Chapter 156: Chapter 156: Hanging on Every Word

[How can the difference between people be so huge! That Zhou Ye is ugly as sin, how did he even make it into the entertainment industry?]

[If you’re going to make comparisons, fine, but why are you so hostile toward our Brother Ye? Chen Yan is just a bit better-looking, what’s the big deal? Why do you have to tear one down to prop another up?]

Shen Zhiyao was also on her phone, watching the live stream for the *Qing Qing Wo Wo* production. Right now, the comment section was filled with nothing but posts fawning over “Brother Chen Yan.”

She remembered how badly she’d been flamed when the show’s cast was first announced. Everyone said she was a low-tier celebrity and didn’t deserve to be on the show.

Now someone with even lower status than her shows up, and just because he’s good-looking, they’re all fawning over him.

After all the guests had arrived, the cruise ship began its journey to the destination.

“We will be traveling to the Island Country for fourteen days of filming. Before we begin, each guest may choose their preferred partner to start the super-difficult mission challenge.”

Upon hearing “Island Country,” Meng Xiaoxiao’s expression changed imperceptibly.

“The Island Country, true to its name, is located on a small island. In the 1980s, an Immortal appeared in the Island Country and created a large number of Chi Ling. A Chi Ling is said to bring good luck, and those who possess one can have anything they desire. On this trip, we’ll also get to see the unique local Chi Ling.”

“Their crafting technique for Chi Ling has been passed down for a thousand years and is exceptionally famous. It’s just that in recent years, after the Immortal passed away, the art of making Chi Ling has declined.”

“On this trip, in addition to completing the high-difficulty tasks, we must also help the locals find a long-lost Chi Ling.”

Shen Zhiyao’s brow furrowed slightly when she heard the mission they were given.

’The plan the production team came up with this time is a little different from the one Jin Fan gave me.’

’But this mission sounds pretty fun. This trip should yield some unexpected rewards.’

Since the Island Country was quite far from their own, they likely wouldn’t arrive until the next day.

In the afternoon, the production team assigned a camera to each person and sent them back to their respective rooms to rest, with the cameras monitoring their every move.

Shen Zhiyao felt her treatment was much better compared to the 30th; the other guests no longer dared to be so hostile toward her.

Even the show’s director, staff, and extras were showing her goodwill.

When she boarded the ship, the director had even come to greet her personally, telling her she could make any request she wanted.

’I know the production team is being so polite to me now because Jin Fan invested two billion in the show.’

’Money may not be everything, but it can make a huge difference in many situations. The world is just that pragmatic.’

In front of all the cameras, the production team naturally wouldn’t show any preferential treatment.

But off-camera, the crew had given Shen Zhiyao the best room on the ship.

The room had two bedrooms, a living room, a kitchen, and a bathroom. It wasn’t exceptionally large, but the interior was exquisitely decorated.

The bedroom also had a large balcony, offering a view of the boundless sea right from the room.

The other guests’ rooms had only one bedroom and one living room, much smaller than hers. Even the windows were much smaller, and the view was comparatively poor.

The camera was fixed in the living room, so on-screen, her room looked no different from the other guests’. Only by actually staying in it could one feel the difference.

This also directly prevented Shen Zhiyao from being cyberbullied or accused of getting special treatment.

’It just goes to show, as long as you spend enough money, the production team can be very thoughtful with their arrangements.’

The other guests didn’t dare to be too casual even when resting, still needing to maintain their best appearance in front of the camera.

Only Shen Zhiyao refused to play by the rules.

The moment she entered her room, she found a blind spot hidden from the camera and began to cultivate.

The audience was howling in the bullet comments:

[Where’s our host? She’s gone! Production team, hurry! Our host Xiao Shen is missing!]

[AHHHH! Host, you’re so stingy! You won’t let us watch!]

[At least on Shen Zhiyao’s side, we can still see the room’s layout. It’s not as good on Chen Yan’s stream. He just blocked the camera completely, not letting anyone see.]

