[Ahhh! How are we supposed to choose???]
[I can’t decide, wuwuwu… That’s Sheng Lu Zhi, the youngest successor of the Sheng Group! But Jiang Luo Ze is also the pride of the Chinese, a genius fashion designer!]
[A handsome top-tier CEO vs. a bewitching brand founder—who can possibly choose?]
[Kids make choices; adults take both!]
Chu Xing Xing truly couldn’t decide.
She had known both Sheng Lu Zhi and Jiang Luo Ze for a while now; they were friends.
If she absolutely had to pick one…
Still couldn’t choose. Chu Xing Xing’s head was throbbing.
Wen Xue Lan said, “How can you tease our Xing Bao like this? Ever since they were little, A-Ze has always loved dragging A-Zhi into mischief. Xing Bao, come over to Granny Wen—don’t play with those two stinky boys.”
Young Sheng Lu Zhi had been raised a bit too “old-fashioned” by Grandma Sheng, too restrained, and not much like a child at all.
In contrast, Jiang Luo Ze, who looked as pretty as a girl, was the one with the most “mischievous ideas” among the boys his age. He was a little rascal, but you could never catch him red-handed. And honestly, when a little boy prettier than any girl looked at you with tear-filled eyes and said sorry, who could stay mad?
After spending too much time with little Jiang Luo Ze, young Sheng Lu Zhi also became a bit more playful and childlike for a while.
The grannies often brought this up.
Wen Xue Lan walked over and pointed a finger at Sheng Lu Zhi and Jiang Luo Ze from across the room. “Still not telling the truth? If so, we’ll just take Xing Xing as our only ‘porter.'”
“Exactly! And making our sweet Bao choose between you two? Look how flustered you’ve made her…”
Granny Jiang Yao wasn’t happy either. She tiptoed and reached out to grab Jiang Luo Ze’s ear. “You’ve grown quite bold, ignoring your auntie’s words, have you?”
Jiang Luo Ze didn’t bend down, so it was quite a stretch for Auntie Jiang Yao to reach his ear.
The “male fox spirit” obediently lowered his head, willingly letting his aunt grab his ear and scold him.
“My fault, Auntie. I won’t dare do it again.” Jiang Luo Ze smiled, looking meek and submissive.
His skin was so fair that the spot where Auntie Jiang Yao twisted his ear turned a tender shade of pink, spreading to the surrounding skin.
The cameraman immediately zoomed in for a close-up of Jiang Luo Ze’s ear.
[The cameraman is an absolute legend tonight—extra drumsticks for you! That close-up of his ear, ahhhh, I’m dead (:з」∠)]
[Jiang Luo Ze, seriously, I’m crying. What kind of male bodhisattva is he?]
[I’ve done good deeds my whole life—can I please meet a male fox spirit too? (Please, I swear I’ll stay out of the canyon for half a month!)]
[How can Jiang Luo Ze act so soft and delicate without being effeminate at all? And that face—it’s stunning, just makes you want to… ruffle him up!]
Sheng Lu Zhi cast a faint glance at Jiang Luo Ze, who had always been the best at charming the elders since childhood.
The Sheng family’s upbringing was notoriously strict. The restraint ingrained in his bones made it impossible for Sheng Lu Zhi to act like that flexible “male fox spirit.”
“Apologize to our sweet Bao.” Little Granny Jiang looked at Jiang Luo Ze with a mix of disappointment and exasperation.
This kid! He comes here and embarrasses himself!
If he doesn’t make a good impression on sweet Bao, how will he compete with the other young lads later?
“Sorry, Xing Xing.” Jiang Luo Ze gracefully placed his right hand on his left shoulder and gave a slight bow.
“Oh, it’s okay…” Chu Xing Xing waved her hand.
At that moment, she did feel a bit dazzled by Jiang Luo Ze’s “beauty.”
Seriously, how could a man be so fair and delicate, as exquisite as a fox spirit, and on top of that, have a sense of humor? And when he made a mistake, he obediently admitted it and apologized—very “manly virtue” of him.
Even the Heavenly King himself would forgive him!
“So… who’s going to be the ‘porter’ for this trip?”
Chu Xing Xing’s gaze swept between Sheng Lu Zhi and Jiang Luo Ze like a camera.
Granny Jiang Yao stopped beating around the bush and proudly patted her nephew’s shoulder. “Of course, it’s A-Ze.”
“Then… what is President Sheng doing here?” Chu Xing Xing looked at Sheng Lu Zhi, who was dressed in casual wear.
[Ah! Xing Xing, don’t ask that—President Sheng will be heartbroken…]
[I swear I’m not a fickle woman, but I really can’t choose between the domineering CEO and the fox spirit designer. Oh, and the double-door movie emperor is also an option.]
Sheng Lu Zhi rested his hand on the back of the rosewood chair and tapped it lightly twice. With an amused look, he said, “I’m here to see off the grannies. Is that not allowed, Xing Xing?”
Chu Xing Xing was stunned for a moment, then quickly shook her head. “That’s not what I meant…”
“I’m joking,” Sheng Lu Zhi said, his gaze fixed on her. “Little Granny Jiang signed A-Ze up as a ‘porter’ before the first trip. But due to schedule conflicts, he couldn’t make it back from Country F in time and missed it…”
Wen Xue Lan corrected Sheng Lu Zhi with precision: “A-Zhi, that’s not ‘missing it.’ It’s that Jiang Luo Ze couldn’t compete with our Wen Han.”
