CSGM - Chapter 131

Chapter 131: The Second Overachiever

The crew of Jade-Carving Ballad had several scenes to shoot at a temple, but most temples with a sufficiently grand backdrop were bustling with an endless stream of worshippers every day.

The director had arranged with the abbot of the temple on Yanyun Mountain to borrow the location for filming. Now that an agreement had been reached, the director had to rush everyone up the mountain as soon as the temple closed to visitors, clearing the space for the crew to avoid wasting any extra time.

The entire crew packed into several large vehicles and chugged their way up the mountain.

Once they arrived at the location, they set up the cameras, and filming resumed.

With no outsiders around the temple, the crew didn't have to worry about costumes and makeup being leaked. When she didn't have a scene, Chu Xi slipped away by herself and found a fortune-telling stall outside the temple.

It wasn't that she was particularly superstitious, but the temple was filled with nothing but incense and Buddha statues, making it all too solemn and boring.

Otherwise, it was just the workplace, and she couldn't wait to get away from the cameras the moment filming paused.

This was the only place with something to pass the time. Chu Xi spent two hundred "yuan of fate" and drew a fortune stick.

The fortune-telling monk took a look and interpreted it for her.

"A good wind lends its strength, helping me ascend to the blue clouds. Benefactor, your career will see great fortune and honor this year!"

Chu Xi just smiled after hearing it and walked away.

Wasn't this what most fortune-telling was like? Paying a few hundred yuan to listen to a bunch of nice words?

Most people would take these words as a source of hope, but in essence, it was just a way for the lost to find some psychological comfort.

As for her, she was just trying it out of boredom.

In the end, she didn't give this little amusement a second thought.

The crew filmed at the mountain temple for two days and one night, and they still hadn't finished the few scheduled scenes. It was then that everyone started to feel a bit miserable.

The simple accommodations in the meditation rooms were a secondary issue. The crew was busy filming anyway, and the actors were like donkeys being driven by a whip, barely getting three or four hours of sleep each day.

The truly difficult part was that, on top of the lack of sleep, all three daily meals were the temple's vegetarian fare.

Oh, for heaven's sake...

Jin Yuan and Chu Xi couldn't hold back for even a day and finished off all the cookies and small snacks they had stashed in the car.

Jin Yuan even shared two bags of cranberry-flavored shaqima with the equally miserable Xiao He.

However, Xiao He, who worked for Ren Zhi, and Jin Yuan, who worked for Chu Xi, had completely different levels of tolerance for simple food.

Xiao He, for instance, said nothing. Although the snacks and cookies were tastier, she could get by just fine on vegetarian meals alone.

She was quiet and incredibly hardworking, just like Ren Zhi, able to adapt to any situation.

Only Jin Yuan and Chu Xi felt a shared sense of suffering. The two of them had turned the car's seat drawers and every possible storage space upside down. Faced with vegetarian food that tasted like chewing wax, they wanted to improve their diet every single minute.

Truly, birds of a feather flock together.

The crew filmed around the clock at the temple. The director and assistant director worked in shifts, and the actors went from one scene to the next.

Because the entire cast was perpetually on standby, the directing team strictly forbade any actor from leaving the set.

An actor who had just finished a scene might have only been asleep for an hour before they were needed for the third scene after the next one wrapped, forcing them to jump right back into work.

No meat was allowed in the temple. By the second night, Chu Xi absolutely could not bear it any longer.

"My stomach hurts a little. I'm going to the restroom," she said to Ren Zhi and the director with a pained expression, waving her hand.

Ren Zhi's scene was up next, so she had no time to mind her. The director nodded, and Chu Xi vanished in an instant.

Slipping over to where Wen Huixiang was resting with her eyes closed, Chu Xi tapped her on the shoulder.

Wen Huixiang jumped up, startled. After a few seconds of hesitation, she went to grab her old partners, Zhao Yuanyuan and another veteran actor, Brother Chen.

