Chapter 19 – Saying One Thing and Meaning Another
Seeing the person he liked being bullied like this, Luan Yuanzhou finally couldn’t take it anymore. He slammed the table and stood up, his Film Emperor demeanor long gone. He glared coldly at Lin Ganzhi. “Lin Ganzhi, don’t take things too far!”
Harassing him frequently during filming was one thing, but now he was hurting Zhong Jingyi. His disgust for this person had reached its peak.
Wenren Yi really couldn’t stand this person’s blatant lies and was about to help her brother out, but Lin Ganzhi reached out and tugged on her sleeve. Did she really need her brother to step in for such a small matter?
Lin Ganzhi looked up at the extremely pale Luan Yuanzhou. Upon closer inspection, he was handsome, but he was far from being comparable to Yan Shengping. With a top-tier specimen like Yan Shengping around, Lin Ganzhi was completely immune to the charms of others.
Wait, why did he keep comparing people to his boss? No, his boss was his god, his white moonlight, but he could not be his partner!
Lin Ganzhi composed his expression, looked up, and gave Luan Yuanzhou a super innocent look. “How was I going too far? Didn’t Film Emperor Zhong say he had no appetite? Or did I misunderstand him? Is he actually a big eater? Was everything he just said an act?”
Um…
The air was silent for a few seconds.
Zhong Jingyi tremblingly reached out and grabbed Luan Yuanzhou. “Yuanzhou, it’s okay. What Ganzhi said just now was right. I really don’t have an appetite. I’ve been too tired recently, and eating makes me feel uncomfortable.”
Brilliant!
Wenren Yi gave Lin Ganzhi a look.
Lin Ganzhi accurately caught it. Heh, you little rascal~
For the rest of the time, the people at the table ate a little, but still didn’t dare to eat much. After all, the cameras were there, and eating too much could be used by malicious people to create news. To save face, Zhong Jingyi didn’t eat anything from beginning to end, but he couldn’t help but drink a few more glasses of red wine.
When Lin Ganzhi caught a glimpse of this out of the corner of his eye, he showed a knowing expression.
Drinking to drown one’s sorrows, huh~
Lin Ganzhi and Wenren Yi didn’t need to worry at all. One was already thoroughly slandered, and the other was an unknown. They devoured the food on the table like a whirlwind, completely without restraint, which made Zhong Jingyi’s gaze even more resentful.
Before disembarking, Director Fang brought out a box for drawing lots to form teams.
This time, Lin Ganzhi’s luck was unprecedentedly good. He actually ended up in a group with Wenren Yi and Que Jin. Zhong Jingyi, Luan Yuanzhou, and that dimwitted host Fan Feimiao were in a group, and Luo Tingyun, Qi Lan, and Bi Wu were in another.
After landing, the group looked at the deserted island, which didn’t even have any lights. Even though they were mentally prepared, they were still somewhat surprised. The salty sea breeze hit everyone, making the scene feel particularly desolate.
Several of them had participated out of respect for Director Fang. After all, as a veteran director in the variety show industry, Director Fang’s past achievements overseas were well-known. This was his first major variety show after returning to the country. If it weren’t for the high risk factor, a whole bunch of people would probably be clamoring to join.
But the result proved that Director Fang either didn’t play, or when he did, he played big.
They arrived on shore at almost exactly eight o’clock. Director Fang gestured to them, indicating that the live broadcast was about to begin.
This was the first live variety show in the country. When it started broadcasting at eight o’clock sharp, the live stream room almost crashed. Fans and unbiased netizens flooded in.
[Why is it pitch black? Where are the people?]
[Ahhh, I want to see my little Yi!]
[I saw Lin Ganzhi on the guest list. Is that for real? What’s that white lotus doing here? Is he here to bring disaster to my Yi-zai?]
…
Zhuang Wenduan watched as the bullet comments on his phone almost completely covered the screen. He picked up the walkie-talkie and signaled to Director Fang. The production team turned on a strong light, illuminating an area of about five meters.
The nine guests stood in their teams.
Seeing the evening gowns on seven of them, the bullet comments were filled with “hahahahaha.”
[Is our little Yi-zai so clueless that he thought he was coming to a ball? But Yi-zai’s outfit today is so beautiful~]
[Sister Que Jin, even so, I still have to say you are the most beautiful today!]
