CHAPTER 5: Does It Hurt Yet

The production team behind Four Laws of Happiness was paying very close attention to the guests’ interactions from the night before.

After all, it was a romance reality show. Sure, they relied on a bit of drama and spicy moments to keep things lively, but at its core, the show was about sweetness. Fans tuned in to get their hearts warmed.

That’s why the directors, writers, and marketing team worked together to analyze last night’s footage, pick out the most buzzworthy scenes, and coordinate with Weibo to push curated hashtags to the trending list. These weren’t brand-sponsored topics—they were organic, and depended entirely on influencer accounts and fan engagement to make it to the top.

By midday, hashtags like
#FourLawsOfHappinessNightlyNews,
#MountainRoadCoupleBedFight, and
#WangHeLüYuzhuoLateNightChat
were climbing the hot search list.

The fanbases for the “Mountain Road Couple” were made up of seasoned reality show stans. The moment their faves hit the hot search, they flooded the threads with promotions and gifs. CP fans joined in, hyping the moment up.

[Bed fight? LOL! They’re too cute!]
[It’s called “fighting,” but really it’s just shameless flirting. Elementary school level romance and I’m eating it up.]
[This just proves how important room choices are, lmao. The contrast between couples last night was wild.]

The biggest winners, of course, were Wen Heng and Gu Sheng.

And because Wen Heng was the one who offered up the bed—not Gu Sheng insisting on it—there weren’t even that many people accusing her of being pampered or spoiled.

The most pitiful couple had to be the “Sunny Days Couple.” Song Qingzhi and Qin Tian’s room was already cramped, and after the styling team arrived that morning, it felt like they were packed in like sardines.

Song Qingzhi had been holding in her frustration since last night, but with cameras everywhere in the villa, she couldn’t afford to let it show. Her agent had originally planned to get them trending with a hashtag like #SunnyDaysCoupleSweetSleepingPose, but then Gu Sheng swooped in and snatched the big bed. All that was left for them were bunk beds or a single twin.

Wang He and his partner had politely offered them first pick, but what kind of sweet couple content could you even film in bunk beds? In the end, she and Qin Tian squeezed onto a 1.3-meter-wide twin bed, forcing themselves to act lovey-dovey in that tight space.

And then this morning’s trending topic?
#SunnyDaysCoupleToughingItOutTogether

There wasn’t a trace of sweetness to it. Just pure suffering. Song Qingzhi felt like she was about to pass out from rage.

Nothing had gone according to plan since the cameras started rolling. She’d assumed Gu Sheng—who used to throw tantrums and demand her blacklisting at the slightest rumor—would make a fool of herself on the show and serve as a foil. But somehow, Gu Sheng had been spotless, even managing to claw back some public goodwill?

Still, it wasn’t all bad. Even though she lost her shot at snagging CP fans last night, Gu Sheng didn’t trend either. That viral gif of her and Wen Heng had faded fast—it was just a one-hit wonder. No way would Gu Sheng actually beat her on a romance reality show!

Makeup and styling were proceeding smoothly. Suddenly, a staff member scrolling Weibo blurted out, “Wait, Wen-shen’s trending again?”

This time it wasn’t some PR post—it was a tweet from a regular user.

[@boredouttamymind: Sorry, I was too free last night 😂 After seeing that god-tier gif, I got obsessed and ended up watching Wen Heng & Gu Sheng’s whole livestream. I think I’ve discovered something wild: is Gu Sheng literally the only person on earth who can kick Wen Heng? ]

Despite being a nobody, this account had insane reach, probably because it tagged Wen Heng by name. The post exploded, quickly climbing into the trending topics under:

#TheOnlyPersonOnEarthWhoCanKickWenHeng

The title was so bizarre it practically begged for clicks. Who could imagine the nation’s most untouchable heartthrob getting kicked? Impossible… right?

So, naturally, everyone tapped in—and watched the video.

The 1st room was dark, but thanks to the floor-to-ceiling windows, moonlight spilled in. You couldn’t see their faces, but the shapes beneath the blanket were clear.

Wen Heng on the left, Gu Sheng on the right.

And then—out of nowhere—Gu Sheng, sound asleep, launched a flying kick.

Wen Heng’s entire body lurched back half a meter like he’d been hit by a truck.

With no sound, the video somehow became even funnier. Fans of Wen Heng might’ve winced in sympathy, but most viewers were crying from laughter.

