Wang Lan was indeed watching the livestream. Seeing her daughter shine on screen filled her with immense pride. When she witnessed Kuang Ye’s jealous display, she couldn’t stop laughing.

“Calling her ‘Jiejie’ when they’re the same age—what’s that about?” she chuckled. But deep down, she knew this was just a sign of their close bond. Who would’ve thought that Kuang Ye, so serious when they first met, could act so adorably in private?

—

Meanwhile, Mu Wan couldn’t stop thinking about how her family might have seen that scene just now. The thought filled her with embarrassment, and a rosy blush spread across her porcelain-white face.

When she reached her destination, Zhou Yang and Li Shuqin were already there waiting for her.

Li Shuqin frowned slightly as she looked at Mu Wan and asked, “Why is your face so red? Did wearing the qipao make you cold?”

At this time, New York was deep in winter. Though Mu Wan had spent most of her time indoors, where heating allowed her to remove her coat, she had otherwise been bundled up in a down jacket whenever she stepped outside.

Mu Wan shrank her face into the soft collar of her jacket and shook her head. “It’s fine. I was indoors just now, so maybe I got a little warm walking over here.”

Li Shuqin glanced at the frost-covered streets and raised an eyebrow.

“??”

【Shushu is wondering: In the middle of winter, just a short walk made your face red from the heat?】

“Little Shushu, Big Confusion.”

The group soon gathered together, with most having completed their tasks. Only Fang Li was left, struggling to get two more positive reviews for the porcelain item she had chosen. Fortunately, there was still time, and with everyone’s help, she managed to finish the task successfully.

Fang Li apologized, looking guilty. “I’m sorry, it’s all my fault for holding everyone back.”

【At least she knows. She rushed to pick the easiest porcelain piece, but couldn’t even get five positive reviews.】【I watched her stream earlier. While everyone else was working hard, she hesitated and stumbled through everything. Even her English was barely passable.】

Everyone quickly reassured her it was fine, though Mu Wan asked a curious question.
“Xiao Li, haven’t you graduated from college yet?”

Fang Rui nodded, hesitating for a moment before answering, “Our team activities are pretty intense, so my agent suggested I take a break from school…” Her expression shifted suddenly, realizing her words might not have been the best choice. She forced a laugh and added, “But it was my idea too, considering I don’t get many gigs as a small-time artist.”

The others exchanged glances, sensing something deeper. They knew her company’s reputation and how it worked, and their silence spoke volumes. Only Mu Wan, unaware of the industry’s complexities, continued the conversation.

“That means you probably haven’t taken your CET-4 or CET-6 yet. Your English level is still at high school standards, right? And your company sent you on an overseas gig?”

Fang Li let out a nervous laugh.

【Now that you mention it, her English issues make a lot more sense.】【I just looked her up—she’s 21 years old but still listed as a freshman in school. Normally, she’d be a junior by now. Her company made her take a two-year break?】【Oh… it’s Mosi Entertainment. Say no more. They treat new signees like disposable resources.】

—

That evening, Mu Wan chatted with Kuang Ye in her room. The livestream camera was in the living room, so the bedroom was off-limits for the broadcast. However, there was a recording camera in the room for post-production edits, offering viewers some exclusive content.

Suddenly, Mu Wan heard muffled sobbing coming from the bathroom. Her brows furrowed slightly in concern.

—

Over the next few days, the group enjoyed the stunning scenery while tackling increasingly bizarre and challenging tasks set by the director. But as the saying goes, “When brothers are united, they can cut through gold.” The group worked together seamlessly, ensuring every mission was completed without giving the director any excuse to dock their budget. With their successes, their accommodations and meals steadily improved.

All except—

“Guys, there’s nothing interesting about that tower. It’s so cold here; can we go somewhere else?”

“Shushu-jie, this hat is so cute. Can you buy one for me? I really want it.”

“Yang-ge, I heard you’re great at writing songs. Could you write one for me? I want to include it in my album.”

“Wan-jie, this bread you bought is awful. Can you make me a cup of coffee instead?”

Fang Li seemed to have reverted to her behavior from the first day at the airport: a spoiled, attention-seeking diva. She managed to inconvenience everyone on the team one by one.

【Can we please kick this green tea bitch out already? She’s insufferable. She doesn’t even contribute to the tasks, relying entirely on her teammates. One day it’s leg pain, the next day it’s back pain. So annoying.】【And such a buzzkill too. Yesterday’s task was cooking Chinese food for others to taste. Yi-ge made a whole spread, and everyone said it was amazing. Then she ran to the bathroom to throw up, claiming she doesn’t eat cilantro?】【She’s such a two-faced person. She fawns over Li Shuqin and Zhou Yang because they’re famous but barely acknowledges Zhong Yi and Mu Wan.】【Fang Li, just leave already. You’re ruining the whole dynamic.】

Nine out of ten comments on the livestream barrage were criticizing her, but Fang Li seemed oblivious. Whether it was sleeping in until noon and delaying everyone’s schedule or dancing wildly late at night and causing noise complaints from the neighbors, her behavior over the next few days grated on everyone.

Even Zhou Yang, usually the peacemaker, was visibly irritated, and the ever-patient Li Shuqin’s smile began to falter.

Finally, it was the seventh day—the last day of filming.