The sun was shining brightly.
The location for the third round of the Model shoot was set in a shallow area 64 kilometres away from Jiangcheng.
The theme of the shoot: Humans and Animals.
After two rounds, 30 contestants remained.
This time, five would be eliminated.
The female contestants who had already arrived were secretly competing with each other.
They had all been given the theme of the shoot a day in advance and had prepared thoroughly.
"I've spent 24 hours bonding with my dog at home and even practising some poses with it."
"My sister has a cat, so I went to her house last minute to interact with it. Almost got scratched, though."
"Sis Fang, don't you have a Samoyed?"
All eyes turned to Fang Lei.
Despite her fainting spell in the first round, Fang Lei was undoubtedly one of the top three contestants—possibly even the top contender. Her runway walk was simply outstanding.
In any runway competition, it was impossible to score higher than her unless she fainted again.
If they wanted to outshine her, their only chance was to excel in the photo shoot competition.
Like today.
The contestants' glances towards Fang Lei instantly sparkled with competitive fire.
Fang Lei smiled slightly. "I'm doing okay. I didn't really prepare much."
The others relaxed a bit, but their guard remained up. Soon they dispersed, laughing and chatting.
"No, Sis Fang, you did prepare so much."
Bao Ruanruan, who had been quietly watching the beauties from the corner, raised her hand.
Fang Lei was baffled.
Bao Ruanruan said, "You spent the whole day yesterday preparing! You even sent me tons of videos of people interacting with cats and dogs."
That training was for you!
I was showing you posing techniques!
Fang Lei's lips twitched. "That was for you."
Bao Ruanyuan blinked. "Huh? And here I was, just liking all your daily posts on your Moments. Turns out you were sabotaging me!"
Please, just stop talking.
Fang Lei sighed. "...You're not allowed to get eliminated. You saved me once, remember? I promised to get you into the finals."
Bao Ruanruan held her forehead in exasperation.
Fang Lei took a deep breath and suddenly understood why the usually proud and aloof mentor Qu Ji'en had been so insistent on cultivating Bao Ruanruan and pushing her to join the modelling industry as a rising star.
—Because Bao Ruanruan genuinely disliked the modelling world.
—But she was so gifted!
—On the runway, she was like the queen of the world... Someone like her deserved to shine.
But her constant rejection left those who took pride in being models and were willing to devote their youth to the profession feeling a bit wronged. They were eager to prove to her just how great this industry could be.
Even Fang Lei felt a flicker of determination rise within her.
"Ruanruan, you'll come to discover the joy and pride of being a model."
"It's no less exciting than acting and it also requires both skill and talent. Once you make it to the top, your income will skyrocket."
Bao Ruanruan blinked.
Fang Lei tried hard to make her words sound both tempting and easy to understand.
"Do you know this show has prize money? The top three places get 1 million, 500,000, and 100,000 yuan, respectively."
Bao Ruanruan's expression froze.
She hadn't known that.
She was only here because Xue the Exploiter had dragged her along, saying it would just be a one-and-done round.
She'd been too focused on admiring the beauties to notice there was prize money.
And there was so much of it!
"Wait, so besides the appearance fees, the winners get prize money too?" For a brief moment, Bao Ruanruan saw a vision of a century-old ginseng root waving at her.
Recently, the Jiangcheng Convention Centre hosted an auction for a rare wild ginseng king from Changbai Mountain.
A 100-year-old ginseng root had been sold for 1.8 million yuan in the end.
What a deal.
If she won first place, she'd be able to afford at least half a root.
At that moment, Bao Ruanruan was torn between giving up and fighting.
"The top three will also be personally trained by Teacher Qu and signed with his modelling agency. You'll never have to worry about work again," Fang Lei added.
Bao Ruanruan's expression immediately changed.
Work with Qu Ji'en?
Yeah, no thanks.
Even half a root of ginseng probably wouldn't make up for that ordeal.
"When the competition starts, just call me over, Sis Fang. I'm going to read for a bit first."
"?"
With that, Bao Ruanruan pulled a book from her bag: 100 Small Steps to a Healthy Family Life.
Fang Lei: "...?"
It was clear that Bao Ruanruan didn't like Teacher Qu that much.
