Yan Ningke had not expected a man with such an air of restraint to keep an adorable Samoyed.
The contrast was off the charts.
He rarely browsed Weibo, so he did not know that Xiao Jingzhan's name had stayed in the headlines for ages when this season first aired.
With that, all the guests for this episode had arrived.
The show officially began.
Viewer counts in every livestream continued to rise. Yan Ningke's room had grown from a few thousand viewers at the start to well over a hundred thousand.
"Pet parents, our members are now officially assembled. Next, we'll embark on a wonderful two-day journey."
The director first welcomed this episode's special guest, Yan Ningke. Once the formal pleasantries were over, he officially announced their first task.
"It's almost noon. If you want to earn your lunch, we'll have to see what your dogs can win for you."
Yan Ningke listened carefully. The rules were simple, something like a canine version of an obstacle-course challenge show.
There were five stages in total. The dogs had to clear the obstacles and reach the finish line as quickly as possible.
From first place to last, each ranking would receive different food. The director did not specify what.
But clearly, the fastest would eat the best.
Since the owners would have to guide their dogs, the production team gave each guest a change of clothes.
Deng Changjun smiled wryly. "Looks like we're getting in the water again."
For ordinary games or brainteasers, they generally would not be asked to change. After all, celebrities had competing brand commitments and needed to appear on camera endorsing their brands.
Yan Ningke had no such worries. He was still simply an entertainer, free of attachments, with no one behind him.
Xiao Jingzhan glanced at the beaming director and said, "It might be worse than getting in the water."
At those words, something occurred to everyone, and a chorus of groans broke out!
Especially from Azina, the only woman. "Director! It's not what we're thinking, is it?!"
The director smiled without answering and merely urged them to hurry up and change.
Seeing the confusion on Yan Ningke's face beside him, Song Chunan leaned closer of his own accord and whispered, "Probably mud."
Yan Ningke did not understand why they had to whisper, but he respected it and murmured back, "But I haven't seen any mud?"
Song Chunan was tall, while Yan Ningke was only 180 centimeters. To make sure he could hear, Song Chunan bent down. "The director has an endless supply of tricks."
[You two have an endless supply of poses!!!]
The comments looked as though an army of paid posters had flooded in, filling the screen with [Aaaaaah]. The staff member monitoring the screen had only turned away to pick up his water cup, and got a fright when he turned back.
What happened? What happened? Was the world ending?!
Should he flee, or just give up and become a little zombie?
Song Chunan and Yan Ningke had completely forgotten they were wearing microphones. The production team had heard every word of what they thought was a private conversation.
"Ahem, no whispering! Hurry up and change!"
Song Chunan and Yan Ningke both looked up, turning two pairs of clear, innocent eyes toward him.
The director's heart lurched.
Oh no, was I too harsh?
Just as the director was feeling guilty enough to wake up in the middle of the night and slap himself twice,
Yan Ningke turned away with his clothes and gave Song Chunan a mischievous wink.
Song Chunan covered his mouth and snickered.
[Aaaaaah! Help, they're both so bad!]
[But you love it.]
[Director: I'm a terrible person. Yan and Song: This is so much fun.]
[You two have really mastered playing innocent to get the upper hand.]
[I ship them so hard!!!]
The cameras captured all of it. A staff member told the director he had been tricked, but just as he was about to get angry, another assistant came over with a tablet.
At the sight of the steadily climbing trending searches, his anger vanished.
Angry? Why would he be angry? They were still just kids.
As its name suggested, Bamboo Grove Courtyard was full of bamboo furnishings.
Yan Ningke took Lars into the room. All the furniture was made of bamboo, with a tatami bed and a recliner by the window. The whole place looked clean and fresh.
He was just about to go into the bathroom to change when Lars suddenly went wild, racing back and forth across the room and spinning in tireless circles.
Yan Ningke: "..."
Buddy, do you think there aren't any cameras here?
The cameras in the corners: Then what are we here for?
[?????]
Following the screenful of screams a few minutes earlier, the comments were now a collective sea of question marks.
[Did he suddenly go crazy? Or did I miss something?]
[Buddy above, we only just found out he has two faces too.]
[I knew it. What husky isn't crazy?]
[So he's been putting on an act for us all along?]
[Lars, I still prefer your wild, untamable look!]
Yan Ningke could already imagine what the viewers would say. He heaved a long sigh and covered his face.
Just as everyone had expected, he had managed to make a fool of himself on television.
Mr. Shao, I've let you down!
Watching from behind his screen, Mr. Shao could not stop the corners of his mouth from twitching.
His own dog's stupidity had gotten to him.
Yan Ningke tried to make Lars stop, but every attempt failed.
Forget it. Do whatever you want.
I'm not the one being embarrassed anyway!
He put on a brave smile for the camera. "If I said I wasn't his owner, would you believe me?"
[Sure. Like hell I would!]
[Stop making excuses. We saw everything!]
Hearing his voice, Lars abruptly stopped.
He watched Yan Ningke warily.
Who? Who are you talking to?
Yan Ningke could not be bothered with him and took his clothes into the bathroom.
Did it matter who anymore? He'd already lost every scrap of dignity.
After changing, Yan Ningke opened the door. On camera, Lars wore a haughty expression and a disdainful gaze.
[Stop pretending. We've already seen your true, ugly face!]
[Lars, did you take classes in Sichuan?]
[He's so cute. What do I do? I'm becoming a fan!]
[Just thinking of him doing flares in the room earlier makes me want to laugh.]
[Person above, I already laughed, and then my hemorrhoid wound split open.]
[...Bro, a moment of silence for you. /lights candle]
[I'm a woman!!!!]
Song Chunan had guessed exactly right. It really was mud.
Yan Ningke and the others followed the production team behind the house. They looked at the huge patch of mud, then back at the snow-white Samoyed.
The Samoyed remained blissfully unaware, hiding behind his owner's legs and sneaking furtive looks at Lars.
Without a sound, the husky lifted his head slightly, turned it a little to the side, and sat ramrod straight, majestically displaying his proud jawline.
[Is he trying to look cool?!]
[Wait, even a dog is better at seducing people than I am?]
[Lars, you have an endless supply of tricks!]
The course was a little like the obstacles used in canine competitions, only much easier than a professional one.
The first stage was a single-log bridge, followed by a seesaw, then a crawl through a wooden barrel, a stomp bridge, and finally a jump over a wooden board.
With the added mud, the main focus was on fun.
The five dogs stood at the starting line, poised to go.
At the director's signal, a black-and-white figure shot forward like a kite with a snapped string.
[Ha, I knew it! My Nannan's Fries is the smartest kind of dog. No guidance needed. An easy first place!]
[Aaaaaah, so cool!!]
[Go, Nannan!]
[Everyone, maybe take another look?]
Before you continue