They showed me goodwill because, in truth, they hoped others would do the same and treat Teacher Xiu with that very same kindness when they crossed paths.
Isn't there a saying: if you hold goodwill toward the world, then the world will hold goodwill toward the person you keep dearest in your heart?"
Page 59, A live-streamed travel variety show?
Xue Anyan blurted out a few improvised words. She had no idea what the name meant, but that didn't stop her from knowing how to market it.
Or rather, before she even arrived, she had anticipated that they might make a fuss over the name, so she had prepared her explanation in advance.
Above all, since it was her own name, explaining it was simple enough.
[I kept saying, how could the Xue family not love their own biological daughter? I just didn't expect the biological daughter to be like this.]
[You're saying "An" means peace? How ridiculous. Doesn't having matching names like this make people uncomfortable?]
[Anyway, I couldn't accept it if I were abducted and my parents adopted a child whose name is just one character different from mine.]
[She explained it clearly and people still don't believe her, what more do they want?]
"How come I didn't know they'd been looking for me all this time?" Xiu Mumo spoke up out of the blue, interrupting everyone's train of thought.
Rao Xingsi: "..."
Talk about getting your cover blown right on the spot—he finally understood what that felt like!
Still, watching someone get exposed like this was actually quite satisfying to witness.
"They've always been looking, maybe you just didn't know about it."
Xue Anyan stammered for two seconds before a smile appeared on her face. "They are your mom and dad, how could they not look for you?"
"Is that so?" Xiu Mumo fired back with just those three words. "Host, let's move on to the next question."
Interrogating them further served no real purpose; better to let sleeping dogs lie.
Although, in truth, the Xue family hadn't looked for her at all all these years. It was only when they needed someone for a marriage alliance that they suddenly remembered they had a biological daughter whose age happened to fit.
"Alright." Rao Xingsi glanced at the next question. "Teacher Xiu, who gave you your name, and does it have any special meaning?"
"My name?" Xiu Mumo paused. "I share my father's last name, Xiu, and my father gave me my given name. As for what it means, I don't really know how to explain it."
Mo, coming from the Mo'an Empire.
Mu, as in the end of days.
Cross her, cross the Mo'an Empire, and you've met your doomsday.
But she obviously couldn't explain that kind of meaning to the audience.
"Is that so." Rao Xingsi didn't press further.
Mostly because the name sounded a bit like it was chosen at random.
He'd heard that her adoptive parents weren't very well-educated, so...
"Teacher Xue, why did you decide to participate in this show? Was it because you want to mend your relationship with Teacher Xiu? Or did the Xue family demand it?"
Rao Xingsi asked, delivering another sharp question.
[Isn't this question a bit impolite?]
[Plus one. If it weren't for Xiu Mumo, how could she possibly participate in a show with this little class?]
[This sounds like a complete non-question. Do variety shows only know how to ask things like this nowadays?]
Many people felt the question was completely unnecessary.
Xue Anyan's eyes darted around as she smiled and said, "I came on this show actually for Teacher Xiu. Here's the thing: a travel-and-family variety show has invited me, and both my younger brother and I will be going. So I'd like to invite Teacher Xiu to join us as well. I wonder if Teacher Xiu might be interested?"
"This variety show uses cutting-edge technology. They say there won't be any cameramen following us the whole time, though directors and staff will accompany us, and it's a completely live-streamed variety show. It's pretty much the Empire's first fully live, unscripted variety show."
Fearing that Xiu Mumo might decline, she hastily added an explanation. "The only people joining the show will probably be a few industry insiders, while the rest will be ordinary people. I hear some others from the Beijing circle are participating too."
"A live-streamed travel variety show? What's the main theme? To observe all walks of life?"
Page 60, Will he ever manage to get a wife in this lifetime?
Xiu Mumo was taken aback. Every variety show had to have a theme, right?
Datings shows were about romance, entertainment shows were about entertainment, so a travel show couldn't possibly be just about traveling, especially when it was live-streamed.
As for tourist attractions and the like, plenty of travel bloggers had already popularized them, and photography bloggers took stunning pictures of those spots.
Live-streaming travel with mostly ordinary people sounded rather pointless, and whether she went or not didn't really matter to her.
"It's a family travel variety show, and we won't be visiting popular tourist hotspots. Furthermore, there's no script for the destinations; everything is completely randomized."
Before coming, Xue Anyan had done a bit of research to avoid being caught completely clueless when asked.
Deep down, she held a glimmer of expectation—at least Xiu Mumo's current reaction didn't seem like a flat refusal.
"I'm not sure yet whether I'll go, but I am quite interested in live-streaming, as well as the part about having no cameramen."
Xiu Mumo narrowed her eyes. New technology meant that the state might be behind this variety show.
