As he said this, Ji Nanshu had already thought of how Bai Nanyu would try to argue his way out of it. Before Bai Nanyu could work up the right emotions, Ji Nanshu added, "Ah-sorry, was I not supposed to say that?"
He really was the very definition of a green tea.
Now there was no need to work up any emotions. Bai Nanyu really did look like he wanted to cry but had no tears. Who the fuck could have expected Ji Nanshu's personality to be completely different from before?
Wait-
This... maybe this was another one of Ji Nanshu's tricks to get Mom and Dad's attention?
Yes, this had to be a trick to get Mom and Dad's attention! He absolutely would not let Ji Nanshu get their parents' assets. And that thing Grandma had left behind should be his too!!!
"Third Brother!! It's fine if you slander me... I don't matter anyway... but Mom and Dad have been so good to you! You can't upset them just because you don't like me!"
Ji Nanshu agreed in all seriousness, "You're right. I really don't like you."
?
??
???
Was that the point?! Huh???
Jian Yuanjia understood now. Bai Nanyu was just as irritating as Bai Nanchen. His family all said he wasn't particularly scheming and wasn't suited to the complicated entertainment industry, but that didn't mean he was stupid.
Having the cunning to climb the ladder was a good thing, but not if it meant stepping on Jian Yuanjia's friends!
Jian Yuanjia said, "Bai Nanyu, you don't think you're on some family drama talk show, do you?" His meaning was obvious: could he stop disgusting everyone with his family squabbles?
"S-sorry!" Bai Nanyu's eyes quickly reddened, and he apologized pitifully.
What a delicate, lovely sight he made, enough to stir anyone's pity.
[Mistress Ji really is no good. He actually seduced his own little brother's fiancé.]
[A brain is a good thing to have. So are eyes and ears. Hope you have them.]
[What's so impressive about bullying a newcomer? So disgusting!!!]
[Exactly! This newcomer is so cute, and you can tell at a glance he isn't scheming. Why do Ji Nanshu and Jian Yuanjia insist on bullying him?!]
[This newcomer... his green tea stench is practically coming through the screen, okay?]
Cen Yan gave a rare snort of laughter, swiftly clapped her hand over Jian Yuanjia's mouth again, and began apologizing. "Sorry, my senior has always spoken his mind. Don't take it to heart, Mr. Bai! He didn't mean it!"
Cen Yan's words left Bai Nanyu so stifled he almost couldn't catch his breath. "I-it's fine."
This was only a minor interlude. Even if they sympathized with Bai Nanyu, when their own popularity and traffic were at stake, who would really be willing to hand those over to a little newcomer for nothing?
Everyone soon focused on cooking. After an hour of working together, they finally got to eat a hot meal.
After they sat down, Chu Mo naturally placed the first piece of pork rib he picked up into Ji Nanshu's bowl. Ji Nanshu accepted it just as naturally and even directed Chu Mo to get him some of the fish in chili broth that was farther away.
The others at the table exchanged looks, intensely curious about Chu Mo and Ji Nanshu's relationship. They looked so natural, as though this was how they usually interacted. Could it be... that the two were friends?!
At that thought, Yu Lu and Bai Nanyu grew a little worried. They weren't afraid of Ji Nanshu, but with Film Emperor Chu involved... things would be a little troublesome.
During dinner, the production team-or, more precisely, Director Yang-actually did nothing. Even Jian Yuanjia, who firmly believed Director Yang was a total troll, found it unbelievable. He had actually let him finish an entire meal!!
Jian Yuanjia hadn't been happy for even two minutes before, to his surprise, it wasn't Director Yang who pulled something. Instead, Bai Nanyu suggested with a bright smile, "Everyone, it's still early. How about we play a game together?"
Jian Yuanjia immediately refused. "How about no!"
Yu Lu said, "Brother Yuanjia, it's still so early. Play with us for a while!"
Jiang Yue chimed in too. "It really is pretty early."
Ji Nanshu looked up at the sky, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "A game? Sure, I'm up for it-but a word of warning: you'd be better off getting some rest early."
But whether the game would be safe, and whether these people would listen to advice... he couldn't guarantee that.
Hearing this, Jiang Yue silently glanced at Ji Nanshu and suddenly felt a little hesitant. Should he not have agreed?
Li Lan cut in at just the right moment. "Do you have any good suggestions, Nanyu?" He was the young master the Bai Family had just recovered. Doing him a favor wouldn't cost her anything.
"How about truth or dare? The theme can be childhood memories." Bai Nanyu looked bashful as he spoke, as if he really was terribly embarrassed. "We'll be filming a whole season together. This game will help us grow closer and get to know each other better!"
Jian Yuanjia scoffed. Getting to know each other? Was that necessary? But no matter how much he objected, there was nothing he could do. Otherwise, tomorrow the gossip accounts would say he was acting like a diva and bullying a newcomer, and then his brother would definitely grab him for a round of nagging plus physical punishment.
Night deepened, shrouding all of Wuzhen. The houses in the distance and the plants nearby all faded from clear outlines into indistinct shapes. Wind rustled through the leaves, raising goose bumps on everyone's skin.
Jian Yuanjia shivered and looked around. "Is Wuzhen... really this cold? I checked the forecast before coming. The low was only seventeen or eighteen degrees!"
Normally, given his constitution, a hoodie and long pants were just right for seventeen or eighteen degrees. Why did he feel cold?
Yu Lu said, "Brother Yuanjia, maybe you aren't wearing enough."
The others felt cold too, but they all agreed it was simply because Wuzhen's nights were especially chilly, and called everyone back to continue the game.
Chu Mo shifted closer to Ji Nanshu, lowered his head, and asked quietly, "What did you see?"
Ji Nanshu made a shushing gesture and instructed him, "Stay close to me in a bit. Don't wander off."
Sigh, no matter how brightly my patron shines with golden light, he's still just an ordinary person. He really does give me no end of worry.
Within a few minutes, even the production crew felt something was wrong. It seemed far too cold!
In the monitoring room, Director Yang's brow kept twitching. He had a persistent feeling that something bad was about to happen.
Jiang Yue, out in the courtyard, felt the same way. He was even more agitated than Director Yang, so much so that when he lost the game, he didn't even catch Bai Nanyu's question.
Jiang Yue said, "Huh? Sorry, Nanyu, I didn't catch that. Sorry for the trouble, but could you repeat it?"
Bai Nanyu patiently and gently repeated himself. "Brother Yue, the question was whether you ever encountered anything strange or frightening when you were little~"
Just as he finished speaking, another gust blew past.
"Hee-hee..."
"Hee-hee..."
"Hee-hee..."
Jian Yuanjia's hand shook as he drank, spilling the entire cup of water down his chest. "D-did you hear something?"
Li Lan heard it too and immediately threw herself into Cen Yan's arms beside her. Eek, so scary.
Bai Nanyu, Yu Lu, Jiang Yue, and everyone on the production crew had all heard it.
For a moment, screams erupted everywhere. "There's a ghost!!!"
Only Jiang Yue's reaction was particularly strange. His face was deathly pale, fine beads of sweat formed at his temples, and his lips trembled as he said, "It... it's here... it's here again..."