Chapter 203: Chapter 201: Here Comes the Variety Show 4

The image of a stuffed doll crammed into that small bag flashed through Song Jiayan’s mind.

The same image flashed through Director Wen’s mind at that very moment.

’You call this luggage?’

’Even regular tourists pack more than her, don’t they?’

’And don’t even get me started on aspiring starlets. They wish they could bring five or six suitcases!’

A few cases for changes of clothes, at least one for toiletries... All in all, the sheer number of categorized items was staggering.

Director Wen had never seen anyone like Doctor Wen.

Director Wen: Doctor Wen, you know we’ll be filming here for over a week, right?

Wen Ying: I know.

Xu Jiali looked at Wen Ying in astonishment. "Sister Yingying, you didn’t really just bring that one small bag, did you? I brought some extra clothes, but you probably won’t like them, and they’re not your size. I did bring plenty of toiletries and face masks, though, so we can share. If not, I can go with you to buy some clothes later." 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

Wen Ying smiled. "Lili, don’t be fooled by its size. This is a bag of wonders."

Xu Jiali gave Wen Ying’s "bag of wonders" a helpless look.

’A bag of wonders... sure.’

’If Sister Yingying is going through a hard time, I’ll find a chance to buy her a few changes of clothes.’

"Sister Yingying, what about Little White?"

The moment Xu Jiali asked, Little White, in its doll form, instantly leaped out of Wen Ying’s bag.

"Of course this Great Immortal is coming along! This Great Immortal wants to see just what’s so strange about that place. Hmph!"

Watching the transformed Little White, Xu Jiali had a strange feeling. ’Why is Little White acting so much like a child right now?’

Just as Xu Jiali was seriously pondering this, she saw Wen Ying pull a brand-new face towel out of her flat-looking bag.

The towel looked a bit thick.

"Sister Yingying, I brought two big packs of disposable face cloths. They’re more convenient."

As she spoke, Xu Jiali took out a large pack of the disposable face cloths.

Wen Ying was a bit surprised when she saw them.

’I’ve always used a towel to wash my face. I’ve never used one of these face cloths before.’

’I know what wet wipes are, and from the packaging, I thought these were just tissues or wet wipes. Have I fallen that far behind the times?’

"Sister Yingying, have you never used these? They’re like paper towels, but they don’t disintegrate in water, which makes them more convenient. You take this pack; I’ll grab another one for myself."

Wen Ying did not refuse.

She took one and went to wash her face.

She had just come out of the restroom when she found Xu Jiali waiting for her, holding an already-opened face mask.

Thus, Wen Ying’s face was covered with a face mask, and their departure was successfully delayed by fifteen minutes.

Fifteen minutes later, Wen Ying twisted her hair up into a bun and, once again, secured it with a ballpoint pen.

Xu Jiali stared at the ballpoint pen in Wen Ying’s hair, thinking to herself that she should buy a few more hairpins.

’I originally thought Sister Wen Ying had money and connections, but now... I kind of feel bad for her. It seems like Sister Wen Ying is even poorer than I am.’

’Does Director Wen know about this?’

When they went out, Song Jiayan was already waiting for them outside the door.

The three of them had just gone downstairs when they were seen.

Jiang Beibei: "I saw those two newcomers leaving with Song Jiayan. Is Song Jiayan an idiot or something? Sucking up to the new people? What a total greenhorn."

Meng Xiaoyi smiled. "Well, I’m sticking with you, Sister Bei Bei. You and Brother Fu Yao are so close, you two will definitely get the most buzz on this show."

Jiang Beibei was pleased to hear this. "Ah, Xiao Yi, you’re very pretty. You’ll definitely have a bright future. Don’t worry, I’ll look out for you during the show when I can."

Meng Xiaoyi immediately smiled. "Thank you, Sister Bei Bei."

’Aren’t these connections exactly what I’m after?’

’Get in with Jiang Beibei, and I can get connected to Xie Fu Yao.’

’As for that slacker Zhao Qi, I have no idea where the director found him. In any case, I don’t like him.’

’And then there’s that scaredy-cat Song Jiayan. People like him should just get out of the industry sooner rather than later.’

’He’s completely clueless about social cues, and his meek, submissive act is just irritating to watch.’

’Someone like that will never make a name for himself!’

Jiang Beibei took out her phone and sent a message to Xie Fu Yao.

Jiang Beibei: Brother Fu Yao, do you know what Doctor Wen’s background is?

Xie Fu Yao: No idea. I’ve never met anyone like her; she’s probably not in the industry. The name sounds familiar, though. She probably changed it to copy someone famous, hoping to get a break.

Jiang Beibei: I don’t know where the director found this person, but she’s really good-looking.

Xie Fu Yao: Beibei, don’t overthink it. What good is being pretty? Is there a shortage of pretty people in our industry? But how many of them actually make it to the top?

Jiang Beibei: You’re right, Brother Fu Yao. We just need to focus on ourselves and do our best.

Xie Fu Yao: Keep it up, Beibei. Even though this Director Wen is a rookie, I’ve heard he’s loaded. He might be willing to throw a ton of money into promoting the show. If he does, you could become even more famous than the girls in that one group.

The two of them exchanged pleasantries for a while.

*

Wen Ying led Xu Jiali and Song Jiayan toward the location they had been told about. It was already dusk.

Outside, the sky was gradually darkening.

Xuanyang Lake. Its waters were clear, its surface rippling like jade.

At a glance, the scenery of the lake and mountains offered a visual feast, as if it were the most beautiful landscape in the world.

The jade-green ripples of Xuanyang Lake held a unique beauty under the light of the setting sun.

Xuanyang Lake was so vast you couldn’t see the other side, where a dense forest began.

At this moment on Xuanyang Lake, there was only a single boat docked at the shore.

The three of them walked towards the boat. It was a simple, somewhat dilapidated wooden vessel that could only seat three or four people.

Crucially, the oars were nowhere to be found.

To say nothing of a boatman.

"Sister Yingying, how do we get across?"

Xu Jiali reached out a hand for balance and went to step into the boat.

The boat groaned as if it couldn’t bear the weight, CREAKING loudly, and Xu Jiali instantly retracted her foot.

"Doctor Wen, I’ll ask the director," Song Jiayan said, looking at the scene before him.

’Director Wen must have scouted this location. How did the scouting team get across?’

’There can’t be just this one boat.’

’The director must have forgotten.’

"What are you youngsters up to?" On the previously empty shore, a figure suddenly appeared in the distance.

An elderly-looking man walked step by step toward Wen Ying and the others.

"Sir, we’d like to get to the other side."

"The other side? You can’t go over there! Can’t you see all the boats are docked? You young people are just too curious. Hurry on home."

Wen Ying looked at Song Jiayan. "Director Wen communicated with the local authorities, right?"

Song Jiayan nodded. He remembered Director Wen mentioning it.

"If there was a problem, wouldn’t the local authorities have told us?" Xu Jiali asked, puzzled.

"Maybe they want to use this to promote the area," Song Jiayan said in a low, dejected voice. "They don’t care if something happens to us."

’I can’t believe my first reality show is going this badly already.’

’Is the industry really this terrifying?’