The gathering location for the first phase is Hua Yan Media’s headquarters building in the city center. Director Bu borrowed the studio there.
This is Gu Qingtong’s first time coming to Hua Yan, the company where Yan Chi is located.
Even though she knew that Yan Chi was still on a business trip and wouldn’t encounter her in the building, Gu Qingtong still held a bit of anticipation.
What if they really happened to meet?
Since Yan Chi went on a business trip, Gu Qingtong also saw photos of her taken on the streets of Paris on the hot search. It was the first time she saw Yan Chi wearing glasses with gold frames, looking cultured and somewhat inexplicably elegant with a touch of “shameless” charm.
As soon as she saw this set of photos, her eyes lit up: Is there such a good thing?! Show me more of it!
Apart from the pleasant surprise, she also felt a bit melancholic. After all, even if she became Yan Chi’s wife in name, she was still like any other fan, only finding out where Yan Chi went and what she did through the hot search on Weibo.
On second thought, at least she could see Yan Chi from the hot search, but Yan Chi probably couldn’t catch a glimpse of her at all!
Thinking this way, she didn’t feel like she had gained anything; instead, she felt even more melancholic.
During these two weeks, Gu Qingtong naturally had no reason to disturb Yan Chi, nor did she mention her own live broadcast to her.
But the day after the live broadcast ended, she inexplicably received a call from Yan Chi, who was calling from across the ocean.
At first, even Gu Qingtong thought that Yan Chi was just symbolically greeting her, as the nominal object of the marriage. However, Yan Chi said, “I watched your live broadcast, and it was very cute.”
The three words “very cute” immediately awakened Gu Qingtong’s memory of that day.
After she recited the cheesy pick-up lines to the mysterious Girl Number Four, the other person also said she was cute…
Could it be that Yan Chi… misunderstood?
Gu Qingtong inexplicably had a sense of guilt, as if she had been caught cheating. She panicked and began to confess, “Ah, ah? The cheesy pick-up lines were given to me as a task by the production team. I-I’m very upright! I have no impure thoughts!”
On the other end, Yan Chi’s next words were, “Huh? You remember what she said so clearly?”
If Xiao Jun had been present to hear these words, she would have surely sprayed out a mouthful of blood. How did Teacher Yan manage to climb up the pole and even eat her own vinegar?!
Most people would be able to sense the strong jealousy in Yan Chi’s words.
However, Gu Qingtong’s thought process was clearly not that of an ordinary person. She panicked and interpreted Yan Chi’s words as a gentle warning not to overstep boundaries.
So she began to whine in a pitiful voice, dragging out her words and acting coquettish, “Oh, I can’t help it. You just need to know that I don’t like anyone and I’m not interested in anyone.”
Yan Chi remained silent for a long time after hearing this and when she spoke, her voice was somewhat hoarse, “I’m not blaming you. I really…find it very cute.”
At that moment, the atmosphere between the two suddenly became somewhat delicate. When Yan Chi repeated the words that Gu Qingtong had heard during the live broadcast without any reaction, somehow, her cheeks started to turn slightly red.
She covered her cheeks and suddenly couldn’t say anything.
In the end, it was Yan Chi who hastily ended the call.
❖❖❖❖❖
Gu Qingtong found herself once again recalling the conversation from that day and quickly shook her head to clear her cluttered mind.
“So what if I’m cute? Isn’t that a matter of course!” She seemed to be getting angry with her own stubbornness.
“What’s wrong?” Sun Xiao, who was beside her, looked at her with concern. “Do you remember today’s schedule? Half indoors, half outdoors. I can’t accompany you, so be careful and stay safe.”
Because it was the first episode, there had to be a segment where the guests got to know each other. So the first half was dedicated to introducing the rules of the CP1Couple pairing in the indoor studio.
“It’s fine. I don’t have a CP anyway. It’s just going through the motions,” Gu Qingtong confidently waved her hand. “And since I’m such a mess, no one would bother pairing up with me out of charity.”
Under Sun Xiao’s urging, Gu Qingtong arrived early, but she didn’t expect that when she pushed open the door, there were already two male guests sitting on the couch.
The three of them stared at each other, and the air was filled with an awkward atmosphere.
She had done her homework early on, so she knew they were respectively the second male lead, Deng Dongjun, and the third male lead, Yu Xi.
