Author: 颜凉雨 / Yan Liang Yu

Translator: Kinky || https://kinkytranslations.com/

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Chapter 23

Lu Yiyao felt that the only reason he survived the Soaring Over the Horizon ride was thanks to the designer’s mercy.

Firstly, it was a 4D spherical screen movie, so the environment was completely dark. He could feel he was in mid-air, but looking down only revealed his feet illuminated by the screen, not the actual height.

Secondly, once the seat reached a certain height, it stopped moving, only occasionally bumping slightly in sync with the scenes on the screen, but very gently, within his tolerance limit.

So, throughout the ride, Lu Yiyao kept his eyes tightly shut. Once he lost the “high-altitude visual sensation” and with the relatively stable seat, only the fear induced by the thought of “hanging in mid-air” remained. Gradually, he managed to bear it, though still stiff all over.

However, Ran Lin was unaware of all this.

He watched the screen intently, not wanting to miss any visual wonders. And just when he thought the visual experience couldn’t get any better, he smelled scents related to the scenes!

Naturally, he wanted to share his excitement with his companion—

Ran Lin: “Do you smell the grass? It’s really like grass!”

Lu Yiyao: “Yeah!”

Ran Lin: “The scent of spices!”

Lu Yiyao: “Right!”

Ran Lin: “Ah, the smell of coconut. Is that coconut?”

Lu Yiyao: “It must be!”

Ran Lin was content.

Lu Yiyao had no guilt.

Although he kept his eyes tightly closed throughout, not even glimpsing a millimeter of the horizon, anyone could smell scents, right?

When the seat landed and the lights came on, Ran Lin was still immersed, while Lu Yiyao felt like he had been reborn from disaster.

Although Ran Lin wanted to savor the experience, they were racing against time for the tasks, so he quickly unfastened his seatbelt and stood up. Then he noticed Lu Yiyao still sitting, motionless.

Ran Lin nudged him, amused. “Don’t linger. We still have seven attractions waiting for us.”

Lu Yiyao remained as still as a statue, his expression serene. “Let me reminisce for another minute—just a minute.”

Ran Lin waited patiently, understanding him. Lu Yiyao gazed ahead, his face calm, and continued to secretly rub and knead his thigh muscles with his hands resting naturally on either side.

As promised, a minute later, Lu Yiyao, no matter how stiff, unfastened his seatbelt and stood up, embodying the upright man he was.

“Are you okay? Was it that cold inside?” Once out in the sunlight, Lu Yiyao’s face looked pale, as if he was freezing.

Lu Yiyao moved his arms and legs, appearing as if he just needed to stretch after sitting for too long. “Yes, the wind was blowing the whole time. Whatever the scene, it felt a bit cool.”

Ran Lin, puzzled, didn’t understand why their experiences were so different.

Eventually, he just assumed that Lu Yiyao was more sensitive to cold.

“It’s okay. You’ll warm up once we start running. Let’s go! Off to Fantasyland!” Ran Lin said, about to pull Lu Yiyao, a natural gesture.

Lu Yiyao also naturally… stepped back half a step.

“Shouldn’t we return to Roaring Mountain Rafting? I remember that’s on the list too.” He still remembered the attraction they had missed. After all, that was in the water and seemed more… down-to-earth.

Ran Lin shook his head without hesitation. “There will only be more people queuing there by now. We can’t turn back. We need to push forward. Everyone is playing their way through the park, so each attraction will distribute visitors. This means the further ahead we go, the fewer people in line and the faster the play. We might miss some attractions, but we must strive to stay ahead of the main crowd. That’s the only way to play the most attractions in the shortest time.”

Lu Yiyao had no counterargument and followed.

Just as Ran Lin predicted, half an hour after the park opened, the closely connected “Adventure Isle” and “Treasure Cove” successfully captured most of the crowd. By the time they reached “Fantasyland”, except for the popular “Seven Dwarfs Mine Train” with a longer queue, the other attractions looked quite inviting.

Within fifteen minutes, they queued up for the Winnie the Pooh Adventure!

Riding the whimsical car, wandering through a hundred-acre forest, and Pooh’s dream world…

The journey was short, but memorable.

Coming out, Lu Yiyao’s face had turned from pale to rosy, full of energy. “I like this one!”

Ran Lin nodded. “I could tell. Your eyes lit up when you sat in the car.”

“A theme park should be warm and whimsical like this,” Lu Yiyao said, taking out the list and seriously studying it for once. “What other task is this kind of ground train mode? We can go there first.”

“…” Ran Lin felt something was off. “You don’t love Pooh’s world but love this kind of experience?”

Lu Yiyao coughed lightly, calmly putting away the list. “I love Pooh, and I love this experience.”

Ran Lin laughed, teasing: “This kind of ride is common. You can find track cars like this in any children’s park. What exactly do you love about it?”

Lu Yiyao looked into the distance, answering seriously, “Stability.”

Next to Pooh’s attraction was Fantasyland’s souvenir shop—Forest Treasures. In addition to shopping, it served another purpose—stamping for the Dream Stamps!

Ran Lin’s strategy was to enjoy attractions first, then complete stamps and photos. But if they could stamp a few along the way, it was a bonus.

As the stamp machine slowly spit out the passport, Ran Lin saw a new green circular stamp on the Hundred-Acre Wood page. It depicted Pooh, Piglet, and Tigger, with “Friends of the Hundred-Acre Wood” written above. Pooh was in the middle with honey, and Tigger was beside him, tail swaying.

Theme parks are indeed magical places where, when fully immersed, even a small stamp can bring immense happiness.

Ran Lin felt just that, increasingly fond of the stamp he held. He even showed it to Lu Yiyao, pointing out the thin pig on it and asking, “Don’t you think this little guy looks like Xia Xinran?”

Lu Yiyao seriously considered it. “What’s its personality?”

Ran Lin thought for a moment. “Seems shy and a bit neurotic.”

Lu Yiyao shook his head. “Then it’s nothing like him.”

Ran Lin was amused that Lu Yiyao seriously matched personalities. “If we’re talking lively, then it would be Tigger. But I already have you, so we can’t have two Tiggers, right?”

Lu Yiyao: “…I never agreed to this character assignment!”

Fantasyland had the most tasks, and after stamping, they moved to Voyage to the Crystal Grotto.

Lu Yiyao finally encountered a water ride, but it was a million times gentler than Rafting, with a “smooth, contemplative” experience.

Unlike Soaring Over the Horizon and Winnie the Pooh’s fully dark interior, Voyage to the Crystal Grotto was outdoors and well-lit, so the cameramen could film both the scenery and the guests’ reactions.

They didn’t notice anything special entering the ride, but after completing it, they felt the increase in crowd density in Fantasyland.

This wasn’t a good sign.

“We need to speed up.” Relaxed from completing two attractions, Ran Lin finally geared up again, spurred by the growing crowd. Lu Yiyao was ready to run like mad to avoid the masses.

“Please wait a moment!” A young man in a black down jacket stopped them as they were about to dash off.

They paused, Ran Lin thinking he was a passerby with a question, and Lu Yiyao assuming he was a fan wanting an autograph. But it was neither. The young man, with a simple and honest smile, asked directly, “I saw you two come out of the Crystal Grotto. Can you tell me what classic scenes are inside? Every ride has a long queue, and I’m afraid it won’t be worth it.”

Exchanging glances, they wondered why he chose them—did the trailing cameraman make them look like outdoor show hosts?

“It’s pretty, but there’s no lighting during the day,” Ran Lin shared succinctly. “If you’re not in a hurry, it might be better at night.”

The young man eagerly asked for more details. Good Samaritan* Ran Lin obliged, listing scenes from memory. “There’s Mulan, The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, Tangled… about that.”

*Send Buddha all the way to the west (送佛送到西). It’s an idiom referring to if you’re going to help someone, help them thoroughly, and don’t leave things half-done.

The man frowned, dissatisfied. “There should be one more. They say it’s six scenes. Think again…”

Ran Lin was stumped. He hadn’t paid that much attention, remembering five was already impressive…

“Mickey,” Lu Yiyao suddenly added. “There’s also a scene with Mickey in a dream.”

Ran Lin raised an eyebrow, surprised at his partner, as if to say, “So you were paying attention!”

Lu Yiyao smiled calmly, secretly relieved. He only remembered that one because Mickey’s sleeping cap in that scene seemed perfect for Ran Lin.

Just as the teammates shared a silent understanding, the young man suddenly zipped open his down jacket, making a harsh, grating sound.

Startled, they braced for anything, but the man pulled out two steaming fast passes and offered them with a sly grin. “Congratulations on completing the bonus question!”

…Seriously?!

They finally realized it was a setup but couldn’t complain on camera about the director’s trickery. Besides, those were fast passes for Roaring Mountain Rafting!

While waiting for the Crystal Grotto, Ran Lin had sneaked a peek at a passerby’s phone, which showed Thunder Mountain Rafting’s queue time equal to Soaring Over the Horizon at “135 minutes”—and that was just an hour after opening!

With the fast pass time approaching, they darted back to Adventure Isle for Roaring Mountain Rafting!

Perhaps good luck does have a chain reaction. Their journey afterwards was exceptionally smooth. They completed all but one of the eight attractions, with the initial decision to tackle Soaring Over the Horizon and the lucky fast passes for Roaring Mountain Rafting saving them at least four to five hours!

What does five hours mean? They had completed all seven tasks and obtained a fast pass for Tron Lightcycle Power Run, the park’s second-most popular ride, within just five hours of entering the park.

Tron Lightcycle Power Run is the second-most popular attraction in the theme park. Its queue time is slightly shorter than Soaring Over the Horizon, primarily because of its high speed—reportedly the fastest roller coaster ever built by Disney. Riders sit on devices resembling high-speed motorcycles, holding onto the handlebars, leaning forward, and securing the back with safety supports. They then experience the exhilarating sensation of rapid flips and turns.

Thus, compared to Soaring, its cycle time is shorter, allowing faster turnover of guests.

Surprisingly, Ran Lin managed to get a fast pass for the Tron Lightcycle Power Run. Although the designated time slot on the ticket was after 4 p.m., still three hours away, those three hours could be efficiently used to collect stamps, take photos, and watch performances. These activities generally didn’t require queuing, so as long as you find the right spots quickly and accurately, three hours should be more than enough to complete them leisurely.

“We’ve got this win in the bag!” As soon as Ran Lin pulled out the fast pass, he beamed confidently at Lu Yiyao.

“Yeah,” Lu Yiyao nodded, pocketing his own fast pass.

Ran Lin found it odd. “You don’t seem very excited?”

Lu Yiyao quickly shook his head. “No, it’s not that. Maybe I’m just a bit tired from all the running.”

Ran Lin didn’t suspect anything amiss and reassuringly patted his teammate’s shoulder. “Don’t worry. Next up is just walking around. Most of the stamp machines are in the shops, so we’ll collect stamps as we shop and can also complete the photo and performance tasks.”

Lu Yiyao didn’t respond but suddenly suggested, “Let’s find somewhere to eat first.”

It was already one in the afternoon, and neither had had lunch. Ran Lin naturally agreed, “Okay, wait here. I’ll go buy a couple of burgers.”

As Ran Lin was about to leave, Lu Yiyao stopped him, adding, “I don’t really want to eat while walking…”

Ran Lin was surprised at Lu Yiyao’s sudden concern for manners and patiently explained, “Though we have ample time, we should still try to move forward. Eating in a restaurant would waste too much time.”

Fwish—

Suddenly, the roar of the Tron Lightcycle Power Run whizzed past nearby, leaving only the echo of high-pitched screams from its riders in the air.

Lu Yiyao straightened his back and swallowed hard, then looked earnestly at Ran Lin. “I’d still prefer to eat sitting down in a restaurant.”

Ran Lin had never thought of Lu Yiyao as whimsical or stubborn. If it were Xia Xinran insisting, it would be understandable, but coming from Lu Yiyao, it seemed oddly out of character.

Still, considering they had enough time, indulging his teammate seemed harmless.

So they ended up eating until nearly two o’clock, with Lu Yiyao finally finishing lunch under Ran Lin’s increasingly impatient urging.

Ran Lin’s patience was nearly worn thin. Without further ado, he grabbed Lu Yiyao and headed straight to the Frozen Sing-Along Celebration!

After enjoying the Frozen performance, completing the stamp collection and photo tasks became a breeze, except for Lu Yiyao’s inexplicably slow pace. Everything seemed to be heading in a good direction, especially after collecting the last stamp at the Marvel Hero Headquarters, filling Ran Lin with immense satisfaction.

“There’s no Iron Man in the photo tasks, right?” Lu Yiyao watched as Ran Lin excitedly dashed towards the towering Iron Man statue, making various unreasonable requests to the cameraman for shots from distant to close, panoramic to close-up. He couldn’t comprehend the fan-like excitement on Ran Lin’s face.

Bearded Cameraman Sun was very accommodating, shooting as requested. His indulgence was like that of a loving father taking his son to Disneyland.

Lu Yiyao sighed and looked at his own cameraman. The cameraman got the hint. “You want one too?”

Lu Yiyao hesitated. “No, I like Spider-Man more.”

The cameraman excitedly pointed to the side.

Confused, Lu Yiyao looked over and saw an out-of-place temporary sign in Disney’s dreamy style—[Spider-Man Photo Op This Way.]

After posing with Iron Man, Ran Lin had only one feeling—a dream come true!

After posing with Spider-Man, Lu Yiyao had only one feeling—he couldn’t bear to look back.

He couldn’t fathom why he mimicked Spider-Man’s crouching, web-slinging pose during the photo op, eliciting cheers and applause from countless kids waiting for their turn.

He must be sick.

This place called Disney must be enchanted!

“Ran Lin, this is Xia Xinran calling Ran Lin!” As they exited Marvel Headquarters, Sun Ge’s walkie-talkie crackled with Xia Xinran’s familiar call.

Kindly, Sun Ge handed the walkie-talkie to Ran Lin.

Taking it, Ran Lin pressed the talk button. “I’m here. I’m here.”

“How’s the situation on your end?” Xia Xinran’s voice sounded hoarse, either from exhaustion or shouting all day.

“We’ve finished everything except the Tron Lightcycle Power Run!” Ran Lin had been waiting all afternoon to proudly proclaim this. Unfortunately, they completely missed the other four teammates in the vast park. Thankfully, Xia Xinran reached out first.

“Stamps and performance too?”

“Yeah.”

“Ahhhh!” Xia’s scream of frustration echoed through the walkie-talkie. “How can you be faster than me? We’ve finished everything too, just missing Soaring Over the Horizon and Tron Lightcycle Power Run!”

