The Assistant Director took a deep breath and reminded them in as gentle a voice as possible, “Could all you darlings please pay a little attention to your public image, okay?”
“There are still plenty of fans watching who love you all. Wouldn’t it be bad if they saw you making a laughingstock of yourselves?”
The earnest look on his face was exactly like someone coaxing a group of kindergarteners who refused to settle down during nap time.
The four-person fighting squad sucked in a collective breath. Only then did they realize they were still clutching one another and finally let go, quickly tidying themselves up and restoring their public images.
The siblings in particular had even started straightening each other’s clothes and hair. They were the perfect example of a pair who could fight like enemies while still loving each other dearly.
They vividly demonstrated what it meant to be “a family that loves each other through mutual attacks.”
Watching their slick, practiced movements, the Assistant Director let out another sigh.
Filming this show really was like looking after children!
There was simply nothing he could do!
Since there were no tasks on this final trip, the guests had spent six hours exploring the entire area around Sayram Lake.
At four in the afternoon, Director Zhang had just picked up his little megaphone and was about to announce their next itinerary when his gaze suddenly landed on the young assistant beside him. He promptly shoved the megaphone into the assistant’s hands.
After all, even old hands like them needed to give the younger generation a chance to show what they could do.
It definitely wasn’t because he wanted to slack off, nor because he was actually afraid of those troublemaker guests!
Definitely not!!
The young assistant, who had already been fed several servings of empty promises, remained remarkably easy to fool.
Without hesitation, he imagined that the director was giving him an opportunity to gain experience. Then, without a second word, he picked up the megaphone and began to ramble.
“Ahem. I’m sure all our esteemed guests have personally experienced the beauty of Sayram Lake by now, and that you’ve all left a piece of your hearts here!”
“From the reluctance on your faces, I can tell you really don’t want to leave. But we still have to move on to the next part of the itinerary!”
“The program has limited funds and limited time, so we must return to Urumqi tonight to prepare for tomorrow’s filming.”
“To that end, the program team has prepared three cars and one guide-driver for everyone. Please arrange among yourselves who will be driving each car.”
After finishing, the young assistant added an especially theatrical little performance of his own.
“No need to say anything, everyone—I understand how reluctant you are. Waaaah~ But we really do have to go~”
It was obvious he had learned Director Zhang’s whole routine by heart.
The guests: “…”
This kid had truly mastered Director Zhang’s technique of herding them along!
They hadn’t even said a single word yet!
The kid had rattled off the entire arrangement in one breath. Unlike Director Zhang, who always dragged things out and gave the guests plenty of chances to roast him.
Only after confirming that the guests had nothing to say did the young assistant sneak a glance at them and quietly praise himself.
“Yes! I really am the chosen one!”
“The guests who usually even roast the director didn’t say a single thing to me!”
Director Zhang seemed to realize this too. He stared silently at his young assistant.
He was indignant!
Why should the guests he had personally invited treat them differently?
Feeling the director’s intense stare, the young assistant stiffly turned his head. Then, emboldened by sheer recklessness, he provoked him, “I couldn’t help it, Director!”
“Your reputation can’t compare with my charm!”
“Pfft! Hahahahaha!”
The Assistant Director couldn’t hold back and burst out laughing. A coworker’s embarrassment was entertaining enough on its own, but watching it over and over only made it better.
Director Zhang finally reached the end of his patience and smacked his good coworker on the back of the head. “What are you laughing at? We’re about to leave for Urumqi. Have you arranged the work for the next segment or not?!”
“And you’re still grinning like an idiot! Watch it, or I’ll dock your pay!”
Assistant Director: Not laughing anymore!
Director Zhang: Now I’m laughing!
It was another road trip, and Xie Tangning was rather excited about it. She pulled Su Xiaoye and Xie Wanwan into the same car as her.
All along the way, the three girls chattered nonstop. Xie Changyu, serving as their driver up front, listened as they rambled about everything under the sun.
Their topics included, but were by no means limited to, the scenery along the road and funny stories from school.