Deng Dongjun has been making a name for himself in various idol dramas recently. After all, his looks stood out among the new generation of fresh meat, and he often “overshadowed” the male leads in the same drama.
The reason he hadn’t become a male lead yet was mainly because he left countless flaws in various variety shows and interviews in the past.
People described Deng Dongjun as a handsome guy who should just keep his mouth shut, as he completely ruined his image as soon as he opened his mouth.
He had a typical performance-oriented personality and felt uncomfortable if he wasn’t in the spotlight. He loved showing off and would often do confusing things out of the blue.
But as a B-king, he had also gained a considerable amount of popularity.
On the other hand, Yu Xi had gained popularity by bursting onto the scene with a set of school heartthrob youth photos. However, after his debut, his first film was a youth romance drama where his wooden acting was mocked and became a hot topic.
Since that film, he hadn’t played any significant roles in TV dramas and instead participated in variety shows. However, he had a reserved personality and often left no impression on people in those shows. In short, he was an unlucky little fresh meat with a weak presence.
These two extremely contrasting personalities of celebrities had joined the romance variety show together, and the most crucial part was that they were the two male guests who were given the script for the love triangle.
If the script hadn’t been changed, Deng Dongjun and Yu Xi would both “like” the second female lead, and from there, a fierce competition and the audience’s favorite plot of the three of them being bound together for tasks would unfold.
Director Bu’s eye for casting was indeed sharp. Setting aside what kind of activities these two personalities would cause, their looks alone were enough for the audience to close their eyes and start shipping the CP.
However, their drama and conflicts had nothing to do with Gu Qingtong. As the only spectator, she was quite excited and couldn’t wait for the two of them to start fighting.
Whether it was just Gu Qingtong’s illusion or not, it had just begun, but she could really sense the tension between the two.
More accurately, it was Deng Dongjun’s inexplicable hostility towards Yu Xi.
Deng Dongjun was dressed in a formal suit, completely contrasting with the casual attire of Gu Qingtong and Yu Xi. He looked exquisite, like a proud peacock.
As soon as Gu Qingtong entered, the peacock became alert, but he didn’t rush to greet her. He waited until Yu Xi hesitated for a while and raised his hand to signal before quickly preempting him and calling out Gu Qingtong’s name. Yu Xi awkwardly withdrew his hand and pretended as if nothing had happened.
Gu Qingtong noticed all these small gestures, but as she looked around, she realized that they were still in the preparation phase. It seemed like the official filming hadn’t started yet.
Did he directly immerse himself in the role of competing males? Isn’t that a bit too dedicated?!
No, no, she didn’t want to witness the power struggle between the two of them. It’s better to leave it to the second female lead.
Gu Qingtong gave a symbolic greeting, “Hello, everyone,” and then turned her gaze to the couch. She initially wanted to sit alone, but she found that the couch was semi-circular, and no matter where she sat, there would always be someone next to her. So she had to escape to the corner, far away from the main battleground.
Her survival instinct was at its peak.
Yu Xi remained silent and socially anxious, not knowing where to place his feet as he huddled in the other corner.
Gu Qingtong had serious doubts about whether his personality and acting skills could handle the rumored script of a bitter, deep-seated grudge and the role of a loyal dog.
Deng Dongjun, on the other hand, eagerly wanted to strike up a conversation with Gu Qingtong, constantly glancing in her direction.
However, before he could say anything, the door was pushed open again.
This time, a male and female pair entered, clearly the official couple prepared to be bound by the script as the main leads. The female lead was Chu Yu, and the male lead was Wen Ziyao.
Unlike the half-hearted participants, Chu Yu could be considered a former popular actress who had gained fame from a previous drama. Although her popularity wasn’t as high as before, she still had roles as a female lead and possessed a gentle and graceful face that easily garnered people’s favor.
As soon as she entered, she smiled and greeted everyone, naturally taking a seat in the middle of the couch.
However, considering her qualifications, none of the other guests had a CP partner older than her, so no one felt it was inappropriate.
Wen Ziyao has been in the industry for nearly ten years. Originally, he had good acting skills and looks, and he was ambitious in his career. He would take on any genre that gained popularity, be it a CEO, immortal, or even a forbidden adaptation.
But it seemed that he was always a bit unlucky and had never achieved great success. As he grew older, he seemed to have a kind of obsession with becoming popular.
Of course, Chu Yu and Wen Ziyao were already the biggest names among the guests in this variety show, naturally being the center of attention.