Therefore, she couldn't just turn it down flatly. Her main uncertainty was whether Xue Anyan was just spouting nonsense or telling the truth.
"Teacher Xiu, even if you won't accept me, what about Xue Yizheng? He's your own younger brother, and he'll be participating in this show too."
Xue Anyan brought up Xue Yizheng once again.
Xue Yizheng, the future head of the Xue family, was the heir raised right by Elder Xue's side.
He wasn't old, but he was deeply calculating and possessed striking good looks, earning him a large following of visual-fan admirers in the entertainment industry. Many people had discovered Xue Yizheng through Xue Anyan.
And it was to strongly support his older sister Xue Anyan that Xue Yizheng had registered his real-name Weibo account, which now had over six million followers.
He occasionally posted photo sets, driving many female fans wild with adoration.
One had to admit, the Xue family's genetic pool for looks was exceptionally strong; there wasn't an ugly one among them.
[It's already been made this obvious, and she still doesn't want to participate? Is she playing hard to get?]
[Our Yanyan has begged her like this, and she won't even speak—she's clearly trying to humiliate Yanyan and leave her stranded.]
"As long as it's guaranteed to be a live stream without cameramen, I'll join this show."
Xiu Mumo didn't completely close the door on the offer. If it truly was a cameraman-free live stream, it meant this show might have been designed specifically for her.
She found it hard to imagine that her old man had let her return to the Xue family genuinely for the sake of reuniting with her biological parents.
Or rather, her old man simply wanted to find an opportunity to drag her into this variety show.
A travel variety show—one could easily guess that this program would require a significant amount of time.
"Alright, it's settled then." Xue Anyan breathed a sigh of relief inwardly.
When the time came, she would send the men who had taken a fancy to Xiu Mumo and wanted a marriage alliance straight into this show, giving the two sides a chance to interact, and her mission would be accomplished.
*
The Q&A show continued.
Inside a coffee shop—
Quan Xiling's eyes were practically glowing as she whispered, "Brother, do you want to participate in this show? I think we should! The two of us siblings can go together. I really, really like Teacher Xiu!"
Quan Xijuan was stunned: "Huh?"
Participate in a variety show?
How on earth did the conversation drift to joining a variety show?
"Then it's settled! I'm going to contact people right now and get our names added. Besides, aren't you worried about Teacher Xiu, Brother? The Xue family is obviously plotting against her. If you don't go in there, who's going to protect Teacher Xiu?"
Quan Xiling patted Quan Xijuan's shoulder and let out a sigh. "Brother, if you keep being this dense, will you ever manage to get a wife in this lifetime?"
Page 61, Ming Luoxing wants to join the variety show too
"What are you even talking about? How did we jump to the topic of getting a wife?"
Quan Xijuan's eye twitched. Why had this younger sister of his suddenly started worrying about his marital prospects, and why was she so fixated on Xiu Mumo?
Yet, come to think of it... it didn't seem like a bad idea either?
"Alright, you're not the head of the household on this. I'm going to contact someone right away to squeeze us in. Once we're on the show, don't be so stiff."
Quan Xiling rolled her eyes. This brother of hers truly gave her plenty of things to worry about.
Quan Xijuan: "..."
Was she his younger sister, or his mother?
Huh?
*
As soon as Quan Xiling managed to squeeze them both into the variety show, word reached Ming Luoxing on her end.
She had been watching the live broadcast earlier, and for some reason, she felt an instinctive aversion toward Xiu Mumo.
Moreover, she always felt that Quan Xijuan's feelings for Xiu Mumo were out of the ordinary. She had to keep a close eye on this; otherwise, what would she do if someone else slipped through the cracks?
Quan Xijuan had to be hers. She had kept her eyes on this man for so long—she couldn't let anyone else snatch him away first.
"Sign me up for it as well," Ming Luoxing said coldly while watching the live stream.
"But this is considered a family travel variety show, and just you alone won't work. Why don't you bring someone else along?"
A flash of irritation crossed Ming Luoxing's eyes. "Can't I just throw money at it to get in?"
"No, that won't work. You have to bring a relative with you."
"Just register my name first. I'll bring someone with me. As for who it is, that's not settled yet, but hold my spot."
She couldn't wait to discuss it; if the slots filled up, she wouldn't be able to get in even if she wanted to.
"Fine, Sister, I understand."
After hanging up the phone, Ming Luoxing's eyes grew hazy with gloom.
Quan Xijuan was in the military, so why would he suddenly go participate in a variety show? Could it be because of Xiu Mumo?
Or was the Xue family trying to get Xiu Mumo entangled with Quan Xijuan?
Whichever it was, it wasn't good news for her.
Irritated, she turned off the live stream and called her mother.
