The Film Queen Is Cold and Ruthless, Only Sends Money - Chapter 29.1

Chapter 29

The story between Su Yun and Jiang Zhi had been the subject of much speculation among netizens even before the variety show aired, with most of the comments being negative.

Even during the previous livestreams, the majority of the audience had been more interested in watching how the two would clear the game challenges rather than paying attention to their relationship.

But tonight, after hearing the heartwarming story Jiang Zhi had fabricated, their CP fanbase practically exploded overnight!

Especially during that final moment when the two leaned in close, whispering secrets to each other.

[What are Su Yun and Best Actress Jiang whispering about?! Don’t treat us viewers like outsiders—let us in on it too!]

[Is there anything we, the noble audience, aren’t allowed to hear?! Turn on the mics!]

[I get it! They just finished talking about their love story—of course they’d have some private words to share!]

[Look how happy they’re smiling! No one’s allowed to say my CP is fake ever again!]

Jiang Zhi had no idea that the story she had casually made up on the spot, pieced together from everyone’s input, had skyrocketed to the top of the trending searches in no time.

Whether she was happy about it or not was another matter—all she knew was that her nominal girlfriend was now dead set on becoming her teacher.

A certain phrase suddenly came to mind, perfectly describing her current situation.

She was the only one holding up this relationship.

–

By around ten in the evening, the guests began getting up from the courtyard, preparing to head back inside to sleep.

Lin Yan stretched lazily. “Let’s go back. Who knows what kind of task the production team has planned for us tomorrow morning.”

“Probably nothing good—otherwise, they would’ve already blurted it out by now,” Liu Yangran said, now well-acquainted with the production team’s antics.

Su Yun nodded in agreement. “And even if they’re setting us up, they’ll package it as something wonderful.”

Sleep was the only time of day when they could truly be carefree!

[Production team: Just sitting here quietly, listening to you all talk. Go on.]

[Another day coming to an end! I can’t wait for tomorrow’s livestream already!]

[+1, even though it’s been streaming for so long, why does it feel like time flew by? I wish the show would extend the broadcast!]

Of course, this “carefree” feeling didn’t apply to Su Xue and Jing Zhaozhao.

They stood frozen in front of the fourth room’s door, too afraid to push it open.

Liu Yangran and Ye Ying, standing by the second room’s door, encouraged them, “Just go in. Push the door open, jump straight into bed, and fall asleep, it’ll be fine.”

This was the method they had used to convince themselves they were staying in a five-star luxury hotel.

As long as their eyes couldn’t see it, their imagination could make it real.

“Why does the way you’re saying this make me feel like I’m walking to my execution?” Su Xue hesitated, her hand hovering over the door.

Jing Zhaozhao pushed it open for her, and as usual, the door let out a drawn-out creak.

Liu Yangran, leaning against her own doorframe, heard it clearly and stifled a laugh. “You know what? It’s actually kind of nostalgic.”

After hearing it for days, they’d started to feel like the door creaking was the norm.

Su Yun heard it too and studied the door thoughtfully. “Zhaozhao, doesn’t that sound kind of familiar to you?”

“Why?” Jing Zhaozhao pushed and pulled the door a couple more times, unable to recall where else she might have heard it.

“It sounds like an instrument,” Su Yun said. “An erhu.”

Jing Zhaozhao: “……”

[Hahahahahaha!! Now that Su Yun mentions it, it really does sound like one!]

【Zhaozhao: Living in the fourth room, playing myself another erhu tune tonight… feels like life is just like that…】

After listening to this “erhu performance,” the guests each returned to their rooms.

However, the live-stream audience noticed that neither the courtyard feed nor the feeds from their rooms had been turned off.

[The livestream is still on today! The production team really gets us!]

[I thought the stream would end once they went back to their rooms! Is there a surprise waiting?]

[Did the crew forget? Seems unlikely they’d make such a basic mistake.]

[I get it! Maybe the production team has some special nighttime mission planned?]

It must be said when it comes to the production team’s tasks, there’s no such thing as too outrageous, only more outrageous.

The first to discover the mission slip in their room was Lin Yan.

It was the same pink task card as on the first day, its neat and square appearance deceptively innocent.

But as she picked it up, Lin Yan inexplicably felt that whatever was inside would be something she didn’t want to see.

Holding the card, she looked at Xu Zhi. “Should we open it? Or just pretend we didn’t see it?”

Her gut told her that if they opened it, sleep would be out of the question tonight.

[So there really is a mission! Open it quick, I’m dying to know what devious plan the production team has come up with this time!]

[This is the reward for staying up late, haha! More, more!]

[No wonder the crew didn’t mention anything about tomorrow’s tasks when they went to bed, they were saving it for this!]

