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Perhaps Chi Yizhen’s bewilderment was too evident, so Liu Rumen added another comment, “Your complexion doesn’t look great. Are you sick?”
This musician had a somewhat melancholic face, but she wasn’t very tall. Standing next to Chi Yizhen, she made him seem even taller.
Her knack for surprising remarks was on par with Chi Yizhen’s, diverting the onlookers’ curiosity onto him.
She asked, “What about last night…”
[I always feel like Chi Chi is about to collapse, haha.]
[He Tiao, stop selling barbecue; your wife is being interrogated!]
Chi Yizhen: “Did your girlfriend set up her stall last night?”
He asked quickly, and Liu Rumen responded with an “Hmm,” saying, “What’s wrong? Do you want a manicure too?”
[I’m amazed; this sister was already funny during the music variety show.]
[Ask more! Let us know what they did in the middle of the night!]
Chi Yizhen: “Do you occasionally go to see her when you’re working at the bubble tea shop?”
Liu Rumen: “What’s there to see? She even thinks I’m in the way.”
Chi Yizhen responded with an “Oh.”
“What time do you leave for work?” Chi Yizhen asked again.
The weather outside was very cold, and the wind carried a bit of chilling sting.
Autumn was brief, and winter was approaching quickly.
Chi Yizhen’s sleepwear was very thin, and the backdrop on the camera showed a run-down residential building. There was also a ball on the ground, possibly dropped by some unknown child.
Liu Rumen said, “Around seven-thirty.”
Chi Yizhen: “Do you mind if I hitch a ride?”
Liu Rumen smiled, “Of course not. We’re neighbors, and you can teach me in the future.”
She smoothly added to her character, taking the opportunity to inquire about the character Chi Yizhen had created for himself, “My girlfriend and I moved here last week. How about you?”
Chi Yizhen: “Just a few days ago.”
A gust of wind came, and he shivered. “I’ll go in first. Call me when you leave.”
Despite appearing tall, he looked quite thin, and even though his face was handsome, it seemed too lacking in vitality in Liu Rumen’s eyes.
She nodded, and when Chi Yizhen went inside, he muttered to himself, “Is it really okay?”
[Oh no, our Chi Chi is still thinking about his husband!]
[Are the young couple in a passionate love? I find this reality show format quite interesting, like an observational documentary.]
[How much is real and how much is acting? Chi Yizhen seems genuinely uncomfortable.]
Chi Yizhen set an alarm and went to sleep without caring about the cameras still working. On the contrary, He Tiao was busy with his stall. Even though it was on the outer ring, the program attracted many viewers, and the location became a popular check-in spot.
The staff managed the crowd well, but they couldn’t stop people from ordering food.
As expected by the program planners, it evolved into an interactive reality show.
The night market was bustling with people, offering various street food stalls and some toy booths. The grilled fish stall resembled a big eatery.
The female owner was attractive but had a hot temper. Knowing that the show was being filmed didn’t stop her from getting angry, making customers reluctant to complain.
The owner of the nail art stall was beautiful, and even in such an environment, her delicate features couldn’t be hidden. She spoke gently to customers, and many girls were waiting in line.
[It really feels like a food recommendation…]
[I want to experience the happiness of having a celebrity doing my nails.]
[Maybe you can go, but aren’t you afraid of having crazy fans?]
[The show just started… I feel like Xianggua’s personality will be quite intense…]
Each pair’s live-streamed footage captured real-time scenes. He Tiao skillfully flipped the grilled items at his stall while noting down customer requests. Occasionally, during breaks, he would take out his phone and check it.
[Selling barbecue with a face like that is truly a waste, it’s roasting my heart.]
[Someone was just staring at He Tiao in the camera, so funny. Tried to take a photo, but it seemed like it wasn’t allowed.]
[E-god’s gaze is like a warning, who dares to be unruly? However in front of Chi Yizhen, he’s portraying a docile and honest character.]
[But he slacks off at work! He even checks his phone.]
[Can’t the cameramen capture what he’s looking at? I came to the live stream just to see some privacy.]
The live stream continued to be relaxed, and the official account also released the latest news on the first night of the formal broadcast:
@ “My Days in the Apartment Building” official Weibo: Our production team is about to launch a new segment.
The show will invite some mysterious guests to visit our main guest’s cozy nest, and there will also be segments where they act as consumers.
Do you have any expected guests?
After this announcement, Zhang Miya immediately reposted it.
She is well-versed in the ways of marketing. Idols of all sizes under her influence followed suit, drawing in a considerable number of fans. Once again, she trended without spending a penny.
“I was just thinking that the first day of work is quite fresh, but 15 consecutive days might be a bit boring. And then this segment!! Excitement!”
