138: Chapter 138 In first class, Shishi crawled into the blanket.

Generally speaking, this circle is a giant melting pot, filled with fame, fortune, and schemes.

That so-called "critic" Zhang Jiang acts so sanctimonious, but isn't he just chasing clout and traffic behind the scenes?

That Reporter with glasses is the same; he just wants to step on him to climb the ladder and make some blood money.

When you're in the game and have attachments, you can't escape these messy, troublesome affairs.

The press conference concluded in a "harmonious" atmosphere.

Although it was filled with tension, the result pleased everyone.

The reporters got explosive headlines.

The Production Team joyfully received a trending topic out of the blue, saving millions in promotion fees for tonight's premiere.

The other members of the Divas Hit the Road Group also benefited, gaining plenty of exposure.

The only loser was that Reporter with glasses, who was scolded mercilessly and now faces cyberbullying from the entire internet.

As for Lin Chen, he didn't care.

This minor scene wasn't even as tiring as dealing with his three wives in bed.

Once the press conference ended, the Divas Hit the Road Group was escorted by staff downstairs, where they boarded the Production Team's bus and headed straight to the airport.

Liu Shishi remained glued to Lin Chen's side.

As soon as the vehicle started, she quietly observed Lin Chen's expression, fearing that the earlier events might have affected his mood, so she leaned into his ear and said coquettishly, "Hubby, shall I tell you a joke to cheer you up?"

Lin Chen knew perfectly well that this little girl was afraid he was unhappy and was trying every trick to coax him.

He felt a warmth in his heart, reached out to hold her soft, boneless hand, and squeezed it gently: "Sure, go ahead."

Liu Shishi cleared her throat and said vividly, "One day, a little white rabbit went fishing by the river. It fished all day but caught nothing and went home empty-handed."

"The next day, the little white rabbit went fishing again, still caught nothing, and went home dejected."

"On the third day, just as the little white rabbit reached the riverbank and hadn't even cast its line, a fish suddenly jumped out of the water and cursed at the little white rabbit: 'If you dare use a carrot as bait again, I'll kill you!'"

"Hahaha!"

After finishing, Liu Shishi couldn't hold back, clutching her stomach and laughing until her body shook, her ample bosom rubbing against Lin Chen's arm.

...

Lin Chen looked expressionlessly at the woman in his arms who was convulsing with laughter, his gaze somewhat vacant.

Liu Shishi laughed for a long time, but when she noticed Lin Chen didn't react, she became unhappy.

She pouted her rosy lips and glared at him resentfully: "Hmph, I kindly told you a joke, and you didn't even laugh!"

Lin Chen pretended to just wake from a dream: "Ah? That's it? Sorry, my reflex arc is a bit long. Give me two seconds to prepare, and I'll laugh immediately."

"Hateful! You're bullying me on purpose!"

Liu Shishi angrily swung her little pink fist, pounded Lin Chen's chest twice, and writhed her body like a water snake, acting spoiled.

Lin Chen grabbed both her wrists and pulled her closer: "Alright, alright, Hubby was wrong. To apologize, how about I tell you a little white rabbit story too?"

"Yay! Hubby, tell me!"

Liu Shishi wrapped her arms around Lin Chen's waist, looking up with her exquisite little face, full of anticipation.

By now, she had long forgotten there were cameras in the car, and they were flaunting their affection everywhere.

Lin Chen stroked her soft long hair and spoke unhurriedly: "A little white rabbit walked into a hardware store and asked the owner: 'Boss, do you have carrots?' The owner said: 'No.'"

"The next day, the little white rabbit came again: 'Boss, do you have carrots?' The owner said: 'No.'"

"The third day, the little white rabbit came again: 'Boss, do you have carrots?' The owner got angry: 'If you ask again, I will nail you to the wall with a nail!'"

"The fourth day, the little white rabbit came again and asked cautiously: 'Boss, do you have nails?' The owner said: 'No.' The little white rabbit said happily: 'That's great! Boss, do you have carrots?'"

"Hahaha!"

Liu Shishi laughed until tears almost came out, collapsing into Lin Chen's arms. It took her a long while to catch her breath, and she coquettishly said: "That's hilarious! Hubby, tell me another one! I want to hear more!"

Lin Chen spread his hands: "That's it, my joke library only has that one in stock."

"I don't believe you! You must have more! Tell me one last one, please~" Liu Shishi held up a fair, tender finger and shook Lin Chen's arm.

Lin Chen thought for a moment, the corner of his mouth curling into a mischievous smile: "There really are no more jokes. How about this, I'll sing you a nursery rhyme about a little white rabbit."

Liu Shishi was a bit disappointed, but still nodded: "That's fine, go ahead."

"Little white rabbit, white and white, two ears..."

