138: Are we acquaintances? Then don't blame me for being ruthless!

It was nine in the evening.

The seven guests and the director were sitting in the living room on the first floor of the villa.

Everyone's relaxed attire revealed a touch of elegance, as the cameras were on.

After greeting everyone, He Xing addressed the camera about tomorrow's activities.

"Our theme is the 'adventures' of our guests at the amusement park.

After the official broadcast on the sixth, most of the time will be live, making it difficult to hide identities, so we need to seize the opportunity tomorrow to use pre-recorded footage and ask all guests to hide their identities while performing tasks."

"The task of hiding your identity is to earn money."

"Specifically, we will draw lots to divide everyone into three groups: two, two, and three people."

"After one day, we will rank everyone based on each group's per capita income and provide rewards of living materials, as well as some very interesting mysterious rewards."

"Oh, right, everyone should remember that, except for our rest days, we cannot spend our own money at other times, correct?"

The seven guests nodded one after another.

He Xing continued to explain the rules: "The production team will provide simple musical instruments, props, makeup, and some staff contact numbers."

"Simple musical instruments refer to portable instruments we have in our prop library, such as guitars and violins, which you will need to rent on credit.

Props, including balloons, can also be purchased on credit, and when settling accounts, net income will be calculated.

So everyone needs to consider the possibility of expenses exceeding income; be careful not to end up with negative earnings."

"Staff contact numbers include those for haunted house owners, etc.

If they are short-staffed, they will offer you a day's work opportunity."

"But everyone must earn money as ordinary people, not by relying on your identity.

For example, being recognized while singing and attracting tips from tourists is not allowed.

Once recognized, any money obtained through your identity will be deducted, which would be equivalent to wasting time and working for nothing."

"That's roughly it; for specific rules and detailed requirements, please refer to this paper."

He Xing said, handing a small stack of colorful rule diagrams to the seven people.

Chen Fang glanced at it; it was roughly what he had said, with some additional notes on requirements and assistance the production team could provide.

He Xing waited for two minutes, and seeing that everyone had generally finished reading, he asked with a smile, "Does anyone have any questions? If not, let's start drawing lots for groups."

Liang Yan was full of fighting spirit, "Good."

A staff member walked over, holding a lottery box.

Chen Fang silently recited in his mind.

He was here to accumulate negative emotional value; any of the other three males or Zhao Jin, whom he was familiar with, would do.

He excluded Yue Qingzhu, the landlady, and Shen Wantang, whom he was not familiar with.

Chen Fang drew a slip of paper from the lottery box, which read: Team 2.

Liang Yan, again, eagerly spoke first, "I'm on Team 3!"

Zhao Jin and Shen Wantang raised their hands, "Me too."

Xie Yunxuan looked at the remaining three people, then hopefully glanced at Yue Qingzhu, "I'm on Team 1."

Bai Wenbin pushed up his gold-rimmed glasses and smiled faintly, "Teacher Xie, we're on the same team."

Xie Yunxuan's face stiffened, and his heart sank to the bottom.

Well, it's just for one day; he'd make do.

Chen Fang was also quite desperate.

The last one left was... Yue Laoban? The Landlady?

Why?

Why was his luck with drawing lots and game gacha always so bad?

He looked at Yue Qingzhu.

She had changed into a black silk dress, sitting elegantly, intently staring at the paper in her hand, as if it contained a long string of text that needed careful reading.

"Teacher Yue, we're in the same group."

Yue Qingzhu's eyelashes trembled slightly as their eyes met for a moment.

She nodded, said, "Mm, we're in the same group," then shifted her gaze back to the paper, making it impossible to tell what she was thinking.

Honestly, it's very easy to gain negative emotional value from such an introverted person.

But were he and Yue Qingzhu considered friends now? Could he gain it?

Just as Chen Fang hesitated, he heard a series of incoming notifications pop up in his mind.

[Liang Yan Negative Emotional Value +166]

[Liang Yan Negative Emotional Value +66]

[Xie Yunxuan Negative Emotional Value +66]

Was this jealousy?

Being in the same music industry, those two must really want to be in the same group as Yue Laoban, right?

Chen Fang simply added fuel to the fire, getting up and changing seats to sit next to his teammate.

Yue Qingzhu paused slightly, then continued to look down at the paper in her hand, her fingers subtly clenching.

[Liang Yan Negative Emotional Value +99, +66]

Suddenly, being in a group with Yue Qingzhu didn't seem so bad after all.

He Xing spoke again: "So our three groups are set.

Next, please, the three groups of guests, find your respective locations and discuss tomorrow's plans.

Everyone can find any place and adjust the environment first.

Once you're ready, just tell the cameraman to start filming."

That last sentence would definitely be cut during editing.

After He Xing finished speaking, the cameraman turned off the camera, and everyone started moving.

Zhao Jin said to Liang Yan and Shen Wantang, "Let's go to the second-floor balcony; it's very pretty there.

I just saw a mosquito lamp; shall we go there?"

Xie Yunxuan also stood up and said to Bai Wenbin, "We're both guys; why don't we just go to your and Liang Yan's room?"

Bai Wenbin hesitated for a moment; he had only cleaned 1/3 of it and didn't want Xie Yunxuan to mess it up.

"How about the kitchen?"

"Alright."

Chen Fang was about to ask Yue Qingzhu when Guo Congxin patted him.

"Teacher Chen, I'm going to the restroom.

Text me when you find a spot, and I'll be right over."

"Okay,"

Chen Fang saw Guo Congxin leave and looked at Yue Qingzhu, "What about us?"

Yue Qingzhu turned her head to look at the others, seemingly noticing that the other guests were leaving with their backs to them and the staff were busy.

Her straight spine relaxed slightly, and she turned back as if letting down her guard, tilting her head and smiling faintly, "That's great, being in a group with someone I know."

Chen Fang was momentarily stunned by her smile.

Her expression, secretly relieved when others weren't paying attention, reminded him of an animal—a little turtle that had just retreated into its shell.

He hesitated for a moment, then nodded, "Mm, yes, we're acquaintances."

Then he shouldn't be blamed for being ruthless!

"Let's go, let's go, let's find a place."

Yue Qingzhu got up and looked around.

Seeing someone looking over, she put away her smile, and her voice became a little colder, "Where should we discuss? There's a swing in the yard; it would look good on camera.

Let's go there."

"It's full of plants and flowers there, so there are many mosquitoes.

How about we just stay in the living room?"

"It won't look good,"

Yue Qingzhu pursed her lips, "Oh, right, there's a glass gazebo in the backyard!

Let's go there!"

"Okay, let's go."

The two walked out the back door, and the surroundings quieted down.

Yue Qingzhu relaxed, her eyes sparkling as she surveyed her surroundings, "Wow, it's so beautiful."

Among the other six people, Chen Fang was the one who made her feel most at ease.

In her mind, Chen Fang was similar to Liu Lu and He Yuanyuan; they were all considered good friends among her colleagues.

She could relax a little without having to pretend to be aloof, and she wouldn't be looked down upon or backstabbed.

Moreover, during the MV shoot, she was pampered throughout, as if floating on clouds, which made her very happy.

Chen Fang glanced at her.

Yue Laoban seemed to have her moments; she didn't seem so aloof in front of acquaintances.

This meant she really considered him a friend, right?

This feeling of being considered a friend was truly good.

Friends, aren't they meant to stick up for you?