Did You Enjoy It? I Sure Did!

As the industry's famously tireless workhorse, Xie Zhenting arrived at the company early for the morning meeting. He had not expected to receive a call from his father the moment he stepped out of the conference room.

After exchanging a few brief words and hanging up, he deliberately found the livestream replay online and watched through the important parts.

Xie Zhenting did not find it strange that Xie Ran had splashed water onto Wei Mingqi's bed with a basin. What upset him instead was seeing his own younger brother get hit by a pillow, his brows knitting tightly in displeasure.

His little brother had been abducted and sold as a child and had suffered who knew how much. They had not even had the chance to treasure him properly, and now he was being bullied on a variety show? Why should he?!

Like his father, Xie Zhenting's heart ached terribly.

It seemed hiring internet trolls to control public opinion was not enough. Someone had to join the variety show to protect Xie Ran, and their third brother, who had just returned to the country, was indeed the best candidate.

The entertainment industry could not do without music. Their third brother had won countless piano honors and had long since made a name for himself in the country. Getting onto a variety show should be effortless for him.

Although the forces behind Luo Mingyu and Li Sifan were somewhat troublesome, those two were easier to win over or confront than Huo Wenye.

They were all prominent families in the capital. As long as the Xie Family spoke up, the Luo family and Li family would surely show them some respect. They might even call immediately and tell those two playboys to take better care of Xie Ran instead of opposing him like this.

Xie Zhenting still had that much confidence.

The several groups had quite a few mutually beneficial projects. If any cooperation was withdrawn, everyone would suffer losses.

After all, everyone put profit first!

With that in mind, he called his third brother.

Xie Chen wandered aimlessly around the village like a headless fly, while Huo Wenye followed closely behind without saying a word.

As the sun climbed higher and higher, the cameraman was the first to lose patience. "Teacher Xie, do you have any clues?"

If they kept wandering like this, it would be lunchtime soon!

"No." Even if he did, he would not say!

Xie Chen remained expressionless, but his mind would not stop ranting.

Damn it!

Why hasn't Huo Wenye left yet?!

Can't he tell there's no food to eat if he sticks with me?!

The fans in the livestream were heartbroken too.

[Did the production team not prepare breakfast for the observer? This treatment is way too awful. If I were Brother Ye, I'd definitely go on strike!]

[Who knows what Xie Chen is thinking? He obviously can't find the breakfast voucher, yet he insisted on taking the task alone! He's not only dragging himself down, but my Brother Ye too!]

[I dislike Xie Chen more and more. Can Brother Ye stay farther away from him?!]

"There's a Chinese elm tree at the village entrance." A low, magnetic voice suddenly rang out.

Xie Chen stopped in his tracks and turned back suspiciously. "What did you say?"

The breakfast voucher was buried beneath the Chinese elm tree. He had deliberately wandered around without heading in that direction, yet Huo Wenye had intentionally given him a hint?

Why?!

What reason did he have for doing this?!

Xie Chen could not quite understand the actions of this Buddha-like figure from the capital's elite circle. But after hesitating for only a moment, he sized up the situation and continued, "Oh, Brother Ye, you want to try elm seeds? That's good stuff. You can't get it in the capital. Let's go..."

Before he could finish, he headed toward the village entrance.

Having lived a second life, Xie Chen saw things clearly. There was no need to make things difficult for himself. Since Huo Wenye meant to help, he might as well go along with it.

Even if this Buddha-like figure from the capital's elite circle was dangerous, he was still better than those scumbags in the Xie Family.

Thus, Xie Chen naturally ran beneath the Chinese elm tree, dug through the soil, and pulled out the deeply buried breakfast voucher. Putting on a surprised expression, he said, "Am I really that lucky? I actually found it?"

If Director Li had been there, he would have been furious enough to spit blood.

When he buried that breakfast voucher, he had nearly dug three feet into the ground. Yet one casual "Am I really that lucky?" had ruined all his efforts. If there had been no cheating involved, he absolutely would not believe it!

The livestream viewers thought so too, and the comments flooded in.

[Even with Brother Ye's hint, isn't it too precise that he found it right away? Did Xie Chen already know where it was buried?!]

[He paid for it, right? I never expected Director Li, who has always been known for fairness, to ruin his reputation in his later years. Is the power of capital really that strong?!]

[What capital does Xie Chen have? He was probably taken advantage of through the casting couch. He looks like nothing but a pretty face, the kind that both men and women would go for!]

[Hahaha, exactly. But I still don't understand Brother Ye's attitude. Don't tell me he's taken a liking to this washed-up nobody? Please, Brother Ye, don't let appearances fool you!]

Xie Chen had no idea that he had already drawn a wave of insults. Even if he knew, he would not care.

These days, without some mental toughness, who could be a celebrity?

Besides, he would leave the entertainment industry sooner or later. Why care about a bunch of keyboard warriors?

He took the breakfast voucher to exchange it for food. When he returned to the guesthouse, he found Director Li leading the staff as they sat leisurely eating in the courtyard.

Several round tables held boiled eggs, coarse corn porridge, and a few small dishes of pickles. They were obviously sent over by the villagers, still steaming hot and fragrant.

Catching sight of someone entering through the gate from the corner of his eye, Director Li instinctively looked up. He froze at first. "Xie Chen, you—"

Then he abruptly stood up. "Wenye, I was looking for you. How did you come back with Xie Chen?"

"Just wandered around and ran into him," Huo Wenye answered casually.

The cameraman following them shot him a meaningful sidelong glance and thought, That was not the kind of encounter you could have while just wandering around!

It looked more like he had deliberately waited for him.

Because he had been focused on Xie Ran's side of the filming through the monitors earlier, Director Li did not doubt Huo Wenye's words. He turned back to Xie Chen. "How was it? Did you fail the task? Sorry, breakfast can't be put on credit. Do more work later and you can earn lunch. Hang in there for now."

So much time had passed. He must have found nothing!

After all, Director Li was very confident in his hiding spot!

Who would have thought that, just after he spoke so confidently, he would see Xie Chen slowly pull out a paper voucher and wave it in the breeze? "Is this what a breakfast voucher looks like?"

"You actually found it?!" Director Li had no idea Huo Wenye had given him a hint and was so shocked that he could not close his mouth.

He wanted to ask about the details, but Xie Ran, drenched from head to toe and looking dejected, interrupted him. "Sorry, I didn't complete the task."

Director Li turned around, his face once again full of confusion. Just as he was about to speak, Xie Chen, who had a mouth and knew how to use it, beat him to it. "Your task was to wake someone else up. Why did you go take a bath? And you bathed with your clothes on? Oh, that's quite an innovative method you've got there?"

[Hahahaha, Xie Chen really knows how to ask questions. Who bathes with their clothes on?! There's obviously something going on here!]

[I followed Xie Ran's side the whole time. Honestly, he absolutely deserved to get soaked. The main issue is that he was such a hypocrite!]

[Exactly! When waking Wei Mingqi up, he could splash water on him without hesitation. But when he got hit in the next room, he did not even dare make a sound. All he could do was cry and then turn around to complain.]

[Have to say, Wei Mingqi was pretty good too. Without a word, he went back to his room, filled a basin with water, and dumped it straight over Xie Ran's head. This variety show is incredible! An eye for an eye, fighting it out to the end!]

[Hahahaha, did you enjoy it? I sure did!]