CHAPTER 132: CHAPTER 122: A VACATION VARIETY SHOW? I NEED TO PREPARE FOR IT_2

"What’s the point? Of course, it’s about making connections. Don’t you see? Even though you’re getting famous now, how many friends do you have in the industry? How many people helped promote your album when it was released?"

"This trip is for you to make friends, got it? It doesn’t matter how you perform on the show, as long as you’re not disliked. But you must meet more people, understand?"

After hearing her out, Xu Qingqiu finally understood what she meant. Every day, apart from singing, she was just cooped up in the studio.

It wasn’t that she didn’t want to do other things, but she simply never had the opportunity.

Others had schedules packed every day, flying all over the country and lining up for various shows. They also had all sorts of social engagements, dinners, parties, and the like.

As for her? Nothing. Did she not want to? Who could make it alone in this circle? No one!

She didn’t lack the desire, just the opportunity. It had been better before at Baise Entertainment, where she was the top star with plenty of shows. But now that she’d gone solo, she needed to build relationships herself. Regardless of whether those relationships were genuine or just superficial, it was crucial to start forming a network.

"Okay, Sister Hua, I understand."

"Good that you understand. I won’t be going this time. Take Yiyi with you, and it’s best to bring Chu Tian along too. With him, I’ll feel a bit more at ease."

Bring Chu Tian?

Xu Qingqiu hesitated at first, but upon hearing this, she suddenly became interested. She quickly agreed and then ran toward the recording studio, where Chu Tian was lazing around. As soon as she entered, she asked.

"Chu Tian, I need to go record a show in a couple of days. Come with me, okay?"

"Record a show? What kind of show?"

"A variety show, something like a travel and vacation program."

"Travel and vacation? For real?"

"Really. I heard the scenery there is beautiful, with mountains and water. We can even go mountain climbing and catch fish!"

Mountains and water? Mountain climbing and fishing?

Chu Tian didn’t initially want to go, but this piqued his interest. He had been drooling over the scenic photos Xu Qingqiu sent him every day.

Now, wasn’t this the perfect opportunity? After all, he was just going along as Xu Qingqiu’s assistant while she filmed the program, which meant he was basically tagging along for fun!

No reason to hesitate; he immediately agreed.

"No problem, I’m in, but I need to prepare!"

"Prepare? What’s there to prepare for?"

"Isn’t it a show? With this kind of outdoor variety in a scenic place, it’s bound to be far away, right?"

Indeed, the location wouldn’t be close. The details had already given the filming location as being around a city in the Yangtze River Basin, so she naturally nodded.

"Yes, it’s a bit far."

"You see, that’s it. There’s a lot to prepare for something so far—like clothes, medication, and daily necessities, right?"

Hmm? Something didn’t seem quite right. Why did he agree so quickly? And he was already considering what to bring?

Xu Qingqiu couldn’t quite keep up with Chu Tian’s train of thought and, in the end, was completely swept along by him.

Why was he so excited? Because he was about to go out and have fun!

Not only that, he had just acquired two high-level skills, one in Fishing Technique and the other in barbecue. He had felt a bit underwhelmed by them before, but now they were about to come in handy!

Imagine: while others were working hard filming the show, he’d be relaxing by the river with his fishing rod, contentedly fishing. After catching fish, he’d set up a grill. With his Expert Fishing Technique, wouldn’t he be able to catch fish easily? And after catching them, he’d cook and eat them right on the spot, grilling them to perfection with his Master-level Barbecue skill—wouldn’t that be utterly blissful?

With that idea, he couldn’t contain his excitement, practically drooling at the thought.

Xu Qingqiu looked dazedly at Chu Tian’s excited face, feeling that something was off.

Wasn’t he usually reluctant to go out? Why was he so happy? Wasn’t she asking him to accompany her? How come it felt like there was a catch to his eager agreement?

Chu Tian didn’t care what she thought. Once an idea formed in his mind, he was eager to put it into practice.

Since it would be too late to order online for an event two to three days away, he searched offline directly. First, he prepared all kinds of fishing gear, like rods and bait. Then he gathered a barbecue grill, charcoal, seasonings, tools, and so on.

Soon, his little dorm room was piled high with stuff.