Ran Lin’s mouth curled smugly. “You got the tactics wrong.”

Xia Xinran ignored him and asked directly, “So you’re queuing for the Tron Lightcycle Power Run now?”

Ran Lin was almost grinning. “We got fast passes. Time’s up, so… we’re heading there now, haha!”

Whenever Ran Lin interacted with Xia Xinran, he always felt an inexplicable urge to tease him a bit. As expected, Xia Xinran’s wails over the walkie-talkie were heart-wrenching. “Our rapid roller coaster also needs fast passes, but they can only be used after five o’clock. Ahhhhh—”

“If you keep howling like that, the staff will kick us out…” Gu Jie’s deep and magnetic voice easily pierced through Xia Xinran’s high decibel shrieks, transmitting clearly through the walkie-talkie.

Xia Xinran’s screams abruptly stopped. Then, the walkie-talkie buzzed again, this time with Gu Jie speaking. “Guys on the other side, don’t get ahead of yourselves. It’s not over until it’s over.”

Xia Xinran’s howls were out of frustration, but Gu Jie’s words conveyed a determination to never give up until the last moment. Ran Lin’s fighting spirit was ignited. “Alright, we’re heading to the rapid roller coaster now!”

Returning the walkie-talkie to Sun Ge and taking one last reluctant look at Iron Man as a farewell, Ran Lin took a deep breath and turned decisively to Lu Yiyao. “Let’s go. Let’s make them accept their defeat convincingly!”

“Okay,” Lu Yiyao naturally agreed, his heart beating chaotically, thumping and crackling.

Ran Lin was so focused on achieving a perfect finish that he didn’t notice Lu Yiyao’s unusual behavior. It was only when they reached the entrance of the rapid roller coaster in Tomorrowland that Lu Yiyao refused to move any further, making Ran Lin finally realize something was amiss.

“You’re not scared, are you?” At first, Ran Lin didn’t take it seriously, half-joking and half-reassuring. “Anyone over 122 centimeters can ride, and although it’s fast, considering children, it mainly moves at high speed without any real 360° flips. At most, it’s just a tilt of the body.”

Lu Yiyao remained silent, only lifting his head to stare at the roller coaster tracks above.

Ran Lin thought he was still hesitating and simply said, “Okay, let’s just stand here and watch it once, and you’ll know it’s not as scary as you think.”

Two minutes later, the roller coaster, filled with tourists, sped past the two standing on the overpass. This group of passengers was energetic, leaving behind hearty roars instead of screams.

“See, it’s not that bad,” Ran Lin said, relieved, turning to Lu Yiyao.

But then he was taken aback.

Lu Yiyao’s complexion was even paler than before, a good two shades lighter than Ran Lin’s memory of the Famous Lu. And his expression was off, no longer showing any hesitation or frowning, just stiff, like he was petrified.

Ran Lin tentatively touched his teammate.

“Hmm? Are you calling me?” Lu Yiyao seemed to come back to his senses, looking over blankly.

Ran Lin swore that Lu Yiyao’s body trembled slightly when touched. Although it was faint and almost imperceptible to the eye, the feeling at his fingertips did not lie.

“Are you okay?” Ran Lin didn’t try to persuade him further, feeling the situation might be more serious than he thought.

After an unknown length of time, so long that Ran Lin began to doubt whether his question was just an illusion, Lu Yiyao finally leaned on the railing of the overpass, his stiff body gradually relaxing.

“I’m fine.” Lu Yiyao sighed softly, finally looking at Ran Lin, seemingly trying to smile but failing. “I’m just gearing up.”

Ran Lin looked at his teammate’s face, realizing for the first time that “gearing up for courage” was such a solemn matter.

“How much longer?” Lu Yiyao suddenly asked.

Knowing he was referring to the validity of the fast pass, which was only an hour, Ran Lin immediately checked his watch. “Fifty minutes left.”

Lu Yiyao pondered for a moment, then asked in a negotiating tone, warm and gentle. “Can I gear up a bit more?”

Ran Lin instinctively nodded and added, to avoid pressuring Lu Yiyao, “Xia Xinran and the others have tickets for after five o’clock, so they’ll have to wait behind us anyway.”

Lu Yiyao nodded, saying nothing more, just staring at the Tron Lightcycle Power Run track ahead, continuing to gear up.

Ran Lin didn’t say anything more either. He just quietly stood by, waiting for his teammate to be ready.

Half an hour passed.

Lu Yiyao was like a beautifully sculpted statue, and Ran Lin always wondered why no sparrows landed on his shoulder.

With a sigh, Ran Lin slapped his teammate on the back.

Caught in deep thought, Lu Yiyao jolted, turning around sharply and silently, but his face was darker than ever.

Ran Lin grinned while the sun shone radiantly. “Let’s go watch the parade.”

He was now immune to Lu Yiyao’s pallor. The man was just a paper tiger, intimidating at first but easily punctured.

Lu Yiyao hadn’t expected Ran Lin to slap his back for this, pausing for a while before saying, “After the parade, the fast pass will expire.”

Ran Lin was embarrassed, thinking to himself that Lu Yiyao had the awareness to gear up at the Tron Lightcycle Power Run for half an hour.

But instead he said, “Then we’ll just queue again.” He seemed impatient, pulling Lu Yiyao’s arm to leave. “Come on, let’s go, the parade.”

Lu Yiyao let Ran Lin pull him, but his feet didn’t move.

Ran Lin realized for the first time that Lu Yiyao was a powerhouse; if he didn’t want to move, he couldn’t be pulled away.

“Tigger buddy,” Ran Lin said helplessly, using the nickname earnestly. “If you don’t move, we’ll miss the parade too.”

The word “too” illuminated Lu Yiyao’s mind.

“You know I’m afraid of heights.” It was a statement, not a question.

Ran Lin laughed and sighed. “As if I wouldn’t have guessed after half an hour of gearing up.”

Lu Yiyao heard the tease in his teammate’s voice but wasn’t upset; in fact, he felt most apologetic, as they had everything under control.

“I’m sorry.” Lu Yiyao thought it would be hard to admit this, as it was truly embarrassing, but looking at Ran Lin, who kept giving him ways out, it didn’t seem so hard. “I’m actually acrophobic.”

“I know.” Ran Lin patted his shoulder. “Otherwise, you wouldn’t have chosen to eat super spicy rice noodles.”

Lu Yiyao was surprised. “You knew then?”

Ran Lin: “Of course not. I just thought of it!”

Lu Yiyao was a bit embarrassed but still earnestly said, “I know what you’re thinking—that this kind of thing is just a psychological barrier and that it’s fine once overcome. But it’s not that simple. It’s a physiological reaction; not that it can’t be overcome, but it requires a long time and a lot of repetition, like flying. I fly almost every day now, and I’ve mostly overcome the nervousness, but I still can’t sleep soundly. As for roller coasters, where the whole body is exposed to high altitudes, don’t even think about it. Just standing here watching them, my breathing…”

“Who told you that’s what I think?”

“Huh?”

Ran Lin sighed helplessly. “Can you not volunteer to fill in the blanks for others? Of course, I know it’s a physiological reaction that’s hard to overcome. Otherwise, I wouldn’t still be afraid of needles now.”

Lu Yiyao was stunned. “Afraid of needles?”

Ran Lin: “Yes, I get dizzy and nauseous at the sight of a needle tip. When I was young, it was fear of getting shots. Now even seeing my assistant embroider cross-stitch makes me uncomfortable.”

Lu Yiyao: “Why does your assistant embroider cross-stitch?”

Ran Lin: “Maybe she’s… a bit idle?”

Lu Yiyao: “How unpopular are you…”

Seeing the topic veering towards a friendship breakdown, the two partners timely stopped, looked deeply at each other, and hooked their arms together—

“Let’s go.”

Under the sun, the shadows of the two difficult brothers merged into one, each containing the other.

Xia Xinran and Gu Jie, who rushed over in time with their fast pass, saw from a distance the two walking down from the overpass, leaning on each other, supporting each other, like…

Xia Xinran: “Ran Lin, did you fall?”

Gu Jie: “Lu Yiyao, did you twist your ankle?”

Xia Xinran: “…”

Gu Jie: “…”

Xia and Gu: “What’s with that look!”

Xia and Gu: “You’re copying me!”

Ran Lin and Lu Yiyao stood there, supporting each other more firmly—without comparison, there would be no affection. Now, they appreciated their teammates even more.

“Going to see the parade?” Xia Xinran, upon learning that the two were neither sick, injured, nor had twisted an ankle, but were simply going to watch the parade, was frustrated. “Ah, you still got ahead of us!”

Ran Lin was embarrassed, and Lu Yiyao raised his hand. “We didn’t go on the Tron Lightcycle Power Run, so you guys are the real winners.”

“Why didn’t you go?” Gu Jie checked his newly bought Mickey Mouse watch. “You still have time on your fast pass, right?”

Indeed, there were still three minutes left.

And—

Xia Xinran tilted his head, suspiciously sizing up the two partners. “You guys just came down from there, right? You really didn’t go? If you lie to me, I will be really upset.”

Ran Lin rolled his eyes at him and simply took out the unused fast pass from his pocket and handed it over.

Gu Jie and Xia Xinran examined the fast pass thoroughly and finally confirmed that the two really hadn’t gone.

But this didn’t make sense; victory was within their grasp…

“Were you two waiting for us?” Gu Jie could only come up with this explanation.

Before the parties could answer, Xia Xinran immediately debunked it. “Impossible. Ran Lin was too happy on the phone!”

Ran Lin cleared his throat, pretending he heard nothing.

Gu Jie narrowed his eyes, scanning his two partners for the second time, trying to find a clue to the truth…

Lu Yiyao sighed and pointed to his nose. “This guy is afraid of heights.”

Gu Jie: “…”

Xia Xinran: “…”

Gu and Xia: “Pffft hahaha—”

Ran Lin put his arm around Lu Yiyao’s shoulder, patting him lightly. “Hang in there.”

Lu Yiyao nodded. “I know. It’s illegal to hit people.”

After enough laughter, Xia Xinran finally wiped away his tears, declaring, “I’m going to watch the parade too!”

Lu Yiyao and Ran Lin were stunned.

Gu Jie nodded in approval. “Good idea, seconded.”

Lu Yiyao probably understood his friends’ intentions. He was moved but still felt it was unnecessary. “You guys play your games. Don’t feel it’s dishonorable; after all, acrophobia… cough, is also part of strength.”

Gu Jie, seeing Lu Yiyao couldn’t continue, didn’t tease about the “strength theory” anymore but instead asked, “Why must we ‘win’?”

Lu Yiyao was confused. “There’s always a winner in a competition.”

Gu Jie: “Who said this is a competition?”

Lu Yiyao: “…”

Ran Lin, understanding, smiled and added, “Chen Sheng and Wu Guang were never in competition.”

Lu Yiyao suddenly realized. He was touched and couldn’t help but laugh. “So now we…”

Gu Jie grabbed Xia Xinran, imitating Lu Yiyao and Ran Lin’s poses. “Let’s rise up!”

“Hey, hey, my neck is going to break—”

Under the sunlight, more and more indistinguishable shadows merged.

Finally, Gu Jie used the walkie-talkie to connect with Zhang Beichen and Tang Xiaoyu, only to find that they were already on Mickey Avenue.

It turns out they saved Soaring Over the Horizon for last, but as the parade was about to start and the queue was still long, they gave up and came to watch the parade. After all, visiting Disney without experiencing any attractions but watching the parade is like going to Guilin without cruising the Li River or visiting Sichuan without seeing pandas.

At 10 p.m., the recording finally ended.

The six watched the parade, enjoyed the light show, rode the carousel, ventured through Alice’s Garden Maze, and visited the Fantasy Fairy Tale Castle… They experienced what was on the list and played even those not listed, sometimes queuing multiple times for favorites like Xia Xinran’s beloved carousel and Ran Lin’s obsession, Iron Man.

Indeed, Ran Lin went back for a second photo.

Lu Yiyao’s expression then was no better than Gu Jie’s, waiting by the carousel.

In the end, no group completed all the tasks.

Lu Yiyao, Ran Lin, Xia Xinran, and Gu Jie missed the Tron Lightcycle Power Run.

Zhang Beichen and Tang Xiaoyu missed Soaring Over the Horizon.

To be honest, missing these signature attractions of Shanghai Disney was a regret. But they used the time to explore every corner of the park, every shop, and even revisited some less popular but still beautiful and dreamy attractions—a truly leisurely experience that hours of queuing couldn’t replace.

More importantly, they had no more rivals, only partners.

The joy of one person is one, but six friends together are infinitely joyous.

This episode wasn’t about Fairy Tale First Love, but a Fairy Tale Drifting Group.

The director was surprised but pleased with the outcome. “So this episode’s recording ends here. Thank you all for your hard work today…”

“Wait a minute!” Xia Xinran suddenly interrupted. “We haven’t shouted our slogan yet.”

The director was baffled. “What slogan? Do we have one?”

Lu Yiyao smiled. “We didn’t before, but we do now.”

Without waiting for the director’s reaction, the six put their hands together, one over the other, like team members do before a collective match.

Xia Xinran started, “National First Love Drifting Story—”

Everyone together: “For love and justice!”

Their overlapping hands burst apart, releasing morale and deep camaraderie.

The director, watching, was moved to tears…

Who came up with this slogan!

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<<< || Table of Contents || >>>

Author: 颜凉雨 / Yan Liang Yu

Translator: Kinky || https://kinkytranslations.com/

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Chapter 22

Gentle, lover’s whisper-like light music began Lu Yiyao’s morning.

Awakening, Lu Yiyao experienced a moment of confusion, unsure if he was awake or still in a dream. His alarm had always been dynamic Western music, which made him wake up to an upbeat rhythm, sometimes even leading him to dance a few steps after turning it off.

Today’s wake-up tune was excessively soft, making one not want to get up but rather continue snuggling in the soft, fluffy blanket.

A hand suddenly stretched out from the adjacent bed, found the phone, flipped it screen-down on the nightstand, and the light music abruptly stopped. The white arm, like a swift snake, quickly retracted under the covers. The owner of the arm then lazily turned over and continued sleeping.

Lu Yiyao watched the guy lying on his side, facing him, speechless.

Last night, they hadn’t drawn the curtains when they went to bed. The entire window overlooked the lake, with the only visible object being the distant castle, eliminating the possibility of peeping. Plus, the room wasn’t very spacious, and drawing the curtains felt somewhat suffocating. Considering they had to get up early the next day and the sunlight would be nice, they decided against closing them.

But they miscalculated.

