I'm a web novelist, and you want me to work in the entertainment industry?

(A powerful background music starts playing...)

hum-

dong dong——

Ta-da! ...

dong dong dong-

On the sandy road at the foot of Mingsha Mountain, a team of six people spread out in formation against the backdrop of the orange-red sunset.

Deng Chao was leading the way.

The loose-fitting Hu merchant clothes were nowhere to be seen, replaced by a yellow traveler's robe and a tiger-skin skirt.

Wearing a hat embroidered with the character "Buddha" on his head and carrying a plastic Ruyi Jingu Bang (a magical staff), he hopped and skipped like a monkey to clear the way.

He scratched his head, turned around, and grinned: "Hehe! Idiot, idiot!"

With a fake belly protruding, Chen Wuneng, dressed in a loose black monk's robe, held a wooden nine-toothed rake, his eyes vacant, his face bearing an empty expression as if he had been utterly satiated by life.

He ignored Deng Wukong, took out a peach from his pocket, and chewed and swallowed it expressionlessly.

He was attempting to use this silent protest to accuse the production team of forcing him into this outfit.

Deer-White Dragon Horse Heng, dressed in a dashing white coat, followed behind them step by step, holding two reins.

As for what the reins are holding—

"Giddy up! Giddy up! Giddy up!"

Xia Ziyi sat on the back of a camel, wearing a brand-new ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), looking full of energy.

The camel ignored her, assuming she was just some naughty child.

Tuo works at the scenic area every day, so he's seen this kind of situation a lot!

Tian Xiwei, also dressed in a brand-new ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), sat on another camel next to Xia Ziyi.

She remained quiet, tilting her head to look at Cheng Che beside her, who held a pen and paper in his hand.

"On September 9, 2026, Tang Sanzang and his disciples traveled through mountains and rivers to reach Mingsha Mountain in search of the endless energy guarded by the legendary mysterious spirits."

Cheng Zhengyi, the historian, wrote passionately in his notebook while also verbally describing the events.

"...?"

Tian Xiwei felt as if she had been punched in the head by this mysterious text.

[Through a vast search of history and across cultures, you won't find another show as abstract as "5-Hi," or a person as abstract as Che Ge.]

[Is Che-ge no longer human? Humans would never make such a statement.]

[I still haven't figured out Che Ge's niche, eccentric, and genius-like language system.]

【Seriously, are all these people crazy? What the hell are they feeding my eyes?】

To be fair, cosplaying as Tang Sanzang and his disciples at Mingsha Mountain is actually quite fitting for the occasion.

"Why are you staring at this historian, lady?" Cheng Che noticed Tian Xiwei's gaze and immediately asked in a affected tone.

"My lord historian," Tian Xiwei said with a smile, playing along with his banter, "may I ask your name?"

"This historian comes from the Great Tang Dynasty in the East. My surname is Cheng, my given name is Che, and my courtesy name is Zero," Cheng Che said without changing his expression.

"I am acting on the orders of the Tang Emperor to accompany the four disciples of Tang Sanzang on their journey to the Western Paradise in search of the legendary inexhaustible energy."

"I see." Tian Xiwei nodded. "But, Your Excellency, you traveled to the Western Paradise with Tang Sanzang and his disciples. Sha Wujing was not in the group, so I won't say anything about it."

She paused, then posed the crucial question: "But I'd like to ask, where is Master Tang Sanzang?"

Cheng Che scratched his cheek, pondered for a moment, and then gave his answer.

"It's obvious—Master has been captured by a demon!"

[Wait, wait, haha, I almost choked on my water!]

[666! Out of 108,000 possible endings, he found the perfect timeline in just one try!]

Cheng Che: I am...Abstract Man (slap!)

This generation of netizens is such a diverse bunch...

Cheng Che's perfect answer made Tian Xiwei burst out laughing.

Cheng Che is really a very interesting person. He's like a book that can never be finished; you can always find new surprises in him.

"Oh dear," she sighed, "Sometimes I really want to take your head apart and see what's inside. It seems like you have an inexhaustible supply of information."

"Is it... is it going to be like Hua Tuo, wielding a tetanus axe, and performing a craniotomy on me in a sterile environment?" Cheng Che's body trembled.

"Yes, what do you think, historian?" Tian Xiwei blinked.

"That sounds terrifying," Cheng Che murmured. "But if it's King Oda... I guess I'll have no choice but to submit."

