Ch 172: The Cannon Fodder Won’t Play Along Anymore [QT]

In August, even at four in the afternoon the sun was still blazing.

Mu Xing found a patch of shade and sat down. Beside him, Ji Youyou had already handed him a small fan.

So he sat there, enjoying the breeze, occasionally peeling a big loquat to eat, while watching the other guests sweat buckets as they picked fruit.

Utterly relaxed.

The camera crew kept zooming in on his face, making the contrast even more striking.

Soon enough, some viewers started complaining:

【The others are still working, and he’s just sitting there?】
【Honestly, Mu Xing really doesn’t know how to behave. They’re all one team—he finishes his share and just stops, not helping anyone else? In the workplace, someone like this would never survive.】
【I agree, his emotional intelligence is so low. Film emperor Qin, Jiang Shengyu, Fu Chen—aren’t they all his seniors? Why not seize the chance to perform well and build good connections? And Gu Jiani and Zhou Qiongyu, two girls sweating under the sun—aren’t you embarrassed to rest while they struggle?】
【Those criticizing him are probably the other guests’ fans. Mu Xing finished his part—why can’t he rest?】
【And you’re criticizing him with your idol’s profile picture? First, Jiang Shengyu expected him to cook for everyone, now fans expect him to do extra work just because he’s fast. What does he owe you? Like idol, like fans—so annoying.】
【As a working adult, I don’t mind fast, capable teammates. I only hate the ones who drag behind.】
【Isn’t this fair? Work fast and rest early. Work slow and keep pushing.】
【They’re grown adults in their twenties. Picking loquats and still wanting others to help? Maybe their fans should hand them baby bottles.】
【Am I the only one craving loquats? Watching Mu Xing eat them is making me hungry.】
【Already ordered five pounds online.】

Meanwhile, Fu Chen wiped sweat from his forehead, glanced over, and saw Mu Xing sitting under the fan.

He looked around—thankfully the others hadn’t noticed yet.

“Mu Xing!” he shouted. “Why are you resting already?”

Before Mu Xing could answer, Ji Youyou called out loudly: “He already finished picking, he’s waiting for you guys.”

Well then.

Fu Chen turned and looked at his own basket.

“Ah! I’m jealous!” he wailed.

The others finally realized—Mu Xing was already done and relaxing.

Zhou Qiongyu instantly lost her motivation. With a pitiful face she called, “Mu Xing, big boss, can you please help us poor weaklings? I really can’t finish this.”

Mu Xing turned to Ji Youyou. “Are we allowed to help each other?”

Ji Youyou laughed. “We just need one basket per person. How you fill it doesn’t matter.”

Since he wasn’t too tired, Mu Xing asked Zhou Qiongyu, “I can help. But what will you give me in return?”

Zhou Qiongyu froze. Wait, she had to pay a fee for this?

She was stuck, but not far away Gu Jiani’s eyes lit up. So it could be done this way?

She immediately called out, “little brother Xing, whatever you want, I’ll give it to you! Please help me finish my basket!”

Fu Chen jumped in without missing a beat: “Bro! Brother Mu Xing! You’re my brother from another mother! Whatever I have, it’s yours, just help me out!”

【????】
【Who would have thought it would develop like this】
【Haha, Zhou Qiongyu was dumbstruck. Honestly, I was too when I heard Mu Xing say ‘what will you give me?’】
【Isn’t that petty? She’s a girl, what’s wrong with lending a hand?】
【Stop being generous with other people’s time. Helping is kindness, refusing is his right. Honestly, I admire Mu Xing—staying true to himself even on livestream. Imagine how free his life must feel off-camera.】
【Respect +1, and a little jealous. I often want to refuse things too but don’t dare say it out loud.】

Mu Xing tilted his head, thought for a moment, and said, “Then tonight’s cooking, you two will split my share.”

Gu Jiani: “Okay, little brother!”

Fu Chen: “Okay, big bro!”

【The family hierarchy, hahaha】
【Not messed up really—they’re all the same generation anyway】

Zhou Qiongyu was dumbfounded. In the blink of an eye, those two shameless ones had clung to him.

What about her?

What about her!

In desperation, she blurted out, “Daddy!”

Mu Xing: “…”

Everyone else: “…”

Audience: “…”

“Well damn.” Gu Jiani gave Zhou Qiongyu a complicated look. “Looks like I suddenly gained a niece.”

【Hahahahahahaha!】
【Mu Xing’s face said it all—he never expected someone to call him daddy for half a basket of loquats.】
【Zhou Qiongyu, wake up! Your persona just collapsed! You’re supposed to be the sweet new diva, not the clown queen!】
【Clown queen, I’m dying】

Mu Xing was clearly shaken by that “daddy.”

