Starlet Taotie Chapter 23
Chapter 23 From Today...
The scandal of Si Muze's fraud made major waves.
No one had ever expected that a novice chef, someone with only a middle-school education and just a few years of culinary training, could use a fabricated identity to swindle his way for years on end.
He'd posed as a celebrity chef, opened restaurants, published books, held fan meet-and-greets, and built a massive fanbase along the way.
And for all those years, no one had ever exposed him.
No wonder his arrogance had only grown, until he ran straight into the real deal.
Who could've guessed that Jiang Tao would turn out to be a close friend of Shi Wenqing?
Many netizens recalled Jiang Tao's stone-grilled meat, pine mushrooms, and flatbreads during episode two of 'Our Village'.
Suddenly, all their drooling wasn’t drooled in vain.
She was a close friend of a state banquet chef, after all!
She definitely knew her food!
In no time, all the food and snacks associated with Jiang Tao sold out once again.
Tianxue Ice Cream had already been forced to expand their production lines and still couldn't keep up with the public's overwhelming buying power.
As for Xin'an Dried Fruit, they never imagined they'd one day make it onto the trending charts simply because they couldn't produce enough.
Fortunately, most of their customers were understanding, expressing their appreciation for the brand's commitment to quality. As long as they kept producing, they'd get their hands on it someday!
The food companies that had missed the second wave of traffic were left kicking themselves.
They grabbed their marketing directors by the collars and demanded, by any means necessary, that they secure Jiang Tao's next endorsement.
But Jiang Tao wasn't the same as before.
Ever since she'd learned that her fans would buy whatever food she endorsed, she'd become far more selective.
She insisted on tasting everything herself, only endorsing products she genuinely found delicious.
Because of her cautious approach, and the fact that the things she picked were truly good, even though she had only a small number of endorsements, every single one of them dominated sales charts.
It was against this backdrop that 'Our Village' released its third episode.
Viewers were eagerly anticipating it, wondering what new culinary delights Jiang Tao would bring to the table this time.
And that was when they watched as Jiang Tao pointed at a "Lodging included! All you can eat!" help-wanted sign, beaming with excitement as she went off to work.
Viewers: 【????】
【What happened to being a food connoisseur?!】
【Nonono, this is just a strategy! Think about it, why would a help-wanted sign suddenly appear here? Remember what the director team said? They'd leave clues. Maybe this is one of them! These seemingly casual little details are exactly the key to winning!】
【whoa! thats actually a really good point!!】
【yh! I 2 think that sign seemed oddly placed, never expected that beneath Jiang Jiang's foodie exterior, she has such a sharp and clever mind!】
And then they watched as Jiang Tao negotiated the terms with the proprietress, making sure her filling meals were included, and actually started just working.
【????】
【WTFFF WAS THE SIGN REALLY NOT A CLUE?????】
Probably to prevent misunderstandings, the production team added a caption on screen: This is genuinely just an ordinary help-wanted sign.
【…………】
【LMAOOOOO all that analysis, and it turns out Jiang Tao really did just come to work!】
But the viewers who'd analyzed it wrong before refused to admit defeat, insisting that the help-wanted sign would definitely play a role later.
The production team sped through the footage, and everyone watched as Jiang Tao worked steadily through the entire morning.
Hauling bags of rice, washing vegetables, wiping tables, mopping floors...
She practically took on all the restaurant's chores single-handedly.
From start to finish, she didn’t utter a single complaint.
【I used to think celebrities were just playing around on variety shows that the work was all faked, but at least Jiang Tao is actually working for real. And she did so much without ever making a big deal out of it... I think I'm becoming a fan】
【I remember people used to call her spoiled and high-maintenance. But from episode one, she’s been paving roads and doing manual labor, n all of it was done without a word. And she was the one who always does the most too. Even Dong Xianhong and Yang Zhen mentioned in the solo interviews how tiring it was, but Jiang Tao never once brought it up...】
【Wuwuwuwu…so many tasks, even with two people, would be exhausting! But our girl carried it all on her own. Watching this as a mom-fan really breaks my heart】
【There really aren't many celebrities who stay this dedicated even during variety show shoots!】
【Chat! Put DEDICATED on the screen!!】
【If anyone still trashes her after this, they have no heart!】
【haters have no heart!!!】
...
