Michael froze. He didn’t doubt what He Han had said.

He gave a helpless smile and looked at Ye Fan. “Goodbye, beautiful lady.”

Ye Fan returned a polite smile.

He Han watched silently, his eyes darkening slightly. But whatever emotion flickered in them vanished without a trace.

From the camera’s perspective, He Han’s thin lips were pressed into a tight line, the corners of his mouth sharp, still radiating that cold, distant air.

He Han said curtly, “Let’s go.”

Ye Fan replied, “Mm.”

After finishing their meal, the group left the restaurant and went for a walk outside.

Mai Ruxiang kept her head down, lost in thought.

She was already 25 years old—a far from young age for an actress in the entertainment industry.

She had no standout works to her name. Every drama she starred in made barely a ripple—quietly airing, quietly ending, barely noticed by the public.

Over the years, her team had tried everything they could think of to make her popular, but nothing worked.

Now, her company had given her an ultimatum. Her contract was about to expire, and if she didn’t rise to fame before then, they were going to drop her.

Anyone would say that Mai Ruxiang’s chance at stardom had passed—that she would never make it big.

Letting Mai Ruxiang join Let’s Travel was already the company’s final act of goodwill toward her.

Why would they waste time on someone like her—already past her prime—instead of promoting younger, prettier newcomers?

Mai Ruxiang might not have much talent, but her desire for fame burned fiercely.

This time, she was making a last-ditch gamble—by targeting He Han.

He Han was young, accomplished, and an internationally recognized Best Actor with an impeccable reputation. Just being associated with him could bring her an enormous wave of attention.

Of course, there were risks. If He Han’s fans didn’t approve of them being paired up—even just for show—it could spark a backlash.

But Mai Ruxiang didn’t care.

Even infamy was a kind of fame. As long as she could make the headlines, it didn’t matter what the stories said. Exposure was exposure.

Mai Ruxiang knew she had only two options: fade into complete obscurity, or finally make it big in the entertainment industry. Her company was ready to drop her—compared to that, what was a little public outrage?

Even if she ended up being dragged through the mud, there’d be no denying it—she would be famous.

That thought made her smile, though no one could see what was truly going on in her mind.

The weather was beautiful today. Sunlight poured onto the pavement, and the air was filled with a gentle warmth.

The group chatted as they walked. On the surface, the atmosphere seemed pleasant.

But it was easy to tell—Ye Fan and Ding Ruoyi were clearly close, while Gu Yachen and Tang Jin had a good rapport. Mai Ruxiang, the newcomer, was trying to strike up conversations with everyone, hoping to get familiar with the group.

Up ahead, Gu Yachen spotted an ice cream shop and called out, “Anyone feel like getting some ice cream?”

Tang Jin didn’t like cold food and was about to refuse when Gu Yachen turned to her and said, “This brand is really good. Want to try one, Tang Jin?”

The words caught in Tang Jin’s throat. Of everyone here, she was barely on passable terms with Gu Yachen—though truthfully, they were all just using each other.

If she turned her down, it would make her seem distant, like she was unwilling to play along.

Right now, all she wanted was to get through filming this reality show smoothly, without becoming the center of controversy again.

So she forced a smile and said, “Sure.”

Both of them smiled, putting on the appearance of being friendly and close.

Ding Ruoyi then turned to Ye Fan. “Ye Fan, let’s get one too.”

Mai Ruxiang chimed in quickly, “I’d like to try one as well.”

Ye Fan turned to look at He Han. “What about you?”

He Han’s voice was calm and steady. “I’ll go with you.”

Ye Fan asked everyone to wait in the shade while she and He Han went ahead.

The ice cream shop wasn’t far, and from where they stood, Mai Ruxiang could clearly see the two of them standing at the entrance.

Her expression shifted, a subtle glint appearing in her eyes.

After a while, the usually quiet Mai Ruxiang suddenly spoke up.

“I’ll go help them carry the ice cream.”

Before anyone could respond, she had already walked off.

This was a rare opportunity—she had to make the most of it.

Ye Fan and He Han had just finished buying the ice cream, and the shop owner was handing it to them.

Ye Fan reached out, but just then, a slender hand extended past her. A deep voice followed.

“I’ll hold it for you.”

Ye Fan turned her head and saw He Han’s sharply defined profile.

She looked away and said, “Thanks.”

He Han took four of the ice creams, while Ye Fan held two. The two of them began walking slowly back toward the group.

That was when Mai Ruxiang’s voice rang out.

“I’ll help you,” Mai Ruxiang offered.

They looked up to see her standing in front of them.

Though her words were directed at both of them, her eyes were fixed on He Han, and she subtly leaned in his direction—completely ignoring Ye Fan.

