More viewers had joined the livestream by now. The moment Ji Nanshu finished speaking, the barrage exploded, with Bai Nanchen's rabid fans leading the charge.
[Is Ji Nanshu sick in the head?!! Is this bottom-tier nobody that desperate to get famous? He'd even say something like that for attention?!]
[Our boy is so unlucky! He actually has to film a show with someone like this.]
[My heart hurts for Nanchen!! Homewrecker Ji, get out of the entertainment industry!!]
[Uh... I do think Bai Nanchen is always putting on an act, but isn't Ji Nanshu going too far by cursing him?!]
[Lmao, am I the only one who found Jian Yuanjia's snide digs at Bai Nanchen so satisfying?!]
[Jian Yuanjia's sharp tongue confirmed hahahahaha!]
Bai Nanchen's expression darkened, and he shot to his feet. "You're actually cursing me?"
"Huh?" Ji Nanshu looked utterly innocent. "Weren't you the one who asked me to tell your fortune?"
Seeing that the two were about to argue, Li Lan stepped in to smooth things over. "Mr. Bai, Mr. Ji, let's both say a little less. We're almost there!"
Out of the camera's view, Bai Nanchen glared viciously at Ji Nanshu before returning to his seat.
Sooner or later, I'll make him beg me on his knees!
An hour later, the production team and guests arrived at their filming destination-Wuzhen in Spring City.
It was an ancient town with gray walls and dark-tiled roofs. The winding bluestone paths looked full of life in the sunlight, and a rustic yet vibrant atmosphere greeted them.
As soon as he stepped out of the vehicle, Yu Lu exclaimed theatrically, "Wow!! This town is so beautiful!!"
Li Lan agreed. "It really is beautiful, and the air is especially fresh."
Once I leave the industry, I'll find a town like this to settle down in!
"Living here must be so relaxing. I'm suddenly looking forward to the next three days!" The fact that Bai Nanchen could make it as a singing-and-dancing performer meant he had a certain level of good looks. Paired with his smile and the ancient town's scenery, he did look a little better than usual.
Jiang Yue was as quiet as ever, like a lifelike human backdrop.
The moment Jian Yuanjia got out, he went straight over to Ji Nanshu. "Nanshu, Nanshu! This is your first time on a reality show like this, right?"
Ji Nanshu gave Jian Yuanjia a languid glance. "Hm? What about it?"
"Hehehe, let me tell you, Director Yang's shows are notorious for screwing people over. You have to be careful!"
"You sound very experienced." Ji Nanshu cast a discreet glance back at Director Yang. Rather than warn the chattering Jian Yuanjia, he even dug a pit for him. "Tell me about it, Yuanjia. I don't know much about it either."
Screwing people over? There's worse coming!
Cen Yan and Chu Mo also spotted Director Yang behind Jian Yuanjia, and both tacitly moved away from Jian Yuanjia.
Well... anyone who knew Director Yang would know that, with him, there was no worst way to screw someone over, only worse. In short, Jian Yuanjia was about to have some "terrible luck."
Jian Yuanjia launched excitedly into an explanation. "Hey, you've watched Director Yang's dating show, My Heart Beats Only for You, right? He actually put a couple who'd broken up on it!! And he deliberately arranged dates between them and even had the audience guess!! And the editing was obviously meant to stir up trouble... It was so shameless..."
Just as Jian Yuanjia was about to continue his explanation, a chilling voice came from behind him. "Oh? Really? Just how shameless was it?"
"Seriously shameless!!!" Jian Yuanjia's mouth had always moved faster than his brain. He answered while turning around, intending to add a few more complaints, only to freeze in place the next second. "Ha, haha... Yang, Yang, Yang..."
"Hengyuanxiang, sheep, sheep, sheep?" Director Yang quipped with a smile that didn't reach his eyes, then said to Jian Yuanjia, "Star singer Jian, I hope you have a wonderful time on my show~"
Jian Yuanjia's handsome face was stiff. "W-wonderful..."