Xu Zhi hesitated too. “Is this task card just for our team, or do the others have one as well?”

If it was only for their team, that would mean they had a crucial role in the mission.

But if all the teams had one, ignoring it would put them at an information disadvantage. They might wake up tomorrow only to find themselves suddenly declared mission failures.

No matter how they looked at it, if they wanted to win, opening the task card was their best option.

“Let’s just take a look,” Lin Yan said, taking a deep breath before flipping open the card.

[Dear guests, by the time you read this card, a mysterious mission has already been triggered.

This mission only descends on dark and windy nights, meeting those destined for it.

Of course, it is also closely tied to tomorrow’s tasks.

If you wish to complete this mysterious mission and claim its rewards…

Right now, outside your door, there is a mysterious package containing the funds you’ll need for tomorrow’s task.

Outside every other guest’s room, there is an identical package with their funds.

None of these funds have been assigned yet. Ownership will only be decided at 6 a.m. tomorrow.

Therefore, before 6 a.m., do your best to protect your funds.

At the same time, by any means necessary, find a way to increase your task funds.

Note: You may not bring the funds inside your room.

Doing so will be considered a violation, resulting in the deduction of all funds.]

Despite the mystique of the production team’s task card, Xu Zhi could sum it up in two words: “Robbery.”

No wonder the card said, “This mission only descends on dark and windy nights.”

Trying to pull this off in broad daylight would be asking for a beating.

“…It seems my intuition was indeed correct,” Lin Yan quietly stepped outside and indeed spotted the mysterious package mentioned on the task card.

Though the pink box significantly diminished its air of mystery.

Lin Yan picked up the envelope inside and remarked, “It’s so thick?”

Xu Zhi replied, “Open it and see. The production team probably isn’t that generous.”

Perhaps to make it easier for them to “steal” money, the production team had exchanged the thirty yuan into one-yuan bills, thirty in total.

This was also why Lin Yan felt it was thick to the touch.

“…The production team really is as stingy as ever,” Lin Yan said.

[Looks like tonight is destined to be a sleepless night!]

[Go check the other groups’ livestreams every team got this task, hahaha! The production team really knows how to stir things up!]

[Thirty yuan, production team, you really love this number, don’t you?]

The other groups also found envelopes on their tables after entering their rooms.

Su Yun finished reading the task and noticed the package by the door: “Should we secure this thirty yuan first?”

The first thing they needed to do was protect their thirty yuan.

Jiang Zhi glanced around outside and decided the safest place was right under their noses. “Let’s leave it by the door for now and see what the other groups do before deciding.”

“Alright,” Su Yun yawned. “Do you think anyone will come to steal our money?”

The promises they had made earlier were as grand and enticing as a freshly baked scallion pancake.

Jiang Zhi thought back to the previous game: “Let’s not trust them.”

Friendship is fleeting, but victory is eternal.

Su Yun nodded deeply in agreement. “Then let’s wait until closer to midnight to make our move. That’s when they’ll be most relaxed maybe we can even increase our funds.”

[Five minutes ago, the guests: Tomorrow’s tasks can wait, but nothing should disturb our sleep!

Now, the guests: Sleep is important, but compared to task funds, forget about sleeping!]

[Hahahaha!! I was really worried you’d believe their grand promises!]

[Not believing was the right call. I checked the other livestreams, they’ve already forgotten about it and are busy scheming how to steal money!!]

[One second: Let’s form an alliance! Next second: We’re fish with seven-second memories!]

It could be said that when Su Xue and Jing Chaochao saw the task card, their moods were much better than the others’.

From the task card, they could easily deduce that the other groups had also received this mission.

Tonight, all of them would have to stay highly alert to protect their funds.

And at the right moment, they’d need to use their wits to snatch more funds from others.

“No matter which room we’re in, we definitely can’t sleep tonight,” Su Xue thought, finding humor in the situation. “In that case, staying in the fourth room isn’t so unlucky after all.”

Jing Chaochao hummed in agreement. “Let’s not rush out. We’ll observe the situation from the door first.”

If they went out now, their intention to steal money would be too obvious.

They moved as quietly as possible toward the door, planning to peek through a crack to see if anyone else was outside.

However, they overlooked one thing.

When they opened the door, the creaking sound like a badly played erhu, drew the attention of everyone else peeking through their own door cracks.

“Screeeech!”

The night was too quiet; even the slightest sound would be caught by the ears.

Not to mention such an obvious, distinctive, and unmistakable noise.

[Me, secretly watching the livestream in my bedroom, struggling to hold back my laughter, it’s been tough!]

[I’m dying of laughter! That door sound is practically begging the other guests to hear it, hahaha!]

