After his cold interaction with Mr. Liang, President Huo had become much more approachable in all aspects.
The directing team drew lots with their eyes closed, and the loser had to notify everyone to gather and prepare to start recording. The on-site director, chosen by fate, went over trembling and even heard President Huo personally say “alright.”
“Victory is in sight.”
The production team was greatly encouraged, carrying several stacks of props to set up the scene, high-fiving each other: “Keep going, only Teacher Jiang and Director Song are still angry…”
Liang Xiao came to gather and happened to hear this: “…”
“Their chief director is reflecting,” Su Man walked over. “Why did he accept our crew’s promotion in the first place, and whether it’s too late to refund the money.”
“Tea Time” had long been renowned. Under the direction of chief director Yin Chi, several seasons had received outstanding responses.
The program team was well-tested and had seen countless storms. The invited guests each had their own characteristics—some harmonious, some innovative, some engaging in battles of wits with the program team—but this was the first time they had encountered such a hellish level of difficulty.
If it weren’t for the publicity materials already being widespread and fan expectations soaring to unprecedented heights, the collaboration might have been aborted on the first day of recording.
Su Man had developed in both film and variety shows and was particularly experienced in participating in programs among the group. Seeing their chief director banging his head against the camera, she couldn’t help but stay to watch the spectacle.
“Pingchao is fine, just has some separation anxiety. His manager is counseling him.” Meng Feibai hadn’t successfully engaged in conversation with Jiang Pingchao, leaving Chi Che to pull him aside for coercion and enticement, and came to join the chat group: “Director Song is angry because he’s dissatisfied with the hardware facilities, which isn’t easy to resolve.”
Liang Xiao was curious: “What hardware facilities?”
Meng Feibai had only heard the general idea and didn’t know all the gossip, so he was ambiguous: “It should be some daily necessities, but none of these rooms are equipped with them.”
“Didn’t they say everything was provided?” Su Man originally didn’t care which room she stayed in, but frowned upon hearing this. “What’s missing? Refrigerator, air conditioner, washing machine?”
Meng Feibai had confirmed that these items were all available but hadn’t found out what was missing: “Dryer? Vacuum cleaner?”
Yu Zhi spoke softly with concern: “Water heater and hair dryer…”
The screenwriter passed by: “Automatic mahjong table.”
Meng Feibai: “…”
Su Man: “…”
Yu Zhi was curious: “Is it a desk that can automatically play mahjong?”
…
By the time recording began, the chief director Yin Chi’s hairline had already invisibly receded by half a centimeter.
Song Qi’s crew was known for its professional standards, rarely using popular artists and even more reluctant to work with pure variety show personalities. This time, tricked and coaxed by the crew, he had reluctantly come to this kind of “playful, nutritionless” variety show, only to find that there wasn’t even an ordinary mahjong table.
Meng Feibai had a good temper and, with no one to chat with, took the initiative to complete the task of being the fourth player, shuffling and dealing cards, finally managing to somewhat pacify the particularly dissatisfied Director Song.
Jiang Pingchao, after being pulled away by his manager for some counseling, returned wearing sunglasses, exuding a mint aroma, his expression finally showing signs of easing.
“Now we begin recording.” The opportunity was fleeting. Yin Chi resolutely signaled the cameras to start and cleared his throat. “Welcome everyone to Jiangnan. We’re at a tea mountain in the Dragon Peak tea production area. There aren’t many people here usually, but it excels in quiet scenery, and there are many famous attractions nearby, such as Misty Mountain, Perching Stone Temple, Cloud Creek Cave…”
The variety show had the task of promoting local tourism. Yin Chi’s introduction was brief, but combined with the refreshing scenery before them, it still had considerable appeal.
“I heard the charms at Perching Stone Temple are very effective.” Meng Feibai was the only one who had done research, and while listening, he quietly invited people for an outing: “Tomorrow during free activity time, want to go take a look?”
