Chapter 8—I'll Ruin You, Overtly and Covertly

Gao Minglang brought over a large black bag. “The most pressing issue of accommodation has been settled. Now, everyone must be hungry. The production team has prepared some raw ingredients. You just need to cook them and they’ll be ready to eat.”

As soon as the chief director set the bag down, Fu Jiaojiao sprang up and snatched it away. “Teacher Bai, take a look and see what you’d like to eat. I’ll cook it for you!”

“Let’s see what there is to eat?” Gao Tiange dragged Bai Zehan over to take a look.

Jiang Ning sneered, shooting a hostile glance at the three of them, and was about to snatch the food away.

“Huh? Where’s my food?” Qi Jun, who was halfway through pitching a tent, heard there was food and darted back excitedly, but when he saw Jiang Ning and the others were empty-handed, he instantly deflated.

Yun Fu, cheeks puffed in annoyance, gestured at Qi Jun. “They’ve got it. They always snatch first—so domineering.”

“Domineering? They’re just a trio of thieves!” Fuming, Qi Jun marched up behind the three who were busy picking through the food, reached out, and declared, “Hand it over!”

“Qi Jun! What are you doing? What gives you the right to take our food?”

Fu Jiaojiao shrieked, storming up to Qi Jun and jabbing a finger at his nose. “This food is for everyone—why are you snatching it? Want to keep it all for yourself?”

Jiang Ning’s voice turned icy and mocking, “You want it all for yourself? How shameless to accuse others first.” Her cold sarcasm cut through the air.

Fu Jiaojiao’s unreasonable attitude triggered unpleasant memories for Jiang Ning—memories of this woman humiliating her with Bai Zehan in a previous life. If it weren’t for the live broadcast and her need to gain followers and build her career, Jiang Ning would have slapped Fu Jiaojiao right then. Since she couldn’t act openly, she’d just play dirty!

But Fu Jiaojiao, lost in her own anger, didn’t care about the live broadcast at all. She pointed at Jiang Ning and her group, cursing, “You’re living in a nice house and still want the best food? Since when is life so easy?”

Qi Jun could barely contain himself—if chaos was inevitable, so be it. He was ready to teach shameless Fu Jiaojiao a lesson right now. “So you get to take what you want without working for it? Just snatch everything?”

“Qi Jun, get back here!” Jiang Ning snapped, stopping Qi Jun before he could lay a hand on anyone. This guy really didn’t care about his career in showbiz!

Qi Jun shot a murderous glare at Fu Jiaojiao and her crew. “Unbelievable!”

Fu Jiaojiao refused to let it go, stirring up more trouble. “When did I ever snatch anything? I just open my mouth, move my hands, and things come to me. You’re just jealous!”

“Your work at night isn’t as simple as just opening your mouth, is it, dear little madam?” Jiang Ning’s words were sharp as knives, cutting deep without a single curse.

It wasn’t Jiang Ning who spent her nights keeping directors company—it was Fu Jiaojiao.

“You! Watch your mouth!” Fu Jiaojiao’s heart skipped a beat. She had never told Jiang Ning what she did at night.

Jiang Ning shot back, “I’m talking about you. Are you admitting you’re not clean?”

Gu Beicheng, who had been silent all this time, bent down and whispered in Jiang Ning’s ear, “Give them the food. Don’t worry, I have more.”

The refined man’s cool breath brushed Jiang Ning’s temple. Their breaths mingled in the close air, a silent current passing between them.

“Qi Jun, just give it to them. Trust me,” Jiang Ning said softly, gently pushing Gu Beicheng away and turning to reassure Qi Jun.

Unwilling but resigned, Qi Jun tossed the black bag aside. “Sorry, Senior Gao.”

The bag tore open. The cleaned sea fish inside slid out and landed right at Gao Tiange’s feet.

“You!” Gao Tiange held back a wave of revulsion at the fishy stench, momentarily at a loss for words.

On the live chat:

“Fu Jiaojiao is shameless!”

“Bai, the movie king, is just as bad. He could’ve shared, but he picked first.”

“The Thieving Trio!”

“Love Jiang Ning’s boldness—so refreshing.”

“I suddenly don’t mind Jiang Ning anymore.”

“Qi Jun looked like a little wolfdog just now!”

“Fu Jiaojiao sleeping with directors???”

Jiang Ning led Gu Beicheng and the others to her newly erected tent. “Teacher Cheng, what about food?”

“Did you bring food, Teacher Cheng? I can cook—I’m good at it,” said the usually overlooked Song Xiao, rising to fetch the cookware.

“No need. It’s already prepared,” Gu Beicheng said lazily, heading to the back of the tent.

He pulled out a whistle and blew it gently. A corgi, carrying a vegetable basket in its mouth, bounded joyfully toward him.