[The Film Emperor’s stream is more interesting. He’s fishing.]

[Damn, I’m gonna go watch too. I bet the Film Emperor is a master of catching nothing.]

[Hahaha, I’m back from watching the Film Emperor. He really got skunked.]

Shen Zhiyao and Chen Yan weren’t considered huge stars, so it wasn’t a big deal if they weren’t on screen.

The rest of the audience went to watch the other guests.

Even Zhou Ye’s stream gained a lot of viewers.

That evening, the production team arranged for everyone to dine under a sky full of stars.

After dinner, they organized a few small games, mostly script-based ones like Werewolf and scripted murder mysteries.

Shen Zhiyao didn’t understand the rules and had no idea how to play.

So, she made up an excuse to get away from the cameras and quietly slipped away to the lower deck.

She had just arrived when she heard footsteps behind her. Turning around, she saw that it was, indeed, Chen Yan who had followed her.

Shen Zhiyao whistled at Chen Yan. “Shy, deadpan, king of silence, obedient puppy… are these all parts of the persona your company created for you? How original!”

Chen Yan shook his head. “They’re not.”

Shen Zhiyao teased, “So it’s not a persona? I don’t remember you being like this back when you were killing people.”

Chen Yan replied, “I’m just not used to being on camera.”

“Fine.” Shen Zhiyao leaned against the railing and asked curiously, “You’re the esteemed Wudang Mountain Master, a man of high position and great authority. Why would you ever think of breaking into the entertainment industry?”

Chen Yan let out a soft laugh. “What if I said I desperately need money? Would you believe me?”

Of course, Shen Zhiyao didn’t believe him. She looked at Chen Yan suspiciously. “I don’t. Zhang Xiaoxue once told me that Wudang Mountain charges millions, even tens of millions, for a single fortune-telling session. With that kind of income, how could you be short on cash?”

Chen Yan explained, “That kind of money comes quickly, of course. But as you know, if a Xuanmen Daoist reveals too many heavenly secrets, they will inevitably suffer heavenly retribution. The only way to break this curse is to donate all the money they earn.”

“So you donate all the money you make?”

Everyone in the world loves wealth, but not everyone can obtain it.

To acquire great fortune, one must inevitably lose something else.

Chen Yan explained patiently, “Believe it or not. For years, all the money we’ve earned from fortune-telling and exorcisms has been donated without reservation. In the early days, some of the younger, able-bodied disciples of Wudang Mountain could work outside jobs to subsidize the sect. Now, they’re getting older and the work is harder, so…”

“So you decided to sell your looks?” Shen Zhiyao cut in before he could finish.

She even added, “I just think it’s not very safe for someone with your looks to be in the entertainment industry.”

Chen Yan quickly cut in, as if to keep her from explaining. “So, does that mean you’re going to protect me?”

“Er… haha…” Shen Zhiyao laughed awkwardly. “No, I just meant that there are a lot of ’unspoken rules’ in the entertainment industry. Without a powerful backer, it’s easy to fall victim to them.”

’The more she tried to explain, the weirder she sounded.’

’As she kept talking, she was starting to sound like a rich sugar mommy looking to exploit those very rules.’

Her fumbling amused Chen Yan, and he chuckled. “Thank you for your concern. But I am a member of Xuanmen, after all. I know how to avoid danger.”

Shen Zhiyao nodded. “Right. You’re the Wudang Mountain Master, and you carry treasures with you. My concern was indeed a bit unnecessary.”

“It wasn’t unnecessary.” His tone grew a little more earnest. “I’m very grateful. Truly.”

Shen Zhiyao had never been able to figure Chen Yan out. He was clearly a man of high position and great authority who was deadpan with everyone else.

But when he was with her, he always acted as if he would hang on her every word.

For a moment, she had no idea what he was really thinking.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep