Chapter 96
Chapter 96
Because of the mung bean soup incident, everyone had lost their appetite.
Fu Zhi mocked them with a look of disbelief. “Mistaking melted popsicles for mung bean soup? Did you two eat wild mushrooms or something?”
They were truly off their rockers.
“Wild mushrooms? What do they taste like?” Ning Xi had never tried them and was suddenly interested.
Fu Zhi: …You motherf-, you really know how to pick out the wrong focus.
[He really shot himself in the foot there.]
[It’s over. Ning Xi knows about wild mushrooms now. Everyone is in danger.]
“I saw someone who ate them say they taste heavenly-tender, fresh, smooth, and flavorful. They’re so good that even after you die, you’d want your descendants to burn three bowls for you,” Jiang Sheshe read aloud the comments about mushrooms from her phone.
Ning Xi and Jiang Sheshe exchanged a look, both of their eyes gleaming with a hint of reckless curiosity.
Beside them, Xie Lanchen, Wei Xuan, and Qin Se all looked at Fu Zhi in silence.
After all, he was the one who brought it up.
Fu Zhi: …
He clenched his fists, attempting to stop the two birds of a feather. “Mushroom poisoning can kill you! This isn’t a joke!”
Ning Xi gave Fu Zhi a glance, then nonchalantly continued discussing with Jiang Sheshe how to buy some.
If they live, they live; if they don’t, they’ll just die together.
[In this variety show, the real villains are actually Ning Xi and Jiang Sheshe.]
[The other guests: Do we have to die?]
[Ning Xi: Guaranteed.]
Just then, everyone received a message from the Program Team.
“Youai Village Chief: Our trip to Ling Village, full of childhood wonder, is drawing to a close. To thank all the villagers of Ling Village for their contributions, the eight guests need to prepare a special performance for them before leaving.
To better present the performance, the Program Team will select a Team Leader from the eight guests tonight. The Team Leader will be responsible for coordinating the division of labor and leading all guests to complete this performance!
Please come to Room 2 now to complete the Team Leader election!”
Room 2 was the house where Qin Se and Wei Xuan were staying tonight.
When Ning Mingyue arrived, she noticed the six sets of uncleaned tableware on the table, and her expression became somewhat subtle.
Did they all gather here for a meal and exclude only her and Shen Yibai?
Ning Mingyue’s gaze fell on Wei Xuan and Jiang Sheshe, wanting to see their reactions.
But Wei Xuan unusually avoided her gaze, looking like he didn’t want to talk at all.
As for Jiang Sheshe, she kept clutching her phone and shouting things like “mushrooms” and “I want to eat mushrooms,” not clinging to her at all like she used to.
Ning Mingyue felt inexplicably annoyed.
“Good evening, eight guests! The text message just now gave you a brief introduction to the reason for electing a Team Leader.
A Team Leader is not just a position, but a responsibility and an honor!
Considering that many guests might want to serve as the Team Leader, the Program Team has decided, after careful consideration, to adopt an election system. Guests who wish to run for Team Leader, please raise your hand!”
Director Qin finished his impassioned opening remarks and then looked at the eight people in the courtyard with anticipation.
A moment of silence followed.
No one raised their hand.
Director Qin’s smile stiffened slightly. He looked at Wei Xuan and signaled with his eyes: Aren’t you going to run?
[Wei Xuan is indeed the most suitable for Team Leader. He’s the oldest, has high EQ, strong communication skills, and gets along well with all the guests.]
[Right, right, right. When the show first started recording on the first day, Wei Xuan handled almost all the tasks of cueing the process. I’d feel at ease with him as Team Leader.]
However, Wei Xuan, who usually had the highest EQ and cooperated best with Director Qin, acted as if he hadn’t noticed Director Qin’s gaze at all.
Until Director Qin’s eyelid started twitching from the effort, he still didn’t raise his hand.
While massaging his twitching eye, Director Qin grumbled inwardly: So what if you went to Ning Mingyue just to borrow a toilet? Netizens will just laugh it off. Is he really that thin-skinned?
