Author: 颜凉雨 / Yan Liang Yu

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

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Chapter 18

The long-awaited variety show’s premiere was far less exciting than expected, disappointing everyone, including casual viewers, casual fans, and dedicated fans.

Casual viewers usually turn their disappointment into criticism or simply switch to other shows without bothering to comment.

Passersby fans will first go to the program team to make a rational comment on their viewing experience and propose feasible improvement suggestions. Then they will visit the Weibo pages of various guest stars. If they like someone’s performance, they might leave a couple of comments or even become fans of that star. If they think a star needs improvement, they’ll just think about it without typing anything, as it’s someone else’s territory. If they provoke first, they might get torn apart by true fans and have nowhere to seek justice.

The busiest ones are the true fans.

They need to first go to their idol’s page to leave comments and share their viewing experience, mostly positive ones. Occasionally, they might offer suggestions, but always with full love, hoping their idol will perform even better. Then, they’ll go to other guests’ pages whom they like to express their goodwill, such as thanking them for taking care of their idol. Finally, they discreetly observe the guests they don’t like, restraining their urge to criticize and quarrel while closely watching certain unruly fans. If they see someone insulting others, they’ll immediately intervene to smooth things over and apologize to prevent such fans from ruining their idol’s reputation with their behavior.

Initially, everything went as usual. Even an 18^th-tier celebrity like Ran Lin gained new fans after the live broadcast.

But when did the situation suddenly change?

If there was a pinpoint, it might be the production team and CP fans’ responsibility.

Firstly, the production team added romantic subtitles and background music to Ran Lin and Lu Yiyao’s interactions, forcefully creating a “shipping” narrative. Secondly, CP fans couldn’t contain their fantasies and started appearing in the celebrities’ social media comments.

The program team’s initial intention was very simple—to create any hype they could, to win over casual fans. Many might not be fans of any of the five people and were just watching the show. However, they could end up being charmed into becoming fans of a CP. Some might have become fans of the pairing during the airport mishap publicity, and the program team’s later editing was undoubtedly like giving them sweets.

The starting point of CP Fans is mostly well-intentioned; they actually know in their hearts that there’s no possibility for these two people, but just simply feel that the two of them together are pleasing to the eye and extremely cute, so cute that they can’t help but run to tell the real people that the sweetness is just too delicious.

The attitudes of the stars themselves towards this matter vary.

But unless a star publicly announces a romantic relationship, the true fans will only have one attitude towards CP fans—please leave gracefully.

Fans will still tear each other apart, even if some stars have already announced a relationship.

Not to mention that this time the program team was hyping up a male-male CP.

Selling this kind of rot*, even if it’s cute for a while, will eventually make fans sick if it’s constantly done.

*Selling rot. It’s coined this due to the term “Rotten Girls” in China referring to basically, a fujoshi—a subculture of young women who are enthusiasts of male-male romance and relationships, often depicted in manga, anime, or fanfiction. This interest is primarily in the realm of fiction and does not necessarily relate to real-life sexual preferences or orientations. So when someone sells rot, it’s basically pandering to these women.

Especially before participating in the variety show, Ran Lin’s airport mishap and subsequent publicity had already left the fans frustrated, and now the disappointment brought by the blandness of the program + the annoyance brought by the fans of the couple pairing + Ran Lin’s own pitfalls in the program, had all brewed into a “black storm”.

The main force of the storm was naturally the fans of Lu Yiyao.

Accompanying them were the onlookers and casual fans who were led by the rhythm.

Casual fans need to find a point to criticize for the disappointment brought by the blandness of the program, while onlookers just enjoy the chaos and join in the fray.

True fans are indeed deeply invested; from spraying at the airport mishap to spending money on trending searches, from bundling Lu Yiyao for publicity to spraying to pushing their way into the variety show team, they have not let go of any pitfalls, every word brimming with righteous indignation.

Was there any deep hatred?

No.

But shouldn’t Ran Lin be criticized?

At least those keyboard-tapping fans and casual viewers all thought so.

Since you hyped up a CP and enjoyed the benefits brought by others, you should have anticipated the day of backlash.

If you want to complain, then go find the CP fans, find your publicity team, or reflect on yourself in the mirror. Fans’ behavior, idols pay the price, main character publicity, crimes compounded.

The widespread ridicule originated from the first episode’s blandness, but by the time Lu Yiyao was scrolling through Weibo in the early morning, no one cared about the origin anymore. A netizen shouting “XXX please leave the entertainment industry” might not have even watched that person’s works, let alone understood their character, but after watching a few spoof videos, spoof photos, or unverified so-called revelations, they rolled up their sleeves and eagerly joined the fray.

If the other party happens to be a small-time celebrity with a small fan base and no power to fight back, then this is definitely a diss carnival without responsibility.

“Don’t make a sound,” Yao Hong opened her eyes at some point and said out of nowhere.

Lu Yiyao didn’t understand. “What?”

Yao Hong sighed lightly and said, “It’s a critical moment now. Don’t talk too much, don’t do too much. It doesn’t matter if this variety show isn’t popular or explosive, but don’t actively attract negativity to yourself.”

Lu Yiyao looked at Yao Hong for a while and suddenly laughed. “Hong Jie, you’re thinking too much. I’m just scrolling through Weibo.”

Yao Hong looked him up and down, half-jokingly and half-seriously said, “I see your sense of justice is about to break through the ceiling.”

Lu Yiyao was embarrassed and said helplessly, “It’s instinct. I was born with a strong sense of justice. It’s not my fault.”

Seeing Yao Hong was about to speak, Lu Yiyao quickly raised his hand and promised, “But what should be done and what shouldn’t be done, I know.”

Yao Hong looked at him suspiciously for a while, then nodded and let go of her worries.

Lu Yiyao turned off his phone, leaned back on the sofa, and began to try to clear his mind of the messy Weibo comments, @mentions, and reposts…

The other cover star finally arrived leisurely within half an hour.

He arrived so quickly that Lu Yiyao’s mind-clearing work wasn’t yet completely finished when it was forced to stop.

Lu Yiyao handed his phone to Yao Hong for safekeeping, then got up and went to the next makeup room to exchange pleasantries with the other party.

The male star had a somewhat arrogant attitude, but in front of Lu Yiyao, he didn’t dare to go too far.

Lu Yiyao felt completely calm inside. He even thought that, compared to the abuses still cluttering his mind, the male star in front of him seemed innocently adorable.

Most of those comment IDs were his die-hard fans, the kind that loved him truly and deeply.

They lifted him up to the clouds and trampled Ran Lin into the mud.

Yao Hong worrying about him doing something unnecessary was really overthinking it.

He never felt that he could teach his fans how to behave. Everyone is an independent individual, born equal. If you like me, I thank you; if you don’t, I wish you well.

He doesn’t lead the rhythm. If he really did, Ran Lin would have been obliterated long ago.

However, observing indifferently before recording the variety show, he felt a bit thrilled seeing fans confronting Ran Lin; but now, seeing the same thing, that thrill turned into suffocation.

A suffocating feeling stuck in his chest, making him feel uncomfortable all over.

This wasn’t just because Ran Lin was being criticized too harshly, but also because the latter had moved from a “stranger” to a “familiar” position in his life, from a hollow name and a strange face to a “companion” with whom he had shared experiences, even if it was just in the program. This made him involuntarily imagine Ran Lin’s reactions when he saw those malicious comments.

And once he started imagining, he couldn’t stop. In the end, it was always a young face, smiling while tears dripped down. Both the smile and tears were silent, making the onlooker inexplicably suffocated.

Dream Without Limits, Wang Xi’s office.

“What do you want to eat?”

“Hm?”

“I’m asking what you want to eat—”

“Oh.” Ran Lin lifted his head, finally moving his gaze from the phone screen to Wang Xi’s face. “Anything’s fine.”

Wang Xi, speechless, glanced at Liu Wanwan. “Did you hear? Buy whatever you feel like.”

Liu Wanwan, as if granted amnesty, swiftly left to buy breakfast. Staying another minute in the office would be suffocating for her.

Ran Lin mustered his energy, trying to sit up straight, posing as if ready to listen to a lecture. But after waiting and waiting, Wang Xi still didn’t start speaking.

“Aren’t you… going to scold me?” Ran Lin wasn’t blindly optimistic; it was just that since arriving at Dream Without Limits this morning and seeing Wang Xi, this lady had been calm and collected, unlike her fiery state on the phone last night.

Wang Xi didn’t respond immediately, just quietly looking at him with a complex gaze, encompassing sympathy, distress, anger, and frustration.

“No scolding.” Wang Xi casually lit a cigarette, took a drag, and blew out a ring of smoke. “If no one tells you off, I’ll be the one to wake you up. Now that so many fans are teaching you a lesson, I can’t think of anything new to say.”

Through the smoke, Ran Lin looked at his manager with difficulty. “I’m fine. You don’t have to worry about me. I saw all those comments this morning. I can handle it. Don’t take it to heart…”

Wang Xi was just brushing her hair when she heard this and paused. “Are you advising me?”

Ran Lin pointed to the slender lady’s cigarette in her hand, half concerned and half guilty. “Otherwise, you’re resorting to smoking to relieve stress.”

Wang Xi’s expression was as if she heard the joke of the century. She paused, then couldn’t help but ruffle Ran Lin’s hair. “Are you clever or foolish? Sometimes you’re incredibly sharp, other times, utterly stupid.”

Ran Lin blushed, realizing he was being presumptuous.

Wang Xi never smokes. Her sudden smoking must mean something serious. If not him, then could it be… Han Ze?

“Alright.” Wang Xi threw the half-smoked cigarette into a disposable cup and seriously instructed, “From now on, don’t post on Weibo, don’t reply, don’t make a sound. Leave everything to me.”

Ran Lin unconsciously leaned back in his chair. “What are you planning to do?”

“What’s there to fear? I can’t exactly use a nuclear bomb to flatten Weibo.” Wang Xi glanced at him, then sighed. “I’ll try to shift the fans’ attention, at least until the second episode airs. Tsk, Lu Yiyao has never had a fight with anyone since his debut, and his fans have been holding back for years. Now, it’s all contributed to you.”

Ran Lin felt embarrassed. According to Wang Xi, he might as well not bother seeing tomorrow’s sun.

Wang Xi stood up and opened the window a bit, just wide enough for a hand.

The nicotine-laden smoke hadn’t dispersed yet, but the cold wind rushed in first, howling in.

“Aren’t you cold?” Wang Xi asked casually, already sitting back down.

“I’m fine.” Ran Lin shook his head and, after a while, added, “You’re facing the window. Don’t stay in the draft too long.”

Wang Xi didn’t speak. She just looked at him sideways for a while, then suddenly said reflectively, “Whoever becomes your wife in the future is in for a treat.”

Ran Lin was startled, guiltily, and yet pretentiously looked at Wang Xi, realizing she didn’t mean anything by it. It was just a joke.

Lowering his eyes in thought for a moment, Ran Lin playfully raised his eyebrows and leaned in to ask, “So, can I date now?”

Wang Xi deadpanned. “Just try and see.”

Ran Lin grinned, showing his first genuine smile since getting up this morning.

Liu Wanwan’s delivery speed was incredibly fast, returning in the blink of an eye with hot buns and soy milk.

Wang Xi glanced at the breakfast with slight disdain. “Can’t you change it up?”

Liu Wanwan, confused, glanced at Ran Lin, who had already taken the plastic bag, and earnestly said to Wang Xi, “I’m a very loyal person.”

Wang Xi rolled her eyes at her but didn’t get angry.

She noticed that once Ran Lin got familiar with someone, those little edges and mischief in his personality would slowly emerge. He might not be aware of it, but those who interact with him could clearly feel it.

However, these traits didn’t make him annoying. Instead, they made him more real and interesting.

Wang Xi’s phone on the table vibrated briefly. She checked it and then told Ran Lin, “Finish eating and go rest. Don’t browse Weibo these next few days and prepare well for the fourth episode. If we can’t turn public opinion around after eight episodes… Well, don’t think about that for now.”

“…” Ran Lin’s mood was complicated.

He hadn’t thought so far ahead, but Wang Xi’s reminder made him lose control of himself.

“Ah, right, Xi Jie.” Ran Lin, already holding the buns at the door, turned back and said uncertainly, “You said earlier you would try to lead other rhythms. What exactly does that mean…”

Wang Xi raised her eyebrows. “What, you want to teach me public relations?”

“How dare I.” Ran Lin gave a bitter smile but still expressed his concern directly. “I just want to know if these rhythms… won’t involve other people, right?”

“What, you’re afraid I’ll blacken others to save you?”

“After all, it’s the quickest way.”

“Then make a list.” Wang Xi pulled a sheet of white paper from the color printer on the table and slapped it down, looking up at him. “I won’t touch anyone on the list.”