“Yes, yes, I couldn’t get away back then.” Jiang Luo Ze lowered his eyes and smiled.
“A-Ze is very familiar with Europe, so he’s the perfect ‘porter’ for us!” Granny Jiang Yao beamed. “Last time, Xiao Nuan got lucky. This time, it’s definitely our A-Ze’s turn!”
“We can’t say Wen Han got lucky—he earned the ‘porter’ title fair and square, alright?” Wen Xue Lan wasn’t happy about that.
“Besides…” Wen Xue Lan shifted the topic and walked over to Chu Xing Xing. “Xing Bao gets along great with Wen Han. They both love sports. After the show, they even go to Go Fit Center together to work out, right, Xing Bao?”
[Hahahaha, Granny Wen Xue Lan is really trying hard to keep Wen Han relevant.]
[Granny Wen Xue Lan is working so hard—you can tell she’s fighting for her son!]
Chu Xing Xing scratched the back of her neck and nodded. “Mm…”
Although Granny Wen’s tone was a little strange, she wasn’t exactly wrong?
Granny Emily couldn’t sit still either. “You guys aren’t giving our Pu Pu a chance either. Since A-Ze only signed on for one episode, for the next trip, I’ll have Pu Xin request time off in advance and team up with Xing Xing as ‘porter.'”
“Xing Xing, you’ve already met Pu Xin at the Saci gala, right? That kid’s always got his head stuck in hospital matters. I have to criticize him for that, but I can vouch for his character.”
Granny Emily said confidently, “Xing Xing, do you agree to team up with our Pu Pu next time?”
[What??? There’s a doctor too!]
[A restrained, celibate doctor? Ahhhh, I can get on board with that!]
[What?! Four candidates? I have choice paralysis…]
[Damn, I looked him up. If it’s Ai Pu Xin, the youngest medical team leader at Renji Hospital, he’s handsome. Totally worth it!]
“Ah, I…”
Chu Xing Xing paused, hesitated for a moment, then weakly said, “Heh, I’m just a ‘porter.’ My opinion doesn’t really matter—Grannies’ happiness is what counts!”
[Xing Bao’s survival instincts are strong, hahaha.]
[Xing Xing: You guys decide. I’m just a weak, pitiful, trembling little thing, jpg.]
[Hahahaha! The old babies all have their hidden agendas!]
[I have a feeling the grannies aren’t just trying to get their grandsons, nephews, or sons on the trip for no reason. Seems like there’s more to it…]
[Can’t you tell? This is a high-end “matchmaking event” for Xing Bao, haha.]
[Relax, the old babies aren’t forcing anything. They’re not pushing anyone together. Everyone respects Xing Bao a lot. But honestly, who wouldn’t love a sweet, beautiful girl like Xing Bao? And if you’ve got a great, single, high-quality young man at home, why not introduce them and let them be friends? No harm there.]
[Agree with the above. I’m a girl, and I’d love to be friends with Xing Xing!]
At that moment, Grandma Sheng stepped up to take charge.
“How about this: each family provides one ‘porter’ per trip. That way, we keep things fair?”
As soon as Grandma Sheng Shu Wen spoke, everyone nodded in agreement.
“However…” Granny Wen Xue Lan smiled slyly and glanced at Sheng Lu Zhi. “A-Zhi is so busy, he probably can’t find the time, right? Why not let Wen Han do another episode?”
Sheng Lu Zhi smiled lightly and replied politely, “Granny Wen, the Sheng family has plenty of younger members who can be ‘porters.’ Wen Han doesn’t have time—his schedule for Happy Fitness, You and Me is packed, and it’s a closed-set shoot.”
Granny Wen Xue Lan: “…”
[Wen Han: Sheng Lu Zhi, you old schemer—what were you plotting when you tricked me into Happy Fitness, You and Me?!]
[Has anyone asked Movie Emperor Wen Han for his opinion, hahaha? He’s being fooled by his own mom every day!]
[Let’s take a moment of silence for Wen Han. Was President Sheng doing that on purpose?]
[Ooh, look at President Sheng fighting to keep the Sheng family’s ‘porter’ spot. He’s nervous, he’s nervous, he’s nervous!]
Hearing Sheng Lu Zhi’s words, Chu Xing Xing suddenly thought of Sheng You Shan.
What if she and Shan Shan teamed up—two girls as “porters”—for an all-girls trip? That would be fun, right?
Recalling that adorable little girl, Chu Xing Xing’s eyes curved into crescents.
Sheng Lu Zhi seemed to read her mind. He looked down at her and asked, “For the Sheng family’s ‘porter,’ do you have someone in mind, Xing Xing?”
“…” Chu Xing Xing stared into his eyes, which held a hint of a smile. She was just about to say Sheng You Shan’s name.
Sheng Shu Wen spoke first: “It’s still early, A-Zhi.”
Sheng Lu Zhi didn’t press further. He just said, “True. Xing Xing hasn’t met all the Shengs yet, so it’s too soon to decide.”
“Exactly,” Grandma Sheng Shu Wen nodded at her grandson and smiled. “Between trips, Xing Xing, you’ll come to the house and meet everyone.”
Chu Xing Xing didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, but she couldn’t refuse Grandma Sheng’s words, so she just nodded.
