***
Chapter 18 – Variety Show Livestream
A smile unconsciously tugged at He Yujing’s lips. He noticed that after Jiang Liusui spoke, his gaze flickered, and his expression grew slightly uneasy—and the amusement in He Yujing’s eyes only deepened.
“So, this is the image I hold in your mind,” he murmured. Then, suddenly shifting gears, he teased, “Are you shy?”
“……”
Sensing He Yujing’s teasing tone, Jiang Liusui couldn’t help but glare at him, complaining, “I’m starting to regret this. You’re actually quite mean.”
“No,” the one being complained about showed no annoyance, instead looking at him with a cheerful smile. “No regrets allowed.”
“Oh,” Jiang Liusui replied slowly. “And very domineering.”
He Yujing was momentarily speechless, caught somewhere between exasperation and amusement. “Haven’t I been good enough to you?”
Shen Jie, having just finished her phone call, stepped out of the office. She had thought the visitor outside had already left, but to her surprise, Jiang Liusui was still in the lobby. He Yujing’s unexpected question hit her ears like the sky was going to rain red[mfn]天要下红雨 (tiān yào xià hóng yǔ) – n exaggerated, humorous expression describing extreme shock or embarrassment[/mfn].
Since when did the willful young master care about how others perceived him?
“Tell me,” He Yujing pressed on relentlessly. “How have I treated you?”
“Fine, fine, no one’s better than you.” Jiang Liusui’s faint embarrassment melted entirely in the face of He Yujing’s proud little grin, and he humorously indulged him. Noticing Shen Jie’s gaze lingering on him, Jiang Liusui guessed she must want to discuss something with He Yujing, but hesitated to speak up in his presence.
“Since your agent is here, I’ll take my leave?”
Although He Yujing’s slightly reluctant, he had no reason to ask him to stay. Thinking of the variety show they would participate in together later, he nodded meaningfully.
“Alright, see you later.”
After Jiang Liusui left, Shen Jie withdrew her curious gaze and turned to He Yujing. “The production team of ⟪Fantasy Holiday⟫ has agreed. In fact, they’re practically begging you to sign the contract right now. The first episode is scheduled to be recorded in two weeks. There’s one difference this time—they won’t release the guest list beforehand. Instead, they plan to reveal the lineup during the first episode’s livestream.”
Shen Jie couldn’t help but show a bit of admiration for this unconventional strategy. “The production team really knows how to create hype. The audience tunes into the livestream and watches the guests appear one by one. It’s a completely different experience than if they’d known the list ahead of time.”
“They really know how to stir things up,” He Yujing chuckled. Shen Jie hesitated before asking, “Should we give them a heads-up[mfn]打预防针 (dǎ yù fáng zhēn) – lit. to give a preventive shot[/mfn] beforehand, so they don’t mess with the edits?”
“Since we’ve already agreed to participate, and they haven’t done anything yet, there’s no need to make demands right off the bat. We’ll deal with anything if it happens,” he replied.
Shen Jie also felt that handling things as they happened would be more appropriate. She agreed and then busied herself with the remaining arrangements.
Just then, He Yujing’s phone vibrated. Chi Lianxi, who had yet to receive a response, sent another message, his words dripping with mischief: Don’t ignore me, Brother A’Jing~
In a good mood, He Yujing even let slide that disgusting form of address and replied: I asked. He likes me more.
Chi Lianxi knew He Yujing wouldn’t make things up, but he couldn’t help asking indignantly: Why?
He said I’m very gentle to him. As He Yujing typed the last few words, he briefly reflected on whether his actions truly deserved such praise.
He thought probably… somewhat… though not entirely sure.
Chi Lianxi: ……
Chi Lianxi: Come on, bro, let’s be honest..
Chi Lianxi: What kind of love potion did you feed the kid? You??? Gentle???? The funniest joke I’ve heard all year.
“Pfft… you don’t know anything.”
Watching Chi Lianxi throw a mini tantrum[mfn]跳脚 (tiào jiǎo) – lit. jumping with the feet; used to describe someone stomping or flailing in frustration, often overreacting.[/mfn] on the other end, He Yujing couldn’t be bothered and bluntly typed back: Get lost.
