Fu Chi and Chen Yun's arrival made Director Gong feel that things had become a little tricky.
Still, both were reasonably cooperative with the production team. Fu Chi did not say anything to Fu Yunyi on camera-or rather, he only appeared briefly before Director Gong personally led him away to inspect the guests' living conditions nearby.
Meanwhile, inside the room, Chen Yun had her scrapes and sprains treated with the medical staff's help. Now she sat facing her artist, Zhou Kai, and the atmosphere fell silent for a time.
The cameras in the room had been temporarily switched off, giving them a space free from interruptions.
After a long while, Chen Yun finally spoke with some difficulty. "What happened to you?"
Zhou Kai had already broken down once. He felt much better now than he had that morning, though he was still somewhat dejected. After hearing her question, he waited a moment before replying, "I don't know. I suddenly broke out in hives."
Chen Yun said, "Your face... Doesn't the production team have anything to say about something this serious?"
Zhou Kai sneered. "What are they supposed to say? I'm not the only guest. Out of six people, I'm the only one this happened to. They're still livestreaming outside. Am I supposed to confront them in front of all those people?"
Zhou Kai was no fool. If even one other person had developed the same symptoms, or felt unwell in some other way, he would have had grounds to take it up with the production team.
But who knew what was going on? Of the six of them, he alone had been this unlucky.
Chen Yun drew a deep breath. "I'll go ask Director Gong exactly what happened. You're an artist. That face of yours..."
Zhou Kai said, "I don't want to film anymore."
Chen Yun paused.
A moment later, she looked at him coldly. "I went to a lot of trouble to get you onto this show. It's only the first day, and you think you can just quit?"
Zhou Kai said, "Then tell me how I'm supposed to keep filming."
He pointed at his face, then at the welts on his arm, and asked Chen Yun with reddened eyes, "Looking like this! How do you expect me to film?! Can I even show my face right now?"
"And after what happened yesterday, I don't know if Director Gong noticed something, but the way he looks at me has changed. If I stay here under these circumstances, what if..."
Chen Yun cut him off. "What happened yesterday? What happened to you yesterday?"
Was he an idiot?
Did he really think this place was that soundproof?
Zhou Kai said, "Anyway, I'm done filming! I'm going back to get treatment."
Chen Yun watched him quietly for a while.
Zhou Kai was close to breaking down. "It's just a contract penalty! I'll pay it myself! I'll make up for the favors you owe, all right? I'm done! I don't want to stay out here in the mountains anymore! Who knows what else will happen to me if I stay!"
Chen Yun took a breath. After a moment, she said, "Do you know how many trending searches this show has made since filming started?"
Zhou Kai said, "What does that have to do with me?!"
The production team had confiscated the guests' phones, but Zhou Kai was no fool. He had come prepared and hidden a spare. While he was alone in his room that morning, he had secretly taken it out to check.
Yes, the show had made several trending searches. Incredible Life looked as though it was about to become a huge hit, but what did that have to do with him?
The only thing Zhou Kai had found about himself under the related topics was netizens analyzing his microexpressions when he faced the venomous snake yesterday!
That only made Zhou Kai even more uneasy!
He had never expected people to actually be bored enough to scrutinize the details frame by frame!
Livestreaming was terrifying. Zhou Kai genuinely felt he could not handle it! He would rather go on prerecorded shows. Those were safer for him.
Chen Yun did not want to discuss the venomous snake with Zhou Kai at a time like this. She took several deep breaths, and her eyes narrowed slightly as she recalled everything that had happened on her way here.
After spending so long in this industry, Chen Yun did believe in metaphysics a little. Now she, too, felt that this show might clash with her fate.
Otherwise, why had everyone else walked along the very same road without any trouble, while she had fallen twice for no apparent reason?
At that moment, Chen Yun completely failed to consider that the others had not been wearing high heels on a mountain path.
Even so, she did not want Zhou Kai to give up this opportunity just like that.
She had received some inside information: Xu Chen had secured a major opportunity for Fu Yunyi. She had deliberately arranged for Zhou Kai to appear on the same show as Fu Yunyi this time partly to reinforce the public impression that the two were close. If necessary, Chen Yun had even considered having Zhou Kai sell a BL pairing with Fu Yunyi.
But with Fu Yunyi unwilling to cooperate in that sort of thing, Chen Yun could only have Zhou Kai market their brotherly bond.
The other reason was to let Zhou Kai ride Fu Yunyi's popularity and get some exposure in front of that famous director. If Zhou Kai performed well, Chen Yun could use the opportunity to approach the director's side.
Chen Yun had explained all of this to Zhou Kai before filming began.
But Zhou Kai...
Knock, knock-
There was a soft knock at the door. Both people in the room fell quiet, then Chen Yun cleared her throat and asked, "What is it?"
Xia Zhiyi's voice came from outside. "Miss Chen, Teacher Zhou, it's hot out. I brought you some water."
Chen Yun recognized Xia Zhiyi's voice. Remembering the purpose of her visit, her gaze flickered. She signaled to Zhou Kai with her eyes to set their earlier discussion aside, then rose with a smile to open the door.
Zhou Kai: "..."
He had worked with Chen Yun for several years and knew her somewhat. When he noticed the subtle shift in her attitude, his gaze darkened.
Xia Zhiyi...
Recalling everything Xia Zhiyi had done since yesterday, Zhou Kai felt nothing but disgust.
He was just an ordinary person...
Xia Zhiyi came in carrying two ceramic cups. He greeted them both with a smile and set the water on the table.
Chen Yun struck up a conversation. "Xia Zhiyi, thank you for helping me earlier. I would have suffered otherwise. I don't know if you remember me, but we actually spoke on the phone before."
Xia Zhiyi looked up at her with a faint smile, his lips moving slightly.
Before he could speak, however, another person appeared at the door. "Teacher Xia, you really are here. Director Gong wants you."
Xia Zhiyi turned at the voice, then said quite naturally to Chen Yun, "Sorry, please excuse me for a moment."
No one noticed Zhou Kai's expression.
Only after Xia Zhiyi left and the door closed again did Zhou Kai give a derisive snort. "I was wondering why you came today. I thought you really came for me. Turns out you've got your eye on someone new."
Chen Yun's expression remained calm. "What are you saying? You're my artist. If it weren't for you, would I have bothered coming all the way out into these mountains?"
Elsewhere, Xia Zhiyi followed the staff member over to Director Gong. The first person he noticed was Fu Chi, seated beneath a sun umbrella.
As he approached, the man seemed to sense him and raised his eyes slightly, meeting his gaze.
In that instant, Xia Zhiyi had a certain illusion.
That he was the only person in those eyes.