Chapter 7

Dishes were brought to the table one after another by the waitstaff.

Chi Jing held a small bowl, eagerly sampling a bit of each dish.

Jiang Yucheng sat right next to him.

Although young, he held a significant position in the entertainment industry. Apart from the eldest, Gan Heyu, no one dared to sit next to him.

However, since the program team had only set up seven seats, and Chi Jing was the last to arrive, the only seat left for him was next to him.

Chi Jing leisurely swallowed the food in his mouth and turned to him.

“Have you seen enough?”

Jiang Yucheng smiled, showing no hint of apology. “My apologies for getting caught.”

“It wasn’t hard to notice.” Chi Jing reached out and grabbed a piece of fish from the rotating tray, placing it in his mouth.

His eyes lit up.

This dish was delicious too!

Seeing this, Jiang Yucheng couldn’t help but laugh.

He pushed the rotating tray, bringing a dish of soft and savory duck soup in front of him.

“Try this one; it tastes great too.”

Chi Jing didn’t hesitate to scoop some soup.

Indeed, it was delicious, flavorful and well-cooked, the duck meat tender and tasty.

“Eat more,” Jiang Yucheng said casually. “Once the filming starts, you might not get to eat like this.”

To heighten the drama, travel reality shows usually didn’t provide enough funds for the guests.

With more money, the show wouldn’t be as interesting.

Chi Jing hadn’t done much homework except for gathering some information about the other guests.

He had spent most of his recent days surfing the web.

But Jiang Yucheng’s playful warning didn’t worry him. He calmly wiped his mouth.

“Oh, then I’ll eat more.”

The curve of Jiang Yucheng’s smile deepened, and a low chuckle escaped his throat.

Everyone else at the table looked at them curiously, especially An Boqing and Shen Yixing.

Among all the people present, besides Chi Jing who had just debuted, An Boqing and Shen Yixing had the least experience.

Shen Yixing had been in the industry for five years, always playing small roles in web dramas.

An Boqing had debuted last year as an idol from a talent show, but due to the immature idol industry in China, he didn’t have much development. He started taking roles in web dramas that required no acting skills.

Earlier this year, the two had worked together in a costume web drama, playing senior and junior brothers.

Their frequent interactions and the push from their management companies led to their CP (couple pairing) becoming a hit.

Compared to veteran actor Gan Heyu, and stars like Lou Yiwen and Ou’er Bai with several hit dramas and numerous endorsements, the two of them had little say.

Not to mention Jiang Yucheng, a top-tier star and true A-lister in the entertainment circle.

So, seeing Chi Jing interact with Jiang Yucheng like this, the two were quite shocked.

However, the program’s setup wasn’t just for them to have lunch and meet each other.

As the meal neared its end, a staff member knocked and entered the private room.

“Now, I’ll announce the travel expenses for each of you to get here.”

Chi Jing looked up from his meal.

He was quite curious about the results.

Mainly, he wanted to know who left him with just two yuan for travel expenses.

Succubi hold grudges.

The staff member spread out a card and read the data from it.

“The total fund for seven people is 100 yuan. First to use it was Mr. Gan Heyu, who spent 39 yuan on a ride-hailing service to get here.”

Everyone, except Jiang Yucheng, looked at him.

Already in his sixties, he didn’t seem to mind that he had spent the most funds.

“The second to depart was Mr. Jiang Yucheng.” The staff member glanced at him and blushed slightly. 

“Mr. Jiang lives in the hotel above, so he didn’t use any funds.”

Chi Jing lazily glanced at him, meeting his smiling eyes.

From Baidu Baike’s introduction and the program team’s attitude towards Jiang Yucheng, Chi Jing figured this guy was probably invited by Lu Tao himself and that the program team didn’t dare to inconvenience him.

“Now you’re the one looking at me,” Jiang Yucheng said softly.

Tch.

Chi Jing looked away, subtly rolling his eyes at him.

“The third to depart was Ms. Lou Yiwen, who took a taxi to the subway station and then the subway to the hotel. She spent 17 yuan.”

“The fourth was Mr. Ou’er Bai, who walked from the subway station downstairs to the intersection and then took a taxi to the hotel, spending 18 yuan.”

As the staff member finished speaking, Lou Yiwen and Ou’er Bai glanced at each other, then turned their heads away in unison.

It was clear from their expressions that they didn’t get along.

“It seems Ms. Ou’er still likes to make the same choices as I do,” Lou Yiwen’s tone was dripping with sarcasm.

“I didn’t know the subway belonged to you, Lou Yiwen,” Ou’er Bai retorted. “How interesting. Director, make sure to edit that in. From now on, everyone taking the subway is learning from Lou Yiwen.”

“So, according to that logic, she’s the mother of the world.”

