The Film Queen Is Cold and Ruthless, Only Sends Money - Chapter 16

During lunchtime, the show’s cameras deliberately showcased the local delicacies to the live audience, hoping to promote Herong County further.

With its scenic mountains and rivers, the fish from Herong County were exceptionally plump and delicious. This was precisely why the program team had used the pronunciation of “yv” (fish) as part of their earlier challenge.

The steamed fish retained the freshest flavor of the fish itself, paired with a locally crafted dipping sauce. Just sitting on the table, its aroma wafted far and wide.

Lin Yan’s team and Liu Yangran’s team had endured the entire second segment surrounded by this tantalizing fragrance, one could only imagine their level of restraint.

[Lin Yan’s team and Liu Yangran’s team are so pitiful, I can practically hear them biting into their steamed buns with extra force!]

[Thankfully, I’ve already got my own “Yi Mai Xiang Cheng” (a brand of instant noodles), so I don’t have to envy Su Yun and the others!]

Su Yun, who was happily enjoying her lunch, turned to Jiang Zhi beside her and said, “I think this variety show is pretty good lots of food and fun, and the games seem really simple.”

The four people next to them, chewing on plain steamed buns and pickles: “…”

They weren’t sure whether the games were fun or not, but they did feel that the restaurant responsible for this five-star feast might as well pack up and close.

Jiang Zhi, noticing the resentful stares from across the table, nodded in agreement. “Yeah, it’s pretty nice.”

[Best Actress, have you been picking up bad habits from someone?]

[I’m sensing some serious humble-bragging from these two.]

After two segments, the point gaps between the teams had widened significantly.

Currently, Su Yun and Jiang Zhi’s team led with two points. Whether they won or lost the final segment, they were guaranteed not to end up in the worst accommodation.

Lin Yan and Xu Zhi’s team, as well as Su Xue and Jing Chaochao’s team, each had one point.

Liu Yangran and Ye Ying’s team, having lost both rounds, were in a precarious position with zero points.

[The show hasn’t set up any particularly difficult challenges, so why does it feel so thrilling to watch? It’s even more exciting than some survival shows!]

[Definitely not because watching them eat steamed buns and pickles is stimulating. I think Su Yun’s drawing-and-guessing game earlier single-handedly raised the difficulty level.]

[You hit the nail on the head. I was trying to guess along with the contestants, but by the time it was Su Yun’s turn, I was sweating bullets.]

[Can anyone relate? I’ve been glued to this livestream for hours, I only clicked in casually, but now I can’t leave!]

[Face it once you see Su Yun, there’s no turning back!]

They had expended a lot of energy in the morning, so the production team gave them plenty of time for lunch. Even if they were stuck with steamed buns and pickles, no one complained.

But since the entertainment value had already been maximized, Su Xue turned to Ye Ying, Lin Yan, and the others. “Do you guys want to come over and share some of ours?”

Su Yun and Jiang Zhi also nodded in agreement. The production team had prepared enough food for everyone.

Liu Yangran had been diligently eating her “gourmet meal,” trying her best to ignore the rich aroma enveloping her from all sides, consoling herself with the director’s earlier reasoning.

But after Su Xue made the offer, the scent in the air seemed to intensify.

Lin Yan and the others looked pleadingly at the director. “Director, is this allowed?”

For those few seconds as they waited for his answer, the entire world seemed to hold its breath.

Director: “Since the guest has agreed, then of course there’s no problem. Once you finish eating, we’ll immediately start the third segment.”

“Thank you, Director!”

[Finally able to sit at the table and eat, hahahaha!]

[Though it might be a bit unethical, I really want to see the third segment right now!]

[They’re eating so heartily turns out this is actually a binge-worthy variety show.]

Lin Yan: “You’re all such good people!”

Jing Zhaozhao: “For the next segment, Director Lin, will you go easy on us?”

Su Yun also looked over and said with a smile, “Yeah, yeah.”

Even as she spoke, Lin Yan didn’t stop moving her chopsticks, as if afraid the director might change his mind any second: “Thank you all, but we can discuss the method later. I must lead by example and uphold the fairness of the show.”

After hearing this, Jiang Zhi summarized: “That was a whole lot of nothing.”

[Hahahahahaha, now that’s what you call nonsense literature!]

[Lin Yan: Thank you for helping me successfully get a meal. If you ever need my help in the future, don’t hesitate to ask. I can’t help with big things, and I won’t help with small things. But remember, if you ever need my help, don’t hesitate to ask!]

[Lin Yan one second ago: The production team is so cruel, I’m quitting the show.
Lin Yan the next second: Firmly upholding the fairness and integrity of the production team!]

