Switched Life:I Went Viral on a Family Variety Show-Chapter 56: Why Don’t You Climb Up Instead?

"It’s just four days. Feel free to use them, Idol," Xiang Daqiang said in a generous tone.

Forget four days—borrowing them for forty days wouldn’t be a problem either.

Xiang Daqiang only had one request: he wanted Sang Ning to sign his clothes.

Sang Ning borrowed a marker from the show crew, signed, and returned it. Director Sun’s expression was particularly animated afterward.

She teased, "Director Sun, you’re not going to charge me for using a marker, are you?"

Director Sun pouted, "I’m not that stingy."

After Xiang Daqiang left, Sang Chuan called out to Sang Ning, "Sis, does this mean we don’t have to pay the protection fees to the show crew anymore?"

"What protection fees? That’s called tool usage fees!" Director Sun rolled his eyes at Sang Chuan, speaking irritably.

With the tools provided for free, everyone felt relieved—they wouldn’t owe the show crew a small fortune anymore.

Chu Wei bounced happily toward Sang Ning, blinking her big eyes as she asked, "Sang Ning, who was that guy? How did you manage to get him to lend us those tools for free?"

Sang Chuan immediately snapped in fury, "Where’s your manners? Would it kill you to call her sis?"

He then squeezed his way in and shoved Chu Wei aside.

"Sis, who was that guy? How did you manage to get him to lend us those tools for free?"

Chu Wei rolled her eyes dramatically, feeling exasperated. What kind of people are these? They were asking the same question, yet he had to interrupt her?

"Orchard manager," Sang Ning explained succinctly. "He said he watched the live stream yesterday and became a fan."

"A fan?" Chu Wei had an expression as though she’d seen a ghost, her eyes widening and her tone exaggerated. "The only fan you’d attract would be haters. Since when do haters lend you tools for free out of kindness?"

Sang Ning narrowed her eyes, giving Chu Wei a faint look. "Don’t you know? When the hate runs deep enough, it naturally turns into admiration."

"I get it now!"

Song Shiye’s abrupt voice suddenly interjected, "Sister Sangsang, he must’ve seen your video fighting off criminals and been deeply moved by your charisma!"

Chu Wei: ??? Criminals? I thought we were on a rural family variety show, not a frontline crime-fighting segment?

Director Sun hadn’t shared the incident where Sang Ning helped the police bust a criminal gang with the other participants. Apart from the parties involved, only Sang Chuan and Shen Yi knew—it was still hidden from Chu Xi, Chu Wei, and Qin Kai’s family.

The essence of women is gossip, and Chuyun leaned over excitedly. "Criminals? Why don’t we know anything about this?"

Qin Kai and Qin Jiaxiang also approached curiously. They were just here for the show—how could danger be lurking nearby without their knowledge?

Everyone surrounded Sang Ning, determined to extract the full story from her. Sang Ning quickly pulled Song Shiye to the front.

Her look conveyed her meaning clearly: This is your mess—you deal with it.

Thus, Song Shiye ended up playing the narrator’s role, explaining as the group carried the tools forward.

From afar, Chu Xi saw the group flocking around Sang Ning as they moved ahead, feeling a bit bitter inside.

She wanted to join the crowd but was stopped by Li Sulan. "Xiao Xi, no rush. Let them work the first half; we can sweep up what’s left afterward."

Chu Xi could only purse her lips and force a smile.

Ever since she returned to the Chu Family, Li Sulan had driven Sang Ning out for her sake. But despite that, Chu Xi was still worried—what if someday Li Sulan decided she wasn’t a good enough daughter and stopped liking her?

Offending the other guests was better than offending Li Sulan.

Along the way, the guests laughed and talked. Song Shiye had an exceptional knack for storytelling.

He could make hearts race one moment and have everyone in stitches the next. The image he portrayed—a valiant heroine with unwavering morals and exceptional combat skills—seemed to leap vividly into their minds.

Qin Jiaxiang listened intently, feeling genuinely captivated. He hadn’t personally witnessed Sang Ning’s skills yet—could she really be as impressive as Song Shiye described?

"Xiao Sang, could you do me a favor?" Qin Jiaxiang suddenly approached Sang Ning and stopped her.

"Director Qin, what is it?"

Sang Ning paused her steps, and the other guests followed suit, stopping too.

Qin Jiaxiang pointed to a sturdy yellow peach tree nearby, his eyes lighting up. "Could you climb that tree for us?"

Sang Ning: ???

Afraid Sang Ning wouldn’t understand, Qin Jiaxiang added gestures as he explained: "Like in martial arts dramas—you know, body parallel to the ground at 180 degrees, using your toes to tip off the tree trunk as you ascend."

[This is killing me—I can see refusal in Sister Sang’s eyes. Sister Sang: Do I not care about my dignity? Climbing trees costs extra.]

[I have a bold guess: Director Qin might be scouting for a female lead for his film.]

[Please don’t. Director Qin prioritizes acting skills above all. With Sang Ning’s painfully awkward acting, even if she were a martial arts master, he wouldn’t want her.]

Seeing Sang Ning’s expressionless, unmoving demeanor, Qin Jiaxiang clasped his hands together in a pleading motion. "Xiao Sang, I beg you—fulfill my wish. If you want, I’ll kneel while you climb."

[Why does it feel like Director Qin’s words sound a little off?]

[I didn’t expect that even a renowned director could excel at moral coercion.]

[Sang Ning: Thanks, but perhaps it’s better if YOU climb (smiling).]

Qin Jiaxiang wasn’t joking—he bent his knees as if truly about to kneel. Qin Kai hurriedly pulled him back and joined in persuading Sang Ning.

"Mr. Sang, perhaps you could fulfill my dad’s wish. He has a thing for talent. Once he sets his sights on someone, he’ll stop at nothing.

Take Wen Jiu, for example—the former Best Actress. My dad camped outside her home for half a year to persuade her to come out of retirement. One time, he almost got beaten up for being mistaken as a stalker."

[So Director Qin is like this behind the scenes. I always thought actors lined up, desperate to work with him. Turns out he has his moments of chasing after them instead.]

[But Wen Jiu truly deserves it. The Queen of Box Office isn’t a hollow title—her retirement at her peak left many heartbroken.]

"Did Wen Jiu agree to come back?"

Sang Ning suddenly threw out this question. Qin Kai froze for a second, then shook his head. "No."

"Well, there you go," Sang Ning said, spreading her hands and shrugging. "If Wen Jiu didn’t agree, why would you assume I will? Have you forgotten the industry rankings? The hardest-to-deal-with artist in showbiz? I’m ranked first, way ahead of Wen Jiu."

Qin Kai: "..."

Qin Jiaxiang: "..."

[Sister Sang, please. There’s really no need to take pride in something like this.]

[Sang Ning: Never thought I’d surpass Wen Jiu in this particular way.]

Sang Ning was deeply resistant to the idea. She didn’t have a performing streak to show off like some—being watched by so many people stirred her sense of pride as an idol, okay?