What on earth had he done to offend this young woman?
Also, 100 Small Steps to a Healthy Family Life…… what kind of book was that?
---
The competition soon began.
As usual, today's judge was Xiao Minghua, who was also the photographer for the photo shoot.
He had specifically requested to take on this role, eager to see how the contestants would perform—his hands were practically itching with excitement.
He was particularly intrigued by Bao Ruanruan, who had left a good impression on him in the previous round.
"Today's theme is interaction with animals."
"We hope you'll be able to show the harmony between humanity and nature."
Supermodel Liu Min explained in a gentle tone.
However, there was a hint of playfulness in her expression.
Clearly, the production team was up to something again.
Not long after, as the 30 contestants looked on expectantly, a series of cages of varying sizes were brought before them.
The cages were draped in black cloth.
But a distinct animal smell, pungent and musky, began to waft through the air.
The girls started to feel a vague sense of dread.
"Please don't let it be birds or chickens. I'm terrified of sharp-beaked things."
"I'm afraid of bugs."
"Could it be wild beasts?"
Supermodel Liu Min smiled. "The safety measures are all very thorough."
She waved at the staff members in black standing next to ten cages.
They instantly pulled off the black cloths covering the cages, revealing what was inside.
—Coiled in the cage, reeking of stench, their bodies covered in the sheen of scales, with their forms as thick as a man's wrists...as they slithered.
Triangular heads lifted, forked tongues flickering scarlet, while cold, sinister eyes stared out.
"Hiss…"
The girls collectively recoiled in panic, stepping back in unison.
"They're completely non-venomous and have had their fangs removed. We also have medical staff on-site to ensure everyone's safety."
Supermodel Liu Min smiled.
And that wasn't the end of it. With a clap of her hands, the staff members pulled these snake-like creatures—each at least half a person's height—from the cage and coiled them around their arms.
"Today's photoshoot challenge requires you to have intimate contact with them."
"You must let the snakes wrap around parts of your body while completing 30 photos. The best one will be selected and scored as part of the third-round results."
The girls' faces turned ghostly pale.
Even Fang Lei didn't look too pleased.
Meanwhile, Bao Ruanruan, holding her 100 Small Steps to Family Health book, frowned.
She knew it.
From the first round of the competition, she'd realised how this show operated—it was all about pushing contestants to the brink.
"What do we do? I can't do this."
"I absolutely can't deal with snakes! I can't even touch a fish!"
"I want to go home!"
Wanting to go home was the right choice.
Bao Ruanruan looked at the beauties, now pale and terrified, and found herself admiring their newfound clarity.
"This is impossible!"
"I'm definitely not going up first."
"Let's just go by ranking."
"Let the top two from the last round go first! Sis Fang and Bao Ruanruan! If they can't do it, we definitely can't either!"
Bao Ruanruan: "???"
Fang Lei frowned but eventually nodded. "I'll go first."
She was afraid too.
But this time, she could endure it. She turned to the other contestants and said, "I'll go first, and Xiao Ruan can go last. Let's do it this way."
Everyone froze in surprise.
Bao Ruanruan froze too.
Fang Lei gave her a firm, reassuring smile and lowered her voice. "You don't have enough experience with photoshoots. If you go last, you can use the time to observe everyone's poses, got it?"
Observing others would give her the chance to spot the weakest performance and aim just below that standard, ensuring she'd get eliminated.
Ah, Sis Fang really looked out for her.
Bao Ruanruan grinned as she hugged her book.
Fang Lei patted Bao Ruanruan's shoulder reassuringly. "Did you read the beginner's guide to still photography that I sent you?"
"I did."
Just do the exact opposite of what's in there, and it'll be perfect.
Bao Ruanruan smiled sweetly.
Fang Lei felt even more reassured and turned around to prepare for her turn as the first contestant.
Fang Lei went up first.
Fortunately, aside from her fear of heights, she didn't faint easily even when faced with things she was afraid of.
Though she was terrified, her professionalism and trust in the production team kept her standing in front of the camera.
Under the guidance of the experts, she let the beautiful, speckled King Rat Snake wrap around her arm.
Her body's muscle memory from countless photo shoots kicked in.
Even though she was tense, her expression and body language remained firm.
