Chu Xingxing couldn’t be bothered with them.
She bent down to wash the eel in the water, and also glanced sideways at the severely damaged bamboo raft that the guests of Let’s Travel Together had made with their own hands.
“Are you guys in trouble?” Chu Xingxing asked Xiao Xiong.
Xiao Xiong told the truth: “Yeah, the raft is badly worn. It’ll be really hard to get back without some repairs.”
“Need some help?” Chu Xingxing observed the raft for a moment, then looked up and said to Xiao Xiong, “Besides patching it up, you also need to increase its weight capacity. The best thing to do is to reinforce the structure on both sides completely. Tape alone won’t cut it; you need hemp rope.”
Throughout the whole process, Chu Xingxing didn’t look at Jiang Chang’an or Tian Mengtong even once. She just treated them like they were invisible.
Chang Dawei showed an admiring look: “Kid, you’re pretty good. Are you an engineering student?”
“You’re a girl who can fix a bamboo raft! That’s awesome, seriously impressive!” Xiao Xiong’s face lit up with surprise, and he gave Chu Xingxing a big thumbs-up.
Xiao Xiong felt a bit regretful. Back at the airport, he’d actually been jealous that Chu Xingxing and Wen Han got upgraded due to “force majeure.”
Thinking about it now, he felt kind of petty.
Not only was this young lady not the least bit petty herself, but she was also genuinely willing to help them out when they ran into trouble.
Look at how open-minded she is!
Su Wei stopped bickering with Xiao Xiong for the moment too. The whole ex-and-current situation could wait.
According to Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, nothing is more important than basic survival.
Su Wei quickly pressed his palms together and said, “We’re counting on you, Xingxing. We’re short on materials. If we can’t fix the raft, we’ll probably have to spend the night out here. Do you have any supplies you could lend us? If you do, that would be a huge help. Thank you so, so much…”
All of them had really good attitudes.
Chu Xingxing thought for a moment. She remembered that the guide and the instructor had tools and all kinds of ropes in their car, specially prepared fo Wilderness rescue.
“I can help you,” Chu Xingxing said with a nod.
Honestly, it wasn’t so much about helping them as it was about helping Cookie, who was eagerly waiting for them to come back.
If these people didn’t bring back some decent stuff, Cookie would have to keep going hungry.
“Thank you, Xingxing, sweetie!” Chun Zhen immediately gave Chu Xingxing a huge hug.
Chu Xingxing pointed behind her: “I’ll go find the guide and get the equipment now…”
“We don’t need it,” Jiang Chang’an cut her off directly, his voice cold.
Su Wei got anxious: “Wait, we don’t have the materials to fix the raft…”
“Huh?” Xiao Xiong was confused. He had no idea why Jiang Chang’an was being so stubborn.
Was this guy, this privileged son of heaven who’s never struggled a day in his life, just assuming he can handle everything himself?
And besides, everyone knows he’s been getting special treatment on the show. Now he’s trying to act noble and build some kind of image?
“Xiao Jiang, the young lady is just trying to help us out of the kindness of her heart. We shouldn’t turn her down,” Chang Dawei said earnestly.
Chun Zhen rolled her eyes at Jiang Chang’an: “Are you just too proud to admit that a girl might be better at this than you?”
“This violates the show’s rules. We can’t seek outside help.”
Jiang Chang’an barely even looked at Chu Xingxing. His tone was so cold it could have dripped water even in the muggy heat of the mangrove forest.
That one sentence left the other guests completely speechless.
They couldn’t argue with his reason.
The thing is, if nobody brings it up, everyone can just let it slide.
But once someone does, the production team will dig in their heels for the sake of the show’s drama.
More importantly, these words came from the crown prince of CBM Entertainment.
All the guests present were artists under CBM Entertainment. A little playful arguing was fine, but they weren’t about to actually cross the boss’s son.
“I’m not going to repeat myself a third time. We don’t need it.”
Jiang Chang’an gave them a look, then turned and went to work on the raft.
Xiao Xiong and the others felt frustrated but couldn’t say anything. They just smiled awkwardly and apologetically at Chu Xingxing.
Tian Mengtong fluttered over to Jiang Chang’an’s side like a colorful butterfly and said in a soft, sweet voice: “Brother Chang’an can fix it. He drew up the plans for the raft himself, and he designed it. Yesterday, he was the one leading everyone in building it. You’d rather trust some complete outsider than your own teammate?”
“OK, if you don’t need help, I’ll just take off then.” Chu Xingxing picked up the eel, waved at Xiao Xiong and the others, and said, “This eel…”
Jiang Chang’an looked up and said coldly, “You caught that fish. We can’t take it either. That would be against the rules.”
Chu Xingxing thought: Wow… Now he’s being all noble and righteous. Truly an award-winning performance!
Don’t think nobody knows about all those times he got special treatment before.
“It’s pretty rude to interrupt someone, you know.” Chu Xingxing shrugged nonchalantly and said to Jiang Chang’an in a light, teasing tone, “Well, aren’t you flattering yourself? I was going to ask Xiao Xiong to take the fish to Cookie for me. I wasn’t going to give it to you anyway. It’s not like we’re related, right?”
[Hahaha, I love Xingxing’s personality! She stands up to bullies and focuses on the issue, not the person!]
[Even though I’m a fan of Jiang Chang’an’s looks and think he’s a great actor, he’s being a bit too picky about this.]
[Jiang Chang’an knows he’s handsome, right? He always has that arrogant vibe. From just his work, I thought he was this well-mannered, gentle type. But seeing him on a variety show, his image is kinda crumbling. Turns out the characters he plays and the real him are different…]
[Jiang Chang’an was really disrespectful with that comment. He could have said it nicely. Xingxing’s comeback was perfect!]
[Hahaha, honestly, I love watching good-looking guys get put in their place. Xingxing said it in a totally joking way. If Jiang Chang’an argued back, he’d just look like the one with no manners!]
Jiang Chang’an’s expression darkened even more. He had never met a girl so shameless in his life.
Thinking about his younger brother’s series of unusual behaviors, Jiang Chang’an’s anger flared up even more. He should have just had CBM Entertainment terminate Chu Xingxing’s contract right then and there.
Chu Xingxing continued, “My friend Cookie has probably been hungry for days. But since Cookie is also part of your team, I guess eating this might be against the rules. So I’ll just take the fish back with me. We’re having a seafood barbecue tonight anyway.”
But even as she said it, Chu Xingxing knew that judging by their situation, there was basically no hope of them making it back to the main island safely today.
With their empty heads, there was no way they’d fix that raft tonight.
Since they couldn’t get back, they couldn’t give the eel to Cookie anyway. She’d have to figure out another plan.
Xiao Xiong, Su Wei, and the others looked at the eel in Chu Xingxing’s hand and almost cried.
The fishing poles, fish baskets, and crab traps they’d made on the raft had all been washed away by the current when they capsized.
Damn it. Their only food supply was gone too…
Chu Xingxing wasn’t in a hurry to leave. She strolled over to the raft, swinging the eel in her hand.
She squatted down and tilted her head.
Looking at Tian Mengtong and Jiang Chang’an, she said slowly and deliberately, “Tonight, besides the broiled eel as an extra dish, we’re also having garlic lobster, steamed scallops with vermicelli, salt-baked mantis shrimp, typhoon shelter style squid, raw marinated blue crab, curry mud crab, sour soup grouper, and charcoal-grilled red shrimp.
For the main course, we have pineapple fried rice, bubble wonton soup, lobster porridge. For veggies, we have garlic water spinach, stir-fried baby corn, lettuce in oyster sauce, and sweet pine nuts with corn kernels.
For dessert, we have coconut ice cream, coconut pudding, durian mille crepe cake, crème brûlée, and mango sticky rice.”
Tian Mengtong: “………”
Jiang Chang’an: “………”
[I’m dying of laughter at Xingxing!!!]
[Is Xingbao a secret comedian? Hahaha! She’s so funny!]
[I was worried Xingxing might get picked on, but now hahaha, Xingxing is unstoppable!!! Too funny!]
[How does Xingxing manage to be so cute, so funny, and not annoying at the same time? Help! I love this little goofball! No wonder the older ladies all treat her like a treasure.]
[As soon as Xingxing tilted her head, I knew she was up to something, hehe. She’s so cute! What bad intentions could Xingxing possibly have? /wink]
[I’m rolling on the floor laughing! Xingxing really has a strong ‘payback’ streak, hahaha. She’s using magic attacks now!]
The feelings of Xiao Xiong, Su Wei, Chun Zhen, and Chang Dawei at that moment: [crying storm.gif]
Damn it. They’d been hungry for three days. They were about to lose it!
Why did they have to hear Chu Xingxing’s crazy list of delicious food right now!!!
After being hungry for so many days, their eyes were practically glowing green. They couldn’t handle hearing the names of all this amazing food!
