When Mick landed on the opposite bank, Li Shengyu also found the right angle and successfully climbed ashore.

Luo Yu observed carefully; it seemed that passing the water pool required decisiveness. Both Mick and Li Shengyu had good stamina, but they were both stuck in the middle of the pool, unable to advance or retreat… Was it necessary to use the swinging ball in the middle of the pool?

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Luo Yu approached the pool and roughly estimated its length. He looked up at the length of the swinging ball, calculating where its closest point to the opposite bank might be.

Meanwhile, He Mu and Liu Songtao, who were cheering from afar, began chatting.

“I quite like Luo Yu’s approach. Since we’re playing a game, he’s observing and considering carefully, rather than rushing in like it’s just a task to win,” Liu Songtao said.

He Mu snorted dismissively, “Brother Liu, no matter how serious he is, can he just leap over without using the swinging ball? It’s not like we’re filming a martial arts scene with wires.”

Liu Songtao chuckled, “I’d rather fall into the pool and swim across.”

Outside, watching the battle, Gu Xiaowei leaned on the railing with his chin propped, while Sister Cui remained tense.

“This pool seems pretty wide, right? Mick and Li Shengyu’s long legs almost got stuck in the middle. Will Luo Yu…”

Gu Xiaowei patted Sister Cui’s shoulder, “The swinging ball in the middle is for those lacking confidence. Once a person is determined to succeed at all costs, they won’t be distracted by unnecessary aids.”

For some reason, Sister Cui’s restless heart also calmed down.

At this point, Mick and Li Shengyu had entered the climbing segment.

The two wanted to succeed in one go, but soon realized that the program team had set some fake rock blocks. Stepping on them would result in falling back onto the mat and starting over.

The two fell repeatedly in various awkward positions.

“Ouch—”

“Ah—”

“It hurts—”

Jiang Muxing covered his eyes, not wanting to watch, probably thinking about how he might fall the same way soon.

Liu Songtao, with lingering fear, shouted to the director, “Director, be humane! If I fall like this, I’ll break my back!”

“Don’t worry, Teacher Liu, we’ll add extra padding to the mat!” The director thought, if you don’t even fall, how would the audience find it entertaining?

Without the three-minute limit, Li Shengyu would have already given up on the mat.

Mick, unable to contain himself, shouted at the camera, “Are there any real footholds or not!”

The director shouted through a loudspeaker, “Yes—yes—take your time! Don’t rush!”

The crowd wondered how one could take their time and not rush.

Luo Yu squinted, moving back and forth, occasionally looking up and squatting down, and then stopped at a certain spot.

At this moment, Li Shengyu fell again, slamming his hands on the mat. If this continued, they would waste time on this segment.

He had hoped to perform well to reduce the pressure on Jiang Muxing, who lacked stamina.

“Brother Sheng Yu—go for it—” Jiang Muxing, understanding why Li Shengyu was so determined, shouted.

“Sheng Yu—listen to my lead, let’s try again!” Luo Yu shouted to Li Shengyu.

“Okay!” Li Shengyu returned to the rock wall.

At this point, Mick from the red team had already climbed halfway up.

“Step on the left, then step on the right… not that one, yes! Yes! That one!” Luo Yu shouted to Li Shengyu.

Li Shengyu waited for Luo Yu’s guidance with each step, and miraculously did not step on any false footholds, climbing steadily over.

On the other hand, Mick, who was almost at the top, stepped on a false foothold and fell, wasting his previous efforts.

“Oh… heavens…” Liu Songtao covered his face.

“He was just a step away. Couldn’t he test the footholds a bit more instead of stepping down all at once?” He Mu became frustrated.

“Just be glad he didn’t urt himself! The remaining footholds on the wall are mostly solid now!”

Liu Songtao was correct. Mick quickly climbed over.

He Mu frowned, muttering, “What was up with Luo Yu earlier? Did the program team give him hints because he’s new and they were worried he wouldn’t get enough screen time?”

Liu Songtao glanced over. The camera crew was still filming and defended the program team, “How could that be? The fake and real footholds were placed by the staff at the last minute, and we are watching. Luo Yu was clearly observing carefully. He must have figured something out.”

The director and assistant director were also puzzled.

“How did he figure it out?”

“Don’t know. Maybe you should ask?” Xu Mu suggested.

The assistant director shook his head, “No way. Let the audience figure it out.”

The two exchanged knowing glances.

When Mick completed the climbing segment, Li Shengyu had already moved ahead.

Don’t underestimate the ten-meter track; those little frogs would stick to your shoes once stepped on, and it took a struggle to move forward.

Li Shengyu started off well but got his shoe stuck to a frog. The result was as expected; his shoe was stuck, and although he considered abandoning the shoe, the staff blew a whistle, “Not wearing shoes is considered a violation.”

Li Shengyu became frustrated, his face reddened, and he squatted on the ground, struggling with the sticky frog goo. The goo was very strong, pulling the shoe’s sole revealed stretched strands of goo that stuck persistently.

Luo Yu saw Li Shengyu’s expression and knew his “30%” cleanliness obsession was acting up.

“Just think of it as mozzarella cheese—lift and twirl it around!” Luo Yu shouted.

“Yes—your favorite Hawaiian cheese pizza!” Jiang Muxing joined in, “Lift and twirl it around! If you don’t hurry, the pizza will be taken away!”

Originally thinking it looked like alien fungus, sticky and gross, Li Shengyu began to feel nauseous. But the “mozzarella cheese” metaphor changed his mindset.

Li Shengyu twirled the shoe twice and lifted it forcefully. The glue finally broke, and he quickly put on the shoe and ran.

Having learned from Li Shengyu’s experience, Mick avoided the frogs despite this forcing him to move slowly, gaining an advantage over Li Shengyu.

Finally, Mick completed the frog track first and rushed toward the two MCs.

Deer opened his arms, “He’s coming! He’s coming! He’s sprinting toward us like a hundred-meter dash!”

Dingdang casually said, “Don’t you think we look like we’re at a wedding standing under the pink tent?”

Deer shouted, “Let’s see if Mick is going to take the bride or the groom!”

The next second, Mick lifted Dingdang by the waist and ran into the tent.

However, he quickly realized Dingdang was not tall enough; her nose could touch the apples, but she couldn’t bite them down. Moreover, the apples moved whenever touched, making them hard to grab.

Mick immediately crouched down, “Sit on my shoulders! Hurry!”

At this moment, Li Shengyu ran up to Deer.

Deer said, “Sorry, brother, you can only take me!”

Li Shengyu, uninterested in arguing, pulled him into the tent, “No worries, I originally chose you!”

“Me? I’m so touched!” Deer said, astonished.

“Don’t be touched, just use your mouth!”

Li Shengyu then held Deer by the legs and lifted him up.

Deer was tall, and with this support, his mouth reached the rope above the apples. He bit down and twisted his head, managing to pluck the first apple.

Li Shengyu put Deer down, rested for a few seconds, then lifted him up again, nearly grabbing the second apple. At this point, Mick had just hoisted Dingdang up.

When standing, Mick realized Dingdang was not as light as they had imagined. While standing was not a problem, maintaining balance while moving was crucial.

As Dingdang bit into the apple, Mick had to tense his muscles to keep balance. Fortunately, his stamina was good, and Dingdang was agile, so they kept pace with the number of apples collected.

The number of apples picked by both sides was about the same.

When counting the apples, Deer half-jokingly asked Li Shengyu, “Are you regretting choosing me now?”

“Picked by myself, I have to complete the task even if kneeling on the ground,” Li Shengyu wiped his sweat.

Dingdang looked at Mick, whose face was flushed red, and said awkwardly, “It seems I grabbed your hair by mistake…”

“It’s okay, I won’t go bald,” Mick replied.

Now the pressure shifted to the second competitors.

Jiang Muxing tugged at Luo Yu’s sleeve and whispered, “Bro, you haven’t told me how you determine if the footholds are real or not.”

“Look from my position. Fake rocks won’t hold weight, so they collapse. From this angle, you can see if there’s a deep shadow between the rock and the foothold. I guess it’s the structure of the slot between the rock and the foothold that causes it,” Luo Yu explained.

Jiang Muxing squinted and then smiled, “Bro! It’s real! Your observation skill is really keen!”

“It’s not about being keen; it’s about the position I’m standing in. If the lighting changes, it won’t be visible,” Luo Yu said.

“Then, when I’m climbing later, please keep an eye on me,” Jiang Muxing said.

“Sure.”

He Mu stared intensely at Luo Yu and Jiang Muxing. He knew Luo Yu was teaching Jiang Muxing how to distinguish between real and fake footholds, but they spoke too quietly, and Jiang Muxing was blocking Luo Yu, making it hard for him to read Luo Yu’s lips.

At this moment, Mick returned, and Liu Songtao asked quietly, “I felt you struggled a bit in the last round… Was Dingdang quite heavy?”

Mick replied gloomily, “We probably overestimated our stamina. It’s not hard to have her sit on your shoulders, but balancing for a long time is a bit tiring. But Brother Liu, you’re taller than us, so you might manage to carry her.”

The second round of the competition was about to start. He Mu and Mick gave Liu Songtao a thumbs-up.

Liu Songtao looked at the large balls hanging over the pool and thought he probably wouldn’t be able to grab any of them and would end up falling into the water. But what could he do? He had to give his all for the appearance fee.

Jiang Muxing, equally worried, said, “I feel like I might… probably fall into the water before I even grab the ball…”

Li Shengyu quickly shared his tips with Jiang Muxing, telling him to add some acceleration when leaping, or he wouldn’t make it to the other side, and some small tricks for changing direction, etc.

