When Zhou Xinyuan designed the script, she emphasized interaction and contrast, aiming to make the characters feel real and independent to the viewers. In the reality show, option one was the intended answer.
However, Li Chu and Ning Manqing received the script for option two. This was a deliberate move by the director, stemming from the reality show company’s operations and the characters of Fu Yuan and Lin Lang.
While the reality show company presented plot options, they couldn’t directly control the characters’ decisions. This meant audience votes wouldn’t determine the characters’ fate, adding to the thrill. It was like playing a game where you make choices but don’t know the final outcome, creating anticipation for the unknown process and results.
The audience chose option one, believing it the most logical. Receiving this result, the reality show company used neural cues on the challengers. Since they could alter memories, they could also subtly influence decisions.
They cued Lin Lang to stay in the capital. Unexpectedly, Lin Lang, unaffected by the cues, discovered the hidden plot line of option two and decided to travel south. Both the company and the audience thought the challengers might fail. Challenges had time limits; challengers couldn’t spend decades in one scenario, essentially living alternate lives. This would also increase the chances of success.
Before participating, challengers were informed they must fall in love within a year. To ensure this, the company would facilitate encounters. This one-year limit drew criticism from both challengers and viewers, but the company argued that true love wouldn’t require a year under such circumstances. They also presented evidence that silenced those wanting an extension.
While the patented mental connection technology was mature, exceeding one year could damage the brain, causing memory confusion or worse. The Eldest Princess decided to travel south, while the audience, based on the Regent’s supposed intentions, believed she’d stay in the capital. They saw this as another failing pair, as this historical scenario wasn’t new, and previous challengers had failed in the same roles.
But as the synopsis stated, Fu Yuan and Lin Lang were a dark horse. Lin Lang, discovering the option two plot line, chose to travel south. Simultaneously, Fu Yuan also found the hidden plot and made the same decision. This shocked both the company and the audience, a first in the show’s history.
In the story’s narrative, Lin Lang learned of something advantageous in the south and decided to go immediately, despite assassination risks. Fu Yuan was initially pleased. With the Eldest Princess gone, she could eliminate the princess’s spies in the capital under any pretext.
However, half a day later, she sensed something amiss. She sent a message to her southern spies. A day later, their reply hinted at something deeper. Fu Yuan felt something was wrong, but time was short. Lin Lang was about to leave. Without time to understand Lin Lang’s decision, she had her men kidnap a confidante of the Eldest Princess. Under torture, the truth emerged.
The garrison commander in the bandit-infested area possessed an imperial sword granted by the former emperor, Fu Yuan’s father, to “slay treacherous officials.” Before he could use it, the commander was imprisoned by the prefect, who was colluding with the bandits and unaware of the sword. While harmless to the prefect, in the Eldest Princess’s hands, it would provide moral authority for judgment.
If it were just her deceased father’s sword, Fu Yuan wouldn’t be so concerned. However, her spies revealed a growing armed force in the southern provinces, possibly led by the Eldest Princess’s people. If Lin Lang abandoned the capital, secured the sword, and launched an uprising, Fu Yuan would be at a disadvantage. She hadn’t fully consolidated military power. If the Eldest Princess revolted with popular support and key generals sided with her, Fu Yuan might lose.
Fu Yuan knew her position was precarious, not just as the former emperor’s sister, but because she wasn’t of royal blood. Terrified of exposure, she wanted to win. She decided to travel south as well, keeping Lin Lang close while deploying her forces to the south, ready to intervene.
“Isn’t this script well-written? I think it’ll be really well-received when it’s filmed,” Li Chu said cheerfully, looking at Ning Manqing reading the script nearby.
“It is quite good. It has logic, motivation, twists, and some popular elements. The characters are well-developed within the story’s context,” Ning Manqing listed the merits, then added, “It’s worthy of your selection.” The last sentence was pure flattery, but her earlier praise was genuine. It was because of this commercial potential that Ning Manqing had generously invested.
“Of course! I spent a long time picking it out.” Li Chu preened, basking in the compliment.
