Chapter Six: Did She Really Pay One Yuan?

“I’ll choose the kayak—paddling alone slowly, I can enjoy the scenery that way.” Lai Bingfu was the first to decide, opting for a relatively moderate choice. He figured no one would pick the most expensive speedboat right at the start.

“Sheng Ya, what about you? How about a pedal boat? I can join you,” Zheng Jin suggested, his eyes practically calculating on Sheng Ya’s face.

Sheng Ya glanced at him and said, “No need. I’ll take the kayak too.”

“Alright then!” Zheng Jin was about to ask Jiang Xian what she would pick when Jiang Ke happened to ask Rong Fan the same question.

“Bamboo raft.”

“Yacht.”

The two answers came simultaneously, leaving everyone momentarily stunned.

Lai Bingfu looked between Rong Fan and Jiang Xian. “Who just said yacht?”

“I did,” Jiang Xian replied.

The moment she spoke, several gazes turned toward her, even Rong Fan, who had seemed indifferent from the beginning, fixed his eyes on Jiang Xian.

Did he hear correctly? Jiang Xian actually said yacht?

Lai Bingfu wasn’t sure and asked again, “You said you’re choosing the yacht?”

“Yeah, what’s wrong with that?” In this devalued world, you could ride a luxury yacht for just one yuan. In an un-devalued world, one yuan wouldn’t even get you near a yacht.

This devaluation was actually quite a boon for her right now.

“Jiang Xian, what nonsense are you spouting? One yuan for a yacht? Don’t tell me you’re just trying to get the attention of our Rong Fan by deliberately saying you want to take the yacht for one yuan!”

Li Jiale’s reminder instantly linked Jiang Xian’s yacht choice to her apparent reason for being here—it must be for Rong Fan. After all, Jiang Xian was famously a groupie, and here, Rong Fan was the richest and most handsome; it was clear she was here for him.

“Xian Xian, this show isn’t a joke. You actually have to pay. You can’t do something like this just to attract attention.”

Jiang Ke’s words only confirmed the suspicion that Jiang Xian’s extravagant choice was a calculated move to catch Rong Fan’s eye.

In just a few simple sentences, the group had turned Jiang Xian’s bold one-yuan yacht ride into a ploy for attention.

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Rong Fan was already displeased that Jiang Xian was stealing his spotlight with her one-yuan yacht choice. Now, hearing their remarks, his disdain deepened.

Though he wasn’t involved in showbiz, he had heard some of Jiang Xian’s notorious escapades as the heiress of the Jiang family.

She liked to cling to handsome men, and now, having lost her heiress status, wealth had become just another demand for her.

[They said Jiang Xian came on this show to find a wealthy man, and now she’s really set her sights on Rong Fan. Old habits die hard—her brain just shuts off at the sight of a handsome guy.]

[If she can’t come up with one yuan, that would be embarrassing.]

[If it were me, I’d do the same. I like handsome guys anyway, and now I’m poor—hooking up with Rong Fan is the best way to turn things around.]

Zheng Jin tugged at Jiang Xian’s sleeve and lowered his voice. “Jiang Da Xian, one yuan is a lot. My dad gave me thirty yuan, and I have to be here for over ten days. How about we take the kayak or bamboo raft instead?”

He was ready to go the extra mile for his friend, but if he spent all his money upfront, he’d be sleeping on the street later.

Without further ado, he scanned the payment code and transferred one yuan over.

The next moment, a loud voice rang out.

“WeChat payment received: one yuan.”

The announcement was so loud and incredulous.

The production team was slightly shocked to see a one-yuan payment for the yacht ride. They had expected any guest might pay one yuan for a kayak or raft, but never for the yacht—except Jiang Xian had done exactly that.

“Congratulations to Jiang Xian, who will take the yacht to the center of the lake. On behalf of the impoverished villagers we support, the production team thanks you!”

[Wow, she actually paid one yuan for the yacht.]

[One yuan? For just a small lake? Wouldn’t a bamboo raft be enough?]

[That’s several months’ salary for me. Just like that!]

Before anyone could react further, Jiang Xian stepped onto the yacht, feeling deeply what it was like for the wealthy to host a party on a yacht.

Though the yacht wasn’t very large, it felt spacious for one person. Small but complete, it had a living room, dining area, and bar. Sitting on the sofa by the window, she could clearly enjoy the outside view.

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Jiang Xian shared the same thought as many online—that such a yacht was meant for the sea, not a small lake like this.

Only when the yacht steamed away did everyone realize she had truly spent one yuan on the yacht ride.

“She really took the one-yuan yacht ride—what a boss move!” Lai Bingfu watched the yacht disappear into the distance, having only heard of such things online until today.

Suddenly recalling something, he looked at Jiang Ke. “Hey, Beauty Jiang, your family didn’t give her money for this, did they?”

Jiang Ke feigned ignorance and shook her head but then revealed why Jiang Xian could afford the one yuan.

“I don’t know exactly, but my brother said my mom gave her two yuan because she was going to participate in Extreme Escape. That’s apparently the last bit of kindness the Jiang family showed her.”

Jiang Ke had been furious when she heard Jiang Cheng say that Tang Qionghua gave Jiang Xian two yuan. Since they already knew she wasn’t their real daughter, why give her so much money?

It was only when Jiang Cheng said it was to buy out Jiang Xian’s relationship with the family that she felt a bit better.

However, Jiang Cheng said Jiang Xian hadn’t accepted the money at the time. Now it seemed she hadn’t accepted it then but had secretly taken the two yuan later.

Because of Jiang Ke’s words, everyone assumed Jiang Xian used the buyout money to afford the yacht. Their disdain for her grew—using the money meant to sever family ties to flaunt wealth.

“Looks like she’s really willing to bet big just to get Rong Fan’s attention!” Li Jiale was now absolutely sure Jiang Xian was gambling everything to catch Rong Fan’s eye.

[Using buyout money to show off—no one’s ever seen anything like it.]

[Rong Fan shouldn’t fall for Jiang Xian. She’s not worthy. I think Xiao Ke and Rong Fan are a much better match.]

[This isn’t a fan club. Can some people stop posting these comments?]

[Whether or not the money was buyout money, at least Jiang Xian was willing to spend one yuan on the yacht, and that money ultimately helps the villagers in the mountains.]

[Please, think logically. She’s obviously doing it for herself, not the villagers.]

Originally feeling a bit put out by Jiang Xian’s audacity, Rong Fan’s mood improved somewhat.

“One yuan isn’t much to us. This is just a small lake with decent scenery. For us, choosing a bamboo raft to enjoy the view while completing the task is the wiser choice.”