CSGM - Chapter 20
Chapter 20: Concise and to the Point
While Chu Xi was engrossed in teaching her classes and collecting IQ points, she was unaware that a little "green tea" was making a move behind her back.
Zhao Shiqing saw that many people weren't around and quietly slipped into Ren Zhi's tent.
"Sister Zhi," she called out, her voice feigned and saccharine.
A chill ran down Ren Zhi's spine. She suppressed it and asked calmly, "What is it?"
Zhao Shiqing deliberately looked around, then said pointedly, "Chu Xi isn't here."
"Sigh, Sister Zhi, I found something out, but I don't know if I should tell you..."
Saying you don't know if you should tell someone just means you're dying to tell them.
Piquing their curiosity is just a way to make them listen.
Ren Zhi didn't bother playing along. Knowing what she was up to, she said bluntly, "Just say it."
Zhao Shiqing lowered her head, pretending to be conflicted for a moment before taking out her phone.
"Alright, Sister Zhi, I feel like I shouldn't hide this from you... Look at this behind-the-scenes interview. I don't think it was in the main broadcast. I wonder if you've heard it?"
This was a short clip from the program materials the staff had shown Zhao Shiqing when she came on as a flying guest. It was from the behind-the-scenes interviews with the four members, excluding Ren Zhi. The original purpose was to help her prepare and integrate better into the show.
But unexpectedly, while reviewing the materials, Zhao Shiqing had secretly recorded a small segment with her own phone.
And it was precisely the part the director had decided not to broadcast.
-"What are your thoughts on Ren Zhi preparing the meal plan for everyone in advance?"
-"No thoughts."
-"You're with Ren Zhi; aren't you moved by her hard work?"
-"Hard work is for idiots."
Chu Xi sat nonchalantly in the interview room, speaking with an air of indifference.
Her tone was no different from her usual snarky self.
Even without looking at the phone screen, Ren Zhi could tell it was Chu Xi's voice just by listening.
"Hard work is for idiots."
Especially that line.
She couldn't believe anyone other than Chu Xi would say something like that.
Narcissistic, arrogant, and rude.
No wonder her assistant had been curious that day why the behind-the-scenes interviews for the other three members were available, but Chu Xi's wasn't, not even in the extended cuts.
Now Ren Zhi knew why.
A question that had been dormant for days, almost forgotten, was suddenly answered.
Because nothing good ever comes out of that dog's mouth!
Ren Zhi's face was now completely expressionless.
Zhao Shiqing knew her goal was basically accomplished.
That Chu Xi was so arrogant, even daring to mock Ren Zhi. Now that Ren Zhi had seen this behind-the-scenes interview, she would surely blacklist Chu Xi in her heart!
This was the ace up her sleeve.
Zhao Shiqing feigned shock. "Sister Zhi, you hadn't seen it?"
She thought that this meant it was over between Chu Xi and Ren Zhi, and that she would now have a chance to get close to Ren Zhi on the show.
Unfortunately, she was wrong. She understood neither Chu Xi nor Ren Zhi.
Compared to Chu Xi, who had a mouth that couldn't say anything nice, Ren Zhi was even less inclined to be pleasant to someone who was deliberately sowing discord. So, she took the opportunity to adopt an icy tone.
"I've seen it now."
Zhao Shiqing was ecstatic, thinking Ren Zhi was angry at Chu Xi.
And it seemed like she was quite angry, too; it was written all over her face.
"Ah, Sister Zhi, don't be too angry. I didn't expect Chu Xi to be so harsh..."
"I know. You can go back now. I need to rest."
Zhao Shiqing was cut off mid-sentence as Ren Zhi dismissed her. She froze for a moment.
But then she figured Ren Zhi must be furious with Chu Xi, and it was wise not to be in the line of fire. So she mumbled "Mm-hmm" a couple of times, told Ren Zhi to "rest well," and quickly left.
As Zhao Shiqing came out of the tent, she was spotted by Chu Xi, who was just getting out of the RV.
Chu Xi watched her retreating figure, then glanced at the orange tent she shared with Ren Zhi, her eyes narrowing.
A flash of disgust crossed her eyes.
Dark clouds roiled in the black sky, and a hint of moisture hung in the air—a sign of an approaching storm.