Jiang Ning’s eyes widened. Wasn’t this the little dog that had given her a clue card back on Mo You Island? How did it end up here? Was it Gu Beicheng’s pet?

But the aura between man and dog was so mismatched... With Gu Beicheng’s persona, a Doberman would seem more fitting.

Gu Beicheng gestured to the little dog, “Omo, sit!”

Jiang Ning walked over and rubbed the dog’s head. “Is this your dog?”

“A friend’s,” he replied.

The live chat buzzed:

“Omo? That’s the dog’s name?”

“Such a trendy name for a pup these days!”

“Such a cute dog.”

“Bringing your own food—that breaks the rules, doesn’t it?”

“How come no one’s calling out those three thieves for breaking the rules?”

Gu Beicheng bent down, picked up the basket, and handed it to Jiang Ning.

She lifted the white cloth inside. “Burgers and fries?”

With a smile, she teased, “Is this your favorite, Teacher Cheng?”

Gu Beicheng followed her gaze, his face darkening, his mouth twitching visibly. “Sorry, I didn’t plan this well.”

“No, it’s great—much better than what we had earlier.” Jiang Ning divided the food among Qi Jun and the others, then took a beef burger for herself.

After putting Omo away, Gu Beicheng’s gaze lingered on Jiang Ning’s puffed cheeks as she stuffed them with burger, his handsome face softening, a hint of a smile playing on his lips.

“Why aren’t you eating?” Jiang Ning picked up another burger, thoughtfully unwrapped it, and handed it to him.

Gu Beicheng accepted it, taking a tentative bite, but his brows furrowed involuntarily.

Jiang Ning noticed his expression. “What’s wrong? Not tasty?”

“No.” When he was a teenager, Gu Beicheng had eaten burgers and fries three times a day until he was sick of them. Now, at twenty-six, just the taste made him nauseous.

As night fell, the production team told the guests to get some early rest.

“This early? Time to rest already?” Gao Tiange asked Gao Minglang, puzzled.

“This is the free date time for the paired guests. Since you don’t have a partner, you’ll just have to rest,” Gao Minglang explained, signaling the cameramen to follow the dating pairs closely. “Remember! Keep the cameras on the two ‘couples’!”

“Director Gao, so if we’re not on a date, there’s no camera time?” Fu Jiaojiao’s sharp voice grated on Gao Minglang’s nerves. He turned away in irritation. “Of course. This is a dating show—if you’re not dating, what’s the point of filming you?”

Fu Jiaojiao’s jealousy boiled over. She clenched her fists so tightly her nails dug into her palms, but the pain was nothing compared to the humiliation she’d suffered today. “Jiang Ning, stop right there!”

Gu Beicheng, ever the gentleman, carried Jiang Ning’s luggage as they prepared to head to the cabin. At the sound of that familiar shrill voice behind them, a chill swept over him. He had never encountered a woman so utterly shameless.

“You go on ahead. I’ll be right there,” Jiang Ning said to him lightly.

“Alright.” Gu Beicheng turned, his hawk-like gaze slicing through Fu Jiaojiao. She flinched, avoiding his eyes, and when she looked up again, he was already gone.

Jiang Ning’s phoenix eyes glinted with icy scorn. “What is it?”

“The tent you put up this morning—since you’re staying in the big house, give it to me,” Fu Jiaojiao said, chin up, as if it were only natural.

“Do you know how cheap you look right now?” Jiang Ning was so amused by Fu Jiaojiao’s shamelessness that she laughed.

With no cameras nearby, Fu Jiaojiao moved in closer without restraint. “Jiang Ning, I have dirt on you. If you’re not afraid of me revealing your history with Bai Zehan, then go ahead.”

“Oh, so that’s your card? First, Bai Zehan and I are nothing more than a beauty and her dog. Second, our past means nothing to me—it’s Bai Zehan who should be nervous. Feel free to try.”

Fu Jiaojiao was so furious she could only splutter.

Jiang Ning rolled her eyes in mockery, then stepped away in disgust. “Why are your eyes so red? Are you sick? If you want my tent, take it.”

“Hmph, that’s more like it!” Fu Jiaojiao snorted, satisfied that Jiang Ning finally knew her place. With the tent, Bai Zehan would surely beg to sleep with her.

As Fu Jiaojiao strutted around the tent in triumph, Jiang Ning watched her with a sly smile, then slipped into the small grove opposite the tent.

Hiding behind a large tree, she pulled a small slingshot from her pocket, picked up a stone, took aim at the woman who was now sitting and yawning, drew the slingshot tight, and let go—all in one fluid movement.

“Ow! My tooth!” Fu Jiaojiao howled in pain, clutching her mouth and wailing.

Jiang Ning’s smile turned wicked. “Whether in the open or in secret, I’ll make you pay.”

She had found the slingshot by chance while searching for a raft, and it turned out to be quite effective.