Chapter 77: World Two [47] Part 2

Pinning the seemingly higher-status party ruthlessly to the bed… such and such… just thinking about it was thrilling.

And the latest photo showing Shao Qing’s assertiveness and Jing Ke’s compliance made this batch of fans start howling with excitement, growing ever larger in number.

—

Fans and netizens passionately spoke their minds under Shao Qing’s post, acting as if they all knew no one else on the internet, their demeanor completely unrestrained.

Jing Ke and Shao Qing, still in the bathtub and not having come out yet, were, from a certain angle, actually in a state quite similar to the netizens—very relaxed and bold.

Phones and other obstructive items had been put aside, and they began sincere and candid exchanges. They seriously analyzed and examined the quality of the bathtub, such as whether its depth was appropriate, what its volume was, and how long it would take for hot water to fill it enough for a bath.

Since neither had any engagements the next day, the day after, or for the next twenty days, the two conducted a thorough investigation inside and out, finally concluding that the bathtub’s quality was quite satisfactory.

After two hours of on-site investigation in the bathroom, the two, now bearing a trace of moisture, finally returned to the bedroom to sleep.

“Don’t move. I’ve wanted to try this for a long time…” Shao Qing raised an eyebrow, pinning Jing Ke’s wrist beside her and measuring various aspects of her physique.

“I want to let those people know who’s really…” Shao Qing’s strange sense of competitiveness flared up again, the alcohol still in her system seeming to become more active after soaking in the hot water.

After letting Shao Qing mess around on the bed once, a certain string that had been restraining some of Jing Ke’s behavior seemed to snap. She no longer deliberately hid her skills to give Shao Qing more initiative.

Jing Ke began to use her strengths to seriously research bodily data, letting her experience her true capabilities. Since they didn’t need to work the next day, the battle only concluded once Shao Qing was completely exhausted. The final cleanup work was done entirely by Jing Ke alone.

The aftermath of investigating deep into the night was also very apparent. Whether it was Jing Ke or Shao Qing, both slept until nearly noon the next day.

If they hadn’t been constantly working out, getting up would likely have meant sore hands or aching backs, maybe even their legs giving out the moment they stepped out of bed.

—

After smoothly returning to the Small Villa in Sea City, Jing Ke and Shao Qing stayed holed up at home for several days. The things they needed were basically all delivered by delivery services.

If Sister Ke hadn’t said she was coming over, they probably would have continued indulging in their comfortable love nest.

“Hmm? The previous Wilderness Survival production team wants to invite me and Jing Ke as guests for the first episode?” Hearing the news Sister Ke brought, Shao Qing showed a confused look.

“Sister Ke, do you think there’s any need for us to participate in this show? The director’s attitude towards me was still quite average back then. If it weren’t for the help from Jing Ke and Teacher Yu, I would have become their tool for generating buzz.” Shao Qing frowned as she spoke, feeling some aversion in her heart.

“This first episode is rather special. It’s basically a crossover with a Love Observation Variety Show, and the Chief Director has already been replaced. They’re just borrowing the Wilderness Survival gimmick.” Sister Ke explained.

“Although the theme is still wilderness survival on an island, guests won’t need to complete very difficult tasks to earn resources. They just need to complete some couple synergy challenges with their bound teammates.”

Once Sister Ke pulled out the contract the other party had sent over, Jing Ke and Shao Qing finally understood exactly what kind of show she was talking about.

The latest season of Wilderness Survival had already been fully filmed and aired. Due to personal factors involving the former Chief Director, the original production team had been split into two, each with different filming ideas and creativity.

The former Chief Director continued filming guests suffering hardships, marketing the so-called “authenticity.”

The new Chief Director, however, felt that excessively making things difficult for the guests would only narrow the show’s path, completely detrimental to its future development. So they partnered with the already highly popular Love Observation Variety Show, adding more variety show elements and broadening the target audience.

Jing Ke and Shao Qing had actually heard of this Love Observation Variety Show before. It was the one directed by a friend of Qin Zheng, the Young Duke’s Stepmother, whom Shao Qing had met while filming “Who Is the Murderer?”

Jing Ke had initially considered investing in it, but the other party hadn’t encountered any financial difficulties, so the idea eventually came to nothing.

“But Sister Ke, both fans and netizens already know the relationship between me and Jing Ke very clearly. Do I really need to go on this variety show for the buzz?” Shao Qing tilted her body, leaning against Jing Ke.

She said lazily, “I finally just wrapped up filming. I want to lie around for a while. I don’t want to go back to work.”

“But their offered compensation is exceptionally high. Filming starts on the afternoon of the first day and ends by the morning of the third day. The appearance fee for both you and Boss Jing is five million each.” Sister Ke said.