As the main adult romance CP, they naturally had the most screen time and scripts. There wouldn’t be any controversial edits or cuts that would affect their public image.
They didn’t have many fans to begin with, so even if they were really dating, it wouldn’t cause a fan meltdown. If they could gain some popularity and attract some CP fans through this variety show, it would be perfect.
Moreover, who knows, maybe Hua Yan would provide them with post-show resources for their CP relationship in the form of subsequent film and television projects.
It could be said that it had no downsides. It’s no wonder the two of them chose to participate in this love variety show where they would act as a CP couple.
Gu Qingtong maintained a respectful distance from them. She only needed to quietly ship their cp from afar and enjoy their on-screen chemistry.
However, their subsequent actions instantly shattered her favorable impression of them.
Chu Yu entered with a smile, but Wen Ziyao had a gloomy expression on his face.
He lazily glanced at the people who stood up to greet him, nodded slightly, and then turned to Chu Yu in front of everyone, complaining, “Why do I hardly recognize any of these faces? When the production team signed me, they didn’t say they were all newbies I’ve never seen before. They’re like newbies who just started acting, being both a dad and a mom. It’s really exhausting.”
With these words, he directly singled out Gu Qingtong and Yu Xi.
Even Chu Yu’s smile froze for a moment before she tried to defuse the situation, saying, “Why are you speaking like that? Don’t mind him. He’s someone who speaks harshly but has a soft heart. He agreed to participate in this variety show because I wanted to, and he even turned down an invitation to be a flight guest on a popular male star’s group variety show because it clashed with our schedule. It’s just that things went wrong even before the show started. After all, the two of us are the main contributors to the viewership and ratings. It’s natural for Ziyao to feel a bit unhappy.”
Clearly, she was trying to appease the situation, but it was obvious that she was simultaneously praising their own status and qualifications while looking down on the production team and other guests involved in the show.
Chu Yu seemed to be blaming her own partner outwardly, but in reality, her words emphasized their experience and position.
Yu Xi’s head sank down again, and Gu Qingtong was left speechless. Given her personality, she would have definitely retorted.
However, this variety show was organized by Director Bu against popular opinion. He had convinced the sponsors and secured resources specifically for her. If she acted impulsively, it would only make the relationship among the guests more awkward, and Director Bu would have a hard time dealing with it…
With these thoughts in mind, Gu Qingtong chose not to say anything.
But Deng Dongjun, as if his sore spot had been touched, slammed the table and reacted strongly, “You haven’t seen my face? Even if you don’t watch idol dramas, you should at least pay attention to the hot searches. You can say I’m pretending, but you can’t blatantly lie and insult my acting skills!”
His words shocked everyone, and Chu Yu and Ziyao fell into silence. What kind of strange person was he?
And they couldn’t even argue back because Deng Dongjun had indeed been mocked and associated with several internet memes, none of which were favorable to him. There was no way to defend against that.
“I didn’t mean you!” Ziyao finally corrected himself.
Deng Dongjun still disagreed and continued to provoke, “Gu Qingtong actually ranked first in the live broadcast of the pre-show. If she messes up, wouldn’t it be even worse for us? Of course, I fully agree if you say Yu Xi messed up.”
Alright, it was clear now. His true intention was revealed. Only Yu Xi would be affected.
Yu Xi raised his head in anger, wearing a rather resentful expression. There was no need for acting as he already had the aura of a devoted dog with a sense of grievance.
Not mentioning the first place was fine, but as soon as it was brought up, not only Ziyao, but even Chu Yu hadn’t expected to be overshadowed by an unknown D-list actor they had never heard of before.
What was even more insulting was that Gu Qingtong had surpassed them without even making it to the hot search rankings.
This was like slapping the faces of two senior figures who considered themselves to have high popularity, being inferior to even a D-list newcomer.
“So did the production team tell you what that special ability is?” Deng Dongjun seemed unable to read the awkward silence in the room and questioned Gu Qingtong.
“Ah, the privilege of forcibly pairing and breaking up couples. It can be maintained for one episode,” Gu Qingtong replied.
Gu Qingtong casually mentioned that skill, making her seem like a troublemaker.
Deng Dongjun: “I’m shocked! What an amazing skill! It seems like I should start pleasing you.”
At that moment, the final guest finally arrived, fashionably late.
