Arc 1The Red Thread in the Woods

Pei Yubai joined a travel livestream in Cloud-Hidden Town, where he repeatedly encountered the mysterious Qiguan Yuan and grew drawn to him. After Qiguan Yuan said he would soon leave to meet an old acquaintance, Pei Yubai went alone into the woods at dawn.

  • The production team announced that Pei Yubai would join Travel to Those Little-Known Places, and his arrival in Cloud-Hidden Town drew intense attention from viewers.
  • After getting lost while picking mushrooms, Pei Yubai led the group to Qiguan Yuan’s secluded home, and Qiguan Yuan guided them back through the fog.
  • Pei Yubai repeatedly encountered Qiguan Yuan during the marriage-fortune tasks, won a private courtyard, and tied a private wish to the marriage tree.
  • Pei Yubai found Qiguan Yuan bathing in a hot spring, helped him put on his shoes and socks, and later saved a GIF of him from Weibo.
  • Qiguan Yuan joined Pei Yubai’s livestream, then gave him a task at Yue Lao Temple to bury a fortune slip beneath the old plum tree.
  • Qiguan Yuan read viewers’ comments aloud, told a fan he would soon leave, and asked Pei Yubai whether he liked him.
  • Qiguan Yuan took Pei Yubai’s phone and said there was no need to give his love to someone just passing through, then left the temple.
  • At dawn, Pei Yubai left a message for Meng Xu and headed alone down the mountain toward the remote back woods.
Chapters 1–25 Vol. 1 Read

Ch. 1A Baffling Official Announcement

Travel to Those Little-Known Places announced its first season and revealed five guests, but listing Pei Yubai without a photo or introduction caused the announcement to explode online. The chapter ended by establishing Pei Yubai as a celebrated actor with immense talent, wealth, and influence.

  • The production team announced that Travel to Those Little-Known Places would begin filming in October and visit Cloud-Hidden Town first.
  • The production team revealed five regular guests: Ji Shiyu, Cheng Yanqiu, Jiang Wantang, Shen Yuzhou, and Lin Yanru.
  • The announcement listed Pei Yubai by name alone, without a photograph or introduction, and his name set off a wave of online attention.
  • The chapter recounted Pei Yubai's rise to fame, including his three Best Actor awards and acclaimed performances.
  • The chapter revealed that Pei Yubai came from the wealthy and influential Pei family, giving him the freedom to choose his projects and refuse work.

Ch. 2So where exactly was Pei Yubai going?

Pei Yubai’s surprise variety-show debut on Travel to Those Little-Known Places sent fans and viewers into a frenzy after he casually announced he was “Going for fun.” The chapter ended with his destination still undisclosed.

  • The official cast announcement revealed that Pei Yubai, known for avoiding variety shows, had joined Travel to Those Little-Known Places.
  • An industry blogger said that Meng Xu, Pei Yubai’s childhood friend and the show’s producer, had persuaded him to join after he finished filming a movie.
  • Pei Yubai reposted the announcement with the words “Going for fun,” drawing more than a million combined reposts, comments, and likes.
  • Fans and casual viewers flocked to the show’s account, which grew from fewer than twenty thousand followers to three million in an hour.
  • Viewers noticed that Pei Yubai’s cast listing showed no photo or destination, leaving fans to ask where he was going.

Ch. 3The livestream begins, gathering together

The livestream of season one of "Travel to Those Little-Known Places" began as the six celebrity guests gathered in a parking lot. Pei Yubai arrived last, and his close, teasing exchange with Shen Yuzhou left viewers wondering whether they were brothers.

  • The livestream opened with a waiting screen, then showed six celebrity vans as viewers flooded the comments asking for Pei Yubai.
  • Ji Shiyu arrived first, followed by Cheng Yanqiu and Jiang Wantang, who greeted the others quietly.
  • Shen Yuzhou arrived chatting loudly, greeted Ji Shiyu, and joked with Cheng Yanqiu.
  • Lin Yanru arrived and noticed that Pei Yubai was still missing, prompting Shen Yuzhou to wonder if he would bail.
  • Pei Yubai arrived with a suitcase, and Shen Yuzhou rushed over to greet him and fussed over his weight and hair.
  • Pei Yubai teased Shen Yuzhou about his bright outfit, lightly smacked the back of his head, and walked on as viewers speculated that they were brothers.

Ch. 4First stop, Cloud-Hidden Town

The cast traveled to Cloud-Hidden Town, a remote mountain village without cell service or Wi-Fi, where they would complete tasks for points to earn better food and accommodations. After arriving and admiring the village, they were told to settle into guesthouses and begin the program the next morning.