Ran Lin unconsciously gripped the door handle, his body pressing against the doorway. “Xi Jie, you really have the aura of a mafia boss’ wife right now… the younger sister kind.”

“…You could be even more awkward.” Wang Xi resisted the urge to throw the paper at him, pondered for a moment, and relented, “Alright, don’t worry. I won’t shift the focus onto others.”

Ran Lin finally relaxed, about to open the door to leave, but then heard Wang Xi add from behind, “But don’t really think that just because you’re filming a show, everyone is your friend. Always be cautious.”

“Mm,” Ran Lin responded softly.

On his way home, Ran Lin received a WeChat message from Xia Xinran. Despite there being a group chat, he sent a private voice message. Without any preamble, as natural as if they were old friends, he said, “You’re attracting too much hate…”

Ran Lin replied with a voice message too. “It’s a special talent.”

As soon as his message was sent, a reply came back; obviously, the other side was on his phone. “Don’t overthink it. That’s how netizens are. They hate you to the skies but love you deeply when they like you.”

Ran Lin: “Yeah, I know. Thanks, ha.”

Xia Xinran: “Don’t. I can’t post on Weibo to support you now since you’re so controversial right now. If I take a stand, it’s like washing away my fans. My agent would kill me. So I can only offer fake comfort like this. If you thank me again, I’ll take it as you’re being sarcastic and blaming me.”

Ran Lin had reached his front door, listening to Xia Xinran’s latest voice message while unlocking the door, only to be amused by his frank “I can’t support you,” he nearly misinserted the key.

Finally entering the hallway, Ran Lin pressed his phone to reply. “Since you can’t support me on Weibo, how about a kiss on WeChat to soothe my wounds?”

Ran Lin just wanted to tease Xia Xinran, who was good-looking and loved to show off.

He even imagined Xia Xinran with black lines on his face and sarcastic reaction.

But the immediate reply wasn’t sarcastic or angry, but instead full of incredible shock. He was sincerely startled. “Damn, don’t scare me. You’re not gay too, are you?”

Ran Lin froze in the hallway, unable to decide whether to deny his sexual orientation first or ask about the “too” in the sentence.

While he hesitated, Xia Xinran actually withdrew the latest voice message.

Ran Lin was dumbfounded, caught in a whirlwind of whether to admit he had heard it or pretend he hadn’t.

Soon, a new voice message arrived. “Just to clarify, I don’t discriminate against gays, but I’m not one. I like girls, preferably the loli body with a mature heart type, hehe.”

Ran Lin sighed, naturally skipping over the sensitive topic. “Such a sleazy laugh doesn’t suit you.”

Ambiguous attitudes can be interpreted in many ways. Ran Lin didn’t know what Xia Xinran thought, but the final message he sent was unrelated. It was about Lu Yiyao. “I observed closely. The wave of hate against you wasn’t led by Lu Yiyao. It’s probably the backlash from your previous CP hype. Of course, that’s just my opinion. Anyway, he must be more careful than me right now, even less likely to speak up for you, so don’t rush to contact him or post on Weibo tagging him.”

Ran Lin wanted to cry. “How stupid do you think I am?”

Xia Xinran confidently responded, “Who knows, maybe your team will give you bad advice.”

If one day Wang Xi and Xia Xinran meet, Ran Lin thought, they might tear each other apart.

Xia Xinran had an appointment to keep, so after a few words, he disappeared.

But it was enough.

His heart was warmed by the buns and soy milk, and now by people.

Ran Lin reopened Weibo and entered the “Chen Sheng and Wu Guang” group, where there were only three messages: one was a shared birthday party photo from Xia Xinran on the day of the third episode filming, and the other two were messages from him and Lu Yiyao saying “Received.”

Lu Yiyao’s avatar was himself, but unlike his current short hair, the avatar featured long flowing hair with slight curls, a distant gaze, and some stubbles, like a street artist.

Lu Yiyao had never taken this style since his debut. The photo must have been taken during his studies in England, but the style was too mature, showing no trace of a student.

Actually, without Xia Xinran saying so, he knew Lu Yiyao couldn’t publicly voice support.

In fact, Lu Yiyao’s “Forget it” had already made him overjoyed.

But that’s how people are: once they have something, they become greedier and less satisfied.

Like now, he really hoped Lu Yiyao would message him on WeChat, even just to ask, “What are you doing?”

However, Lu Yiyao had no obligation to do so, and there wasn’t much friendship between them.

So Ran Lin just daydreamed for a while, then despised himself for being presumptuous.

All morning, Ran Lin watched the news channel, trying to distract himself with domestic and international affairs, and it worked well. He ordered a Hawaiian pizza for lunch, which was sour and sweet, extremely appetizing.

This continued into the afternoon, with the rolling news no longer having any novelty. Accidentally switching to XX Satellite TV, he just happened to catch the preview of the second episode.

The preview was only over fifty seconds long, but even that was fate for Ran Lin.

He didn’t want to fight against fate anymore, and avoiding it was never his style.

What’s the big deal about being mocked and ridiculed? Once he read it, it was over. The more he avoided it, the more he thought about it—that was what truly tormented him.

Turning off the TV, Ran Lin decisively, like defusing a bomb, picked up his phone, unlocked it with his fingerprint, and opened Weibo. All his movements were careful and cautious.

There were many new comments, but nothing new in content.

The top comments still prominently displayed the seven deadly sins. Looking at that screenshot, Ran Lin actually felt a sense of relief.

Nothing new had emerged, and the scolding was the same old routine. After seeing them for a while, he had become numb.

Following the rule of public opinion fermentation, his Weibo comments would be a battlefield for the next few days. Once he accepted this reality, it didn’t seem too hard to bear.

He wondered if the second episode could bring back some favor.

A complete turnaround was unlikely, but it might improve things a bit. After all, he was more natural in the second episode than in the first…

Lost in his messy thoughts, Ran Lin suddenly found himself holding a bright red apple.

He was startled, unable to recall the memory of washing the apple. He was sitting on the sofa, staring at the wet apple, feeling like he had just woken up from sleepwalking.

His phone suddenly started singing.

The young man under the sun~~ Has your dream come true…

That was him when he just debuted—his first time in the recording studio. According to the sound engineer, he hadn’t sung out any sorrow or melancholy, but rather a lot of bright aspirations.

Expecting it to be Wang Xi, but seeing the caller ID, Ran Lin froze. He didn’t know how much time had passed until the word ‘Mom’ turned into 1 missed call before he hurriedly called back.

“What are you doing? Why didn’t you answer the phone?” The other end was noisy, but his mother’s voice stood out clearly.

Ran Lin quickly cleared his throat, making his voice sound energetic. “I’m at the company. I was in the bathroom just now and didn’t hear it.”

“Oh.” His mom didn’t doubt him and excitedly moved to the main topic. “Your dad and I saw you on TV, you little brat. Why didn’t you tell us about the show? If it wasn’t for Uncle Zhao, we wouldn’t have known at all! How can it be that my son is on TV, and others have to tell me?”

That’s how his mother was—never caring about him, she had to speak her mind first.

Ran Lin smiled, waiting for his mom to finish before saying. “I was wrong, I’ll definitely inform you and dad in advance next time, okay?”

“Too late!” Mom sniffed. “They’ve already announced it on TV, next week, same time. You don’t need to tell me!”

Ran Lin laughed. “Yeah, yeah, you know everything. You’re so amazing.”

“Son.” His mom suddenly changed the topic, her voice no longer exuberant. “Why do you look thinner on TV? Haven’t you been eating well lately? Don’t go on diets like those female stars. You’re fine as you are—you’re the most handsome… er, one of the most handsome ones there!”

“Mom—” Ran Lin surrendered. “Can’t you just compliment me sincerely for once?”

“I don’t want you to slack off. Look at all the pretty people on TV. Why is this one the main character and that one a supporting role? The effort behind it all is different.”

“Yeah, yeah.”

“Don’t just ‘yeah’. Take it to heart.”

“I know…”

“Do you have enough money?” His mom’s topic jumped unpredictably.

Ran Lin held his forehead. “You’ve seen me on TV, what do you think? Wait for your son to earn big money.”

“You’ve been saying that for two years.”

“…”

Typical mom.

“Ah right, your dad’s old phone broke. He finally agreed to get a smartphone. Someone told him something about being able to find you online, see what you’re doing every day. I said it was WeChat, but your dad didn’t believe me. What else could it be…”

His mom learned WeChat when Ran Lin taught her during the New Year, but apart from WeChat, that smartphone hadn’t been used for anything else.

Ran Lin wanted to teach her to use Weibo the next time he went home, but now his dad had been prematurely informed by someone else, he didn’t dare to do so.

“It’s WeChat.” Ran Lin took a deep breath, suppressing the warmth in his eyes.

“I knew it… Wait until he comes back…”

“Dad went out?”

“Yeah, Uncle Zhao called him out for a drink again, in broad daylight. Luckily, the store isn’t busy today. Imagine if it gets busy, how I’d deal with him.”

Ran Lin wanted to say, “If it’s too tiring, don’t do it,” but he didn’t have the confidence to say that.

This reality show was almost a giveaway for the company, with low payment and the agency taking seventy percent. What he got wasn’t much, and he hadn’t had any work for a long time. His own life was tight, let alone taking care of his parents.

“Why aren’t you speaking?” His mom, quick and impatient, immediately asked when she didn’t hear her son’s voice.

Ran Lin sniffed and said, “I want to eat buns.”

His mom thought something was wrong. “Then buy some. Doesn’t Beijing have bun shops?”

“I want the ones from our store.” Ran Lin rarely acted like a child, his voice unconsciously carrying a hint of his hometown accent.

His mom laughed heartily. “Wait till you come back for the New Year. You can sit in the back kitchen of our bun shop and eat them as they come out of the oven. I’ll stuff you!”

Ran Lin laughed out loud, suddenly feeling his face wet. He hurriedly found an excuse to hang up the phone.

Lost, he glanced at the apple in his hand and quickly took a big bite.

Yeah, he’s fine; he can hold on. He’s optimistic. The next shoot would be in Shanghai. He was willing to bet his orientation they would be spending it at Disney…

Ugh, this apple isn’t good—both salty and astringent.

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

Author: 颜凉雨 / Yan Liang Yu

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

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Chapter 17

Half an hour in advance, Ran Lin turned on the TV to XX Satellite TV and was grateful that the company, while providing wireless internet, had also kept the set-top box in this dormitory.

Ten minutes before the program aired, Wang Xi called to remind him to watch, saying she would also be watching on her end, ready to communicate by phone at any moment.

Already nervous, Ran Lin found that this call from Wang Xi only added to his restlessness, prompting him to get up for a glass of water to calm down a bit.

He had barely resettled on the sofa when the program started on time.

“…It’s said that Guilin’s landscape tops the world. In the next two days, this will be the main battlefield for <National First Love Drifting Story>. But let’s go back to the night before and see how our male gods prepared…”

Ran Lin had imagined many final versions of the program but still found himself surprised by the post-production team’s magical transformation.

For instance, the opening scene where he knocked on Lu Yiyao’s hotel room only to be told by the assistant that Lu Yiyao was already asleep, which had been awkward for him on the spot, was now amusing with playful subtitles and a cartoon image of Lu Yiyao sound asleep, lessening the embarrassment.

The leisurely river, the elegant mountains, the magnificent caves… The two days of filming were condensed into a ninety-minute episode, picking up pace suddenly. The dry segments in his memory were now much smoother.

The screen time was fairly divided among the five, with Lu Yiyao and Xia Xinran getting slightly more. The former for his popularity, and the latter for his interesting points. At first, Ran Lin was as embarrassed as his on-screen persona, but as the show progressed, he grew accustomed and found much joy in watching.

Some segments were familiar to Ran Lin, while others were challenges faced by others, new to him.

For the segments he experienced, watching his on-screen self brought back memories. However, occasionally, the mood was at odds with the post-production subtitles, which were more humorous and engaging, offering him a different perspective of fun.

Like the scene where he and Lu Yiyao were fighting for a badge, which was intense in reality, but the program used slow-motion and an English love song as background music, humorously breaking the immersion.

Through the lens, Ran Lin realized he and Lu Yiyao strangely synced in their “involvement”. They fought fiercely over a badge, and when they agreed to put it on the ground, it was like a tense standoff between police and kidnappers.

Unfortunately, Xia Xinran’s appearance completely ruined the mood.

Then, when Gu Jie sneak-attacked and won the 5+ badge and Xia Xinran roared childishly, the program cleverly inserted a children’s song BGM, creating a hilarious “comedy effect” that made viewers burst into laughter.

The solo mission segments were even more interesting, like the solo bamboo raft journey after their Guanyan adventure—the quick Q&A with a chance to win a motor.

