I'm Crushing on Gorgeous Faces in Variety Shows!

Chapter 471 - 470: Meng Lu’s Tears

Behind the camera, the staff were still discussing things with the director.

The writing pads initially prepared by the crew were indeed networked tablets, but they were originally only meant for the question-asking segment after the game starts. They weren’t supposed to be used for the pen name segment.

But who could have anticipated that rumors of Mu Qiu’s plagiarism would suddenly start circulating online? This matter was quite serious, and Cheng Zhirang’s assistant immediately engaged with the director, requesting a way for Mu Qiu to be informed and preferably respond to this issue on the show.

The director recognized the severity of the plagiarism accusation and also thoroughly disliked the rumor, so he readily agreed, allowing the tablets to be sent to the nine participants early.

Moreover, Mu Qiu’s tablet was Different; the second app on it contained a note for her. A similar note was also on Guan Yu’s tablet.

Actually, there was no need for a message; seeing the bullet screen comments would reveal that half of them were discussing this matter.

Mu Qiu noticed at first glance.

After all, the word "plagiarism" was too glaring, especially with her name in front of it. When she saw that phrase, her expression turned cold, staring at those words expressionlessly for a while.

Then she pursed her lips and nonchalantly picked up the stylus to write her pen name on the tablet.

As she started to write, Cheng Zhirang had already finished and was watching her out of the corner of his eye.

Sitting on a fabric stool with no office desk or backrest, he carried an air of genteel refinement, with a gaze that was warm and steady, not wandering or flickering but without being intrusive.

Mu Qiu felt it, and after writing the first character, she looked directly at him.

She instinctively didn’t think there was any other possibility; it could only be him looking at her.

That’s exactly how it was. Their gazes met in mid-air, and Cheng Zhirang’s eyes were reassuring, as if to say, don’t worry, he’s got it covered.

The anger in Mu Qiu’s heart was gently torn apart, releasing much of her pent-up feelings and calming her considerably.

Then she gave him a bright smile, ignoring the camera and others, wanting only him to know that she was doing well and appreciated his concern.

The two of them openly exchanged glances over everyone else, with Cheng Zhirang returning a gentle smile, tapping the tablet with his stylus, signaling her to finish writing.

Mu Qiu tilted her head to indicate she understood.

The camera pulled back a bit, not focusing on the two of them, as the crew didn’t intend to hype up their relationship. Occasional shots of their small interactions were just little surprises for the audience.

Three minutes later, everyone had gradually finished choosing their pen names.

Guan Yu hugged the tablet to her chest, peeking at the others’.

"Brother Huai, what name did you choose?"

Shi Yuhuai silently flipped his tablet over, pretending he didn’t hear her.

"Brother Huai, you’re getting craftier, ignoring people now. Let me see, what’s the harm? We’ll have to read them out loud later anyway."

Shi Yuhuai glanced down at her, "Just don’t want it read out from your mouth."

"...Hmph, who cares to read it." Wei Yi, what’s your name?

Wei Yi was an honest guy, so when asked, he answered sincerely, displaying what he wrote for everyone: "Victor Tolstoyevsky Yi."

Guan Yu: "??"

She glanced at hers, then at his, "Why this foreign literary type? Are you all this serious?"

"This is serious?" Wei Yi double-checked his name and blankly watched the others, "This is the wackiest name given by my fans."

"Then your fans are really pure-hearted."

After teasing the pure one, Guan Yu leaned over to see Shu Ran’s name.

"Shu Ran, what’s yours?"

Shu Ran calmly covered her screen, "Why should I tell you? You first."

"I think mine deserves the finale."

"Don’t forget we can all see the bullet screen; I know most of the names your fans have suggested, so what needs to close the show? I have no interest in some Guan Zhong Ye Yezi pen name or anything like it."

Guan Yu squinted, drawing out her words, "Then you’re mistaken. I came up with mine purely on my own inspiration!"

Li Yang: "Then it must be something. Probably can’t even air it."

"...Shut up! What’s yours?"

Li Yang chuckled, put down his stylus, and twisted his neck, "Guess?"

"I guess it’s Sunshine Pig Bajie."

Li Yang choked a bit.

Mu Qiu, hearing this, added, "You’re picking a pen name, not a nickname."

Guan Yu: "Hahaha! Li Yang, from now on, your nickname is Sunshine Pig Bajie!"

"You’ll see what sunshine means soon enough!"

He proudly presented his pen name, "Recite with me, An-Jian-Ju-Shi. Bet you don’t recognize that middle character, right? Quite literary, isn’t it?"

"...So literary," Guan Yu quietly turned her tablet, "I think mine’s off-topic."

The others craned their necks to see.

Shu Ran: "...What on earth is that?"

"Can you not recognize it? Meng Lu’s Tears."

The others: "..."

Mu Qiu couldn’t help but clap for her, "Impressive pen name. Your field must be high-school non-mainstream literature, right?"

What normal person chooses such a pen name?!

Guan Yu cleared her throat, putting her tablet away, "I mainly feel it carries a sense of foreign literature and reads with a tragic, mournful vibe, full of artistic air."

"I can’t agree; all I can think of is the word non-mainstream."

Guan Yu argued her point, "What’s wrong with non-mainstream?! Elders have said before that sometimes truth rests with the few, and the few are the non-mainstream, so doesn’t that mean the non-mainstream hold the truth?!"

It’s a twisted logic... but not wrong.

It just makes your eyebrows fly up listening to it.

Jiang Lu couldn’t help but comment, "Then you might need to find some time to apologize to the elders."

Li Yang laughed mockingly beside her.

Guan Yu mumbled a bit, pouting, ignoring them.

After evaluating her, Jiang Lu revealed his pen name, "Islands."

Modern poet style, akin to Bei Dao, Gu Cheng, Ye Zi.

Li Yang asked him, "Brother Jiang Lu, why use this name?"

"Islands are land in the waterways," he squinted his fox eyes, like recalling memories, "I had moments of writing and publishing during my school years. At the time, I wanted a fixed pen name for my poetry, but it never materialized properly."

Everyone gave an "oh" sound.

So he’s the genuine emotional type, not much to watch there.

Guan Yu started prompting Shi Yuhuai again, "Brother Huai, your turn, reveal it."

Shi Yuhuai, with a look of disdain, ignored her and revealed his own.

"Fenrir, who never spits out the bones after eating."