  • Pei Yubai reserved the seat beside him with his coat, while Shen Yuzhou sat elsewhere and accepted a sandwich from Cheng Yanqiu.
  • Meng Xu explained the season's point system and warned the cast that Cloud-Hidden Town had no cell service, Wi-Fi, supermarket, or food delivery.
  • The cast rode through increasingly rough and remote roads as the scenery changed from city streets to mountains and dense forest.
  • The bus reached Cloud-Hidden Town, where Shen Yuzhou, Cheng Yanqiu, Ji Shiyu, Lin Yanru, Jiang Wantang, and Pei Yubai admired the village and its surroundings.
  • Meng Xu welcomed the cast and directed them to unpack at the prepared guesthouses before the program began the next morning.

Ch. 5Yue Lao Temple

Pei Yubai went for an early-morning run, visited Cloud-Hidden Town’s Yue Lao Temple, and told the livestream he did not believe in it. He returned to the guesthouse, where Shen Yuzhou and Cheng Yanqiu were waiting as Director Meng prepared to announce the day’s activities.

  • Pei Yubai went for a morning run while cameraman Xiao Chen filmed him from a distance.
  • Pei Yubai found Yue Lao Temple and listened as an old caretaker told him the legend of Yue Lao and Cloud-Hidden Town’s tradition of praying for good marriages.
  • Pei Yubai looked at the Yue Lao statue, then left the temple and continued running back to the guesthouse.
  • Pei Yubai told viewers that his film "Undercurrent" would come out at the end of the year and said he did not believe in the temple’s efficacy.
  • Pei Yubai returned to the guesthouse, where Shen Yuzhou and Cheng Yanqiu were waiting and Shen Yuzhou said Director Meng would announce the day’s plans.

Ch. 6The House

Meng Xu sent the cast into the mountains to pick mushrooms, but thick mist left them lost and without phone signal. They found a carefully kept wooden house in the forest, and Pei Yubai opened its unlocked door after no one answered his knocks.

  • Meng Xu told everyone to pick mushrooms individually and return before noon, and the group entered the woods with bamboo baskets.
  • Shen Yuzhou, Ji Shiyu, and Cheng Yanqiu collected mushrooms as the mist thickened, while Pei Yubai picked only a few.
  • Lin Yanru discovered that no one had phone signal, and the group realized they could no longer find the path back.
  • Shen Yuzhou spotted a wooden house in a clearing, and Ji Shiyu said it looked inhabited.
  • Pei Yubai walked ahead, knocked twice on the door, and pushed it open when no one answered.

Ch. 7That Seems a Little Rude

Pei Yubai and the others followed a path through a mysterious residence and met a silver-haired man in red behind a screen. The chapter ended with the group and the viewers stunned by his appearance.

  • Pei Yubai led the group into a courtyard where a huge elm tree was covered in red threads.
  • Pei Yubai and the others passed through a moon gate and a covered walkway to a pond and pavilion.
  • A voice behind a folding screen remarked that disturbing someone's peace seemed rude, leaving Shen Yuzhou and the others transfixed.
  • Pei Yubai explained that they had gotten lost in the fog and asked for directions, and the unseen speaker invited them in.
  • Pei Yubai and the others entered the pavilion and saw a silver-haired man in red reclining beside a Go board.

Ch. 8Qiguan Yuan

The group met Qiguan Yuan in a hidden pavilion, and he offered to guide them out of the woods. After leading them to the stream at the forest’s edge, he returned alone while Pei Yubai watched him disappear into the fog.

  • Qiguan Yuan introduced himself after the group explained that they had gotten lost while picking mushrooms and were filming a show.
  • Qiguan Yuan learned that the visitors were staying in Cloud-Hidden Town and warned that outsiders struggled to find their way out of the woods.
  • Qiguan Yuan led the group through the forest while repeatedly looking at Pei Yubai.
  • Qiguan Yuan brought the group to a stream at the woods’ edge and told them not to wander into the forest again.
  • Qiguan Yuan walked back into the fog, and Pei Yubai remained behind watching him.

Ch. 9Something was off about Qiguan Yuan

After the group returned from the foggy woods, Meng Xu explained the show’s points system, while Pei Yubai remained preoccupied with the mysterious Qiguan Yuan. Pei Yubai decided he wanted to investigate why Qiguan Yuan and his secluded residence seemed so strange.

  • Pei Yubai and the others returned to Cloud-Hidden Town, where Meng Xu had been waiting for them.
  • Meng Xu counted their mushrooms, with Cheng Yanqiu collecting the most and Pei Yubai collecting only three poisonous-looking mushrooms.
  • Meng Xu explained that contestants earned separate points they could spend on better accommodation, extra food, and special privileges.
  • After the others went off to rest or explore, Pei Yubai asked Meng Xu about the person living in the residence, but Meng Xu admitted he knew little about him.
  • Pei Yubai recalled that Qiguan Yuan's residence had no electrical appliances and that he could not remember the route there, making him determined to investigate Qiguan Yuan.