Tian Xiwei gently brushed back the strands of hair that had been ruffled by the wind from her forehead, giving him a charmingly disdainful look.

She was very happy to be coaxed by the historian Cheng.

Xia was still trying to communicate with the camel in vain.

Deng Wukong, Chen Wuneng, and Lu Bailong, with their arms around each other's shoulders, listened to Cheng Tian and Lu Bailong's conversation with relaxed and happy smiles on their faces.

After a day of getting to know three friends with such different personalities, isn't that something to be happy about?

He throws a tantrum, and she plays along—this is the purest and most beautiful kind of love we've always pursued!

If you were to ask me right now what the meaning of life is, I would tell you that the meaning of life is to laugh like an idiot with this bunch of goofballs.

I will wield my keyboard, and stake ten years of my life's dignity as a netizen, to protect these six smiling faces.

Was it sandstorm blowing by? No, it was just me being set ablaze by the sun, my body burning to ashes!

[…A sandstorm can be romantic, but a shower of ashes is a bit creepy!]

The campfire campsite was set up on a gentle slope at the foot of Mingsha Mountain, and the production team had already arranged everything.

The campfire burned, and sparks were whipped up and floated into the deep blue night sky, but dissipated before they even reached the top of the dunes.

Several awnings were set up nearby, and a low table was covered with food—in the very center was a whole roasted lamb, its skin roasted to a golden brown and glistening, the fat still sizzling.

Next to it were rows of red willow roasted meat, large platters of hand-grabbed rice, and chilled apricot juice.

Six people sat around a low table.

Brother Deng lived up to his title of "Big Brother" by wearing disposable gloves, holding a knife, and starting to cut up the whole roasted lamb.

After cutting off his, she cut off hers; after cutting off hers, she cut off his again, raising her younger siblings very well.

Lu Heng arranged the sliced ​​meat neatly, one piece after another, and methodically put it into his mouth.

Xia Ziyi held a piece of roasted red willow meat in her left hand and a cup of apricot juice in her right, enjoying her meal immensely.

Tian Xiwei took small bites of the grilled meat, occasionally turning her head to say something to Cheng Che, who would nod and respond earnestly.

However, the most eye-catching person present was Chen Erge.

From the moment he sat down at the table, his hands and mouth never stopped moving, and after everyone else had almost finished eating, he finally let out a long sigh of relief.

At first, everyone thought he had eaten his fill and was about to rest, but then they saw—

He seemed to have entered an automatic feeding mode, his eyes closed, but his hands, as if on auto-aiming, kept precisely catching the grilled meat and putting it into his mouth.

The others watching were completely stunned.

……

After the meal, the six people climbed up a small sand dune next to the camp.

The sand dune isn't high, but it offers a perfect panoramic view of Crescent Lake.

The lights by the spring have been turned on, and the warm yellow light strips surrounding Crescent Lake look like a crescent moon fallen into the desert in the night.

The ridgelines of the distant sand dunes lay silently beneath the starry sky, like a giant beast sleeping on the Gobi Desert.

Deng Chao was the first to lie down on the sand, put his hands behind his head, and let out a long breath.

"Ba shi—" He used a phrase in Sichuan and Chongqing dialect, perhaps because Tian Xiwei was present.

Seeing this, Chen He and Lu Heng followed suit and lay down beside him.

The former fell asleep almost instantly and began snoring like a pig.

Lu Heng and Deng Chao exchanged a glance, smiled silently, and took out their phones to start recording a video of Chen He.

Xia Jie didn't lie down. She buried her hands in the sand, feeling the lingering warmth of the daytime, and stared blankly into space.

Of course, it could also be that I ate too much at night and felt a bit dizzy from the carbohydrates.

Tian Xiwei sat down next to Cheng Che and hugged her knees with both hands.

The hem of the ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress) lay spread out on the sand like a painting unfolded on the ground.

She didn't speak, but just looked up at the starry sky above.

Cheng Che also lay down, with the same boundless night sky before him.

The starry sky over Mingsha Mountain is completely different from what you see in the city.

As night fell, the Milky Way was clearly visible, like a silent, milky-white river flowing by.

Each star was exceptionally bright, densely packed together.

Occasionally, a shooting star streaks across the sky, disappearing behind the sand dunes before you can even make a wish.

"It looks really good," Tian Xiwei said softly.

Cheng Che tilted his head and glanced at her.

"Yes, it's really beautiful."