He Han’s cold gaze swept over Mai Ruxiang, his expression unreadable but laced with chill.

She had done this more than once. Her intentions were painfully obvious by now.

Trying to stir up buzz by clinging to him?

Heh.

He Han’s lips pressed into a straight line.

He lowered his eyes, concealing the impatience within them. His presence turned even colder than usual.

Naturally, He Han wasn’t going to give Mai Ruxiang the opportunity. He didn’t lift a hand, nor did he spare her so much as a glance.

Ye Fan also saw through Mai Ruxiang’s ploy. He Han keeping his distance was the right move.

But she couldn’t let the moment become too awkward. So she spoke up instead.

“Why don’t you help me carry these?”

Mai Ruxiang’s plan had fallen through. She paused for a moment before finally taking the ice cream from Ye Fan’s hand.

The whole exchange had taken place in just a few brief seconds.

From where Ding Ruoyi and the others stood, it would have been hard to tell what had really happened.

Not far away, a man quickly raised his camera and snapped several shots in rapid succession.

He was part of Mai Ruxiang’s team. He had been tailing them for a while, waiting for the perfect moment to take photos—images they could later upload online to generate buzz.

And now, the opportunity had finally come.

Though all three—Ye Fan, He Han, and Mai Ruxiang—had been standing together, he deliberately excluded Ye Fan from the frame, capturing only He Han and Mai Ruxiang.

In the photos, it looked as though the two of them had separated from the group, as if they had gone off on their own. He Han was even seen holding ice cream for Mai Ruxiang.

There was a hint of intimacy in the images.

The photographer knew these photos were gold. With the right spin, they could easily go viral.

Meanwhile, He Han and Ye Fan returned to the group. They handed out the ice cream, and the group continued with their trip.

Soon, the day’s filming came to an end.

…

While Ye Fan was busy filming in Greece, Dudu was occupied with his own little “business”—taking care of his goldfish.

“Xiao Pang, Dian Dian, time for your bath,” Dudu mumbled continuously as he worked.

Clutching the fish tank, he clumsily made his way toward the bathroom.

Standing on tiptoe, he carefully set the tank down next to the sink.

Then he waddled over to grab a small step stool from the corner.

Ye Fan had specially prepared that stool for him—Dudu always stood on it to brush his teeth.

He placed the stool in front of the sink, climbed up, and picked up two extra cups, ready to scoop the goldfish into them.

But the goldfish weren’t cooperating. The moment Dudu dipped the cup into the water, they darted around wildly, trying to escape.

With a determined little huff, Dudu rolled up his sleeves, revealing his chubby, pale little arms.

Soon, both his arms and wrists were soaked. After struggling for quite a while, he finally managed to get both fish into their separate cups.

“Xiao Pang, Dian Dian, you pooped again,” he scolded them with a serious tone.

Dudu tapped the outside of the cups with his finger, chatting softly with the goldfish. Then he carefully poured the water from the tank into the sink.

The fish tank was heavy, so he moved slowly and cautiously, afraid he might drop it and break it.

By the time he had finished refilling the tank with fresh water, quite a bit of time had passed.

Just as he was about to pour the goldfish back in, he suddenly cried out, “Oh no!”

He had forgotten—before Ye Fan left, she had filled a bucket of tap water and placed it by the windowsill.

Tap water contains chlorine, which can be harmful to goldfish. It always needed to sit out for at least half a day before being used.

Dudu didn’t fully understand, so Ye Fan had once explained it to him in simple words:

“Goldfish like water that’s been warmed by the sun. Otherwise, they won’t eat.”

Remembering that, Dudu dumped out the water in the tank and ran over to the windowsill.

He grabbed a ladle and carefully scooped the sun-warmed water from the bucket into the fish tank.

Once everything was ready, Dudu ran back to the bathroom to collect his precious goldfish.

One by one, he gently poured Xiao Pang and Dian Dian back into their tank.

In his soft, milky voice, Dudu said, “Sorry to keep you waiting. You can go home now.”

The goldfish swam happily in the fresh, clean water.

Aunt Li had been sitting on the sofa the whole time, quietly watching Dudu. Since Ye Fan wanted him to learn responsibility, Aunt Li hadn’t helped him take care of the fish.

Just then, Aunt Li’s phone rang.

“Dudu, it’s a call from Sister Xiaoxiao.”

Dudu was still leaning over the fish tank, watching his little goldfish. When he heard Xiaoxiao’s name, he quickly ran over to the sofa.

“Sis!” he called out sweetly.

Hearing Dudu’s voice, Yan Xiaoxiao lit up with joy. “Dudu, do you want to come over to my house? Mom made something really yummy today!”

It had been a while since Dudu had visited Xiaoxiao’s house, and she missed him a lot.