When she returned to the tent, Ren Zhi was already lying flat on the bed, covered with a blanket.
How rare. The workaholic wasn't working overtime today.
Chu Xi clicked her tongue against the roof of her mouth, making a "tsk" sound.
"Resting so early today? Was it because you had such a nice chat with Zhao Shiqing?"
"It has nothing to do with her."
"How long was she in my tent?"
"Why are you asking?" Ren Zhi asked, turning on her side to face her.
Chu Xi sat on the edge of the bed. "Considering whether I need to spray the place down with alcohol."
As she spoke, she leaned over Ren Zhi and sniffed her theatrically.
Like a police dog searching for contraband.
Ren Zhi reached out and pushed her face away.
"What are you doing? Are you a dog?"
"Why are you so nervous? I'm just checking if you smell like tea."
"What tea smell?" Ren Zhi asked, confused.
She hadn't drunk any tea recently.
Chu Xi stared at her with an inscrutable expression, then her lips curved into a mysterious smile.
Her sly eyes seemed to say: Figure it out yourself.
It took Ren Zhi a few seconds, but then she understood.
...
So Chu Xi was calling Zhao Shiqing a green tea.
Fair enough. She wasn't wrong.
Ren Zhi said, "No, don't worry. I don't like getting too close to people."
Chu Xi considered that a statement proving Ren Zhi's head was on straight.
Slightly satisfied, she said, "That's good. Otherwise, I was afraid I wouldn't be able to resist the urge to throw you out tonight."
She had a dead-serious expression.
Meaning she was perfectly capable of doing it.
Ren Zhi sneered.
She said, word by word, "Chu Xi, you've got some real nerve."
Chu Xi slowly unbuttoned her shirt and changed into aqua-colored silk pajamas. Her long, fair neck was like a swan's, her smooth skin like a snowy mountain, her waistline like a meandering stream, but... her mouth was like a dog's.
"I can't sleep with someone who isn't clear-headed. Stupidity is contagious."
Ren Zhi, who had just been admiring Chu Xi's figure and was about to suggest she try tapping into the fashion industry's resources, felt the words on the tip of her tongue drop back into her stomach.
"It would be so much better if you were mute."
Chu Xi chuckled lightly but didn't reply.
"Going to sleep."
Ren Zhi turned off the light. Chu Xi scrambled into bed. They each wrapped themselves in their own blankets, ended the conversation, and went to sleep.
In the middle of the night.
The pitter-patter of rain reached Chu Xi's ears.
The temperature in the tent had dropped, and she pulled her blanket a little tighter.
It was a night rain that preceded a drop in temperature, signaling that tomorrow's weather would be cooler and more humid compared to today's dry heat.
Chu Xi was just thinking that this was good, as the kitchen would be cooler, when a muffled groan suddenly interrupted her thoughts.
She was extremely sensitive to every sound at night.
Including that one, of course.
Even though it was fleeting, Chu Xi didn't for a second doubt that she had misheard.
Besides her, Ren Zhi was the only other person on this bed.
She immediately turned over, pulled back Ren Zhi's blanket, and saw Ren Zhi's forehead beaded with sweat. She was clutching the corner of her pillow, trembling.
Chu Xi reached out and touched her pale face, feeling how tightly her teeth were clenched, as if with all her might.
Just then, Ren Zhi groaned again, the sound struggling to escape her throat.
Chu Xi frowned.
Even an idiot could see that Ren Zhi was in pain.
"Ren Zhi, what's wrong?"
As Chu Xi asked, she reached into Ren Zhi's blanket and carefully felt around... between her legs.
Nothing padded, nothing wet. It's not her period.
If Ren Zhi wasn't in so much pain from her leg that she had no strength left, she would have at least raised a hand and slapped Chu Xi hard.
For groping her like that!
"I'm... I'm fine... You go to sleep..." Ren Zhi's teeth were chattering as she haltingly forced the words out.
"You already woke me up. How am I supposed to sleep?" Chu Xi said.
What a dog's mouth.
Ren Zhi thought hazily through the pain. She pulled the blanket up over her head, covering herself completely, and curled into a ball to endure it.
