Director Gong's assistant asked in a low voice, "Director, shall we continue with the previous procedure, or..."
Director Gong: "... Let's wait a bit." He's been meticulously planning this for hours; now everyone's attention is divided, wouldn't it be embarrassing to reveal it now?
Fortunately, Uncle Chen and his group didn't keep everyone waiting long. The distance wasn't that far to begin with, and they were taking the only road in the village that was accessible by car, so how could they not be fast?
"Huff... huff... comrade, we're here! This is the family. Look, they're all here." Chen Dazhi laughed as he climbed up the path beside the small house. Seeing the group, he greeted them with smiles, "Good morning, everyone! Sorry to bother you!"
Xia Zhiyi had already brought out a table and chairs from inside the house, along with hot tea and several disposable cups. "Thank you for your hard work."
Chen Dazhi: "I was worried you didn't hear it."
As they were talking, everyone noticed that behind Chen Dazhi were not only several uniformed police officers, but also a string of villagers who seemed to have come to watch the commotion.
In no time, the small platform was filled with people, creating a lively atmosphere.
When one of the police officers saw the production crew, he seemed to remember something. His slightly relaxed posture straightened immediately, and his expression became much more serious. He asked, "Excuse me, is Xia Zhiyi here?"
Xia Zhiyi, who was pouring tea for several people right in front of him, paused, smiled, and turned around. "Hello, I'm Xia Zhiyi."
Then, everyone saw the policeman take something from a colleague beside him and, in full view of everyone, snap it open...
Everyone: "..."
The policeman was probably a little nervous and forgot to untie the rope, leaving the rope dangling in the air.
Fortunately, he quickly realized what was happening, untied the rope, unfurled the banner, and explained their purpose.
They've come to present a banner.
A banner recognizing acts of bravery and righteousness.
Incidentally, this also serves as a way to clarify the aftermath of the two cases in which Xia Zhiyi either passively or actively involved, in front of everyone.
The police officer first highly praised Xia Zhiyi's courageous act, and then, after figuring out which shot from the program was being broadcast live, he solemnly addressed the camera. "However, for most Ordinary Person, we do not recommend following Classmate Xia in similar situations. Everyone should prioritize their own safety. You can call the police, but don't rush in rashly."
Xia Zhiyi also stated, "Yes, I only did this because I have sufficient self-protection capabilities. If it were Ordinary Person person, whether encountering a thief, a robber, or a neurotic domestic abuser, the best option would be to call the police and then avoid them."
Everyone: "..."
Yes, no one doubts Teacher Xia's ability to protect herself.
In short, this was all good news. Xia Zhiyi, as the person involved, remained relatively calm, while Xue Ranran and Wang Chengran were quite excited.
However, they only revealed this after the police and most of the villagers who had come to watch had left.
For example... they all tried to steal Xia Zhiyi's banner.
Xue Ranran: " Wang Chengran, you've been holding it for so long! It's my turn, it's my turn! I want to take some pictures too!"
Wang Chengran: "I only had a few minutes! Wait a minute, and besides, your name isn't on this, why are you taking pictures?"
Xue Ranran: "But Teacher Xia's name is on it! So it's related to me!"
Wang Chengran: "What does this have to do with you? It's me, Teacher Xia's apprentice, who has anything to do with Teacher Xia!"
Xue Ranran: "I'm a fan of Teacher Xia!"
Wang Chengran: "I am Teacher Xia's apprentice!"
Xue Ranran: "Hey, let me take a few pictures first!"
Despite their playful bickering, the two of them cherished the banner very much and neither dared to snatch it; they only talked about it.
Xia Zhiyi watched from the sidelines, feeling both amused and exasperated.
Then Xia Zhiyi saw that Fu Yunyi, who had been silent all along, suddenly took a long stride, walked behind Wang Chengran, and easily took the banner from Wang Chengran's hand while his attention was on Xue Ranran.
Wang Chengran: "?"
Xue Ranran: " Brother Fu, you ambushed me!"
Fu Yunyi took off running.
Xia Zhiyi and Qin Yue, who had been quietly watching the commotion, exchanged a silent glance.
Xia Zhiyi: " Brother Fu... seems to be getting more and more different from what I remember."
Qin Yue was speechless for a moment before slowly saying, "Well, it might be... the influence of the environment."
Environmental impact?
What kind of environment?
Xia Zhiyi subconsciously looked at Xue Ranran and Wang Chengran, who had suddenly started working together again.
Ah... this environment makes sense.
But indeed, before, she only had a vague feeling, but now Xia Zhiyi realized that Fu Yunyi's character was... well, not exactly the same as the male protagonist she had imagined, but... completely different.
In the storyline Xia Zhiyi saw, the male protagonist, Fu Yunyi, was a top-tier movie star and a domineering CEO, both SSR cards, and he was also labeled as cold, domineering, controlling, and obsessive.
But which label matches the Fu Yunyi he knows now...?
Could it be that the male protagonist also named Fu Yunyi is someone else entirely, and the Fu Yunyi he knows isn't actually the male protagonist?
That doesn't make sense either; he did sense the Power of the Plot trying to control him before.
It's... very strange.
It can't be that Fu Yunyi suffered some major accident in the years before the story even began, causing his personality to change drastically...
When this thought flashed through Xia Zhiyi's mind, her expression suddenly became somewhat subtle.
"Wait, it's not entirely impossible." Xia Zhiyi thought, "Although as the protagonists, the plot seems to favor them, and no matter what happens in the middle, they will eventually become winners in the eyes of the world, it doesn't mean that the plot really loves these protagonists."
"This thing has absolutely no feelings. But to maintain the plot, it might actually..."
Cannon fodder are tools, supporting characters are tools, but who can say that the protagonist isn't a tool too?
In any case, for the Power of the Plot, only a well-planned plot is the most important. As for everything else, including the protagonist who is "favored" by it, it's only natural to sacrifice some things for the sake of the plot, right?
Otherwise, Xia Zhiyi wouldn't have tried to change the fate of the young protagonist by saving him, but ended up almost failing in the same way.
Xia Zhiyi: "..."
Forget it, let's observe further. If Fu Yunyi is essentially similar to Wang Chengran, then...
But if his guess is correct, then even he cannot know what Fu Yunyi encountered in the parts of the story that were not described.
Xia Zhiyi:...
Thinking about it this way, I suddenly felt that my resentment towards him had lessened a lot.