Chapter 2: CH 2

After the two of them discussed it with the programme team, they waited for the chartered car in the airport’s carpark.

Fang Daichuan was still diligently dragging along his two luggage bags, allowing them to trail behind him without any complaint. From behind, Lil’ Zhou held up an umbrella for him.

Heavy rain surrounded them on all four sides forcing the umbrella to flail all over the place. In just a few moments, the two of them were soaked through. In the distance, the sky was terrifyingly gloomy. Fang Daichuan put the suitcase on the platform, afraid that the wheels would get soaked. As for him, he obediently stood off the platform where water dripped onto, making it more convenient for Lil’ Zhou to hold the umbrella up for him.

“Hey! Is that the car?!” Fang Daichuan had good eyesight, and was able to look past the curtain of rain. Focusing on the van with a Shandong car plate that was driving slowly towards them, he saw its black body painted with two bright red words: “Werewolf Game” as the van drove past them.

Lil’ Zhou instantly started yelling “Yes, yes! That’s the show! Driver!” She rushed over and shouted, “Driver, wait a minute! Please stop!”

The driver glanced at the back seat and hesitated, but still stopped in front of them.

Lil’ Zhou shoved the umbrella into Fang Daichuan’s hands before rushing back to retrieve the suitcase. She nodded and bowed to the driver, “Driver! Are you from the Werewolf show programme team?! Our Fang Daichuan signed a contract to participate, so please send him over!”

The driver was dumbfounded, “But… I received the notice to pick up one person, we have already picked up…”

“I just contacted your program team!” Lil’ Zhou patted the driver on the shoulder, “Your program team asked us to wait for you, with a Shandong car plate! The Werewolf show programme team! There’s no mistake, just bring him along!”

The driver turned around and asked the people sitting in the back, “Look…”

The back door opened with just a tug on the handle.

The back of the van was very spacious, with two rows of seats facing each other. A young man dressed in a black three-piece suit looked up at them, evaluating them expressionlessly. His features were more deeply set than the average person, and he looked like he was of a foreign descent, probably mixed. Across him sat a middle-aged man in casual clothes. He looked to be about forty years old and was unfamiliar.

Two cameras were mounted in the back, their lights lit, indicating that they were recording.

There are cameras, so it can’t be wrong! Lil’ Zhou’s heart, that had been drenched in the rain, could finally be calmed down.

The mixed-race evaluated Fang Daichuan carefully, his expression one of hesitation and even a little surprise, “… It’s you?”

Fang Daichuan was a little confused about the situation. As a lesser known online celebrity, it was already rare for him to be recognised once. Moreover, it was by such a handsome colleague. He immediately nodded in surprise, “Yes, yeah, it’s me. I signed into “Werewolf”, you too?”

This person was pretty handsome, and he had the mixed-race look, which was popular and trending nowadays. Fang Daichuan guessed that he was a newcomer with some sort of background, making his debut on this show. Or he already had some acting experience, just that Fang Daichuan hadn’t heard of him. After all, in this era, there were many more broadcasting channels than before, and the popularity of the new generation of young eye candies on the Internet should not be underestimated. What’s more, there were all kinds of crossovers, the super modelling industry, singing industry, Internet celebrity industry, fashion industry, and people from all walks of life have entered the film and television industry to make money. Situations where people were unable to recognise one another was no longer a rare occurrence. But what was embarrassing was that the mixed-race recognized him, yet he dared not ask him for his full name.

The mixed-race frowned, “You also signed into the game? Why didn’t I receive the notice to pick you up?”

Lil’ Zhou had been in this industry for a long time. Even though she also didn’t know the newcomer, she felt like he would still come from a better background than the lesser known online celebrity of hers. She rushed to praise him and smoothen out the scene. “How could we trouble you to pick him up, Daichuan is probably still on the way. This car is yours, but would you look at the heavy rain! Why not let Daichuan get on first, since we’re all from the same group anyways! Sorry for the trouble.”