Jiang Muxing listened carefully but then looked at his own arms, which didn’t have the strength Li Shengyu’s did, and compared them to Luo Yu’s. He noticed Luo Yu’s forearms were wiry and strong, realizing they must work out often.

Luo Yu noticed Jiang Muxing’s emotions and hugged him, saying, “Don’t be afraid. When you jump later, Li Shengyu and I will be right by the pool with you.”

“What if I fall and have to climb back up again?” Jiang Muxing asked, taking a deep breath.

“Are you worried the water will be too cold?” Luo Yu asked gently.

“Not really… I’m afraid you two will be disappointed.”

Li Shengyu laughed, “Luo Yu and I are only worried if you fall into the water, you might catch a cold. How could we be disappointed? Didn’t I lose to Mick when I was fighting for the MC?”

“This is just a game. The most important thing is that you enjoy yourself,” Luo Yu relaxed Jiang Muxing’s shoulders, “Writing songs isn’t something you can do out of thin air while locked in a room. Exercising can boost adrenaline and maybe spark new ideas for you.”

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“Alright, I’ll go now. Thanks, Luo Yu and Sheng Yu!”

Jiang Muxing stood by the edge of the pool, and Liu Songtao also nervously warmed up.

Since both teams had members who were not good at sports, they cheered each other on from the two sides of the pool.

With a whistle, the timing began.

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Deer first looked towards He Mu’s direction, and with a seemingly meaningful smile, said, “He Mu, there are always rumors online that you and Luo Yu don’t get along! Who would have thought—you actually get to meet your rumored opponent on this show! Will you be seeking revenge or clearing grievances today?”

He Mu was already prepared with his response. The camera zoomed in on him as he confidently smiled towards Luo Yu and said, “I have no grudges or resentment towards Luo Yu. Our development directions are different, so there’s no need for us to be opponents. Although there were some misunderstandings before, both I and my studio have clarified them. But since we’ve met today, let’s have a good contest and compete with our strengths.”

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The words seemed simple but implied that Luo Yu’s status wasn’t high enough for He Mu to bother targeting him.

Deer then looked towards Luo Yu and asked meaningfully, “So, as the guest on our show for the first time, Luo Yu, do you have anything to say to He Mu?”

Seeing this, Sister Cui was somewhat displeased. “Did the production team inform Luo Yu that this question would be asked? I need to check with the director. How can they spring such a surprise attack…”

Gu Xiaowei gently rested a hand on Sister Cui’s shoulder, signaling her to look at the director.

At that moment, the director was intently watching the screen, indicating that Luo Yu’s response was a major highlight for the show. Even if Sister Cui raised objections, the director wouldn’t give up. Moreover, Luo Yu might encounter similar situations in the future. Only by staying calm could this issue eventually become less of a problem.

“This kind of question may not have been known to He Mu beforehand. He just has more experience with recording shows and anticipated this question from the production team, so he prepared a response in advance,” Gu Xiaowei said, glancing towards Luo Yu, who was dressed in fresh sportswear with a smile illuminated by the morning light. Luo Yu seemed unaffected by the MC’s sudden question.

Sister Cui sighed, feeling guilty, “It’s my fault… I didn’t think ahead due to lack of experience. I was worried he might say something wrong, and then it would be used against him after the show airs…”

“Don’t worry, Luo Yu is quite level-headed,” Gu Xiaowei said calmly.

At this moment, He Mu was also staring at Luo Yu. As long as Luo Yu voiced dissatisfaction, his fans could attack him. If he said there were no grudges, then no matter how He Mu’s career progressed in the future, it would be difficult to speak ill of He Mu again.

“I’ve never intended to be the limited edition in others’ eyes. I strive to stay true to myself and be a unique, out of print edition. Hello everyone, I’m actor Luo Yu.”

Luo Yu’s voice was clear, and his smile was like the gentle, persistent light of winter that could never be fully extinguished. Even amidst rumors, he didn’t react sharply but held his head high with an unyielding spirit that was visible in his eyes.

He Mu’s expression changed because “out of print” was a term Gu Xiaowei had used when he posted a photo of Luo Yu on Weibo last time.

The words “I’m an actor,” coming from Luo Yu’s lips, weighed heavily on He Mu.

As of now, in any situation or on any platform, He Mu wouldn’t dare say, “I’m an actor.” Even a slight hint would bring an onslaught of criticism from his haters, mocking his acting skills and saying he lacked expression management and his lines were monotonous.

The others present could sense the implied meaning in Luo Yu’s words—He Mu, you might rule your own world, but the heights I can reach, you’ll never attain.

Each guest had a different reaction.

Li Shengyu raised his eyebrows subtly but then bumped fists with Luo Yu, indicating “Well said, I support you.”

Jiang Muxing, from the same team, appeared puzzled but nodded and clapped.

Liu Songtao, ever the peacemaker, smiled and said, “Game first, friendship second!”

Dingdong covered her mouth and laughed, asking Liu Songtao, “Brother Liu, what’s first?”

“Oh, oh, oh!” Liu Songtao quickly corrected himself, “Friendship second, game first!”

“Ah?” Dingdong and Deer looked over together.

Liu Songtao pretended his mistake was unintentional, “Correction, correction, I’ll get it right this time—friendship first, game second!”

Mick, across from them, remained expressionless and told Liu Songtao, “Brother Liu, that joke is old, broken, and redundant.”

“I haven’t been online much recently, so I only have some old jokes, sorry, sorry!”

Deer then said, “Since we’ve split into new teams, old teammates might now be rivals, and past rivals might become the dearest… teammates!”

“So, is it time to come up with a cheesy team name and slogan now?” Mick asked coolly.

Actually, they had already decided on the team names and slogans, specifically He Mu had already done so.

The team name was his upcoming album’s name, “The Passionate Era,” and the slogan was a line from one of the lyrics, “We will impassion your vision.”

It would be fine if it was singing, but shouting it out sounded extremely cheesy. Moreover, He Mu had pulled Mick and Liu Songtao into the promotion, yet when Liu Songtao’s comedy was released and asked He Mu to share it, he claimed his Weibo account was managed by his agent and he had no say.

Deer smiled, “We need to respect new friends. Luo Yu, do you have any ideas for the team name or slogan?”

Luo Yu looked at Li Shengyu and Jiang Muxing, who both shook their heads.

“Then let’s go with the Red Team and Blue Team. Red and Blue have always made a good pairing!”

Li Shengyu added, “Black and White are natural partners!”

Everyone burst into laughter, looking at each other.

“Who’s wearing black? Who’s wearing white?”

They discovered Liu Songtao was in black and He Mu in white.

He Mu’s smile was forced, with his mouth twitching, wondering if Li Shengyu did it on purpose.

“Well, then Liu Songtao and I are definitely the Black and White Impermanence, Li Shengyu, watch out!” Liu Songtao quickly tried to smooth things over.

Luo Yu continued to smile, but Li Shengyu leaned in and said, “You’re in white, and the VVVVIP is in black.”

“Who’s the VVVVIP…” Luo Yu looked up and met Gu Xiaowei’s gaze.

Luo Yu was in white sportswear while Gu Xiaowei was in a black coat.

Luo Yu pushed Li Shengyu’s head away, “If you have the guts, say it in front of him later.”

“I won’t. That would really make the Black and White Impermanence out to get me.”

At this point, Deer spoke again, “So, what’s the slogan?”

Luo Yu, Li Shengyu, and Jiang Muxing answered in unison, “Our slogan is—no slogan!”

“Yes, firmly oppose the trend of shouting slogans without doing anything!”

“If you shout a slogan and don’t follow through, the audience will laugh! Does the production team still want credibility?”

Deer laughed, “Then it’s Red Team and Blue Team, no slogan, just get started!”

He Mu was stunned—was Luo Yu’s mind okay? Didn’t he watch variety shows? How could there be no slogan for team competition? How would he promote his new album without a team name or slogan? Didn’t the director have an opinion?

He Mu looked towards the director, who gave him no sign—clearly, your appearance fee is already high enough. Do you want the show to promote your album for free? Did you pay for the advertising?

“Let’s not waste any more time. So, He Mu’s team on the left is Red Team, and Luo Yu’s team is Blue Team! No objections?”

The three from Luo Yu’s side answered in unison, “No problem!”

Liu Songtao and Mick exchanged smiles, no need to chant He Mu’s lyrics anymore, and suddenly the air felt much fresher.

“We’re good with that too.”

He Mu choked on his anger, incredulously looking at Liu Songtao, wondering why he was representing “us.”

But at this point, with everyone agreeing, He Mu had no choice but to remain silent.

“Let’s start the first round of the game! But guests, please note, there have been slight, slight, slight adjustments to the game segment…” Dingdong’s face was full of glee, making everyone feel uneasy.

“What adjustments? Losers get sprayed with paint instead of whipped cream?” Liu Songtao asked.

Li Shengyu’s face turned pale, “Don’t tell me… jumping into a trash can?”

“You’ve jumped into a trash can?” Luo Yu asked curiously.

“Probably a few episodes ago,” Li Shengyu took a deep breath, his throat moving as if he was about to vomit. “The smell was soul-crushing… rotten fish and stinky vegetables… Even after a shower, it felt like the smell was still there…”

Hearing this, Jiang Muxing instinctively took a small step back.

He Mu, on the other hand, reassured his team, “Don’t worry, as long as we win, the other team will take the punishment. If worse comes to worst… we’ll be heroes again in eighteen years!”

Liu Songtao exhaled, “Forget it, I’m basically just a salted fish… The trash bin suits me well.”

But Mick firmly said, “No, we must win! That smell will linger on us for eighteen years!”

Hearing how the guests were so affected by the trash bin, Deer and Dingdong quickly clarified, “Everyone, don’t get too excited. This change is not related to punishment but to the content of the game—please look at the end of our game course.”

