Chapter 70
After breakfast, the guests took a bus to Fulu Mountain.
The journey was an hour long, a winding mountain road that went from the bottom of the mountain all the way to the halfway point.
On the bus, the director’s team asked, “Did the teachers sleep well last night?”
Everyone said they had slept well. The other four groups of guests looked fine, except for Shu Ran and her partner, who had huge dark circles under their eyes and were constantly looking at their phones.
When the camera was on the two of them, the live bullet screen was already filled with very few voices from Shu Ran’s fans. It was almost all scolding Shu Ran.
[Her character is not good, and she’s not even dedicated to her work.]
[Any one of the guests on this show is a bigger star than her. Everyone else is cooperating with the program team to record the program, but only she is playing with her phone. The money in the entertainment industry is really easy to earn.]
Shu Ran could no longer care about the comments on the bullet screen. Before she came, she had absolutely not thought that after just one night, her house would collapse so completely.
In fact, she really didn’t expect Qi Sijia and Meng Jiang to care about her little tricks.
If it was just a character collapse, at most her persona would collapse. Shu Ran still had loyal fans. When the popularity died down later, it wouldn’t be impossible for her to take the black and red route.
But the problem was that she had secretly hyped up her relationship with Qi Sijia online. For some reason, this matter had provoked Meng Jiang. This morning, on the highest awards stage, Meng Jiang had bluntly said that she would ban Shu Ran from the film industry.
A famous actress’s energy might not be that great, but Meng Jiang was not only a famous actress, she was also the boss of Meng Luo, the eldest daughter of the Meng family in Beicheng. She was a woman who had monopolized more than half of the entertainment industry.
In the capital circle now, who didn’t look at her face when doing things?
The phone call just now was from Shu Ran’s manager. The company had offended someone they shouldn’t have by issuing a statement for Shu Ran, and its reputation was already ruined.
Shu Ran’s sugar mama, President Qian, had said that she would not care about her anymore.
“Then what should I do, sister? Give me a way out.”
Shu Ran had not thought that the consequences would be so serious. She was almost sobbing as she asked for help.
After all, her manager had been with her for half a year. It was not easy to produce a popular top female star. The company had not completely said that they would ban Shu Ran.
So the manager said to Shu Ran, “This time, Meng Jiang and Qi Sijia are both on the show. Choose an appropriate opportunity to apologize. Remember to be sincere and don’t be smart and slander others. You can’t bear the consequences.”
After Shu Ran hung up the phone, she knew fear for the first time. Her eyes were red, and she had no mood to record the program. Even when the fan club president next to her handed her a glass of water, she did not take it.
Over there, after the director had finished advertising for the sponsors, he said, “Next, we are going to Fulu Mountain for a five-day, four-night trip. To ensure the quality of life of all the guests, please count the basic funds of each group.”
“What’s there to count? It’s just five ten-yuan bills,” Qin Huanhuan said sarcastically to the program team.
For the effect of the program, the other guests took out the red envelope, laid it on their laps, and with a look of disgust, they had the follow-up director film the basic funds.
Because the program team was extremely stingy, the guests didn’t even want to talk to the program team.
Just now, Professor Yu’s student, Zhou Lu, was going to use fifty yuan to buy a box of instant noodles, but the crew deliberately raised the price. Everyone saw it, and now they had no expectations for the basic funds.
“Teachers, don’t be discouraged. We are a very humanized program. We won’t let the guests starve. Everyone can cook for themselves or get survival materials by playing games.”
The director said, “Of course, for each group of guests, the basic funds are not always the same. The group that lies the least every day will have their basic funds doubled according to the situation. The doubled basic funds can be used to trade with the local villagers. You can buy any items other than food. In addition, to highlight, the local prices are very cheap.”
No one paid any attention to him. For the next five days and four nights, the program team would provide accommodation. Except for food, which was the most scarce thing at the moment, everyone had brought daily necessities in their suitcases, and there was almost no extra consumption.
