The forbidden, melodramatic gossip of the wealthy elite left Shen Yiqiao utterly stunned.
Meanwhile, Jiang Ning calmly followed the director’s instructions, casually picked a supply pack, and trailed behind the male guests as they entered the jungle.
Her brother, Jiang Yanjing, had been molded by Jiang Jintao over the years into an impeccably qualified heir to a wealthy family—a graceful, noble gentleman whom countless young ladies and socialites in Hong Kong flocked to.
When he first proposed to Jiang Jintao the idea of marrying Jiang Ning, Jiang Jintao would never have agreed.
Even without blood ties, Jiang Yanjing still held the title of elder brother. Given Jiang Jintao’s obsession with face, such a thing was unthinkable.
Moreover, Jiang Jintao had plans to use Jiang Ning and Jiang Yanjing’s marriages to secure two powerful alliances.
Huang Wanqing likely hadn’t overheard the entire conversation back then. If she had heard how Jiang Ning responded to Jiang Yanjing after Jiang Jintao left, she probably wouldn’t harbor such intense hostility toward her.
When Jiang Yanjing first brought it up, Jiang Ning was indeed taken aback for a moment. It took her a while before she burst into laughter.
“Jiang Yanjing, shouldn’t your delusions have some limits?”
Even after being spoken to like this by Jiang Ning, Jiang Yanjing managed to maintain his composure, putting on an air of helplessness. “Why are you always so hostile toward me?”
Jiang Ning replied, “Since you have the audacity to make such a request, I thought you’d understand me well enough to know that while my compliments might be insincere, my insults are absolutely genuine. I may have no interest in the family fortune, but that doesn’t mean I’m not disgusted by you.”
That exchange was undoubtedly the longest conversation Jiang Ning and Jiang Yanjing had ever shared.
Most of the time, she kept her distance from Jiang Yanjing, finding him not worth her attention.
Jiang Ning smiled as she reminisced with him, “Do you remember back at the orphanage? I stood at the top of the stairs, watching you lock another boy—the one my father had also taken a liking to—inside a room. That’s why my father ended up choosing you.”
“I told my father to take the director and rescue that boy. When you glanced over, he was too terrified to tell the truth. My father always thought you were obedient and well-behaved, but I knew exactly what kind of person you were from that moment.”
“I despise using family background to humiliate others, but I want you to understand that my first impression of you remains that of a boy in tattered, dirty, and filthy clothes.”
“Of course, I remember,” Jiang Yanjing replied slowly, his tone gentlemanly and poised, like a towering green pine beneath the melting snow of early spring. “Back then, you stood at the top of the stairs, looking down on me like a little princess. Even after I came to the Jiang family, washed away my rustic air, and wore clothes of the same brand as yours, the gap between us remained as vast as the clouds and the mud.”
Jiang Ning let out a mocking laugh but didn’t respond. As she turned to leave, the hem of her skirt fluttered like the petals of a proud, extravagant flower.
In the live stream, Jiang Ning drifted off in thought while casually reflecting.
To avoid Huang Wanqing causing trouble for her on the show, it seemed she’d have to clarify things with her.
She truly had no interest in that fool Jiang Yanjing.
…
But it was clear that Huang Wanqing harbored deep hostility toward her.
Knowing about Jiang Ning’s past with Xi Yue, Huang Wanqing had been seizing every opportunity, both overtly and subtly, to strike up conversations with Xi Yue since appearing on camera, clearly trying to provoke Jiang Ning.
“Brother Xi, what supplies did you pack in your bag?”
“Brother Xi, I can’t open this water bottle. Could you help me open it?”
“You’re so amazing, Brother Xi, jumping down from such a high rock!”
Every time Huang Wanqing spoke, Xi Yue would glance subtly at Jiang Ning.
Jiang Ning remained calm, using Huang Wanqing’s deliberately sweet voice as background noise as she began figuring out how to set up the tent.
With each glance from Xi Yue, his expression grew darker and darker.
Finally unable to bear it any longer, he said to Huang Wanqing, “Miss Huang.”
Huang Wanqing’s eyes sparkled brightly. “What is it, Brother Xi?”
Xi Yue replied, “If you have ADHD, go help Zhong Hui and Qin Lang gather firewood. Don’t bother me.”