Tong Tong had been nervously watching the broadcast while keeping an eye on the public sentiment on her phone.
The more famous you get, the more drama follows.
As Jiang Tao's popularity grew, so did the number of haters targeting her, and there were even quite a few professional internet water armies in the mix.
Tong Tong could only keep a close watch on the situation, ready to contact their company and steer public opinion the moment anything went wrong.
But as she kept watching—
The screen was flooded with ‘heartbroken for Jiang Jiang’, ‘Our girl is amazing! Mama will always support you!’, ‘this female celebrity is so dedicated, how can ppl hate on her?’
Tong Tong: "..."
Seems...I don't have to do anything again?!
Even the haters, who had been sharpening their knives for a big fight, were left dumbfounded.
They hadn't even done anything yet the viewers had already blocked all their paths!
Fuck!
This batch of viewers is just too hard to hoodwink!
At noon, Director Zou announced the current point standings.
Unsurprisingly, Jiang Tao was at the very bottom.
The haters breathed a sigh of relief. Finally, something to latch onto!!
But before they could even make their move, the bullet comments left them baffled again.
【Hahahahaha, Jiang Jiang was so focused on working, did she forget points were even a thing?】
【Laborers persist, and through persistence, they prevail!!】
【fkkk don't even mention Jiang Jiang, even I forgot! I was wondering why everyone else was doing completely different things from her!】
【Exactly! I was thinking: isn't this episode supposed to be a work special? Why haven't the others started working yet?】
【lololol, that bit where Jiang Jiang tricked Yang Zhen hit way too close to home! I have a colleague just like that, always hypocritically going on about how much they love helping others, all while stepping on me. It makes me so mad. Next time, I'm gonna use Jiang Jiang's move and just ask them to help me!】
【lmaoooo Yang Zhen is hilarious!! He gets owned by Jiang Jiang every single time….haven’t you learn your lesson already?】
...
The haters were at a loss.
They stared at their carefully compiled list of Jiang Tao's ‘flaws’: slow-witted (forgetting the points challenge), dodging responsibility (dumping the watering task on Yang Zhen)...
Were these even fucking flaws?!
These were literally the audience's favorite moments, dammit!
Was it them who couldn't keep up with the times, or had the world changed too fast?
Soon enough came Jiang Tao's eating mode.
And the look of heartbreak and despair on the proprietress's face.
They finally sent out their first bullet comment of the day: 【That's way too much! The proprietress is just an ordinary person, has Jiang Tao ever thought about what a burden it would be for her to eat that much?!】
See? A comment like this was bound to stir up resentment between ordinary folks and celebrities. With a little nudge, they could make everyone hate Jiang Tao...
But before the haters could celebrate—
A new bullet comment popped up.
【Bro, you're taking this way too seriously. It's a variety show, the production team will definitely compensate her!】
【exactly. no need to go that far. let's just enjoy the show, no need to be so bitter】
The haters: !!!
That’s not what you all were saying when getting emotional over the laboring Jiang Tao!!
And more importantly—
The production team immediately added a caption stating that they had compensated the proprietress for everything Jiang Tao ate; she suffered no loss at all.
The haters: ...
😭
Never before had hating someone felt this painful.
Just as all the viewers were guessing that Jiang Tao would probably lose tonight—and that this would be the first time this season of 'Our Village' that she missed out on a lavish feast—when the biggest plot twist of the entire variety show dropped!
The proprietress, watching Jiang Tao eat more and more, actually took the initiative to pull out a point card and offer to send her off.
After Jiang Tao refused and insisted on continuing to work, she straight-up sacrificed the other point card holders!