Ran Lin knew Xia Xinran and Lu Yiyao failed this segment but didn’t know the specifics until now.

Xia Xinran, sweating profusely from rowing, was asked to do a rapid Q&A by the crew member on the boat:

“What’s your favorite color… Green!”

“Your favorite food… Baked rice!”

“Type of man you hate the most… Manipulative!”

“Type of woman you hate the most… None, all little angels!”

“Which male artist in the mainland entertainment industry do you admire the most… Pass!”

“Which female artist in the mainland entertainment industry do you admire the most… Pass!”

“Which actress do you want to work with the most, Wen Qiao, Wang Xinyu, Ai Na, Yu Bingqiu… Damn!”

Before the time was up, Xia Xinran had already given up. But the effect wasn’t the awkwardness of an angry artist but rather Xia Xinran’s suffering and childish pouting. Especially the “Damn”, clearly visible from his mouth, but the actual sound was a sharp “beep”, doubling the comedic effect.

In contrast, Lu Yiyao’s segment wasn’t as dramatic. He seemed aware of the pitfalls and controlled his speed, answering four of six questions:

“Your favorite color… Blue.”

“Your favorite food… Sandwiches.”

“Which mainland artist do you admire the most… Pass.”

“The mainland artist you… Pass.”

“What do you admire most about Ran Lin… His persistence.”

“Your biggest dream… Uh, being… recognized.”

“Your first love was…”

“Time’s up!”

When the crew called time, Ran Lin swore he saw a flicker of triumph in Lu Yiyao’s eyes. He was purposely avoiding giving the program what they wanted. But he seemed to forget that the pitfalls came with rewards, so when the bamboo pole was handed back to him, his brief daze was adorably cute. As he put the pole back into the water, his expression was resigned yet despairing.

Ran Lin couldn’t help but laugh. He had never seen Lu Yiyao so sullen, always maintaining a righteous young man’s demeanor despite the challenges and hardships, enduring through gritted teeth.

When he couldn’t bear it anymore, he’d hit back, like the loving bowl of rice noodles he poisoned late at night.

But after enjoying Lu Yiyao’s moment, Ran Lin sank back into the sofa, sighing deeply.

What do you admire most about Ran Lin?

His persistence.

Indeed, it was a trap set by the program, but Lu Yiyao’s earnest answer was merciless.

Through the screen, he could feel the full extent of the mockery, instantly pulling him back to the fatal embarrassment of the first episode. If only they could broadcast three episodes in one go, since they were now, after all, on somewhat friendly terms… Alas, the time difference was indeed a tormenting thing.

In the first episode, Lu Yiyao and Ran Lin were still awkwardly sharing the screen. Rolling around on the sofa, Ran Lin eventually buried his head in a pillow, as if doing so could make the embarrassment and time pass more quickly.

However, thinking back under the pillow, Ran Lin belatedly pondered over Lu Yiyao’s “biggest dream of being recognized”, feeling like it was missing an object. Recognized by whom? The fans? The audience? The market?

“The young man under the sun~~ Has your dream come true~~ In this cold world~~ Have you changed~”

As the program neared its end, his phone rang. Ran Lin sprang up from the sofa, hurriedly grabbed the phone from the coffee table, and answered.

“Xi Jie.” The call came just a few minutes before the program ended, which didn’t bode well for Ran Lin.

As expected, Wang Xi got straight to the point without any cushioning. “How do you manage to find a point of criticism every few minutes? Who asked you to knock on Lu Yiyao’s hotel door? Aren’t you clever? How can you be so awkward in front of the camera?”

Wang Xi’s anger was palpable. She didn’t need answers; she just wanted to vent. Just listening made Ran Lin almost unable to cope.

After her tirade, Wang Xi felt somewhat better but still sounded harsh. “I told you on the first night, you don’t need to overthink. Just be yourself. Do you realize how forced and overdone your deliberate cuteness and pandering to the audience look on camera?”

“…” Ran Lin was utterly baffled and didn’t know how to respond.

“Never mind.” Wang Xi, realizing her impulsiveness and Ran Lin’s state, said stiffly, “Come to the company tomorrow morning. We’ll talk in detail then.”

Ran Lin finally found an opportunity to speak. “Uh, what time?”

His question reignited the barely suppressed fire in Wang Xi. “The earlier, the better!”

Hearing the dial tone, Ran Lin’s mind went blank, taking a long time to recover.

He had no recollection of the last few minutes of the program, only realizing the advertisements had already started playing. He turned off the TV, hesitated for a moment, but still opened Weibo on his phone.

After returning from the filming of the third episode, except for a promotional post for the first broadcast this morning, he had controlled himself from checking Weibo, knowing the production team was still releasing snippets to stir up hype, allowing fans to argue over a few seconds of footage.

He didn’t have many fans. Usually he was the one being criticized.

But now that the program had aired, despite being scolded by Wang Xi and knowing his performance wasn’t entirely satisfactory, he still wanted to see the audience and fans’ reactions.

[681 new comments, view comments]

[3,920 new followers, view followers]

[1,754 @mentions, view @mentions]

The numbers on the homepage startled Ran Lin. He hadn’t checked Weibo in two days, but he had opened all new messages when he posted the promotional tweet that morning. Though he quickly returned to the homepage without looking closely due to constant ridicule in recent days, he was certain that all the new data had accumulated since that morning.

For a popular star, tens of thousands of comments on a single Weibo post are common, sometimes even reaching over a hundred thousand. For Ran Lin, breaking three digits without fake or zombie followers*, was rare.

*Inactive fans, often times usually fake accounts or bots to inflate the person’s follower count.

He first checked his @mentions. Most were retweets of the program’s premiere announcement by the production team, who had @mentioned him, leading fans to secondarily @mention him too.

Next were the followers; clicking in, he saw lively profiles, none resembling fake fans, which moved Ran Lin.

Finally, he checked the comments, which he now approached with trepidation.

Taking a deep breath, he lightly tapped the screen…

Angry Nani Sauce: [A bit awkward at first, but it got better later. Keep it up! ❤️]

Chasing Wind Girl007: [You and God Lu match well, hahahaha.]

Pikipiki: [Road to fan~~ I love your youthful face—yeah, just that shallow. 🐶]

Surprised, Ran Lin sat up properly and began scrolling through the comments earnestly. The top third were mostly new fans who had just watched the show and replied to his latest promotional tweet. Amidst some ridicule and haters, most comments were positive and encouraging.

Scrolling down, the middle third were messages from earlier in the day, also in response to the same tweet, but the content varied widely.

The positive trend was already lifting his spirits.

Maybe the audience wasn’t as harsh as Wang Xi thought.

Exiting the comments, Ran Lin returned to his Weibo homepage and reopened his top promotional tweet. The top comment in the hottest comments section, which he had already seen, read:

Lin’s Little Ran Mian: [From today, I’ll be a bowl of Burning Noodles*, fanning you, loving you, supporting you silently. From today, I’ll care about variety shows and your works. I have an idol; when he smiles, spring blooms.]

*Clarity: Remember, Ran Mian = Burning Noodles, which is a play on his name and what he wants his fandom to associate with him.

Ran Lin put down his phone and curled up with the pillow on the sofa.

This was his second time rolling on the sofa that night—the first out of embarrassment, the second out of happiness.

Late into the night, the program’s reputation began to ferment slowly. Pure program fans mostly flocked to the production team’s Weibo or analyzed on their homepages on why the first episode was so awkwardly bland. Fans who had finished adoring their idols on screen gradually calmed down, replaying the TV broadcast, even going for second, third, or fourth viewings, analyzing hidden messages in a seemingly harmonious episode.

Program fans only discussed the program, mostly criticizing the production team and planners.

Fans also talked about the program, but as the conversation progressed, some began to argue.

Initially, it was just a handful of fans raising questions.

Then, more and more fans, armed with “speculation + analysis + judgment + emotions”, started flooding Ran Lin’s Weibo, the production team’s Weibo, or posting on their own homepages.

The so-called fan wars require equal strength among fans to really take off. In Ran Lin’s case, as someone who just gained a few thousand followers, it was more of a one-sided diss.

The storm surged in an instant, and the hot comments changed their focus. The screen, which was once filled with warm comments, was now dominated by Lu Yiyao’s fans.

However, Ran Lin was unaware of all this. After scrolling through the comments for a while, his heart, which had been stifled by Wang Xi’s scolding, was completely healed. He went to bed with a rare sense of joy and slept deeply, without any dreams.

The next morning, when Ran Lin went to meet Wang Xi at Dream Without Limits, Lu Yiyao had already started his day.

He was invited to shoot a cover for a renowned fashion magazine. Lu Yiyao had done several covers, but only a few were prestigious. Like today’s, it was said to be an invitation, but in reality, it was an opportunity secured by his management team after long negotiations.

In the current entertainment industry, one has to compete in popularity, fans, works, and even fashion resources. Some have great works, high popularity, and numerous fans but can’t unlock the “Top Five Magazines”—the five top fashion magazines in China. If you haven’t, you’re still not considered high-status in the industry.

Among those who have been featured in these magazines, people compare who’s on the first cover, who’s inside the cover, who collected all five covers, and who’s still on the journey to gather the “five dragon balls”.

The entertainment industry is like an endless river where everyone rows against the current. If you don’t fight hard, the audience will forget you tomorrow. If you do, you can never let your guard down. Even those so-called top stars will be abandoned by the times and become legends with fame but no influence if they don’t keep pushing forward.

When Lu Yiyao entered the industry, he just wanted to see how far he could go. But now, without having achieved a brilliant career, he had already seen through this siege. Here, some seek fame, some profit, some the pursuit of art. What about him? What is he seeking?

“Call him again and tell him if he doesn’t come now, he doesn’t need to bother coming at all!” The door of the dressing room burst open, and the magazine’s editor-in-chief, dressed in a luxury brand’s new spring suit, stormed in, hanging up the phone, and said to Lu Yiyao and Yao Hong, “We’ll wait another half hour, and if he doesn’t show, we’ll switch to a solo cover.”

A solo cover is much higher in status than a duo cover. Given the choice, Yao Hong would obviously choose the former for Lu Yiyao. But the late celebrity had a major sponsor backing him, so the editor-in-chief was unlikely to actually replace him just because she was momentarily upset. So, Yao Hong just listened to her vent and then tried to pacify her.

“It must be traffic. These days, there’s no smooth driving.” Yao Hong always spoke softly, soothingly.

The editor-in-chief calmed down a bit, but her frown didn’t ease. “If he knew there was traffic, he should have left earlier. So many people are waiting for him. It’s like he’s forgotten his own name after being pampered by fans.”

Yao Hong just smiled and didn’t continue the topic.

After venting, the editor-in-chief felt better and, seeing Lu Yiyao didn’t seem upset, offered some token comfort before leaving the room.

Left in the dressing room were Lu Yiyao, already made up, his agent Yao Hong, and an assistant.

“She was scolding for your benefit,” Yao Hong remarked, looking at the closed door.

Lu Yiyao didn’t look up. “I know.”

Yao Hong was surprised. Lu Yiyao could endure and control himself, but he was definitely not someone with a good temper. Usually, in such situations, he might not speak out, but he would definitely have mentally criticized the other party. But now, Lu Yiyao truly didn’t care. In fact, when the editor came in, he only responded perfunctorily. Yao Hong could tell that his attention was mostly locked on the phone he had been playing with since makeup.

“No way to remedy the awkwardness now.” Yao Hong sighed. “Just hope the next few episodes have highlights and can reverse the negative reception.”

Lu Yiyao continued scrolling through comments nonchalantly.

Yao Hong felt uncertain and asked directly, “What about the second and third episodes?” They weren’t allowed to follow the filming, and with no spoilers allowed for spontaneous performances, what seemed like a unique feature during signing now felt like a pitfall.

Lu Yiyao finally stopped scrolling, thought for a moment, and said, “It should be better than the first episode.”

Yao Hong didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. “That’s a pretty low bar.”

But that’s all they could hope for now. With so many variety shows featuring fresh young talent and big stars, the audience was getting tired. Unless there was truly amazing planning, powerful post-production, and exceptional performances by the stars, replicating the explosive popularity of the past few years would be difficult.

“Rest if you’re tired. Don’t keep staring at your phone.” Yao Hong leaned back on the sofa, stopping the chatter. Otherwise, she would feel annoyed even if Lu Yiyao wasn’t bothered.

Lu Yiyao nodded, seemingly obedient, but after Yao Hong closed her eyes to rest, he couldn’t help but pick up his phone again and continue reading comments.

Lu Yiyao found his own behavior strange.

