The assistant director stroked his chin and said, “We’re betting on who is the most stunning. It’s well-known that He Mu looks good in equestrian attire. There might be glamour, but to say ‘stunning’ might be difficult, don’t you think?”

“That makes sense,” Xu Mu gave a thumbs-up and then asked the photographer, “Old Jiao, who are you betting on?”

“Among the ones who haven’t come out yet, aside from He Mu, it’s Li Shengyu and Luo Yu…”

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

At that moment, Li Shengyu came out holding a helmet, casually brushed his hair, and then slipped the helmet on.

In that brief moment, he exuded an air of casual rebelliousness.

The cameraman quickly said, “I was originally looking forward to Luo Yu, but now I think the equestrian outfit might suit Li Shengyu better.”

Director Xu shook his head helplessly. “Then I’ll still firmly choose Luo Yu.”

“Hahaha, actually, I was thinking the same. But if all three of us bet on Luo Yu, what’s the point of the bet?” the cameraman laughed.

“Then why don’t we bet on who comes out first, Luo Yu or He Mu?” Xu Mu winked at the assistant director and the cameraman.

“That’s easy to guess. It will definitely be Luo Yu,” the cameraman answered without hesitation.

“How are you so sure?” the assistant director asked curiously.

“I watched him all day yesterday through the lens! Besides needing to fix his eyebrows, he’s basically makeup-free and has no celebrity baggage. Who do you think will come out faster?”

Just as the cameraman finished speaking, a tall figure came down the stairs, adjusting his gloves as he walked.

The three men tilted their heads, following his steps with their eyes, watching him walk towards Jiang Muxing and lightly patting him on the shoulder.

“Xingxing, Sheng Yu, I’m out.”

When Jiang Muxing turned around, his eyes widened in surprise, and he took several steps back to look Luo Yu up and down.

“Bro… you’re so handsome.”

Luo Yu smiled, “Handsome enough for you to write me a song?”

“Sure, I’ll write you a song when I get back!” Jiang Muxing nodded.

Not far off, Mick and Liu Songtao were also stunned.

With the helmet on, Luo Yu’s features became even more striking.

The shape of his eyes had a deep beauty, and the connection of his brow bone and nose bridge gave his face a three-dimensional look—handsome and manly. When not smiling, he appeared reserved, but when he smiled affectionately at Jiang Muxing, there was a warmth that made people long for his exclusive affection.

The protective vest accentuated his upright posture, broad shoulders making one feel secure, and the gloves highlighted his long fingers. At this moment, Jiang Muxing mentioned something was bothering him in his collar, and Li Shengyu stepped forward to help, but couldn’t find it.

“Let me see.”

Luo Yu bit the tip of his right glove, pulled it off, and held it in his other hand. He then reached into Jiang Muxing’s collar, feeling around, and surprisingly pulled out a small black clip.

“Xingxing, your reaction time is quite slow, discovering something in your collar only after such a long time?” Luo Yu smiled as he handed the clip to Jiang Muxing.

Jiang Muxing stared at Luo Yu putting his gloves back on and said, “Bro, you were really seductive just now.”

Luo Yu didn’t understand, “What did I do?”

Nearby, Li Shengyu couldn’t watch anymore and replied, “He said you were seductive, meaning very sexy.”

“Why?” Luo Yu was puzzled. What did he do that made him seem sexy?

Li Shengyu stroked his chin and looked Luo Yu up and down, “No wonder you need extended pants and boots…”

Liu Songtao, interested, asked, “Extended version? What’s going on?”

Li Shengyu pointed towards Luo Yu, “The top is the right size, but the pants and boots are too short. Even the stylist said this guy’s legs are like those of a manga protagonist.”

Liu Songtao sighed, “It really is all legs below the waist… Can’t compare, can’t compare…”

Mick laughed, his gaze falling on Liu Songtao’s belly, “Brother Liu, if we measure from the waist, you wouldn’t be short either.”

Implying that the curve of the belly should be considered.

Liu Songtao wasn’t upset at all. With a cheerful smile, he rubbed his belly, “Later, I’ll suggest to the crew to measure from the navel to the ankle to see who has the longest legs!”

Jiang Muxing frowned, “That would definitely make mine the shortest!”

Xu Mu suddenly realized something and asked the cameraman on the intercom, “Did you get the shot of Luo Yu biting his glove?”

The cameraman answered in a low voice, “Got it, got it!”

Xu Mu exhaled. He couldn’t miss any footage that the audience loves to watch!

Sister Cui, meanwhile, took out her phone and started snapping pictures of Luo Yu with the intention of filling up her phone’s storage.

“I didn’t know Luo Yu had such wide shoulders and such long legs! My old lady’s teenage heart is fluttering! Should I get a DSLR? This phone can’t capture the grandeur! I really regret focusing only on discussing roles with him and not keeping up with publicity! After I get back, I need to get a van, find an assistant, a makeup artist, and maybe even a personal photographer!” Sister Cui said excitedly.

She didn’t expect that the boy she had seen as a younger brother for years had suddenly become so manly.

Sister Cui paused, realizing she had been acting overly excited.

Gu Xiaowei was so handsome and had such a good figure but didn’t have a personal photographer. Yet she was boasting about getting a professional photographer for Luo Yu. It was quite awkward.

“Teacher Gu, don’t mind me. It’s just that Luo Yu…”

“I’ll take the photos for him,” Gu Xiaowei said calmly.

“You… will take them?” Sister Cui was still a bit confused.

“Do you like it?” Gu Xiaowei showed his phone to Sister Cui.

He had perfectly captured the moment when Luo Yu was looking down and biting his glove off.

Sister Cui didn’t know what phone Gu Xiaowei used, but the photos of Luo Yu’s features were very clear.

Luo Yu’s downward gaze looked gentle, his long eyelashes elegant, and although he seemed reserved, his action of biting the glove off made the hearts of any who saw it itch. His half-exposed palm and wrist simply gave off such a suggestive vibe.

It was as if the gentle night had been torn open, revealing silver moonlight that made one’s heart race.

Sister Cui swallowed and suddenly realized that this wasn’t the first time Gu Xiaowei had taken photos of Luo Yu.

“You’re really good,” Sister Cui couldn’t find the right words to praise him for a moment.

“I’ll send it to you after the show is finished. See if Luo Yu wants to keep it for himself or use it for promotion after the episode airs.”

“Thank you! Really, thank you!” Sister Cui stared at Gu Xiaowei’s phone for a while, thinking it wasn’t just her own photography skills but also the phone’s camera function that made a difference.

Otherwise, why were her photos not as clear?

Gu Xiaowei, as if sensing what Sister Cui was thinking, told her the phone model.

“This model has excellent built-in light sensors, Zeiss lens, and good zoom.”

Sister Cui nodded, “Yes, yes, I need to get one too. Teacher Gu, you seem to really enjoy photography.”

“I got it to take pictures of him.”

Gu Xiaowei said this and then looked at Luo Yu, who was chatting with his teammates.

Sister Cui tilted her head, what did Gu Xiaowei just say? He got it to take pictures of whom?

The guests who had changed their clothes were chatting, and after more than twenty minutes, He Mu finally came out.

At once, not only the guests but also the staff on-site looked over.

He Mu’s features were delicate, his face small, and his figure very slender.

When the cameraman took close-ups of him, He Mu felt he had finally found his confidence.

Although Luo Yu had overshadowed him yesterday, today’s equestrian-themed game was actually to promote He Mu’s upcoming drama “Layered Clouds and Peaks”. The male lead in this drama is modeled after the young general Huo Qubing in history.

Initially, the investors thought He Mu’s salary was too high, but once his look was revealed, the platform predicted it would be a hit, and even if not, it would definitely generate a lot of buzz.

This equestrian game segment if the show was meant to build anticipation for the drama.

“As expected, this segment was designed just for He Mu! It’s perfect!” Liu Songtao clapped and praised.

Mick didn’t forget his prepared lines, “You should take a horseback riding role if you get the chance. Even better if it’s a historical costume drama.”

He Mu smiled contentedly and said humbly, “Mick, you’re great too, like an equestrian athlete, ready for a dressage competition.”

“I don’t think I have much talent for equestrianism. This outfit is just for fun.”

After Mick spoke, he shifted to the side, revealing Luo Yu, who was about four to five meters away from them.

He Mu’s expression instantly froze.

Although Luo Yu was only visible from behind, his reassuring broad shoulders, the narrow waist outlined by his protective vest, and his smoothly contoured arms and legs… his legs were exceptionally long!

In that moment, He Mu wondered if Luo Yu was wearing height-increasing insoles!

But the boots were provided by the production team, and judging by the heels, they didn’t seem to have anything added.

He Mu took a deep breath, telling himself it was no big deal; Luo Yu was just a few centimeters taller than him.

In terms of aristocratic demeanor, He Mu was confident he far surpassed Luo Yu.

At this point, the director announced that the first stage of equestrian training was about to begin.

Deer and Dingdang had also changed into equestrian outfits and came before the guests.

They complimented the guests’ physiques, even making Jiang Muxing blush.

The morning task was for all the guests to learn how to ride a horse. Anyone who could complete a lap around the arena independently would pass the assessment. If someone failed, not only would their team lose a point, but they would also be excluded from the afternoon session.

Hearing this, Jiang Muxing showed a pained expression, “I feel like I might just scream in a whistle register.”

“Then we’ll just record it and use it as an alarm clock,” Luo Yu said with a smile.

“Sheng Yu… and Brother Luo, I…” Jiang Muxing began to worry about dragging down his teammates.