But the next second, Chu Xi ripped the blanket away.
The light in the tent also came on.
After a quick observation, Chu Xi deduced the problem.
She asked Ren Zhi, "Your leg hurts? What's wrong with your leg?"
Ren Zhi gritted her teeth. At a time like this, she could only be concise and to the point.
"Lingering effects."
Chu Xi rubbed her chin, staring at the unblemished, smooth skin of her leg. "I figured as much. You said that for nothing."
Ren Zhi finally couldn't hold back and shot Chu Xi a vicious glare.
Does she even hear the words coming out of her own mouth?
If she's so good at guessing, why the hell did she even ask? She can just guess all she wants!
Ren Zhi was furious. Mustering strength from who knows where, she turned over in bed, her back to Chu Xi.
Looks like she still has some mobility.
Chu Xi thought as she looked at her back.
The production team had sent them to this small county in the middle of nowhere, without even a hospital nearby...
Forget a hospital; this place was so remote there was barely any traffic, no transportation at night. It would be difficult to even get to the town center.
Considering the inopportune time, unfavorable location, and disharmonious company, Chu Xi stated the facts: "These lingering effects of yours are really troublesome."
Hearing this, Ren Zhi thought Chu Xi was again complaining about being woken up and unable to sleep.
She knew Chu Xi was a light sleeper.
In truth, she had been trying her best to endure it all night...
But the sounds she made when she couldn't hold it in weren't intentional.
Even so, she had still woken someone up and was now being blamed by Chu Xi. Although she felt guilty, she also felt wronged.
Besides, if she couldn't help but cry out again later, she would just wake Chu Xi up anyway.
So she snapped, her voice trembling, "If you can't sleep... then go... make breakfast for tomorrow... find... something... to do."
Chu Xi put on her jacket and, true to her word, went out the very next second.
Finally... she was alone.
Ren Zhi buried her head in the blanket, letting out intermittent groans of pain.
After being trampled by a horse, her leg had suffered a severe fracture that required surgery. But before she had fully recovered, she returned to the set to continue filming. Unfortunately, this left her with lingering effects.
Now, whenever the seasons changed or the weather was damp and rainy, the improperly healed fracture would ache, a vengeful pain that seemed determined to teach her a harsh lesson.
Fortunately, that drama had been a huge success, which she could use to numb herself.
It was all worth it.
An unknown amount of time passed, though it didn't seem long, and Chu Xi returned.
She was drenched from the rain, a string of keys dangling and clanking from her middle finger.
She got on the bed and patted Ren Zhi, her tone as punchable as ever. "Hey, your hands aren't broken, are they?"
"They're. Per. Fect!"
As Ren Zhi finished speaking and turned her head, a cold drop of rain suddenly hit her face.
It had rolled down from the wet strands of hair plastered to Chu Xi's forehead.
Only then did she see that the rest of Chu Xi's hair, around her ears and the nape of her neck, was also soaked. Water trickled over her collarbones, her jacket was covered in droplets, and the shirt visible at her collar was plastered wetly to her skin.
While she was still dazed, Chu Xi helped her up and fluidly draped a dry jacket and a bath towel over her. A second towel was wrapped thickly around her left leg, like a cast.
Finally, an umbrella was thrust into her hand.
Ren Zhi: "?"
"What are you doing...?"
The words had barely left her mouth when her body was lifted into the air.
Her feet were treading on air, as if gravity had suddenly vanished from her body.
She was being carried in Chu Xi's arms, bridal style?!
"Where did you get so much strength?" Ren Zhi asked in astonishment, the question slipping out unconsciously.
"It's because you usually eat too little." Chu Xi gave her a sidelong glance and said, "Hold up the umbrella. There's a 24-hour clinic nearby. I'll take you there now."
"How? Don't... you don't have to... It's too far to walk from here..."
By the time she finished the sentence, Ren Zhi had already been placed on the seat of a motorcycle.
Chu Xi covered her head and body completely with a raincoat, and only then did Ren Zhi hear the crisp jingle of the keys in her hand.
Next came the roar of a dirt bike's engine.
"Are you an idiot? Why would I walk? There's a vehicle. Hold on to me with one hand. I'm a good driver. We'll be there in five minutes."
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