***
“No, this time you absolutely have to listen to me,” Jiang Chuan’s voice came through the phone, pleading earnestly. “It’s not like you need to go out of your way to please him. Just act a little close, and interact with him more!… What are you talking about? I’m not telling you to fake it—aren’t you two already on good terms anyway?”
“Just sharing the frame with He Yujing will make the cameras flock to you. This show has a huge audience. By the time filming is over, your pay could easily multiply several times.”
Since learning He Yujing was joining the show, Jiang Chuan had been overjoyed, subtly and not-so-subtly hinting that Jiang Liusui should ride his coattails. Even as the filming date neared, he didn’t forget to call and give his reminders.
Jiang Chuan had a rough understanding of Jiang Liusui’s family situation and knew he wasn’t exactly strapped for cash. But with divorced parents who paid him little attention, the allowance from his mother was just enough to cover basic living expenses—nowhere near the income of even moderately known entertainers in the industry.
He advised earnestly, Even if it’s not about the money, fame opens doors to all sorts of scripts. You love acting, don’t you? Think of this as creating opportunities for yourself.”
“Yeah, I know.” Tired of his manager’s nagging, Jiang Liusui switched tactics and gave a noncommittal reply. Sensing his dismissiveness, Jiang Chuan felt frustrated and circled back to his original question: “Be honest with me—you really didn’t say anything to him?”
Jiang Liusui felt genuinely a little annoyed, but his voice softened. “Brother Jiang, are you overestimating me? I’m not skilled enough to change his mind.”
“I’m just asking. After all, he suddenly had a change of heart and decided to join the show. What if he’s doing it for you as a favor…”
“Then all the more reason I shouldn’t take advantage of him.”
“……”
“Alright, I’ll handle it appropriately.”
Seeing the conversation had reached its limit, Jiang Chuan relented. “As long as you know what you’re doing. I’ll hang up now—focus on filming.”
After finishing the call and coming out of the bathroom, Jiang Liusui saw that the spacious living room of the seaside villa was set up with five or six cameras. The first episode of ⟪Fantasy Holiday⟫ was about to begin filming, and crew members bustled about, making final adjustments to the set.
“Later, please pretend you don’t know it’s being broadcast live; the host will cooperate as well,” a staff member confirmed the entry order with the three guests in front of them.
Since they were all actors, he wasn’t too worried about their performance skills. Jiang Liusui, Qin Yi, and a female actor stood together. Further away, another staff member was explaining the situation to He Yujing and his group.
“Are you going first?” Jiang Liusui asked the person next to him.
Qin Yi seemed distracted and didn’t hear him. Snapping back to attention, he leaned slightly closer: “Hmm?”
Jiang Liusui raised his voice: “I said! You’re performing on stage first!”
Qin Yi responded: “Yes.”
“Why do we have to pretend we don’t know it’s live at the last minute…” the female actor muttered, a worried frown on her face. Jiang Liusui noticed her nervousness and reassured her, “Don’t worry, God Yi[mfn]屹神 (yì shén) – a playful or respectful nickname for Qin Yi, common in fandom or close-circle speech.[/mfn] will give us a demo first.”
The actress couldn’t help but laugh. Qin Yi gave him an amused look: “You really…”
The production team had previously teased across major platforms, announcing they would reveal the guests through a twenty-minute livestream before formal recording began. This unorthodox approach had everyone buzzing. Coupled with the show’s growing reputation and popularity, various discussions had been emerging constantly in recent days. The moment the livestream started, countless viewers immediately flooded in eagerly.
“Hi everyone! Welcome to the first episode of ⟪Fantasy Holiday⟫ Season 2,” the host greeted. “Let me show you around our set—it’s a bit messy since we haven’t officially started recording yet.” The camera followed as the host moved through the room, sweeping over scattered equipment. “Our guest teachers[mfn]嘉宾老师 (jiā bīn lǎo shī) – lit. guest teacher; a term often used in Chinese variety shows to refer to celebrity guests, especially if they have expertise or mentorship roles.[/mfn] are about to arrive—can you guess who’s joining us? And just so you know, we didn’t announce this live in advance, so you might catch the teachers in a more relaxed, natural state.”
