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As was customary for Heart-Pounding Expedition, the guests would first gather at the Heart-Pounding House.

While the guests got to know one another, the show could also run livestreams to draw in viewers...

The first three days would be edited into a preview episode. During those three days, the guests could not use their smart terminals inside the house, but once they left, they were free to do as they pleased.

When Shi Zhou returned, he found most of the others gone. It was Friday, so everyone probably had plans of their own.

Some had been sent by the production team to gatherings, to talk things over with friends or film their daily lives for footage.

Yu Manman sat on the sofa with the television on, knitting something in her hands. Several cameras beside her diligently recorded her handiwork.

Seeing Shi Zhou come in, she said, "Morning, Zhouzhou."

"Morning, Manman."

Shi Zhou checked the time. By the time he got back from seeing the directors, it was almost ten in the morning. No wonder he was starving. He had also drunk too much last night, and his head felt a little fuzzy.

He went into the kitchen to throw together something to eat, and Yu Manman called out, "Zhouzhou, there's hangover soup Jiali made in the warming cabinet. Have some."

The live comments began flooding in:

-I'll bet one interstellar credit he wanted to make hangover soup for Zhouzhou but didn't want to be too obvious, so he made it for everyone.

-I'm in for two!

-I've thought of a ship name for them: Shili. It sounds like the word for strength!

-They could name their kid Shili someday. It sounds pretty nice, hehehe.

Following Yu Manman's advice, Shi Zhou reached in and checked. It was still hot. He downed it in a few gulps, and his fuzzy head immediately felt much clearer.

Xie was such a nice guy. So thoughtful.

Yu Manman came in. "There's also bacon and eggs Asta made this morning, and sandwiches Bai Shen made. Have some."

Guys who were willing to cook definitely earned bonus points.

Shi Zhou felt fortunate that all three male leads were men who took action.

If only Asta could behave himself a little more.

He rubbed his stomach. "Then I won't hold back."

Yu Manman pulled over a stool and brought her things closer so she could talk to him. "Go ahead and eat."

"We figured you might want to sleep in this morning. Asta wanted to wake you, but Bai Shen wouldn't let him."

Yu Manman kept knitting, stifling a laugh as she spoke. "I didn't expect you to be such a lightweight, Zhouzhou. How many glasses did you have? Three?"

It had actually been two and a half. Asta had only given him a tiny amount for his third glass.

Shi Zhou gnawed on his sandwich, looking very busy.

Not telling. Nope.

"I haven't really drunk much before. I'll build up my tolerance!" Being underestimated by a girl wounded Shi Zhou's pride a little.

Yu Manman, on the other hand, could hold her liquor. She said, "Alcohol isn't exactly good for you."

Being a content creator was actually very stressful. She had built up her tolerance by secretly drinking and crying whenever people hurled abuse at her. After all, a public figure couldn't go out and do anything that attracted attention, so she drank a little at home instead. Eventually, she hadn't been able to quit. It really wasn't good for her health.

Once Shi Zhou had nearly finished eating, Yu Manman held out her hands. "Done. Try it on."

Looking at the hand-crocheted scarf in Yu Manman's hands, with its distinctive Bogu Star style, Shi Zhou asked in delighted surprise, "For me?"

The colors were lovely and versatile. It would look good around his neck, over his collar, or around his waist.

He'd received a present from a girl!

Shi Zhou's heartbeat had just begun to quicken when Yu Manman said, "Of course. You and I can wear matching mommy-and-me outfits, hehe."

Shi Zhou felt as though someone had dumped a bucket of cold water over him. "...Mommy-and-me outfits?"

Mystery solved. Yu Manman didn't like him that way. She was treating him like a doll to dress up.

Thinking back over everything that had happened when they first met, Shi Zhou sighed and put it on with mixed feelings.

To his surprise, Yu Manman's eyes lit up. "Oh my, oh my! Mommy didn't notice your waist was this tiny. Give it back first. I'll alter it for you."

She stepped forward to measure him with her hands, taking the opportunity to feel him up.

What a waist. What a waist! With slightly bigger hands, she could probably wrap both of them right around it.

Shi Zhou instinctively took half a step back, conflicted and wary, his hair practically standing on end.

