The seconds-counting challenge

The twelve celebrity guests on the show did not really know one another. At Su Tianle's question, the atmosphere suddenly fell flat.

Su Tianle's fans immediately grew unhappy in the live comments.

[Why is nobody answering our Lele? He's already scared, and nobody's even cheering him on.]

[Tsk, do none of them have any emotional intelligence?]

Lu Xingchen clapped and called out encouragingly, "You can do it! Good luck! No matter how many seconds you choose, completing it makes you the best!"

Zhu Wei, a slightly plump veteran host, quickly reacted and livened things up. "Good luck, Tianle! Don't be nervous!"

Huo Chuyun glanced at Lu Xingchen beside him. The boy smiled like a sunflower facing the morning sun, yet just a few days ago, this same boy had chased a crowd around with a chainsaw like a little demon.

[Holy crap, what a gorgeous boy! Which agency is he from? He's so sweet and handsome. I'm becoming a fan.]

[Our Chenchen is still the best-looking.]

[Didn't Lu Yichen's fans say their Chenchen was the entertainment industry's little sun, warming everyone in it? Why isn't he warming anyone now?]

[Our Chenchen doesn't even know Su Tianle.]

Su Tianle was attempting ten seconds. As long as he pressed the pause button between 10.00 and 10.99 seconds, he would pass the challenge.

Everyone fell silent.

Su Tianle looked back at Lu Xingchen gratefully, then turned around, took a few deep breaths, and pressed the start button.

After the timer above the hunter box displayed three seconds, a metal plate slowly covered it.

Four, five, six... nine, ten.

With a smack, Su Tianle pressed the pause button the instant his silent count reached ten.

"Too early, too early. That felt a little early. Yihao, let's get ready to run," Lu Yichen complained to Lu Yihao. He glanced at the little leather shoes on his feet and muttered unhappily.

"I would've worn sneakers if I'd known. Who knew this show would go this big?"

Lu Yihao looked at the muscular, powerfully built hunters inside the hunter box and tugged unhappily at his leather jacket.

"Why didn't the production team tell us to change into sportswear? Everyone else is wearing lightweight tracksuits. Are they targeting us on purpose?"

The live comments instantly erupted into an argument.

[What's going on? I only just noticed Haohao and Chenchen are dressed differently from everyone else. At first I thought this was some kind of runway show.]

[What is wrong with the production team?! You're deliberately suppressing our boys, aren't you?]

Some fans began hurling abuse in the live comments, while others had already rushed to Weibo and overrun the comments on the show's official account.

Lu Xingchen strolled leisurely as he chatted with Huo Chuyun, stretching his limbs now and then. "Chuyun, I think the timing was about right."

"Mm."

Huo Chuyun noticed that Lu Xingchen's shirt rode up as he stretched, exposing his fair, slender waist.

His gaze darkened. He looked back to check the camera's position, immediately stepped in front of Lu Xingchen, and reached out to pull his shirt down. "There are cameras. Be careful," he said calmly.

Lu Xingchen turned to study Huo Chuyun's expression. He kept feeling that Huo Chuyun was a little unhappy, and obediently replied, "Got it."

If Su Tianle's time fell outside the range of 10.00 to 10.99 seconds, the hunters would immediately be released and begin their pursuit.

As everyone held their breath, the metal plate covering the timer slowly rose.

10:40

Su Tianle had passed the challenge!

"Yes!" Su Tianle jumped with delight and stepped out of the seconds-counting area. Having completed his challenge, he could leave ahead of the others and enter the game area.

"Everyone, I'm heading off first. Good luck!"

[That's our Lele! He's so ridiculously sweet, I want to sit on him and squash him to death.]

[Girl above, you have some pretty unique tastes.]

[Lele, Lele, someone's bound to ask: how are you so cute?]

Lu Yichen was next to take the challenge.

Fifty seconds remained, which the remaining four acceleration team members had to complete together.

Lu Yichen took his place in the seconds-counting challenge area, drew a few deep breaths, and pouted as he held up four fingers to Director Song.