“Oh, the appearance fee is…” Shao Qing instantly perked up, her eyes widening as she looked at Sister Ke. “Sister Ke, what did you just say? I don’t think I heard clearly?”

“The appearance fee for each person is five million, and that’s after tax.” Sister Ke added. “If the pay weren’t so high, I wouldn’t be disturbing you right now.”

Sister Ke: “And I’ve already discussed it with the production team. The contract can be signed on June 10th. By then, you will have already terminated your contract with Zongheng Entertainment, so the entire five million fee will belong solely to you.”

Earning five million in three days, an average daily pay of over a million… that sounded far too tempting.

You know, a hundred thousand was roughly enough to fully sponsor an impoverished student through university. With five million in hand, wouldn’t that mean she could provide a whole class of students with another path in life?

Shao Qing’s heart wildly wavered, but she was also very aware of who the production team was aiming for with this offer, so she turned her head to look at Jing Ke.

“Jing Ke, what do you think?” Shao Qing asked.

“Return rate is quite high. In principle, the time exposed in front of the camera is only two days.” Jing Ke said, her gaze falling onto a somewhat familiar island name. “I don’t mind taking a few days to complete the filming.”

Also, while she was at it, she could publicly show off her cooking skills, letting those fans know that her culinary skills were by no means inferior to Yu Hongjun’s.

“Sister Ke, how many people are participating in total?” Shao Qing asked.

“Liu Chang is a familiar face; he’s already confirmed participation. Besides him, there are Qin Zheng and Yao Lan, plus one more male guest yet to be confirmed.” Sister Ke said. “It’s not many. Including you two, that’s six people. You two count as a fixed CP, so the other four will probably be a free-for-all shuffle.”

Shao Qing hesitated briefly but, in the end, couldn’t resist the temptation of the five million, nodding in agreement.

—

Happy times are always brief. After taking care of the contract conclusion with Zongheng Entertainment, the agreed-upon date of June 10th was almost upon them.

After confirming that Jing Ke and Shao Qing would be participating, the production team started building hype three days in advance. After editing and sending out the relevant announcement, they planned to spend money to push the topic onto the trending chart.

However, the production team clearly underestimated the inherent buzz generated by Jing Ke and Shao Qing. Before they could even spend the money, the related topic had already shot up like a rocket, climbing its way onto the chart’s tail on its own steam.

【What? Qingqing-Wife is going on a variety show with Boss Jing? And it’s a fully live-streamed one?】

【Wow, Boss Jing is so loving! But can active personnel just appear on this kind of entertainment variety show?】

【Specially-Appointed Advisors are a bit special. You could say they are active personnel, or you could say they are auxiliary personnel. There’s flexibility.】

【I’m just a simple person. I want to watch Boss Jing and Shao Qing flaunt their love and then ruthlessly shower us with dog food.】

【Hehe, I love watching it too. I don’t have many other hobbies; I just like eating good stuff. The sweeter, the better.】

The results of three days of hype-building were also very significant. By the time Jing Ke and Shao Qing appeared in the Live Stream Room, the online viewer count quickly broke five million, charging towards ten million.

The filming location this time was still an island—not a domestic island, but a certain island abroad.

The reason given by the production team was also quite reasonable: to prevent domestic netizens from recognizing the specific address and coming to block them in person, they had chosen a foreign island suitable for vacationing.

【Did you all see the signboard that was just filmed? This island seems to be privately owned. Even if the production team only rented it for three days, it must have cost at least a million!】

【Three days for a million? That’s way too expensive!】

【Just pointing out, that “one million” isn’t referring to our national currency. It means one million in the local currency. Converted, that price is over six hundred times higher.】

【A quote like that is still fairly normal, actually. After all, this is an island that’s undergone deep development. Did you notice the dock just now? There are two yachts moored there; the production team probably rented the yachts too.】

【Whoa, there’s even an island villa! Can this still be called Wilderness Survival? Might as well rename it Island Vacation.】

It wasn’t just the viewers in the live stream who had this question. The several guests who smoothly arrived on the island and saw the architectural complex in its center also started wondering the same thing.

“Director, are you sure this is a wilderness setting meant for us to cultivate feelings, and not a vacation resort?” Liu Chang, who had brought over all his important equipment, couldn’t help but ask.

“Ahem, let me clarify. The buildings in the center of the island are privately owned by the island’s owner. We have no right to use them, at most we can only stand outside and take a photo.” The director announced through the megaphone.

“Teachers, did you notice the Cabin in the distance? That is the place where everyone will be staying during the filming period.”