Chapter 54

Chapter 54

“You’re a celebrity. How can you say something like that in public? What will your fans think? What will your haters think?”

Fu Zhi sputtered for a long time before finally managing to choke out those words.

He felt like he was worrying himself to death over Ning Xi. His naturally foul temper had been ground down until he sounded like a nagging mother.

Ning Xi let out a dry chuckle.

“Why should I care what they think?

If I hate someone, it’s proof that they’re a piece of work.

If they hate me back, doesn’t that just prove they really are a piece of work?

In that case, they deserve to be hated by me!”

“…”

“Besides, what’s so bad about being hated?”

Ning Xi waved her hand dismissively, looking completely unbothered.

“If one person hates me, that’s their problem. If a whole group of people hates me, it’s because they all know each other! Please clap!”

As long as she remained shameless, she could never be in the wrong!

[The Ancient Greek Goddess of Morality!]

[I can’t even flame her. That was actually deep.]

[Now this is a real expert.]

[Thank you, Sister Xi, for curing my internal mental struggles.]

Fu Zhi took several deep breaths before finally turning his face away, refusing to speak to Ning Xi any longer.

He was afraid he’d give himself a heart attack from sheer rage!

Jiang Sheshe and Wei Xuan also looked stunned by Ning Xi’s words.

Only Xie Lanchen had a slight curve at the corners of his mouth the moment Ning Xi started speaking.

It was as if he would find a reason to smile no matter what she said.

The group returned to Youai Villa.

By now, it was nearly evening.

Jiang Sheshe and Wei Xuan were responsible for dinner tonight.

“Everyone is so tired today. Why don’t we keep dinner simple?” Ning Mingyue suggested first.

The others had no objections.

Ning Xi, the starving ghost, practically wanted to raise both hands and both feet in agreement. “Sure, as long as it’s fast.”

Ning Mingyue’s gaze swept over Ning Xi’s face before she proactively looked at Jiang Sheshe.

“Sheshe, let me help you in a bit.”

Ning Mingyue’s smile was warm and natural. If it had been the old Jiang Sheshe, she certainly wouldn’t have refused.

But today…

“No need, I can handle it myself.”

After turning her down, Jiang Sheshe added an extra explanation: “After all, you’re tired too. You should go rest first.”

Ning Mingyue’s smile stiffened for a moment. Finally, she just looked at her like one would a throwing-a-tantrum child and said helplessly, “Alright then.”

Only Jiang Sheshe and Wei Xuan remained in the kitchen.

Because of Jiang Sheshe’s previous refusal to communicate, the atmosphere between them had become somewhat awkward.

Jiang Sheshe clumsily chopped an onion on the cutting board, her eyes beginning to sting.

“Let me do that.”

Wei Xuan proactively took the kitchen knife from her hand.

Jiang Sheshe stared fixedly at Wei Xuan’s back.

The question she had been dying to ask-“Do you think Ning Mingyue is more important than me?”-was stuck in her throat like a ball of cotton, completely unutterable.

She knew Wei Xuan liked Mingyue. She could even guess that the reason Wei Xuan had agreed to accompany her on this variety show might have been for Mingyue.

But what she hadn’t expected was that all their years of companionship wouldn’t even measure up to an unrequited crush of only a few years.

As Jiang Sheshe thought about it, her eyes grew more and more watery…

“When will dinner be ready? Hurry, hurry, hurry!”

Jiang Sheshe looked toward the source of the voice, only to be met with a giant clock face. She jumped in fright.

“Who are you?!”

Ning Xi moved the clock away from her face. “I. Am. The. King. Of. Hurry.”

Jiang Sheshe: “…”

Jiang Sheshe’s original melancholic mood vanished instantly. Now, she just wanted to die-and take this lunatic Ning Xi with her.

[Child, you wear your heart on your sleeve too much.]

[Holy crap, Ning Xi went from my crush to my clock.]

[Sister is getting more and more unhinged.]

[No, seriously, is there anyone left in the entertainment industry that Ning Xi actually cares about?]

Ning Xi slammed the clock onto the table, intending to use it to pressure the two into speeding up.

After all, they said they would “keep it simple,” but an hour had passed and they were still on basic prep.

Unfortunately, it had no effect.

That pair of drama magnets was still engaged in their emotional tug-of-war.

Whenever Jiang Sheshe went to chop or grab something, Wei Xuan would beat her to it.

Then Jiang Sheshe would daze out while looking at Wei Xuan’s back, her eyes turning red as she spiraled back into her emo phase.

Ning Xi went from being frustrated by their lack of progress to simply making herself a bowl of instant noodles. She even started “knitting” the noodles with her chopsticks.

Occasionally, she would glance over at Jiang Sheshe and Wei Xuan as they performed their tragic romance in the kitchen.

[Holy crap, knitting instant noodles? That’s such a niche hobby.]

