CH 82.3

The director began to announce today’s tasks, “I think you should have known each other yesterday. Now, you have to carry out the mission and get the map and key to the secret realm. In this process, you have to go through the test of the guardian of the secret treasure. Get their approval to be able to pass the customs smoothly and move forward.”

Shen Xingchen: “Alrighty then.” 

The director continued, “In this village, there are five guardians of the sacred objects, and you need to find them by yourself and complete the tasks they entrusted to you. Remember, it’s a first come, first serve system.” 

All groups immediately set off.

When Shen Xingsui left, he couldn’t help looking at Fu Jinxiao a few more times. He saw  Anran come over to the actor to talk, and Fu Jinxiao listened calmly. The two of them were separated by some distance, but they seemed to be getting along well. It was a very harmonious atmosphere.

Shen Xingsui was watching, and Fu Jinxiao, who was not far away, seemed to sense it. He snuck a glance and met Shen Xingsui’s gaze.

Shen Xingsui felt guilty and panicked.

Fu Jinxiao seemed to understand his little thoughts. A faint smile curled up on the corner of his lips; and under the early morning sun, the handsome man seemed to be bathed in soft glow. His charming smile made his heart skip a couple of beats. 

Shen Xingsui rubbed his nose resentfully to try to cover up his emotions. He quickly withdrew his gaze and followed Shen Xingchen, fearing that Fu Jinxiao would think that he was too clingy towards the actor. 

Shen Xingchen walked in the front, swaggering, thinking that he was worried that he would not win. “Wait, I will take you to win today! We’ll leave all other groups in the dust!” 

Shen Xingsui came back to his senses and agreed with his brother. 

Since the area covered the whole village, finding the guardian wasn’t easy. 

The other groups seemed to have their own idea. It’s only the two of them that were still wandering on the side of the road. Shen Xingchen took the method of finding someone according to the situation. “I probably know who this guardian is.”

Shen Xingsui became interested. “Really? Who is it?”

“Seeing this title…” Shen Xingchen used his brains and came to a conclusion, “Generally, those who are called guardians must be relatively powerful people. If we ask who is the most powerful person in this village, we might find them. Plus, this is not a direct question, so we should get an answer.” 

Shen Xingsui thought it made sense. “Then let’s ask?”

They asked various people in the village, and found a few of the most powerful men, but none of them were the guardians.

It was almost noon, and they didn’t even find anyone. Shen Xingsui leaned against the wall, panting tiredly, and said, “Who is the most powerful person…” 

Shen Xingchen said, “Maybe it’s a woman. We only found men so far.” 

Shen Xingsui had a flash of inspiration, “Could it be that this guardian is an actual guardian? Then it should be the village’s chief, right? Let’s go there and try.”

This idea was feasible.

The two ran all the way to Uncle Wang’s house, but Uncle Wang was not at home today. There’s only his wife, an old woman who was at home. After hearing the two young men’s explanation, she actually said, “The guardian you are looking for is me.”

Shen Xingchen was excited. He jumped a bit, then gave Shen Xingsui a high-five, “Yeah!” 

The old woman went to the chair beside her and sat down. “I don’t have any tasks to test you, but if you want to get the treasures, you need patience and perseverance. In this way, how about… you go cook me a meal. I want to eat baked glutinous rice cakes and cooked sour fish soup.”

These two foods shouldn’t be difficult. 

Shen Xingsui was full of energy. “Leave it to us!”

The two were full of fighting spirit, rolled up their sleeves and walked to the kitchen. They found the white rice cakes in the jar, lit the fire and started baking the rice cakes, and then… the rice cakes were burnt up.

There was a puff of black smoke and a smell of charcoal. It was a black lump thing. 

Shen Xingsui was silent for a while and said, “I think it might be… too mushy, what do you think?”

Shen Xingchen picked up the cake and broke it open, saw the glutinous rice cakes inside, and fell into deep thought, “But it seems to be edible inside. Do you think the old lady can pass this?” 

“…”

The Shen family seemed to be the king of dark cuisine.

The food that Shen Xingsui cooked by himself was also very unpalatable. He only has a few dishes that he can swallow, and the rest weren’t fit for human consumption. He baked a few glutinous rice cakes and they were all ruined. Now neither of them dare to look at their own creations. They were even more embarrassed to show this to the old lady. 

Shen Xingchen said, “How about we try making the fish soup instead?” 

Shen Xingsui nodded, then followed him to first acquire the fish.

The lively fish was on the chopping board, and Shen Xingchen’s hand holding the knife trembled slightly, “Suisui, go kill it.” 