"You're a bit stiff today, but your presence on camera still has tension. I love the way your body language when standing gives a sense of motion, almost like you're about to run," Xiao Minghua said approvingly.
"OK!"
"8 points. One of those points is for your courage in going first."
As a judge, Xiao Minghua didn't hesitate to award points on the spot.
The other contestants instantly regretted not volunteering to go first.
One point could make all the difference—it wouldn't even be easy to surpass!
The second contestant went up, feeling frustrated.
But when she glanced toward Bao Ruanruan standing in the corner and scheduled to go last, she felt relieved.
Going first gave one bonus point.
But going last? Surely that would result in a penalty.
With that thought, her mood instantly stabilised.
However, Bao Ruanruan didn't care in the slightest.
She was busy observing the snakes and how the contestants interacted with them.
After watching over a dozen girls strike 'affectionate and intimate' poses with the snakes, Bao Ruanruan felt like she had figured things out.
"7.5 points."
"7 points."
"7.5 points."
Xiao Minghua consistently handed out high scores to several contestants.
Bao Ruanruan realised that as long as she avoided getting 'too close' to the snakes, she was guaranteed to fail.
Once she understood this, she breathed a sigh of relief.
Not that she could bring herself to get close to these juvenile snakes anyway.
Sure.
They weren't poisonous.
But in the wild, during a survival game, she'd come across adult versions of these snakes before.
The Black-browed Racer Snake🔗 could grow up to two metres long, with the thickest part of its body thicker than her thigh.
If it coiled around her and tightened, it could break her leg bones in three seconds.
The King Rat Snake🔗, even at its smallest adult size, was nearly two and a half metres long.
Ferocious and aggressive, it was always ready to attack.
The last time she'd encountered one, it was three metres long and had nearly suffocated her by wrapping itself around her torso.
...
There was no way she could feel any fondness for them.
It was impossible for her to pretend to like the snakes in front of the camera.
Running away seemed like a much better option.
Luckily, she had figured out Xiao Minghua's scoring criteria: the closer you got to the snakes, the higher your score.
This was perfect.
With only a handful of contestants left and her turn approaching, Bao Ruanruan stood up, turned around, and started walking in the opposite direction of the shooting area.
Fang Lei, who had finished her turn and was explaining (read: coaching) her, had to pause mid-sentence.
"See how she positions herself so that one side of her face is in shadow while the other is lit by the sun—”
"Xiao Bao, where are you going?"
"Hmm, just going to pick up a few sticks.”
"???"
Fang Lei touched her cheek.
Could it be that her guidance had been so good?
Xiao Bao was even going to use props for her shoot now?
Tang Xi rushed as fast as she could, lugging her newly purchased 70-200mm f2.8 lens, affectionately nicknamed the 'entry-level zhanjie1 cam'—or 'Little White'—to the Model filming location, courtesy of a scalper.
Although it wasn't the first episode, she had double-checked with the scalper that Bao Ruanruan had not been eliminated yet.
She had spent four hours on the road today just to photograph Bao Ruanruan.
Bah.
No.
Tang Xi shook her head as she pulled her baseball cap lower.
She was here to investigate! To figure out what on earth was going on with Bao Ruanruan!
Lately, she wasn't so sure anymore—was Bao Ruanruan really trading 'favours' for resources with Lu Wenyao?
The rumours in the group chat about Bao Ruanruan being a stand-in, or the possibility of her jumping off a building, had haunted Tang Xi's nights.
She hadn't slept well for days, plagued by nightmares.
All because she had been one of the people who had cursed Bao Ruanruan before...
Unable to bear the guilt, she finally decided to come and see for herself today, to get to the bottom of it all.
If—just if—Bao Ruanruan showed any sign of wanting to do something drastic... Tang Xi could step in and stop her!
"OK, next up: Xu Liqiu. Hurry up, we're almost done here!"
But when Tang Xi arrived, she realised that she was way too late.
The scalper had mentioned there were 30 contestants, but 25 of them had already finished shooting by the time she got there. Tang Xi broke into a cold sweat.
She sweetly asked a nearby staff member, "Excuse me, has Bao Ruanruan gone up yet?"
The staff member had gotten used to seeing these zhanjie1 around.