“Um… I hope the one who got ‘pigeonholed’ comes.”
“The comments are a bit too much, haha, but I’m also looking forward to it (dog head for survival).”
“Let’s bring in some crossover elements, not limited to idols or the like, anyway, Little Zhang has such a wide network.”
…
While monitoring the trending comments, Zhang Miya answered a phone call.
She has always had dealings with Strange Entertainment. Currently, there is no absolute competitor, but compared to Sheng Xin’s company, Tianya, her relationship with Strange Entertainment seems to be closer.
The person calling her is Qi Tianda, a recent graduate who has been out of university for two years and is He Qiao’s junior. During the college entrance examination, he was rebellious and didn’t plan to inherit the family business. In a fit of anger, he chose to study games, but due to lack of talent, graduating was uncertain. It was He Qiao, the influential senior, who helped him a lot.
Now, Qi Tianda, who is still pursuing a master’s degree in directing, is determined to prove himself and go solo, defying his family’s wishes.
Calling Zhang Miya, he greeted her with a “Sis” and straightforwardly asked, “Can your show give me a chance…”
Zhang Miya: “No.”
Qi Tianda: “I haven’t finished yet.”
Zhang Miya: “Why would a film director come to a variety show? I don’t have a place for you here.”
Qi Tianda: “You have a little model in that third pair, right? I just received a new short film, and we happen to need someone. Can he come for an audition?”
Zhang Miya instinctively refused; she found it challenging to handle.
Qi Tianda: “Isn’t their image that of a hardworking couple striving to make money? Wouldn’t they be interested in such a good opportunity?”
Zhang Miya: “It’s troublesome.”
Qi Tianda: “So, are you planning to sign Chi Yizhen? I think he has good conditions.”
Before Zhang Miya could respond, Qi Tianda continued, “Anyway, your company is known for talent shows. Why would an actor like him participate in a talent show? It’ll narrow his path.”
Zhang Miya: “We also have variety shows.”
Qi Tianda: “Chi Yizhen doesn’t seem like someone who solely wants to become a variety show star. He has bigger ambitions.”
Zhang Miya chuckled, “But we lack resources. Weren’t you guys approached by Sheng Xin in the beginning?”
Qi Tianda: “That’s different.”
Being relatively young, he thought of the news about He Qiao and figured that He Qiao was trying to pave the way for Chi Yizhen.
Qi Tianda’s father was once He Qiao’s investor, and He Qiao reciprocated the favor by looking out for Qi Tianda at school. However, He Qiao had a naturally reserved and somewhat cold personality. While he wasn’t unfriendly, he tended to be independent and sometimes seemed oblivious to his own loneliness.
Now, He Qiao, the senior student, actually had someone he cared about! Could it be that this nearly blacklisted male actor was He Qiao’s future spouse?
The audience might not be aware, and players of Star Trail might not know, but as He Qiao’s acquaintance, Qi Tianda fully understood the kind of person He Qiao was when he wasn’t cooperative. Even with a script, he could convey the feeling of being forced and uncooperative.
Now, it was entirely different.
Qi Tianda watched the live broadcast with a toothache, and the camera switched to He Qiao’s phone screen.
Several million people witnessed the clear interface of He Qiao’s WeChat conversation.
The recipient: Wife.
[E-god, what’s wrong with sending a message to your wife? Can you get a response just by looking at the other person?]
[Oh, even though they have the image of a young couple, it seems so innocent. The neighbor actress and the singer are like a straight-girl literature duo living together…]
[I’m satisfied. This kind of innocent romance, with occasional hints of sexual tension, hehehe. That fitting room excitement…]
[Hahaha, some people at work are just waiting for their wives to send them messages.]
[Who said they would rest well before going out to not come looking for me?]
[Wuwuwu, the socially anxious CEO is still saying one thing and meaning another. Has Chi Chi woken up yet?]
[I checked, he’s still sleeping… Is he really that tired? What happened to him before? This variety show’s weekly Sunday interviews are so intriguing.]
Even Qi Tianda hadn’t expected He Qiao to have this side to him.
Others might be acting, but our Brother He could never fake it.
In the past…
Leading a simple and content life, he looks like he might become a monk in the next second.
Qi Tianda then proposed another condition to Zhang Miya, who reluctantly agreed after some consideration.
After hanging up the phone, Qi Tianda stared at the new script on his desk and chuckled.
He thought, “Brother He wanted an opportunity, and here it is. Well, it’s a bit cliché, though.”
Compared to the chaotic atmosphere at the grilled fish stall, He Qiao, selling barbecue alone, was calm and composed.
