Chapter 11: The Director’s Ugly Display
Before the production team arrived, Chi Xiasheng had a pretty good idea that they would probably ask him to back down. After all, what happened was too unexpected.
The production team’s inadequate safety measures, Su Chimian’s lies and concealment, and even the other guests’ reluctance to get involved in the search… all these factors had intertwined, ultimately leading to Chi Xiasheng being missing for so long.
“Little Chi, you have to think about the production team. If you keep making a fuss about this, how can the show go on?”
Although it was an accident, the production team was responsible for the guests’ safety. If Chi Xiasheng was determined to pursue the matter, the show would likely be suspended for a few days for rectification. The financial loss would be significant.
And the director was fearless, certain that Chi Xiasheng wouldn’t refuse.
“The production team wants me to not make a fuss?”
Chi Xiasheng let out a sarcastic laugh. The director’s request was within his expectations.
The director grunted in affirmation. “After all, you still have to continue participating in this show. If you blow this up, you won’t get anything.”
“And what will I get if I don’t blow it up? I’ll still just be used as a stepping stone for Su Chimian.”
Chi Xiasheng felt dehydrated all over, especially his throat. His dry, hoarse voice was low and weak, as if a ball of cotton was stuck in his throat.
“Th-that’s… how can you say that?” The director, seeing that Chi Xiasheng knew, sounded a bit less confident.
“Why can’t I say it? Your show wants to promote Su Chimian and use me to make him look good. Heh, what a pity…”
Chi Xiasheng didn’t need to finish the sentence. The director knew what he meant. What a pity that Su Chimian was too stupid. Not only did he fail to suppress Chi Xiasheng, but he had also tarnished his own reputation.
“Then what do you want?” The director, feeling a tightness in his chest, glared at Chi Xiasheng. “The Su family is behind Su Chimian. The online drama won’t affect him. But you…”
“If you make trouble, the show’s investors won’t let you off. So, whether you accept this outcome or not, it won’t change much.”
After the director finished speaking, the small room fell into a dead silence.
“Hey, don’t blame me. I have a big show to run. I admit I wasn’t paying enough attention to you. If you agree, I’ll give you more screen time in the upcoming livestreams as compensation.”
The director was well-versed in the “carrot and stick” approach. He lowered his voice, trying to coax Chi Xiasheng.
After all, the incident wasn’t that big of a deal. If Chi Xiasheng had actually drowned and died, then there would be nothing to say. The director couldn’t cover that up. But the key was that he had only fallen into the water and gotten a fever. He was sitting here perfectly fine now. If they wanted to smooth things over, it would be very easy.
The Su family, along with the show’s investors, had suppressed the online buzz before it could escalate last night. The trending topics had been completely removed. They had worked overnight, deleting related posts again and again.
“There’s nothing online now. What can you do on your own?”
In truth, Chi Xiasheng knew he couldn’t make any waves. He was just unwilling to accept it.
“I don’t want to film anymore. Let’s end the contract here.”
The director looked at the still-stubborn Chi Xiasheng and sighed. “In the end, you are the victim. If you want to terminate the contract, then finish filming this segment. We won’t ask you to pay for breach of contract, and you’ll still get your payment as usual.”
It was a good deal, using a small payment to buy Chi Xiasheng’s silence.
Chi Xiasheng knew what the director was thinking. He just glanced at him and said nothing. It was futile for him to say anything now. Without money or power, he couldn’t fight against people with capital behind them. Besides, his throat was itching uncomfortably, and he really didn’t want to talk much.
Xiao Ze had boiled some water and steeped a few golden chrysanthemums in it. He cheerfully pushed open the door and brought it to Chi Xiasheng.
“Drink some water.”
Xiao Ze saw the round-bellied director and how he had made Chi Xiasheng cough. He was unhappy.
“You, get out! This is my house!”
The discussion was more or less over. The director said a few more gentle words to Chi Xiasheng and then got up to leave. As he turned to go, he met the dark-skinned boy’s cold gaze and suddenly felt a chill run down his spine. But he didn’t think much of it. There were too many things to deal with for the show, so he hurried away.
“He bullied you. Bad guy!”
Chi Xiasheng thought that Xiao Ze probably didn’t interact with people much, which was why he always spoke in short sentences. His personality was straightforward, and his happiness or displeasure was always written on his face.
“It’s okay. Those who do evil will bring about their own doom.”
Xiao Ze blinked in confusion, not understanding the meaning of the phrase.
Chi Xiasheng took a sip of water and explained with a smile, “It means that bad people who do bad things will definitely face retribution.”
Now Xiao Ze understood. Just like when he had punished those bad guys before, the bad people who had bullied Xiasheng should also be punished!
Leaning against the headboard, Chi Xiasheng took out his phone to check. It was just as the director had said. The topics about him falling into the water and Su Chimian’s hypocrisy had been completely deleted. It wasn’t surprising that the production team, prioritizing their own interests, would suppress the buzz.
This outcome was a happy one for everyone, Chi Xiasheng thought with a cold sneer.
The livestream hadn’t stopped, but it was announced that Chi Xiasheng would be temporarily suspending filming for a couple of days due to health reasons. The guests continued to do their tasks, clowning around and acting cute. Without Chi Xiasheng, nothing really changed.