Luo Yu looked into his eyes and said seriously, “We’ll all participate in the afternoon session together; not a single person can be missing. Since we’re in the same team, we need to stay together.”

Li Shengyu also said, “Don’t worry; when we learn to ride, maybe Brother Liu will scream even louder than you!”

Everyone laughed heartily, and the atmosphere lightened significantly.

After the polite exchanges between the two teams, the equestrian training began.

The coach for Luo Yu’s team, whose surname was Shi, worked at the club.

“I’ll start by assessing everyone’s riding skills. Does anyone know how to ride a horse?”

Li Shengyu and Jiang Muxing shook their heads firmly.

Coach Shi smiled and looked at Luo Yu, “You didn’t shake your head, so you can ride?”

“I learned a long time ago, but I haven’t ridden in a while. I’m not sure if I can still do it.”

Coach Shi smiled and said, “It’s somewhat similar to riding a bicycle. Why don’t you get on the horse and see how it feels? If you can ride, I can focus on teaching these two. Otherwise, the pressure of the whole morning will be quite significant.”

“Alright, I’ll give it a try,” Luo Yu said graciously.

Coach Shi brought out a gentle black horse, stroked its mane, and said to Luo Yu, “This horse is called Dongdong; he was born in winter. Many members of our club learned to ride on his back, so there’s nothing to be afraid of.”

“Okay.”

Luo Yu approached Dongdong, patted him as Coach Shi demonstrated, and found him very gentle. After getting familiar with the horse, Luo Yu mounted and rode out.

At first, he walked slowly, then Dongdong began to trot. After half a minute, Luo Yu found his rhythm and began to gallop around the arena with Dongdong.

Dongdong ran faster and faster. Luo Yu lowered himself against his back, the sunlight sliding over his back like a taut golden string.

Jiang Muxing and Li Shengyu were stunned.

After a long time, Li Shengyu said, “That skill level… and he said he wasn’t sure if he could still do it?”

Jiang Muxing, starry-eyed, said, “I want to be Brother Luo’s leg accessory!”

At that moment, He Mu was leisurely riding around the arena, letting the professional photographer arranged by his agent take pictures of him. Suddenly, the sound of hooves trotting by startled him, and when he looked up, he saw Luo Yu galloping past.

After finding his rhythm by circling the arena two or three times, Luo Yu returned to Coach Shi, dismounted smoothly, and said, “I should be able to ride.”

Coach Shi smiled, “Not only can you ride, but you also ride very well. We can teach the two of them together; it will speed up the progress significantly.”

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

Luo Yu replied, “Teaching them still depends on Coach Shi. My level is just enough to ride along with them.”

But the scene of Luo Yu pulling tightly on the reins and making the horse raise its front hooves had already impressed the photographer.

He captured the backlit scene, with its stunning visual effect and contrast between light and shadow, full of dynamic energy.

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How did Gu Xiaowei happen to buy tickets for “Rhapsody of Changmen”?

Moreover, he hadn’t expressed any surprise like “Oh, you also like ‘Rhapsody of Changmen?” as if he had known all along that Luo Yu wanted to see it.

Perhaps, because they had both been taught by Professor Chen, Gu Xiaowei assumed Luo Yu wanted to see it too.

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

Today’s filming was quite physically demanding. Luo Yu wrapped himself in the duvet and fell into a doze within half a minute.

Gu Xiaowei reached up to turn off the bedside lamp, his hand resting on the edge of Luo Yu’s pillow, and saw him with half of his face buried in the pillow, his nose just sticking out from the top of the duvet.

“Are you recording horseback riding content tomorrow?”

“Yeah. The director said it’s very simple… mainly to promote next month’s upcoming equestrian competition…”

Luo Yu’s eyelids grew heavier. His battery was running low, in desperate need of sleep.

“Can you ride a horse?”

“Yeah…”

“When did you learn?” Gu Xiaowei gently pressed down the duvet, probably afraid of Luo Yu suffocating.

“You taught me…” Luo Yu’s voice grew softer.

Gu Xiaowei’s finger, which was about to touch the switch, suddenly froze.

“I… when did I teach you?”

“When we were filming ‘Viewing the Vast Sea’…”

Luo Yu had already fallen asleep, his breathing slow and deep.

Gu Xiaowei turned his face to look at him, and with a click, the lights in the room dimmed.

Luo Yu should have slept soundly, but he inexplicably remembered many things from his previous life.

“Viewing the Vast Sea” was a film. At that time, Luo Yu had been recommended for the audition by Sister Cui and Gu Xiaowei, for the role of Cao Hong under Cao Cao. (TN: historical figures)

When the director received Luo Yu’s photo, he felt that Luo Yu was too handsome and didn’t have the grandeur of a battlefield general.

Gu Xiaowei then invited the director to watch a stage play that Luo Yu had performed in. Luo Yu played Zhao Wu in “The Zhao Orphan,” vividly portraying male bravery and decisiveness, yet his lines and demeanor were righteous and unyielding, with no hint of the dark vengeance he bore.

The director immediately gave him an audition opportunity, with only one requirement—he had to learn to ride a horse.

As Cao Hong was a military general, his loyalty and bravery to Cao Cao, especially in the Battle of Guandu where he faced Zhang He and Gao Lan’s attack and defended the main formation, required a lot of full-body shots on horseback.

To succeed in the audition, Gu Xiaowei accompanied Luo Yu to learn horseback riding.

Although there was a coach teaching, Gu Xiaowei was always there watching.

The coach taught Luo Yu how to communicate with the horse and basic forward and stopping commands, but this was still not enough for Luo Yu’s audition.

Luo Yu truly loved the role of Cao Hong and was extremely anxious.

Later, Gu Xiaowei got on the horse, sat behind Luo Yu, and taught him step by step how to get his horse to walk, trot, gallop, and perform the different gaits, whether it was a slow trot or a light canter. Gu Xiaowei meticulously taught him everything.

Luo Yu still remembered how Gu Xiaowei’s arms wrapped around him, helping him control the reins, whispering in his ear about how to relax his body, control his center of gravity, and follow the horse’s movements.

Perhaps because Luo Yu had a martial arts background, his body coordination was good, and he quickly mastered horseback riding.

After the movie aired, many people did not recognize that it was Luo Yu, only thinking that Cao Hong’s eyes were too attractive.

Especially the scene where Cao Hong battles Zhang He on horseback in which the murderous aura could be felt even across the screen, in which Cao Hong’s bravery and decisive manner being expressed so vividly. This scene was even specially edited into a short clip and accumulated hundreds of thousands of views on video platforms.

Because of this scene, Luo Yu’s equestrian skills became even more exquisite, and he often went to the horse racing field with Gu Xiaowei to compete and enjoy riding.

When the phone rang the next morning, Luo Yu, curled up under the duvet, did not want to move. It was only when he suddenly remembered that Gu Xiaowei was also sleeping here that he woke up abruptly.

Gu Xiaowei was already dressed and was packing his backpack. “You’re up, hurry and wash up.”

Luo Yu sniffed, smelling the aroma of breakfast.

“Did you go for a morning run again today?”

“En.”

“You’re really disciplined. I need to learn from you.”

“You were already exhausted from recording the program yesterday, both physically and mentally. There’s no need for you to push yourself further,” Gu Xiaowei replied.

Luo Yu watched him make coffee with a handheld coffee grinder. The room was filled with a rich aroma, and Luo Yu felt hungry immediately.

He went to the bathroom and found the toothbrush lying across the cup, and the toothpaste already squeezed out.

He seemed to have complained yesterday that the hotel’s disposable toothpaste was difficult to open. He didn’t expect Gu Xiaowei to remember it.

While brushing his teeth, Luo Yu walked to the bathroom door and said towards Gu Xiaowei’s direction, “Mmph mmph…”

“Finish brushing your teeth first,” Gu Xiaowei said while filtering the coffee grounds.

Luo Yu spat out the toothpaste foam, washed his face, and came to Gu Xiaowei. “I wanted to say that I’ve noticed you take great care of people!”

Gu Xiaowei glanced at Luo Yu. “Probably only you would notice.”

“Xiao Qin must feel the same way. I remember that when we were filming late before, you didn’t make Xiao Qin immediately send the clothes for washing, but instead let her go home early to sleep. Xiao Qin is grateful to you.” Luo Yu took the breakfast plate from the small tea table. “Today’s breakfast is jade tofu buns?”

“En.”

“I tell you, these vegetarian buns are incredibly fragrant. Especially with tofu, vermicelli, mushrooms, and greens together, they’re even more delicious than meat-filled ones.” Luo Yu bit into one, taking a big bite.

“I know.”

What do you know? That the buns are delicious? Or that I like this flavor?

After finishing breakfast, they went to the pre-booked equestrian club with the film crew.

Unexpectedly, as soon as they got in the car, Gu Xiaowei leaned against the window and seemed about to fall asleep.

“What’s wrong? Didn’t you sleep well last night?” Luo Yu asked, a bit concerned.

“You know, you rode a horse all night last night?” Gu Xiaowei said with his eyes closed and a low voice.

Sister Cui, who was driving in the front, was taken aback, glancing at the rearview mirror, wondering what happened last night?

What does “riding a horse all night” mean?

Luo Yu also stared blankly at him.

After a long time, seeing that Gu Xiaowei didn’t provide any further explanation, Luo Yu patted his shoulder. “Don’t only say half and leave half unsaid. Did I kick you in my sleep?”