[Whoa! When it comes to presence, the Sheng family is still the GOAT!]
[Grandma Sheng just says one sentence, and the aura is overwhelming. Sheng Lu Zhi is already CEO material, but compared to her, Grandma Sheng feels like the original matriarch.]
[Can I ask again, does Grandma Sheng need a leg pendant?]
Capital Airport FBO
Compared to regular commercial flights, the security check and boarding time for private jets could be shortened by at least half.
Even for international flights, arriving at the private jet terminal half an hour early was more than enough.
In the VIP lounge, before the old babies had even finished catching up, the crew and ground staff invited everyone to board.
A long-wheelbase Toyota Coaster bus took the group to the tarmac.
Chu Xing Xing stepped off the bus and was greeted by a private jet that was bigger than she had imagined.
It was a brand-new Gulfstream G700.
The Gulfstream G700 boasted a beautiful tail fin, twenty panoramic windows, and wings that looked like sleek, graceful seabirds.
It was the pinnacle of Gulfstream Aerospace—arguably the ultimate full-size private jet.
From the luxurious, custom-made handcrafted seats to the cutting-edge technology that filled the cabin with fresh air and virtually eliminated the ear popping, pressure imbalance, ear pain, sore throat, and other discomforts typical of intercontinental flights, this Gulfstream G700 exuded opulence in every detail.
Even someone who knew nothing about private jets would be awed by the G700’s gleaming exterior and sleek, aerodynamic lines.
Let alone someone who did.
Granny Wen Xue Lan herself came from wealth, her husband from a distinguished family. The group under her husband’s company also had a private jet, but it was the more practical Gulfstream G550.
The G550 was two tiers below the G700.
Moreover, the group usually handed that G550 over to a management company and leased it out to individual charter customers when idle.
Given the Sheng Group’s background, they would never outsource their own private jet.
Granny Wen Xue Lan took off her sunglasses and carefully inspected this “big toy,” clicking her tongue in admiration. “Big Sister, is this one of the ‘dowry items’ you ordered for A-Zhi? A-Zhi hasn’t even gotten to sit in it yet, and we sisters are getting first dibs!”
“Dowry?”
Chu Xing Xing looked incredulous, thinking she’d misheard.
Little Granny Jiang, the most lively of the bunch, nodded enthusiastically and said with a gossipy grin, “Hahaha, yes! Big Sister ordered this two years ago as A-Zhi’s ‘dowry.’ But that boy is so hopeless—he hasn’t even had a girlfriend yet. If you ask me, Big Sister is just too strict with him; it’s put him off dating altogether.”
Chu Xing Xing: “Is Grandma Sheng very strict?”
She hadn’t noticed that. Grandma Sheng was certainly imposing, but she was also the type who balanced authority with kindness.
“The Sheng family has always been run by women,” Granny Emily explained when she saw Chu Xing Xing’s blank expression. “Normally, the Sheng family heir would also be a girl. It’s just that…”
Grandma Sheng Shu Wen put on her sunglasses and shook her head. “Even the daughters don’t want to take over. None of my children are willing to inherit the family business. They’ve all run off to live carefree lives. Honestly, they seem to be having a much better time than I am!”
Granny Emily continued, “So in the end, Big Sister had no choice but to bring A-Zhi into the fold to groom as her successor. The Sheng Group couldn’t be left without an heir. But since A-Zhi is a boy, it’s different from having a girl.”
“So…” Chu Xing Xing blinked, her worldview shaking. “I get it now.”
For the first time in her life, Chu Xing Xing—who had been raised in a family that favored boys over girls—learned that in these top-tier dynasties, it was girls who were favored!
Suddenly, she understood why, among all the children she’d met at the Saci gala, the one with the most leadership presence was Sheng You Shan, the young Sheng family heir.
[Whoa! So Grandma Sheng wants to “marry off” her grandson!!!]
[This changes everything! Damn, Grandma Sheng, do you need a granddaughter-in-law successor???]
[Ahhhhh! Things just got interesting! I’m suddenly shipping “Xing Zhi Sheng Shi” (Star of the Sheng Dynasty). From this angle, Sheng Lu Zhi is like a pure, protected white jasmine!]
[Grandma Sheng’s upbringing is amazing. So that’s where Sheng Lu Zhi’s innocent, reserved vibe comes from?]
Grandma Sheng Shu Wen glanced at Chu Xing Xing meaningfully. “Xing Xing, I’m strict with A-Zhi because he’s not a girl. He can’t just fall for every pretty face he sees. A boy who’s perpetually obsessed with beauty—what kind of behavior is that?”
Chu Xing Xing guiltily averted her gaze from the “beauty” that was Jiang Luo Ze.
Grandma Sheng, was she hinting at something…?
Wait—Chu Xing Xing quickly realized that was wrong. She was a girl. Grandma Sheng’s words meant that boys can’t indulge in beauty, but girls can!
Granny Wen Xue Lan had said something similar during the first trip.
Chu Xing Xing immediately took several more glances at the “male fox spirit.”
Purely appreciative glances.
Mm, truly beautiful…
Jiang Luo Ze, who had been looked at for no apparent reason, responded with a gentle smile at Chu Xing Xing, clearly signaling that she was welcome to look all she wanted.
This made Chu Xing Xing a little embarrassed; she blushed and turned away.