This variety show would livestream for a week for each segment. Chi Xiasheng had already discussed it with his agent. He would leave after filming this segment. Since the production team was at fault, his agent had even managed to get him some extra compensation. Not that Chi Xiasheng cared about it.
When Chi Xiasheng returned to filming after two days of rest, Xiao Ze was very reluctant to let him go, clinging to him and insisting on following. Chi Xiasheng had no way of dealing with his simple-minded and naive savior and could only bring him along.
The guests even held a small “welcome back” ceremony for Chi Xiasheng, celebrating his recovery and return to the “big family.”
“Welcome! Little Chi, you missed a lot of exciting drama while you were sick!” Rongrong said with a cheerful laugh.
Although Su Chimian’s fake “caring” persona had been exposed, the Su family was powerful, and he was still thriving on the show. He even nodded at Chi Xiasheng as a greeting. But Chi Xiasheng just gave him a cold look and ignored him completely.
Su Chimian didn’t say any more nauseating things, seeming to have completely torn off the facade and given up on pretending.
Whenever viewers in the livestream mentioned words like “brotherly relationship” or “rift,” their comments would be immediately reported and deleted, so the comment section appeared to be peaceful. But everyone knew that the relationship between Su Chimian and Chi Xiasheng was completely broken.
In this subtle atmosphere, they began their tasks for the day.
The tasks in the countryside were nothing more than chopping firewood, feeding chickens, and farming. The guests were exhausted, but the audience found it very entertaining.
However, among all the guests, Chi Xiasheng was the most relaxed. The reason was simple: Xiao Ze, who followed him around like a shadow, was too capable. He would snatch the work from Chi Xiasheng’s hands and make him sit and rest.
“You’re not fully recovered yet. You need to rest!”
Under Xiao Ze’s disapproving gaze, Chi Xiasheng could only sit on a chair and watch him chop the firewood with a few swift movements.
“It’s done. Let’s go back!”
Xiao Ze didn’t like Chi Xiasheng interacting with others. He preferred it when it was just the two of them, like the past two days, in a small courtyard where he could look up and see him sunbathing on a rocking chair.
At this point, the director gave Chi Xiasheng a warning. “Little Chi, this is cheating! You can’t use someone else’s help! You have to chop the firewood yourself.”
The other guests, who had been about to complain, reluctantly swallowed their words. They were also wondering, why was this dark-skinned boy so good to Chi Xiasheng? Had he taken a liking to him?
Chi Xiasheng also found it strange, but he could feel Xiao Ze’s straightforward and pure affection for him. It was like a delicate little flower, unreservedly showing its most beautiful side to him. This affection, completely devoid of personal gain, had nothing to do with romantic love. It was like a sunflower following the sun, or a snowflake longing for winter—without reason, but all the more fervent and loyal for it.
Even Chi Xiasheng felt that this was natural. He sometimes even felt that he was meant to be loved by all living things.
Pushing these messy thoughts aside, Chi Xiasheng gently soothed Xiao Ze and then started to work himself. But Xiao Ze’s annoyance with the director only grew, and he shot him a resentful glare.
That evening, the group cheerfully prepared a bonfire in the yard and started a barbecue.
Seeing that they were running out of ingredients, the director called a few staff members to go to the neighbor’s house to buy some more. The neighbor was a pig farmer, and the villagers went to his house to buy meat. The director had bought meat from him several times in the past few days.
Xiao Ze glanced in that direction and, when no one was looking, slipped out as well.
The sky was pitch black. The clouds tonight had hidden the moon. In the gathering clouds, a few faint stars could occasionally be seen.
The streetlights in the village only illuminated a small patch of ground at their feet. The director and a few staff members, holding flashlights, walked towards the nearby neighbor’s courtyard.
But strangely, the road under their feet seemed to be getting longer and longer.
“Hey, the neighbor’s house isn’t that far. Why is it taking so long to get there?” a young man asked, scratching his head.
The director was also puzzled. But the next moment, he heard the sound of rushing water.
His heart jumped. He looked around and found that the young men who had been chattering just a moment ago had disappeared.
“Where… where did they go? Who’s there, playing tricks! Come out!”
The sound of the water at his feet grew more and more rapid. He could even feel the chill of his calves getting wet.
“I’m not easily scared! Come out right now, or I won’t be so polite!”
Despite his tough words, the director’s face was filled with panic, and the light from his flashlight trembled and swayed.
There was still no response, only his own desperate, chaotic shouts.
The water gradually rose to his thighs, then his waist, his chest, his neck…
The moment the water covered his mouth and nose, his harsh threats turned into pleas for mercy. “I… was wrong… glug… I’ll never… glug… do bad things again…”
When Chi Xiasheng and the others were halfway through their barbecue, a few staff members came back in a panic, supporting the director.
“Something’s wrong! The director has been possessed!”
The guests were all shocked and ran over to see what was happening.
The director’s chubby face was filled with terror, his eyes wide with fear. He was drooling and frantically trying to break free from the staff members’ grasp. His fat was not to be underestimated. Several staff members together couldn’t hold him back, and he broke free.
Then, everyone watched as the director knelt on the ground and began to confess.
He kept kowtowing, blurting out all the ugly things he had done. Threatening Chi Xiasheng was the least of his crimes.
The night-vision camera fixed on the corridor faithfully recorded the entire scene, broadcasting it live.
This time, the internet completely exploded.