The seaside villa was awash in white tones, open and filled with light. Beyond the wooden floor-to-ceiling windows lay the blue sea with rolling waves. However, the camera also captured areas crowded with filming equipment, props scattered everywhere before being properly categorized, and even work clothes draped over chair backs that hadn’t been tidied away yet.
【The production team really isn’t treating us like outsiders—straight-up showing us the backstage. So this is how much stuff gets hidden where the cameras usually don’t reach.】
【The house is quite beautiful, but what’s all that stuff piled in the back?】
【Please, talk less! We’ve waited two weeks without even a glimpse of the guests, the livestream only lasts twenty minutes, and you’ve already wasted thirty precious seconds with your rambling.】
“Don’t worry, don’t worry, we definitely have enough time.” The host stopped at the circular sofa in the center and smiled. “It seems everyone is very impatient, let’s welcome our first guest!”
A staff member outside gave the signal to the waiting guest. Footsteps echoed from the corner of the living room, and a figure appeared, dragging a large dark suitcase behind him. He was tall, long-legged, impeccably built—and the instant his clean, handsome features came into view, the bullet comments went berserk.
【Holy sh—holy sh—HOLY SH—!! Nobody told me God Yi would be invited!!! Starting this explosive right from the opening??!!】
【AHHH my husband is finally on a variety show!! I wouldn’t even dare dream of this before! Thank god I watched the livestream today!!】
The moment he stepped inside and spotted the camera aimed straight at him, a flicker of surprise crossed Qin Yi’s eyes. He hesitated before asking, “Is the livestream already on?”
“Yes, yes!” The host laughed. “Teacher Qin, quite surprised, aren’t you? You can leave your luggage behind the sofa for now. Please have a seat and wait for the others.”
Jiang Liusui and the female actress waiting with him stayed in the entrance area out of the camera’s view. Hearing the commotion inside, he couldn’t help but smile.
As expected of Qin Yi—his acting was pretty convincing.
“Teacher Shang, it’s your turn,” a staff member murmured softly to the gentle-looking actress standing beside Jiang Liusui.
Shang Qingzhi nodded, dragging two suitcases as she stepped into the living room. She had looked tense just moments earlier, but the instant she stepped inside, she relaxed into a natural ease, offering just the right amount of surprise when she spotted the livestream camera.
Her gaze swept over the circular sofa. “Can I sit anywhere?”
At Qin Yi’s confirmation, she took a seat across from him. The two sat in silence, both feeling somewhat awkward. Fortunately, the next guest quickly broke the silence. Mu Zhe entered with a bright smile and greeted them: “Brother Qin Yi, Sister Qingzhi—hello, hello!”
“Xiao Zhe?” Shang Qingzhi’s eyes lit up. Mu Zhe had debuted as an idol and, in recent years, had been working to break into acting. The two had previously collaborated on a television drama.
Outgoing by nature, Mu Zhe piled his suitcases behind the sofa and joked cheerfully, “Just now, watching you two sit across from each other like a pair of silent icebergs, I felt the entire living room cool down.”
The livestream chat exploded with “hahahahahaha.” “Just now, watching you two sit across from each other like a pair of silent icebergs, I felt the entire living room cool down.”
“Mostly skincare, clothes, stuff like that. I also packed tons of snacks—I was worried the show wouldn’t feed us,” Mu Zhe said, then turned to the host and cautiously added, a beat too late, “You’re not going to confiscate my stuff, right?”
The host gave a deliberately vague reply. “Not for now.”
Mu Zhe froze for a moment. “…So you actually will?”
The next guest to enter was a female model with a striking, curvy figure. Spotting the camera, Xu Miao froze in place and complained playfully, “Wow, it’s live the moment I arrive? I didn’t even put on makeup.”
“That’s perfect! What we’re actually most interested in is seeing the teachers without makeup,” The host grinned, looking pleased with how things were unfolding. “Too bad—aside from Teacher Qin, the other two are always perfectly put together. We finally caught another one.”
Xu Miao didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Her fox-like, teasing eyes swept over the guests seated on the sofa before she turned to Shang Qingzhi with a bright smile. “Then I’ll sit next to you.”
“Sure.” Shang Qingzhi nodded. Xu Miao promptly settled beside her: “Looks like it’s just us two girls? Maybe we’ll be roommates later.”