First, he wasn’t someone who cared much about comments. Everyone has their own personality, logic, and way of thinking. The same thing can be viewed in a hundred different ways. If he lived by others’ opinions, he wouldn’t have a peaceful life. So he occasionally read comments just to see the cute “little angel” fans as they placed a lot of beautiful emotions on him. Fortunately, he hadn’t encountered any significant backlash since his debut. As Yao Hong said, everything was smooth sailing.

Second, he wasn’t even scrolling through his own Weibo comments.

In Lu Yiyao’s Weibo, it’s all warmth and peace, with comments like “I love you. You’re so handsome. My God Lu turns out to be directionally challenged, haha.” Just a few minutes of scrolling, and he could fully absorb all these emotions.

But another person’s Weibo was a world of ice and fire.

[Hope Ran Lin quits <National First Love Drifting Story>. Thumbs up if you agree.] (2,478 likes)

[I’m not targeting anyone, but all those anything that comes with free wheat bran* is trash.] (1,963 likes)

*It’s a saying which implies that if something is being given away for free or with an added bonus, it might be low quality or undesirable.

[Not to be harsh, but your performance really wasn’t good. Saying you’re not a nepotism hire, no one would believe. 😊] (1,705 likes)

[Take God Lu away. We don’t mix. Focused on our own. Refuse to fan wars. ❤️] (1,529 likes)

……

Ran Lin’s second-to-last Weibo post had only a few hundred replies, but the latest one was nearing ten thousand.

There were his fans, other’s fans, and the show’s fans, but no matter whose fans, they found a common goal here—asking Ran Lin to leave <National First Love Drifting Story>.

The hottest comment, with over five thousand likes, was a long Weibo screenshot, which Lu Yiyao had already seen several times but couldn’t help returning to study again.

The poster had meticulously listed Ran Lin’s seven sins:

#1: During the recording of the theme song, he released a widespread article saying he hit it off with Zhang Beichen, but in the program, their first interaction in the hotel room was polite and awkward, contradicting his statement.

#2 Before the show aired, he tried to tie himself to Lu Yiyao to hype a male-male CP. After Lu Yiyao’s initial mistaken retweet at the airport, there was no further response. Yet, in the program, he eagerly knocked on Lu Yiyao’s hotel door, only to be directly rejected by the assistant—a powerful face-slap.

#3 At 6 minutes and 35 seconds, after being rejected by Lu Yiyao, he said to the camera, “I can only see my idol tomorrow. I’m so sad” in an overdone manner.

#4 At 38 minutes and 27 seconds, during the rapid Q&A, when asked what he admired most about Lu Yiyao, he answered, “His accomplishments.” This was the most shameless Q&A I’ve ever seen. Just because Lu Yiyao has accomplishments doesn’t mean you can shamelessly ride his coattail.

#5 At 45 minutes and 17 seconds, he asked Zhang Beichen to let him be the first, which was a misleading edit by the production team. But joking with someone he’s not very familiar with, leading to misunderstandings, is Ran Lin’s fault.

#6 At 63 minutes, when Lu Yiyao brought midnight rice noodles, everyone was in their true state without defenses. Ran Lin’s bare face wasn’t flattering; apart from looking young, there was no charm or highlight. Personally, I wouldn’t choose someone like that for my first love.

#7 At 81 minutes, when Lu Yiyao accidentally drank bitter gourd juice, Ran Lin diligently offered water. But wasn’t it you who, along with others, decided to give Lu Yiyao extra spicy rice noodles and laughed happily? Hypocritical and disgusting.

In summary, please take your white shirt and go back to school and leave the show a blue sky! 👋

Lu Yiyao stared at the screenshot he had opened to full screen, feeling as though he wasn’t looking at a phone screen but rather a judgment document.

As he continued to look, he fell into an unreal trance, as if what was said in the screenshot and the show he had participated in weren’t the same at all.

---

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

Author: 颜凉雨 / Yan Liang Yu

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

---

Chapter 16

The show’s original plan was to have the guests struggle to earn money and then struggle to borrow a dilapidated place. They wanted to bring Xia Xinran, who had just enjoyed the summer, to the party scene, expecting the contrast from luxury to a humble setting would surely ruffle the feathers of the arrogant birthday boy.

Unexpectedly, the guests pulled a big move.

Usually, celebrities are reluctant to publicly reveal their private homes. Even if their reality show contracts allow filming, only partial glimpses are aired, and certainly not a case like Lu Yiyao’s, who unexpectedly offered his place as a filming location.

In this variety show, Lu Yiyao’s home is a luxurious apartment in Chaoyang District, Beijing. He had no obligation to offer a second one, but he did.

He declared beforehand that the address and exterior of this second private residence couldn’t be revealed in the broadcast, and access was limited to the living room. Still, the director was ecstatic and hurried over with a crew and equipment.

The place was a seaside villa with a view of the sea and blooming spring flowers—a secret residence of Lu Yiyao, unknown and unphotographed by paparazzi.

It was uncertain if it was actually Lu Yiyao’s residence, as aside from his statement, “My house,” there was no personal touch in the villa. It was as if it had been left vacant after renovation, fully furnished yet devoid of any personal traces.

Regular cleaning was evident, as the bright living room was spotless. The lilies and lotus flowers in the vase on the table were fresh and elegant, giving a subtle floral fragrance in the air.

However, there were no photo frames, clothes, books, or any personal items that might reveal some gossip.

Disappointed, the director lost his initial excitement while instructing the crew to set up equipment.

Ran Lin was also surprised.

Like the crew, they only used the living room, which felt impersonal with its gray and white decor, only brightened by some colorful decorations.

Ran Lin doubted this was Lu Yiyao’s style, knowing his preference for colors other than gray in clothing.

Like his three companions, Ran Lin kept his questions to himself, respecting an unspoken agreement not to probe further.

Lu Yiyao’s willingness to offer his private home was generous, and not prying further was a courtesy among friends—if they could be called that.

“I’m very satisfied with the arrangements for this episode—really, very satisfied!” Xia Xinran, blindfolded and led into the living room, couldn’t see the route but didn’t forget to praise the crew, evidently pleased with the previous night’s luxury hotel and spa experience.

Everyone was in the living room, but apart from the four male stars, other crew members and equipment were out of camera range.

Sunlight streamed in through the floor-to-ceiling windows, filling the gray-white living room with a touch of warmth despite its cool-toned decor.

The moment Xia Xinran’s blindfold was lifted, the birthday song began.

The cake, chosen by Ran Lin, was Black Forest.

Xia Xinran had mentioned his fondness for chocolate, and fortunately, Black Forest was the specialty of that bakery. The cake wasn’t sliced yet into individual pieces.

The bright sunlight made the candle flames less noticeable. Initially, they thought of drawing the curtains, but the director decided that letting in the sunlight made for a better shot.

Lu Yiyao’s private villa, not in the original plan of the crew, added an unexpectedly beautiful setting, which the director was keen to utilize.

The birthday party was warm, but after the initial joy, there wasn’t much content. It was just eating cake and chatting.

The conversation was limited, mainly teasing Xia Xinran.

It was no wonder the male stars joined forces in teasing. Imagine, while one enjoys a five-star hotel and spa, the others work overnight to buy a cake, only to give it back to the birthday boy. It’s hard for anyone to feel balanced in such a scenario.

Indeed, it was such a great birthday.

Xia Xinran also genuinely felt the effort his friends had put in, feeling somewhat guilty. Initially, he took the teasing in good spirits.

But being not too straightforward himself, he soon started scheming and cleverly shifted the focus of the banter.

“Let’s play Truth or Dare!”

After all, a party isn’t a formal gathering. What’s the fun in just chatting politely? If they’re going to party, they should at least make it lively.

The four male stars were startled, instinctively looking at the director.

The director was thrilled and enthusiastically approved. “Great idea!”

Usually, Truth or Dare involves drawing straws, picking cards, or spinning a bottle, with newer versions using mobile apps.

As the guests weren’t allowed to use their phones and drawing straws lacked atmosphere, they decided to use a sponsor’s empty drink bottle, rustic and appealing.

The director deliberately focused the camera on the bottle’s label, finding Xia Xinran’s suggestion brilliant.

Half-drawing the curtains, the living room instantly gained the vibe of a chat session. The five people sat in a circle on the light gray carpet, placing the empty bottle in the middle, with Xia Xinran, the birthday boy, spinning it first.

Without hesitation, Xia Xinran looked around, chuckled, and swiftly twisted the bottle.

It spun rapidly, slightly shifting from its original position.

Ran Lin remembered playing such games with his college dormmates. Watching the spinning bottle, he felt a sense of time reversal, imagining the bottle as a green beer bottle, with the laughter of his friends echoing in his ears…

“Gu Jie!”

The bottle finally stopped, not directly pointing at Gu Jie but close enough to brush against his clothing.

Gu Jie wasn’t one to make a fuss. He immediately extended one hand, mimicking the gesture of Wong Fei-hung inviting questions. “Ask whatever you want to know.”

“Me! Me! Me!” Xia Xinran eagerly raised his hand, as if he had been holding the question in his heart for centuries, waiting for such an opportunity. Without waiting for Gu Jie to respond, Xia grinned mischievously and asked, “Did you and Su Wei ever actually date?”

Ran Lin’s jaw dropped.

Zhang Beichen and Lu Yiyao frowned. Though it was a game of Truth or Dare, asking someone directly about their romantic rumors on camera seemed inappropriate.

However, Gu Jie, as if expecting the question, calmly replied, “I’ve explained many times, we’re just friends.”

All eyes turned to Xia Xinran.

Nobody cared about whether Gu Jie and Su Wei were just friends. They were more interested in the “explained many times” part!

Xia Xinran was stunned. “What do you mean you explained many times? Wait, what does it have to do with me?” Realizing something, he threw a crumpled paper at Gu Jie. “You’re setting me up!”

Gu Jie was already laughing so hard he could barely breathe.

Xia Xinran immediately shifted his camera towards himself, righteously declaring, “My fans, I have nothing to do with that person spreading false rumors. I only love you all. Look into my pure eyes…”

The other three, realizing later, admired Gu Jie’s skill in handling Xia Xinran.

Compared to Xia Xinran’s spicy questions, the others were milder, and the round ended quickly.

Zhang Beichen was the next to spin the bottle, which, amusingly, pointed right back at him. Everyone laughed, including himself.

Until Xia Xinran asked a question that froze the atmosphere.

He inquired, “Before I came, I saw a clip from the first episode in Guilin. You said you’d let Ran Lin win. Was that intentional?”

The mood suddenly tensed.

Xia Xinran’s tone was light, but it felt like a cold breeze from the movie <The Day After Tomorrow> freezing everything in its path.

Zhang Beichen was caught off guard, while Gu Jie and Lu Yiyao had complicated expressions. Ran Lin only felt like a headache was coming.

“I don’t understand what you mean…” Zhang Beichen finally spoke up. He tried to appear natural but faced with such a direct and almost confrontational question, he was clearly unprepared.

Xia Xinran suddenly gave a narrow smile. “What I mean is, if you wanted to switch, you should’ve come to me, not Ran Lin. My accommodation that day was pitiful. You didn’t see it… Remember, next time, offer any benefits to me first. We’re that close!”

Zhang Beichen blinked blankly, slow to catch on, but then quickly nodded. “Okay, I’ll come to you next time.”

Xia Xinran reached out to pat his shoulder with a comforting expression.

Gu Jie and Lu Yiyao were baffled, unsure of Xia Xinran’s intentions. Was it just a joke, or was there a hidden message? If there was a hidden message, what was it? Was it meant for Zhang Beichen or Ran Lin?

Ran Lin, observing their puzzled looks, just wanted to facepalm.

He could tell that Xia Xinran didn’t like Zhang Beichen, but that was it. As for the reason behind Xia Xinran’s actions, he couldn’t figure it out and didn’t want to delve into it. He just wanted to record the show peacefully, and if it could gain a little popularity and lead to a script to act in, he would be more than grateful. There was really no need for added drama.

“It’s my turn to ask. In the youth films you’ve acted in, you’ve played a top student, a poor student, a prominent senior, and a rebellious teen. Which type were you actually closest to in school?”

This awkward moment needed a game-changer—a cue for the next step!

As expected, Zhang Beichen took up the question and talked at length.

Ran Lin wasn’t particularly interested in the answer, but since he had asked the question, he appeared to listen attentively while inwardly he was sweating.

Xia Xinran seemed unconcerned, as if he had just made a joke, and now, feeling relieved, he immersed himself in the next part of the game, listening to the answer along with Ran Lin with great interest.

Gu Jie and Lu Yiyao exchanged glances. The former felt he might be slow due to a lack of sleep, struggling to keep up with the rapid changes of the Truth or Dare game; the latter sensed something strange but not particularly relevant to him, so he didn’t delve deeper.

After Zhang Beichen’s round ended without incident, it was Gu Jie’s turn to spin the bottle, which pointed at Ran Lin.