[Luan Yuanzhou, you have to be good to Yi-zai!]
[Bi Wu and Qi Lan are YYDS!]
[Am I the only one who thinks Fan Feimiao looks like a Christmas turkey today? Hahahahaha!]
[I can’t believe Luo Tingyun is here!!!]
[I want to know who the young lady next to Lin Ganzhi is. Her androgynous style totally hits my kink.]
[Am I the only one who thinks Lin Ganzhi and Wenren Yi next to him have a style that best suits the island?]
[To the person above, why are you praising Lin Ganzhi? Is he worthy?]
…
Zhuang Wenduan glanced through the comments and saw that most of those mentioning Lin Ganzhi were cursing him. This kid had it tough, getting the lowest pay and the harshest criticism. But that was fine. Who told him to make things difficult for Jingyi on the boat?
A wicked smile appeared on Zhuang Wenduan’s face.
“Ahem, good evening to all our viewers in the live stream room. Welcome to the first episode of ‘Survive!’, Island Survival. I believe you all know our guests. Now, I will briefly explain the rules for both the viewers and the guests.”
“We will provide some props for the guests every day. You can also barter for things. Your goal for this week is to survive. Tonight, we have prepared two options for our guests. The first is a sleeping bag. In short, survive tonight first.”
“Assistant Director Zhuang, you’re being too vague! If we get pinched by a crab while sleeping in the sleeping bag, will you be responsible?” Fan Feimiao, as the host, was the first to liven up the atmosphere.
The bullet comments were split between cursing Lin Ganzhi and laughing.
“If a crab is willing to pinch you, you should feel lucky. It’s an extra meal!” Zhuang Wenduan lazily said the most ruthless words.
But this sentence caused the group of guests to burst into laughter.
Yan Shengping logged into the live stream room at five past eight, his expression slightly displeased.
He thought he could just watch the live stream on Weibo, but he didn’t expect to have to download an app. This kind of thing had never appeared in his dictionary. After much hesitation, he finally called Tian Nini.
“That live stream room, how do I get in?”
The sound on Tian Nini’s end was very loud. “CEO Yan, what did you say?! I’m having a home party with my friends. We’re all watching Ganzhi’s show live.”
“Ganzhi! Remember to get me Luo Tingyun’s autograph!” A shout came from the noisy musical background of the phone call.
“Feibai, quiet down!” Tian Nini shouted. “CEO Yan, please speak louder.”
Yan Shengping resisted the urge to hang up and said in the loudest voice he had ever used on the phone, “How do I get into Lin Ganzhi’s show’s live stream room!!!”
As Yan Shengping spoke, the noisy sounds on the other end of the phone suddenly quieted down.
Um…
Yan Shengping’s several confidants ripped the ties from their heads and looked nervously at Tian Nini, who was on the phone. Would CEO Yan silence them for hearing this?
Tian Nini cleverly made a “shh” gesture. Everyone nodded in assurance and quieted down.
Yan Shengping: “Why did it suddenly get quiet over there?”
“Hey, CEO Yan, we had a power outage over here. It’s just me and Feibai watching. Feibai, Feibai? This kid, how did he get so drunk? He won’t even wake up when I call him.”
Chi Feibai, who was holding his tenth bottle of whiskey without even a flush on his face, started snoring expressionlessly.
Just as Yan Shengping was about to relax, he became suspicious again. “You just said you were all watching? Just the two of you?”
“No, there are more!”
The confidants’ hearts were in their throats. Tian Nini gestured with his eyes to his three masters on the cat tree.
Several confidants, having lost their conscience to save their own lives, quickly went over and woke up the cats.
“Meow!”
The cat masters: C’mon, be a human!
Only then did Yan Shengping relax. “I need to download an app. Tell me the process, and also the important things to note about the live stream room.”
As Yan Shengping spoke, his fingers curled, and he couldn’t help but add, “He insisted that I watch. I’m worried he’ll ask me about it when he gets back, and if I can’t answer, he’ll make a fuss and affect my work.”
Ah, yes, yes, you have more excuses than snowflakes in the northeast.
Tian Nini’s words were insincere as he agreed to everything. If it weren’t for that little—ah, no, that much—salary, he would have pointed at his boss’s nose and cursed him for being a hopeless tsundere long ago.