Chu Xingxing clearly wasn’t ready to let Jiang Chang’an and Tian Mengtong off that easily.
“Have you ever tried the super fierce mantis shrimp from Pearl Island? They’re as long as your arm. The meat inside has roe. One bite, and the meat is so tender and sweet. They’re amazing for marinating raw too—it’s like eating sweet, fresh jelly! And the seafood porridge… The grains of rice have melted, but you can still taste the rice fragrance. The scallops inside are as big as half a palm, and there are also springy little abalones. Just one bowl of porridge is so satisfying…”
Describing in detail the texture of the delicious seafood she’d been eating for the past few days, Chu Xingxing watched the slightly green and pale faces of Jiang Chang’an and Tian Mengtong. She was satisfied.
“So yeah, bye-bye now. Take your time fixing that raft~” Chu Xingxing stood up, waved, and hopped away.
Faintly, from behind her, she heard the sound of stomachs growling from where Jiang Chang’an and Tian Mengtong were.
Jiang Chang’an: Damn!
Tian Mengtong: Whimper… I’m really hungry…
Chu Xingxing: Hehe, mission accomplished!
She felt even happier!
–
Just two steps back, Chu Xingxing saw Wen Han striding towards her.
“Are you okay?” Wen Han asked urgently.
Chu Xingxing: “They’re fine. The staff and their camera director are there, and Jiang Chang’an made it very clear they can’t accept any outside help, otherwise it’s against the rules.”
“I’m not asking about them. I’m asking if you’re okay?” Wen Han took Chu Xingxing’s hand and turned it over, checking. “Did that eel bite you? Next time you see something like this, don’t grab it with your bare hands. It’s dangerous.”
“Nope, see? It’s still alive!”
Chu Xingxing held up the slippery eel and deliberately wiggled its tail, trying to scare Wen Han.
[Hahaha! You’d never be bored being friends with Xingxing. She’s so adorable!]
[Another day of wanting to be Xingbao’s bestie (chin in hands).]
But not only did Wen Han not get scared, he calmly took the eel from her hands.
Chu Xingxing: “Wen Han, you’re not even scared! Everyone on Let’s Travel Together was scared of it, thought it was a snake…”
Wen Han smiled and shook his head, then said patiently, “I’ll hold the eel. Go wash your hands, be careful not to have an allergic reaction to the slime on its skin.”
This kind of unconditional acceptance left Chu Xingxing speechless.
Under Wen Han’s gaze, she squatted down and washed her hands haphazardly, very perfunctorily.
Wen Han bent down, pulled her back into a squat, and said gently, like coaxing a child, “Wash them properly, don’t just go through the motions, okay? You’re such a kid. Why don’t you listen?”
Chu Xingxing: “……”
Then, she “furiously” patted the water surface with her little hands, almost creating a water dragon…
[Ah! This is the right way to spoil a sister!]
[Wen Han is really such a good guy. So attentive.]
[Their interaction is so sweet. I was right to ship ‘Starry Cold Brilliance’!]
[Hahaha, I ship Xingxing and Wen Han too. It’s a good ship, but Xingxing seems totally oblivious?]
[Let Xingbao be her own star! Why force a CP?]
[I’m not really into them as a couple. Wen Han always feels like he’s taking care of a little sister. Maybe he’s just too nice and mild-mannered. I don’t feel that possessiveness towards Xingxing, you know?]
[Hahaha! I don’t get it! But I feel possessive of Xingxing! Let me!]
[I get it, I get it. This gentle, handsome type like Wen Han does seem like he couldn’t handle Xingbao.]
–
Chu Xingxing once again lightly jumped to the other side.
The cameraman following them, who his colleagues called ‘Skinny Dog’, had gained some experience.
‘Skinny Dog’ brother dutifully hugged his camera to his chest and leaned obediently against Wen Han’s arm.
Wen Han helplessly princess-carried the cameraman and ‘threw’ him to the other side.
He himself just waded through the water.
The current looked fast and murky, but it wasn’t actually that deep.
After Chu Xingxing reunited with the grandmas, she gave them a general rundown of the situation on the Let’s Travel Together side.
The grandmas were relieved. As long as they hadn’t gotten separated from the production team and their camera director’s boat was with them, there was no safety issue.
Besides, since they had actively refused help, they must be confident they could fix the raft.
Young people should be allowed to take bold action!
Wen Han also confirmed what Chu Xingxing said.
The entire Grandma’s Journey team continued driving their super cool ATVs to explore the mangrove forest.
