Chapter 148: Encountering Paparazzi
Two actors from crews fiercely opposed online actually created an ambiguous atmosphere in the game. Although it was all for variety show effect, this situation greatly satisfied the production team. Their minds automatically added pink bubbles to that earlier atmosphere—the post-production must add them! And also the preview promo for this variety show episode! From opposition to ambiguity, from competition to "happily getting married," arrange it all!
Sitting offstage, the production team seemed to see higher ratings waving at them.
On stage, the game had ended. The third round's free-for-all let them completely cut loose. Because of the "breaking-in" from the second round, everyone's style went a bit off-track. If they couldn't reach their opponents, they started picking on their teammates. A few groups simply moved away from the chaotic center stage and stood chatting leisurely on the periphery.
Blood Mist Forensic Doctor: "So great that your crew has so many beauties. Not like us, it's all guys here."
Worlds Apart Third Male Lead: "Don't you have one female colleague?"
Blood Mist Forensic Doctor: "Her? She's basically playing herself. She's exactly like her character in the show. Better not provoke her."
Worlds Apart Third Male Lead suddenly pointed behind the Forensic Doctor.
The Forensic Doctor turned to look and saw the Female Team Member already raising her inflatable club high...
Forensic Doctor: "..."
The leisurely corner was thus shattered.
Because this game was quite physically demanding, after this segment ended, the host organized everyone to sit down and share interesting or memorable stories from their time on set.
After breaking the ice through the games, the young people, who had only previously clashed online, had more or less let down some of their barriers. Of course, even if just for the show's effect, they had to maintain the surface appearance of "letting down barriers."
The Extreme Joy program wanted to create a "no discord, no concord" effect for them. This could both guarantee ratings and not ruin the show's reputation by making people think the show existed just for celebrities to tear each other apart.
As a long-running variety show that had been popular for many years, Director Dai's team was very shrewd.
People from the two crews shared amusing anecdotes from their respective sets. The host cracked jokes and tossed in punchlines from time to time, making it seem quite harmonious.
However, anyone who thought the show would remain this friendly was sorely mistaken. The driving force behind every decision was, as always, the pursuit of higher ratings.
The host quickly shifted the topic towards Rong Yu and Ming Qian.
Host: "Xiao Yu, many netizens say that although you and Ming Qian are from the same boy band, you two don't get along privately. Is this true?"
As soon as these words were spoken, the entire set instantly fell silent.
The previously cheerful atmosphere changed in an instant. Everyone else showed surprised expressions, clearly astonished that the host would ask such a direct question.
After the surprise, they all looked in unison at Rong Yu, their gazes shifting between Rong Yu and Ming Qian.
Ming Qian quickly waved his hands: "Not at all! Brother Rong and I have a good relationship privately. When we were trainees, he even taught me dance moves. But that was a while ago, maybe Brother Rong himself doesn't remember anymore."
For something that clearly never happened, it was one thing for Ming Qian to insist it did, but he had to add that Rong Yu might not remember. This way, if Rong Yu truthfully said it didn't happen, people would just think Rong Yu really forgot—and it would be the case of "an important person tends to forget things". If Rong Yu said he did remember, how could he possibly corroborate Ming Qian's story since it was completely fabricated?
[贵人多忘事 (guìrén duō wàngshì): lit. an important person tends to forget things; fig. said sarcastically of a person who conveniently "forgets" their past or obligations]
Rong Yu's gaze rested on Ming Qian's face, revealing a meaningful smile: "Since everyone wants to know what our private relationship is like, why don't we play a game to test our rapport? Then you'll have your answer."
As he spoke, Rong Yu raised an index finger and wagged it.
Because Rong Yu was speaking, this gesture naturally drew everyone's attention.
"The game is simple," Rong Yu said. "Someone names a random object, and we both make our first instinctive movement the moment we hear it. If our actions match seven times out of ten, it proves we have good chemistry. How does that sound?"
The host reacted after two seconds: "Ah, our show has played this game before! How about we all play it together now?"
Rong Yu rested his elbows on his knees, lightly supporting his chin with his fingers: "Since everyone is familiar with this game, let's increase the difficulty. Only upper body movements are allowed, legs cannot leave their spots. How about that?"
Host: "Hey! That's good! Let our staff come up and draw circles for everyone!"
Rong Yu looked at the host. "Host Xuan, in your opinion, which team will demonstrate better coordination this time—the Blood Mist team or the Worlds Apart team?"
Host Xuan replied, "Well, that's difficult to predict."
Rong Yu continued, "Simply guessing lacks excitement. How about we use that bitter melon juice as a wager? The team that shows better synchronization will be rewarded with the bitter melon juice."
