"Hello, World" released its latest announcement.
Due to an unforeseen accident that had injured two guests, filming for the Mount Pingqiao episode would be postponed.
The production team repeatedly stressed that they would wait for the two guests to adjust their schedules and resume filming, and wished them both a speedy recovery.
As for the more than half a day of footage already livestreamed, they would edit it into the first half of the episode and release it on the platform.
The sudden disaster weighed on everyone's minds. Most viewers were understanding people to begin with, and especially when faced with two injured guests, their responses were uniformly well-wishes and consolation.
Yet shortly after this Weibo post went up, an entertainment account in the industry broke a bombshell.
"Did anyone watch that recent livestream where they ran into a geological disaster? The identities of the two injured guests are quite something-honestly more exciting than a novel. Anyone want to hear?"
Nan Qing and Bai Ruanruan were both hot topics, and as soon as this Weibo post appeared, paid trolls and netizens poured in together, instantly driving its popularity up.
"A certain actor with a mountain of scandals got the royal treatment in the script and deliberately put on a show to win public favor. Meanwhile, the poor little newcomer who'd just entered the industry didn't understand a thing and nearly got sacrificed in his very first variety show."
"LMAO, there are actually still so many people chasing after NQ calling him baby, and saying he's some little prince in a castle? Does nobody really know that he took someone else's place and spent over twenty years living as a wealthy family's young master?"
"Bai Ruanruan is the one who really has it rough. His life was stolen when he should have been enjoying those material comforts, and when he finally got his own life back, his persona got stolen on the show too. Does Nan Qing steal absolutely everything from other people?"
"What kind of people are fans of Nan Qing, anyway? Everything from his identity to his persona is fake, okay? Don't tell me people actually like that plastic-surgery face?"
"Does anyone still not know about Nan Qing's scandals? Terrible acting, diva behavior, scowling at his seniors-there's no defending that, is there?"
"Is that little celebrity who just debuted called Bai Ruanruan? Poor thing. I'm becoming his fan!"
Nan Qing had also won considerable goodwill through his ordeal on the livestream, even gaining nearly two million followers. But he had plenty of former rivals and haters, and faced with this onslaught of scandals, his fans' fighting power was nowhere near enough.
Comments clarifying the situation were drowned out the instant they were posted.
Some people had merely posted a sentence expressing doubt before being banned for supposedly violating community communication guidelines.
Quite a few people even flooded the Weibo accounts of Nan Qing's former rivals, Lin Tang and Yu Xingyan, asking what they thought of Nan Qing, eager to stir up more drama.
The more netizens joined in, the more popular the post became, and the higher it climbed on the trending list.
Meanwhile, Bai Ruanruan, at the center of the controversy, claimed the public's sympathy. As his popularity soared again, he gained another five hundred thousand followers.
Lying in his hospital bed, Bai Ruanruan was walking on air.
He knew his dreams never lied to him. Though the process had been a little convoluted, he held a good hand, and sure enough, he had turned his reputation around again.
His only regret was that Nan Qing hadn't died and had miraculously survived once more.
With that resentment, Bai Ruanruan posted an ambiguous message on his Moments.
"I want no lighthouse, nor do I look at shipping routes.
The world lies beneath my feet. There's no need to fight over anything; I have my own boat."
The moment this Moments post went up, someone took a screenshot and posted it online, showering it with praise.
The comments became even livelier, with people saying all sorts of things.
"LMAO, Brother Life really isn't afraid of a shipwreck."
"I'm speechless. This guy called Ruanruan is so dramatic. For two days straight, every time I open Weibo, there he is. I want to gouge my eyes out!"
"You can't see such an obvious marketing ploy? What a white lotus!"
But before long, all these contentious remarks disappeared, and public opinion quickly swung around.
"You can tell little Bai Ruanruan is a good boy who doesn't fight or compete for anything! He doesn't even dare catch fish. He respects every life-you can tell he's a very caring kid!"