“Serious question: does this woman really like Wen Heng? I have doubts 😂😂”
“Love means kicking you as hard as I can 💥❤️”
“Never thought I’d see the top celeb in the country look this helpless, LOL”
“That whole ‘Gu Sheng’s madly in love with Wen Heng’ thing? Lies. All lies 🤣”

But the video didn’t end there.

The next scene had everyone losing it again: after lying still like a corpse for a good while, Wen Heng crawled back over.

Carefully, quietly—like he didn’t want to wake her. Then, ever so gently, he rested his hand on her back, pulling her into a soft, protective embrace.

The crowd, already obsessed from last night’s gif, collectively exploded.

“AHHHHHH I can’t take it!! I just wrote 10,000 words in my head of the heartbroken movie king silently loving his girl 😭”
“Sis, I have a pen and a spare laptop if you wanna type it out!!”
“Holy shit this is too much—‘Even if you push me away, I’ll still move closer to you’?? Kill me now 😭💘”

The trending topic didn’t just climb—it exploded into full-blown viral.

No one cared how many times Gu Sheng kicked Wen Heng. What stuck with everyone was the way he silently, tenderly held her afterward.

And suddenly, people began to question everything: maybe this top-tier celebrity and his “wife” weren’t exactly what they seemed after all…

….

Inside Room 1.

Wen Heng sat quietly on a chair, eyes closed, trying to rest.

His stylist glanced at his face and casually asked, “Didn’t sleep well, bro?”

Wen Heng slowly opened his eyes, a haunted look in them. The stylist blinked in confusion.

Following Wen Heng’s gaze, he saw Gu Sheng near the window, chatting and laughing with her assistant and a freelance makeup artist. She didn’t have a full glam squad like he did, but with her flawless features and radiant energy, she hardly needed one.

The stylist, an artist at heart, studied the scene. There was something oddly compelling about the two of them.

Gu Sheng was beautiful—vibrantly so, like a flower in bloom with thorns. Wen Heng, by contrast, gave off a natural chilliness, cloaked in weariness and gloom. Yet when you put them together in the same frame, the contrast didn’t clash. It worked.

Like bare branches reflected in water. Frozen earth meeting spring sunlight. They bled into each other in a strange, unspoken harmony.

They fit.

Wen Heng didn’t care what his stylist was thinking. His focus was elsewhere.

Because…

After surviving last night’s five hours of pure hell—

He heard that cursed system voice again:

“04: Pinky finger pain.”

Wen Heng was done.

He realized he hadn’t had one single second of peace since filming started. Not one!

Let it all burn, he thought coldly.

Then the system added, far too cheerfully:

“Pain level: 1.”

“…What?”

One?

He stared at his long, slender pinky finger. There was only the faintest prick of discomfort—barely more than a mosquito bite.

Suddenly, everything felt okay.

The storm cloud above his head vanished. His expression cleared, and his face practically lit up—so handsome it could blind people.

Gu Sheng got the same system update at that moment. She heard “Level 1,” smacked her lips in disinterest, and looked up to glance at Wen Heng.

Gu Sheng: I’m starting to suspect this man’s face was made to express one specific emotion—righteous smugness.

Wen Heng: Heh.

The grudge of five kicks… will be avenged.

….

Just as all the guests finished getting their makeup done, a sudden broadcast echoed through the villa.

“Attention, all guests! Attention, all guests!”

The director’s voice rang out cheerfully, signaling the start of a new day’s live recording.

Thanks to Wen Heng’s trending explosion last night, the current online viewership had already surpassed that of yesterday’s premiere.

The director sounded practically giddy: “Please hold off on stepping out in your outfits—we have a brand-new challenge for you today! Time to test how in sync our couples really are!”

“There’s a wardrobe in each room stocked with outfits the crew prepared in advance. Your mission is—dress your partner. That’s right, you’re styling each other. The catch? The style will be determined by a draw from our fashion cards. Whatever you draw, you have to commit!”

“We can’t wait to see your fashion chemistry! Once you’re done, step out to show off your looks. Our team will take promotional photos for the show’s official Weibo, and voting will open to the public. The couple who gets the most votes will be featured on the cover of VOL magazine’s September issue!”

The livestream chat exploded instantly:

[Damn, the production team’s going all in!]
[This is major, 666! Fashion resources like this? Unreal!]
[AHHH my faves gotta go all out! Let’s GO!]

