Chapter Two: The Drama Unfolds

There were ten identity cards in total, each representing a different role such as restaurant server, gardener, resident singer, delivery staff, and department store clerk. Those who drew first had more options to choose from.

The guests, hearing this, were all polite, insisting the others go first, and the six of them couldn't come to an agreement. Witnessing the impasse, Song Waning walked over to Li Weiwei alone. "I'll go first," she said.

She glanced at the ten dark blue cards edged in gold on the table, then reached out and casually picked the first card in the second row. Turning it over, she saw that her role was "Gardener."

In the live broadcast room:

"Damn, is Song Waning not even pretending anymore? Everyone else is being so courteous, but she actually took it seriously. So rude and clueless!"

"Where's the camera? Where's the camera? What role did Song Waning get?"

The cameraman zoomed in, focusing on the card in Song Waning's hand. The audience burst into laughter when they clearly saw the two golden words: "Gardener."

"Haha! That's karma for you. Song Waning despised this place for being so rustic, and now she's going to tend to the very thing she hated."

"She wouldn't go back on her choice, would she?"

"Who knows? With her attitude, she might do anything."

With Song Waning setting the example, the others stopped arguing; each person drew a card as they approached the table. However, every time someone saw their card, a faint frown appeared on their face.

After all, none of them were used to manual labor, but having chosen to participate in this show, they were prepared to face the challenge.

A small cheer suddenly broke out from the group, catching everyone's attention.

"Great, I got the resident singer role!"

Song Waning looked up to see it was Jian An'an, who ran toward her in excitement, a frown appearing on Song Waning's face.

She recalled that in the book, Jian An'an had befriended her, gradually grew closer to Wen Jingxing, and relentlessly slandered her in front of him. Eventually, Jian An'an won over the Wen family and took the original protagonist's place, becoming Wen Jingxing's fiancée just as she wished.

But Song Waning's lips curled with a trace of irony, for in the book's ending, Wen Jingxing never married Jian An'an—not from beginning to end.

When the old master Wen was on his deathbed, he annulled the engagement. Song Waning herself had no affection for Wen Jingxing, so from the moment she arrived in this world, she had decided that once the variety show ended, she would ask to break off the engagement.

However, even if she didn't care for the man, she would never allow anyone to step on her to climb higher.

Jian An'an ran up to Song Waning, misreading her smile as happiness for her. Beaming, she said, "Ningning, I'm so lucky. I'm a singer myself, and now I drew the resident singer card."

"Oh? Congratulations," Song Waning replied.

"Ningning, what role did you get?"

"Gardener."

"I see. Well, that's a bit unfortunate. You've never done any hard work before, and the sun is so fierce today. I suppose you might not be able to handle it."

Song Waning raised an eyebrow. "If you're that worried, why don't we swap cards?"

Jian An'an's face froze instantly. "Swapping roles might not be appropriate. Besides, you can't sing, can you…"

She only wanted to poke fun at Song Waning and let the audience know she was a spoiled, useless brat. She herself had no intention of doing any dirty work. But why was the situation turning out so differently from what she imagined? Yesterday, just a few words of prompting had sent Song Waning into a rant about the place. Why wasn't she taking the bait today? And now she was saying things that left Jian An'an at a loss!

Song Waning stared at her coldly, as if seeing straight through her, "We've only met twice. How would you know?"

"Well…" Jian An'an stiffened, her eyes growing moist, her hands nervously twisting the hem of her shirt, at a loss for how to respond.

Meanwhile, since the production team had collected all the guests' phones, they were oblivious to the chaos erupting in the live chat:

"Is that wicked Song Waning bullying my dear An'an? Look, she's frightened her to tears!"

"Jian An'an, don't you dare agree to swap cards. People like Song Waning deserve to suffer. She's been living in the clouds too long, she needs to be brought down to earth!"

"Why did the production team invite someone like her? Ruining my mood to watch the show."

"You guys are so shortsighted! If they don't complete their tasks, they won't get any food. With Song Waning's attitude, without Wen Jingxing around, I'm betting she won't succeed. Let's just wait a little longer to see her starve and beg!"

"Damn! Why didn't I think of that?"

"Come on, everyone, grab a seat and enjoy the show!"

As the broadcast's popularity soared, Li Weiwei was inwardly delighted, though she kept a perfectly composed face. Once the conversation had run its course, she finally stepped in to stop Song Waning and Jian An'an.

"The rules are clear: whoever draws a role must keep it; there can be no swapping. Time is up. Please proceed to the addresses listed on your cards and begin today's work!"

At her words, each guest checked the address on their card and set off.

Song Waning glanced at her address and was about to head south when Jian An'an's voice called out again.

"Ningning, actually… it's not that I don't want to swap with you, but the director just said we can't exchange identities."

Song Waning was already annoyed by Jian An'an's affected manner. She had always despised people who schemed and played games.

With her brow furrowed, she replied, "Did I ask you to swap? We're not that close. You should call me by my name."

Ignoring the look of embarrassment on Jian An'an's face, Song Waning turned and walked away without a backward glance.

Arriving at a southern exit of the resort, Song Waning saw an elderly man waiting for her. He stood about five feet tall, hair snowy white, his figure thin but ramrod straight.

Seeing her approach, he greeted her cheerfully, "You must be the guest here to take on the gardener's task?"

"Yes, sir," Song Waning replied, for once giving him a rare smile.

"You are a lovely young lady," the old man praised, then pointed beyond the south gate to two long strips of greenery. "Your job today is to trim those hedges evenly before sunset and water them afterward."

Staring at the endless stretch of greenery, Song Waning hesitated just a moment.

Her live chat was flooded with jeers.

"Haha! The real show begins now!"

"I can already picture Song Waning's pitiful face after a day of hard work."

"That's nothing—just wait until Wen Jingxing realizes what kind of person she is. He'll definitely call off the engagement."