When Yan Shengping logged in, he saw Lin Ganzhi standing at the end of the line, wearing flip-flops, a large white T-shirt, and tropical shorts. His right foot was restlessly pawing at the sand beneath him. The cold light on his skin seemed to give off a faint glow.
As if sensing something, he suddenly looked at the camera. Before Yan Shengping could react, the corners of his eyes curved, his gaze tender, his pupils seeming to hold a light. His little pink hair fluttered gently in the sea breeze, and the corners of his mouth lifted into the same smile he usually gave him.
Yan Shengping’s fingers curled uncontrollably. He turned his head and coughed softly.
When he looked at the bullet comments again,
[Did Lin Ganzhi just smile?]
[Yes, at us?]
[Heh, he’s clearly trying to seduce us, that white lotus! Does he think I’ll fall for it?]
[Does he think he can compete with my Yi-zai’s persona just by wearing less makeup? In his dreams!]
Yan Shengping wasn’t very good at sending bullet comments, but seeing the screen full of nonsense, he felt somewhat uncomfortable. That fool might not have a serious bone in his body, but when he smiled, he was good-looking.
As Yan Shengping thought this, his fingers unconsciously typed out a sentence and sent it.
[He has a nice smile.]
As soon as this was said, it formed a sharp contrast with the one-sided bullet comments. CEO Yan, sending a bullet comment for the first time in a live stream room, was met with a barrage of criticism!
[Ha, the person above must be one of Lin Ganzhi’s brain-dead fans. Since you’re a fan of the big white lotus, let’s just call you Little White Lotus. Last time, Yi-zai spoke up for the white lotus, and even though it was a misunderstanding, he kept it from Yi-zai, causing Yi-zai to be ridiculed after posting that long article. The white lotus is so annoying, and his fans are no better. Sisters, attack him!]
Yan Shengping looked at the ugly words popping up in the bullet comments and angrily picked up his phone to call Tian Nini.
“You there? Get some people to do some comment control.”
Um, boss, just two minutes ago you were a novice who didn’t even know how to use the software. How did you learn to apply the theory so quickly after I taught you a little?
As a competent go-getter, Tian Nini could only look at the muted live stream with a weary heart and teach his boss bit by bit that you can’t just do whatever you want just because you have money. He didn’t understand his boss at all. He could completely ignore it when he was being slandered by the entire internet before, but why was he so concerned now that Ganzhi was just participating in a variety show?
Could the power of love be that great?
Tsk, the sour stench of love is truly disgusting~
Meanwhile, Lin Ganzhi, who was on the scene and couldn’t see the bullet comments, could only smile at the camera every five minutes to express his loyalty at all times. He just didn’t know if Yan Shengping was really watching his live stream, or if he was just playing along.
A flicker of disappointment that even he didn’t notice passed through Lin Ganzhi’s eyes.
After the guests finished speaking, Zhuang Wenduan continued, “As for the second option, we won’t give you a sleeping bag. The production team will give you a flashlight and a machete. Now, everyone, please look at the coconut trees behind you.”
The production team’s lights brightened a little, just enough to see the four-to-five-meter-tall coconut trees about fifty meters behind them.
“You can also choose to pick coconuts. Five coconuts can be exchanged for one tent, which comes with its own bedding. Of course, if you don’t manage to pick five, then you’ll have to sleep on the sand tonight.”
As soon as he finished speaking, a chorus of wails erupted.
“Alright, you now have three minutes for a team discussion. The team captain will choose the plan in the end.”
Lin Ganzhi and Wenren Yi took Que Jin to the other side. Of course, the cameraman would follow them.
“Let’s pick a team captain first,” Que Jin said, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear. Although she said that, her gaze was fixed on Lin Ganzhi.
Wenren Yi also cast an intrigued look.
Lin Ganzhi swayed his little pink head, his mind blank as he looked at the two of them: ???
“Alright, it’s decided. You’re our team captain,” Wenren Yi immediately decided, pointing at Lin Ganzhi.
Que Jin also smiled and nodded.
Lin Ganzhi, who hadn’t said anything, finally managed to speak. “Why did you choose me?”
“Because you know how to grow vegetables. You look like you can feed yourself,” Wenren Yi teased.
Que Jin also smiled mischievously and nodded, reaching out to pat the tuft of hair that was sticking up on Lin Ganzhi’s head. In her heart, she was quite fond of this little brother. She felt that he wasn’t like what the internet said.