Chapter 157: Got Careless
Chapter 157: Chapter 157: Got Careless
’Patience.’
Zhong Siqi forced a smile.
’In life, things rarely go your way.’
’And for him... all those things were caused by his brother! Just great!’
’This is what having a brother is all about!’
"Go marry our grandpa!" Zhong Siqi grabbed Zhong Mingrui by his clothes, yanked him close, and gave his bottom two sharp smacks.
"WAAAAH! You can’t! WAAAAH!" Zhong Mingrui wailed his lungs out this time. "We have the same grandpa! Waaah! If I did that, I wouldn’t know what to call anyone anymore! Waaah!"
Gu Zhao stared, wide-eyed.
’So that’s an option!’
Zhong Siqi was truly at his wit’s end. He let go of the kid, found two cotton balls, and stuffed them in his ears.
Zhong Mingrui felt incredibly wronged. ’But it really wasn’t possible.’
The few crew members who had come to pick them up were speechless.
Song Zhe coughed twice, trying to save some face for Zhong Siqi. He looked at the fish in front of Gu Zhao and couldn’t help but swallow.
"Did the penguins give you this food, Big King? Can we eat it?"
Zhong Mingrui instantly forgot his sorrow, his eyes fixed eagerly on Gu Zhao.
They were filled with anticipation.
Under their expectant gazes, Gu Zhao nodded. Instantly, everyone sprang into action.
The special guests stood awkwardly to one side.
Gu Xulin and the others paid them no mind. When Gu Jiao saw them, she even let out a cold snort. ’Anyone who speaks up for Ye Kui is a bad person!’
’Especially anyone who goes against Big King!’
"Sister Xiangxiang~" A few penguins waddled over to Gu Zhao’s feet, nuzzling their heads against her legs.
Looking at the little creatures at her feet, Gu Zhao suddenly felt so tall!
’This is what I’ll do from now on! I’ll bring a few shorties with me whenever I go out!’
’The contrast will instantly give me ridiculously long legs!’
"Brother, look! I grew taller!" Gu Zhao shouted, putting her hands on her hips.
Gu Xulin was busy cleaning the fish nearby. Hearing Gu Zhao’s voice, he spared her a glance.
"How are you taller?" Gu Xulin asked, looking completely baffled.
Gu Zhao gestured at herself, her eyes shining with anticipation.
Gu Xulin was even more confused, but he played along anyway. "Oh, right, right! You did! You went from a little cucumber to a big watermelon!"
’? Was that supposed to be a compliment?’
Gu Zhao huffed and decided to ignore him.
She had a few penguins move Ye Kui to a spot not far away. ’After all, how could we eat without letting her feel included?’
Ye Zexi was also herded to the side by a group of penguins.
The distance was not far, but not too close either. In short, Gu Zhao’s group couldn’t smell the captives, but the captives could definitely smell the grilled fish.
Gu Xulin and the others quickly prepared the ingredients and started grilling the fish.
Song Yi began rummaging through the confiscated bags of loot and pulled out some seasonings.
The special guests could only sit to the side and watch him rummage through their own stolen bags.
Gu Zhen, who was in charge of grilling, took the seasonings and sprinkled them evenly over the fish.
Soon, the fragrant aroma of grilling fish wafted through the air.
Gu Zhao sat on a rock, hands tucked in her sleeves, watching the proceedings.
The aroma made Ye Zexi’s mouth water uncontrollably. "Gu Zhao, you can’t be this heartless!"
"You can’t eat a conscience," Gu Zhao replied, her eyes glued to the grilling fish.
"You might have died without me! Shouldn’t you be grateful?" Ye Zexi’s eyes were also fixed on the fish. He was starving. Following that other group meant eating a warm rat now and then, but he’d never once felt full!
And now, smelling this incredible aroma... his stomach rumbled loudly.
Gu Zhao didn’t react. But Gu Xulin picked up a perfectly grilled fish and walked to within a few steps of Ye Zexi. He deliberately held the fish up and took a long sniff.
"Ah, that smells amazing."
Ye Zexi swallowed hard. "Your Gu Family owes me anyway. Just treat me a little better, and I’ll forgive you all. We can let bygones be bygones, and I’ll treat Gu Zhao like my own little sister from now on."
"Our two families can dote on her together."
Ye Zexi’s tone was recklessly arrogant.
’In his eyes, Gu Zhao was just some stray they’d picked up. He’d looked after her like a real sister for so long, even going so far as to cast aside his actual sister. It had all been to protect Gu Zhao.’
’Gu Zhao had no right to be angry with him!’
’They should all be grateful to him.’
Gu Xulin almost laughed out loud. He had no idea how someone could live so deeply entrenched in their own delusions.
"Want a bite?~" Gu Xulin deliberately held it closer to Ye Zexi.