“…”

Shen Xingsui looked at his brother with pleading eyes. “I- I’m not very good at killing fish.” 

“You Just go there, just chop it with a knife,” Shen Xingchen commanded, “It’s actually very simple!”

Shen Xingsui gave him the knife. “Then why don’t you go?”

Shen Xingchen buried his head in his hands, and finally whispered, “I’m afraid…”

“…”

Shen Xingsui was at a loss of words.

The audience, of course, was having fun seeing their misery. 

[Hahaha, what a treasure boy! I can’t do it anymore!!]

[My babies, why are you like this?]

[Hahahaha, Chenchen is still a child.]

[I doubt life.]

[Hahahahahahaha–!!]

Shen Xingsui had no choice but to do it himself. He didn’t dare to kill it, but wouldn’t it be more cruel to steam a fish alive? He knocked the fish’ head down with the blunt edge of the knife, but the result was minimal. The fish was still alive and well. Then, he tried to chop the head off, but he didn’t dare to use much force. In the end, there was only a trace of fish blood trickling down, bringing a pungent fishy smell alongside it. 

And this kind of picture – red liquid mixed with blood – made Shen Xingsui hallucinate about his previous life at this moment.

Some flashes of his previous accident reemerged in his mind, causing nausea to build up in his throat.

“Clang! Clatter clatter–”

Shen Xingsui flinched, and the knife on his hand fell down on the chopping board.

Shen Xingchen, hearing this, began to worry. He rushed to his younger brother’s side. “Suisui, what’s wrong?”

“No…” Shen Xingsui heaved, trying not to vomit. He managed to say, “I’m just a little dizzy. Let me rest for a little.” 

After saying that, he was finally hit with the full brunt force of the sickening feeling. 

It was uncomfortable. It was like being choked and wanted to vomit at the same time, all dizzying and nauseating, and panicking, and–

It’s hard to describe.

It was more like the last vestiges of consciousness before death. 

Shen Xingchen saw his younger brother suffering so much, and went outside with the fish in his hand, “Okay, Suisui, your brother will handle the fish! Rest for now, okay?” 

Shen Xingsui thought, ‘Just don’t shake your hands so much.’

But he was really uncomfortable, so he didn’t say anything. He just sat there and took a while to calm his breathing down.

Thankfully, the cameraman followed Shen Xingchen instead, leaving Shen Xingsui in his own privacy.

After leaving the courtyard, Shen Xingchen went to the creek and tried to kill the fish, and started crying and complaining to the cameraman, “Why is cooking so difficult, I want to go home…” 

The audience in the live broadcast room was entertained by Shen Xingchen’s melodramatic behavior. 

[Hahaha, sisters, let’s laugh first.]

[Master, what’s wrong with you lol.] 

[Other idols bring their own idol baggage1trying to uphold the “idol” image., while Shen Xingchen’s idol baggage has to be picked up by his fans.] 

Shen Xingchen, who was crying, suddenly caught a glimpse of someone walking not far away. It turned out to be Fu Jinxiao who was passing by here. Because he was desperate, he shouted, “Fu-ge! My great savior! Please help me kill the fish, I beg you-!!” 

Fu Jinxiao casually dismissed his plea, “I’m busy with my own task.” 

“I really can’t do it,” Shen Xingchen tried to bribe him, “How about I secretly give you my Dage’s collection?”

This was what a real brotherhood looked like.

Fu Jinxiao glanced at him. Without hesitation, he indifferently replied, “No.”

Shen Xingchen continued to work hard, “I will help you with your work, and I will never say anything if you order me around in the future.” 

Actor Fu continued to walk in the other direction, cold-bloodedly refusing, “Not interested.”

“…”

If none of those worked… then Shen Xingchen had to use his trump card!

Shen Xingchen’s clumsy mind finally came up with a way to block Fu Jinxiao’s way, and then leaned forward and said, “Sister-in-law… no I mean, brother-in-law2The original is both “brother-in-law”, but different kinds. The first one is 姐夫 jie fu; older sister’s husband, while the second one is 弟夫 di fu; younger brother’s husband., we are all one family, I know you will help me… Please, for this once, help me kill the fish! If in the future you have a conflict with Dage or Dad, I’ll help you solve it!” 

Fu Jinxiao paused and gave him a meaningful look.

Shen Xingchen looked like he couldn’t do it.

There was a meaningful smile on the corner of Fu Jinxiao’s mouth, he stretched out his hand to hold Shen Xingchen’s hand, and said slowly, “Deal.”

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