Jiang Pingchao was in his group, and in principle, they had to move together. Hearing this, he frowned: “I-”
“You don’t want to go,” Su Man, tired of his slow speech, answered for him. “You want to watch movies with your manager in the modern room with a projector.”
Jiang Pingchao: “…”
He had never been able to out-argue those around him, and during his susceptible period, the disparity in strength was particularly evident.
Moreover, what Su Man said was correct, leaving him with nothing to refute or add.
When Jiang Pingchao had accepted the variety show, he had originally thought he could stay with Chi Che, eating and sleeping together day and night. It was only upon arriving at the program team that he learned they would be grouped according to the crew’s promotional needs. He was still in a bad mood, fiddling with the amber pendant in his hand, and glumly closed his mouth.
Meng Feibai, being older, could understand young people’s reluctance to part and was very accommodating. He turned to invite Liang Xiao: “Want to come along?”
Liang Xiao was lost in thought and came back to his senses when he heard this: “What?”
“Perching Stone Temple, let’s go for an outing tomorrow.” Meng Feibai looked at him curiously. “What’s wrong? Is there something off about the program setup?”
Liang Xiao shook his head with a smile, not speaking, and looked at President Huo, who was the only one still listening to the chief director’s tourism promotion.
There was nothing wrong with the program setup, but this temple name somehow sounded vaguely familiar to him.
Liang Xiao couldn’t immediately recall where he had heard it before, but he was inclined to take President Huo out for some relaxation, to see the scenery and cultivate his mind, so he nodded in agreement: “I’ll go.”
Su Man didn’t want to bring a fragile omega who could break at a touch, but she wouldn’t isolate a fellow crew member either. After consulting Yu Zhi’s opinion, she also decided to go sightseeing together during tomorrow’s free activity time.
The main cast had already become familiar with each other in the crew. By the time the chief director finally finished reciting his tour guide script and turned to introduce the room and resource allocation rules, they had already planned their schedule for the next day.
…
“Tea Time” differed from other vacation survival variety shows. Although it also limited resource allocation, there were no bag searches or inspections. The only restriction was that each person could only bring one handbag of luggage.
The uniformly distributed handbags of equal size could contain anything, regardless of what was inside or how heavy it was. As long as it fit, it could be brought into the program as basic supplies.
The program had no concept of money, only barter. Guests could, through negotiation, use certain allocated or produced resources to exchange for others, thus living comfortably for four days and three nights.
“In principle, rooms are allocated according to the order of arrival.”
Yin Chi had reached this point without anyone rebelling, which made him somewhat uncomfortable. He looked at everyone and took the sign-in record: “According to the record, the first group to arrive has the right to choose a room first.”
Su Man liked to stir up trouble, encouraging Liang Xiao: “Number three, choose number three…”
Each room had a different theme. The third room was the only one with a projector and large screen.
Jiang Pingchao and Chi Che rarely had a vacation, and they couldn’t even go to a movie before being dragged to participate in this variety show. Finally showing rare irritation, he glared at Su Man: “You-”
Everyone eagerly watched as he closed his mouth.
Liang Xiao had originally wanted to be polite and choose the least distinctive room, but now he didn’t want to interrupt Teacher Jiang’s attempt to say a complete sentence. He stopped speaking and looked over with everyone else.
Yin Chi quickly signaled to maintain silence and pursue the shot, even removing the cue cards that might interrupt Teacher Jiang’s train of thought from the background.
…
“How can you be so-so-”
Jiang Pingchao was angry for a long time, his face reddening with rage: “So unreasonable?!”
Su Man: “…”
Yin Chi: “…”
Su Man lost interest, waved her hand, and went back to chat with the omega girl in her group.
Jiang Pingchao had been angry all day and wanted to finish the argument. Just as he was about to retort and argue with Su Man based on reason, Meng Feibai patted his shoulder and calmed him down: “Don’t worry.”
“Let’s leave the number three room for Teacher Jiang?”