Huang Wanqing’s feigned expression stiffened for a moment.
Xi Yue’s fans had long been criticizing Huang Wanqing in the comments, disgusted by how she kept clinging to Xi Yue’s side.
Seeing Xi Yue personally step in to shut her down, his fans were overjoyed.
【I’ve disliked Huang Wanqing for a long time. Brother Xi doesn’t even acknowledge her, yet she insists on putting on an act right in front of him.】
【Just trying to get screen time. She’s so desperate for attention—was Huang Wanqing a bath towel in her past life?】
【And she calls herself a top-tier actress? If it weren’t for her family’s resources propping her up, with her third-rate acting skills, could she have ever reached this level?】
Huang Wanqing was a popular celebrity, considered a top-tier actress with a massive fanbase.
Seeing Xi Yue and his fans show Huang Wanqing no respect, her fans were naturally displeased.
Huang’s fans: 【Laughable. Does our Wanqing need to leech off your idol? Do you really think the entertainment industry revolves solely around your guy?】
Xi’s fans: 【Sorry, but that’s pretty much the case right now.】
Huang’s fans: 【As if your Xi Yue’s status wasn’t built on resources too. Stop pretending.】
Xi’s fans: 【No need to insult your own idol like that. Our Xi Yue worked his way up from extra roles to becoming a film emperor, sweeping all three major TV awards and the three major film awards. Your idol doesn’t even have nominations for third-rate awards.】
The comment section was ablaze with arguments.
Back in the livestream.
To avoid further awkwardness, Huang Wanqing had no choice but to go help gather firewood.
Xi Yue quickly set up his tent and casually walked over to Jiang Ning, asking her,
“Do you know how to do it? Do you need my help?”
Jiang Ning had already assembled the framework.
In the next moment, with a flick of her arm, the portable tent popped right up.
She turned to ask Xi Yue, “What is it?”
Xi Yue: “…”
The livestream had just switched to the firewood-gathering team.
When it switched back, the audience saw Jiang Ning speaking to Xi Yue. They couldn’t hear what she said, but they could see Xi Yue’s exasperated expression.
This gave viewers the mistaken impression that Jiang Ning had initiated the conversation with Xi Yue, but he couldn’t be bothered to respond.
Huang’s fans, unable to win the argument with Xi’s fans, were seething with pent-up frustration.
Seeing this scene, they rolled up their sleeves and pretended to be Xi’s fans, posting inflammatory comments to stir up trouble.
【Brother Xi clearly doesn’t want to talk to you, yet you still force your way into a conversation. Not famous, but always eager to leech off others.】
【Like a sticky plaster—just seeing you makes me sick.】
The comments were flying fast and furious.
But the next moment, Jiang Ning, having finished setting up her tent, walked over to another spot to prepare the water for cooking later.
Xi Yue followed her. “Can’t open the lid, right? Do you need me to help you open it?”
Jiang Ning twisted the cap open with a snap, her expression calm. “No need. Brother Xi, if you can’t stay idle, go gather some firewood. Let’s start the fire quickly—it’s getting a bit chilly.”
Xi Yue remarked sarcastically, “Chilly is right. Without a man in your heart, you’ll always feel cold.”
Jiang Ning: “…”
Huang Fen: “…”
Xi Fen burst into laughter.
[Those who just scolded Little Sister must be Huang Fen in disguise. Longtime fans already know these two together are bound to create new memes.]
[Brother Xi, that’s not right! With no man in your heart, drawing your sword feels divine!]
Jiang Ning really didn’t want to stay near Xi Yue, who was full of wild and outrageous remarks, fearing he might say something shocking again.
So she looked at Xi Yue, her gaze unusually focused solely on his reflection. “Xi Yue.”
Jiang Ning, who appeared aloof and detached on the surface, had a pair of classic peach-blossom eyes—dark, clear, and bright, like polished obsidian, reflecting Xi Yue’s silhouette.
When she looked at someone like this, it gave an impression of deep devotion.
Even Xi Yue was momentarily stunned by her gaze. “What is it?”
Jiang Ning said calmly, “I’ll go gather firewood. When I return, I have something very important to tell you.”