Grandma Sheng paused, exchanging knowing glances with the other old ladies—they had long since reached a mutual understanding.
“So, in matters of love, I’ve always taught A-Zhi to be cautious, to respect himself, and to cherish his virtue. After all…” Sheng Shu Wen raised her right index finger, gesturing beside her cheek, her tone as commanding as if she were addressing thousands of employees at a company meeting: “Chastity is a man’s best dowry!”
[Hahahahaha! Grandma Sheng is a legend!!!!]
[“Chastity is a Man’s Best Dowry”—highlight that!]
[Now we’re talking! Does this mean Sheng Lu Zhi has been raised as the class monitor of the ‘Men’s Virtue Academy’?!]
[I hope all men uphold male virtues and carve “chastity” on their foreheads (Amen).]
[I love Grandma Sheng so much! Every single old baby is so progressive—they’re role models for us all!]
[Exactly! Men must uphold male virtues. If they don’t, their… you know… will break (manual dog head).]
The old babies all nodded in agreement.
Chu Xing Xing nodded along too.
She learned another new relationship lesson today—how exciting!
“But, Xing Xing,” Grandma Sheng turned to her with a gentle smile. “Before marriage, girls should date more, see the world, and have fun—it’s not a bad thing. But after marriage…”
Grandma Sheng’s expression turned serious. “You need to settle down.”
Chu Xing Xing’s eyelid twitched. She immediately wiped the smile off her face and nodded solemnly. “Yes!”
No doubt about it—this time, Grandma Sheng was definitely hinting at her.
[Hahahaha! Xing Xing’s views on love have already synced up with the grannies’.]
[Xing Bao: Before marriage, I can play the field. After marriage, I need to behave (serious face, jpg).]
——–
Capital Airport FBO
Sheng Lu Zhi, who had just settled into his Maybach, sneezed.
He hadn’t even opened the live stream yet.
Sheng Lu Zhi: …
Without even thinking, he knew that Old Lady Sheng and her group of old cronies were gossiping about him again.
On board this fully loaded, brand-new Gulfstream G700, there was room to comfortably accommodate over a dozen people.
Chu Xing Xing looked at the cabin, which was spacious enough for a square dance, and let out a small gasp.
This plane must cost a few small targets, right?
Granny Wen Xue Lan surveyed the cabin’s interior and sighed, “Big Sister, the G700 you ordered two years ago cost at least 80 million USD, right?”
“With all the options, it was around 85 million USD upon delivery.” Sheng Shu Wen leaned back in her armchair and accepted a cup of Da Hong Pao tea from the flight attendant, nodding in thanks.
Chu Xing Xing quietly did the currency conversion in her head. Six small targets.
Chu Xing Xing: Peaceful, jpg.
Granny Wen Xue Lan: “It’ll definitely go up in value after delivery, but at this configuration, the G700 is reasonably priced.”
Sheng Shu Wen smiled. “It will. The G650 was the same. When new models come out, people complain but still buy them.”
Granny Jiang Yao asked, “And A-Zhi was okay with his ‘dowry’ being used for the old ladies’ maiden voyage?”
Grandma Sheng Shu Wen looked a little proud. “He offered it himself. He said this one’s for us, and he’ll keep using the older Gulfstream G650. I couldn’t very well refuse, could I?”
“Come on, Xing Bao, let’s take a tour.” Granny Wen Xue Lan pulled Chu Xing Xing along for a walk-through of the entire plane.
Chu Xing Xing could barely say anything other than “Wow.”
Especially when she saw the master suite at the tail of the G700.
It was a suite with a double bed, a shower, a leather toilet, and a double vanity.
And it had windows—even in the bathroom.
Even her own bathroom didn’t have windows…
[Wow wow wow! Besides “Wow,” we’ve got nothing else to say!]
[Unbelievably extravagant, wuwuwu. Thanks to the old babies for taking us kids out to see the world again!]
[No kidding—that sink is bigger than the one in my house…]
[It just goes to show that the ultra-wealthy are really low-key. You’d never guess Grandma Sheng Shu Wen is so loaded from how she dresses. You really can’t judge a book by its cover.]
Soon, the plane was ready for takeoff.
Amazingly, Chu Xing Xing didn’t experience the ear pressure pain she’d had on the first trip, and the feeling of weightlessness was much milder.
After they reached cruising altitude, the flight attendant came around to ask if anyone needed a lighter.
Granny Wen Xue Lan occasionally enjoyed a cigar.
She wasn’t addicted; she just did it for fun.
But in an enclosed space, she wouldn’t bother anyone else.
However, the fact that smoking was allowed on a private jet left many viewers stunned.
[What! You can just smoke on a private jet?!]
[I don’t smoke, but I’m still shocked!]
[Earlier, we were amazed there were no boarding passes and we only had to arrive half an hour early for an international flight.]
[Think of it this way: a private jet is like your personal property, just like you can smoke in your own car.]
Then, the flight attendant brought out specially prepared menus tailored to each guest’s taste.
Jiang Luo Ze had no appetite. The flight attendant, familiar with his habits, brought over several single-malt whiskies for him to choose from.
“Hibiki, extra ice.” Jiang Luo Ze said, nodding politely with a slight curve of his lips. “Thank you.”
The flight attendant blushed, her hand nearly trembling as she poured the whisky.
Even a flight attendant used to handsome men and celebrities was momentarily stunned by the “male fox spirit’s” smile.