Ran Lin, confidently narrowing his eyes, half-jokingly and half-defiantly said, “Bring it on.”

The friends prepared themselves, seemingly unreserved, but the questions asked were quite gentle.

Gu Jie asked, “What kind of role do you most want to play?”

Ran Lin wanted to cry. “A director must cast me first.”

Zhang Beichen asked, “Do you believe in love at first sight?”

The question itself was innocuous, but Zhang Beichen’s overly serious gaze and gentle tone made Ran Lin uncomfortable, prompting him to swallow his initial joke and give a serious and cautious reply. “I believe that emotions are diverse in this world. However, I haven’t experienced it. Personally, I’m more inclined towards love that grows over time.”

After answering, Ran Lin immediately looked at Lu Yiyao.

Lu Yiyao felt the previous question was a bit odd but didn’t think much of it, especially as the focus was now on him. He quickly asked his question, maintaining his momentum.

“How do you feel… about fans liking you as a person but not your origins?”

Ran Lin looked puzzledly at Lu Yiyao, feeling that the question was quite distant from his own experiences, more fitting the kind of issue Lu Yiyao might face. The tone of the question also seemed odd, as if Lu Yiyao initially wanted to ask something else but changed his mind at the last moment.

Despite the doubts, when asked, one must reply according to the rules. “Then I can only strive to offer better works, so that they will love the characters more than they love me in the future.”

Ran Lin’s answer carried a shy smile, reflecting a sentiment of, “I know I can’t bear the responsibility, but I have no choice but to talk big for now.”

Lu Yiyao picked up a sponsor’s drink and took a few sips, but his mind was pondering why he suddenly changed the question.

How do you view malicious hype?

That was what he actually wanted to ask.

But if he really asked, regardless of Ran Lin’s response, as long as the program team didn’t edit it out and broadcast this segment, Ran Lin would be criticized severely*.

*Spray. It’s an internet term that means being scolded/ridiculed ect. online.

Lu Yiyao knew all too well the combativeness of his fans, especially since they had disliked Ran Lin for a long time.

Sure enough, Lu Yiyao thought, he still disdains the behavior of those who rely on a large fanbase to recklessly create narratives.

It didn’t matter whether it was Ran Lin or not.

“It’s my turn, my turn.” Xia Xinran excitedly adjusted his sitting posture, oblivious to any subtleties or undercurrents, and eagerly made his request. “I need you to take a dare!”

Ran Lin was exasperated but also amused. “Why should I?”

Xia Xinran pitifully wrinkled his face. “It’s been so many rounds without a dare. It’s not thrilling at all!”

Ran Lin wasn’t prepared to indulge in the other’s pursuit of the game. “When it’s your turn, you can take all the dares you want. We won’t stop you.”

“I won’t ask you to do anything excessive. Just try it once,” Xia Xinran said sincerely. “Or else listen to my dare first, and if you don’t like it, I’ll change it back to a question.”

Ran Lin sighed. He was a man who could be persuaded by both hard and soft tactics, especially by the coquettishness of a beauty.

“Alright, let me hear it,” Ran Lin said with resignation, feeling like he was indulging a younger brother.

Xia Xinran sat up straight, cleared his throat, and announced seriously, “The dare is to say one thing you most want to say to each person present.”

Ran Lin was momentarily stunned, then laughed.

It wasn’t a malicious dare at all. No, it was more like a beginner’s level, full of goodwill towards the adventurer.

After pretending to think deeply, Ran Lin finally agreed. “Okay.”

Xia Xinran showed a satisfied smile.

Ran Lin straightforwardly started with him. “Xia Xinran, you are the prettiest… younger brother I’ve ever seen.”

The expectant face immediately became embarrassed. “Why do you have to demote me while complimenting me…”

Gu Jie casually reminded, “Brothers are equals.”

What he got in return was a disdainful glance from the great beauty.

Ran Lin, feeling refreshed, turned to the next person. “Zhang Beichen, on the day we recorded the theme song, I wanted to say that your voice is really nice in the recording studio.”

Zhang Bei Chen was surprised and scratched his head before smiling at him. “Thanks.”

“Gu Jie…”

“Hmm?” Gu Jie perked up, ready to listen attentively.

Ran Lin said earnestly, “You are really too slow to warm up.”

Gu Jie narrowed his eyes. “Why does it become a roast when it’s my turn…”

Xia Xinran clapped his hands in amusement, enjoying seeing the other party embarrassed.

Ran Lin lowered his eyes, pondering for a moment, then turned to Lu Yiyao.

Lu Yiyao waited quietly, without particular expectation or excitement, feeling somewhat puzzled.

Why did Ran Lin speak so smoothly about the others but hesitate when it came to him? He wasn’t that difficult to summarize, was he?

Moreover, Ran Lin wasn’t Xia Xinran. Even if he pondered longer, he certainly wouldn’t say anything too outrageous. Without listening, one could guess that, whether it was praise or criticism, it would surely be a harmonious sentiment of everyone being happy.

“Lu Yiyao…” Ran Lin finally spoke.

Lu Yiyao nodded, immediately straightening up in a posture of serious listening.

“I’m sorry.”

After much contemplation, that was all he said.

Lu Yiyao froze in the sunlight.

His seat wasn’t great, right next to an uncovered window. The sunlight always shone into his eyes, forcing him to occasionally look away to avoid it.

But now, he didn’t move, letting the sunlight bathe him, as if frozen in place, motionless for a long time.

Gu Jie and Zhang Beichen were clueless.

Only Xia Xinran immediately understood and couldn’t help but complain, “It’s just that the hay got blown away and we couldn’t start a fire. We ended up eating later anyway. Lu Yiyao won’t mind.”

Gu Jie suddenly realized, then looked at Xia Xinran speechlessly.

Zhang Beichen corrected with a smile, “It was coconut palm.”

Xia Xinran frowned. “What’s the difference?”

Zhang Beichen moved his lips a few times but eventually gave up on explaining, and it seemed Xia Xinran wasn’t planning to listen anyway.

Ran Lin watched them divert the topic with their banter, just smiling and not explaining further.

What he really wanted to apologize for, only he knew.

Xia Xinran, Gu Jie, and Zhang Beichen might not know, and Lu Yiyao probably couldn’t guess it either.

Since his friends accepted that he was apologizing for sabotaging Lu Yiyao’s fire-making, then let it be so.

He just wanted to apologize, regardless of whether the other party understood or not, as a way to account for his previous actions. Otherwise, simply asking Wang Xi to tell the publicity team to stop, it always felt like he was muddling through without proper resolution.

A bottle of the sponsor’s drink was suddenly handed over in front of him.

Ran Lin looked up in confusion, following the arm to meet Lu Yiyao’s face.

Then he heard the other person say, “Forget it.”

Suddenly, the world became quiet, with no other sounds.

The only thing echoing in his ears were these two words.

Lu Yiyao, watching Ran Lin’s wide-eyed, stunned expression, found it amusing and decided to enjoy the sight a bit longer. After having his fill, he weighed the drink in his hand and recited the advertisement, “Replenish trace elements and restore your energy for the day. Won’t you drink it?”

Ran Lin blinked, finally regaining his composure, and snatched the drink from Lu Yiyao, unscrewing the cap and gulping it down.

What Lu Yiyao said wasn’t “it’s okay,” but “forget it.”

Li Yiyao understood what he meant!

Lu Yiyao slightly regretted handing over the drink, debating whether to advise Ran Lin to drink slower. Even if guests were obliged to promote for sponsors, there was no need to go this far.

After all, what he said wasn’t “it’s fine,” but just “forget it.”

“It’s fine” would mean he didn’t care about those things at all.

“Forget it” meant he cared but didn’t want to dwell on it anymore.

Just a “forget it” made the other so happy. Lu Yiyao suddenly wanted to ask where Ran Lin got the courage to ride on the coattails of popularity in the first place. With such a mentality, he should have just stuck to regular releases of edited street snaps and selfies to maintain his original popularity.

Xia Xinran, for no apparent reason, looked at Ran Lin blowing on the bottle and then at Lu Yiyao, who seemed to be muttering to himself, not understanding how his creativity turned into advertisement time.

After some thought, he picked up three other bottles of the drink, one for himself and the other two for Zhang Beichen and Gu Jie, saying helplessly, “Don’t just sit there. Join in.”

The third episode’s filming in the villa concluded. Lu Yiyao, with his outstanding wilderness survival skills and the ability to produce a set of villa keys at any time, was unanimously voted as the episode’s “Tropical Breeze First Love”.

Normally, the guests would leave first, and the crew would wrap up, but today’s location was different—a private place. As the host, Lu Yiyao had to patiently wait for the crew to finish.

His four companions simply joined him in waiting. Since the filming ended early today, there was plenty of time before the evening flight back, and they could leave early thanks to Lu Yiyao’s help.

The crew had a lot of equipment, and packing up was quite troublesome. While waiting boredly, Xia Xinran suddenly suggested, “Hey, let’s add each other on WeChat.”

Everyone agreed to the idea, but they weren’t allowed to bring mobile phones during the shoot, and their phones were currently with their agents or assistants at the hotel.

Their attempt to add WeChat was unsuccessful, so Xia Xinran set his sights on the golden paper crowns that came with the cake. After much deliberation, he couldn’t resist asking the staff to take a group photo of the five of them with their phones.

Naturally, he stood in the middle with the crown, flanked by two male gods on each side.

The four cooperated fully, smiling willingly for the camera.

The crew finally finished packing up before Xia Xinran could come up with a third mischievous idea, and everyone returned to the hotel together.

Xia Xinran was still thinking about adding WeChat. Now that everyone had their phones, they indulged his wish and added each other. After adding, Xia Xinran immediately pulled everyone into a group and shared the group photo taken by the staff.

Seeing this, Gu Jie joined in the fun, saved the photo, and then changed the group name to “Chen Sheng Wu Guang*.”

*Referencing two historical figures from ancient China, best known for their roles in the early stages of the Chinese rebellion against the Qin Dynasty around 209 BC. This rebellion eventually led to the fall of the Qin Dynasty and the rise of the Han Dynasty. Due to this, their story is usually a symbol of resistance against tyranny and the fight for justice.

For the next two days after returning, the group was quiet, probably because everyone was busy or, even if they had time, they couldn’t find anything to talk about. But Ran Lin would still check the group, which he had pinned, every time he opened WeChat. Just glancing at the group name seemed to ignite a passion to stand up against the program crew to the end.

On February 14^th, Valentine’s Day evening, three days before the filming of the fourth episode, the first episode of <National First Love Drifting Story> aired as scheduled!

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

Author: 颜凉雨 / Yan Liang Yu

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

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Chapter 15

Ran Lin never got an answer from Lu Yiyao, but the answer wasn’t really important.

By the third episode, he was finally able to interact normally with Lu Yiyao and even occasionally joke with him, which was satisfying enough for him.

The night was clear with a moonlit sky, and the temperature was much cooler than during the day. Fortunately, the production team had a bit of humanity left and gave the male stars thick jackets, which they could use as blankets or wear as they liked.

Ran Lin used his as a blanket. The five of them, with four coconut leaf tents, had settled their sleeping arrangements through rock-paper-scissors, resulting in the losers, Xia Xinran and Zhang Beichen, sharing one tent. Xia Xinran’s expression when the results were announced looked like the end of the world.

Ran Lin didn’t understand what Xia Xinran disliked so much about Zhang Beichen, but the topic was too sensitive, and they weren’t close enough for him to ask, so he kept his curiosity to himself.

Lying down, using his arms as a pillow, listening to the waves, and looking at the sea and sky merging in the distance, he felt his mind opening up. Ran Lin was a thoughtful person, but at that moment, he just wanted to empty his mind. It had been a long time since he felt this way, with nothing to think, do, or worry about. He was just lying there quietly, letting time pass by…

“Oh yeah!”

A sudden cheer shattered the tranquility of the night.

Ran Lin sighed, thinking he just wasn’t destined to have a moment of peace, and got up to look outside. However, he was too slow and only caught a glimpse of Xia Xinran happily leaving with the production crew.

“What’s going on?” Ran Lin, puzzled, asked Lu Yiyao in the next tent, who had come out to look earlier.

But Lu Yiyao wasn’t very clear either and could only guess. “Maybe the production team has a new task for him.”

Ran Lin frowned in confusion and muttered, “What new task could there be in the middle of the night?”

Lu Yiyao thought for a moment and seriously met his eyes. “I think it’s better not to speculate.”

For a moment, Ran Lin was almost lost in Lu Yiyao’s gaze. Regaining his composure, he laughed. “You’re right. It’s probably not about getting a midnight snack.”

Lu Yiyao smiled wryly, shrugged, and crawled back into his leaf tent.

Ran Lin exhaled softly, feeling a strange sense of relief.