Clearly, she was the highly anticipated second female lead. Gu Qingtong could clearly sense that Deng Dongjun and Yu Xi both tensed up instantly.
Speaking of this second female lead, Bai Jin, Gu Qingtong had looked up her information and discovered that she and Yun Mingxuan debuted together in a talent show. They were the dual faces of that limited girl group.
Bai Jin was a “princess” from a major entertainment company and had great resources, but she lacked ambition. She had been carefree since the talent show, and even more so after the group disbanded. She even took on this kind of show that artificially stirs up CP, but her fans were probably used to it.
Now that the real person appeared at the door, everyone’s eyes lit up indeed.
She appears slightly more petite in stature compared to the pictures online, and her facial features also give off a youthful impression. Her mixed heritage is just right, striking a perfect balance, and it aligns well with Eastern beauty standards. Her face is exquisitely delicate, resembling that of a doll.
Even someone like Gu Qingtong, who was obsessed with appearances, admitted that her looks were indeed superior. No wonder she could debut based on her looks alone.
However, Bai Jin was someone Yun Mingxuan knew… This made Gu Qingtong uncertain for a moment.
Oh well, since she had nothing to hide, she would just handle the situation as it came.
The six of them gathered together, each with their peculiar personalities, but it was truly a feast for face-lovers.
Especially those young individuals who relied on their looks to make a living, sitting together was a sight to behold.
Bai Jin seemed to be in a good mood. She greeted everyone and scanned her gaze over each guest before finally pausing on Gu Qingtong. Suddenly, she smiled, and the dimples at the corners of her mouth made her even sweeter.
She directly sat next to Gu Qingtong and affectionately called out, “Sister, I watched your live stream. You’re so cool when you play games. Can you play with me next time?”
Gu Qingtong was slow to react, only then realizing why this second female lead didn’t go to her two turbulent CP partners and instead came to pester her.
Fearful of being drawn into the turbulent CP drama, Gu Qingtong became guarded. She shifted her whole body to the side and said, “…Let’s talk about it after we finish recording the show.”
Bai Jin chuckled, “Why are you so afraid of me, Sister? Don’t worry, I’m different from Yun Mingxuan.”
As soon as she said that, everyone’s gaze was drawn to Gu Qingtong.
Gu Qingtong looked at Bai Jin, completely perplexed. The other party clearly didn’t like Yun Mingxuan, so did she consider her enemy’s enemy as a friend?
Fortunately, the appearance of the show’s director and production team saved Gu Qingtong from further confusion.
As Gu Qingtong sneakily glanced in Bai Jin’s direction, she even caught Bai Jin staring at her. It startled her once again, causing her to avoid looking in that direction altogether.
After the equipment was set up, the cameras started rolling.
After all six individuals introduced themselves, the production team began explaining the rules for selecting CP pairs in the first episode:
“…Everyone has the freedom to choose their CP partner. Each person will write the name of their chosen partner on a card and submit it to the production team. The card can be left blank, but once a blank card is submitted, the person automatically becomes a solo participant, losing the right to be chosen.
If person A and person B write each other’s names, they become an immediate CP pair;
If person A writes person B’s name, but person B is already paired with someone else, the pairing fails, and person A becomes a solo participant;
If person A writes person B’s name, but person B is a solo participant, they form a CP pair.
After the pairing is completed, the remaining solo participants will form temporary CP pairs to complete subsequent tasks together.”
The director spoke with a serious tone but made up nonsense:
“The reason we didn’t let you get to know each other or choose your partners beforehand is because we want to see your initial impressions of each other.
Don’t worry, this isn’t a binding commitment from the start to the end. If the CP pairings in the first episode aren’t suitable, you can change partners during the CP reshuffling in the second episode.”
Although they all held a rough script in their hands, the audience was clearly unaware of it. The show aimed to create this kind of dramatic effect.
Each of the six individuals received a small heart-shaped card and a pen.
After writing, they handed their cards to the director’s “little black room” for individual interview segments.
Although the two individuals had just caused a commotion, they naturally wouldn’t engage in any more antics in front of the camera.
After a brief discussion, Chu Yu was the first to enter with her card.
“Sister, who did you write down? I really want to write your name so that we can all work together on this episode, right?” Taking advantage of Chu Yu’s absence, Bai Jin fixed her gaze on Gu Qingtong, trying to provoke her.
