Chapter 97: Desert Specialty—Shaky Ride
The head director suppressed his gloating smile and spoke into the loudspeaker: “Guests, this is the Kemiya Desert, the third largest desert in the world.”
“You will spend five days and five nights here. Your task is to survive and reach the final safe house to wait for rescue.”
“Considering the difficulty of this theme, each of you may select five survival items to bring.”
“After this, the production team will no longer provide any assistance.”
“Please remember—no matter what happens, always maintain your image!”
“And now—”
“Prepare to descend into hell, everyone.”
Chi Fengxiao’s skin prickled. He shuddered in disgust. “I swear the production team is up to no good again.”
Chi Qian nodded. “They probably think this setting will counter me.”
“Don’t worry, this time you can cling to Uncle’s thigh,” Chi Fengxiao assured her.
“Then will you carry me later?”
Chi Fengxiao immediately backpedaled. “No way. The old man scolded me privately and told me not to spoil you. If I do, he said he’d break my legs when we got home.”
Chi Qian said seriously, “Uncle, do you trust me?”
“Of course.”
“Then if Grandpa really breaks your legs, I’ll have Second Uncle put them back together right away. How about that?”
“…So no love left for me, huh? Guess our bond’s faded.”
While uncle and niece bantered, the other guests had already picked out their survival gear.
As usual, Chi Qian chose her favorite snacks and a thermos.
Chi Fengxiao, though claiming he “wouldn’t spoil her,” very honestly picked up two packs of her favorite chocolate wafer sticks.
Soon after, everyone was ready to depart.
But the crew ran into trouble—the camel that had carried Chi Qian over refused to leave with them.
Not only did it refuse, it kept trying to follow Chi Qian, glancing back at her pitifully even when held back.
The moment a staff member loosened the reins, the camel clattered over to Chi Qian, crouched down, and signaled for her to get on.
Head director: “……”
Could these animals not be so worthless?!
“Attention! Taking production-provided transport animals along is strictly forbidden!!” the director shouted.
The camel snorted in his face, strutted over, turned around, and spread its legs.
Then it left him a steaming “welcome gift” right at his feet.
The director’s vision went black.
[Beautifully done!]
[Camel: Pfft! You’re the one blocking me from sticking with Sister Qian, so take this!]
[Stop, Camel, you’re scaring me.jpg]
“Brother Chi.” Xia Xinyue came over, cheeks red. “My sister and I… this is our first time on a survival show. We don’t really know the process. Could we go along with you?”
Chi Fengxiao: “Ask Qian Qian. In our family, she’s the one who calls the shots.”
So Xia Xinyue had no choice but to turn to Chi Qian. “Hello Qian Qian, my sister wants to be friends with you. May we join you?”
“No,” Chi Qian said, hands in her pockets. “I’m allergic to pheasants.”
Xia Zhenzhen’s eyes went red with anger. “Who are you calling a pheasant?!”
“Whoever answers.”
“You!”
“Zhenzhen, don’t be upset. Qian Qian just doesn’t know how to express herself,” Xia Xinyue hurriedly soothed.
“I’ll never go with her, not even if I die! If you want to butter her up, go by yourself!” Xia Zhenzhen snapped.
“Princess already has me as her knight. We don’t need you,” Shen Jiashu said, bristling.
“I’m the real princess! She’s nothing!”
“Then can you command monkeys?”
“No, but at home—”
“Can you get orcas to bring you gifts?”
“No, but—”
Shen Jiashu’s face lit up, as if he’d proven a point. “See! You’re the fake princess!”
“I am not! What you’re talking about is just scripted by the show. No normal person could do that!” Xia Zhenzhen shouted, furious.
[Uh… looks like this kid has never witnessed Sister Qian’s domination.]
[Too bad this is the desert. Not many animals here. Otherwise Sister Qian would definitely show her up until she cried.]
[A proper hero suppression arc. The production team knows what they’re doing.]
[So wait… if it’s scripted, doesn’t that mean Zhenzhen wasn’t wrong?]
The two kids bickered endlessly. To Chi Qian, it was nothing but noisy.
She just wanted to sleep.
And not walk.
“Qian Qian, look at your popularity. You’re blowing up even among the kids,” Chi Fengxiao teased, still in the mood to watch.
Staring at the endless stretch of yellow sand ahead, Chi Qian suddenly had an idea. “Uncle, since we’re already in the desert, how about we try the local specialty rides?”
Chi Fengxiao looked puzzled. “There’s something like that here?”
“Mhm.” Chi Qian curled her finger and whistled.
Oh no, not again.
Now whenever she whistled, Chi Fengxiao’s adrenaline spiked automatically.
But… what animal could she summon here?
[OMG! Sister Qian’s awakening skill: Desert Uber!]
[Ahhh I’ve been waiting for this scene!]
[Don’t tell me she’s calling that camel back?]
Before long, a group of large figures came running at full speed in the distance.
The pounding of their feet kicked up layers of sand.
When they got closer, Chi Fengxiao was dumbstruck.
“Ostr… ostriches?!”
Chi Qian stroked the sleek black feathers of one. “Uncle, hop on!”
Chi Fengxiao: “…How?”
The ostrich crouched down and turned its head to look at Chi Qian, its big eyes moist and eager: Sis, hop on!
Chi Qian slid her hands back into her pockets and climbed on. She turned to Shen Jing and his son. “There are more rides. Want to join?”
Shen Jiashu shot his hands up and shouted excitedly, “I pledge eternal loyalty to the Princess!”
Shen Jing, holding back laughter, lifted him up first, then mounted another ostrich himself.
[Excuse me, did she just call ostriches “shaky cars”??]
[Why does her magic still work outside the ocean?]
[I’m actually jealous, let me ride too!!]
[And wow, these ostriches’ feathers are so glossy and clean—nothing like the scruffy ones I’ve seen before.]
Of course. The unclean ostriches were eliminated right away—how could they dare offer to carry Chi Qian?
There’s a pecking order among ostriches too.
The other guests stared with envy, swallowing hard.
Watching the ostrich group disappear into the distance, Luo Fan said to Luo Zichuan: “Aren’t you her ally? She just left you behind.”
Luo Zichuan looked at him blankly. “Do you want to know why?”
Suddenly Luo Fan didn’t want to know at all. He shut his mouth.
Xia Zhenzhen, both shocked and furious, turned to demand answers from the production team—only to find they were long gone.
“Why does she get ostriches? The crew gave her an advantage again?! This isn’t fair!”
Xia Xinyue, embarrassed, pulled her back. “No, Zhenzhen. That should be Qian Qian’s doing. She’s… very close with animals.”
“Bullshit! She’s not the main character in some novel—how could she possibly do that?!”
Xia Zhenzhen flat-out refused to believe it.
Silent until now, Gu Hua’s lips curled in a mocking smile.
That’s right. She was supposed to be the heroine of this story, yet all the spotlight had been stolen by Chi Qian. Because of the Chi family’s suppression, her own family’s company had gone bankrupt and her father ended up in prison.
But did Chi Qian really think she could defeat her just like that?
System: “Host, you still have a chance to turn the tables. Don’t be discouraged—you carry the heroine’s halo.”
Gu Hua: “I know. Let her bask for now.”
The more arrogant and lawless a villain is, the sooner… they meet their end.