Meng Feibai had been warned by Chi Che in advance and was worried that the susceptible Jiang Pingchao might cry in public. He pulled him to sit down and discussed with Liang Xiao: “Teacher Jiang will stay with his follow PD, and I’ll go play mahjong with Director Song.”
Liang Xiao had also planned this, smiled and nodded: “Alright.”
Everyone in the crew had particularly distinctive personalities. Someone might have already set their sights on the special rooms, so there was no need to cause any disputes over this.
“Any room is fine,” Liang Xiao thought about the hot spring with some regret but smiled graciously and accommodatingly. “We-”
President Huo: “Number four.”
Liang Xiao was taken aback and turned to look.
President Huo had made the choice for him. His hanging hand moved slightly before returning to his side, gesturing for Liang Xiao to sit back down.
He had been silent for so long, and his aura had been subdued to a quiet coolness due to Mr. Liang’s presence. Everyone had almost forgotten that the investor was still there. Even the cameraman responsible for following them couldn’t help but tremble.
“Number four-the hot spring room,” Yin Chi was the first to react, signaling his assistant to record. “The next group is Director Song and Teacher Pei…”
This group had three people including the producer. Director Song had a unique obsession with overlooking all mountains and insisted on choosing the room at the top of the mountain. The three couldn’t reach an agreement, and it would take some time to come to a result.
Liang Xiao didn’t listen closely, sat back beside President Huo, and couldn’t suppress the corners of his mouth: “Why did you choose this one?”
President Huo had decisively chosen the room, watching Liang Xiao sit back down with joy blooming on his face. He pressed his lips together, shook his head, and didn’t speak.
Liang Xiao saw his hands rigorously restrained behind his back, and his heart softened.
The two had experienced countless storms and were finally properly together, without even a chance to have a good vacation, yet they had to pretend to be unfamiliar in front of the cameras.
Liang Xiao wanted to make President Huo happy and didn’t maintain formality with him, saying softly: “I actually wanted to choose this one too… but didn’t dare say it.”
He had never been in a hot spring before and instinctively felt it would be different from a bathtub. Not hiding his anticipation, he happily exclaimed: “Great minds…”
President Huo, being earnestly gazed at by him, felt his heart stir, his eyes warming.
It was just accommodation; President Huo didn’t actually have any particular preference for these rooms. If forced to choose, he would probably consider factors like safety, ventilation, lighting, and convenient transportation.
…But on the way here, President Huo had almost heard the “ding” sound when Liang Xiao heard about the hot spring.
President Huo preferred Liang Xiao’s explanation and didn’t say much, cooperating to complete his sentence: “Think alike.”
Liang Xiao rationally analyzed that this kind of tacit understanding was really worth interacting over, took President Huo’s hand, and seized the opportunity to high-five him.
…
The two of them were consciously restraining themselves as they huddled together affectionately, but outsiders, not understanding the situation, hadn’t quite noticed. Jiang Pingchao beside them was stimulated to the point of reddened eyes and tried several times to get up and go find his manager.
Meng Feibai, powerfully maintaining crew harmony, persuaded him with great effort and followed the directing team to choose room number three.
Su Man also didn’t care about the accommodation environment and let the omega girl in her group languidly choose one of the remaining tea rooms she liked, requesting a bucket of cola and a bucket of red wine in advance.
“Everyone has already chosen their rooms.”
Yin Chi had transcended, seeing interaction made him particularly content, and he ignored the strange pulling and pushing of a crew with odd relationships: “Basic living necessities have already been prepared for everyone in the rooms…”
Yin Chi looked at Director Song’s sullen face and changed his words: “…For non-essential configurations, we will also try our best to obtain them.”
Despite saying this, even if they contacted the homestay owner to get an automatic mahjong table, it would be difficult to carry it all the way up to a height that could overlook all mountains.
Yin Chi was somewhat uncertain and didn’t dwell on this matter further: “Production and living materials will need to be earned based on your abilities.”
In other words, there might be a kitchen, but not necessarily rice, flour, vegetables, or oil; there might be a washing machine, but not necessarily detergent; there might be a projector, but not necessarily the password for the built-in account.