Hearing Bai Jin calling her “sister” repeatedly gave Gu Qingtong a headache. Ignoring the camera in front of her, she put on a mask of pain.
She could only seek help by looking at Deng Dongjun and Yu Xi, hoping that one of them would choose her and spare her from further trouble.
Yu Xi received Gu Qingtong’s signal and seemed to suddenly awaken. Realizing his position as a loyal follower, he whispered to Bai Jin, “Um… Can I choose you? I followed the variety show when you participated in the audition. I’ve always been a fan of yours…”
“Are you my fan?” Bai Jin chuckled at Yu Xi’s eager nod, but her words were merciless. “Sorry, I don’t privately associate with fans.”
Once again, the world where Yu Xi is the one who gets hurt has come into existence.
Bai Jin clearly didn’t match her appearance with a gentle and soft demeanor; instead, she had an aggressive and dominant personality.
Finally, Gu Qingtong managed to escape and hurriedly entered the little black room to exchange notes.
As the designated spectator of the script, her card was naturally left blank.
However, Bai Jin’s unconventional behavior startled Gu Qingtong, and she started to fear being chosen as her partner.
But Gu Qingtong still held the power to form and dissolve any CP.
She displayed her card in front of the camera and said, “Because I don’t know how to get close to strangers and I’m afraid of making everyone feel awkward, I didn’t choose anyone. I don’t know if anyone will choose me, or who my teammate will be if I’m left alone… If we follow the pattern of pairing two by two, someone should be left, right?”
Although she said this out loud, Gu Qingtong, who had read the script, knew better than anyone that she would enjoy being alone today!
After everyone had exchanged their cards, the production team announced, “Based on your choices, we have already determined your respective pairs, but we cannot reveal them at this moment.
Now, each person will receive an individual task. Only after completing the task will you receive the address to meet your CP for this episode. The pairing and subsequent CP tasks will be revealed after you meet.”
Gu Qingtong looked at her task: “Please wear a doll costume and go to the amusement park to distribute promotional flyers for the brand sponsor. Once you finish distributing the flyers, you will receive the address.”
Do they have to make it so formal…? I don’t even have a CP, so getting an address likely means experiencing loneliness.
She thought to herself, but outwardly nodded solemnly.
“Sister, see you later!”
Before leaving, Gu Qingtong heard Bai Jin’s urgent voice in her ear again, and her lips, which had just curled up, immediately dropped with pain.
After getting in the production team’s car, she immediately noticed the stack of flyers and the doll costume placed on the backseat, which turned out to be a little fox.
Although it wasn’t the pink fox female celebrity from the Di family, it was still very cute.
However, when she shifted her gaze to the flyers, Gu Qingtong fell silent for a moment. The flyers were advertising the limited edition Christmas lipstick set from the main sponsor, and there were thick stacks of them. She couldn’t help but question her existence, asking the photographer, “Brother, can we really finish distributing all these flyers? I feel like you guys are pranking me.”
“Ah, you might not believe it, but our team was previously on a variety show called ‘Transformations.’ The accompanying photographer sighed.
Oh no, I’ve fallen into a trap!
“You’re actually lucky. Their tasks are even more exciting.” The photographer’s smile grew wider and wider.
It took an hour for the car to reach the amusement park, and only then did Gu Qingtong realize that this vacation park was also one of the sponsors of the show.
Due to the approaching Christmas season, the entire park was adorned in red, green, and white, the colors of Christmas.
Gu Qingtong struggled to walk properly after getting out of the car, as the doll costume she was wearing was supported by a steel frame and quite heavy. It wasn’t until she experienced it firsthand that she realized the hardships of those who worked as doll performers in the amusement park.
Through the gaps in her mouth, she could see the scene in front of her.
It was a weekday and still daytime, so there weren’t too many people in the park. However, she was in the carousel area, which was suitable for all ages, and there were still some people waiting in line.
The cameraman didn’t accompany Gu Qingtong closely; instead, he found a nearby shop and sat a little further away to film.
Gu Qingtong didn’t pay much attention to it, thinking that the production team wanted her to play a role that was closer to real life.
She held a stack of flyers and took a few steps, hopping and gradually getting used to the constriction of the doll costume.
When she felt ready, she hesitantly approached the queue of visitors.
Gu Qingtong had never distributed flyers before, and she was already someone with thin skin and a bit of shyness. Now, the thought of giving flyers to strangers made her feel nervous.
