Deliberate Possession [Entertainment Industry] - Chapter 59

Chapter 59: Additional Chapter

The supplies chosen by the netizens were not abundant, but thankfully they weren’t tricked, and most of the items were practical. Tents were the top choice, and other tools were also readily available.

Jing Xiaoyan thought they would only be staying for two days, so there was no need to bring too many things. She only selected a tent and self-heating rice, and surprisingly, nothing else.

Jiang Yumian decided to piggyback on Jing Xiaoyan’s tent, and like her, spent money to buy food. She thought it was impossible for them to find food on the mountain. The Wildlife Protection Law was not a decoration, and there wouldn’t be any fruit, especially since winter was approaching.

After selecting the food, she also chose some common tools. She said Jing Xiaoyan hadn’t selected enough and, under the guise of helping select practical items, chose many miscellaneous things, all charged to Jing Xiaoyan’s account.

Since they arrived around noon, Lu Zhi allowed them to eat lunch before setting off.

After lunch, the group began their arduous journey, each carrying a large hiking backpack.

The initial path was not easy, as they had to climb uphill first.

The mountain was not high, but it was difficult to climb. Once they climbed to the top, the path along the ridge would be easier to follow.

It took them almost two hours just to climb the mountain.

After reaching the top, everyone decided to take a break. It wasn’t easy for the cameramen carrying the cameras either.

Jiang Yumian sat cross-legged, leaning against Jing Xiaoyan and panting. She actually didn’t like exercise very much and was particularly afraid of snakes. She had been on edge the entire way, and even now, her heart was racing, afraid a snake would suddenly appear behind her.

“I think I signed up for a sports variety show…” Jiang Yumian’s first sentence after catching her breath was a complaint about the show.

Jing Xiaoyan thoughtfully unscrewed her water bottle before handing it to her. Seeing her take it, she comforted her softly, “It won’t be as tiring once we’re up here.”

Jiang Yumian took a sip of water, her gaze sweeping across Jing Xiaoyan’s face. After observing her for a while, she was somewhat surprised. This person had excellent stamina and wasn’t even out of breath.

“Aren’t you tired?” Jiang Yumian couldn’t help but ask her. Everyone else was exhausted, but Jing Xiaoyan looked perfectly fine.

Jing Xiaoyan raised an eyebrow. “I’m alright.”

She added at the end, “Anyway, I’m stronger than your small frame. Mianmian, you… don’t seem to be doing too well.”

Jiang Yumian paused her drinking. This phrase immediately led to a suggestive interpretation. Her ears flushed. Was Jing Xiaoyan retaliating for what she said about her the other day?

Noticing her pause, Jing Xiaoyan slightly lifted her lips and deliberately added, “I’m a little worried about you.”

Jiang Yumian swallowed a mouthful of water and quickly looked away, not daring to look at Jing Xiaoyan, feeling that she was about to say something outrageous.

Seeing her dodge so quickly, Jing Xiaoyan wanted to continue teasing, saying she was worried about their future happiness, but remembering they were filming, she decided to stop.

She sighed lightly. “I’m a little worried you won’t be able to handle the path ahead.”

Jiang Yumian’s racing heart finally calmed down. She cleared her throat. “Don’t worry, I won’t hold you back. I have Lin Xi to fall back on.”

Lin Xi rolled her eyes and said bluntly, “If you two want to flirt, then flirt. Why drag me into it?”

“I don’t want to drag you into it either. Your couple with Mianmian will break up sooner or later.”

Jing Xiaoyan childishly bickered with her.

Jiang Yumian patted her face. She was used to it. Forget it. She wouldn’t pay attention.

Because of their unreserved comments, the internet was now openly “shipping” them, forming one couple after another. The production crew didn’t stop them, and the management companies didn’t intervene.

Moreover, netizens dared to ship anything these days. They could pair any two people together, and sometimes they even shipped two moving cameras. It felt like the couples on this show would fill up an entire page.

After resting for about half an hour, they set off again, following the path markers provided by the production crew.

According to the staff, people in the village often used this path when transportation wasn’t developed. Now that roads were built, they didn’t have to bother anymore. However, that was over ten years ago. Although the country was developing rapidly, this area remained quite underdeveloped.