That kind of smile would probably make any man weak in the knees.
On the menu Chu Xing Xing received, there were dishes like Yan Du Xian (a salted pork and bamboo shoot soup), sweet bamboo shoot and black pork dumplings, boat congee, tangerine-peel chicken wings, salt-and-pepper mantis shrimp, taro and ginkgo sweet soup, osmanthus rice cakes, Cantonese egg tarts…
These were all dishes she’d enjoyed when dining with Sheng Lu Zhi and the others in the private room last time.
Sheng Lu Zhi had actually remembered them all.
“Miss Chu,” the flight attendant knelt on the carpet and smiled sweetly, “I’d recommend the Yan Du Xian, sweet bamboo shoot and black pork dumplings, and the Cantonese egg tarts. These are specially made by the head chef from Sheng Hotel.”
Chu Xing Xing was still in shock and suddenly had trouble choosing.
To be honest, even if all the dishes came out, she could finish them all.
“The boat congee and tangerine-peel chicken wings are a collaboration between Sheng Hotel and Xin Long Ji. You’re welcome to try them too.” The flight attendant waited quietly nearby.
Unintentionally, this created a little pressure for Chu Xing Xing.
The other old babies were also studying their menus, and everyone’s ordering process went smoothly.
Then, a shadow fell beside her.
A rocks glass clinked onto the solid wood table in front of Chu Xing Xing. The ice cubes in the glass swirled in the pale golden liquid.
A thick-paper sketchbook also landed on the table.
Jiang Luo Ze, with his slender, fair fingers, propped himself on the table. His other hand picked up the menu. He said in a low voice, “Give Miss Chu a little bit of everything first, so she can taste which one she likes. Then bring the full portion later. Thank you.”
“Very well, please wait a moment…” The flight attendant stood up, nodded, and left.
“Are you a bit indecisive?”
Jiang Luo Ze looked down at her with a smile, but didn’t wait for her answer. He continued, “I’m indecisive myself, so I never eat on planes—only drink. I’m afraid of hitting a dud and forcing myself to eat something I don’t like. Leaving leftovers is rude, after all.”
“Me too!” Chu Xing Xing breathed a sigh of relief. Finally, someone who understood.
“May I sit across from you?” Jiang Luo Ze asked, his fingers wrapping back around the rocks glass as he took a sip of whisky.
Chu Xing Xing: “Of course.”
Jiang Luo Ze sat down and typed something on his phone.
Chu Xing Xing’s phone buzzed.
She picked it up and looked.
[Jiang Luo Ze: If there’s anything you don’t like, tap the table twice with your finger. I’ll cover for the celebrity.]
“Pfft…” Chu Xing Xing laughed and replied.
[Xing Xing Estrella: I will never, ever waste food, even if it costs me my life.]
Jiang Luo Ze pursed his lips and smiled, thinking she was adorable. He picked up his sketchbook and began drawing drafts.
His muse was right in front of him. On this trip, he was sure to have an explosion of inspiration.
[Wait, aren’t phones supposed to be turned off on planes???]
[Hahahaha, did the sister above forget the live stream is still going? The private jet has Wi-Fi. Most commercial airliners now have onboard Wi-Fi too. Business class gets more data, economy has a limit.]
[Another day of learning new things! But what I’m really curious about is—are Jiang Luo Ze and Xing Xing secretly texting???]
[I’m sensing a new CP!!!]
[A female celebrity x a designer is also such a great ship, who gets it!]
[I thought of a super embarrassing CP name: “Xing Xing Fang Ze” (Star’s Graces), hahahaha, because Designer Jiang is just too beautiful!]
The plane was equipped with high-speed satellite Wi-Fi, so the live stream for Grandma’s Journey didn’t stop.
That meant the old babies and the two “porters” were being broadcast live to the audience throughout the entire private jet experience.
——–
Meanwhile, the live stream for Let’s Travel Together was also still going.
This time, Let’s Travel Together still had the game segment for competing for business class seats.
Luck didn’t favor Jiang Chang An and Tian Meng Tong—the ones with “protagonist halo”—like it did on the first trip.
Maybe because Xiao Xiang hadn’t had time to oversee Let’s Travel Together lately, the games the production team came up with were a bit too “topical.”
This time, the competition was an impromptu rap battle.
Cookie and Xiong were assigned as professional rappers, each leading a team for a group PK, performing an improvised rap live.
The audience would vote in the live chat, and the winning team would all be upgraded to business class.
The team division was interesting.
There were eleven guests in total: five male, six female.
And after the division…
Cookie’s team consisted of the “Big Sisters” who survived the island challenge (and the coconut battle), plus WE boy band member Chun Zhen—affectionately known as “Big Mom Zero”—who voluntarily joined the all-female team.
No problem there.
Xiong’s team was short one Chun Zhen but gained a “reader” named Tian Meng Tong, who gave him a headache.
But wherever Jiang Chang An went, Tian Meng Tong would follow.
Xiong said on the spot, “This team is hard to lead…”
His teammates: Jiang Chang An, the icy young master who refused to sing, dance, or move his body—untouchable.
Tian Meng Tong, the recently internet-famous “reader”—uncoachable.
Plus, a WE boy band’s main dancer, Su Wei—aka “Ex-Boyfriend Bro”—could sing but couldn’t rap. And a veteran actor in his fifties…
Little Captain Cookie smiled at the camera and gave a peace sign. “We’ve given our team a great name: ‘Sisters, Charge!'”