The three of them were currently on standby. Ren Zhi's scene would likely take at least two hours to film.

They had planned to take a nap to stave off hunger, but in a flash, they were all lured into a corner by Chu Xi.

The director said they couldn't leave the temple, so they couldn't leave?

What a joke. The last director's training camp was even stricter than this, and Chu Xi still snuck out for food.

Taking advantage of a gap during the field logistics staff's shift change, Chu Xi led the three of them out along a visual blind spot.

-She had originally only planned to bring Wen Huixiang, since the woman was constantly whispering in her ear, "I'm starving, I'm going to faint from hunger. They don't even use lard to stir-fry here. I'm craving fried fatty intestines so much..."

Chu Xi could deeply sympathize with this suffering, so when she decided to sneak down the mountain for some barbecue to refuel, she kindly brought Wen Huixiang along.

She brought Wen Huixiang, and Wen Huixiang brought two of her friends.

Zhao Yuanyuan was craving pork ribs, while Brother Chen was dying for a couple of beers. Jin Yuan, sitting in the front passenger seat, declared that she would eat anything and was about to unleash a storm upon the barbecue stall.

Wen Huixiang covered her mouth, her body shaking with laughter in the car. She felt a little guilty, but mostly, she was thrilled and ecstatic.

"Oh my god, we're like thieves, ahahahahaha..."

Brother Chen smiled sheepishly and nodded.

"It's different when you hang out with young people."

They were all old hands in the industry and would never have dared to sneak out for skewers behind the director's back. But following Chu Xi, they discovered that the youth were indeed bold and audacious.

Zhao Yuanyuan, who was relatively mild-mannered and rule-abiding among the three, couldn't help but laugh wryly.

"As long as we get back before our next scene, it'll be fine."

Thinking about it, they weren't young anymore. They couldn't live like ascetics as they did in their youth; it was time to be a little kinder to themselves.

But if Chu Xi hadn't taken the lead, they probably wouldn't have known how to slip past the field logistics staff's surveillance.

It had to be said, this girl's methods looked a bit practiced...

"Chu Xi, you don't do this often, do you?" Wen Huixiang asked.

"You can suffer for anyone, but you can't let yourself suffer," Chu Xi nodded, full of righteous conviction.

Wen Huixiang slapped her own thigh and laughed heartily. "Well said, hahahaha... Can you take us with you next time?"

Chu Xi generously replied, "No problem."

The five of them found a barbecue stall at the foot of the mountain. After devouring their skewers, they returned, and everyone in the car was in high spirits.

They were full. No need to call them for the vegetarian breakfast tomorrow morning. Thanks, but no thanks, hehe.

It was just that on their way back into the temple, their path was unfortunately timed, and they ran right into Ren Zhi.

Or rather, Ren Zhi, in her role as producer, was lying in wait for them to return.

After discovering that both Chu Xi and Jin Yuan had disappeared from the set, Ren Zhi had a pretty good idea of what that person was up to.

She just hadn't expected that when she caught them red-handed, she would also see the three senior actors trailing behind Chu Xi with embarrassed expressions-

Wen Huixiang, who didn't dare to look at her; Zhao Yuanyuan, whose eyes were darting away; and Brother Chen, who lowered his head and coughed.

Ren Zhi: "..."

She shot Chu Xi a sharp glance. She really hadn't expected her to lead so many of her senior colleagues astray.

But, since they were all standing here, caught, she still asked sternly, "What were you doing? Why didn't I see you all just now?"

Chu Xi waved her hand, letting the others go first. She raised her own hands above her head and licked her lips.

"Teacher Ren, I'm sorry. It's all my fault. Teacher Wen and the others were just accompanying me."

As the other three were led away by Jin Yuan, they felt quite touched.

Chu Xi was truly a young person of excellent character.

Ren Zhi let out a cold laugh, hooked a finger through the belt on Chu Xi's waist, and pulled her aside.

