The Film Queen Is Cold and Ruthless, Only Sends Money - Chapter 21.3

The first-place team, having over-delivered, naturally enjoyed the most privileges.

As they savored the fruit and lunch, they didn’t forget to “care for” their dear fellow guests, watching the other livestream feeds alongside the director.

[It’s weirdly exciting knowing Su Yun and Jiang Zhi are watching the same livestream as me…]

[Sending a comment, hoping to catch their attention.]

Meanwhile.

The other three teams.

Without any means of transportation, even if they had considered earning money along the way, they still had to balance their time carefully. Every step they took was calculated.

Despite this, after analyzing the map, asking passersby for directions, and scanning the streets for hidden cameras, logos, or billboards from the production team, the other three groups finally found Ye Zhu’s studio.

Liu Yangran’s team was slightly faster. After taking their photo, they hurried onward without pause.

By the time they left Ye Zhu’s studio, Lin Yan’s team arrived. Thanks to their alliance, they immediately notified Su Xue’s team.

The two teams knocked on Ye Zhu’s studio door together.

“You’re here!” Ye Zhu greeted them, pouring glasses of water first. “Take a break.”

None of them refused the offer, sitting down to rest while listening to Ye Zhu’s story.

After resting for a while, when the group mentioned taking photos for check-ins to Ye Zhu, she remembered Su Yun’s instructions before leaving. She looked up at the people in front of her and said, “Once each of you finishes cutting the assigned shapes, you can check in.”

[Hahahahaha!! The scene I imagined is finally happening!]

[Ye Zhu, another innocent soul corrupted by Su Yun! The show’s effect is perfect!]

[They don’t even realize anything’s off, hahahaha!! Su Yun, you could seriously produce your own variety show!]

[Guests: Paper-cutting? Sounds reasonable! Rolling up sleeves and getting to work!]

Neither of the two teams sensed anything amiss, as similar tasks had appeared in previous missions.

After they transformed the assigned “rabbit” into a grand collection of global species, Ye Zhu had no choice but to let them go, completing the photo check-in for the second location.

Once Team Lin Yan left, they split up again with Team Su Xue, heading in different directions. “If we find it, we’ll message each other to confirm,” Lin Yan said.

Su Xue nodded. “By splitting up, we’ll definitely be faster than the other two teams.”

For example, at Ye Zhu’s studio where they had just checked in, one team found it first and notified the other, saving a lot of time.

Perhaps both teams were overly confident, because when they left, they didn’t even ask Ye Zhu what their arrival order was.

As they parted ways, Lin Yan even encouraged them: “Let’s go, we’ll definitely beat the other two teams. We can win.”

Meanwhile, the live-stream viewers glanced at Liu Yangran and Ye Ying, who had already confirmed their destination and were rushing to the paper-cutting workshop, then back at Su Yun and Jiang Zhi, who were leisurely munching on watermelon.

Viewers: …

Confidence is good, but sometimes overconfidence leads to slapping yourself in the face.

[Forgive me for laughing unethically, but I can’t help but wonder will the punishment for the losing team be washing watermelon plates? Hahaha!]

[I’m dying of laughter. From now on, Lin Yan’s live stream will definitely be flooded with: “We can win!” during missions.]

The director, Su Yun, and Jiang Zhi were watching the live stream and naturally saw the little task Ye Zhu had assigned.

Since the director kept switching between different live streams, she missed the part where Su Yun gave Ye Zhu instructions.

At first, she was puzzled and picked up the task plan, murmuring, “I don’t think the production team arranged this segment?”

Beside her, Su Yun sat comfortably eating watermelon, acting as if the comment had nothing to do with her.

Jiang Zhi, however, glanced at the director before turning back to her watermelon.

[You two are so calm! One “commits the crime,” the other “covers it up”, a match made in heaven!]

[I thought I was joking earlier, but now it’s actually happening?!]

[Out of curiosity, what did you say before?]

[Replying to above: I said, “Why not let Su Yun sit in the director’s chair too…”]

And now, Su Yun actually went ahead and designed a segment for the other guests, leaving the director utterly confused.

When the director finally figured out what had happened, she looked at Su Yun and Jiang Zhi but couldn’t even accuse them of breaking the rules.

After all, they hadn’t made things too difficult for the other guests, and the segment even boosted the live stream’s engagement, attracting more viewers.

In other words, she should actually be thanking them.

Su Yun noticed the director’s gaze and said with a smile, “Director, the watermelon is really delicious.”

Finally, when they had rested enough, the second team, Liu Yangran’s group, also returned.