The middle-aged man across from the mixed-race brother didn’t say a word.

“Then you can get on,” The mixed-race brother thought for a while before opening the door fully.

Lil’ Zhou smiled and said hurriedly, “Thank you!”

Fang Daichuan nodded and got into the car quickly. He then turned to pick up his luggage and pull Lil’ Zhou up.

“You are not allowed to bring your luggage or unrelated personnel,” The mixed-race boy reminded with a frown, “You’re also not allowed to bring your phone, didn’t you read the contract when you signed it?”

Fang Daichuan froze for a moment. He’d glanced briefly at the contract when he signed it, but because it had the approval of the company that managed him, he didn’t read it word by word or line by line. He really had no impression of that rule.

“Okay okay, we won’t bring it!” Seeing him in a daze, Lil’ Zhou gave him a look and pinched his waist, “I won’t be getting on, I’ll take your luggage and wait for the next car. Maybe when the rain stops I’ll take the plane. You just leave quickly and don’t delay other people!”

Fang Daichuan nodded obediently, took his phone out of his pocket and handed it to Lil’ Zhou.

“Be careful! Be smart!” Lil’ Zhou shouted her orders.

Fang Daichuan rolled down the car window, smiling and waving at her.

The car drove out of the parking lot at a constant speed, and once out of the airport, turned onto the highway. It cut through the pouring rain, and quickly travelled towards the east.

The atmosphere in the car was a bit awkward.

The three of them didn’t know each other. Fang Daichuan glanced in the camera’s direction, tested out his balance, then sat down beside the middle-aged man, facing the mixed-race boy. Their gazes met on accident, and they evaluated each other.

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Fang Daichuan touched his nose, feeling a little awkward. Hardening his skin, he made conversation, “Do you know me?”

The mixed-race boy glanced at him, but ignored him.

Fang Daichuan was a little embarrassed, so he could only continue talking awkwardly, “I’m sorry, I haven’t seen you before. Did you also sign a contract to participate in ‘Werewolf’?”

The mixed-race boy shook his head, and raised his chin in the middle-aged man’s direction, “I’m here to pick up Mr. Chen.”

“So you are a staff member!” Fang Daichuan was relieved. No wonder he hadn’t seen him before, he wasn’t a celebrity. Inwardly, he sighed. Huo Long Guo was just so wealthy, even their staff were this handsome. Evidently, when Lil’ Zhou said that he could be replaced by a young eye candy any minute, she really wasn’t lying to him.

Mr. Chen was also a new face. He looked to be in his forties. He didn’t have a prominent appearance nor exude an extraordinary aura. He was wearing a shirt that was way too broad for him, and looked unfamiliar. But to begin with, Fang Daichuan didn’t know many old actors of that era. There was no concept of a star at that time. Only their roles – the characters – were popular, not the actors. Maybe this Mr. Chen was an old actor who had acted in many shows before.

Thinking as if that was the case, Fang Daichuan turned around to hold Mr. Chen’s hand with both hands, “I’ve disrespected you, so you’re Mr. Chen!”

Mr. Chen was obviously taken aback by his actions, and quickly shook his hand. The two of them looked at each other for a long time, before Ol’ Chen suddenly smacked his own head, “Hey! I think I know you! Were you… Were you in the “Anti-Japanese Special Team”, acting as that… that Chen Xiaolu…! Your name was… What’s your name? You easily tore up those ghosts(1) barehanded!”

Fang Daichuan’s face flushed at his words. He thought to himself, I’d rather you watch me acting as the martial artist No. 3 in a brain-dead Mary Sue drama, than bring up me ripping apart ghosts! How the hell do you expect me to film a variety show now?!

He hurriedly waved his hand, “You are too polite, it’s not worth mentioning when in front of you.”

“How can you say so!” Mr. Chen smiled and patted his hand. “Every time I take on new jobs at places without any signal where there isn’t even bird shit, I’d download several shows involving fights against the Japanese on my phone. I’ve seen you several times. A young lad like you starred in shows where you tore apart the ghosts by hand, jumped over walls and dodged bullets, and you were so good! It was addicting to watch!”