There wasn’t much more to discuss about the script itself. The acting wasn’t particularly challenging for either of them. Li Chu changed the subject. “Are you going out again today?”
Qian Duoduo had been sent out for drinks. Yuanzi and Kexin, Ning Manqing’s personal assistant, were standing by. Kexin wasn’t a personal assistant in the traditional sense, but rather handled Ning Manqing’s business affairs. Ning Manqing seemed to have a major project going on; for two days running, she’d disappeared from the set after filming, reappearing just before work started the next day.
Li Chu worried about the pressure of Ning Manqing’s intense work schedule and even wondered if making the drama with her was taking up too much of her time.
“Yes, there are more negotiations tonight,” Ning Manqing confirmed, gesturing to the two assistants. “Could you two step aside for a moment?” The assistants retreated, understanding their bosses needed a private conversation.
“Don’t blame yourself. I’m genuinely interested in this script. Besides, filming with you gives me the chance to see you more often, which motivates me in everything I do.” Since they were on set, surrounded by people, Ning Manqing couldn’t be too openly affectionate. She simply squeezed Li Chu’s fingers, hidden behind the script.
A mix of frustration and surprise colored Li Chu’s voice. “Teacher Ning, can you read minds? How do you always know what I’m thinking?”
“Perhaps because your eyes give you away when you look at me. I can sense your emotions.” Ning Manqing smiled. She was skilled at reading people, a talent that made her a good actress and also useful in other situations.
“It must be your skill, not me being easy to read.” Li Chu didn’t consider herself bad at hiding her feelings. Perhaps it was her closeness to Ning Manqing that made her lower her guard.
“Acting is what I truly love. Everything else is just a means of self-preservation.”
Li Chu understood. She knew how much Ning Manqing loved her profession. She said earnestly, “Please don’t overwork yourself. Tell me if anything’s wrong. I may not be able to do much, but I want to share your burdens, good or bad.”
“It’s a shame I can’t cook anything decent. Otherwise, I could make you something nice to help you relax.” Li Chu believed food was the ultimate comfort, but her culinary skills were limited to instant meals. She couldn’t make her girlfriend a loving home-cooked meal.
Ning Manqing winked. “Who says you can’t make anything delicious? Your specially supplied peach juice is my favorite.”
Li Chu froze, her fists clenching. In broad daylight! “I’m going to discuss the script with the director,” she blurted, grabbing the script and fleeing.
She mentally berated herself. She was perfectly capable of being suggestive, but she lost her nerve around Ning Manqing. Teacher Ning’s special massage service was also really, really good.
Li Chu and Ning Manqing filmed interior scenes for a week. While the story was set in the south, they weren’t actually traveling. The southern setting was recreated nearby. After the interiors, they would film the journey scenes.
Qian Duoduo, having observed for days, and with Yuanzi watching over Li Chu, had been free to roam and had pieced together the plot. In the car, she asked Li Chu curiously, “Why are the extras acting out option one, but you’re filming option two? Is it because it doesn’t work?”
“It’s not that it doesn’t work. It’s because of their characters. Don’t worry, you’ll understand later.” This was just the beginning. The entanglement between Fu Yuan and Lin Lang was far more complex than a simple love story.
Why was Lin Lang so confident? Why could they still be together after losing their memories and gaining new ones? It wasn’t just mental training, but their life experiences. They had woven each other into their lives, which was why they could become model partners. But love was pure, and their relationship was too complicated to be simply defined as love.
Inside the camera frame, the carriage traveled towards the south. Suddenly, bandits ambushed them in a bamboo forest. Fu Yuan and Lin Lang emerged from their respective carriages, looking at each other with wariness and suspicion.
Choose their escape route:
A: East side of the bamboo forest 【Unlock Character: Eldest Princess Faction】
B: West side of the bamboo forest 【Unlock Character: Regent Faction】
C: South side of the bamboo forest 【Unlock Character: Unknown (Whoever)】
D: North side of the bamboo forest 【Unlock Location: Cliff (Dead End)】
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