–
The ATV off-road motorcycle activity ended at 11:30 AM.
The older ladies gave the experience high praise. They all said that if they had the chance, they’d love to drive ATVs again to explore different terrains.
After the activity ended, everyone had used up a lot of energy from the morning. They headed to a restaurant on Dana Coastline that Chu Xingxing had booked for lunch.
Chu Xingxing had booked a modern Western restaurant.
At noon, the grandmas generally preferred simple, convenient food, and this modern Western restaurant was a perfect fit.
When the restaurant owner saw that their guests were a group of very cool grandmas, they specially threw in a few extra appetizers.
The restaurant’s decor followed a white Grecian style. Inside, there was an open space with a ceiling made of a whole expanse of colorful glass. Sunlight streamed through, casting different patterns of light and shadow.
Large floor-to-ceiling windows could be folded open like doors, pushed outwards.
Sitting at the table and looking up, you could see the Dana Coastline where the sea and sky met.
[Wow! The Western-style restaurant is really pretty too!]
[Grandma’s Journey is going to Europe for their second trip. I wonder which country they’ll go to?]
[Ah, the first trip isn’t even over, and I’m already dying to travel with the older ladies and Xingxing again.]
The grandmas ate Western food very elegantly. With each bite of the fragrant grilled fish, you could hear the sound of waves crashing on the shore.
The food was simple: garlic shrimp, pine nut salad, vinegar-marinated tomatoes, salt-baked sea bass, pan-seared scallops, steak, and so on.
The food at this restaurant was exactly the kind of simply prepared food that Wen Han liked best. It was also the most satisfying meal that Wen·fitness enthusiast·Han had had on Pearl Island.
–
After lunch, everyone took a one-hour nap at the villa to rest up.
At 2:30 PM.
The older ladies wrapped up tightly against the sun, walked down from the villa’s viewing platform onto the beach, and got on a boat to go deep-sea fishing near an uninhabited island.
Wen Han wasn’t as careful about sun protection. He just wore sunglasses and put on a little sunscreen, boarding the boat in a short-sleeved shirt and shorts.
Chu Xingxing wasn’t wrapped up as tightly as the grandmas. She wore a loose, long-sleeved shirt over a tank top and a straw hat. She looked very relaxed, like she was truly on vacation.
Before leaving, Chu Xingxing rummaged through her luggage, pulled out a small item, and stuffed it into her backpack.
–
The Grandma’s Journey production team now had an unusually abundant budget.
After Sheng Luzhi made a “friendly inquiry” to the production team, and upon learning that Chu Xingxing and the grandmas were going deep-sea fishing, Jiang Changsheng directly instructed the team to upgrade to a large luxury yacht to take the guests out. He was terrified of doing anything that might displease the young master of the Shengshi Group, who might then call again to “demand an explanation.”
No matter how good Jiang Changsheng’s composure was, he couldn’t handle being “threatened” by a business tycoon of Sheng Luzhi’s level.
Young Master Jiang was, after all, still young—only nineteen—and still had a bit of a playful streak.
He decided on the spot that he would personally act as captain to take the grandmas out to sea this time.
At sixteen, Jiang Changsheng had already obtained his boating license overseas.
During spring breaks in the past few years, he had taken his mother and brother out to sea in Europe. He was quite an experienced “old captain.”
–
Initially, Chu Xingxing and the others first boarded a bowrider speedboat.
Everyone thought that was their fishing boat, because even though it wasn’t huge, it had everything they needed, well-equipped.
But after sailing for over ten minutes, the bowrider pulled up to a dock and stopped next to a massive luxury yacht.
The luxury yacht docked at the pier had an elegant, streamlined hull, decorated with high-end gold plating and matte paint. Even someone who knew nothing about boats would find it unforgettable.
“Aren’t we going fishing…?” Chu Xingxing was about to ask the production team why they were heading in the wrong direction when she saw a familiar figure standing on the yacht’s spacious terrace.
“Welcome aboard.”
Jiang Changsheng was wearing a white captain’s uniform, along with a mask and sunglasses, as he greeted Chu Xingxing.
The camera crew members, having silently agreed beforehand, were careful to avoid capturing Jiang Changsheng on camera.
All the viewers heard was a pleasant male voice welcoming the older ladies and Xingxing aboard in English.
[Ah, that voice is so smooth, so youthful!]
[It really sounds nice. Is that the captain’s voice?]
[He sounds handsome, right? Can’t we get a shot of him? I’d love to see what the captain looks like!]
Chu Xingxing looked at the luxurious yacht and gasped.
