Chapter 56
Chapter 56
Fu Zhi stormed off in a fit of rage.
Ning Xi shrugged helplessly at Xie Lanchen.
“The two of you are really close,” Xie Lanchen said, a faint, unreadable smile playing at the corners of his mouth.
“? Where did you get that idea?”
Ning Xi was surprised that Xie Lanchen would say such a thing.
“Because… your attitude toward him seems very different.”
“You mean it’s exceptionally bad, right?”
Ning Xi finished his sentence for him. “He deserves it.”
From the time they were children, whenever she was happily doing something, Fu Zhi would always be right there to throw cold water on her, belittle her, and mock her.
Consequently, when facing Fu Zhi, Ning Xi found it difficult to communicate with the attitude one would use for a normal person.
Right now, she just wanted Fu Zhi to understand her stance and keep his distance.
Seeing that the disgust on Ning Xi’s face wasn’t fake, Xie Lanchen smiled and dropped the subject of Fu Zhi.
Instead, he told her a story about the time he learned to surf in Hawaii.
Ning Xi hadn’t expected Xie Lanchen to enjoy surfing as well.
As they talked more, Ning Xi discovered that they shared many interests; even their tastes in food were remarkably similar.
“Oh my god, what a coincidence!”
Ning Xi marveled at the discovery.
Smiling, Xie Lanchen refilled Ning Xi’s empty glass. “It is, isn’t it?”
As Ning Xi’s gaze drifted, she noticed red marks on the back of Xie Lanchen’s hand and froze.
“Are you hurt? How did that happen?”
Xie Lanchen glanced at the back of his hand and instinctively curled his fingers, as if he didn’t want it to be seen.
However, he quickly regained his composure and said calmly, “I probably bumped it by accident back in the escape room.”
Ning Xi nodded, suspecting nothing.
It wasn’t until she returned to her room that night that it occurred to her:
The marks on the back of Xie Lanchen’s hand didn’t look like they were from a bump; they looked more like fingernail scratches.
But none of the NPCs had gotten close to them at the time. So, who had left those red marks on Xie Lanchen’s hand?
Ning Xi fell into deep thought.
Just then, Jiang Sheshe, who was nearby, started whimpering and acting emo again.
Ning Xi glanced at her and then looked away, continuing to recall if there were any scenes in the escape room she had missed.
“I’m this sad, and you have no reaction at all?”
Jiang Sheshe hadn’t expected Ning Xi to be so indifferent and couldn’t take it anymore.
Ning Xi rolled her eyes. “I did have a reaction. I rolled my eyes-didn’t you see?”
Jiang Sheshe: “…”
She ignored Ning Xi’s cold face. “I’ll give you a thousand yuan to listen to my troubles.”
She quickly added, “You have to be patient.”
Ning Xi’s previous impatience vanished instantly, replaced by a beaming smile. “A thunderous clap from the sky, and your humble servant makes her grand entrance! Please, Young Mistress, speak your mind. If I fall asleep, I lose!”
Jiang Sheshe: “…”
“It’s about what happened in the escape room today. I feel like I shouldn’t keep drowning in a relationship that doesn’t belong to me.”
Ning Xi: “Mm-hmm, mm-hmm.”
“But sometimes I feel like if I persist, maybe I can reach a happy ending with the person I love.”
Ning Xi: “Mm-hmm, mm-hmm.”
“#%&…*&%$”
Ning Xi: “Mm-hmm, mm-hmm.”
Jiang Sheshe got angry. “Can’t you help me analyze the situation and tell me what to do?”
Ning Xi suddenly found this tricky.
Didn’t she just say all she needed was a patient listener?
Why did she need an analysis now!
“This matter, you see… it’s not that it can’t be done, but then again, nothing is ever a certainty just because we say so. Of course, it’s not impossible-man proposes, God disposes-but as for the actual situation, we have to look at the specific circumstances…”
Jiang Sheshe was dizzy from the word salad. “What are you even trying to say?!”
“I can analyze it, but it’ll cost extra.”
“…”
Without blinking, Jiang Sheshe transferred another thousand yuan to Ning Xi.
Looking at the balance on her phone, Ning Xi had never felt so excited.
She absolutely loved this variety show. In just one day, Fu Zhi and Jiang Sheshe had allowed her to earn five thousand yuan so easily.
It turned out that spamming ‘manifesting wealth’ in comment sections every day really worked. Finally, she was getting a taste of the good life.
Ning Xi cleared her throat and began her lecture.
“Odebiao once said: you can’t hide it when you love one person, but you can if you love two. As long as you and Wei Xuan trust each other enough, the third person is absolutely safe.”
Jiang Sheshe: “?”
“If you had two people you liked, you wouldn’t be this distressed. If you had three, the four of you could even get a game of mahjong going. After all, love is a constant feeling of owing someone; once you’re deep enough in debt, you stop worrying about it. Understand?”
Jiang Sheshe: “?”
[So that’s how it is. Master, I have attained enlightenment.]
[No wonder I’m sad over one man every day; it’s because I don’t love enough of them!]