“If I said you took me as a horse, pulling my neck and shouting battle cries, would you believe me?” Gu Xiaowei lifted his eyelids slightly and then closed them again.

Luo Yu immediately felt guilty.

“Of… of course, I believe it. Sorry, if you didn’t sleep well, you can rest in the car later.”

“I’m just curious, did you dream about ‘Three Heroes Fighting Lü Bu’ or ‘Zhao Zilong’s Seven Times in Changban Slope’?”

“I… actually dreamed about Cao Hong’s great battle with Zhang He, the one in the Battle of Guandu.”

Although a bit embarrassed, as soon as Gu Xiaowei mentioned that scene, Luo Yu’s mind began to wander. “But I think you would be quite suitable to play Zhao Zilong. With a cold and decisive demeanor, riding a white horse with a silver spear…”

“Then would you play Liu Ah Dou?”

“Do I look like Liu Ah Dou?” Luo Yu didn’t understand Gu Xiaowei’s train of thought.

“I’d love to hold you and ride through the Changban Slope seven times.”

As soon as the words were spoken, Sister Cui burst into laughter.

“Yeah right, if it were really like that, you’d probably end up dropping me to my death,” Luo Yu laughed as well. “Actually, Guo Jia would suit you quite well. After all, ‘As long as Guo Jia is alive, the sleeping dragon will not appear,’ calculating every strategy, his wisdom is like a sword that must seal the throat.” (TN: A popular online saying that means ‘if Guo Jia does not die than Zhuge Liang, who is called the sleeping dragon, will continue to hibernate)

But actually, in his previous life, Gu Xiaowei played Xun Yu in “Viewing the Vast Sea,” from middle age to old age, without any sense of incongruity.

“Alright, I’ll give it a try if I have the chance.”

After Gu Xiaowei said this, he straightened up.

Luo Yu’s phone vibrated. It was a small group chat he had joined with Li Shengyu and Jiang Muxing yesterday.

Jiang Muxing: [Brother Luo, none of us can ride a horse. Can you? @Luo Yu]

Luo Yu touched his nose. He definitely could in his previous life, but in this life… does this body count as being able or not?

“What’s up?” Gu Xiaowei asked from the side.

“It’s nothing, just Li Shengyu and Jiang Muxing asking if I can ride a horse.”

“And then?”

“I have to ride first to know.”

“You almost rode me all night yesterday, and now you say you need to ride to know?” Gu Xiaowei propped his chin on his palm, elbow resting on the car window, glancing sideways at Luo Yu.

“Cough, cough, cough…” Luo Yu almost choked to death, “Gu Xiaowei, you have a reputation in the industry, don’t just drive a car recklessly!” (TN: drive a car=crack sex jokes)

“Ha, isn’t it you who grabbed the steering wheel and floored the gas pedal?”

Sister Cui, who was actually driving, had a complicated mood. Was this the conversation she could hear from the driver’s seat?

They arrived at the club and started the intense pre-activity preparations.

All the guests were taken to change into their riding outfits.

According to the program’s flow, to give the audience a visual feast, the guests would all wear formal equestrian outfits to make an appearance.

Complete with helmet, gloves, chaps, protective vest, breeches, and riding boots, the guests were presented in a particularly spirited and upright manner.

Even Jiang Muxing, who had a relatively slender physique, made a strong impression when he walked out.

The assistant director couldn’t help but say, “This plan is good, very eye-catching!”

Xu Mu smiled, “Let’s make a bet on who looks the most stunning in a riding outfit.”

A passing cameraman said with a smile, “It must be He Mu. I’ve previously shot an MV for him, and he was also in riding gear. His figure and demeanor are definitely scream-worthy.”

“The prince charming on a white horse for thousands of young girls, right?” Director Xu chuckled, “But now, besides the prince charming on a white horse, girls also like those who are usually reserved and gentle but become commanding and charismatic when they’re on the battlefield.”

The assistant director laughed, “Where can we find that type…”

The cameraman shook his head, glancing at the staff watching from the periphery of the horse track, including Sister Cui and Gu Xiaowei leaning on the fence.

The three of them smiled knowingly.

“That’s an elite. That issue of ALPHA sold out crazily, didn’t it?” the assistant director said.

“Not just that. My wife wanted to buy it but couldn’t, so she made me find someone in the industry to get a copy,” the cameraman sighed deeply.

“I heard from my daughter that that issue of ALPHA was selling for several thousand yuan per copy,” Director Xu shook his head.

What they were referring to, ALPHA, is a fashion magazine. Their editor-in-chief wasn’t keen on riding the wave of popularity but preferred treasure hunting.

Four years ago, when Gu Xiaowei was only moderately famous and not so red-hot, their editor-in-chief invited him to shoot a magazine cover and feature.

Among them was a set of photos in equestrian gear, where his handsome and elegant figure contrasted sharply with his cold expression, as if the power of masculinity was encapsulated within those tightened lines.

Although every inch of skin was covered, his figure still made everyone who opened that page feel an extreme attraction.

A week before the magazine’s release, the TV drama in which Gu Xiaowei played a supporting role aired. He portrayed a horse trainer, and his handsome image and the tenderness he showed towards the horses attracted many viewers. His reserved demeanor and dedicated nature, along with his frequent assistance to the male lead in times of trouble, made his character very likable, and he gained some popularity.

Subsequently, with Gu Xiaowei’s rising acting career, the value of that issue of ALPHA also soared.

At this moment, however, Gu Xiaowei was dressed in loose sportswear, looking relaxed and at ease. Many staff members around couldn’t help but glance at him.

He rolled up his sleeve slightly to reveal his muscular forearms, opened the thermos, and poured a small cup of coffee for Sister Cui, saying, “You’ve had a long drive this early in the morning. Thank you for your hard work.”

“It’s not hard at all,” Sister Cui replied as she accepted the coffee, thinking to herself that it was nothing compared to the exhaustion of being ridden by Luo Yu all night.

At that moment, Liu Songtao came out. He was tall and burly, with a noticeable beer belly, which he awkwardly patted, unable to resist.

The three men stationed in front of the camera laughed heartily.

Liu Songtao was calm, knowing that his role in the show was to be the comedic relief. Without his beer belly, he wouldn’t have any presence at all.

“Good thing I didn’t lose weight. Otherwise, when the handsome guys come out later, there won’t be anything interesting to see here,” Liu Songtao joked.

Jiang Muxing walked over and asked, “Teacher Liu, are your team members still not out?”

“Our team’s remaining two are both handsome guys. The star attractions will definitely come out last!” Liu Songtao teased.

Unexpectedly, Jiang Muxing said seriously, “The most handsome ones are from our team!”

Liu Songtao laughed even harder. “They’re all handsome; the ones still inside are all handsome.”

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

After two minutes, Mick emerged, with a cool expression on his face, putting on gloves as he walked towards Liu Songtao. Due to his long-term dance training, his physique was tight and muscular, which made Director Xu and the others nod approvingly.

The assistant director spoke up, “Didn’t Director Xu say earlier that we should bet on whose riding outfit look is the most stunning? I’m betting on Mick!”

The cameraman laughed, “Are you sure you’re not betting on He Mu? He’s the big favorite!”

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Meng Yu was just jokingly making a comment, not expecting the other to fall silent, which made this seasoned agent feel a little bit worried—was Gu Xiaowei planning some super big move?

“It should be riding gear.”

Hearing this frank admission, Meng Yu relaxed his anxious heart.

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

“Gu Xiaowei, you’re no exception either; you also like watching narrow waists and long legs.”

“That’s a universal aesthetic.”

“It’s fortunate that President Jiang is so capable this time. That #hahahaha# trending topic was planned by him immediately. Your anti-fans were thrown off by this #hahahaha# and went down quickly, while also attracting a wave of casual fans. Previously, some people thought you deliberately set up a cold and aloof persona, but now… you’re not so aloof anymore.”

“President Jiang… Jiang Yinchuan?” Gu Xiaowei asked.

“Yeah. The #hahahaha# is still trending online, with more and more jokes, probably enough to keep going all night. Some of them are very likely to have been specially written by President Jiang’s team. They’re quite funny and positive, and they’ve also warmed up the buzz for ‘Counterattack.’ His PR skills are on par with our PR director Li Qian.”

“That’s good.”

Gu Xiaowei glanced at Luo Yu, who was sitting on the sofa with his head lowered, a wry look on his face, probably dealing with Jiang Yinchuan’s bombardment.

“Luo Yu! You’ve got some skills! Should I buy you a trending topic called ‘Gu Xiaowei’s Princess’?”

Jiang Yinchuan was originally attending a dinner meeting and discussing collaboration with someone when he suddenly saw the anti-fans dancing on the trending topic, making him furious.

This Luo Yu, having suffered so many losses, still naively thought that being upright and honest meant ignoring what was said online.

“The person being princess carried isn’t necessarily a princess. After all, there’s no wife in the wife cake either,” Luo Yu said with a smile. (TN: A sweetheart cake or wife cake or marriage pie is a traditional Chinese cake with a thin crust of flaky pastry, made with a filling of winter melon, almond paste, and sesame, and spiced with five spice powder.)

“What does wife cake have to do with this!” Jiang Yinchuan was so angry he almost drank red wine as if it were Pu’er tea.

“I… should be careful in the future? Try not to be seen with Gu Xiaowei in public…”

“What not in public? Are you in a romantic relationship? Can’t you enjoy yourself openly in public? Are you both involved in illegal business? You said yourself that just because you’re princess carried doesn’t mean you’re Gu Xiaowei’s princess. What are you being careful about!”

