The chubby guy didn’t look bad, he just seemed a bit shorter and stockier compared to most guys.
He wore a modified, light blue Taoist robe from the Taoism Academy, made of a material not like ordinary cloth; it looked very light, smooth, and breathable, with yellow embroidery at the cuffs bearing the Taoism Academy’s logo.
His slightly old-fashioned attire complemented his current shy and reserved appearance, making him look a bit different from the Taoists people usually imagine.
Scarlett Jennings’ gaze, however, swept over the faint white light emitting from him, and her eyes were filled with curiosity.
"Hello, are you a student from the Taoism Academy? We are from the ’Inspiration’ TV crew, we had contacted your school’s coordinator earlier to get permission to follow along and shoot on campus."
Director Clark was the first to react, stepping forward on behalf of the show crew, and he pointed to Scarlett Jennings for an introduction, "This is Scarlett Jennings, she could be considered your junior?"
Nathan White saw him reaching out to shake hands, and immediately took a nervous step back, but his glance followed the introduction to look at Scarlett Jennings, then quickly lowered his head, appearing both docile and shy,
"I know... I, I watched your live broadcast."
Hearing that he actually watched their live broadcast, Director Clark quietly breathed a sigh of relief, just about to say something else to improve their rapport, when he saw Nathan White already turning and heading towards the mountain path.
"Follow, follow me please."
This was a straightforward offer to lead the way.
"Wait, are we just going to walk?" Director Clark’s expression subtly changed as he looked at the mountain path he was about to take.
Hearing this, Nathan White cautiously nodded.
Director Clark looked again at where the mountain path led, his mouth twitching slightly, "Let me ask, is your academy possibly... in the mountains?"
Nathan White seemed to find this question odd, but still earnestly nodded again.
Now Director Clark was genuinely at a loss.
The rest of the crew members had similarly wry expressions.
Why did they have to climb another mountain??
Recently, the TV crew had been climbing way too many mountains.
If it were simply hiking, they’d let it slide, but the TV crew had so many things, various equipment, and the guests’ luggage...
Director Clark, helpless, signaled the host and guests to lead with their luggage, while he guided the staff members to pack simple gear and follow along.
Scarlett Jennings also had luggage upon entering the school, but seeing this, Donovan Jennings simply took her luggage over.
"You carry your bag, I’ll take the suitcase for you."
Scarlett Jennings looked at her backpack, so light it was almost weightless, wanting to say something, but Donovan Jennings was already carrying the luggage ahead.
Luca Jennings came to Scarlett Jennings’ side, simply saying, "Let him carry it. An older brother should carry his little sister’s luggage."
His attitude was quite matter-of-fact.
Lucas Jennings nodded fiercely in agreement from the side.
Scarlett Jennings said nothing more.
The group proceeded with the TV crew and guests.
Nathan White, who was leading at the front, suddenly turned around, looking at Donovan Jennings and his group, whispering,
"The academy’s policy states that family members, cannot follow."
He was referring to Donovan’s group.
Scarlett Jennings had mentioned this rule before.
But that was before, now that the TV crew was allowed to follow, why couldn’t family members?
Lucas Jennings opened his mouth to argue, but before he could say anything, Donovan Jennings already smiled gently at the chubby guy,
"You’re mistaken, we’re not family members."
Nathan White glanced between Donovan Jennings and the others, again looking at Scarlett Jennings, his expression certain, "No, you are family members."
The familial ties were obvious.
An ordinary person would admit the truth when caught, but Donovan Jennings was not ordinary.
One saw his peach blossom eyes slightly curve, still smiling, without the slightest bit of wavering,
"We are temporary guests for the TV crew. If you don’t believe, you can ask the host."
While saying this, he smiled and asked the host on the other side, "Host, isn’t that right?"
The host was a bit confused, "Ah? Ah... Yes."
Only reacting a moment later, he nodded hastily, "Yes, they are all temporary guests, with the TV crew."
Nathan White frowned slightly, apparently a bit conflicted, "But you really are family members."
Donovan Jennings remained calm, "We are family with Scarlett, but today we are here as temporary guests."
Nathan White was even more conflicted, "But the Dean didn’t say there were temporary guests..."
"Did the Dean say temporary guests weren’t allowed in?"
"Then that settles it."
Everyone present, as well as the viewers in the live broadcast, watched Nathan White being swayed by Donovan Jennings’ few words until he finally nodded in a bewildered agreement, allowing them to follow along.
The people present looked at Donovan Jennings with expressions of admiration.
It was enough that he was so good-looking, yet he was also so persuasive.
If it were a young girl...
The young girls in the broadcast room directly expressed,
[Brother’s mouth, the ghost of persuasion. Brother, let him go, he’s still a kid, come and persuade me!]
[Brother is right! He is indeed our temporary guest on the show! Whoever dares to say otherwise, I’ll get angry!]
[Exactly! He’s our temporary guest, we can vouch for that!]
[Brother is so gentle, sob sob sob, I also want a gentle brother who pampers me like that!]
[Daily jealousy, my daughter! Daughter, when will your daddy admit our relationship to everyone?!]
[Hahaha, doesn’t anyone think this junior brother seems a bit dim?]
[Yes, the junior brother’s daze is inexplicably adorable.]
[Hahaha, seeing his expression, he’s obviously been completely outwitted.]
[Apologies, everyone, my hubby’s accustomed to coaxing me , he didn’t mean to outsmart junior brother.]
The live audience, originally secretly fangirling, now burst with comments after Donovan Jennings claimed the identity of a temporary guest.
Director Clark hadn’t expected to pick up extra guests halfway through, especially guests with such special identities.
Thinking of the Taoism Academy as a gimmick for this episode, combined with the Jennings Family assisting as temporary guests,
his episode’s viewership was guaranteed!
It might even go viral!
Fueled by these great prospects, Director Clark felt climbing the mountain steps was effortless.
However, that feeling lasted only half an hour.
"Aren’t we... there yet?"
Among the guests, Ariel Zimmerman weakly inquired, looking at the encircling mountains, with no trace of the academy visible.
"How much farther to the Taoism Academy? It couldn’t be built on the mountaintop, could it?"
Ahead, Nathan White paused slightly as he heard this.
Compared to the slightly disheveled TV crew guests, his face and body showed no fatigue.
Despite appearing somewhat chubby, he moved extraordinarily with agility, walking for half an hour along the mountain path, his face still cool and breath unhurried, his demeanor still shy, softly explaining,
"The academy’s main building is indeed on the top peak, but new students aren’t required to report there, it’s halfway up, very close."
Amber Livingston couldn’t help but ask beside him, "How close is ’very close?’"
Nathan White looked at Amber Livingston, his eyes suddenly twinkling, as he spoke again, there seemed to be a bit more familiarity in his tone,
"Once we finish these steps, we’ll be there."
Upon hearing this, everyone almost subconsciously looked up simultaneously, at the seemingly endless long steps ahead.
Everyone: ... Wanted to go home.
Clearly, immortal cultivation wasn’t for them.