Although the path wasn’t used much, there was still a road, so it wouldn’t be too rough. The production crew must have considered safety and surveyed the area beforehand, so they could walk with confidence.

After walking for almost two hours, the group started to descend. There was no other way; the path was simply like this. It was also getting dark, and although winter had just started, it got dark very quickly.

They had to reach the stream in the valley before it got completely dark. There was a temporarily built toilet there, and that large open area was perfect for setting up tents. The production crew must have anticipated them stopping there.

Going downhill was much faster than going uphill. They reached the bottom in no time.

As soon as they finished setting up their tents, it was almost completely dark. Jiang Yumian lit the small alcohol stove, put a stainless steel pot on it, and cooked two packs of instant noodles, adding two cut hotdogs.

Smelling the aroma from the pot, Jiang Yumian couldn’t help but exclaim, “The netizens are so thoughtful. The alcohol stove they chose for us is so convenient. Love it!”

“Here, be careful not to burn yourself while handling this. I’m going to help Lin Xi check their tent.”

Jing Xiaoyan handed the self-heating rice to Jiang Yumian. With so many people, they naturally shared their food.

Jiang Yumian took the self-heating rice she offered, looked at Lin Xi’s direction, and couldn’t help but ask Jing Xiaoyan, “How are you so skilled at setting up tents?”

She had wanted to ask for a long time. Jing Xiaoyan was incredibly fast and efficient at setting up the tent. She clearly wasn’t a novice.

“Because I’m amazing.” Jing Xiaoyan raised an eyebrow, praising herself without any modesty.

Jiang Yumian was speechless. She pointed towards Lin Xi. “Hurry up and go. Stop being an eyesore here.”

“Hm? Am I an eyesore?”

Jing Xiaoyan suddenly bent down, cupped Jiang Yumian’s face with both hands, lifted it up, and forced her to look at her.

Jiang Yumian: “Hey!”

Her face was even kneaded by Jing Xiaoyan. Jiang Yumian was even more speechless. She threatened futilely, “Let go, or I’ll starve you later!”

Jing Xiaoyan pinched her face again, smiling as she teased her. “Oh, I’m so scared.”

Chu Qianyun was sitting not far from Jiang Yumian. These two really didn’t treat her as an outsider at all.

She pointed to Lin Xi, who was smiling at them, and said exasperatedly, “I told you to stop teasing Mianmian. Hurry up and go.”

Jing Xiaoyan released her hands, looked at Jiang Yumian’s resentful face, and patted her head. “I’m going now. Don’t you dare starve me.”

Jiang Yumian pouted, extending two fingers and poking at Jing Xiaoyan’s retreating back.

Hearing the laughter next to her, she quickly retracted her hand, looked at Chu Qianyun, and scoffed lightly.

Chu Qianyun quickly moved closer, reaching out to poke Jiang Yumian. “Mianmian, what do you think of Jing Xiaoyan?”

Jiang Yumian was opening the self-heating rice packaging. Hearing her question, she pondered for two seconds, raised an eyebrow, and said nonchalantly, “She’s alright. Just okay. Not bad.”

Chu Qianyun suddenly chuckled. “She really is just ‘alright.’ She’s not only tricky with you, but also very wicked. She’s so old and still so childish. Besides being a good actress and good-looking, she doesn’t have many other merits.”

Jiang Yumian blinked, very dissatisfied with what Chu Qianyun said. She couldn’t help but refute, “She has quite a few merits. Isn’t it normal to be a little tricky? Otherwise, she would suffer a lot in the entertainment industry. And she’s only like that with me, she’s not wicked.”

She thought for a moment and then defended Jing Xiaoyan. “You two are good friends, and yet you’re slandering her to me.”

“Mianmian, why are you so anxious? Does it hurt you when I criticize her?” Chu Qianyun looked at her amusedly and then deliberately added, “Why are you taking it so seriously when I just casually mentioned it?”

Jiang Yumian choked, not wanting to see Chu Qianyun’s mocking face. She lowered her head to open the packaging. A few seconds later, she muttered softly, “Jing Xiaoyan’s bad influence…”

Su Mumu had just arrived and heard this. She walked and sat down next to Chu Qianyun. “What’s going on? Did you tease Mianmian too?”

