Before Fang Zhuyue could react, Ji Xizhi handed her a handwritten contract.
"You can take a look at the contract first, fair and square for everyone!"
[!!! A contract too!]
[Hahaha, unexpected formality!]
[Suddenly, Ji Xizhi seems reliable now, isn't this better than those companies that don't even sign contracts?!]
"What?" Fang Zhuyue almost thought she heard wrong.
She looked down, using the light from the village chief's courtyard, she finally saw the white paper in her hand.
The plain white paper was covered with words in an orderly fashion, what was most striking was the handwriting on it — strong and bold, full of vigor.
One could not write such characters without at least ten years of calligraphy practice.
Fang Zhuyue was stunned, looking up in surprise at Ji Xizhi.
Online rumors claimed Ji Xizhi was an illiterate slob, but this handwriting was nothing like something a poor student would produce.
Is Ji Xizhi really as the internet says?
Or is she intentionally hiding her skills?!
Fang Zhuyue suppressed her doubt, her eyes returning to the paper.
This was a very clear and formal contract, with distinct parties A and B, its terms clear and detailed, some even more formal than her agency contract.
The audience in the livestream were momentarily silent upon seeing the contract.
[Honestly, this handwriting is impeccable, you can't write like this without years of calligraphy!]
[Haha, good handwriting is useless, just ask if Qing University recruits based on handwriting?!]
[You all focus on the handwriting, but only I focused on the contract's terms? It's very formal, honestly, this contract would hold in court, I even suspect Ji Xizhi might be a law student?!]
[? How much are they paying you upstairs to whitewash Ji Xizhi, careful you don't fail finals!]
At the village chief's entrance, Ji Xizhi handed a pen to Fang Zhuyue, "If everything looks okay, just sign it, once the contract is effective, I'll get started!"
Zhu Xiu'an stood on the side with crossed arms, seeing Fang Zhuyue about to sign, he couldn't help but speak, "Hey? You're really signing, fool..."
Ji Xizhi was indifferent to Zhu Xiu'an's words, her eyes vacant, her mind full of revision questions.
Fang Zhuyue looked at the darkened sky, rubbing her goose-bumped arms.
If she didn't sign now, she'd freeze by midnight and definitely quit the contest; signing it meant even if Ji Xizhi didn't deliver, she wouldn't lose anything.
She decided to bite the bullet and signed.
Ji Xizhi: "Remember to sign in print."
Fang Zhuyue paused her hand about to make a decorative signature, then obediently signed in regular print.
As soon as she finished signing, Ji Xizhi pulled out a red ink pad from somewhere, dabbed her thumb on it, and pressed it onto the contract.
She then gestured to Fang Zhuyue to do the same.
Fang Zhuyue: "..."
After mimicking Ji Xizhi's actions, the contract officially came into effect.
Ji Xizhi retrieved an identical copy from underneath the carbon paper and handed it to Fang Zhuyue.
"The contract is in duplicate, now effective!"
Even though they were filming a variety show and this was supposed to be a joke contract, Ji Xizhi's expression was deadly serious.
Fang Zhuyue took the contract with a complicated expression.
Her mind involuntarily began recalling, when she previously signed contracts with the streamer company and her agency, was it as formal as this?
Were the contractual terms okay? Were they legally binding? Were they stamped?
The more she thought, the more panicked Fang Zhuyue became.
Back when signing with the company, she hadn't thought about these things at all, just hoping to become popular!
Now, going through the process with Ji Xizhi's contract, she suddenly felt a bit flustered!
In the footage, not only Fang Zhuyue felt panic, but even the audience in the livestream began to feel anxious.
[I don't know why, but even lying in bed I got up to check my own contract, yup everything's stamped, no problem!]
[+1, I also got up to check my company's contract and found a missing stamp, darn it! I'll talk to them tomorrow!]
[... Crap, I started the job without signing a contract, what do I do?!]
