Chapter 80: Ch 80: Aftermath and Rural Revelations
Chapter 80: Ch 80: Aftermath and Rural Revelations
The living room gradually settled back into a semblance of calm, though the earlier tension still lingered in the air like a faint echo. The guests had returned to the plush sofas, each one quietly processing what had just unfolded.
Soft afternoon light continued to filter through the windows, warming the wooden floors and casting gentle highlights on scattered gift wrappers and forgotten used cups. The background music played on low, a soothing melody that felt almost ironic against the heavy undercurrents still simmering beneath the surface.
Su Wanyan sat at the far right end of the sofa, Shen Guoxing still cradled securely in her arms. The two of them had stopped crying, but occasional soft hiccups escaped them both, a lingering reminder of the emotional storm.
Su Wanyan gently rubbed Shen Guoxing’s back in slow, comforting circles, her touch steady and protective. Beside them, Mo Xingxue held little Mo Yan close, her eyes filled with worry as she watched over the pair. Mo Yan babbled softly, reaching out a tiny hand as if trying to offer her own comfort.
The other guests remained mostly silent, lost in their thoughts, but their secret glances toward Gu Chengze spoke volumes. They all believed he had deserved what happened—pulling an innocent child into his petty vendetta had crossed every line.
Quiet support for Su Wanyan rippled through the group; they were cheering her on inwardly for her fierce defense. Meanwhile, Gu Chengze sat at the opposite end of the sofa, pressing an ice pack to his bruised cheek with a scowl. His face throbbed, but his pride hurt far worse.
Lin Xuanyu, seated beside him, looked on with watery eyes, fussing over his beloved with exaggerated concern. Internally, however, rage burned. That fucking bitch!
He thought, glaring secretly at Su Wanyan as if his stare alone could destroy her.
Su Wanyan felt the burning gaze and turned her head, meeting Lin Xuanyu’s eyes with a cold, warning look that clearly said: What? You want some too?
Lin Xuanyu quickly averted his fearful eyes and frowned. Why should I be scared of her? She’s just a tool in Gu Chengze’s and my love story, he told himself.
Just then, Gu Chengze groaned in pain, and Lin Xuanyu immediately leaned in closer, fussing over him again.
The barrage, which had gone eerily silent during the confrontation, finally woke up in a flurry of comments.
[Wow, just wow.]
[That’s... That’s the second time, no?]
[Man, that jab was good!]
[Fr, fr! Perfect form too!]
[Dare I say he deserves that LMAO]
[No kidding. Shen Guoxing is innocent, but out of his pettiness he pulled her in his mess.]
[Fr, fr. So fucking unethical.]
[As a father myself, I can understand why Su Wanyan did that. Props to her.]
While the majority supported Su Wanyan’s actions, a vocal minority slipped in with criticism.
[Tsk, y’all are sugarcoating what she did.]
[Fr, fr. She was being reckless and impulsive, yet y’all are cheering her on?]
[Barbarians will support barbarians too, twin.]
[Yeah, so don’t bother arguing with them. They can’t even process what you’re saying LOL.]
[Aww, look how worried Lin Xuanyu is... my poor babies...]
The targeted viewers clapped back immediately, sparking a heated back-and-forth in the chat.
[WOW, WE’RE THE BARBARIANS?!]
[Exactly! So, having decent human decency makes you a barbarian, huh?]
[Fr, fr. Y’all are putting Gu Chengze on a pedestal. Wake up, this isn’t some overbearing CEO novel—this is a fluff one.]
[What?]
[What?]
[...Anyway.. if having empathy makes you a barbarian, then I’ll gladly accept that title.]
[Yeah, yeah! Who cares if y’all are high and mighty? At least we still have our morality.]
The two sides continued slicing at each other relentlessly.
Meanwhile, the front door opened, and PD Xu Cui burst in energetically. "I’m sorry I’m late, guys!" he announced with his usual vibrant flair. Behind him, several staff members struggled under the weight of numerous shopping bags. "These are all for Shen Guoxing and Mo Yan," PD Xu Cui said excitedly, gesturing to the haul.
Hearing her name, Shen Guoxing looked over, wiped her remaining tears, and mustered a bright smile despite her red-rimmed eyes and stuffy nose. "Thank you, Grandpa Cui," she said, her tone still nasally.
PD Xu Cui removed his sunglasses and walked closer, his expression softening with genuine concern. "Who made you cry?" he asked gently. Though their time together had been short, he already saw Shen Guoxing as one of his own grandkids. Who wouldn’t adore such a kind, sensible, and gentle child?
