"Hey! My Baby" had four regular guests and invited special guests as circumstances allowed, usually no more than two. With too many, the pets could easily start fighting.
The production team had contacted Yan Ningke beforehand, confirmed his exact arrival time, and set up cameras at the intersection ahead of time.
This variety show knew how to keep things interesting. It never announced its guests beforehand, revealing them only during filming. It really was something viewers both loved and hated, cranking their curiosity all the way up.
The regular guests' livestream rooms all had names, while special guests' rooms were usually just strings of numbers. The moment one opened, loyal fans of the show and some casual viewers rushed in to wait.
[Hellooo, which cutie are we getting today?]
[Hurry, hurry, hurry!]
[You above, aren't you a little too impatient? Haven't you heard that good things come to those who wait?]
[No, I can't hold my shit in anymore, aaah!]
[...Impressive, bro!]
Before the newcomers could say anything, they were hit in the face with a screenful of comments they could practically smell.
"Seriously, are you all going this hard right out of the gate?"
The guest had yet to appear, but the comments were already having fun.
Just as they were enjoying themselves, a black sedan slowly approached from the distance on camera.
Sharp-eyed viewers spotted it and hurriedly called for everyone to stop.
[Here they come! Stop arguing, you guys!]
[You above, what a little goody-two-shoes!]
[Let me see! Bestie, wait for me!]
The car stopped, and the rear door opened. The livestream comments froze for a second as everyone held their breath.
The next second, a figure shot out in a flash, and the camera followed.
Lars landed steadily, looked around at the unfamiliar people, then sat down with restraint, eyes solemn and canine head slightly raised, the very picture of calm composure.
[Something's off. This doesn't seem like the huskies I know!]
[Is this dog looking for a good angle?]
[Oh my god! So handsome!]
[Off-topic question: did that person above shit their pants?]
[Help, he's striking a pose!!]
[I declare this the prettiest husky I've ever seen!]
Still in the car, Yan Ningke had seen Lars putting on that inscrutable air and nearly burst out laughing.
You really know how to put on an act. You could give that owner of yours a run for his money.
The comments had no effect on the camera. A delicately featured young man stepped out of the car, wearing an ice-silk short-sleeved shirt, loose black slouchy trousers, and a pair of trendy brand-name sneakers.
Yan Ningke glanced at Lars, then looked into the camera and smiled brightly, revealing even teeth. "Hi, everyone."
The comments filled with matching question marks.
[??? Who are you!]
[??? It's like his face changes. He looks fine without smiling, but once he smiles, you can't look away!]
[Young man, you've got something going on!]
[Ah! I know who he is!]
[Who, who, who! Hand over his details and contact info, stat!]
[Off-topic question: did you shit your pants?]
[Yan Ningke. Anyone he likes must be really lucky!]
People these days had hands faster than their eyes, and they immediately began searching for all kinds of information about "Yan Ningke."
Yan Ningke was already leading Lars and pulling his suitcase along the path toward the little bamboo-grove courtyard, following the off-camera crew's directions.
Abandoning the way he went wild around visitors at home, Lars walked with a model's stride, unhurried and composed, his canine face the picture of aloofness.
Before they reached the gate, they heard the sounds of play coming from inside.
Yan Ningke looked through the picket gate. A chubby, short-legged corgi was running around the courtyard, while a casually dressed man of about thirty-five threw a Frisbee from beneath the veranda.
This was Deng Changjun, one of the regular guests. He had debuted very early but found fame very late, only breaking out last year in a serious period drama. Fans had dug into his past work and discovered how genuinely charming he was, earning him a substantial wave of casual fans.
Yan Ningke knocked politely on the gate and called out, "Hello, may I come in?"
Deng Changjun paused at the sound, then called his dog over. "Of course. Come in."
Yan Ningke pushed the gate open and entered, introducing himself with a smile. "Hello, Mr. Deng. My name is Yan Ningke. I'm the new guest."
"Oh my, a handsome young fellow. Hello, hello."
Deng Changjun raised his voice. "Come on out! The new guest is here!"
Several people poured out of the house behind him.
Faced with a relatively unfamiliar face, they all paused.
A young woman with rather exotic features, holding a Maltese, spoke first. "Wow! Your dog is so handsome!"
Azina, twenty-five, was a rising young star who had shot to fame through a web-based historical romance drama. Over the past two years, she had appeared frequently on major variety shows, and her lively personality and quirky antics had left the public with a very good impression of her.
Yan Ningke rubbed the canine head pressed against his thigh. "Thanks. Your dog is adorable too."
The Maltese had a sweet face, with a little topknot on its head. Its round eyes were wide open, and it looked very well-behaved.
They were all dog lovers, happier to hear their dogs praised than themselves, and Azina instantly beamed.
Another young man had already walked over, reaching out to help with his luggage. "Let me carry that for you!"
Song Chunan, eighteen, was a member of a well-known domestic boy band. His granny-gray hair was striking and eye-catching, but what was hardest to ignore was his height, which approached six foot three. Perhaps because he was young, he was always gentle and modest, making him very likable.
How could Yan Ningke dare let him carry it? Song Chunan might be gentle, but the horde of mom fans and girlfriend fans behind him were another matter.
"No, no, no, I've got it!"
Song Chunan refused to let go. "I can do it!"
[No! You can't, baby! Your hands are for playing guitar!]
Sure enough, a horde of fans caught the scent and came running, instantly flooding Yan Ningke's livestream room.
[My baby is so polite!]
[Who is this? How can he let Nannan carry his luggage!]
[Can't he carry it himself? Are his hands broken?]
[Nannan, you're such a good boy. I love you so much!]
[But to be fair, who is this guy? He's really pretty!]
[Casual viewer here: just looked him up. His name is Yan Ningke.]
Yan Ningke's appearance had been so sudden that his name began appearing across all the major search engines.
So many people were searching that he actually squeezed onto the bottom of the trending list.
The man himself knew nothing about it and was still struggling with Song Chunan over the suitcase.
"Be a good little brother. I'm begging you, let your big brother have it!"
Everyone: "..."
Anyone who didn't know better would have thought they were fighting over something important.
In the end, Deng Changjun came to the rescue. "Stop fighting, you two. I'll do it!"
A grown man, after all, he briskly hoisted the suitcase out of their hands, not forgetting to call to them, "Don't just stand there. You'll get tanned in a minute. Come inside."
Azina chimed in too. "Yes, yes, it's cool inside."
Yan Ningke and Song Chunan looked at each other.
The next second, they both laughed.
Before you continue