Cautiously slipping back into his tent and lying down, Ran Lin could still feel his heart pounding erratically.

The last time he felt this way was when he first joined the company and attended the premiere of a famous director’s movie. The film started with the male lead slowly lifting his head in a close-up shot. His expression was subdued, but his eyes were filled with deep, unspoken emotions. That moment had his heart skipping a beat and then uncontrollably racing.

The film was told from the female lead’s perspective, so Ran Lin’s emotions followed hers, experiencing joy and sorrow for this man. By the end of the movie, it felt like he had gone through a romance himself.

However, strangely enough, when the cast came out to thank the audience, seeing the male star on stage, Ran Lin felt nothing. He realized it was the character portrayed in the movie that had moved him, not the actor himself. In reality, the actor was nothing like the character he played: cheerful, eloquent, and gentle, in contrast to the introverted, melancholic man with a dark side in the film.

That was when Ran Lin understood the incredible and magical power of actors, able to bring characters so different from themselves to life with such delicacy and realism, making them feel real and tangible.

Ran Lin didn’t fall for that male star, but he did fall in love with acting.

But Lu Yiyao wasn’t playing any character.

Here, by the sea where the waves never ceased, Lu Yiyao was just being himself.

This wasn’t a good sign.

Ran Lin tossed and turned, unable to settle down, wishing he could sit up and howl like Xia Xinran had.

The entertainment industry is a rather strange place, where male celebrities can feign homosexuality for show, but they cannot be truly gay. Even if some have been irrefutably exposed, as long as the male star wants to continue working in the industry, they must firmly deny any “suspicions of same-sex relations”.

When encountering such statements, public relations teams feel as if they are facing a formidable enemy. Regardless of whether they respond with an air of indifference, suggesting that “rumors stop with the wise”, or with a forceful “I’m going to send you a legal notice”, they are, without exception, highly vigilant about such rumors behind the scenes.

In theory, society has become more tolerant towards sexual orientation, especially the younger generation, who are more open and accepting.

But for some reason, in the entertainment industry, this issue is a red alert. At best, it leads to negative publicity; at worst, it can rapidly end a career.

Ran Lin was frustrated with this situation but understood that to stay in the industry, he had to play by its rules. So he had always kept silent about his own sexual orientation, even deleting any potentially suggestive comments and photos from his social media before possibly signing with Dream Without Limits.

He didn’t want to hurt others, but he had to protect himself.

Fortunately, in his two years in the industry, he hadn’t been troubled by rumors about liking men. Perhaps because his career wasn’t very high-profile and his social circle was shrinking, he had almost forgotten what it felt like to fall for someone.

But just now, at that moment, Lu Yiyao reminded him.

Falling for someone in the industry, especially a famous male idol star?

Ran Lin felt like he was courting disaster.

No, he couldn’t jump to conclusions so quickly.

Ran Lin bit his lip, furrowed his brow, and finally sat up before all the coconut leaves were stripped away, leaning out of the tent to call out, “Lu Yiyao…”

A moment later, a half-asleep face appeared from the next tent. “Hmm?”

From the tents further down, two pairs of eyes watched in secret.

“I still find it suspicious that Xia Xinran was called away…” Ran Lin was speaking about a prepared topic, but his gaze was firmly fixed on Lu Yiyao’s face, not shifting even for half a second.

Lu Yiyao yawned, frowned, tilted his head in thought, and then suddenly his eyes darkened. “Could it be that they’re planning a surprise attack after we fall asleep?”

“…”

“Ran Lin?”

“Ah.” Shaking his head, Ran Lin finally came back to his senses and nodded vigorously. “That’s very likely.”

Lu Yiyao sighed wearily, feeling disheartened. “Then there’s no hope of getting a good night’s sleep tonight.”

Gu Jie and Zhang Beichen, who had been secretly observing and listening with bated breath, felt the same way as Lu Yiyao at this moment—wishing for a quick end. However, exhausted and drained, they had little energy to resist and could only lie back down, waiting for their fate to unfold.

Ran Lin had long known that his companions were awake, but it didn’t matter. The discussion was just a pretext. What he really wanted to do was see if Lu Yiyao could still electrify him once more. The result was unexpectedly good—his heartbeat remained steady.

Even as he intensely observed Lu Yiyao, his breathing stayed calm, and his heart rate was normal. This proved that his previous flustered state was just a random occurrence. Maybe in that moment, his nerves had crossed, or perhaps the beauty of the stars and nature had added a beautifying effect to Lu Yiyao.

Relieved, Ran Lin relaxed and soon drifted into a light, uneasy sleep to the sound of the waves. He didn’t know that Lu Yiyao, lying nearby, was suffering from insomnia.

As if in kind, Lu Yiyao also pondered over Ran Lin, but it had nothing to do with such deep issues as sexual orientation. Lu Yiyao simply thought Ran Lin was incredibly sensitive.

Take the events of the day, for example. He hadn’t thought there was anything unusual about the way he looked at Ran Lin—just a bit more eye contact than usual—yet Ran Lin had directly sensed sympathy.

Sympathy?

Certainly.

But Ran Lin had so accurately perceived an emotion that Lu Yiyao himself was unaware of, which left him with no other word to describe Ran Lin but “sensitive”.

In the entertainment industry, sensitivity is a double-edged sword. It can help you better understand roles and shape characters, but it also makes you more susceptible to the opinions of fans and the public gaze.

Some people thrive under criticism, while others crumble under the pressure.

Lu Yiyao had seen too many cases and thought Ran Lin would be among the latter.

A pretty good person.

After just two and a half episodes together, this was the most positive assessment Lu Yiyao could give of Ran Lin. He couldn’t say more, but it was enough.

No one is perfect. A male artist with a good temper, serious about his work, and occasionally playful—at least among his peers—Lu Yiyao found him comfortable to be around. He had seen too many two-faced individuals still adored by fans. Compared to them, Ran Lin’s situation seemed even more deserving of sympathy.

Although initially, Lu Yiyao had wanted to confront Ran Lin’s supporters.

Enough of these thoughts.

As Yao Hong had rightly said, Lu Yiyao, looking at the sea blending with the starry sky, realized he had it too easy in his career, always with excess energy and a penchant for meddling in others’ affairs.

“All male gods, gather—”

There was no need for a loudspeaker. On the quiet beach, the director’s voice easily pierced through the waves to reach their ears.

The male gods, whether asleep or awake, were startled. Gu Jie nearly sent the tent flying as he rushed out. The cameras, previously fixed, were now hoisted onto the shoulders of the cameramen. The four gathered understood immediately—a new task was at hand.

“It’s now 00:01.” The director checked his watch, his tone unusually solemn. “We’ve entered a brand new day. Are you all excited?”

The four male gods clapped, albeit sparsely and with stiff smiles.

Satisfied with the impact he had made, the director dropped the real bombshell. “Today is also the birthday of your little buddy, Xia Xinran!”

This genuinely surprised the four. They looked at each other in confusion and surprise, instinctively scanning their surroundings as if they might find the birthday star nearby.

“Don’t bother looking. Xia Xinran has already gone to his new task. So, our remaining four male gods also have a task: to organize a birthday party for your buddy by 10 a.m. The requirements are a birthday cake, a private party venue, and all of this without spending a penny.”

Gu Jie, puzzled, raised his hand. “What constitutes a private party venue?”

The director explained, “It can’t be in the open air, like a forest, park, or beach, nor a public area like streets, malls, or plazas. It must be a private shop or residence, and the entire party must be closed off. The location will not be disclosed during the broadcast. In short, you must borrow a private venue and can’t use the promise of publicity as leverage.”

Gu Jie had black lines on his face. “That’s quite secretive…”

Zhang Beichen followed up, “And the birthday cake?”

The director answered, “You have to manage that on your own.”

A foreboding sense of doom hung over the male gods. The day would gradually brighten, but their prospects seemed increasingly grim.

Pleased with the turmoil he had caused but still not satisfied with the enthusiasm from the male gods, the director repeated, “Any other questions?”

Ran Lin sighed and played along. “Can you tell us what task Xia Xinran is doing?”

The director finally smiled broadly. “Five-star hotel tester and Southeast Asian spa connoisseur.”

Ran Lin had anticipated something far-fetched, but he couldn’t help but laugh at the absurdity.

Zhang Beichen expressed the envy of all their companions. “The birthday boy really gets special treatment…”

Returning from the distant suburbs to the city center covers a considerable distance. The four people were grateful to finally catch some brief sleep amidst the jostling.

At 1:30 in the morning, the city was far from asleep.

The streets were still bustling with people, some clad in swimsuits and wrapped in towels, clearly the brave souls who, undaunted by the water temperature, had just returned from the sea.

There was no need to venture to the distant suburbs for wilderness survival; the city center itself boasted a beach with crystal-clear water and soft sand. It was no wonder that, centered around this, various real estate projects under the guise of “seaside properties” were continuously developed, with one high-rise apartment after another springing up along the coast.

“Where are we going now?” Zhang Beichen looked around, clueless.

“It boils down to two things: a cake and a venue.” Gu Jie stretched his neck to ease his overworked and unrested joints. “Now it’s up to us which one we want to tackle first.”

“Venue?” Gu Jie didn’t ponder deeply; it was more of an intuition. “Otherwise, once we have the cake, we’ll still need to carry it around looking for a private place.”

Zhang Beichen scratched his head, gently suggesting a different view. “I always feel a venue is easier to find than a cake at this time. The places that can make or sell cakes are limited now. We should tackle the harder task first.”

“Neither cakes nor venues are easy to get right now,” Ran Lin said. “Why don’t we first think about how to get these two things? Like, for the cake, do we make or buy it? For the venue, do we ask a shop owner or a local for their house? Once we have a plan, we can work towards it.”

Gu Jie asked, “Teacher Lu, what do you think?”

Lu Yiyao replied, “We shouldn’t have let the director go just now.”

Gu, Ran, Zhang: “True that!”

Unable to devise a strategy for the moment, the four shared a common sentiment—well played, director.

The four helpless male gods wandered down to the beach, following the noise. The seaside night market, bustling with stalls offering local delicacies, was still brightly lit and crowded. Lu Yiyao, recognized first, caused screams from a girl holding a coconut jelly that could have been heard across the beach.

As the saying goes, in crisis, opportunity lurks. The four were struck by inspiration—work using their good looks!

The chosen stall owners were more than happy to have male gods as their facade. Who cared about the taste when business was booming like never before.

They really put in their all. Lu Yiyao grilled skewers, Ran Lin fried pineapple rice, Zhang Beichen handled the money, and Gu Jie fanned the flames and attracted customers.

They worked until dawn, when the number of tourists dwindled, and neighboring stalls began to close. The stall owners finally contentedly counted out their agreed share of the earnings and handed it to the male stars.

A total of three hundred and forty yuan.

The four exhausted male stars found the courage to continue from these hard-earned bills.

In the early morning, as the city’s nightlife ended and the daily hustle had yet to begin, there was finally a hint of tranquility. The four sat or lay under a palm tree, staring into the sky.

They were waiting for the cake shop to open.

They weren’t sleepy anymore, but the city was still asleep. Apart from 24-hour convenience stores and fast-food joints, other shops were in dreamland.

“This has got to be the longest day I’ve ever experienced…” Gu Jie said, looking at the brightening sky and feeling downcast.

Zhang Beichen corrected him, “It’s been two days.”

Gu Jie shook his head. “Feels like one long day that never ends.”

Ran Lin sat cross-legged by the flower bed, his arm propping up his chin, not very energetic but agreeing with Gu Jie in his heart. They had barely slept that night, so although it was technically the second day, it still felt like a continuation of the previous one.

“You guys alright?” Zhang Beichen, noticing the quietness of Ran Lin and Lu Yiyao, asked with concern.

Ran Lin quickly shook his head. “I’m fine.”

But Lu Yiyao asked, “Do you know what I’m thinking right now?”

Zhang Beichen thought for a moment. “What Xia Xinran is doing right now?”

Gu Jie raised an eyebrow. “Smear cake on his face.”

Ran Lin laughed, guessing along. “Why isn’t it my birthday?”

Lu Yiyao looked at Ran Lin in surprise. Although Zhang Beichen and Gu Jie had guessed he was brooding over Xia Xinran, only Ran Lin hit the nail on the head. It wasn’t a coincidence anymore; it was magical.

Ran Lin had just said it casually, but seeing Lu Yiyao’s expression, he knew he was close to the mark, which was somewhat exciting. After all, Lu Yiyao wasn’t easy to read.

“Xia Xinran must treat us when we get back.”

“The precondition is that we can get back. I feel like I’m about to collapse here…”

“Don’t cry. Be strong.”

“Get lost, haha…”

Amidst their joking and laughter, the sun slowly rose, the breeze grew warmer, and the streets became busy again—the city was waking up.

