Chapter 46 The Kitchen Burned Down
"Sis, look at this scoop! It's absolutely ridiculous! Shen Qinglan and Shen Qingtang are actually going to join us for the variety show 'My Sisters'." Shen Ruoqi pointed at the message forwarded by a marketing account on her phone, looking down on it with obvious disdain.
But soon, she noticed Shen Ruowan's long silence, and an ominous premonition rose in her heart.
Her heart skipped a beat, and she said in a trembling voice, "Sister, this can't be true, can it? Isn't Shen Qinglan abroad? Isn't Shen Qingtang a doctor?"
Although "My Sisters" isn't exactly a wildly popular variety show, it's still considered a mid-tier production. So how did these two manage to get on the show?
Shen Ruowan's feelings were also complicated. She sighed softly and said, "I have already inquired with the production team. The two of them are indeed going to record this variety show with us. The official Weibo account will post about it this afternoon."
In other words, this was already a done deal.
Upon hearing this, Shen Ruoqi's expression instantly changed, revealing a look of dissatisfaction. She said, "Sister, those two must have benefited from your connections. Otherwise, why would the production team invite two ordinary people for no reason?" She frowned, looking worried. "What if they embarrass our Shen family?" More importantly, what if those two take the opportunity to go back to the Shen family to stay?
Won't their footage be largely repetitive? How much of her footage will be left then?
Shen Ruoqi's concerns are not unfounded. After all, the Wu sisters from the previous season of "My Sisters" became very popular by revealing the daily lives of wealthy young ladies. The non-celebrity sister of the Wu family even gained a lot of fans and became a self-media blogger with five million followers.
She usually just posts pictures of herself eating and drinking, which attracts countless fans and passersby who call themselves "old slaves." Her comment section is always bustling. Even so, some businesses have approached her to do covert advertising, and I heard that she charges around one million yuan for a single video.
This made Shen Ruoqi extremely envious. Although the Shen family was also a wealthy family, there was a distinction between the eldest and youngest members. Moreover, the Shen family had many children. She was neither as favored as her younger brother nor as good at earning money as her older sister. She could only save a pitiful 200,000 yuan a month.
Hearing Shen Ruoqi's words, Shen Ruowan thought to herself, how could she possibly have the ability to get the production team to invite three ordinary girls to the show? Although she is currently one of the top rising stars, compared to those established veterans with real achievements and industry awards, if she doesn't seize the opportunity to transform herself, she will only be a flash in the pan.
She was certain that there must be someone behind these two people, and she secretly wondered if Shen Qinglan had gone astray after entering the entertainment industry and was using her body as leverage to get a chance to appear on a variety show.
However, she didn't really take the two of them seriously. After all, she had recorded so many variety shows that she was familiar with their routines and knew how to please the variety show fans and turn them into her own fans.
While recording variety shows can quickly build popularity, it also means being constantly scrutinized, and if any mistakes are found... A slight smile appeared on her lips as she patted Shen Ruoqi's head and said, "Ruoqi, don't think too much. Let's just focus on our own things." As if seeing through Shen Ruoqi's worries, she reached out and patted the other's head again, saying, "Don't worry, we won't run into them during the recording."
Upon hearing this, Shen Ruoqi's eyes lit up completely, and she said, "Sister, could it be that they were the unlucky ones who were chosen to go to the countryside to record the show?"
Shen Qingtang nodded affirmatively and said, "That's right."
With the recent popularity of slow-paced rural variety shows, in order to keep up with the trend and add new highlights, a pair of sisters in this season of "My Sisters" will be selected to go to the countryside for filming.
It's important to understand that conditions in the countryside are harsh. Not only are there no convenient modern facilities, but people have to draw water from wells for bathing and drinking, and even the hygiene of the accommodations is appalling. In short, whichever group is sent there is destined to suffer.
Although the show's producers ostensibly used a lottery system, they had actually already decided on the participants beforehand.