In response, Shen Guoxing simply shook her head. "N-no one, Grandpa," she replied softly. PD Xu Cui pursed his lips, making a mental note to check the footage later. He lifted Shen Guoxing into his arms and patted her back comfortingly. "Don’t cry anymore, okay?"
Then he gestured to one of the staff holding bags. "Look, Grandpa bought you all of these," he said, showing off a colorful array of toys and clothes.
Shen Guoxing’s eyes lit up, and she smiled. "Thank you, Grandpa!" she exclaimed, hugging his neck tightly. Hearing her smooth, milky voice, PD Xu Cui laughed heartily. He turned to Mo Xingxue. "Our princess Mo Yan also has her gifts," he added warmly.
Mo Xingxue smiled gratefully, and Mo Yan offered a bright gummy smile that made PD Xu Cui laugh even more. "I can’t wait to show off my grandbabies to those old directors," he said, stroking his goatee while still holding Shen Guoxing.
One of his assistants tapped his shoulder and reminded him quietly, "Sir, you still have to announce tomorrow’s plans." PD Xu Cui laughed wryly. "Oh, right, I forgot about that...." PD Xu Cui sighed. He wanted nothing more than to play with his grandbabies, but work called.
Handing Shen Guoxing back to Su Wanyan, he finally noticed that Su Wanyan had also been crying. PD Xu Cui shook his head fondly. This crybaby, he thought with a chuckle.
He took the remote from his assistant and turned on the TV. The screen filled with sweeping aerial shots of a breathtaking yet starkly remote mountain village. Tiered rice paddies carved into steep hillsides glowed emerald under the sun, but the paths between them were narrow dirt trails worn smooth by generations.
Dilapidated wooden and stone houses with thatched roofs clustered together, some leaning from years of mountain winds. Thin smoke rose from outdoor kitchens, and villagers—mostly older men and women in simple patched clothing with deeply tanned, weathered skin—tended water buffalo, washed laundry in a clear stream, or carried heavy loads on bamboo poles.
There were no cars, no convenience stores, barely any electrical wires. The camera panned to a communal well where water had to be drawn by hand, a small one-room schoolhouse with a leaking roof, chickens scratching in the dirt, and vast untamed fields promising backbreaking labor from dawn to dusk.
It looked beautiful in its rustic way, but the guests stared in confusion, wondering why they were being shown this.
PD Xu Cui smiled mischievously at their bewildered faces (excluding Su Wanyan and Mo Xingxue, whom he had already informed). "This," he said, pointing at the screen, "is where you’ll be going next." The guests blinked, tilting their heads in confusion.
Seeing they still didn’t fully grasp it, PD Xu Cui explained with exaggerated kindness, "This is where the next segment of the show will happen. You guys will stay in this village for two weeks." His mischievous smile widened as realization dawned on their faces. "You’ll live just like the locals—
farming, hunting, even washing clothes by hand. You’ll do it all."
"And.. we’ll be leaving tomorrow, so go pack up your things," he added cheerfully. Hearing that, the guests immediately scrambled, rushing to their rooms in a flurry of disbelief and hurried footsteps. Even Lin Xuanyu and Gu Chengze didn’t linger, focusing instead on preparing for the dreaded rural life ahead.
Only Su Wanyan, Mo Xingxue, and their two little ones remained in the living room. PD Xu Cui raised an eyebrow. "Did you guys already pack?" Su Wanyan and Mo Xingxue nodded calmly. "Yeah, all of our things are ready," Mo Xingxue said. Su Wanyan looked at PD Xu Cui curiously, her voice still a bit nasally. "PD, why did you add a farming segment here?"
PD Xu Cui shrugged. "Farming variety shows are popular right now," he replied nonchalantly. "And after researching, there aren’t any love variety shows that force their guests into real farm life. I thought, why not? It’ll boost the ratings."
Su Wanyan smiled wryly. Right, I forgot how much PD Xu Cui cares about ratings, Su Wanyan thought, exasperated at PD Xu Cui’s boldness.
PD Xu Cui walked over, picked up Shen Guoxing and Mo Yan with a grin, and said, "If you’ll excuse me, I’ll bring my two angels to the mall. Ciao!" PD Xu Cui was already heading out before they could respond.
Su Wanyan and Mo Xingxue stared after him, stunned by his eccentric energy. They looked at each other and burst into soft laughter, shaking their heads at the PD’s antics.
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HEHEHEHE WE’RE FINALLY (AND OFFICIALLY) STARTING THE FARM ARC!