Jiang Yinchuan bombarded Luo Yu with a rapid-fire lecture.

“So… why are you angry?” Luo Yu asked in a small voice.

“I’m angry because you don’t have enough crisis awareness regarding possible public opinion. I understand you’ve been heavily criticized before, so you simply threw your phone away and ignored it. You think you’ve never broken the law or committed any moral wrongdoing, so you’re not afraid of gossip. But with the development of the internet, this is no longer an era where the pure can remain pure.”

Jiang Yinchuan’s words calmed Luo Yu. For the first time in either his previous or this life, someone was worried about him and said such things.

“But some negative news can be clarified, and not only clarified but can even turn into a positive thing for you! Some negative opinions can also be guided, provided you give the PR team a chance. Luo Yu, you’re no longer alone. Your achievements are not only yours but also involve the whole company in sharing the risk.”

“Sorry, Yin Chuan. This time, it’s my fault.”

Jiang Yinchuan sighed deeply: “Luo Yu, remember, in this matter, you haven’t done anything wrong. The human heart is like an abyss, and the internet amplifies this abyss infinitely, twisting people’s thoughts, turning normal closeness between friends and quarrels between lovers into dark and twisted things. I’m telling you this just so you know you’re not fighting alone. You and Gu Xiaowei are friends; you should be how you are. If you benefit from your relationship with him, so what? Who knows, he might need to benefit from being connected to you someday? Friends aren’t just for chatting and company; they can help each other’s career too! Don’t mind the online jealousy!”

Luo Yu’s eyes became a bit misty. He covered them and said softly, “Thank you.”

“To put it simply, even if one day you end up dating him, I wouldn’t be helpless on the PR front either!”

“Cough cough… cough cough…” Luo Yu almost choked on his own lungs.

“Look at you! Is this all it takes to scare you? My dinner meeting isn’t over yet. I won’t chat with you any longer.”

“Okay.”

After hanging up, Luo Yu’s heart still raced because of Jiang Yinchuan’s casual joke. He even suspected that his ears might be red.

He looked at Gu Xiaowei across from him, who had also put down his phone and was looking back at him. Luo Yu quickly composed himself, smiled, and said, “You must have been prepared for someone to record the video of you princess carrying me during the squats at the gathering and uploading it online, right?”

“Scared by the anti-fans?” Gu Xiaowei asked in return.

“No,” Luo Yu shook his head. “Your purpose was actually to give a favor to the production team. Since they used you as a publicity stunt, the production team will have to keep my shots as much as possible and can’t damage my image in the editing.”

Gu Xiaowei looked at Luo Yu, remaining silent.

“If it’s just because I once walked in the heavy rain for you, you’ve already given me enough help,” Luo Yu said.

Gu Xiaowei’s brows furrowed.

“But if it’s because we’re close, and you wanted to try what I’ve done, to play around with me, I’m quite happy about it,” Luo Yu said.

Even if Gu Xiaowei was letting him rub traffic, Luo Yu wouldn’t feel it was charity because being good to someone is nothing more than giving—giving companionship, understanding, and support for their career needs.

Jiang Yinchuan was right; Luo Yu didn’t need to feel inferior or lesser before Gu Xiaowei.

They were equals. Whatever help Gu Xiaowei provided, Luo Yu would also do his best to support and help him in turn.

Luo Yu said, “I won’t let you sink alone, no matter which film or role.”

Gu Xiaowei paused and looked at Luo Yu.

He knew how difficult it was to detach oneself from a role, to feel helplessly bound by it, and how to appear normal despite it. Whether it was his agent, Xiao Qin, or even directors like Lin Yue and Xu Han, they never thought a role could imprison his soul.

Only Luo Yu said to him, “I won’t let you sink alone.”

“Because of jealousy,” Gu Xiaowei said.

“Huh? Jealousy… of what?” Luo Yu was stunned.

“You’re having fun with them, while I can only watch from the sidelines.”

Luo Yu furrowed his brows and leaned closer to Gu Xiaowei to get a clearer look at his expression.

“You… are actually upset about that?”

Who would believe it, right?

But Luo Yu understood that kind of loneliness.

It was like the time in his previous life when Luo Yu had just adapted to acting in plays and reunited with Sister Cui and some old classmates. They talked about the entertainment industry, and even though Luo Yu had dinner with them, he couldn’t really join their conversations. Although Luo Yu had finally gained confidence, a mere meal made him feel as if he belonged to a different world from them.

Perhaps when he was recording the variety show and interacting with Li Shengyu and Jiang Muxing, Gu Xiaowei watching from outside also felt that he didn’t belong to that world.

“Teacher Gu, please rest assured. Acting will always be the focus of my life. Even if my fame increases in the future, and I get more invitations for variety shows, I still want to focus on acting. Participating in this show is, firstly, an opportunity secured by Yin Chuan, and secondly, our ‘Counterattack’ is about to be released, so I need to show my face to the audience.”

“I know,” Gu Xiaowei said, then lowered his head to look at his phone.

But that silent profile made him look like a somewhat lonely child.

Luo Yu raised his hand, almost reaching out to pat his head, only to remember that Gu Xiaowei was a few centimeters taller than him. If he reached out, it wouldn’t be like petting a sheep, but grabbing a wolf’s bristle.

“What are you looking at?” Luo Yu gently tapped him.

“Looking at the difficulty of one-handed handstands. The production team is making a big deal of it, but actually, everyone can do it,” Gu Xiaowei said.

Luo Yu wiped his face mentally. After the princess carry and squats, Gu Xiaowei’s competitive streak seemed to have only become more endless.

“Jiang Muxing can’t do it, Li Shengyu can’t, and even Deer and Brother Liu definitely can’t,” Luo Yu was quite satisfied with his one-handed handstand.

“I should be able to do it too,” Gu Xiaowei said.

Luo Yu hesitated for a moment and became worried that Gu Xiaowei might call He Mu, Mick, and the others to line up and have a one-handed handstand competition to see who could hold it the longest.

“Let’s compare. Whoever falls first loses,” Gu Xiao Wei said.

Luo Yu wanted to say “I’ve lost” immediately.

But Gu Xiaowei added, “If you win against me, I’ll take you to see Professor Chen’s play ‘Rhapsody of Changmen.’”

When Luo Yu heard this, his eyes lit up.

Professor Chen was Luo Yu’s acting teacher at the Film Academy and also the benefactor who introduced him to stage plays during his period of decline in his previous life. Professor Chen was renowned for his superb acting skills and his rich vocal performance. The tickets for his play “Rhapsody of Changmen” in which he was the lead role were extremely hard to come by.

“Are you bragging?” Luo Yu didn’t quite believe him.

He had also called Professor Chen to ask for tickets, but Professor Chen had regretfully said that he only had two tickets, one for his wife and one for his daughter.

“Do you mean bragging about having tickets, or bragging about being able to win against you?” Gu Xiaowei looked up at him.

That gaze was gentle and calm, with a hint of a smile, making it hard to associate it with the words of provocation he had uttered.

“Both,” Luo Yu said as he rolled up his sleeves, full of fighting spirit.

Gu Xiaowei also stood up and started rolling up his casual shirt sleeves.

“Set the alarm on your phone. We start in five seconds,” Luo Yu said.

“You set it.”

Was Gu Xiaowei really so confident?

But his ability shouldn’t be underestimated. After all, the guy could make Luo Yu question if he was just a pillow with no weight when it came to deep squats and princess carries.

As the phone rang with a “ding ding ding,” both of them swiftly flipped upside down on one hand.

Oh no, I forgot to tuck my shirt into my pants!

Luo Yu’s shirt fell down, almost covering his head.

But it didn’t matter; Gu Xiaowei was in no better shape. His shirt also fell down… Wow, those abs and that waist… the movie posters really weren’t photoshopped!

Luo Yu admitted to feeling envious.

Each second felt like a year. Ten seconds should have passed by now. Luo Yu’s arm was slightly trembling, but Gu Xiaowei across from him remained steady, seeming capable of enduring another ten seconds.

No, no, no, this isn’t just about a man’s dignity!

This was about Professor Chen’s stage play tickets!

“Teacher Gu, your core strength is quite impressive… Is this the legendary alpha…”

Luo Yu intended to distract his opponent with words, but he didn’t expect Gu Xiaowei to be far more ruthless.

“If you dare say that word, I’ll let you experience it properly.”

Luo Yu immediately shut up.

His face turned red, not just from his trembling arm but also from struggling to maintain balance.

No, he couldn’t fall! He couldn’t fall!

“Senior Brother, if you don’t fall, I’ll come and bite you.”

“What!” Luo Yu almost choked, collapsing with a thud.

While lying on the ground, he watched as Gu Xiaowei gently landed upright, adjusted his shirt, and squatted down in front of him with a refined demeanor, tenderly patting Luo Yu’s head, “Senior Brother, you lost.”

…

Luo Yu suddenly felt like the thought of comforting Gu Xiaowei by patting his head earlier was quite foolish.

“So this is how you win…?” Luo Yu’s neck and ears were flushed red.

Gu Xiaowei had an expression of natural self-assuredness, “Winning is winning. There’s no rule about how to win.”

Luo Yu gritted his teeth, mentally calling him a “rascal.”

“Losing is losing. Besides, it wasn’t stated what would happen if I lost.”

Luo Yu pushed Gu Xiaowei’s hand away and slowly stood up.

“I’m going to take a shower. I have a program to record tomorrow.”

Luo Yu turned and went to gather his change of clothes.

