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

Director Liu stood in the center of the living room, hands on his hips, looking impatient:

"Hurry up, next one, don't waste time."

Shu Zi finished laughing, wiped her eyes, and raised her hand: "I'll do it, I'll do it."

She stood up, her gaze falling on Su Yanhuan. She cleared her throat and said earnestly, "The person I want to praise is Su Yanhuan."

Su Yanhuan paused for a moment, blinked, and pointed to herself: "Me?"

Shu Zi nodded: "Yes!"

Su Yanhuan asked in confusion, "Aren't you going to praise Teacher Gu?"

Without even thinking, Shu Zi blurted out, "Why would I praise a dog?"

A question mark appeared above Su Yanhuan's head: "?"

Shu Zi waved her hand dismissively: "Never mind, it's you."

[Hahahaha, Gu Yanren was at the company and was inexplicably called a dog.]

[Shu Zi: Gu Yan is a dog, it's been proven, no arguments accepted]

[Gu Yan: I was in a meeting at the company when I suddenly sneezed.]

Shu Zi looked at Su Yan Huan with a serious expression:

"Huanhuan, you're the most entertaining person I've ever met! You just sit there, you don't even have to do anything, your natural comedic talent is enough to steal the show. You were born for this, you were born for the camera!"

She paused, then added:

"And your flattery just now was really good. Although you didn't achieve your goal, the process was very touching."

Su Yanhuan froze for two seconds, then slowly clutched her chest, her eyes reddening, her voice trembling slightly:

"Sister Zizi... what you're saying... I'm afraid I won't be able to sleep tonight either."

Director Liu rolled his eyes, his tone indifferent: "...Not again?"

[Su Yanhuan: Those who copied and pasted Director Liu's lines are probably all going to have a sleepless night tonight.]

[Director Liu's expression: I'll just quietly watch you perform.]

[Su Yanhuan: I praised Director Liu because of the snacks, why did Shu Zi praise me? Shu Zi: For fun.]

[Director Liu's inner monologue: Same world, same lines, same group of actors]

Su Yan Huan sniffed, her newly formed emotions instantly switching to battle mode. She sat bolt upright, her eyes gleaming:

"Then I'll return the compliment!"

Director Liu said expressionlessly, "You don't need to."

Su Yanhuan retorted, "Why—"

Director Liu interrupted her, his tone calm:

"If you don't shut up, I'll push your wheelchair to the front door and you'll sleep there tonight."

Su Yanhuan immediately made a gesture to seal her mouth, and obediently shrank back into her wheelchair, leaving only her eyes rolling around.

Director Liu decided to choose someone who would be less troublesome. He glanced around and his gaze finally settled on Fang Yutong:

"Teacher Fang, please come here."

Upon hearing this, Fang Yutong smiled slightly, her gaze gently falling on Shu Zi, her voice soft:

"Then I'll choose Zizi."

Shu Zi met her gaze, raised an eyebrow, said nothing, picked up the water glass beside her and took a sip, silently rolling her eyes in her mind.

This guy definitely wasn't hiding anything good.

Fang Yutong thought about it carefully, then spoke, her tone carrying just the right amount of sincerity:

"What I admire most about Zizi is that she doesn't rely on her background. No matter where she goes, she can make people feel that she stands on her own merits."

"For example, Aci's identity was something she was forced to reveal before."

"This kind of confidence comes from having someone backing you up, and not everyone has it, but Zizi is clearly an exception."

After hearing this, Shu Zi laughed. She knew she was no good, but who knew she was a serial liar.

She slowly put down her water glass, leaned back on the sofa, crossed her legs, placed her hands folded on her knees, and then slowly began to speak.

"I'm embarrassed by Teacher Fang's praise."

"But you're right, I am indeed that special case. After all, in this industry, there aren't many people like me who have stumbled along the way and relied entirely on their own efforts."

She tilted her head, feigning a troubled expression:

"Sometimes I also want to take shortcuts, but unfortunately I'm not smart enough to learn those roundabout skills."

She looked up at Fang Yutong, blinked, and her gaze held a meaningful quality:

"So, the fact that you could tell at a glance that I got here on my own shows that you have a keen eye. After all, someone who can see this clearly must be a very insightful person."

She paused, sat up slightly, and continued slowly:

"But when it comes to true confidence, I think the most reliable source of strength in this world is never given by others, but earned step by step by yourself."

"It's just that some people forget this principle as they go along."

She looked at Fang Yutong, smiled, and then added lightly:

"Of course, Teacher Fang certainly understands this principle; after all, you are a smart person."

Fang Yutong's smile faltered slightly, and she didn't reply.

Shu Zi leaned back on the sofa, crossed her arms, and adopted a "my turn" expression:

"As for Teacher Fang's strengths—"

She deliberately dragged out the last syllable, counting on her fingers:

"There are so many! Good acting skills, caring for colleagues, strong career ambition, no connections or background, all relying on oneself, simple and without guile."

When she mentioned her simplicity as a virtue, she added in an exaggerated tone:

"Especially that 'naivety' is so rare in this industry!"

"After all, being able to maintain a detached and indifferent attitude, like Teacher Fang, even though you know everything in your heart, is a skill in itself."

Fang Yutong's smile faded slightly as she listened.

Shu Zi remembered something and said again:

"Oh, and I also really admire Professor Fang's dedication!"

"No matter what happened the day before, they can appear in front of the camera the next day as if nothing happened, with a smile on their face and in good condition. This professionalism is very worthy of learning."

"Take me for example. If I had a fight with someone the day before, I would never be able to call her 'sister' or 'brother' the next day. I would probably confront her directly."

She shrugged.

"There's nothing I can do, that's just how I am, and I've gotten a lot of flak for it."

"However," she changed the subject, "I think Teacher Fang can definitely do it, I admire her very much!"

After she finished speaking, she clasped her hands in a fist salute to Fang Yutong.

Fang Yutong's smile froze completely on her face.

[Wow, this time I realized they were implying something in each other's words, and they were even subtly criticizing each other.]

What does Fang Yutong mean? Is she implying that Zizi has connections or influence? Or is it something else?

[They're probably trying to say that Shu Zi relies on her connections in the art world, after all, her mentor is Master Han, oh right, and there's also Gu Yan, her childhood friend, who helped her a lot too.]

[Emmm... Couldn't it be that Shu Zi herself has connections? What if she's also a rich heiress?]

【How could that be! Baidu Baike clearly states that Shu Zi comes from an ordinary family. Stop spreading rumors here.】

[Although Fang Yutong tried to dig a hole, she ended up falling in herself. Shu Zi even helped her fill the hole with soil, tamping it down so tightly that it was impossible to pry it out.]

This part got me really excited. I have to admit, Zizi is incredibly witty; every word she says is barbed, but she says it all with a smile.

[Shu Zi: If I had a fight the day before, I definitely wouldn't be able to smile the next day. Fang Yutong: ...Are you implying something? Shu Zi: You know what I mean.]