A month after Xu Zifan participated in the model competition, the television broadcast began, and his friends realized that he had gone to participate in the competition in a completely closed environment, not to change his phone number.
Yue Lingling's despair was rekindled with hope. Xu Zifan hadn't changed his number, and now that his parents had returned, did she still have a chance?
Xu Zifan performed exceptionally well in the competition. He was the most eye-catching presence in the first episode, surpassing a group of young idols despite being the oldest. He exuded mature charm, and when it came to youthful styles, he was equally capable of outshining everyone else.
This is amazing! You can't help but follow him; his fan base is skyrocketing. Many people initially just watched the show out of boredom and weren't interested in models, but they've unexpectedly found themselves interested. Every single one of the guys on the show has amazing charisma, tall with long legs, they're all perfect clothes hangers, and their abs are incredibly well-defined.
Moreover, many of them possess a variety of talents, or have naturally funny personalities, which shine through when they relax and have fun together. This is particularly captivating and sparks the audience's interest in models for the first time, making them want to know more about what they are like behind the scenes.
Xu Zifan didn't showcase any special talents. After all, the original owner had lived with his parents and Yue Lingling for nearly thirty years, and they knew best what he was capable of and what he wasn't. Cooking could be considered a natural talent, since he had never done it before, but other talents truly required time and practice to learn, so he didn't know anything about special talents.
However, he is very knowledgeable about the entertainment industry and television programs. Even without any special talents, he still has a great sense of variety. He gets the most screen time in every episode, becoming the ratings driver of the show. He also consistently ranks first in the competition, firmly securing his number one spot.
Every day when the program aired, Yue Lingling would go to the Xu family home to watch it with Xu's parents. Just like before, she treated Xu Zifan like an older brother, praising him with a smile and chatting with Xu's mother. Because no sensitive topics were touched upon, Xu's mother gradually relaxed, and they could still have a pleasant chat.
One segment of the show that aired that day involved each contestant making a phone call, not to a blood relative, but to a rather special friend.
This is just a gimmick created by the show. Models aren't like idols who can't date, so this segment won't offend the audience and can even generate some buzz. It's much better than calling family members to show off your love and then crying a few times.
When Xu Zifan appeared on the television screen, Yue Lingling stared at the screen, holding her breath in tension. In Xu Zifan's twenty-eight years of life, besides his parents and relatives, wasn't she his most special friend?
She even had a wildly unbelievable hope that Xu Zifan might forgive her on the show and reconcile with her in front of the entire nation.
During the show, Xu Zifan dialed Yu Sisi's number without thinking.
"Hello? Zifan?"
Yu Sisi's voice was sweet, giving one a feeling of being bathed in a spring breeze, but Yue Lingling felt as if she had fallen into an ice cellar, her face turning deathly pale. It was that girl, the girl who lived with Xu Zifan!
She was jolted awake. The program aired after the recording; what was on TV now meant it had already been filmed. She had never received a call from Xu Zifan, so this call certainly wasn't for her. Her beautiful dream had been ruthlessly shattered before she could even savor it!
The TV program was still on, and Xu Zifan couldn't help but smile when he heard Yu Sisi's voice. He said gently, "Are you busy?"
"No, I just made a plate of spicy stir-fried crab, the one you taught me last time. I don't know what went wrong, it's not as good as yours. I can't eat anything good without you here. By the way, weren't you in a closed competition and couldn't turn on your computer? Is it over yet? When are you coming back? It's so boring eating alone."
The screen displayed the shocking caption "wow!" next to Xu Zifan. It was packed with information!
The word "super" was enlarged and bolded, and paired with Xu Zifan's smile, it looked particularly ambiguous.
Xu Zifan laughed and said, "There's still a month left before it ends. There's a segment in this episode where we have to call our most special friend. I guess by the time you see this episode on TV, I'll be going back home."
"You're filming? So what I'm saying is going to be on TV? My God."
Xu Zifan chuckled and said, "Why don't you say hello to the audience and Grandma?"
"Hello everyone watching on TV! Zifan is an exceptionally talented model. Whether it's print ads, video ads, or runway shows, he does a fantastic job—absolutely perfect! I hope you all like him and support him. He definitely won't let you down! Also, Grandma, this is my first time on TV. I'll come find you and watch it with you when it airs. Remember to get your elderly friends to vote for Zifan! Love you!" Yu Sisi's cheerful voice was full of energy, and her simple words made it seem as if she were a lively and adorable young girl.
She said to Xu Zifan, "Is there anything I can help you with? Don't some shows have quizzes or tasks?"
Xu Zifan thought for a moment and said, "What style of clothes do you think suits me best?"
Yu Sisi blurted out, "It suits any style! It's cozy and comfortable at home, very elegant in formal wear, like a prince, and it's just as good in sporty style, instead full of power. There's also the decadent style, the dark style, the yandere style, and all kinds of uniforms..."
