153: Being pulled to lead the class

“Speaking of Chaeyoung on 'King of Mask Singer,' her honey-like voice is so distinctive that I knew it was her the moment she opened her mouth. It was like she was streaking on stage, with no mystery at all.”

“Pfft! Cough, cough! While I agree, be careful with your wording; it's easy for people to misunderstand.”

“Hahahaha! Streaking on stage, that's a pretty apt description. That's probably exactly how it was. Hahaha~”

...

The variety show quickly finished, and the audience was left wanting more. Everyone loves watching beautiful women being silly.

“It's too short, why is it over already? I haven't seen enough, ah~~~”

“Film more! Zoe hasn't been on 'Running Man' yet, quickly get her on it. I feel like it would be really fun if she went.”

“'Infinite Challenge' is also fun. Old Yang, I advise you to be smart and let them come out and promote more, otherwise, I'll block your door with a large truck.”

...

The director looked at the ratings trend chart in his hand and asked his assistant, “What did YG say?”

“Director Nim, YG said that Zoe is busy with creative work, and they are pushing back all variety shows for this period if possible.”

“Invite her again, and increase the price.”

“Director Nim, I'm afraid that's not realistic. I've seen her schedule. Since her comeback, she's only participated in our show; she's been absent from all others.”

The implication was that she was genuinely busy, not just making excuses, and that participating in their show amidst her busy schedule was already a great favor.

The director heard this but was still unwilling to give up; the ratings were too tempting. “Raise the price to three times the original and try again.”

“Yes!” Once the director made a decision, he could only comply.

The production teams eyeing Xu Zhiyou were not just 'Weekly Idol'; these tempting ratings were simply irresistible.

“Zai Shi, what do you think about inviting BLACKPINK again for the show after next?”

Yoo Jae-suk, as a veteran of 'Running Man,' was indispensable to the show's success. While others also contributed significantly, they were generally centered around him.

“Hyojin! Why are you asking me? An invitation is an invitation, just make your decision.”

Unless Yoo Jae-suk wanted to help certain juniors, he would not participate in the production team's arrangements at other times; there was no need.

“Then it's decided, we'll invite BLACKPINK for the show after next.” The director, seeing he had no objections, quickly set the tone.

After the director left, Kim Jong-kook curiously looked at Yoo Jae-suk and asked, “Zai Shi Ge! I heard Zoe doesn't film many variety shows, will the director be able to get her?”

Kim Jong-kook was the first to support Xu Zhiyou coming on the show, hoping she could become a regular. More contact would allow him to ask for a song.

He was also a singer with excellent vocal skills, but he had to switch to being a comedian for a living. If there were other options, who would willingly abandon their profession?

If he could buy a song from Xu Zhiyou, it would be a huge gain. Anything from the Juilliard School was bound to be a masterpiece.

Lee Kwang-soo saw his infatuated look and couldn't help but kick him. “Stop that! Don't you only like working out? What, do you want to pursue her now?!”

If such words were directed at anyone else, the members would probably start teasing, but if the person was Xu Zhiyou, it was different.

They didn't think anyone in the entertainment industry could be worthy of a talented woman like Xu Zhiyou, a versatile hexagonal warrior, practically invincible.

“Kwang-soo! You have a bubble in your brain! Can you not fill your mind with all this romance? I want to buy a song from her.”

“That's actually possible, I support you. I had already thought about how to subtly persuade you to give up that idea, fortunately...”

“Yah! Are you sick?” Kim Jong-kook was furious.

“Pfft hahaha~~”

...

Xu Zhiyou didn't know she was so popular the moment she returned, and even if she did, she wouldn't care. The appearance fee for a show was far less than what she earned from writing a song.

Her attitude towards shows now was, if she wanted to go, she'd go; if not, she wouldn't. Anyway, she didn't need to compete. A life with a cheat code needed no explanation.

“Chaeyoung! This watermelon isn't sweet. Next time, buy the kind that makes a hollow sound when you tap it lightly with your finger. A dull sound means you shouldn't buy it.”

She scooped another spoonful and ate it. “Also! I think it's best to chill it after buying it; that's when it tastes good.”

Park Chaeyoung was speechless. She was buying food for her, and there were so many demands. This was already the best watermelon on the market, and she was still so picky.

“Eat yourself to death, then. That's our week's supply, and you're eating it all by yourself. Aren't you ashamed?”

Kim Ji-soo and the others ate in small pieces. It wasn't that they didn't have money, but it was a habit formed since childhood.

“Use my card, poor people.”

“Yah! I'm going to kill you.” She got up but then sat back down, turning to wink at Kim Jennie. When Kim Jennie looked bewildered, she suddenly said, “Jennie-oni, don't hold me back, I'm going to kill her.”

Kim Jennie heard her say this and looked doubtfully at her own hands holding the watermelon. If she didn't dare to go, she didn't dare to go; she was just suffering for the sake of appearances.

Too lazy to bother with her, she continued eating her watermelon. Lisa originally didn't want to laugh, but this clown was indeed a bit too dramatic; she really couldn't hold it in.

“Hahahaha! Chaeyoung, that's enough. Compared to Zoe, we are indeed poor. From now on, use her card. This is a good thing.”

“I'll go max out her card tomorrow and make her furious.”

“Then I'll smash your rat head and choke you.” Teasing Chaeyoung now and then, life also needed some entertainment.

“Two elementary schoolers.”

“Show Ge, how can you say that? When it comes to childishness, we're all equally bad. I unilaterally despise you.”

“Exactly! Jisoo, sometimes you're even more childish than us...”

“Sigh!” Dumpling sighed, life was not easy.

Kim Jennie wiped her hands and went back to her room to sleep. These past few days had exhausted her. “You guys clean up. I'm too tired, I'm going to catch up on some sleep first.”

“Go on, go on! Lisa will clean up later.”

“Yah! Why aren't you cleaning up? Don't you have hands?”

“Here!” She held up the half-eaten watermelon in her arms and said, “All of mine is being held by me. Those watermelon rinds aren't from what I ate.”

What could Lisa do? She'd clean up. “Fine! You'd better not come begging me.”

“Lisa, I beg you, please just clean up!”

“I give up!” She regretted why she didn't just quietly clean up and leave; why did she have to talk so much? She was purely asking for trouble.

“Pfft hahaha! Still the same. Zoe, how do you manage to want everything but no shame? Please teach me.”

“Can't you speak properly? This is called assessing the situation, you wouldn't understand!”

For the remaining few days, they were mostly on radio shows or guesting on other talk shows, all of which Xu Zhiyou disliked, so she didn't go.

On the day of their music show performance, “Zoe, you fill in for me as 'Inkigayo' MC. I'm too busy.”

“Give me your teammates' contact information.”

“No need! They both have things to do and can't make it, they've already taken leave. So you'll be the only MC for the entire show.”

“Alright then, push me the program director's contact information. I'll take care of it for you. You just focus on preparing for your music show stage.”

“I've sent it to you.”

If there were three of them, they could take turns, but with only her, she really couldn't manage. Having Xu Zhiyou fill in was most suitable.

Although Xu Zhiyou had never been an MC, Kim Jennie and the other two didn't see any problem with it. For someone with social butterfly syndrome, being a host was a piece of cake.