Chapter 9 Not Worth It
Although she and Shen Xingzhi have already obtained their marriage certificate in name, the greatest courage Ren Limeng has to speak is just to ask "boyfriend". Their relationship seems to be going upside down and confusing, but it doesn't matter. The key is only their feelings for each other.
Ren Limeng didn't even dare to speak to Shen Xingzhi's eyes. She stared at Shen Xingzhi's slightly moving Adam's apple, and after she finished expressing herself in one go, she subconsciously held her breath. She bit her lips hard, clenched her hands unconsciously, and waited motionlessly for Shen Xingzhi's final judgment, secretly looking forward to the possibility of a stroke of luck.
"......sorry."
Chen Xingzhi seemed to be stunned for a moment, and silence quietly spread between the two of them. Ren Limeng never heard the sound of Chen Xingzhi's answer. After a long time, she finally couldn't help but secretly looked up, but she could only see his cold and sharp jawline, and... a light apology without emotion.
"Senior, did I scare you? You're taking too little time to think about this. I'm not kidding... I'm serious. Or... how about we just go back to being friends? Anyway, if you insist on getting a divorce now, I'll definitely cooperate. I hope I haven't caused you any trouble..."
Ren Limeng's mind was completely confused, she was at a loss, she didn't know what she was talking about. She just understood Shen Xingzhi's rejection, and could foresee that they would soon drift apart. She just... couldn't bear to let him go, and... was unwilling to accept it!
Ren Limeng tried hard to hold back the tears in her eyes, and forced a nonchalant smile on her lips, pretending to be calm and composed. Chen Xingzhi did not interrupt her, but gradually, she finally shut up silently.
Ren Limeng stared at Chen Xingzhi's deep, dark eyes with tears in her eyes. They were as deep as the endless night, silently swallowing up all the passionate emotions without any reaction at all.
Even though there was vulnerability in her eyes that could not be hidden at all, he remained silent.
Ren Limeng remembered that at the end of that day, Chen Xingzhi said in a low and hoarse voice, "Ren Limeng, we all have more important things to do. Don't waste your time on me. It's not worth it."
No...is it worth it?
The most important thing for Ren Limeng in college is to follow in the footsteps of Shen Xingzhi. From minoring to clubs, each evening party records her growth. From being an audience member to hosting the same stage, the only thing that remains unchanged is the same belief.
She pursued the moon in her heart and just wanted to be the "moon-companion star" by his side, accompanying him day and night, just like the "moon-companion star" Venus always accompanies the moon.
But she forgot that Venus always follows the moon, but always keeps the same distance from it, and this time, she crossed the line.
Ren Limeng failed to maintain her forced composure. The smile on her lips had already unconsciously become uglier than crying. After saying "goodbye" hastily, Ren Limeng turned around with all her strength. The hot tears finally couldn't be stopped from sliding down, one by one in a string across her face. As tears fell like rain, she pursed her extremely sad lips, took a deep breath, and said "goodbye" to him solemnly in her heart.
The night is like water, silently and deeply enveloping the sky and the earth. The bright moon hangs high in the sky, and the moonlight silently sprinkles on the earth. The air is filled with a stagnant confrontation.
At this moment, Ren Limeng smiled calmly. She stared coldly at Shen Xingzhi's cold and handsome face, and her words were full of confidence and composure honed over the passing of time.
"Chen Xingzhi, meeting you on 'Shan Hai' was purely accidental. Don't worry, I won't be as childish as before. I don't know whether you called me 'schoolmate' on the show today intentionally or unintentionally, and I don't care why you chose me to be your teammate, but I think there is one thing we should be able to agree on. It's 2034 now."
It’s not 2024 anymore.
They were not the perfect match of talented and beautiful hosts in the school that year, nor were they the ex-husband and ex-wife who broke up with each other in name only.
Chen Xingzhi's graduation season taught Ren Limeng, whose heart and eyes were full of him at that time, a hard lesson: future and career are more important things. She will never be as passionate and love-minded as before.
Besides, she was a love-brained woman. She was ignorant and fearless during those years in college, relying entirely on self-strengthening and self-touching. It would be enough for her to make such a mistake once.
Shen Xingzhi was right, they all had more important things to do.
"Of course, I can see that you have changed a lot."
After the recording ended, Ren Limeng no longer wore that dignified smile, nor did she hypocritically address him as her senior "you". Shen Xingzhi could feel that Ren Limeng only wanted to keep a distance from him and hide all their interactions in the past.
Now they are worse than two strangers.
Chen Xingzhi lazily leaned against the wall behind him, with a smile on his lips.
Listening to Shen Xingzhi's emotional voice, Ren Limeng's eyes were clear and calm. She clutched the shoulder bag strap in her hand, ready to rudely end this tense conversation, "Xingzhi...Brother, I'll leave first. Goodbye."
"Ren Limeng, why did you choose Chen He today and not me? I'm very curious. Even if you don't want to admit it, you're still my junior. Isn't it good to team up with me? There's no need to be so resentful, right?"