The guests’ gazes moved past the small water pool with the pendulum hanging above it, then to the climbing wall, followed by a straight path about ten meters long with many frog-shaped props on it. At the end of the straight path was a pink tent that looked like a wedding scene.

However, many apples were hanging from the ceiling of the tent.

Mick said, “It can’t be that we have to compete in eating apples, right? That requires good teeth and appetite.”

Deer flashed a typical mischievous smile, “It’s not about you eating apples. Dingdong and I will be the ones biting down the apples. So whichever team reaches the pink tent first will get to choose which host they want to carry up to pick the apples. Pay attention to the rules: you can carry us on your back or let us step on you, as long as it doesn’t cause harm, you can use any method to increase height. But Dingdong and I cannot use our hands to pick the apples; instead, we have to bite the rope tied to the apples and pull them down.”

Each team looked at their members, pondering whether to choose Deer or Dingdong after running over.

“You have three minutes to discuss. But please make sure to remember, you can insult my looks but not my weight.” Deer said earnestly.

But it still made the originally serious-faced guests break character in an instant.

“You’re not letting us mention your weight, so how are we supposed to discuss this?” Liu Songtao called out.

“Brother Deer, what did you eat this morning?” Jiang Muxing asked worriedly.

“Not much, not much, just seven or eight buns,” Deer said casually, after all, someone else was carrying him, not the other way around.

Dingdang spoke up, “What everyone should be concerned about is not what Deer ate this morning, but how much he ate last night.”

“Uh… Brother Deer, how much did you eat last night?” Jiang Muxing asked again.

Deer laughed, “My usual amount, just two pots of stewed chicken.”

Everyone went silent, glancing at each other.

Luo Yu asked Li Shengyu beside him, “How much is two pots of stewed chicken?”

Li Shengyu gestured, “About as much as two hotel sinks.”

That’s really a challenge…

Red Team’s Mick directly sighed, “Heart attack waiting to happen…”

“Now, the three-minute team discussion time begins! Please decide on your order! Each person has three minutes to complete the challenge! Timing starts now!”

As Dingdong finished speaking, she started her stopwatch.

Li Shengyu called Luo Yu and Jiang Muxing aside to discuss, with a dedicated camera following them.

“Let’s have me go first for our team, and Jiang Muxing second. Luo Yu, since this is your first time, after watching our game, you’ll have a rough idea of the rules, right?”

“I… I have no problem. It’s just that my speed and explosiveness aren’t great, so if Luo Yu goes last, there might be a lot of pressure,” Jiang Muxing said matter-of-factly.

“It’s okay. After all, the loser of this episode isn’t going to the trash bin,” Luo Yu said with a smile.

Li Shengyu swallowed and shook his hand vigorously, as if something was churning in his stomach. “Stop mentioning the trash bin… That smell is coming back…”

Luo Yu looked at him, realizing it seemed too real, not like an act.

“If you win, Li Shengyu, who would you choose to carry to pick apples?” Luo Yu asked again.

Li Shengyu glanced at He Mu’s side, where they had already finished discussing and were chatting about what to eat after the shoot.

“Considering Jiang Muxing’s stamina, I’d definitely aim to carry Dingdong. Although the pink tent looks a bit high, Deer’s height combined with mine or Luo Yu’s should make it easier to pick a few apples. But Dingdong is smaller, so Jiang Muxing should be able to lift her higher.”

Li Shengyu then looked at the other two teammates, “What do you think?”

Luo Yu asked Jiang Muxing, “Mu Xing, how much time do you think you’ll have left after swinging over the pool, climbing the wall, running down the path, and reaching the pink tent?”

Jiang Muxing, seeing Luo Yu up close for the first time, was a bit dazed. Though he had heard Luo Yu and He Mu looked alike, Jiang Muxing felt they didn’t look similar at all when Luo Yu looked at him. Those eyes were deep and gentle, like a balm for emotions.

Jiang Muxing, who was somewhat socially anxious and not very familiar with Luo Yu, had remained silent before. But as a singer, he was a complete voice enthusiast, finding Luo Yu’s voice soothing and compelling, making him inadvertently express his thoughts.

“I think… I might use up the three minutes before I even reach the tent,” Jiang Muxing said. “Just crossing that pool, I’m not sure if I can make it in three minutes.”

“That’s okay, just do your best. I haven’t played these games before, but watching you will help me gain experience. So don’t worry, just try different methods to see how far you can swing and how fast you can climb,” Luo Yu encouraged.

Jiang Muxing nodded, “Okay, I’ll do my best.”

Meanwhile, Gu Xiaowei and Sister Cui were sitting outside the field, watching Luo Yu’s direction.

He neither used an umbrella to avoid being photographed nor wore a hat or mask to cover his face, casually allowing everyone on site to see him.

Fortunately, the director had informed the entire crew in advance that Gu Xiaowei was a guest and all staff should protect his privacy, prohibiting unauthorized photos or uploads. Staff members were quite restrained and only observed.

“Teacher Gu, who do you think Luo Yu’s team should carry to pick the apples?” Sister Cui asked.

“Deer.”

“Deer? Why? He looks quite heavy!”

“If Dingdong is chosen, though it’s convenient to carry or lift her, Dingdong is smaller, so the distance might be slightly less. It would require the male guest to lift Dingdong onto his shoulders. Dingdong is good at dancing and has firm muscles from years of practice, so her actual weight might be heavier than it seems. It might be easier to hold Deer’s leg and lift him up to save effort,” Gu Xiaowei paused and added, “Deer only looks big in the face. I observed his build; he’s not incredibly heavy.”

Sister Cui nodded and said, “It’s a pity, Gu Xiaowei. I think your way of thinking is a bit like Luo Yu’s. If you both were on a variety show together, you’d definitely have great chemistry.”

“How about recording a travel vlog together instead?” Gu Xiaowei suggested.

Sister Cui was momentarily stunned, looking at Gu Xiaowei’s profile, feeling he might be serious despite initially thinking he was speaking casually.

“Teacher Gu… it’s good to have you here. Otherwise, I’d be like a parent sending their child to school for the first time, worrying aimlessly.”

“Don’t worry. Luo Yu has excellent physical ability; he has practiced martial arts as a child, so his balance in the air is very strong—none of the other guests can match him in this outdoor activity.”

Hearing Gu Xiaowei’s evaluation, Sister Cui felt reassured.

“Even He Mu?”

“Not even ten He Mus can compare.” Gu Xiaowei looked towards Luo Yu with a deep and long gaze.

At this moment, Dingdong’s stopwatch hit zero, and she reminded all the guests to gather at the small pool for the first round of the competition.

For He Mu’s team, the first to compete was Mick, and for Luo Yu’s team, it was Li Shengyu.

Both stood in front of the pool, warming up.

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With the sound of the whistle, they jumped into the pool simultaneously, their actions comparable to carp leaping over the dragon gate.

They almost simultaneously leaped onto the nearest large ball, swinging out. Mick aimed to reach the second large ball first, continuously swinging to grab the one closest to the opposite shore.

Though Li Shengyu was anxious, he remained calm, searching for the angle and method to swing across.

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As he hung the waterproof bag, Luo Yu suddenly wondered—how did Gu Xiaowei know he was looking for these pajamas?

Turning on the shower, Luo Yu heard that Gu Xiaowei was also playing “Monsoon” in the room.

Luo Yu closed his eyes as the warm water flowed over him, and he suddenly recalled Gu Xiaowei’s words, “Especially suitable for a special moment.”

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

Because they had diverted the topic with the search for pajamas, at this moment when the intense line “Permeate me—drown me—crush me” played, Luo Yu felt an uncontrollable surge of passion.

As the song played through twice, the final line “Subvert that good night for me” made Luo Yu’s entire body tense up with a shiver.

He lowered his head and took a long time to steady his breathing.

When he finished and came out, Gu Xiaowei had already dried his hair and was lying under the covers.

He seemed very tired, and Luo Yu then remembered that Gu Xiaowei had driven for a long time to drop him off and hadn’t had a nap, so he must be exhausted.

Luo Yu set an alarm, checked if Sister Cui had sent any WeChat messages, and looked at the latest updates from Cheng Fei, Xie Shang, and Fang Qin on Moments, liking their posts.

By some strange coincidence, he searched for the song “Monsoon” and found many posts.

It turned out that this band only had this one famous song. Later, the band’s guitarist left due to illness, and he had a wish to climb Mount Everest. The other band members advised against it, but only the lead singer went with the guitarist.

Unfortunately, neither of them returned.

Later, a will was found in the lead singer’s rented house, already detailing his arrangements. This meant that when he decided to accompany the guitarist to Everest, he had already planned not to return.

They must have experienced something on Everest.

Was it the cold, the blizzard, or just the loneliness of wind and snow?

No, it couldn’t have been loneliness.

Two kindred spirits finally embracing together—how could there be loneliness?

At that moment, Luo Yu suddenly thought of Gu Xiaowei.

If one day Gu Xiaowei invited him to a place so dangerous it could cost his life, how would he choose?

—Without needing any reason, he would nod and go with him.

Luo Yu placed his phone on the bedside table, pulled up the covers, and lay down.

He soon fell asleep.

Though the air conditioner was on in the room, the blanket wasn’t thick, and with the gap between him and Gu Xiaowei, his back felt a bit cold.

Luo Yu instinctively sought warmth and moved closer to Gu Xiaowei’s back.

Until he was pressed against his back.

Gu Xiaowei’s shoulders tensed, and he slowly opened his eyes, letting out a long breath.

When Luo Yu’s alarm went off, he rubbed his eyes, and his hand felt around the bed.

“Hmm… where’s the bedside table…” Luo Yu then realized he had ended up in the middle of the bed.