If Ning Xi felt like she couldn’t show her face in public just because some netizens mocked her, she wouldn’t have survived this long.
After venting his frustration, Director Qin turned his gaze toward Shen Yibai, hinting broadly, “Actually, sometimes a Team Leader doesn’t necessarily need to be slick or socially adept. As long as he’s steady enough to make the team members feel at ease, he can be a good Team Leader…”
But these words were like a drop of water falling into the ocean; they didn’t stir the slightest ripple in Shen Yibai’s eyes.
He stared back at Director Qin with a deadpan expression, his gaze so cold that Director Qin was the first to back down.
Director Qin took a deep breath and finally looked at Ning Mingyue.
“Then again, compared to male leaders, a female Team Leader is actually more considerate and pays more attention to detail…”
He had promised President Ning that he would promote Ning Mingyue. If she became the Team Leader, she would naturally get more screen time, and he would be able to give President Ning a satisfactory report.
However, after a moment of contemplation, Ning Mingyue avoided Director Qin’s gaze.
Director Qin: ? What’s wrong with you, kid?
Left with no choice, Director Qin went down the line, hinting to Xie Lanchen, Fu Zhi, and Jiang Sheshe one by one.
He didn’t even spare Qin Se, who had only been there for half a day.
But not a single one of them wanted to run for Team Leader!!!
Finally, Director Qin looked at Ning Xi in desperation.
“Actually, a Team Leader doesn’t necessarily have to take on a lot of responsibility. As long as she has a heart that wants to participate…”
[Wants to participate (×) Wants to meddle (√)]
However, Ning Xi, the usual hype-woman, was uncharacteristically quiet.
She was even lounging with her legs crossed, looking completely unbothered.
Don’t be ridiculous. She came to this variety show to be the emperor-those who follow her prosper, and those who oppose her perish. Anyone who pissed her off would get a slap to the face.
Taking on the burden of being Team Leader? What kind of joke was that?
“Fine! Since everyone is being so modest, ten minutes from now, everyone will participate in the Team Leader election!”
Director Qin took a deep breath and announced the bombshell news.
“I don’t want to!!!” Jiang Sheshe cried out in annoyance.
She didn’t want to waste her brain cells running for some Team Leader position!!!
Director Qin gave a cold snort, remaining unmoved.
Ten minutes later.
Ning Xi was designated by Director Qin as the first candidate to give a speech.
Ning Xi stood up, adjusted her non-existent skirt, and said to Director Qin, “Thank you, you lightning-struck do-gooder.”
Director Qin: ?
Ning Xi cleared her throat and began her speech.
“I want to thank Director Qin for his favor, and I also want to thank the other guests for all the help you’ve given me during the show.”
Director Qin nodded. This opening isn’t bad at all…
The other guests, however, all looked at Ning Xi in surprise.
Jiang Sheshe was the most confused. she muttered under her breath, “What did I ever help her with?”
[Ning Xi’s mom fans are relieved: The child has finally grown up; she even knows how to say polite pleasantries now.]
But clearly, everyone had celebrated too early.
Ning Xi’s next words were more explosive than the last.
“After all, a person cannot grow without experiencing hardships. I’ve encountered many hardships along the way. For example, all of you are the greatest hardships in my life. Let me first toast to all the hardships sitting here.”
With that, Ning Xi took a sip of water on her own.
The expressions of the crowd were varied.
Fu Zhi inexplicably felt like he was sitting on pins and needles.
Shen Yibai kept his eyes downcast and said nothing.
Ning Mingyue’s blinking speed increased slightly.
Jiang Sheshe felt a bit uneasy. Is Ning Xi calling her out?
Ning Xi continued her explosive speech. “As the saying goes, the strong never complain about their environment. But I am not a strong person. Not only do I complain about the environment, I complain about the strong too.”
“Because I know that as long as I’m willing to endure hardship, someone else will be the one enjoying the rewards. But as long as everyone else’s lives are harder than mine, I’ll feel much better.”