Chapter 16: You’d Think She Was Driving a Ferrari
The interview wrapped up, and Chi Qian and Chi Fengxiao set out for the filming location.
Chi Fengxiao lugged two giant suitcases, while Chi Qian only had a backpack.
“That’s all you brought?” Chi Fengxiao was surprised—girls usually carried loads of stuff when traveling.
“This is enough.” Chi Qian glanced at his suitcases. “Uncle, I suggest you bring less too, otherwise you’ll regret it.”
“What’s there to be afraid of? We have a car.”
Two hours later, Chi Fengxiao was thoroughly slapped in the face.
The production van broke down midway, forcing them to haul their luggage on foot to the site.
The sun was blazing overhead, the road stretched endlessly before them, and Chi Fengxiao’s silence was deafening.
He suspected the production team did this on purpose.
Turning to Chi Qian, who was strolling with her hands in her pockets, he said, “Chi Qian, we’re uncle and niece. How about helping me carry a suitcase?”
Chi Qian refused without hesitation: “What was that? Bad signal, can’t hear you, hanging up now~”
She then pulled a foldable hoverboard out of her bag, set it down, and hopped on.
The hoverboard immediately lit up with rainbow colors as a blaring, upbeat song began blasting:
“♪ The great river flows to the east, the stars in the sky join the Big Dipper! ♪”
“♪ Heh heh, join the Big Dipper! ♪”
Chi Qian circled around Chi Fengxiao once, waved, and shouted: “Uncle, good luck! My spirit will be with you—you’re the next great hero!”
Then she zoomed off with the deafening music, leaving even the cameraman sprinting behind, unable to catch up.
Chi Fengxiao stood under the ruthless sun, already regretting his “three rules agreement” before filming had even properly begun.
At least with Chi Qian around, he had someone to talk to—otherwise the trek would’ve been unbearably dull.
Livestream chat:
[What kind of niece is this? So selfish! Can’t even help carry a suitcase?]
[See? I told you she must be a hired actress. Her true colors are showing.]
[Poor Film Emperor, must really regret bringing a girl on the show. What use is she?]
[Even as a passerby, I think she’s brainless. Doesn’t even know basic courtesy.]
As the fans piled on, that earworm of a song suddenly returned—
“♪ See injustice on the road and give a shout! ♪”
“♪ Strike when the time is right! ♪”
It was Chi Qian.
She was… riding on a cow cart??
The livestream chat froze.
The exhausted, overheated Chi Fengxiao froze too.
“Why are you back?”
“I made it to the destination and borrowed a cow cart from a local,” Chi Qian said, wearing a straw hat and holding a whip. She tilted her head. “Uncle, get on.”
[Who said she was selfish? Open your damn eyes!]
[Her tone is pure CEO vibes. If I didn’t know better, I’d think she was driving a Ferrari.]
[No, it’s a Fera-bull! Ferrari’s brand-new limited-edition supercar—world’s only one.]
Chi Fengxiao heaved the two suitcases onto the cart, found a spot to sit, and even pulled the cameraman up with him.
The hoverboard in the corner was still flashing and blaring: “Let’s hit the road, everyone! You, me, and all of us together!”
Chi Fengxiao felt his temper rising from the heat. “Your hoverboard is still making noise.”
Chi Qian flicked the whip in her hand across the ox’s rump. “Probably short-circuited. Once the battery runs out, it’ll shut up.”
“…Why do you look so practiced at driving a cart?”
Of course Chi Qian wasn’t about to admit that in the cultivation world, aside from the fancy modes of transport, the ox cart was the most common low-end option.
“TV dramas,” she said casually.
Just then, someone by the roadside waved to them.
When they got closer, it turned out to be familiar faces.
Gu Hua was wearing a fresh floral dress, standing beside her partner, Ling Qian.
A handsome man and a pretty woman—they looked like a perfect pair.
Tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, Gu Hua flashed what she thought was a flawless smile. “You’re guests for the shoot in Xiaohe Village too, right? Could you maybe give us a rid—”
Before she could finish, the ox cart whooshed past them.
All they were left with were two steaming “gifts” freshly dropped by the ox.
Gu Hua and Ling Qian’s faces turned green.
“That person’s really uncivilized,” Ling Qian muttered with a frown. “But wasn’t the one sitting in the back seat Film Emperor Chi Fengxiao?”