And Gu Xiaowei?

Luo Yu suddenly sat up and noticed there was no sign of Gu Xiaowei in the bedroom or the bathroom.

Where had Gu Xiaowei gone?

Luo Yu scratched his head. “It wouldn’t be that my sleeping posture is so bad that Gu Xiaowei went to sleep in another room in the middle of the night, would it…?”

Just as he was about to send a WeChat message to ask, the door opened, and Gu Xiaowei walked in, dressed in sportswear.

“Awake?” Gu Xiaowei asked casually.

“You went for a morning run? So early?” Luo Yu rubbed his hair and sat up.

“Yeah, I ate a bit too much last night.” Gu Xiaowei said as he placed a paper bag with breakfast on the small coffee table. “I brought breakfast up for you. That way, you can eat and head straight to the filming location with the crew.”

“Thank you!”

Luo Yu was genuinely grateful; this way, he could save at least twenty minutes.

After finishing breakfast, Luo Yu put on his sportswear under his coat, strapped on his knee and wrist guards, and got ready to go.

Gu Xiaowei took a backpack out of his suitcase and packed it with many items.

Band-aids, energy bars, sunscreen, and even emergency heart medication, among other things.

“Wow, you’re bringing so many energy bars? They aren’t all for me, are they?” Luo Yu squatted beside him, watching him pack.

“Mm.” Gu Xiaowei nodded. “Today, I’m cosplaying as your assistant.”

“You? My assistant?”

“Just kidding. These things definitely need to be brought. They might be needed.”

Luo Yu looked at Gu Xiaowei’s profile, feeling a soft spot in his heart. Although he was mentally older than the current Gu Xiaowei, he was far less thoughtful and considerate.

“Next time, I’ll be your assistant,” Luo Yu said.

“Then what about Xiao Qin? She might worry about losing her job and become anxious, even coming down with no appetite to drink her milk tea.”

“Haha, Xiao Qin can just be a mascot.”

Gu Xiaowei stood up and glanced out the window. “The crew is about to leave. Let’s go.”

Luo Yu nodded, and they went out together. Sister Cui happened to be waiting for him outside.

At this time, waiting for the elevator meant running into some old acquaintances.

For example, as soon as the elevator doors opened, they ran into He Mu and his assistants coming down from the top floor.

The moment He Mu saw Luo Yu, his expression darkened slightly, but when he saw Gu Xiaowei next to him, he immediately adjusted his expression and was about to greet them. Gu Xiaowei stretched out his hand to stop Luo Yu.

“Let’s take the next elevator to avoid being squeezed.”

Luo Yu looked at the elevator, which had enough space for all three of them, but Gu Xiaowei’s sudden action made He Mu’s expression freeze awkwardly.

“Teacher Gu… you’re being too exaggerated,” Luo Yu said with a smile, patting his arm.

Gu Xiaowei looked at He Mu and replied calmly, “I learned this from He Mu’s assistant. If it’s not right, I can change my tone and adjust my body language.”

He Mu’s assistant had originally been blocking the elevator but, after Gu Xiaowei’s comment, awkwardly withdrew his hand.

As the elevator doors closed, He Mu got into his own van with a gloomy face.

In contrast, Luo Yu was much more relaxed, chatting and laughing with Gu Xiaowei as they got into Sister Cui’s white car.

“This… If I had known Teacher Gu would be in my car one day, I would have worked harder to buy a more high-end one.”

Luo Yu knew Sister Cui was joking, but he was surprised that Gu Xiaowei took it seriously.

“It doesn’t matter what car you’re in; what matters is who you’re with,” Gu Xiaowei said.

Sister Cui liked that statement.

They arrived at the recording location. After parking, Li Shengyu’s car was parked next to theirs.

As soon as Luo Yu opened the car door, Li Shengyu stood up and was about to greet Luo Yu. Unexpectedly, the other car door opened, and Gu Xiaowei stepped out with long legs. His profile carried a naturally cold and stern aura, making Li Shengyu’s hand freeze mid-air, not knowing what to say.

Instead, Luo Yu walked over to Li Shengyu, knocked on his car roof, and said, “Sheng Yu—long time no see! I heard you’re a regular on the show. I only know you here! Please look out for me later.”

Li Shengyu, with his hands stuffed in his pockets and his hair styled into a fashionable windswept look, appeared a bit uncomfortable but managed to keep a stylish appearance.

“You… isn’t it a bit late to ask me now?”

Implying, what had he been doing last night?

Luo Yu turned to Gu Xiaowei and said, “Xiao Wei, I’m going to talk with Sheng Yu about the show. You…”

“Go ahead. I’ll be with Sister Cui.” Gu Xiaowei nodded at Li Shengyu as a greeting.

Luo Yu then walked around the car to talk with Li Shengyu.

“Are you not wearing makeup?” Li Shengyu asked.

“Not really. Later, when I’m exercising and sweating, imagine sweat running down my face, leaving streaks of white. With the camera zoomed in, it would be quite a sight.”

Li Shengyu had only applied some eyebrow makeup and sunscreen.

He looked at Luo Yu and remarked, “People are really different. You look great even without makeup, and there’s a natural purity about you—you old sparrow!”

“You’re very sporty too!” Luo Yu pretended to mess up Li Shengyu’s hairstyle, and Li Shengyu resisted firmly.

The two started playfully tussling like children, their laughter echoing loudly.

In the van at the end of the parking lot, He Mu was meticulously preparing his face, requiring waterproofing, sun protection, and ensuring his face and neck matched in color, with a natural, flawless makeup look.

His makeup team was busy at work, while someone like Liu Songtao, who would look odd with makeup, chatted casually with the director team without any self-consciousness.

“Is there anything I need to pay attention to? Or are there any personas for you guys that I should cooperate with?” Luo Yu asked half-jokingly.

“Actually, there’s nothing specific to watch out for. Let me just tell you about our personas. For our team, my persona is a cold and cleanliness-obsessed OCD, who always appears disgusted. But in reality, playing games will inevitably get dirty, and the crew will arrange pranks like falling into mud pits or being sprayed with whipped cream. So, I’ll suffer, and the audience will enjoy it,” Li Shengyu said with a shrug, showing his helplessness.

“Do you really have obsessive-compulsive disorder?” Luo Yu asked.

He meant if Li Shengyu did, he would be more mindful in the future.

“About 30%, but I have to perform it at 100%.”

Luo Yu glanced at another young man getting his makeup done. He had fair skin, big eyes, and a friendly demeanor, occasionally smiling at the makeup artist.

“That’s Jiang Muxing, the black hole player in the show, always getting stuck in physical games halfway. By the way, he’s genuinely a black hole for physical strength, not just acting. So, He Mu’s team wants to kick him over.”

“Oh… the show is actually a game of strategy?” Luo Yu asked with a smile.

“Exactly. Speaking of the other side, who do you want to know about first?” Li Shengyu asked.

“Mick? What’s his name?”

Li Shengyu was taken aback for a moment. “I thought you’d ask about He Mu.”

“I already know a lot about He Mu. If the production team gave him a persona, it must be a perfect one—organizing teammates to complete tasks, helping and encouraging them to overcome difficulties, solving problems with a calm mind, and so on. Whatever attracts fans.”

Li Shengyu snapped his fingers. “Right on. So, let’s talk about Mick. His name is Mick, but in reality, he’s quite loyal because he once debuted with He Mu and Xie Liao. At that time, He Mu was the group leader, so during their recordings, he often helped He Mu maintain his persona.”

“How about in the show?”

Li Shengyu smiled. “He admires and agrees with He Mu’s talent. He does whatever He Mu says. Plus, he has a bad temper, and only He Mu can control him. It’s like he’s He Mu’s biggest fan, grateful and principled.”

“Ah… then he should be quite likable. At least He Mu’s fans will like him.”

“Yes, indeed. More likable than me and Jiang Muxing. Congratulations on being in the death team.” Li Shengyu extended his hand to Luo Yu.

“The death team often revives, right?” Luo Yu laughed and shook hands with Li Shengyu.

“You’re really optimistic.”

“Is that Teacher Liu Songtao? What’s his persona here? A comedy person?”

Luo Yu asked curiously.

“He’s the ‘salvageable comedy person’… Although he’s tall, he has a bit of a beer belly. So, he’s not very agile in running or jumping, and his catchphrase is, ‘Please, don’t force me to flip over.’ Every team needs a laggard, or else the strength would be uneven. But Liu Songtao, even with his slow movements, is still better than Jiang Muxing.”

“Okay, I roughly understand. I’ll cooperate with you when you play the clean freak.”

Li Shengyu leaned closer to Luo Yu’s ear and curiously asked, “So, how did Gu Xiaowei end up coming here with you?”

“He really just wanted to learn about the filming of variety shows. Since I received the invitation, he came along to take a look.”

In just a few minutes, the entire crew’s attention shifted to Gu Xiaowei.

When he went for his morning run, he had brewed fresh coffee in a thermos, now poured a small cup for Sister Cui, and the two were chatting by the car.

Sister Cui had become the envy of the entire crew, drinking coffee from Gu Xiaowei’s thermos and chatting with him up close.

“When we were talking, Gu Xiaowei looked at you three times.”

Hearing this from Li Shengyu, Luo Yu casually glanced towards Gu Xiaowei, who then raised his wrist and pointed to his watch, signaling Luo Yu to keep track of time.

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

The recording of the show was about to start. All the guests took their designated positions, and the MCs for the program were the duo—Deer and Dingdong.

Deer and Dingdong first announced the rules of today’s competition and introduced Luo Yu, mentioning his representative works without bringing up “Plum Blossom Rain.” They focused on “Counterattack” and “Storm.”

Then, as Luo Yu had anticipated, the expected things happened.

