Chapter 8 Drawing for Lunch
The director held a small loudspeaker and cued the flow. "Won't you introduce your relationship?"
I glanced at Ji Mingxu. Seeing he had no intention of speaking, I faced the camera and said, "Hello everyone, I'm Ji Mingxu's neighbor."
Yes, Ji Mingxu and I were truly childhood friends.
Our families lived so close. He had made it big while I was practically invisible in the Domestic Entertainment Circle. Being in the same industry made it awkward.
"Our relationship isn't that formal, is it?" Ji Mingxu paused, then faced the camera. "This is my childhood friend."
The director asked, "Then what line of work is Jiang Dai in?"
It was not the director deliberately making things difficult. The previous paired guests had all shared basic details. Zhao Qianlin had just finished high school. Qin Ranran was a singer. Su Lanyu was still pursuing a doctorate abroad.
I paused before answering. "I'm an actor."
The person beside me seemed to chuckle lightly. I did not know if others heard it, but I definitely did.
"What a coincidence. I'm an actor too. I hope to have the chance to collaborate with Jiang Dai in the future," Ji Mingxu said.
“…”
Ji Mingxu rarely joined variety shows for a reason.
He never kept up a persona outside. That sarcastic edge of his was real.
All eight guests had appeared. The director started handing out tasks.
Hello, The Present was a lifestyle variety show. Past episodes only involved cooking, eating, travel, and heart-to-heart talks.
Each episode looked similar on paper, but different artists made the results vary.
Doing it in Live Stream format was a first. It counted as a bold try.
The director held the loudspeaker. "Please come forward group by group to draw lots for work allocation. Work together to complete your delicious lunch."
"Director, did I mishear?" Ji Mingxu objected first. "When you invited me, you said it was just to come play. Eat and drink well. Now I have to cook?"
Fu Shuangyan showed a look of doubting life. "Director, you told me the same."
Xu Ying, the senior, said, "Wasn't the scenery here great and perfect for bringing kids?"
Su Jingyu added, "Why did you tell me it was to exercise myself? Director, you're biased!"
“…”
Case closed. Three had been tricked in. One had been coaxed.
Netizens in the live stream room were laughing wildly.
Contracts were signed. The Live Stream was already running. The director had nothing to fear. "We provided good food, drink, and fun. What's wrong with experiencing the joy of doing it yourself?"
"See the ingredients over there? All carefully selected and bought. Guaranteed tasty."
Complaints aside, the work still needed doing.
Ji Mingxu poked me. "Little Jiang Dai, go draw a lot."
The other three drawing were the invited relatives too. Staff held a jar. Each drew a stick at random.
I pulled mine out and glanced at it, then silently covered the words.