Shen Xingzhi said "curious", his expression remained cold and calm. He folded his hands in front of his chest and suddenly called Ren Limeng, with a hint of inquiry in his eyes.
"Brother Xingzhi, you're overthinking it. It's my honor to team up with you. How could I have any grudges against you?"
Ren Limeng paused slightly, she turned her head sideways, secretly surprised that Shen Xingzhi was still sharp, but the team was already formed and the recording was about to begin, so she would not acknowledge the so-called "resentment".
Even if she was dissatisfied privately, work was work, and she would not bring personal emotions into work. Naturally, she did not want Shen Xingzhi's personal emotions to affect their relationship in front of the camera tomorrow.
"oh?"
Shen Xingzhi raised his lips in noncommittal. He and Ren Limeng stared at each other for a long while. The corridor remained deathly silent. The air was freezing cold and quietly froze.
The phone suddenly vibrated, interrupting Shen Xingzhi's meaningful gaze. Ren Limeng looked down and saw that it was an urging call from the online car-hailing driver. She hung up the phone and ended the silent and strange gaze with Shen Xingzhi.
"I have no interest in becoming 'Shen Xingzhi's schoolmate', nor do I want to follow Li Qingzi's path."
Ren Limeng's voice was meaningful. She said this lightly, without waiting for Shen Xingzhi's reply, and left the corridor quickly, leaving only a crisp back to Shen Xingzhi.
Tuesday
Ren Limeng arrived at the hotel designated by the program crew at 8:30 in the morning, just like her usual working hours, ready to start the first stop of recording at 10 o'clock.
She thought she had arrived quite early, but when she arrived at the scene, she suddenly found that she was the last guest to arrive. The whole scene was the same as yesterday, with guests and staff busy putting on makeup behind the camera.
The staff of the program team asked Ren Limeng if she needed to put on makeup. Ren Limeng looked at herself in the mirror with her fake natural makeup on, smiled and waved her hand to express her gratitude.
She sat there bored, silently reflecting on whether she had not done her homework well. Today's schedule was obviously very simple, mainly traveling on the road. Her clothes were simple and casual, and she even matched them with the must-have sun protection clothes in summer. But looking around at the other female guests at the scene, they were no less serious than when they first met in the hall yesterday.
The recording of the variety show seemed more different than she had imagined.
Because Chen Xi arrived late, the variety show officially started recording at half past ten. Ren Limeng stood behind Shen Xingzhi and listened to Chen He, who continued to serve as the host. After he calmly read out a long list of sponsors, he quickly advanced the process.
The twenty guests gathered for three things, the first of which was to distribute travel funds.
According to yesterday's initial stage ranking reward requirements, the program team distributed all the pocket money for the first five days of each team to the four captains.
Chen Xingzhi, Yan Baiwei and Li Qingzi all have an average of 500 yuan per day, while Ren Limeng and Xu Chichi only have 200 yuan. The total of 9,500 yuan not only covers their daily expenses such as food and beverages, but also includes accommodation fees.
When Chen He read out this rule, the whole audience was silent for a moment, and then immediately started talking like a pot of boiling water.
"With this little money, it's not even enough for housing! Are you kidding me?"
Yan Baiwei's eyebrows were almost twisted together, and her words were full of dissatisfaction. Less than ten thousand yuan for five days, such a small amount was not enough for her to stay according to the standards of the circle, how could it be enough for the entire team?
"According to the latest travel consumption insights report, the average daily per capita expenditure for domestic tourism is 345 yuan. There are also hidden challenges to earn rewards at each stop, so please pay attention. Also, mobile phones are not allowed on this trip. You can use your phone to make travel plans and contact others, but you cannot make any monetary transactions. Otherwise, your love points for the performance will be deducted proportionally."
After explaining off-camera, the chief director of the program "Shan Hai" directly signaled Chen He to move on to the next step.
"Next is the part everyone's been waiting for the most: the ever-changing turntable! Please have the four captains rotate in order according to their initial stage rankings to choose their team's first destination!"
This is another innovation of the program "Twenty Changes of Mountains and Seas". The four teams will travel to different places in Jingchu Province to check in and travel. The completely random destination turntable in front of the camera is full of uncertainty.
The turntable is divided into sixteen grids, each with a different place name in Jingchu Province. Ren Limeng saw her hometown "Mei City" at a glance, and suddenly felt a little nervous.
The determination of the destination of each stop is completely random. At least as one of the parties involved, she doesn't know where her team's first stop will be. To be on the safe side, she stuffed a long-sleeved jacket into her suitcase in the hot summer.
Jingchu Province has a wealth of famous tourist attractions, including the "Alchemy Furnace" with a temperature of 40+ degrees, as well as many cool canyons and mountains. Ren Limeng can only try to be as comprehensive as possible.
There are three famous summer resorts on the turntable, and just looking at the names can make people feel refreshed.
Ren Limeng stared at Chen Xingzhi who was about to start spinning, and suddenly she sincerely hoped that he could have some good luck and spin out of her hometown or summer resort directly.
She assured that her sincerity at this moment was definitely the most sincere in the past ten years, and her eager eyes even made Shen Xingzhi look sideways for a moment.
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