Seeing Jiang Sheshe’s completely dazed expression, Ning Xi decided to be even more blunt.
“Let’s put it this way: what did you think of that NPC who hugged you in the escape room today?”
Jiang Sheshe’s face turned beet red. “What do you mean ‘hugged’? You were the one who accidentally pushed me into his arms!”
But his chest muscles were quite firm.
Even though she hadn’t seen his face, his height and build didn’t lie.
Also, the skin on his hands was very fair, making her involuntarily speculate that he must be a fair-skinned boy with phoenix eyes, single eyelids, and a refreshing smile…
Seeing Jiang Sheshe’s spaced-out expression, Ning Xi flashed a smile that said, ‘The student is ready.’
Simps, simps-at the end of the day, a simp gets nothing.
She didn’t even dare to imagine what kind of morally bankrupt little girl she would have become if she were an only child like Jiang Sheshe, with tens of billions in family assets to inherit.
Unfortunately, she was broke, so she could only be an ordinary person with unyielding character, clean hands, perfectly upright values, a detached mind, and high moral standards-damn it!
Early the next morning, the exclusive bus prepared by the Program Team was parked at the villa’s main gate.
[Youai Butler: guest Xie Lanchen has already assigned seats for all guests. After boarding, please find the seat with your name on it.]
Ning Xi was the last one to board.
As soon as she stepped on, she saw Fu Zhi with a face as dark as thunder, which gave her a start.
Good heavens, the Evil Sword Immortal was born in the wrong era. If he had been born next to Fu Zhi, he could have been resurrected just by feeding off Fu Zhi’s resentment.
And the seating arrangement for everyone afterward made Ning Xi want to laugh her head off.
Fu Zhi-Jiang Sheshe.
Three rows back.
Shen Yibai-Wei Xuan-Ning Mingyue.
…
Wouldn’t Fu Zhi and Jiang Sheshe end up in a fistfight?
And Wei Xuan, the ex-boyfriend, was sitting right between the little couple, Shen Yibai and Ning Mingyue. She wondered what the psychological trauma score for those three was.
Ning Xi suppressed her laughter as she looked for her seat, only to find that she was in the very last row, just like Xie Lanchen. She sat down next to him.
Then, she gave Xie Lanchen a thumbs-up.
“This seat assignment… you’ve got skills.”
It was as if he was afraid everyone wouldn’t start a fight.
Xie Lanchen’s mouth curled into an arc. “Is that so? I think it’s pretty good too.”
[Fu Zhi is in the first row and Ning Xi is in the last row, keeping those two as far apart as possible. Xie Lanchen, your intentions are a bit too obvious, kid.]
[Of course you think it’s good, you arranged for yourself to sit with Ning Xi, hahahahahaha!]
[You guys have no idea what Fu Zhi’s face looked like when he saw how far his seat was from Ning Xi’s after he got on the bus. I can only say, Princess, you really can’t hide your feelings.]
[Who understands my feelings when I saw the seating for Fu Zhi, Ning Xi, and Xie Lanchen?! I just let out my first explosive laugh of the day. Xie Lanchen really has that competitive alpha energy in him.]
[This kind of competitive field of fire is great! This is exactly why I watch variety shows. Take my money!]
“Feynman.”
Fu Zhi, sitting in the front row, suddenly stood up and looked back at Xie Lanchen and Ning Xi, who were chatting in the back. His expression was cold.
Xie Lanchen looked up, his pitch-black eyes full of innocence. “Is something the matter?”
Fu Zhi took a deep breath. “Did you not see the message I sent you yesterday?”
Xie Lanchen let out an “oh” and seemed to recall for a moment.
“I saw it. So?”
“…”
Fu Zhi glared at the feigning Xie Lanchen before finally sitting back down in a huff.
“What did he say to you?”
Ning Xi looked at Xie Lanchen curiously.
“He said…”
The message he received from Fu Zhi last night flashed through Xie Lanchen’s mind.
“I already know why you’re participating in this variety show. Since you have a friend you’re looking for, stop provoking people you shouldn’t provoke. Otherwise, you might not be able to stay in Xiangcheng anymore.”
Xie Lanchen thought that his expression when he saw that message must have been one of sheer derision.
Fu Zhi didn’t even know the basics of respecting and being kind to the person he liked, yet he desperately tried to stop others from being good to her.
…Such a person was the most unworthy of all.
“He said he’s going to make it so I can’t stay in Xiangcheng anymore,” Xie Lanchen recounted calmly.
Ning Xi: ? What was up with Fu Zhi?
How dare he treat her God of Wealth friend like that?!
“Get yourself ready,” Ning Xi said, looking at Xie Lanchen.
“?”
“I’m about to go feral.”
With that, Ning Xi stood up, intending to go pick a fight with Fu Zhi.
But in the next second, her wrist was caught by Xie Lanchen.
Ning Xi looked at him.
She saw a faint smile floating in those beautiful eyes. His long, crow-feather lashes softened his cold, sharp features that usually made people feel a sense of distance, adding a touch of quiet harmlessness.
“It’s fine. I’ve already handled it in my own way.”
