Chapter 12: Chapter 012: Play by the Rules
After a moment, at last, Chu Jinghe extended her hand to Shen Yan.
"I'll help."
As Shen Yan's hand just touched Chu Jinghe's, her wrist was forcefully pulled away by Mu Jincheng. If it were the Shen Yan of the past, she would definitely have been jerked backward into a fall.
The area behind them had deeper water.
Mu Jincheng disliked Shen Yan touching Chu Jinghe.
Seeing Shen Yan's movement, he subconsciously reached out to pull her away.
Furthermore, with disgust for Shen Yan's earlier action in his heart, he didn't control his strength when pulling.
As a result, Shen Yan stumbled backward twice before barely regaining her balance.
Mu Jincheng had already quickly pulled Chu Jinghe up and heard her tender thanks.
The live broadcast room erupted into activity.
Once everyone appeared in the same frame, the view would switch to the main broadcast hall.
Each broadcast room also showed the same scene.
[Does Mu Jincheng have a grudge against Shen Yan?]
[That look just now, he obviously despised her.]
[Please, if you were rubbed up against by such a green tea fake princess, you'd be annoyed too. My Brother Mu isn't a saint; he has emotions too.]
[Brother Mu has really been patient, if it were me, I would have lost it in the first episode.]
The camera accidentally caught Shen Yan rubbing her wrist, which was perhaps due to her fair skin, Mu Jincheng's grasp left noticeable finger marks.
[Look clearly, Shen Yan was kind-hearted in helping Chu Jinghe, and Mu Jincheng suddenly grabbed her, not gently or subtly, and nearly caused Shen Yan to fall into the deep water area.]
[Who doesn't know that Shen Yan used all kinds of schemes to edge out Chu Jinghe in the previous episode, the internet doesn't forget that easily.]
[This time Shen Yan is not in the wrong, I don't know what you all are standing up for.]
[It's not about taking sides, it's the truth.]
[If it weren't for Shen Yan, would Brother Mu and Chu Jinghe have fallen into the water? Obviously, Shen Yan was being manipulative.]
Shen Yan didn't know whether her action would provoke a heated debate, but at least she wanted everyone to see that Mu Jincheng wasn't so likable either.
*
Although it was summer,
Mu Jincheng and Chu Jinghe, now soaking wet, still stepped out of the camera's view to change into clean clothes.
In doing so, the two, whose image had been quite damaged before, now had to thank Shen Yan.
By the time they returned, the majority of the catching was done.
Then they gave the river snails to the show's crew to cook stir-fried snails, which would be their added meal for the evening.
The dinner place was at the flat area at the endpoint, where small tables had already been set up.
At 6:45 PM, the show crew began to serve the dinner for the day's winner.
Seeing the two, now in clean clothes, among those still wearing sweat-soaked clothing, a few looked uncomfortable.
Chu Jinghe was obviously redone.
She had applied a fresh no-makeup look.
She appeared refreshed and bright.
The envy in Liu Qiang's eyes was nearly impossible to hide.
With a strained smile, she said, "I was just about to ask where Mr. Chu had gone, and it turns out you went to change clothes."
The moment she said that, the atmosphere turned a bit odd.
Pairs of eyes turned to look at Chu Jinghe.
Shen Yan pulled up a small stool and sat down to watch the show.
Chu Jinghe smiled and said, "I accidentally fell into the water because of Shen Yan; I was worried about getting sick and delaying the recording, so I asked the crew for a favor!"
Shen Yan couldn't help but smirk.
Even in her explanation, she didn't forget to drag her down with her.
Liu Qiang found it hard to continue her line of questioning.
Wouldn't that be offending the show crew directly?
If they decided to make her life difficult and only showed her most unflattering moments, it could ruin her career, a loss that wasn't worth it.
Saying that, Chu Jinghe smiled at the camera with a blush on her face, "I'm sorry for causing trouble for the crew."
The following pro cameramen shook their heads, indicating it was no problem.
Fans in front of the screen were softened.
[Hehe, you don't need to apologize; if it wasn't for Shen Yan, there wouldn't have been a need for special treatment.]