The winter sun always rises late, and at this moment, the room was only bright enough to dispel the darkness, far from clear and bright.

So Ran Lin continued to sleep uninhibitedly, blissfully unaware of the time in his dreams.

His face, pressed into the pillow, appeared somewhat flattened on one side, making the other half curiously plump and round. Watching him, Lu Yiyao recalled his female classmate from elementary school, an extremely distant memory that was sometimes clear but mostly vague. However, now it vividly resurfaced in his mind, so clear that he remembered her tearful eyes and the soft touch of her round cheeks when he pinched them.

The light music started again.

Lu Yiyao snapped back to reality, realizing he was reminiscing about his childhood while looking at his male co-star, which felt bizarre.

The white arm made its second appearance, flipping the previously turned phone back over, and then, just like before, swiftly withdrew under the covers, even more adept than five minutes ago.

Lu Yiyao silently picked up his phone, turned off the still untriggered alarm, and went to the bathroom to freshen up.

Returning from the bathroom, Ran Lin showed no signs of waking. Lu Yiyao finally understood that the alarm was set for him.

Tit for tat, Lu Yiyao unhesitatingly played his own style of alarm on his phone—

“Don’t you wish your girlfriend was hot like me~~ Don’t you wish your girlfriend was a freak like me~~ Don’t cha…*”

*The Pussycat Dolls – Don’t Cha.

Ran Lin’s eyes snapped open, and he sat up abruptly. His movements were quiet but impressive.

Lu Yiyao was startled and even forgot to turn off the alarm.

So the two of them sat there, staring at each other, listening to the entire chorus.

Finally, Lu Yiyao turned off the alarm, coughed awkwardly, and said, “Morning.”

Ran Lin blinked twice, then fairly commented, “It sounds pretty good.”

Lu Yiyao, looking at Ran Lin’s bedhead, thought he should stop pretending to be calm but still managed to hold back a smile and reminded, “Your alarm went off twice already.”

Unexpectedly, Ran Lin nodded calmly and seriously said, “Yeah, there’s actually a third time. I wake up on the third one.”

Lu Yiyao found this hard to believe. “The second time was before I freshened up, and there hasn’t been a third time since.”

“The first two were five minutes apart. The third is fifteen minutes later.”

“There’s a repeated alarm like that?”

“Three separate alarms set accordingly.”

“…”

“Can I… go freshen up now?”

What else could Lu Yiyao say? “Of course. Wish you a successful mission.”

Watching Ran Lin’s figure disappear into the bathroom, Lu Yiyao nodded in admiration. He was the type who couldn’t go back to sleep once awake. Usually, the alarm meant a new day had officially begun, so Ran Lin’s staged waking method seemed like a talent to him.

Breakfast was buffet-style at the hotel. When the two entered the dining area, many guests were already there. But more eye-catching were the three cartoon characters mingling in the restaurant: Goofy, whom they had seen yesterday, and Mickey and Judy, happily entertaining everyone with dance moves and welcoming anyone for photos.

With such characters around, no one paid attention to the entrance of the two stars and their two follow-up cameramen.

However, Ran Lin curiously glanced at Judy Hopps from “Zootopia”. Her fresh image among the traditional Disney characters was striking.

But before he could get a clear look at Judy, he was startled by a “fan” taking a photo with her.

Xia Xinran was almost hugging her, excitedly taking pictures and incessantly asking, “Where’s Nick? Isn’t he with you?”

Ran Lin imagined seeing the resignation on the face of the staff member inside the Judy costume.

His “roommate” and die-hard fan of Nick Wilde sat at a table in a distant corner, leisurely spreading jam on his bread, oblivious to everything behind him, leaving only a solitary, majestic silhouette to the world.

Lu Yiyao and Ran Lin walked straight towards him. Before reaching the table, Ran Lin couldn’t help but greet his companion with a chuckle. “Good morning.”

Gu Jie turned around, seeing his two partners, and smiled amicably, “Morning.”

“Didn’t go for a photo?” Lu Yiyao casually asked as he pulled out a chair.

Ran Lin couldn’t help but notice Lu Yiyao’s playfulness, which seemed to appear out of nowhere without warning.

“I prefer to keep a low profile,” Gu Jie replied briskly, but the weariness in his eyes betrayed him.

Ran Lin, amused, asked directly, “How did you sleep last night?”

Gu Jie glanced deeply in Xia Xinran’s direction, then withdrew his gaze after a long moment. “A new day. I only look forward.”

In the end, neither Ran Lin nor Lu Yiyao could figure out what kind of inhumane torment Xia Xinran had inflicted on Gu Jie. Gu Jie didn’t want to talk about it, and according to Xia Xinran, he was an excellent roommate.

After a short while, Zhang Beichen and Tang Xiaoyu also arrived, and the six of them shared a cozy breakfast together. Finally, forty minutes before the park opened, they boarded a ferry at Star Wish Lake to head to the theme park.

On the second day of filming, the six still wore their blue and white-printed sweatshirts. Yesterday’s “team uniform”, which seemed oddly childish at the TV tower, looked playful and harmoniously blended with the whimsical atmosphere of today.

As soon as they boarded the ferry, the program staff began distributing Disney passports to the guests.

Once the passports were distributed, the director immediately stepped in front of the camera and hurriedly explained, “Because there will be many people at the entrance later, I need to explain today’s tasks here. First, everyone can pull out the colored paper clipped in the passport. This is a list, and the items on it are the tasks everyone must complete today…”

With six people and only three passports, everyone wasn’t sure what the production team was thinking, but they naturally shared the passports since the director was speaking. Ran Lin had taken a seat randomly when boarding the ferry and ended up next to Zhang Beichen. The passport was handed to Zhang Beichen, so without waiting for Ran Lin to speak, Zhang Beichen pulled out the list for both of them to view, as the director explained.

Ran Lin didn’t speak but felt quite comfortable about it.

As the director said, the list outlined four tasks: “Collect fourteen dream stamps”, “Experience eight happy dreams”, “Take two beautiful photos”, and “Watch one spectacular performance.”

Before they could examine the details, the director established today’s main rule. “Whoever completes all the tasks on the list in the shortest time will be our Fairy Tale First Love team for today, and the ultimate Fairy Tale First Love will be selected from this group!”

Everyone suspected they misheard and unanimously looked at the director. “Team?”

The director matter-of-factly responded, “Yes, there are only three passports, so today it’s not a competition among six people, but between pairs—three teams competing against each other!”

Gu Jie had a bad premonition and interrupted without minding manners. “How are the teams divided?”

The director grandly gestured, “Naturally, according to the rooms. Staying together last night was to build your rapport!”

Gu Jie: “…”

Xia Xinran: “…What?! “

Ran Lin wanted to turn and see his “teammate’s” reaction, but the director’s following words stopped him—

“The ferry is about to dock, so please be prepared. The park will be crowded. Although the park supports our filming, there are operational rules, so today’s primary condition is not to affect other visitors. Therefore, during filming, only the cameraman will follow you. Please queue and wait as needed, always demanding of yourselves the standards of an ordinary visitor. Anything else, gentlemen?”

“Yes.” Both Ran Lin and Lu Yiyao raised their hands and spoke simultaneously.

They looked at each other, equally astonished.

The director nodded naturally. “As expected, staying together builds rapport. Feel free to speak your mind.”

Both thought the other had the same idea, so when the director prompted them to speak, they both started—

Ran Lin: “Ordinary visitors have mobile phones.”

Lu Yiyao: “Ordinary visitors have wallets.”

Ran Lin, Lu Yiyao: “…”

Rapport is indeed a whimsical sprite.

The director wasn’t fazed by multiple questions. “Mobile phones are still not allowed. Although you need to hold yourselves to the standards of ordinary visitors, you are, after all, a special group on a mission, and we seek this unknown joy… As for wallets, yes, today you can bring them to shop in the park’s stores for merchandise or specialty food. After all, it’s rare to come here, and the production team wouldn’t want to deprive you of fun. But remember, you are just ordinary visitors, so please carry any purchases yourselves. Therefore, I suggest you leave shopping until later…”

“Any other clarifications, gentlemen?” The director hurriedly checked as they approached the park entrance. “Once inside, you can only contact the production team through the walkie-talkies with the cameramen, so don’t lose them.”

The six nodded solemnly.

Not because the director was stern, but because the ferry was docking, and they already felt the impending turmoil from the dense crowd waiting to enter the park.

Half an hour before the actual opening time, the entrance began ticket checking. However, those who entered couldn’t start enjoying the attractions; they were all held at Main Street, waiting for the barricades to open.

The production team looked impressive on the ferry, but once submerged in the sea of people, they became inconspicuous. Soon, Ran Lin couldn’t spot the director anymore.

Lu Yiyao, holding the passport, waited for his partner, but turned around to find him discussing the list with Xia Xinran, much to his chagrin.

“Ran Lin.” Lu Yiyao directly called out.

Ran Lin looked up. “Hmm?”

Lu Yiyao took a deep breath and let it out slowly, managing a gentle smile. “The handsome guy beside you seems to be from the opposing team.”

Xia Xinran finally got his chance and loudly offered, “I’ll switch with you. Gu Jie’s yours!”

Lu Yiyao was exasperated; what did he want with Gu Jie? Did Gu Jie have a secret strategy?

Gu Jie, wearing sunglasses and aloofly enjoying his time, completely ignored them. He was already paired with Xia Xinran, so nothing worse could happen in his world.

The idea of switching teams ultimately didn’t materialize because Lu Yiyao, with the irrefutable reason of “Hey, it seems there are fewer people queuing over there,” led Ran Lin from the end of one queue directly to another end several ticket checks away. Xia Xinran immediately grasped this silent refusal and could only look at Ran Lin with a sigh.

Finally having some peace, Lu Yiyao could focus on discussing the task list with Ran Lin.

1. “Collect fourteen dream stamps”—find stamping machines at fourteen specified locations based on clues in the Disney passport and stamp the corresponding dream stamps in fourteen blank spaces reserved in the passport.
2. “Experience eight happy dreams”—experience eight specified attractions in the park.
3. “Complete two beautiful photos”—take a photo each with Mickey at “Mickey’s Fantasy Garden” and with one of the twelve friends at “Twelve Friends Garden”.
4. “Watch one spectacular performance”—choose and watch one of the several performances shown in the park every day from beginning to end.

“What are your thoughts?” Lu Yiyao, having done some cursory research on Shanghai Disney the night before, anticipated that the tasks would involve the park. But now, seeing these tasks, he only had one word in mind—headache.

“My thoughts are the same as yours.” Ran Lin sighed, pointing to the second item on the list. “Just queuing for these eight attractions could drive anyone insane.”

Lu Yiyao pondered for a moment. “We can only hope for the Fast pass.”

The Fast pass allows visitors to experience several attractions without queuing, directly through a fast lane. But each person can only obtain one Fast pass every two hours, and the Fast pass specifies the time slot for the experience.

The good news was, half of the eight required attractions used Fast pass.

The bad news was that the tasks required both team members to experience the attractions together, meaning they couldn’t split up to get Fast passes for different attractions (A and B). They could only get Fast passes together for the same attraction (either A or A, or B or B).

“The longest queue is for Soaring Over the Horizon,” Lu Yiyao recalled from his research.

“Everyone says that the longest queue is for ‘Soaring Over the Horizon’,” Lu Yiyao recalled as he saw Ran Lin studying the list seriously.

Ran Lin nodded, sharing his strategy. “It’s the most popular attraction in the park. Even now, in this cold weather, the queue time is still around two hours, sometimes even up to three hours. Just imagine when the weather gets warmer, and more tourists come…”

Lu Yiyao’s expression was filled with black as he imagined images of surging crowds. “If we queue for it, we won’t get anything else done in the morning.”

Ran Lin folded the list and tucked it back into the passport. “But think about it this way: if we can conquer it in a very short time, we’ll gain a three-hour advantage. Three hours…” Ran Lin looked up, his eyes blazing as he gazed at his teammate, as if to say, “With these three hours, we can win even lying down on the later tasks.”

But Lu Yiyao was too absorbed in his thoughts to notice Ran Lin’s burning gaze.

All he had on his face was a look of hesitation about the uncertain future. “The premise is that we can conquer it quickly. I saw someone say last night that even those who rushed in to get the Fast pass for it as soon as they entered didn’t manage to get it. They were gone in seconds.”

Ran Lin finally gave up on trying to subtly guide with his thoughts and directly grabbed Lu Yiyao’s arm. When Lu Yiyao finally looked over, Ran Lin’s eyes, blazing with intense flames, locked onto his teammate. “If you trust me, as soon as we get in, just follow me and run.”

In the late winter of Shanghai, Lu Yiyao saw his own iron armor burning in his teammate’s fiery gaze.

Why am I thinking of iron armor? Lu Yiyao frowned in confusion.

“Lu Yiyao?” Ran Lin waited for his teammate’s response. Otherwise, the fire in his eyes would extinguish.

Lu Yiyao steadied himself and nodded forcefully. “Okay.”

Ten minutes later, the tourists who had been waiting on Mickey Avenue for a long time finally saw the ropes blocking the way fall down. Without a starter gun, over 70% of the people rushed towards Adventure Isle—where Soaring Over the Horizon was located— in a frenzy.

After entering the park, Ran Lin and Lu Yiyao weren’t at the very front of Mickey Avenue, but they quickly chased up with their unwavering belief and impressive physical strength, reaching the first echelon.

But even this first echelon was astonishingly large, and Lu Yiyao looked up to see a sea of heads.

Finally, a fork in the road appeared. Turning there would lead to the Explorer Canoes!

“That’s also on the list!” Seeing about 20% of the people turn at the fork, Lu Yiyao shouted uncertainly to his teammate, who was a step ahead.

Without looking back and picking up speed, Ran Lin replied, “Don’t worry about it, follow me. Everything else can wait, but there’s only one chance for the ultimate flight!”

Lu Yiyao chose to trust his teammate and endured.

However, temptation seemed to have been prearranged. Just after passing the fork, they saw the Thunder Mountain Rafting. If Lu Yiyao remembered correctly, this attraction on the list also had a long queue, but now there were hardly any people there!

“Soaring Over the Horizon” was still nowhere in sight.

This task was within reach!

“Ran Lin—”

“No!”

“I haven’t even said anything yet!”

“I have eyes on the back of my head—”

“……”

The two, running as if their lives depended on it, were blunt and to the point, their words hitting right at the heart.

In the midst of their brief conversation, they passed by the Rafting. Lu Yiyao regretfully looked back, feeling as if he had missed the entire world.

Suddenly, Lu Yiyao realized something was wrong, as many people around him started running back!

