MMJWQC Chapter 9

As time gradually moved towards noon, the sun became more scorching.

Feng Qi had never been fond of trouble and had never participated in variety shows before. This was his first time appearing in one. If it weren’t for multiple invitations from the program’s production team and the fact that the show had yet to encounter any issues, coupled with the fact that his manager deemed it feasible, he would never have agreed to join.

The last time he participated in a variety show, it did indeed bring in earnings quicker than filming a movie or TV drama. Of course, he had been acting for many years, and he had already accepted numerous high-paying advertisements. Still, the income from being a guest on a variety show couldn’t compare. His manager had advised him to use this period when he wasn’t taking on acting roles to appear on variety shows and increase his exposure, maintaining a presence in front of his fans.

Feng Qi had gained fame from the very beginning, consistently delivering high-quality work. Because of this, he often neglected his Weibo account. He rarely posted any updates and when he did, it was usually just a simple emoji. His fans had mixed feelings about him, loving and hating his approach. Recently, he had wanted to take a break and had even stopped using Weibo altogether, causing his fans to become increasingly frustrated. It was only after listening to his manager’s advice that he decided to participate in this variety show.

Now, looking back, he realized it might have been better to go back to acting. After finishing this variety show, he immediately took on a role in a new production.

He and Zhou Zongyu visited other teams’ shops. The other guests were all quite daring, either distributing self-made promotional flyers on the streets, directly approaching potential customers, or even selling products right at the shop’s entrance. They were creative and generated a lot of laughter, filling the variety show with entertainment value.

Zhou Zongyu watched as customers flocked to the shops of other teams, and jealousy welled up in him.

“Feng Ge, what if we also go back and put up a banner? I can stand at the entrance and shout, ‘Don’t just pass by, don’t miss out’. I can do it too!'”

“Let’s go back first and brainstorm some ideas together.”

“If all else fails, I’ll dance girl group moves at the entrance to attract customers.”

“If you’re willing to do it, I don’t mind.”

“Feng Ge, are you suggesting we dance girl group moves together?”

“You can dance, thanks.” Dancing girl group moves was something he could never do in this lifetime.

However, they soon realized that their unreliable girl group dance plan was completely unnecessary.

After being outside for only half an hour, they returned to the incense shop, and the crowd of people was significantly different from half an hour ago.

Zhou Zongyu was straightforward, saying, “Didn’t the director mention that the customer flow in these shops is usually not high?”

If the daily sales of the shops were high, it wouldn’t make sense for the TV show to come. Even though it’s an entertainment program, fairness needs to be considered.

Feng Qi also couldn’t understand. “Let’s go back and see for ourselves.”

At this moment, although the flow of customers in the shop was not continuous, there were still five or six customers standing in front of the counter, choosing incense. Some were with friends, some were couples, and most of them were young people. Meanwhile, Chu Ruochun, left in the shop, was methodically recommending suitable incense to them.

Some customers noticed Feng Qi and recognized him.

“Oh, it’s Feng Qi!”

They knew that “Nothing is Impossible” was recording a program here, but they never expected to encounter Feng Qi and Zhou Zongyu.

Chu Ruochun saw customers flocking to the two of them, and he didn’t seem displeased.

After the fans had their autographs, Zhou Zongyu casually asked if they wanted to buy incense.

The fans who were initially a bit hesitant immediately had Chu Ruochun wrap up the incense, but there were also some who deliberately made things difficult for them.

One of the show’s fans said, “Yuyu, if you dance a girl group dance, we’ll buy incense!”

Zhou Zongyu had previously danced a girl group dance on another variety show, which many fans still remember.

Zhou Zongyu, who thought he had escaped this ordeal, said, “Feng Ge, didn’t we just finish planning? You’re so greedy!”

The show’s fans were a bit mischievous and said, “Feng Ge is Feng Ge, and you’re you. How can you mix them up? Hurry up and dance!”

It was well-known that Zhou Zongyu was exceptionally good to his fans, and his personality was quite nice. Sometimes, he could even be a bit cheeky, which particularly endeared him to the girls.