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Luo Yu didn’t expect that Gu Xiaowei was about to praise him.

“You portrayed the school heartthrob as bright and transparent, completely natural without any pretense. That year, all the girls in my department were watching your show and talking about you. You were also the school heartthrob in their hearts. I still remember the scene where you watched the female lead run toward the male lead, smiling, but with tears glistening in your eyes. I’ve seen my roommates wail and give up after a breakup, and I’ve seen other actors hold back tears in front of me, trying to convince me they were really sad… But the only scene that truly moved me was you standing at the bus stop—that moment gave me the illusion that love and youth were fading away together.”

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

It took Luo Yu a long time before he could finally say, “Thank you.”

“Luo Yu, never lose that talent that moves people’s hearts,” Gu Xiaowei said, looking at Luo Yu.

Everyone in the room suddenly felt a strange sense of emotion.

Xu Mu, however, inexplicably thought of He Mu. He had monopolized the “national school heartthrob” image for many years, and in recent years, some campus dramas had deliberately avoided using this trope, fearing that new actors would be suppressed by He Mu’s team. He was genuinely curious about how the audience would react to Gu Xiaowei’s evaluation in light of the industry’s ongoing battle over this archetype.

“Any other questions? My time is precious.” Although Gu Xiaowei said this, he had a gentle smile on his face.

No one on set felt he was being difficult; in fact, they were eagerly anticipating his interaction with Luo Yu.

“So, how should I repay you for your precious time?”

“Always be my rival, no matter what, never easily back down,” Gu Xiaowei said.

Luo Yu looked at Gu Xiaowei, feeling a surge of emotion, as if he had returned to the stage in his previous life, acting alongside Gu Xiaowei in a play. They were the brightest twin stars, indifferent to online praise or criticism, unconcerned with gains and losses, caring only about the lines and their opponent.

Luo Yu didn’t make a promise like an oath; he just closed his eyes and solemnly nodded.

“The next question: when did you first notice me and want to become friends with me?”

After asking this, Luo Yu began searching his memories. It seemed they became close while filming “Counterattack”.

Maybe it was his portrayal of Bai Ying that caught Gu Xiaowei’s eye? But it also seemed to have started before “Counterattack”… During the audition, Gu Xiaowei had already spoken to him in the elevator.

Suddenly, he was very grateful to the program team for giving him the chance to ask a question he’d always been curious about.

Gu Xiaowei’s answer exceeded Luo Yu’s expectations.

“It was the day I went to the film academy for my entrance exam.”

“Wh-which day?” Luo Yu wondered if he’d misheard.

The director, cameraman, and lighting technician all turned to Gu Xiaowei. Even with everyone looking at him, Gu Xiaowei’s gaze remained fixed on Luo Yu.

“It was pouring rain that day, and there was a lot of water accumulated at the entrance of the film academy. To avoid being late, I had specifically chosen to take the subway. I still remember, when I got out of the station, there was an old lady selling raincoats. I bought one to keep my clothes from getting wet. But the hood didn’t fit me well and kept falling down, blocking my vision.”

Luo Yu’s heart inexplicably felt a jolt, and his memory began to unfold like a rose blooming in reverse. He could almost hear the sound of the downpour, with countless raindrops blurring the world. He had been standing across from the school, holding an umbrella that was barely useful.

Gu Xiaowei’s voice was calm, describing the moment in a way that stretched the memory long, everything coming from his simple recollection rather than embellished words.

“When I arrived at the film academy, I realized the water was too deep to cross. Several taxis had stalled in the middle of the road. I watched enviously as a girl being carried on her father’s back crossed the road. The water reached her father’s calves, and she lay on his back, holding an umbrella for him. Her father kept reassuring her, telling her not to worry, that she was talented and hardworking, and the teachers would definitely notice her. But my parents didn’t support my decision to become an actor. I came without their knowledge. Every major decision in my life seems to go against their expectations, so… I never received that kind of comfort.”

Hearing this, Luo Yu felt a tightness in his chest. He understood that feeling.

“After that father and daughter crossed the road, I rolled up my pants and untied my shoes, intending to wade through the water barefoot. At that moment, I had only one thought—this path I chose, I had to walk through it, no matter the obstacles.”

Luo Yu finally remembered a day when it was pouring rain. His roommate had mentioned that the drainage system at the school gate was broken, and the school workers had laid down bricks and iron sheets, but the water was still too deep.

He had gone out to watch a play and was about to wade back when he noticed a boy at the station. He guessed the boy was there for the entrance exam too.

Many applicants had someone with them, like their parents. If they had already debuted, they might even have an agent or assistant by their side. But that boy was all alone. Luo Yu inexplicably felt that the boy looked lonely, as if waiting for comfort, or perhaps needing validation.

Gu Xiaowei’s eyes were full, as if containing the rivers and seas formed by that day’s rain, silently flowing, ready to surge for someone.

“Someone suddenly asked me, ‘Classmate, are you here for the entrance exam? My pants are already soaked, so why don’t I carry you across.’ That person wasn’t pretending; he really stepped down into the water and handed his umbrella to me. I’ve never been used to accepting help from strangers, but that was the only time I felt my desires were being supported. I wanted to be stubborn for once, to feel someone else’s kindness. I climbed onto his back, and he wobbled a bit. I was afraid I’d weigh him down and cause him to fall into the water. But he said, ‘Don’t worry, I’ll carry you across.’ He was worried the water would soak my shoes and kept lifting my legs with his arms.”

Luo Yu’s eyes were already red. The simple act of kindness he did back then had stayed with Gu Xiaowei until now.

“I don’t understand why one person can be so good to another,” Gu Xiaowei said softly, looking at Luo Yu.

Luo Yu could only shake his head because he didn’t know either.

It was like seeing that lonely figure made him want to carry him across.

“When he put me down, I asked him—’What’s your name?'”

Luo Yu’s voice trembled slightly as he answered, “My name is Luo Yu. You have to get in, and when you see me next time, remember to call me ‘senior brother.'”

That’s why Gu Xiaowei called him “senior brother” in the elevator when he was auditioning for the role of Bai Ying, and why every time he reposted something related to Luo Yu on Weibo, he started with the words “senior brother.”

Gu Xiaowei was just keeping his promise, no matter how many years had passed.

Luo Yu, standing on this side of the camera, with red eyes, looked at Gu Xiaowei, who wore a rare serene smile.

In the end, Luo Yu took a big step forward, and as if they were of one mind, Gu Xiaowei stood up, and the two tightly embraced each other.

For a moment, everyone felt a mix of emotions and joy for them.

It seemed that everything before didn’t matter; only this moment was the true reunion.

For the production team, this VCR had already generated enough buzz by now.

Director Xu had not expected to capture such a warm and meaningful moment.

He once again secretly felt fortunate to have invited Luo Yu for this program and silently hoped that these two would have a smooth path in the industry.

When they left the room, it was already past nine at night. Xu Mu advised Luo Yu to conserve his energy and rest well.

After Xu Mu and his team left, only Gu Xiaowei and Luo Yu remained in the room.

The two were a bit quiet, with Luo Yu feeling overwhelmed, not knowing what to say.

Just then, Luo Yu’s phone rang—it was a call from Sister Cui.

Not only had she brought Luo Yu’s suitcase, but she had also brought Gu Xiaowei’s luggage.

Sister Cui had just learned that Gu Xiaowei had helped record the VCR and expressed her gratitude to him.

“Now that the luggage is here, shouldn’t you take a shower?” Gu Xiaowei asked, looking at Luo Yu.

Luo Yu glanced at the bright, transparent glass and smiled, saying, “I’ll unpack first; you go ahead.”

He knew that there must be a curtain to block the view on such glass walls, but after secretly checking for a while, he couldn’t find the switch to lower the curtain.

But he remembered that the curtains in Xu Mu’s room were down, so he quickly asked where the switch was via WeChat.

Gu Xiaowei walked over and said, “How about we play rock-paper-scissors. Whoever loses goes first. This way, neither of us will feel like we’re at a disadvantage.”

Luo Yu couldn’t help but laugh and asked, “So you don’t know how to lower the curtains either?”

Gu Xiaowei tilted his chin, raised his fist, and said, “Come on.”

They counted to three and made their moves simultaneously. Gu Xiaowei won.

“Wait! Best two out of three!”

Gu Xiaowei raised his eyebrows slightly and said, “Don’t tell me you’re going to ask for five out of seven next.”

“I absolutely won’t!” Luo Yu rolled up his sleeves and said, “I still have the dignity of a senior brother!”

Then Luo Yu won the next two rounds, and with a beaming smile, he pointed to the transparent glass wall and said, “You—go take a shower!”

Gu Xiaowei looked at his own hand, seemingly still pondering why his luck was so bad tonight.

“Can you be so happy over something like this?”

“This is my first step in winning against you,” Luo Yu said with a grin.

Gu Xiaowei said nothing, opened his suitcase, took out a change of clothes, and put them in a waterproof bag. Before heading to the bathroom, he gave Luo Yu’s hair a playful ruffle.

Luo Yu grabbed Gu Xiaowei’s wrist, but Gu Xiaowei didn’t pull away, allowing Luo Yu to hold on.

After a second or two, Luo Yu pushed Gu Xiaowei’s hand away and said, “Touching my head costs extra.”

“Can it be an annual subscription?”

“Go away!”

Gu Xiaowei smiled down and finally went into the bathroom.

Luo Yu intentionally walked to the glass wall, crossed his arms, and pretended to admire the view, though he only dared to watch Gu Xiaowei take off his upper clothes. When it came to something he shouldn’t see, Luo Yu would proactively leave… for a night run.

Gu Xiaowei stood on the other side of the glass wall and beckoned Luo Yu with his hand.

