The Film Queen Is Cold and Ruthless, Only Sends Money - Chapter 37.2

Seeing that all the guests had guessed correctly, the director had no choice but to explain it himself: “What Lin Yan said earlier was actually quite accurate it’s related to chemistry. Ice forms when water molecules bond together via hydrogen bonds, creating a rigid, low-density structure. Hot water, due to its higher temperature, has more active molecular movement, allowing the bonds to form faster. That’s why it freezes quicker.”

After the director’s explanation, the guests on set collectively yawned midday explanations had lulled them into drowsiness.

[Wait, wasn’t I here to watch a show? Why is there chemistry involved? I don’t like this crossover!]

[If this were three years ago, I could’ve explained it perfectly to the guests. But alas, I’ve graduated, now all I know is “blah blah” and that one plus one equals two.]

[To the comment above… Okay, but wasn’t the third question literally testing if one plus one equals two? And yet fewer people got that right than this one…]

[Please delete this, wuwu! I was just watching the stream, and suddenly I got roasted. Give me back my wholesome internet friends!]

[Ah, so this is what it feels like when knowledge brushes past your brain hilarious! But don’t worry, show crew, next time I’ll still choose to guess blindly!]

“Director, no need to explain the next question. We won’t understand it anyway,” Liu Yangran said, her eyes and heart already fixated on the hot pot beside them.

Jing Zhaozhao nodded in agreement, offering an objective assessment: “But this question was definitely easier than the previous ones.”

At least it wasn’t one of those brain-twisting riddles that take eighteen turns only to reveal the car was parked right in front of their house. This one had actual scientific reasoning much simpler!

All their old exam-guessing strategies finally came in handy!

Director: “Guests, please listen to the fifth question…”

Aside from the first three questions, the rest of the program’s challenges followed a more conventional path.

Plus, with all eight of them answering together, the margin for error shrank significantly. As a result, they successfully piled plate after plate of ingredients onto their table.

By the time all the questions were answered, the spread around the hot pot was lavish and abundant.

Sitting beside the simmering pot, the aroma grew even more intoxicating. Liu Yangran sighed, “Finally, we get to eat! I think the agony of walking earlier can only be cured with food.”

“Even though we came by car, we still need hot pot for comfort,” Su Xue said, dropping meat into the spicy broth. “But you all should definitely eat more.”

Su Yun also aimed for the spicy pot. After adding her chosen ingredients, she noticed Jiang Zhi only picking items from the mild broth.

“I remember you can handle spicy food at home?” she asked Jiang Zhi.

After all, many of Aunt Liu’s dishes used chili for flavor.

Jiang Zhi nodded. “I can handle a little spice, but not anything too intense.”

The chili in home-cooked meals was usually mild, but Jinguang City was famous for its fiery peppers the spicy broth here was practically lethal. Jiang Zhi decided it was better not to test her limits.

“Then I’ll taste it for you and see how spicy it is,” Su Yun said, always eager to challenge herself when it came to food.

She fished out the baby bok choy she had just put in, now coated in a thick layer of red oil just the sight of it was enough to whet anyone’s appetite.

Beside her, Jing Zhaozhao was sipping water in small gulps and chimed in, “The chili here really packs a punch. Be careful if you’re trying it.”

By the time Su Yun finished eating, she was practically sweating even in the air-conditioned room. “It’s spicy, but I think it’s still manageable. Do you want to give it a try?”

The encouragement in her eyes was practically overflowing.

Jiang Zhi: “…”

[Hahahahaha! Go for it, Actress Jiang! We, the live audience, are giving you moral support!]

[Local here! Our city’s chili peppers are indeed no joke, but wouldn’t it be a shame not to try them? Hehe!]

[If the production team assigned them this task, then the production team is the obstacle to their happiness. If the production team didn’t assign it, then Su Yun is the obstacle! Hahaha!]

“Since we’re already in Jinguang City, we definitely have to try it,” Su Yun picked up the plate beside her and asked Jiang Zhi, “What do you like? I’ll cook it for you.”

The most classic line of traveling had finally made its appearance!

We’re already here, so we might as well give it a try.

Not wanting to spoil the mood, Jiang Zhi silently estimated that eating a little probably wouldn’t be a problem. “Just some baby bok choy.”

“Got it, just wait a bit,” Su Yun replied without hesitation, tossing in twice the amount Jiang Zhi had expected.

Their experiment attracted Xu Zhi, who had been sticking to the mild broth. “Should I try it too?”

She was mainly swayed by Su Yun’s “we’re already here” argument. After all, when visiting a new city, skipping its most famous attractions and signature dishes would only lead to regret later!

“Are you sure you can handle it?” Lin Yan knew Xu Zhi’s tolerance for spice. “It’s really quite spicy.”

