Chapter Thirty-Five: Giving Up Directly

Yan Ningsi and Bian He exchanged a glance, each knowing exactly what the other was thinking. Then, Yan Ningsi turned to Sang Yijia and asked, “Jiajia, how far is the destination?”

Sang Yijia looked down at the task card. On its back was a small map. “About ten kilometers.”

Bian He fell silent.

Yan Ningsi’s spirits dropped as well. After a while, she looked up at Bian He. “Maybe we should just forget it.”

“Let’s skip the task this time and stay here to eat vegetables,” Yan Ningsi said, her motivation entirely gone.

Sang Yijia was stunned for a few seconds. “Is that even allowed?”

“Of course it is. There’s no punishment mentioned on our task card, and even if there was, so what?” Yan Ningsi shrugged, fully giving up. “We spent all the money we earned from working yesterday.”

“Exactly, we don’t have a penny left. Why bother going?” Bian He agreed, thinking Yan Ningsi made perfect sense. “We just won’t go.”

“You guys do your best!”

[After the ‘Song Song CP,’ there’s a new title: the Two Slackers.]

[Hahaha, didn’t even think about it—just gave up right away.]

[Just what my little Sisi would do.]

[Honestly, the production team is being too much.]

[You can’t really blame the team, though. Yan Ningsi lost the meal money at the start.]

The viewers in the livestream started arguing, each with their own opinion.

The director was troubled. Since the show began, no one had ever openly refused to do a task. What’s the point if they just give up?

Lan Qing saw the director’s dilemma and pressed her lips together, then looked at Yan Ningsi. “Sisi, we can go together.”

“After all, the task isn’t that difficult.”

“That’s right,” Shen Jin chimed in, seeing Lan Qing step forward. “The activity is meant to strengthen bonds between two people.”

Bian He glanced at Yan Ningsi, as if asking her what she thought.

“We can strengthen bonds right here,” Yan Ningsi replied. She had established herself in the music industry and didn't need to cater to Shen Jin. As for Lan Qing…

Yan Ningsi cast her a glance—there was even less need. She smiled, eyes narrowing as she asked Bian He, “Want to play a game?”

“Sure, I can play anything,” Bian He understood immediately, looking at Shen Jin with helpless affection. “No choice. She doesn’t want to go.”

“It’d be boring on my own anyway.”

Shen Jin’s expression soured. “If you’re not joining the activity, what’s the point of being on the show?”

“Let it go,” Lan Qing pulled Shen Jin back, gently shaking her head. “If Sisi doesn’t want to go, then she won’t. Bian He can stay with her.”

“Their relationship will deepen, too.”

Shen Jin moved his lips, but for Lan Qing’s sake, said nothing more. He didn’t bother to hide his displeasure towards Yan Ningsi and Bian He, dragging Lan Qing off ahead.

“Tch,” Yan Ningsi rolled her eyes, unconcerned about anyone else’s opinion. “As if I don’t want to go.”

“Ten kilometers, no money, just walking?”

“We couldn’t cover that in two hours. How is that fun?” Clearly, this was a trap, and Yan Ningsi wasn’t stupid.

Sang Yijia looked at her. “We’ll head out first.”

“Mm, be careful on the way,” Yan Ningsi waved to them, her tone fairly polite.

After they left, Sang Yijia glanced back. Lu Wenchuan looked over, “That’s just her personality. Don’t worry about it.”

He didn’t mention a name, but Sang Yijia knew he meant Yan Ningsi. She raised her brow slightly. “You two are familiar?”

“No, just met a few times,” Lu Wenchuan replied.

Sang Yijia and Lu Wenchuan set off.

Back in the farmhouse courtyard, only Yan Ningsi and Bian He remained.

The livestream viewers were stunned; they hadn’t expected them to truly skip the task.

[Brother and Qingqing meant well. Why won’t Sisi listen?]

[If you really wanted to go, you’d find a way. It’s just that you don’t want to.]

[Is this a dating show? Why do the activities feel like senior citizens in retirement?]

[Who goes fishing for romance? What is the production team thinking?]

Someone abruptly changed the topic, and the audience’s attention shifted. Soon they began tagging the production team, questioning the rationale behind the activity choices.

The chief director received a call while reviewing the itinerary. Ever since fishing became the starting activity, things had turned surreal.

“Who arranged this?” The director threw the schedule to the floor in frustration. “Have you ever seen a couple deepen their relationship by fishing?”

“What about amusement parks? Western restaurants? Movie theaters? Where did those plans go?” The chief director was fuming, pounding the table.

No one dared respond.

“Who was it?!” the chief demanded again.

This time, someone timidly raised their hand. “It was arranged by ShengChuang.”

“ShengChuang?” The director frowned. “The investors? Why?”

“No idea. The CEO’s secretary sent the schedule and said these were the planned activities.”

The chief director was silent for a few seconds, then waved his hand. “I see.”

Still puzzled, he told someone to call and confirm again.

ShengChuang responded quickly: it was the CEO’s decision.

The chief director had nothing more to say. His earlier anger now felt like a slap in the face, but he had no choice but to grit his teeth and let the PR team handle it.

—

Meanwhile, Sang Yijia and Lu Wenchuan managed to flag down a vehicle by the roadside. It wasn’t a taxi or a private car, but an old man’s three-wheeled cart.

Only the old man could sit up front; Sang Yijia and Lu Wenchuan sat in the back under the blazing sun.

Though the road was paved, it was covered with stones, and the cart wobbled as it moved.

Sang Yijia had ridden one before and felt nothing of it, holding onto the rails to keep from falling.

But… Lu Wenchuan’s face had darkened.

“Why?” he asked through clenched teeth. “There’s no other vehicle?”

Sang Yijia raised an eyebrow. “Aren’t you coming with me?”

“Did you see any other cars?”

Lu Wenchuan took a shallow breath, closed his eyes, and exhaled. “Couldn’t we just walk?”

If possible, he’d rather walk than sit in the back of this cart, especially since it was originally used to transport live ducks.

The cage for the ducks was right next to them, and there was still some not-quite-dry duck droppings on board.

Lu Wenchuan couldn’t take it anymore. “If you’d arranged for a fruit delivery truck, I could accept that.”

“What can we do?” Sang Yijia shrugged, then glanced at Lu Wenchuan, whose expression had truly soured. “We’ll get off soon.”

“Hang in there,” Sang Yijia recalled the route on the map. “There should be a small path up ahead.”

“If we walk from there, we should reach the destination in less than half an hour.”

Lu Wenchuan agreed, holding back his frustration and turning his head to breathe in the outside air, which wasn’t much better.

The roadside was dusty, and as they entered the farming area, there were fishponds and pig pens everywhere, making the smell even worse.