NOVEL NEXT Chapter 2:
Chapter 2: Participating in a Show: Breakup and Reckoning!:
(At the entrance of Shiliu Community)
Zhou Yanqing stepped out of a ride-hailing car, her demeanor listless.
She had broken up.
She thought she would feel happy.
But in just one hour, time felt as though it had crawled, leaving her with an empty, hollow feeling.
A strange sense of loss weighed on her.
After getting out of the car, she didn’t immediately head home. Instead, she leaned against a roadside tree, staring blankly at the stream of vehicles ahead.
Nearby, a middle-aged woman with a scholarly aura, wearing black-framed glasses, nudged the tall and beautiful young hostess beside her with her elbow, gesturing with her chin.
“Xiao Wei, look over there! Based on her expression, I’m 90% sure she just went through a breakup.”
Xiao Wei’s eyes lit up. “Really? Let’s go and check it out!”
Without waiting, Xiao Wei raised her microphone and quickly walked toward Zhou Yanqing.
“Hello, beautiful! I’m Xiao Wei, the host of the show Breakup Reckoning on Modu TV.”
Leaning against the tree, Zhou Yanqing was momentarily stunned.
Seeing the cameras and equipment behind Xiao Wei, she straightened up and composed her expression.
“How can I help you?” she asked coolly.
Xiao Wei gave a gentle smile and explained, “Here’s the thing. Our show, Breakup Reckoning, is a large-scale reality program.
“The concept is simple: we find women who have recently gone through breakups, catalog all the gifts their ex-boyfriends gave them, and calculate the current market value of these items.
“This tally helps us understand the financial investments young men make in relationships these days.”
Zhou Yanqing blinked in surprise.
Wasn’t this just public humiliation?
Humiliating the ex-boyfriend while also embarrassing herself!
Her expression darkened as she shook her head. “No, thank you. I’m not interested.”
Xiao Wei chuckled, stepping in front of her. “Don’t be so quick to refuse! Let me explain the participation rules first.
“First, you must meet the visual standards. Since this is a reality show, we prioritize appearances. If you perform well on the show, we may even recommend you for a role in the large-scale costume drama our station is preparing.
“The cast includes ‘and’, names you must be familiar with.
“Additionally, all participants receive a 50,000 yuan breakup consolation fund.
“And we’ve set up awards: the ‘Most Sincere Ex-Boyfriend’ prize, with bonuses of 10 million, 5 million, and 2 million yuan for the top three gift values.
“We also have a ‘Worst Ex-Boyfriend’ prize. If the value of your gifts is the lowest, you’ll still receive a consolation award of 3 million yuan.”
“So, are you interested in joining our program?”
This combination of incentives made Zhou Yanqing’s initial resistance disappear completely.
The entertainment industry was a world many young women longed for—glamorous and dazzling, full of allure.
50,000 yuan was a significant sum on its own.
And those multi-million-yuan prizes, even if a long shot, were still tempting.
Though her family was native to Modu, their financial situation was average at best. Otherwise, they wouldn’t be living in the aging Shiliu Community.
Even just the 50,000 yuan participation fee was an excellent income boost.
And given her appearance and temperament, this could serve as a stepping stone into the entertainment industry.
The temptation was real.
Taking a deep breath, Zhou Yanqing asked, “How will the show be broadcast?”
Sensing her interest, Xiao Wei quickly explained, “Don’t worry! Our program has significant funding. It’s a joint venture between the TV station and the popular streaming platform Peach Mango.
“The entire process will be live-streamed on Peach Mango and rebroadcast on Modu TV, guaranteeing a wide audience.
“If you perform well, you could definitely make it in the industry!”
Zhou Yanqing was completely convinced.
After a moment’s hesitation, she nodded. “Alright, I’ll join the show.”
Xiao Wei, already accustomed to such reactions, smiled professionally. “Welcome to the program! Let’s first sign a contract, then we’ll head to your house to gather the items. How does that sound?”
Zhou Yanqing took a deep breath and nodded. “Okay.”
…
A few minutes later, the contract was signed.
The agreement stipulated that all gifts from ex-boyfriends brought by participants, regardless of their appraised value, would become the property of the program.
The program would pay a lump sum of 100,000 yuan as an appearance fee.
Participants had to record for a sufficient duration and could not withdraw mid-show or demand the return of any items.
Final rankings in the program determined the bonuses participants could receive.
After signing, Zhou Yanqing seemed relieved.
“Alright, follow me.”
The crew followed her, cameras rolling, live-streaming the entire process.
Confident in front of the camera, Zhou Yanqing introduced herself with ease.
“My name is Zhou Yanqing. I broke up with my boyfriend today.”
“What was the reason for the breakup?”
“The biggest issue was that he was too fake. For example, my mom mentioned wanting a simple houseplant, and he brought over this vase.
“Yes, this one. It looks pretty, doesn’t it? But it doesn’t match the plant at all.
“And guests have pointed out that it’s a replica of some Qianlong-era vase. It’s just a regular craft item.”
She continued with a wry smile, “He doesn’t have much money. Ninety percent of the gifts he gave me were fake—counterfeit LV, fake Hermès.
“If you can’t afford it, that’s fine, but don’t give knockoffs. It’s humiliating when I take these things out in front of friends.”
“Also, there’s a painting on the balcony that he gave to my dad. He claimed it was by Qi Baishi.
“Do you know how much a Qi Baishi painting costs? At least a few million. My dad liked it, but I hung it out here because I couldn’t stand seeing it.”
“And this box? It was his Valentine’s Day surprise—a Ferrari delivery card.
“Seriously? Does he think I’m a child? A card like this for a Ferrari?
“If I actually went to pick up a car with this, I’d be laughed out of the place!”
“And this other box? He said it contains a house key for our future home. But it’s locked with a code. I didn’t even bother opening it. Knowing his situation, where would he get the money to buy a house?
“It’s just more posturing—and locking it like that? So ridiculous.”
“These are all his surprise gifts. I haven’t even unwrapped some of them. Take them all.”
One by one, Zhou Yanqing brought out the items Qin Han had given her, complaining as she did…