After Being Blackened All Over the Internet, I Ruled the Military Variety Shows
Chapter 532 - 523: Want to Have a Chance Encounter with Jiang Lingxi?

Chapter 532: Chapter 523: Want to Have a Chance Encounter with Jiang Lingxi?

As soon as Annie got back, she was grabbed by the arm by Cao Xinyan, who was being heavily promoted by the show.

"Did you just run into Jiang Lingxi on your way to find the restroom?"

Annie looked at her excited face, feeling a bit odd, but nodded nonetheless, "Jiang is even more beautiful in person than in the videos, her presence is strong. It’s hard to imagine she’s actually the same age as me."

Cao Xinyan tried to maintain her excitement, nodding along, "I really like her too. I grew up with my grandpa, and he always said I was able to imitate the way of holding a brush and doodle before I could even recognize characters. I watched the episode of ’Inheritance of Calligraphy and Painting’ that Jiang Lingxi participated in, and among the guests, I liked her paintings the most. Even grandpa said her artistic attainment in calligraphy and painting is very high."

Annie exchanged a knowing look with her twin sister, Andi, who walked up next to her—a look only twins can understand—and added a few more surprised expressions, "Really? Jiang’s skills in calligraphy and painting are actually that impressive. Is the show you’re talking about still available to watch? I’d like to see it when I get back. I’ve always liked your calligraphy and painting works, they have a special charm."

The word ’charm’ was said with her somewhat unstandard Mandarin, which amused everyone present.

Cao Xinyan smiled with her eyes, nodding repeatedly, "Of course, you can, you just need to search the program’s name or Jiang Lingxi’s name on major video platforms." With that, she touched her stomach and playfully winked at the camera, "I’m a bit hungry, how about you all?"

Besides the twin sisters Annie and Andi, the other two guests nodded in agreement.

"The Calligraphy and Painting Association is so huge, and the scenery is nice; we didn’t even realize it’s already noon."

"Thanks to Xinyan for bringing us in and showing us around, otherwise with our knowledge of calligraphy and painting, which is only ’Wow, looks great,’ we probably couldn’t have come in our entire lives."

"Let’s go have lunch then. The restaurant in the Calligraphy and Painting Association is actually a landmark of the park, and the food is delicious. People from outside need a reservation to dine there. I’ve been eating there since I was little and never got tired of it."

The four people next to her listened to her implicit boasting and could only express their envy and longing cooperatively.

Before coming to this show, they already knew that Cao Xinyan was the main character of this live variety show, and they were just there to complement her.

After all, she has a grandfather who is the president of the Calligraphy and Painting Association, and she’s been wandering around places like the Association since she was young. Ordinary people have no way to get in.

Sometimes, having a strong background is quite useful.

As for the sudden proposal to have lunch at the restaurant, whether it was with the intent of running into Jiang Lingxi, even if they guessed it, they would just pretend not to know.

The program team, even if they had guessed Cao Xinyan’s little plan, was happy to cooperate.

Didn’t you see that Annie’s live split screen viewers doubled just because Jiang Lingxi showed up for a few minutes?

The name Jiang Lingxi is practically a code for high traffic.

Currently, because of Cao Xinyan’s remarks, two kinds of voices emerged in the live chat room.

One is pure envy.

[Why don’t I have a grandpa like that? I also want to experience the feeling of coming and going freely in such a high-end place like the Calligraphy and Painting Association!]

[I know that the Calligraphy and Painting Association’s restaurant was originally a famous private kitchen. Later, it was taken over by the wealthy association; now you can’t get a reservation, I’m envious of people who can eat private home-cooked meals in the canteen.]

[This show is all thanks to our Xinyan, otherwise, ordinary people like us wouldn’t have any chance to see what the inside of the Calligraphy and Painting Association looks like.]

The other is more rational with a tinge of critique.

[Having a grandpa who is the president of the Calligraphy and Painting Association and having grown up there is indeed something to boast about because normal people can’t access it at all. But do you have to show off this much? Honestly, I’m a bit tired of hearing it!]

[I remember on the way to the Calligraphy and Painting Association, Cao Xinyan said she recently took a role as an ancient talented woman and was on a light fasting diet for weight loss. Why is she now going to have lunch? Is she planning to run into Jiang Lingxi?]

[I also remembered this, has this girl forgotten this show is live? Is she slapping herself in the face now?]

[Although her motivation seems a bit impure, I’m still looking forward to it. Since Jiang Lingxi is not actively engaging in publicizing herself, I’m content with just running into her on another show.]

[I wonder if this time the cameraman can capture the guy who was walking next to Jiang Lingxi before. I’m really curious about what he looks like!]

...

The topic unknowingly went off the rails like this.

*

The restaurant during dining hours wasn’t noisy.

First, it’s large, with substantial space between tables separated by screens or plants, naturally reducing noise transmission.

Second, those who dine here aren’t the type to speak loudly or toast endlessly at the table. Even if they talk, they lower their voices so much that even the next table needs to lean in to hear.

The elegant sound of the guqin quietly flows through the space, unmasked by the sounds of dining and conversation.

Until Cao Xinyan and others burst in, their voices and footsteps startled those eating nearby.

But upon seeing familiar juniors entering and realizing a program was being recorded, they all nodded politely before diverting their focus.

Cao Xinyan, however, greeted a few familiar elders cheerfully, received responses, and other guests’ envious glances, then continued leading the way, deliberately lowering her voice: "We have a large group, so we can use the big round table inside, meant for gatherings, and it can accommodate us all."

The others, being first-timers here, could do nothing but nod while following her inside.

The cameraman diligently filmed both the guests and the beautiful scenery of the restaurant.

The live audience couldn’t mind Cao Xinyan’s occasional boasting.

[This setting, I can’t imagine it’s just the canteen of the Calligraphy and Painting Association!]

[Truly a place for elegant people, even if by chance an average person could get in, I’d probably feel too embarrassed to enter, afraid of making noise while eating or drinking.]

[We’re getting to the innermost part, right? Why haven’t we seen Jiang Lingxi, could it be that she didn’t come for lunch at all?]

[Wait, I think I saw a familiar piece of clothing. Why did the group suddenly stop?]

Stopping naturally had its reasons, the guests received a message from the program team.

"The mystery guest has arrived, let’s head to the entrance to greet them!"

All those present and live viewers: Though a bit excited about the mystery guest, their timing sure leaves something to be desired!