"Is something the matter?" Madame Ming asked, frowning when she saw that the call was from her daughter.
Her daughter had always been sensible and wouldn't call her at this hour unless something had happened.
"Here's the thing: both Xiu Mumo and Quan Xijuan are participating in a live-streamed family travel variety show, and I want to go too. But registration requires bringing someone along, and since it's a travel show, who do you think I should take with me?"
Ming Luoxing knew that if she straight out asked to take Ming Yang'an, her mother would never agree.
Both her father and her mother regarded Ming Yang'an as more important than their own lives; they would never let him join some variety show. But if her mother suggested it herself, it would be a completely different story.
"A variety show? Quan Xijuan is going on a variety show? How is that possible?" Madame Ming was shocked.
Not just the Quan family, but most prominent families looked down upon people in the entertainment industry. Watching a variety show was one thing, but participating in one was entirely another.
Logically speaking, this shouldn't be possible, right?
"Are you sure this news is correct?"
Madame Ming asked after calming down.
"There's no mistake. Mother, you know my connections in the entertainment industry. A staff member just joined this show as well, and the top two names are Quan Xijuan and Quan Xiling. Even if one of them is wrong, the other can't be."
Ming Luoxing desperately wanted to get on Quan Xiling's good side; after all, she would be her future sister-in-law, and Quan Xiling held a very high status in the Quan family.
Unlike the Ming family, Quan Xiling was the genuine little princess of her household, protected by everyone.
Page 62, Fanclub name: Doomsday
She wouldn't be judged or restricted because of her gender, and there was even a chance that the Quan family's business enterprises would be handed over to her eventually.
As long as she could keep Quan Xiling satisfied, handling the others would be easy. Quan Xijuan was practically a sister-con who deeply doted on his younger sister, so once he formed a good impression of her, she would have a chance.
"Quan Xiling is participating too? That young lady is formidable, and the Quans dote on her heavily. They rarely let her show her face in public, though I hear she's also helping manage the company and has made quite a name for herself."
Madame Ming frowned and pondered for a few seconds. "If she's going too, then her brother Quan Xijuan probably will indeed go. With Quan Xijuan in the military, won't participating in this show affect him? It's not that Mother doesn't believe you, it's just that there's too much at stake here."
She was more thorough in her considerations, doubting it firstly because of the entertainment industry, and secondly because Quan Xijuan was in the military.
High as the Quan family's status was, in a crouching tiger, hidden dragon place like Shangjing, there were those with even higher status. How could someone in the military casually join a variety show?
"I'll go confirm it later, but if he really is going, what should I do? Who should I bring?" Ming Luoxing asked subtly once more.
"Take your younger brother. He's been nagging us to take him traveling lately, wanting to go abroad or to the beach. Where would your father and I find the time?
He won't let bodyguards and housekeepers take him out, and we wouldn't feel at ease either. Isn't this variety show live-streamed the whole way through? We'll be able to keep an eye on your brother and ensure his safety.
On the condition that the Quans really are joining some variety show, then you can take him with you. Otherwise, forget it. Don't think I don't know what you're plotting—aren't you just trying to get me to say this?"
Madame Ming gave a cold, dry smile. Did she really think she couldn't guess her daughter's little schemes after raising her with her own hands?
"Alright, thank you, Mother. I'll go confirm right now." Ming Luoxing breathed a sigh of relief.
Now that matter was settled, and her mother's concerns weren't entirely unreasonable either.
She made a couple more phone calls, checked with a couple of people, and upon receiving definite confirmation, finalized her registration—submitting Ming Yang'an's name along with hers.
Afterward, she sent a text message to her mother and completely shut down the live stream.
She had lost interest in the rest, but as for the upcoming variety show, she was looking forward to it immensely.
At the live-broadcast venue, since the previous questions and answers had been addressed and Xue Anyan had achieved her goal, she simply answered the remaining questions normally.
She knew very well that her earlier performance had already caused quite a few fans to desert her.
They mocked her for only putting on a superficial show, when in reality she had no intention of leaving the Xue family because she still couldn't bear to part with the resources, money, and status the Xue family provided.
This problem was insoluble, and she had no way to respond. Not breaking ties with the Xue family already proved everything; any response would simply be like burying one's head in the sand to hide from the truth, so it was better not to say anything at all.
On the flip side, Xiu Mumo—who had originally been fiercely attacked by various passersby and fans—managed to harvest countless followers from a single interview, with fans of her looks and physique emerging in a steady stream.
Those who had previously hurled insults at her were directly swamped by her supporters, and her fans even affectionately coined a fandom name for themselves and Xiu Mumo: Doomsday.
The core concept was simple: whenever Xiu Mumo showed up, it meant it was doomsday for everyone else, and the little doomsdays naturally had to support their Boss.
