After Reborn, I Became the Bigshots' Beloved-Chapter 407: If You’re Afraid I’ll Steal the Spotlight, Just Say It

Chapter 407: Chapter 407: If You’re Afraid I’ll Steal the Spotlight, Just Say It

Seeing Shi Suxin and the journalists and photographers following behind her step through the door, then hearing their conversation, both Shi Mingxiu and Shi Erya at the dining table felt utterly confused.

Meanwhile, Shi Yuwei had perfectly timed her descent, choosing this exact moment to come down the stairs.

Elegantly stepping on her high heels, she walked toward the living room while speaking in a voice tinged with apology: "Ah... I’m really sorry, Aunt. The show’s production team actually called me three days ago."

"At that time, I mentioned it to my parents. However, since we moved into the family estate yesterday, I updated the address with the show team but forgot to inform Grandpa and the rest of you."

The photographer’s camera was live-streaming in real-time.

Before the official start of the show, the production team would visit invited guests’ homes and conduct live broadcasts of the genius scholars’ authentic family lives as the highlight of the pilot episode, which had already been pre-approved by the invitees.

Currently, over ten thousand viewers had been waiting in anticipation in the live-streaming room. When the camera captured Shi Yuwei, dressed elegantly in a qipao and moving gracefully, the comment section immediately lit up.

[Wow!! Is this the Shi Family’s precious daughter and this year’s top scorer Shi Yuwei? She’s so beautiful and classy!]

[Of course, she’s a genuine precious daughter. Compared to that illegitimate "wild chicken" daughter from the other side, she’s worlds apart.]

[Honestly, Shi Yuwei’s beauty can easily rival that of the current trending actresses. Instead of awkwardly watching those actresses fumble through scripts on variety shows, isn’t it better to admire the true elegance of a wealthy and beautiful young lady? This here is the *real* deal.]

[Exactly! And after tiring of the dating shows, Qingmang TV’s new academic competition series is truly groundbreaking. Gathering the nation’s most remarkable young geniuses is far more intriguing than those old-fashioned shows!]

Over on the side, Journalist Lin noticed Shi Yuwei’s arrival and began explaining to Shi Suxin.

"Madam, this time Qingmang TV’s new program is centered on academic competition as the theme of the variety show. We invited the top thirty scorers nationwide in this year’s college entrance examination to participate."

"Your family’s Yuwei was the first-place scorer with full marks, so naturally, she was the first person we extended an invitation to here in Beijing." freewёbnoνel.com

"Today’s visit involves live-streaming specifically to showcase Yuwei’s real home life, which was already pre-approved by her."

Live-streaming?

Shi Erya couldn’t have anticipated that early in the morning, journalists and photographers would suddenly arrive at their house and immediately launch a live broadcast.

She first glanced toward the camera lens and then instinctively looked toward Lu Sheng, whose dress had been completely marred. Her heart suddenly leaped into her throat.

This sort of situation—how could Yuwei neglect to inform them ahead of time? Even if the family hadn’t planned anything in advance, at the very least, they should’ve been told about the event!

The timing of the journalists’ arrival couldn’t have been worse; they managed to catch Shengsheng with congee spilled all over her clothes. If the camera caught her like this, it would undoubtedly be embarrassing.

Shi Erya decided to send Lu Sheng upstairs to change her clothes, hoping to act before the journalists noticed the scene at the dining area.

But before she could speak up, Shi Yuwei seemed to recall something and suddenly asked, "By the way, Journalist Lin, weren’t you planning to head to Jiang City tomorrow?"

"Lu Sheng, who got full marks just like me, as well as this year’s third-place scorer Lu Youming, seventh-place scorer Han Jing, and thirteenth-place scorer Lan Yu—they’re all in Jiang City, right?"

"Indeed," Journalist Lin nodded. "However, all those students declined the invitation to join the program when we called them a few days ago."

"So we’re heading to Jiang City tomorrow to contact them directly and see if we can persuade them in person to change their minds."

"Well, isn’t that a coincidence?" Upon hearing this, Shi Yuwei smiled knowingly and raised her gaze to look directly at Lu Sheng seated at the dining table.

"The public probably doesn’t know yet, but Lu Sheng is actually my second aunt’s only daughter. She was brought into the family estate by Grandpa just yesterday, which is why she’s here eating now."

"The first person you’d be trying to invite tomorrow in Jiang City is probably Lu Sheng," Shi Yuwei said sweetly, "and now, you have the chance to invite her directly."

What?! The other full marks top scorer Lu Sheng is part of the Shi Family too?

And she’s currently at the Shi residence?

Stunned, Journalist Lin instinctively followed Shi Yuwei’s gaze. The camera lens, too, panned accordingly.

Viewers in the live-stream room then caught sight of several individuals situated around the dining table.

The reclusive yet legendary Shi Mingxiu, the accomplished architectural designer and Shi Family’s Third Miss, Shi Erya.

Sitting amidst them was none other than Lu Sheng, who had previously appeared online. Beside her, an anxious-faced maid stood stiffly.

Upon discovering that Lu Sheng was actually a Shi Family member—Shi Yuwei’s cousin, no less—the viewers were already shocked enough.

But witnessing Lu Sheng’s current state only magnified their astonishment.

As the camera swept past her, the audience could see the chaos under the table—like a mess of vomit.

Lu Sheng’s white sleep dress was stained with patches of something mushy and wet, resembling spilled food. At a glance, it looked as if Lu Sheng had vomited on the floor and soiled her dress in the process.

[What the heck?! Did Lu Sheng just throw up during breakfast?!]