Luo Yu took two steps forward. Gu Xiaowei placed one hand on the glass wall, and Luo Yu could clearly see the lines of his palm, deep and clear. Luo Yu didn’t know what Gu Xiaowei intended to do until Gu Xiaowei turned his head slightly, prompting Luo Yu to press his own hand against the glass as well.

Well, Gu Xiaowei’s hand was actually a bit larger than his.

At this moment, a faint buzzing sound came from above. Gu Xiaowei pressed a button by the sink, and the curtain descended!

The switch that Luo Yu couldn’t find after searching for a long time was found immediately by Gu Xiaowei! It seemed that Gu Xiaowei had seen his previous embarrassment and deliberately didn’t tell him where the button was.

This was really too much!

Luo Yu took a deep breath and then laughed. He hadn’t expected Gu Xiaowei to have such a childish side.

Perhaps because Gu Xiaowei always seemed mature and steady, Luo Yu forgot that he was actually a bit younger.

The curtain was quite thick, and Luo Yu couldn’t see even a vague shadow of Gu Xiaowei’s figure, leaving no room for imagination.

As expected of the program team’s hotel, it’s very proper.

Luo Yu could only return to the sofa and scroll through his phone in boredom.

The sound of running water started, and Luo Yu looked towards the bathroom, feeling inexplicably embarrassed.

He opened his playlist on his phone and played the highest-pitched, most screaming rock song he could find.

It was like trying to cover something up with music, though Luo Yu himself didn’t know what he was trying to hide.

After ten minutes, Gu Xiaowei came out, wearing his silver-gray silk pajamas. He walked towards Luo Yu, and as he moved, the fabric clung to his abdomen, briefly revealing the outline of his abs before quickly disappearing.

“I’m done showering. Your turn.” Gu Xiaowei paused and then added, “Are you listening to ‘Monsoon’?”

Luo Yu glanced at his phone and realized the song he was playing was indeed “Monsoon.”

“You listen to rock?” Luo Yu was surprised. In his mind, Gu Xiaowei should prefer more lyrical or classical music.

“Not much. But there’s a line in ‘Monsoon’ that feels very impactful when screamed.” Gu Xiaowei sat down on the sofa, facing Luo Yu, who was squatting on the floor looking for something in his suitcase.

“Which line?” Luo Yu looked up at him.

After his shower, Gu Xiaowei’s eyebrows and eyes were moist, like a snow pine in the rain, tall and gentle.

“Guess, Senior Brother.” He leaned slightly towards Luo Yu and pulled out the hoodie string that had fallen into Luo Yu’s collar.

As the hoodie string brushed against Luo Yu’s collarbone, it felt like something was traveling along his nerve lines, creating a tingling sensation.

Luo Yu felt almost bewitched. At that moment, the song was just in the introduction, with no screaming, but when he met Gu Xiaowei’s deep, ink-like eyes, he instinctively said, “Permeate me, drown me, crush me… subvert that good night for me…”

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

“Yes. Especially suitable for a special moment.”

Gu Xiaowei seemed to know what Luo Yu was searching for. He bent down, reached into the very bottom of Luo Yu’s suitcase, and pulled out Luo Yu’s checkered cotton pajamas.

“Oh, thank you.” Luo Yu took them.

He packed the pajamas and a change of underwear into the waterproof bag and went to the bathroom.

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“You encountered… the casting couch?” Luo Yu thought that with Gu Xiaowei’s aura, no one would dare to think of him that way.

“It depends on how you look at it. At the time, a Xinghan Pictures executive wanted to make me one of his ‘showpieces’ in his cabinet. I refused. His temperament was as tough as Ou Juntao’s, and he wanted to cut off all my resources and freeze me out at Xinghan Pictures,” Gu Xiaowei leaned back in his chair, speaking as if it were someone else’s story.

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

“Xinghan Pictures… is supposed to be a model company in the industry. It seems that any place can hide filth. What happened after that? How did you get rid of him?”

“I endured it for about a year. During that time, I actively sought out auditions with directors like Lin Yue and Xu Han. Whenever I passed an audition, he would start pressuring me, using all sorts of methods to prevent me from joining those projects. He also invited me to attend various banquets and business events with him, just to see if I had learned to be more ‘compliant.’ Later, I heard he was planning to hire online trolls to smear my reputation. But fortunately, my parents are both university professors with a spotless reputation, and I myself have never done anything against public morals. All my educational qualifications are legitimate. As for smearing me with rumors of improper relationships… Sorry, he couldn’t do that either because there were none.”

Gu Xiaowei’s personal life was indeed quite dull.

Luo Yu pressed the corner of his eye, “So… it’s always the same old tricks…”

“But I’m not one to just sit back and take a beating. Everyone in this world has enemies, especially in a place like Xinghan Pictures, where fame and fortune are at stake. So I visited the current chairman of Xinghan Pictures, Wang Qiao. Together, we exposed that executive’s improper contracts, cost-shifting, and extramarital affairs, successfully removing him from Xinghan Pictures.”

Gu Xiaowei spoke calmly, but Luo Yu could imagine it was a fierce battle with no visible gun smoke.

This was probably just three or four years ago when Gu Xiaowei had just graduated from university, yet he already had such courage and determination.

If there’s no path, you create one. Even if the opponent is strong, you find an opportunity to bring them down. If all else fails, you go all out, even if it means crashing into the mountain, shattering your body, and leaving blood on the battlefield, just to carve out your own space.

“In the future… I won’t avoid things anymore,” Luo Yu muttered to himself.

Gu Xiaowei smiled lightly, “Then you’d better keep your word.”

After they finished eating, they found that the seven or eight tables outside were already full of customers, and the pots were nearly dry, but no one was in a hurry to leave.

Some people were obviously holding their phones, recording them.

Gu Xiaowei was used to scenes like this. He didn’t even bother wearing a hat, just a mask, as he walked alongside Luo Yu.

Perhaps because both of them had an air of “not seeing anyone in their eyes,” neither the customers in the shop nor the fans outside approached or came near.

Just as they were about to cross the street, a fan suddenly shouted.

“Luo Yu—I like you—”

Luo Yu was taken aback for a moment, then turned to see a girl in a wool coat, her glasses fogged up from her breath.

He had thought she was waiting for Gu Xiaowei, but it turned out she was waiting for him.

“Thank you,” Luo Yu took off his mask and smiled, waving at her.

“Looking forward to more of your great work!”

“Sure. You should also live well and achieve your own dreams!” Luo Yu made a pinky promise gesture to her.

Gu Xiaowei patiently waited by the roadside for Luo Yu.

The girl watched them enter the hotel, then turned around and hugged her friend.

“He specifically took off his mask and smiled at me! He was so gentle!”

“I saw! I saw! And didn’t you notice that Gu Xiaowei was next to him?”

“Really? I only saw Luo Yu!”

After they entered the elevator, Luo Yu felt a bit emotional, “Ever since I finished ‘Plum Blossom Rain’, no fan has ever stopped me to say they liked me again. You’re pretty patient, waiting for me to finish talking with that fan.”

“Because I understand her feelings. I respect my senior brother who entered the entertainment industry. I thought he would be ambitious and driven. I watched him from behind, hoping to see him climb higher and higher. Even if he didn’t stand out more than others, he should at least become a shining star. But instead, he hid himself away. He wallowed in the criticisms of others and never stood tall. Finally, one day, he suddenly reappeared, not only acting well but also improving more and more. His future path is becoming clearer. If it were me… I would also say to him—I’ve always admired you, please continue to let me see you.”

Luo Yu’s eyes inexplicably stung, and he looked up, a little worried that tears would fall.

The word “admire” was too heavy; the past Luo Yu was too terrible. He felt he didn’t deserve anyone’s admiration.

Especially not from someone like Gu Xiaowei.

“Promise?” Gu Xiaowei extended his pinky finger towards him.

“Promise!” Luo Yu immediately hooked his pinky around Gu Xiaowei’s.

Gu Xiaowei’s finger was strong, causing Luo Yu’s finger to ache slightly, but it also cleared his mind.

They returned to the room. Luo Yu took off his coat, hung it in the closet, and then took Gu Xiaowei’s coat to hang it beside his.

“We agreed on eight o’clock, and now it’s seven-thirty… Director Xu has sent over the questions. Take a look to see if there’s anything inconvenient to answer.”

Luo Yu originally intended to hand him his phone, but Gu Xiaowei leaned down close to him, reviewing the questions in that position.

“There’s nothing inconvenient,” he said softly, his breath lightly brushing past Luo Yu’s ear.

For a moment, Luo Yu wished he could stay like this.

“That’s good. Too bad Sister Cui hasn’t sent over our luggage yet. Do you need makeup?” Luo Yu asked half-jokingly.

“You’ll do me?” Gu Xiaowei asked, seemingly casually.

“Why not? I’ll do you.”

As soon as he said that, Luo Yu suddenly felt something was off. He lifted his leg and lightly bumped Gu Xiaowei’s back with his knee, “Hey, you tricked me.”

“How could this be considered tricking? Didn’t you agree willingly?” Gu Xiaowei’s face was serious, as if the only one who had his mind in the gutter was Luo Yu.

Luo Yu glanced at him from left to right, unable to resist saying, “Actually, you really do look good like this. Your skin tone is almost the same as foundation, your eye contours are distinct, your cheekbones are well-defined, and your jawline is sharp. I can’t find anywhere that needs makeup.”

Gu Xiaowei nodded and smiled. When he looked up again, it seemed as though all the light had sunk into his eyes, deeper than the night itself, “Then I’ll take that as a compliment.”

Luo Yu wanted to say that, to him, Gu Xiaowei was the embodiment of all the world’s praise.

But such words could only be kept in his heart.