Just as Ye Zexi was about to snatch a bite, Gu Xulin yanked the fish away. "Not for you."
Humming a little tune, he walked over to Shi Wu.
"Thank you for speaking up for Gu Zhao. Please, take this."
Shi Wu accepted it gratefully. He was starving, too.
A few rats were nowhere near enough to fill his stomach.
"Thank you." ’It smells divine!’
After handing over the fish, Gu Xulin walked back. Besides, he was grossed out by that fish now that it had been near Ye Zexi.
The other special guests stared, their eyes practically glued to the grilled fish in Shi Wu’s hands.
’Our good buddy! He’ll share with us, right?’
Shi Wu paused.
He immediately licked the whole fish all over, then looked up at his buddies with a cheeky grin.
Gu Zhao’s group also began eating, each with their own grilled fish. The penguins had caught a huge haul; besides what the humans were eating, there was still a pile of raw fish. Gu Xulin chopped some of it into small pieces and distributed it among the penguins.
It certainly wouldn’t be enough to fill them up, but at least everyone could have a taste.
’After all, they couldn’t just let the penguins watch them eat. It felt awkward, a bit like they were exploiting animal labor.’
’Unpaid animal labor, at that.’
Even the crew that had come to pick them up got a share.
Little Wolf and One-Eye were also busy digging into the fish.
Ye Kui had been lying there, practically half-dead, but the aroma of grilled fish made her sit bolt upright. Her eyes were locked onto the fish.
Drool streamed ungracefully from the corner of her mouth.
’What is that smell? It’s incredible!!’
The roasted rabbit she’d eaten with Gu Xulin last time had been unseasoned, barely enough to stave off hunger. But this aroma was now taking over her brain in the most domineering fashion.
For someone who had only ever gnawed on plain steamed buns in the lab, she was utterly captivated.
"Why is she drooling like that?" Gu Jiao happened to witness the scene and wrinkled her nose in disgust.
’She has no sense of decorum.’
Hearing her, the others also glanced over. Ye Kui made no attempt to conceal her craving.
"I want to eat! I can trade for it," Ye Kui blurted out as soon as she saw them looking, afraid the fish would be gone in a second.
"What do you have to trade?" Zhong Mingrui stood up, put his hands on his hips, and glared at her.
’I can’t let Big King get a bad deal! A grilled fish is a priceless treasure!’
’Brother Gu was already wasteful enough giving one away!’
Jiang Yuchen stood up too. ’I might not be a genius,’ he thought, ’but I’m normal. At least, more normal than these guys.’
’I’d better handle this.’
"Information?" Ye Kui ventured.
"Worthless," Song Yi said disdainfully.
Zhong Mingrui nodded.
Jiang Yuchen mused, "What kind of information."
Ye Kui: "The location of the main research facility."
A wave of excitement went through the adults.
"We don’t want it," Jiang Yuchen refused flatly.
’This isn’t something kids should be hearing about. Plus, talking about it could get the show canceled.’
"Don’t say it!" Gu Zhao also shot to her feet.
’She’s just like a quest-giving NPC! If she says it, what am I going to do when I’m forced to get involved?!’
"You can save it for the police!" Gu Zhao refused to hear it.
The director, watching the livestream, was almost moved to tears.
’Yes, yes, yes! Please stop trying to ruin my show!!!’
’This can’t go on! If it does, we might not be able to film the rest of the season!’
The director immediately looked at the crew. "Quick, go check out the next filming location in advance! We can’t have a repeat of this!!"
"And to prevent any more surprises, as soon as this shoot is over, pack them up and ship them to the next location immediately! No breaks!"
’The director admitted it. He was terrified.’
Not a single one of the recent episodes had gone smoothly.
Gu Xulin also came to his senses. ’Leave professional matters to the professionals,’ he thought. ’What was I getting so worked up about?’
He was no longer excited, but the Ye Family was panicking.
Gu Zhao walked over to Ye Kui, holding a grilled fish. "No information. Something tangible."
Ye Kui thought for a moment. For a test subject like her, who had never tasted seasoning, the temptation of the grilled fish was simply too great.
She nodded. "I need you to untie me."
"No way. She’s incredibly strong. If you untie her, something bad could happen," Jiang Yifeng said with a frown.
Gu Zhao paid him no mind and snapped the ropes with a single pull.
A flash of anger crossed Jiang Yifeng’s face.
Seeing this, Jiang Yuchen immediately shoved his brother back with his butt.
Once freed, Ye Kui stuck her hand into her mouth. Before everyone’s eyes, she began to pull out a thin string.
Everyone watched in disbelief.
Ye Kui pulled the string out bit by bit. Tied to the end was a tiny vial.
Inside it was a single drop of blood!
Seeing this, Gu Xulin’s eyes filled with panic and rage. "You might as well have just swallowed Gu Zhao whole!"