She was fetching water just now. When she came back, she saw Jiang Yumian gesturing at Jing Xiaoyan’s back, and now heard this comment. It was hard not to be gossipy.

Chu Qianyun quickly denied it. “I didn’t tease her. I just said Jing Xiaoyan was only ‘alright,’ and she got anxious and defensive.”

Who couldn’t hear the teasing tone in her words?

Jiang Yumian tore the packaging, humming softly with her head down. Go ahead and talk. They were all Jing Xiaoyan’s accomplices anyway, and they all knew she liked her. Hmph.

Su Mumu sighed lightly. “If you ask me, Mianmian, just stop struggling and give in.”

Watching them bicker every day was quite childish.

“Mumu, why are you saying that too? Whose side are you on?” Jiang Yumian turned her head, gritting her teeth. “You betrayed me!”

Su Mumu was exasperated.

“Isn’t that because you have no ambition and can’t bring yourself to retaliate against her.”

Chu Qianyun was utterly confused. “Wait, what are you two talking about?”

What retaliation? She didn’t know what bad thing Jing Xiaoyan had done that made Jiang Yumian want to retaliate against her.

Meeting her confused gaze, Su Mumu shrugged. “Nothing. I was just teasing Mianmian.”

Chu Qianyun blinked. Why did it feel like there was more to it?

Jiang Yumian glanced at Chu Qianyun caught between them and scoffed loudly. “Jing the Liar’s accomplice.”

Hearing her suddenly say this, Su Mumu turned her head. Was she planning on not keeping it a secret anymore?

Chu Qianyun’s eyes widened, and she quickly realized what “Liar” meant. She quickly turned her head, looking at Su Mumu for confirmation.

Jiang Yumian glanced at the two of them and said directly, “Sister Yunyun, stop pretending.”

Seeing Su Mumu nod, Chu Qianyun swallowed hard, stiffly turning her head, and laughed awkwardly. Her eyes darted towards Jing Xiaoyan. So they had found out a long time ago.

The hand by her side quickly poked Su Mumu. Didn’t they say they wouldn’t tell Jiang Yumian!

Su Mumu slapped her hand away and said angrily, “I didn’t tell Mianmian. Mianmian found out herself and then asked me to confirm it with you.”

Chu Qianyun: !

She found out that early!

Jiang Yumian scoffed. “Sister Yunyun, when you were being Jing Xiaoyan’s accomplice, did you consider my feelings?”

Chu Qianyun licked her lips, feeling extremely uneasy.

Jiang Yumian smiled insincerely at Chu Qianyun, then suddenly said thoughtfully, “But you’re right. Jing Xiaoyan is your good friend. There’s nothing wrong with you helping her.”

She then sighed deeply, her tone suddenly becoming pitiful. “I’m different. I’m just Mumu’s good friend. If I was tricked, then I was tricked. Mumu’s good friend has nothing to do with Sister Yunyun. Of course, Sister Yunyun doesn’t need to consider my feelings.”

Su Mumu scratched her face, thought carefully, and looked at Chu Qianyun with a hint of danger in her eyes.

Chu Qianyun was so scared that she quickly waved her hands.

But before she could explain, Jiang Yumian added, “A good friend and the girlfriend’s good friend are naturally not comparable, right, Sister Yunyun?”

Chu Qianyun’s eyes widened. How could she twist the concept like that?

“Mianmian, don’t talk nonsense. I defended you to her at the time, really!” Chu Qianyun’s desire to survive was strong. She held Su Mumu’s hand and continued to explain, “And I even urged her to confess quickly. She said she would tell you in half a month at most, but it’s been over a month now. That’s not my fault!”

Jiang Yumian suddenly sighed again.

Hearing her sigh, Chu Qianyun’s eyelids twitched. She felt that Jiang Yumian was about to say something else.

And sure enough.

Jiang Yumian spoke again.

“That’s not what I care about. What I care about is that you knew someone was lying to Mumu’s good friend, and you still covered for her.”

Chu Qianyun was anxious. “I!”

Jiang Yumian waved her hand to interrupt her. “Sigh~ It’s fine that you covered for me, but you didn’t even tell Mumu. I was the one who sensed something was wrong and asked Mumu to ask you. That’s when you finally told her. How could you do that? Mumu is so good to you. You’re really disappointing.”

Support