“Boss, please help us.”

“No way.”

“Just for a morning.”

“Not even for an hour. I appreciate you buying a cake, but our shop needs to do business. If you occupy the shop, how can I open?”

“After we buy this cake, you’ll be open.”

“But I can’t just open for one item in the morning.”

“…”

Despite their efforts, they couldn’t persuade the shop owner. They left the cake shop disheartened. The cake, in Lu Yiyao’s hands, in its elegant light-colored box with a blue ribbon, was fresh and charming, but it couldn’t ease their troubled minds.

The cameramen, who had followed them all night, felt some sympathy. From struggling to survive on a deserted island to working midnight shifts at a food stall, and now searching for a free private party venue in a strange city. The hardships of the previous two episodes combined didn’t compare to this one.

Determined, they entered several shops along the street. Most shop owners who recognized them were initially enthusiastic, but their attitude subtly changed when they heard about the private party, not open to the public.

The shop owners were willing to accommodate celebrities for the publicity, like the beachfront market owners. If the four couldn’t bring them business, even their good looks wouldn’t guarantee a job. True fan shop owners were the exception, of course.

But whether it was bad luck or their fame not reaching every demographic, they were still without a venue as 10:00 approached.

Having figured out the director’s modus operandi, they knew a solution would be provided if they genuinely couldn’t complete the task, like with previous challenges such as making fire from wood. But the thought of the director’s smug “Oh, I have to step in” face made them reluctant to give in.

The initial aim of joining the show was self-challenge, but now, they wanted to challenge the production team.

To the camera, the four were silent. But amongst themselves, they could feel each other’s determination. The same show, the same resilience.

Maybe, just let it go.

They could say that, but they didn’t want to give up until the last moment.

Ran Lin noticed that Lu Yiyao had been unusually quiet since failing to negotiate with the cake shop owner. Although not a talkative person, his expression seemed not just downcast but deep in thought.

“Speaking of which…”

Lu Yiyao suddenly spoke up, looking at his three companions.

Ran Lin quickly looked away, then back, pretending he had been admiring the scenery.

Lost in his thoughts, Lu Yiyao didn’t notice. “Didn’t the director only say we can’t spend money and it must be private? Nothing else?”

“Yes.” Zhang Beichen nodded. “Just those two conditions.”

Lu Yiyao pondered for a moment, as if making a significant decision. “I know a place that will definitely let us have a party, and it’s absolutely private.”

Sorry, Hong Jie.

I know you’ll criticize me for being impulsive and unnecessary. But it’s not the first time I’ve been impulsive, and besides, people with severe sleep deprivation deserve some whims.

Three pairs of eyes suddenly lit up. “Where?”

A playful and proud smile responded, “My house.”

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Kinky Thoughts:

This is the last of the free chapters on jjwxc. If you’ve been enjoying the novel so far and are able to, please consider supporting the author by buying the raws. You can use Google Chrome with their auto translate and this guide on how to buy novels on jjwxc. Remember, only with your (financial) support can artists continue to produce more great works.

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

Author: 颜凉雨 / Yan Liang Yu

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

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Chapter 14

“Come over here. I’ve found something—”

When Gu Jie was waving from not far away, Lu Yiyao had just finished applying sunscreen to one of his arms. Xia Xinran’s sunscreen had a slight whitening effect, making his skin tone half a shade lighter upon application.

Upon hearing the call, the other three companions immediately perked up and ran over. By the time Lu Yiyao realized what was happening, only he and the following cameraman were left standing in the chaotic wind.

With no choice, Lu Yiyao, with his arms of slightly different colors, also followed.

Gu Jie’s discovery was a screwdriver found under a pine tree deep in the coconut grove. This wild coconut grove wasn’t planned or arranged in any specific way. Although mainly coconut trees, the deeper they went, the more pronounced the terrain’s ups and downs became, like small hills. Further in, where there were fewer coconut trees, pine trees, cacti, and other tropical plants whose names were unknown, thrived. Despite it being winter, the area was bursting with life.

“Why would there be a screwdriver here?”

The five companions circled around this curious find, completely baffled.

“It’s a Phillips head…” Lu Yiyao muttered as he took the screwdriver from Gu Jie’s hand for a closer look. Suddenly, he gripped the yellow rubber handle with one hand and the slender metal head with the other and forcefully pulled in opposite directions!

The four onlookers watched as the metal head separated from the rubber handle, revealing that the part inserted into the handle was identical in length and thickness to the exposed part, except the Phillips head had changed to a flathead.

“Exactly as I thought.” Lu Yiyao spun the detached metal head between his fingers like a pen and reinserted it into the handle, smiling with a look of “just as I suspected”. “It’s a dual-purpose screwdriver.”

Ran, Xia, Zhang, Gu: “……”

They admitted that Lu Yiyao had quickly discovered the dual nature of the screwdriver, but what significance did that have, they wondered.

“Well, being able to turn both Phillips and flathead screws is indeed something to be happy about…” Ran Lin sighed lightly, taking the two-piece screwdriver from Lu Yiyao and reassembling it. “But I think there aren’t many places on this deserted island where we can use a screwdriver. Shouldn’t we think about the deeper reason for its appearance here?”

This comment was a wake-up call. Lu Yiyao stroked his chin, deep in thought. “Maybe it’s a reminder that human pollution has spread even to such a paradisiacal and remote island…”

Ran Lin looked seriously into his eyes. “You don’t have to think so broadly…”

Lu Yiyao was indeed a peculiar person.

Ran Lin wasn’t sure how the others felt, but he couldn’t find a more fitting word than “strange”. Lu Yiyao, who was almost unresponsive in the last episode, was now fully engaged.

But his engagement was special.

It was “serious”.

Seriously interacting, seriously discussing, seriously getting involved in the plot.

This kind of “seriousness” might come off as “boring” in others, but in Lu Yiyao, it somehow became endearing.

Ran Lin didn’t know if it was because Lu Yiyao’s “seriousness” was simple and pure, untainted by any insincerity, or if it was his own bias, seeing through a filter of good looks. Regardless, he quite liked Lu Yiyao’s current state, which felt sincere, comfortable, wise, and adorably cute.

“Let’s do a thorough search of this area,” Zhang Beichen suggested. “We focused on the front part of the coconut grove earlier, but we didn’t pay much attention to this mixed area.”

The four companions looked at each other and agreed!

Ten minutes later, it was Gu Jie again, with the same phrase—

“Come over here. I’ve found something!”

When Lu Yiyao heard the call, he had already passed the same cactus for the third time. This particular cactus had a distinctive, graceful shape, so Lu Yiyao remembered it clearly. In fact, he had a clear memory of many things—except directions. Hence, he had a deep admiration for someone like Gu Jie, who could always find the way out and locate landmarks most efficiently.

This time, Gu Jie’s discovery was several coconuts, casually scattered under a short coconut tree, as if they had naturally fallen. But…

Ran Lin looked up carefully at the tree. Its leaves were lush and green, but where there should have been fruit, it was bare.

Compared to this, the coconuts on the ground seemed very suspicious.

However, some foodie companions didn’t care much about that. Xia Xinran, jumping three feet high, picked up a coconut and hugged it as if calling it sweetly could make the juice flow out. “We can drink coconut water now—coconut water, coconut water—”

Thankfully, Xia Xinran’s clamor led Lu Yiyao to his companions.

And then, Zhang Beichen had a sudden inspiration, pointing to the screwdriver in Ran Lin’s hand. “Is this meant for opening coconuts?”

The companions looked at each other, suddenly realizing. In this show, there was no such thing as “coincidence”. Every seemingly unrelated object, if it felt a bit odd, surely hinted at the “evil light” of the show’s planning.

But no one was going to turn away good food, especially after their exhaustive search of the island had left them panting and parched.

They used the screwdriver on a coconut.

Choosing a spot on the coconut that seemed weaker, they used the sharper flathead of the screwdriver to puncture it. Ran Lin poked, Ran Lin poked, Ran Lin poked, then Gu Jie took over, switching when their hands got tired, until all five had taken turns.

Lu Yiyao was last in line.

After taking the seemingly unharmed coconut from Xia Xinran, he thought for a moment and earnestly asked his companions, “Can I use a rock to hammer the screwdriver handle in?”

A moment of awkward silence…

Finally, the four companions roared in unison. “Why didn’t you say that earlier!”

With the help of a rock, the screwdriver finally pierced through the coconut shell and into the water. When Lu Yiyao said “it’s through”, his companions felt as if they had heard heavenly music.

The juice of a large coconut was quite plentiful and abundant. The five of them took turns pouring it into their mouths, going around twice.

The remaining three coconuts were hoarded in Xia Xinran’s embrace, wrapped in the hem of his shirt, as if he were guarding the fruits of victory.

“What do we do now?” Zhang Beichen looked around but still didn’t find anything useful. “We should conserve the three coconuts to last us the day, but what about the shelter and bonfire? We can’t just conjure them out of thin air.”

At this moment, the five of them were still deep in the woods, surrounded only by plants and the sandy soil under their feet.

“Come to think of it, didn’t they just ask us to build a shelter? They didn’t specify how big or sturdy it needs to be, did they?” Lu Yiyao suddenly spoke up.

Ran Lin’s eyes lit up, instantly grasping Lu Yiyao’s idea. “A sandcastle!”

Lu Yiyao facepalmed, took several deep breaths, and then looked back at Ran Lin with his hopeful face. “A sandcastle that can accommodate five people and won’t collapse… Isn’t that technically challenging?”

Xia Xinran, following Lu Yiyao’s line of thought, envisioned a bleak future. “We’ll definitely end up buried alive…”

Zhang Beichen also doubted this idea. “The sand on this beach is quite coarse. If it’s too coarse, it might not stick together enough to make a sand sculpture, right?”

Gu Jie, holding an empty coconut, continued to sip the last few drops. He was more of a doer and not much into brainstorming.

Ran Lin knew he had guessed wrong the moment he saw Lu Yiyao facepalming. He was usually confident in understanding others, but with Lu Yiyao, he often missed the mark or failed to grasp his thoughts completely. He wondered whether it was because Lu Yiyao was too unpredictable, or perhaps they just lacked rapport.

“So… what exactly is your idea for building the shelter?” Ran Lin was certain that Lu Yiyao had a plan.

“Sandcastles won’t work,” Lu Yiyao said, “but we can build a tent with coconut leaves.”

For the next few minutes, they all huddled together as Lu Yiyao drew a diagram of the tent on the ground and explained patiently, “We can use pine branches for the frame. We’ll set up a few vertically and diagonally, then lay the coconut leaves over the frame to create a simple tent.”

Lu Yiyao looked around at his companions. Xia Xinran was the first to raise his hand. “Teacher Lu, I have a question.”

Lu Yiyao nodded. “Go ahead.”

Xia Xinran: “Can such a tent protect us from wind and rain?”

Lu Yiyao looked up at the bright sun. “Based on my observation, the chance of rain today is low, so we don’t need it to be waterproof, just to provide shade.”

Zhang Beichen, mimicking Xia Xinran, cheekily raised his hand. “Teacher Lu, I also have a question. The pine branches are limited in length. They’re fine vertically stuck in the sand, as we don’t need much height to sit inside, but if they’re short horizontally, how can we fit five people?”

Lu Yiyao didn’t see this as an issue. “We can build several tents. After all, there’s no rule saying we can only build one.”

Gu Jie: “What will we use to secure the branches together?”

Lu Yiyao: “I saw some vines earlier that can be used as ropes to tie the joints of the frame together.”

Gu Jie: “Ok, I have no more questions.”

Lu Yiyao nodded and looked at Ran Lin as if to say, “Everyone else has asked their questions. Aren’t you going to follow suit?” In all honesty, Ran Lin didn’t have many quirky questions. When Lu Yiyao said they could build a coconut leaf tent, he naturally believed Lu Yiyao had considered its feasibility and that it could be done.

He didn’t need a reason; that was just the trust Lu Yiyao instilled in him—no big talk, no empty words, no gimmicks. If he said it could be done, it could be done.

But since Lu Yiyao was expecting a question, Ran Lin didn’t want to let the moment pass in silence. “I thought you got lost when Gu Jie called earlier, and you took so long to come over. Turns out you were deep in research,” Ran Lin said, half-teasingly, half-admiringly. “You really know a lot. You’re quite awesome.”

Lu Yiyao wiped the sweat from his forehead, trying to smile naturally. “It’s nothing much.”

A good start is half the success. Under Teacher Lu’s guidance, the companions worked together: some gathered coconut leaves, others collected dry branches, and some pulled up vines. But as none of them were experts in outdoor survival, it took until after 10 in the morning to gather all the materials and bring them back to the beach.