"Hubby!" Liu Shishi interrupted him, muttering dissatisfiedly, "That's too perfunctory. I knew how to sing this song in kindergarten."

"Don't rush, this is my dark adapted version, keep listening."

Lin Chen pinched her delicate cheek and continued singing, "Little white rabbit, white and white, pick it up by its two ears. Cut the arteries, cut the veins, it's so cute lying still. Peel the skin, chop it into pieces, throw it in the pot to stir-fry. Add water, cover the lid, sprinkle with cilantro before serving!"

The smile on Liu Shishi's face instantly froze, her eyes widening as she stared at Lin Chen, dumbfounded.

Lin Chen smirked: "How was it? Did you like it? Does it make you hungry, like you want to eat spicy rabbit heads?"

Liu Shishi shook her head like a rattle-drum: "Hubby, that's too bloody and cruel!"

"Cruel? Last time at the Sichuan restaurant, when you were gnawing on braised rabbit heads with such relish, sucking the bones clean, why didn't I see you thinking it was cruel?"

"Oh! Don't talk nonsense! We're still live-streaming, my fairy image is completely ruined!"

Liu Shishi panicked and covered Lin Chen's mouth, not letting him continue exposing her.

In Lin Chen's live stream chat, the barrage was flooding the screen again.

"Holy crap, Teacher Lin, are you a devil?"

"The devil himself confirmed! This nursery rhyme is too brainwashing!"

"Cutting arteries and veins, that's hilarious!"

"I was enjoying the couple's affection, and suddenly you served me a plate of spicy rabbit heads. Teacher Lin's style switch gave me whiplash!"

"Damn it, I can never look at this nursery rhyme the same way again. My daughter just sang it, and my wife is now chasing me around the house with a kitchen knife..."

...

The bus sped all the way, arriving directly at the airport.

It looked like there were no tricks this time; they were really taking off.

As they approached the airport, Lei Jiayin took the dedicated phone provided by the Production Team, created an eight-person WeChat group, and started a group voice call.

"Brothers and sisters, nephews and nieces! I just pried some insider info from the directing team; our travel destination for this trip has been decided!"

Song Zu'er asked curiously: "Dad Lei, where are we actually going?"

Lei Jiayin cleared his throat: "The directing team said we're going to Dali, and asked me to seek everyone's opinion to see if it's okay."

Song Dandan said: "Dali is quite nice, beautiful scenery and comfortable climate. I went there over a decade ago, so it's a good time to go back and reminisce."

Tong Liya and Guli Nazha also chimed in: "Dali is fine, last time we went for filming, we didn't have time to look around properly."

Liu Shishi said sweetly: "I'll listen to my Hubby. Hubby, do you want to go?"

The group chat was buzzing with conversation, but Lin Chen remained silent.

The accompanying director sitting in the passenger seat turned around and asked: "Teacher Lin, what is your opinion?"

Lin Chen sneered: "Aren't you guys from the Production Team tired? Even if I say I don't want to go, can you really not go? Since my opinion doesn't count, I request to go home and sleep."

"Hahaha!"

Everyone burst into laughter. Song Zu'er shouted in the group: "Brother Lin Chen, I support you! I'll go home with you!"

Song Dandan teased: "Oh, you little girl, your intentions are too obvious. Be careful or Yaya and the others will come for you."

Lei Jiayin quickly jumped in to smooth things over: "Teacher Lin, give me some face! I still have a long paragraph of script left; if you do this, I can't continue!"

Lin Chen followed the flow: "Fine, then I agree, I raise both hands in favor."

Lei Jiayin breathed a sigh of relief and continued the process: "Since everyone has no objections, our destination is Dali! But I'll say the ugly part first: this time we are on a budget trip, funds are very tight, and we have to be meticulous about every expense for food, drink, and lodging."

Tong Liya asked alertly: "How much money did the Production Team actually give?"

"Twenty thousand!"

"What?! Twenty thousand for eight people?"

"Only two thousand five hundred per person?"

The group chat exploded instantly.

Lei Jiayin delivered the fatal blow: "That's not all; the airfare has to be deducted from those twenty thousand. The directing team just notified us that there are no economy class tickets for the direct flight from Beijing to Dali, so we have to book first-class, which is three thousand six hundred per ticket."

"In other words... our current funds are not only gone, but we also owe the Production Team nearly ten thousand yuan!"

"Ah?!"

"Are you crazy?! Then are we going to drink the north wind when we get to Dali? Sleep on the streets?"

"So we have zero money and have to work under-the-table jobs to pay off the debt?"

Liu Shishi tugged on Lin Chen's sleeve and said with a mournful face: "Hubby, I think your previous suggestion was very correct, let's just go home!"