Jiang Mingle had never imagined that Zhao Jiayuan and Chen Chong would join in.
Even less had he expected Song Lan to speak up.
Wasn't Song Lan supposed to hate Jiang Mingxi?
Song Lan hated being linked romantically with anyone more than anything.
The few celebrities who had been the subject of dating rumors with Song Lan before had all ended up badly.
That was why his eldest brother had someone splice together that video yesterday.
The aim had been to make Song Lan despise Jiang Mingxi on the show.
Now, with the livestream replay right before his eyes, Jiang Mingle suppressed his resentment toward Jiang Mingxi and said to everyone, his eyes red, "I was wrong.
"I was too anxious at the time. I was afraid my presence would upset Xiaoxi or cause a misunderstanding between him and my eldest brother.
"I wanted to explain. That was why I grabbed him.
"It was my fault."
Zhao Jiayuan waved a hand, his face full of irritation. "Who asked you about that? I just want to know why you shamelessly refused to do the task. How do you have the nerve to take a house when you didn't do the task?"
[Is Zhao Jiayuan sick in the head? Why is he being so aggressive?]
[Exactly! Lele already feels bad enough!]
[Was Zhao Jiayuan wrong? The fact is, Jiang Mingle didn't do the task. Why should he get a house if he didn't do it?]
[It's all Jiang Mingxi's fault. If that shit-stirrer hadn't brought up things unrelated to the show, would Lele have been too upset to finish the task?]
Faced with Zhao Jiayuan's questioning, Jiang Mingle bit his lip, on the verge of tears.
"I really was too upset. I never knew I wasn't a child of the Jiang family.
"When Xiaoxi said it today, I was so shocked.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I'll definitely do the next task."
"What about her?" Song Lan pointed at the staff member who had spoken up for Jiang Mingle. "Why did she twist the facts?"
The staff member startled.
Her face instantly filled with panic.
"I-I didn't see clearly at the time. I thought he was bullying Lele."
A faint layer of anger clouded Song Lan's expression. "You're a staff member. You didn't see anything clearly, yet you jumped out to accuse a guest and demand an apology from him? I certainly didn't know this was how variety shows were filmed now."
[Song Lan looks so scary when he's angry. That presence is overwhelming.]
[Is Song Lan standing up for Jiang Mingxi?]
[Don't make things up. Teacher Song simply can't stand people making baseless accusations.]
[Okay, but is Song Lan really this warmhearted?]
The director nearly wet himself with fear.
He was terrified Song Lan would say he was quitting.
He hurriedly snapped at the staff member, "Causing trouble all day long! Go, go, go. You're fired."
The staff member burst into tears. "I didn't mean it. I really didn't mean it. I saw Lele crying so pitifully. Lele has it so hard..."
The director was furious.
She was still bringing up Jiang Mingle.
Was she afraid these people weren't angry enough with Jiang Mingle already?
"Take her away!" the director barked at the other staff members nearby.
They hurriedly dragged the young woman away.
The director turned to Song Lan. "I'm truly sorry, Teacher Song..."
Song Lan looked indifferent. "What you've wronged are the rules of the show."
The director choked on his words.
Jiang Ke was their sugar daddy. Could he really refuse to give Jiang Mingle a house to stay in?
But Jiang Mingle hadn't carried even a single sack of corn.
The director was practically seething with hatred for Jiang Mingle.
You could've at least carried one sack!
But he could only suppress his anger and start patching things up. "We're not letting him stay for free. The production team originally prepared a living allowance of one hundred yuan for each of you, but Jiang Mingle didn't complete the first task.
"On the way here just now, I discussed this with Jiang Mingle. He said everyone worked hard carrying corn today.
"He's willing to spend fifty yuan to pay for everyone's dinner tonight.
"That way, you won't have to do another task to earn tonight's dinner, and you can get some proper rest."
Zhao Jiayuan wasn't buying it. "Sounds nice, but basically, he's buying a house to stay in for fifty yuan.