"Come with me."

Watching the two of them walk away, Wen Huixiang, Zhao Yuanyuan, and Brother Chen thought to themselves, sigh, Chu Xi is definitely going to get an earful.

But she was so loyal. They hadn't expected the young woman to protect their reputations like that.

Ren Zhi led Chu Xi to the nearest meditation room and closed the door.

In the blink of an eye, Chu Xi's arms were wrapped around her.

"Baby, I went to eat barbecue, hehe."

The expression of a guilty criminal from moments ago had now turned into one of smugness.

Ren Zhi's icy face from before she closed the door also melted into a helpless, soft smile.

She poked Chu Xi's nose and said softly, "You have no self-control at all."

It sounded like a reprimand, but her tone was filled with an undeniable fondness.

Chu Xi said, "I can't touch you, I can't sleep well, and I can't eat well. I'm going to break down if this continues."

"Where are you broken?"

Ren Zhi teased her, looking her up and down.

"It's one thing for you to go by yourself, but you even corrupted Sister Xiang and the others."

"It wouldn't be very loyal of me to go alone, would it? I think Sister Xiang and the others were quite happy."

Ren Zhi chuckled. That was true. It was obvious the other three looked much more spirited after returning from their barbecue.

"Good thing you didn't delay the filming."

Chu Xi stated, "I knew what I was doing."

As she spoke, she leaned her body forward, her lips pursing involuntarily, eager for action.

Ren Zhi quickly pushed her away.

"Not here. This is a temple, after all. Be respectful of their space. No kissing."

"Then let's just hug a little longer."

Chu Xi had no choice but to rest her head on Ren Zhi's shoulder, inhaling the fragrance from her neck.

"Baby, you haven't slept in so long. You should rest for a while," Chu Xi said, her heart aching for her.

Even in the breaks between scenes, Ren Zhi was coordinating and arranging things for her new variety show. Chu Xi felt she was like a spinning top, rotating at high speed without stopping.

"I'm not tired. I have some good news for you... well, maybe it's good news for you."

"Hmm? What is it?"

"I've pretty much planned out the cast for Escape from the Uninhabited Island. I'm going to be behind the scenes this time, not on camera."

But as Ren Zhi said it, she still seemed a little reluctant.

"Wow." Chu Xi's eyes sparkled. "You've finally seen the light."

Ren Zhi smiled and patted her head. "I'll have more time to spend with you."

Chu Xi hugged her tightly.

"Baby, I'm afraid I won't be able to stop myself from kissing you in the car on the way back."

They hadn't kissed in two days. The mere sight of Ren Zhi's full, moist cherry lips made Chu Xi's throat feel dry.

Ren Zhi heartlessly reminded her, "Then you'd better control yourself."

Kissing in the car was definitely not an option. Did she have a death wish?

"Loosen your grip a little. I have something else to tell you."

Chu Xi relaxed her arms slightly, her eyes gazing at her, brimming with affection.

"Can you do me a favor?" Ren Zhi asked.

"Yes, yes, yes, no problem," Chu Xi replied without a second thought.

Ren Zhi said, "I've selected the cast for the variety show. Seven people, a four-plus-three model. But the content of this survival show will be quite complex, and I'm worried the members' lack of experience will result in a poor outcome. You're the smartest. Before the show starts recording, could I ask you to do some training for the members? To sharpen their acuity for island survival and finding clues."

If it was just a group of dunderheads wandering around the island in a daze, the audience would surely find it boring.

Chu Xi was overjoyed upon hearing this. "Baby, you're too good to me!"

Students delivered right to her door? Was there anything that could make Chu Xi happier than this!

Yes, there was: Ren Zhi delivering students to her door!

Ren Zhi asked with concern, "Will it be a bother for you?"

Chu Xi shook her head repeatedly. "You know this is my favorite thing to do."