Looking closely, he saw that the left side of the road was fenced off with a long, snake-like queue for the Fast pass self-service area at the end!

“Ran Lin—”

“No!”

“Fast pass—”

“Forget it!”

“……”

What the hell is this!

In the midst of shouting to each other, Lu Yiyao had already reached the entrance of the snaking queue. The reason he felt many people were running back was that the self-service ticket area was near, but the entrance to the snaking queue was further ahead. So, many people who entered the queue had to follow it backwards to reach the ticket area.

Now, 70% of the first echelon chose to get the Fast pass!

The snaking queue was rapidly filling up!

This was the third opportunity Lu Yiyao had seen.

The first was the no-queue fork to Explorer Canoes.

The second was the no-queue entrance to Thunder Mountain Rafting.

The third was the ticket area for the Fast pass for Soaring Over the Horizon, which required queuing but guaranteed a Fast pass.

Once or twice could be ignored, but not the third time!

Lu Yiyao gritted his teeth, skidded to a halt, and was about to turn left.

Ran Lin, as if anticipating this, stopped abruptly and turned back. “You said you’d trust me!”

Lu Yiyao gestured to the big picture. “Everyone is getting Fast passes. We won’t get any if we don’t now!”

Ran Lin was both anxious and angry. “Lu Yiyao!”

Lu Yiyao was also anxious. “Ran Lin!”

Ran Lin: “You are really handsome.”

Lu Yiyao: “…”

Vanity is indeed a fatal weakness!!!

In the latter half, Lu Yiyao no longer hesitated and followed Ran Lin to the end of Adventure Isle to Soaring Over the Horizon. The queue had already formed, but only inside the building, with the extensive outdoor snaking queue area empty.

Without a word, they rushed in and queued up at the end of the line.

This 4D spherical screen viewing experience in a completely enclosed, dark environment didn’t allow the camera to capture much of the guests, so the follow-up crew finally got a brief rest outside.

Fifteen minutes later, the pair settled into their seats.

During this time, Lu Yiyao realized that, with the current queuing situation at the Fast pass area, they wouldn’t get a chance when it was their turn. The Fast passes would be long gone, and the delay would be costly. Hence, Ran Lin’s insistence on running this way.

Like Ran Lin said earlier, there was only one chance to conquer this attraction quickly.

And that was the first moment the park opened!

As the staff checked each guest’s safety belt, Lu Yiyao secretly gave Ran Lin a thumbs up.

Ran Lin, with a face flushed from running, shyly smiled, a stark contrast to the assertive person who earlier claimed to have eyes on the back of his head.

They hadn’t seen the other four companions along the way, and Lu Yiyao didn’t know if they’d run too fiercely and missed them or if the companions had other tactics and choices.

But for now, they had indeed saved at least two hours. And strangely, Lu Yiyao felt a long-lost joy from it. At some point, he forgot they were filming a show and felt like he was back in his childhood, playing games with friends, uncomplicated and pure. Winning and being called the “king” brought immense satisfaction.

A satisfaction hard to come by in adulthood.

So he remembered it until now.

The lights dimmed, the seats slowly rose, and a cool breeze started blowing from an unknown place in the dark.

King Lu suddenly gripped the armrest tightly. As the feeling of emptiness grew under his feet and the screen in front brightened, his palms began to sweat…

It’s just a theme park. Why is the high-altitude visual effect so realistic?

Alright, realism he could handle. He could just close his eyes if needed, but why did the chair have to fly too!

---

Kinky Thoughts:

I mean, with an alarm tone like that, there’s no question that you’re bent Lu Yiyao.

---

<<< || Table of Contents || >>>

Author: 颜凉雨 / Yan Liang Yu

Translator: Kinky || https://kinkytranslations.com/

---

Chapter 21

While drawing lots, Ran Lin was hoping to share a room with Xia Xinran, or at least Zhang Beichen or Gu Jie. It’s not that he had anything against Tang Xiaoyu, but having never met him before, their first interaction might inevitably lead to awkward moments with no topics to talk about.

But even Tang Xiaoyu was a better option than Lu Yiyao.

Regarding the issue of gaining popularity, objectively speaking, it was already a closed chapter. He had apologized to Lu Yiyao, and Lu Yiyao didn’t hold a grudge. He stopped provoking, and Lu Yiyao didn’t dwell on it, so the dust had settled.

However, emotionally, the not-so-happy memories of their acquaintance still lingered. The saying “a smile can bury all past grievances*” is touching because most people can’t do it. It’s already quite impressive to nod in acknowledgment upon meeting again, expecting a deep brotherly bond is simply unreasonable. So, while it was fine when all five of them were together, the thought of being alone in a closed space with Lu Yiyao made him feel a bit pressured.

*Refers to individuals who have had past conflicts or misunderstandings meet again and are able to share a genuine smile, signifying the dissolution of past animosities and the beginning of a new understanding or reconciliation. The key point is that these people have the grace to forgive and move on from the past, which a lot of people can’t.

Moreover, based on the experience of the first three episodes, the filming usually lasted until about 10 or 11 p.m. After that, when the cameramen would leave, he and Lu Yiyao would enter a phase of “true selves”—and God knows what they could talk about. The thought of that desolate scene with a cold wind blowing through…

But fate, that teasing demon, is always so magical and unpredictable.

Seeing the Tigger in Lu Yiyao’s hand, Ran Lin felt like crying.

But he couldn’t cry, because after a moment of surprise, Lu Yiyao turned and looked straight at him. “We’re in the same room.”

The mainland star gave his judgment, and his tone sounded quite… accepting?

Ran Lin thought he must be daydreaming, but since the olive branch had been extended, he had to respond with kindness.

With that in mind, Ran Lin waved his round tag and gently smiled at his roommate for the night. “Please take care of me, Tigger.”

After Lu Yiyao, Gu Jie and Tang Xiaoyu respectively drew Anna and Minnie, naturally finding their roommates.

Xia Xinran was reasonably happy with this arrangement, spreading his arms. “Come on, Sister Anna.”

Gu Jie, standing still, flatly refused. “I’m afraid of getting frostbite.”

Ran Lin quietly reminded his friend. “Frostbite can be cured with a true love’s kiss…”

Gu Jie was petrified.

Xia Xinran gave Ran Lin a sharp look. “Ran Lin, you’ve changed…”

Ran Lin smirked, but his smiling eyes made it hard to get mad at him.

Lu Yiyao suddenly had an epiphany about the unsolved mystery from yesterday. “You weren’t cramming Disney stuff yesterday, were you?”

Ran Lin was surprised. “How did you know?”

Saying that he crammed Disney just from the true love’s kiss remark seemed far-fetched, especially since everyone had seen <Frozen>.

Lu Yiyao facepalmed. “Is it that hard to guess…”

Yesterday’s secret strategy Weibo and today’s quick guess about the Disney hotel, anyone could analyze that Ran Lin was doing his homework in that direction.

The two, who completely missed each other’s points, could have continued the discussion, but the production team couldn’t wait any longer. Seeing the groups formed, they immediately arranged for the guests to get on the bus and head straight to the Disney Resort.

The journey was swift, with the director’s team occasionally coordinating via walkie-talkies with the staff in each car, so the two soon forgot about their conversation.

The Disneyland Hotel, located south of Disneyland and separated only by Wishing Star Lake, offers views of the Disney Castle through the windows across the lake.

Ran Lin had learned all this while doing his research. But no matter how much you read or how many photos you see, they’re all someone else’s experiences and flat images. Only when actually sitting on the boat at the lakeshore, looking at the distant dreamy castle, and slowly recalling those splendid fairy tales—Snow White, Peter Pan, Beauty and the Beast, Toy Story, Alice in Wonderland… did Ran Lin truly understand why people linger and return here.

You might not like those soft and sweet fairy tales.

But there’s always something that hits the childhood heart you thought you didn’t have.

Theme parks are made for dreaming.

The more you cooperate with it, the more you immerse yourself, the more beautiful the dream becomes.

“Do you also want to take a picture together?” Lu Yiyao, having received the room card from the staff, asked Ran Lin, who was still looking at the “Goofy” that had appeared in the lobby a while ago.

Ran Lin glanced at the cartoon character now surrounded by a crowd of guests in the lobby and sighed, “I probably can’t get in line.”

The lobby was mostly filled with guests with children, so the cartoon characters had much more appeal than the so-called stars.

Lu Yiyao chuckled. “Then let’s not long for it. We can see anyone we want when we go into the park tomorrow.”

Ran Lin looked at him. “Are you sure the production team will let us relax like that?”

Lu Yiyao, realizing the reality. “…I admit, I shouldn’t have brought up such a sad topic.”

The two exchanged a look, their smiles revealing a hint of weariness.

The “luxurious scenic room” described by the director wasn’t that luxurious, but rather quaint and delicate. The room had intricately patterned carpets, brightly colored cartoon paintings, transparent half-floor-to-ceiling windows, two spacious single beds with Disney Castle and Tinker Bell shining stars on the headboards, and vintage-style lamps hanging above.

“It’s really cute.” Lu Yiyao quickly finished surveying the room and gave an appropriate comment.

Ran Lin casually strolled towards the TV, hinting, “There’s something even cuter…”

Before Lu Yiyao could react, Ran Lin quickly opened the cabinet under the TV!

The entire cabinet door fell down, revealing a small children’s bed, and the interior of the so-called cabinet was a mural of a sleeping Mickey Mouse, which was absolutely adorable!

Ran Lin looked at Lu Yiyao expectantly, his eyes shining like the stars above the bed.

Lu Yiyao was indeed surprised, staring at the magical little bed for a while before genuinely saying, “It’s very cute.”

Ran Lin was defeated by his response. “Apart from cute, do you have any other adjectives…”

Lu Yiyao racked his brain and finally found another word. “Interesting?”

Ran Lin slumped onto the small bed, deflated. He had come to realize that this person, Lu Yiyao, simply lacked a childlike heart. Lu Yiyao understood the disappointment in Ran Lin’s eyes, although it was well-concealed. But to be disliked for this seemed rather unjust.

“This place is indeed quite dreamy,” Lu Yiyao felt the need to defend himself, “but Disney’s most classic themes are princess dreams, like Jasmine, Belle, Merida, and Elsa. It’s normal for me not to be interested.”

The implication was that it was strange for Ran Lin to be so interested.

Ran Lin was a bit confused. “If you’re not interested, how did you remember so many names…” He had crammed for two days and still couldn’t match all those names to their characters.

Lu Yiyao paused, surprised by his own “knowledge reserve”, but quickly he recalled the culprit from his memory. “When I was in middle school, I had a roommate who was crazy about Disney. He watched all Disney animations, including the very early ones, and often rewatched them. Sometimes, out of curiosity, I would watch a bit with him.”

This was unexpected for Ran Lin.

But once Lu Yiyao mentioned it, Ran Lin recalled, “I remember you studied abroad in middle school, right?”

Lu Yiyao hesitated before simply replying with a “yeah”, then quickly stood up and walked to the half-floor-to-ceiling window, as if expectantly asking, “Will there be fireworks at the castle later?”

“I don’t know.” Ran Lin cooperated in changing the topic. “We can wait and see.”

In the end, there were no fireworks at the castle.

But the light show was quite interesting, watching the distant twinkling castle through the window.

But Ran Lin knew that Lu Yiyao wasn’t really looking forward to these.

He just needed something to break the previous conversation and end the topic about his past that he didn’t want to delve into.

Ran Lin regretted being too talkative.

Perhaps because Lu Yiyao’s attitude was exceptionally “friendly” today, he had unconsciously relaxed.

The filming crew left precisely at 22:00.

Ran Lin thanked them, and Lu Yiyao wished them good night.

As the hotel door closed again, both men threw themselves onto their beds, one lying flat on his back, staring at the ceiling, and the other face down, his face against the sheet.

“Who’s going first?” Lu Yiyao’s question was abrupt, and even he felt like he needed to add something.

But Ran Lin immediately answered, “You go first. I’m slow, so you won’t have to wait.”

It’s a special feeling when thoughts align.

The last time Lu Yiyao felt this way was with Huo Yuntao. Often, after saying just a few words, the other person would understand the whole story. But Huo Yuntao had been his close friend throughout middle school and remained in contact to this day. It was miraculous that he and Ran Lin, who had only known each other for a few days, had such a connection…

“Aren’t we talking about taking a shower?” Ran Lin saw that Lu Yiyao didn’t get up after his response but instead gave him a peculiar look, thinking he might have guessed wrong, and clarified again.

“Oh, yes, that’s what we’re talking about.” Lu Yiyao came back to his senses, got out of bed, and walked towards the bathroom. Just as he was about to enter, he stopped and turned back. “I also take a while to shower, so don’t rush me. It’s dangerous if I slip and hit my head on the bathtub.”

Ran Lin couldn’t help but laugh. “You only had to say, ‘don’t rush me.’ You don’t need to put yourself in such a gory scenario just to be persuasive.”

Lu Yiyao shook his head, giving him a gentle smile. “I don’t like using imperatives.”

As the sound of water filled the bathroom, Ran Lin was still immersed in Lu Yiyao’s smile.

He’s unfairly handsome!

Ran Lin had known Lu Yiyao was handsome, but today he seemed especially so.

Was it because their interaction exceeded his expectations, making him view Lu Yiyao with gratitude?

He had expected awkwardness and discomfort in their alone time, but it turned out surprisingly harmonious. Today, Lu Yiyao was gentler and more approachable than before.

During the day, Ran Lin thought it was his imagination.

But now, he was sure there had been a subtle change in Lu Yiyao.

Or perhaps, this was the real Lu Yiyao?

Although Lu Yiyao had said he wasn’t quick in the shower, he didn’t actually spend much time in the bathroom before coming out in a bathrobe.

Ran Lin, while playing with his phone, naturally looked up when he heard the sound, and then… he was frozen. It was as if he was spellbound, not moving an inch, not even blinking, completely captivated by the man before him.

There couldn’t be a sexier man in the world than Lu Yiyao.

At that moment, Ran Lin truly believed it.

His wet hair was still dripping with droplets, a few rebellious strands playfully curling over his forehead, hiding his handsome brows but not his peach blossom eyes. His lips were slightly thick, but just the right amount—the kind you’d want to bite into…

Ran Lin, you beast!

The gay man suddenly realized what he was thinking and internally sounded the alarm.

That was dangerous—he was actually having inappropriate thoughts about Lu Yiyao. He must be crazy…

Surely their earlier mental alignment was a fluke, Lu Yiyao thought, because right now he couldn’t figure out what Ran Lin was thinking. Ran Lin first stared at him as if he was a predator, and now he was avoiding eye contact, looking like he wanted to punch someone.