Gu Hua’s eyes lit up with excitement. “That’s my third uncle! This is great—I haven’t seen him in forever!”
Chi Fengxiao’s name was one you’d know even if you didn’t follow the entertainment industry.
Of course, Chi Qian, who only ever watched pig-farming channels, was the exception.
When she was younger, Gu Hua had loved tagging along with this uncle—he always looked the most impressive.
And once she entered showbiz herself, with Chi Fengxiao backing her up, her popularity would skyrocket with half the effort.
*
Meanwhile, Chi Fengxiao had just had a mouthful of sand whipped into his face from their sudden acceleration. Scowling, he told Chi Qian to slow down.
Naturally, she’d left the two behind on purpose, but her words were smooth as butter, “Uncle, the weather’s too hot. You’ve just walked so far. If we don’t hurry to a cooler spot, I’m afraid you might get heatstroke.”
Chi Fengxiao froze. Was… was she actually worried about him?
Well, if she didn’t care, she wouldn’t have gone to the trouble of borrowing an ox cart from a stranger to pick him up.
He, as the uncle, having to rely on his niece—now that was awkward.
Chi Fengxiao suddenly felt a bit embarrassed, his voice dropping low: “You’ve worked hard too.”
Chi Qian just smiled sweetly and said nothing.
By the time they arrived at the destination, other guests and cameramen were already waiting.
Everyone else had walked, so when they saw the two of them rolling in comfortably on an ox cart, they felt a pang of envy.
But the next second, when they caught sight of Chi Fengxiao’s face, all envy vanished.
“Brother Chi!”
“Hi, Brother Chi!”
Brother Chi was anything but fine.
The way Chi Qian had been steering this wobbly “Ferrari-ox” made him queasy the whole ride.
Still, he kept his expression stiff and cold. “Mm. Hello.”
Chi Qian returned the ox cart to the villager, and by then Gu Hua and Ling Qian had also arrived.
Among the five guest groups, only Chi Qian and Chi Fengxiao looked relatively fresh. Everyone else was drenched in sweat, their makeup sliding off their faces.
[Our Brother Qin Yue is drop-dead handsome no matter what!]
[Yuan Yaya! I’m in love with that body—let me nap on your 36D, sis!]
[Shen Jing is so warm, he’s been wiping sweat off his son nonstop and hasn’t even cared about himself.]
[Gu Hua is gorgeous! Is that her brother next to her? That family’s genes are too strong—both stunners!]
[Uh… why do Chi Fengxiao and Chi Qian have zero interaction? Even if they’re acting like family, shouldn’t they at least act like it?]
The director spoke up: “Alright, from left to right, please introduce yourselves.”
Shen Jing’s voice was steady. “Hello everyone, I’m Shen Jing. This is my son, Shen Jiashu. Please take care of us over the next few days.”
Shen Jiashu shrank behind his father, too shy to look at anyone.
Rising top star Qin Yue flashed a brilliant smile. “Hi, I’m Qin Yue. I’m here with my younger brother Qin An, and I hope he’ll make some good friends here.”
Qin An snorted and stayed silent.
Next was popular young actress Yuan Yaya: “Hello, I’m Yuan Yaya, and this is my younger sister Yuan You’er.”
Yuan You’er piped up at once: “Why did you introduce me last? Don’t you have any manners?”
Yuan Yaya’s face stiffened in embarrassment. “Sorry, You’er, I didn’t think about your feelings.”
“Fake!”
[Wow… this kid has no manners at all, and she’s calling her sister rude?]
[My poor pretty sis…]
When it was Gu Hua’s turn, she deliberately paused before introducing Ling Qian, her smile sugary sweet. “This is my neighbor and big brother figure, Ling Qian. My family was too busy to come, so he came specially to keep me company.”
Ling Qian wasn’t in showbiz, but he was well-known enough there.
After all, he was the young master of Starlight Entertainment, and had already trended a few times before.
The livestream chat exploded, squealing about how “husbands need to be cultivated from childhood!”
Finally, it was Chi Qian’s group.
Chi Fengxiao coolly tossed out just three words: “Chi Fengxiao.” Then nothing more.
Debuting at eighteen, with countless awards to his name, he had every right to be aloof.
The camera cut to the girl beside him.
Chi Qian said: “I’m Chi Qian—the same Chi Qian from ‘turtle-green Chi Qian.’”