“Director, don’t waste time. Let’s just move on to the next part. No matter how you introduce the basic funds, it’s useless if you can’t exchange them for food.”
“Not necessarily.”
Qi Sijia seriously observed the meaningful expression on the director’s face and thoughtfully put away the fifty yuan basic funds.
“I heard that the teachers all knew each other before. To promote the feelings between the teachers, everyone can chat in the car. Remember to tell the truth, otherwise, the basic funds will be deducted according to the number of lies.”
[Exciting, they’re starting to cause trouble.]
[I told you so. Last season, the guests started to be at odds with each other as soon as they met. This season, there are so many short essays online, but all the big shots seem to be fine with Qi Sijia. Last night, after Shu Ran’s rumor marketing, I even started to doubt if those short essays were fake. How do these people look like they have grudges and enmities?]
[Look quickly, the program team has made Qi Sijia sit in the front and back rows with the other guests. Begin! Mute!]
“Teacher Qi, please sit in the front row,” the program team greeted.
Hearing this, Qi Sijia walked to the middle of the four groups of guests and sat down.
“What do you want to talk about?” As soon as she turned on the microphone, the camera turned to the other guests. Everyone almost subconsciously looked up at Qi Sijia.
After discovering the program team’s camera, they withdrew their gazes in unison. The only difference was that their sitting posture was much more upright than before.
[It’s awkward. No one answered.]
[Hahahaha, how did Teacher Qi do it? At this time, I’m even embarrassed for her, but she can be so calm and indifferent.]
[Am I the only one who noticed that Teacher Qi’s tone was very serious when she asked this question? It doesn’t feel like she’s joking or just dealing with the crew’s errands.]
[Let me tell you something that will get me cursed. After watching one episode, I found that Teacher Qi is a very well-mannered person. Although her expression is very bland and she looks cold and aloof, it doesn’t make people feel that she’s insincere. Her behavior is low-key and calm. No matter what the director’s team or the guests say, she is very patient in listening to everyone’s speech. She’s like a pot of tea, not too hot or too cold, calm in the face of honor or disgrace. You have to chew it slowly to taste the long aftertaste of the tea, which makes people feel a sense of peace and tranquility. The other guests also seem to like her very much.]
[Upstairs is scheduled to be cursed.]
[Hold me tight, sisters.]
…
After five minutes of awkward silence, the director showed a helpless expression.
He could only have the little assistant come forward to lead the rhythm and liven up the atmosphere.
The camera first went to Liang Kun.
“Wow, does Brother Liang also play the survival game?”
Liang Kun put away his phone and said to the little assistant, “Don’t talk nonsense. I was just thinking about how to greet Teacher Qi. Where do I have time to play with my phone?”
Liang Kun was indeed not playing a game, just a screenshot of a female character on his phone screen.
Xiao Ya quickly smiled and clarified for Liang Kun, then blinked and said, “Then have you figured out how to greet her?”
Liang Kun said half-jokingly, “I haven’t thought about it yet. Why don’t you help me and start a topic?”
As soon as he said this, Qin Huanhuan couldn’t help but sneer. “This is not like you. Qi Sijia is not your ex. No matter how big your grudge is, it’s not to the point where you don’t even dare to go up and greet her. Are you a coward?”
Liang Kun’s emotionless face looked back at Qin Huanhuan and said faintly, “You too.”
“You—”
[My god, this atmosphere, why does it feel like they’re fighting for favor?]
[So melodramatic, so intoxicating.]
[But that’s not right. Among Teacher Qi’s exes, there’s no famous actor Liang. And Teacher Qi likes women.]
[I have a bold guess. Could my brother be a woman disguised as a man?]
[Then may I ask if anyone has ever seen a female King Kong with biceps and a height of 1.85 meters? Ahhh, don’t bring up this topic anymore. I have a picture, and it’s blinding.]
The atmosphere began to become tense. The little assistant was in a dilemma and was about to cast a pleading look at Qi Sijia.
