Chapter 147: Transformed: From Academic Underdog Tang to Scholarly Tang

Chapter 147: Transformed: From Academic Underdog Tang to Scholarly Tang

At 8 am on April 1st, the reality show "Goddess of the Farmhouse" officially began filming. Tang Fei arrived at the Anding Gate of Qinxi City's Ancient Wall alongside her production team.

He Zhou, Guan Mo, and Xing Le, the three assistants, were still asleep in their hotel rooms. The program group prohibited team members from accompanying the stars, allowing visits only once every three days for a 'rescue' mission.

For now, Anding Gate was solely occupied by Tang Fei and her crew; the other guest teams were absent from the scene.

Tang Fei observed the surroundings, "Are we going solo on the first day?"

The director replied, "That's right, it'll be individual tasks. Today, the four guests will start from the gates in the four cardinal directions of Chang'an City Wall. Sister Hua will be waiting for you at your destination."

Tang Fei blinked nervously, "I have a bad feeling about this."

The director handed Tang Fei a tablet, and she wore an expression of confirmation, "Is this for me? Am I supposed to watch it? Is it a trap?"

The camera gave a resounding nod, three times, confirming: It's for you, to watch, and yes, it might be a trap!

On the tablet was a pre-recorded video from He Zhuhua.

"Hello, goddesses! Your first mission for today's show is now being assigned. You have one hour to memorize the map, two hours to disguise yourselves, and within five hours, you must reach Wangjiacun in Zhou County with only ten yuan. Latecomers will have their points deducted based on my mood. Are you ready? I know you are! Let's get started!"

!!

Why is she talking to herself?

Who said they were ready?

Tang Fei was obviously taken aback but quickly regained her focus. A detailed map of Chang'an appeared on her pad, which could be zoomed in and out at will. Tang Fei began by grasping the overall layout. She rolled up her sleeve, using her nails to create markings on her skin to aid in remembering key routes.

With each scratch, a red, swollen line emerged on her skin, identical to the lines she drew.

It stood out starkly against her fair complexion.

The director was startled but calmed down after realizing it was just from her nails. The director then searched online about this phenomenon.

Director: "Tang Fei, do you have dermatographia? Does that make it easier for you to fake injuries during filming?"

Tang Fei, undisturbed, continued to concentrate on the map.

Director: "How focused!"

The camera also nodded in agreement, giving Tang Fei a close-up shot. Tang Fei scanned her surroundings with her eyes, mumbling to memorize, and then marked notes on her arm before zooming in for detailed memory.

At this moment, she exuded a unique charm that drew people's attention.

Perhaps the system had unlocked the full potential of Tang Fei's virtual imagination in her brain. As she mentally constructed the map, her hands instinctively zoomed in and out, making every detail crystal clear.

An hour later, Tang Fei's tablet went black.

Tang Fei: "Where's my ten yuan?"

The director handed her a red envelope, and Tang Fei took off like a sprinter.

The camera almost missed the action, but fortunately, a robotic assistant kept up. The director was quickly left behind.

Tang Fei dashed into a stationery store and spent five yuan on a notebook and pen. She intended to draw a map. When she had learned embroidery, she had secretly observed Wu Xia's techniques in oil painting, watercolor, and sketching. Without hesitation, she used her remaining learning cards and skill upgrade cards to boost her sketching technique.

"Acquired Sketching Technique, proficiency 16%."

"Freehand Sketching Technique, 97% proficiency."

Feeling a slight numbness in her fingers and arm, Tang Fei's mind was filled with key points of the technique.

After a while, Tang Fei moved to a corner, pressed her notebook against the wall, and began sketching the map, occasionally glancing at the swollen mark on her arm to recall details.

The director and the production crew were wide-eyed in astonishment. Could it be done this way? Like this?

Short-term memory tends to fade over time, so this challenge was meant for the guests to allocate time for reviewing the map and finding their way. Unexpectedly, Tang Fei had taken an unconventional path, spending half her funds on a pen.

Would her map be readable?

The cameraman zoomed in, revealing that Tang Fei's sketch in the notebook was as meticulous as a detailed draft, with many details almost identical to the original map. The route she had chosen was depicted exceptionally clearly.

Her skill was impeccable!

The post-production team could now overlay the original map for comparison, showcasing a blend of memory and drawing prowess.

Almost imperceptibly, the camera shook as the crew was amazed. In the stationery store, someone recognized Tang Fei as the one standing in a corner, sketching on the wall while surrounded by cameras.

"AHHH!! Tang Fei!"

"Tang Fei? Where's Tang Fei?"

"On the wall!"

Realizing they were outnumbered, the film crew panicked and shouted, "Run!"

Tang Fei grabbed her notebook and pen, bolting alongside the crew. They all dashed like the wind until they reached a corner where a makeup bus was parked, providing them refuge.

As she ran, Tang Fei didn't forget to add a few strokes to her drawing, her brushwork remaining steady despite her swift pace. Her lower body and hands were incredibly stable while running! Once on the bus, she continued sketching, propping the book on her knees.

Everyone was gasping for air, too afraid to disturb her, barely daring to breathe loudly.

Thirty minutes later, Tang Fei finally put down her pen. She even recited the drawing aloud, memorizing every detail. From afar, it sounded like she was listing food items—five hundred meters resembling duck necks, seven kilometers featuring cruciform patterns.

It seemed to be a mnemonic she had invented to aid her memory.

Tang Fei, the academic underachiever? Hmm... there was something about her that reminded one of the top student in class.

