Jiang Lingxi looked at the mountain villa in front of her.
It was now evening, with the slanting rays of the setting sun adding a warm hue to the wooden mountain villa, making it feel particularly cozy.
However, the atmosphere inside the villa at this moment was unusually eerie.
Today, she had taken a plane, then a high-speed train, and finally a car, experiencing all the mainstream modes of transportation of this era.
She was indeed a bit tired, but she could still manage.
"Sorry for being late."
There were five guests in total, and four were already standing in the living room. It was obvious she was the last to arrive.
Jiang Kaiyuan, who had initially stated he wouldn't speak to Jiang Lingxi, subconsciously greeted her. He was the youngest among the five guests and the only boy present. He awkwardly pulled at the corner of his lips and said, "No, it's not late."
As soon as he finished speaking, he wanted to slap himself.
Why couldn't he just keep quiet!
The other three remained silent. Jiang Lingxi glanced at each of them, and they all nodded in acknowledgment.
She expected them not to engage with her, but she couldn't reciprocate with the same indifference.
Otherwise, the next few days would be difficult!
Then she turned her head to look at the staff member who had hurriedly followed them in, likely fearing they would clash upon meeting. She smiled and asked, "Hello, is my room still the same as before?"
"Ah, yes." The staff member nodded subconsciously, momentarily stunned by her beauty. By the time she snapped out of it, Jiang Lingxi had already walked ahead.
The countryside villa was only one story, with three bedrooms facing south and two facing north. When the program first started recording, Jiang Kaiyuan, as the only male, chose the northern bedroom first. The other four girls didn't want to stay in the other northern room, but they had to show some modesty on the surface.
However, the original Jiang Lingxi was completely unaware of these maneuvers. While others were still pretending to be modest, she directly chose the only southern room with a private bathroom and balcony.
The other three looked at her carrying her luggage into the room with eyes full of disdain.
There was no need to argue anymore. Later, the older actress She Man and the veteran singer Xu Yin occupied the other two southern bedrooms, and the youngest Lin Xuefei took the remaining northern bedroom.
Although they were starting the recording again, they couldn't suggest rearranging the bedrooms, as it would be too obvious. They had to stick to the original arrangement.
At this moment, they could only watch Jiang Lingxi enter the largest bedroom with her assistant.
On the way by car, Jiang Lingxi passed many residences and gained a new understanding of people's living spaces nowadays.
She realized that her accommodation was relatively spacious compared to others. For example, her assistant Lu Zhenzhen still rented a place, and her entire place wasn't even as big as one of the bedrooms here, split into two levels to save space.
While playing with her phone on the road, she also saw the type of loft apartments where tall people had to bend over inside. Just thinking about it made her feel oppressed.
Now, looking at the room where she would stay for the next three days, despite its simple facilities, she was satisfied with the spaciousness.
Lu Zhenzhen immediately opened her suitcase and started unpacking as soon as they entered the room. Jiang Lingxi didn't disturb her and just took a look around before leaving.
Back in the living room, Tong Yue was busy presenting gifts to each person.
Jiang Lingxi understood why her manager had brought such a large bag this time!
"Dear teachers, my artist Lingxi's previous behavior caused a lot of trouble for everyone, and she has been reprimanded for it. I'm here on her behalf to apologize to you all. Please accept these small gifts as a token of our apology."
Seeing Tong Yue's sincere tone and the different gifts tailored for each recipient, it was clear that she had carefully selected them based on the recipient's preferences. Since Tong Yue was also a manager with some reputation in the industry, there might be future interactions, so all four accepted the gifts politely.
Then they turned to see Jiang Lingxi walking towards them. A thought flashed through their minds: this manager is much better at handling people than Jiang Lingxi!
As they watched, Lin Xuefei couldn't help furrowing her brows.
Although she was the second youngest among the guests, she was only a few months younger than Jiang Lingxi.
They were of similar age and status in the industry.
Actress She Man and singer Xu Yin each had a large number of fans in their respective fields, with stable positions. They came to this show simply to help out the director.
Jiang Kaiyuan was a former esports player turned entertainer who found this show interesting.
The ones who needed to increase their exposure and popularity were probably just her and Jiang Lingxi.
She was aware of her appearance; she knew she wasn't naturally beautiful.
Fortunately, some people might have a nice face, but their brains were lacking, showing that heaven was fair.
Since she couldn't compete in looks, she relied on being likable.
Her approach had proven effective. During the previous recording, She Man and Xu Yin clearly favored her, and Jiang Kaiyuan would occasionally call her "sister."
In contrast, Jiang Lingxi seemed clueless in everything she did. Privately, the three of them were already showing signs of impatience.
But now, looking at Jiang Lingxi with a bandage on her forehead and a slightly weary look in her eyes, Lin Xuefei suddenly felt an inexplicable sense of crisis.
Soon, that sense of crisis turned into reality.
Jiang Lingxi stopped beside the smiling Tong Yue, her gaze soft and sincere, completely different from her previous arrogant demeanor. The bandage on her forehead and the slight fatigue around her eyes softened her appearance, making it hard for people to remain indifferent. She spoke with the same genuine tone and expression, "Although Tong Jie has already apologized on my behalf, I feel it's necessary for me to apologize in person."
"I caused everyone to waste valuable time because of my stubbornness, and for that, I am truly sorry. If there's a chance in the future to make amends, I will do my best."
As her words fell, the living room fell silent.
Even Tong Yue widened her eyes in disbelief, let alone the four opposite her, who were dumbfounded and unable to control their expressions.
Jiang Kaiyuan couldn't help but blurt out what was on his mind, "Are you... are you Jiang Lingxi's twin sister, here to replace her for the show?"
Jiang Lingxi raised her eyebrows slightly and nodded at him. "If you find it easier to accept that way, then you can think of me as one."
Jiang Kaiyuan couldn't help but grip the mechanical keyboard packaged as a gift in his hands, stuttering, "It's... it's just that your change is too drastic."
It's like you're a completely different person!
Jiang Lingxi remained composed and sighed softly, "After going through a life-and-death ordeal, how could I dare to be stubborn anymore."
Her reminder made Jiang Kaiyuan recall the recent dangerous incident. "Yes, indeed."
Lin Xuefei silently glanced at him.
Young man, maybe you should reflect on yourself.
Remember what you said before she arrived?