The first target was a young mother with a child. She had delicate makeup on her face, clearly the target audience for the sponsor’s brand.
As Gu Qingtong approached, she hesitated on how to hand out the flyers. However, the mother and daughter were startled by the sudden approach of the doll, and the little girl started crying, saying, “Mommy! There’s a monster!”
Gu Qingtong felt at a loss, unable to do anything in the doll costume. She could only take a few steps back away from the child.
The young mother comforted her daughter while apologizing to Gu Qingtong, saying, “I’m sorry, my baby is very afraid of these large dolls.”
The surrounding crowd was drawn to the crying child’s attention and looked towards the three of them.
Gu Qingtong could feel the gaze of the onlookers filled with confusion, making her body break out in a thin layer of sweat.
She looked at the crying child and then at her doll costume. She took off the bow tied around the neck of the little fox and cautiously approached the girl. She placed the bow in her palm and handed it over as a small peace offering, as if apologizing.
The child hid in her mother’s arms but glanced up at the little fox with a tear-streaked and snotty face.
It didn’t seem that scary after all… She gradually stopped crying and, in a childish voice, asked Gu Qingtong, “Is this for me?”
Gu Qingtong nodded her oversized head up and down.
After receiving confirmation from her mother, the little girl reached out and slowly touched the palm of the little fox. Instead of immediately taking the hairpin, she curiously touched the fur on her hand and exclaimed, “It’s fluffy!”
“Thank you for the fluffiness!” The child received the bow and her face lit up with happiness.
“Did you want to give me a flyer earlier?” The young mother’s gaze also fell on Gu Qingtong’s flyers. She took one and smiled, saying, “I will buy products from your company. Thank you.”
At that moment, Gu Qingtong felt the same heartwarming sensation she had experienced with the pink furry fox doll before.
The mother and daughter soon left, but Gu Qingtong seemed to gather courage all at once and started handing out flyers to the crowd.
Although she faced many rejections, with people either walking away when they saw her approach or waving their hands indicating they didn’t need one, Gu Qingtong, once determined to do something well, wouldn’t easily be discouraged. She patiently asked each person one by one.
Just then, a group of elementary school students appeared from somewhere behind her.
“Can the little fox dance for us? We’ll take your flyers!” they said.
It was quite challenging to perform such difficult movements in the doll costume, but in order not to disappoint the children, Gu Qingtong placed the flyers on a nearby railing and clumsily started dancing with the children.
Gu Qingtong didn’t have any singing or dancing talent. She was just performing a dance she had learned for a university event a long time ago, which looked even more comical under the heavy doll costume.
However, the chattering children were extremely delighted, applauding and saying, “The little fox is amazing!”
In the end, each of them took two flyers, saying they would bring them to their little friends.
The children inspired Gu Qingtong. If she acted like one of the amusement park mascots and danced interactively with the children, would it be easier to distribute the flyers?
If Gu Qingtong turned around at that moment and looked in the direction the elementary school students had left, she would see a few children gathered around a woman, saying, “Pretty big sister, we followed your instructions and got the flyers from the little fox. Now, can you teach us how to fold those high-flying paper airplanes?”
Yan Chi watched the joyful antics of the little fox from afar and a smile crept onto her lips. Her voice involuntarily softened:
“I’ll demonstrate it just once.”
The dancing and interacting approach proved effective. People even mistook Gu Qingtong for one of the park’s mascots, and some tourists recorded videos of her.
Because Gu Qingtong put so much effort into her performance, no one was willing to refuse when she handed out the flyers.
Although she was tired, Gu Qingtong felt a great sense of accomplishment in the doll costume. She even thought she could join the Di Family’s doll troupe right now, wearing this outfit.
She had distributed flyers around the carousel area, and now Gu Qingtong shifted her focus and strolled over to the food street.
Even before approaching the visitors, she was captivated by the aroma of hot dogs nearby and couldn’t move forward.
She really wanted to eat!
Not only was her mouth watering, but her stomach had also been growling since early morning when she left Hua Yan. It had already been half a day, and Gu Qingtong’s stomach made embarrassing rumbling sounds.
She hurriedly bounced back to the cameraman’s side and expressed her desperate need: “Does the production team provide meals? Those hot dogs over there smell amazing!”
Naturally, she was heartlessly rejected, and the cameraman lazily replied, “You’ll have something to eat when you meet your partner. Don’t rush.”