Ren Zhi breathed a sigh of relief and smiled. "As long as you still like it. There will be 22 people in total this time."

"22?!" Chu Xi, who thought there would only be seven, was even more pleasantly surprised.

"Is that too many?"

"No, no, no, Baby, you can give me two hundred and twenty. I love helping idiots raise their IQ."

"Don't call other people idiots."

"Alright, blockheads..."

Helpless, Ren Zhi pressed her fingers against her lips.

"Don't be so harsh when you speak. Be good."

Chu Xi nodded sincerely, took Ren Zhi's hand and held it in her own, and asked impatiently:

"So when do I teach them?"

"If you have time, you can start anytime. If you're too busy, we can postpone it until after the crew wraps up..." Ren Zhi explained, "I'll point out four of the artists to you. You'll need to be a bit more attentive with them, as they've already signed contracts and will definitely be on the show. The remaining eighteen are all newcomers. I'll select three people from them based on the results, and you can also give me recommendations then."

So that's what four-plus-three meant. Four popular artists bringing along three newcomers. Chu Xi nodded, indicating she understood.

She said, "You arrange it. I can start teaching them right away. No need to wait. The sooner, the better, so I don't delay you."

Even in Film City, she could find two hours early every day to teach Yan Kun and his friends how to solve a Rubik's Cube.

Not to mention that this time, Ren Zhi had discussed it with her and they had decided to use "online video teaching," which was even faster and more convenient.

This was the only thing that could make Chu Xi willingly sacrifice a portion of her rest time every day.

In the days that followed, Chu Xi created an online video conference.

Seeing the group of artists Ren Zhi had assigned her via video, she discovered that as long as she had the intention to read their IQ values, she could see them just as she would if she were face-to-face with them in person.

It seemed the System also tacitly acknowledged that IQ points gained through online teaching counted toward her performance.

Time flew by in a flurry of busy days.

Over the past month, Ren Zhi had discovered something-

Chu Xi might not necessarily love acting, but she definitely loved teaching classes.

The person who was often listless on set would immediately become as energetic as an ox the moment she switched to training the artists.

Indeed, passion is the greatest motivator.

After more than a month, Chu Xi had poured her heart and soul into these members. It would not be an exaggeration to use the poetic line "A silkworm spins silk until death" to describe her efforts.

She painstakingly taught them observation and reasoning, training the twenty-two individuals to develop agile logical thinking skills.

Although there were disparities in each person's learning outcomes, overall, when Chu Xi looked at the harvest from her hard work, she felt quite gratified-

This time, she had helped them increase their IQ by a total of 216 points. Combined with her previous balance, the data in the System Mall updated once again.

"Host's IQ Pool Balance: 267."

She was only 33 IQ points away from redeeming a "Master Advancement Card."

This month, Chu Xi had often snuck snacks and extra meals, but when she finally weighed herself, she had actually lost a pound.

Chu Xi's own diagnosis: exhaustion.

The final list of members for the variety show Escape from the Uninhabited Island was also finalized, and the online training class was disbanded on the spot.

The Jade-Carving Ballad crew was still traveling around for on-location shooting. After filming ended for the night, Chu Xi came to Ren Zhi's hotel room to ask:

"So, do the final seven members of the variety show need one more sprint training session?"

Ren Zhi shook her head.

"No need. You've worked hard enough this past month."

Chu Xi said, "Teaching and educating people is my hobby. It's not hard work."

She wished for more opportunities like this. She was still 33 IQ points short, and for the time being, she couldn't find any more wool to fleece.

But soon, as Chu Xi and Ren Zhi chatted, the matter flew from her mind.

This was because after exchanging just a few words, they ended up wrapped around each other on the bed, and she was greedily kissing the other's fair, delicate neck.

Ren Zhi caressed her face, laughing from the ticklish sensation. "Don't leave any marks on me."

"Mhm... Baby, how much longer do you think we have to film this drama?"

