Xie Ji and Lu Xunji were the first to arrive on the island.
To give the guests the most authentic experience of rural life, all the staff stayed out of sight from the moment they landed.
Apart from the specially hired NPCs, the entire island was covered by recording cameras. Several drones of varying sizes hovered in the sky, capable of filming from any angle and under any circumstances.
Xie Ji hurried to catch up with Lu Xunji.
Lu Xunji took a map out of his backpack. The director had given it to them, since no staff would accompany them after they landed. It marked every location on the island and would help them quickly familiarize themselves with the terrain.
Following the map, the two made their way to the location marked as their base. Judging by its area on the map, the space the director had allotted them was quite large.
After walking for ten minutes, Lu Xunji put away the map and surveyed the scenery before him.
Xie Ji fell silent for a moment, then asked, "Are you sure you didn't take us the wrong way?"
Lu Xunji glanced down at him, rolled up the map, and pressed it against his chest. "Do you think I'm you? Little idiot, look for yourself."
Xie Ji choked, then took the map and muttered, "Why do you keep giving me all these nicknames? Little idiot, little money pouch-could you show a little respect for my dignity..."
He followed Lu Xunji into the large Chinese-style villa before them, which looked rather old and even a little like a haunted house.
Unable to stand it anymore, Xie Ji opened the map to check again.
This was indeed the location marked on the map, and it was indeed enormous.
Unlike the map, however, the designated areas, such as the livestock farm, fishpond, and vegetable greenhouses, were currently nothing but bare yellow earth.
Xie Ji took a deep breath.
He had known they were starting from zero, but he hadn't expected quite this much zero.
If he wanted dumplings now, the first step in preparing the ingredients would be to clear a patch of land and start growing shiitake mushrooms, then build a pigpen and start raising pigs.
Lu Xunji, however, said nothing and went inside to look around.
Although the place was somewhat dilapidated, it was actually quite spacious.
It was a large Chinese-style courtyard residence, with a massive screen wall draped in cobwebs just inside the entrance.
Weed-choked paths ran along either side of the screen wall. Beyond them lay a spacious courtyard with a pond in its center, a few withered lotus leaves floating on the surface.
A stone bridge spanned the large pond. Across it stood a large, empty Chinese-style villa. Inside the entrance was a bare, spacious living room with nothing but wooden floors and white walls.
Beside the living room was a semi-open kitchen with a stylish island and a long dining table big enough to seat six.
Up the spiral staircase were rooms serving various purposes: six fully equipped bedrooms, each with its own bathroom and walk-in closet, as well as facilities such as a study and a gym.
Without a doubt, this was an exceedingly luxurious Chinese-style villa.
If it had been finished.
Clearly, the production team had no intention of letting them enjoy themselves. The villa was nothing but a shell, without any daily necessities inside. The bedrooms didn't even have beds.
Just as Xie Ji finished looking around and was considering whether they might be better off staying with an NPC tonight, where at least they would have a bed instead of sleeping on the floor, Zhou Heyu and Ji Shi arrived on the island.
Ji Shi charged into the bathroom at lightning speed, then rushed back out just as quickly and demanded, "Why isn't there a toilet in the bathroom?!"
Xie Ji looked up at the drones flying overhead and said sincerely, "Classmate Ji, it looks like this livestream of Walking with Shit is going ahead no matter what."
Ji Shi was so desperate that cold sweat had soaked through his clothes. Clutching his stomach, he sat on the stone steps, his face pale and looking close to death.
Zhou Heyu didn't look particularly at ease either.
Director He's voice came from a drone. "You have a total of five hundred thousand in starting funds. Each of you is responsible for a different area, and you can earn funds through labor. Once you've earned some money, the shop near your residence will open for half an hour every evening at nine. You can spend your earnings there to buy anything."
Ji Shi gave the drone overhead a merciless middle finger.
Xie Ji clicked his tongue, deeply moved.
Now he finally understood why the staff weren't coming onto the island.
If they had, Ji Shi would surely have wanted nothing more than to shit on Director He's face.
In Ji Shi's current condition, never mind waiting until nine that evening-even if he did make it that long, he wouldn't have any funds to exchange for a toilet.
Feeling sorry for him, Xie Ji leaned closer and whispered, "I know a blind spot the cameras can't see. Come with me."
Ji Shi's upbringing made relieving himself outdoors something he simply couldn't bring himself to do. But now that the arrow was on the string and had to be released, he could only follow Xie Ji.
Xie Ji led him to a small grove and pointed at the dense bushes inside. "Go on. I'll keep watch and make sure no one comes over."
Ji Shi hesitated for half a minute, but ultimately couldn't resist the call of duty and walked in, his face ashen.
Before long, Xie Ji's devilish voice rang out from the other side of the bushes. "Young Master Ji, those stud earrings you're wearing are so pretty."
Ji Shi took a deep breath, his fingers gripping the leaves of a bush. "Xie. Ji."
"What is it?"
"..." Ji Shi gritted his teeth. "Toilet paper."
Xie Ji said with perfect composure, "Young master, resources are very expensive here. You wouldn't want the whole world seeing your snowy-white, perky ass, would you?"
After a long while, two sparkling studs were tossed out from behind the bushes, their enormous diamonds dazzling.
Xie Ji picked up the studs, tossed in the toilet paper he had prepared long ago, and happily turned to leave.
By the time Ji Shi had dealt with his stomach and emerged from the bushes with his face flushed red, Mu Yao and Shang Yan had also landed on the island.
Having soaked in the icy seawater for two hours before his condition had barely stabilized, Mu Yao wanted nothing more than a hot shower.
But the villa had no hot water, only cold. Mu Yao had no choice but to rinse himself with cold water, barely washing away the fishy smell of the sea.
He came out after changing, his expression frighteningly foul.
According to the original novel's progression, Mu Yao and Ji Shi were supposed to engage in something unsuitable for children with Lu Xunji that very night. Neither was in the mood anymore.
Little Black said with considerable feeling, "You're absolutely ruthless."
"Just tell me whether I completed the mission." Xie Ji puffed out his little chest, looking proud. "Don't they have absolutely no desire to touch Lu Xunji now!"
Little Black: "..."
It wasn't just that they didn't want to touch Lu Xunji.
They barely wanted to move at all.
In short, the two young masters were now like walking corpses with their souls sucked out, leaning against the bare pillars by the entrance and looking as though they had little desire to live.
Xie Ji was happily admiring Ji Shi's empty ears, the weight in his pocket giving him a great sense of security.
Suddenly, someone gripped his chin and forced his gaze elsewhere.
Lu Xunji's face appeared before him, and Xie Ji froze for a moment.
"That good-looking?" Lu Xunji raised an eyebrow, suppressing the malice in his eyes. "How about having him take a black-and-white headshot, then framing it and hanging it above your bed?"
Xie Ji stopped pretending to be an innocent little bunny and bared his teeth at him, openly smug. "Sure. I'll frame yours too, gege. Hang it by the door to ward off evil, or above the bed for contraception."
Lu Xunji's gaze darkened. His ink-black eyes dropped as he said thoughtfully, "You need contraception?"
Xie Ji: "..."