“Just a tiny bit,” Xu Zhi said with inexplicable confidence.

In the end, Su Yun, who had only intended to goad Jiang Zhi succeeded in getting everyone to try the spicy broth.

[Hahahahaha! Even Sister Xu wants to try the spicy broth now! Su Yun’s powers of persuasion are unreal!]

[Spicy broth fans, rise up! I recommend everyone try it, it’s seriously addictive and delicious!]

[I can already picture them all panting and fanning their mouths a minute from now after eating it! Hahaha!]

[Production team, I was planning to eat light for lunch today, but now I’m sitting in a hot pot restaurant. How are you going to make this up to me? Waaah!]

[I’ve got this. Since you’re already at the hot pot place, you might as well go all out otherwise, you’ll regret it the moment you leave!]

Their pot was boiling at high heat, cooking the ingredients quickly. The production team had even prepped everything for them, slicing the meat to the perfect thickness. Soon, the food in the spicy broth was ready.

Jiang Zhi picked up her baby bok choy along with an unexpected chili pepper. Why do I suddenly regret agreeing to this?

“Go on, try it!” Su Yun urged eagerly, more excited than the person actually eating. “If it’s too spicy, just drink the juice I poured for you.”

Somehow, it felt both considerate and not at the same time.

Jiang Zhi took a bite. The rich, spicy broth had thoroughly infused the bok choy, bursting with savory, numbing heat on her tongue, balanced by the vegetable’s natural sweetness. It was irresistible.

Even after swallowing, the lingering heat remained in her mouth, leaving a fragrant aftertaste.

Jiang Zhi took a sip of the chilled drink beside her before finally speaking. “It’s a bit spicy, but really good.”

It took her a full thirty seconds to say it.

Xu Zhi was now also eating from the spicy pot. It took her longer to recover than Jiang Zhi, but the first thing she said when she could speak again was, “Delicious, more please!”

Su Yun: “So, does this count as a successful conversion?”

“Very successful!” Lin Yan was a bit surprised. She had tried to get Xu Zhi to taste it before without success, never expecting Xu Zhi to actively pick food from the spicy pot today.

By the end of the meal, all of them bore the classic signs of having eaten from the spicy pot, hissing and panting, yet still wanting another bite.

Even though the air conditioning was set low, they were all covered in a thin layer of sweat, their cheeks slightly flushed, lazily leaning back in their chairs.

“I think I might have overeaten a little,” Su Xue said. Even while chatting, she hadn’t forgotten to keep stuffing food into her mouth, upholding a foodie’s respect for good food.

Liu Yangran finished the last sip of her juice: “If the production team were to show us a movie now, it would absolutely count as a life without regrets.”

Su Yun glanced at Jiang Zhi. Her eyes were slightly bright, with a hint of moisture probably from eating too much spice and her cheeks were tinged with a faint blush.

Unlike her usual cool demeanor, there was a unique allure in the way she lifted her gaze.

Su Yun silently praised in her heart: So beautiful! Truly worthy of being her household’s Bodhisattva of Generosity!

Noticing Su Yun’s gaze, Jiang Zhi thought she wanted more food from her side and asked, “What would you like? I’ll get it for you.”

“No need, I’m already full!”

–

After the hotpot, their grievances toward the production team had significantly diminished.

“Director, if you let us watch a movie now, I promise to give you a glowing review after the show ends, and I’ll even recommend your program to my friends,” Liu Yangran still hadn’t forgotten her wish.

[Liu Yangran: What are friends compared to a movie after hotpot?!]

[Hahahahaha! Suddenly thought, does recommending friends to join the show count as throwing them into the fire pit?]

[Watching a movie might not be certain, but if it’s a movie-related task, there might really be one, hahaha!]

“The director didn’t immediately refuse. Could there be hope?” Lin Yan looked curiously at the director.

If that were the case, she wouldn’t mind dragging her friends along either!

Before answering their question, the director first asked, “Did any of you notice anything different about today’s tasks?”

“Different?” Jing Zhaozhao recalled everything from the start of filming until now. “The production team seems to have been pretty nice to us?”

Whether it was the rooms or today’s lunch, everything had left them all very satisfied.

[Zhaozhao, wake up! Go check out the other show, their luxurious lifestyle is what you call truly good, hahaha!]

[Forgive them! Last episode was too harsh. Today might feel like a dream to them, hahaha!]

[The director really didn’t deny the movie thing! Could it actually happen? I’m starting to get excited, ahhh!]

Pleased with their response, the director nodded slightly: “Actually, at the start of the show, we didn’t reveal today’s theme, which is decided by the guests themselves, a leisurely trip to Jinguang City.”

