After Being Blackened All Over the Internet, I Ruled the Military Variety Shows
Chapter 327: Slapping the Face, Intentional or Unintentional

Chapter 327: Chapter 327: Slapping the Face, Intentional or Unintentional

From the dressing room to the recording hall, there’s a corridor of about fifty meters.

The train of Jiang Lingxi’s gown today is a bit long, and earlier Zhengzheng had helped carry it.

The floor in the dressing room looked clean enough, so they had put it down. But with everyone walking back and forth in the corridor, someone needed to help carry the train of the gown.

After Lu Zhengzheng made sure nothing was missing from the assistant’s bag, she handed it to Xu Ling’an and went behind Jiang Lingxi, just about to squat down.

Before her hand could touch the train of the gown, a figure swiftly flashed by her side.

"I’ll do it, I’ll do it!"

Jing Huai said eagerly, reaching out to personally help lift the train of the gown.

People around couldn’t help but look over.

Typically, if there’s an assistant around, it’s their job to carry the gown train. If not, a close friend could do it, and if both parties are actor celebrities, the boyfriend helping his girlfriend with the train is also a show of affection.

No one expected the show to begin right at the dressing room door before they even started recording.

But suddenly, an accident happened.

Lu Zhengzheng hadn’t reacted in time to someone competing with her for the task, and before Jing Huai’s hand could reach the train of the gown, everyone heard a "slap."

Who got slapped, and who did it?

After being bewildered for two seconds, everyone finally solved the mystery.

Jing Huai squatted on the ground, suddenly covering his face, with a streak of red between his fingers that only grew redder as time passed, clearly indicating the slap landed on his face.

Except, no hand made the slap—it was the gracefully fluttering train of the gown.

A tassel attached as a decorative element on the train accurately whipped across Jing Huai’s face as it fluttered.

At a glance, it looked like an accident.

Thinking more deeply, it could only be an accident.

Nobody dared say just a slight shift could have given such power to a decorative tassel on the gown.

So it could only be that Jing Huai was extremely unlucky to be suddenly standing so close.

Lu Zhengzheng, being the nearest, couldn’t hold back a chuckle when she saw the undeniable red on Jing Huai’s face.

Encouraged by her laughter, others who were stunned also snapped back to reality, wanting to laugh but not daring and could only bite their lips.

"Quick, quick, quick, we’re running late, go back and touch up the makeup. Is there any ice in the fridge? Quickly take it out, wrap it in a towel, and apply it to the face. We can’t let it swell during the recording."

Jing Huai’s makeup artist couldn’t blame Jiang Lingxi, as anyone could see it was just an accident. Jing Huai just happened to stand there at the wrong time.

Without further ado, they hurriedly pulled him away.

Jiang Lingxi didn’t spare a glance, only reached out to pinch the heroic tassel, looked at Xu Ling’an, and said, "An’an, I remember there’s some disinfectant alcohol in the bag; please spray it."

Thinking about how the tassel had touched Jing Huai’s face, Xu Ling’an also felt uneasy and quickly found the alcohol spray bottle, giving the tassel a thorough soaking till it smelled strongly of alcohol.

Those who witnessed the entire situation: "..."

Just how disgusted must they be?

It’s worth mentioning the tassel had been touched by Qian Yaya and Su Yi not long ago, but Jiang Lingxi hadn’t disinfected it then.

Clearly, it was only done this time because of Jing Huai!

"Now I really believe Jiang Lingxi’s ’stay away from me’ vibe. I also dislike the persistent boring guy who wouldn’t stop chasing me as much!"

"What’s Jing Huai trying to do with this? Forcefully cling on? That’s so out of line; I used to like him a lot."

"Why else? For publicity! Mark my words, when the Calligraphy and Painting Chapter airs, Jiang Lingxi’s performance will definitely wow even more audiences. As another actor, Jing Huai probably can’t stand being outshone."

"Ugh, listening to you, that is really kind of dirty!"

...

Shen Huchen, hearing the quiet conversation behind him, felt a little relieved, then saw his cousin’s face relax a bit in the distance, and sighed in relief as well.

If someone had gotten away with this plot, not only his cousin but he too would be frustrated.

Does he think just anyone can help his future sister-in-law with her gown? Even he wouldn’t dare!

Leaving Jing Huai, who failed to make an impression and got ’accidentally’ injured, to touch up his makeup in the dressing room, everyone else proceeded to the recording hall.

Lu Zhengzheng, carrying the gown train, followed behind Jiang Lingxi step by step, couldn’t help glancing at the slightly swaying tassel, asked quietly as they neared the recording hall, "Sister Xixi, earlier when the tassel hit someone, was it accidental or...?"

"Intentional."

Lu Zhengzheng: "..."

She freed a hand and secretly gave a thumbs up.

"Impressive!"

Originally wanting to ask how she controlled it so precisely, she noticed they were already at the recording hall entrance and had to swallow her words.

Once everyone was in position, and under Director Chen’s direction, a simple rehearsal began. Jing Huai, wearing a half-mask, rushed in, followed by the makeup artist and assistant.

Chen Weiwen frowned at the makeup artist, "Why was he given a mask?"

The makeup artist smiled wryly, "I don’t know how the tassel on Jiang’s gown whipped him, but the foundation covered the red mark, although his face swelled too quickly and severely on that side, so I had to find a mask prop for him to wear."

Chen Weiwen: "..."

Although he was always in the recording hall preparing for the start, the entire production was under his supervision, and the incident at the dressing room entrance reached him within seconds.

Anyone could see it was an accident — he couldn’t blame Jiang Lingxi!

He had no choice but to wave it off, "Let it be, let it be, just like that!"

It was self-inflicted; who could you blame?

This new look of Jing Huai drew extra attention from those present, those who saw the tassel whipping incident laughing internally, while the audience, oblivious to the prior context, assumed it was a deliberate styling choice.

Jing Huai, at the center of attention, struggled to hide his inner frustration. No one entering showbiz wants to be the center of everyone’s attention in this manner.

He felt humiliated!

But there was nothing he could do about it!

Xu Qingmei couldn’t be bothered to look in Jing Huai’s direction anymore; she had seen the face-whipping incident too and felt embarrassed and foolish.

She really didn’t know what she saw in such an idiot back then!

Avoiding the look of slight plea from him, she only then noticed there was an extra seat at the Judges’ table.

She had followed Li Wanxuan closely to sit as seat order can also indicate status.

Then she watched as Shen Yunqing sat, leaving one space between them.

Now it was hard to maintain her smile.

Initially, she thought she could use the many live viewers to appear closer to Shen Yunqing.

But now, with everyone watching, she couldn’t possibly stand up and sit next door.

Suppressing her anger, she called over a passing staff member, trying to speak calmly, "Isn’t there one too many seats at the Judges’ table?"

Hurry up and take it away!

But against her wishes, "Ms. Xu, no seats are extra; for today’s last recording, there’s a special invited Judge coming, so six seats are just right."

Xu Qingmei: "... And why wasn’t this notified beforehand?"

"Ms. Xu, it was a last-minute decision, you see."

"You see, my foot, you see!"