"Thank you for your patience, everyone in the live stream! The recording of the second half of 'Hello, Pingqiao ' has officially begun!"
As the popularity of "Hello, World" soared, a Weibo slowly climbed to the top of the trending topics.
Bai Ruanruan: I have to temporarily leave the show recording because of an injury. I really will miss everyone. Dear Director Xu, handsome Teacher Xi, knowledgeable Professor Chen, considerate Tangtang, generous Brother Xingyan, and straightforward Nan Qing, see you next time! # Hello, World # Bai Ruanruan
As soon as this Weibo post was published, the comments section immediately refreshed:
"Hilarious! I have a reasonable suspicion that Brother Life did it on purpose. Everyone knows that Brother Big Head hates it when people call him big and square, Bai Ruanruan directly called him generous!"
" Nan Qing is so straightforward... Brother Life, we're not stupid, why don't you just tell him he has no manners!"
"Wow... handsome Teacher Xi~~~ Whose fan is about to lose their composure? I won't tell!"
"No, it's been almost a month since the mudslide injury, and this Yingying drama is still going on? Are they addicted to hype?"
" Nan Qing, who suffered the same injury as him, has fully recovered and is even on TV, while this guy is still holed up at home picking his toes."
Seeing the negative sentiment in the comments section, Bai Ruanruan posted a second Weibo:
"Thank you everyone for your concern. My previous injury has healed. I hurt my hand this time while rescuing a poor little dog stuck in the sewer. /Image"
The attached photo shows Bai Ruanruan wearing white loungewear, with a small dog curled up on his lap, his outstretched hands wrapped in bandages, and a gentle, warm smile on his face as he faces the camera.
" Brother Life! I shouldn't have called you 'Yingying '! I apologize!"
"I suddenly understand Bai Ruanruan. He's such a kind person. Despite being a rich young master, he got injured while rescuing a stray dog!"
"Our Ruanruan looks like the kind of sweet, soft, kind, and cute boy. Was he being targeted by censors before?"
"I don't care! Bai Ruanruan is the kind of person who can only be darkened by the sun!"
"I love Ruanruan so much! For rescuing that puppy, you deserve a lifetime exemption from having your house collapsed in my hands!"
While Bai Ruanruan was gaining fans, her variety show appearances were also progressing smoothly.
Director Xu Zhen's voice-over comes from off-screen.
"In addition, due to an unexpected injury to our guest, Ms. Bai Ruanruan, she will not be able to continue participating in this half of the program. Therefore, we have a new guest—Mr. Xu Jing'an!"
The camera pans to a middle-aged man with a square face, who waves at the camera.
Hello everyone, I'm Xu Jing'an!
Before he could finish speaking, the live stream chat was already erupting into another argument.
"No, does the production team have a grudge against Nan Qing? Yu Xingyan, Lin Tang, Bai Ruanruan, and now Xu Jing'an has appeared. Do they have to find guests from Nan Qing's arch-enemies?"
"Why don't you just say Nan Qing has offended the whole world? It's like everyone has wronged him, it's hilarious."
" Nan Qing's brainless fans, stop jumping around. Teacher Xu Jing'an is a well-known veteran actor in the industry. It's a fact that Nan Qing insulted Teacher Xu Jing'an before. What's there to defend?"
"Whether it's rice noodles or steamed/boiled noodles, they're all a bunch of rude and uncivilized people."
The live stream was a chaotic mess, but things were barely amicable in front of the camera.
The second half of the mission has been released; we need to go to Pingqiao Village to find clues.
The group boarded the bus, which swayed and bumped along the mountain road.
Lin Tang, with her cheerful personality, read comments from the live chat while guiding viewers to interact with the audience.
A viewer with the ID " Your Brother Xi from Sheep Village " asked how Teacher Xi got injured, saying it looks quite serious!
For some reason, Nan Qing felt Xi Juan's gaze linger on her face for a second before curving his lips into a familiar, nonchalant smile.
I went to pick flowers last week and tripped and fell, but it wasn't a big deal.
He looked at the camera, his almond-shaped eyes curving upwards.
"The more beautiful the flower, the harder it is to pick; stumbling and falling along the way is inevitable."
"However, I'm the kind of person who won't give up until I hit a wall; the bigger the challenge, the more exciting it is for me."
"Who understands! There's a ruthless, immoral feeling in that smile from the Brother Wall-Crasher; it always feels like he's going to be a mistress for love!"
"Normal love is sweet, but abnormal love is even more exciting. Brother Wall-Crasher, I support you!"
"Hmm, I'd venture a guess: could it be that Teacher Xi got beaten up by someone's boyfriend for trying to steal her away?"
"Is the person upstairs crazy? It's just for the variety show, does anyone actually take it seriously?"
"I'm speechless... Who on earth is promoting Nan Qing to such an extreme? Xi Juan a low-class nobody like him be worthy of Xi Juan? He should just get out of the entertainment industry!"