After all, we can't expect glamorous, popular young actresses or nationally acclaimed actresses to be worried about the bumpy cement roads in the countryside, can we?
Once it airs, the two's fans will probably go straight to the recording site via the internet and cause a huge disturbance.
So, the obscure celebrity and her non-celebrity sister are a perfect match.
*
A week passed in the blink of an eye, and the variety show "My Sisters" officially began filming.
At seven o'clock in the morning, when Shen Qinglan got into the van to head to Xiahe Village, she was still a little dazed until she saw the camera pointing at her. The dark circle looked like a black hole, and if she wasn't careful, it would suck her in.
She instinctively tried to turn her face away from the camera, but the staff member in front of her gave her a warning look. Shen Qinglan felt uneasy and had no choice but to close her eyes and pretend to sleep.
Because Shen Qinglan and Shen Qingtang were the only group selected to experience rural life in Xiahe Village, and their show started airing the earliest, a large number of fans rushed in first. Because they knew about some of Shen Qinglan's past scandals, they all sent malicious comments.
[So she's Shen Qinglan. She does look quite like Shen Ruowan.]
Of course, since we're related by blood.
It's said that your appearance reflects your heart; people who look like this are likely to have bad character.
[We reject any form of manipulation or marketing; our Sister Wan has zero connection with them.]
Can some people please have some shame? Before pretending to be someone you're not, can't you at least change your profile picture?
[Exactly, can't you meet your KPIs if you don't criticize Sister Xiaowan every day? Don't try to piggyback on my fame, you washed-up actress.]
[Let me clarify again: the one who acted like a diva, drove under the influence, and tried to associate herself with a male celebrity was Shen Qinglan, not Sister Xiaowan.]
If she had a choice, Sister Xiaowan would never want to associate with this kind of person.
That's right, they're just cousins.
......
Immediately afterwards, Shen Ruowan's fans shifted the blame, taking the opportunity to introduce Shen Qingtang's past "great achievements" in the barrage comments. Labels such as "spiritual girl," "dropout drunkard," and so on were all attached to Shen Qingtang. They also took the opportunity to ruthlessly criticize Xiang Ruanxiang and play the sympathy card.
The assistant director was utterly astonished by the sheer speed at which the comments scrolled across the screen. Of course, the content was also utterly offensive, with comments every two or three messages consisting of insults directed at the characters' ancestors.
This isn't Shen Qinglan's live stream room; it's clearly a battlefield between their respective fans!
The city center is far from Xiahe Village, requiring a three-and-a-half-hour minibus ride. Once they realized the combined firepower of both fan groups had halved, the assistant director, following the director's instructions, woke Shen Qinglan and pointed to the question cards in his hand, saying, "Qingtang, we have half an hour to reach Qinghe Village. Let's do a brief interview with you." This interview content, after editing, would be included in the final cut.
Although Shen Qinglan had never recorded a variety show, she had watched some and knew that every move on a variety show would be magnified. So she immediately straightened up, tidied her hair, and listened to the questions raised by the other party.
"First, please introduce yourself."
Shen Qinglan: "...Former girl group member, terrible at dancing, now a nobody, with a lot of scandals."
Hearing such a sarcastic comment about himself for the first time, the assistant director almost laughed his glasses off. He chuckled and said, "Looks like you have a pretty clear understanding of your own position."
He cracked a few jokes, which eased the somewhat stiff atmosphere considerably, and then changed the subject: "How do you feel about your relationship with your sister Shen Qingtang? I heard you haven't seen each other for almost four years. Do you miss her a lot?"
Upon hearing this, Shen Qinglan's previously upturned lips slowly drooped as she considered her words, but ultimately gave an honest answer: "Not good, I don't want her either."
The assistant director raised an eyebrow, suddenly finding the situation interesting, and continued in a suggestive tone, "So, you don't want her to hate her too."
