Qin Ran couldn't help but laugh as she watched the live stream of Yu Shuman calmly drawing water from the well and starting to wash the vegetables. The production team trying to challenge her senior? Impossible! Yu Shuman wasn't someone who shied away from household chores—she was practically an expert.
After watching Yu Shuman for a while, Qin Ran switched to another channel to check on the other guests. She soon found herself in Ling Miaohan's live stream.
To be honest, when Qin Ran first learned that Ling Miaohan would be on the same show, she was tempted to pay to have her kicked out.
But Sister Li conveyed Yu Shuman's thoughts to Qin Ran, and after a moment of silence, Qin Ran decided not to interfere. Yu Shuman was right—this industry, though large, was still small in many ways. There was no need to sour everyone's mood over Ling Miaohan's presence on such a popular show.
Yu Shuman couldn't avoid every situation just because Ling Miaohan was involved.
Instead of avoiding her, it was better to face her head-on. There was no reason why Yu Shuman couldn't be present wherever Ling Miaohan was. Qin Ran admired her senior's upright and honorable approach, realizing that her own sneaky ways couldn't compare.
Though she decided not to make a fuss about Ling Miaohan being on the show, Qin Ran couldn't resist the urge to check out her live stream. Don't get her wrong—she was there to enjoy the spectacle.
Yu Shuman had carried her suitcase over a long stretch of road, showing no signs of exhaustion, but other guests were bound to struggle.
After all, Qin Ran and Pei Qi were practically rivals now, so when better to watch Ling Miaohan's misfortune?
The devious Qin Ran made no effort to hide her wicked intentions. She grabbed a snack, settled into her chair, and opened her laptop to watch Ling Miaohan on the big screen. As expected, Ling Miaohan, a pampered young lady, wasn't used to such hardships. Even when playing golf, she had caddies to carry her bags, but now she had to drag a suitcase over a long, rough path.
Before getting out of the car, she was dressed in a beautiful skirt, wearing a sunhat similar to Yu Shuman's. Since it was already mid to late October and the weather was cooling, Ling Miaohan had chosen an outfit with a long skirt, which only hindered her movement.
Her suitcase couldn't roll properly on the bumpy road, and the wheels frequently got stuck on rocks, forcing Ling Miaohan to stop, lift the suitcase, and maneuver it over the obstacles.
This happened so often that she eventually gave up trying to roll the suitcase and opted to carry it. But she couldn't keep it up for long—her strength was limited, and she soon reverted to half-dragging, half-carrying the suitcase. Even so, Ling Miaohan's situation only worsened.
Wearing small high heels wasn't a problem on paved streets, but on this rough terrain, it was a nightmare. The ground, though dry, was still treacherous, with some softer spots where her heels sank into the dirt.
The live chat was surprisingly supportive, cheering Ling Miaohan on. Despite her predicament, she didn't stop or complain, and she seemed determined to keep going.
Qin Ran quickly realized that Ling Miaohan was doing this on purpose. She didn't believe that the production team hadn't warned the celebrities ahead of time, and she was certain that Ling Miaohan had done her homework. Naturally, she would have known that the road wouldn't be easy, but she still chose this outfit and these shoes, meaning it was all part of her plan.
Dressed like a wealthy young lady, struggling on such a difficult path, made for compelling viewing. And since she was enduring it without complaining, unlike some celebrities who might whine or give up, she was sure to gain fans.
In the first season, the production team caught everyone off guard, and the celebrities' suffering might have been genuine. But by the second season, it was clear that some guests were deliberately playing up their hardships for more attention.
By the third season, it was obvious—this was no accident.
Yu Shuman had also dressed nicely, but she was confident in her strength and stamina and had chosen flat shoes, indicating she had done her homework. During the live stream, viewers praised her: "She's amazing, walking so effortlessly."
Now, seeing Ling Miaohan's performance, Qin Ran was certain that she was up to something. After all, a child raised in an elite family wouldn't be naive. The Ling family's wealth wasn't just first-generation; it had been built over several generations, and Ling Miaohan had been raised with an elite education.
She could appear innocent and sweet, but that was just her exterior. Inside, she was undoubtedly calculating.
After watching Ling Miaohan struggle for a while, Qin Ran got bored and switched back to Yu Shuman's stream. Even though watching her wash vegetables wasn't exactly thrilling, Qin Ran found it enjoyable. Yu Shuman's slender fingers deftly cleaned the vegetables in the well water, and soon she had finished washing everything Mr. Wang had given her.
She brought the vegetables inside, where Zeng Qian immediately told her to take a break and handed her a large watermelon to slice. Yu Shuman took the watermelon outside, washed it in the well water, and then carefully cut it into evenly-sized pieces. Once done, Zeng Qian joined her, and the two sat under the small shelter in the courtyard, lounging on wicker chairs to cool off.