Lin Tang's smile flashed, and she continued reading.
A viewer with the ID " Divorced with Two Fire-Breathing Turtles " asked, "Was the way Xu Jing'an and Nan Qing are seated so far apart by the production team? Are they worried that the two might get into a fight?"
After he finished reading it himself, he smiled and apologized first.
"I'm so sorry, I've had bad luck and kept drawing questions that would be difficult for everyone."
Nan Qing's gaze swept across the window and landed on Lin Tang's face.
Unfortunately, before he could speak, Xu Jing'an couldn't hold back any longer, his words sharp and barbed, his tone particularly aggressive.
"The rapid development of China's film and television industry in recent years has attracted both those who should and shouldn't be in the industry, all hoping to get a piece of the pie."
"Back in our day, people were all very dedicated to their work, respected their teachers, and worked well with their colleagues. The whole crew was like a family, working together to refine the script. The atmosphere is completely different now; all sorts of random people are getting in!"
As he spoke, he glanced at Nan Qing with a cold snort.
The boy sitting by the window remained calm, merely offering a slight twitch of his lips upon hearing the sound.
Xu Jing'an became even more smug, and this time he addressed him by his full name.
" Nan Qing, you're young, and in principle, I, a veteran in this industry, shouldn't hold it against you. But since this matter has been brought up by our audience, why don't we have a proper discussion?"
"I should be about the same age as your father, but considering you're younger, apologize to me, and I'll let bygones be bygones and not hold it against you."
Nan Qing toyed with the small flower she had picked before getting into the car, and glanced over slightly.
"I apologized to you, and you won't hold it against me?"
Facing the live stream camera, Xu Jing'an smiled magnanimously.
"Of course."
Nan Qing smiled gently, a sweet smile playing on her lips.
" Teacher Xu, look at yourself! You're acting like a human being again!"
Xu Jing'an's affected smile froze, and Director Xu spat out a mouthful of water.
Nan Qing gently swayed the little flower in her hand, smiling like a little devil, offering sweet blessings.
"I truly hope that your acting career, Teacher Xu, will be as rare as your good days ahead."
" Xu Jing'an is such a hypocrite, and Nan Qing's mouth is like it's been poisoned. Director Xu, your shows always catch my eye!"
"Who on earth is trying to whitewash Nan Qing? Isn't this rude enough?"
"He talks like that to senior figures in the industry, who knows how he bullies people behind their backs. No wonder Ruan Ruanruan doesn't participate in the show, she must be scared of him!"
"Is this really something you can say on a live stream? Nan Qing is too honest!"
"Has no one noticed? Nan Qing is very polite to everyone. He worked hard in the last episode, and in this episode, he helped Professor Chen move things before getting on the bus and even gave the PD a drink of water. Is there some hidden reason why he only has a bad temper with Xu Jing'an?"
"I'm speechless, Nan Qing's fans are trying to whitewash her again!"
The comments section erupted rapidly. Xi Juan, who was leaning against the window, bent down and snatched the tablet from Lin Tang's hands.
If your hands smell bad, find someone else.
Xi Juan's Xi Juan peach blossom eyes shimmered as he casually tapped the screen, then chuckled softly.
" Lin Tang, have you been targeting Qingqing because of that group photo where she was crushed?"
Lin Tang's face turned pale and ashen, and the atmosphere in the car became extremely awkward.
Yu Xingyan had been silent until now, finally spoke, seemingly puzzled.
"Which one? It can't be that photo of you Nan Qing standing together at the charity gala on the second floor of Huaguang Building on the 21st, which caused a stir online with discussions about you being a Photoshop monster who looks terrible in real life, and the trending search term being that Lin Tang's face looks like a freshly steamed, hot steamed bun?"
"I've saved it. Ms. Lin Tang, would you like to confirm it in front of the audience?"
Lin Tang's lips trembled slightly, and she gritted her teeth in resentment, remaining silent.
In the utterly silent standoff, director Xu Zhen's voice slowly broke the silence, tinged with embarrassment.
"We've arrived. Um, teachers... shall we get off the bus now?"
-
The bus came to a smooth stop at the village entrance. The morning air was cool, and many elderly people dressed in traditional clothing sat at the entrance, chatting and laughing, weaving something in their hands.
"These grandpas and grandmas must have been arranged by the production team, right?"
"The director said we should experience and inherit the straw weaving culture, so it looks like I'll have to find an apprentice to learn the craft!"
" Professor Chen, you're a local, you must know something about this. You'll have to help me out later!"
Facing the camera lens, the atmosphere in the group became lively again, as if the awkwardness from just moments ago had never happened.
Soon, everyone found a local craftsman to learn straw weaving.
The live stream returned to its lively yet calm atmosphere, but after a short while, a series of "?" appeared on the screen, and a flood of messages appeared.
"What exactly is Nan Qing doing?"
"Did he forget this is a live broadcast?"
"Is he crazy???"
"I'm speechless. Does he have to cause trouble to die?"