The atmosphere caused several livestream viewers to hurriedly check their personal contracts.
Even the black fans couldn't help but check if they were being scammed.
Zhu Xiu'an and Qin Yutian stood by, their expressions unchanged, but their hearts were already stirred.
His agency contract shouldn't be screwing him, right?
This won't do!
After this recording, he must go back and check carefully!
*
With the contract settled, Ji Xizhi carefully put it away, then began preparing to build the shelter.
It was autumn now, and the rice had just been harvested, leaving straw piled everywhere in the village.
Ji Xizhi chose a flat spot near the village chief's house, under two trees, to build a makeshift straw house.
Borrowing a knife from the village chief, she first completed the framework of the straw house, then intricately wove straw to form the roof and walls.
Ji Xizhi skillfully used the knife, even making a simple door for Fang Zhuyue with ease.
Inside the straw house, a large mat was woven from straw, looking as beautiful as a handcrafted artwork.
Fang Zhuyue watched as simple, shabby items turned into a pretty little house in Ji Xizhi's hands, leaving her amazed.
Especially inside the straw house, the small space was sturdier than a tent, just right for one person to lie down.
Though made from straw, the dense weaving meant it wasn't drafty; several thick layers of dry straw on the floor felt practically like lying on clouds, soft and comfortable.
Fang Zhuyue was delighted, "Ji Xizhi, I didn't expect you could make something like this?! You're amazing!"
Ji Xizhi didn't respond, staring into the pitch-black surroundings.
She suddenly had a thought, then turned to fetch a discarded light bulb and two batteries from the village chief's, tinkering to connect them to power, hanging it on Fang Zhuyue's small door.
The warm yellow light instantly illuminated the area when hung above the door.
Previously, the livestream viewers couldn't clearly see the straw house due to the darkness, but now it seemed as though a layer of light enveloped it.
Ji Xizhi half-sat at the straw house entrance adjusting the light bulb's position, her long legs crossed, loose pants revealing a small white wrist, impossibly fair.
In the diffused light, her unadorned profile was captured by the camera like a fairy accidentally stumbled into the mortal world, breathtakingly beautiful.
[Hiss... a straw house? This is paradise on earth!]
[If this weren't live, I'd suspect Ji Xizhi hired a team, but even watching the live, I can't believe it! So beautiful!]
[... it's not hard to do this! Trying to whitewash Ji Xizhi with this? Forgot she was accused of being a homewrecker?!]
[Can you do it? Come on, stream you doing it!]
[With her lighting skills, I don't believe Ji Xizhi is bad at physics! Where did this "poor student" rumor even come from?]
[(image)(image) Ji Xizhi's college roommate verified it～]
[I don't care about fandom battles, just this face of Ji Xizhi's, I'm lost, I'll be her simp until the end!!!]
Soon, Ji Xizhi and the straw house became a hot topic across the various livestream rooms.
Watching from the sidelines, Zhu Xiu'an and Qin Yutian never expected Ji Xizhi could actually do it, creating a shelter for Fang Zhuyue.
Not just created it, but crafted it so meticulously, with a feel for outdoor filming.
Even a professional studio couldn't capture such atmospheric imagery?!
Staying here, they've hit the jackpot!
Both instantly felt a wave of regret.
Zhu Xiu'an pursed his lips, moving his gaze from the straw house.
Regardless, he would never deal with someone like Ji Xizhi!
Zhu Xiu'an turned wanting to discuss cooperation with Qin Yutian.
But before he could speak,
Qin Yutian suddenly took a quick step forward,
"Sister Zhi, do you have more contracts? Can I sign one? I can help you with tasks the day after tomorrow!"
Zhu Xiu'an: "???" Damn! Traitor!
Ji Xizhi was unfazed, "Sure, let me go draft a contract!"
Qin Yutian nodded obediently.
Zhu Xiu'an: "..."
Great, now he was the sucker!