Chapter 64: Whatever, I’ve Got My Slacker’s Shield
Wen Li suddenly felt all the strength drain out of her body. Her lips trembled as tears streamed down her cheeks.
“I—I was kept in the dark too…”
“Say whatever you want,” Chi Qian cut her off, uninterested. “Whatever your excuses, what’s the point of telling me?”
As if waking from a dream, Wen Li turned anxiously to Tang Xin. “Xinxin, I’m sorry. It was all a misunderstanding. I didn’t know you were really my daughter…”
Drawing a bit of strength from Chi Qian’s presence, Tang Xin gathered her courage and said,
“I… I can’t accept your apology. When we go back, I’ll do as you said—I’ll move in with Grandma again. Thank you for taking care of me all these years.”
Grandma had always been the one who truly loved her.
Wen Li completely broke down. “No, Xinxin, don’t do this to me. I can’t live without you…”
Chi Qian explained cheerfully, “What she means is, she can’t live without her biological daughter. What the author was going for here is: no matter what she did wrong, it was all because of love.”
Chi Fengxiao almost burst out laughing on the side. He loved watching Chi Qian play the sarcastic commentator.
So satisfying.
Tang Xin wavered for a second, then steeled herself again. “Thank you, but I don’t want to hear anything from you right now.”
“Xinxin…” Wen Li begged bitterly.
Chi Qian stretched lazily. “I’m hungry.”
Chi Fengxiao: “? Didn’t you just eat seven slices of watermelon?”
Tang Xin’s slice, Shen Jiashu’s slice—all had gone into her stomach!
Don’t think he didn’t notice!
Chi Qian said matter-of-factly, “Fruit before a meal goes into the fruit stomach. It doesn’t take up space in my main stomach, so of course I can still be hungry.”
Chi Fengxiao: “…” This lazy, greedy, slippery rascal!
Tang Xin, hearing that, said even more firmly to Wen Li: “I’m sorry, Auntie, but I need to go find food for Chi Qian now. I can’t keep talking to you.”
Wen Li froze. The tears came harder.
She suddenly realized: in her daughter’s heart, even finding food for Chi Qian was more important than her.
That’s how deeply she had hurt this child before.
[Why does this feel so satisfying…]
[Please sign here to receive your “Regretful Parent Chasing After Estranged Daughter” combo package, Ms. Wen]
[Chi Qian’s right—if Wen Li had paid attention, she wouldn’t have been fooled for so many years. She’s not blameless.]
[Hiss, am I the only one wondering where Chi Qian even got all this insider info? It’s like she climbed up to the ceiling to eavesdrop. Too detailed!]
[Don’t ask. It’s just the magic of the Deep Sea Witch.]
Wen Li left in a daze.
But the little drama hadn’t dampened anyone’s enthusiasm for the bonfire barbecue.
Some tended the fire, some washed ingredients, some skewered meat…
Luo Zichuan even assembled a makeshift grill from parts scavenged off the pirate ship.
By dusk, the party was in full swing.
Meanwhile, Ling Qian was still standing miserably in the freezing seawater, surrounded by a pack of deep-sea beasts, basically serving a prison sentence on the spot.
Gu Hua and her group finally finished building the bamboo huts and bamboo beds. Exhausted, pale-faced, dark circles under their eyes, they nearly collapsed.
Chi Qian sweetly offered them a “gift”: a single bamboo skewer.
—Without any meat.
“Thanks for all your hard work. It’s just a little token of appreciation. It’s the thought that counts. With your skills, I’m sure you can feast like emperors just on the taste of fresh air.”
Gu Hua’s group clutched their empty skewers, eyes reddening with rage.
This was humiliation!
[HAHAHA is Chi Qian secretly a sentient bamboo shoot?]
[She’s too kind—she eats meat, but makes sure others get their fill of… anger.]
[Taking the hard road and suffering greatly, that’s life’s essential journey! —Gu Hua]
[It feels like Gu Hua’s group are the only ones actually “surviving,” while Qian’s side is basically on vacation.]
[Same book, different fates.]
Funny—wasn’t that once Gu Hua’s line about Chi Qian?
She was the heroine, and Chi Qian just the villainess fated to be cannon fodder.
But now…
The system whispered: “Host, don’t worry. Once this livestream ends, Chi Qian will face an unavoidable death trial. Cannon fodder is still cannon fodder, she can never become the lead.”
Gu Hua finally felt reassured and nodded hatefully.
Little did she know, every word reached Chi Qian’s ears.
A certain-death trial?
She searched her memory of the novel, but the plot had gone so wildly off course, she had no idea what it might be.
Still—whatever. She had her slacker’s shield.
When faced with trouble, don’t panic. Just lie down. That alone solves half the world’s problems. ^_^
The bonfire party went on until late at night.
Chi Qian and Tang Xin slept in the same bed, lying close together hand in hand.
“Qian Qian, thank you for today.” Tang Xin scratched her cheek a little shyly. “Thank you for standing up for me in front of Auntie.”
Chi Qian lay flat and steady. “That’s because the watermelon you gave me was sweet.”
Tang Xin giggled. “But Qian Qian, how do you even know all those things?”
“I’ve got this.” Chi Qian pulled out a tortoise shell and sat up. “Want me to read your fortune?”
Tang Xin’s eyes lit with curiosity. “Yes, yes!”
Chi Qian shook the shell. Three copper coins clattered out.
“Mm… the biggest hurdle in your fate has already passed. From now on, everything will go smoothly.”
“Really? Then it must be the luck you brought me, Qian Qian!”
“Forgot to mention, I charge for divinations. Tomorrow’s lollipop—mine.”
“Okay! I’ll give you the one for the day after tomorrow too.”
[Wait, just how much does she love turtles—she even carries a tortoise shell around?]
[These two girls are so sweet, I’m about to switch my ship again.]
[Not gonna lie, Chi Qian has the perfect vibe of a street-corner con artist… even if she only scams lollipops.]
[Someone go tell Film Emperor Chi—his kid is out here hustling again!]
The next morning.
Before leaving yesterday, the program team had left an envelope for them to open today.
In front of everyone, Shen Jing tore it open and read aloud, “Congratulations to all our guests on reaching the final challenge—The Great Garbage Cleanup Battle!”
“All guests must pair up in two to collect trash on the island. The more you collect, the greater the rewards. First place gets to stay in the cruise ship’s VIP luxury suite and enjoy a candlelight dinner prepared by a top chef.”
“Second place will stay in a regular suite and enjoy an adult’s set meal.”
“Third place gets a standard cabin and a children’s meal.”
“As for the rest—there’s always the deck waiting for you. And no dinner.”
“So, everyone, work hard and start picking up trash!”
As soon as Shen Jing finished reading, silence fell over the group.
Shen Jiashu frowned. “Why does it feel like this challenge was made just to target Sister Qian?”
No work meant no food and nowhere to sleep.
Chi Fengxiao agreed. The program team probably couldn’t stand watching them live so comfortably on the island, so they came up with a way to make trouble.
And right away, they’d struck straight at Chi Qian’s weak point—Food, drink, sleep.
Without any one of them, she couldn’t survive.