Chi Jing enjoyed the food while watching the drama unfold, feeling quite content.

An Boqing and Shen Yixing, with their lower status, shrank back like quails, not daring to speak.

Gan Heyu seemed used to it, leaning back in his chair without saying a word.

The staff, also accustomed to the bickering, waited for them to finish before calmly continuing to announce the remaining data.

“The fifth to depart was Mr. Shen Yixing, who chose to ride a shared bike to save funds for the later guests, spending 3 yuan.”

“The sixth to depart was Mr. An Boqing, who opted for a carpool, spending 20 yuan.”

“The seventh to depart was Mr. Chi Jing, who got a ride from a kind passerby, spending 0 yuan.”

The staff member looked at him strangely.

“The total funds used by the seven guests is 97 yuan, leaving 3 yuan.”

An Boqing raised his hand. “I apologize, but I want to explain. Due to my tight schedule, I couldn’t take the subway or bus without being late, so I had to carpool.”

After speaking, he put his hands together and bowed to Chi Jing. “Sorry, sorry, I only left you bus fare.”

Chi Jing found it amusing.

“No worries, I can get here even without any money.”

“But let me correct you, the money you left wasn’t enough for the bus.”

An Boqing immediately hunched his shoulders, speaking softly.

“Not enough? I remember bus fare being 2 yuan when I was a kid. Sorry…”

Tsk, playing the innocent card.

Chi Jing bluntly said, “Yes, but the bus routes when you were a kid must have precisely connected 12.8 kilometers, allowing passengers to arrive at the hotel on time.”

Chi Jing had recently learned the term “green tea” (pretending to be innocent) online.

He’d learned a lot from surfing the web lately and was curious about everything in this world.

An Boqing’s face turned red.

It was unclear whether from embarrassment or anger.

Having been in the industry for over a year, he had never encountered someone like Chi Jing.

In the entertainment industry, emotional intelligence was crucial.

Big names could lie through their teeth, and those with less clout would adeptly follow their lead.

After editing, the audience would never see the truth behind the scenes!

An Boqing used to be the one who followed others’ leads.

But since gaining some fame recently, he had the privilege to lie through his teeth in some situations.

But now, it didn’t work.

Chi Jing didn’t follow his lead but rather turned his words against him, exposing him completely.

He didn’t care whether he was embarrassed or angry.

Feeling full, he rested his chin in his hand, looking around idly.

Occasionally, his gaze would meet Jiang Yucheng’s. He didn’t avoid it but openly examined Jiang Yucheng’s face.

He was truly good-looking, even better in person than in photos.

His facial features were sharp and defined, with deep-set eyes and a chiseled jawline.

Very much to a succubus’s taste.

Jiang Yucheng watched him with interest.

He had actually been observing him for a while.

This person was very different from his online persona.

But having been in the industry for so long, he knew not to trust online descriptions.

From their brief interaction, he found Chi Jing to be very straightforward.

He didn’t seem to hide his thoughts, wearing them clearly on his face.

Like now, he knew he was admiring his face.

He wasn’t angry, just asked with a smile.

“Do you find me attractive?”

Chi Jing nodded without hesitation but added.

“Not as good-looking as me.”

In a succubus’s worldview, they were the most attractive!!!

Their voices were low, and since everyone else was waiting for the staff to announce the next recording schedule, no one noticed their conversation.

“At 6 p.m. tonight, the program team will announce the guide for the next trip. Please return home and wait.”

It seemed the program had orchestrated this meeting to create initial conflicts for the upcoming journey.

The return trip was by the program team’s car. Chi Jing, having slept poorly last night and woken up early for the recording, slept all the way back to the hotel.

At 6 p.m., he got up from his bed.

A staff member, who hadn’t followed him during the day, knocked on his door, reminding him that the program’s gift box had arrived.

“Got it, give me a moment.” He said, walking barefoot into the bathroom.

The sound of running water came from the bathroom. Seeing his relaxed attitude, the staff member hesitated but then went to wait in the living room.

Five minutes later, he came out with wet hair and a loose bathrobe.

Steam enveloped him, adding an air of allure to his naturally languid demeanor.

The staff member, who had initially been a bit indignant, stood up abruptly at the sight.

“Where’s the gift box?”

Chi Jing scanned the living room, finally fixing his gaze on a box with the show’s label on the coffee table.

“Is it this one?”

The staff member stammered slightly.

“Y-yes, it is.”

He turned to her.

“You were fine during the day. Why are you stuttering now?”

The staff member covered her face, hiding her blushing cheeks.

She couldn’t come up with an excuse, her mind filled with the earlier scene.

Exposed chest, fair skin, and the loose fabric lightly brushing against straight legs.

And…

That slim waist under the bathrobe’s tie.