Chapter 15
Zhou Sheng, as the oldest person, was a regular guest on this lifestyle variety show, and everyone called him Brother Sheng.
Seeing the cameras all around filming them, Ji Nian secretly admired that they could still look so calm with so many staff around, while she would keep staring at the cameras if she was there...
Realizing her discomfort, Zhou Sheng smiled and said, "Liang Jie, you're a girl, so why don't you show the newcomer around the bedroom she'll be sleeping in tonight?"
Knowing he was trying to liven up the atmosphere, Liang Jie responded, "Sure, anything Brother Sheng says!"
She then pulled the somewhat bewildered Ji Nian along, saying, "Come on, I'll take you to drop off your luggage." Looking a little confused, Ji Nian said, "Okay, thanks."
With a camera following behind them upstairs, she tensed up a bit, mentally preparing herself that this was a variety show recording and she had to stay calm.
Pushing the door open, Liang Jie turned on the light and said, "Here we are, this is your room. It's been nicely cleaned up already."
Ji Nian peeked inside. It was a small bedroom, very tidy but perhaps deliberately made to look a little shabby for the sake of the show.
There was a wooden bed frame without a mattress, just a straw mat laid on top. Some basic furniture but overall still a rather cramped space.
Liang Jie had expected the newcomer to mind the simple conditions, but to her surprise, she seemed totally unfazed and calmly wheeled her suitcase inside.
"Not bad, very clean," Ji Nian gave an approving nod.
Liang Jie was amazed, admiration in her eyes. She liked people who weren't fussy. With a smile, she said, "The bed's pretty hard but experts say sleeping on a hard surface is better for your health."
Ji Nian opened her suitcase to take out her phone charger but felt awkward when she saw the camera zoom in to film the contents. Luckily her underwear was buried at the bottom.
"Is that all you brought?" Liang Jie came over, asking in disbelief.
Ji Nian nodded. "It's enough. With what I have on, I've got three outfits. And travel sizes of shampoo, shower gel etc."
"What? No makeup?" Liang Jie simply couldn't believe her ears.
"Didn't bring any," Ji Nian answered matter-of-factly. Or rather, couldn't afford any, she thought to herself.
In shock, Liang Jie immediately touched her smooth bare face. "No way, you look totally barefaced but it doesn't show at all! I thought you had great makeup skills and did a 'fake bare face' look."
Sensing the camera pushing right up to the woman's face, Ji Nian said awkwardly, "Um...I'm actually useless at makeup."
"So jealous. You look gorgeous barefaced," Liang Jie said enviously, as if she'd been struck a blow.
Ji Nian smiled awkwardly, not knowing how to respond, when shouts sounded from downstairs.
"Are you done yet? We need to get going to find ingredients!" Wu Hai yelled from below.
On hearing that, Liang Jie yelled back, "Coming!" She then pulled Ji Nian out of the room with her.
When they reached downstairs, they caught sight of the mission card that had just arrived, detailing that tonight's dinner ingredients had to be earned through a task.
Zhou Sheng chuckled. "We already got the vegetables. Just missing some meat now."
The soft-spoken Shen Yang, who was always quietly working away, noticed someone still hadn't returned and whispered: "Shuyao is still out watering the plants."
Wu Hai nodded. "Let's wait for her then before heading out."
"What's the task for today?" Liang Jie asked.
Glancing at the mission card, Zhou Sheng replied: "The village chief is opening his fish pond later and wants everyone's help. There'll be some fish given to us afterwards as thanks."
"Ah, so we have to get into the pond," Liang Jie grumbled, dissatisfied.
Still confused about what was going on, Ji Nian somehow felt a sense of familiarity upon hearing 'Shuyao'.
"I'm back!" A clear, chirpy voice rang out as an adorable, lively girl walked in.
"Welcome back! We were just talking about you," Wu Hai said with a smile.
Seeing the unfamiliar woman, she halted in surprise. "Who's this...a new guest?"
When Ji Nian laid eyes on her, she couldn't help but stare, captivated. This woman had the kind of face that was innocent yet alluring ? fresh, pure, yet vibrantly pretty and youthful.
"Hello, I'm the new guest, Ji Nian."
"Oh I know that name!" Her eyes lit up excitedly as she grinned. "Nice meeting you, I'm Shen Shuyao, an actress."
Ji Nian froze. "What did you say your name was?" she blurted out incredulously.
Looking puzzled at her reaction, Shen Shuyao repeated, "I'm Shen Shuyao."
Oh my god, it's the female lead! Ji Nian's eyes popped wide open. She was actually on the same variety show as the female lead character.
"What's the matter?" Liang Jie asked, eyeing the dumbstruck Ji Nian.
Snapping out of her daze, Ji Nian was buzzing with excitement inside. This was the female lead! One look at that face and you could tell.
"Oh, nothing! I was just thinking how gorgeous you are," Ji Nian gushed. Gotta make a good impression on the female lead, she told herself.
According to the novel, everyone close to the female lead ended up successful in life. Even if she was an unimportant supporting character destined to be cannon fodder, Ji Nian was determined to turn her fate around. She made up her mind ? she would cling onto the coattails of the female lead for dear life!
Unused to the sudden compliment, Shen Shuyao flushed red, mumbling shyly, "Thanks, you're very pretty too."
"How unfair. You didn't say anything when you first met me," Liang Jie jump in lively as an experienced host to liven up the atmosphere.
Ji Nian blinked blankly. "Is it too late to praise you now?" she asked innocently.
"Yup, I'm resenting you already," Liang Jie pretended to be mad.
Ji Nian blinked innocently again. "Aw don't be like that..."
Catching Liang Jie by surprise, she continued cheekily, "I was gonna say...resentfully cute. Could look at you all day long!"
Liang Jie's eyes widened before she burst out laughing loudly. "Ji Nian, you're too funny!"
Her corny line cracked everyone up. Zhou Sheng gave a little cough and urged, "Alright, let's get moving. Change into suitable shoes, we're heading out soon."
They had to cross the fields to reach the pond so everyone correspondingly changed into tall rubber boots, grabbing a few straw hats too. It was summer and only around 5pm, with the sun still high in the sky. It would only get dark after 8.
Thinking of the village pond she often played in as a child, Ji Nian nonchalantly wore slippers and a straw hat, looking every bit like a bumpkin uncle.
Much to the director's delight, he realized the newcomer had great variety show potential and instructed the camera crew to capture more footage of her.