Jiang Tao shot from dead last to first place in an instant, and by a margin that no one else could ever hope to catch up to.
【?!?!】
【You can do that?!】
【Why does this feel so satisfying though】
【right?...that kind of overwhelming comeback just hits different】
【Compared to this, fighting over elementary school grades and supermarket sales is weak sauce】
【AHHAHAHAHA this is too funny】
【Wait, does anyone remember Yang ge who's still out there washing the floor?】
【No one suffers more than our Yang ge!】
【Sorry, Yang ge, but I really want to see his face when he finds out the truth lolololol】
【I'm a prophet, I'm calling it now! I told you that help-wanted sign would be useful!!】
【...】
【............】
【Technically, that's not wrong】
【The main thing is, this really doesn't feel scripted….what writer could come up with something this absurd??】
【I can't stop laughing!! This is too ridiculous!! From today on, I'm a certified Tao Tao goofball fan!!】
【Sending love to Jiang Jiang! I was going through some rough stuff this week and feeling really down…but the moment I see you, I just start laughing. Now I've forgotten all the bad things and I'm ready to welcome the weekend with joy!】
…
As Su Yingxue watched 'Our Village’, she saw that the bullet comments were overwhelmingly in praise of Jiang Tao. A shadow fell over her eyes.
The Jiang Tao she remembered was dull and wooden.
Sure, she was beautiful, but she had no idea how to use that face to her advantage.
She was also foolish and impulsive, easily baited with just a little provocation; there was absolutely no challenge to it.
After that scandal broke, and with her tearful complaint to Han Ziheng, someone with his methods should have been able to make this person disappear from the entertainment industry altogether.
Su Yingxue had never anticipated that Han Ziheng would wind up behind bars, that Ji Qing would sing Jiang Tao's praises, and that Jiang Tao's fame would continue to rise.
On top of that, she was even a member of Velaris Sky.
Velaris Sky!
Su Yingxue had entertained the idea of getting in herself, but the bar was set too high; she'd tried every avenue and still couldn't make it through.
Yet what was so unattainable for her, Jiang Tao had obtained it with such ease. And Shi Wenqing had even personally invited her to his tasting banquet!
For the first time, Su Yingxue felt a genuine sense of threat.
Just as Su Yingxue was lost in thought, a pale, slender arm reached over and took the remote from in front of her, turning off the TV.
"Enough. You know watching her just makes you upset, so why put yourself through it?"
Su Yingxue lifted her head gently. "A'Yu, I just wanted to learn from her. To be loved by so many people..."
The woman she called A'Yu was named Chu Ruoyu, the heiress of the country's largest snack brand.
She'd just returned from abroad. Su Yingxue had helped her out at the airport, and after learning Chu Ruoyu’s identity, made a point of currying favor until she finally became her close friend.
Chu Ruoyu was tall and striking, with raven-black hair, snow-white skin, and crimson lips; she exuded an air of haughty aloofness.
But the moment she opened her mouth, it was like getting choked to death with words.
"Impossible. If you ate as much as she does, you'd die."
Su Yingxue's delicate expression froze on her face. "You misunderstand. I just—"
"Just wanted to impress Ji Qing, right?" Chu Ruoyu gave her a knowing look. "He’s not worth your time!"
Su Yingxue: "..."
She knew that's just how Chu Ruoyu talked, so she adjusted her expression and made her tone light. "It's just that Ji Qing ge ge said he'd gotten an invitation to Master Chef Shi's tasting banquet and was going to take me along…but then later…he said he couldn't go anymore…"
She didn't finish her words, but Su Yingxue’s expression said it all.
With Chu Ruoyu's fierce sense of justice, she would definitely offer to take her to the tasting banquet herself.
But instead, Chu Ruoyu said in surprise, "Why didn't you say so earlier? My cousin already called me and said she wants to go with me."
Su Yingxue froze.
Chu Ruoyu patted her shoulder. "Don't worry, I'll definitely expose her true nature. I won't let her keep fooling the world! I'll get justice for you!"