Host Xuan's eyes lit up: "Makes sense!"
Everyone else: "..." Makes sense, my foot! Winning means drinking bitter melon juice, so who would want to win then?
Wait, hold on! Something doesn't seem right?
The host assigned to Rong Yu's group pointed at himself: "Um, I think I'm the host here, right?"
Rong Yu smoothly handed his microphone to that host, smiling: "Let's edit out that last part from the rehearsal! Let our Brother Wei officially record it once!"
Of course. Here is the revised text for clarity and ease of understanding:
It would be up to the production team to decide whether to cut that segment. Regardless, Rong Yu had successfully redirected the conversation without appearing evasive or perfunctory.
He had cleverly reframed the question about his private relationship with Ming Qian into a matter of teamwork. By turning it into a group game that tested coordination, and then inverting the stakes so that winners were "punished" with bitter melon juice and losers were spared, he created a perfect exit strategy. No matter the game's outcome, any lack of sync between them could be dismissed as a simple mix-up of the win/lose conditions. This also provided their public relations teams with a plausible explanation.
Although Rong Yu's proposed game wasn't part of the show's planned schedule, the upcoming segments were also designed to test team chemistry, so it fit the theme. The rules were straightforward, allowing the show to transition into the game seamlessly.
After five hours of recording, everyone clearly showed signs of fatigue. They said their goodbyes backstage and left separately.
Since this was their first reunion after Blood Mist wrapped, the eight of them arranged to have dinner together.
This was their first step into the industry, a decent stepping stone. From here, they would each enter other productions, play different roles, and also live their own lives.
The entertainment industry was vast. Once a production wrapped, it became very difficult for the entire cast to reassemble.
Everyone seemed aware of this, so this meal felt less like a "reunion" and more like a "send-off" for everyone.
After this parting, the road to stardom was long. They wished each other bright futures and promised to take care.
When Yin Chengjue went to pick up Rong Yu, he found the whole group, who had booked a private room for drinks, had drunk themselves under the table. The only one not under the table was propping his chin with one hand, picking at the peanuts on a plate with the other, counting them and arranging them into neat rows and columns as he did.
Yin Chengjue stepped over several people before reaching Rong Yu's side and taking away the plate of peanuts.
Rong Yu's gaze followed the plate, still muttering: "Thirty-two..."
Yin Chengjue felt both amusement and exasperation. "You only counted thirty-two peanuts?"
Rong Yu's gaze was noticeably dazed. He processed this for a moment before saying: "Don't know... Counted many times already..."
Yin Chengjue crouched down, took a plastic bag from his pocket: "Feeling unwell? Want to throw up?"
Rong Yu shook his head vaguely and muttered something unrelated. "I don't want any more shots..."
Yin Chengjue rubbed his stomach: "Not taking you for a shot, we won't get shots. How much did you drink? Want to throw up? You'll feel better if you vomit."
Rong Yu shook his head again: "I don't want anymore medicine... It's bitter..."
Seeing he didn't seem nauseous, Yin Chengjue put away the plastic bag and took out the prepared hat, sunglasses, and face mask, putting them on Rong Yu.
Rong Yu immediately struggled.
But he had indeed drunk too much today, his struggling wasn't very forceful. Yin Chengjue easily subdued him, then carried him out of the private room.
A few other people were also coming in—all arranged by Yin Chengjue to send these drunkards home.
Perhaps due to some oversight when this group came for dinner, several paparazzi had staked out the hotel entrance.
Yin Chengjue had anticipated this. He deliberately hired a group of bodyguards in black suits and sunglasses. Each bodyguard carried one person. Yin Chengjue, who was originally holding Rong Yu, put on sunglasses just before exiting the hotel and hoisted Rong Yu over his shoulder.
So, after waiting all night, rubbing their hands in anticipation, the paparazzi were met with the sight of a group of tall, burly men carrying individuals who were presumably the celebrities they came to photograph.
Paparazzi: "..."
Why does this scene feel a bit off?
Also, why do the photos make it seem like the bodyguards are the ones walking a runway?
The paparazzi were even more stunned when the bodyguards in sunglasses and black suits spotted them, proactively approached their cameras, struck deliberate poses, and beckoned for them to take more pictures.
Paparazzi: "..." No, we don't want to photograph you. We want to photograph the celebrities you're carrying, thank you!
But all these artists were completely drunk and out of it—what was there to photograph? At most, they could take pictures of their drunken faces and post captions like "XXX drinking heavily late at night, reason unknown."
But such captions were already outdated.
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