Shen Qinglan did not give a direct answer to the question, but simply said, "No matter what, she is my sister." The assistant director keenly sensed that there seemed to be some secret between the two of them and became very interested in digging into it.
The viewers in the live stream showed disdain upon seeing this scene. Most of the viewers who remained in Shen Qinglan's chaotic live stream were die-hard fans of variety shows.
In other words, they were already used to the various routines of variety shows, and they weren't surprised at all by Shen Qinglan's answer. They even thought it was a persona she had deliberately created. After all, Shen Ruowan was known for her close relationship with her sister, who would often post pictures of new clothes and jewelry given to her by Shen Ruowan on Weibo, and would also take her to meet her favorite male celebrities—a classic example of a doting sister.
Although Xiang Ruanxiang has never exposed her sister in public, it is said that the two have a good relationship. Xiang Ruanxiang entered the entertainment industry and achieved her current status because of her sister's advice. This kind of benefactor and family relationship is destined to make the relationship between the two relatively harmonious.
Having already tried all the friendly scenarios, Shen Qinglan seemed to have no choice but to take the scenario with hostile relationships.
Therefore, the live stream chat was filled with sarcastic remarks.
[That expression, that look in her eyes, she doesn't look like a girl group member at all, I'd believe she was an actress]
Exactly! If you ask me, instead of wasting my former teammates' time dancing there, I'd be better off becoming an actor.
[She sings better than she speaks; she's a complete liar.]
When we meet later, are we going to be moved to tears and give each other a hug of the century?
[Hilarious! I've already imagined all the background music in my head.]
......
At these times, the assistant director felt extremely fortunate that the guests recording the show couldn't see the scrolling comments, otherwise they would have had to call a psychologist.
Soon, the toaster driver announced, "We're here."
Shen Qinglan looked around, frowned, and asked with some confusion, "Are you going to pick up Shen Qingtang later?" She had thought she would meet Shen Qingtang in the van, but they had already arrived in the village.
The assistant director then smiled and said, "Qinglan, your sister has been here for a while." He held up a finger and pointed along the straight road to a brown farmhouse. A beautiful figure was looking at her from the doorway.
Shen Qinglan: "......"
She touched her nose, feeling undeniably embarrassed. She could only walk forward in silence, taking tiny steps, as if she were walking to her execution.
Viewers in the live stream left numerous comments upon seeing this.
Where are the tears? Where's the background music? Where's the lighting technician? Aren't you all in position yet?
[Selling sunflower seeds, soft drinks, and cola in the front row!]
Haha, I'm already ready to see the close-up shot!
I wonder if Shen Qingtang is actually pretty or not.
[Pshaw, so what if she's pretty? She's just a pretentious young woman.]
[Just between you and me, this young lady is incredibly arrogant and even caused Young Master Qin to lose both his legs.]
What? Heaven really is blind!
What's wrong with the show this season? The guests they've invited are getting worse and worse. Are they competing to see who's the worst?
...
No matter how much Shen Qinglan dawdles, this road will eventually come to an end.
She took a deep breath, her eyes filled with tension and hesitation, tinged with a hint of confusion and helplessness. But in the end, she took another deep breath, which transformed into a resolute look in her eyes.
She looked up abruptly at the other person, her eyes filled with unconcealed shock, and her tone brimming with uncertainty.
"You...you are Shen Qingtang?"
It's no wonder Shen Qinglan was so surprised. After all, in her impression, her older sister's taste had always been vulgar. She often wore red and green together and especially loved punk elements such as metal jackets. The term "spirited little sister" was a true description of her.
But now the other person is wearing a simple yet sophisticated white T-shirt, high-quality blue jeans, and a ruby necklace. Their entire demeanor has undergone a dramatic change, especially their dark eyes, which seem to have seen through all the vicissitudes of life, calm and tolerant. There is also a faint medicinal fragrance emanating from them, which has a calming power.