Zeng Qian grabbed a slice of watermelon and handed one to Yu Shuman as well. "Let's take a break. The guys inside are struggling with the old stove. I bet dinner's going to be terrible. We better fill up a bit now, or who knows if we'll get enough to eat later."
Zeng Qian didn't hold back, poking fun at the veteran cast members. Yu Shuman just smiled without saying anything—being the newcomer, she couldn't make such comments about her seniors. So she simply joined Zeng Qian, eating watermelon and resting. The watermelon provided by the production team was excellent—thin-skinned, juicy, with bright red flesh dotted with a few black seeds, making it look incredibly appetizing.
Watching Yu Shuman eat watermelon made Qin Ran crave it too. She opened her phone, ordered delivery, and continued watching the live stream.
As they ate watermelon, more people began to arrive. Zeng Qian greeted each one warmly, helping them choose their rooms. Ling Miaohan was the last to arrive, and she wasn't alone—she must have met someone on the way, as she arrived at the gate with another male guest. At that moment, Zeng Qian was upstairs with another newcomer, and the other two regulars were busy with dinner, leaving only Yu Shuman in the courtyard.
For a moment, Yu Shuman hesitated, but then she gathered herself, got up from her chair, and went to greet Ling Miaohan and the male guest with a smile, inviting them in. By now, Ling Miaohan had lost all semblance of the elegant young lady she had been earlier. Her sunhat was nowhere to be seen, and her once pristine long skirt was now smeared with dirt.
Seeing Yu Shuman walking over so effortlessly and welcoming them like a hostess, Ling Miaohan's expression almost cracked. Although this disheveled appearance was part of her plan to shed her "rich girl" image and appear more relatable, she couldn't help but feel a twinge of regret seeing Yu Shuman looking so refreshed.
Compared to the messy Ling Miaohan, Yu Shuman's bright and clean appearance only made her stand out more. But what was done was done, and Ling Miaohan could only nod politely before following the male guest into the courtyard.
Yu Shuman noticed Ling Miaohan's disheveled state. Despite Qin Ran's dislike of Ling Miaohan and Yu Shuman's own slight distance from her, Yu Shuman couldn't help but feel concerned. She offered Ling Miaohan a chance to wash up, and Ling Miaohan, not wanting to reveal the tension between them on camera, responded with a rare smile.
After freshening up, Zeng Qian came downstairs. "Oh, you two arrived together. Great, we were just waiting for you. Go pick your rooms—dinner's almost ready!" Ling Miaohan and her companion followed Zeng Qian upstairs, while Yu Shuman returned to her wicker chair to finish her watermelon.
By this time, she had already eaten two slices, and now she was working on her third. As she sat there, nibbling on the watermelon and spitting out the seeds onto the ground, a few free-range chickens wandered over, pecking up the seeds she had spit out.
The October sun had already begun its descent, casting a warm glow over the countryside. The setting sun, filtering through the clouds, bathed everything in soft, changing hues. The scene around Yu Shuman was a picture of idyllic rural life—her feet occasionally swinging together as she sat there. The live chat was flooded with affectionate comments:
[Ahhh, Manman is so adorable!]
[I'm done for. Seeing this cool older sister turn into a sweet girl is too much!]
[Stop calling her 'sister,' you old ladies. Manman is only in her fourth year of college—she's probably younger than most of you!]
[No way, even if she's sweet and cute, she's still my one and only sister!]
As Yu Shuman calmly ate her watermelon, Qin Ran received a call from the delivery guy. The housekeeper was outside making dinner, and since Qin Ran didn't want to leave her computer, she asked the housekeeper to get it for her. The housekeeper agreed, and after a while, Qin Ran heard a knock on her study door.
When she opened it, she saw the housekeeper holding a tray with cut watermelon. "Miss Qin, I cut up half a watermelon for you. Would you like the other half as a drink? I'll put it in the fridge for later. Dinner's also ready—I'm heading home soon, so just leave the dishes when you're done. I'll clean up tomorrow."
"Thanks a lot."
With Yu Shuman away, Qin Ran didn't even have the desire to cook. The housekeeper nodded and left, tidying up the kitchen before finishing her day. Qin Ran returned to her room, ate some watermelon, and then noticed movement in the live stream—sounds coming from the kitchen. Mr. Wang was calling out loudly, "Qianqian! Come help with the food! It's time to eat!"
Zeng Qian was still upstairs, showing the new guests around, so she was unavailable. Yu Shuman quickly finished her watermelon and called back, "I'm coming!"
Qin Ran: I really am a sneaky little villain (proud.jpg).