

Chen Boshi fell silent, tears streaming down, as the voice of betrayal echoed in her ears.

“If I don’t use this winter break to mend fences with those classmates—though not too bright, but essential in life—I’ll become a lonely orphan, Grandma!”

Listening to Chen Boshi’s impassioned refusal, Wu Ming nodded silently.

Then, quietly, he pulled out his wallet.

“Didn’t you say you wanted to buy that Rococo dress?”

Looking at the ten red 100-yuan bills slapped onto the coffee table, Chen Boshi’s mouth opened slightly. “Don’t even think about bribing me!”

Rustle, rustle—

Another layer of red bills was stacked on top.

“I remember you also said you wanted to buy some stockings?”

“That’s called a Switch! That’s beside the point. Grandma, I really can’t accept this dirty money!”

“Please respect me. I, Chen Boshi, am a person of principle!”

Oh?

Noticing Chen Boshi’s gaze had locked onto the piles of bills, Wu Ming chuckled.

Then he pulled out a dozen more bills from his wallet, laying them on the table.

“Boshi, haven’t you always been shouting about wanting to work during the holidays to gain experience? This small theater is a perfect opportunity!”

Thud.

Staring at the thick stack of bills on the coffee table, Chen Boshi finally relented, plopping down onto the floor.

Her ponytail and hands trembling, she gently cradled the money, pressing her rosy cheek against it.

Mmm...

This firm texture.

This alluring scent...

There’s so much.

She had given way too much!

“Let me make it clear—I’m not helping you for this money,” Chen Boshi said, her eyes misty and cheeks flushed, raising a finger.

“I just purely love drama.”

“Yeah, purely love drama!”

Seeing her granddaughter’s proud expression, Wu Ming chuckled and stood up.

“Of course you love drama! Good girl, Grandma will go cook for you!”

...

The theater was fully equipped, staff in place, actors assembled; the small theater was ready.

In the following two days, after Li Shixin set the opening date, he began intense rehearsals with An Xiaoxiao and the others.

After finishing her exams, Wu Ming brought Chen Boshi—the youngest member of Li Shixin’s fan support group—into the small theater.

Though she held no official position in the fan club, under the combined influence of cash and Wu Ming’s authority, she contributed her experience managing fan groups.

She printed flyers, tickets, and other small but vital items, and helped devise a publicity plan for the theater.

According to her idea, the first step was to spread the word through Li Shixin’s Weibo and the veteran members of the fan group, followed by distributing flyers targeting elderly people who were isolated or unable to leave their homes.

It was grueling work. A group of healthy old fans was assigned to nursing homes and community hospitals, while the young and energetic Chen Boshi was tasked by Wu Ming to deliver flyers door to door in residential complexes.

Though she was reluctant, the thought of the warm cash in her pocket spurred her on. Bundled in her down jacket like a ball, she slung her flyer-filled backpack and set off towards the neighborhoods.

Distributing flyers was no easy task.

Even prepared to endure hardship, after a morning’s work, Chen Boshi was utterly exhausted.

At noon, as she placed her half-empty, heavy backpack at the entrance of a convenience store and squatted by the roadside, staring hopelessly at the endless apartment blocks ahead, two small feet clad in loafers appeared before her.

“Yo, yo, yo! Look who it is! Isn’t this our top student, the former vice captain of the Liu Xin fan group?”

“Traitor!”

Chen Boshi looked up and saw her classmates.

Emmm...

Also the heads of the fan group’s comment control and anti-slander teams:

Chen Yiyi and Su Sansan!