Besides, Cheng Ping knew Ye Fan was away filming, and that only Aunt Li and Dudu were home.

She was worried Dudu might miss his mom, so she thought inviting him over would help take his mind off it.

Aunt Li asked Dudu, “Dudu, do you want to go?”

Dudu nodded eagerly. “Yes! I want to play with Sister!”

Yan Xiaoxiao was even happier when she heard that. “Don’t go out just yet, okay? My mom and I will come pick you up.”

It would be a hassle for Aunt Li to take Dudu there by taxi, so it was easier for Cheng Ping to drive over.

“Okay,” Dudu replied. “I’ll wait at home for you, Sis!”

After the call, Dudu ran back to the fish tank. Pointing at it, he looked up at Aunt Li and asked,

“Grandma, can I take Xiao Pang and Dian Dian to Sister’s house with me?”

Aunt Li, worried the fish tank might break on the way, gently refused.

“Goldfish like staying home to watch over the house. They don’t want to go out,” she explained.

Dudu suddenly understood and nodded, blinking cutely with a babyish charm. “Grandma, you’re amazing! You know what the goldfish are thinking!”

Aunt Li thought for a moment and decided it was better not to explain further.

About ten minutes later, Cheng Ping’s car arrived at Ye Fan’s house.

Aunt Li took Dudu’s hand and stepped outside.

She carried a small water bottle—since it was hot outside, she worried Dudu might get thirsty if he played too hard, so she made sure to give him water from time to time.

Seeing Dudu come out, Yan Xiaoxiao hurried down from the car. “Dudu!”

Her voice was full of joy as she wrapped her arms around his soft little body.

“Dudu, come play at my house!”

Yan Xiaoxiao took Dudu’s hand and led him toward the car.

Aunt Li smiled, watching them play happily as she followed behind.

Cheng Ping got out of the driver’s seat, and Dudu looked up with his little face and called out, “Auntie.”

Cheng Ping smiled warmly in response. “Dudu, long time no see.”

She gently lifted him into the child’s car seat.

Many children dislike feeling restrained, so they often resist sitting in car seats.

But Dudu was very well-behaved, sitting obediently in the seat.

Cheng Ping gave his ear a gentle pinch. “Good boy, Dudu.”

Yan Xiaoxiao had sat in the seat before and shrugged. “I just don’t like sitting in it.”

“You’re so amazing, Dudu.”

Dudu replied, “Sister is amazing. She can play the piano—just like Mom.”

Even when Ye Fan wasn’t around, Dudu always thought of her.

To him, Ye Fan was the most amazing person in the world, and since Sister Xiaoxiao could also play the piano like Mom, that made her amazing too.

Hearing this, Yan Xiaoxiao felt warm inside and couldn’t help but think how nice it would be if Dudu were really her little brother.

Yan Xiaoxiao was an only child, and at school, she always envied classmates who had siblings.

Dudu then thought of the goldfish at home. “Sister, next time you come over, I’ll show you my goldfish.”

Yan Xiaoxiao’s eyes lit up. “Goldfish!”

Dudu nodded eagerly. “Mommy bought them for me.”

Dudu held up two fingers and described, “One is chubby, and the other has a little spot on its head.”

“…”

Yan Xiaoxiao loved all kinds of little animals and listened with great interest.

Cheng Ping was driving but glanced at the rearview mirror. Seeing the two kids playing so happily, a smile stayed on her face.

…

That same day, the photos taken by Mai Ruxiang’s team quickly appeared on Weibo.

“Look what I caught in Greece—He Han actually bought ice cream for Mai Ruxiang!”

In the photos, Mai Ruxiang and He Han each held an ice cream cone. Mai Ruxiang smiled sweetly, with the clear blue Greek sky and bright sunlight behind them.

Gossip forums suddenly buzzed with several new posts, speculating on the possibility of a romance between Mai Ruxiang and He Han.

Online commentators wrote long, exaggerated analyses, coming up with all kinds of wild reasons.

Mai Ruxiang had been drifting in the entertainment industry for so long with little progress—how did she suddenly land a spot on the highest-rated reality show?

What made things even more suspicious was that her casting was confirmed only after it was announced that He Han would be participating. Could it be that He Han helped pull some strings behind the scenes?

Maybe the public “couple” between He Han and Ye Fan was just a cover-up, and the real truth was that He Han and Mai Ruxiang were actually the ones involved.

The trolling army’s skill at twisting facts was top-notch. Despite the flood of criticism, the buzz was undeniable.

Mai Ruxiang’s team gritted their teeth and splurged on several trending topics—either linking her to He Han, to Ye Fan, or even dragging in Tang Jin, who was completely unrelated.

The netizens exploded.

“Why on earth would He Han go for Mai Ruxiang? She’s not even that attractive, and her acting is mediocre at best.”