Her gaze was just like that of some girls he had known at school. Frightened, he hurriedly put down the knitted scarf, fled the house, and took a cab to the gallery.

The gallery had notified him yesterday that several of his paintings had sold and required the artist's signature of approval.

Since the production team needed footage anyway, they sent a cameraman along. He was the same cameraman Shi Zhou had seen at the supermarket. Shi Zhou felt a little awkward. On camera, he smiled with his eyes lowered, not daring to look into the lens, bashful yet heart-stirring.

This was his first time being followed around by a camera on his own. He had never had such an opportunity before.

The cameraman said gently, "It's all right. Just do whatever you normally would. We film every guest who goes out."

Shi Zhou relaxed a little and took the cameraman to the gallery.

The gallery was called Pace, and its Bogu Star branch was located on Chelsea Avenue.

Amid the towering buildings of the central shopping district, it was a distinctly classical three-story building just over ten meters tall. Roman columns extended along its exterior, with white statues three or four meters tall standing on either side, their forms full of expressive tension.

They passed through a corridor paved with gleaming tiles, and the glass doors inside opened automatically. The gallery's overall style was rich and weighty, its decorations and furnishings all defined by clean, crisp lines, its atmosphere solemn and dignified.

Everyone coming and going was a prominent figure. None of them found the camera unusual or spared it a second glance.

The atmosphere made the cameraman nervous instead. He asked Shi Zhou very quietly, "Are we allowed to film in here?"

Shi Zhou nodded and smiled. "Yes."

"Don't be nervous. I'm just here to sell a couple of paintings."

The viewers expressed their surprise.

-This doesn't match Zhouzhou's face or his background at all. Look at the few people who just went in and out. They're all middle-aged or elderly men with big beards.

-Guys, I'm back from looking it up. Our Zhouzhou is amazing. Pace Gallery was named after Master Pace of Ancient Blue Star and has a history of over eight thousand years. It's one of the most renowned top-tier galleries in the entire interstellar world, with over 20,000 branches, focused on its mission of "connecting artists and collectors"...

While people were still diligently sharing information in the comments, Shi Zhou had already reached the reception desk and was speaking with the young woman behind it. The actual signing process could not be filmed.

Shi Zhou checked. His landscape paintings had all been purchased by buyers from other planets, at prices slightly above market value but still within the normal range.

As it happened, the three paintings had sold for 260,000 interstellar credits. An ancient-style night banquet painting had fetched the most, at 200,000.

Shi Zhou understood. [System, this is the money you're giving me, right?]

The system said:

[Yes, Zhouzhou, but I can only give you interstellar credits through reasonable means. In other words, your paintings are worth this much in their own right. I only made sure buyers who liked them could see them.]

It still remembered how Shi Zhou had searched for every possible way to earn money. After learning he could sell paintings at Pace, he had painted a new version of the inspired work he felt most confident in-the Han Dynasty Night Banquet.

Even with the composition already planned out, Shi Zhou had spent an entire month completing it.

During that month, aside from eating, drinking, and sleeping, Shi Zhou had spent all his time on the painting. His eyes had become bloodshot, and he had lost a noticeable amount of weight.

It was just like filming Heart-Pounding Expedition. The system could make sure Shi Zhou was selected during the open auditions, but whether he actually got in still depended on him.

Shi Zhou heard the concern in the system's voice and said nothing, only smiling faintly.

He couldn't put all his eggs in one basket. His family had already learned that lesson the hard way...

If the dating show didn't work out in the end, he would still have another way forward, wouldn't he?

Having a system was no excuse not to work hard. Handouts couldn't keep him fed for the rest of his life.

Shi Zhou's face made him look young, but he knew his own mind.

He entered the room alone and finished signing.

In the remote projection, staff wearing white gloves carefully mounted the painting in a frame, then packed it into a transparent case, ready to send to the buyer.

[What if I couldn't paint?] Bored while waiting, Shi Zhou suddenly asked out of curiosity.

Would the system tell him to buy lottery tickets? Haha.

System: [Zhouzhou, you have to believe in yourself. I don't choose a host at random.]

The system's electronic voice was very earnest.

Shi Zhou's eyes grew even brighter, and his lips curved into a smile.

[Mm.]