By now, the livestream was well past its midpoint. Viewer numbers skyrocketed as word spread, and keywords began trending across multiple platforms. #FantasyHoliday# directly topped the trending lists on several platforms, with related discussions continuously heating up.
【Sisters, hurry and watch the pre-release livestream for ⟪Fantasy Holiday⟫! Only a few minutes left!! This season’s lineup is so strong—a total visual fest[mfn]颜狗盛宴 (yán gǒu shèng yàn) – lit. a feast for looks-lovers[/mfn]! And they’re all popular artists!】
【I’m watching, I’m watching! Three different friends have already told me Qin Yi is finally doing a variety show!】
【Looks like the first episode is filmed by the seaside? Oh my god—sun, sand, gorgeous men and women—when does the official episode drop? Just based on this lineup alone, this is already my most anticipated variety show of the year.】
【⟪Fantasy Holiday⟫, aren’t you supposed to be the pink-bubble machine[mfn]粉红泡泡 (fěn hóng pào pào) – shorthand for romantic or flirtatious vibes created through editing or interaction.[/mfn]? I want to ship Qin Yi so badly ahhhhh—pair him with anyone, I don’t even care!]】
“The second-to-last guest,” the host said with a smile, “is someone who’s been incredibly popular lately. I’ve replayed the MV he was in more times than I can count.”
The guests had already been told who would be on the show, and Xu Miao instantly perked up. “Oh? Is it his turn already? I’ve always wanted to meet him in person!”
Qin Yi added casually, “He’s a really good guy.”
Xu Miao turned to him with interest. “You know him? Are you close?”
Before Qin Yi could answer, footsteps sounded at the villa entrance. The newcomer was dressed entirely in white—a simple white T-shirt and shorts—with an exceptionally graceful figure.Jiang Liusui pulled along a suitcase in the same pale color palette. When he took in the four guests seated on the sofa and the cluttered, behind-the-scenes chaos tucked into the corner of the villa, he didn’t look surprised in the least. The host couldn’t help but comment, amused, “Teacher Jiang doesn’t seem surprised at all?”
“Right before I came in, I checked Weibo,” Jiang Liusui admitted. “I already saw from the trending list that the livestream had started.”
The host scratched his head, laughing. “Hahaha, your browsing speed is something else!”
【Wait, Jiang Liusui and Qin Yi knew each other! I remember they collaborated before—didn’t they play brothers?】
【My long-dead CP has suddenly come back to life! They’re actually on the same variety show. I can start shipping them again, ahhhhhhh!】
【Jiang Liusui is so cute! I thought with his striking looks he might be a troublemaker, but his voice is so soft and gentle.】
【Damn… I was about to say his status doesn’t quite match the others—he’s only been popular recently-but seeing his face, I take it back.】
【Oh my god, people can actually look like this? I thought the MV was just heavy on atmosphere. He looks like a doll carved down to the finest detail.】
【Waaah—what a stunning beauty! And that figure—those legs are something I’ve only ever seen in video game character models!】
From the moment he entered, Xu Miao’s attention had been completely drawn to him. Smiling with narrowed eyes, she asked, “Do you want to sit next to me? I could use something nice to look at.”
Jiang Liusui didn’t expect her to be so forward and felt a bit shy, but he actually sat down beside her as she suggested. When it was time for the final guest to appear, the host suddenly turned to Jiang Liusui with a meaningful grin. “Teacher Jiang, why don’t you introduce them? You two seem pretty familiar.”
Before arriving, Jiang Liusui knew ⟪Fantasy Holiday⟫ wouldn’t missed the opportunity to play up the topic between him and He Yujing. Even before the official recording started, the live pre-show was already setting the stage. Jiang Chuan’s prediction had been right—the production team would intentionally steer things in a suggestive direction. If he played dumb[mfn]装聋作哑 (zhuāng lóng zuò yǎ) – lit. play deaf and mute; to deliberately ignore or not respond to a situation.[/mfn] and followed their lead, He Yujing would probably have no solid way to object.
Under the host’s expectant gaze, Jiang Liusui shifted from his earlier gentle demeanor and laughed brightly. This is my friend—a real handsome guy.”
The host: “…Uh?”