She marveled again at the fact that she was truly a member of the proletariat working class.
She just hadn’t seen enough of the world.
The grandmas were pleasantly surprised, but after all, they had a wealth of life experience. They were a group of little old ladies who had seen their share of ups and downs.
They could take a small speedboat out to sea, but they could also happily accept a luxury yacht.
Just like how they could dine elegantly at a Michelin-starred restaurant but also enjoy street food without complaint.
With the help of the crew, the older ladies boarded the yacht first.
Chu Xingxing and Wen Han were the last to board.
–
Once on board, after just a quick look around, Chu Xingxing realized she had truly underestimated things.
This yacht was essentially a moving, luxurious mansion.
The yacht came equipped with five master bedrooms, each with its own private bathroom and balcony, a luxury restaurant, a ballroom, a cinema, a spa, a gym, and other facilities. There was also a barbecue grill and entertainment area on the deck.
A sunshade was set up on the deck, and crew members had already prepared various non-alcoholic cocktails, delicate afternoon tea snacks, and fruit for everyone to enjoy.
[Wow! Is the grandmas’ budget unlimited?!]
[I thought deep-sea fishing meant taking a small boat out to sea, not this kind of luxury yacht!]
[I sound like I’ve never seen the world, but you can have a spa on a yacht?!]
[Thanks, grandmas, for showing me the world. The bedrooms on this boat are bigger than my room at home.]
[Wuwuwu, Xingxing, can you take me along next time? I want to go too!]
[I’m going crazy being stuck at home. I’m so jealous of Xingxing and the grandmas (looking longingly).]
Amidst the waves of envious comments, quite a few fans had just come over from the Let’s Travel Together livestream to give everyone a live “control group” update.
[Sorry, hahaha, I don’t know if the production team did this on purpose, but it’s really funny. Does anyone still remember Let’s Travel Together? They’re also out at sea, but the difference in treatment is huge!]
[I’m dying of laughter. Is CBM Entertainment doing this on purpose? Does anyone remember that the six guests on Let’s Travel Together are still fixing their bamboo raft in the mangroves?!]
[Jiang Chang’an is way too arrogant. He refused Xingxing’s help back then, and they’re still fixing that raft now_(:з」∠)_]
[I watched the other livestream. I don’t get it, but I’m deeply shocked. Without tools, that’s not fixing a raft at all! That’s destroying it, okay?!]
[Xiao Xiong and Su Wei are ready to swim back holding two redwood poles, since they’re wearing life jackets.]
[I’m gonna die laughing at these two, the brother-in-law and the ex-brother-in-law. For once, they completely agree. I wonder what Chaomei Nanmi thinks?]
[Is the production team really that ruthless? If Jiang Chang’an and the others can’t fix the raft today, will they make them spend the night in the mangroves?]
[I feel like CBM Entertainment would do anything for the drama. It’s definitely possible.]
[I don’t feel sorry for Jiang Chang’an and them, but I do feel a bit sorry for Cookie and the few girls left on the island. That morning congee was their last stash of food. The girls ate only a little so the guys would have energy to go out to sea, giving them most of the congee. Cookie barely ate anything.]
[This proves that men are really useless. They should have just let the girls go out to sea.]
[If the men don’t bring back fish, what will Cookie and them eat? Will they have to go hungry another day? Ah, I feel kinda bad…]
–
At that moment, the yacht Chu Xingxing and the others were on was already anchored in waters very close to an uninhabited island.
Jiang Changsheng used the boat’s radar to locate the fish schools.
He anchored at this spot to ensure that the guests of Grandma’s Journey would catch fish and wouldn’t go home empty-handed.
Sure enough, the grandmas caught fish on almost every cast.
It was so exaggerate that they didn’t even need bait. As soon as they cast in, they’d get a bite.
Chu Xingxing and Wen Han were the same. No matter how they fished, they could pull up a fish.
The chef on board took one of the freshly caught sea breams and made sashimi on the spot, serving it with freshly grated wasabi and sashimi soy sauce as a sashimi platter for everyone.
The texture of the freshly caught sea bream was incomparable—fresh, sweet, and crisp.
[Wow, I’m so craving that…]
[That raw fish looks so fresh, (￣ ii ￣;) drool!]
Holding a glass of sugar-free sparkling water, Chu Xingxing stood on the deck looking at the dense coconut trees on the uninhabited island very close to them. She felt a bit wistful.
It was truly a tale of two extremes. They had plenty of food and drink. She wondered how Cookie was doing?
