3: Chapter 3: Targeted as soon as you joined the group? Sorry, we won't tolerate that.

The self-introduction session ended, and Director Zhou stood up again.

"Alright, everyone knows each other now. Next, I'll briefly explain tomorrow's schedule."

After speaking, he took a folder from a staff member, opened it, and glanced at it.

"Tomorrow morning at eight o'clock, the live broadcast will officially begin. The activities on the first day are relatively simple, mainly for everyone to get familiar with each other. There will be some interactive games, and I'll explain the details then."

"One point needs to be emphasized: it will be broadcasted live the entire time, with no edits and no retakes. So everyone, please watch your words and actions, and don't cause a broadcast accident."

When he said this, his gaze glanced toward Lu Li's direction intentionally or unintentionally.

Lu Li: ? Why are you looking at me?

"There might be some guest interaction sessions later, which will be the focus of the live broadcast, and the bullet comments will also interact then. Prepare yourselves well."

After Director Zhou finished speaking, he closed the folder.

"That's pretty much it. Everyone have dinner tonight, then rest early. See you tomorrow."

As soon as his voice fell, Lu Li's stomach suddenly growled.

Rumble.

The sound was quite loud and exceptionally clear in the quiet restaurant.

Lu Li's expression remained unchanged as he turned to look at the waiter beside him, speaking to cover up the awkwardness of the moment.

"Hello, when will the dishes be served?"

The waiter was stunned for a moment and instinctively looked at Director Zhou.

Director Zhou's mouth twitched, and he waved his hand.

"Serve the food. Let's eat and chat."

Soon, the waiters began serving the dishes.

A seafood feast—lobsters, crabs, and abalones—was laid out across the table.

Lu Li's eyes lit up; at least this trip wasn't in vain.

He picked up his chopsticks, grabbed a lobster, and placed it on his own plate.

The people around were still chatting hypocritically, and no one else had moved their chopsticks.

Lu Li couldn't be bothered with all that and dug right in.

After all, no matter who suffers, you shouldn't let yourself suffer.

As he was gnawing on a lobster leg, Zhou Yichen beside him couldn't help frowning and asked indifferently.

"Aren't you going to wait?"

Lu Li replied with his mouth stuffed with meat, sounding muffled.

"Wait for what? Aren't dishes meant to be eaten once they're served?"

Zhou Yichen furrowed his brows tightly, but didn't continue.

Lu Li continued eating.

He was very focused when eating, completely immersed in the delicacies. Whatever national goddess or top-tier idol—none of it had anything to do with him.

The only thing that mattered right now was this table of delicious food.

Halfway through the meal, Zhou Yichen, who had been trying to cozy up to Shen Qingxue opposite him, finally couldn't hold back anymore.

Clearly Shen Qingxue was chatting with him, but her attention kept drifting toward Lu Li, that famished ghost.

What a buzzkill.

Afterwards, Zhou Yichen put down his wine glass, looked at Lu Li, who was eating hard with his head down beside him, and a hint of a smile played at the corners of his mouth.

"Making such a big commotion, are you a starving ghost reincarnated?"

The voice wasn't loud, but it was enough for everyone present to hear.

The restaurant fell silent for a second.

Someone couldn't help letting out a laugh, but quickly held it back.

Lu Li's chewing paused for a moment, then he raised his head, meeting Zhou Yichen's gaze.

That gaze carried undisguised contempt and mockery, as if looking at some country bumpkin who had never seen the world.

Lu Li swallowed what was in his mouth and calmly picked up a tissue to wipe the corner of his mouth.

Although he ate ravenously, the noise he made wasn't loud at all; he was eating quietly and yet somehow still got snapped at.

Was this guy targeting him?

"I really am hungry. I didn't eat the airplane meal at noon, so I was waiting for this meal."

Lu Li said this very frankly, not looking offended at all.

"What, don't you want to eat? If you don't want to eat, can you give me that half of a lobster on your side?"

The smile on Zhou Yichen's face froze.

He didn't expect this person to be so thick-skinned; not only was he not angry, but he was even eyeing his lobster.

Someone nearby couldn't help laughing out loud—it was the internet celebrity named Lin Yu. Realizing something shortly after, she quickly covered her mouth and pretended to cough.

