I was criticized on a dating reality show, but I retaliated and became an internet sensation.

Su Yanhuan: "..."

Her lips twitched, and she slowly raised a thumb:

"You're probably the first person to manage to get Director Liu to agree to pay on credit."

She paused for two seconds, slowly put down her chopsticks, clasped her hands together, and reverently bowed towards the ceiling.

"My image of Director Liu has evolved from a cold-blooded snack tyrant to the head of a private lending institution."

After she finished bowing, she turned to look at Shu Zi, her eyes gleaming with eager anticipation:

"Can I apply for a snack loan too?"

Shu Zi picked up her drink and took a sip: "You should try it."

"But I suggest you knock on his door at three in the morning and say you're so hungry you're hallucinating and you see potato chips falling from the ceiling."

"If he doesn't give it to you, just stand outside his door and don't leave. The key is to be sincere."

Su Yanhuan nodded thoughtfully, her eyes gradually hardening.

"Let me think about it and see if there are any other solutions."

Shu Zi gave her a thumbs-up: "I believe in you! If you can manage, get those two bags of snacks!"

*

The steam from the hot pot gradually dissipated, and most of the plates on the table were empty.

Director Liu appeared with his signature megaphone and gathered everyone in the living room, where they sat in a circle.

"Alright, alright, are you all full? Come on, let's play a game to help us digest."

"This game is called 'Sincere Praise.' Each person chooses someone and praises them to their face, either once or several times, but it must be sincere. After praising someone, the person being praised must praise them back."

"So, who wants to go first?"

Su Yanhuan and Shu Zi, who was sitting next to her, exchanged a glance.

God helps me too!

She immediately raised her hand, bobbing up from her wheelchair: "Me! Me! Me!"

Director Liu looked at her: "Okay, Ms. Su, you can go first. Who do you want to praise?"

Su Yanhuan grinned and said without hesitation, "I want to praise you."

Director Liu was stunned for a moment, then his eyes welled up with tears, and he almost burst into tears on the spot.

He clutched his chest, his voice trembling slightly:

"Oh dear, Ms. Su, what you're saying... In all my years as a director, this is the first time a guest has taken the initiative to praise me."

He took a deep breath, found a seat, and adopted a "come on, I'm ready" attitude:

"Come on, praise me all you want, I can handle it!"

Su Yanhuan sat up straight, cleared her throat, took a long, deep breath, and spoke with a sincere expression:

"Director Liu, let me finish. You are the most dedicated, responsible, and talented director I've ever met—everyone knows that, so I won't elaborate. What I want to say is that you're not only a good director, but also a good person. You get up earlier than the chickens, sleep later than the dogs, eat worse than the pigs, work harder than the donkeys, work year-round without a break, and tirelessly worry about the show's success. You're like a worried old father, leading a group of unruly children, managing the filming schedule, keeping everyone happy, and outsmarting the investors. Your hair may be thinning, but your vision is growing ever broader; your dark circles are getting bigger, but your future is brighter. You are the pillar of our production team, a role model for all of us!"

As soon as she finished speaking, Shu Zi stood up abruptly and slapped her hands so hard they made a deafening noise:

"Great! Great!! That was so well said!!!"

Director Liu was so startled by her sudden outburst that he stood up from his chair.

Jiang Yunyou, who was standing next to him, was so startled that he leaned back and almost slipped off the sofa.

He stared blankly at Su Yanhuan, then at Director Liu, and slowly uttered:

"...The intensity of this flattery is almost as high as hot pot broth."

Han Jingxue watched them bicker quietly, shook her head with a smile, and said nothing.

Shen Yihuai leaned back on the sofa, arms crossed, and, not one to miss a good spectacle, added:

"Director Liu, I suggest you record this. You can use it directly in your speech at the annual meeting later, saving you the trouble of writing a script."

Director Liu stood there, his eyes red-rimmed, his lips trembling slightly, unable to utter a single word for a long time.

He took a deep breath, walked over, and patted Su Yanhuan's shoulder forcefully, his voice choked with emotion:

"Teacher Su... what you're saying... I'm afraid I won't be able to sleep tonight."

He took off his glasses and wiped them. "I really didn't expect...you could see this...I, I..."

Su Yanhuan chuckled, and seizing the opportunity, leaned forward, blinking her eyes:

"So, Director Liu, since I've praised her so sincerely, from the bottom of my heart, and with heaven and earth as my witness, could you please send out Sister Zizi's box of snacks first?"

???

The emotion on Director Liu's face froze instantly, and the tears in his eyes flowed back at a visible speed.

He slowly withdrew his hand from Su Yanhuan's shoulder, looked at her expressionlessly, and remained silent for a long while before finally squeezing out three words through gritted teeth:

"impossible."

Su Yanhuan's smile shattered instantly, and she slumped back into her wheelchair, completely dejected.

"What? I've praised you so much, my voice is hoarse, how can you bear to say that?"

Director Liu sneered, crossed his arms, and looked down at her:

"Teacher Su, do you know what? I was almost moved by you just now. I was even thinking that after this episode airs, I must give you a big red envelope."

He paused, his tone tinged with a resentful bitterness, "And then you turn around and ask me for snacks?"

Su Yanhuan clasped her hands together, her face full of sincerity:

"Director Liu, I'm truly praising you from the bottom of my heart!"

Director Liu: "...Get out!!!"

The whole place burst into laughter.

Shu Zi laughed so hard she slapped her thigh, while Jiang Yunyou collapsed onto the sofa, frantically pounding the cushions with his hands, laughing so hard he could hardly breathe. Even Fang Yutong couldn't help but cover her mouth and laugh out loud.

Su Yanhuan was still unwilling to give up. She scooted forward in her wheelchair and looked at Director Liu pitifully:

"How about... one bag? One bag will do, Director Liu..."

Director Liu turned around without looking back, his tone resolute: "Not even half a bag left. Who's going to praise us next?"

[Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha Huanhuan, I'm begging you, I just had surgery and can't laugh! (I'm kneeling before you)]

I almost believed Huanhuan's flattering words just now, but the last sentence revealed her true intentions.

[Director Liu: I was almost moved to tears, and this is what you're saying to me?]

[The entire audience burst into laughter; the world where only Su Yanhuan was injured had been achieved.]

[Su Yanhuan: I was praising you sincerely; Director Liu: I almost didn't take it seriously.]

After this episode airs, Su Yanhuan's fans will probably send her a box of snacks with the note: "Stop taking advantage of Director Liu!"

[Director Liu: I'd rather you criticize me than praise me; praise never brings good things.]

The moment Director Liu turned around, I felt as if I were seeing a cold-blooded, ruthless snack capitalist.

[Hey, I suggest the production team get Jiang Yunyou a new cushion, because he looks like he's about to smash it to pieces.]