Maybe it was a telepathic connection. Chu Xingxing had thought of Cookie several times that day. Just as she was looking at the coconut trees on the uninhabited island, a coconut fell from one of them.
Then, a figure ran out, chasing after the coconut.
“Pfft…” Chu Xingxing chuckled. The person chasing the coconut with joyful energy, like a happy little golden retriever, was Cookie.
Finally catching up to the coconut, Cookie squatted down, hugged her precious coconut to her chest, and wiped the sweat from her forehead.
Little Cookie didn’t stand up right away. Her run had been a bit intense, so she squatted to catch her breath.
It hadn’t been easy. Cookie and the sisters left on the island had made a special tool for knocking down coconuts.
The sisters were responsible for knocking them down, and Cookie was in charge of collecting them.
Fresh water was hard to come by on the island, and their filter wasn’t very good. Their main source of hydration was coconuts.
After drinking the coconut water, you could crack open the shell and use a thin stone flake to scrape out the sweet coconut meat for some extra energy.
Cookie propped her chin on her hand and thought: I wonder if those uncles caught any fish in the mangroves?
Personally, Cookie wasn’t very hopeful. She hadn’t eaten much at breakfast because she wanted the men to have energy to go out to sea. Now she was so hungry she was feeling a bit hypoglycemic.
“Little Cookie~”
Hearing Xingxing’s familiar voice, Cookie shook her head in a daze: “Am I… hallucinating from hunger?”
[Oh my, Cookie is so cute!]
[Ah! Little Cookie, turn around! Your little Xingxing is here to see you!]
[Gotta admit, girls are more reliable. You can never count on men…]
[Ah! The mutual affection between Xingxing and Cookie, sniffle!]
“Cookie!” Chu Xingxing went around to the back of the yacht, shouted loudly, and waved her arms.
Cookie finally turned her head and rubbed her eyes vigorously: “It’s really not a hallucination!”
Boo hoo hoo, it really was Xingxing!!!
Cookie pouted her lips. She had been strong for so many days, but seeing family made her feel sorry for herself all of a sudden.
–
Chu Xingxing ran back to the deck and ran into Grandma Sheng Shuwen, who was idly reeling in her fishing rod.
“Xingxing, why are you running so fast?” Grandma Sheng Shuwen asked.
Chu Xingxing: “I saw a good friend on that uninhabited island. Since we’re so close, could we get the boat to pull up to the shore for a bit so I can go say hi?”
“Of course. No objections, sisters, right?” Grandma Sheng Shuwen turned and asked.
Grandma Jiang Yao was applying another layer of sunscreen to her neck: “No objections. I’m getting tired of fishing anyway. Why don’t we go for a walk on the island?”
Ms. Wen Xuelan held a cocktail and said gracefully, “Sure, let’s go check out the little friend Xingxing talks about and see how she’s doing.”
“Sounds good. It’s not as comfortable on the boat as it is on solid ground,” Grandma Emily agreed.
Chu Xingxing looked at Wen Han.
Wen Han smiled and spread his hands: “I’m just a ‘porter’. I’ll go along with whatever you all decide.”
–
Having gotten everyone’s agreement, Chu Xingxing ran to tell Captain Xiao Jiang.
The camera only caught Jiang Changsheng’s back.
His uniform, made of high-quality fabric, fit his tall, lean frame. The young man was slim but broad-shouldered and long-legged, surprisingly well-suited for the outfit.
The sea breeze blew through his black hair. His fingers, with their distinct knuckles, held the steering wheel casually, as if playing with a small toy.
“What’s up?” Jiang Changsheng didn’t turn around, rolling up his sleeves with one hand.
[This captain is kinda handsome, wow. Camera guy, why no full-on face shot?]
[Ahhh! Hand fetish! Hand fetish! Hand fetish! That hand!!! The carefree way he’s steering is so cool!]
[He can’t just be handsome from behind. I feel like I’ve seen this captain somewhere before?]
[I have a ridiculous idea, but the captain’s body type really looks like Xingxing’s… agent?]
[Hahaha! That’s a bold idea, but it does look similar. We didn’t see the agent’s face either, and their voices were similar. Both nice, youthful sounding!]
Seeing the ‘captain’s’ back, Chu Xingxing was stunned for a second.
She hadn’t looked closely when boarding, but now she noticed that he was completely different from the image of the spoiled young master Jiang she had in mind.
No wonder people talk about the allure of uniforms. When a captain’s uniform is well-made and worn by the right person, it’s truly pleasing to the eye.