Gu Xiaowei sat on the sofa nearby, “The tickets are actually already reserved. It’s just after ‘Beast and Rose’ wraps up.”

Luo Yu paused, remaining in his squatting position, and looked at him, “So… whether I win or lose, you would still invite me to see it?”

“Yup.”

“Then what’s the point of this competition? It was a waste of my energy. I could have just admitted defeat,” Luo Yu said, reaching out to push him, but unfortunately, he didn’t manage to move the other even an inch.

“Winning or losing might not be important to you, but it is to me.”

“Does Xiao Qin, Brother Yan, your agent, and Cheng Fei know you’re so competitive?”

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

“You can ask them,” Gu Xiaowei replied.

Luo Yu carried his change of clothes into the bathroom and peeked out before closing the door, “Thank you anyway!”

“You’re welcome.”

As Luo Yu started his shower and the water flowed down over his head, he suddenly found himself confused.

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The changing light and shadow made Gu Xiaowei’s mood seem as elusive as his expression.

“Of course, who doesn’t like that? Didn’t you see how excited everyone was today?” Luo Yu said with as much normalcy as he could manage.

“Alright, I’ll discuss it with Xia Tan.”

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

“Discuss with Xia Tan?” Luo Yu suddenly felt something was off, “What are you discussing with her? Isn’t she still revising the script for ‘Beast and Rose’?”

“Have her add a scene where Lu Pingfeng has a princess carry with Wen Yuchi to fulfill your wish,” Gu Xiaowei said.

“Hey, suit yourself. Anyway, Wen Yuchi might not even be played by me,” Luo Yu shrugged.

At this point, Sister Cui became nervous. “Yes, the casting results for that movie will be out in the next couple of days, right? The competition for Wen Yuchi’s role is quite intense… I’m just afraid that the greater the hope, the bigger the disappointment.”

Upon hearing this, Luo Yu tugged at Gu Xiaowei’s sleeve, lifting and dropping it, “Hey, if there’s any inside information, just share it. It would save me from sleepless nights.”

Gu Xiaowei looked down at his sleeve, which had been pulled, and said leisurely, “Well, you’re never the one who can’t sleep.”

Luo Yu tilted his head back and closed his eyes, “True. Besides me, there are also He Mu and Liang Shengqiu as strong contenders. But it’s worse now that Sister Cui mentioned it; I’m feeling a kind of exam-result anxiety.”

“I say it’s you, but you don’t believe me,” Gu Xiaowei said, looking at him. His neck stretched, Adam’s apple moving, and occasionally light swept across, outlining a contour that evoked one’s sense of conquest.

At that moment, Xu Mu was in the car, resting with his eyes closed, when Gao He’s call came in.

Seeing the name flashing on the screen, Xu Mu felt a headache coming on but took a deep breath, composed himself, and answered the call.

“Ah, Mr. Gao! Long time no see. What made you think of calling me?”

As expected, Gao He was calling to ensure He Mu’s on-screen time and exposure.

Actually, Xu Mu’s superior had been quite dissatisfied with the declining ratings. With He Mu’s high appearance fee, they were considering either reducing his fee or replacing him with another popular star. The higher-ups were already assessing the show’s effectiveness.

But Xu Mu wouldn’t share this with Gao He. Dijun Media wouldn’t consider the needs of the production team; He Mu’s value was always their top priority, and making a fuss over the phone wouldn’t help.

“For tomorrow’s shoot, we’ll make sure to take good care of He Mu. We’ve spent so much money bringing him onto the show; not giving him screen time would be a waste of his appearance fee.”

Xu Mu neither made any firm promises nor did he fully pacify Gao He’s emotions.

After hanging up, the head of the photography team sighed, “Actually, it’s not that we didn’t give He Mu a chance. We designed so many segments for him today, but he still didn’t seize them.”

“To be honest, apart from his fans, other viewers have been complaining on the official Weibo, saying that He Mu appeared too often in the earlier episodes and they’re experiencing aesthetic fatigue. They even asked if this show is He Mu’s personal showcase,” another assistant director in the car added.

“I actually like Luo Yu,” the cameraman suddenly said. “Some people are just born for the camera. The moment he appears, I have this strong desire to capture all his expressions and movements. And he’s really handsome.”

“Do you remember that before Luo Yu signed with Yinchuan Culture, he was said to be a dupe for He Mu?” Xu Mu asked with a smile.

“Ha, I used to think that entertainment industry rumors couldn’t be all groundless. But this was the most absurd thing I’ve ever heard,” the cameraman snorted.

Xu Mu’s phone rang again; it was a call from Director Liu.

“Ai, Xiao Xu! I watched the clips with Luo Yu that you sent. They’re really interesting and engaging! The consensus among me and the others at the station is that we should keep all of his good shots and not deliberately add extra footage. Just make sure that whenever it appears, it shines.”

Xu Mu smiled, “Got it. Effective shots are more important than screen time. We want the audience eagerly waiting for him to appear!”

“Right, we’ll see the audience’s approval based on the results.”

“Understood. Don’t worry, leader.”

After hanging up the phone, Xu Mu estimated that the station really liked Luo Yu. They planned to use this episode of the variety show to boost his popularity and prepare for his role in the upcoming drama.

When the production team gradually returned to the hotel, He Mu’s assistant rushed over to him with excitement.

“Do you know what happened during dinner?”

“What?” He Mu, applying a facial mask, lifted his eyelids. The filming had been physically exhausting today, and he almost fell asleep.

“Look! This is a video I begged a staff member to send me! Gu Xiaowei did ten squats holding Luo Yu!”

He Mu’s eyes widened immediately as he snatched the phone.

The video’s angle was such that it showed only Gu Xiaowei’s profile, but the figure and casual shirt clearly identified him as the person from today. 

“Amazing, right? He’s so steady! Luo Yu must be around 185 cm, but look at how effortlessly Gu Xiaowei holds him! He’s even talking to Luo Yu while doing squats!”

Another makeup artist couldn’t help but come over, “Oh my God! If only all male celebrities followed this standard!”

“This is definitely going viral! Gu Xiaowei has never held a female actress in a scene before; he gave his first princess carry to Luo Yu!”

As soon as this was said, the assistant nudged the makeup artist, signaling him not to mention Luo Yu anymore.

The room instantly fell into an awkward silence.

He Mu felt even more distressed. He knew that whether or not the director requested it, someone would eventually leak the video to marketing accounts, and Gu Xiaowei would drag Luo Yu into another trending topic.

He called Gao He and sent the video.

After watching, Gao He sighed, “He Mu, no matter how much you dislike someone, there are times when you’re powerless. The entertainment industry’s fortune changes with the wind, and fame and risk often coexist. Gu Xiaowei has haters, and many people in the industry envy his position. We don’t need to intervene; others will naturally try to suppress them. But it can’t be us.”

He Mu’s stomach hurt even more.

“Besides, with ‘Burn, Little Cosmos’ ratings declining and your appearance fees being a significant part of the cost, it’s likely we won’t renew the contract for the next season. If other variety shows hear that you can’t boost ratings, your fees will be reduced.”

“What? They can do that? I worked so hard recording the show…”

“Hard work? Gu Xiaowei spends three months on set, and his appearance fees still might not be half of yours for a quarter of variety shows. And if this video of Gu Xiaowei and Luo Yu boosts the ratings, you’ll benefit too.”

He Mu gritted his teeth, feeling a sharp pain in his stomach. He hadn’t expected that one day he would need to benefit from Luo Yu’s success.

Yet, he couldn’t refute a single word Gao He said.

Sure enough, around ten o’clock that night, #Gu Xiaowei Squats# trended.

At first, netizens were surprised that Gu Xiaowei’s workout made it to trending, but upon clicking—people went wild.

The marketing account posted a video showing Gu Xiaowei’s side profile holding Luo Yu. The video, surrounded by many onlookers, clearly took place at a gathering.

Not only did Gu Xiaowei squat effortlessly, but he also occasionally talked to Luo Yu.

Luo Yu’s face was flushed red, and he tried several times to cover his face, but every time he tried, Gu Xiaowei would bounce him up.

[Oh my God, is that human strength?]

[Brother Gu and his senior brother finally in the same frame outside the drama! Want to ask Luo Yu if he ever expected to be carried like that!]

[Wow! Does anyone remember the person Gu Xiaowei carried after ‘Counterattack’? Could it be Luo Yu?]

[Brother Gu’s waist isn’t just a waist, it’s the summit of Everest, resisting wind and snow!]

Initially, fans and netizens were amazed by Gu Xiaowei’s impressive core strength and stable arms, but soon, haters began to emerge.

[Haha, Gu Xiaowei is crazy about pampering this wash-out star! Too bad, no matter how much traffic he gets, he’ll never be popular!]

[Yinchuan Culture is the investor for Gu Xiaowei’s movie, right? So, Gu Xiaowei is using his popularity to pave the way for Luo Yu! Truly fallen!]

[Brother Gu is beautiful solo, don’t stir up CP drama!]

[Brother Gu, don’t tie yourself with him! It’s so lame!]

Most fans felt that Gu Xiaowei was usually too aloof and lacked a sense of everyday life. It was rare for him to have a friend, and Luo Yu was handsome and charismatic, which they welcomed. However, a few haters and toxic fans exaggerated negative emotions. Although they were few, their words were sharp and distressing, making neutral bystanders feel very uncomfortable.

Before bed, He Mu saw Gu Xiaowei being attacked by haters for being close to Luo Yu and felt a pang of satisfaction.

In his view, this was all Gu Xiaowei’s own doing.