“I’m going to take a shower.”

The abrupt statement, though spoken gently, seemed out of place. To Lu Yiyao, it seemed as if Ran Lin had sprung out of bed and brushed past him.

“Be careful, the floor is wet…” Lu Yiyao didn’t finish his warning before the bathroom door slammed shut.

What happened?

Lu Yiyao, while drying his hair, frowned, his gaze accidentally landed on Ran Lin’s phone left on the bed. He had an epiphany.

He must have seen those comments on Weibo again.

Lu Yiyao sat down, his previously lightened mood turning heavy.

Throughout the day’s filming, he had wondered whether Ran Lin was truly okay or just putting on a brave face and why he was so preoccupied with him. In the end, he could only conclude it was curiosity.

Just like when he asked his assistant about being criticized on Weibo, it stemmed from the same curiosity. Lu Yiyao himself didn’t pay much attention to or have strong feelings towards Weibo comments, so he wanted to know the general reaction to negative comments on Weibo and then use this to gauge Ran Lin’s response.

And what would he do after figuring it out?

Lu Yiyao thought it was probably just to confirm whether his imagined image of Ran Lin crying pitifully was accurate or not.

Hot water freely poured from the showerhead, showering down on him, causing a shiver. Ran Lin stood motionless, letting the water flow over him, and gradually, with the rising steam, he began to relax.

Lu Yiyao was poisonous.

If before, the charm was fragmented in his appearances on TV, his seriousness on the deserted island, and his tolerance when saying enough was enough, now, after the shower, these aspects had merged into a whole. It was like Tony Stark donning his armor and finally becoming Iron Man.

Ran Lin was a die-hard fan of Iron Man.

“In the end,” Ran Lin poked his head with his finger, muttering under his breath, “you’re just superficial…”

But another voice in his head asked, “Would you react the same way if it was Xia Xinran coming out of the shower?”

Ran Lin tried hard to imagine it and found that in his mind, Xia Xinran opening his bathrobe would always lead to a blizzard, with him dancing and singing “Let it Go” as he did.

The shower was warm.

Ran Lin felt frozen by his own imagination.

Hoping that Lu Yiyao would be asleep by the time he finished his shower, Ran Lin dawdled in the bathroom for over an hour until he felt overwhelmingly sleepy. He then quickly grabbed the shower gel and finished up.

After washing, he spent a long time in the bathroom, drying his hair until every strand was light and airy. Then, wrapped in his bathrobe, he tiptoed out of the bathroom.

The lights in the room were off, leaving only the warm yellow light of the corridor lamp by the bathroom door. Ran Lin stood under the lamp, unconsciously glancing at Lu Yiyao’s bed…

Click.

The vintage lamp hanging above Lu Yiyao’s bed lit up perfectly timed, as if illuminated by Ran Lin’s gaze.

Under the vintage lamp sat Lu Yiyao at the head of the bed, looking a bit tired but still very awake. Under the corridor light stood Ran Lin, his face slightly flushed from the long exposure to heat, now wavering with uncertainty.

“What are you standing there for?” Lu Yiyao asked, yawning involuntarily.

Ran Lin, watching him, yawned too, and finally, amidst the yawn, he managed to ask somewhat naturally, “Why haven’t you slept yet?” He then quickly walked to the bed and sat down…

Huh?

His butt suddenly felt a jab.

Ran Lin reached in to retrieve the “culprit” from between his butt and the mattress, only to find it was his phone. He felt a moment of relief; sitting directly on the screen wouldn’t only be costly but also embarrassing.

Lu Yiyao, holding back laughter, said, “I was just about to warn you, but you were too quick.”

Ran Lin, flustered, shook his phone. “It’s okay. My phone is very sturdy. It even survived falling into a bowl of instant noodles.”

Imagining the scene, Lu Yiyao almost smelled the beef broth. “What about the noodles?”

Ran Lin chuckled. “I had just finished eating. Only the soup was left when it fell in.”

“That timing…” Lu Yiyao admired, but before he could finish his thought, he pondered something deeper and advised, “Actually, you don’t always need to be glued to your phone. You can dine with the TV on or listen to music or something.”

Ran Lin didn’t think much of it, casually replying, “The phone is more convenient.”

Lu Yiyao didn’t know how to continue; any response seemed forced, so he changed the topic. “How did you know we were coming to Disneyland?”

Ran Lin realized that Lu Yiyao seemed prepared for a long conversation. Otherwise, it would have been more straightforward to say goodnight earlier.

But what did Lu Yiyao have to talk about with him so late at night? It didn’t make sense that Lu Yiyao would suddenly consider him a true friend after they had just started getting along better…

“Hm?” Lu Yiyao noticed Ran Lin’s drifting attention and reminded him.

“Oh, I actually didn’t know,” Ran Lin quickly answered, coming back to his senses. “I was just idle and thought I’d do some homework, just in case. Didn’t expect to actually guess it right.”

Lu Yiyao nodded, seemingly finding this explanation reasonable and believable.

Ran Lin internally sighed with relief, hoping Lu Yiyao would quickly feel sleepy and go to bed.

In late winter Shanghai, the indoor chill was bone-piercing. Despite the air heater, Ran Lin sneezed unintentionally. He quickly grabbed a pillow to lean against the headboard, mimicking Lu Yiyao, and pulled the blanket over him, feeling a bit warmer. Just as he settled under the blanket, he heard Lu Yiyao say, “That’s nice.”

Ran Lin looked at him blankly, unsure if he was complimenting the blanket or his sneeze. But Lu Yiyao was saying, “I don’t even have a moment to breathe, let alone do homework.”

Ran Lin was taken aback, realizing that conversations with Lu Yiyao required full attention, or you’d lose track of the topic.

But despite his internal complaint, he sincerely said, “Being busy is a good thing. Many people wish they could be busy. Like me, I only have one show a week. My schedule is so empty, I can’t bear to look at it.”

“When your schedule gets so packed you can’t write everything down, you’ll know how precious holidays are.” Lu Yiyao shared his own feelings. “Now, I can only sleep in waiting rooms. As soon as I get off the plane, it’s straight to work. Sometimes, if the fan crowd at the airport gets too uncontrollable, the airport staff will ask me to take a different exit or find a way to avoid them. It’s like being a thief.”

“No wonder you used a body double that time at the airport.” Ran Lin said this without thinking, naturally continuing the conversation, but as soon as he finished, he wanted to kick himself for bringing it up.

“Yet, you still caught me in the end,” Lu Yiyao said with a light, teasing tone.

Ran Lin was taken aback, not quite grasping his meaning. “Huh?”

Lu Yiyao hadn’t meant to dig up the past; since the matter was over, he didn’t mind and even joked about it. But seeing Ran Lin’s feigned ignorance, he felt a bit displeased. “I mean, even though I used a body double, you still cornered me, didn’t you?”

Ran Lin blinked weakly and then said feebly, “That was a misunderstanding…”

Lu Yiyao involuntarily furrowed his brows, his gaze fixed on Ran Lin, trying to spot any lies on his face. But soon, he realized there were none. Despite Ran Lin’s meek demeanor, his eyes didn’t waver, so Lu Yiyao’s displeasure slowly turned into uncertainty. “…Really a misunderstanding?”

Ran Lin felt wronged enough to cry.

He sat upright, facing Lu Yiyao’s bed, with his legs crossed, and earnestly explained, “It really was a misunderstanding at first. I just wanted to pick up a fan’s light stick that had fallen on the ground and throw it in the trash.”

Lu Yiyao: “…”

Ran Lin: “Err, after picking it up, of course, I didn’t have the heart to throw it away. The light stick was made with so much care…”

“I was at a loss.” Lu Yiyao also sat up, mimicking Ran Lin’s posture, facing his “roommate” for a seated conversation, somewhat helplessly and amusedly. “I was stewing over it for days, thinking I’d been caught in a series of traps.”

“No, it’s normal for you to be upset.” The truth now clear, Ran Lin relaxed and candidly said, “The subsequent hype and fermentation were all done by my side. Otherwise, a misunderstanding wouldn’t have caused such a stir.”

“I know that.” Lu Yiyao was surprisingly calm. “I’ve been used for clout before. I understand how these things are hyped and how trends are led. I was angry at myself for having been through this so many times and still not being cautious enough.”

“Trust me,” Ran Lin said earnestly, almost to the point of being heartfelt. “I was also stunned when you pulled me over.”

Lu Yiyao smiled. “I believe you now. Thinking back, so many fans were misled by the body double, you managed to see through it, pretended to pick up a light stick to be caught on camera, and when I came out, you didn’t initiate anything, didn’t even call out, waiting for me to recognize you and take a photo with you… It’s basically infeasible, I thought too much.”

Ran Lin was amazed by the explanation. “Not just too much. It was perfectly interlocked, flawless.”

Lu Yiyao, embarrassed, showed a rare, self-deprecating smile, appearing straightforward and naive.

After a moment, he became serious, looking earnestly at Ran Lin, and apologized sincerely, “I misunderstood you about the light stick. I apologize.”

Ran Lin was taken aback, shaking his head quickly. “Don’t apologize to me. It makes me feel like I should jump into Wishing Star Lake.”

Lu Yiyao laughed out loud, finding Ran Lin particularly endearing, but insisted, “It’s only fair.”

Ran Lin was genuinely impressed.

After this exchange, he not only felt pressure-free around Lu Yiyao but even wanted to enlighten his companion. “You can’t be like this. You said it yourself, I’m not the first to use you. Haven’t you ever wondered why everyone chooses you?”

“I’m easy to use, I guess,” Lu Yiyao answered without hesitation.

Ran Lin was surprised. “You knew?”

“Every time a work is released, there’s a rumor with the female lead, and promotional articles from the production fly everywhere. It’s not hard to guess.” Lu Yiyao sighed with a smile. “But you’re the first male artist to tie me into a CP for hype.”

Ran Lin bowed his head in shame.

Lu Yiyao, smiling, said nonchalantly, “That’s how it is in the industry. Everyone hypes each other up, and after a while, you get used to it. So, I was only upset about being tricked; if I hadn’t been, just being used for hype would have been nothing new.”

Ran Lin looked up at him, feeling a bit sorry. “That sounds so pitiful…”

Lu Yiyao shrugged, casually saying, “It doesn’t matter. Maybe being popular is a sin in itself.”

Ran Lin: “…”

Lu Yiyao: “Hm?”

Ran Lin: “If Xia Xinran were here, he would be impressed by your deep insight… and then join me in beating you up.”

Lu Yiyao was momentarily stunned, then realized in hindsight that his words indeed sounded like he was asking for a beating. But he genuinely wasn’t showing off; he was just stating facts. Even if he weren’t popular today, seeing the current state of affairs, he would have come to the same conclusion.

Yao Hong once said that, with his unambitious nature, it was incredible that he rose to fame. Lu Yiyao admitted luck played a part, along with some other factors, but what frustrated him most wasn’t the murky dealings in the industry, but the fact that he had made some achievements amidst it all, yet he didn’t feel the sense of accomplishment he had expected.

What did he really want? To stand at the pinnacle of the entertainment industry’s pyramid and become a superstar? He had been searching for twenty-four years and couldn’t be sure because he hadn’t reached that point yet.

He once asked Huo Yuntao seriously what his dream was. His friend looked at him for a long time before saying, “Are you sick?”

Lu Yiyao’s mind wandered again, a habit Ran Lin was now used to. After setting the alarm on his phone and putting it on silent charge, he softly reminded his “roommate”, “Let’s sleep early. Tomorrow is another day of battle.”

Lu Yiyao snapped back to reality, nodding. “Yeah, tomorrow should be fun.”

Ran Lin had already laid down but turned to Lu Yiyao and said, “You noticed too, right? The production team is getting better at this. The freeze card this afternoon, I almost laughed out loud when I touched it. I was thinking, how frustrated the person who gets frozen by me will be. I didn’t expect you all to come in a group.”

Lu Yiyao remembered the scene and couldn’t help but smile, but he soon thought of something else and said meaningfully, “This episode should look good when it’s edited. Disneyland itself is a very effective setting.”

Ran Lin joked, “Your mansion last episode wasn’t bad either.”

Lu Yiyao, uncharacteristically not arguing, continued, “So the reputation should improve.”

Ran Lin had been trying not to think about the audience’s reaction, so he simply replied, “Mm.”

Lu Yiyao finally brought up the topic he was concerned about. “About that Weibo…”

“I uninstalled it,” Ran Lin quickly responded, his tone sounding a bit bitter, then quickly switched to a joking tone. “If our show’s reputation turns around, you’ll have to scroll through the comments for me.”

Lu Yiyao took a moment to comprehend, then asked uncertainly, “Uninstalled?”

“Yeah.” Ran Lin scratched his head embarrassedly, dropping the act and speaking frankly. “I uninstalled it the night after the premiere. Of course, since I stirred it up myself, I can’t blame others for mocking it, but it was still a lot of pressure to see.”

“Oh…” Lu Yiyao didn’t know what to say, and after a while, he finally said, “That’s good…”

With the hardest part said, Ran Lin decided to share his realization with Lu Yiyao. “I discovered something. If you keep scrolling through Weibo, it feels like it contains the whole world. But once you stop, it’s just a social media platform. Life and the world don’t change.”

Lu Yiyao wanted to say that he had always felt that way, so even if he occasionally scrolled through comments, he didn’t take those emotionally charged opinions to heart. But he realized he and Ran Lin were different. They reached the same conclusion, but their journeys and feelings about it were entirely different.

Ran Lin tried to forget.

He simply didn’t care.

So, Ran Lin uninstalled Weibo and refrained from discussing those specific harsh words. And Lu Yiyao, who recently scrolled through Weibo every day, still hardly felt any emotional disturbance.

The only disturbance he felt was when he saw particularly harsh comments, empathizing with Ran Lin’s feelings, making him uncomfortable. Now, he had his answer—Ran Lin uninstalled Weibo, not completely immune but objectively cutting off the source of negativity. But he didn’t feel the satisfaction of having his curiosity fulfilled.

“Goodnight.” Ran Lin decided not to wait any longer. He turned off the light after speaking.

This time, the response from the next bed came quickly—a faint “Goodnight”—and the light went out.

With the room completely dark, Ran Lin closed his eyes, trying to shake off the jumbled thoughts “his roommate” had stirred up again. Gradually, he finally fell into a peaceful sleep.

Hearing the even breathing from the next bed slow down, Lu Yiyao finally understood.

His unusual behavior these past days wasn’t really about being curious about Ran Lin’s reaction to the comments on Weibo. What he really wanted to see was Ran Lin being like him, not caring about those comments.

