CSGM - Chapter 7
Chapter 7: Just Average-Looking
As for the online comments like, "If this is real, I'll smash a boulder on my chest, split a durian with my bare hands, and take a shit while doing a handstand," Chu Xi couldn't be bothered to pay them any mind. It was all just meaningless trash talk.
The Shop Owner couldn't believe that Chu Xi had actually solved the math problem his son had been stuck on. But with his nephew from Peking University confirming it, he had no choice but to accept the fact.
His expression was as if he'd heard some bizarre, shocking news. His small eyes were wide as he muttered to himself in disbelief.
"Aren't celebrities all just pretty faces with no substance? Is there really someone that impressive? My nephew got into Peking University, how could even he admire a celebrity like that..."
The Shop Owner's mindset began to waver. He reflected, introspected, and kept replaying the scene where Chu Xi had told him he only knew how to scold his son, not how to teach him.
After his Peking University nephew affirmed Chu Xi's abilities, the Shop Owner's opinion of her subtly changed. His subconscious tendency to admire the strong made him reconsider. Maybe Chu Xi was right...
When Ren Zhi came to borrow a table to set up her stall, the Shop Owner's attitude had softened considerably. Seeing her through a "Chu Xi filter," he was more tolerant of entertainment industry celebrities and less dismissive than before. He not only generously lent Ren Zhi a table but also bought a bottle of wine.
The two teams worked diligently selling wine until evening, when the Director called for them to pack up and return.
Ren Zhi and Xiao Han's team sold nine bottles of red wine, a great success. The other three-person team also did well, selling seven bottles.
Today, a total of 16 bottles of Hanmoni red wine were sold, earning the five members an initial capital of 27,008 yuan.
"Everyone did great! Let's toast to our performance today!"
They opened another bottle of red wine, courtesy of the sponsor, and celebrated with drinks inside the RV restaurant.
The Director checked the time and asked, "Who's your treasurer? Come report today's financial situation."
Xiao Han put down his wine glass, stood up, and faced the camera. "Today's income was 27,008 yuan. The members' lunch, dinner, and water cost a total of 572 yuan. The restaurant's remaining balance is 26,436 yuan."
The Director's voice was broadcast to the live stream as he made an announcement:
"Dear viewers, today's live stream of Our Restaurant is about to end. Tomorrow, the five members will have their procurement day. From 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., we'll see you back here in the live stream room!"
"We'd like to thank Hanmoni Classic Dry Red Wine for their generous support of this program. Thank you to Daojiaxiang Canola Oil for their generous support. Thank you to Bai's Smart Kitchenware for their generous support. Thank you..."
Amidst the string of advertisements, the clock struck 9 p.m. Beijing time, and the day's program slowly came to a close.
In the final second before the live stream closed, fans were still persistently cheering in the bullet comments-
【Ren Zhi brought in so many sponsors all by herself!】
【Good night and sweet dreams, Zhizhi! See you tomorrow, Zhizhi!】
【Here for Ren Zhi, here for Ren Zhi, here for Ren Zhi...】
【I'm just saying, most of these sponsors probably invested in this show because of Ren Zhi. No objections, right?】
【Tianbao, you're the best!!!】
【Brother Han worked hard!】
【I can't believe their work schedule is "997" hahahahahaha!!】
...
The live stream ended, and the cameras turned off.
The smile on Xiao Han's face vanished instantly. He put down his wine glass and said with a stiff expression, "I'm a little allergic to alcohol, so I won't be drinking. You all chat and drink."
With that, he got up and left without a backward glance, ignoring everyone.
Li Xiling, confused, waved from the table and called out, "Hey, hey," a couple of times. Seeing Xiao Han walk briskly out of the RV alone without reacting, she lowered her hand and looked quizzically at the others at the table.
"Who pissed him off?"
Anyone could see that Xiao Han was upset and sulking.
Allergic to alcohol, my ass. He was just angry.
Ren Zhi smiled apologetically at everyone. "Brother Han and I had a bit of a disagreement while selling wine during the day. He's probably still upset about it."
Li Xiling took a sip of wine as she listened and said with dissatisfaction, "What a petty man. A grown man holding a grudge more than a little girl... Ren Zhi, don't worry about him. He'll be fine by tomorrow. If not, he can just stew in his own anger."
Why give the innocent Ling a long face? Ling isn't about to suck up to someone who's giving her the cold shoulder!
Chu Xi and Luo Yangtian sat to the side, smiling without saying a word.
Chu Xi's was a cold smile; she couldn't be bothered with other people's squabbles.
Luo Yangtian, on the other hand, listened with an awkward yet polite smile, not daring to say anything out of place.
Not five minutes later, Xiao Han, who had been cooling off outside, was called back by the production crew.
The Director, no longer needing to speak as formally as he did during the live stream, sat with his assistants in the restaurant's guest seats. He smiled and asked the celebrities casually, as if making small talk:
"Are you all just focused on celebrating? Is no one concerned about where you're sleeping tonight?"
The Director's smile always gave off a feeling of ill intent.
Hearing this, Ren Zhi looked over, her brow twitching involuntarily.
"What? Director, doesn't filming this show include accommodation?" Luo Yangtian turned to stare at the Director.
"What does that mean?" Li Xiling blinked, full of confusion.
The Director cued the most silent one, Chu Xi. "Chu Xi, why don't you take a guess?"
