This reason was equally unassailable.
Xiao Lu continued to make notes in her notebook.
The third was a recently popular romance reality show—"Half-Boiled Lovers."
The show focused on urban romance among mature adults, and the guests were all elites from various industries.
"This one is even worse."
Gu Lina Zha's brows furrowed.
"Let me fall in love with a complete stranger on camera?"
"That's too awkward, I can't act that out."
Xiao Lu understood this; although her artist had acted in many idol dramas,
in reality, her romantic life could be described as a blank slate.
Making her participate in a romance reality show was indeed difficult for her.
Gu Lina Zha continued to scroll down, completely uninterested.
She couldn't muster any interest in these carefully selected popular reality shows.
Just as she was about to return the tablet to Xiao Lu, a name suddenly caught her eye.
"if i were a female special forces soldier."
This was an experiential reality show with a military theme.
The show itself wasn't particularly special.
But the small line of text below it made Gu Lina Zha's pupils suddenly contract.
Filming Location: Haining City Military Training Base.
Haining City!
Isn't that… the city where Lu Mingyu is?
He had mentioned it once in the game, saying he worked in Haining City.
Gu Lina Zha's heart began to pound without warning.
She pointed at the name on the screen, her voice tight with excitement.
"This one, I want to participate in this one!"
Xiao Lu followed the direction of her finger, and when she saw the name of the show, she was stunned.
"What?!"
Xiao Lu's voice was even more shocked than when she heard "game CP" just now.
"Naza-jie, you're not kidding, are you?"
"if i were a female special forces soldier?"
"Female celebrities in the industry all avoid this show!"
Xiao Lu was anxious and quickly explained.
"I heard this show is a collaboration with the military, and all the processes are real!"
"High-intensity training every day, exposed to wind and sun, in and out of mud and water."
"And it's full bare-faced, no makeup at all!"
"Before, a female celebrity participated for one episode and cried as she withdrew, saying it was more tiring than all the fight scenes she had ever filmed combined!"
"You're so delicate, how can you endure such hardship?"
Gu Lina Zha, however, seemed to have completely ignored Xiao Lu's words.
She had only one thought in her mind.
Go to Haining City.
Go to the city where that man is.
What if?
What if she could meet him?
Even just a glimpse from afar would be better than just seeing a photo.
Once this thought arose, it grew wildly in her heart like a vine.
"I've decided, this is it."
Gu Lina Zha's tone was very firm.
"You tell Hong Jie now that I've made my choice."
Xiao Lu looked at Gu Lina Zha's surprisingly bright eyes and felt that things were definitely not that simple.
She knew her own artist well; she would never stand if she could sit, and never sit if she could lie down.
She was famously known as a "lazy person" in the industry.
Why would she suddenly be so interested in a military reality show that everyone knew was tough?
Something out of the ordinary must be going on!
Xiao Lu's gossip radar instantly activated, her eyes darted around, and she tentatively asked,
"Naza-jie, tell me the truth."
"Is it because of… that filming location?"
Gu Lina Zha's heart skipped a beat, and her gaze darted around.
"What filming location?"
"Isn't it just a training base?"
Seeing her reaction, Xiao Lu had already guessed seven or eight parts of it.
She lowered her voice, speaking in a tone that said, "I've seen through everything."
"Haining City… I remember, it seems to be someone's location, right?"
Gu Lina Zha's face flushed instantly, from her cheeks all the way to her ears.
She bristled like a cat whose tail had been stepped on.
"What nonsense are you talking about!"
"I just want to challenge myself and transform, is that not allowed?!"
Her flustered and transparent attempt to cover up only confirmed Xiao Lu's guess.
"Oh—"
Xiao Lu deliberately dragged out the sound, "So you want to transform."
"I thought our Naza-jie was 'going to battle for love'."
"You're still talking!"
Gu Lina Zha glared at her angrily, reaching out to tickle her.
"I'm warning you, don't say a single word about this!"
"Especially don't let Hong Jie know why I chose this show!"
"Just say I want to hone my acting skills and experience life, understand?!"
Xiao Lu dodged while begging for mercy repeatedly.
"Understood, understood! I understand!"
"I swear, I'll keep it absolutely secret!"
"My mouth is tighter than a safe!"
Looking at Gu Lina Zha's complex expression of embarrassment and anticipation,
Xiao Lu knew that this matter was set in stone and could not be changed.
She sighed, silently mourning for three seconds for her and Gu Lina Zha's future "miserable lives."
Then, resignedly, she picked up her phone.
She scrolled through her contacts and found the name that made people tremble with fear—Hong Jie.
Taking a deep breath, Xiao Lu pressed the dial button.
The call was answered quickly.
"Hello, Hong Jie, it's me, Xiao Lu."
"Naza-jie has chosen her variety show."
"She decided, she's going to participate in 'if i were a female special forces soldier'."
The voice on the other end of the phone suddenly rose by eight octaves, filled with disbelief.
"What did you say?"
"Xiao Lu, say it again, which show did Naza choose?"
Hong Jie's tone was full of shock at this moment.
"Hong Jie, you heard correctly."
"Naza-jie chose 'if i were a female special forces soldier'."
Xiao Lu held the phone a little further from her ear.
She could even imagine Hong Jie stomping her feet on the other end.
"Is she crazy or are you crazy?"
Hong Jie's voice came over like a machine gun.
"That show is a collaboration with the military, and all the processes are real!"
"High-intensity training every day, exposed to wind and sun, in and out of mud and water."
"And it's full bare-faced, no makeup at all!"
"There's no special treatment even during your period; you have to go into the water and roll in the mud!"
"And once you sign the contract, you can't withdraw halfway; the liquidated damages are astronomical!"
Xiao Lu had repeated everything Hong Jie said countless times to Gu Lina Zha.
She turned her head to look at Gu Lina Zha, who was leisurely applying a face mask beside her, and put the phone on speaker.
"You heard Hong Jie, right?"
"Have you really, really thought it through?"
"It's still not too late to change your mind now."
Gu Lina Zha's eyes were closed, her voice muffled from under the mask, but her tone was incredibly clear.
"I've thought it through."
"This is it, no changes."
Xiao Lu sighed resignedly and said into the phone,
"Hong Jie, you heard her too, she's decided."
There was silence on the other end of the phone for a full ten seconds.
Hong Jie seemed to be digesting this astonishing news.
After a long while, she spoke again, her tone weary and helpless.
"Alright, I understand."
"Since she chose it herself, she'll bear the consequences herself."
"I'll contact the production team."
With that, Hong Jie hung up the phone decisively.
Wang Hong put down her phone and rubbed her throbbing temples.
She couldn't understand why her most "lazy" artist
would suddenly want to participate in the toughest reality show.
Was it really for a transformation?
This thought only crossed Wang Hong's mind for a second before she dismissed it.
She had managed Gu Lina Zha for so many years and knew her personality inside out.
There must be another reason behind this.
However, now was not the time to pursue the reason.
As a professional agent, her first priority was to secure the best conditions for her artist.
Wang Hong searched through her contacts and quickly found a name.
Ding Hui, the chief director of "if i were a female special forces soldier."
She dialed Ding Hui's number.
The phone rang a few times before it was answered, and a hearty male voice came through.
"Hello, who is this?"
"Director Ding, hello, I'm Wang Hong, Gu Lina Zha's agent."
Wang Hong's tone was very polite.
"Wang Hong? Hong Jie! This is a surprise!"
Ding Hui was clearly a little surprised, but more so enthusiastic.
"Hong Jie, is there something you need me for?"