If he said it as a joke, it wouldn’t seem serious enough. But if he said it too seriously, it would feel too awkward and cheesy.

At that moment, the doorbell rang, and Director Xu’s voice came through.

“Are both teachers here? May we come in?”

“Sure, I’m coming.” Luo Yu quickly went to open the door.

Unexpectedly, for just recording a VCR, Xu Mu had brought along a dedicated filming team.

“Teacher Gu, may I do your makeup?” A young man with a makeup box approached Gu Xiaowei.

Gu Xiaowei handed him a bottle of mineral water and said softly, “No need, this is just a VCR. If there’s too much makeup, it’ll look too deliberate.”

Xu Mu immediately nodded, “That’s true, that’s true. We brought the makeup artist just in case.”

After all, many celebrities are particular about their image, even for behind-the-scenes footage.

Since the room lighting wasn’t great, two staff members held reflectors near Gu Xiaowei to brighten his face.

Luo Yu curiously leaned toward the camera. Gu Xiaowei, wearing a dark sweater, sat on the sofa with one leg crossed, his hands resting on his knees. Despite it being the classic pose of a domineering CEO in a drama, Gu Xiaowei made it look natural, exuding an inherent grace and poise.

“Um, Teacher Gu, you can start. No need to hold back; say whatever you want. We’ll edit it, and the final version will be sent to you for confirmation,” Xu Mu said.

Gu Xiaowei glanced at Luo Yu, a faint smile softening his features, making the entire space feel warmer.

“Hello everyone, I’m Gu Xiaowei. Today, I’ve been invited by my senior brother, Luo Yu, to record a VCR for his first variety show, ‘Burn, Little Cosmos’.

But now, he’s hiding behind the camera, watching me. I don’t know what to say—should I talk about the embarrassing moments he had while filming ‘Counterattack’?”

Still watching him from behind the camera, Luo Yu thought carefully and said with certainty, “I didn’t have any embarrassing moments.”

“Oh, really? Does almost entering the wrong set and ending up as the neighboring drama’s son-in-law count?” Gu Xiaowei placed one hand on the sofa, leaning towards Luo Yu. At that moment, he seemed more alive than ever.

Everyone was a little surprised; who knew Gu Xiaowei could chat so casually?

“How is that embarrassing… It was Fang Qin who led me to the wrong set… It wasn’t just me.”

Gu Xiaowei continued, “Then what about the whole crew knowing you dreamt of playing a eunuch? You packed your suitcase early to get that role. While others wished the director would give them more scenes, you were eager to play a eunuch, leaving the director and screenwriter puzzled by your eagerness to leave.”

Luo Yu quickly explained, “It’s just because I hadn’t played one before, so I wanted to gain some experience!”

“Hmm—then how about I rehearse with you later, so you can fully indulge in playing a eunuch, from tonight until tomorrow morning?” Gu Xiaowei’s voice carried even more amusement.

“You just want to play the emperor, don’t you?” Luo Yu couldn’t help but laugh as he retorted.

After just a few exchanges, everyone’s impression of Gu Xiaowei completely changed.

All that talk about him being a socially awkward, cold, and arrogant person—those were just rumors!

Gu Xiaowei can joke! And Gu Xiaowei can smile gently!

“Are you going to ask the questions the production team prepared or not? If not—I’ll just improvise,” Gu Xiaowei added.

Luo Yu was genuinely afraid of his “improvisation” and quickly took out his phone. “I’ll ask! I’ll ask now. You… you have to answer truthfully, no improvising!”

“Okay.” Gu Xiaowei returned to his previous sitting posture, but this time he seemed much more relaxed.

“The first question, what was the first work of mine that you watched?”

After asking, Luo Yu felt a bit embarrassed. So far, the performance he was most satisfied with was his role as Bai Ying in “Counterattack.” But that show hasn’t aired yet, so it hasn’t been tested by the audience.

As for his debut work, “Plum Blossom Rain,” it’s an old school drama, and because of his character’s “school heartthrob” persona, he was often compared to He Mu, even leading to some ongoing disputes.

Gu Xiaowei looked at Luo Yu beside the camera and slowly said, “‘Plum Blossom Rain.’ That show made me think for a long time.”

It really was ‘Plum Blossom Rain’?

“Think about what?”

“You portrayed a school heartthrob who was gentle, tolerant, humorous, and graceful. Why didn’t the female lead like you? Why did she go for the wild and unruly male lead instead?”

“That’s a question for the screenwriter. Maybe… perhaps… someone dangerous is more alluring than someone gentle, tolerant, humorous, and graceful.”

Maybe it’s just that… people prefer the bad boys over the good ones.

“Oh…” Gu Xiaowei lowered his eyes, seriously contemplating. “I originally planned to be gentle, tolerant, humorous, and graceful towards you, but now it seems that being a bit more dangerous might be better.”

The director’s eyes lit up—there’s chemistry! There’s chemistry! What does Gu Xiaowei mean by “being a bit more dangerous”?

Luo Yu burst out laughing.

“You’re not dangerous enough? You’re about to play a dangerous artist soon. Everyone, please support Mr. Gu’s upcoming movie, ‘Beast and Rose’!”

Only then did the director realize that Gu Xiaowei was actually promoting his new movie. But Luo Yu had a great rapport with him, immediately understanding his intent and picking up the conversation.

Probably because Gu Xiaowei really treated this VCR recording like a chat, Luo Yu relaxed as well, and the two began to have a genuine conversation across the screen.

“Hold on, we need to get back to ‘Plum Blossom Rain.’ As per the program’s request, please give your feedback on my performance in ‘Plum Blossom Rain’.”

Luo Yu wasn’t even nervous during auditions, but asking Gu Xiaowei to critique his debut performance felt like going back to his art exams at the film academy, with Gu Xiaowei sitting opposite him as the judge.

To be honest, Teacher Gu really does have the demeanor of a professor. If given the chance, he could play a role like a school principal or a teacher.

But if Gu Xiaowei played a school principal, acting out scenes with students like “you skip class, I track you down, walking all the paths students want to take, leaving them nowhere to escape,” that would be pretty intense.

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

However, Luo Yu was more curious about how Gu Xiaowei would evaluate his unpolished acting skills back then.

Gu Xiaowei lowered his head slightly, and in that moment, there was a tender quality. “You portrayed the school heartthrob I imagined, embodying all the beauty that youth should have, without the artificiality of some idol dramas where characters are overly crafted to please the audience. It was so real, it felt as if you were right in front of me.”

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“Tomorrow’s games are mostly physical. Mick and I are relatively young and have trained in dance, so our core strength and explosive power aren’t bad. Winning shouldn’t be an issue. But Brother Liu, even though your image has always been a salted fish, you’ll still need to put in some effort tomorrow. We can’t lose to Jiang Muxing, right?” He Mu was clearly the leader of their team.

Liu Songtao, a comedian in his early forties, was quite tall and had been the comic relief on this show, with 80% of his blunders becoming running gags.

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

In his mind, Liu Songtao rolled his eyes. He might be He Mu’s senior, but He Mu’s words, though polite, had a hint of command that made Liu Songtao feel a bit uncomfortable.

He only made those blunders for the sake of the show’s effect, okay?

But he was aware of He Mu’s fan power. The last time there was a water-based game and He Mu fell into the water, Liu Songtao, who was closest, didn’t manage to catch him, and he got flamed online from that episode to the next.

“I’ll definitely give it my all tomorrow!” Liu Songtao made an OK gesture.

Whatever, he’s eaten more salt than this kid has eaten rice. With such a self-centered personality, if you try to give him advice, he’d think you’re jealous of him.

Some things are better left to life to teach him.

At that moment, Mick spoke up, “I remember you mentioned that Luo Yu’s recent buzz was because he’s riding on Gu Xiaowei’s coattails?”

Hearing this, He Mu impatiently said, “Of course. Why else would Gu Xiaowei always be protecting Luo Yu?”

Mick asked again, “But there are so many people in the industry who want to ride on Gu Xiaowei’s coattails, so why did Luo Yu succeed?”

He Mu didn’t show his anger but tried to suppress his impatience. He knew that at this moment, he had to ensure his teammates stood by him rather than angering them.

Otherwise, if they didn’t give their best or didn’t support him during tomorrow’s games, it would be very unfavorable for him.

After all, Li Shengyu is in Luo Yu’s team. After losing to Luo Yu in the “Storm” crew’s acting PK, instead of reflecting on his impulsiveness, Li Shengyu blamed He Mu for making him misunderstand Luo Yu, leaving He Mu speechless. Later, Li Shengyu even became Weibo friends with Luo Yu, occasionally sharing each other’s posts. Is this some kind of mutual appreciation society between a B-list actor and a struggling one?

Since then, Li Shengyu has been cold towards He Mu on the show, always choosing to oppose him in every game. Unfortunately, he has decent physical fitness and often beats He Mu in games, with the production team purposely highlighting their rivalry. Now that Luo Yu has joined, these two who dislike him are teaming up, and even with Jiang Muxing dragging them down, He Mu can foresee tomorrow not going well for him.

He must keep his teammates united against a common enemy.

“Mick, what’s wrong with you? Isn’t this obvious? Gu Xiaowei has been in the industry for so many years; have you ever seen him share someone’s post five or six times in half a year? Even for Cheng Fei, that doesn’t even happen more than three times a year! Gu Xiaowei is practically becoming Luo Yu’s promotional account.”

Hearing this, comedian Liu Songtao couldn’t help but feel a bit envious. Whenever he released a comedy movie, he had to beg people in the industry to help with the promotion. But Luo Yu had Gu Xiaowei’s favor. How could anyone not be jealous?

Mick, however, shared some surprising news: “Did you know that Luo Yu was driven to the set today by Gu Xiaowei?”