Of course, many of these things could be bought normally. However, there were also various items that couldn’t be purchased, which, naturally, were produced by the system. Sunscreen, insect repellent, fatigue-relieving masks, and so on. Anyway, his Reputation Points were still growing and were more than enough, so he wasn’t polite at all; he took everything he could.

To avoid any misunderstandings, he also took out a portion of these system items in advance and packed them with his other belongings.

「On the morning of the fourth day」

Yiyi and Xu Qingqiu, loaded with large and small packages, were ready and drove over to pick him up.

When Chu Tian came out with his things, the two of them were dumbfounded.

"No way, why do you have so much stuff?"

"This much? Isn’t it a vacation? We’ll need all of this."

"Vacation? We’re going to shoot a variety show! Who told you it was a vacation?"

"Qingqiu said so. Besides, she’s the one filming the show, not me. If I’m just accompanying her, isn’t that basically a vacation for me?"

Yiyi’s mouth hung open, her eyes wide, not knowing how to retort for a moment.

"Is that so?" she asked.

Chu Tian gave her a meaningful look and nodded naturally.

"Otherwise? Do you think you can get on camera and fill in for her? Since you can’t, while she’s filming, don’t the two of us just get to be on vacation?"

Watching Chu Tian spouting nonsense with such a serious face, Yiyi’s mind was thrown into disarray.

"Aren’t we her assistants? Is this how assistants behave?"

"Then how should they behave? Oh, while she’s filming, you stand by her side, not moving an inch? What’s the use of that?"

Xu Qingqiu, who had just gotten out of the car, was also taken aback by his outrageous statements.

Looking at Yiyi’s thoughtful expression, it was clear she was being completely taken in. If Qingqiu didn’t intervene, her dear little assistant was about to defect. She hurriedly rushed over and rained a few playful blows on Chu Tian.

"What are you doing? Attacking someone first thing in the morning? Do you have violent tendencies?"

"You’re the one to talk, spewing all that nonsense just now! Look how you’ve bamboozled Yiyi; she almost believed you! I only have two assistants. You’re not going to do any work, so what now? Am I supposed to do everything myself?"

Chu Tian knew he was being a bit unscrupulous and couldn’t help laughing, but he still consoled her, "No worries, no worries. I was just talking casually. It’s her fault for not being firm. You can just dock her pay later."

"Chu Tian! How can you be so mean!"

Upon hearing about docking pay, Yiyi snapped out of her daze. She glanced cautiously at Xu Qingqiu and let out a sigh of relief when she saw that Sister Qiu wasn’t angry. However, her resentment towards Chu Tian grew stronger.

This guy was too wicked.

"You guys watch these for a moment. There’s still some stuff inside I need to grab."

"There’s more?" Xu Qingqiu looked at the pile of items on the ground, at a loss for words.

When Chu Tian brought out all the items and was loading the car, Xu Qingqiu and Yiyi helped, occasionally exclaiming in shock.

"What’s this? A fishing rod? Are you seriously planning on taking a vacation?"

"A barbecue grill? Have you gone mad? Who takes a barbecue grill with them when they go out?"

"And all these bottles and jars, spices? Are you planning to hold a barbecue festival?"

Chu Tian took the items from their hands and said nonchalantly, "What do you guys know? These things may not seem useful now, but you’ll see their importance once we’re there."

In his previous life, he had participated in quite a few variety shows. Although the locations were scenic, the food was often... indescribably bad.

The production crew was there to work, after all, not as part of a tour group. Most of the staff ate boxed meals.

Stars could arrange for their own food, but that sort of thing was very prone to backfiring. He wasn’t some young master, and boxed meals weren’t unbearable, so he usually ate with everyone else.

Having the aura of a star yet still needing special food arrangements—such things were quite common behind the scenes. But the moment someone found something to use against them, it would become a black mark on their reputation.

But this life was different. He wasn’t a star and could do as he pleased. Later on, the director could be in front, shouting ’Action!’ or ’Cut!’, while he was behind the scenes, sizzling away cooking fish slices.

Not only would he be free of such burdens, but no one could tell him what to do.

The thought was both wickedly satisfying and exhilarating! The neighboring production team would be envious to tears!