[The one who should be apologizing is Shen Yan.]
[These two fanbases really know how to twist things; we all have eyes and can clearly see it was Mu Jincheng who intentionally collided with Chu Jinghe.]
Pfft, Shen Yan still has fans? That's something new to see.
Shen Yan can't wash off his stains. Don't waste your effort.
"Mr. Chu, we're not blaming you,"
Qin Dingyue blurted out somewhat nonchalantly.
Xu Zishen glanced over, rarely concurring, "Don't mind the stares of others."
His words were pointed.
Shen Yan knew about the heroine's charm that captivated everyone.
It'd be strange if no one spoke up for her.
Zhou Jingming and Wen Yan also offered some reassuring words, indicating they weren't overthinking it.
Chu Jinghe gave everyone a sweet smile.
The atmosphere became harmonious and joyful once more.
However, when dinner arrived at the two tables, the good vibes became somewhat strange again.
Two tables of food, one lavish and plentiful.
The other table had just one vegetarian dish and two bowls of rice.
"Otherwise, let's eat together..." Wen Yan glanced at the pitiful vegetarian dish on the table and said to Shen Yan.
Shen Yan didn't make a sound.
The few people sitting by all looked over.
Shen Yan found it amusing.
"Let's just follow the rules of the show. I don't mind,"
Shen Yan magnanimously tossed the problem back to the production team.
The production team: "..."
Mu Jincheng frowned again.
Shen Yan deliberately targeted Chu Jinghe again, knowing it was because of himself.
He had made it very clear to Shen Yan.
He wouldn't like someone like her.
Chu Jinghe considerately said, "We took second place, so we should enjoy whatever we're supposed to get. Don't bend the rules for us."
"Actually, it's okay to eat together. There's so much food, it's enough for everyone. Let's share the blessings," Liu Qiang couldn't stand seeing Mu Jincheng also having to endure hardship, so she spoke up.
The others remained silent.
But their looks at Shen Yan were the same as before, laced with a sense of coercing.
Only Qin Dingyue felt embarrassed.
They had lost, and it was nice enough to be able to share the winners' reward. They had no right to dictate how the rewards were divided.
"Shen Yan, I don't eat much," Qin Dingyue approached Shen Yan quietly and whispered, "I'm fine with eating your leftovers. I'm not picky."
Shen Yan looked at Qin Dingyue and smiled.
This smile from Shen Yan set off a flurry of excitement among the fans watching the screen!
The person they adored was indeed very good-looking!
That moment when he smiled, it was as if a fairy enchanting the mortal realm!
"Shen Yan, you and Wen Yan go ahead and eat," Zhou Jingming was getting quite hungry by now, especially after smelling the aroma of the food, his stomach was nearly rebelling.
Shen Yan: "Let's eat together, it's awkward just watching us eat."
Liu Qiang took the initiative to grab chopsticks and start eating the meat upon hearing this.
Having been hungry for most of the day, Liu Qiang found the meat dish prepared by the production team to be truly delicious at this moment!
Shen Yan followed suit with his chopsticks, and Xu Zishen and Zhou Jingming didn't hold back either.
Although starving, they still maintained their image in front of the camera.
Mu Jincheng and Chu Jinghe were left out, with no one to speak up for them any longer.
Chu Jinghe's heart was not at peace.
Why should she go out of her way to secure this meal for the other two groups? She felt the annoyance of making wedding clothes for someone else.
No matter how disgruntled she was inside, Chu Jinghe still maintained her graceful and poised persona on the surface.
Sitting at the little table, staring at the bland vegetable dish, Chu Jinghe couldn't bring herself to eat it.
Mu Jincheng, whether before or after debuting, had never worried about food or clothes. Seeing his beloved eating just a vegetarian dish today, his anger naturally fell upon Shen Yan.
Throughout this dinner, Mu Jincheng and Chu Jinghe ate without tasting anything, swallowing their food whole.
The sight made their fans incredibly heartbroken.
They couldn't help but rush to Shen Yan's live stream to curse at him.
Shen Yan's new fans weren't to be trifled with, either, firing back in rounds of retorts.