But why did he insist that Ran Lin follow his example? The only explanation Lu Yiyao could think of was vanity…

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<<< || Table of Contents || >>>

Author: 颜凉雨 / Yan Liang Yu

Translator: Kinky || https://kinkytranslations.com/

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Chapter 20

What does it feel like to be an assistant to a popular star?

Before taking the job, Li Tong had countless fantasies of a glamorous and extravagant lifestyle. After becoming an assistant, there was only one feeling left—completely drained every day.

Take today, for instance. Lu Yiyao’s schedule was Beijing to Hangzhou (for a fan meeting), then back to Beijing (for a director’s dinner), and finally off to Shanghai.

He was busy with tasks throughout, and even when not busy, he had to be on standby, never able to relax.

After enduring the dinner, they rushed to the airport. Lu Yiyao was tired and slightly drunk, while Li Tong, though sober, felt as if his feet were floating from exhaustion.

Lu Yiyao originally had several assistants, but he personally requested the company reduce the size of his entourage, as he didn’t want such a big fuss made over him. Eventually, Li Tong was the only one left.

Recently, Li Tong often found himself missing his former colleagues.

“Lu Ge, stop looking at your phone and get some sleep.”

In the spacious nanny van, Yao Hong and the makeup artist were already catching up on some sleep upfront, leaving Lu Yiyao in the back, still flipping through his phone.

If he didn’t sleep, Li Tong couldn’t either, feeling the need to be ready at a moment’s notice. Even dozing felt insecure, like being sick.

“Yeah, I’m going to sleep…” Lu Yiyao hummed weakly, but his hands were still busy scrolling through his phone.

This was the third “I’m going to sleep” Li Tong had heard on the trip, and he knew better than to believe it.

What magic did the phone possess that made Lu Yiyao cling to it with the last bit of his energy, despite his exhaustion?

Li Tong could only relate when he was engrossed in a mobile game.

But Lu Yiyao wasn’t gaming; he was browsing Weibo.

Of course, Li Tong respected a Weibo addict, but Lu Yiyao wasn’t one. He had been with Lu Yiyao long enough to know that the star wasn’t even a phone addict; he spent more time holding a book than his phone in a day.

Or do people do unusual things when they’re drunk?

“Li Tong…” The reclining figure suddenly sat up, trying to get closer to the assistant. His head was a bit heavy from the alcohol, so his frown deepened. “Have you ever been scolded online?”

Li Tong paused for two seconds, then asked uncertainly, “On Weibo?”

Lu Yiyao nodded, probably intending to, but due to the car’s movement and his drunken haze, it looked more like he was shaking his head.

Li Tong sighed. “Lu Ge, I’m not like you. I only have 56 followers on Weibo.”

“Oh…” Lu Yiyao, half sober and half drunk, took a while to respond before changing his question. “What if you had 5.6 million followers, and every Weibo post had over a thousand replies, but most of them were cursing you? How would you feel?”

Li Tong swallowed hard. “Why… should I be that miserable?”

Lu Yiyao thought for a moment, and his brows furrowed even more. “No reason. You’re already in such misery. It’s a fact.”

Li Tong despaired and reluctantly imagined that dreadful scenario, becoming so engrossed that he suddenly became emotional. “I’d curse back at each one!”

Lu Yiyao: “You can’t curse back.”

Li Tong: “Why not?!”

Lu Yiyao: “Just can’t… Consider it a script setting.”

What kind of grudge against the protagonist would require such a script?

Li Tong, utterly drained, finally surrendered to fate. “Then I’d just feel miserable. What else?”

“But there’s a small part that supports you.” Lu Yiyao looked seriously at him. “I said most of them curse you, but not all.”

Li Tong seriously returned his boss’s gaze. “Ten thousand points of damage and one point of healing still leaves 9,999 points of damage.”

Lu Yiyao disagreed. “The curses are just emotional outbursts, often illogical, but the support is different. Each supportive comment is substantial and weighty.”

Unable to hold back, Li Tong turned fully to face Lu Yiyao, to make his point more convincing. “Brother, the comments are mixed. If I can pick out the fifty praising me, it means I’ve already seen the thousand cursing me. Who’s going to analyze which comment has quality after being drowned in insults? Besides, even if the praises make me look good, they can’t elevate me to the heavens. But one ‘F your mom’ is enough to set me off. Which has more weight?”

Lu Yiyao stopped talking, looking back at his phone, his expression a mix of confusion and maybe drunkenness or the effect of his assistant’s rant.

Li Tong slowly withdrew from that mad scenario and finally returned to his professional mindset as the car bounced.

Seeing Lu Yiyao still troubled, Li Tong really wanted to say, “You never used to be so into Weibo, and it didn’t stop your rise to fame. Why bother yourself with it? Fans can be of any temperament, and the slightest thing can trigger a fight. Don’t take it too seriously.”

But that was something Yao Hong could say, not him.

Then again, would Lu Yiyao, who used “substantial” to describe fan comments, be hurt by Weibo criticism? And recently, no one was badmouthing him…

Thankfully, the star finally fell asleep with his phone.

Li Tong turned back and took a cushion to lean against the car window, his eyelids heavy as if filled with lead. After a few blinks, they closed completely.

‘Don’t drink if you can’t handle it,’ he thought. ‘Every time you get drunk, you start a scholarly debate. Last time, you discussed the truth and falseness of ideals, and now, the lethality of Weibo comments. Please, I’m just an assistant. This kind of tedious topic should come with extra pay!’

As consciousness faded, a slight sense of grievance still lingered in the sleeping assistant’s brows.

Lu Yiyao slept from the car to the airport, then from the airport onto the plane. One good thing about being drunk—it aids sleep. Unaffected by turbulence or pressure changes, he awoke to a bright new day.

They rushed nonstop to the gathering place for the fourth episode’s recording—the Oriental Pearl Tower.

Despite the hectic pace, Lu Yiyao barely made it on time. Any later, and he would have been considered late.

Lu Yiyao particularly despised tardiness, whether it was others or himself.

As soon as the car approached the tower, Lu Yiyao heard waves of screaming. Looking through the window, he saw that the base of the tower was surrounded by an impassable crowd of enthusiastic people.

Many were there to buy tickets to enter the tower but decided to stay and watch the excitement upon seeing a filming in progress.

The driver from the show’s team, who had obviously scouted the location beforehand, drove around the crowd, entering a path cordoned off by security personnel. Soon, they arrived at the base of the tower.

The program team’s equipment was already fully set up and being tested. The director, clad in a cotton coat, was discussing something with the cameraman. Upon seeing Lu Yiyao’s car, he immediately signaled for the dedicated cameraman to approach.

When Lu Yiyao got out of the car, the screams of the surrounding girls seemed to create a wave of heat.

There had been onlookers during the previous three recordings, but whether it was an illusion or the effect of the first episode’s airing, it felt like there were more people this time, and they were more enthusiastic.

As Lu Yiyao got out of the car, the other four male guests, who had been waiting in another vehicle, were also led out by the staff.

Finally, the five companions gathered at the base of the tower.

In late February in Shanghai, the sunshine was like a deceptive facade—bright to look at but offering no warmth. Perhaps due to the climate, the breeze carried a hint of moisture. Although not strong, it felt bone-chilling once it hit.

For the first time, the program team provided the guests with uniform clothing—a fleece-lined round-neck sweatshirt with the <National First Love Drifting Story> logo on the chest, in a blue and white combination. From a distance, they looked like a group of school uniforms come to life.

Lu Yiyao had already changed into the outfit in the car and had mentally prepared himself for the visual impact. However, seeing the other four companions still made him unable to suppress his smile as he approached the group.

“That’s enough.” Gu Jie felt like he was being laughed at. “You don’t look much better in it.”

Lu Yiyao tried to control his laughter, waving his hand. “It’s not bad. Just a bit… spectacular.”

To be honest, the outfit wasn’t ugly—standard design, okay print, and the colors were fresh and pleasing. It’s just that they had never worn uniforms before, and suddenly doing so made them look like a school reunion rather than a rafting group, which was visually amusing.

As they chatted and laughed, Lu Yiyao glanced at Ran Lin nonchalantly.

Ran Lin didn’t join the discussion very warmly, but his eyes were smiling at the center of the conversation. So when Lu Yiyao glanced over, their eyes met.

Ran Lin was startled, then gave a big smile to his companion as a silent greeting.

Lu Yiyao paused for two seconds before smiling back at him from a distance.

The playful banter among the companions gradually quieted down as the director came over to announce the theme of the day.

Lu Yiyao watched the director’s lips move but was still preoccupied with Ran Lin’s state.

He expected Ran Lin to be at least somewhat downcast, but the smile just now seemed genuinely lighthearted, although polite.

It was a good thing that Ran Lin wasn’t disturbed by those comments on the internet, but Lu Yiyao always feels uneasy. After interacting in the first three episodes, he knew that Ran Lin wasn’t a heartless person. He wasn’t like himself, who was somewhat self-centered and indifferent to external comments. On the contrary, Ran Lin probably cared a lot about the feelings of those around him, tended to empathize involuntarily, and had the unfortunate character of always hoping to make everyone around him comfortable.

Could someone like that forget about such harsh criticism overnight?

Especially since the online comments hadn’t ceased with yesterday’s formation, many were still fiercely debating.

Or did his own Weibo post really encourage Ran Lin that much?

Lu Yiyao pursed his lips, not fully believing this conclusion, but he couldn’t help feeling uplifted by it. He wasn’t sure if he was happy for Ran Lin’s brightness or proud of his own influence.

One thing was certain, though—he had been acting strangely recently.

“…And now let’s welcome today’s mystery guest!”

The director’s sudden enthusiasm finally drew Lu Yiyao’s attention back.

Everyone looked towards the entrance, and he quickly followed suit. A luxurious sponsored car drove up slowly and stopped in front of them. The door opened, and a long leg stepped out of the car.

Before the exaggerated “wow” from the Drifting team ended, a blue and white sweatshirt appeared, turning the “wow” into laughter, changing the atmosphere from excitement to humor.

No matter how handsome, no one can look cool in a cartoonish logo. But the laughter made the guest and the team seem closer. The handsome male guest jogged into the camera’s main area.

Lu Yiyao clapped, surprised—this was the second unexpected thing today.

Not only was it the first time the show had invited a guest, but it was also an old acquaintance—Tang Xiaoyu, the second male lead from “Yun Zhang.”

Tang Xiaoyu didn’t act like a stranger either. He entered the group, greeted everyone, and gave Lu Yiyao a brotherly hug. “Long time no see.”

Lu Yiyao patted his back, welcoming him. “You kept it well hidden. You didn’t even drop a hint.”

Tang Xiaoyu shrugged with a laugh. “Then it wouldn’t be a surprise.”

Everyone then realized these two had been in the same crew for months and had many scenes together, so they must be familiar.

Gu Jie teased, “Hey, don’t go easy just because you know each other. Our show is all about real competition. First Love is a sacred title!”

Tang Xiaoyu reassuringly patted Gu Jie’s shoulder. “Don’t worry. Now that I’m here, I won’t let you be troubled. That title is definitely mine.”

Gu Jie with black lines: “……”

Xia Xinran narrowed his eyes. “Brothers, I want to beat him up.”

Unable to hold back, Ran Lin mischievously joined in the fun. “I’m with you in spirit.”

Zhang Beichen laughed heartily, telling Tang Xiaoyu, “You’ve successfully united us.”

Tang Xiaoyu blinked his eyes, looking at Lu Yiyao for help, appearing as pitiful as possible.

Lu Yiyao sighed faintly. “You reap what you sow. No sympathy.”

It was unclear whether the group’s growing synergy or Tang Xiaoyu acting as a catalyst was the reason, but from the start of the fourth episode, the atmosphere was exceptionally smooth and natural, with plenty of humor and highlights and a good rhythm.

Those involved didn’t feel it strongly, at most finding it more comfortable than before.

However, the director, as an observer, was delighted.

In fact, during the third episode’s deserted island survival and birthday party, the natural rapport among the five had already begun to show, though still imperfect.

Now, the five had completely let go, even eliminating the occasional awkwardness, whether unconscious or overly forceful, so much so that watching their interactions during filming was enough to feel the team spirit.

National First Love Drifting Story finally became the National First Love Drifting Team.

Building a team spirit wasn’t the initial direction of the director and the planning team. They originally wanted to show the real reactions of the stars facing difficulties and tasks unprepared. But the natural development led to the five becoming a team.

The director suspected he played a role in this, believing the notion, “We have a common enemy called the production team,” is an easy unifier.

Whether by chance or inevitability, this development was welcomed by him and the entire production team.

The stars were comfortable, and so were the viewers—a resonance rule applicable to all reality shows.

The first day of filming started at the base of the Oriental Pearl Tower, with real segments in Jing’an Temple business district and Tianzifang.

The tasks were still tricky but enhanced in overall feel and fun. With time, not only the guest team but also the production team improved.

Especially during the Tianzifang treasure hunt, Xia Xinran, who first found a treasure, was ambushed by Lu Yiyao, resulting in an alliance between Xia Xinran and Gu Jie against Lu Yiyao. But Lu Yiyao was no pushover, teaming up with Tang Xiaoyu for a two-on-two battle.

As the tussle intensified, Ran Lin happened by, observing for a while, remaining neutral despite both sides’ persuasion, and casually walked past.

When Ran Lin later uncovered another hidden treasure, the four were still without a result. Frustrated, Ran Lin said, “Why don’t we just settle it with rock-paper-scissors, a highly efficient conflict resolution method invented by our ancestors.”

Both sides, exhausted from their efforts, finally considered and agreed to the proposal. But just as they put down the treasure and were about to start the game, Zhang Beichen, like Gu Jie grabbing the badge in the Battle of Guilin, snatched the opportunity and reaped the benefits with a lightning-fast move.

Zhang Beichen swiftly made his escape, while Ran Lin found himself in a tough spot. Without needing to explain, he clutched his treasure and ran as fast as he could.

Eventually cornered in a dead end, just when everyone thought he had no choice but to tearfully hand over his treasure, Ran Lin miraculously pulled out a “Group Freeze Card”.

The four were caught completely off guard, dumbstruck, and for a moment, they looked as if they were actually frozen.

In the end, the production team’s logo on the Freeze Card forced them to face the reality—Ran Lin had discovered a magical item in some secret location.

As Ran Lin walked away proudly from the four, Bearded Cameraman Sun, who had followed the entire sequence, was out of breath, although it was unclear whether from running or from laughter.

A good variety show is the result of a good director, good planning, good segments, and good guests all coming together.