Initially, they assumed Tang Fei had a weakness in memorization.

Director: "Tang Fei, can I take a look at the map you drew?"

Tang Fei handed it over, and the director placed the map under the camera lens. The team gasped in amazement as they flipped through the pages, wide-eyed.

There were a total of twenty pages.

Director: "Tang Fei, you spent half an hour on the second segment. Now, you only have one and a half hours left for makeup."

The previously relaxed makeup artists suddenly grew anxious. A short person called out, "Little Min, is the customized mask ready?"

"Done!"

"After half an hour, will it still be fresh? Don't ruin her skin."

"It's too late to make a new one. I covered it with plastic wrap and put it in the fridge; it should be fine."

Tang Fei recognized the voice and, sure enough, when the car door opened, it was someone familiar – Min Kai, who was defined as a close friend in the system!

He remained the same slightly plump figure, with his right hand hanging unnaturally by his side, while his left hand held a basin of grass-green mud-like mask material.

Originally, Tang Fei had planned to visit him when she returned to the capital, but Min Kai left the city right after being discharged from the hospital, leaving no trace behind. He had entrusted his son to the care of relatives. With Tang Fei constantly occupied on set, she hadn't had the chance to find out where he was – yet here they were, unexpectedly crossing paths.

"Truly useless, you don't even strive harder with your crippled hand. So slow in your work, if you can't adjust a face mask within thirty minutes, what's the point of having you here?"

The short-tempered man grumbled with discontent.

Min Kai offered a bittersweet smile. He held out the face mask and hesitated for a moment by the car door, which was now blocked by someone above. Should he get out or not?

The director signaled; this part must be edited out. The makeup team was not the focus, and moreover, they were originally selecting actors for a TV drama that aimed to shed light on the lives of people with disabilities. Yet, someone from the program team had made derogatory remarks about disabled individuals.

Certainly, they'd be beaten ruthlessly and thrown into the river to feed the turtles.

Someone from the production team suggested to the director that they should speak to the makeup artists about their conduct, ensuring that their behavior wouldn't spoil the essence of the show.

The director nods helplessly, making a gesture upward.

This is a team with connections high up, so...

Words might fall on deaf ears; they were all arrogance personified, almost as if they had scallions sticking out of their nostrils.

Min Kai shot a glance at Tang Fei, who returned the look. Both shared a smile, and Tang Fei was about to inquire further about Min Kai's recent life.

"Get down there quickly! Why are you so bothersome?" The short man was irritable, annoyed that Min Kai was lingering while holding his face mask, still engaging in silent communication with Tang Fei, who had been paying more attention to him than to them.

He pointed at them condescendingly with his toe.

"Excuse me," Min Kai's gaze darkened slightly, and he then lowered his head in embarrassment, preparing to leave. The director scribbled a note to the makeup team, asking them to pay attention to this situation. The makeup artists frowned, not too pleased.

"Wait a moment!"

Tang Fei rose from her seat and reached for the bowl of face mask from the short-tempered noble.

She passed it to Min Kai and said, "Min Kai, you do my facial mask. We've collaborated many times before, and I trust your skills."

The camera jolted—were they still filming or not?

Tang Fei's sudden assertiveness swept through the atmosphere, making everyone feel a bit subdued.

Aside from Min Kai, the makeup team consisted of four others, all of whom wore grim expressions at this moment.

Did Tang Fei mean that she didn't trust them?

The short-tempered member, whose bowl of face mask had been snatched away, had initially hoped to get some screen time by applying makeup on Tang Fei. Now, feeling offended, he regarded her as an uncooperative and brainless fool.

Just as the rumors suggested.

The leader of the makeup team sneered. "So you're saying that you want him to do your makeup instead of us?"

The cameraman helplessly turned off the camera, unsure how to resolve this situation. Any footage taken now would be useless!

The director was also in a dilemma. Should she ask Tang Fei to back down? They had initially doubted the rumors about Tang Fei being difficult to deal with, but now, with her imposing presence, even a second glance felt daunting.

The makeup team, who had deliberately brought their connections to work on Tang Fei's makeup in an attempt to ride on her popularity, had now collided with an unexpected obstacle.

Would Tang Fei show some tact? This was, after all, a reality show! The atmosphere had plummeted to icy depths. They could only hope that Tang Fei would be 'sensible,' a trait that wasn't typically associated with those who relied on connections.

After a minute of tense silence, the photographers were sweating anxiously. Suddenly, Tang Fei reached out and pulled Min Kai into the car.

"Yes, I want him to do it without them."

Smooth? Understanding?

They were the ones who wanted a piece of the action. Princess Time Culture, their sole artist, had clearly seen her friend being bullied. How could she be smooth about it?

"You play by yourself then. Let's see what he can do for you on his own! We're done here!" The makeup team of four quit right away. "If he doesn't get out, we will. Do you really think you're a big shot? We won't cater to your whims, no matter how much you beg."

The director was about to intervene and persuade them, but Tang Fei waved it off. "We don't need them. I'll have Min Kai as my entire makeup team. You all find a place to wait for me, and come get me when it's time."

Director: "Alright, Tang Fei... Sister Fei, let me explain that there are two options for this makeup task. One is an individual with hearing impairment, unable to hear, appearing plain and young. The other has a disability in one leg, making walking difficult, and should be older. Which would you like to choose? Due to our schedule, there's a five-point base bonus for the leg disability."

"I'll choose the leg disability. I'm currently at a disadvantage, and I need to catch up."