Under Lu Yiyao’s leadership, they used the screwdriver or sharp stones to dig four small pits in the sandy soil at the beach, corresponding to the four corners of a square. They buried the thicker, straighter branches they had found into these pits, standing them up like trees.

The front two branches were taller, the back two shorter. Then, they used four more branches as horizontal beams, tying them at the tops of the vertical posts.

The branches had some flexibility, so those connecting the front and back beams of different heights needed to be bent to a certain degree before being tied.

Ran Lin tried tying the beams for a long time but couldn’t secure them tightly. Xia Xinran, working on another beam, was almost hit in the face by a rebounding branch.

Unable to watch any longer, Lu Yiyao put down his coconut leaves, took over the vines from Ran Lin, and started to help tie the beams. After securing that side, he moved silently to help Xia Xinran without a word.

Xia Xinran was astounded and lavished praise throughout the process.

Ran Lin noticed that Lu Yiyao wasn’t just all talk; he must have had experience camping outdoors. Even if he hadn’t built a leaf tent before, he had certainly done something similar.

After much effort, they finally secured the tent’s skeleton. The excited camping rookies clumsily covered the branch frame with the broad coconut leaves. In no time, a green, leafy shelter took shape. They all stood there for a moment, somewhat in disbelief that they had created this themselves.

Lu Yiyao was pleased, as he had initially thought he might have to do everything himself. But his companions learned quickly and were willing to exert effort. This feeling of working together on a task was something he hadn’t experienced in a long time, bringing back memories of his school days.

“Don’t just stand there,” Zhang Beichen reminded them. “Let’s get the rest done while we’re motivated.” They had gathered enough materials to build three to four small shelters.

“I think we should multitask.” Ran Lin had been thinking about this while building the tent. “We need to keep building the tents, but we should also start thinking about making a fire. Otherwise, once the tents are done, we’ll still have no food, which would be pitiful.”

Reminded by Ran Lin, everyone felt the emptiness in their stomachs. They hadn’t noticed it while busily constructing, but now that they stopped, they realized it was nearing noon, and the hasty breakfast they had eaten in the early morning had long been digested.

“I agree with the dual approach.” Gu Jie stretched his shoulders, ready to continue the construction with vigor. “But I can only help with building the tents. The grand task of creating fire out of thin air is up to you guys.”

“Don’t look at me. I wasn’t the one who suggested multitasking,” Zhang Beichen said, turning to Ran Lin. “You must have a method already, right?”

Ran Lin nodded, pondering for a moment, then suddenly turned to Lu Yiyao. “Don’t be modest now. How do we create fire out of thin air?”

Lu Yiyao: “……”

Feeling like even lying under his bed at home, he couldn’t escape being hit by a pot*. This was how Lu Yiyao felt at the moment.

*Metaphor referring to a situation where someone feels like they can’t escape misfortune or trouble, no matter where they are or what they do. It’s basically saying they have such bad luck that they feel as if they would get hit in the face with a pot/pan no matter what (even if it’s lying in bed).

Ran Lin’s convinced gaze seemed to say, “I know you can do it.”

He didn’t understand where Ran Lin’s confidence came from, and what was worse, he didn’t want to let him down.

“We can only try.” Lu Yiyao finally conceded.

Four pairs of curious eyes widened in anticipation. “How do we do it?”

Lu Yiyao gazed at the horizon and, after a long pause, confidently said, “Drilling wood to make fire.”

An hour later.

Gu Jie and Zhang Beichen had started building the third tent.

Ran Lin and Lu Yiyao had only just begun to smell a faint, burning scent.

Drilling wood to make fire was something Ran Lin had only learned about in textbooks and never imagined he’d have to apply in real life. He followed Lu Yiyao in picking up a palm-sized piece of wood and a small branch slightly thinner than a finger. Then he watched as Lu Yiyao used a screwdriver to carve a groove in the wood and sharpened the branch with a sharp stone for smoother rotation in the palm.

Lu Yiyao then stuffed some of the collected dry coconut palm fibers into the groove and laid more around and under the piece of wood, ready to ignite as soon as a spark landed.

Ran Lin helped a little under Lu Yiyao’s guidance, but most of the work was done by Lu Yiyao himself. However, Ran Lin observed attentively, especially when everything was ready and Lu Yiyao kneeled down, foot pressing one end of the wood block, hands clasped around the small branch inserted into the groove. Ran Lin held his breath in excitement, feeling like he was about to witness a miracle.

But then, there was no more “then”.

Lu Yiyao rapidly rubbed the small branch in his hands, causing it to frantically grind against the wood block and coconut fibers. Everything was flawless… except, it just wouldn’t ignite.

As time ticked away, Lu Yiyao’s speed gradually slowed, with large beads of sweat sliding down his face. Ran Lin’s emotions went on a rollercoaster ride from anticipation to confusion to pity.

So when they finally smelled the burnt odor, they couldn’t even get excited.

But the fully immersed Lu Yiyao didn’t notice. He didn’t even feel the passage of time; his focus was entirely on the groove, determined to recreate the glory of his human ancestors.

Another hour passed.

Gu Jie and Zhang Beichen, having finished all the tents, lay exhausted and hungry inside, somewhat comforted by the pleasant sea breeze and the scent of coconut leaves. They could hold on for a while.

But Xia Xinran wasn’t so strong.

He had circled the red plastic bucket about eight hundred times, watching the seafood transition from lively to nearly lifeless. If it weren’t for the water in the bucket, they might have been wind-dried.

Lu Yiyao was also exhausted, a fact that Ran Lin could clearly see. But he could also tell that Lu Yiyao wasn’t ready to give up. Not wanting to interrupt, Ran Lin silently stayed by his side.

Ran Lin admired those who were serious.

Lu Yiyao might not have Xia Xinran’s variety show flair, achieving 120% effect with only 40% effort, nor was he as easygoing as Gu Jie, who was talkative when happy and cold when not, nor as adaptable as Zhang Beichen, who could blend in easily with anyone. But Lu Yiyao had his charm. He adhered strictly to rules, was dedicated to tasks, and took responsibility for what he committed to.

Having someone like this in a team was a fortune. As Ran Lin was lost in these thoughts, a wisp of smoke finally appeared—the coconut palm fibers, after a long struggle, began to smolder!

Ran Lin’s eyes widened in surprise, looking incredulously at the smoke and then at Lu Yiyao. “It’s lit!”

Lu Yiyao finally relaxed, his whole demeanor radiating a sense of triumph. He quickly dropped the small branch, leaned down, and gently blew air on the smoldering coconut fibers.

Ran Lin instantly realized they needed wind to turn the spark into a flame. He also leaned down, blowing alongside Lu Yiyao. “Hoo—”

The coconut fibers, lifted by the smoke, mercilessly scattered in the air, drifting towards the shoreline. The wood block settled back into quietness, leaving only some charred remains.

Lu Yiyao looked at Ran Lin in shock, his eyes filled with immense sadness, as if let down by a cruel world. Ran Lin swallowed hard: “Actually, I think… we don’t necessarily need fire… Uh, do you like sashimi?”

Lu Yiyao closed his eyes, took a deep breath, exhaled slowly, and then repeated the process. Finally, he managed to suppress the devilish urge to strangle the other person and forced a smile. “I’m not a fan of raw food, but for survival, I can make do.”

In the end, the five stars didn’t end up eating sashimi.

The director, unable to bear it any longer, had a change of heart and slightly modified the script. For example, when you’re stranded on a deserted island, you happen to have sunscreen and a lighter in your pocket…

By the time they finally ate the “seafood feast”, it was three in the afternoon. The five stars gathered around the bonfire, feasting as if they could even crunch the shells if their teeth were strong enough.

Ran Lin wanted to strike up a conversation with Lu Yiyao several times but couldn’t find the right opportunity. He was also somewhat apprehensive in his heart, feeling that the foolish things he had done deserved to be punished by being beaten 36,000 times with a spiked club in a cactus patch.

Just as Lu Yiyao finished another shrimp and Ran Lin was about to offer to fetch more, his eyes fixated on Lu Yiyao’s hands. The palms were reddened.

Being so close, Ran Lin could see clearly: they were blistered from the friction.

After persistently rubbing a small branch against one’s palm for over two hours, even the toughest hands would blister. Ran Lin recalled times when he had to wear ill-fitting shoes for work appointments, resulting in painful blisters after just half a day. But Lu Yiyao, it seemed, had blisters and just kept going, eventually rubbing them raw.

Rubbing against raw skin like that must be incredibly painful.

Yet Lu Yiyao acted as if nothing was wrong, not mentioning it at all.

Even if he had let the follow-cam capture this, he surely would have gained sympathy from the audience. Ran Lin didn’t believe that Lu Yiyao was unaware of this tactic. After all, when replying to his Weibo @mentions, Lu Yiyao had always been quite savvy.

The only explanation was that Lu Yiyao didn’t like to play the sympathy card—tactics were fine, but playing the victim was not.

In just one day, Ran Lin felt like he had seen many different sides of Lu Yiyao.

And the more he observed, the more interesting he found him.

Lu Yiyao had been enduring for a long time. No one likes being covertly observed while eating, and the guy sitting next to him seemed to take a couple of bites, then sneak a peek this way, as if the seafood was too bland and he needed Lu Yiyao to spice it up.

The frustration from the unsuccessful fire-making had mostly dissipated with a full stomach. Moreover, Lu Yiyao knew that Ran Lin meant well.

Not to mention, just the fact that Ran Lin had dryly accompanied him for two hours was enough to show his goodwill.

If it were Xia Xinran, he would have gone to sleep in the leaf shelter long ago.

But that didn’t mean Ran Lin could take liberties with him, appearing relentless as if Lu Yiyao were some kind of delicacy!

“You…”

“How come you know so much?”

Lu Yiyao was ready to confront him, but his opponent took the initiative with a genuinely inquisitive question that would make it awkward to respond with any annoyance.

“Cough.” Clearing his throat, Lu Yiyao answered truthfully, “I joined the scouts in middle school, where these skills were essential. Later in college, I would occasionally go camping with friends, which was cheaper than traveling.”

“Oh, right.” Ran Lin remembered. “You studied abroad.”

Lu Yiyao nodded and didn’t elaborate further.

Ran Lin didn’t plan to pry into too much personal information. His curiosity was about other things, like, “Have you ever encountered bears while camping?”

Lu Yiyao was dumbfounded. “Are you serious?”

Ran Lin returned the gaze calmly. “Of course, I’m just joking.”

Lu Yiyao was bewildered, suddenly feeling stupid for seriously recalling past experiences.

Ran Lin couldn’t contain his amusement, finding that teasing Lu Yiyao was even more interesting than teasing Xia Xinran.

Ran Lin had a beautiful smile, pure and refreshing, like the sunshine in spring. It wasn’t too hot or too cold—just the right temperature that made one feel comfortable inside.

As a fellow male artist, Lu Yiyao had to admit that he couldn’t achieve this. He could smile handsomely, gently, charmingly, coldly, and many other ways as photographers or directors required. But this particular smile he couldn’t replicate.

It was unique to Ran Lin, just like Xia Xinran’s beautiful arrogance, Gu Jie’s individualism, and Zhang Beichen’s vibrant energy. These were their personal trademarks, impossible for others to imitate naturally.

Lu Yiyao’s thoughts drifted back to the behind-the-scenes footage and the unpleasant comments underneath. He wondered whether those replies were genuinely misled by the footage, simply disliked Ran Lin, or were just venting frustration. But after spending the day with Ran Lin, he felt more confident in his judgment that the statement was just a joke between Ran Lin and Zhang Beichen.

He didn’t even need to wait for the full program to air to be sure of this.

Because the fans and netizens only saw a snippet of footage, while he had actually interacted with Ran Lin for two and a half episodes. Even though they were mostly just background to each other for two episodes, he had watched how Ran Lin interacted with others, including his temperament and personality.

Of course, it was possible that all these were just a facade, that his real temperament wasn’t so good, and his personality wasn’t so straightforward. But at least for these two and a half episodes, he had been diligently participating in the program, sometimes even helping with tasks that others were reluctant to do. Just for that, he shouldn’t be judged harshly.

Lu Yiyao appreciated those who were dedicated to their work and was critical of his own emotional behavior in the first two episodes. So seeing Ran Lin being ridiculed for the same dedication made him feel uncomfortable.

“Teacher Lu…”

A soft call brought Lu Yiyao back from his thoughts. Looking up, it was Ran Lin who had called him. “Teacher Lu” was a nickname he had earned that day, given unilaterally by his peers in appreciation of his significant contribution.

Expecting Ran Lin to ask about camping or related knowledge, Lu Yiyao cleaned his hands and sat up straight, ready to answer seriously. “Yes?”

Ran Lin leaned in, staring intently at him. “I’ve been wanting to ask since this morning. Why do I always feel that the way you look at me today… is full of sympathy?”

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