However, the moment she stepped out of the studio, Xiao Sese heard a faint sound of sobbing.
Shi Youran was clinging tightly to Song Beichen’s sleeve, muttering something under her breath. Xiao Sese crept over stealthily, but after catching what was being said, she clicked her tongue in boredom. It was the same old "white lotus" act—nothing but smearing her name, bad-mouthing her, and playing the victim by begging for comfort.
Feeling instantly disinterested, Xiao Sese walked right out to greet them. "Hello there! Doing okay? Or are you two like mice in the dark and cats sneaking a fish?"
"Ah!" Shi Youran let out a shriek. Turning to see Xiao Sese, she shouted in a mixture of shame and fury, "You scared me!"
Rong Yao happened to be passing by just then, standing to the side with an air of relaxed detachment, watching the scene unfold.
"Scared you?" Xiao Sese stood with her hands on her hips, snapping back, "I haven't even asked why you're bad-mouthing me behind my back. Is it because you’re so flat-chested in the front?"
"You... where am I flat?" Shi Youran deliberately puffed out her chest.
"You're not? You think those are big? Are they bigger than Rong Yao's?"
Rong Yao, dragged into this unexpectedly, silently puffed out a chest that clearly showed signs of regular workouts. "In terms of volume, there’s no comparison between her and someone like me who exercises all year round."
Xiao Sese gave a thumbs-up. *Impressive! One sentence to roast two people at once!*
Shi Youran: "..." *No! Are they both insane?! Saying that to a girl in front of a camera?!*
Indeed, Shi Youran had intentionally pulled Song Beichen over to bad-mouth Xiao Sese while standing in front of the cameras, her dark ambitions plain for all to see.
"I’m not trying to scare you; I’m warning you: stop spreading rumors about me."
Shi Youran’s face went pale. Before she could retort, Xiao Sese spoke again. "If I want to spread rumors, I’ll do it myself. I don’t trust anyone else to do it. Honestly, I wonder why I’ve been feeling so sexy lately—my hips are so perky they could balance a bottle of dirty water."
Xiao Sese turned with a flourish, sashaying away with a wiggle of her hips, looking exactly like the owner of a sexy maid outfit in a *Tom and Jerry* cartoon.
After walking a few steps, she noticed a figure behind her. A glance to the side revealed it was Rong Yao.
"Tell me, why weren't you scared earlier?"
"Scared of what?"
"The car accident! Don't think I didn't notice—everyone else climbed out of that car and hugged the telephone poles to throw up, but you? You didn't even change your expression."
Rong Yao curled his lips into a faint smile, a low, slightly sexy chuckle rising from his throat. "Because I knew you had a racing license."
"…Are you kidding me? You investigated me, man?!"
"Hmm?" Rong Yao looked perfectly innocent. "Why would you have such an absurd thought? Is it impossible to just… be interested in you?"
"！！！！!"
Director Wang: "！！！！!"
Live stream comments:
【！！！！！】
【Oh no!!! My girlfriend is having a heart attack!!!】
【It takes courage to watch this deranged variety show.】
【I knew Xiao Sese would cast a spell on him!】
【You must be truly desperate! You’ll eat anything!】
Xiao Sese hesitated for a second, looking Rong Yao up and down, her gaze sweeping over his sturdy arms, broad chest, and...
"Master Rong, if you want to pull strings to sleep with me, just say it. I might not refuse."
"..." Now it was Rong Yao’s turn to be speechless. "Xiao Sese, my life has been like a donkey-meat pancake—meeting you really was my Waterloo."
...
After a short break, Director Wang dutifully announced the next task. "Teachers, your next task is to split into two groups. Each group must find a way to earn 200 yuan within this resort to cover the cost of processing your lunch ingredients. Also, since Teacher Wang Qiang has recovered, he will continue participating in the show. Let’s begin the draw."
After the draw, Xiao Sese, Rong Yao, and Wang Qiang were in one group, while Song Beichen, Meng Lian, Li Shuer, and Shi Youran were in the other.
The two groups headed east and west respectively. While Song Beichen’s group searched for ways to make money, Xiao Sese took the lead, walking fast with a very clear destination in mind.
As time passed, the filming crew noticed a house nearby draped in white mourning banners, filled with the sound of sobbing.
Production team: ... Things are looking a bit ominous.
Xiao Sese’s eyes were deep. "Looks like I heard right. Someone is holding a funeral here."
Wang Qiang thought for a moment, then slapped his thigh, "Sis! You're so smart! You were afraid we wouldn't finish the task and would go hungry, so you brought us here to crash the funeral banquet, right!"
Xiao Sese smiled faintly, her red lips parting to say something truly shocking. "No, I brought you here to be professional mourners."
"..."
Production team (clutching their chests): *Don't do it, Ziwei!!*
Just as the production team and the staff sent by Director Wang were about to step in, Xiao Sese anticipated their move. Dodging through a crowd of staff members, she was incredibly agile. In the end, she even performed a "slide tackle" to slip between a staff member's legs.
The staff member stared blankly at his own crotch, while the earpiece crackled with Director Wang’s voice, which had cracked from shouting: "Go support Group 2! You must stop that madwoman!!!"
【My god, I’m exploding!】
【Is this woman trying to drive the whole planet crazy?】
【I don’t care! I’m a fan of her mental state now! Even if she were a piece of… well, I’d still taste it!】
【If she can do this, she’ll never go hungry in this life.】
【Xiao Trash! Stop harassing our movie star Rong and Wang Qiang!!】
【Please, let the kids go!!!!】
...
In the end, no one knew what Xiao Sese said to the host family, but they actually agreed to let the three of them mourn.
Wang Qiang looked at Xiao Sese, who had come to deliver the news with a joyful expression, and he swayed weakly. "Sis, I think I’m still a bit unwell."
"Is that so? They say that during a funeral, many wandering spirits like to join in the fun. If they encounter someone weak, they might even possess them."
Wang Qiang immediately suppressed a few coughs, patting his chest firmly. "I suddenly realized I’m in tip-top shape, I can eat anything! A little funeral mourning is no problem at all!"
Rong Yao frowned slightly, his handsome brows furrowing. "But I’m wearing a red shirt. Wouldn't that be disrespectful to the host family?"
Wang Qiang: "Right, right! I’m wearing dark red, too! I also feel like that’s not great! Sis, maybe we should find another way..."
Rong Yao (interrupting): "How about we change our clothes? Can you wait a moment?"
Wang Qiang: ... *My chest seems to hurt even more. Huff, I can't breathe.*
"No need for all that trouble. I came prepared." Xiao Sese finished, pulling three mourning cloths from behind her.
...
In the end, Wang Qiang and Rong Yao stood shirtless, draped only in thin mourning cloths that barely covered anything. Their fair, toned torsos, firm muscles, and visible veins made the viewers’ skin crawl with excitement.
But at this moment, Xiao Sese, whose mind was entirely focused on the "business," didn't have time to notice. She tried to drag the two men toward the front of the mourning hall, but Wang Qiang was stubborn and refused to budge.
Xiao Sese had no choice but to let go of their hands, slide to her knees at the front, and burst into a loud, wailing cry.
"Oh, oh, oh, oh! My dear mother!
At the first watch, I approach the Buddhist hall,
Thinking of the mother who gave me life.
My mother carried me for ten long months,
Wearing her face thin and yellow.
My mother toiled her whole life long,
Pouring her heart out for her children.
I shall chant the sutras and honor my parents,
Don't linger, mother, ascend to heaven now—ohhh!"