Chapter 6: Starting Off in a Shantytown

Chapter 6: Chapter 6: Starting Off in a Shantytown

The second livestream began in the cars that were transporting the guests.

By this time, the stream had been split into four main feeds, each with its own dedicated channel—

It was no surprise who had the most viewers. The top-tier actor, Fu Chao, was in a league of his own, far and away in first place.

Fu Chao was thirty-two this year. Formally trained, he debuted in a film during his junior year of college and became an overnight sensation. Since then, he had remained at the pinnacle of stardom, never once stepping down from his pedestal. His fame was at its zenith, a household name known to young and old alike.

What was most remarkable was his character, which had remained impeccable for over a decade. In the entertainment industry, nearly everyone who mentioned him had nothing but praise, and he hadn’t had a single piece of negative press in all those years.

His partner on the show was Qing Xi, his cousin’s son. The two didn’t seem particularly close, giving off the clumsy and amusing vibe of a new dad just starting out. Netizens commented one after another that it was like seeing a god step down from his pedestal.

The second most popular stream featured Qi Pei’er. At twenty-six, she was a renowned singer-songwriter, a classic case of her songs being more famous than she was. After her sister and brother-in-law passed away, she adopted her nephew, Qi Zhang. Because her work kept her busy, the boy was mostly cared for by a nanny, so she wanted to use this variety show as an opportunity to spend time with him.

Both aunt and nephew had cheerful, enthusiastic personalities. Wherever they were, there was always laughter and joy, which quickly earned them a wave of new fans.

Ranking third was Xie Yu, thirty years old. He was a new-generation director who had shot to fame last year, having just won an international award for Best New Director. He later gained even more attention for his good looks, leading netizens to joke that he was a man who could have relied on his face but chose to rely on his talent instead.

Xie Yu didn’t have the best personality; he was cold, quiet, sharp-tongued, and brutally honest. But he had a beautiful, angelic daughter, Xie An’an, who was as well-behaved as she was adorable. The moment she appeared, she captured the hearts of netizens, who affectionately called her their "internet daughter."

It was safe to say that more than half the viewers on this channel were there for Xie An’an.

And then there were Nan Zhi and Nan Yi, in last place. Their situation needed no explanation. Most viewers who entered their livestream channel were there for one reason: to curse out the mother and son.

Because of the earlier interview segment, netizens had gone a little easier on Nan Yi, concentrating their firepower on Nan Zhi instead. The level of vile and abusive language was so extreme that the production team had to assign staff just to moderate the comments.

They were afraid the channel would be shut down if the comments got too obscene.

Anyone else would have likely crumbled under such intense cyberbullying.

But Nan Zhi remained perfectly composed, not even sparing the screen a glance. This infuriated the netizens, who gnashed their teeth while calling her "shameless."

Hate-watching was still watching, however, and the channel’s viewership steadily climbed.

Finally, the cars arrived at their assigned residences.

Based on the "identities" they had drawn, the four pairs of guests were assigned vastly different living quarters.

As the other three pairs of guests arrived one after another, their drawn identities and corresponding family backgrounds were revealed.

The pair of Nan Zhi and her son were the last to arrive.

At that exact moment, the number of viewers in the livestream skyrocketed.

[Not here for anything else, just came to watch the drama!]

[Here for the drama +1!]

[The other three identities didn’t seem that great. Don’t tell me that psycho Nan Zhi drew the best one?]

[No way, no way, right? If she did, the show is definitely rigged!]

[Already got my keyboard ready to flame her!]

...

The follow-along director assigned to Nan Zhi and Nan Yi led them to the front of a messy shantytown.

"This is where you two will be staying from now on."

Nan Zhi’s eyes, calm as drops of ink, quietly swept over the dreadful surroundings—

Dilapidated old houses were packed tightly together, their walls mottled and moldy. The roofs were mostly made of tiles or corrugated steel. The narrow alleyways were cluttered with all sorts of junk, while sewage flowed freely on the ground amidst scattered trash. Now and then, a rat or a cockroach would scurry past.

Although the apartment Nan Zhi and Nan Yi currently lived in was also rented, the previous Tactician was not the type to put up with hardship. Even when renting, she had chosen a mid- to high-end apartment complex where the environment, location, and security were all top-notch.

It was a world apart from this shantytown.

Nan Zhi said nothing. She walked forward a few steps and pushed open the half-closed door. A wave of dust mixed with a musty smell washed over her, and the small, ten-square-meter studio apartment came into full view.

The furniture inside was relatively complete: a wardrobe, a bed, a sofa, a small table, and a makeshift kitchen set up in the corner.

But the place had clearly been uninhabited for a long time; a thick layer of dust covered every visible surface.

The wardrobe door was hanging half-off its hinges, looking like it would fall off with a single tug.

The 1.2-meter single bed seemed sturdy enough, but it was bare, without a mattress.

The sofa was also terribly old, with low-quality foam peeking out from its worn corners.

And then there was the small table, wobbly and unstable. When Nan Zhi turned, she accidentally bumped it, and one of its legs immediately gave way, crashing to the floor and startling everyone.

The gawking commenters in the live chat went quiet for a rare few seconds:

[This...]

[There are still places like this in Yanjing?]

[I know this place. It’s the cheapest shantytown in the entire city. I lived there right after graduation when I had no money. A studio apartment was only 500 a month. The conditions are really, really bad. I moved out the second I saved up three months’ salary.]

[Wait, the environment is one thing, but the main issue is safety! A vulnerable single mother living in a place like this with her child... isn’t the production team worried they’ll be in danger?]

[I really hated Nan Zhi before, but seeing this, I actually feel a little sorry for her. The other guests’ places are at least normal and livable, but this is...]

[Stop worrying, you guys. The production team wouldn’t want to get into trouble, so they definitely thought about this! I actually suspect this is all an act by the show and Nan Zhi to sell a sob story!]

[Exactly! This place is probably just for filming. Once the livestream ends for the night, they’ll move her to a luxury hotel!]

[Whoa, that’s possible! And to think I actually pitied Nan Zhi for three seconds! I repent!]

[Hee hee hee, I hope she has a meltdown and quits the show!]

...

Perhaps, at first, there was a glimmer of pity in the live chat.

But as a few people began to steer the narrative, that sympathy was quickly washed away.

Almost all the viewers subconsciously assumed that this was just a filming location, not where they would actually be living.

But the production team and Nan Zhi herself knew the truth—

For the foreseeable future, Nan Zhi and Nan Yi really were going to live here.

The follow-along director’s eyes were glued to Nan Zhi, waiting for her to explode.

But after looking around, Nan Zhi just mused:

"It’s acceptable. It’s livable."

The follow-along director’s eyes nearly popped out of his head!

He immediately blurted out:

"A-Are you sure?"

A faint smile touched Nan Zhi’s lips as she glanced sideways at him.

"What, you think this place isn’t livable?"

The follow-along director stammered, unable to answer.

’Am I supposed to admit that this was the production team’s plan all along?’

So, he quickly changed the subject, speaking in a rush:

"According to the rules, guests must hand over any items that don’t fit their character’s background. The production team will provide a phone with the show’s emergency number stored in it. You are not allowed to seek outside help; doing so will result in a point deduction, and serious violations will lead to elimination from the show!"

"And with that, please begin your survival experience!"