These zhanjie1 had bought access to such shooting positions from scalpers who had obtained them from the internal staff.
But when the staff member heard her question, he gave her a curious look. "Huh, Bao Ruanruan has a zhanjie1 team now? I never saw you during the first two episodes. Has she gained some fans recently?"
Some zhanjie1 were genuine fans, while others were professionals.
The latter would sell their photos to fans.
Simply put, it was their way of making money.
In the entertainment industry, there was an unspoken rule: the more popular someone was, the more zhanjie1 they had.
No matter how many close-up shots were taken, it was never enough to satisfy the insatiable hunger of the fans.
From every angle, fans could spot differences in their idol's leg hair or eyelashes!
"Uh..." Tang Xi hesitated awkwardly. "I guess you could say that."
"Not surprising," the staff member said. "None of us expected Bao Ruanruan to make it to the third round. Both Qu Ji'en and Xiao Minghua seem to really like her performances in the first two episodes."
She actually made it to the third round?
Tang Xi: "?"
Isn't she an actress?
Didn't she major in musical theatre in college?
How come she has modelling skills too?
The reason Tang Xi lugged her massive camera to the site was to capture Bao Ruanruan's real behaviour off-camera.
She didn't trust the official footage from the production team very much, sometimes they would edit things out of context, turning good into bad and bad into good.
So, Tang Xi came to the set to see for herself what Bao Ruanruan was like off-screen!
But she didn't expect the staff member to say that.
"Her performance in the first two episodes was great?" Tang Xi asked in surprise.
The show Model hadn't officially aired yet.
The staff member smiled mysteriously. "Just wait until it's broadcast. It premieres on September 9th—don't miss it, or you'll regret it."
Are you in a pyramid scheme or something?
Tang Xi was speechless.
"Oh, by the way, she's the last to perform today. Just wait a bit," the staff added enthusiastically.
Tang Xi froze for a moment.
The last one?
Isn't that usually reserved for the star of the show?
The final spot is often given to the most skilled contestant.
But isn't Bao Ruanruan supposed to be talentless?
Tang Xi had done her homework. Bao Ruanruan's grades in the college's musical theatre programme were second to last. The person who ranked last had a broken leg and had to take exams on crutches.
So Bao Ruanruan's professional ability was actually terrible!
Her standout moment in Dawn as the student was likely due to her intensive training over the past six months, coupled with the guidance of a skilled director on the set.
But... a modelling competition? She can be the finale act for that too?
"Oh, not quite," the staff said with a smile before turning to leave. "Today's order was decided by the contestants themselves."
Decided by themselves?
Tang Xi was stunned.
She looked up at the filming area by the shallow water.
A female model stood barefoot in the pond, her hands wrapped around the terrifying greenish-blue body of a snake.
The snake flicked out its forked red tongue, its cold, bean-sized eyes glinting faintly in the light.
The model, visibly tense, tilted her head down towards the camera, striking a pose as if kissing the snake's head.
Tang Xi: "!"
She understood now.
Bao Ruanruan was scared.
She didn't dare to do it ahead of the others.
Tang Xi exhaled in relief.
If Bao Ruanruan was this timid, she probably wouldn't even consider jumping off a building.
But as Tang Xi pressed the shutter to capture the muddy scene, she paused, confused.
So... was Bao Ruanruan's bravery in saving Xia Mengfei on With Dreams scripted?
"Next!"
"OK! Take a break! Next!"
"Got it. Nini, you're up."
The contestants lined up one by one.
They had all changed into outfits matching the outdoor theme—some in denim jeans, others in denim skirts.
Although they were nervous at first, they were reassured when they saw that each contestant had successfully completed their turn.
The snakes posed no real threat and there were handlers on hand to deal with them.
Nothing could go wrong.
Gradually, everyone began to relax in front of the camera.
Each contestant became bolder with their poses.
The second-to-last contestant, Qian Xuezhou, not only kissed the snake's head but also wrapped it around her waist.
"Oh my gosh!"
"Xiao Qian, you're amazing!"
"It's stunning!"
"Her control in these photos is unbelievable!"
The scene drew applause from the contestants and staff alike.
Just then, Bao Ruanruan returned.