Watching a handsome guy sell barbecue was already a joyful experience. He Qiao even tied an apron around himself. During the first encounter, he gave the impression of being anything but a high-ranking executive. Instead, he seemed like an overworked corporate slave forced into business.
Even though he was reluctantly selling barbecue, due to his attractive appearance and smooth operation, He Qiao’s charm was off the charts. An unsuspecting middle-aged woman, who came to eat skewers, asked while He Qiao was serving dishes, “Boss, do you have a girlfriend?”
[Hahaha, I can’t believe there’s such a plot twist!]
[Is he acting?]
[Did E-god just click his tongue a moment ago?]
He Qiao shook his head.
To avoid being too ostentatious, the production team changed the shooting angle and hid people upstairs, watching the captured footage on the monitor.
The viewers in the live broadcast still felt the subtle flavor of consuming male charm in the cinematography.
For example, each shot started from below and focused on specific details, from He Qiao’s well-defined hands to the tightly pursed lips of the other person.
They didn’t shoot the female guests in the same way.
It was… quite satisfying.
[I’m guilty; I want to see him without a sweater and wearing an apron.]
[I think even my mom, eating barbecue here, would ask the same question…]
The aunty appeared to be in her fifties, with a bit of an accent, and her gaze had not left He Qiao. At this moment, she seemed somewhat surprised, “Really? My…”
He Qiao: “I have a boyfriend.”
The customer paused for a moment, about to speak, when a small scooter zoomed to the side of the road at breakneck speed, narrowly avoiding hitting someone, eliciting a loud and angry chorus of curses.
Liu Rumen took off her helmet, revealing a face that looked as if she were in mourning, and apologized slowly.
As Chi Yizhen hopped off the scooter and looked in one direction, he unexpectedly met He Qiao’s astonished gaze.
Although he felt much better after a good sleep, the feeling of Liu Rumen, who could drive a scooter like a tractor, made him feel a bit nauseous. He instinctively turned his head and covered his mouth.
[This scene is like a plot from an idol drama back then… something like accidentally getting pregnant, seeking out a wealthy family, going bankrupt, and then setting up a stall on the roadside with the ex-boyfriend.]
[Wait, going bankrupt and still seeking out the ex-boyfriend?]
[If the ex-boyfriend looks like this, wouldn’t you seek him out?]
The “ex-boyfriend” hurriedly walked over, anxiously asking, “Why did you come?”
On the other side, Liu Rumen pulled the scooter up while hugging her helmet. The entrance of the milk tea shop was still adorned with oddly shaped balloon figures. She couldn’t resist making a joke about this pair, “Your boyfriend is quite clingy, hitching a ride on my scooter to find you.”
Maintaining her current persona as the milk tea girl, Liu Rumen tilted her head and asked, “Can Boss He treat me to barbecue and reimburse my travel expenses?”
Before He Qiao could respond, Chi Yizhen quickly turned his head and said, “No, I take the bus here, at most three yuan. I’ll pay you double, six yuan.”
[Laughing like crazy, are they such thrifty lovebirds!?]
[Chi! You’re too stingy. What’s wrong with treating the neighbor to some skewers…]
[Maybe you haven’t watched the live broadcast next door. At noon, Liu Rumen ate two roasted chickens, nearly driving Li Zhenhe crazy. With their initial capital of a thousand yuan, they only have two hundred left, all spent on food.]
[Uh… I understand now why Chi Yizhen has that expression. Haha, they are indeed at risk of being eaten into poverty!]
Liu Rumen scratched her head and looked at Chi Yizhen, “I heard you two haven’t registered your marriage yet, and you’re already helping your husband save money like this?”
Her tone was clearly teasing, “People online always say not to support the poor when looking for a partner. Why is this little young master so fond of this barbecue guy?”
[Young master persona?]
[Omg, isn’t this Chi Yizhen’s real persona?]
[Hilarious, that’s so mean! Even though I know it’s fake, I couldn’t help but hold my breath in real suspense.]
Chi Yizhen leaned towards He Qiao, but when he left in a hurry, he didn’t notice that the buttons on his baseball jacket were done incorrectly.
At this moment, He Qiao’s compulsive behavior flared up, and he unexpectedly started unbuttoning Chi Yizhen’s buttons.
Liu Rumen exclaimed, “What are you doing? In broad daylight, right in front of everyone, how can you two…!”
Chi Yizhen didn’t think much about it. He had noticed He Qiao’s little quirk when reading the live comments.
He grabbed He Qiao’s hand, adopting an attitude of making a fuss, “What’s wrong with selling barbecue? Even someone selling barbecue could be a misidentified wealthy young master.”