Sang Ning never expected she'd end up sprinting to the spiked mat course at full speed.
Because she was going too fast, she couldn't stop herself in time, and her smooth, bare feet slammed directly onto the mat. A stabbing pain shot up from her soles straight to her head, leaving her entire body numb with agony.
Determined to end the suffering as quickly as possible, she gritted her teeth and hurried through.
Thankfully, the spiked mat was the final challenge. When she stumbled off the track and spotted the white steamed buns on the table ahead, the corners of Sang Ning's mouth twitched involuntarily.
After enduring so much torment, the show's crew was rewarding her with just a few buns?
[I'm dying of laughter—could this be the Crow Spirit Curse? The harder you try, the worse your luck?]
[Honestly, I kinda feel bad for Sang Ning. She gives her all in these games, no slacking. But they repay her with a couple of buns? This show crew is savage.]
After Sang Ning finished the challenge, the PD finally stepped forward, speaking leisurely: "Dear guests, the program team is giving you twenty minutes to enjoy your meal. Please make the most of it, as there are even tougher tasks awaiting you afterward."
As soon as his words landed, the contestants all took their seats at their respective tables.
At first, Qin Kai thought tomato-and-egg noodles were a bit too basic. But then he glanced over at Sang Ning's family gnawing miserably on dry steamed buns, and suddenly, the world felt wonderful again.
Sang Chuan took a bite of the bun, giving Sang Ning an aggrieved look: "Sis, if I'd known what terrible luck you had, I'd have gone myself. Just look at what we're eating compared to Sister Xi's spread—the difference is ridiculous."
Sang Ning rolled her eyes at him: "Be glad we have food at all. If you don't want it, then hand it over—perfect timing since I'm starving."
Sang Chuan instantly jerked his hand back, clutching his bun as if his life depended on it. "Sang Ning, are you even human? We each only get one bun, and you still want to snatch mine?"
Meanwhile, Chu Xi glanced over at the Sang family's table while eating, then picked up a plate of stir-fried pork and walked over.
"Mr. Sang, isn't it too pitiful that your family only gets steamed buns? My mom and I can't finish all these dishes, so I'll give this plate of stir-fried pork to your family."
Chu Xi gently placed the dish on the table, her face adorned with a sweet smile.
[Oh my gosh, our girl is just too kind-hearted!]
[Sweet face, sweeter heart—starting today, I'm locking my loyalty to Chu Xi forever.]
Sang Chuan stared at the plate of stir-fried pork on the table, practically drooling, but Sang Youming and Hu Zhi sat upright and expressionless. He didn't dare make a move.
After all, Hu Zhi had made it clear: Chu Xi was no longer part of the Sang family. Moving forward, they were to treat her as a stranger—no getting too close, to avoid causing unnecessary trouble for her or the Chu family.
Sang Ning looked up and met a pair of icy-cold eyes. Chu Xi's face carried a smile, yet her gaze held an aloofness and disdain that created an intensely palpable sense of distance.
"Eldest Miss Chu, there are four people in our family, and you're only offering one plate of pork? It's not even enough to fill the gaps between my teeth." Sang Ning's lips curved slightly, her smile teasing yet sharp as she met Chu Xi's glance.
The smile on Chu Xi's face froze instantly. She'd given the Sang family pork just to earn the audience's favor, but Sang Ning's remark left her awkward, unable to retreat gracefully.
Li Sulan couldn't bear to see her daughter treated poorly. She stood up and walked over to back Chu Xi up: "Sang Ning, what do you mean by that? Xiao Xi pitied your family and kindly gave you some food. How can you be so ungrateful?"
[To be fair, Sang Ning was a bit blunt, but something about Chu Xi and her mom's behavior feels weirdly off.]
[Come on, don't be ridiculous—someone was being nice and offered food, and now you're questioning them over it?]
Hu Zhi quickly tugged on Sang Ning's sleeve, signaling her not to argue with Li Sulan. No matter what, Li Sulan had been her mother for twenty years, and respect should be given.
But Sang Ning didn't follow Hu Zhi's lead. Instead, she stood up—she didn't like the feeling of being looked down upon by Li Sulan.
Sang Youming and Hu Zhi both broke out in a cold sweat, worried Sang Ning might start a public row with Li Sulan on the show.
The other guests turned to watch, all wearing expressionless "eating popcorn" faces. Based on Sang Ning's typical demeanor, her response to Li Sulan would surely involve flipping the table next.
But to everyone's surprise, Sang Ning didn't do anything outrageous. Instead, she smiled politely at Li Sulan and responded methodically.
"Mrs. Chu, this game has its rules. Our family drew the short straw and got stuck with steamed buns—we've accepted that. But did Miss Chu ask us if we wanted food before offering it in such a proudly dismissive way? We're supposed to gratefully accept your lofty pity just for you to flaunt it as generosity?"
Li Sulan was momentarily at a loss for words, finally managing to sputter, "Eat it or don't—it's up to you! If you won't eat it, we'll give it to someone else!"
With that, she picked up the plate of pork in one hand and took Chu Xi by the other, storming off.
[I finally realized why Chu Xi and her mom's attitude rubbed me the wrong way earlier. Sang Ning didn't beg them for food, but the way they act so superior—as if rejecting their "kindness" is an offense—makes it less about kindness and more about charity.]
[Some of you are just nitpicky—is it that you're poor like Sang Ning and have a complex about wealthy people being condescending? If every single word people say triggers you, maybe the problem isn't them—it's you.]
[Chu Xi's fans are so off-putting. So what if you're rich? Does that mean it's okay to talk like you're lacking emotional intelligence? Are you guys as naive and brainless as your idol Chu Xi?]
After Li Sulan took Chu Xi away, she immediately invited the other four groups of guests to dine with them, her goal clearly to isolate the Sang family. After all, Sang Ning had been "too ungrateful."
The Qin Kai family and Chu Wei family were the first to join them. During the earlier introductions, even though Li Sulan hadn't explicitly stated she was Chu Tian's wife, both Qin Jiaxiang and Chuyun had seen Chu Tian's magazine interviews and knew her identity. Refusing her at this point would have been awkward.
But Song Shiye and Shen Yi didn't budge.
Song Shiye politely bowed to Li Sulan but declined: "Thank you, Auntie. But my grandma mentioned she hasn't had a hamburger in ages, and now that she has a legitimate chance to grab one, she won't waste it."
Grandma Song flashed a kind smile at Li Sulan, nodding slightly: "Thank you for your kind offer, Mrs. Chu. My grandson usually keeps a tight watch on me, so let this old lady indulge a little now."
Li Sulan had no choice but to concede and move on.
Song Shiye sneakily glanced at Sang Ning's table—it's just a few steamed buns, is Sister Sangsang really going to get full off that?
He picked up his hamburger and walked over to the Sang family's table, showing his signature tiger-tooth smile: "Sister Sangsang, I'm not hungry right now. Would you mind helping me finish this hamburger? It'd be a shame to waste food."
[See? This is how you offer food respectfully. Xiao Ye here really gets it.]
Sang Ning looked up at Song Shiye, knowing kids at his age are still growing. She smiled faintly and declined politely: "Thank you, but I'm not hungry right now. The steamed bun is enough for me."
"If no one wants it, I'll take it!" Sang Chuan sprang out of nowhere, snatching the hamburger from Song Shiye's hands and taking a big bite.
Sang Ning: "..."
Song Shiye: "..."
Audience: "..."