[Door: It’s me, making my grand entrance with a unique BGM!]

Su Xue: “…”

Jing Zhaozhao: “…”

After two seconds of silence, Su Xue decided to retract her earlier statement: “There is a difference between the first room and the fourth room.”

At least the other three rooms’ doors weren’t this flamboyant.

Talk about a false start before even beginning.

Jing Zhaozhao glanced at the pairs of eyes peeking through the other door cracks and took the initiative to step out. “Looks like none of you are asleep yet either.”

One by one, the doors opened. The same group who had gathered at the entrance ten minutes earlier to bid each other goodnight now found themselves standing there again.

Lin Yan pretended to know nothing, saying, “We just heard your door and came out to see what was happening.”

Su Xue pointed at the sky. “…Couldn’t sleep, so I came out to admire the moon. Look how beautiful it is.”

Everyone looked up.

It was the beginning of the lunar month only a slender crescent moon hung in the sky, mostly obscured by clouds. You’d have to squint to even spot it.

The cameraman played along, panning to the pitch-black night sky in the livestream.

[What a lovely moon! Aside from being invisible, it’s truly stunning!]

[You’re just spoiling Xuexue, aren’t you?! Once they’ve got a mission, they all turn into Oscar-winning actresses, hahaha!!!]

Su Yun: “…Your taste in moons is unique?”

“…Haha, yeah. When I first met Zhaozhao, the moon looked just like this pitch black.” Su Xue closed her eyes briefly.

Should’ve checked the almanac before stepping out!

Jing Zhaozhao: “…”

She had to hand it to Su Xue for managing to spin that.

[Xuexue: One embarrassing moment might be awkward, but with enough of them, I fear nothing!]

[Hahahaha!! I’m wide awake now, laughing too hard to sleep!]

[I just checked their livestreams is the money still sitting outside their bedroom doors, untouched?]

[Yep! None of them trust each other. They even discussed not sleeping tonight when they came out!]

In the few minutes they’d been chatting, the eight of them had collectively yawned eighty times.

Liu Yangran could barely keep her eyes open, propping her eyelids up with her fingers. “Aren’t any of you tired?”

“Not really. The moon’s just too captivating.” Lin Yan gazed skyward, feigning ignorance while silently plotting how to retrieve their money unnoticed.

Jing Zhaozhao broke the stalemate. “I’m not sleepy either. I assume everyone’s seen their mission cards and starting funds?”

“Yeah,” Ye Ying nodded. “Here’s my idea: let’s all keep our 30 yuan and get a good night’s sleep. No one touches the boxes outside. Sound good?”

[Not a bad plan! The question is, how tough will tomorrow’s mission be?]

[30 yuan won’t get you far for any task. The producers probably want them to remember the cooking challenge and fight over each other’s money again.]

【Place your bets will the four groups agree to this proposal or not!】

【I bet they’ll agree. Look at how drowsy they all are they must really want to sleep.】

【Then I’ll bet they’ll pretend to agree but secretly pull some tricks in a few hours, not sticking to the agreement at all!】

【+1, I’m voting for disagreement too! I don’t think they’ll be this peaceful!】

When Ye Ying made the suggestion, everyone nodded in agreement.

Lin Yan: “That’s a good idea. How about none of us try to steal from each other?”

Jiang Zhi: “Sounds good.”

Su Xue also nodded. “Then should we head back to our rooms now?”

After the agreement was made, they all returned to their rooms, and the task was peacefully resolved.

However, once inside, Su Xue and Jing Zhaozhao’s doors remained wide open.

【Wait, seriously? They just went back like that?】

【On the livestream, they really did lie down in bed. Maybe they were just exhausted from farming all day.】

【Director! Come save us, stir up some drama! I want to see them fight over the money, haha!!】

【It’s almost midnight. Goodnight, everyone, I’m off to bed. I’ll check the results tomorrow morning!】

【Those who need to sleep, go ahead! I’ll stay up tonight and keep watch for everyone!】

–

The next morning.

A trending topic slowly climbed the charts.

#Dear Sisters Officially Renamed Sisters in Disarray#

The discussion under the tag was lively, drawing in both curious passersby and dedicated fans of the show.

【What’s going on? Isn’t Dear Sisters that super popular variety show? Why the name change?】

【Did the couples on the show break up? But surely not all of them at once?】

【The phrase “in disarray” is kind of terrifying!】

【I just went to sleep last night, what happened to Dear Sisters? Did something go wrong?】

【Don’t worry! If you missed last night’s livestream, go watch it now! It’s hilarious!】

【Last night’s livestream? I remember them agreeing to a peaceful truce before I went to bed! Seems like something big must’ve happened, I’ll go catch up right away.】

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