Have fun to your heart's content

At night, the bustling capital was still ablaze with lights, and the streetlights along its crisscrossing overpasses shone as brightly as day.

A black minivan left the highway and headed into the city.

Inside the minivan, Song Yunxing had just finished his schedule and was sprawled on a soft couch, scrolling back and forth on his phone.

"The second episode of 'True or False Lovers' starts filming tomorrow morning. Pack your luggage when you get home, then go to bed."

"Light clothes, swimwear, sunscreen..." Meng Ruo reminded him, still worried.

"I know! I'm not a three-year-old!" Song Yunxing opened the Weibo page for "True or False Lovers."

"Xingxing, you two have a lot of shippers now. If you're planning to leave the show, you need to handle things carefully. Keep your distance when you should." Meng Ruo looked through the recent Weibo comments, her feelings complicated.

Given Xingxing's popularity, having shippers was perfectly normal. It was just that no one had expected such a great response once the edited episode aired.

Xingxing's schedule had been almost completely booked lately. For now, there was no telling how the fans or his business partners would react once he left the show.

"Mm-hmm." Song Yunxing skimmed the production team's Weibo post, then suddenly sat bolt upright.

"The beach! We have to wear swim trunks!" Song Yunxing looked shocked.

"What else would you wear? The production team hasn't told us much. Bring extra clothes if you can. Also, the hospital mailed your predicted differentiation test results to your place. Remember to check them so the company can prepare," Meng Ruo said casually.

Song Yunxing's attention was already elsewhere. His face crumpled. "I'm doomed! My abs!"

"No! I have to squeeze in another workout tonight!"

The next morning, a member of the production crew drove over to pick Song Yunxing up separately.

To prevent any mishaps, the production team had deliberately chartered an entire plane and staggered the guests' arrival times to avoid crowding.

By the time Song Yunxing boarded without incident, the other guests were already seated in business class.

"Song Yunxing! The production team booked the whole plane! We're going to the Maldives! Come sit down!" Lu Ran waved at him excitedly.

Beside her, Gu Nianzhi seemed to be in a good mood too and nodded in greeting.

Song Yunxing smiled and walked down the business-class aisle.

"Mr. Song, your seat is here," the filming assistant beside him reminded him.

He glanced sideways. The man was sitting by the window, the faint light outside tracing his sharply defined profile.

As though sensing his gaze, the man lifted his eyes slightly and looked at Song Yunxing, who stood frozen in the aisle.

The corners of the man's lips rose. He was just about to speak when Song Yunxing turned away and asked in what he thought was a quiet voice, "Since we chartered the whole plane, can I sit somewhere other than beside him?"

The smile froze on the man's lips, and even the air around them seemed to drop a few degrees.

The young assistant rubbed her arms. Remembering the director's instructions, she said firmly, "No! Filming has already started. As a rumored couple, you two have to sit together!"

Song Yunxing frowned. "Since when did the production team have this much money? A chartered plane and the Maldives? Did Guo Hongyi win the lottery?"

"Hahaha! They probably landed a sponsor!" Lu Ran looked up, her eyes sparkling. "Xiao Hong finally grew a conscience!"

"Xiao Hong?" Song Yunxing asked in confusion.

"There's no need to be polite to that guy Guo Hongyi! That was his nickname in school!" Yu Wan beamed. "If he makes me sell fruit in the Maldives, I'll post his childhood photos in red underwear in every corner of the internet!"

"Woo! Yu Wan, you're the best!" Lu Ran cheered.

Shi Jinyan, who was sitting beside Yu Wan, coughed twice and turned his gaze toward the window.

Director Guo, who was boarding the plane: Achoo! Who's thinking about me?

Director Guo soon entered business class and began the usual routine of collecting the guests' phones and cash.

The plane was getting ready to take off, so Song Yunxing had no choice but to sit beside Shen Yanci.

Once they were seated, neither said a word.

The atmosphere was awkward and subtly charged.

Compared with the other guests, who were excitedly discussing their trip to the Maldives, the two of them seemed completely out of place.

The cameraman deliberately aimed his camera at them. Shen Yanci flipped through a magazine while Song Yunxing sat upright, scrolling on his phone with one hand resting on the armrest beside him.

The camera filmed them for quite a while, but hardly anything in the frame changed.

Nearby, Luo An and Lu Yiyi were pressed close together, holding up a phone to take selfies.

Lu Yiyi glanced across at them, suppressing her anger and clenching her fists.

Recently, she had lost quite a few endorsement deals that had already been negotiated. Even a leading role she had been set to receive had been snatched away by another actress! And that actress was a female Beta who was inferior to her in every way!

Her manager said she must have offended someone. Otherwise, that leading role would have been hers for certain!

She had thought it over again and again. All she had done was snap at Song Yunxing a couple of times on the show! Who else could have forced her out besides him?

So what if he had a rich backer! Sooner or later, she would find a weakness and make everyone condemn him!

Beside her, Luo An curled his lip and held up his phone to block her glare.

What evil had I committed in my past life to end up pretending to be a couple with her?

Just this episode left, and the contract would be over! Then I'd be free again. Long live being single!

Looking at the rumored couples and their varied moods, Director Guo gave a meaningful smile.

He cleared his throat. "Welcome back to 'True or False Lovers'! You all know where we're filming this episode! We'll be spending three days and two nights enjoying an exciting island getaway in the Maldives!"

Before the guests had a chance to ask any questions, Director Guo had already learned to answer ahead of them.

"We won't make you sell fruit! Every activity is free! Accommodation is free! Don't worry!"

"Also, the dinner-vote rankings from the previous episode are out. We'll distribute your funds now."

The staff handed each pair of guests a white envelope.

"Song Yunxing's team came first, but since you failed your task, your funds have been halved. Yu Wan and Shi Jinyan came second, Lu Ran and Gu Nianzhi third, and Luo An and Lu Yiyi fourth."

Song Yunxing took an envelope and quietly peeled it open.

The bills were bright green. They didn't seem to be Chinese currency.

"Oh my god! Six hundred-Pretty-Coin bills!" Lu Ran pulled the money out of her envelope, her eyes widening.

The other guests opened their envelopes too.

Yu Wan's envelope contained eight hundred-Pretty-Coin bills.

Song Yunxing had the same amount as Luo An and Lu Yiyi: five hundred Pretty Coins, which converted to over three thousand yuan.

All the guests stared at the director in disbelief. The contrast between the first and second episodes was far too stark. Was this really the stingy director they knew?

"It really is for you! Just spend it during filming. All you need to do this episode is have fun to your heart's content," Director Guo said generously.

"Xiao Hong, I hope you mean that!" Yu Wan smiled pleasantly.

"Xiao Hong, you have to keep your word!" Lu Ran declared solemnly.

"I don't want to work anymore. Please spare me, dear Xiao Hong!" Luo An deliberately drew out the last words.

Director Guo's face flushed red, and he sounded as though he was gritting his teeth. "Of course!"