Ning Xi asked instead, “Then, are you satisfied with your solution? Do you feel better now?”
Xie Lanchen was slightly stunned.
The next second, a wide grin spread across his face. “Satisfied. Very satisfied.”
Only then did Ning Xi sit down, relieved.
She had been worried that with Xie Lanchen’s easygoing personality, any retaliation from him would be weak and ineffective, leaving him to simply swallow Fu Zhi’s provocations in silence.
But since Xie Lanchen said he was satisfied, then everything should be fine.
“With your personality, you’re bound to get the short end of the stick if you go up against Fu Zhi,” Ning Xi couldn’t help but say.
“But luckily you have me. If Fu Zhi dares to bully you in the future, I’ll definitely make him apologize to you in tears.”
“Alright.”
Xie Lanchen seemed exceptionally happy, unable to suppress his smile any longer.
Looking at Xie Lanchen’s “silly son of a landlord” smile, Ning Xi let out a long sigh.
Could someone with this personality really be a villain?
Maybe only that cold face of his, which seemed to keep everyone at a distance, looked the part!
[Uh, am I the only one who thinks what Xie Lanchen just said was a bit off?]
[Fu Zhi’s expression earlier… I don’t think that’s what he meant, right?]
[My daughter says she wants to protect Xie Lanchen. OMG, why do I feel like she’s being played?]
[It’s all speculation, not for certain. After all, with Fu Zhi’s personality, he really could have said something like that.]
[But I really have to ask Xie Lanchen: Look at my daughter’s small frame, then look at yourself! How could you agree to let my daughter protect you?! Doesn’t your conscience hurt?!]
In the front row, Fu Zhi turned back to stare at Xie Lanchen and Ning Xi. Seeing that “deadly green tea” Xie Lanchen smiling so brightly at Ning Xi, he wished his ears were five meters long so he could hear exactly what they were saying.
In his distraction, his eyes met Shen Yibai’s.
His body stiffened instantly.
Then, he instinctively turned his head away, avoiding Shen Yibai’s gaze.
Once he realized what he’d done, he felt a wave of annoyance.
Hadn’t he already figured things out? Hadn’t he decided not to deliberately suppress his feelings in front of Shen Yibai anymore?
So why did he start feeling guilty the moment Shen Yibai looked at him?!
Could it be that his moral standards were so high that even though his mind had accepted it, his body couldn’t take that step?
“Psycho.”
Watching Fu Zhi’s struggle between wanting to look back and trying to control himself, Jiang Sheshe couldn’t help but comment.
Fu Zhi’s temper flared instantly. “Who’s the psycho calling?”
“The psycho is calling you!”
“Right, right, right. The psycho was just calling me.”
Fu Zhi snorted with a smug grin.
Jiang Sheshe finally realized something was wrong with the exchange but didn’t know how to fire back.
In the end, she turned her head away huffily, cursing Fu Zhi under her breath.
[I didn’t expect the Princess to actually win an argument one day. I’m so relieved; the child has grown up.]
[After all, she’s had hundreds of practice rounds with the master of trash talk, Ning Xi. She had to improve eventually, hahaha.]
[Fu Zhi: Winning an argument against anyone except Ning Xi is a piece of cake!]
Several rows back, Ning Mingyue felt like she was sitting on pins and needles as she listened to the noise around her.
Why did Xie Lanchen arrange for Wei Xuan to sit between her and Shen Yibai?
Did he know something?
Impossible. Her past underground romance with Wei Xuan had been hidden perfectly; there was no way Xie Lanchen could know.
…Could it be that madman Wei Xuan who intentionally asked Xie Lanchen for this arrangement?
What did Wei Xuan say to Xie Lanchen? Did he mention their past relationship?
Would Xie Lanchen tell the others?
Ning Mingyue felt as if her heart were being roasted over an open flame.
“Mingyue, why have you been so quiet? Are you carsick?”
Wei Xuan’s gentle, caring voice rang out.
In the front row, Jiang Sheshe closed her eyes in irritation upon hearing his voice.
Ning Mingyue, however, felt as if she had been plunged into an ice cellar, a chill spreading through her entire body.
This was because Wei Xuan’s eyes were full of mockery and playfulness, completely at odds with his tone.
“Mingyue?”
Hearing Wei Xuan’s words, Shen Yibai also looked over.
Ning Mingyue quickly hid the threatening look she was giving Wei Xuan and spoke softly to Shen Yibai.
“I’m fine. I was just curious about what kind of house the Program Team has arranged for us, and how Xiao Xi is going to distribute them.”
At the mention of Ning Xi’s name, Shen Yibai gave a faint “oh” and said nothing more.
At the same time.
Ning Xi received a notification from the Program Team, asking her to assign the housing for the seven guests tonight before they arrived at Ling Village.
[Youai Butler: The Program Team provides three houses. Each house must have at least one female guest and one male guest.
Since there are four male guests, two male guests will be staying in the same house as a female guest tonight~]
Ning Xi’s first reaction upon seeing the message was:
Holy crap, wouldn’t a group of three be the perfect setup for a game of Fight the Landlord?!