She had just found two sturdy, dual-purpose sticks and had carefully carved their tips into the forked, triangular shapes she wanted. Wielding them in her hands, she gave them a test swing.
But the moment she walked back in, she was greeted by this shocking sight—a scene that looked like a prelude to disaster!
The snake coiled around the girl's slender waist was still a juvenile.
But its pale yellow head and the faint, crack-like black markings across its scales were unmistakable.
Its head bore a vague, barely discernible dark black pattern, three horizontal lines connected by a vertical one, hidden within the intersecting scales on either side. It would be easy to miss if you weren't paying close attention.
Yet, Bao Ruanruan had encountered this species in the wild before.
She knew only too well that in no more than six months, that faint black mark would grow into a distinct '王 (king)' character.
—A King Rat Snake!
Among wild snakes, its level of aggression was renowned.
This creature was incredibly sensitive, reacting to every slightest movement.
Let alone... forcing it into unnatural poses, wrapping it tightly around a young woman's waist like a twisted pretzel.
If it didn't attack you, who would it attack?
Bao Ruanruan's scalp tingled with dread.
"Hurry up, it's your turn, Xiao Bao!" urged Xiao Minghua.
Qian Xuezhou, who had just finished her shoot, finally breathed a sigh of relief. Smiling, she turned to the handler, spreading her arms for him to remove the non-venomous snake from her waist.
In that moment of relaxation, she forgot the handler's earlier instruction to hold the snake's head firmly.
Without realising, she let the snake's head go.
Bao Ruanruan: "!?"
"Help!"
A cry for help rang out, accompanied by the snake's sudden violent movement!
It lunged at Qian Xuezhou's hand with its mouth wide open, ready to bite.
"Ah!"
The second scream had a different pitch than the first one!
But no one was paying attention to this detail—everyone's focus was on the chaos as the handler lunged to grab the snake's head.
Qian Xuezhou, in a full panic after the snake bit her hand, started jumping in place, desperately trying to get the snake off.
However, with the snake still coiled tightly around her waist, any movement would only make it more agitated!
Screaming, Qian Xuezhou bolted toward the waiting area where Bao Ruanruan was standing.
In her panic, the handler's repeated attempts to wrestle the snake off her were thwarted by her frantic struggles.
Xiao Minghua, the judge, jumped in shock. "Medic! Quickly, quickly!"
"Do we have a tranquilliser gun?" Supermodel Liu Min's face paled with urgency.
Nearby, Tang Xi—the 'zhanjie1' who was here for the first time—was completely stunned.
She even forgot to take pictures, her breath caught in her throat.
She somehow managed to shout, "Where are the doctors?!"
In the blink of an eye, Qian Xuezhou stumbled towards a slender figure in a dark blue windbreaker. And both she and the snake fell onto that figure—
That slender figure sprang into action!
Like an arrow released from a bow, the figure moved instantly.
Two metre-long sticks flew out with a sharp crack!
One struck three inches behind the snake's head.
The other landed precisely seven inches from its head.🖼️
The rampaging snake that had terrified the entire crowd suddenly dropped its once-highly raised head.
The coils that had constricted the girl's waist and brought her to tears slackened and slid down in a heap.
Too shocked to process what had happened, Qian Xuezhou burst into tears and rushed towards the owner of the two sticks, clutching her arm tightly.
She sobbed uncontrollably and refused to let go.
Bao Ruanruan tossed the sticks aside. "Woman, you're playing with fire."
Qian Xuezhou: "......"
The production crew: "......"
Only then did everyone realise that the one who was brave enough to knock out the snake—more fearless than even the handler—was none other than Bao Ruanruan!
She looked so fragile that even the slightest gust of wind could topple her.
The last time she had to walk across a glass bridge, she had to strap on two safety harnesses and stick double-sided tape to her high heels.
This showed that her courage was only slightly less than Fang Lei's.
But this time...
Xiao Minghua finally calmed his nerves. "Xiao Bao, this photo deserves a 10."
Bao Ruanruan: "???"
"The fluid, quick movement of your arms, the precision of your sticks, the calm composure on your face—no, wait," Xiao Minghua muttered, head tilted in thought. "You looked a little scared, but your eyes screamed, 'If you bite me, I'll bite you back'. That kind of revenge-driven determination is full of story."