I'm done for. Director Yang's going to toy with me until I'm dead.
The barrage was practically dying of laughter too.
[Hahahahahahahaha, what's it like to get caught bad-mouthing someone by the person himself? Jian Yuanjia can tell you!]
[Lmao! He really doesn't think before he speaks!]
[Am I the only one who thinks Ji Nanshu went a bit too far? He knew Director Yang was behind them and still set Jian Yuanjia up!]
[I think Ji Nanshu went a bit too far too... Jian Yuanjia was being so friendly to him! How dare a bottom-tier nobody like him set Jian Yuanjia up.]
[What? Do you have eyes in the back of your heads too?]
[Didn't you see that Cen Yan and Best Actor Chu didn't warn him either?! It's called making good television, get it?]
Cen Yan poked her senior. "Still alive?"
Like a wilted cucumber, Jian Yuanjia answered weakly, "For now. Whether I'll still be alive later is anyone's guess."
The other guests had seen the whole thing too, and none could hold back their laughter.
Since this episode was being filmed in an ancient town, their accommodation was also a small courtyard residence with an old-fashioned style.
The courtyard was called Beside the Flower Stream, a fitting name, as it stood right beside a small river.
As soon as they entered the courtyard, Director Yang began announcing the rules for the show. "There are only two rules this season. First, you have to spend three days in Wuzhen with one hundred yuan in starting funds and complete today's task. We only provide accommodation."
"The guests can split into two teams. You're free to choose your teammates. Today's task is to find Wuzhen's local delicacies, and the deadline is five this afternoon."
"The team that finds more delicacies wins. No borrowing money! No buying on credit! The winning team gets a lavish dinner with fish and meat, while the losing team gets pickles and plain congee."
"Second, we're taking your phones! Come on, everyone, hand them over!"
The guests immediately erupted at his words.
Bai Nanchen looked utterly incredulous. "Director Yang, one hundred yuan for three days of meals?! Would one hundred yuan per person even last a day?! You're making this way too hard!"
Jian Yuanjia wore a meek smile as he bargained. "Director Yang, one hundred really is too little. How about raising it a bit?"
I just bad-mouthed him to his face. I can't exactly act tough! (*꒦ິ⌓꒦ີ)
Director Yang sighed. "After all, I'm rather shameless."
With a miserable face, Jian Yuanjia turned to Cen Yan, looking pitiful. "Junior sister..."
Cen Yan looked this way and that, anywhere but at Jian Yuanjia. He couldn't keep his own mouth in check, so he had to suffer a little for it, didn't he?
As an actor of the new generation, Yu Lu took advantage of his youth, pressing his palms together in a pleading gesture as he wheedled at Director Yang. "Director Yang, one hundred yuan per person really isn't enough! Please raise it a little!!"
While the others up front bargained with Director Yang, Ji Nanshu silently took two steps back.
Jiang Yue yawned. Because of the fortune-telling incident in the vehicle earlier, he had been paying a little more attention to Ji Nanshu. He asked, "Mr. Ji... aren't you going to give it a try?"
"It won't work." Ji Nanshu answered something other than the question. "Mr. Jiang, are you sure you don't want your fortune told?"
Jiang Yue pressed his lips together, still somewhat hesitant. After all, he had never heard that Ji Nanshu could tell fortunes. Besides, in the entertainment industry... you could know someone's face without knowing their heart. If someone got hold of something to use against him as evidence and paid for a round of smear articles, it would be far too troublesome.
When Jiang Yue didn't answer, Ji Nanshu didn't push him. He only said, "Mr. Jiang, if you have nothing to do tonight, get some rest early."
Then, looking just as sleepy, he leaned against Chu Mo. He had only just settled against him when Jian Yuanjia cried out from up ahead, "Director Yang, what did you say-?!!!"