Chun Zhen’s squeaky voice was sweeter than the sisters’.
When it came time to perform, Cookie’s team, “Sisters, Charge!” won by a landslide.
[Hahahaha! With Cookie and Chun Zhen, the performance was an absolute riot! I’m laughing my head off!]
[Cookie had talk show queen Zhu Yu Xuan sing a rap version of ‘Steel Roses’—I nearly died laughing!]
[The other sisters’ Tianjin rap was also hilarious! Vote! Vote! Vote!]
And Xiong’s team…
Only the team leader could actually perform.
Worst of all, no one else was willing to cooperate.
Xiong had originally pinned his hopes on Tian Meng Tong, given her current “reader” popularity.
If Tian Meng Tong let loose and performed seriously, she’d definitely get a lot of fan support and win over casual viewers.
Everyone loves to see a sweet girl playfully make a harmless fool of herself—it’s endearing.
Unfortunately, Tian Meng Tong kept her mask and sunglasses on throughout, refusing to cooperate, not even swaying to the beat, standing there like a wooden plank.
The other “plank” was Jiang Chang An.
Clearly, neither of them was in a good mood.
Only they knew the reason.
The day before, Tian Meng Tong had received two slaps from Chu Xing Xing during her audition.
The swelling went down with ice, but Tian Meng Tong still felt a stinging pain on her cheeks. Her brother had called in a private doctor overnight, who said there was nothing wrong—probably psychological.
The night before, Chu Xing Xing had overtaken Tian Meng Tong in fan votes and won the title of “Anti-Bullying Goodwill Ambassador.”
Tian Meng Tong had called Jiang Chang An three hours in advance, begging him to help her drop off the charts.
Jiang Chang An had promised on the spot, but ultimately failed.
Tian Meng Tong had been waiting for an explanation, but she didn’t even get a single WeChat message.
When she called again, Jiang Chang An’s assistant picked up, saying he was still filming night scenes.
But Tian Meng Tong knew a production assistant on his current set. The crew had wrapped his scenes early to accommodate his filming for Let’s Travel Together the next day.
When they met at the recording site, Jiang Chang An acted like nothing was wrong.
For the impromptu rap team game, Jiang Chang An had actively chosen Tian Meng Tong for his team.
But when Xiong suggested Tian Meng Tong perform seriously, Jiang Chang An agreed—which triggered Tian Meng Tong’s diva temper. She’d been giving him the cold shoulder ever since.
Jiang Chang An, being a young master himself, wasn’t used to that kind of treatment.
His face went cold too.
[Whoa, Xiong’s team has such a tense vibe…]
[What’s up with Tian Meng Tong and Jiang Chang An? Did someone owe them a hundred million? Can’t they be a bit happier on the show? They’re such a downer.]
[I can’t watch this anymore. If it weren’t for Cookie and the sisters, I’d have ditched Let’s Travel Together already.]
[Aren’t people going to hold TMT and JCA accountable for their red-carpet diva behavior?]
Soon, though, fans came to their defense.
[You can tell from Tong Tong’s mask and sunglasses that she’s not feeling well. Don’t be so hard on her.]
[Tong Bao was just drenched in the rain at the red carpet. She explained it all on Weibo and in her fan groups the next day.]
[If you stop liking Tong Tong over such a small thing, you’re not a real fan!]
[Chang An Gege was filming night scenes yesterday and had to fly out today—he’s already working so hard.]
[Try working nonstop for days—anyone would be exhausted. Our Chang An Gege is so dedicated; it’s just haters hating.]
But this time, the fans’ “data protection” efforts were noticeably weaker than during the first trip.
Let’s Travel Together‘s live stream paused after everyone boarded.
Cookie and the sisters settled comfortably into business class, happy to be able to lie flat for the ten-plus-hour flight to Europe.
This flight also offered Wi-Fi: 1GB free for business class, 100MB for economy.
After a good meal, the flight attendant helped Cookie make up her bed.
The cabin lights dimmed.
Cookie hugged her beloved blankie and drifted off to sleep.
Behind the curtain, however, economy class was a different story.
This time, the production team thoughtfully seated Tian Meng Tong and Jiang Chang An together.
But after boarding, Tian Meng Tong silently asked Xiong to switch seats.
Xiong was seated next to Su Wei—”Ex-Boyfriend Bro”—who he also couldn’t stand, so he agreed.
Sitting in economy class with the faint smell of feet, Tian Meng Tong didn’t act spoiled this time. She even ate the messy chicken rice—she was too hungry to be picky.
After eating, she put her mask back on, hugged her phone, and curled up in the window seat.
More than the “physical damage” Chu Xing Xing had inflicted yesterday, what truly frightened Tian Meng Tong was Sheng Lu Zhi’s sudden appearance.
A single hint from Sheng Lu Zhi had forced her to accept the role in Ineffective Youth.
What was scarier was that Sheng Lu Zhi’s power now was still far from the absolute dominance he’d have in a few years…
Tian Meng Tong carefully sorted through her memories of her past life.
Since so many things had changed, was there any point in continuing with Let’s Travel Together?
“Sigh…” Tian Meng Tong rubbed her temples—she was so done with this!
She still needed Xiao Xiang’s approval to leave the show, but she still hadn’t been able to reach him.
