Are You Trying to Make Me Sick on Purpose?

Xie Chen strode out of the hotel with the swagger of someone putting on airs, never noticing the changes in the expressions and thoughts of those behind him.

Or perhaps he simply did not care.

He had spent too long playing the obedient little darling in his previous life. Xie Chen wanted to live differently this time.

Was he not just supposed to be a villain?

After crossing through dozens of worlds and crazily grinding points, calling a powerhouse like him the founding father of villains would not have been an exaggeration. He could effortlessly embody the right image and aura.

Xie Chen had no intention of continuing to rein in his temper for the Xie Family. Those scumbags were experts at pushing their luck.

If he did not show them some color, severing the adoption relationship would not be so easy.

Sure enough, the moment Xie Chen got on the bus and sat down, his phone began to ring.

He lowered his eyes, lazily letting his gaze fall on the screen as the corner of his lips curled up slightly.

It was his second brother, Xie Yuchen, who currently managed the Xie Family's entertainment business. Xie Ran had been promoted by him alone.

But clearly, it had not been successful.

Xie Ran's own qualifications were limited. It was not easy to become popular by relying solely on white-lotus tactics, especially when modern netizens hated utterly fake celebrities the most...

With a disdainful expression, Xie Chen swiped to answer and got straight to the point. "Speak if you have something to say. Spit it out if you have something to fart."

There was a choke on the other end before the voice turned grim. "Xie Chen, have your wings gotten too hard?! Don't forget who took you out of the orphanage and gave you food to eat?!"

Xie Chen was sick of hearing this sort of PUA talk. He sneered. "Since you are not going to fart, I am hanging up."

"Wait!" Xie Yuchen suppressed his anger and said, "You know Xie Ran joined Freaks, Go Farm! too, right? Remember your place. Do everything you can to take care of him. When necessary, smear yourself to serve as his foil. Stop making trouble, or else—"

"The Xie Family's doors will never open for you again!"

Though Xie Chen had repeatedly declared that he wanted to cut ties with the Xie Family, Xie Yuchen did not believe him at all.

Those little tantrums were nothing more than tactics to compete with Xie Ran for affection.

How much trouble could an orphan raised dependent on the family possibly make?

Just wait. Before long, reality would teach him a lesson.

In the end, Xie Chen would still have to obediently admit his mistake.

Xie Yuchen firmly believed this. He unconsciously raised his voice for that final threat, but the next second, a scoff came through the phone. "Heh, do everything I can to take care of Xie Ran?"

"Are you out of your damn mind?!"

"Don't worry. Smearing myself is something I can still manage."

"Since he dared join the variety show, he should not blame me for doing everything I can to destroy him!"

After saying that, Xie Chen hung up directly.

Murder was against the law. He knew that perfectly well.

But talking big... felt damn good!

The guests were gradually getting on the bus. Xie Ran was among the last to board, and as he passed Xie Chen, he carefully asked, "Brother Xie Chen, did Second Brother call you?"

"Whose second brother?" Xie Chen raised a brow, as though only just realizing it. "Oh, you mean that scumbag? He did. He told me to take good care of you."

Xie Ran let out a breath of relief, but when he carefully examined Xie Chen's expression, he felt a powerful killing intent.

His heart gave a small jolt, but he quickly comforted himself.

This show was livestreamed. Xie Chen would not dare do anything.

Besides, he had been so timid and obedient before. To stay with the Xie Family, he would definitely use every means possible to curry favor with them. How could he possibly keep ruining his meek and submissive image?

At that thought, Xie Ran revealed a sly smile. When he turned toward the other guests, he had already returned to normal.

Naturally, Xie Chen saw that tiny movement, but he could not be bothered with him. He simply crossed his arms over his chest and closed his eyes to rest.

Before long, the bus began to leave the city.

The theme for the first season of the variety show was Freaks, Go Farm!, with the central idea of using labor to reshape and temper the guests' personalities.

After several hours of travel, the bus carried the production crew into a remote mountain region.

Amid the jolting ride, one of the guests began to complain.

"Are there even any living people in this place? Are they trying to traffic us?" Luo Mingyu irritably raised a hand and pointed at the camera. "Did you get that on camera? The netizens are all watching!"

The cameraman had been drowsing off, but at those words, he jerked upright. "Who—who called me?!"

"This is the level of your variety show?! What kind of people did you hire?! It's a livestream, and you are sleeping your ass off?!" Luo Mingyu did not care in the slightest that his reputation was already terrible, immediately snapping at him.

Xie Ran, seated in the front row, carefully turned around. "Brother Luo, it has been a long time. The cameraman has it hard too. Could you not blame him?"

Was he not saying that just to establish a considerate, kind-hearted persona in front of the camera?

Luo Mingyu saw through his little scheme at a glance and bluntly replied, "If I do not blame him, should I blame you? Put away that act of yours. No one is buying it!"

"You—" Xie Ran had not expected this spoiled young master to give the Xie Family no face at all. His face flushed red from being choked back.

Just as he wanted to say more, the bus came to a stop. The staff member seated at the very front stood up. "We have arrived at our destination. Please get off in order."

"After getting off, please line up voluntarily at the village entrance. Director Li will personally announce the rules for the first season."

Luo Mingyu stood up, cursing under his breath. "Finally."

He looked out the window with an expression of disgust. "This godforsaken place."

Then he gave Xie Ran a meaningful glance. "And there is some idiot acting here too. What fucking bad luck!"

Xie Ran's expression turned even uglier. Just then, Li Jingfei behind him was heading out as well, so he cast her a pleading look, hoping she would help defuse the situation.

But she merely waved her hand. "Do not talk to me. I do not have time to act along with you!"

Xie Ran, "..."

Naturally, Xie Chen heard the exchange, and the corners of his lips silently curled up.

The reason he had insisted on joining this variety show was because he already knew the kind of behavior these guests would display on the program, as well as the effect it would have.

Their completely unrestrained malice gave netizens an unprecedented sense of novelty. They soon began taking screenshots and spreading them around, dominating the trending searches. Not only did it make the variety show that year's traffic champion, it also sent the guests onto broader stages.

Li Jingfei alone received countless offers to play vicious supporting actresses after joining the show, and by the end of the year, she won the Best Supporting Actress award and claimed the title of Best Actress once again...

By the time they got off the bus, the sky had gone completely dark.

A row of bewildered-looking villagers stood in front of the village, seemingly watching the spectacle, their faces wearing simple, foolish smiles.

Spotlights illuminated the crude village. The plaster on many of the low houses had already peeled away, exposing red bricks...

The degree of poverty was obvious.

After Director Li shook hands and spoke with the village chief, he returned to the guests and shouted through a loudspeaker, "You will stay in the communal dormitory tonight. Tomorrow, accommodations will be assigned based on your performance."

The moment he finished speaking, Xie Ran moved close to Xie Chen and asked with apparent innocence, "Brother Xie Chen, can I stay with you?"

Xie Chen immediately put distance between them, blatant disgust appearing on his beautiful face.

"Are you trying to make me sick on purpose?"