Chapter 785: Chapter 784 Sponsors

Lu Xinnuan made the call to the assistant director, who had contacted her before and asked her to join the TV crew.

After explaining the situation to the other party, the assistant director understood and directly gave her the sponsor’s information.

“Calligraphy and Painting Master Xiao Jianli?”

Lu Xinnuan silently repeated the title, realizing she didn’t know anyone in that kind of circle.

The assistant director chuckled, “Maybe he came because of your fame.”

Lu Xinnuan thought about it and indeed, it made sense.

Given her current popularity, it was highly likely that the other party wanted to extend an olive branch through Lu Mian to get to know her personally.

Otherwise, based on Lu Mian’s performance in the show, even if she were incredibly amazing, no one would sponsor someone as stubborn and unyielding as her.

“Director, could you give me a contact detail?”

“Xinnuan, it’s not that I don’t want to give it, but the person didn’t leave any, you’ll have to think of another way. But…” the assistant director, intending to build a good relationship with Lu Xinnuan, deliberately shared a piece of information: “Master Xiao has a big wish. He has been looking for his life-saving benefactor and even asked our crew to keep an eye out for them!”

“Life-saving benefactor…” Lu Xinnuan immediately sensed the key information, if she could help Master Xiao find this person, he would definitely owe her a huge favor.

Such a favor could play a crucial role in the entertainment industry.

The assistant director briefly filled in Lu Xinnuan about the situation, and she meticulously took note of everything.

After hanging up, Lu Xinnuan didn’t go backstage to look for Pei Wenda anymore. She sat back in the audience and immediately started searching for the name online.

On the encyclopedia, she precisely found the related information about Xiao Jianli.

The introduction didn’t mention words like the Xiao Family from Jinjing, and Lu Xinnuan was completely unaware of the situation there, so she didn’t even think in that direction.

After searching, Lu Xinnuan found out that Xiao Jianli truly was a significant figure.

Not only did many people in Jinjing collect his calligraphy and paintings, but it was also an honor for people in the industry to own a piece of Master Xiao’s artwork.

This was enough to illustrate the extent of his influence.

Moreover, the fact that he offered a sponsorship fee of fifty million yuan was more than all the other sponsors had invested in the show combined.

Lu Xinnuan became even more determined to win over Master Xiao.

—-

The competition on “Extreme Brain” continued, and Lu Mian, since realizing the show’s tactics, hardly put her heart into it anymore. She didn’t speak properly, nor did she compete earnestly.

Whichever contestant she faced off with in PK, she would eliminate them instantly and as quickly as possible, completely disregarding the show’s effect. Several contestants who had signed contracts to stay till the end were beaten so badly by her that they doubted their existence and lost their composure in front of the camera.

Contestants who had the answers were defeated by Lu Mian who didn’t, the disparity was simply too huge.

Lu Mian didn’t care about these details.

The crew, annoyed and helpless, couldn’t do much to Lu Mian considering the sponsor’s support.

Interestingly, Lu Mian’s maneuvers earned her a wave of fans. Online disputes about Lu Mian were few and far between, with most praising her for her beauty and intelligence. In contrast, the show’s crew received much criticism, as they repeatedly downplayed the highlights of Lu Mian’s swift victories.

Meanwhile, Lu Xinnuan in the audience often appeared on camera.

Lu Mian just silently appreciated it: I quite enjoy seeing the rich expressions of those shady contestants, and I will continue to do so.

This episode of the show quickly came to an end.

After the six-to-four round, the four remaining contestants were: Lu Mian, Pei Wenda, Zhai Qingtong, and the consistently steady Xiang Yu.

In the audience, Lu Xinnuan listened to everyone around her chanting “Lu Mian” and forced a smile on her lips with difficulty.

After the show ended, Lu Xinnuan quickly made her way backstage and encountered Pei Wenda and several other contestants.

Everyone was quite happy at her arrival, and they eagerly brought out postcards for Lu Xinnuan to sign.

Lu Xinnuan was very patient and signed for each of them one by one.

“Big brother Wenda, where’s my sister?” Lu Xinnuan looked around but didn’t see Lu Mian anywhere.

“She must have left already. Every time after the show, she’s always the first one to leave,” Pei Wenda pretended to be very protective of his younger sister and ruffled Lu Xinnuan’s hair.

Everyone was envious.

“Speaking of Lu Mian, she never joins us for meals or conversations. Even today, when Xinnuan came over, she didn’t bother to stay a little longer… She really lacks a conscience.”

“Xinnuan, your sister is so reclusive!”

Lu Xinnuan sighed generously, “She is somewhat reclusive. So my brother and I do what we can to help her out. I hope everyone can be understanding…”

Zhai Qingtong nodded, “You two really accommodate Lu Mian so much. But…”

The girl pouted, “Xinnuan, you have no idea what Lu Mian has been doing outside on the strength of your fame. That day, she even said she’d give me a hundred million to expose the show’s production team… A hundred million! Xinnuan, how many endorsements would you have to take on to make that back?”

Zhai Qingtong was planning on a career in the entertainment industry, and at this point, she naturally sought to ingratiate herself with the somewhat famous Lu Xinnuan.

Hearing this, Lu Xinnuan felt a sharp tug at her heart, as if a hundred million were actually being carved out from her.

She forced a smile, “She must have been joking.”

“I know she was talking nonsense! All the sponsors came in this time because of you. Where did she get the guts to casually ask for a hundred million?”

Zhai Qingtong was so impressed with the “hundred million” that she still hadn’t gotten over the shadow cast by Lu Mian when she first mentioned it.

Lu Xinnuan just smiled faintly.

—-

After leaving the show, Lu Mian stepped out into the chilly evening air of Wucheng in April, hugging her sweatshirt close. Seeing the elevator reached the ground floor, she lifted her foot to step out.

Just as the elevator doors opened, she came face-to-face with someone.

The person was about to enter the elevator and just happened to meet Lu Mian coming out.

Lu Mian lazily squinted her eyes.

The other person was taken by surprise and froze for several seconds before reacting.

“Mian… Mianmian…”

Fu Man was there to pick up Lu Xinnuan after the show, planning to go upstairs and bring her a jacket.

Lu Mian’s gaze casually fell on the pink coat in Fu Man’s hands.

With an indifferent expression, she sidestepped and headed for the building’s exit.

Without a word.

Having not seen each other for over three months, Fu Man was caught off guard by their sudden face-to-face encounter. Emotions surged inside her, and she instinctively turned her head to follow Lu Mian for a few steps.

“Mianmian, wait!”

Lu Mian stopped in her tracks and glanced coldly at Fu Man, “What is it?”

“I–I’m okay.” Fu Man looked at Lu Mian, her eyes full of endless remorse. She awkwardly hid Lu Xinnuan’s pink coat behind her, saying awkwardly, “It’s cold at night and not safe, so I thought I’d come pick Nuannuan up. You should have seen her on the show, right? Why didn’t you come out together?”