Over there, Professor Yu straightened her black-rimmed glasses and, taking the lead, handed the book she had just been reading from the back seat to Qi Sijia.
“Last time I met Auntie Wei, I heard that you’ve been free recently,” Yu Qian said. “Do you want to study the cultivation techniques of red ginseng with me?”
Qi Sijia did not take the book that was handed to her. She glanced at it without being moved. In front of her was an encyclopedia called Techniques for Building Red Ginseng Greenhouses. It was probably a few thousand pages thick.
According to Yu Qian’s reading speed, she had probably only read a third of it.
To finish one book would probably take a few months, and there were too many professional terms. She would also have to check materials during this period.
Qi Sijia glanced at her and refused without even thinking. “I’m not reading it.”
“Why?” A hint of hurt flashed across Yu Qian’s face.
“You can find someone else.”
She never expected her to refuse so decisively. Yu Qian took a deep breath, and her words perhaps carried a bit of personal emotion.
“Qi Sijia… you weren’t like this before.”
It was quiet all around. Even the other two guests who were needling each other in the left car seat had stopped arguing and were all looking at the two of them.
The air was so quiet that you could even hear a pin drop.
Originally thinking that Qi Sijia would not continue this sensitive topic, she slowly smoothed out the wrinkles on her sweatshirt, suddenly looked up at Yu Qian, and still said in that slow and deliberate tone, “The past is the past. Whether it’s to avoid suspicion or out of respect for my lover, I have no reason to study academic problems with my ex. It’s not appropriate, and it shouldn’t be.”
Qi Sijia had said it very clearly.
She had no lingering feelings at all. In fact, there were no lingering feelings to speak of.
The two of them had met in an academic exchange forum. At that time, Qi Sijia was setting the worldview for a farming drama and needed to read a lot of agricultural knowledge.
She had spent money to buy an account on the agricultural science institute’s forum and had found a big shot to answer her questions. She had met Yu Qian, who was very knowledgeable and would answer any question she had.
After a while, they became familiar and exchanged social media accounts.
A month later, the two of them met by chance at a bookstore.
Qi Sijia had proposed an experimental direction for grafting sweet potatoes onto pumpkin vines to Yu Qian, and the next day, Yu Qian had asked Qi Sijia if she wanted to try dating.
I don’t know how to describe the way they got along. One of them was socially anxious, and the other was a workaholic.
Yu Qian even knew that Qi Sijia had some psychological problems.
The two of them never talked about sex, and all their conversations were about knowledge exchange.
Perhaps because Yu Qian was similar to Qi Sijia in both her bones and her posture, they were too alike. After confirming their relationship, they had met once at a bookstore and had not even planned to meet a second time.
Their usual communication also did not have any life topics other than academic exchange.
The dating process was cold, and the breakup was also cold.
A month later, Yu Qian was urged by her family to go on a blind date. She told Qi Sijia that she was going to get married in the future.
Because she felt that it was difficult for girls to be intimate with girls, she hoped to only have a spiritual communication with Qi Sijia.
These words were really scummy. Qi Sijia was in a muddle at that time, and of course, it was not out of the question that she herself was also a scumbag. In short, later, Qi Sijia blocked Yu Qian.
That sentence, “It’s disgusting for girls to be intimate with girls,” had offended Qi Sijia. Because if you don’t like it, you should take the initiative to put away all your curiosity and stay away from this circle, instead of telling the person you like about your disgust after an experiment.
It’s like, you can not like to eat watermelon, but you can’t say in front of someone who likes to eat watermelon that what you’re eating is shit.
“You have a lover?” Yu Qian opened her mouth and asked again. Normally, she would not continue this topic. She knew that she was in the wrong when they broke up, and she had never thought of getting anything.
But when the news of Qi Sijia’s marriage came out online, Yu Qian found that she actually couldn’t let go of this person at all. She wanted to see her, or to confirm that she was indeed married, so that she could give up.