This old gentleman’s preferences were quite out-dated(2). Fang Daichuan was speechless. Maybe he used to act in shows of tunnel warfare and others of the sort, so it was no wonder Fang Daichuan didn’t recognise him.

Fang Daichuan stuck his tongue out at the cameras, silently recited his character design, then started using the opportunity to madly advertise himself, “Actually, I have been practicing martial arts since I was a child. This time, I decided to participate in ‘Werewolf’ because I heard that you need a lot of physical strength and athletic talent. My parents have told me that I’m stupid since I was young, and it’s true I’ve never won a game of Werewolf. My hands tremble as soon as I get the werewolf role, and it’s so obvious anyone with eyes would be able to tell. This time, I participated in the game because I wanted to turn the tables using my strength. How about you Mr. Chen? Why did you participate in this game?”

Hearing that, the mixed-race staff member sitting across them suddenly raised his head and stared at Ol’ Chen. An unnatural Pallor of his face flashed for a moment before Ol’ Chen forced out a smile, “Me? I, I participated because of the huge prize! Twenty million dollars!”

There was such a thing?? Fang Daichuan froze in place, turning his head to look at Ol’ Chen, then turning back to look at the cameras before he ended up staring suspiciously at the mixed-race boy across them. He was no longer looking at Mr. Chen, instead posing as an old monk who was concentrating, sitting upright as he faced straight forward.

“T-they’re even giving money?!” Fang Daichuan regretted not taking a closer look at the script and the contract.

Ol’ Chen’s reaction was a little strange, “Did you really sign a contract to participate in this werewolf game? Why don’t you know anything? Do you even know how exactly the game is played?!”

No matter how dumb Fang Daichuan was, he couldn’t say that he didn’t read the script properly in front of the cameras! He hurriedly said, “I know, I know. It’s just Werewolf, the card game in reality, right? My IQ is sufficient to at least know that.”

Ol’ Chen nodded.

“Ol’ Chen, please be careful. Although my IQ isn’t high, my strength is the real deal. We still can’t be sure if we’ll be partners or enemies!” Fang Daichuan joked, trying to reference a meme.

Ol’ Chen did not answer.

His expression suddenly turned serious, and he nodded, turning to look out the window. After that, he didn’t say a word to him.

Seeing how petty he was, Fang Daichuan, speechless, made a face at the camera. Wasn’t it just a reality show, it wouldn’t require you to put your life at risk, did he have to be like this? He knew that the old actors were more or less looked down upon by that of the new generation. He simply refused to be perturbed by this cold ass(3), and turned his head to look out the window as well.

The car was speeding all the way, only stopping once at the gas station in the middle of their journey. The driver filled up the gas tank, while the mixed-race boy accompanied Ol’ Chen and Fang Daichuan to the toilet.

The sky slowly darkened, and the scenery along the highway was nothing extraordinary. No matter which side they looked, all that could be seen were seemingly endless miles of crops – none of which they could identify. There were also fewer cars on the road. Their car, with the big bright red slogan ‘Werewolf Game’ on it, looked very ordinary. With no big celebrities on it, it didn’t attract any attention.

In the distance, the clouds stacked on top of each other, creating several layers. When the three of them returned from the toilet, the atmosphere in the car was heavy once again.

Translator Notes:

(1) It’s an offensive way to refer to the Japanese in the past. Y’all know how the Japanese invaded China in the past, and some of the older Chinese and older shows that featured the war still refer to the Japanese as ghosts (鬼子)

(2) this phrase actually means “common, similar to the peasants”, but it has a negative connotation that suggests “out-dated, old-fashioned”

(3) “cold ass” is referring to Ol’ Chen being cold towards him. He’s just saying he didn’t want to continue trying to talk to Ol’ Chen when he doesn’t want to talk.

Seeing as no one has taken this project from me yet, i guess i will continue digging this pit QAQ

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