By the time Ji Yuanming reacted, Jian Ran had already stormed off in a huff.
The cameraman had caught the scene and hesitated over whether to report it.
After all, guests coming to blows on a variety show was no good thing and could easily provoke a backlash from fans.
Sure enough, the livestream chat erupted instantly, with plenty of fans who drooled over his looks flying into a rage.
[Jian Ran actually hit someone?! Call the police right now! Does he know how much Ji Yuanming's face is worth? He's in big trouble!]
[The production team won't do anything, and everyone else is just standing by? My poor Yuanming! He got punched for absolutely no reason!]
[Jian Jianjian is way too arrogant. Can nobody put him in his place? And they keep calling him Jian Ran like he deserves their respect. It's disgusting! The production team owes us an explanation, or people won't stand for it!]
[Was I the only one who saw it? Ji Yuanming clearly provoked him first, barging into the courtyard and yelling without even finding out what happened! What, does being a big star make him better than everyone?]
[Exactly. He was rude and grabbed Jian Ran first, and only then did Jian Ran hit back. If you don't believe it, open your eyes and watch the replay instead of blindly spewing hate.]
[Everyone says supermodel Ji Yuanming is such a gentleman, but I haven't seen any sign of it on this show. Everything he says and does makes him look like a spoiled man-child. He's really putting casual viewers off.]
[...]
Unexpectedly, public opinion online was not entirely one-sided. Although Jian Ran had hit him, quite a few viewers firmly supported him, believing that Ji Yuanming had shown too little respect for others and that getting punched was only to be expected.
Some fans even thought Jian Ran's moves were so cool that he clearly had training. It overturned his previous image as someone too frail to lift or carry anything, and they immediately cried, "Love him, love him!"
Ji Yuanming's face was thunderous, his left cheek visibly red and swollen. He rubbed it with one hand, grimacing in pain, but no one nearby dared approach and ask about it.
After all... once night fell, everyone would have to rely on Jian Ran to stay alive.
The cameraman did not know what to do either, so he could only try to shift attention away, pointing the camera at other guests who could better attract the fans' interest.
Lu Yanting, for example.
Yet just as he was about to get a close-up, the walking iceberg unexpectedly quickened his pace and approached Ji Yuanming, asking in a quiet voice, "Does it hurt?"
"Huh?" Ji Yuanming instinctively turned, failing to catch on.
He certainly did not believe Lu Yanting would be kind enough to show concern for him.
So a second later, he put on a brave face. "It doesn't hurt. Those little punches of Jian Ran's are nothing to me."
"I'd even like him to hit me a few more times..."
"Oh?" Lu Yanting raised an eyebrow and pressed his lips together before interrupting him. "Don't worry. You'll get your wish. I'll pass what you just said on to Jian Ran."
"..." Ji Yuanming's expression twisted for an instant. "Do you have that much free time, Emperor Lu? You like meddling in other people's business?"
Lu Yanting smiled faintly, a sharp edge showing in his dark eyes. "Only Jian Ran's."
With that, he walked away, leaving Ji Yuanming frozen on the spot, his face cycling through a spectacular array of expressions.
After getting off the plane, Bai Jingchuan climbed straight into his chauffeured van, and his assistant handed him a tablet.
"Anything new happening back home?" Bai Jingchuan took it and asked with an indifferent expression.
The newly hired female assistant looked at the racing driver who had won a world championship at such a young age, secretly blushing. "There's a variety show that's been pretty popular lately. It had several million viewers as soon as it started airing."
Clearly uninterested, Bai Jingchuan frowned and closed his eyes to rest.
The assistant did not look away and could not help studying him.
She had only recently gotten the job and had never interacted with Bai Jingchuan, having only seen him in photos and news reports.
She had thought Bai Jingchuan was already handsome enough on camera, but seeing him up close now, she discovered he was even better-looking in person.