Not only was VOL one of the top five women’s fashion magazines, but the September issue was considered prime real estate in the fashion world—often referred to as the “Golden September.” Even someone like Song Qingzhi, a solid B-list star, had only ever appeared in its inside spreads.

Song Qingzhi’s eyes sparkled—she had to win this. This was the golden ticket.

All the other couples were buzzing with excitement. Everyone except the pair in Room 1, who looked… entirely unbothered.

Soon, staff arrived with the fashion card boxes. For each draw, the chosen style would be broadcasted live for the audience to hear.

The “Mountain Road Couple” drew American Retro, which wasn’t too tricky. Lu Yiyi was all in, shouting for Yu Shanbei to turn her into a vintage bombshell.

Next door, Wang He and Lu Yuzhuo weren’t so lucky—they got K-pop Idol.

Both were over thirty, now forced into boy group and girl group styling. The awkward expressions on their faces had viewers both cringing and cracking up.

Then came the “Sunny Couple.” Song Qingzhi, tense with anticipation, drew her card… Preppy Style.

Instantly, her heart soared. Yes! Not only did the preppy look suit her fresh image perfectly, it was also ideal for a couple’s matching outfit. She was convinced—this VOL cover was hers for the taking.

Finally, the crew arrived at Room 1.

“Mr. Wen, Ms. Gu, time to draw your card.”

Gu Sheng glanced at Wen Heng. “You or me?”

He met her gaze and stood up. “I’ll do it.”

He flipped the card open. Three bold words stared back at him: Japanese Style.

[Ooooh!! Japanese style! That could work!]
[He did a whole shoot in that look last year—so much youthful charm ahhhh]
[Don’t sleep on Gu Sheng either! That face was made for it]
[Let’s be real, these two just need to show up with their faces. Zero chance of going wrong]

Japanese style often meant soft-toned pieces, utility pants, layered vests—it had a clean, youthful edge. Done right, it gave off a boyish charm that wasn’t just for guys. Gu Sheng, with her naturally bold features, could absolutely pull it off.

Wen Heng gave her a sidelong glance, the corner of his lips lifting in a faint, unreadable smirk.

To keep things fresh, all fixed room cameras were temporarily turned off. The couples had only the length of an ad break to finish their styling.

Wen Heng walked to the wardrobe, rifled through the racks—and pulled out an outfit.

A JK uniform.
Light blue.

Not technically unrelated to youthfulness, but… come on.

Gu Sheng stared at him. Are you f**king kidding me?

The director’s voice cut in cheerfully through the speaker: “Reminder! You can’t change your partner’s styling~ Trust their taste!”

Gu Sheng: “……”

This petty man did it on purpose, didn’t he?!

She mentally called out to the system: What the hell is his problem? Didn’t you say his pain relief lasted five hours?!

System: “Ehm… possibly because… you might’ve caused him some physical trauma.”

I’m not listening to this.

This fox demon spent all night secretly sucking away my yang energy and now he wants me to play cutesy schoolgirl in public?!

Unbelievable. No moral compass, no gratitude. Ugh!

Wen Heng’s lips quirked slightly. His mood had clearly improved. “What, not Japanese enough for you?”

Gu Sheng licked her back molars slowly and smiled. “Oh, it’s plenty Japanese.”

Just wait—I’ll make sure you feel it, too.

She plucked an eyeliner pen from the makeup artist’s kit, then stepped over to Wen Heng and gently lifted his chin with her finger.

The air shifted.

Their faces were suddenly inches apart. Gu Sheng’s lashes lowered, her soft hair fell forward, and those peach blossom eyes peered up at him with unnerving seriousness.

Wen Heng, for some reason, held his breath.

…And then he felt a cool swipe on his philtrum.

Gu Sheng smiled sweetly as she drew a thick black smudge right under his nose.

Wen Heng: “?”

Gu Sheng: “What? Not Japanese enough for you?”

Wen Heng: “………………”

….

Ten minutes later, the couples emerged one by one.

The door to Room 1 swung open.

Gu Sheng walked out, wearing the light blue JK uniform. Her expression was icy-cool, her body proportions stunning.

She looked like some badass queen bee from an all-girls’ school.

Then Wen Heng walked out—still in that ridiculous outfit, face as cold as ever.

But somehow… all eyes were on him.

“…”

“…”

The hell…?