Where was her partner? With her fox head drooping due to hunger, Gu Qingtong had no choice but to continue distributing flyers in the food street.
Why did she work so hard to distribute them, only to be left with such a large stack of flyers?
Just as Gu Qingtong was bowing her head, carefully counting how many flyers were left, she suddenly felt a force behind her and her headpiece was forcefully slapped.
Under the impact of this force, the steel rods supporting the headpiece struck her head with a heavy blow.
“Hahaha! Haven’t seen this stupid doll for a long time!”
It seemed like wicked laughter was coming from outside.
Gu Qingtong was completely stunned, and the sudden pain on her head made her cry while hiding beneath the headpiece. She dumbly held her head, and tears streamed down her face.
The cameraman also noticed that something was wrong with Gu Qingtong and hurriedly packed up his equipment to go find her.
Just then, he suddenly saw a figure standing in front of the doll.
It was Yan Chi… So she had already realized that the doll was Gu Qingtong. The cameraman was astonished, and his hands stopped in the middle of packing up the equipment.
The production team claimed that they would receive the address after completing the task, but in reality, the tasks were intentionally difficult and time-consuming, designed to be hard to accomplish.
Because from the beginning, they had no intention of letting them succeed. They simply arranged each couple to the same area to complete their tasks, hoping for a surprise moment of “suddenly looking back, only to find the person at the dimly lit place.”
As long as the couples met, the task would be considered successful.
Yan Chi was introduced as the female guest number four, naturally entering as a “lonely person,” automatically forming a team with Gu Qingtong.
She was not assigned a task and, to increase the difficulty, she was even asked to recognize Gu Qingtong wearing the doll costume.
Gu Qingtong felt the light coming through the ventilation hole in front of her suddenly darken. She thought it was because she was crying so intensely that her vision became blurred. However, the next moment, her hand, which was covering her head, was held by a pair of familiar and warm hands.
She was startled, and that name almost slipped out of her lips.
Yan Chi gently placed Gu Qingtong’s hand back by her side and carefully removed her headpiece with both hands.
The pitiful appearance of Gu Qingtong gradually emerged from under the headpiece. She lowered her head, her hair unusually messy and drooping. Her eyes were sparkling and moist, and tears rolled down, passing over her beauty mark and leaving behind glistening traces.
She bit her lip, seemingly trying to suppress the sound of her crying from within the headpiece.
Finally, Gu Qingtong, as if finding her refuge, let out a sobbing voice and asked, “Yan Chi, why is it you?”
But the sudden brightness in front of her also reminded her that she was still filming the program.
“I… I can’t cry in front of the camera,” she tried to break free from Yan Chi’s embrace, speaking incoherently, “It’s too ugly, and we… “
Yan Chi held her tightly in her arms, paying no attention to whether the cameras were still filming them. “Let me see if the place where you were hit is okay.”
Seemingly aware that Yan Chi’s words were not to be refused, and perhaps because her head was indeed still throbbing, Gu Qingtong embarrassingly buried her face in Yan Chi’s neck, attempting to conceal her tear-streaked face and figure. She allowed Yan Chi’s cool fingertips to gently sweep away her disheveled hair.
After a careful examination, it seemed that it was just swollen. Yan Chi breathed a sigh of relief and helped smooth out her hair. Her voice involuntarily took on a soothing tone.
“Let’s go, I’ll take you to the infirmary. You had a concussion before.”
“Okay…”
Gu Qingtong’s muffled voice came through. She slowly lifted her head from Yan Chi’s embrace, her tears already ceased. She noticed a few damp spots on Yan Chi’s collar, evidence of her own tears.
“I’m filming the program. I have to finish distributing the flyers for the task to be considered complete.”
Looking at the pile of flyers, Gu Qingtong’s melodramatic side emerged, feeling more aggrieved. Not only did they not take her flyers, but they also hit her on the head…
What a ridiculous situation!
“We’ve already completed the task,” the cameraman accompanied by the production crew rushed over, preemptively explained the rules of the program to Gu Qingtong, and delivered the earth-shattering news, “Yan Chi is the hidden female guest number four, specially added for this episode. She is your temporary partner for this episode.”
“Congratulations on meeting each other. The pairing is a success!”
In this despairing proclamation, Gu Qingtong forgot about her grievances, her hand trembling in fright, causing the flyers to scatter all over the ground.