Judge, did you happen to attend some kind of writing cram school?
Did you know that they have all been banned by the government🔗?
Bao Ruanruan blinked innocently and humbly said, "You must be mistaken."
"I caught everything on camera."
Bao Ruanruan: "?"
Xiao Minghua looked slightly embarrassed. "My hand was on the shutter all the time. When you rushed over, I was so scared that I pressed it by mistake."
Bao Ruanruan: "?? But I almost hurt the snake."
"I saw the courage to protect your companion written on your face."
"..."
"......"
It turned out that the snakes weren't borrowed from a zoo.
They had come from a small snake-breeding operation nearby.
This breeding farm had only recently opened and specialised in breeding snakes for the traditional Chinese medicine market.
So all these snakes were non-venomous and medicinal.
"This is a King Rat Snake? I didn't notice the ‘王' mark on its head," the snake handler said, sweating nervously. "I didn't realise the juveniles would look so different from the adults."
You've got to be kidding me, Big Brother!
Bao Ruanruan was speechless.
The production team was speechless too.
The judges didn't even know what to say.
Fortunately, the snake's fangs had already been removed, so there was no real accident.
When the snake bit Qian Xuezhou's hand, it didn't even leave a scratch. But her terror had caused such a commotion that everyone else on the set had nearly died of fright.
"When I heard someone yell for help, I almost lost my soul," said Xiao Minghua with a helpless laugh, still holding his camera.
Qian Xuezhou had finally regained her composure and let go of Bao Ruanruan a little.
But her voice was still trembling.
"I... I didn't yell for help."
Xiao Minghua paused, stunned. "You didn't? Wasn't it you who called for help and then screamed afterwards?"
"It wasn't her."
A soft, delicate voice rang out.
Bao Ruanruan blinked and voluntarily confessed.
"I was the one who called for help."
Xiao Minghua: "?"
Bao Ruanruan's pale face and trembling watery eyes made her look pitiful. Her shoulders even trembled slightly.
"When I came over and saw such a terrifying scene, I was so scared that I thought my heart would stop. That snake was so big and fierce, with its head raised and its mouth wide open—big enough to swallow a fist in one bite... Ah, no, I still feel like screaming 'help' when I think about it..."
Xiao Minghua: "?"
The crowd: "??"
Qian Xuezhou: "???"
Truly worthy of being an actress.
Whoever said her acting was bad must have faulty eyes.
"Will yelling 'help' cost me points, judge? Then deduct three points."
Xiao Minghua rolled his eyes. "...The competition is over. Bao Ruanruan, 10 points. You're my personal number one."
Bao Ruanruan: "..."
Is no one going to care for the snake?
Isn't this supposed to be an 'animal love' theme?
"If it didn’t harm anyone, would you still poke it with the stick?"
Qu Ji'en, who had been observing from the side, stepped forward with his arms crossed.
Is she seriously trying to provoke a wild snake?
Bao Ruanruan resisted the urge to complain. "No. I only picked up the sticks for self-defence."
Qu Ji'en nodded. "This theme is about the relationship between humans and animals. When encountering a dangerous animal, how to protect oneself is also a question that humans must consider."
He looked up and glanced at the snake being carried back to its cage. "I heard it was only struck at its vital points, temporarily paralysed and knocked out."
"So, you didn't actually harm it."
"You managed to protect your companion while preserving its life as much as possible."
"This—"
Qu Ji'en paused, his ever-cold eyes drifting over her delicate, snow-white face.
"—is true compassion."
Bao Ruanruan lowered her gaze.
Listening to this man is like listening to useless chatter.
Qu Ji'en looked down at her with a complicated expression. "Congratulations on advancing."
He lowered his faint voice.
"You're one step closer to that man's heart."
Bao Ruanruan: "......"
Gross!
"Please dispose of that toxic trash in the hazardous waste bin. Thank you."
Bao Ruanruan turned away.
She dragged her little tag-along, Qian Xuezhou, who was shuffling her feet, back to Fang Lei's side.
Qu Ji'en remained motionless for a long time. "Toxic trash, huh?"
As expected.