Chu Xi felt that the time spent working was dragging on for too long. She was getting tired of being on set. In another week, it would be May.

Ren Zhi replied softly, "We'll probably wrap up in the next ten to fifteen days."

"I want to go home, Baby."

There was another thing: Chu Xi felt that being away wasn't as good as being at home.

Even filming in Film City was better than shooting on location. Out here, they could only sleep in hotels, whereas when working in Film City, they could go home.

The hotel environment out here was just so-so. The bathroom wasn't big, and with so many people and prying eyes around, they couldn't even shower together.

Ren Zhi suddenly said seriously, "I think you should be a bit more career-minded."

Chu Xi lifted her eyes, which had been lost in a world of tenderness, and looked at her. "Hmm...?"

"Don't waste such great talent and youth. Work on your career. With your potential, you should be a huge star." Ren Zhi calculated in her mind, "You should be discussing the premiere and roadshow for Three Kingdoms with your agency soon. Your interviews, your..."

Chu Xi covered her mouth and pouted. "Baby, can you not be such a workaholic?"

What kind of new-century overachiever was her baby?

But no matter how she looked at her, she was so beautiful and cute that it was impossible to refute her.

So Chu Xi just spoke softly.

Ren Zhi gave an exasperated laugh, pinched her cheek, and said, "Director Yang is already promoting the movie. Three Kingdoms is about to be released. Shouldn't you pay more attention to your first film?"

"And your follow-up schedule, has Yu Yixue arranged it for you yet?"

Chu Xi shook her head and said in shock, "I haven't even finished this drama yet. After it wraps, shouldn't I get a month off first?!"

A month...

Ren Zhi let out a cold laugh. "If I were your boss, I would absolutely not let you be so lazy."

Chu Xi touched the ends of her hair, not daring to speak.

After a moment, she remembered and said softly, "Yu Yixue is helping me arrange work, it's just that we haven't found anything suitable yet. Last time, she said she wanted to wait until after the movie is released to see how things go..."

Ren Zhi gently kissed her forehead and stroked her head.

"Work hard. I have to push you."

Their relationship would probably be exposed sooner or later. Ren Zhi didn't want to be separated from Chu Xi, nor did she want Chu Xi to be the only one to face criticism, so she could only push her to work harder.

Chu Xi lay down on the bed, thought for a moment, and said:

"But I haven't really been lazy, have I?"

Although she always wanted to slack off, in reality, when had she ever rested?

After finishing Our Restaurant, she went straight into the Three Kingdoms training camp. After filming Three Kingdoms, she joined Ren Zhi's crew before her hand injury had even healed. She had barely taken any breaks last year, right?

Thinking back, Chu Xi couldn't believe this was her schedule.

How had she unknowingly become such a workhorse? Shocking!

Chu Xi scratched the top of her head and mumbled, "Baby, I don't actually want to be that famous..."

She truly didn't covet the fame and fortune of the entertainment industry that much!

But sometimes, when luck arrived, even if Chu Xi truly didn't want to be famous, she couldn't stop her heaven-defying fortune!

The rest of their conversation was intermittent, broken up by kisses.

Once they were both warmed up, Chu Xi sat up contentedly, picked up her phone, and saw several unread messages in WeChat.

They were all from Zhang Yuxue, who had already arrived at the recording site for I Am the Brain King.

【Teacher!!! I've arrived at the competition venue!!】

【Teacher, Teacher, wish me luck! I'm borrowing your wisdom for two hours. /[Grinning]】

【Teacher, I've advanced. The preliminary questions were too easy. As expected, they're no match for me.】

【The ones from Peking and Tsinghua are nothing special. I feel like what you taught me is much more impressive than them.】

【Teacher, I have an official competition the day after tomorrow. The challenge is blind-filling Sudoku. If I succeed, I can go to the international competition. Can you come watch me? I have a ticket. /[Pleading]】

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