He held Luo Yu in such high regard—what could Luo Yu offer him, other than trouble?

At this point, after communicating with the director, the show’s official Weibo posted: [Everything for male dignity.]

The Weibo post included a video of Luo Yu saying, “A person here on site can still do it.”

Amidst numerous cries of “Who?” and “You’re teasing us by talking halfway, missing a segment,” Luo Yu smiled without answering.

A staff member from the production team responded in the comments: [Teacher Gu came to watch the filming, and Luo Yu didn’t reveal Teacher Gu’s name at that time to protect his privacy. But Teacher Gu still wanted to prove his strength, so he carried Luo Yu and did ten squats at the dinner!]

After the explanation, everyone understood what was going on.

Gu Xiaowei’s fans quickly shared and promoted the post.

Luo Yu’s fans also gained confidence and went to explain under the harshest criticisms.

During the process of reasoning with haters and discussing the situation, Gu Xiaowei’s fans found they shared the same perspective as Luo Yu’s fans, questioning why the two actors couldn’t be friends and why a friendly game like squats was considered hype. Many fans from both sides successfully allied.

Soon, #Burn, Little Cosmos# and #Male Dignity# also trended, pushing down the previous topic.

Even those who didn’t watch variety shows became interested in “Burn, Little Cosmos,” and fans’ continuous explanations about “Male Dignity” led to “hahaha” flooding the comments.

[Hahaha, Brother Gu isn’t as aloof as imagined! That damned competitive spirit!]

[Hahaha, Teacher Gu has raised the bar for male actors!]

[Hahaha, the humble senior brother says I’m the one participating in the variety show!]

[Hahaha, Luo Yu says he wanted to find a crack in the ground to hide but the junior brother wouldn’t let him!]

Before long, #hahaha# also trended, becoming increasingly popular and attracting viewers.

Most importantly, Gu Xiaowei and Luo Yu’s fans had a great time together, and even bewildered passersby wondered why the fan circle was so joyous overnight.

Both Gu Xiaowei and Luo Yu were not very immersed in Weibo, but even so, after returning to their rooms, they still made an effort to explain due to the trending topic.

For example, Gu Xiaowei’s agent called.

“Oh my God, how many trending topics are you planning to create tonight? If you want to participate in variety shows, just say so! We should at least get appearance fees, right?”

“I didn’t participate in the recording,” Gu Xiaowei replied.

“But you did free marketing for the show,” the agent said, feeling a headache, “Even though not everything is about money, doing this will make many variety shows want to work with you! I just received more than ten calls! Now everyone thinks you’re considering participating in variety shows!”

“Sorry for causing you trouble,” Gu Xiaowei said.

“…Is this really about not being able to rest properly? There are some good variety shows with quality and style. Would you like to consider them?”

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

“Not for now.”

“Then are you going to continue watching Luo Yu in the variety show?”

“En, tomorrow’s the last segment, where he’ll ride a horse,” Gu Xiaowei answered.

“Do you want to see him riding a horse or see him in a riding outfit?”

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Gu Xiaowei was pressed to sit beside Luo Yu, who smiled as he peeled apart the chopsticks and sanitized the utensils with hot water.

Soon, the stewed chicken soup was served. The aroma was so appetizing that it makes one wonder how it was made, and the oil on top had even been skimmed off beforehand.

Everyone quickly shared the pot of chicken soup.

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

Then a variety of dishes were brought to the table: sweet and sour fried fish, stir-fried meat with chili peppers, and egg-pumpkin flowers.

Luo Yu watched as Gu Xiaowei took a bowl, blew on it, and then took a sip.

“Is it good?” 

“En, very fresh,” Gu Xiaowei nodded and took a few more sips.

“Here, eating requires quick reflexes! Don’t be too reserved; reserved people end up hungry!” the director said with a laugh.

So everyone began to compete for the dishes. When a pot of yellow bean stew with pig’s trotters came around to Gu Xiaowei and Luo Yu, only the yellow beans were left.

Next, a plate of stir-fried kidney came out. While everyone was still busy with the pig’s trotters, Gu Xiaowei subtly moved the plate of kidney to their side and scooped several spoonfuls for Luo Yu with the serving spoon meant for the chili meat.

“That’s enough, that’s enough!” Luo Yu said, holding his bowl.

Liu Songtao looked at this scene with amusement, “How could it be enough? Teacher Gu saw that you used too much strength today and is giving you a good supplement!”

“Oh! Brother Liu, you’re driving a car again?” Deer teased. (TN: innuendo/vulgar joke)

Liu Songtao felt wronged, “With a lady present, I never act out of line. Don’t set me up.”

At this moment, Dingdang held up half a cup of juice towards Luo Yu. “Brother Luo, you’ve worked hard today, with princess carries and squats. I toast you with juice instead of wine.”

“It’s all for the sake of the show. And you’re not heavy… I’ve carried Deer as a contestant before. Who remembers Deer’s two pots of steamed chicken?” Luo Yu laughed.

Deer quickly changed the subject, “Speaking of princess carries, you once claimed that someone could carry you and do ten squats—who is this person? You owe us an explanation!”

Li Shengyu was also very curious, “Yeah, if you don’t give an answer now, the director might cut this part from the show and fans will come asking on your Weibo. Let’s see how you’ll respond then.”

Jiang Muxing tilted his head and thought, “Brother Luo can do a one-handed handstand, so can Mick. Is the person Brother Luo mentioned Mick?”

Mick nearly choked on a piece of vegetable, “It’s not me, absolutely not me. As long as it’s not Deer’s weight, I can carry it! But with ten more squats, you guys don’t want your knees, but I want to keep my knees!”

“So who is it?” Jiang Muxing asked curiously.

At this moment, Xu Mu placed a small cup of wine on the table and said loudly, “Luo Yu, you’ve left us a big hook for the show—so you have to give us an answer! If you were just making it up, that’s fine, drink this cup of wine. If not, let that person come out and prove it!”

Xu Mu had already had two drinks, and with a flushed face from a day’s filming, he thought Luo Yu was great and would surely become very popular. He wanted to have some fun with him.

Luo Yu didn’t dare look at Gu Xiaowei beside him and took a deep breath. “Alright, I…”

He was thinking that although his drinking capacity wasn’t great, at least Sister Cui and Gu Xiaowei were there to watch him. But before his hand could reach the cup, Gu Xiaowei stopped him and said, “Alright, I’ll do it.”

Everyone was stunned, thinking Gu Xiaowei meant he would drink the wine for Luo Yu. As Director Xu was about to say he was joking, Gu Xiaowei stood up, unbuttoned the first button of his shirt, and loosened it slightly.

His profile made his neck line appear taut, and several people present swallowed in unison. Dingdang was also mesmerized.

Luo Yu tilted his head, looking at him, but Gu Xiaowei bent down, wrapping one arm around Luo Yu’s shoulder and the other under his knees.

“Um…”

In the next second, Gu Xiaowei lifted Luo Yu from his seat.

At that moment, all eyes were on them.

“Ah…” Sister Cui turned around and saw the scene, dropping her pork ribs.

“Ten squats?” Gu Xiaowei looked down at Luo Yu in his arms, his lips curling slightly.

“Really going to do squats?” Mick stood up, not believing it! With Luo Yu’s weight, even he wasn’t sure he could manage! How could Gu Xiaowei be so confident!

The room filled with rising cheers, and some people couldn’t resist taking out their phones.

“One.” Gu Xiaowei started squatting, his gaze still fixed on Luo Yu.

Luo Yu’s long legs quickly touched the ground.

“You… don’t overdo it…” Luo Yu was genuinely worried he might hurt himself, “I wasn’t actually… I can drink that cup of wine!”

“Two.” Gu Xiaowei’s voice was very soft, with the hint of a smile even more evident.

“I know you’re great! Seventh degree in Sanda! Strong waist!”

“Three—praise more if you can, I don’t mind you being exaggerated.”

In the first two squats, Luo Yu was completely stunned. But by the third squat, he felt Gu Xiaowei’s shoulder and waist strength, experiencing the tension and firmness of the muscles and bones, vividly feeling the strength of another male.

At first, everyone might have thought Gu Xiaowei just had the strength to lift Luo Yu, but now no one doubted that ten squats were no problem for him.

“Is that it?”

“Ah… do you still need more praise?” Luo Yu was bewildered.

“Four.” Gu Xiaowei squatted down and when he stood up, he bounced Luo Yu slightly, scaring him into grabbing his collar, “Earlier you praised ‘strong waist,’ Senior Brother, do I have no other merits?”

“Yes, yes, yes—” Luo Yu looked for help from his tablemates, but Li Shengyu and Jiang Muxing were so lost in excitement they nearly cheered with everyone else.

Fortunately, Dingdang reminded him, “Pheromones! Boyfriend power!”

“Right, right, right, you’re explosive—pheromones—” Luo Yu shouted.

“Five.” Gu Xiaowei completed another squat, looking as if he still had energy, “That’s it?”

As he seemed about to bounce him up again, the cheers around continued. Luo Yu hurried to continue with compliments, “Boyfriend power is off the charts!”

“So who’s my boyfriend then?” Gu Xiaowei’s voice was low, and before Luo Yu could respond, he loudly counted the next number, “Six.”

Luo Yu was completely stunned, feeling like the moon had suddenly crashed into the Earth’s core, everything was turned upside down.

“Senior Brother, your vocabulary for praise isn’t enough,” Gu Xiaowei’s voice sounded as usual.

As if the earlier emotional turmoil was just Luo Yu’s illusion.