Our production team has always adhered to this philosophy today. From the moment the guests stepped out of the car, every task has been entirely determined by the guests themselves.

For example, when the guests wanted to reach their accommodations, we provided the sightseeing bus. When they chose hotpot for lunch, we designed the rapid-fire Q&A session just now.

Therefore, the afternoon activities will also be decided by the guests themselves.

So, you’ve chosen the movie-watching activity, correct? If confirmed, you’ll only need to complete the corresponding task to proceed with it.

[??? Director, can you show your face on camera so I can check if you’ve been replaced? Since when did the director become so nice?!]

[No wonder I felt today’s tasks were oddly coincidental! How could they just happen to eat hotpot right after talking about it!]

[+1, I initially thought it was pure luck or scripted! Never imagined it was all part of the production team’s plan!]

[I love this concept! Every word they say affects the next task, it’s like opening a mystery box, so thrilling!]

After the director’s explanation, the guests finally understood why they had hotpot for lunch.

“But director, does this ‘leisurely travel’ theme also include us walking to our accommodations with a paper map?” Lin Yan felt she had to clarify.

The stumped director: “That was an accident. Let’s overlook it for now. Overall, it’s still a leisurely trip!”

Minor details don’t affect the big picture!

The ignored Lin Yan: “…”

Still, compared to previous tasks, this was indeed much more relaxed, and they were quick to console themselves.

Having navigated past that hurdle, the director repeated his question: “So, can we begin the movie-watching game segment?”

“Wait! Let’s not confirm the movie just yet we should discuss further!” Liu Yangran quickly retracted her earlier statement.

She turned to the others and asked, “Shouldn’t we think this through more carefully?”

The production team had been unusually accommodating today, fulfilling their every wish even splurging on that awesome sightseeing bus!

Wasting such an opportunity on a movie would be a downright shame.

Su Xue nodded in agreement. “Maybe we should save the movie for tonight and do something else in the afternoon?”

Everyone reached a consensus, but a new problem immediately arose.

Jing Zhaozhao: “Then what should we do this afternoon?”

Su Yun pondered for a moment before asking the director first: “Will the production team cover all expenses for today’s activities?”

The sightseeing bus, the local specialties on board, and all the hotpot ingredients none of it had required them to earn money themselves.

Director: “Correct. No matter what activity the guests choose next, as long as you complete the corresponding task, the production team will cover the costs.”

The moment Su Yun asked this question, everyone’s eyes lit up.

Su Yun: “Then I think we’ve already decided what to do this afternoon.”

“The first thing you do when arriving at a tourist destination is, of course, shopping!” Lin Yan finished Su Yun’s sentence.

“Let’s go shopping!” Su Xue cheered.

[Hahahahaha, judging by their expressions, are they really not going to bankrupt the production team?!]

【Logically speaking, the more funds an activity consumes, the harder their tasks should be, right? I’m already looking forward to it!】

【The comment above is so detailed, it does seem to be the case! The sightseeing tour bus costs more than hot pot, so the first game segment was indeed harder than the second!】

The guests, however, hadn’t noticed this pattern. After confirming with the director that they’d chosen shopping as their activity, they eagerly headed out!

Director: “Alright. The guests have independently chosen shopping as their activity. The program team will now take everyone to Jinguang Mall, the most famous and largest shopping center in Jinguang City.

Unlike ordinary large malls, Jinguang Mall not only offers a comprehensive range of goods but also has a dedicated floor for the city’s most famous specialty wholesale products, making it a must-visit spot for tourists.

One thing to note: after selecting the shopping activity, the guests have also triggered the tasks they must complete during the outing. We’ll announce these upon arrival at the mall, and everyone will receive the corresponding shopping funds after the game.”

Even though the director mentioned the tasks at the end, the guests paid no attention, happily waiting for the program team’s car.

Su Xue turned to Su Yun beside her and said, “You know, didn’t the program team say today that they’d fulfill all our wishes? So, if I asked to switch the car taking us to the mall, would they agree?”

Su Yun looked at her curiously. “What kind of car do you want to switch to?”

She remembered that before this episode started, Su Xue had specifically tagged her on Weibo, saying, “Next time there’s a little electric scooter to ride, remember to call me.”

Su Xue tilted her head slightly, lost in a beautiful fantasy. “If we could switch to a Rolls-Royce or some other luxury car, wouldn’t it be so impressive when we go shopping?”

Su Yun: “…”

Still, she didn’t burst Su Xue’s bubble and only said, “Maybe it’s possible. The program team might even give us two.”

“You also think our program team is loaded, right?” Su Xue was thrilled to find someone who agreed with her. “But why two?”

Su Yun: “One Rolls-Royce Phantom, one Rolls-Royce Shadow, you can even switch between them.”

Su Xue, left speechless: “…”

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