But before she could even see Qi Sijia’s lover, she was faced with being coldly rejected by Qi Sijia. A secret shame and annoyance was hidden in Yu Qian’s ears. It was very embarrassing and shameful.
She was the kind of intellectual woman. Her features were not particularly outstanding. In a car full of handsome men and beautiful women, she could be considered ordinary. But her scholarly aura was very strong, she was highly educated, and she spoke elegantly.
This kind of person was not very fond of tearing face and talking to the point where there was no room for maneuver.
To be able to ask “you have a lover” was probably the only bit of unwillingness that Yu Qian could ask about her feelings.
Qi Sijia did not hesitate at all and replied, “Yes.”
“Can she accept you and her…”
“Yu Qian!” Qi Sijia interrupted her, her tone a little heavy. “Don’t talk like that. You’ve offended me, and you’ve offended her. You know better than I do what happened when we broke up.”
Yu Qian opened her mouth and said, “I know.”
Then she held her book and sat back in her original seat. Throughout the whole process, her student, Zhou Lu, saw it all. Her eyes widened, and she turned her gaze to Yu Qian.
“Teacher, are you okay? Teacher Qi is too cruel…”
Yu Qian suddenly turned her head to look at her and said word by word, “When we broke up back then, it was my fault. It has nothing to do with her.”
Then she said softly to Qi Sijia’s back, “I’m sorry.”
Ye Qianqian watched from the side without blinking. She was so amused that she took a video and sent it to Meng Jiang.
She said, not minding the trouble, “If you were here, you would probably be furious.”
A few minutes later, Meng Jiang sent a half-smiling emoji. [I’m already furious.]
Ye Qianqian held her phone and was overjoyed.
At this time, the bullet screen was almost exploding.
[Fuck, fuck.]
[6666666]
[Did all of Qi Sijia’s fans see that? Yu Qian is Qi Sijia’s ex. Are there still people who say we’re writing short essays to blacken your Teacher Qi?]
[It’s just an ex. We’ve never denied that Teacher Qi has had an ex. What’s wrong?]
[Her lover doesn’t even mind. Why are netizens so nosy?]
[Besides, for an ex who has broken up, keeping a distance, there’s nothing wrong with the teacher’s approach.]
In a bunch of bullet screen arguments about whether Qi Sijia was a scumbag, a bolded and red bullet screen floated by.
[Friends, big news. The original blogger of the short essay about Professor Yu and Qi Sijia’s relationship has deleted the post.]
[?]
[?]
[Why?]
[I smell the smell of power.]
[Copy and paste the original blogger’s statement: Sorry, dear netizens, I’ve only just deleted the post now. My original intention was not to spread rumors about Professor Yu and Teacher Qi’s scandal. I believe everyone has seen that the post was updated two years ago.
When I wrote that story, most of it was out of my own imagination. In fact, I don’t know much about the teacher and her ex’s affairs, and I don’t even know why they broke up. Out of a sense of injustice for the teacher, I fabricated the whole story.
But today, I have learned the whole story. Here, I would like to solemnly apologize to the public and Teacher Qi. Before knowing the truth, it is extremely foolish to bring a real-life person into a fictional world. I’m sorry for the trouble I’ve caused you.
Regarding the love story of Professor Yu and her ex, Teacher Qi, I have three clarifications here:
First, Teacher Qi is very good and has been a great help to Professor Yu. Their relationship only lasted for a month and a half. They met once, and there were no intimate actions throughout the whole process. All their communication was limited to the sweet potato grafting technique. In addition, the mistake of the breakup lies with my teacher.
Second, my teacher highly respects Teacher Qi. The other person is an extremely charming and restrained lady, and her outlook on life is worth learning from for everyone. Of course, if Teacher Qi’s statement that she has a lover is to reject Professor Yu, the professor said that she will still try to fight for it.
Third, regarding the online rumors that Teacher Qi is a scumbag, my teacher and I do not believe a single word.]
