Filming begins

"Long time no see." Gu Nian'an gave Yu Songqing a faint smile.

Seeing him smile at him, Yu Songqing stiffened a little, then suddenly asked, "I heard you got married?"

Gu Nian'an froze. This wasn't in the original plot. How did Yu Songqing know the original owner was married? Still, he bit the bullet and answered, "Hmm? Who told you that?"

Yu Songqing said nothing and only stared at him. Unable to tell what Yu Songqing was feeling, Gu Nian'an merely returned a puzzled look.

Gu Nian'an looked the man before him up and down. Yu Songqing had long, narrow phoenix eyes that should have given him an amorous air, but their icy gaze concealed that quality.

Just then, the director's voice came through a megaphone nearby. "Everyone, come over here. We're about to start filming." Yu Songqing glanced at Gu Nian'an and turned to leave, only to be caught by the arm.

Yu Songqing's brows drew tightly together. "What do you want?" he asked impatiently.

Gu Nian'an hadn't expected such a strong reaction. He hurriedly let go and explained, "I wasn't feeling well a while ago and spent some time in the hospital. After I came out, I thought a lot of things through. I'm sorry for offending you before. It won't happen again."

With that, he quietly looked into the other man's eyes, as though waiting for an answer.

Yu Songqing hadn't expected him to say that either. He froze for a moment, then gave a derisive laugh. "Let's hope so." He briefly glanced over the young man before turning away.

The show's director was speaking to the camera. "Welcome to Leisurely Little House. Our guests will be living together for a month, and our destination is Lan City. We hope everyone has a wonderful month in Lan City."

The show aired as a livestream, making it exceptionally popular. After each livestream ended, the production team would also edit the footage and post it online.

The production team divided them into two groups. Best Actor Mu Chen, popular young actress Yun Bingxia, and singing diva Ji Baiwei formed one group, while he was grouped with Yu Songqing and rising singer Ji Yaozhi.

Each person started with 100 yuan. The production team would provide accommodation for the first week, but from the second week onward, each team had to pay 500 yuan a day for lodging and earn their own food money.

If they couldn't pay the full 500, they would have to stay outside and couldn't go to a hotel.

Since everything was livestreamed, there was no possibility of cheating, so the show had enjoyed immense popularity ever since it first aired.

The two groups went about their activities separately and would only gather in the evenings. For now, they were each heading out to buy supplies.

"You must be Gu Nian'an. I'm Ji Yaozhi. I look forward to spending the next month with you."

Gu Nian'an turned toward the voice. The man before him looked about twenty-four or twenty-five, with short hair and a seemingly wild, carefree air. Beneath straight, sword-like brows, a pair of amorous peach-blossom eyes regarded him with a smile.

This was the highly popular rising singer, Ji Yaozhi. In the novel, Ji Yaozhi was described as someone who liked what he liked and hated what he hated, clear-cut in his affections and dislikes.

At that thought, Gu Nian'an smiled too. "Hello, Mr. Ji. I look forward to spending the next month with you." He held out his hand to the man.

Seeing Gu Nian'an's outstretched hand, Ji Yaozhi's eyes brightened with a deeper smile. He reached out and shook the young man's hand. "Don't call me Mr. Ji. That's so distant. Just call me Yaozhi."

"Yaozhi."

Yu Songqing watched them, his expression growing increasingly inscrutable.

Just then, the livestream began, and a huge crowd instantly poured into the stream.

[Hurry up and let me see my fave!]

[Why is that Gu Nian'an here too? Barf, what rotten luck.]

[Could a certain someone please stay away from our Yu Songqing?]

[A brazier to ward off bad luck.]

[+10086]

[Doesn't anyone think Gu Nian'an is really good-looking?]

[The paid trolls are here, huh?]

[Good looks don't change the fact that he's a garbage person.]

The cameraman and the three men left the accommodation arranged by the production team and went out onto the street. Gu Nian'an quietly asked, "Are we going to buy groceries now?"

Ji Yaozhi answered, "We'll head straight back after buying groceries. There aren't many tasks on the first day."

Yu Songqing glanced at Gu Nian'an without saying anything.

[My fave doesn't even want to acknowledge that pretty face. You can tell he's been bullied by him.]

[They used to be teammates, after all. He knows better what that pretty face is like and doesn't even want to speak to him.]