Of all this, Xiu Mumo remained completely oblivious; she was still in the television studio.
"Now for the very last question, which is also the one that appeared most often on the public screen. This question is directed at Xiu Mumo."
Page 63, Ph.D. graduate from the School of Physics at Shangjing University
A faint smile hung on Rao Xingsi's face as he spoke in a gentle tone: "As for Teacher Xue, we all know she graduated from the Department of Performance at the Shangjing Academy of Theatre. But what about you, Teacher Xiu? Since you were only recently found, you must have already finished university, am I right?"
"Shangjing University, Ph.D. graduate from the School of Physics," Xiu Mumo gave an answer that everyone could understand and find impressive.
She had attended a bit too much school; this seemed to be something she had graduated from when she was in her teens. It was probably the most convenient answer to give here, and besides, many things in the School of Physics were classified.
As those few words left her lips, Xue Anyan's gaze snapped toward her, disbelief written across her expression.
[What? She graduated from Jingda? And she has a Ph.D.? Is this for real? Holy crap!]
[This is a live broadcast, it can't possibly be made up on the spot, right? If it's real, then I can only say that if she doesn't want to enter the entertainment industry, she definitely won't.]
[True. A Ph.D. from Jingda's School of Physics has no business entering the entertainment industry anyway; it's a completely different track.]
[I'm dying of laughter. The Xue family couldn't push her to stardom even if they tried, yet Xiu Mumo got into Jingda all by herself. Her IQ clearly looks sky-high.]
[Xue Anyan's fans aren't saying anything now. The ones jumping around the comment section the loudest earlier were them, acting like Xue Anyan was academically superior to Xiu Mumo. Now...]
Even Rao Xingsi froze for a second. "Then what is your current profession?"
"Excuse me, classified," Xiu Mumo replied with a slight nod. "And isn't that a second question?"
It certainly counted as classified, considering her current work didn't have much to do with physics anyway.
"My apologies." Rao Xingsi offered an apology, then looked into the live-streaming camera. "Today's 'Ask Me Anything' concludes here. Thank you to the audience in the live stream, and thank you all for your love. We'll see you next time."
With that, the live stream cut off.
Xiu Mumo stood up from her chair. "Since it's over, I'll be heading out."
"Alright, Teacher Xiu, take care," Rao Xingsi greeted her.
Xue Anyan's complexion looked rather grim. Now that the live stream had ended, there was no need to keep up appearances.
She had known Xiu Mumo went to Shangjing University, but since the specific school hadn't been listed, she had assumed it wasn't anything special.
Never had she imagined that Xiu Mumo belonged to the School of Physics at Shangjing University—this was the Empire's top-ranked university, and its School of Physics ranked in the global top ten while directly liaising with classified research departments.
Didn't this imply that Xiu Mumo might have entered the Empire's classified research division?
In that case, the Empire would definitely protect Xiu Mumo. How could they possibly let her be used in a marriage alliance?
Especially now that everyone knew about it, and with the whole thing being live-streamed start to finish, she had no idea if there would even be a way to isolate Xiu Mumo.
Doing anything to her right under the eyes of countless netizens was even less possible.
She had yet to figure out how she was going to report back when she returned, because given Xiu Mumo's skyrocketing popularity, those four words—Shangjing University School of Physics—had already rocketed to the trending searches.
Still, she had a rough idea: given the Xue family's temperament, they would probably just feel irritated at their inability to manipulate Xiu Mumo, rather than feel any pride over such an academic background.
What she needed to do right now was dodge the Xue family first. With that thought, she sent a message to Sister Quan, asking her to book a few gigs so she wouldn't have to go back for the next few days.
*
At the coffee shop, Quan Xiling clutched her phone tightly, marveling, "Teacher Xiu is amazing! She's actually from the School of Physics."
That faculty demanded far too much in terms of IQ and raw talent; managing to graduate with a Ph.D. meant her grades must have been stellar.
Page 64, No, Boss, are you really going to kidnap him?
She was more than a match for her brother. Add in that face and figure, and who wouldn't adore such a cool young lady?
"That explains it," Quan Xijuan murmured thoughtfully. No wonder they could only dig up the fact that she had graduated from Shangjing University, while everything else remained blank.
So she was from the School of Physics. It seemed her records might have been officially concealed. Research-level files weren't things just anyone could pull up, unless special clearance was granted.
"What explains it? What are you hiding from me this time?" Quan Xiling shot him a quizzical look, completely missing what he was talking about.
"Nothing," Quan Xijuan shook his head. "We should get going."
"We really should. Today wasn't a good day to see Teacher Xiu anyway; we'll catch her next time. Look at whatever ridiculous thing you wore today."