“Captain, I discussed it with the grandmas. We want to go to the uninhabited island to say hi to Cookie. The grandmas also want to look around the island.”
Chu Xingxing didn’t reveal Jiang Changsheng’s identity in front of the camera. She just called him ‘Captain’.
“Go to the uninhabited island?” Jiang Changsheng paused, then pressed his index finger to his earpiece.
The director’s voice came through the earpiece: “Young Master Jiang, we haven’t told the Let’s Travel Together team about this. If we just go over, we might disrupt their filming schedule. And, well, Director Xiao hates it when people mess with his plans. He might get upset…”
Jiang Changsheng chuckled softly and began to turn the boat.
Would Xiao Xiang be upset?
Perfect. He hadn’t intended to make him happy in the first place.
Grandma’s Journey now held a position within CBM Entertainment no lower than Let’s Travel Together. The company and the teams weren’t solely under Xiao Xiang’s control.
“Wherever you want to go, I’ll take you,” Jiang Changsheng said to Chu Xingxing.
The Luxury Yacht turned and headed towards the uninhabited island’s dock.
–
Cookie was already waiting at the dock, overjoyed to see Chu Xingxing.
Not far away, at the campsite, four women in their twenties and thirties were busily tidying things up.
They were the guests of Let’s Travel Together.
There was an actress, a singer, a stand-up comedian, and an experienced industry screenwriter who was also a novelist.
Although they had different personalities, often argued, and rarely agreed on things,
when it came to the youngest little sister in the group, the older sisters still took good care of Little Cookie.
After all, this little sister didn’t compete with them for anything. Their resources didn’t overlap, and she had a good personality with no real ambitions.
As soon as Little Cookie said her good friend was coming to visit her on the island, the sisters got busy tidying up the campsite. They couldn’t let Cookie lose face.
“Xingxing!!!” Little Cookie pounced on Chu Xingxing, clinging to her like an octopus, her eyes instantly reddening.
This time, Chu Xingxing didn’t try to peel Cookie off. Instead, she ruffled her slightly messy hair: “Let me see if you’ve lost weight. Has it been hard on the island?”
Chu Xingxing shouldn’t have asked.
As soon as she did, Cookie felt like crying.
Of course, it was hard, boo hoo hoo…
But before Xingxing came, she hadn’t thought it was hard at all!
“Xingxing, I’m so hungry…” Cookie pouted, looking at her pitifully like a little kid.
Cookie covered her stomach with both hands, but she couldn’t stop the loud gurgling sound.
Chu Xingxing knew it would be like this. She had been holding a piece of hard candy in her palm, which she first stuffed into Cookie’s hand.
She’d get them some more food from the boat later.
Just then, the grandmas also walked off the boat.
“Oh, is this Xingbao’s good friend? What’s your name, dear? I think I saw you at the airport last time.” Grandma Wen Xuelan greeted her warmly.
“Cookie. You can call her Little Cookie,” Chu Xingxing introduced Cookie to the grandmas.
Last time at the airport was too rushed, and the two shows were filming separately. There hadn’t been time for a proper introduction.
“Hello, Grandmas~” Little Cookie politely greeted them. Then she suddenly thought of something and said seriously, “Grandmas, please come sit at our campsite for a while. We don’t have much to offer you, but we have fresh coconuts that my sisters and I picked just today!”
“Sure, sure, let’s go have a look.” Grandma Sheng Shuwen smiled, took Cookie’s arm, and with her other hand, pulled Chu Xingxing along.
Everyone arrived at the Let’s Travel Together campsite on the uninhabited island.
I have to say, for both being travel variety shows, the difference in treatment was day and night.
The grandmas lived in a huge villa with a private beach and stunning ocean views.
Cookie and the others lived in temporary tents, and one of the tents had its top burned off, looking pretty miserable.
“Xingxing, I put out that fire myself! All thanks to the foot bath you gave me!”
Cookie proudly recounted her heroic deed of saving Tian Mengtong with her foot bath water, gesturing animatedly, to Chu Xingxing.
Chu Xingxing held back a laugh and gave her a thumbs-up.
That was, Little Cookie did a great job!
Zhu Yuxuan was a female stand-up comedian. She poured the chopped-up coconut into coconut shells and distributed them to everyone: “Hello, these are the coconuts we picked. We don’t have anything else to offer. We’re quite embarrassed.”
Grandma Sheng Shuwen was very polite: “Not at all. We’re the ones who intruded.”