If Shen Qinglan hadn't clearly overheard the assistant director's words, she wouldn't have dared to believe that the person in front of her was Shen Qingtang. That good-for-nothing, who only knew how to drink all day, who blamed them for all the mistakes of being trafficked, and who was always ready to retaliate.
Although Shen Qinglan has been abroad for the past few years, her appearance and temperament have not changed, and Shen Qingtang even feels a sense of familiarity.
Hearing the other person's words, she nodded without changing her expression and said, "Yes, I am Shen Qingtang, and I am also your eldest sister." After saying that, she raised her chin towards the house and said, "Let's go inside. I have already cleaned the room."
Shen Qingtang's attitude was neither overly intimate nor overly distant; she struck a perfect balance. They were undoubtedly sisters, but it was normal to feel a sense of estrangement and unfamiliarity after not seeing each other for so long.
Shen Qinglan was still in a state of shock, so she did whatever Shen Qingtang said.
The farmhouse the production team found was in a good location and quite spacious. The owner had even created a small flower garden with some roses and Chinese roses. I don't know what variety they were, but their flowering period was exceptionally long, with red, blue, and yellow roses blooming together, creating a vibrant and flourishing scene.
Besides the kitchen and storage room, there were two other bedrooms. As soon as Shen Qinglan entered, she found that the smaller bedroom was locked, meaning the larger bedroom had been reserved for her.
The viewers in the live stream were stunned by what they saw, because these self-proclaimed veterans of variety shows had actually failed to predict the script!
Shen Qinglan hadn't seen her older sister Shen Qingtang for several years, and surprisingly, there was no crying or hugging. Instead, the atmosphere was filled with a mix of unfamiliarity and intimacy, and a touch of awkwardness.
Am I seeing things? I haven't seen such a normal reaction in ages.
This is so unlike a variety show! Did the production team really not use a script?
This awkwardness is so similar to when I saw my cousin whom I hadn't seen for over ten years.
I thought this was a key scene, but it turned out to be so bland.
[I'm so normal, it's not normal at all]
......
Shen Qinglan hid in her room for a full hour under the pretext of packing her luggage. In the end, the assistant director found it too boring and knocked on her door, forcibly pushing the program forward.
"Qingtang, your sister cleaned the house early this morning, so you can cook lunch."
Upon hearing the task, Shen Qinglan nodded and said, "Okay." As she was about to head to the kitchen, Shen Qingtang frowned and stopped her, saying, "Let me do it."
Shen Qinglan looked at the clean and tidy room, maintaining a polite and distant distance, and shook her head, saying, "No need, I can do it myself. You must be tired from cleaning, so you should get some rest."
For some reason, Shen Qinglan didn't dare to look the other person in the eye, and her voice was muffled. Although the two were sisters, the atmosphere was extremely stiff, as if they were talking to strangers.
Shen Qingtang remained silent for a while, then pursed her lips and said directly, "But you'll burn down the kitchen."
Shen Qinglan: "..." A surge of anger rose in her heart, and she clenched her fists, saying, "Shen Qingtang! I'm not the same person I used to be. I used to cook for my parents when I was abroad. Don't look down on me!"
After saying that, she ran towards the kitchen, slamming the kitchen door shut with a loud "bang".
Shen Qingtang looked somewhat helpless, then turned to the assistant director with a sense of urgency and asked, "Excuse me, have you prepared fire extinguishing equipment?"
The assistant director, who almost thought he had misheard, touched his ears and exclaimed "Ah!" in confusion.
The next second, thick smoke suddenly billowed out of the kitchen door, accompanied by Shen Qinglan's hoarse voice: "Help! Help! The kitchen is on fire!" The little tabby cat Shen Qinglan, who was coughing from the smoke, was forced to shed two lines of tears, her eyes full of pleading for help.
Assistant Director: "......."
I thought it was a banter, but it turned out to be advice.
The viewers in the live stream burst into laughter upon seeing this.
