After getting out of the car and looking at the deserted dirt path before him, Chi An silently turned to get back in, only to see that the car had already started up and was speeding away. He could only watch it disappear into the distance.
A cold smile curled his lips. Chi An turned his head to stare at the sunshade set up nearby, where a group of crew members sat watching the monitors in front of them.
Just then, a rooster flew over from somewhere and landed in front of the two of them. It lowered its head, swallowed a worm still wriggling on the ground, then walked away in satisfaction.
"Cluck, cluck!" the rooster called, as though mocking Chi An and Chi Shuran's predicament.
Chi Shuran stared blankly in the direction the rooster had gone, then looked around at their surroundings, her expression dazed.
The show Sister Wang signed me up for wasn't a survival show, was it?
Dirt? Chickens?
This doesn't look like a normal place to film a variety show! Did the production team trick me?
No, that doesn't make sense. Aren't those people sitting right there the production crew? Or is this just a joke? Or is the production team trying to pull something?
Having read up on the production team's usual antics before coming, Chi Shuran thought the last possibility was more likely.
Looking away from the chicken, Chi An released his suitcase handle and shoved his hands into his pockets, his expression openly mocking. "Chi Shuran, I remember you telling me this was a travel show."
He had originally thought that, at worst, he would be on a show about traveling, enjoying good food and admiring beautiful scenery. That wouldn't have been so bad.
And this was what he got? This? They wanted him to survive in the wilderness?
"You'd better give me a perfect reason to stay here with you for a week in this godforsaken place."
Although she still hadn't figured out what was going on, she instinctively held up three fingers at Chi An's words. "Three years."
Chi An fell silent, with no comeback. That was indeed a reason that could convince him.
"...Enjoy the present while you can. Once I don't have to put up with the nagging anymore, you'd better watch out."
Having composed himself, Chi An looked at the still-deserted path ahead, then at the others under the canopy. "What's this show called? A step-by-step guide to becoming a savage?"
"Maybe the production team is just too broke. Or maybe we're supposed to wait here for the other guests and head to our destination together once they arrive."
"Head there together?"
"Are we supposed to get there enjoying the natural fan and eating dirt along the way?"
Chi An stared speechlessly at the person before him. He truly couldn't understand why Chi Shuran was still so calm. They were obviously trying to pull something. Did she really not know, or was she pretending not to?
"What are you panicking for? This is a travel show, not a survival show. Surely the director can't actually make me run there?"
Chi Shuran wanted her tone to convey confidence and composure, as though she didn't consider this a problem at all.
With that, Chi Shuran casually tossed her hair, striking a carefree, unrestrained pose. Then she pulled a pair of sunglasses from her pocket and leisurely put them on, as though announcing her ease and comfort to the world.
Chi An turned to look at Chi Shuran. Wearing her sunglasses with an expressionless face, she tilted her head upward at a forty-five-degree angle, exuding an air of aloofness and mystery.
Chi An looked around again. Apart from the busy crew members, there was no one else around. Even the chicken from earlier had flown away.
So what was Chi Shuran doing?
"What are you putting on an act for?"
"You don't understand. I have an image to maintain," Chi Shuran declared icily.
A gust of sandy wind blew past. Having gotten a mouthful of dirt while speaking, Chi Shuran immediately lost her composure, took off her sunglasses, and lowered her head, spitting furiously.
"Chi An! This is all your fault for making me talk! You made me get a mouthful of dirt!"
"Ptooey! Ptooey, ptooey!"
"Even the wind can't stand you and wants to come slap you twice."
Dragging his suitcase under the canopy, he smiled at the nearest young woman and asked, "Hello, could I borrow a chair to sit on?"
"Ah, uh, of course."
Unbeknownst to the two of them, the microphones they wore recorded every word they said. This was a carefully designed segment, with authenticity as its selling point.
Although there appeared to be no crew members holding cameras, hidden cameras had actually long since been positioned out of sight, silently capturing every detail.
What was even more unexpected was that this livestream hadn't begun with a conventional opening. Instead, it had launched as a surprise, without letting the guests know they were already live. This innovative approach filled the entire show with surprises and unexpected moments, while also increasing the viewers' curiosity and anticipation.
This setup would undoubtedly pose certain challenges for the guests, since they couldn't predict when their words and actions would be broadcast publicly. At the same time, however, it allowed them to show their most authentic selves and establish a closer connection with the audience. For viewers, this sudden start to the livestream was an entirely new experience, allowing them a deeper understanding of the guests' lives and inner worlds.
[Holy shit! Wang Erni is Chi Shuran! We've all been fooled!]
[She really knows how to fake it! Isn't she supposed to be a cool, mature beauty? How did that whole thing just now not shatter her image?! And that unhinged behavior at the airport-wasn't her image already gone ages ago?!]
[That's called doing what it takes to win. Look at her now. Isn't she back to her same old insufferable self?]
[Who's the guy next to her? Her older brother? Chi Shuran called him Chi An just now, right? What kind of insanely good looks does this family have?! Aren't they a little too damn gorgeous?!]
[I have a complaint! What's wrong with having one more good-looking person like me in the world?!]
["What are you putting on an act for?" Does anyone get why that's so funny to me?! Her brother asked her what she was putting on an act for with a completely straight face! Hahaha!]
[You don't understand. I have an image to maintain. And you, my brother, please do not disturb (￣へ￣).]
[If that were my brother: "Ooh, an image! Aren't you impressive~~"]
[Agreed. My brother is that kind of person too.]
Sitting bored in his chair, Chi An was about to take out his phone and post on Moments when he remembered that his manager had confiscated it in the car. He could only give up.
"I really should take a picture of you right now and post it on Moments with what you just said. If that isn't spectacular, I'll change my surname."
[Okay, okay, all older brothers in the world are the same damn way. This one just doesn't have his phone.]
[Now that's what he should be doing. I can't even imagine how entertaining his Moments feed must be ۹( ÒہÓ )۶]
[Coward, I can! Can we see your Moments, big brother? It's not that I want to look or anything, it's just that if I can't see your Moments... (turns into an ape) (snatches a passerby's banana) (flies into the jungle) (swings back and forth on vines) (howls loudly) (howls loudly) I'll go crazy like a monkey~]
[I want to report this. A deranged monkey has wandered onto the internet!]
Before you continue