Chapter 149: Self-righteousness (Plus More)
Chapter 149
With the generous assistance of the island master, this otherwise not very good rainy night became exceptionally wonderful.
The guests had also been out camping before, but it was the first time sleeping in tents indoors. Four double tents were erected in sequence in the living room, and with the waterproof pads and air mattresses, they didn't have to worry about the damp ground. Listening to the pouring rain outside the window, it was quite comfortable.
Bai Yinyue and Zhong Ruanxing lay in a tent, speaking with a bit of delight: "Thanks to you for establishing good relations with the island master beforehand, otherwise we wouldn't have been able to sleep well tonight."
The tents were close to each other, and they could hear each other's words. Xia Xi's voice of agreement came from next door: "Yes, it's simply moving heaven and earth, completely different from what the director described."
From what the director had said so seriously before, they thought the island master was some kind of fierce and terrifying demon king.
They didn't expect the island master to be quite nice!
The next day, after the rain, the island was even clearer and more translucent, with the sun hanging brightly in the blue sky, casting a gorgeous rainbow.
The task of collecting materials to build a raft was suspended, and the most important goal today was to fix the roof!
The program team had tricked them once, and they couldn't let them succeed again. The weather at sea was fickle, they couldn't keep sleeping in tents every time it rained. Fixing the leaky roof was imperative.
However, none of the eight guests had done this kind of work before, and they could only discuss and fumble their way through it.
Duan Mangyun suddenly suggested: "Climbing up and down is too dangerous. None of us know how to fix a roof. Why don't we go ask the island master for help?"
Everyone frowned at her, and Duan Mangyun felt a little embarrassed, but she still insisted on her idea: "The island master was willing to help us last night, so asking for help with a small thing like fixing the roof should definitely not be a problem, right?"
Xia Xi shook her head in disagreement: "It's one thing that he's willing to help, it's another thing for us to take the initiative to ask him for help. Also, the director said we can't disturb the island master, so we'd better not violate the rules."
Duan Mangyun laughed softly and looked at Zhong Ruanxing: "Ruanxing gets along well with the island master, so if Ruanxing goes to the island master, there will definitely be no problem. Ruanxing, are you willing to go ask the island master for help for us?"
Zhong Ruanxing also smiled and didn't take the bait at all: "Unwilling." She raised her eyebrows and said, "If you want the island master's help, you can go find him yourself. What, don't you know the way? You see that road over there, just keep walking and you'll get there."
Duan Mangyun was pushed back by her words, and showed that pitiful expression again: "I was just making a suggestion. If you're not willing then forget it. We'll just have to work a little harder ourselves."
Bai Yinyue waved her hand in front of her face and fanned herself, with a look of disgust: "Where is that strong tea smell coming from, it's so unpleasant."
Xia Xi also stood up: "Yinyue, come help me steady the ladder. I'll climb up first to see where it's leaking."
Bai Yinyue smiled and followed: "Okay."
Everyone got busy, groping and trying by trial and error. Although they still hadn't fixed the roof by noon, no one mentioned seeking the island master's help.
At noon everyone ate simply, and while they were resting they asked the program team: "Can you lend us a phone and let us look up how to fix a roof online?"
The program team ruthlessly refused: "No."
Xia Xi angrily said: "A gentleman does not eat food that he hasn't earned! We can do it ourselves!"
So the group busied themselves again under the blazing sun.
Duan Mangyun stood under the eaves watching everyone climbing up and down, a cold smile flashing in her eyes. A bunch of fools, refusing to use the help at hand and insisting on doing it themselves. They had been at it for hours now, yet she didn't see them make any progress.
A thought was itching in her heart.
If she could get the island master to help, it would resolve the current difficulty. Then let's see what they have to say.
Also, she always wanted to compete with Zhong Ruanxing.
If Zhong Ruanxing could gain the island master's favor, why couldn't she? Since the island master was willing to lend a hand last night, it showed he had a good impression of them, this group of guests who came to the island to film the show. If she appeared before him now, building on the goodwill that Zhong Ruanxing had already fostered, wouldn't it be even easier to succeed?
Once this thought emerged, she couldn't suppress it anymore. Duan Mangyun first went back to the bedroom to dress up properly, then took advantage of everyone's inattention to leave the base, and walked along the path Zhong Ruanxing had pointed out towards the island master's manor.
Bai Yinyue was standing on the ladder handing over the canopy to Xia Xi when she saw Duan Mangyun's figure disappear into the woods. When she came down, she secretly said to Zhong Ruanxing: "It looks like Duan Mangyun went to find the island master."
Zhong Ruanxing was not surprised at all, smiling: "Let her go. It'll be impressive if she can actually get the island master to come."
The conversation between the two was naturally also heard by the audience.
After a few days of live streaming, the good impression Duan Mangyun had accumulated in previous variety shows by following her agent's teachings to say less and do more had gone up in smoke. She didn't have any works originally, nor did she leave any diehard fans, so her popularity with the general public vanished quickly on this show.
The bullet screen comments were full of schadenfreude:
[Families, I bet a bag of spicy sticks that she'll be kicked off the island by the island master]
[So why doesn't she trust her companions and have to rely on an island master she hasn't even met?]
[I feel like Duan Mangyun is always comparing herself to Zhong Ruanxing, intentionally or not she keeps targeting her obviously. Did they have some private feud before?]
[One is a serious actress, one is a variety show socialite, they are like parallel lines that can never intersect. I don't know where her hostility comes from.]
[Uh, actually, when I was looking up Zhong Ruanxing's history I discovered she had posted many photos with Duan Mangyun before, it seems like they were BFFs, although she deleted those Weibo posts now.]
[Whoa! Hot gossip! BFF catfight!]
...
The bullet screen exploded with discussion, while at this moment Duan Mangyun was already standing in front of the dreamy manor that looked like a castle.
The cameraman followed her and pointed the camera at the castle before them. The audience immediately forgot about the gossip and marveled at the gorgeous castle manor.
How much would it cost to build such a manor on an island? What kind of noble person could live in a castle like this?
Duan Mangyun was also shocked by the manor before her eyes. Excitement flashed in her eyes. She tidied her hair, then took a deep breath and walked towards the gate with perfect manners.
She pressed the doorbell, a sweet smile she had practiced in front of the mirror countless times in private on her face. The audience also looked forward in anticipation, anxiously waiting for the gate to open and get a first look at the island master's true appearance.
However, one minute passed, then two, then five, without any movement.
Duan Mangyun's smile became stiff. She pressed the doorbell again.
Still no response.
The tightly shut gate seemed to be mocking a clown who had overestimated herself, completely crushing her presumptuousness.