[DidTeacherTangBreakUpToday V: New update—Industry insiders confirm Lu Wenyao's 100% scumbag status.]
With his slender fingers, Qu Ji'en put away his phone and stuffed it into his pocket.
He turned and followed the other judges.
The staff quickly packed up. They all left and got on the bus.
The kind-hearted staff member called out to Tang Xi.
"Hey, new zhanjie1 over there, we're done here. We're moving to the indoor set."
Tang Xi snapped back to reality.
— Wait.
— What just happened?
— Was that Bao Ruanruan?
— Has she been possessed by an Olympic champion from the athletics team?
— Is she timid or brave…?
Tang Xi was utterly dumbfounded.
A moment later, her phone buzzed.
She looked down and was shocked. "TangChao has posted another industry update again!"
What ‘industry' is he from anyway?
Tang Xi was dying of curiosity.
While cursing Lu Wenyao as a scumbag, she grabbed her camera and left. But halfway through, she froze.
!
She didn't even take a single photo of Bao Ruanruan!
That incredible, heroic moment when she saved someone—she didn't even capture it!
Four hours on the road, and she came here… for what?
But in an instant, Tang Xi's regretful expression changed to a conflicted one.
Although she hadn't taken any photos, she had seen everything. —— Bao Ruanruan was genuinely afraid. At the moment she rushed forward with the wooden sticks to subdue the snake, her eyes were red. Yet her movements were amazingly fast, like... a hero descending from the heavens.
That female contestant was at least ten centimetres taller than Bao Ruanruan.
But… at that moment, she looked like a little chick seeking shelter under a mother hen.
For just a fleeting moment, Bao Ruanruan seemed to glow.
Tang Xi could even close her eyes and remember that composition.
Behind Bao Ruanruan was sunlight, illuminating one delicate shoulder of her deep blue jacket.
The soft peach fuzz on her face was clear and adorable in the light, her watery red-rimmed eyes seemed fragile yet reflected the bright blue sky.
Her dark hair, flung into motion by her frantic sprint, swayed behind her like strands of seaweed dipped in azure water—bold and untamed.
And those two wooden sticks, simple and primitive, looked like the treasures of the world.
They shone brilliantly in the sunlight—indestructible.
Bao Ruanruan had saved a girl who was on the verge of a mental breakdown!
Tang Xi took a deep breath.
A faint sense of regret washed over her heart.
If the audience could vote, she would've given that moment full marks.
How did she fail to capture it on camera?
Regretfully.
Tang Xi sighed but quickly frowned.
Why was she feeling regretful?
She was here to uncover the truth!
Not to take pretty pictures of Bao Ruanruan!
"I must've slept too late last night. My brain is all messed up," Tang Xi muttered, shaking her head vigorously.
As she walked back to the bus station, she took out her phone to pass the time.
She opened her alarm app.
— September 9th.
— ‘Model'
Hmph.
She had to see how Bao Ruanruan performed so brilliantly in the first two episodes!
No.
She had to see just how Bao Ruanruan managed to look so pretty!
Ugh, bah, bah, bah!
Tang Xi clenched her fists.
— It must be because she didn't sleep well last night.
— That's why she was so bewitched.
— Yeah!
Another exhausting day.
Bao Ruanruan walked back to the rest area in a daze.
She had actually advanced again—first place once more.
How could this world be so absurd?
And now she had brought back a new attachment.
Qian Xuezhou was still clinging to her clothes. She would tremble and tears would start to fall whenever Bao Ruanruan let go of her.
In the first two rounds, Qian Xuezhou's scores were at the bottom; she was on the verge of elimination.
For this round, she had no choice but to go all out.
This was why she had attempted the most dangerous poses in front of the camera.
Now, despite earning a 7.5 score, she was so shaken that she couldn't stay away from Bao Ruanruan.
"Sister, can you come home with me tonight?"
Bao Ruanruan: "?"
Excuse me, what did you just say?
Bao Ruanruan eventually parted ways with Qian Xuezhou, as she still had a shooting scheduled with a drama crew that evening.
Wu Zhujin, the male lead of Dawn, had recommended her to the drama production team.
Before she left, however, she shared her secret for overcoming fear:
"Recite ‘Core Socialist Values🔗' ten times, and next time stay far away from dangerous beasts and animals."