[That doesn’t look like vomit though? Seems like the bowl of congee spilled onto her and the floor—but yeah, kinda gross anyway.]

[Geez, one so elegant and dainty, the other messy and disheveled—this contrast is brutal. Who’s the true heiress and who’s the country bumpkin? The comparison alone is deadly.]

[Honestly, I thought Lu Sheng was pretty attractive before, but seeing her like this? There’s no comparing her to Shi Yuwei. Goes to show how much upbringing matters.]

[This is why letting things unfold naturally reveals the truest side of someone. Otherwise, it’d all just be an act for the camera.]

The comment section was relentless with their critiques of Lu Sheng while Shi Yuwei, as if noticing Lu Sheng’s embarrassing appearance for the first time, covered her mouth in surprise.

Her eyes, perfectly accentuated with light pink shadow, blinked innocently as she spoke in a tone of mock concern.

"Oh dear, Shengsheng—what happened? Did you accidentally spill the congee?"

"You should be more careful; even if you’ve never had Cordyceps and Sea Cucumber Congee before, there’s no need to rush."

Shi Yuwei’s comments were, of course, heard by the live audience.

So Lu Sheng spilled the congee while hurriedly trying it for the first time at the Shi Family’s breakfast table?

Tsk. A country-raised illegitimate daughter—clearly, even after returning to the Lu Family and now being taken in by the Shi Family, she’s still so unrefined.

No class whatsoever.

Unable to detect the subtle condescension in Shi Yuwei’s words, the viewers piled on with disdain.

But then, suddenly, Lu Sheng stood up from the dining table.

Her expression revealed no trace of embarrassment; instead, it was calm—almost eerily so—as she made her way toward the camera.

Shi Suxin raised her head and saw that Lu Sheng was indeed staying in the Shi residence, which meant she was truly being housed there.

Recalling the incident yesterday when Lu Sheng nearly strangled her to death, her temper flared uncontrollably.

"You little..." She almost blurted out a curse, remembering the ongoing live broadcast. She forcibly swallowed the planned insult of "little wretch" and instead managed, "Lu Sheng, look at yourself! What are you doing?"

"You’re now a part of the Shi Family at least. There’s no need to hurry yourself over a bowl of Cordyceps and Sea Cucumber Congee—literally spilling it all over you.

"If this mess makes it out, won’t it disgrace and tarnish the Shi Family’s reputation?"

Truthfully, even if there weren’t a live broadcast, Shi Suxin would have hesitated before openly berating Lu Sheng.

After all, the previous day’s encounter—where Lu Sheng nearly choked her on the spot—left her genuinely unsettled. The girl’s cold, indifferent gaze, as if viewing her as an insignificant insect, still made her shiver upon recalling it.

Not to mention Lu Sheng’s chilling words: "I’m crazy. Best you don’t provoke me—face the consequences otherwise." That warning continued to haunt Shi Suxin.

Shi Suxin was truly afraid that another instance of criticizing Lu Sheng might provoke her into another violent reaction—even in front of so many people.

But as Lu Sheng approached Shi Suxin, she lowered her gaze momentarily before lifting her head—her eyes now reddened.

Shi Suxin froze at the sight of Lu Sheng’s teary expression, which conveyed vulnerability and helplessness: "What’s the meaning of this..."

"Aunt... must you go this far?" Lu Sheng’s voice trembled with suppressed grievance. Her clear eyes rapidly filled with a misty sheen of tears.

Her disheveled black hair, the dirty white dress, and the reddened eyes—each element combined to give Lu Sheng an image of fragile, broken beauty, stirring unbidden pity.

Lu Sheng softly murmured, "Aunt, I know neither you nor Yuwei want me to stay in the Shi Family."

"But as I’ve said, I’m only here for a few days to help Grandpa recuperate. Once his health improves, I’ll return to Jiang City."

"I endured your scolding yesterday without complaint. But why are you and Yuwei teaming up to humiliate me like this?"

"Do you have to render me a laughingstock in front of everyone just to highlight Yuwei’s beauty and elegance?"

Lu Sheng’s words made the viewers’ eyes widen instantly.

What? Teaming up to set Lu Sheng up? Using her disgrace to underscore Shi Yuwei’s grace?

What kind of drama is this?

Shi Yuwei’s earlier smile stiffened abruptly, while Shi Suxin looked utterly baffled: "What are you talking about? Teaming up with Yuwei to target you?"

Lu Sheng sniffled softly, directing her gaze toward the maid standing by the dining table.

"Earlier when I sat down for breakfast, Mrs. Wang offered to serve me congee," Lu Sheng explained.

"But the moment she brought the bowl to me, she deliberately tipped it over and spilled the hot congee on me."

The live audience now saw more clearly, as Lu Sheng drew nearer, that her collarbone bore a visible red mark from the burns.

The sight alone was enough to evoke pain.

"Before Yuwei and Aunt even came downstairs and entered the room, Mrs. Wang admitted—I mean explicitly stated—that Yuwei had instructed her to do this. At that point, I couldn’t understand why she’d go to such lengths."

"But now, seeing the sudden appearance of journalists and the live broadcast setup, I believe I understand."

Lu Sheng’s red-rimmed eyes landed on Shi Yuwei as she said, voice quivering with hurt, "Yuwei, if you feared that I might overshadow you during today’s live-stream, you didn’t need to go to such extremes."

"If you had simply communicated with me, I would’ve willingly stayed upstairs in my room and kept out of sight. After all, when I was in Jiang City, I declined the program’s invitation—didn’t I?"