Chapter 22: You Go Mad for Love, and We Are Left to Scavenge?

Yu Zhi’s ears were practically calloused from Jiang Weicheng’s incessant nagging. She slumped onto her bed and tossed her phone aside.

"Get to the point!"

Jiang Weicheng used the remote to switch off the TV in front of him. "Yu Zhi, are you planning to boycott the recording tomorrow?"

Tsk, Jiang Weicheng really understood her all too well.

Yu Zhi turned over, her voice laced with a hint of lethargy. "Little Jiang, you know your Sister Zhi is hopelessly lovesick. There’s nothing I can do now; I’ll just have to wait for Shi Hailing to push some resources my way."

Jiang Weicheng grew anxious. "What kind of nonsense are you spouting? Yesterday you said you had a plan, and today you’re just leaving it to fate?"

"Yu Zhi! You can’t be this irresponsible! This production team was assembled specifically for you. If you bail, what are we supposed to do? You can’t expect us to trail behind you picking up scraps just because you, our great star, are lovesick!"

Yu Zhi paused for a moment. Jiang Weicheng, picking up scraps? The mental image was too vivid to even contemplate.

Switching the topic, Yu Zhi mocked, "Jiang Weicheng, don't tell me you’ve been kicked to the curb?"

Jiang Weicheng felt a lump in his throat. Yu Zhi’s schadenfreude made him realize he had truly chosen the wrong path.

"Don't put it so harshly. It’s you and us who have been kicked to the curb together!"

Yu Zhi: ...

Is there a difference? Does dragging her along somehow elevate the prestige?

"Then what are your plans for the aftermath?"

"I’m thinking about going to beg Director Li for forgiveness to see if he’ll give you a supporting role."

A face twisted with malice suddenly flashed through Yu Zhi’s mind. "Is your brain full of noodles?"

"What did you say?"

"If there are no noodles in your head, why is it filled with mush? If you die, don't come calling for me in my dreams."

Director Li, Li Zheng, had been hospitalized for months after she beat him up. If Jiang Weicheng really went to find him, he’d likely be skinned alive. Or perhaps, he would be jumped by others and still walk away with nothing to show for it.

"Yu Zhi, can’t you wish me something good for once?" Jiang Weicheng was understandably anxious. Yu Zhi had been off the grid for two years, relying solely on entertainment news to maintain her heat. The scripts provided by the company usually ended up falling through—either the co-stars had issues, or they got stuck in the censorship process. Even the shows that finally aired were sabotaged by the company, denying them any promotion.

"If you hadn't offended people while you were at the height of your fame, why would you have ended up with only Shanming willing to take you in? And now, even Shanming doesn't want you! You have no roles left to play!!!"

Jiang Weicheng spoke with earnest, stinging words, poking at Yu Zhi’s pain points, but all he heard in response was a laugh.

"Jiang Weicheng, I’ve already listened to you and joined this dating show. Are you now telling me I have to rely on myself?"

His hand tightened around the phone. Did she have to be so sharp?

With his first tactic failing, Jiang Weicheng adjusted his stance and said bluntly, "There is another variety show..."

The busy signal coming from the receiver made Jiang Weicheng tangibly feel Yu Zhi’s attitude.

Yu Zhi hung up the phone and pushed the matter to the back of her mind. Jiang Weicheng was truly insatiable. This dating show was already infuriating enough; having one person after another from her past appear before her seemed to drag her back into those intense, sticky summer days.

***

The sky had not yet fully brightened; the fog was dense, the low bushes in the small courtyard were dark silhouettes, and the air was thick with drifting mist.

Yu Zhi tidied up the room and opened the door. The courtyard was damp, and the air was filled with the refreshing scent of earth, which was quite refreshing.

However, there was an eyesore standing in the middle of the yard.

"I’ve come to apologize to you."

"Well, fancy that. What mistake has our Young Master Shen made? How could I possibly deserve an apology from you?" Yu Zhi sneered, her clear, beautiful voice dripping with sarcasm.

Shen Jiayu wore a mask, his eyes unfocused, as if staring into the void. "Xia Shuang didn't do anything wrong. You don’t need to be at odds with her. Take your anger out on me instead, can you?"

The trash bag in Yu Zhi’s hand twitched, but before she could act, Shen Jiayu suddenly tripped to the side. "Seeing something unclean first thing in the morning is truly bad luck."

Zhou Su, who had been watching the scene with narrowed eyes, waved his hands near his ears. "Haha, what a coincidence! Zhizhi, you’re up so early too?"

Yu Zhi hadn't wanted to pay any mind to Shen Jiayu in the first place. Seeing that Zhou Su had already reacted, she didn't even glance at him and walked away.

"Follow me, you lunatic!"

Zhou Su agreed, and as he passed Shen Jiayu, he gave him a couple more kicks.

Shen Jiayu remained expressionless, bending down to brush the dirt off his pants. Just a few kicks; it was no big deal.

The two followed close behind. Along the way, Zhou Su chattered non-stop in Yu Zhi’s ear, to which she occasionally gave a perfunctory response.

When they reached the program’s gathering spot, the other guest groups were already waiting. Several woven baskets were placed beside the director, their contents hidden beneath thick covers.

"Everyone is here! We’ll distribute the partners in a moment, but first, let me announce today’s itinerary."

"Your only task for today is to go to the small market next to Hengxi Village and help the grandpas and grandmas sell these vegetables. The money you earn belongs to you."

"After the vegetables are sold, your time is your own, but it must be related to dating."

"Before you set off, you can use your points to exchange for some cash. Since it concerns your expenses for the day, decide carefully."

"The exchange rate is 1:10."

Yu Zhi thought about her performance yesterday and figured she wouldn't be in first place. So, she left the partner assignment to the director and stood to the side, silent.

Indeed, the points leader from yesterday was Li Ze.

Yu Zhi raised an eyebrow. If not for the accident yesterday, she could have snatched at least 30% of Li Ze’s points.

This jerk didn't play by the rules.

Everyone focused their gaze on Li Ze, waiting for his choice.

"I choose Teacher Yu."

Yu Zhi wasn't surprised at all. He had chased her the whole way; now that he finally had a chance to be alone with her, how could he possibly let it slip by?

However, the good news was that Bai Fuyuan had successfully become partners with Gu Qing.

The bad news, however, was that she might not be able to see how they interacted.

Still, it was a bit of a pity.

The production crew left as quickly as ever, leaving only two or three staff members behind to assist the guests.

The staff member who had driven them into the village last time rode up leisurely. "Same old rules, anyone interested?"

The group fell silent. The director had just said the market was next to Hengxi Village, which meant it must be quite far. Was he trying to rob them of their remaining points right on the road?

The image of them holding baskets while waiting to ride in the car was just too ridiculous.

[Hahahaha, my new couple avatar! Mom, it’s too funny!]

[I feel like the atmosphere between the male guests is even more harmonious than yesterday.]

[Professor Li, you finally won over Sister Yu. I’m so happy for you!]

[I hope Li Ze can bring us some different kind of joy. Hahahaha, Zhou Su almost made us laugh to death yesterday.]

Since one car couldn't hold everyone plus the items, only the groups of Shi Hailing and Bai Fuyuan left in the first trip.

Strangely enough, Xia Shuang’s partner today was still Shen Jiayu. Yu Zhi thought to herself that this was perhaps a stroke of luck amidst the misfortune.