After Liu Yangran also managed to enjoy the delicious food, she glanced at Su Yun across the table.

Su Yun, now full and content, slightly narrowed her eyes, basking in the light like a lazy cat on a leisurely afternoon relaxed and carefree, as if she were truly on vacation.

Liu Yangran: “…”

Suddenly, her earlier competitiveness felt a bit unnecessary.

Su Yun sensed someone’s gaze on her and opened her eyes to see Liu Yangran looking at her.

Their only prior interaction had been that online comment exchange.

She recalled Liu Yangran’s marketing as the “mini Jiang Zhi.” At a glance, the two did share some similarities, and with Liu Yangran’s makeup and styling, the resemblance could be stretched to about 50%.

But the biggest difference their eye shapes was something no amount of styling could fix.

Jiang Zhi’s eyes were beautifully shaped, with a slight upward curve near the outer corners that perfectly balanced her cool demeanor. A single glance from her could captivate you.

When Liu Yangran looked over. Su Yun just thought she wanted the sweet and sour ribs in front of her.

Pointing at the dish, Su Yun asked, “Do you want some sweet and sour ribs?”

Caught off guard, Liu Yangran’s heartbeat skipped a beat.

She naturally followed Su Yun’s lead and replied, “How did you know sweet and sour ribs are my favorite?”

This wasn’t a lie. In fact, she even felt a faint surge of emotion something like gratitude her eyes slightly moistening.

To maintain her figure, she mostly ate salads and nutritionally balanced meals.

Years had passed, and even her manager might not remember her favorite dishes.

Su Yun: “I didn’t know. You were just staring at it.”

She really was just asking casually!

But when Su Yun actually offered the ribs, Liu Yangran hesitated.

Su Xue noticed and asked, puzzled, “Yangran, why aren’t you eating?”

Lin Yan guessed, “Is it because your manager has restrictions? It’s pretty high in calories, after all.”

Among the dishes on the table, neither Jiang Zhi nor Jing Zhaozhao ate much. Only Lin Yan, as the director, didn’t need to be overly cautious.

Hearing this, Su Yun suddenly remembered something.

She often liked to treat herself to late-night snacks, but since she shared a room with Jiang Zhi, she naturally felt too embarrassed to eat alone.

When she asked Jiang Zhi if she wanted to go downstairs for a bite, the other girl seemed torn.

Thinking of this, Su Yun once again deployed her persuasive tactics: “If you just eat one piece, it won’t make a difference. If you swallow it before the calories notice, how could it possibly have any effect?”

“Does it even list the calories? If it doesn’t, that means zero calories. Eating like this, you’ll practically waste away!”

[Master, enlightenment achieved!]

[Su Yun, with your smooth talk, I almost believe it. Guess I’ll reward myself with another bite!]

[So the oil-splashed noodles I just ate, the calories must’ve all splashed out. That means oil-splashed noodles are actually diet food!]

Beside them, Jing Chaozhao, who had been silently sipping water, twitched the corner of her mouth at Su Yun’s words, an unusual flicker of expression crossing her face.

Liu Yangran’s already wavering resolve now swayed even more violently. She thought to herself: My manager isn’t glued to the livestream 24/7. Sneaking one bite shouldn’t be a problem, right?

Besides, just as Su Yun said, if she ate fast enough, the calories wouldn’t even notice.

And so, Liu Yangran’s manager, watching the livestream from behind a screen, could only stare helplessly as Liu Yangran extended her sinful chopsticks not just once, but multiple times!

At this point… the manager decided to indulge just this once.

Fried chicken was pure protein, and cola was ice-cold with no calories, combined, that made zero calories!

–

Jiang Zhi, who had remained silent the whole time, finally glanced over at Liu Yangran, who was happily eating, before looking away again after a moment.

[Did you see Liu Yangran’s face when she tasted the sweet and sour ribs? She looked like she was about to cry.]

[Imagine eating nothing but vegetable salads and boiled greens for years, and then suddenly someone hands you a skewer of fragrant, spice-rubbed grilled meat. Wouldn’t you cry?]

[The example above is way too real. If it were me, I’d probably start bawling and calling Su Yun ‘mom’ on the spot.]

[Wasn’t there some beef between these two like a month ago?]

[Even if they had the biggest feud, I feel like after this meal, Liu Yangran’s gonna fall in love with Su Yun!]

–

After the meal, the director announced the final task of the segment.

Director: “Just now, whether you were in the winning or losing team, everyone got to sample the local cuisine. Our next challenge is also related to local food.”

“The couples will need to use the 30 yuan provided by the show to purchase ingredients and recreate one local dish. We’ve invited residents of Herong County to taste and score your dishes. The final ranking will be based on both your spending and their ratings.”