[Ning Xi’s emotional state is so stable. I want to date her.]
[Talking about everything will only hurt you]

Meanwhile.

Fu Zhi sat with his face cradled in his hands, staring at Ning Xi on his phone screen.

Suddenly, his ringtone blared.

Fu Zhi jumped, momentarily convinced he’d been caught red-handed watching the livestream. Then he remembered there were no cameras in the bathroom and picked up his private phone.

“Brother Zhi!!! That brat Ning Xi is really going too far!!! I can’t even stand watching the stream anymore!!! I can’t imagine how wronged you must feel right now!!!” Lu Ming’s voice crackled over the line, brimming with righteous indignation.

Fu Zhi’s eyes remained glued to the stream. “Oh.”

“Should I arrange some negative trending searches? Maybe post some of her ugly childhood photos to help you get revenge?”

Fu Zhi: “Oh.”

Lu Ming finally noticed Fu Zhi’s distraction.

“Brother Zhi, what’s wrong? Did Ning Xi roast you so hard you’re in shock?”

“Lu Ming, have you noticed that Ning Xi’s eyelashes are exceptionally long?”

“Huh?”

“And when she’s bare-faced with that cold expression, she looks really different from usual. A bit… dominant.”

Fu Zhi’s mind drifted back to the sight of Ning Xi’s bare face that night. He had obviously seen her countless times before, but why did she look so captivating on camera?

And that night, Ning Xi had even called the viewers in her livestream ‘wife.’ He had been watching the stream then too, so technically, he was one of those viewers…

“Ah? Brother Zhi, I don’t really understand what you’re saying?” Lu Ming’s bewildered voice came through the speaker.

Fu Zhi finally snapped out of it.

His voice instantly reverted to its usual nasty, irritable tone. “Why do you need to understand? You don’t need to understand anything.”

If everyone started thinking Ning Xi had long eyelashes, or that she was beautiful…

The thought made Fu Zhi feel a surge of irritation.

“I’m hanging up. Don’t bother me unless it’s important.”

On the other end, Lu Ming stared at his phone screen after being ruthlessly hung up on. “???????????”

Good grief, why was Brother Zhi’s temper getting even more mercurial? And those compliments he just gave Ning Xi…

“It’s over. Brother Zhi is possessed!”

Around nine o’clock, Jiang Sheshe and Wei Xuan finally finished preparing dinner.

“Dinner’s ready, everyone.”

Ning Xi looked at the three dishes and one soup that had taken an hour and a half to produce and let out a long sigh. Then, she immediately began to eat at lightning speed.

Xie Lanchen took his seat next to Ning Xi again.

Watching her practically bury her face in her bowl, he pursed his lips and let out a small smile. He covered his mouth with a light cough and looked down at the utensils in front of him.

Keenly sensing Xie Lanchen’s chuckle, Ning Xi looked up suspiciously.

“What are you secretly laughing at?”

Xie Lanchen shook his head with a serious expression, denying it. “Nothing.”

Ning Xi: “I clearly heard you!”

The smile at the corners of Xie Lanchen’s mouth became harder to suppress.

Ning Xi blinked, about to speak again when Fu Zhi spoke up as a witness.

“I saw him laughing too.”

Ning Xi looked at Fu Zhi, who was sitting across from her. Everyone had taken the same seats as the night before.

“He was just mocking your poor table manners.”

Under Ning Xi’s gaze, Fu Zhi stated his analysis with even more conviction.

[Ahhh? Fu Zhi, are you blind? Xie Lanchen clearly smiled because he thought Ning Xi was cute while eating!!!]

[Is Fu Zhi trying to fan the flames?]

[He really knows how to target a love rival.]

[Oh my god, Princess, please stop trying to be manipulative. Everyone can see right through it, it’s so embarrassing.]

After Fu Zhi finished, as if fearing Ning Xi wouldn’t believe him, he added another sentence.

“People who are one way to your face and another behind your back are truly terrifying. Unlike me-I might be a bit fierce on the surface, but behind the scenes… I’m the same. I pride myself on being consistent in front of people and behind them.”

As he spoke, Fu Zhi wanted to punch himself. What kind of nonsense was he spewing?

Xie Lanchen looked at Fu Zhi with an amused expression and let out a lazy, soft laugh. He was about to explain himself to Ning Xi when, to his surprise, she looked at Fu Zhi with an air of genuine curiosity.

“Why are you paying so much attention to Xie Lanchen? Do you have a secret crush on him?”

Fu Zhi: “???”

Xie Lanchen suddenly broke into a fit of coughing.

The expressions of the others at the table were equally varied.

“Are you insane!” Fu Zhi instinctively glared at her with furrowed brows.

Ning Xi looked pure and innocent. “I was just curious why you understand Xie Lanchen so well. You were the one who said he’s ‘one way to your face and another behind your back.'”

Xie Lanchen had a good temper and wouldn’t snap back. But as his friend, she naturally couldn’t let him be mocked by Fu Zhi for no reason.