“You’re an excellent actor, your lines are memorized perfectly, a model for us all.”

“Seven. Is that something Director Lin said?”

“Who said it doesn’t matter, praising you is what matters. Also, your taste is superb, unlike me, who only knows to pair a white T-shirt with jeans.”

“Eight—”

“You’re elegant and intellectual, demonstrating the ascetic temperament perfectly, giving the audience endless imagination about ‘losing control and indulgence.’” Luo Yu said, awkwardly digging his toes into the ground.

“Nine.” Gu Xiaowei paused again, “If I don’t do the tenth, will you have to stay in my arms?”

“Ah?” Luo Yu’s ears turned red.

He didn’t understand why he was so affected by someone younger than him.

“Hurry and think, Senior Brother, your stock of compliments is running low.”

The people around had started applauding.

“Impressive! I thought Teacher Gu was just a great actor, but his physical strength is incredible!”

“Too intense, too intense, feels like I can’t keep up!”

Director Xu was completely dumbfounded, regretting in his heart, wishing he had persuaded Gu Xiaowei to appear on the show more! Even if it wasn’t to be a guest, interacting and appearing as an audience member would have been great too!

And now, this scene would certainly skyrocket the ratings!

“Ten.” Gu Xiaowei completed the last squat and set Luo Yu back in his seat.

As he sat down, Luo Yu felt his head heavy and his feet light.

Gu Xiaowei, on the other hand, acted as if nothing had happened, methodically buttoning his shirt back up and rolling his sleeves down.

Everyone continued to discuss, and the director suddenly stood up, clapping his hands, “Teacher Gu is so relaxed with us, treating us like his own. Anyone who recorded video, keep it for yourself and refrain from sharing online! Let’s keep some suspense for this episode! Thank you all!”

Luo Yu looked at Gu Xiaowei, who was eating a piece of yam. His eating pace wasn’t fast, but the way his jaw and Adam’s apple moved gave off a strong masculine charm.

“I still have some kidney slices here. Do you want to have some?” Luo Yu asked.

“Are you saying that ten squats require a supplement?” Gu Xiaowei’s gaze shifted, and though it seemed no different from usual, Luo Yu felt a hint of mischief in those eyes.

The director sighed, “Ah, it looks like I’ll have to drink this cup myself…”

But unexpectedly, Gu Xiaowei took the cup back and raised it towards the director. “Director Xu, I thank you for your hospitality and care. I really enjoyed watching the shoot today.”

Director Xu quickly raised his own cup. “Not at all. Teacher Gu’s help with our show has been significant! Everyone on set today, from the staff to the guests, is in high spirits, largely thanks to your presence!”

The two clinked glasses and drank, and the atmosphere at the table became lively again.

Luo Yu’s ears felt muffled, as if he was hearing everything through an invisible wall. His heart was still lingering on the moment when Gu Xiaowei held him while doing squats.

He understood that Gu Xiaowei knew he couldn’t handle alcohol well, so he didn’t want him to drink that cup.

Even the ten squats seemed to have a touch of challenge in them.

But that line, “If I don’t do the tenth one, you’ll have to be kept in my arms,” was too much. Every time Luo Yu thought of Gu Xiaowei’s seemingly cool but subtly tempting way of speaking, his heart rate quickened, and he felt a rush of blood to his head.

Logically, he hadn’t even drunk any alcohol.

Could it be the chicken soup? Or too much kidney slices? Or something else stimulating?

“Did you know Xiang Chao once held Cheng Peiyun while doing a hundred squats?” Gu Xiaowei said in a voice only the two of them could hear.

“What?”

So if he really got chosen to play Xiang Chao, he’d have to hold Gu Xiaowei and do squats?

“So, I need to prove myself first. Otherwise, people will only remember you holding me for squats, but no one will know I can also hold you,” Gu Xiaowei said with a smile.

Luo Yu was both amused and exasperated. “Did Cheng Peiyun know you were so childish when he picked you to play him?”

But deep down, a sense of disappointment emerged that he’d never felt before. Luo Yu realized he seemed to have hoped and expected that everything Gu Xiaowei did and said just now was from the heart, and had nothing to do with Cheng Peiyun, Xiang Chao, or any characters they might portray.

“Don’t you think Cheng Peiyun also wanted to prove his endurance and explosive power by holding Xiang Chao?” Gu Xiaowei’s eyebrows lifted slightly.

“I’m convinced,” Luo Yu said, covering his eyes and turning away. He was hiding his disappointment, afraid that Gu Xiaowei would notice and ask him what was wrong.

“Pumpkin cake, do you want some?” Gu Xiaowei asked softly.

His voice was sincere, without a hint of mischief.

The light from the farmhouse fell on his brows and nose. Despite the noise around, his glance, like a passionate firework across the moonlit waves, made Luo Yu want to lift the dark curtain of night and see what was hidden behind it.

“No, I’m full enough,” Luo Yu said, trying to act as normal as possible.

Gu Xiaowei looked at Luo Yu, his gaze deepened by the lively atmosphere, as if trying to see through his heart.

“I’m really full. If I eat more, I won’t be able to sleep tonight,” Luo Yu said with a smile.

“Okay,” Gu Xiaowei nodded and withdrew his gaze.

After the meal, the director didn’t schedule any more activities and advised everyone to rest well, as they would be filming the final challenge—equestrian skills—tomorrow.

Those who had drunk and have driven over called for a ride service.

Sister Cui, who hadn’t drunk, was able to drive Gu Xiaowei and Luo Yu back to the hotel.

On the way, Sister Cui said with a smile, “I felt like Director Xu was about to cry earlier.”

“Why? Was today’s recording not good?” Luo Yu asked in surprise.

“Because we couldn’t give Teacher Gu any on-screen time! Didn’t you notice? Whether it’s Teacher Gu or Luo Yu, your variety sense might be only half, the other half depends on the support of your colleagues. But when you two are together, even chatting makes for a delightful watch.”

Luo Yu half-jokingly said, “Should I buy you a bag of spicy chicken feet?”

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“Chicken feet are fattening. You’d better get me duck necks,” Sister Cui replied.

Luo Yu nudged Gu Xiaowei with his elbow, “You definitely need to shoot such a scene—give the female lead a princess carry and do squats on the edge of life and death!”

“You like it?” Gu Xiaowei turned to look at him, the streetlights outside casting shifting light over his face.

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Gu Xiaowei reminded, “Don’t forget to report to President Jiang. With such a coveted role, be careful not to get cut off.”

Sister Cui immediately came to her senses and ran to a private place to call Jiang Yinchuan.

“Xiang Chao, it’s Xiang Chao! I was once infatuated with his heroic figure too!”

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

Jiang Yinchuan, although calm, seemed to have choked a bit while drinking tea, “You guys are amazing. Just filming a variety show and being noticed by an outdoor sports brand, and now acting an Olympic champion? Don’t worry, I’ll keep an eye on it. Producer Liang is an old acquaintance of mine.”

Hearing this, Sister Cui’s heart raced even more.

“For a drama, if there is Xiang Chao, there definitely can’t be a lack of Cheng Peiyun. Who will play Cheng Peiyun?”

“Director Liu and Producer Liang favor Gu Xiaowei. And Xiang Chao’s role was also facilitated by Gu Xiaowei’s presence!”

“Oh—” Jiang Yinchuan’s tone was meaningful, “It seems he really wants to be a twin star with Luo Yu.”

The show’s recording continued as He Mu’s team watched Director Liu and Producer Liang leave, as if they were invisible.

The little assistant had a bad premonition; He Mu’s next quarter’s publicity fee might not be very high.

Fortunately, He Mu didn’t notice that Director Liu had come and gone, or he would have been very upset.

He Mu finally reached the last black square, hoping it was neither a princess carry nor a one-handed handstand, just something that hadn’t appeared before.

No more time to waste, He Mu randomly picked a black square and opened it to reveal “2.”

Deer smiled and said, “Thanks to He Mu for opening up a new map. This is a task that hasn’t been revealed before. Let’s see what it is—”

Everyone eagerly awaited.

“It turns out to be this, which is actually very simple—drink this bottle of black water within one minute! Fortunately, it’s not 2.5 liters or 1 liter, but 500 milliliters!”

At this moment, the staff pushed over a small cart.

On the cart was a glass bottle containing black liquid, which reflected a hint of purple under the sunlight, with some small particles inside.

“It’s all poison. What’s the essential difference between 500 milliliters and one liter?” Jiang Muxing looked at the color in fear.

“Of course, there is a difference. 500 milliliters might be enough for just one person to drink. One liter might mean the whole team has to drink.” Luo Yu had already understood the production team’s habits.

“Then let it be 500 milliliters.”

“Uh—” Li Shengyu took a step back, covering his mouth.

“Sheng Yu, are you okay?” Jiang Muxing hurried to help him.

This task was clearly designed for Li Shengyu, who had a clean freak persona. He couldn’t tolerate the black, bubbling liquid that looked like it might turn into marsh gas at any moment.

Mick glanced at Li Shengyu, maintaining his own persona, “This must’ve reminded him of the feeling of ‘warrior, you have it.’ Drinking this detoxifying holy water…”

“To cure the clean freak?” Liu Songtao chimed in.

“No, to cause diarrhea tonight.” Mick’s face showed no sympathy.

Seeing their discussion, Luo Yu raised his hand and asked Deer, “Just to be safe, Brother Deer, could you reveal the ingredients? It would be bad if something goes wrong.”