Xie Changyu stretched his ears to “eavesdrop.” Whenever he heard something particularly interesting, the smile at the corners of his mouth deepened.
He couldn’t help marveling at how Xie Tangning could really talk her way through anything with that little mouth of hers!
Xie Wanwan and Su Xiaoye had clearly been completely swept away by her storytelling skills and no longer knew which way was up!
But being so open and lively was a wonderful thing. No wonder people liked her so much. She truly was one of the Xie family’s children!
As he thought about it, pride surfaced in Xie Changyu’s eyes.
In the car behind them, Wu Dacheng and Liang Zhou were also chatting animatedly.
Although one had just graduated from elementary school and the other was still in high school, they were by no means short of things to talk about.
They chattered noisily the entire way. Whenever they got excited, their voices became so loud that even Wu Weixiang and Shen Hao, who were driving, felt like throwing them out of the car!
At the very back were the almost-couple, Liang Jiaqing and Shen Lin. They took turns driving and stopped whenever they saw beautiful scenery so they could take pictures.
Because of the time-zone difference, it didn’t get dark as quickly in Urumqi, so their appreciation of the scenery wasn’t affected at all.
Nearly ten o’clock that evening, the group arrived at the guesthouse prepared by the program team. Only then did darkness finally settle over the sky.
Several hours of driving had drained whatever energy the guests had left after touring Sayram Lake.
That was when Director Zhang came out with his little megaphone to enjoy their misfortune.
“My dear guests, you all look a little tired!”
“Why do you have no energy at all~? I rather miss the way you used to be full of vim and vigor while roasting me~”
He really was shameless. The moment he found an opening, he would torment the guests without the slightest hesitation.
Xie Changyu looked practically half-dead. “What a devastating psychological attack! I’m honestly impressed, Director!”
He hadn’t felt tired while driving. Listening to the guide-driver introduce the various sights along the way had actually kept him quite excited.
But the moment they stopped, it was as if a demon had sucked all the energy out of him!
He was exhausted!
Even Wu Weixiang couldn’t help giving Director Zhang a thumbs-up. “I thought that with no tasks, this would be our easiest episode!”
“I didn’t realize you were waiting here to ambush us, huh?”
Director Zhang gave a smug little chuckle. “Nothing is more expensive than free things. As someone who’s been around the block, Brother Weixiang, you should understand that principle, right~?”
Wu Weixiang: “…”
The viewers:
“It’s rare to see the guests this exhausted. Director Zhang really does have a few tricks when it comes to wearing them down!”
“I hereby announce: Round Nineteen of the Director-versus-Guests Battle of Wits goes to Director Zhang!”
“Hahaha, he even managed to leave our Brother Weixiang speechless. Director Zhang really does have some skills!”
Wu Dacheng couldn’t have cared less about whatever lofty principles they were discussing. He patted his stomach, his entire heart and soul focused on the prospect of dinner. “Director Zhang~ I’m hungry!”
It had only just gotten dark, which meant it was dinnertime. Perfectly logical!
Liang Zhou immediately joined in. “Food~”
Xie Changyu suddenly felt neither sore nor tired. His eyes lit up, and he looked like Zhu Bajie reborn. “Hand-grab rice~”
Xie Tangning followed by placing her order. “Hand-grabbed lamb~”
Xie Wanwan made it clear she wouldn’t hold the team back. “Baked buns~”
Su Xiaoye slipped seamlessly into the group. “Yogurt~”
Shen Hao instinctively joined the fun as well. “Big-plate chicken~”
Director Zhang: “……”
Are you guys putting on a performance reciting a menu or something?!
Every one of you is acting like you hasn’t eaten in eight hundred years. Have I been starving you?
Didn’t we stop for a meal of roast lamb on the way?
It hasn’t even been three hours, and you’re hungry again!
Director Zhang said he was completely baffled, but respected their choice.
“Seriously, did you guys sneak a look at the show’s production plan?”
“Otherwise, how did you manage to name every single late-night snack I prepared for you so precisely?”