Jiang Liusui: “Seriously handsome, great singer, great personality—perfect in every way.”
“Pfft!” Xu Miao couldn’t help but giggle. His introduction was so bluntly honest, totally unlike the playful vibe the show was aiming for.
“He’s my idol too,” Mu Zhe chimed in. “I’ve wanted to meet him since his debut. I never thought we’d end up on the same variety show.”
The host glanced at him. “So Teacher Mu is also a fan? As expected, half the industry must be his fans.”
【Wait! This description can’t be…!】
【??!!! The production team really outdid themselves—could they actually get him??!!!!】
【Jiang Liusui praising someone is hilarious hahahaha! Reminds me of the first time my boyfriend introduced me to his friend—he was bragging exactly like this.】
The last guest entered wearing a dark red shirt with blue patterns, and loose wide-leg pants that couldn’t hide his straight, strong long legs. The moment He Yujing appeared on screen, the livestream froze, taking nearly half a minute to recover.
【Holy shit holy shit holy shit—damn it it froze!! Sisters, what just happened!!!”】
【Too many people rushed in at once?! Crazy, crazy—He Yujing is actually here!】
【Ahhhhh I’m in a public class with my roommate and almost screamed!! Gege gege gege gege gege gege!!】
【Damn, this show is absolutely going to explode. When the stream froze earlier, I quickly checked Weibo—he appeared, and my entire feed went nuts. Switched to the forum and there was a whole line of new posts!】
【Hahahahaha Xiao Jing’s outfit is so flashy, even the female guests don’t have as many colors on them as he does.】
【This outfit looks great!! As a casual observer, I’ll say his fashion sense has never slipped all these years—he’s really a natural clothes hanger[mfn]天生的衣架子 (tiān shēng de yī jià zi) – someone who has a naturally great figure and carries clothes exceptionally well.[/mfn].】
【Always so elegant, always covered in jewelry. By the way, gege, what perfume are you wearing today? Something aquatic for the seaside?】
“Why not sit across from me?” Mu Zhe gestured to the empty spot on the circular sofa. “This side has plenty of room.”
The entire sofa was arranged in a circular shape, and the spot opposite Mu Zhe happened to be unoccupied. He Yujing glanced at it and said, “No need, I’ll squeeze in.”
Aside from the space opposite Mu Zhe, the gap between Jiang Liusui and Xu Miao was the widest. He Yujing stopped between them and naturally sat down closer to Jiang Liusui. Xu Miao, sitting nearby, couldn’t help but straighten her posture, her back becoming noticeably more upright.
“The relationship between these two teachers is really great!” The host smiled brightly as he watched them sit together, his sharp eyes noticing the glimmer of light around Jiang Liusui’s slender, pale wrist. “Even your bracelets seem quite similar?”
Jiang Liusui paused. Before coming to record the show, he had thought about He Yujing being there too, and figured wearing the gift would make him happy. Coincidentally, He Yujing had chosen the exact same style.
The uniquely designed bracelet was worn on Jiang Liusui’s left wrist, while He Yujing wore his on the right. With their hands placed together, it was impossible for the cameras not to notice.
He Yujing’s eyes curved slightly with a smile as he openly admitted, “Same style. I gave it to him.”
For a brief moment, Jiang Liusui felt the host’s eyes light up, and the way he looked at He Yujing seemed like he was gazing at the entire show’s future: “Wow!! Teacher He even gave Teacher Jiang the same bracelet?”
The host’s tone was teasingly suggestive, hovering on the edge of saying “matching couple jewelry,” yet He Yujing didn’t seem to find anything wrong with it at all. He directly took Jiang Liusui’s hand and commented, “It suits you well.”
Jiang Liusui couldn’t help but curse inwardly: “……”
Damn, is He Yujing not awake today? Does he not realize this isn’t a private chat, but a show that loves to stir up drama?
Jiang Liusui couldn’t take it any longer. He grabbed He Yujing’s hand in a reverse grip and gave it a firm shake, trying to snap him out of his daze.
“I think so too,” his expression and actions fully conveying sincere friendship, “Thanks bro[mfn]兄弟 (xiōng dì) – used for male friends/comrades; friendly and trusting, but less personal and affectionate than gege[/mfn], you’ve got amazing taste.”
— — — —