Zhu Yuxuan laughed heartily: “Well, I guess we’ll just have to have a simple meal. Afternoon tea is coconut water and coconut meat.”
Cookie washed her hands clean and scraped out the tender coconut meat using a thin stone slab.
Tang Qian, a young actress, brought over some washed banana leaves and carefully helped Cookie arrange a nice presentation, adding two egg flower blossoms at the edge.
It had a feeling of, even though they weren’t well-off, still trying to present the little they had in the best way possible for their guests.
[Wow, I don’t know why, but after the men on Let’s Travel Together left, and only the young ladies remained, the scenes became so much more harmonious?]
[This damn sense of ceremony! Watching Little Cookie and the sisters prepare drinks and snacks for the grandmas is kind of touching.]
[Yeah, it’s like that feeling of a family that isn’t rich but still does their best to offer the best they have to guests.]
[I’m noticing that the so-called ‘catfights’ between the sisters before were also because the men had loose lips. The sisters seemed to just be yelling at the men…]
[It’s really strange. After the men and Tian Mengtong left, Little Cookie and the sisters are getting along great. No conflicts. Everyone is working together cooperatively. They’ve got everything organized.]
[Yeah, yeah. Even hosting guests is done nicely. Looks like we found the root of the problem…]
–
The grandmas sat on the rocks at the campsite, chatting warmly with everyone.
Drinking coconut water and eating the simple but carefully presented coconut meat as snacks was a very novel experience.
Of course, the grandmas believed in reciprocity.
Since they had been hosted by the lovely young girls on the island, they wanted to give something in return.
Immediately, the Grandma’s Journey team was planning to go to the other side of the uninhabited island to watch the sunset while flying a flying bird paramotor.
When Chu Xingxing received the confirmation letter for the flying bird paramotor activity, she saw that it was stated as a private booking.
The flying bird paramotor camp had a total of twenty paramotor units, equipped with five accompanying instructors.
A normal flight lasted about fifteen to twenty minutes.
But since they had a private booking, there was no limit on the number of flights.
After asking Chu Xingxing for the details, the grandmas came up with an idea.
They wanted to take Cookie and the other girls to ride the paramotors to watch the sunset as a thank you, and also invite them to have dinner together on the yacht.
However, as soon as they proposed this idea, before Cookie could even raise both hands and feet in approval…
The camera director for Let’s Travel Together stepped in.
Xiao Xiang directly gave a strict order not to let any guests from his show go with another production team.
Xiao Xiang couldn’t control Grandma’s Journey, but Let’s Travel Together had to listen to him.
The camera director spoke politely: “Sorry, thank you for the kind offer, grandmas, but Let’s Travel Together and Grandma’s Journey are two separate shows. Our guests cannot accept outside assistance. They need to complete their survival mission on the uninhabited island on their own.”
[Ah, I got my hopes up for nothing… I wanted to see Cookie and Xingxing team up!]
[The production team has a point, but I’m really disappointed. I hope Little Cookie and them can enjoy their trip too, like riding the paramotor to see the beautiful sunset.]
[Isn’t there another solution? Couldn’t they make an exception…]
[It’s hard to make an exception. The Let’s Travel Together side is very strict about the rules.]
Cookie blinked her eyes and looked pitifully at Chu Xingxing.
She covered her stomach with her little hand, looking exactly like a “little orphan” who hadn’t eaten for three days.
It made Chu Xingxing feel so much tenderness that she got angry.
Angry at those useless men. They had eaten most of the food in the morning, yet were still too useless to catch any fish, leaving the people who worked hard on the island to go hungry.
How was this any different from those damn men in society who take up most of the resources, constantly whine that it’s not enough, and act so entitled?
The grandmas clearly disapproved of the director’s refusal, especially Grandma Sheng Shuwen.
But the other side was polite and had a logical argument. To just use their “power” to bully people would set a bad example for the young viewers and make them look like the “bad guys” breaking the rules.
Ms. Wen Xuelan, however, couldn’t care less about all that.
She even wanted to just take poor little Cookie onto the boat and stuff her with a good meal first.
Her life experiences made it impossible for her to see a young girl looking so pitiful.
So what if she took the girls away? Could the production team really stop her?
Little Grandma Jiang and Grandma Emily also felt bad for these girls, who were still children in their eyes.
In this world, there is a kind of hunger where Grandma thinks you’re hungry.
And these kids were actually hungry. How could the grandmas tolerate that?
Chu Xingxing could see the grandmas’ dilemma.
Luckily, she had already thought of a solution before they arrived.
