Chapter 122: Girlfriend Fans vs. Mom Fans Showdown

This time, Chu Muyun successfully made it into the kitchen. Bai Chenxi could see the faintly smug look on his face.

“Brother Chu,” she said at once, “whatever you’re planning, forget it. Don’t interfere. Just let them have a decent meal!”

If she hadn’t watched him spend the past few episodes scheming and fighting tooth and nail to get into the kitchen, she wouldn’t even have left him a crack in the door.

Chu Muyun raised an eyebrow. “Are you questioning my cooking?”

“No.” Did his cooking even need to be questioned? After seeing the expressions on everyone’s faces when they ate in the first episode, Bai Chenxi understood everything.

“I’ve improved.” Chu Muyun said it with utmost seriousness, yet there was a hint of grievance in his voice.

Bai Chenxi glanced awkwardly at the camera. “We’re still filming, Brother Chu. Is this really a good idea?”

Chu Muyun took one look at the camera and said stubbornly, “My cooking has improved.”

“All right. Your cooking has improved.”

She even repeated it to the camera. Only then did Chu Muyun smile with satisfaction. Bai Chenxi felt as though she were coaxing a child.

When the episode aired, the argument broke out again, just as expected.

[They’re so sweet together!]

[What sweetness? My idol just wants to cook.]

[Chu Muyun: Busy obsessing over cooking. Do not disturb!]

[Did none of you notice Chenxi’s reluctant expression? It’s obvious she doesn’t want a certain someone in there either.]

[I wonder who keeps using my idol for publicity, only to turn around and deny him.]

[Who’s using whom for publicity? Isn’t that your idol in the photos? If your idol hadn’t taken the initiative, how could we have promoted anything? Promoted thin air?]

[It’s obvious from the video that Chu Muyun is the more proactive one!]

[My brother just wants to get into the kitchen.]

[Chu Muyun has always avoided publicity stunts, hasn’t he? The fact that he isn’t even trying to avoid suspicion this time is already suspicious enough!]

[Our Brother Chu is only being nice to that person out of consideration for Jiang Jize.]

[Exactly. The number of scandals alone tells you who you should believe.]

[If a woman knew how to behave herself, would she have this many scandals?]

Sure enough, with Chu Muyun’s massive fan base behind them, his fans managed to gain the upper hand even in an argument.

Bai Chenxi’s fans were weaker by comparison, but they had been clashing with Chu Muyun’s fans almost from the very beginning.

After so many battles, what they were competing with was sheer refusal to lose.

The spectators looked at the two people on-screen, working together with perfect understanding, surrounded by an atmosphere of peace and harmony. Then they looked at the war-torn comment feed and couldn’t help sighing.

Was this what it meant for the celebrities themselves to be deeply affectionate while their fans were sworn enemies?

Once the fans had exhausted themselves arguing, they all began pondering the same question: Why was their idol so determined to get into the kitchen?

Could he really love cooking that much? Judging from everyone else’s expressions, however, the dishes he made seemed rather difficult to describe.

On the surface:

“My idol, don’t worry. I’ll cook for you.”

“As long as my idol made it, I’ll love it.”

“Go for it, idol. I believe you can do it.”

But deep down:

“My idol can’t cook? That’s adorable!”

“Wow, my idol has finally found something he can’t do. Otherwise, I’d start questioning my entire existence. How could anyone be this perfect? And the worst part is, he isn’t even my boyfriend.”

“My idol can’t cook, but I can. Does that mean I have another chance?”

As for why Chu Muyun was so obsessed with cooking, it was all because someone had once said that her ideal type had to be good at it.

When Chu Muyun and Bai Chenxi carried the dishes out, Bai Chenxi could clearly feel that everyone was no longer as excited as before.

Had they all gotten too hungry?

Several people gathered around the table, yet for a moment, no one picked up their chopsticks. They exchanged glances, each silently urging someone else to go first.

Chu Muyun naturally knew why they were acting this way, but deliberately kept quiet, enjoying their predicament.

Bai Chenxi looked at them. “Why aren’t you eating?” The dishes didn’t look that bad, did they?

Lan Tian had no such reservations and simply said, “They just want to know which dish Brother Chu made so they can really enjoy that one.”