"Wait a minute." Xu Zifan felt something was off and asked in surprise, "You didn't draw a lot of designs in these styles, did you?"
Yu Sisi smiled shyly and said, "That's really inspiring. This is the first time I've met someone like you who can handle all styles. No matter what style you're paired with, it doesn't feel out of place at all. It's amazing. I think it's because of the feeling you give off. If you were to act, it would feel like you could play all kinds of roles. You're so amazing."
A staff member reminded Xu Zifan that it was time to leave, and Xu Zifan jokingly asked, "Can I say your name on the show?"
"sure."
"Alright, great designer, my time's up, I'll hang up now. Oh, by the way, I made a sauce, sealed it and put it in the bottom drawer of the refrigerator, go get it and eat it, it tastes great with a little bit every time you cook."
"Really? You're so kind."
"Okay, I'm hanging up now, bye~"
"Bye~ I'm waiting for you to win the championship, good luck!"
This episode ends abruptly here. The first scene in the preview for the next episode is a staff member asking Xu Zifan if this woman is his girlfriend. Xu Zifan smiles and is about to answer when the scene cuts to another scene. The preview is very suggestive and will definitely attract the audience's attention. However, Yue Lingling is the opposite of them. She feels heartbroken, as if a knife is twisting inside her.
Xu's mother was naturally the happiest to see her son's relationship develop, and she was all smiles. When the show ended, she turned her head and suddenly saw Yue Lingling, whose face was pale and whose expression was stiff. Her heart skipped a beat and she snapped out of her daze.
She thought for a moment, then casually changed the channel to a funny variety show and laughed so hard she almost fell over, as if she hadn't seen Yue Lingling's distress. Midway through, she even washed a plate of fruit, laughing as she said, "Lingling, eat this! Oh my, look, it's so funny, they both fell into the water, hahaha!"
Yue Lingling felt so choked up that she couldn't eat or watch anything. She tried to speak for a few minutes, trying to think of asking Yu Sisi, but she was interrupted by Xu's mother's laughter every time she opened her mouth, and she couldn't find an opportunity at all.
She couldn't sit still any longer, so she made an excuse that she hadn't finished her work and left.
After she left, Xu's mother's smile faded, and she frowned and sighed. She said to Xu's father, "What kind of mess is this? It's a complete disaster. If two childhood sweethearts could become a couple, that would be a beautiful story. But one is interested and the other is not, and they're still so entangled... Sigh, it's really troublesome."
Mr. Xu, wearing glasses and looking at the newspaper, snorted, "You absolutely mustn't interfere. Do you think we don't know our son's personality? He's not a heartless person. The fact that he's so ruthless towards Lingling means there must be something we don't know. We can't cause trouble for our son."
"Do you need to tell me that? Of course I know. Why don't we go out and have some fun? We won't go far, just wander around the area. It won't cost much."
"Okay, when our son comes back in the next couple of days, we'll meet him briefly and then leave. We can also ask him about that girl."
"Yes, yes, my son said he met a really nice girl, it must be her, she's a top designer, that sounds amazing, and they're neighbors too, what a coincidence! You couldn't even force it together like this, and they seem to get along better than with his previous two girls, isn't that great?"
Mr. and Mrs. Xu smiled, thinking that their son had probably met the girl he could spend his life with, and all their worries disappeared, leaving only full of anticipation.
After this episode aired, Xu Zifan finished filming. His position as the champion, which he held from the first episode to the last, undoubtedly belonged to him. He was the biggest winner of this competition.
As soon as the show ended, his agency landed him a lot of high-quality jobs. Through the TV program, his popularity and talent caught the attention of everyone in the modeling industry, making him the most promising and talented model in the industry, bar none.
Xu Zifan got off the plane and went home. He first told his parents, then opened the doors and windows to air out the house and tidied it up. He found it was quite clean.
Hearing the noise, Yu Sisi came out from across the hall. Seeing him, she smiled and said, "You're back? I cleaned up for you when I got the sauce. I figured you'd be back in a couple of days, so I called a housekeeper to do a thorough cleaning yesterday."
Xu Zifan laughed and said, "No wonder it's so clean. Thanks. Come sit down, I'll make you a mixed fruit juice."
"I want cherry juice, I'll get it for you." Yu Sisi ran home and brought all the fruit from the refrigerator. While Xu Zifan was making juice, she cut up a fruit platter and asked him about the competition.
Xu Zifan showed her the championship trophy, and she quickly took it to a well-lit table to take pictures. A happy smile unconsciously appeared on her face, as if she had won the award herself.
Xu Zifan leaned against the wall, drinking juice, his eyes full of smiles as he looked at her.
The elevator doors opened, and Mr. and Mrs. Xu entered using the password. Just as they called out "Zifan," they suddenly saw Yu Sisi, and Mrs. Xu immediately smiled. Yu Sisi, seeing them, guessed their identities and inexplicably blushed.