"Had enough of staring?" Bai Jingchuan lazily lifted his eyelids and swept her a look, his tone unfriendly. "I'm not interested in women. If you have any other ideas, feel free to hand in your resignation."
The assistant blushed even harder and stammered, "Jingchuan, please don't misunderstand. I wasn't..."
"I don't want to hear your nonsense. Shut up." Bai Jingchuan closed his eyes again, his brow furrowing even more tightly.
The assistant turned back around in embarrassment, not daring to say another word for fear of losing her job, but inwardly grumbled.
Who said Bai Jingchuan was humble and polite?
That he wasn't arrogant despite all his achievements?
That he was remarkably well-mannered for his age?
Those reports really were all lies!
Thinking of Zhong Fanrui's perfunctory attitude left Bai Jingchuan agitated. With his eyes closed, he leaned closer to the window, his mood shrouded in sadness.
It's really been so long since we last saw each other. Is he not coming back even for the holidays?
And he won't let me fly over to see him.
Even when I show up unannounced at his school gates, he still finds all sorts of excuses not to see me...
What exactly is Fanrui so busy with?!
Bai Jingchuan opened his eyes irritably, turned on the tablet, and opened a random streaming app. When he saw a recommended ad, his pupils suddenly contracted.
"Jian Ran?"
Hearing him, the assistant opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but swallowed it back for fear of speaking out of turn.
Finding a job these days really isn't easy...
"Why didn't you tell me he was on a variety show?" Bai Jingchuan turned to question her.
The assistant immediately felt like crying. "I did! I said there was a variety show that's been pretty popular lately..."
As evening approached, Jian Ran kicked open the door of the Lucky Inn and headed straight for the kitchen.
Qi Rui sprang up from the couch and saw that lean, straight figure striding briskly along, carrying fifty jin of rice in one hand and two jugs of soybean oil in the other...
"Jian Ran, why are you carrying so much? Let me help!" Qi Rui eagerly rushed over and grabbed the rice sack, intending to lend a hand.
Unexpectedly, Jian Ran abruptly let go. Caught completely off guard, Qi Rui lost his balance and fell with the rice in his arms.
"Holy shit, it's this heavy?!"
He could not help swearing and cast Jian Ran a pleading look.
The latter lowered his eyes to look down at him, his tone teasing. "Before you do anything, you need to know your own limits."
"Got it?"
Qi Rui nodded vigorously. "Got it, Jian Ran."
Jian Ran curled his lips in satisfaction. His slender, bony hand caught a corner of the rice sack and easily hauled it up, then he continued toward the kitchen.
Watching that "towering" figure, Qi Rui could not help marveling, "How does Jian Ran manage to be so skinny and so strong?!"
Li Yuan, who had just finished taking a call from the director in his bedroom, ran downstairs excitedly. Seeing Qi Rui barely back on his feet, he called out eagerly, "Our show's getting another new guest!"
"Do you know who it is?!"
Qi Rui shook his head blankly.
"Idiot, I knew you wouldn't guess!" Li Yuan was beside himself with excitement, gesticulating wildly. "A business tycoon, bringing funding with him!"
Not noticing there was someone else in the kitchen, he ran over and shouted into Qi Rui's ear, "Yu Fengyi!"
"Number one on the young rich achievers list!"
"He made the top three of this year's Nationwide Most-Wanted-to-Marry CEO Ranking!"
"Most importantly, he's bringing a million!"
"We won't have to eat wild greens anymore!"
"We'll have barbecue, hot pot, and crayfish!"
Li Yuan bounced around in a circle, then suddenly spotted a dark figure. He stopped at once, his smile freezing awkwardly on his face as he began to stammer. "J-Jian Ran, you're back so early?"
Jian Ran folded his arms and tugged at the corner of his mouth, a dangerous tone spilling from his lips. "You actually dared invite a dumbass like Yu Fengyi?"
"Aren't you afraid of attracting even more unclean things?"
Before you continue