The more she thought about the differences between the two lives, the more Tian Meng Tong suddenly realized—
In this life, Jiang Chang An’s protagonist halo seemed to be fading.
Aside from his sharper, more striking looks, Jiang Chang An’s charisma and decisiveness seemed to fall short of his younger brother, Jiang Chang Sheng.
And Xiang Ge had also changed a lot. In her past life, Xiao Xiang had been ruthless—a workaholic who lived for his job. Rumor had it he hadn’t taken a single day off in twenty years at CBM Entertainment.
But now, even Xiao Xiang was going on vacation?
Tian Meng Tong carefully pieced together what she remembered about Jiang Chang Sheng from her past life.
In her past life, after the Sheng Group had already acquired shares in CBM Entertainment, Jiang Chang Sheng hadn’t taken over the company so early.
Within a year, Xiao Xiang and Jiang Hai Dong were kicked out of CBM Entertainment by Sheng Lu Zhi’s maneuvering. It was only then that Jiang Chang Sheng abandoned his studies to return home and learn the business from Xiang Ge, helping his brother manage his artist affairs.
Later, when Jiang Hai Dong gambled away the family fortune and disappeared, and the matriarch died of illness, Jiang Chang An nearly had a breakdown.
His younger brother, Jiang Chang Sheng, single-handedly held the family together—working through a high fever, gaunt and exhausted.
Even Xiao Xiang couldn’t pull Jiang Chang An out of his spiral; he refused all work.
It was Jiang Chang Sheng who stayed by his brother’s side every day, slowly coaxing him out of his depression—from getting him back into acting to founding the new JX Entertainment. The Jiang brothers and Xiao Xiang had done it in record time.
After that, JX Entertainment faced major issues during its rapid growth.
To speed things up, Xiao Xiang brought some of CBM Entertainment’s early bad habits to the new company.
Taxes, contracts, personnel, social security—seemingly small problems snowballed until someone filed a complaint, and authorities came knocking…
They realized the situation was severe.
Tian Meng Tong only knew that one night, Jiang Chang An, Xiao Xiang, and Jiang Chang Sheng had spent the entire night at JX Entertainment.
Two weeks later, Jiang Chang Sheng turned himself in with the documents and was sentenced to ten years.
He took the fall, allowing his brother and Xiao Xiang to restructure JX Entertainment and get back on the right track.
Later, Jiang Chang Sheng earned early release through good behavior. He declined his brother and Xiang Ge’s invitation to rejoin the company and went to his late mother’s hometown to live with their grandmother.
Then, Jiang Chang Sheng met with an accident there…
Tian Meng Tong felt deep guilt toward Jiang Chang Sheng. His death was connected to her.
In her past life, she’d barely noticed Jiang Chang Sheng, with his cute dimples, and had never looked at him as a man.
Now, thinking back, Tian Meng Tong recalled the few times she’d seen him recently.
Although he was her junior—two years younger—after dyeing his hair black and ditching his casual clothes, Jiang Chang Sheng seemed to have matured quickly.
And…
His dimples were sweet when he smiled.
He was a bit proud, but he had the right to be—he was quick and effective at everything, from making money in finance to running the company.
“There’s 100MB of Wi-Fi in economy. The flight attendant gave us the password. Here.” Su Wei handed her a small card.
“Oh.” Tian Meng Tong took the card and thought.
Since this life was completely different from the last, she didn’t want to repeat her old path.
During the audition yesterday, Chu Xing Xing had almost instinctively denied any relationship between her and Jiang Chang Sheng, which meant he was single now.
From what she knew of him, Tian Meng Tong knew he liked older women.
She typed a greeting on her phone.
After a moment’s hesitation, she logged into her company email, found Jiang Chang Sheng’s work email address, and sent an anonymous message from a burner account.
She remembered Jiang Chang Sheng had a bad stomach from irregular meals due to work.
The email was full of reminders about his stomach and sleep.
“Take it slow. He’ll notice me eventually…” Tian Meng Tong put her phone down, leaned her head against the neck pillow, and closed her eyes.
——–
At the CBM Entertainment building.
In one of the offices, Jiang Chang Sheng held a phone to his ear with one hand while his fingers flew across the keyboard with the other.
As the newly appointed “Junior President” of CBM Entertainment, he also had to handle Grandma’s Journey production and Chu Xing Xing’s artist contract.
Even though he wanted to accompany Chu Xing Xing to Europe, Jiang Chang Sheng just didn’t have the bandwidth this time.
He couldn’t just spontaneously buy a plane ticket and follow her like he did on the first trip.
Before she left, Jiang Chang Sheng had only chatted with her briefly on WeChat.
They hadn’t had those casual, back-and-forth conversations in a long time.
In WeChat, Chu Xing Xing was still her usual “annoying” self—caring in a backhanded way, like she couldn’t speak normally without a bit of sarcasm.
When Jiang Chang Sheng was exhausted, he’d scroll through their chat history—it was oddly relaxing.
[Xing Xing Estrella: Agent Jiang, with those dark circles, are you making a comeback as the Prince of the Nightlife?]
[Xing Xing Estrella: Grandma Sheng says you should eat more black foods. A-Bao left black sesame, black beans, and mulberry powder in your office. Remember to mix some up and drink it!]