[Haha, I originally thought Sister Shen was just being sarcastic, but it turns out she really burned down the kitchen!]
[Bestie, I've finally found my perfect partner for messing around in the kitchen!]
[Hilarious! This is what happens when you don't listen to your sister!]
No wonder Sister Shen asked about the fire extinguishing equipment; she was incredibly prescient.
I laughed so hard my stomach hurt.
......
Fortunately, the production team was experienced and the safety facilities were known for being up to standard, so they quickly put out the fire in the kitchen.
Looking at the induction cooker that the production team thoughtfully provided as compensation, Shen Qingtang looked at the listless Shen Qinglan and handed her a clean, damp towel, saying, "Let me cook."
After the accident, Shen Qinglan unconsciously let down her guard and became more relaxed. She looked at the other person with a skeptical expression and asked, "You can cook?"
Shen Qingtang smiled and said, "You'll know once you try it. Anyway, everyone I've met says it tastes good."
Shen Qinglan scoffed, "What nonsense!" But when the tempting aroma of food wafted from the table, her mouth watered involuntarily. She ate two large bowls in one go, almost licking the plates clean before putting down her bowl and saying, "The taste is just so-so. It's just that I'm allergic to eggplant. You can make less next time."
At this moment, the camera panned across the screen and showed the production crew holding up a sign.
Since the taste is just so-so, eat less! We'll clean it up for you.
[Sister Chen, please make lots of eggplant next time, we're not allergic!]
Upon seeing this, the viewers in the live stream burst into laughter.
This was a rather swift and ironic turn of events.
[Hilarious! Is it really that delicious? The production crew is practically fighting over it!]
[It looks delicious!]
Although only a few cooking scenes were filmed, the knife skills were so proficient that the chef was definitely a master chef.
[Bullshit, isn't Sister Chen a traditional Chinese medicine doctor?]
Wait! Shen Qinglan is allergic to eggplant. I heard she's being difficult and won't eat the eggplant pancakes her seniors brought.
[Speechless, how can I eat if I have an allergy?]
[This is probably just another piece of nonsense written by a marketing account.]
......
After eating and drinking her fill, Shen Qinglan patted her round belly and asked in confusion, "How come you can cook so well? Did you learn it since you were little?" How come she didn't inherit this gene?
Shen Qingtang said, "Maybe. I've been cooking since I was four years old."
Shen Qinglan frowned and blurted out instinctively, "Why is it four years old?" But she quickly realized that this was the age at which the other person was abducted, and glanced at the other person with some unease.
Shen Qingtang answered frankly, "I was abducted by human traffickers and sold to a backward little mountain village. The little girls there were born as laborers, responsible for cooking for the adults in the family."
Shen Qinglan's heart skipped a beat upon hearing this, and she pursed her lips, asking, "Are they good to you?"
Although she knew that Shen Qingtang had been abducted, and felt guilty when the abductor was found, the abductor's resentful eyes and constant complaints about how well they were doing, along with his fierce expression like a vengeful ghost, and the fact that he tore up her hard-earned music academy acceptance letter, all her previous guilt had vanished.
This was the first time she had ever heard about what happened after the other person was abducted.
Shen Qingtang blinked and replied calmly, "I have food and drink, so it's not bad. After all, they bought me to be their mentally challenged son's child bride. It would be a bad deal if they starved or beat me to death."
"What? They actually asked you to give one...one..." Shen Qinglan couldn't finish her sentence, her mind reeling. "Why didn't you tell us? If we had known, we definitely wouldn't have let them off so easily."
Being trafficked was a great shame in the original woman's heart. In addition, after being reunited with the wealthy family and experiencing the vicissitudes of the world, she would naturally not talk about it in order to protect her self-esteem. Therefore, she simply said, "It's all in the past. After all, they raised me."
-----------------------
Author's Note: My post-apocalyptic lord novel next door has started! Welcome everyone to check it out! [rainbow emoji]
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