[Does Chu Ci even deserve to be on this show?]
[I think the production team has lost it. With so many artists with both talent and integrity, why did they have to invite a playboy like Chu Ci?]
[No joke, can Chu Ci get the hell out of the entertainment industry?]
Pain.
The searing pain inside his body felt as though it would tear Chu Ci apart. He instinctively brought his fingers to his chest, his fringe partly obscuring the young man's beautiful eyes.
Chu Ci's long, thick lashes trembled slightly. Feeling the agonizing pain tearing through his body, he narrowed his eyes with casual indifference. The familiar taste of blood filled his mouth. Whatever it brought to mind, the handsome young man lowered his head and laughed to himself.
"What are the world's three oldest dramatic traditions?"
"Counting down. Three, two, one."
"Chu Ci, please answer."
Hearing the familiar name "Chu Ci," the young man lazily lifted his eyelids. Rather than answering the director's question directly, he casually surveyed his surroundings.
A rare trace of bewilderment appeared in his beautiful phoenix eyes.
Before him was not the familiar interstellar battlefield. There were no spacecraft, nor any familiar comrades... Instead, he saw an enormous sign with "Let's Fall in Love" written across it in large pink letters, with countless pink heart-shaped balloons arranged beside it.
Where was this?
Hadn't he already died on the battlefield?
[Is it just me, or does Chu Ci look kind of hot when he looks at the camera?]
[We're all buddies here. If there's money to be made, let us in on it.]
[Chu Ci really is hot. (Fifty cents.)]
[Chu Ci is cute??? Dude, you need to see an eye doctor.]
[Just a passerby here. Why does everyone hate Chu Ci so much?]
[Because Chu Ci is an obscure little nobody who loves clout chasing. How many celebrities has he tried to leech off? Not only that, he loves forcing CP pairings on people. He's an actor, but he never thinks about improving his acting. If anyone likes him, I'll laugh at them for the rest of my life.]
Watching Chu Ci stand there without moving, the director began to regret inviting him onto this dating show just to save money.
In recent years, the internet had been developing at an increasingly promising pace, and independent media had been drawing ever more traffic. To get a share of the internet's booming business, many production teams had begun livestreaming their shows while recording them to attract viewers' attention.
The advantage of livestreaming over recording first and editing afterward was that everything on a livestream happened in real time. Many popular variety shows now had scripts, and postproduction editing would cut any footage or behind-the-scenes clips unfavorable to the stars. Livestreams, on the other hand, sold themselves on "authenticity."
Even if the production team prepared scripts for the guests in advance, instinctive reactions could not lie. All sorts of unexpected situations could arise during filming, and the guests' reactions at those moments were what netizens most wanted to see.
In recent years, dating shows had grown increasingly popular in the entertainment industry, so the director had ridden that wave and created a variety show called "Let's Fall in Love."
The production team had limited funding, and he could not yet afford A-list or B-list stars. The biggest name among the guests invited onto this season of "Let's Fall in Love" was the C-list star Zhou Jin.
The rest were celebrities with neither popularity nor any notable work to their names.
Three years into his career, Chu Ci was known for "clout chasing" and "forced CP pairings," and he still had no notable work to his name. Had Chu Ci not offered to appear on the show for "zero pay," the director would never have taken leave of his senses and agreed to let him join "Let's Fall in Love."
What entertainment value could someone like Chu Ci possibly bring?
"Chu Ci, please answer."
The director helplessly rubbed between his brows and repeated himself.
Chu Ci said nothing.
"I hereby announce that Chu Ci has once again scored no points this round..."
Before the director could finish, a clear, youthful male voice interrupted him. "Ancient Greek tragedy and comedy, Indian Sanskrit drama, and Chinese opera."
At those words, enthusiastic cheers suddenly erupted on the set of "Let's Fall in Love."
"Am I seeing things? Is that Ye Qingzhou?"
"Is that really Ye Qingzhou?"
"How is he even more handsome in person than on TV?"
The newcomer wore a white shirt with a beautiful golden rose embroidered on the chest. He had a pair of lovely peach-blossom eyes, his gaze brimming with spring warmth. When the corners of his eyes curved slightly, they seemed capable of stealing people's very souls.
Seemingly noticing everyone's gazes, Ye Qingzhou raised a brow slightly. A smile curved his thin lips, and the slight upward tilt of his eyes somehow lent him a touch of wildness. "Director, was my answer correct?"
Silence.
The scrolling comments paused briefly, then began multiplying at an uncontrollable speed.
[Ye Qingzhou!!! Aaaaaah!!!]
[Can someone tell me why I'm seeing Ye Qingzhou on a dating show!!!]
[My eyes aren't playing tricks on me, are they? It's actually Ye Qingzhou?]
[Aaaaaah! It really is Ye Qingzhou!]
[? Why is my husband on a dating show?]
[Ye Qingzhou, you'd better give me an explanation. [sobbing.jpg]]
[If I remember correctly, isn't "Let's Fall in Love" a low-budget variety show? The director can't even afford B-list stars. How does he have the money to invite a top star like Ye Qingzhou?]
Never mind the barrage of comments-even the director himself found it utterly unbelievable.
Looking at Ye Qingzhou, who had suddenly appeared, his mind went blank, and even his voice trembled. "You... what brings you here? I... I remember the production team didn't invite... why didn't you let me know beforehand..."
Anyone who had spent time in the entertainment industry should have heard the name "Ye Qingzhou." No one knew what he had done before. All they knew was that three years ago, he had broken through the competition with a historical detective drama and won "Best Newcomer" at the Starlight Awards, the country's most prestigious awards. That same year, Ye Qingzhou had also appeared in a suspense film full of twists and won "Best Actor" at the Starlight Awards.
With his handsome looks and masterful acting, Ye Qingzhou had become an overnight sensation. His name had rapidly taken over the top trending headlines on Weibo, marketing accounts, and short videos. His follower count had surged, breaking ten million in just a few months and making him the entertainment industry's biggest dark horse.
This was Ye Qingzhou's third year since his debut, but he had already firmly established himself as a top star. Over the past two years, he had appeared in a succession of television dramas and films across genres including suspense, criminal investigation, xianxia, urban fiction, and xuanhuan, successfully earning a reputation as an actor of genuine skill.