How many resources one could get and how well one would live these few days would depend on one’s abilities.
The program team was used to battling wits with guests, and there were many high-difficulty, competitive games. The previous group of guests had even ridden a large spotted pig for three full laps around a vast pasture.
Considering that this crew didn’t have much variety show experience, Yin Chi and the directing team had deliberately deliberated for three days and chose the least difficult game: “The rules are very simple. Each group will allocate roles internally, with one person using body language to perform the word they see, and the other person guessing the answer based on the performance.”
“Charades” was too informal, so Yin Chi calmly signaled to bring up the cue card: “Telepathy.”
The cameras followed in a timely manner, capturing each group.
The director’s trio had finally finished arguing about rooms and were now arguing about whether two people should perform or two people should guess.
Su Man and Yu Zhi appropriately waved at the camera with smiles.
Meng Feibai wanted to cooperate and tried to pull Jiang Pingchao to wave, but without success, he could only regretfully make half a heart gesture.
Yin Chi was completely detached and brought the camera to interview Liang Xiao: “What you’ll eat these days depends on this segment… Mr. Liang, are you confident?”
Liang Xiao might lose to people but not in spirit: “Yes, I brought instant noodles.”
“…” Yin Chi nodded, his heart as still as water, and walked away with the camera.
–
The game was originally time-limited, but after careful consideration, Yin Chi still had someone remove the timer in advance.
Rather than having them completely unable to take anything away, it was better to let this group freely and chaotically act out charades for two hours, then have post-production select usable material and add a five-minute countdown on the screen to create tension.
The order for selecting supplies was decided spontaneously by the guests. Su Man, having participated in many shows, was the first to take the stage with Yu Zhi. With her veteran experience of skipping when unable to guess, they successfully skipped twenty sets of words.
“Teacher Su already has a good sense for variety shows.”
The follow-up director responsible for their group came down to report to the chief director: “They performed the best among the groups and should provide quite a bit of usable material.”
Yin Chi vaguely felt some hope: “How many did they guess correctly?”
“Not a single one.”
The follow-up director shook his head: “But since our rules didn’t say they couldn’t just take things, Teacher Su now has a bag of rice and a bucket of oil.”
Yin Chi: “…”
“Director Song’s group is more difficult; they’re the group with the strongest desire to win.”
The on-site director beside him adjusted his earpiece: “When Teacher Pei can’t guess correctly, he criticizes Director Song for being too rigid in his performance, lacking the fluidity and beauty of life. When Director Song can’t guess correctly, he accuses Screenwriter Pei of writing scripts with a developed brain but simple limbs.”
Yin Chi lit a cigarette: “What about the producer?”
“When the producer can’t guess correctly,” the follow-up director reported through the earpiece, “both Director Song and Screenwriter Pei scold him for having no brain.”
…
To be fair, there were also quite a few entertaining points.
The follow-up director crouched at the side, protecting the equipment as he inquired: “Can we release this kind of footage? Will it affect the audience’s impression of the ‘Year’s End’ crew…”
“Try to… pick ones they can guess correctly.” Yin Chi was ultimately kind-hearted and couldn’t bring himself to be too harsh. “Tell post-production to add more emoticons and lively, warm music to create an effect of ‘nothing more beautiful than the sunset glow.'”
The deputy director beside him acknowledged and went to notify them.
Yin Chi was no longer surprised that the brother combination of Jiang Pingchao and Meng Feibai couldn’t guess a single word. He placed his hope on the most normal group, having people clear a space for Liang Xiao and President Huo: “Teacher Liang…”
Liang Xiao had been taking advantage of the absence of cameras to whisper with President Huo. Hearing this, he looked up, his voice slightly hoarse: “You can just call me Liang Xiao.”
Yin Chi hurriedly exchanged pleasantries and looked at President Huo: “Do you have time? Teacher Su’s area is free now, just guess a few…”
Yin Chi looked at President Huo, somewhat uncertain: “President Huo… is willing to guess, right?”