"If I'd known we could get a hundred yuan in advance, I wouldn't have worked hard either.
"I'd have spent fifty yuan to buy a house too. But what can I do? I don't have a good big brother!"
Chen Chong corrected him from beside him. "Not his biological brother. The paternity test says they're not family."
Zhao Jiayuan sneered. "So if I'm thanking anyone, it's Jiang Mingxi. If Jiang Mingxi hadn't been forcibly accused by a staff member, if he hadn't been pestered and wronged, we wouldn't even have gotten this dinner as compensation!"
Jiang Mingle nearly exploded with anger.
He had lost fifty yuan for nothing. Why should anyone thank that bastard Jiang Mingxi?
Jiang Mingxi caught on perfectly and immediately said with a smile, "You're welcome, you're welcome. We damn well deserve this for free!"
There were no cameras installed in the rooms they had been assigned.
As soon as he shut the door, Jiang Mingxi grinned in delight, flashing his teeth.
I touched my idol's hand.
I touched my idol's leg.
And my idol backed me up.
Today was a day full of gains!
Jiang Mingxi found a tube of ointment in his suitcase and took it with him to find Song Lan.
The grand pursuit plan had to keep up its momentum. No flagging, no giving out.
"What was that about today?"
As soon as Song Lan returned to his room, his manager, Bai Ge, called.
"How come I never noticed you were such a champion of justice? Standing up for someone, even?"
Bai Ge had been stunned when Song Lan lost his temper at that staff member on the livestream.
No one knew the disposition of the celebrity she managed better than she did.
"Don't you hate people who get tangled up in dating rumors with you? That Jiang Mingxi is blatantly riding your coattails."
Song Lan sat in a chair with an impassive expression.
He was pretty blatant about rubbing up against me.
His hand even rubbed against my leg.
When he flirted with me, his gaze burned hotter than anyone's.
But even his manager could tell he had been standing up for Jiang Mingxi. Didn't Jiang Mingxi keep saying he liked him?
How come there wasn't even a thank-you?
The moment the houses were assigned, he ran off faster than anyone.
Irritated, Song Lan's tone wasn't particularly pleasant. "Do you have any actual business? If not, I'm hanging up."
Bai Ge laughed in exasperation. "What are you angry about? Don't tell me you stood up for someone, didn't get thanked, and now you're sulking?"
Song Lan: ...
Knock, knock, knock~
Just as Bai Ge finished speaking, a knock came from outside.
With a chill in his eyes, Song Lan lifted his eyelids and looked toward the door.
"Are you there, Teacher Song?" Jiang Mingxi's cheerful voice came from outside.
Song Lan's brow lifted slightly, the coldness in his expression easing a little. He hung up without another word and got up to open the door.
Bai Ge: ...
You bastard!
Creak~
The door opened.
Still wearing the protective work jacket from earlier, Jiang Mingxi stood at the door and smiled at Song Lan. "Teacher Song, I brought you some ointment."
Song Lan's gaze fell on the tube of white ointment in Jiang Mingxi's hand, then returned to Jiang Mingxi with a hint of inquiry.
Jiang Mingxi immediately smiled. "Carrying corn today rubbed blisters onto my shoulders. This ointment is really good for inflammation and pain. Give it a try, Teacher Song."
As he spoke, he craned his head to peer inside.
"Your room is so big, Teacher Song. Can I come in and have a look?"
Song Lan shifted slightly to the side.
Jiang Mingxi immediately slipped inside.
With a little scheme hidden in his eyes, he said to Song Lan, "Teacher Song, the skin on my back got rubbed raw too. Could you help me apply some ointment?"
Song Lan gave a cold laugh. "You certainly know how to put people to work. Weren't you bringing ointment for me?"
Jiang Mingxi edged a little closer to him and smiled. "Then I'll help you put some on afterward too, Teacher Song. A little give-and-take makes it fair. Okay?"
Song Lan lowered his eyes to meet his sparkling gaze and refused mercilessly. "No."