For the sake of the show’s effect, Zhou Zongyu naturally had to dance, and he seemed to be having a lot of fun.

“Alright, alright, I’ll dance, give me some music!”

Chu Ruochun stood behind the counter, observing the interaction between Zhou Zongyu and the fans.

After the girl group dance cover was over, the fans started demanding introductions to incense again, which was truly torturous!

Zhou Zongyu was on the verge of giving up, saying, “You guys are going too far!”

Fans chimed in, “Yeah, tell us about these incense.”

“Exactly.”

The second-generation rich kid, Zhou Zongyu, had lived a carefree life for twenty-three years. His greatest expertise was in eating, drinking, and having fun, while his least favorite thing was studying.

Zhou Zongyu made a pitiful expression and sought help from Feng Qi and Chu Ruochun, “Feng Ge, Ruochun, we’re a team, you can’t just stand by and watch. They’re being too much!”

With Zhou Zongyu’s playful banter, the atmosphere in the fragrance shop became lively, attracting quite a few customers. Behind the camera, Boss Chen was in a cheerful mood, and the last time he saw the shop so bustling was when his grandfather was still alive.

Boss Chen glanced down at the agarwood beads in his hand, wondering if there was truly some special secret inside. He decided to ask an expert about it tomorrow.

After the first wave of excitement passed, it was nearing noon, and the program crew decided to organize a game for all the guests, while the shops would be in a temporary holding state.

By mid-morning, everyone was feeling a bit tired from the ordeal, but the three individuals from the incense shop, which had been considered the most challenging to sell, showed no signs of fatigue.

The director announced, “Now, let’s begin the next round of games. As we all know, people in ancient times used account books, and for calculations, they often used abacuses. So today, we will test everyone’s calculation skills. The top-performing team at noon will receive a three-person meal voucher worth 1,888 yuan at the Drunken Immortal Pavilion!”

A group of guests who had only touched an abacus back in elementary school were dumbfounded.

“An abacus? Director, we all use calculators now.”

“Or the calculator on our phones.”

“Can’t we do mental math?”

“Or just do it orally!”

“For the sake of that big meal, let’s give it a try!”

The guests exchanged comments, but the director completely ignored their complaints. If all the guests were comfortable, where’s the fun in that? The audience tuned in for the guests’ challenges.

“For each round of the competition, one representative from each team will come forward.”

Six tables were set up with the most common wooden abacuses.

Zhou Zongyu was academically challenged, and he couldn’t even use an abacus, let alone excel at it.

“How do we play this?” He was bewildered at the sight of the abacus. “I have no idea! Feng Ge, can you do it?”

Feng Qi could use an abacus, but only for basic calculations with thousands and hundreds. “I can, but I’m not an expert. I struggle with more complex calculations.”

Zhou Zongyu looked at Chu Ruochun with a mournful expression. “Ruochun, how about you?”

Chu Ruochun considered for a moment and said, “I should be able to handle it.”

Zhou Zongyu scratched his head in a dilemma. “So, who goes first among the three of us?”

Feng Qi calmly replied, “I’ll go first, Zongyu, you’re second, and Ruochun is third.”

With someone taking the lead, Zhou Zongyu exclaimed excitedly, “Feng Ge, our big meal depends on you!”

The director held a ledger and began reading numbers.

The guests started awkwardly moving the beads on the abacus, counting and adding numbers, starting from the lowest place value. The second and third teams collapsed when they reached the thousands place. Time to switch!

“Oh my, this is so hard!”

“My hand is shaking.”

“My brain tells me I know it, but my hand won’t listen!”

Each team member with mistakes stepped down, and the second member took their place. The teams without mistakes continued to stay in their positions.

Feng Qi preserved his reputation as an actor and didn’t get eliminated in the first round. Sitting next to him, Jiang Zirong was much calmer and more efficient; she was the fastest and most accurate with the abacus this time, handling it skillfully.

Jiang Zirong was confident, and their team members cheered wildly.