"Director, can I just attempt four seconds?"

Director Song frowned. "The timer displays the first three seconds. If you choose four seconds, the other three team members will have to split the remaining forty-six seconds. Are you sure you only want four?"

"Director Song, aren't these the rules your production team made? The first four team members can choose how many seconds they want to attempt."

Lu Yichen smiled sweetly and continued, "The fifth contestant is my fourth brother, Lu Xingchen. I'm sure he can complete all the remaining time."

The live comments instantly exploded.

[Why does Lu Yichen seem so fake and manipulative?]

[+10086]

[Chenchen is making reasonable use of the rules. You people don't know shit.]

[Lu Yichen is a grown man and he's only choosing four seconds. Does he have to be such a coward?]

[Just to add: the timer displays the first three seconds.]

[Metal plate: I haven't even finished lowering, and I have to go back up a second later.]

[What?! Did nobody notice what Lu Yichen said? That gorgeous boy who drew number five is Lu Xingchen!]

[Why does Lu Xingchen look different from before?]

[Lu Xingchen? He's coming back on a variety show right after getting work done? Isn't he worried his face will go crooked?]

Director Song nodded impatiently and signaled for Lu Yichen to begin.

Since it was only four seconds, Lu Yichen soon passed the challenge.

He smiled happily at the camera and waved goodbye to everyone still standing in the waiting area.

The third contestant was Jiang Jingyi. She had debuted in the center position of a girl group formed through a talent show, then terminated her contract with the company a year later to pursue a solo career.

With her outstanding looks and consistently strong professional skills, fans had dubbed her the number one female idol.

Jiang Jingyi wore her hair in a high ponytail and looked sharp and brisk. At Lu Yichen's choice to attempt just four seconds, she wrinkled her nose, her face full of question marks.

"Director, I'll attempt twelve seconds."

Since she worked in music, Jiang Jingyi had a very good sense of rhythm.

12:61

Jiang Jingyi completed the seconds-counting challenge, said goodbye to the remaining team members, and entered the game area ahead of them.

Thirty-four seconds remained. Lu Xingchen and Huo Chuyun would each need to take seventeen seconds to complete the challenge.

Ever since Lu Yichen began his challenge, the chill radiating from Huo Chuyun could have frozen a thousand miles. Seeing this, the other celebrities could not help moving farther away from Best Actor Huo, afraid of displeasing him further.

Only Lu Xingchen, who had just been fanning himself with his hand and complaining about the heat, could not help edging closer to Huo Chuyun, the source of the cool air.

Huo Chuyun had drawn number four. He saw not a trace of unease on Lu Xingchen's face; instead, the boy looked rather comfortable and relaxed.

Still, he patted Lu Xingchen's shoulder reassuringly and said quietly, "Don't be scared."

Lu Xingchen silently mouthed, "Good luck," at him.

Huo Chuyun gestured to the director. He would attempt twenty-one seconds, leaving thirteen for Lu Xingchen.

[Huo Chuyun is a real man.]

[Old man, I'll never roast you again. Right now, you're this thumbs-up.jpg.]

[Comparison really does hurt. Aren't Lu Yichen's fans embarrassed?]

[Did our Chenchen break any rules? He clearly asked the director. Did the director say he couldn't?]

[You're just jealous that our Chenchen is good-looking, makes money, and comes from a good family.]

[Clearly, our Chenchen really is famous now, with this many trolls hating on him.]

It had to be said that Lu Yichen's fans were formidable fighters, but they could not withstand the sheer number of casual fans and Huo Chuyun's fans.

If anyone asked which celebrity's fans were the most civil in the entertainment industry, the answer would undoubtedly be Huo Chuyun's.

Being civil did not mean they were weak in a fight.

Many of Huo Chuyun's fans were highly educated professionals, adults with money and qualifications. It was not that they never took issue with anything; they simply could not be bothered. When it came to arguing with reason and evidence, nobody could beat Huo Chuyun's fans.