After buying a pile of ingredients, they had a little over 200 yuan left. They returned to their accommodation just as Ji Baiwei and the other two came back, and discussed what to do about dinner.

Seeing Ji Yaozhi's group return, Yun Bingxia's eyes immediately lit up. "Yaozhi, you're back! Who's going to make dinner? None of us three can cook."

Ji Yaozhi froze at that. Tsk, I forgot about that. I can't cook either. He turned to ask the two beside him, "Songqing, Nian'an, can either of you cook?"

Yu Songqing shook his head. His meals were all handled by a housekeeper and a nutritionist; cooking for himself was out of the question.

Ji Yaozhi turned to Gu Nian'an with a questioning look.

Gu Nian'an rubbed his fingers together a little awkwardly, hesitation in his eyes as he said, "I can make a few home-style dishes, but I'm worried they might not suit your tastes. They're fairly ordinary. Is that okay?"

Although he could cook, his mother often complained that his food tasted terrible. He didn't know whether these celebrities, accustomed to fine food, would find it acceptable.

Seeing the young man's hesitation, Mu Chen hurriedly encouraged him. "Home-style cooking sounds great. Having anything to eat is good enough. Otherwise, we'd be living on instant noodles for the next few days."

Ji Baiwei smiled and agreed. "We'll eat whatever you make, Xiao Gu. Go ahead and don't worry. It'll taste better than instant noodles or whatever we'd throw together." At that, Yun Bingxia ran over and handed Gu Nian'an an apron, saying cheerfully, "Sorry for the trouble. Don't get your clothes dirty. I can't handle much spice, but anything else is fine."

Gu Nian'an looked at the lively young woman before him and reached out to take the apron. Looking up, he asked, "Does anyone have any dietary restrictions? Or anything you like to eat?"

"No. Just make whatever you like, Xiao Gu."

"Same here," Mu Chen casually agreed.

Gu Nian'an smiled faintly and slipped on the apron. "I'll get started, then. Everyone can rest for a while." He turned and headed into the kitchen.

[I can't stand this. Can that pretty face even cook? Don't try to play the hero if you can't.]

[These people are so good-tempered. They can actually speak nicely to that scumbag.]

[Exactly, comment above. They've got class.]

[Waiting for Gu Nian'an to show his true colors.]

[Waiting.]

Ji Baiwei and Yu Songqing went upstairs to shower, while Ji Yaozhi started cleaning. Mu Chen went into the kitchen to help Gu Nian'an wash vegetables.

"Nian'an, can I call you Nian'an?" Mu Chen asked as he trimmed the vegetables.

Gu Nian'an, who was chopping vegetables, paused and glanced at the Best Actor trimming vegetables beside him. This actor had found fame at a young age and, after reaching adulthood, won the Best Actor award in one fell swoop with The Emperor's Heart.

Everything had been so rushed earlier that he hadn't taken a proper look at him. On closer inspection, the man was extremely handsome, with perfectly shaped lips. His eyes, in particular, gave him a gentle, refined air even when he wasn't smiling.

That did indeed match his gentle, refined personality.

But Mu Chen really disliked the original owner in the book. Why was he suddenly being so friendly? "Of course." In any case, he just needed to avoid offending him for now.

Watching the young man freeze at the way he addressed him, a trace of amusement flashed through Mu Chen's eyes. To him, the young man was simply feeling shy about being addressed that way. He chuckled. "You can just call me Mu."

Gu Nian'an nodded silently.

Mu Chen added, "I almost believed what people were saying about you. Now that I've met you, I can see those rumors can't be trusted." As he spoke, he studied the young man quietly chopping vegetables.

[Don't let this guy fool you, Best Actor!!]

[Barf. This Gu Nian'an is the best at putting on an act.]

[Stay away from our Best Actor Mu!]

[Bad luck! Begone!]

[That's a bit much, isn't it? Gu Nian'an hasn't even done anything yet.]

[Get lost, paid troll.]

[A passerby makes one casual comment and suddenly they're a paid troll. Hilarious.]

[Classic. "I'm just a passerby, not a fan."]

Gu Nian'an suddenly paused and said to Mu Chen, "I need to take care of something. I'll be right back. Please watch the stove." With that, he took some bread and went outside.

[What trouble is this guy going to stir up now?]

[Barf. He said he'd cook, so why did he run off?]

[Speechless. Just speechless.]