Of course, Zhou Zongyu had to cheer for Feng Qi too, but Chu Ruochun didn’t show extreme emotions. He smiled and clapped, trying to blend into the atmosphere.

After the first round, four teams had switched members.

In the second round, Jiang Zirong emerged victorious once again, while this time, Feng Qi was defeated by a single number.

For this round, all five teams, apart from Jiang Zirong’s team, switched members. Zhou Zongyu took the stage, and he couldn’t even handle the third set of numbers, staying true to his image as an academic underachiever.

After being eliminated, Zhou Zongyu shook hands limply with Feng Qi and Chu Ruochun, encouraging Chu Ruochun, who was the next to go, “Ruochun, do your best! We’re not aiming for first place, just hoping there’s meat in the meal.”

Chu Ruochun chuckled at his remark and replied, “I’ll go earn you that feast. We’ll get to eat.”

Feng Qi, on the side, maintained social distance and smiled. Ever since Chu Ruochun had inexplicably pulled him earlier in the morning, he didn’t have much fondness for him. This guy seemed too eager for the spotlight; young people these days were so restless.

Chu Ruochun could sense the goodwill and distance from others, but he didn’t mind. He was just on this program to earn a living.

The tables were placed on foam mats, and the guests simply sat on the mats, which saved a lot of chairs.

Chu Ruochun settled down, sitting upright in front of the table, his fingers lightly resting on the tabletop.

Sitting next to him was Jiang Zirong, who had exchanged a few words with Feng Qi earlier but now didn’t even glance at Chu Ruochun. She turned her head to chat with the guest on the other side, seemingly trying to capture more screen time.

The competition in the first three rounds had been intense, and now only four teams remained on the stage. Behind Jiang Zirong’s team, there were still two members. To have a chance at winning, the other teams had to defeat all the members of Jiang Zirong’s team. However, everyone felt hopeless because Jiang Zirong was too strong. She hadn’t made a single mistake in the first three rounds, and each time, she was the first to finish using the abacus.

Jiang Zirong herself had mentioned that her family was involved in business, and she had played with the abacus as a toy when she was a child. Playing this game now was a piece of cake for her.

The fourth round of the competition began.

The director announced, “One hundred fifty-one, one thousand seven hundred thirty-two, eleven thousand five hundred eighteen, thirty-four thousand five hundred sixty-five…”

By the time he reached the fourth number, He Jun from the Du Jiawei team was eliminated.

Since there were no substitute members, the members of the other teams continued to compete.

Chu Ruochun calmly returned all the abacus beads to their original positions, and his long, fair fingers moved the beads gracefully when he adjusted them.

The fifth round began.

By the time the seventh number was called, a guest from the fourth team was defeated.

Only two contestants remained on the stage: Jiang Zirong from the fifth team and Chu Ruochun.

Chu Ruochun, who had remained inconspicuous throughout, suddenly entered everyone’s view. All the cameras focused on the two of them.

Even the director was quite surprised. He had only included Chu Ruochun, who was a trainee at Qingju, to fill the numbers. He hadn’t expected him to compete with Jiang Zirong, one of the rare academically gifted individuals in the entertainment industry. However, he believed it would only last for a short while.

But the competition between the two was intriguing, and they could create special effects for a climactic showdown in the later stages. After Jiang Zirong’s victory, they could even add a queen’s crown effect for her.

Jiang Zirong remained confident, while Chu Ruochun sat calmly, completely composed. There was no trace of anxiety on his face, and seeing him seemed to bring an inexplicable sense of calm.

The game continued.

The director continued to call out numbers.

All the guests in the back row couldn’t sit still. They moved forward, forming a human wall around the two contestants, surrounding them.

“One hundred fifty-three thousand six hundred fifty-one… two million ninety-one thousand one hundred seventy-two…”

How many digits is this?

Why are they still calculating?

All the people in the back row didn’t dare to speak and influence the two contestants. They unconsciously held their breath. This Chu Ruochun was really hiding his abilities well. Even if he loses today, he won’t lose face. What an astounding performance!