“Mai Ruxiang must be rolling in money now—just one photo and she’s trending everywhere.”

“Count it yourself—how many of the top ten trending topics are about Mai Ruxiang? Sina wouldn’t just hand that many trends to some nobody for free. Her team definitely paid for it.”

“Heh, she’s been jumping on every big star lately. From now on, don’t call her Mai Ruxiang—I think ‘Buy-Trending-Topics’ fits better.”

Meanwhile, filming was still underway in Santorini, Greece.

He Han was completely unaware of the online drama.

However, his team was closely monitoring the buzz. They were used to these minor stars clinging to fame through stunts like this.

For such blatant attempts to ride on someone else’s fame, the studio chose to ignore it.

Responding would only give Mai Ruxiang more attention, so they stayed silent and simply let the trolls flood the comments.

Qi Shu sat in the car, rushing to his next engagement.

Leaning back in his seat, he browsed Weibo with a secondary account. As soon as the trending topics popped up, he saw them.

Raising an eyebrow, he thought, “He Han is already so cold and distant, yet these actresses still want to latch on?”

After a moment, he logged into his main Weibo account.

Qi Shu scrolled through and found a post about He Han and Ye Fan.

The post read, “He Han and Ye Fan are just too perfect together.”

Qi Shu lightly tapped the screen and gave it a like.

His action was quickly noticed by fans.

“What did I just see? A-Shu is totally on Team HanYe, right?!”

“Oh my god, so A-Shu is a shipper for the ‘HanYe couple’? Same world, same dream!”

“HanYe couple video compilation incoming. Note: best watched with headphones — the soundtrack is, well, you know.”

Qi Shu was so popular that just showing up at an event could send him trending.

His liking the HanYe couple’s post instantly shot to the top of the trending list, shifting the entire online conversation.

Everyone’s attention was now fully on He Han and Ye Fan.

After the hype simmered down, Qi Shu casually logged back onto Weibo and unliked the post.

“Oops, wrong click.”

“Haha, my idol likes gossip? Too cute!”

“Our A-Shu really cares about He Han’s love life, it’s so heartwarming.”

“A-Shu, don’t worry — no matter who He Han ends up with, you’ll always be his irreplaceable best friend.”

The money Mai Ruxiang’s team spent wasn’t enough — they only bought a trending spot for an hour before it disappeared.

Thanks to Qi Shu’s move, netizens had already forgotten about Mai Ruxiang’s previous stunt trying to link herself romantically with He Han.

Her invisibility in the spotlight was as strong as ever — even with a little manufactured buzz, the heat just wouldn’t catch on.

Her team had spent a rare large sum on this stunt, but this time the hype completely fell flat.

Not long after, someone posted photos of Ye Fan and He Han on Weibo.

“I’m also traveling in Santorini and just spotted Ye Fan and He Han.”

In the photos, the sky was a crystal-clear blue, so vivid it almost felt like you could smell the sea breeze.

He Han and Ye Fan were buying ice cream together, standing close, with He Han’s gaze fixed on Ye Fan.

Mai Ruxiang approached—but kept some distance. She stared at He Han, clearly trying hard to insert herself between the two of them.

“Used to think Mai Ruxiang was low-key, but turns out every female star in the entertainment industry just wants fame. She knew she’d get hate and did it anyway. Is she trying to go the scandal route now?”

“Please stop talking about her—we fans have been grossed out all night.”

“Does anyone have full photos of the HanYe couple? That third person in the shot is so distracting.”

The ‘Let’s Travel’ production team knew Mai Ruxiang’s crew had set them up, but since filming had already started, there was nothing they could do to remove her.

They just had to grit their teeth and bear it.

The production team worked hard to make up for it, releasing several trending posts after the photos went public.

[He Han and Ye Fan in the Aegean] unexpectedly shot to the top of the trending list, staying there for the entire evening.

No one could have predicted that this publicity stunt would actually fuel a wave of excitement among fans of the “HanYe couple.”

As always, whenever He Han and Ye Fan were together, everyone else becomes the ultimate wingman.

The show’s candid shots of He Han and Ye Fan were pushed across the internet.

Though taken in passing, the photos managed to capture the most breathtaking moments.

Blue skies, white clouds, the distant sea, and charming blue-and-white houses — everything looked like a fairytale.

In a fairytale-like world, He Han and Ye Fan gazed into each other’s eyes.

The bright sunlight lit up their faces.

Ye Fan held a bridal bouquet in her hands, and the chapel in the background clearly placed them at a wedding venue.

In He Han’s usually cold and indifferent eyes, there was a trace of tenderness — subtle, but unmistakable.

The internet exploded.

What was going on? Did the HanYe couple really get married in Greece?

=^_^=