Mental Breakdown

Everyone suddenly understood, but the other two groups of guests still looked suspicious. For one thing, they could not believe that Xie Ran had really gone to investigate things like the scenic area's financial reports beforehand. For another, they were competitors now—who knew if Xie Ran was deliberately trying to mislead them?

Jiang Wei was an old hand, after all. He immediately raised an eyebrow and asked, "So, Xiao Ran, you want to choose souvenir sales?"

Resting one hand on the sofa armrest and lightly propping up his chin, Xie Ran said, "No."

The others all drew out a meaningful "Oh," their faces clearly saying, Just as we thought. After talking for so long, he was not choosing it himself. Sure enough, he was trying to set them up.

Fang Huiwang was also somewhat speechless. "Then what do you want to choose, Xiao Ran?"

"Neither." Xie Ran spoke flatly. "I'll use another channel."

The others were taken aback again. According to the rules, the guests really could find their own ways to make money, but guests from the previous seasons had already proven how difficult that was. That was why none of them had considered that option from the start.

What good idea could Xie Ran possibly have? Everyone could not help becoming curious.

Fang Huiwang was equally surprised. "What are you planning to do?"

Xie Ran lifted his eyes and answered concisely, "The stock market."

Everyone who had been watching him expectantly: "..."

Was he messing with them?

Never mind how unreliable stock trading was at a time like this. With their tiny budget, and without even a phone right now, how the hell were they supposed to trade stocks?

Fang Huiwang's mouth twitched uncontrollably. "Xiao Ran, be serious. Stop fooling around."

"I am serious." Xie Ran checked the time as he spoke. Seeing that it was about right, he raised a hand and called over a hotel attendant, asking him to bring the hotel manager over.

The hotel manager appeared quickly. "May I ask who requested me?"

"I did." Xie Ran stood up and began speaking to him in English.

Only then did everyone realize that Xie Ran's English was astonishingly fluent. He communicated with the manager without the slightest difficulty.

The others' English was about average for the entertainment industry, enough only for simple everyday communication. Xie Ran, however, spoke quickly and used a great deal of professional terminology, leaving them completely lost. They could only eagerly look toward the team leader, who was working part-time as their translator.

The team leader was even more astonished by Xie Ran's English, because she could tell that not only was he fluent, but his pronunciation was exceptionally standard, with no detectable accent at all. He was far better than she was.

However, she quickly recovered and quietly translated for everyone. "Brother Ran is asking the hotel manager to help him trade

stocks

..."

Their phones had been confiscated, so they could not buy stocks themselves. But clearly, Xie Ran had already figured out a solution.

Fang Huiwang had not expected Xie Ran to be serious. He immediately grew anxious and tugged at Xie Ran. "No, Xiao Ran. Stock trading is too reckless. I object."

"I wasn't counting you in." Xie Ran cut him off and held out a hand. "Give me my budget."

Fang Huiwang froze, finding it hard to believe. "Are you planning to act separately from me?"

"Yes." Xie Ran looked at the team leader questioningly. "As I recall, there's no rule saying people in the same group have to act together, right?"

The team leader choked. "There isn't..."

The problem was that the show focused on friends traveling together. Under normal circumstances, members of the same group would not split up.

What was more, Xie Ran was unilaterally breaking up their partnership.

The other two groups, who had been bewildered by Xie Ran's sudden stunt, instantly came to their senses and looked at their respective partners.

That was the look!

Curious, excited, but trying to hold it in.

At that moment, everyone was a spectator eager for drama.

The production team felt suffocated, yet secretly thrilled.

They had material for this episode!

Fang Huiwang's expression turned pale, then green. He could not say a single word.

He had never imagined that this was what Xie Ran had planned, much less that he would be so blunt about it.

In his earpiece, Meng Feixuan asked eagerly, "Sir, is Fang Huiwang's current expression what people call embarrassment?"

Xie Ran said, "You know what he looks like?"

Meng Feixuan replied, "I hacked into the surveillance cameras here."

Xie Ran: "..."

Author's note:

The setting is fictional!

Xiao Ran: You're only an earpiece right now. How can you see what he looks like?

Mark, righteously: Wherever there are surveillance cameras, there are my eyes!

Mental Breakdown

In the end, Fang Huiwang gave half the budget to Xie Ran. For one thing, he still hoped to build a CP with Xie Ran, so no matter what, he could not quarrel with him in front of the cameras. For another, Xie Ran had announced that he was breaking up their partnership unilaterally, so Fang Huiwang had no grounds to demand that Xie Ran listen to him anymore.

Not only that, he had to force a smile and put on a gentle, accommodating front.

"Since that's the case, then go ahead and try." Fang Huiwang counted out half the cash and handed it to Xie Ran. "I'll work hard too. No matter what, you still have me backing you up."

"No need." Unmoved, Xie Ran spat out two indifferent words. He took the money and immediately handed it to the hotel manager, then gave him further specific instructions. Once he had confirmed that the manager had written everything down, he nodded at the others. "Carry on. I'm going back to my room first."

Since he did not need the work provided by the production team, there was naturally no reason for him to keep participating in the discussion. But leaving without even discussing it with Fang Huiwang was truly heartless.

Besides enjoying the gossip, everyone could not help feeling deep sympathy for Fang Huiwang.

Tragic. Too tragic!

Under such circumstances, the other two groups, who had originally been fighting fiercely for the jobs, tacitly became polite and generously let Fang Huiwang choose first.

Mainly because Xie Ran had really gone to trade stocks. With Fang Huiwang left alone, no matter which job he chose, there was clearly no way he could turn things around. By that logic, their group had basically already been eliminated in advance.

Everyone truly could not bear to make things worse for Fang Huiwang.

How could Fang Huiwang not know that? But he could only suppress his humiliation and continue filming as though nothing had happened.

After enduring until the discussion finally ended, he returned to the room with a dark expression.

The production team had arranged twin rooms for the guests, so he and Xie Ran were sharing one. This should have been a good opportunity for him to deepen their relationship, but now all he had left was anger with nowhere to vent.