Shen Qingxue also raised her head and glanced at Lu Li.

Lu Li didn't pay attention at all; his focus was entirely on Zhou Yichen's face.

As for Zhou Yichen, his expression went from rigid to awkward, and from awkward to annoyed.

But he was a public figure. In front of so many people, especially with Shen Qingxue present, he couldn't lose his composure.

He took a deep breath and forced out a smile.

"Fine, take it."

He pushed the half lobster over along with the plate.

Lu Li wasn't polite either; he took it and continued shelling.

"Thanks. You're actually a pretty nice guy."

Zhou Yichen's face turned green.

Director Zhou watched this scene from the side, unable to keep the corners of his mouth from curling upwards.

Interesting.

This fill-in person didn't seem so simple; at least he had some chops when it came to stirring up trouble.

By the time the dinner party ended, it was already past nine o'clock.

Lu Li ate to his heart's content, patted his belly, and prepared to go back to his room to sleep.

Just as he walked to the door, a voice came from behind.

"You're Lu Li, right?"

Lu Li turned back—it was Zhou Yichen.

"Something up?"

Zhou Yichen walked over, looked him up and down, paused his gaze on his flip-flops for two seconds, and couldn't help scoffing.

"Can't you change your shoes? You look like a country bumpkin."

Lu Li lowered his head to look at his feet, then met Zhou Yichen's gaze again and snapped right back.

"My family is too poor to afford any. Since you have money, why don't you transfer me some?"

Zhou Yichen's sneering face instantly froze, and then he glared fiercely at Lu Li, full of threatening words.

"Watch your mouth in front of seniors. Otherwise, if tomorrow's live broadcast happens, don't accidentally get cyber-bullied and completely smeared across the entire web by my fans."

After speaking, Zhou Yichen sneered, shoved Lu Li aside mercilessly, and then strode away.

Lu Li staggered back a few steps to the side, watched Zhou Yichen's retreating figure, was stunned for two seconds, and couldn't help cursing softly.

"What a psycho."

...

He slept soundly all night.

After waking up, Lu Li fished out his phone and took a look.

A little past eight, not bad; there was still some time before the agreed-upon time with the Program Team.

After lying down for another five minutes, Lu Li slowly crawled out of bed, stepped in his slippers, and went to the bathroom to wash up.

After washing up, Lu Li changed back into yesterday's T-shirt and oversized shorts, and prepared to go to the restaurant for breakfast.

As soon as he opened the door, he saw someone standing in the hallway.

It was the staff member from yesterday, holding a bag. Seeing Lu Li come out, his eyes lit up.

"Teacher Lu! You're awake! That's great!"

Lu Li was stunned for a moment and asked, "What's wrong?"

"The makeup artist is already waiting, please follow me." The staff member said as he walked forward.

Lu Li followed him and asked while walking, "Makeup? Right now?"

"Right, the live broadcast starts at nine, we need to prepare in advance."

Lu Li thought about it and figured it made sense; after all, he was going on a show, so putting on makeup was normal, even though he was just a fill-in.

The staff member led him to the door of a dressing room, pushed the door open, and made a gesture of invitation.

"Teacher Lu, go ahead and do your makeup first. Call me anytime if you need anything."

Lu Li walked in, and inside sat a woman in her thirties, dressed very exquisitely, browsing something on her phone.

Seeing Lu Li enter, she raised her head and looked him up and down.

That gaze paused on Lu Li's T-shirt, oversized shorts, and flip-flops for two seconds, and the corner of her eye twitched slightly.

"Have a seat."

Lu Li sat in front of the vanity mirror.

The makeup artist walked over and immediately started applying all kinds of jars and bottles to his face.

Lu Li kept his eyes closed the entire time, letting her fuss over him.

After about twenty minutes, the makeup artist put down the brush in her hand and took a step back.

"Alright, take a look."

Lu Li opened his eyes and looked in the mirror.

Then he froze. Although he was still wearing that same T-shirt and oversized shorts, once his face was tidied up, his entire demeanor was completely different.

As expected, expensive makeup artists are expensive for a reason.

After coming out of the dressing room, led by the staff member, Lu Li changed into a clean and neat outfit and headed to the gathering place.