Seeing Su Yun and Jiang Zhi comfortably resting, they were full of questions: “How long have you two been back?”

Judging by their relaxed state, they clearly hadn’t just arrived.

Jiang Zhi hadn’t kept track of the exact time and could only give a rough estimate: “About an hour?”

Ye Ying took a deep breath. She had thought their team was fast, but Su Yun and Jiang Zhi were way ahead even though both groups had left the mall at the same time.

However, exhausted as they were, they didn’t dwell on the details. The sight of the chilled tea and watermelon on the table made them reach for it.

But before their hands could touch anything, the director spoke up, “You can’t have these yet.”

Liu Yangran: “???”

She had clearly seen Su Yun and Jiang Zhi eating watermelon when she walked in. Liu Yangran asked, “Director, what about them?”

The director replied matter-of-factly, “Because they arrived first, they get special privileges.”

Naturally, Liu Yangran and Ye Ying accepted this explanation.

But they were practically steaming from the heat, and the sight of the watermelon on the table was unbearably tempting. Liu Yangran, who had participated in many variety shows and knew how these programs worked, asked, “Director, you said we can’t have them yet does that mean we still have a chance?”

Honestly, chilled watermelon might seem ordinary in daily life, but at that moment, it was irresistible. Anyone who saw it would probably be unable to look away.

The director glanced at the live streams of Lin Yan’s and Su Xue’s groups both had already found the third checkpoint and were on their way back.

She said, “Everyone will have a chance. Our show is all about fairness and justice!”

After confirming this, Liu Yangran’s group sat down nearby to rest and prepare for the next challenge.

[Let me think, how many times have we heard that adjective? You guys really have no self-awareness!]

[I kinda want to see Lin Yan and Su Xue’s faces when they realize they’re last place, hahahahaha!!]

Su Yun, meanwhile, was thoroughly enjoying watching the other teams’ live streams. No wonder the production team loved coming up with all these ridiculous challenges to torment them.

She noticed the rapid barrage of comments on the live stream and said, “I see you all! Let’s chat more tonight.”

[Are you and Jiang Zhi hosting the stream tonight?! So excited!]

[You’ve been so inactive on Weibo lately make sure to talk a lot tonight! I’ve got my notebook ready!!]

[Jiang Zhi, I’ve been waiting in the live stream for two days just for you! Can you give us any hints about your next project?]

[Two gorgeous ladies, I’m rushing over to watch the stream!]

The screen set up by the production team displayed real-time footage from their respective live streams, along with viewer comments.

This had been a signature feature of Dear Them since its first season, all the way through to the third.

Interacting with the audience helped bridge the gap and kept viewers engaged. Many of the show’s most viral moments had come from this very segment.

However, to maintain the show’s buzz, the production team couldn’t have all the couples gathered together at once. Instead, each pair took turns hosting this segment. That night’s livestream was mostly filled with their respective fans, creating a relatively friendly atmosphere.

The previous night had featured Lin Yan and Xu Zhi, and tonight it was Su Yun and Jiang Zhi’s turn.

After Su Yun finished speaking, the barrage of comments flew by so fast she could barely make out the words.

Propping her chin on her hand, she turned to Jiang Zhi beside her and said, “You have so many fans.”

Su Yun naturally assumed most of the comments were from Jiang Zhi’s fans. After all, given Jiang Zhi’s fame, her fanbase was undoubtedly the largest among all the guests.

Just in the few days of filming, Jiang Zhi’s fans seemed to be everywhere.

Hearing this, Jiang Zhi glanced at the livestream screen, now nearly obscured by the flood of comments, and chuckled. “The audience might get upset if they hear you say that.”

“Huh?” Su Yun turned her head, puzzled. “Why would they be mad at me?”

“Because quite a few of them like you,” Jiang Zhi replied. Though she hadn’t checked the recent trending topics, she knew Su Yun’s performance on the show must have won over many casual viewers. “You’re really popular right now.”

Only Su Yun herself remained oblivious, still convinced all the attention was for Jiang Zhi.

Su Yun looked surprised. “What do they like about me?”

Jiang Zhi: “…Maybe they like your… unique way of thinking.”

After five seconds of deliberation, Jiang Zhi finally settled on a fitting description, one that barely captured Su Yun’s distinctive personality.

Though, just barely.

For all she knew, a single task or offhand remark from Su Yun could shatter that perception and force her to redefine it entirely.

“Unique way of thinking?” Su Yun repeated, then translated it in her own terms. “So, they think I’m smart and admire my intellect, right?”

Jiang Zhi: “Right.”

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