The Slacker Changed Her Mind

Chapter 27

Everyone was in the same circle. They would keep running into each other, and before things reached a certain point, they could all stay cordial. Even after an argument, they could post on Weibo saying they were good friends.

So the friction between Zhao Shiyao and Tang Jingran yesterday really was not a big deal. Besides, they were headed in different directions, and Tang Jingran might not even work with Zhao Shiyao in the future.

Everyone should calm down and act as if nothing had happened. That would be the end of it.

The production team had also cut some of the more intense footage. If they had another chance to work with these guests in the future, they could not exactly cut off their own path.

Last night, Zhao Shiyao had angrily gone to where Xiao Yi and Su Mingwei were staying. She had worn high heels all day, and the uneven countryside ground had rubbed blisters onto her heels. The more she thought about it, the worse she felt.

"Why is there so much oil in these dishes? Don't you know I can't eat anything too greasy?" She set down her chopsticks, looking utterly displeased.

The hostess's family preferred heavier flavors and used plenty of oil and salt. Fortunately, Zhao Shiyao had arrived a while after dinner began, and the hostess had already returned to her room. Otherwise, things would have been even more awkward.

"Then have some soup. This one's lighter," Xiao Yi said.

Zhao Shiyao frowned and curled her lips. "How is pork rib soup light? Even the lotus root slices cooked in it are greasy as hell."

"Then eat these shredded potatoes."

"They look oily. I'm not eating them."

For a moment, the dinner table fell silent. Xiao Yi was not good at sweet-talking people, so he said nothing. Su Mingwei did not like talking much in private either. She took a mouthful of rice, looking like she was firmly observing the rule of not speaking while eating or sleeping.

Zhao Shiyao used her chopsticks, held in a delicate pose, to poke at the dishes. She felt even more disgusted and simply set down her bowl too. "Is there any bread? Get me some. I'm dieting."

Her tone was completely matter-of-fact, almost commanding.

To be honest, Zhao Shiyao was only in her thirties or forties, while Xiao Yi was from her elders' generation. But she was used to doing things this way and did not think anything was wrong with it.

"There's no bread," Su Mingwei suddenly said.

She looked at this big sister she had only met that day, let out a heavy breath, and understood why some people looked young yet were still called auntie.

She absolutely deserved it.

The meal had started out perfectly fine, but it ended awkwardly. Zhao Shiyao felt that she was the first one who should have been upset, yet the young girl was giving her attitude. She could not hold back any longer.

"How can you speak to an adult like that? At your age, instead of going on variety shows, you should study properly."

It was as though she had forgotten that she had chosen to become an arts student because she had not been good at studying. On one show, Zhao Shiyao had not even been able to recite the multiplication table and had trended for it.

Su Mingwei was a genuine top student. She had gained a bit of fame, and her acting was incredibly spirited, yet she still ranked first in her grade. Perhaps her brain had simply developed better than everyone else's. Netizens jokingly said Su Mingwei should not be called Su Mingwei at all, but Su Mary.

Zhao Shiyao had gone back early to rest. During that time, she had kept grumbling because there was no hot water and mosquitoes in the room.

By the time Tang Jingran returned, she had calmed down quite a bit, so no direct conflict broke out again.

But once morning came, all those issues erupted again.

The main problem was the water. The well water was freezing cold, and Zhao Shiyao started shrieking the moment she touched it. Last night, she had used water Tang Jingran had drawn and stored in a bucket. Today's water had just come out of the well and was icy as hell.

"Is this water even fit for humans to use?! How are we in modern society, and there are still places without electric water heaters..." She accidentally knocked over the washbasin, and water streamed across the muddy ground, creating another mess.

Tang Jingran did not hold grudges. He drew water, then went to start a fire. Practice made perfect, and since the firewood was dry this time, it went smoothly.

He thought that should have solved it, but Zhao Shiyao started complaining that the water smelled like firewood.

"Won't washing my face with this ruin my skin?" Zhao Shiyao sniffed the towel, then immediately tossed the smelly towel into the washbasin.

"Do you have to be this delicate?" Tang Jingran was utterly speechless.

"Do you know how precious a woman's face is?"

Tang Jingran: That face of yours, patched up again and again, really is precious :).

Tang Jingran said, "Don't stand under the sun. Your fake nose bridge is turning translucent."

"!!!"

After fussing around all morning, just when they thought they could finally leave, Zhao Shiyao said her legs were terribly sore and that she did not want to go. If they wanted to go, they could go without her.

She simply marched back to her room and lay on the bed, playing with her phone.

Even the staff could not stand it anymore, so one of them followed her inside. "Sister Shiyao, but this activity is for the group..."

"It won't make any difference if I'm not there."

"They're waiting for you too. The others got there very early." It was a tactful hint that they were already late, so she should try to salvage her image.

Zhao Shiyao had been physically and mentally exhausted by the whole morning. She now deeply regretted coming on this show. Wasn't staying home and unboxing deliveries much nicer? Why had she come here to suffer? None of them respected her, and even that child dared to give her attitude.

"I'm not going. Don't want to." She continued playing with her phone expressionlessly.

The production team failed in their attempt to persuade her. They liked it when Zhao Shiyao stirred up some drama, but they had not expected her to be this good at causing trouble. Now they were getting annoyed too.

After waiting for ages, Tang Jingran got only the answer that she refused to cooperate, so he left on his own.

And so, six people became five.

After learning the rough sequence of events, no one commented much. At most, they let out an "Ah" and sighed, "How did this happen?" That was all.

The cameras were filming everywhere at all times. No one wanted to invite trouble.

The directing team was discussing how to adjust the upcoming arrangements, so they told everyone to wait for a while.

They looked fine on the surface, but they definitely harbored resentment inside. The morning activity would probably be difficult to carry out too. The sun was already up, and it was scorching hot.

"Wenchuan, what are you doing?" Tang Jingran suddenly noticed that Li Wenchuan seemed to be in a completely different world from the rest of them.

Li Wenchuan looked up, his face blank with confusion. "Hm? Feeding the chickens."

Everyone: "..."

Everyone: "???"

Why was that such a bizarre answer?

Li Wenchuan fed the last bug in his hand to the plump hen in front of him, then casually gave it a stroke. Its feathers were so smooth.

The village's chickens, ducks, geese, and the like were all free-range. This hen was not afraid of so many people standing around. It saw who knew how many people every day and was long used to it.

At that moment, it tilted its head and carefully glanced at Li Wenchuan's hand with its tiny mung-bean eyes, as if asking: Is that all? Any more bugs? I want more.

There were especially many little wild bugs in the village. Grasshoppers, beetles, caterpillars, and the like had passed by in several waves while Tang Jingran was complaining about Zhao Shiyao.

Li Wenchuan had no time to listen to the gossip. He occasionally responded, then started catching bugs off the ground.

The bugs had not yet come out in the early morning, so Jiang Hansheng had not noticed. Before he could fully take notice, nearly every bug that passed by had been caught by Li Wenchuan and fed to the chicken.

Hen: Cluck cluck cluck.

Li Wenchuan: Oh, you ate them all OwO.

In the end, even after the director had worked out a solution, the hen still did not leave. It stayed quietly beside Li Wenchuan, occasionally clucking as it followed him step for step.

Its resolute gaze told everyone present that it was still hoping.

Really, who did not like having food delivered right to their mouth?