Oh no! Brother Chu’s eyes were terrifying.

Bai Chenxi’s eyes shifted, and she said with some difficulty, “Is that so? But I don’t really remember. It doesn’t matter, though. Brother Chu helped me with every dish, so each one contains a little of his culinary talent!”

Clack!

Gao Yuan couldn’t even keep hold of his chopsticks.

“I’m going to get another pair.” With that, he fled.

The others looked at him with envy. Take me with you!

They couldn’t use dropping their chopsticks as an excuse anymore. Would a stomachache work? Going to the bathroom would be far too obvious.

Just then, under everyone’s watchful eyes, Wang Yehong picked up some food and put it into his mouth. The others all stared at him, but Wang Yehong said nothing and simply continued eating.

The rest of them steeled themselves and began eating too.

Lan Tian had barely taken one bite before he exclaimed, “Chenxi, this is unbelievably delicious!”

Everyone else had food in their mouths and didn’t even have time to speak. They could only nod enthusiastically.

Only then did Wang Yehong smile. “You little rascal. The moment your eyes shifted, I knew you were plotting something again.”

Bai Chenxi smiled as well. “As expected of my boss. You really understand me.”

“Of course. Otherwise, how could I be your boss?”

From the very first bite, they knew they had been tricked, but they were secretly relieved to have been tricked. Besides, with such delicious food in front of them, who had time to worry about anything else?

Gao Yuan returned with a fresh pair of chopsticks after making ample psychological preparations, only to find everyone chatting and laughing merrily.

What had happened to the world? Had he opened the wrong door and somehow entered a parallel universe?

He sat down and cautiously took a bite. The moment he swallowed it, he stopped speaking altogether and buried his head in the food, eating voraciously.

Bai Chenxi felt a pang of pity. Just look at how hungry the poor child was.

Only after he had eaten his fill did Gao Yuan finally have time to speak. “From now on, when I look for a girlfriend, she absolutely has to know how to cook.”

Bai Chenxi was ladling soup when she heard this. Without thinking, she blurted out, “You’re still too young. Your mother says no.”

The words were already out before she realized that everyone at the table was staring at her.

Bai Chenxi offered a slightly pale explanation. “I, um, I often see people say things like that on social media, so I just repeated it without thinking.”

Wei Tian teased her, “Judging from that comment, I’d say the person who wrote it was probably one of Yuan’s mom fans.”

Bai Chenxi nodded. “Probably!”

Everyone burst out laughing. They all understood that the mom fan in question was Bai Chenxi herself.

Then Bai Chenxi received a text message from Chu Muyun.

Chu Muyun: How many people are you a fan of, exactly?

Bai Chenxi secretly typed back:

I have countless favorites in the entertainment industry.

When he saw the message, Chu Muyun felt another headache coming on.

Chu Muyun: What about girlfriend fans?

The mention of girlfriend fans reminded Bai Chenxi of the story about the fox and the rabbit that night.

Bai Chenxi: You.

Having received the answer he wanted, Chu Muyun curved his lips in satisfaction.

Chu Muyun: You’re only allowed to be my girlfriend fan!

Only then did Bai Chenxi realize that he was worried she might switch allegiances. She hadn’t expected him to care so much about having her as a fan. Perhaps she should comfort him.

Besides, she had never intended to be anyone else’s girlfriend fan. Wasn’t being a face fan or a pairing fan much more enjoyable?

Bai Chenxi: Switching allegiances gets your legs broken. I wouldn’t dare!

Every one of their little exchanges fell under the watchful eye of the experienced Wang Yehong.

***

Wang Ling watched Bai Chenxi’s head droop with exhaustion, yet she still made time to watch Chu Muyun’s variety show.

Unable to hide her exasperation, she said, “You’re practically falling asleep. Why are you still watching? Have you started thinking about him so much that you need to watch his shows just to get through the day?”

Bai Chenxi forced herself to perk up. “Sis, what nonsense are you talking about? I’m only watching because it’s interesting and entertaining.”

Bai Chenxi wasn’t lying. Wasn’t Chu Muyun entertaining to watch?

Wang Ling silently watched her continue making excuses.