[No wonder the director was so quick to agree when Liu Yangran’s and Lin Yan’s teams asked to join the meal earlier, he was setting them up for this!]

[Well, if they hadn’t even tasted the food, how could they possibly recreate it without knowing the flavor?]

Lin Yan, who had been grateful for the director’s mercy earlier: “Director, if Su Xue hadn’t invited us to eat, what were you planning to do?”

They might not have even known what the dish tasted like.

The director, completely unapologetic about his trap: “Then you’d just have to rely on your imagination. Good luck!”

[Ah yes, ‘imagination’ like imagining the taste of plain steamed buns and pickles? Savage. LMAOOOO!]

“Lin Yan, could you repeat what you just said? Yes, that line: ‘I must lead by example and uphold the fairness of the show!'”

“What a wonderfully fair production team, hahahaha!”

After the director announced the rules for the third segment, each couple received thirty yuan to buy groceries.

While the others hadn’t yet grasped the severity of the situation, Xu Zhi was the first to speak up, still somewhat disbelieving: “Only thirty yuan?”

The show provided only pots and pans, not seasonings, meaning the cost of seasonings also had to come out of that thirty yuan.

Jing Zhaozhao chimed in, “Will the production team consider providing seasonings? Thirty yuan seems a bit too little.”

The director, still smiling, replied, “No can do. We’re looking forward to the dinner you’ll prepare. Also, you can’t use your celebrity status to ask fans for help.”

“Wait, we have to buy seasonings too?! I thought thirty yuan for ingredients alone would be manageable, but adding seasonings raises the difficulty by like, a hundred levels!”

“Even if they manage to buy ingredients and seasonings, replicating the flavors will be another challenge, especially since the judges are locals.”

“I can’t wait for tonight, I want to see what they end up making!”

After hearing the rules, Jiang Zhi turned to Su Yun beside her.

Su Yun showed no sign of nervousness, simply tucking the thirty yuan neatly into her pocket.

“Have you ever haggled before?” Su Yun asked Jiang Zhi.

“No,” Jiang Zhi admitted.

She knew the concept of haggling but had rarely encountered it in real life.

“Really?” Su Yun pressed. “If something I wanted cost fifty yuan and I tried to bargain, what would you say?”

Jiang Zhi tentatively offered, “Could you sell it for a bit cheaper?”

“No,” Su Yun replied, mimicking the typical vendor’s response. “This is already cost price.”

Jiang Zhi nodded. “Alright, then fifty it is.”

Su Yun, who had been waiting for Jiang Zhi’s next move, was stunned. “Wait, why fifty?”

“Hahahahaha, is Jiang Zhi acting just like me?”

“I’m the same, every time I try to haggle, the vendor says no, and I just sheepishly pay full price.”

“I always thought Jiang Zhi was so aloof, but she’s actually kind of adorable when bargaining!”

“This reminds me of the time I tried to bargain for two shirts priced at sixty-five yuan each. I asked the shop owner, ‘Can I get both for a hundred thirty? If not, I won’t buy them.’ Then I happily walked out with both shirts.”

“Hey, at least you didn’t offer a hundred forty for two.”

Jiang Zhi seemed to realize her mistake. “Then what should I say?”

The other guests had long noticed Su Yun and Jiang Zhi’s haggling role-play.

Though their eyes wandered elsewhere, they kept a sidelong watch on the pair’s progress especially since Su Yun had excelled in the previous two segments.

When Jiang Zhi asked that question, they held their breaths, not wanting to miss any crucial details.

Su Yun sighed. “Actually, I don’t know either. Because that’s where I always get stuck.”

Haggling was her weakest skill.

Her usual routine was: “Boss, can you lower the price?” → Boss says no → She says, “Okay.”

Just going through the motions, but ended up paying the full price in the end.

Other guests: “……”

Ye Ying asked curiously, “Then why did you ask Jiang Ying just now?”

Su Yun: “I was wondering if she might be a bit better at it than me, but turns out we’re both equally hopeless.”

[Hahahahahaha, finally seeing something Su Yun isn’t good at.]

[Bargaining is really hard. The shop owners are definitely more skilled at it than these celebrities.]

[Sorry, even though Su Yun says she can’t bargain, I still want to see her try. Everything she does is so entertaining.]

[Same here! At this point, I won’t doubt a single word Sister Su says.]

[I just came back from eating, what do you mean? Did something happen while they were having a meal?]

[You missed out big time! Strongly recommend going back to watch the replay. I’d like to name this segment “Su Yun’s Persuasion to Eat”!]

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