The second half of the sentence was the real deal.
Then she patted Qian Xuezhou's hand. "See you next time."
Qian Xuezhou nodded heavily, her eyes still slightly red as she held up her phone.
"Ruanruan, don't forget to accept my WeChat request!"
Bao Ruanruan nodded back.
Another beautiful friend to admire on her WeChat Moments—wonderful for longevity.
But she didn't take out her phone.
Rule Ten of Staying Alive: Keep your eyes on the road when walking. Safety first.
When she got off the bus, sunglasses on, it wasn't long before she spotted the familiar GMC nanny van parked in the garage.
It was then that she finally broke free of the strange filming environment.
She was back in her familiar world.
With her hands were shaking and her legs were weak, she had to lean against the bus door for support.
Snakes!
---
Inside the nanny van, Xue Jing was gazing out the window.
He watched as his little troublemaker was personally escorted off the bus by none other than Miss Qian, the third daughter of the Qian family. The two of them held hands and looked like the best of friends.
Xue Jing raised an eyebrow.
Miss Qian, the third daughter of the Qian family, was still in college this year.
She was the only girl in the third generation of the Qian family.
She had been doted on by her elders since childhood.
And as she grew up, she was lavished with love from her two brothers and a dozen cousins.
Recently, when she came to shoot for Model, the Qian family had sent four bodyguards to protect her.
But Qian Xuezhou had cried and thrown tantrums until only one retired female soldier remained at her side as an assistant.
"Brother Xue, what's going on? Isn't that Qian Qianqian3?"
In private, people in the industry called her Qian Qianqian.
Qian Xuezhou, the one impossible to please even with a thousand gold.
"How did she get so close to our Xiao Baozi?"
Chen Feng also caught a glimpse of them through the car's reflection.
"Since when did Baozi become a social butterfly?"
Qian Xuezhou was never short of people trying to cosy up to her. Whether it was flattery or wannabe socialite 'best friends', she had never fallen for it.
By the time Qian Xuezhou had grown up, she had no more than three close friends.
“Wait a minute,” Chen Feng glanced at the rearview mirror again.
“Why does it look like Qian Qianqian is bowing to our Xiao Baozi…?”
That's terrifying.
Darn.
Chen Feng, a second-generation elite in Yanjing, wasn't at the very top of the social pyramid, but his status was high enough that even if he so much as coughed on his home turf, someone would surely rush over to light his cigarette.
But even he wouldn't have dared to imagine that this heiress from the Southern Qian family would bow to him!
Incredible.
Xiao Baozi!
“No way, I have to ask her about this,” he muttered, practically dying of curiosity.
Xue Jing raised a brow and turned his gaze. What he saw was their delicate little drama queen, now separated from the Qian family heiress. Slender and frail, Bao Ruanruan was dressed in a pale purple tracksuit, swaying gently like a tendril of dodder, so delicate that she looked as if she might topple over at the slightest gust of wind.
Topple over…
Topple…
Xue Jing's peach-blossom eyes narrowed in alarm. His long legs, previously crossed and at ease, abruptly unfolded as he leaned forward and opened the car door in one swift motion.
Plop—
A petite, soft body with a faint scent of ginseng tea fell right into his arms.
Her small face was ghostly pale, her eyes tightly shut.
Two icy cold little hands clung to the third button of his shirt, trembling ever so slightly.
Xue Jing froze.
Author's Note:
Ruanruan: Safety first~ Please excuse Baobao's weak knees for just one second~
---
(From the author)
I saw some reader comments the other day that said you shouldn't overuse eyewash because it's bad for your eyes.
You're absolutely right, my dears—don't rely too much on external products. I only use eyewash occasionally when something gets in my eyes, to avoid rubbing them with my hands.
It's especially useful when eyelashes get stuck!
Please be cautious when using it too~ Love you all!
Footnotes Full List
- (neologism, slang) woman who follows her idol around and takes high-resolution photos for other fans
Source| iMedia (Where is the weakness of the snake when it hits a snake and hits seven inches?, Dec 19th, 2024)- Her nickname in Chinese characters is 钱千千. 钱 (qián) = coin/wealth, 千 (qiān) = thousand.
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