Stunning everyone?

The production team had truly put care into preparing lunch for the guests this time. Wang Xiao led everyone to a lavishly decorated restaurant beside Ancient Town.

The interior imitated an ancient imperial hall, with a semi-enclosed layout almost identical to those in historical dramas.

Beaming, Wang Xiao led the camera operators to the seats in the very center and raised a hand.

"Sit wherever you like."

"Director, are you planning to enjoy the imperial treatment?"

Man Feiluan went to the innermost seat and sat down. After spending the whole morning playing in Ancient Town, he was absolutely starving.

"Ahem, not at all."

[Really? I don't believe you.]

[Stop it, Wang Xiao. Just admit it. The crown's already on your head.]

[Wang Xiao: I'm going to be emperor today even if the king of heaven himself shows up.]

Everyone except Chu Xinghui and the other two sat down to wait for lunch.

Beside the Imperial Hall was a small private room for the three of them to change and have their makeup done.

There was even a makeup artist inside.

The three of them could perform whatever talent they wanted.

Pei Hanmo didn't change. He went straight out, planning to sing a song and then leave the stage.

If Chu Xinghui remembered correctly, Pei Hanmo seemed to know only that one song, "Him."

Wan Linqing was getting her makeup done in the private room, while Chu Xinghui stood outside, glancing at Pei Hanmo from time to time.

Pei Hanmo was holding a microphone, but instead of giving the sound technician a song title, he asked the props team for a guitar.

[Pei Hanmo can play guitar too?]

[Shocking!]

[Pei Hanmo really can do everything.]

He sat on the stool in the center, lifted his hands, and slowly began to play.

The familiar rhythm drifted into Chu Xinghui's ears, and he abruptly craned his head inside.

This was a song Chu Xinghui had written himself, back before Pei Hanmo left.

He had only let Pei Hanmo glance at the score back then, yet he had actually remembered it.

Pei Hanmo began to sing, his deep voice reaching Chu Xinghui's ears. Chu Xinghui lowered his eyes and quietly listened to him sing.

They had spent many afternoons after lunch like this in the past.

Pei Hanmo would sing, while Chu Xinghui lay with his head on his lap, smiling and talking.

"That sounded great! Did you write that song?"

Man Feiluan enthusiastically put down his steamed bun and clapped hard as he asked.

He was a singer, and he knew every singer had their own style.

He felt as though he had heard this style somewhere before.

"No. I don't know if any of you know a Weibo user called pH Test Paper."

Pei Hanmo spoke slowly in his deep voice, seeming a little sad, yet full of affection.

"He wrote this song. We parted ways back then for certain reasons.

"He stopped writing songs too.

"If possible, I hope he can hear me singing this song. I never properly sang it for him back then."

[Help!! Does anyone know about this?! Three years ago, this ship was more popular than either of them individually!]

[I know... They blew up overnight back then, but pH Test Paper deleted his account, so their super topic went quiet not long afterward.]

[Waaah, Pei Hanmo, you heartbreaker! You actually still remember our Paper! Isn't Paper so much better than Chu Xinghui?!]

[We Paper-Ink CP fans finally get a state banquet today too. (Wipes tears)]

[These are all tears of a bygone era! I hope Pei Hanmo can find Paper again...]

[Paper loved doing absurd stuff back then... Is Chu Xinghui copying him?! Pei Hanmo, stop looking for a substitute!]

After speaking, Pei Hanmo returned to his seat and looked up toward the outside.

He only caught sight of Chu Xinghui walking away, but he was still very happy.

At least Chu Xinghui had heard him.

Wan Linqing came out of the private room and saw Chu Xinghui staring blankly inside. She thought something shocking had happened.

It turned out to be Pei Hanmo singing.

Well, that made sense. Who wouldn't fall for someone as devoted as Pei Hanmo?

She coughed twice to get Chu Xinghui's attention.

"I'm out. You can go in and get your makeup done in a bit."

But now it was her turn to perform. She had practiced this dance in private for a long time and had long been looking for a chance to perform it on a show.

This time, she would stun everyone!

She had changed into a bright red hanfu, with several imposing hairpins in her hair. Her makeup was striking and beautiful, and a slight curl of her fiery red lips could steal a person's soul.

It was a stark contrast to her previous innocent, delicate image.

[Come to think of it, aren't the next two both foxes? I'm kind of looking forward to seeing how stunning they'll be, waaah!]

[I think so! But with Chu Xinghui's stiff limbs... I think we can forget about him.]

[Go, Qingqing! You're the prettiest fox!]

Wan Linqing gave the sound technician her song title, then stood in the center and struck her opening pose.

[Help! She's instantly in character!]

[Slay me, queen!]

As the music began, she raised her head and gave Pei Hanmo, seated off to the side, a smile.

Then she took several small steps backward and moved her body to the rhythm of the music.

[So beautiful, waaah!]

[Did Qingqing prepare for this for ages? She seems so familiar with all the moves.]

[Screenshot taken. She's gorgeous! I'm putting this up at home so I can drool over it every day!]

Comments flooded the livestream, and the viewer count kept rising.

Wang Xiao nodded in satisfaction. It seemed inviting Wan Linqing onto the show had been the right decision after all.

As Wan Linqing went inside, Chu Xinghui immediately opened the private room door.

A familiar face was sitting inside... that young woman in Lolita fashion.

The moment she saw Chu Xinghui, delighted surprise flashed in her eyes.

"Wow! Huihui! So you didn't finish that task either!"

"Mm..."

Chu Xinghui scratched his head sheepishly.

"How did you end up on our variety show?"

"Well, another part-time job means another paycheck!"

The makeup artist immediately had Chu Xinghui sit in the chair beside her.

She certainly wasn't going to admit she had come to this show to indulge in her ship.

"What kind of makeup would you like?"

Earlier, Wan Linqing had insisted on a more modern makeup look to create a contrast with her persona. The makeup artist had spent a long time thinking before managing to put it together.

"I'd like makeup that goes with the outfit."

Chu Xinghui had already picked out his clothes. He brought them in from outside and held them up for the makeup artist.

"What do you think of this?"

He had chosen a pink-and-white hanfu with a little inner top and an off-the-shoulder outer layer.

"Th-this one?"

The makeup artist looked at the clothes, then raised her head in astonishment.

Such... such a seductive outfit...

Was Chu Xinghui really going to wear this?

He nodded and pointed to his head.

"I'd like to leave some of my hair down and show my ears."

He had promised his fans he would show his ears, so he couldn't go back on his word.

He hadn't cut his hair in the past few months. When he let it down, it reached his back.

"And here, could you add a little red?"

He pointed to the corners of his eyes.

"Y-yes..."

The makeup artist was even stammering.

Red at the outer corners of his eyes. She knew that look, and swallowed.

Was Chu Xinghui planning to go all out?

For some reason, the makeup artist actually began to get excited.

"Leave it to me. Don't you worry!"

When Wan Linqing finished her dance, applause rose all around her.

"Beautiful, beautiful!"

[I don't even want to watch Chu Xinghui next anymore...]

[How about Wan Linqing does another dance, and we count it as Chu Xinghui's?]

[He's still not coming out. Is he scared?]

Wan Linqing returned to her seat and looked smugly toward the door, convinced she already had victory in the bag.

Just as everyone was discussing it, Chu Xinghui finally appeared in the doorway...