Besides… even if Xie Lanchen was laughing at her, so what? Someone who would transfer money to her at the drop of a hat couldn’t be that bad!
This was Ning Xi’s moral compass! Pure profit!

“I wasn’t making fun of Ning Xi just now.”

Xie Lanchen lifted his eyelids, resting his hand casually on the table with a lazy smile playing on his lips.

“Then what were you laughing at?” Fu Zhi asked disdainfully.

“Because I think watching Teacher Ning eat really works up an appetite. She’s also very…”

Xie Lanchen didn’t say the last two words out loud.

[CUTE!!!!!!!! IS IT CUTE!!!!!!]

[Ahhhh, don’t be a riddle-monger! Please, little brother, I’m begging you, just say it! Please, I’m on my knees! Help, I really can’t take it anymore, my tears are about to fall. I really can’t help it, I’ll get depressed if this keeps up. I’m going crazy! I’ll kowtow to you, little brother, just don’t be a riddle-monger, okay?]

[Everyone is starting to go a bit feral.]

[Fans take after their idol. Ning Xi is feral, and her fans are feral too, hahahahahahahaha!]

[You, delete that.]

As everyone was finishing their meal, the Youai Butler sent a message.

“Tomorrow, we will welcome the ‘Mountain Village Camping’ arc of ‘You Are My Blessing.’ As our seven guests head into a brand-new environment, will they be able to create new sparks? We shall wait and see!

At the same time, we are unlocking the rewards for the top two guests with the highest viewership in today’s livestream:

Ning Xi has earned the privilege of assigning rooms for tomorrow’s mountain village camping. She can shuffle the order of male and female guests however she likes, allowing them to stay in the same house with any guest of the opposite sex tomorrow night!

Xie Lanchen has earned the right to assign bus seats tomorrow morning. He can arrange the seating for all guests during the trip!”

As soon as this message came out, everyone was shocked.

“Oh my god, shuffling the male and female guests to let them live in the same house?!”

Ning Xi was excited.

She loved doing such wicked things!

“Huh? Why didn’t you say so earlier? If I knew this was the reward, I definitely would have interacted more with the netizens today.”

Jiang Sheshe looked regretful.

If she had known the Program Team was going this big, she would have used her money power to make sure her livestream viewership was number one!

Only Ning Mingyue looked troubled.

“But all of us guests have only just met. If we stay in the same house as a guest of the opposite sex we aren’t very familiar with, won’t it be a bit uncomfortable?”

If the rooms were assigned normally, she would definitely stay with Shen Yibai.

But if Ning Xi had the power to assign them…

She was worried Ning Xi would abuse her power and intentionally stay with Shen Yibai.

Wei Xuan frowned. “Yes, privacy is a very important issue.”

[Youai Butler: guests, please rest assured. All houses have separate living quarters for men and women. Every guest will have an independent room, and staff will be available 24 hours a day to protect the guests’ privacy and safety.]

Only then did everyone relax a little.

“But I still think it’s better to stay with someone familiar,” Ning Mingyue said with a bitter smile.

[Uh, if everyone stays with their friends, what’s the point of this setup?]

[Mingyue is a refined young lady from a good family. How could she easily accept staying in the same house with an unfamiliar member of the opposite sex? The Danmaku shouldn’t be so malicious toward girls.]

[Has no one stayed in a hotel before? Just think of it as a hotel, except this hotel only has two rooms, right?]

[I want to see the guests all mixed up anyway. That’s what makes it exciting!]

[Exactly, maybe some new CPs will spark.]

After hearing Ning Mingyue’s words, Ning Xi nodded and gave a couple of performative coughs.

“I’ve received Mingyue’s feedback. Since I’ve become the one with the power to assign rooms, I should consult everyone’s opinions. After all, I am a very democratic and reasonable person.”

Fu Zhi found Ning Xi’s act ridiculous. “You’re really putting on airs. Do you actually think this stupid privilege is…”

Halfway through, he quickly realized and shut his mouth.

He abruptly forced a smile. “I also think staying in the same house as a familiar guest of the opposite sex might feel more natural.”

Ning Xi nodded in satisfaction and looked at the others.

Wei Xuan’s gaze swept over Ning Mingyue and Jiang Sheshe before he spoke calmly, “I… am fine with anything.”

Jiang Sheshe noticed that Wei Xuan had just glanced at Mingyue. She pulled a long face. “I don’t want to stay with someone familiar.”

She didn’t want to just watch the backs of Wei Xuan and Ning Mingyue anymore.

Shen Yibai glanced at Ning Xi, his expression carrying an indifferent coldness. “Whatever.”

Finally, Xie Lanchen spoke.

He smiled and said, “I will follow all arrangements made by the one in power.”

Ning Xi, the little power-tripper, nodded and summarized:

“I’ve received everyone’s opinions. Don’t worry, I definitely won’t let you down by making you satisfied!”