This celebrity had left a deep impression on him during the truth-or-lie puzzle.
Now, he couldn't help but want to interact with Chu Xi.
Chu Xi glanced out the window, then turned back with a smile and exposed his plan. "You deliberately parked the RV on this grassy field in the middle of nowhere. You want to rent tents to us, don't you?"
She had indeed seen the large bags the production crew brought. At first, she wondered what props they were, but when the Director parked the RV on this vast, grassy field for the night, she figured it out.
As for this Old Fox of a director, who was full of tricks, he had deliberately brought them here. It was obvious he was trying to pull a fast one, so there was no way he'd provide them with free lodging.
As expected of a smart person! A look of delight appeared in the Director's eyes.
He loved dealing with quick-witted celebrities like her.
No, it should be called a battle of wits. That's what made it interesting.
Li Xiling muttered from the side, "Sleeping in tents? That's fine, I guess. It's almost summer anyway..."
The others secretly glanced at the calm and composed Chu Xi in surprise.
How come she seemed so different from the rumors?
The Director gave a wicked smile. "Since you're all here, let's decide on tonight's sleeping arrangements together. The production crew has brought tents for you. It's 120 yuan per tent, per night. You can choose how many to rent. Oh, right, the rental fee will be deducted from the restaurant's funds."
You've got to be kidding me?!
The Director is such a profiteer!
120 yuan to rent one tent for one night!
That would be one thing. The price was a bit steep, but if the celebrities had to pay for it themselves, a hundred-something yuan was really no big deal. They could easily afford it.
But upon hearing that the money would come from the restaurant's funds, 120 yuan suddenly felt like an exorbitant price!
How much money had they even made selling wine today? Renting tents for five people would cost 600 yuan. They hadn't even dared to spend that much on food all day, because they were thinking that capital was needed for tomorrow's procurement of restaurant necessities and cooking ingredients!
During the day, the five members had carefully considered every expense, afraid of getting ripped off and wasting money on overpriced items.
It turned out the biggest rip-off artist was one of their own!
"You Old Fox, you're so insincere!" Li Xiling grumbled.
"Director, so you dragged us all the way out here just to sell us tents." Ren Zhi found it both infuriating and funny as she called out the Director.
But they couldn't win against the house. Everyone could only verbally condemn the Director's cunning before gathering around the table to discuss.
After the discussion, Xiao Han reluctantly took 360 yuan to the production crew and rented three tents.
The members were unwilling to be so extravagant as to rent a personal tent for everyone with their hard-earned money. Adhering to the principle of saving wherever possible, they had just decided on the tent assignments-
Chu Xi and Ren Zhi would share one, Xiao Han and Luo Yangtian would share another, and Li Xiling would have one to herself.
Three tents were pitched on the grassy field-sky blue, silver-gray, and orange-like three candies scattered on a green fruit platter.
Li Xiling opened the flap of her tent and turned to the others with an apologetic smile. "Sorry, everyone. I snore when I sleep, so I made you waste money."
Ren Zhi waved her hand and replied with a smile, "It's okay, Sister Ling! We'll earn it back tomorrow!"
Even if Li Xiling didn't snore, she couldn't let a senior squeeze into a tent with them. It would be impossible for three people to sleep comfortably.
Just as Ren Zhi crawled into the tent, she saw Chu Xi walk out briskly with a cold expression.
Ren Zhi froze. "?"
Did Chu Xi have a problem with her?
"Chu Xi," she called out, turning her head. "Aren't you going to rest?"
Chu Xi's voice was cool and detached, easily bringing to mind the thin, biting ice of February, revealing little emotion.
"You go ahead and sleep. I'll be back in a bit."
Chu Xi's stern expression had nothing to do with Ren Zhi; she was purely annoyed by the System.
The-Afraid-She'll-Forget-Her-Mission-System: "Detected that Host will be sharing a room with the celebrity Ren Zhi tonight. A rare opportunity! Ren Zhi's current IQ: 128! Recommended for cultivation! A friendly reminder, Host must not become infatuated with her beauty! Detected that Host will be sharing a room with the celebrity Ren Zhi tonight. A rare opportunity..."
"Host must not become infatuated with her beauty!"
"Shut up!"
Standing on the quiet, open grassland, the repetitive noise in her mind finally subsided. She cursed the System fiercely.
Her voice was fierce and cold, but no one else could hear it, as she and the System communicated telepathically.
System: "Apologies, Host. The System Affairs Bureau was worried you would become infatuated with her beauty and forget your mission, so they arranged for me to remind you."
"Not necessary."
Chu Xi questioned it with a deadpan expression. "Do you think I'd become infatuated with the beauty of just anyone I see? She's just average-looking."
Silence fell in her mind.
..................
The System was stunned and fell speechless for several long seconds.
Ren Zhi was publicly acknowledged in this world as the current pinnacle of beauty among Chinese female celebrities. She had enough "face fans" to circle the globe, and even passersby would be moved and astonished by her face.
How could she become "just anyone" and "average-looking" in the Host's mouth?
It seemed the Host was a person with no aesthetic sense, completely devoid of sentiment and love!
Chu Xi enjoyed the moment of silence, as if the whole world had become peaceful.
"Alright, if you know how to shut up, then shut up. I don't need you worrying about me. I'll do what needs to be done."
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