This battle in Tianzifang was much richer and more interesting than the previous adventure in Guanyan.

For Tang Xiaoyu, participating in the filming for the first time, his experience might be more telling.

His main purpose here was to promote his new drama and, secondly, to gain some fans through the show’s popularity. But having watched the first episode and the subsequent online reviews, he had modest expectations for this promotional event arranged by his agent. His main goal was to make an appearance without attracting negative attention.

However, the experience of filming for one day turned out to be beyond his expectations.

He had participated in reality shows before and knew that relationships among some guests were good both on and off camera, while for others, it was more about performance than genuine feelings. From the first episode, it seemed that this group was at a beginner level in reality shows, unable to act naturally even on camera, let alone off it.

But the filming today was harmonious and well-coordinated throughout, with everyone fully engaged in the competition, teasing each other joyfully, yet strangely enough, there was a sense of camaraderie. Even Lu Yiyao, who usually seemed a bit distant, appeared friendly and likable. He wondered if it was because the editing of the first episode focused too much on the awkward moments or if these people had really bonded so quickly, already showing a team vibe by the fourth episode.

Indeed, he felt that Lu Yiyao was somewhat cold.

He and Lu Yiyao were familiar with each other, but this familiarity was more of an objective kind. Any two people who had lived and worked together on a film set for months, spending most of that time filming opposite each other, would naturally become acquainted, unless they had particularly difficult personalities.

But they weren’t close friends.

Lu Yiyao was easy to get along with, professional, and hardworking, hardly ever losing his temper on set. He treated everyone with respect, regardless of their status, whether they were fellow actors or crew members, winning over many colleagues who were initially indifferent towards him. Producers and directors also liked such actors—easy to work with and reliable. So even before the drama <Yun Zhang> became a hit, Lu Yiyao’s good reputation had already spread within the industry.

But for some reason, Tang Xiaoyu just felt that Lu Yiyao was hard to get close to. Easy to get along with, but hard to fully connect with. Perhaps it was because Lu Yiyao himself wasn’t keen on sharing his own affairs, thoughts, or feelings. So in their interactions, you might lay bare your heart, but he would remain as unmoved as a bell, only smiling at you gently.

Over time, you’d also become reluctant to open up to him, and being warm acquaintances seemed good enough.

That’s why Tang Xiaoyu felt that today’s Lu Yiyao was somewhat different from the one he remembered.

Not always keeping everything to himself, always wearing a smile, but being nice when needed, naughty when appropriate, and confrontational when necessary. He couldn’t be said to be completely spontaneous, but he seemed more like a “friend” now.

“Congratulations to all the First Love male gods! Today’s task segment is over, and next is the much anticipated… luxurious dinner!”

As the director announced, waiters carrying various dishes streamed out, instantly filling the courtyard with enticing aromas.

This was a private restaurant built in the style of a traditional garden, with pavilions, water features, and winding corridors, exuding an ancient charm. The show’s dinner was set under a stage in the back garden.

On the stage was a specially invited Pingtan performance, with soft, gentle, and slow Wu dialect singing and playing, conveying the beauty of old times even to those who couldn’t understand the words.

Below the stage was a large Eight Immortals table* where six people sat around, salivating over the rich local dishes.

*Table designed to seat eight people.

After the Pingtan performance, the artists left the stage, and without waiting for the director’s cue, the six starving people exchanged glances and said, “Let’s eat!”

It was more of a scramble than a meal, especially for the braised pork, of which there were only five pieces. Tang Xiaoyu’s chopsticks were only a second too late, leaving him with nothing but the bottom of the dish.

National First Loves?

More like a group competing for affection!

As the meal was ending, Lu Yiyao got up to go to the bathroom. Normally, the cameramen wouldn’t follow for such things, so when Lu Yiyao, having finished his business, was washing his hands in an antique blue-and-white porcelain basin, he was surprised to see Xia Xinran walk in. It was the first time that day he and a colleague were in a private space without cameras.

Xia Xinran had followed Lu Yiyao’s route, so he wasn’t surprised to see him. He looked around the bathroom and commented to his colleague, “The decor is quite uniform, even the restroom is in Chinese style…”

Everyone’s mics were off at that moment, so Xia Xinran’s joke was more down-to-earth.

Lu Yiyao didn’t play along but changed the subject. “When did you guys arrive yesterday?”

Lu Yiyao asked casually, and Xia Xinran answered naturally, “Zhang Beichen was the earliest, arriving in the afternoon, Gu Jie probably around eight, because when I arrived after nine, he was already there. Ran Lin was the latest. I don’t know exactly when he came. I was already asleep by then.”

“So you only met Ran Lin this morning?”

“Right.”

“Oh…” Lu Yiyao responded, glancing at himself in the mirror, pretending to be casual, then bent down to press more hand soap into his palm, continuing to scrub.

When Xia Xinran came over to wash his hands, he found Lu Yiyao still standing there and asked curiously, “What’s taking you so long? Is there gold in your basin?”

Lu Yiyao’s expression remained unchanged, but his heart skipped a beat. “Waiting for you.”

Xia Xinran said, “I’m not a young lady. I don’t need company to go to the bathroom.”

“Mm.” Lu Yiyao agreed smoothly, then continued the conversation. “How was it this morning when everyone gathered?”

Xia Xinran turned off the tap, drying his hands with a paper towel, and asked in confusion, “What do you mean, how was it? We just sat in the car waiting for you. What, feeling guilty?”

Lu Yiyao said sincerely, “A bit.”

Xia Xinran laughed. “No need. We already got our revenge while waiting for you. Believe me, you don’t want to see that footage.”

Lu Yiyao smiled, imagining the lively scene of everyone uniting against a common enemy. “Did Ran Lin also talk about me?”

As he asked, Lu Yiyao finally turned off the tap and came over to dry his hands, his eyes slightly downcast and his tone and demeanor casual.

But Xia Xinran sensed the truth behind the question.

In fact, had he thought more carefully earlier, he would have realized it sooner. Who would have thought that Lu Yiyao would pick such a peculiar place as a men’s restroom to let down his guard?

“He wouldn’t talk about you. You posted that Weibo yesterday like a timely rain. Now he probably sees you with a halo over your head.”

Sometimes Lu Yiyao found Xia Xinran’s bluntness annoying, but other times he had to admit that his straightforward manner was refreshing.

With the subject out in the open, he asked directly, “How was Ran Lin’s mood this morning?”

Xia Xinran sighed helplessly. “How could I ask with cameras everywhere in the car? Anyway, he seemed normal, not good or bad.”

“Not good or bad, huh… I thought he seemed quite normal during the whole day’s filming.”

“In situations like this, being normal is abnormal.” Xia Xinran analyzed. “It’s his first time facing such widespread criticism. Unless he has a heart of steel, no one would be completely unaffected. But that’s how it is with filming shows; you can’t exactly look miserable on camera.”

Lu Yiyao thought about it and agreed. “Makes sense.”

“I apologize to you,” Xia Xinran suddenly blurted out.

Lu Yiyao looked puzzled. “Hm?”

Xia Xinran threw the paper towel into the bin and walked up to Lu Yiyao, looking him in the eye. “I used to think you were too aloof, but after you offered your villa for the task last time and helped Ran Lin this time, regardless of your motives, it’s commendable. So I take back my previous dislike of you, and from now on…” Xia Xinran raised his hands and fired imaginary “friendship bullets”. “I have high hopes for you!”

“……” Lu Yiyao instinctively stepped back, his palms against the washbasin.

“But your house decoration is too cold; it’s a seaside view, not the Northern Lights. Doesn’t living there long-term get depressing?”

Lu Yiyao didn’t know how to respond. His feelings were teetering on the edge of love and hate. Perhaps this could be described as… the friendship of the entertainment industry?

……

“Next, we’re heading to the hotel where we’ll stay tonight…” the director said, looking at the messy table with his eyes shining. “Do you want to guess where we’ll be staying tonight?”

The six handsome guys looked at each other. Ran Lin was the first to raise his hand timidly. “Disneyland Hotel?”

The director’s smile froze, and he glanced at the planning team!

The planner looked innocent, indicating he hadn’t leaked anything and had signed a confidentiality agreement!

Xia Xinran saw through the ruse and cheered instantly.

The director, though reluctantly, delivered his prepared line. “Yes, it’s Disneyland. Surprised or not, excited or not?”

The six wanted to play along, but under such circumstances, any more forced enthusiasm would be an insult to the audience. So amidst awkward and quiet smiles, Gu Jie raised his hand second. “Director, are there other surprises?”

The director narrowed his eyes, radiating an arrogance of “you’re still too green to play with me”.

The six felt a chill down their spines as the staff brought out a box for drawing lots.

“We are grateful for Disney’s support of our show, but due to the hotel’s limited availability, we can only provide three rooms. However, don’t worry, they are all double-bed deluxe rooms with a view. All you need to do now is let fate decide your roommates in this magical box!”

The six were unimpressed. “It’s just sharing a hotel room…”

Despite the grumbling, Xia Xinran was the first to reach into the box, loving these lottery-like activities.

“Elsa?” Xia Xinran pulled out a round tag with the main character of <Frozen> on it.

Zhang Beichen, the second to draw, was full of anticipation and ended up with Mickey Mouse.

Ran Lin drew third. His face wasn’t overly expressive, but his eyes shone with curiosity and excitement, and he ended up with Winnie the Pooh.

The three men, each with a cartoon character, looked at each other, not seeing any resemblance to roommates.

Tang Xiaoyu, as a guest, calmly waited for the last draw. Gu Jie wasn’t much interested in such childish games, and Lu Yiyao, seeing his remaining companions, stood up fourth.

As he approached the box, Ran Lin, who had just drawn, stepped back to give him space.

Lu Yiyao glanced at him, but Ran Lin was too engrossed in studying his tag to look up.

Shrugging, Lu Yiyao reached into the box.

After fumbling around, the tags all felt similar, and eventually, Lu Yiyao picked the one at the very bottom. Pulling it out, he saw the lively character on the tag seemed ready to leap off the paper—Winnie’s friend, Tigger.

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Author: 颜凉雨 / Yan Liang Yu

Translator: Kinky || https://kinkytranslations.com/

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Chapter 19

The programs broadcast on satellite TV channels at night, unless they are so popular that everyone is eager to watch them live by any means necessary, usually only start to see a real peak in discussions after noon the next day, or even in the evening.

Since more and more people are no longer accustomed to watching live broadcasts on TV, they prefer to wait until the show is over and then watch the full version on online platforms. They can drag the progress bar to rewatch or skip sections as they please, and if the show isn’t enough, they can even add to the fun with live comments.

For the whole day of February 15^th, aside from the show’s team releasing some cut footage to capitalize on the buzz, the five guests of the show remained silent. Their Weibo accounts mostly had posts from the previous evening, before the show aired, with content clearly promoting the show and sharing the anticipation of the premiere with their fans.

Beneath this surface calm was a collective wait-and-see from the stars’ teams. Experienced PR and marketing teams know that unless you’re only after short-term attention, you should never speak out at the peak of public opinion. For example, between a star who fights back against netizens and one who lets them mock without a word, it’s clear who’s more likely to stir up netizen backlash and who’s more likely to gain their sympathy.

Of course, fans can say, “Why shouldn’t a star fight back?” or “I like my idol’s authenticity,” but objectively, such actions actually affect the perception of neutral observers.

The general public doesn’t care about the intricacies of celebrity feuds; they just want entertainment. If a star can take mockery and criticism lying down, even if they’re full of flaws, they’re seen as likable.

Sometimes, through this mockery, they can even turn haters into fans. Conversely, if a star is constantly fighting with netizens, even if their anger is justified, they will be labeled as overly sensitive by the public.

After all, most people think that if you enjoy the huge benefits of being a public figure, you should also endure some of the unique hardships, including but not limited to being criticized, blackened, fantasized about, or turned into memes.

It’s not about whether such thinking is right or wrong; the public doesn’t need anyone to teach them how to behave. They simply follow their emotional logic, and sometimes, after a two-second rant and a scroll through their feed, they forget about it.

But management teams do summarize, analyze, and speculate, eventually deducing effective public relations rules. First, for serious issues affecting the star’s image, like marriage, dating, fighting, or scandals, if there’s no solid proof, the first step is to issue a firm denial.

Second, for issues that somewhat affect the image but are essentially true, like poor acting, overuse of stunt doubles, or questionable quality of films, TV shows, and variety shows, the strategy is to avoid forced whitewashing*. Instead, subtly shift the focus to other aspects to mine the star’s likability and gradually shift the focus, thus quelling public opinion or even turning it positive.

*Deliberately mislead people in various ways, causing them to forget a celebrity’s bad past.

Finally, for issues that don’t affect the star’s image, or rather, hot topics completely unrelated to the star, unless necessary, PR teams usually advise against capitalizing on them. Especially if the topic involves other celebrities, a successful association might earn a reputation for being decisive, but a failed one can backfire.

Now, the other four teams were facing a combination of the second and third scenarios.

Regarding the questionable reception of the show, they were watching and waiting. After all, only the first episode had aired, and there hadn’t been a wave of severe criticism—just comments about it being somewhat bland. However, there were occasional highlights that surprised the audience, so fans were still looking forward to the second episode, and many neutral viewers were willing to give it another chance.

For Ran Lin, caught in a storm of criticism, they were even more cautious. The comments were too one-sided, and this had nothing to do with Ran Lin’s actions but rather the trouble caused by his small fan base. What could have been a two-way fight ended up being a collective condemnation. The little support for Ran Lin was completely drowned out, and with his history of controversial news and buying hot searches, his team’s silence now proves that they know it wasn’t wise to confront directly, but to outsmart. Therefore, the other four must not jump out at this time, or they would become easy targets—more exciting than an 18^th-tier celebrity without a fan base standing up for Ran Lin.

If they did, it wouldn’t just be a battle between fans of the show, neutral viewers, and fans of the celebrities. Teams from competing shows and stars vying for the same image and resources would also join in, both openly and secretly, hoping to strike down their competitors and benefit themselves in the chaos.

However, as clever as these star teams may be, they are still human. They can’t perfect every detail or foresee every future. Sometimes they even struggle to control their own stars and have to clean up after their impulsive actions.

Wang Xi picked just such a detail, contacting the most suitable person.

“What do you want us to do? Can you tell us again?”

Yao Hong was in the airport lounge with Lu Yiyao, waiting to board their flight, when she received the call from her “former colleague”.

