Chapter 2: The Dating Show Begins, an Eccentric Gathering

Song Jiaolan could hardly tolerate it. “Since you refuse to listen, and truly wish to leave, fine. Not a single cent of the Song family’s wealth was earned by you, so you shouldn’t expect to take any of it with you.”

Song Qi echoed her, “You’re not allowed to take any money, and you must publicly state that the divorce was your decision.”

Le Xi understood that Song Qi was worried Tang Yuexin would be accused of scheming to take her place, damaging her reputation. What a true love, so touching it almost moved Le Xi to tears.

But why should she accept it? For two years, Le Xi had served Song Qi and Song Jiaolan as if they were royalty. Because of her, the Song family had let go of their two housekeepers. Nowadays, a housekeeper’s salary exceeds ten thousand a month; two would be twenty thousand. Who says she didn’t earn anything?

Mother and son, truly treating others as fools.

“Dream on. If I don’t get half of Song Qi’s assets, I’ll sell Tang Yuexin’s secrets to the reporters. We’ll see how honorable she looks as the third woman. And Mother—oh, excuse me, Ms. Song—let’s see if your position at Song Group stays steady.”

Le Xi turned away with a flourish, leaving Song Qi and Song Jiaolan cursing behind her.

The next day, she signed a non-disclosure agreement and walked away with thirty million. At the time, Song Qi and his mother took two hundred million, split between them. Yet Song Qi’s account only had sixty million, showing just how wary they had been of her.

Le Xi didn’t bother to argue. The more she looked at Song Qi, the more disgusted she felt. Better to get away sooner; it was good for her health.

After collecting her divorce certificate, Song Qi shouted after her, “Hey, don’t talk about me outside, don’t mention me out there.”

Le Xi made a vomiting gesture in his direction, then dialed her former agent, Shen Xiaoman.

Half an hour later, at Wave Café, Shen Xiaoman looked at Le Xi with disdain and mocked, “Didn’t you cry about wanting to be a rich wife? Why are you back to being a minor celebrity? You still think you’re single? Still think you’re young? You’re thirty, sister. Even if you act again, you’ll be cast as the young heartthrob’s mother.”

Le Xi responded by tossing her coffee in Shen Xiaoman’s face.

Shen Xiaoman shrieked, “Le Xi, are you insane?”

“No, your mouth is just too filthy. Needs a rinse.”

Back when Le Xi was a moderately famous supporting actress, Shen Xiaoman had been all enthusiasm, calling her “sis” at every turn. Later, when the system backlash struck, Shen Xiaoman treated Le Xi as her personal punching bag, and Le Xi responded not with retorts but with smiles. The more accommodating Le Xi became, the more outrageous Shen Xiaoman grew.

The reason Le Xi sought Shen Xiaoman was because she was notorious as the agent directors and producers feared most. If there were resources to be had, she would grind and pester relentlessly, driving people mad until, cornered, they handed her a role. She could secure opportunities for her artists, but treated them as disposable. As a result, none of Shen Xiaoman’s artists—none with any name recognition—had any real connections in the industry, just like Le Xi.

Those who started out with Le Xi either switched professions or remained background extras. The only one who landed a lead in an online series and gained modest fame was Le Xi’s frenemy.

And since they were frenemies, there was little chance she’d help Le Xi.

“You—” Shen Xiaoman was stunned. After two years of treating Le Xi as her emotional outlet, how could she suddenly behave this way?

“Enough. I’m divorced and ready to make a comeback. Get me some resources—web dramas, reality shows. Like you said, I’ll even play the mother to a young idol if it gets me on screen.”

Le Xi was determined to reclaim her abandoned career, for she truly loved her craft.

“Heh, so you’ve been cast aside by the wealthy. How pathetic.” Shen Xiaoman sneered, noticing Le Xi quietly sipping a glass of water.

She cleared her throat and changed tack, “Why do you think I’d sign you again?”

“Because I’ve been cast aside. My marriage news once trended in the top five, and now, even faded, I could still stir a ripple. You have talent, but every artist you manage who gains a bit of fame tries to break their contract and stab you in the back. Unlike me—I was a rich wife and endured your abuse for two years without ever betraying you. Where else will you find someone with my integrity?”

A lovesick fool boasting about her character; the more Shen Xiaoman listened, the more disgusted she felt. Yet, truthfully, she had indeed nagged and camped out at directors’ doors, finally securing a coveted spot in a popular reality show. The only hitch was her artist lacked enough buzz.

This had been a headache for Shen Xiaoman. When Le Xi left the entertainment industry, she was mocked as a gold-digger, a lovesick fool; many awaited her downfall. Now that she’d been dumped, wasn’t that exactly the kind of gossip the director wanted?

“But are you sure you can join a romance reality show? The wealthy have so many rules—even after divorce, there are all kinds of restrictions.”

Who dared restrict Le Xi? She’d been bound for too long. With the shackles gone, she felt as if her meridians had been cleared, brimming with vigor and an unyielding spirit. Whoever tried to stop her would regret it.

“I’ll do it. Not just romance shows—even parenting shows, I’ll find a child and sign up.”

Three days later, the production team of “Let’s Be Brave in Love” officially announced the start of filming via live broadcast. Though the guests weren’t revealed in advance, the show’s popularity climbed into the top ten trending topics.

The director had said, “Our invited artists aren’t necessarily the most famous, but they are the most talked-about.”

As promised, the first female guest was Cui Meiying, a former actress turned web celebrity, famed for her “dew-drop snake waist,” earning both envy and criticism for her perpetual midriff-baring outfits, regardless of season.

The second female guest, Wang Sisi, was a dance idol, always ready to challenge anyone to a dance-off, even stray dogs or chickens that crossed her path.

The third female guest was Le Xi’s frenemy, Gu Xiaomo, lead actress in numerous web dramas. Her male co-stars often became top-tier celebrities, and whenever discussions arose about actresses who bring luck to male leads, her name was always listed. Thanks to their fans, she frequently ranked among the most controversial and most criticized actresses. Big productions shunned her, but web dramas adored her, earning her the title “Queen of Web Dramas.”

The first male guest, actor Huo Hongming, managed to quarrel with an ex-girlfriend like clockwork every month.

The second male guest, model Deng Jiachao, possessed the most perfect physique in the modeling world—and the ugliest face.

The third male guest, singer Wang Zhuorui, held the largest concerts but sold the fewest tickets, losing money with every performance, yet never giving up.

The fourth male guest, actor Gu Junhao, was famed for his meme-worthy facial expressions.

As soon as the seven guests appeared, live viewership soared to two million.

[Wow, it’s a nest of oddballs! No wonder it’s called “Brave Love”—to date these weirdos, you’d really need courage.]

[This is going to be explosively entertaining. Oddballs dating oddballs—it’s bound to be odd. I’m odd myself, and I love it.]

[I feel for Hongming. He used to fight with an ex once a month; after this show, he’ll be at it every two weeks. The director should just match all the female guests with Hongming and let him argue nonstop.]

[Haha, you’re ruthless, but I’d like to see it. Still, probably not—otherwise the other three guys would be bored. Shouldn’t there be another female guest? Four-to-three, not enough for proper pairings…]