“Don’t worry, it’s just scorpions, centipedes, cockroaches, and a bit of mucus…”

“Ugh—” Li Shengyu ran towards the trash can, and Luo Yu quickly went to get bottled water and tissues, with Jiang Muxing jogging behind him.

Deer didn’t expect his random concoction to have such an effect. “It seems… Sheng Yu’s cleanliness obsession isn’t just for the show…”

“What’s inside?” Mick asked with emphasis.

“The color comes from mulberries, with a bit of soy sauce mixed in. The taste comes from… let me see, bitter melon, lemon, cilantro, and garlic blended together. Everything else is fine, but the garlic is a bit harsh; how many days will it take to brush that taste away?” Deer looked at He Mu. “So, what’s it going to be… drink it or admit defeat?”

He Mu thought, it’s just drinking a bottle of dark liquid, right?

If he doesn’t drink it, his persona would be ruined. The online trolls would definitely jump to conclusions.

He took a deep breath. “Start the timer!”

As he took the first sip, his taste buds nearly exploded. He had truly overestimated the production team’s sense of decency—what the hell is this!

It was bitter, sour, astringent, and had a weird taste. As he swallowed it, he wasn’t sure if he would pass out.

But at this point, he had to finish this hellish drink!

After the recording ended, he was determined to make Dijun Media give the director a piece of their mind!

He kept pouring it down, forcing himself to ignore the taste, but the more he drank, the more nauseous he felt.

Deer clapped while watching the timer being handed to him by the staff. “He Mu, Mick, and Liu Songtao’s team took a total of eighteen minutes to complete the task! It’s a tie! The outcome will depend on the next round!”

As soon as Deer announced it, He Mu dashed towards the trash can, vomiting uncontrollably.

After hearing the results, Li Shengyu called Deer over to a corner and asked, “Why do I feel like our team was a bit faster? Just Luo Yu’s ten princess carries saved almost forty seconds, and Jiang Muxing rolled higher numbers on the dice.”

Deer patted Li Shengyu’s shoulder. “You’ve made quite a splash. I can imagine that when the show airs, your team will be even more popular. But there’s a reason for the director’s arrangement. If your team won this round and the last one, tomorrow’s shoot would be unnecessary. The show wouldn’t even be long enough.”

Li Shengyu sighed and glanced at Jiang Muxing, who was chatting with Luo Yu in the distance. “I’m afraid Jiang Muxing might be upset because he performed so well today.”

“He understands. That kid has always been considerate and hasn’t caused any trouble for the production team. With this highlight, the director will definitely keep him in mind.”

Li Shengyu nodded and returned to his teammates.

At this moment, Luo Yu didn’t see Sister Cui’s excited expression and was unaware that he might be cast as an Olympic champion. He was chatting with his teammates as usual. “Jiang Muxing, are you better at rolling the dice or other things? Like playing cards, poker, or mahjong?”

Jiang Muxing, with his hands in his pockets and his dimples becoming more pronounced as he smiled, said, “I’m not great at playing cards. My luck is just really good; I often end up with the best hands.”

Seeing that Jiang Muxing was unaffected, Li Shengyu exchanged a reassuring glance with Luo Yu.

The director then had the teams reshoot some scenes, especially the one where Luo Yu supported Dingdang up the stage, meaning they had to film it from all angles.

Luo Yu didn’t think much of it, but Dingdang was embarrassed. “If I had known, I wouldn’t have drunk water earlier.”

“Two sips of water aren’t that heavy. Come on.”

Luo Yu stood on the board and extended his hand towards Dingdang, then effortlessly lifted her up. It was smooth and dreamlike.

The director watched the scene on the screen, smiling with a maternal expression. “The male lead of a drama should be held to this standard; otherwise, there’s no desire for romance.”

The other staff members laughed.

Meanwhile, He Mu sat on a chair, looking green. His assistant kept bringing him hot water and milk tea.

But besides them, only Mick and Liu Songtao came over to ask.

If it had been when he first started on the show, the director and other staff would have already gathered around to show concern.

He Mu couldn’t figure out how to describe his feelings.

“Just now… while you were recording, Director Liu and Producer Liang from the station came by.”

He Mu immediately sat up. “How long were they here? Did they see me drink that ghastly thing? Did they say anything?”

For example, did they praise his dedication?

The assistant shook his head. “They didn’t say anything, just left…”

He Mu, feeling dejected, muttered, “I was hoping they’d see how hard I worked for this show and not cut the budget for next season’s fees…”

The assistant looked down, opened his mouth to say something about seeing Producer Liang add Luo Yu’s agent on WeChat, but fearing He Mu’s reaction, quickly shut up.

At that moment, Gu Xiaowei and Sister Cui came over with paper bags.

“Come, everyone, you’ve worked hard. Have some snacks and drinks to fill your stomachs. There’s sweet and unsweetened milk tea.”

Li Shengyu, having just vomited, felt much better with some food. 

“Thanks. I’ll have the sweet milk tea,” Li Shengyu said, taking it.

Unexpectedly, Gu Xiaowei asked, “Have some snacks too, matcha and molten salted egg yolk.”

Li Shengyu paused. Gu Xiaowei’s voice was deep and pleasant, and very gentle, not at all like the “keep people at a distance” image portrayed by the media.

“I’ll have the matcha one.”

“Alright.” Gu Xiaowei found the matcha snack and gave it to him.

Jiang Muxing’s eyes lit up. “I want the sweet milk tea! And the molten salted egg yolk snack!”

Sister Cui, who liked Jiang Muxing’s straightforwardness, handed him a sweet milk tea with bubbles. “Here you go—sweet, with tapioca balls.”

“Thank you, Sister Cui.”

An attractive manicured hand reached out with a paper bag containing snacks, accompanied by a smiling voice, “Here, the molten salted egg yolk ones.”

Jiang Muxing looked up to meet Gu Xiaowei’s gentle gaze and said earnestly, “Thank you, Brother Gu.”

“En.”

After Gu Xiaowei walked away, Jiang Muxing tugged on Li Shengyu and said, “Brother Gu smiled at me just now. So that’s what his smile looks like!”

Li Shengyu was jolted by Jiang Muxing and choked on the matcha powder, sneezing continuously.

Sister Cui also distributed food to the director and other staff, including Liu Songtao and Mick.

At this time, He Mu’s takeout arrived. He looked at it and found only a few types of his usual drinks and some snacks.

“Why didn’t you order more? It’s a waste of goodwill.”

The assistant kept his head down, thinking, but according to your requirements we should be prioritizing your needs first.

When He Mu first joined the show, he had also bought food and ordered takeout for the staff like Sister Cui. Later, due to dissatisfaction with the crew’s meals and no improvement despite several communications, He Mu stopped doing such favors.

Unexpectedly, this let Luo Yu pick up the advantage.

He Mu immediately lost his appetite. He instructed his assistant to distribute the milk tea and snacks to those who hadn’t received any.

He maintained a good attitude, making sure to have other assistants take photos while distributing the food, to avoid Luo Yu claiming he was considerate of the staff online while his side lacked promotional materials.

By the time all the supplementary shots were finished, the sun was almost setting.

“Today’s shoot went smoothly. I’ve booked a farmhouse restaurant. Let’s all go eat some local dishes! Anyone interested, follow along!” The director waved his arm, and everyone responded happily.

Luo Yu turned to Gu Xiaowei. “Shall we go together?”

Li Shengyu and Jiang Muxing gathered around. “Of course, we should!”

“I haven’t had a meal with Brother Gu yet!”

Gu Xiaowei nodded.

He Mu had no interest in the farmhouse restaurant and, having drank such a large cup of dark liquid, was feeling uncomfortable. He decided not to go.

The assistant returned and told him, “The director agreed and told you to rest well.”

“That’s it? Nothing else?” He Mu asked.

“No… The director said he was worried that returning too late might affect tomorrow’s shoot, so he asked those who wanted to join the dinner to head out quickly.”

He Mu got up from his half-reclining position and sat up. “Let’s go back to the hotel.”

Back at the hotel, he planned to call Mr. Gao; today’s shoot had been quite frustrating.

On the other side, the group heading to the farmhouse restaurant set off in high spirits.

On the way to the farmhouse, Sister Cui excitedly informed Luo Yu about the possibility of playing the Olympic champion Xiang Chao.

Luo Yu looked at Gu Xiaowei beside him, feeling this sounded like an unrealistic dream. “Really… is it true?”

“There’s a high possibility. If I were Cheng Peiyun, who else could be more suitable to play Xiang Chao than you?” Gu Xiaowei said.

“That’s the fencing arena’s twin stars!”

“So are we,” Gu Xiaowei replied.

For some reason, things that once seemed distant and out of reach to Luo Yu suddenly felt like they could be their future, just because Gu Xiaowei affirmed them.

Although it’s called a farmhouse, it’s not in the outskirts but rather at the foot of a nearby mountain.

Everyone spontaneously arranged their chairs and sanitized the bowls and chopsticks.

Xu Mu also had two bottles of good wine set out, saying that those who wanted to could have a few sips, while those who didn’t had the options of soda and fruit juice.

As a guest for this episode, Luo Yu naturally had to sit at the same table as Li Shengyu and the director.

Meanwhile, as a visitor, Gu Xiaowei sat with Sister Cui and the staff.

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

As soon as he sat down, Xu Mu personally came over to invite him to join the others.

“Teacher Gu is Luo Yu’s friend, so of course, he should sit with Luo Yu. Our production team also has to thank you for recording the VCR!”

“Director Xu, you’re too kind. I should be the one thanking you for not minding that an outsider like me is watching your shoot.”

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