Lu Yiyao’s schedule for the year was almost non-stop. Like today, right after a magazine shoot, they had to rush to the airport for a flight to Hangzhou. Tomorrow morning, there was a fan meeting there, and in the afternoon, they had to fly back to Beijing immediately for a dinner party hosted by a well-known director. These kinds of dinners often last till late at night, so as soon as it ends, they would have to rush to the airport for the earliest flight to Shanghai to start recording the fourth episode of <National First Love Drifting Story>.

If you were to ask where Lu Yiyao spends most of his time throughout the year, apart from hotels, it would be airports.

Initially, Lu Yiyao didn’t pay much attention to Yao Hong’s call, but when she looked at him and then moved to a more secluded spot to continue the conversation, it became intriguing.

“I’m saying, the fourth episode is being recorded the day after tomorrow, so everyone can jointly post a promotional Weibo tomorrow. After all, the negative reception of the show doesn’t benefit your Lu Yiyao either. Even if the relationship between the guests isn’t great, it’s better to appear harmonious on the surface.” Wang Xi, uncharacteristically devoid of her usual sharpness, spoke with all the respect of a junior to a senior.

Yao Hong had always thought that if Wang Xi had been this adaptable back in their days at Pentium, perhaps it would have been her who left. Yao Hong was a year older than Wang Xi but entered the industry much earlier. So, when both were at Pentium, Wang Xi was dead set on ousting her to become the top agent. However, due to her abrasive personality and conflicts with the higher-ups, Wang Xi eventually left.

Yao Hong didn’t like Wang Xi’s personality but always acknowledged her capabilities.

“I know your Ran Lin is getting heavily criticized, but having Lu Yiyao attract attention now isn’t very fair.” Yao Hong would have politely refused and then hung up if it were anyone else, but because it was Wang Xi, she felt the need to listen more.

Wang Xi seemed to anticipate Yao Hong wouldn’t hang up and continued in a calm, progressive manner. “I don’t need Lu Yiyao to stand up for Ran Lin, but as a guest on the show, promoting it is certainly not illegal, right?”

Yao Hong: “What do you want him to promote?”

Wang Xi: “The recording is on the 17^th, so everyone will be heading to Shanghai tomorrow night, the 16^th. At that time, post a Weibo with the topic of <National First Love Drifting Story>, something like ‘starting our fourth journey’, and tag the other four guests and the show’s team. How about that?”

Yao Hong: “Flawless.”

Wang Xi: “You understand best, Hong Jie.”

Yao Hong rolled her eyes, unsure whether to be angry or to laugh, but kept her emotions to herself. Returning to business, she said, “It’s indeed harmless to post such a Weibo, but if Lu Yiyao doesn’t post, it seems it wouldn’t make much of a difference. At such times, doing less is better than doing more.”

Wang Xi had anticipated this response. She would have had the same considerations, but Yao Hong was too conservative. Conservatism meant stability, but too much stability meant no surprises. “Have you considered that if Ran Lin’s reputation improves in future episodes, or even just gets a bit better, people will criticize your silence now, disappointing both fans and neutrals?”

“They’re already disappointed with the show.”

“But then, they’ll be disappointed with the silent guests themselves. Lu Yiyao doesn’t need a reality show; ratings don’t matter to him, but if his image collapses, how will you salvage it?”

Yao Hong paused before asking, “Do you really have that much confidence in Ran Lin’s turnaround?”

Wang Xi knew Yao Hong was seriously considering her suggestion. She just needed to reassure her. “I can’t guarantee Ran Lin’s turnaround, but as you said, posting or not posting the Weibo doesn’t affect Lu Yiyao. So why not add an extra layer of insurance to his image?”

Yao Hong pondered even longer this time. Wang Xi had patience and would wait in silence.

After a while, Yao Hong finally spoke again, not directly responding but half-jokingly, half-seriously saying, “Somehow I feel that if we stay silent and Ran Lin’s reputation improves, you’ll lead the charge to tear down people’s images…”

Wang Xi was taken aback, surprised at the misinterpretation. “I absolutely don’t mean that. You’re more experienced than me. I can’t play games with you. I genuinely want a win-win for both sides…”

“No need for a win-win. Separate wins are fine,” Yao Hong subtly reminded her. Since Wang Xi hadn’t tied Lu Yiyao to controversies recently, she left it at that. “But it’s ultimately Lu Yiyao’s Weibo. What he posts is up to him. I’ll explain the pros and cons to him. Thanks for your reminder.”

“Wait before hanging up.” Wang Xi sensed the conversation ending and seized the last chance. “Let me add one more thing…”

Yao Hong leisurely said, “Yes, go on.”

Wang Xi: “The other three teams are definitely watching too. They’re afraid of getting burned, but they also don’t want the show to flop. So, if someone takes the lead, I think they’ll be willing to follow. Creating a united atmosphere and image benefits both the show and the guests.”

Yao Hong became curious. “Then why don’t you approach the other agents? If they take the lead, Lu Yiyao will follow.”

Wang Xi immediately responded, “They don’t have your breadth of experience and insight.”

Yao Hong rubbed her temples, feeling overwhelmed. “Are you trying to make up for all the compliments you owe me from the past…”

In the end, Yao Hong didn’t commit to posting the Weibo. Wang Xi hung up, her smile fading to a more tired and serious expression. She wasn’t sure if Yao Hong would convince Lu Yiyao to post. Despite her confident words on the phone, if one thought about it, the situation wasn’t as straightforward as she made it seem.

If Ran Lin truly turned his reputation around, the four who neither supported nor criticized him would be called out, but it wouldn’t be a character-breaking level of criticism. In the end, Ran Lin’s influence and status weren’t enough.

Her bet was on Yao Hong, a classic “mother hen” agent who was extremely protective of her artist.

“Ran Lin’s agent called.” Returning to the sofa, Yao Hong shared the answer with Lu Yiyao before he could ask.

Lu Yiyao was inwardly surprised, with a mix of other subtle emotions passing quickly—too fast to distinguish between anticipation and curiosity—but he remained cool on the surface. “Does she need something from you?”

“Not from me, but from you.”

Yao Hong took the lid of the thermos cup on the coffee table—filled with water after passing security, now lukewarm—drank it steadily, capped it again, put the thermos back in her bag, and then relayed Wang Xi’s call to Lu Yiyao.

For the first time, Lu Yiyao discovered that Yao Hong’s methodical nature could be quite grinding. What frustrated him more was that he couldn’t show his impatience. No, he didn’t even know why he was impatient. Was it just because he wanted to see if Ran Lin’s reaction matched the miserable scenario he had imagined all day?

“Just… like that?” After listening to Yao Hong’s account, Lu Yiyao realized that there was no news about Ran Lin from beginning to end, only an exchange of experiences and strategic considerations between the management teams.

Yao Hong detected a hint of disappointment in her artist’s tone but couldn’t understand why. “What else did you think she would say?”

“Oh, no.” Lu Yiyao quickly regained his composure, correcting himself. “I mean, they just want me to post such a Weibo?”

Yao Hong, somewhat exasperated, wondered why her artist suddenly seemed naïve. “Asking you to post is already quite presumptuous, let alone if the content is risky. Who would listen to her?”

Lu Yiyao nodded, asking, “What do you think, Hong Jie?”

Yao Hong sighed, analyzing sensibly. “Right now, Ran Lin is being criticized so harshly that if he has any standout moments in the show, his reputation could easily rebound. A turnaround isn’t impossible.”

Lu Yiyao: “So, should I still post this Weibo?”

Yao Hong pondered for a moment, then shook her head slightly. “It’s not absolute. Ran Lin’s side definitely hopes you post as soon as possible, hence the timing before the night of the 17^th‘s recording. But the second episode airs on the 21^st, and we’ll definitely have to cooperate with the show’s team for promotion before that. Posting then and tagging everyone isn’t too late.”

“But it would be late for Ran Lin.” Lu Yiyao understood the situation after Yao Hong’s explanation.

“Yes.” Yao Hong knew Lu Yiyao got it. “A week without interaction is enough to pin him with an unpopular label. It’ll be hard to restore credibility later.”

“So,” Yao Hong left the decision to her artist, “it’s up to you what to do.”

……

On the evening of February 16^th, exactly forty-five hours after the first episode’s premiere, Lu Yiyao updated his Weibo—

[Shanghai, I’m here! #NationalFirstLoveDriftingStory @XXSatelliteTV @Gu Jie @Ran Lin @Xia Xinran @Zhang Beichen]

The Weibo post was short, with a photo of Lu Yiyao’s tall figure under the Oriental Pearl Tower taken six months ago.

Before fans and onlookers could react, Zhang Beichen’s Weibo followed up twenty minutes later—

[I arrived early 😝//@Lu Yiyao: Shanghai, I’m here! #NationalFirstLoveDriftRecord @XXSatelliteTV @Gu Jie @Ran Lin @Xia Xinran @Zhang Beichen]

At 8 p.m., Xia Xinran’s Weibo belatedly chimed in—

[I strongly demand a visit to Disneyland 🤪 🤪 🤪 #NationalFirstLoveDriftRecord @XXSatelliteTV @Gu Jie @Lu Yiyao @Ran Lin @Zhang Beichen]

The accompanying photo showed Mickey and Minnie Mouse holding hands and spinning around.

At 8:14 p.m., it was Gu Jie’s turn—

[Every drift makes the biceps on my arms brighter 😎 #NationalFirstLoveDriftRecord @XXSatelliteTV @Lu Yiyao @Ran Lin @Xia Xinran @Zhang Beichen]

The photo was a close-up of Gu Jie rock climbing from the first episode.

At 8:19 PM, it was Ran Lin—

[I have a secret strategy 🐶 #NationalFirstLoveDriftRecord @XXSatelliteTV @Gu Jie @Lu Yiyao @Xia Xinran @Zhang Beichen]

The picture captured the trust fall from the first episode, with Ran Lin falling backwards from a height into the arms of his fellow participants.

At 8:32 PM, Zhang Beichen again—

[Running with the waves~ #NationalFirstLoveDriftingStory @XXSatelliteTV @Gu Jie @Lu Yiyao @Ran Lin @Xia Xinran]

The accompanying photo was of Shanghai’s Bund.

—At this point, the formation* was complete.

*Clarity: In terms of social media, this is a slang term referring to the coordinated or collective action of a group of people, especially in terms of posting online, commenting, or responding on social media.

No matter the reception of a show or the internal relationships, maintaining a united and friendly front is essential. Many onlookers and casual viewers aren’t solely looking for negativity; it’s just that negative content more easily prompts them to comment. As soon as a bit of positivity is released, regardless of its authenticity, they’re willing to buy into it.

However, fans, with their discerning eyes, see through all these promotional tactics, refusing to be fooled! Thus, objective analysts continue to analyze, front-liners continue their assault, and of course, there are the peaceful fans who focus on adoring their idols for a hundred years.

In the entertainment industry, every word and action can start a trend and influence public opinion, good or bad. Like throwing a stone into a river, it starts with a “plop”, but gradually, ripples spread out.

But these effects require time to ferment. And Ran Lin was still oblivious to all this.

Half an hour before Zhang Beichen posted his final formation Weibo—at 8 p.m., Xia Xinran was still editing his Weibo, and Wang Xi had just returned from visiting Han Ze’s set, pulling out her phone, which had been neglected all afternoon and evening.

“…Since we decided to post, couldn’t you remind me so I wouldn’t die?” Seeing the timing of Lu Yiyao’s post, Wang Xi was beyond exasperated. Sure enough, she and Yao Hong would never see eye-to-eye.

But Lu Yiyao’s Weibo tagging was impressively meticulous, arranged alphabetically by surname, showing incredible attention to detail.

After going through Lu Yiyao’s Weibo, Wang Xi checked the other three guests’ accounts. Except for Zhang Beichen, there was no activity from the others. Zhang Beichen’s interaction wasn’t what she wanted. Such one-on-one interactions were meaningless for Ran Lin unless he was the one being tagged, but obviously, the reply was to Lu Yiyao.

Frustrated, Wang Xi saw Xia Xinran’s Weibo pop up on her homepage.

Seeing that formation, she almost wanted to kiss Xia Xinran through the screen. That’s why not just any genuine personality can thrive like Xia Xinran. You see him being carefree, but you buy into his freedom; that’s not just compatibility; it’s his intelligence, with a bit of natural audience appeal.

With Xia Xinran’s assist in queuing, the rest became easier.

Wang Xi immediately called Ran Lin.

After a long ring, the call was finally answered. The voice, though not particularly energetic, wasn’t as downcast as imagined. “Xi Jie?”

Wang Xi felt slightly relieved and returned to her usual assertive tone. “Why did you take so long to answer?”

Ran Lin said, “I was studying strategies.”

Wang Xi frowned. “What?”

“Uh, the Disneyland map, and some strategies written by people who’ve been there. Just in case it comes in handy…”

Wang Xi laughed. “Looks like you’re really gearing up for a fight, all spirited.”

The other end finally laughed. “All forced by the show’s team.”

“Alright, back to business.” Wang Xi became serious. “No matter what you’re doing now, put it down and immediately post a Weibo. The format should be…”

“Promotion?”

Wang Xi frowned; it was rare for Ran Lin to interrupt someone while they were speaking. “Yes, why? Don’t you want to post?”

“No.” There was a moment’s hesitation on the other end. “I’ve already uninstalled Weibo. If it’s for promotion, could you post it for me?”

Wang Xi was taken aback by the unexpected answer. After a two-second pause, she said, “It’s not just for promotion…”

The context was a bit complex, and Wang Xi didn’t know where to start explaining, especially since she wasn’t fond of giving explanations.

“It’s okay, Xi Jie, you handle it. I… want to take a break from Weibo for a while.”

“Alright then.”

Wang Xi didn’t know what else to say. Compared to explaining, she was more amateurish at persuading.

After hanging up, Wang Xi was about to ask the publicity team to work overtime but hesitated before dialing. In the end, she decided to log into Ran Lin’s Weibo herself and post the formation.

Within the next fifteen minutes, Zhang Beichen finally caught up, completing the formation.

Wang Xi, who had been staring at her phone for a long while, finally felt accomplished.

“Learn a bit from Xia Xinran.” Pointing at Zhang Beichen’s avatar, Wang Xi muttered to herself, giving him a lesson in absentia.

At the same time, Lu Yiyao, sneaking a break from the increasingly lively dinner party under the pretense of visiting the restroom, was hiding in the washroom, browsing Weibo.

He didn’t know why, but ever since posting that “Shanghai, I’m here,” he kept wanting to open Weibo every so often.

Finally, his homepage showed the activity he was looking for.

“Secret strategy…” Lu Yiyao stared at Ran Lin’s avatar in the white shirt, falling into a murmuring contemplation. “Did the show team give him spoilers?”

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