Rise and Slay: From Scandal Queen to Academic Genius - Chapter 231 - 212: How Could This Be Any Different?

Chapter 231: Chapter 212: How Could This Be Any Different?

Xiao Yuan shouted in anger, but it didn’t interrupt Ji Xizhi’s train of thought.

She calmly finished writing her stuff.

Once she had completed her summary, she slowly looked up from the desk.

“Expose me for what?”

“Thesis?”

Ji Xizhi thought for a moment. Other than her unpublished thesis, she didn’t seem to have anything else hidden.

Ji Xizhi tilted her head, a bit perplexed.

Xiao Yuan was already fuming mad. Hearing Ji Xizhi’s questions, she almost didn’t react, and finally said after a moment:

“Who would expose a thesis!”

In the current circle, who would dare doubt Ji Xizhi’s academic prowess?!

Ever since Ji Xizhi got into Qing University, no one even dared to touch that topic anymore!!!

Xiao Yuan: “It’s in the upcoming episode of the ’Life Experience’ variety show. Someone took a gif and posted it on Weibo, saying Director Wan treats you differently in the program!”

Ji Xizhi frowned: “Differently?”

She instinctively glanced at her phone’s WeChat, where Director Wan was no different from the other villagers’ aunts in the Lishui County hometown group, posting identical Good Morning Sunflower Bloom.jpg, Good Afternoon Red Wine Toast.jpg, Good Night Rose Bloom.jpg. What could be different?

Ji Xizhi became increasingly bewildered.

Seeing Ji Xizhi like this, Xiao Yuan couldn’t hold back anymore and directly handed the phone over to Ji Xizhi: “In the newly aired variety show, there’s a scene where Director Wan placed his hand on your shoulder and even arranged a car just for you. Someone took the rhythm, cropping all your shared frames with Director Wan together, insinuating an ambiguous relationship between you two!”

During the ’Life Experience’ filming, aside from capturing the guests’ daily life experiences, it naturally included filming some surrounding landscapes and folk customs as post-editing materials.

Lishui County is vast and beautiful. Unlike live broadcasts, once they’re watched they’re done, but the edited episode can be repeatedly scrubbed through.

Ji Xizhi and Director Wan were just incidentally captured in the background of a big frame scene.

With a wide background, the figures appeared very small and the angle was quite tricky. Generally, viewers’ focus would be on the scenery in such a frame, and the post-production didn’t notice it either. Even fans following the star-studded dramas hadn’t paid attention to this.

It was a sharp-eyed drama enthusiast who noticed it during a second viewing and paused to screenshot.

She initially just wanted to record the blind spot and show off a little.

But somehow, the screenshot got crazily shared.

There were even people continuously exposing the number of shared frames between Ji Xizhi and Director Wan throughout the second episode recording.

From the moment the show started when Director Wan volunteered to drive Ji Xizhi back, to Director Wan finding her, arranging transport, rehearsing a program, etc.

Ji Xizhi privately appeared in numerous frames with Director Wan, including scenes where both were close, “clearly” whispering in the background.

[Ji Xizhi with Director Wan? Are you blind?]

[Ehhh, I’m not sure about other relationships, but this Ji Xizhi golden finger seems to be stretched a bit wide. The card is hers, the car is given to her, and she’s the first…]

[Come on, show me any golden finger that wasn’t earned by her hard work. Did Director Wan give the card? Is the aunt that pretty, can’t you see?; Car is given because Director Wan seeks Ji Xizhi’s help reviewing a contract, equal exchange, can’t you hear?; The first is even funnier, did thousands in the square get bribed by Ji Xizhi?]

[Then come out and say what Ji Xizhi and Director Wan could possibly have? Everyone was preparing to rehearse, why is Ji Xizhi different from others!]

[Pretty serious! I don’t think there’s any need to say more, @Ji Xizhi Zhi Zhi, I want to know what the third fan benefit will be, why don’t you hold a raffle, let someone represent you in court, you’ve taught so much theory, isn’t it time for practice, please, wanting fan benefit!]

[6, intellectuals act decisively! Supporting the pretty sister’s fans~]

…

The online discussion grew in popularity.

Initially, the public opinion indeed wanted to guide towards “that kind” of relationship between Ji Xizhi and Director Wan.

A few troll accounts took the chance to muddy the waters, revealing some early rumors of Ji Xizhi being invited by XX Director for meals and drinks while she was an artist at Hangxing Entertainment.

Normally, revelations like this should fuel the scandal at such times, making them burn hotter.

But with Ji Xizhi, once the rumors were revealed, they were like fake fuel, not igniting at all.

The sporadic few passersby attracted by such revelations scoffed at them.

[How many dishes? Drunk like this! You sober up and glance at Ji Xizhi’s existing CP partners (Fang Yuliang, Qi Zheng, Ji Tingzhou, Zhu Xiu’an, Qin Yutian, Fang Zhuyue, Qiu Lin, etc.), you’ll know, the beauty would never look at brat number three!]

[Makes sense, don’t forget the square dance CP Uncle Wang and Uncle Xu! Who doesn’t like our Zhi Zhi~]

[Don’t cue, Zhi Zhi is only interested in law, Law CP super-topic is number one, can’t see? (arms akimbo hum)]

Troll account: …

Damn it, he’s almost convinced by the comments!

The trending topic on unseemly relations between Ji Xizhi and Director Wan was soon stifled, reduced to criticizing Ji Xizhi’s golden finger being too wide, prematurely bribing villagers.

Plus, the official blog of ’Life Experience’ released some behind-the-scenes footage from the second episode recording at regular intervals.

This is the normal routine after the ’Life Experience’ airs, keeping the heat by continuing to air small behind-the-scenes clips.

This episode’s tidbits mainly featured Ji Xizhi leading guests and the director in running and fitness activities, Director Wang made the post-production focus on Ji Xizhi’s comment praising his improvement, to clear his name.

There’s also a segment where all the guests were driving away from Lishui County, and Director Wan came to give special products to everyone.

Director Wan gave all the guests gifts, but when it came to Ji Xizhi, no gift?!

The fans were curious upon seeing this, and accompanied by Director Wang’s happy expression, the next moment saw Director Wan fawningly smile, taking out his phone to share a group QR code, mailing Ji Xizhi with entire Lishui County specialty products.

For others, it’s a gesture.

For Ji Xizhi, it’s giving his heart out! Still shipped, fearing it’s heavy to carry!

[That’s to say, I just remembered Ping’an Village, Zhi Zhi’s popularity +1]

[Just look at this old father’s demeanor, him being nice to Zhi Zhi, isn’t that rightful?]

Enthusiastic netizens also traced back to notice the hot search image of Mysterious Escape crew member Ah Lu with Ji Xizhi, where Ah Lu was holding large bags of Lishui County products.

It seems Director Wan sent quite a lot to Ji Xizhi.

[Director Wan is too good to Ji Xizhi, isn’t he?]

[Good to the point of being unnatural! Ping’an Village surely Ji Xizhi helped a lot, with Lishui County, shouldn’t it be pleasing Uncle Wang? I still believe Director Wan’s niceness is abrupt!]