[Xing Xing Estrella: That grain powder cost me a fortune (crying jpg). You black-hearted capitalist better reimburse me!]
[Xing Xing Estrella: Granny Ai said at the Saci red carpet that you have weak stomach qi—clearly you’re not eating on time. Set a reminder on your phone and watch, and eat something when it goes off. It’s better than going hungry.]
[Xing Xing Estrella: I don’t want you to croak so soon. Who’s going to help me make big money in the entertainment industry if you die? And Tank can’t grow up without a daddy!]
Jiang Chang Sheng made himself a cup of the dark, muddy grain mix and forced himself to eat it with a spoon, grimacing the whole time…
This stuff was awful without sugar.
How did Chu Xing Xing manage to choke this down every day for her health?
Suddenly, his work email pinged.
He opened it—an anonymous email, but the tone felt unfamiliar.
He checked the IP address.
Jiang Chang Sheng froze. “Spain?”
He glanced at his watch. At this hour, Chu Xing Xing and the others hadn’t arrived in Spain yet, but since they were on a plane with Wi-Fi, the IP would likely show the satellite’s registered location.
“Chu Xing Xing, you do have a conscience after all.”
Jiang Chang Sheng smiled, a rare sound of amusement.
Then, he grimaced and forced down the last of the black sludge before diving back into work.
——–
After an 11.5-hour flight.
The old babies’ Gulfstream G700 touched down at Madrid-Barajas Airport’s FBO.
“Finally know where we’re going!” Chu Xing Xing stretched and stood up from the leather seat. “It’s Spain! Southern Europe, as expected!”
Chu Xing Xing silently thanked Cookie, the great prophet.
She’d been right—we really did go to Southern Europe!!
Good thing they’d prepared thoroughly!
Arriving in Europe, Chu Xing Xing experienced the strange phenomenon of jet lag for the first time.
They’d left China at noon, with the sun shining brightly in Beijing.
After 11.5 hours of flying, they arrived at 6:00 PM local time in Madrid.
The reason I say 6:00 PM instead of 6:00 in the evening is because the sky in Madrid was still bright, no different from Beijing’s noontime sun.
The sunlight glistened on the wings. The sky was clear, a bright, clean blue, and the clouds hung low.
As the plane descended, Chu Xing Xing gazed out the window. The clouds looked like a flock of fluffy little lambs bounding toward the fuselage with a bleat, only to poof into misty white vapor and dissipate.
As soon as the plane stopped…
“I’m going to the restroom…” Chu Xing Xing grabbed her bulging eco-bag and dashed off.
The bearded captain stepped out of the cockpit, removed his hat, and greeted everyone. “Bienvenidos a Madrid!” (Welcome to Madrid!)
[Whoa! The old babies and Xing Xing are going for a cultural tour this time!]
[It’s Madrid! Hala Madrid!!!]
[Are they only going to Madrid, not Barcelona? Take us to see Camp Nou!!! And the Sagrada Familia—knock knock knock! Gaudí, Gaudí, Gaudí! You have to see Gaudí’s architecture!]
[Forget Camp Nou—go to the Bernabéu! We need to see a football match!]
[Paella! Highly recommend paella! And Spanish ham is delicious—the milky, creamy kind—it’s addictive!]
[Spain is pretty much the only European country that isn’t a food wasteland. They call it the “grocery basket of Europe.” The grannies and Xing Xing are in for a treat!]
[The grannies are so well-dressed for Europe—so elegant! Show the foreigners what our old babies are made of!]
[Huh? Where’s Xing Bao? Has anyone seen my big, beautiful Xing Bao?]
Before the plane descended, the old babies had all spruced themselves up to the nines.
They were wearing casual clothes, but though they’d be underdressed for a gala, you could easily pack them off to the opera right now and they’d fit right in.
Suddenly, amidst the glamorous, bejeweled old babies, something seemed to be mixed in…
A rather out-of-place figure.
Granny Wen Xue Lan nearly jumped, switching back to her local dialect. “Aiya, Xing Bao, what’s with this? You look like you’ve been mugged!”
“Oh my heavens! Sweet Bao, you—what happened to the outfit you were wearing? Who designed this new look for you?” Granny Jiang Yao was shocked and ready to grab Jiang Luo Ze for questioning. “A-Ze?! Did you put this together???”
Granny Emily opened her mouth but couldn’t quite bring herself to comment on Chu Xing Xing’s outfit.
“Is this…” Grandma Sheng Shu Wen put on her reading glasses, looked again, unsure, and then looked again. “Xing Xing, is this the new youth fashion?”
Just moments ago, she was decked out in an exquisite, exotic-looking princess outfit. Now, Chu Xing Xing had successfully transformed from princess to… beggar?
Chu Xing Xing had changed into a pair of ridiculously ripped, shapeless, dragging-on-the-floor jeans.
Underneath, she wore a dark gray top and a deep-earth-toned, vintage men’s jacket over it. The elastic cuffs and hem were tight, and she’d zipped the jacket all the way up to her chin.
With some effort, Chu Xing Xing pulled the jacket hem down and tightened the khaki “ticket seller” fanny pack—matching Cookie’s—hidden under the jacket. She quickly clipped the metal buckle onto her phone.
She looked absolutely “battle-worn.”
Although she felt something was off, Chu Xing Xing hesitantly asked, “Isn’t this how everyone dresses in Southern Europe… to prevent pickpocketing?”