When everyone was getting excited, Jiang Zirong suddenly stopped.

Her fingertips were numb, and as she calculated further, her head began to ache. Her fingers became less obedient, and she grew more and more nervous. She hadn’t initially regarded Chu Ruochun as a formidable opponent, but when compared directly, hearing the crisp sound of the abacus beads next to her increased the psychological pressure on her.

She kept wondering why he hadn’t stopped yet. Wouldn’t he run out of steam soon? Surely, his brain couldn’t handle it, right?

She dared to bet that in the entertainment industry, she could confidently claim to have the second-best education, and no one would dare say they were the first!

And then, she made a mistake with the abacus.

In the moment of her mistake, Jiang Zirong felt a bit lost. Throughout her career, she has been portrayed as a scholarly and talented actress. She never imagined that she would be defeated by an unknown participant on a variety show. Where did this Chu Ruochun come from?

Her manager, standing behind the director, made a downward gesture with his hand. He would have a discussion with the production team later to see if they could edit out this segment!

The surprise was not limited to Jiang Zirong; everyone present was equally shocked!

As for Chu Ruochun himself, after finishing the calculation, he waited for the director to continue announcing the numbers and only looked up when there was no sound.

He realized that he seemed to have won, but he didn’t feel the excitement of winning the championship. He smiled faintly, his thoughts still quite clear.

“I think I won?”

He didn’t know Jiang Zirong, and little did he know how impactful his statement was on her. Jiang Zirong forced a smile and said, “Well, I concede. Young man, you’re impressive.”

Chu Ruochun thought for a moment and replied, “Sister Zirong, it’s just that your mind wasn’t calm. I’m not better than you; it was just luck.”

A single sentence from Chu Ruochun had salvaged Jiang Zirong’s dignity. If it were another young person celebrating loudly in front of Jiang Zirong, she would have been furious. But now, she felt no anger. Instead, she agreed with Chu Ruochun’s assessment. She was sure her mind wasn’t calm, and she accepted the loss graciously.

Jiang Zirong smiled, “Sister can accept defeat. I’ll definitely beat you next time.”

The two contestants behind them couldn’t compete with Chu Ruochun, and his team won the grand prize, which was a surprise and dramatic outcome.

When Zhou Zongyu received the meal voucher, he was the most excited. He hugged Chu Ruochun and danced around while shouting, “Oh my God, this is the first time I’ve won first place in this show! Ruochun, I love you! If you’re not in the next episode, I’ll be so miserable! Just thinking about it is terrifying!”

Zhou Zongyu had a genuinely joyful demeanor, indicating that he was a simple person. Chu Ruochun patted his shoulder lightly and said, “Meeting me might not always be a good thing.”

At this moment, Zhou Zongyu didn’t understand the hidden meaning behind Chu Ruochun’s words. He cheerfully replied, “Then let’s be on the same team next time! I must be a little genius!”

With the game segment concluded, everyone began to head to the respective restaurants for their meal.

The guests walked together in groups of three or four, chatting and laughing, creating a lively atmosphere. Most of the guests had a good sense of humor, which provided the production team with more content to film.

However, after leaving the game room, Chu Ruochun’s demeanor changed. He started following closely behind Feng Qi.

Feng Qi couldn’t help but think that Chu Ruochun was quite cunning, trying to ride his coattails for more screen time.

Feng Qi intentionally increased the distance between them.

As they walked past a shop under renovation, no one noticed a cement bucket filled with cement hanging precariously upstairs.

Chu Ruochun glanced up, and just as Feng Qi was about to walk directly beneath the cement bucket, he acted swiftly and pushed Feng Qi away.

After Feng Qi had moved away from the area, the cement bucket stood steady as if the earlier wobble had been an illusion.

Feng Qi, pushed aside, stepped into a small puddle, getting his shoes dirty with mud. He began to feel a growing frustration.

This was the second time something like this had happened. What was Chu Ruochun trying to do?