I've Got Plenty of Strength and Tricks!

[What a perfect description of those two-sneaking around like dogs!]

[They've definitely got guilty consciences. Why else would they try to slip away?]

[What's by the river? Huh? Wait, isn't that the crew of that hugely popular travel variety show?]

[Idiots, Let's Go? Holy shit, is this a crossover? Or a coincidence?]

[Probably a crossover, since they're boarding the ship tonight too. Should've figured it out ages ago!]

While the comments were still speculating, Director Meng had already led his team over to coordinate with the crew of "Idiots, Let's Go."

The young directors exchanged pleasantries.

"Yang, your ratings have been pretty good lately. Looks like you've got a shot at Best Entertainment Variety Show Director at the end of the year. If you really win, I'll throw you a celebration!"

"Meng, I'm nowhere near your level. No matter how good my ratings are, they can't beat your number-one trending spot. The Best Director award has your name on it!"

"Yang, don't say that. We're only halfway through the year. Who knows whether a dark horse will emerge in the second half? Besides, that top spot is only temporary. Couldn't you overtake me in no time?"

"Meng, our show can't compare to yours. Our guests aren't even in the same league. I've got washed-up celebrities, and you've got domineering CEOs. How could we possibly overtake you?"

"Yang, you're being too modest!"

"Meng, I'm just self-aware!"

"Then here's to our upcoming collaboration..."

"A happy one, definitely!"

They reached out and shook hands for barely a second before pulling apart as though electrocuted.

As each turned away, the smiles instantly vanished from their faces,

as though their earlier warmth and familiarity had been nothing but a fleeting dream.

An assistant leaned over in confusion. "Director Meng, didn't you two study under the same mentor? Why would you..."

Director Meng gave him a sidelong glance. "So what if we did? What a joke. Other than tearing each other apart, what purpose do fellow disciples serve?"

"In entertainment, it's kill or be killed."

"He wants to fight me for Best Director?"

"He can try in his next life!"

After Chen Bei hauled the third and fourth young masters back to the filming location, he overheard the exchange between Director Meng and his assistant.

His brow furrowed slightly as he recalled the original novel's plot-

To add variety to the show, the author had invented plenty of details.

All sorts of unhinged shows had dream crossovers, helping the lead top and lead bottom venture ever further down their melodramatic romantic path...

Besides Meng,

the director of "Idiots, Let's Go" was also extremely famous.

Known as entertainment's Ghost Dread, he particularly enjoyed putting his guests through hell,

claiming grandly that reforming the variety-show market had tremendous prospects, and that failing to break new ground would let down viewers who wanted to do nothing but lie flat all day.

So he had handpicked several highly controversial washed-up celebrities for the show. One bizarre task followed another, and the results were both unhinged and satisfying. Its very first season had already reached unprecedented heights for a variety show of its kind.

Meng choosing to collaborate with him was only to be expected.

He knew Ghost Dread Brother Shit's methods all too well. Sending the domineering CEOs here was what everyone wanted.

After all, filming exclusively in the villa was too monotonous...

That was how the original plot had unfolded, except there was now one additional variable-the previous Assistant Chen had been schemed into dismissal by Qin Yufan just days into filming, long before the crossover.

Standing in front of the monitor, Yang Shuo glanced over as though casually, looked Chen Bei up and down, and clicked his tongue twice. "Nothing special."

The assistant director lowered his voice. "Director, this assistant is pretty formidable on the show. His comebacks cut like knives."

"So what?" Yang Shuo raised an eyebrow. "Which of our washed-up guests wasn't full of defiance and resentment when they first arrived?"

"Haven't I brought them all into line now?"

He paused, then added, "Those domineering CEOs are the tricky ones. If they really dig in their heels and refuse to film, there's absolutely nothing we can do."

The assistant director looked worried. "Then what do we do?"

"Take it one step at a time. In any case, I don't believe some lowly assistant can keep CEOs under his thumb. It's just for show." Having delivered his verdict, Yang Shuo picked up his walkie-talkie. "Attention, all departments."

"Get ready for the guests to enter."

"Start with introductions, then launch straight into the tasks!"

He turned to ask the planner, "What were the tasks again?"

The planner said quietly, "Do a sexually suggestive dance, perform flips, demonstrate a fire-breathing snake..."

"Good."

Yang Shuo nodded, looking utterly confident that he would put them through the wringer.

Ten minutes later, Chen Bei stood on the left with the four young masters and two guest stars.

On the right stood the original guests of "Idiots, Let's Go": two male omegas and two female alphas.

The moment the camera swept over them, the livestream audience cracked up.

[It's actually them?! Those washed-up celebrities Director Yang puts through hell?!]

[Their legends have spread far and wide?]

[I've had the pleasure of watching two seasons. Nearly laughed myself into a heart attack!]

[They may be washed-up, but they're definitely no small fry! Each has more haters than the last!]

[People have even fought over who they should hate on first!]

Unaware of the discussion in the comments, Chen Bei tilted his head slightly to look beside him, pushed up his black-framed glasses, and smiled. "Hello, washed-up celebrities."

...Damn Truth-Telling System!

The washed-up celebrities clearly knew exactly where they stood. Hearing the disparaging label, they merely curled their lips contemptuously without a word.

So, while the host delivered the opening remarks, Chen Bei quickly reviewed the character profiles of this show's guests.

Hmm.

They all look pretty good, but each has their own distinctive way of being washed-up.

The first male omega was Qiu Chen. His family ran a chain of private hospitals. He had become embroiled in a plastic-surgery controversy immediately after his debut and was slammed as an artificial AI product.

The second male omega was Lu Ze, an impoverished university student who had debuted through a talent competition. Nicknamed the male fox spirit, he allegedly traded sex with directors for opportunities.

The third female alpha, Yue Lianshan, was a veteran actress despite her youth. She used her status and position to suppress and forcibly possess male stars. After paparazzi exposed her hiring male escorts, her already precarious reputation took another blow.

The fourth female alpha, Yu Qingqing, frequently treated others with contempt because of her powerful financial backing and bullied people on set. She was the entertainment industry's notorious Evil Little Princess.

So,

why did the third and fourth young masters run the moment they saw the guests?

Could something have happened that couldn't bear the light of day?

Chen Bei raised a hand to rub his chin. Let me think.

His eyes suddenly lit up as inspiration shot straight to the top of his head.

So the two of them had competed to keep that university boy?!

After announcing the tasks, the host let the guests mingle.

A flash of malice crossed Luo Yu's eyes. He walked up beside someone and lowered his voice. "You'd better keep your mouth shut. Otherwise, you know, I've got plenty of strength and tricks..."

Lu Ze suddenly raised his hand toward the camera. "I've got something to expose!"

"The president of Luo Group's international subsidiary,"

"lasts no time at all. He's done in three minutes!"

Luo Yu's eyes widened in panic. "Lu Ze, stop talking bullshit! I'll sue you for defamation..."

"I have video evidence." Lu Ze held up his phone. "I'm not even scared of going to court!"

[Hahaha, fuck, seriously? Send me a copy of that video!]

[This show really is unhinged!]

Happy New Year, sweethearts! In the new year, may you succeed in your studies, have everything go smoothly at work, get rich, grow more beautiful, and be loved!