In the end, he still stood up to help, but remarked as he went, “That really wasn’t necessary.”

The comment section erupted in laughter.

He picked a nearby tree, told the three of them to bring their baskets over, then climbed up and began cutting fruit, tossing them down in bunches.

His movements were quick and practiced, aiming perfectly for the ripe clusters. Their baskets visibly filled up in no time.

Naturally, Qin Song and Jiang Shengyu heard all of this.

Jiang Shengyu frowned, rubbed his sore arm, and stayed silent.

Qin Song, of course, couldn’t bring himself to ask for help—especially with that strained, unfriendly layer of history between him and Mu Xing.

The result was that in less than half an hour, the three baskets were filled.

They thanked Mu Xing profusely, then stopped asking for his help, happily carrying their baskets to the crew to check off the task.

Now, the number of people sitting comfortably in the shade with fans had gone from one to four.

With them all lounging there, Qin Song and Jiang Shengyu—still seriously picking loquats—looked rather out of place.

The live chat noticed too:

【By comparison, Film emperor Qin and Shengyu look so pitiful】
【Aren’t you guys going to help them? Just sitting there watching?】
【Though to be fair, they never asked Mu Xing for help just now】

Gu Jiani glanced over with a bit of guilt.

She whispered, “Should we go help them? Brother Song and Jiang Shengyu are still working.”

She and Fu Chen exchanged a look.

Fu Chen stretched comfortably and refused right away: “No way! I already sold my dignity just to avoid picking more of these. Finally, I get to sit—why would I go suffer again?”

Zhou Qiongyu, carefully wiping sweat with a tissue she’d gotten from Ji Youyou, quickly nodded: “Exactly! I even called him daddy and agreed to cover dinner. If I go help them now, wouldn’t all that effort be wasted?”

Hard to argue with that logic.

Gu Jiani instinctively looked at Mu Xing.

He lazily said, “What are you looking at me for? I’m not helping, too tiring.”

So Gu Jiani obediently sat down, accepted a water bottle from a staffer, and stayed quiet.

【??? They’re really just going to watch?】
【What else would they do? The three of them literally begged Mu Xing for help, even called him daddy. Now that they’re done, they finally get to rest. Why would they go volunteer for more?】
【Is Mu Xing really tired? I haven’t seen him sweat at all】
【The host asked him earlier—he said he doesn’t sweat much. Everyone else looks exhausted and messy, but he still looks clean and fresh. Envy】
【He’s not tired at all. He just openly refuses to help those two—pure double standard, but bold about it】
【And why should he help? They’re divorced. Yesterday Mu Xing flat-out said on camera they won’t even be friends. With that, why pretend to be friendly just for the livestream?】

Qin Song and Jiang Shengyu couldn’t help but feel uncomfortable seeing the four of them just sit there watching.

But under the gaze of the cameras, they couldn’t say anything.

After a moment’s hesitation, Jiang Shengyu called out, “Brother Song, let’s do this together.”

He bit his lip, then said, “It’s too tiring and slow to tiptoe and clip. I can’t climb—can you hold me up so I can get on the tree?”

Qin Song froze.

Normally, Jiang Shengyu was cautious about avoiding any rumors on camera.

But hearing this, Qin Song was secretly pleased.

He was more than happy to show off their closeness in front of everyone.

Instead of holding him, he crouched down and said, “Step on my shoulders and climb up.”

【Ahhhhhhh my ship is sailing!】
【Willing to bow down, to let himself be stepped on—what a divine love!】
【QinSheng Forever is real, I’m tired of saying it already!】
【I’m so excited I ran out my door and sprinted around my neighborhood!】
【Honestly, what’s the big deal? It’s just teamwork】

Meanwhile, Fu Chen, Gu Jiani, and Zhou Qiongyu all turned to look at Mu Xing in unison.

Mu Xing noticed and stared back blankly. “Why are you all looking at me?”

【I get it—they’re watching to see his reaction】
【But Mu Xing looks totally clueless, like he has no idea what they’re expecting】
【Honestly, I’m starting to doubt those old rumors about him chasing after Qin Song. I see zero sign he cares】

And it wasn’t just the viewers who were puzzled—Gu Jiani and the others on-site were too.

Following their gaze, Mu Xing finally noticed the pair.

He asked, “What are they doing?”

Fu Chen answered, “Jiang Shengyu’s trying to climb the tree to pick loquats. He couldn’t, so he’s stepping on Qin Song’s shoulders.”

Mu Xing: “…”

His expression turned odd. “That’s… certainly a unique approach. Couldn’t they just ask the crew for a ladder?”

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