"I get Bai Ruanruan! He's practically the face of us ISFPs, okay? Just who's trashing Bai Ruanruan? He's suffered so much at such a young age. Don't those paid trolls feel any guilt?"
"The entertainment industry is full of snobs. Only newcomers like him haven't been corrupted yet. I'm a fan!"
"I'm going to be one of Ruanruan's first fans! Nobody fight me for it!"
Bai Ruanruan fiddled with his phone, looking with satisfaction at his thriving comment section, and once again experienced the joys of being a celebrity.
Through this show, he had indeed achieved his first step toward modest fame. He believed that before long, when filming began for "Journey through Luo," his life would reach explosive stardom!
At that thought, Bai Ruanruan began searching for his future husband, Xi Juan, again.
After all, in the near future, the two of them would join hands as husbands and dominate the entertainment industry.
The instant the page refreshed, the latest news popped up, and Bai Ruanruan's eyes widened.
#Xi Juan
#Contract termination
#Lost opportunities
How could Xi Juan possibly be associated with losing opportunities?
Xi Juan was born to be a superstar, a top-tier star among award-winning actors, with countless brands clamoring to work with him.
Later in the plot, Xi Juan had even bought him a villa with the fees from just five advertisements!
Money that had been within his grasp was slipping away. Furious, Bai Ruanruan sent Xi Juan a message.
"Hello, this is Ruanruan. If you don't want to fade into obscurity, stay away from Nan Qing from now on. He's a jinx. Anyone who gets involved with him has bad luck!"
A moment later, still uneasy, he called him.
Only to discover that Xi Juan had already blacklisted him.
Night had fallen, and the moon hung outside the window.
Through the clean, enormous floor-to-ceiling windows, the vast estate spread out before him.
The breeze carried mingled floral fragrances, occasionally accompanied by an insect's call or two.
The fair-skinned, beautiful young master sat by the window amid the fragrance of flowers and checked the time on his phone.
It was already nine at night. He should bathe and get some rest.
But he was staying in Huo Yuzhou's room and sleeping in Huo Yuzhou's bed. While he had been ill and half-conscious, he hadn't thought much of it, but now that he had mostly recovered, he couldn't keep letting Huo Yuzhou take care of him with such an easy conscience.
Nan Qing slowly rose, dragging his injured leg as he prepared to go to the bathroom.
Yet he had only just stood when a sound came from the doorway. The tall man strode over and supported him by the waist.
"Do you need the bathroom, baby?"
Nan Qing's ears flared hot.
Over the past two days, when his fever had left him muddleheaded, Huo Yuzhou had carried him to the bathroom more than once.
He had even been kind enough to hold it for him.
Nan Qing's eyelashes fluttered. He sneaked a glance downward and hurriedly spoke.
"N-no, I want to go take a shower..."
Perhaps his reaction had been too obvious, for the man let out a low chuckle.
Huo Yuzhou was very patient, scooping him into his arms with practiced ease.
"You can have a quick wash, but you have lots of little wounds that haven't healed completely yet. A bath wouldn't be suitable."
After setting Nan Qing on a high stool, Huo Yuzhou rolled up his sleeves and adjusted the room to a suitable temperature before turning back, his fingers settling on the buttons of the soft shirt.
His movements were so fluid that Nan Qing took another half second to react before reaching out and catching Huo Yuzhou's fingertips.
The instant their fingers touched, the handsome man looked up in some surprise.
The young man with his back to the mirror had flushed cheeks, and even his neck was tinged faintly pink. He resembled some sweet, delectable little dessert, and his voice was particularly soft.
"I can do it myself..."
Huo Yuzhou merely smiled as he looked at him, his low voice perfectly frank.
"With your leg like that, how will you take off your pants?"
"Besides, we still need to wrap it in waterproof tape in a moment so the hot water doesn't soak your wound."
"Do we really need to stand on ceremony with each other, baby?"