Liang Xiao made a gesture of silence and looked back.
Under normal circumstances, President Huo would be unwilling.
But President Huo’s nature was too dignified, and he wouldn’t easily break rules. As long as the entire game was introduced to their President Huo as a necessary part of the variety show, no matter how unwilling their President Huo might be, he would meticulously complete it.
Liang Xiao had experience in setting up President Huo and lowered his voice to coordinate with the chief director: “Don’t make a fuss, just say all variety shows have this segment, and it will determine my screen time…”
Yin Chi quickly understood and nodded: “Alright.”
After conspiring with him, Liang Xiao returned to the side of the set and led President Huo in front of the camera.
To be honest, Liang Xiao had no confidence in whether President Huo would be good at this.
Young Huo Lan had hardly accepted any playfulness. Not to mention this kind of game with no regard for decorum, even for rock-paper-scissors, little Liang Xiao had diligently taught him for a whole week.
As for adult President Huo…
Liang Xiao thought about their President Huo’s decisive and cold aura and didn’t dare to imagine further. He resolutely pulled President Huo to the word-guessing position: “I’ll act it out.”
President Huo’s gaze fell on him, and he nodded slightly.
The two had to pretend to be unfamiliar, and President Huo was trying hard to restrain himself, with hardly any chance to focus and look at him properly. Liang Xiao stood in position, and being stared at so intently, his ears unconsciously reddened.
…Absence makes the heart grow fonder.
After seven full days of permanent marking, Liang Xiao had become thoroughly familiar with their President Huo’s cold, frosty aura. Yet after maintaining distance for just half a day, being looked at like this made his face flush and his heart race again.
Tomorrow would officially start recording, and tonight the filming crew wouldn’t follow them back to their rooms. Liang Xiao couldn’t help but feel excited, already anticipating the scene of the two of them soaking in the hot spring together.
Liang Xiao cleared his throat to calm himself and focus, explaining the rules to President Huo: “Based on my actions, guess what I’m seeing.”
President Huo nodded.
Liang Xiao looked at the first word, tried hard to think for a moment, his ears slightly warm, and raised his hand to gesture a flat surface.
Yin Chi didn’t have high hopes for their accuracy rate, but since they were a rare group without an eerie atmosphere, he quietly instructed the follow-up director: “If President Huo really can’t guess, hold up a sign off-camera to give him a hint…”
President Huo: “Sofa.”
Yin Chi: “??”
Liang Xiao: “!!”
Liang Xiao wasn’t very clear about their President Huo’s thought process. His hand, still gesturing the flat surface, paused for two seconds as he looked at the next word after the correct page was turned.
Liang Xiao coughed, opened his mouth without making a sound, and then gestured another flat surface, drawing downward.
President Huo: “Bathtub.”
Yin Chi turned back in surprise, checking if there were any reflective objects like mirrors in President Huo’s field of vision.
Liang Xiao watched the staff member flip the page after the correct guess, hesitated for two seconds, and raised his hand to gesture a third flat surface.
President Huo frowned slightly: “Desk.”
Yin Chi went over and personally replaced the staff member responsible for flipping the cards.
Liang Xiao paused for a few seconds, his face suddenly turning red, his heart racing, as he struggled to gesture a vertical flat surface.
President Huo frowned deeply: “Not acceptable.”
Yin Chi was almost shocked by the communication between these two and poked his head out holding the card: “What’s not acceptable?”
“Floor-to-ceiling window,” President Huo had some objections to the program team, his brows tightly locked as he said in a deep voice, “This word is not appropriate. It’s not respectful-”
Yin Chi couldn’t understand how the ordinary furniture theme had suddenly become disrespectful and was about to ask further when he was suddenly dazed by small hailstones falling from nowhere.
Liang Xiao, red-faced and red-eared, hastily interrupted the recording, rushed over to quickly pull President Huo away, and they both entered the rest area.
##
(advanced chapters available on kofi)