He led the timid cameraman into the elevator and pressed the button for basement level ten, clicking his tongue with a little regret.

"The view upstairs is beautiful, but novice artists can only work underground. Once my painting skills improve and my work becomes more valuable, maybe I can get a studio on the second or third floor."

The cameraman had just read the introduction hanging on the wall and only now truly understood how impressive Pace Gallery was.

He said sincerely, "This is already incredible. Plenty of artists can't even get in here, right? When did you join?"

The production team had expected Shi Zhou to take them somewhere young people hung out for a little casual filming. They hadn't expected this kid to be full of surprises.

Of the three non-celebrity guests they had selected, Shi Zhou stood out far too much.

The elevator doors opened. Shi Zhou lowered his voice a little as he walked out. "Two years ago. But I haven't painted much these past two years. I only started slowly getting back into it two months ago."

He walked to one side of the corridor and opened a door with his fingerprint. The cameraman filmed the room. It was fairly spacious and had everything it needed. An easel stood by the window, beyond which were an artificial sun and greenery, so it didn't feel oppressive.

Shi Zhou gestured for him to sit on the armchair first. "I'm stepping out for a moment. I'll be right back."

The comments were still discussing Shi Zhou, and a small surge of interest was beginning to build. The number in the upper right corner started climbing at a visibly noticeable pace.

After all, combining a handsome guy with an artist definitely produced a result greater than the sum of its parts. Besides, he might very well be a student at the Interstellar First Academy!

Heart-Pounding Expedition plus a handsome artist-as viewers spread the word, more and more people came to see what the fuss was about.

Neither of them knew that so many people had entered Shi Zhou's livestream on a workday. Shi Zhou said he would be spending the day at the gallery, so the cameraman made no objections and set up his camera to one side before sitting down.

Shi Zhou wasn't gone long, only about five minutes. He returned with a meal-delivery robot behind him, having ordered coffee and dessert for the cameraman.

He smiled at him. "Sorry, I might have to keep you waiting today. The gallery provides all three meals."

The cameraman was rather flattered. "Thank you."

Shi Zhou went to the shelving at the side to get his paints. "You're welcome."

He had let his painting skills lapse for over two years. Now, aside from catching up on the classes he had missed, he needed to practice more.

The cameraman also knew a little about Shi Zhou's family circumstances.

He had heard that the whole family had moved out of their villa, that their house and cars were all gone, and that his father was still in the hospital. All the money from selling their possessions had gone toward paying their workers...

What a shame. To go from a pampered young master to painting to pay off debts was quite a fall.

Shi Zhou seemed like a good person, too. Now the cameraman genuinely hoped things would work out for him, and that he could reach new heights alongside their Heart-Pounding Expedition!

Shi Zhou knew nothing of the cameraman's thoughts. His major was oil painting, but to get into the First Academy's Arts Department, he had needed a grasp of a broad range of painting media.

He spent the entire day just sketching with charcoal, drawing the scene from yesterday evening as the sun was about to set.

The cameraman aimed his lens at Shi Zhou, filming his profile and the drawing. He didn't know much about art, but he thought Shi Zhou drew beautifully. Even with only one color, he could almost see the slanting sunset spilling across the mountain ridges.

The artificial sun gradually set. Shi Zhou went to wash his hands, then smiled at the cameraman. "Sorry for the wait."

He was dressed simply, yet against that clean, plain background, his face looked so radiant and serene.

Neither of them knew that a viewer had taken a screenshot of that moment from the livestream and posted it on the Interstellar Network, where it had gone viral!

At 6:03 p.m., the keywords "Shi Zhou" and "Pace" ranked twenty-sixth on the Interstellar Network's trending list.

Eight minutes later, the monitoring team spotted the related trend and purchased promotional posts for Heart-Pounding Expedition. With the show and a whole host of potential ships that could be edited into clips attached to his name, Shi Zhou shot up to ninth, then sixth, then third on the trending list.

7:23 p.m.

Shi Zhou received a call. His own smart terminal was with the production team; the one he had on him had been issued by the show. The caller ID read Bai Shen.

"Hello?" Shi Zhou answered.

Bai Shen seemed to be driving, his voice steady. "Are you still at Pace? I'll come pick you up."