TRYMBPIETM 11: The Ancient Tree’s Deep Shade(5)Part 2

Chi Qingzhou smiled with a sweetness that felt completely natural, his tone long and mellow.

“It’s okay. I can carry the tricycle myself. We only have half an hour left, so let’s not waste any more time.”

Zhu Yantong choked, casting a dark look at Chi Qingzhou but continued to persuade, “The Di family is only a few hundred meters away. It really won’t take long.”

Chi Qingzhou took a step forward, and just as he was about to speak, Xu Xinxin suddenly gasped in surprise.

“Didn’t Chi always emphasize not wasting time? Did he figure something out?”

The guests turned to look at her. She scratched her head sheepishly.

“Wasn’t it said that Director Hu and the others kept mentioning that the program crew was really tough? I think Chi might have noticed something but was too shy to call out the crew, so he phrased it this way.”

Since they had just come into close contact with the ghosts, a few of the guests felt confused. After Xu Xinxin’s suggestion, they found it quite plausible.

Chi Qingzhou, as a newcomer, might be trying to give face to the crew, which made sense.

Tang Qichen immediately grabbed Chi Qingzhou. “Tell us secretly, just don’t let the production team know.”

Zhong Lingshu and Liang Ji added, “Yes, yes! The crew is so shady; we’re on your side, little Chi. Don’t protect them!”

The bystanders and cameramen were left speechless.

Zhu Yantong choked again, trying to hide his gloomy gaze.

Xu Xinxin sighed with relief in her heart.

Ever since stepping onto the tricycle, fear had completely blanked her mind. She hadn’t even known what she was saying earlier.

When the tricycle broke down, she had even prepared her last words, thinking it was the end. But at the most desperate moment, Chi Qingzhou stepped up.

She couldn’t describe how it felt, but that unsettling sense of dread had completely disappeared.

What replaced it was an overwhelming sense of security.

With a smile, Xu Xinxin quickly joined the others in criticizing the production team.

Chi Qingnings eyes darkened slightly, but he kept his expression light and nonchalant, joining the group in their complaints.

Chi Qingzhou, however, had no time to think about this.

After a moment’s thought, he quickly found an excuse.

“Actually, it was Lu Ge and the others who mentioned the time limit first. The director and Lu Ge reminded us several times that we need to reach Yinping Village within two hours. The crossroads have so many different types of vehicles; this doesn’t happen often, right?”

“I suspect there’s a special event in the village today. If we’re late, we might miss out,” he concluded. “If we can get there early, maybe we’ll get a reward.”

“Really?” The others looked at him with suspicion.

Lu Man, still a little surprised by this, looked at Chi Qingzhou with a shift in his heart.

He swallowed the words he was about to say and scratched his nose. “Chi’s observation is sharp. Yes, there is a village fair today in Yinping Village, and our subsequent activities will be done there. If we’re late, there will be penalties.”

Chi Qingning’s eyes grew darker.

He clapped his hands and praised Chi Qingzhou, using the action to avoid any telltale signs of emotion on his face.

The other guests immediately followed suit, clapping while pointing at the production team. “As expected of you, not even telling us this in advance. So shady!”

They quickly began discussing among themselves.

“It’s not far from here to the village, only about 2.5 kilometers. We can walk in half an hour.”

“Well then, how about we let Chi push the tricycle, and we all walk together?”

“I think that works. Little Chi is strong enough to handle it. As for the rest of us, let’s not add to his burden.”

Chi Qingning clenched his fingers and showed a faint smile.

“Second brother’s thinking is clear, he immediately spotted the flaw in the production team’s plan. But Lu Ge admitted too quickly, making me wonder if there is more to it?”

The guests looked at Lu Man with suspicion, each wondering if there was more to it.

Lu Man shrugged, playing innocent.

“Ah, I don’t know what you’re talking about, I’m just the pitiful host who got exposed.”

Chi Qingzhou laughed softly. “There’s a conspiracy. I was thinking, when Lu Ge heard us discussing walking to the village earlier, he seemed to be smiling the whole time?”

Lu Man: “Did I?”

Xu Xinxin confirmed loudly, “Yes!”

Chi Qingzhou: “It seems Lu Ge really wants us to walk to Yinping Village. With so many different types of transportation at the crossroads, it can’t be just by chance, right?”

Zhong Lingshu immediately followed his reasoning. “So, we must use the transportation to reach the village for it to count?”

Liang Ji and Tang Qichen couldn’t help but scold, “How sneaky!”

Lu Man quickly hid behind the cameraman, effectively confirming that Chi Qingzhou had guessed right.

Chi Qingning’s expression darkened, but he quickly adjusted it, giving an appreciative smile.

The other guests didn’t notice the change, and they huddled together to discuss taking turns pushing the tricycle.

Chi Qingzhou continued to insist he was strong and refused their offer.

Tang Qichen thought for a moment, his eyes lighting up.

“How about we let Mr. Zhu sit in the production team’s live-stream vehicle? At least that’ll lighten one person’s load.”

The others agreed that this was a good idea.

But Chi Qingzhou said, “No, let Mr. Zhu sit in the tricycle.”

Not to mention that Zhu Yantong was a ghost tamer, and staying close to an ordinary person posed a greater threat, but the two ghosts under his control, which shared the same origin as Xing Shuangzhan’s energy, were enough to make Chi Qingzhou wary.

Chi Qingzhou’s soul had been split in half and yet he survived, all thanks to Xing Shuangzhan’s help.

Naturally, if one wanted to accomplish something impossible, there was always a price to pay.

Chi Qingzhou was continuously gathering various emotions, not just for himself, but for Xing Shuangzhan, who was still healing.

However, as one could imagine, no amount of emotional power could compare to the ghostly energy that came from the same source as Xing Shuangzhan.

When Chi Qingzhou confirmed the ghost-taming situation, Zhu Yantong became to him like a rare medicinal herb—exactly the kind of supplement Xing Shuangzhan needed.

He had to keep Zhu Yantong close.

Chi Qingzhou passed through the crowd, smiling at Zhu Yantong.

The guests had no idea what Chi Qingzhou’s true plans were. They exchanged glances, whispering and speculating.

“Could it be another trap from the production team? Maybe we must be on a transportation vehicle or something?”

“Very possible!”

“Exactly, what’s the harm in letting the local resident sit in the live broadcast vehicle for a bit?”

“Don’t even mention it, Director Hu just popped his head out. He’s definitely up to something, maybe thinking about changing the rules again.”

“That’s too much! Director Hu really crosses the line!”

The guests all began to complain about the production team.

Lu Man froze for a moment and quickly clarified, “It’s fine if the local resident isn’t in the vehicle; it doesn’t matter.”

Zhong Lingshu sneered, “Really? I don’t buy it!”

Tang Qichen added, “That’s not what Xiao Chi said.”

Lu Man insisted, “I’m telling you, it’s true.”

Xu Xinxin huffed, “I don’t believe it.”

Qi Qingning joined in with the group, “The production team has lost all credibility in my eyes.”

Liang Ji clapped his hands, “Admit it, you guys are dogs!”

Lu Man: “…”

Director: “…”

Main live-stream comments: 【Hahahahaha! Production team, you’ve finally met your match!】