Chapter 11: If You Can't Even Take a Joke, Why Bother With a Dating Show? Did You Think You Signed Up for "Where Are We Going, Mom?"

Before Le Xi arrived, the assistant director invited her into the director’s car. The director spoke to her, “Le Xi, don’t change. Never change. I admire you.”

Le Xi declared that, aside from herself, the director was the only sane person here. Of course, even without the director’s encouragement, Le Xi would always insist on being herself.

“No way, absolutely impossible,” Huo Hongming said incredulously. While waiting for his scans at the hospital, he had snuck a look at the livestream comments and trending topics—the audience had already scolded Le Xi into oblivion. If the public opinion of Le Xi and Gu Xiaomo were swapped, Huo Hongming would never have dared to pull yesterday’s stunt.

“I’m going to find the director.”

“Stay right there,” Le Xi called out to him. “Just make a phone call. If you run back and forth, you’ll be shirking work again and trying to make me lose out. I refuse to lose.”

[You don’t lose, you’re eating... shameless.]

[Back from the director’s car and she’s tough again. What a petty person.]

Huo Hongming cast Le Xi a resentful glare, then stepped away, wrapping his arms around a tree to vent his grievances as he called the director.

Le Xi thought Gu Xiaomo was about to spew more unpleasant words at her, but it turned out to be Gu Junhao. “Le Xi, you’re back. Xiaomo was so worried about you. Now that things are settled, you can stay. I hope you two get along well.”

Oh, Le Xi felt that the way Gu Junhao looked at Gu Xiaomo was almost gooey—how sweet.

“You two really are a team. So understanding, so concerned for each other. Seeing you, I finally feel this show resembles a romance reality program. Honestly, you two have great chemistry—maybe soon you’ll have your own couple fanbase.”

Gu Xiaomo couldn’t understand how Le Xi managed to stay. She’d called the Song family and exaggerated the situation, and she distinctly heard angry noises on the other end; Song Qiming was furious, promising to make Le Xi disappear from the show. The Song family certainly had the power to do so. Could Le Xi have bound herself to the system as well?

The system immediately responded: #No.

“Then why is this happening?” The system didn’t answer again.

Gu Xiaomo grew fearful. Yesterday, the system had told her about all the benefits of binding, except for that one warning: a doomed romance. That stuck with her. If the system hadn’t said it would go to Le Xi if she refused to bind—and pointed out all the help it had given to keep her from being criticized for her manipulative ways—she wouldn’t have agreed. She imagined Le Xi, once a minor star basking in success, and herself, constantly targeted by top-tier fans online. That’s why she bound herself. Now, hearing Le Xi speak so confidently, she felt a creeping dread.

“Xi Xi, if you say so, you and Brother Hongming have chemistry too—like classic bickering couples. In those vintage idol dramas, the leads always quarreled before falling madly in love.”

[Well said, Xiaomo. Let Le Xi and Huo Hongming pair up and fight eight times a day.]

[Impossible. Even if Huo Hongming wanted it, the director wouldn’t allow it.]

[The director is blind. Doesn’t like Cui Meiying, that bombshell, but prefers a discarded woman.]

[Some fans are naive. Le Xi is obviously throwing herself at him, but our Meiying wouldn’t stoop to that.]

Le Xi shot her a glare and called out to Huo Hongming, who was still circling the tree.

“Huo Hongming, if you could choose, would you pick me or Gu Xiaomo?”

Huo Hongming answered instantly, “Of course Gu Xiaomo.”

Le Xi shrugged and said to Gu Xiaomo, “See, your argument doesn’t hold. He chose you.” Then she winked at Gu Junhao. “Young man, keep up the effort. If you don’t, your couple will be snatched away.”

“Xi Xi, you’ve been married. He’s single and younger than you. Don’t joke like that.” Clearly, with the system, Gu Xiaomo was much more assertive now.

“If you can’t handle a joke like that, why are you on a romance show? You’re not on ‘Where Are We Going, Mom?’” Without waiting for Gu Xiaomo to respond, Le Xi shouted at Huo Hongming, “Are you done yet? If you’re not switching, get over here and work. Otherwise, forget two hundred—twenty is all you’ll get.”

Huo Hongming grumbled but had no choice. The director started out patient, but by the end grew annoyed, bluntly saying, “Film if you want, leave if you don’t.” Huo Hongming had only ever played minor roles before, and only after gaining notoriety did he start getting more scripts. He had turned down several for this reality show; now, if he quit, he’d lose everything.

“Are you scolding your son?” Huo Hongming asked as he worked, his temper not entirely subdued.

“If you were my son and acted like this, I’d slap you myself.” Le Xi picked up a lamb and shoved it into his arms. “Take it to the riverside.”

Soon, Gu Junhao and Gu Xiaomo arrived, leading three lambs. Yesterday, Le Xi had slaughtered two; today, Gu Xiaomo had to slaughter three—determined to surpass Le Xi.

“Xi Xi, everyone craved ribs yesterday, so I thought today I’d slaughter a lamb, sell some meat, and mainly cook lamb ribs for the group. You won’t blame me for taking your business, will you?”

Le Xi replied, “I do blame you. So, how about you just don’t sell?”

Huo Hongming threw a handful of wool on the ground. “You’re too domineering. What gives you the right?”

Gu Junhao chimed in, “Yeah, you’re too domineering. The rules don’t say we can’t sell the same thing. Why shouldn’t Xiaomo and I sell?”

Le Xi pointed at Huo Hongming. “If you think I’m domineering, don’t team up with me. Pick whoever you want.” Then she pointed at Gu Junhao, “Why? Because your partner is manipulative. If she hadn’t asked, I wouldn’t have said anything.”

Gu Xiaomo’s eyes filled with tears.

[Le Xi, you really are domineering—the most domineering of all.]

[Xiaomo, don’t cry. Just sell it, and sell it better than her. You’re being polite, and she’s spoiled by you.]

Gu Junhao quickly handed Gu Xiaomo a tissue to comfort her. “She’s always harsh—don’t mind her. We’ll sell anyway; it was my idea, not yours. Don’t cry.”

Le Xi had only one lamb today, just for wool. She finished quickly and let Huo Hongming carry it away, leaving Gu Xiaomo and Gu Junhao to their tender moments.

Today, Le Xi didn’t go to the butcher shop but instead visited the barbecue stand, which operated mainly in the evenings but was open during the day as well. The owner was skewering meat.

“Boss, we’re filming ‘Let’s Be Brave in Love.’ I’d like to borrow your space, tools, and seasonings. Not for free—I’ll pay you a hundred yuan.”

The owner asked, “What are you doing with the lamb?”

“Roasting it whole.” Fresh lamb wasn’t likely to sell well today, but a whole roast lamb might. Le Xi had observed yesterday: barbecue shops were everywhere in this town, making it clear that this was a barbecue hotspot. Meat tasted best in big, hearty bites—a whole roast lamb would definitely sell.

As soon as she mentioned it, the barbecue shop owner, who made a living selling skewers, licked his lips.

“No need for payment. Just let me have a taste when it’s done.”