Chapter 5
The producers had found the secret to ratings.
The next day’s segment was called:
“Your Family Knows You Best.”
The director smiled benevolently.
For some reason, I couldn’t shake the feeling that he was up to no good.
The rules were simple.
The crew had interviewed each guest and family member separately beforehand.
Same questions.
The more their answers matched.
The more points they earned.
Lu Ling was brimming with confidence.
“Do we even need to compete?”
I looked at her mother.
She was peeling an egg for her daughter.
She removed the yolk whole.
Only the white went onto Lu Ling’s plate.
“She doesn’t eat yolks?”
I asked.
Her mother smiled.
“She choked on one as a child.”
Lu Ling looked resigned.
“Mom.
“I can eat them now.”
Her mother’s hand paused.
“Would you like it, then?”
Lu Ling looked at the yolk.
She hesitated for two seconds.
“Never mind.”
“…”
For some reason.
That tiny exchange made me look at her a little longer.
The game began.
The first question was as easy as expected.
“What food does Lu Ling hate most?”
“Cilantro,” said Lu Ling.
“Cilantro,” said her mother.
“Her favorite color?”
Both answered at once.
“Blue.”
“The skincare product she uses most?”
Her mother rattled off the brand, line, and shade number in one breath.
The director stared.
“You even know that?”
She gave him an odd look.
“I bought it.”
Next question.
“How old was Lu Ling the first time she traveled far from home alone?”
Lu Ling hesitated.
“Sixteen?”
Her mother answered:
“Fifteen years, eleven months, and three days.”
Lu Ling stared.
“July twelfth.
“The four-twenty flight in the afternoon.
“Seat 18A.
“Intensive training in Beijing.
“After she landed, she ate two bites of chicken breast and said it was dry.”
The director was speechless.
I was in awe.
[Other moms: I remember.]
[Lu’s mom: Which second would you like the data for?]
[The heiress’s childhood records have been synced to the cloud.]
Even Lu Ling had to concede defeat.
“Mom.
“Did you make a file on me or something?”
Her mother looked surprised.
“Of course I did.
“Drive D on the computer at home.
“The folder’s called Lingling.”
She paused.
“Three backups.”
Lu Ling had nothing to say.
The Lus were about to sweep the round.
Then the director suddenly flipped to the last question.
“If tomorrow there were no work, no scheduled appearances, and no need to consider fans, the company, or family.
“What would Lu Ling most want to do?”
Her mother answered without thinking.
“Sleep.”
Lu Ling opened her mouth too.
But no words came.
The director waited.
“Ms. Lu?”
She gave a little smile.
“I don’t know.”
Everyone froze.
So did her mother.
“But sleeping is your favorite thing, isn’t it?”
“Yes.”
“But…”
Lu Ling thought for a long time.
In the end, she still shook her head.
“I don’t know.”
People in the comments started making jokes.
[Miss Heiress: Is “free time” some new booking?]
[First question not found in the database.]
Everyone laughed.
Lu Ling laughed too.
Only Grandma looked at her.
And didn’t laugh.