Did you think I was talking to some other turtle, not you, you bastard?

Each was faster than the last. Lin Yuxuan and Gu Zijin were the first to set off, closely followed by Chi Shuran. Song Wenjing quickly rode his electric scooter after them, with a staff member chasing after him and shouting for him to put on a helmet. After Ren Wuyang and Ren Anwen agreed on how to tow their luggage, they followed the group ahead, though they were much slower than the first three pairs. Only Lu Wanqing and Li Nanyi remained where they were, looking at each other.

"Are we really riding in this?"

Li Nanyi looked helplessly at the cart, which still had dirt on it, then at the luggage she had brought. The prohibited items she and Lu Wanqing had brought alone filled two large suitcases. The staff had even run out of baskets and used their suitcases to hold them instead.

At last, the staff finished inspecting all their suitcases. What they had not expected, however, was that the luggage they could ultimately take amounted to just one small suitcase.

Lu Wanqing's expression darkened as she stared hard at the old yellow ox in front and the dirt-covered wooden cart behind it, her eyes filled with displeasure and disgust.

She could not accept having to travel to their destination in such a dilapidated ox cart. Looking at the other guests, who were already far ahead, she gritted her teeth and said, "Put the suitcase on it. We'll walk there ourselves!"

The rules the director had stated did not explicitly require them to ride in the cart, which meant walking there was fine too. In any case, she absolutely refused to sit in that battered ox cart.

Seeing this and hearing Lu Wanqing's words, a nearby staff member kindly reminded them, "Just a friendly reminder: it's quite a long way."

Li Nanyi had just put the suitcase onto the cart when she turned and heard the staff member's reminder. Irritation instantly washed over her, and the anger inside her kept rising. But with the cameras there, she could only suppress her temper instead of letting it out.

Sensing Li Nanyi's mood, Lu Wanqing offered a couple of perfunctory words of comfort. "It's fine. The ox cart wouldn't be much faster anyway. Let's just take our time walking."

And so the ox plodded along ahead, pulling the cart, while Lu Wanqing and Li Nanyi held up their skirts and carefully avoided one pothole after another. Their delicate high heels picked up quite a bit of dust.

[What do you call this? Bringing it on yourselves. This variety show is about experiencing country life, and these two dressed like that. We know actresses like looking pretty, but at least consider the occasion. Anyone who didn't know better would think they were going to a princess's banquet.]

[They should be grateful they have a ride at all. These two are even wearing high heels. Won't walking all that way exhaust them? Yet they're still being picky.]

[Who would want to, though? If it were you, all dressed up nicely, would you ride in that kind of cart?]

[Women all like looking pretty. Who would want to get their little dress dirty?]

[Actually... they have other clothes in their suitcases. If Chi Shuran hadn't driven that vehicle away just now, Lu Wanqing and Li Nanyi could've borrowed it from them, changed, and then set off.]

[Oh, right, they could've changed just now. But Chi Shuran and the others left too quickly. Otherwise, they might've already changed.]

[Are you nuts? Stop stirring up fights. Nobody thought of that. Even dogs on the street don't just bite people for no reason. Stop twisting things. They chose those clothes themselves, Chi Shuran and the others won that vehicle fair and square, and the director told them to head to the destination. Chi Shuran did nothing wrong. Stop talking nonsense for no reason. People like you are the ones who ruined her reputation.]

[Exactly. It's no secret that Chi Shuran and Lu Wanqing don't get along. Why do these people think Chi Shuran would lend them the vehicle to change in? Besides, those two were just making snide remarks about Chi Shuran. Don't say she should be magnanimous because she's a celebrity. Celebrities are people too. Everyone has a temper!]

Outside the show, Lu Wanqing's manager felt utterly sick upon seeing these comments. She hurriedly contacted the PR team, telling them to use every means necessary, at any cost, to restore Lu Wanqing's public image. Even dredging up old stories was fine, as long as it worked.

Fu Yanci sat quietly in the vehicle, his gaze drifting now and then toward Chi An, who was resting beside him with his eyes closed. He stared straight at Chi An, but Chi An seemed completely unaffected, as though he were treating him as thin air.

They had not exchanged a word since getting into the vehicle. Fu Yanci silently watched Chi An, feeling increasingly aggrieved.

Having my partner run off was annoying enough, and now I have to come do this shitty job with that idiot Song Wenjing! This fucking life isn't fit for a human being!

Yet what he found most unbearable now was that he had found him, only for the other man to act as though they were strangers and refuse to even acknowledge him. That coldness left Fu Yanci feeling terribly wronged and dejected.

His brows drew tightly together, and the corners of his mouth drooped slightly, revealing a helpless expression.

Finally, Fu Yanci could no longer hold back. He secretly reached out and gently took hold of the hem of Chi An's clothes. His movements were cautious, as though afraid Chi An would notice, yet he also hoped to catch his attention and get a response.

Driving up front, Chi Shuran caught Fu Yanci's little move in the rearview mirror. Her eyes lit up, and she immediately let out a wolf whistle.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk."

Slowly opening his eyes, Chi An met Chi Shuran's teasing smile in the mirror. He scoffed, adjusted his posture, and said calmly, "Whistling at your big brother? Getting bold, aren't you, Chi Shuran?"

"Have you forgotten where we are?"

A chill ran down Chi Shuran's back. She withdrew her gaze resentfully and continued driving, her lips moving nonstop without making a sound.

How could she fail to understand Chi An's reminder? Her behavior just now had broken character, but that was not entirely her fault!

Whenever she was with Chi An, she could never stay calm. All this guy did was mock her! Or amuse himself at her expense, without caring whether she survived!!!

His gaze traveled down along his clothes. Seeing that the other man showed no intention of letting go, Chi An said, "Did you think I was talking to some other turtle, not you, you bastard?"

"Even a bottle of water fetched from each pole right now wouldn't be as cold as my heart. Do you know how much this has affected me?"

He still clutched the hem of Chi An's clothes tightly, his eyes fixed earnestly on Chi An's face.

"You're pretty greedy. Taking the South Pole wasn't enough; you wouldn't spare the North Pole either. Enjoying yourself and taking things home too, huh?"

"Your heart's gone cold, yet you're still bouncing around here full of life. Art thou a god?"

He had never been able to win an argument with Chi An before, let alone now. Steadying his emotions, Fu Yanci continued, "...I'm beyond saving. Only you-!"

Chi An said, "Stop."

They were still livestreaming, after all. He could not let him say anything else that might cause trouble.

"Medicine can't save you, but money is a fine remedy. It cures everything."