“Huh?” He Mu was stunned.

He had heard staff talking about Gu Xiaowei being around, but he thought it was just a rumor. After all, Gu Xiaowei had never participated in a variety show in all his years in the industry.

“And Gu Xiaowei is staying in Luo Yu’s room. The director offered him another room, but he refused.”

Mick’s tone was calm, but his words hit He Mu like a bomb.

Mick hadn’t intended to provoke He Mu or become his enemy; it was just that He Mu always talked about Luo Yu like he was Gu Xiaowei’s sycophant. But there were so many people who wanted to cling to Gu Xiaowei; why did Gu Xiaowei show such favoritism towards Luo Yu? And after Li Shengyu returned from the “Storm” crew, he fell out with He Mu, though they hadn’t openly stated it. Mick felt it was because of the acting PK between Li Shengyu and Luo Yu.

If Li Shengyu really resented Luo Yu, he wouldn’t have volunteered to team up with Luo Yu during the discussion about dividing teams with the director.

Mick, though hovering between A- and B-list, was no stranger to the cliques and power plays in the industry.

He didn’t want to be used by He Mu; he wanted to see clearly where He Mu stood on Luo Yu.

As expected, He Mu’s face looked a bit unpleasant.

“Oh, and Luo Yu’s introductory VCR for the show is recorded by Cheng Fei, Xie Chang, and Gu Xiaowei.”

Before He Mu could be shocked, Liu Songtao was already dumbfounded.

“Wow, I didn’t expect that! This young man must have some connections! Cheng Fei is known for his straightforwardness in the industry; if he likes someone, he’ll praise them to the skies. If he doesn’t, even if you kneel at his door for three days and nights, he won’t care. And Xie Chang is the top actress at Honghe Film and Television; they control her so strictly that even when she’s filming with male leads, they minimize interaction to avoid rumors.”

Liu Songtao leaned closer to Mick, “Are you sure? Gu Xiaowei really came? And recorded the VCR?”

“Yes, really. Luo Yu hadn’t even sent out the invitation when Gu Xiaowei agreed on the phone. Director Xu confirmed it in person.”

Mick noticed He Mu trying to appear nonchalant, but the occasional clenching of his teeth showed how hard he was trying to suppress his emotions.

Liu Songtao clapped his hands, “This is great news! With Gu Xiaowei’s presence, his fans will definitely tune in for this episode! The ratings will surely go up!”

He Mu looked at Liu Songtao, his eyes full of “What nonsense are you talking about?”

Liu Songtao, a seasoned veteran, knew how to play the game. He didn’t want to offend He Mu, as He Mu was backed by Dijun Media, but he also didn’t want to go against Luo Yu, who was now supported by Yinchuan Culture and had a close relationship with Gu Xiaowei.

Liu Songtao patted He Mu on the shoulder, speaking earnestly, “When we record variety shows, the focus should be on the show’s ratings. If you get too caught up in personal grievances and are perceived as aggressive, it could backfire and damage your reputation. It’s better to win gracefully when you can, and when you can’t, concede graciously; it makes you look magnanimous and endears you to your fans.”

He Mu opened his mouth but couldn’t find the words to respond.

Mick chimed in, “Brother Tao makes a good point. The show loves to play up personal grudges for drama. If there’s already talk of bad blood between you and Luo Yu, and tomorrow’s show gets too intense, your haters might accuse you of using the games to suppress Luo Yu, and that could sound really bad. Most people join variety shows to show they have a big heart. Tomorrow, you’ll need to be especially nice to Luo Yu to dispel those rumors that you’re using your fans against him.”

He Mu was stunned. What was happening? He had called these two over for a pre-battle pep talk.

How did it turn into them advising him to be magnanimous? Were they teaming up to vex him to death?

“Look at the time; it’s dinner now. I’m heading out.” Liu Songtao, as if nothing had happened, left He Mu’s room.

“I’ll be off too. Tomorrow’s recording will follow the planned schedule, so let’s just stick to the director’s instructions.”

Mick also turned and left.

After closing the door, Mick let out a cold laugh. Sure enough, in a normal situation, if you run into your rival on a variety show, the smart move is to clear the air, maybe even put on a pretense of getting along. But He Mu had gathered them to talk about beating Luo Yu tomorrow—wasn’t that clearly personal?

Come to think of it, with Xie Liao’s current status, he probably wouldn’t get much screen time on the show anyway. Plus, he’d have to endure He Mu’s commands, and Xie Liao’s physical fitness wasn’t great. How could he handle He Mu’s demands?

And after seeing Luo Yu today, Mick realized that the relationship between Luo Yu and Gu Xiaowei wasn’t what He Mu had described as clinging or being a sycophant. Instead, Gu Xiaowei treated Luo Yu like a good friend, which made Mick wary.

After probing a bit today, Mick knew it was best not to get involved in the feud between He Mu and Luo Yu. Why be a pawn for He Mu and ruin his relationship with Director Xu? It would just make it harder to get opportunities for his good friend Xie Liao in the future.

At this moment, Luo Yu and Gu Xiaowei had already entered the restaurant. As soon as the manager saw Gu Xiaowei, he quickly led them into a small private room that had been prepared in advance. They walked quickly, leaving only tall, imagination-stirring silhouettes for the other customers to see.

“Those two who just walked in are really tall and well-built. Could they be celebrities?”

“That’s possible! The production team for ‘Burn, Little Cosmos’ is just across the street!”

“But who were they? Could it be He Mu?”

“You’re overthinking it! If He Mu came to a small place like this to eat chicken stuffed with pork tripe, the fans would flatten the place!”

“Could it be Mick?”

“Doesn’t seem like it… but those two had a really special vibe.”

No matter where he went, Gu Xiaowei always ignored the stares of others, carrying himself as if he was an island to himself.

The two of them sat down at the table, and the manager brought out the pre-prepared food. It just needed to be heated up a bit before it was ready to eat.

“Wow, it smells so good,” Luo Yu leaned in to take a sniff.

His brows and eyes were misted with a bit of steam, and the tip of his nose had a slight sheen. Gu Xiaowei looked at him, and the expression on his face softened.

Soon, the food began to boil.

Gu Xiaowei picked up a soup spoon and served a bowl of soup for Luo Yu, reminding him, “Blow on it before you eat.”

“I wasn’t really hungry before, but now that I smell this, I’m suddenly starving,” Luo Yu said, holding the white porcelain bowl, blowing on the soup, and then taking a sip. “It’s really fresh.”

“En.”

“By the way, when you told Director Xu today that I might act in the movie with you, he could misunderstand that I’ve already been chosen for the role of Wen Yuchi. If he edits that into the show, but then the ‘Beast and Rose’ production team casts someone else, that would be awkward.”

Gu Xiaowei looked at Luo Yu and slowly said, “Senior Brother, you’ve already acted in two dramas by famous directors, but haven’t you built up any confidence yet?”

Luo Yu picked up a piece of chicken, but hesitated before eating it. “Sometimes… skill doesn’t guarantee success.”

“Then let me tell you some inside information to boost your confidence.”

“Inside information? That sounds more like an official announcement coming from you.”

“The audition just ended, and Ou Juntao offered to treat the producer, the director, and the executives from Xinghan Pictures in charge of the project to dinner. But Director Sheng refused, saying he’d already chosen the actor, so the dinner was unnecessary. The producer, worried about the tension, suggested having dinner just to talk things over with Ou Juntao, not to offend him.”

“Did Director Sheng agree to go to dinner?” Luo Yu asked.

Gu Xiaowei shook his head. “No. Director Sheng felt that if they went to dinner, the producer and investors might end up being ‘forced into a corner.’ After a few drinks, they might use the role as a bargaining chip.”

“No wonder he has such a good reputation as a director—he has his own principles and integrity.”

“Yes, Director Sheng said he had already found the perfect match for my Lu Pingfeng’s Wen Yuchi. If Wen Yuchi had to be replaced, I would have to be replaced too.

He said, ‘Gu Xiaowei has already seen Xi Shi, and now you want to force him to marry Dong Shi? How can this marriage be happy?'” (TN: Xi Shi and Dong Shi are references to Chinese historical figures. Xi Shi is considered one of the Four Beauties of ancient China, while Dong Shi, in some stories, is portrayed as a less attractive woman who tries to imitate Xi Shi’s beauty but ends up being less appealing.)

Luo Yu was amused by the metaphor and laughed. “But Director Sheng might have been talking about another actor. I remember Liang Shengqiu has pretty good acting skills.”

Gu Xiaowei replied, “He lacks the feel. And out of all the auditionees, Director Sheng only applauded you.”

The small private room suddenly became quiet, with only the bubbling sound of the soup being boiled.

After a while, Luo Yu spoke, “You might not believe it, but I’ve never had so many opportunities before… Actually, it’s more accurate to say I had opportunities, but I gave up on every single one of them.”

“Because you cared too much about what others thought of you.”

“What about you? It always seems like you’ve been at the top of your game since you debuted. But someone like you, who insists on staying true to himself and never placates others, should have faced even more slander than I have.” Luo Yu looked at Gu Xiaowei.

There’s little mention of Gu Xiaowei’s past online. The public only sees his glamorous side, but Luo Yu guessed that his journey couldn’t have been smooth.

Gu Xiaowei asked, “Do you think I’m good-looking?”

“Of course, you’re good-looking,” Luo Yu smiled. “I’m not blind, and my aesthetics are perfectly normal.”

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

“This face is too attractive, but without a tactful personality, it naturally causes trouble.”

Hearing this, Luo Yu’s fingers twitched slightly.

If anyone else in the entertainment industry said, “This face is too attractive,” they’d be laughed at for being arrogant. But when Gu Xiaowei said it, it was just a statement of fact with a hint of humility.

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