Ch. 10Fated Marriage Village

Meng Xu led the group on a mission to visit the Yue Lao Temple on Cloud-Hidden Mountain, first taking them through Fated Marriage Village in traditional clothing. As they explored the village, a red sleeve stirred beside an upstairs window.

  • Meng Xu explained that the group would visit the main Yue Lao Temple on Cloud-Hidden Mountain by way of Fated Marriage Village.
  • The group chose hanfu, and Pei Yubai wore a simple frost-white robe with his hair partly pinned up.
  • The group set off for the mountain, drawing admiring reactions when Pei Yubai appeared in his outfit.
  • They walked through Fated Marriage Village, where Shen Yuzhou remarked that it would be a perfect place to film a movie.
  • Pei Yubai studied the old houses as a red sleeve stirred beside a second-floor window.

Ch. 11Marriage fortune sticks

Meng Xu sent the guests to search Fated Marriage Village for ten marriage fortune sticks, which would earn them points for their stay at the Temple of the Old Man Under the Moon. Pei Yubai found one stick after Qiguan Yuan took the only one at a nearby stall, and the old bamboo seller told Pei Yubai that his destined match would come to him.

  • Meng Xu explained the fortune-stick search and said the guests would stay at the Temple of the Old Man Under the Moon for two days, with accommodations and meals available in exchange for points.
  • Shen Yuzhou teamed up with Cheng Yanqiu, Ji Shiyu paired with Lin Yanru, Jiang Wantang searched alone, and Pei Yubai went off by himself.
  • Pei Yubai reached a stall and tried to take a marriage fortune stick, but Qiguan Yuan took it first and left after accepting it from the stall owner.
  • Pei Yubai asked the stall owner for another stick, learned there had only been one, and continued toward the mountain road.
  • Pei Yubai found two marriage fortune sticks at an old man's bamboo-goods stall and tucked one into his sleeve.
  • When the old man asked if Pei Yubai was seeking a match, Pei Yubai denied it, and the old man said his destined match would come to him.

Ch. 12Playing the Qin

The guests searched Fated Marriage Village for Qiguan Yuan, who held the last marriage fortune stick, but found him only when they heard him playing the qin. Qiguan Yuan offered to hand over the stick if one of them could beat him at Go, leaving the contest unresolved.

  • Meng Xu announced that Qiguan Yuan had the missing stick and that whoever got it before nightfall would win a private courtyard.
  • The guests searched the village for nearly two hours without finding Qiguan Yuan.
  • Pei Yubai, Shen Yuzhou, and Cheng Yanqiu stopped at an elderly woman's wonton stall, where they heard a qin being played nearby.
  • Shen Yuzhou spotted Qiguan Yuan playing the qin in an upstairs window, and Qiguan Yuan showed them the last stick and invited them upstairs.
  • Qiguan Yuan placed the stick on the table and challenged the guests to beat him at Go to claim it.

Ch. 13When golden wind meets jade dew

Lin Yanru and the others lost their games against Qiguan Yuan, but he gave the marriage fortune stick to Pei Yubai after their five-in-a-row match. Pei Yubai kept the fortune, and the group left Fated Marriage Village for Cloud-Hidden Mountain as Qiguan Yuan disappeared into the sunset.

  • Lin Yanru resigned from her Go match against Qiguan Yuan, and Shen Yuzhou, Cheng Yanqiu, Ji Shiyu, and Jiang Wantang each lost their five-in-a-row games to him.
  • Pei Yubai chose five-in-a-row and deliberately left an opening for Qiguan Yuan, then resigned when Qiguan Yuan made four in a row.
  • Qiguan Yuan gave Pei Yubai the marriage fortune stick and left, while Lin Yanru read its verse, “When golden wind meets jade dew.”
  • Pei Yubai noticed that five black stones formed a diagonal line on the board, put the fortune stick in his sleeve, and went to gather.
  • Meng Xu declared Pei Yubai the task winner and gave him the private courtyard, then the group set off for Cloud-Hidden Mountain.
  • Pei Yubai looked back at Fated Marriage Village and saw a distant glimpse of Qiguan Yuan’s dark red figure before it vanished.

Ch. 14Sky lanterns

The group climbed the fifteen hundred steps to Yue Lao Temple and arrived beneath a sky filled with rising lanterns. As they explored the enormous marriage tree, Pei Yubai spotted a monk.

  • Meng Xu told the group to take their time climbing the fifteen hundred steps to Yue Lao Temple.
  • Shen Yuzhou struggled with the climb while the others steadily made their way up the mountain in darkness.
  • Jiang Wantang noticed sky lanterns rising from the summit, and the group stopped to watch them fill the sky.
  • Shen Yuzhou led the group up the final steps to Yue Lao Temple, where they saw people writing marriage wishes beneath the lanterns.
  • The group explored the enormous tree covered in red cords, and Pei Yubai walked beneath its branches and saw a monk.

Ch. 15The monk

The guests met a mysterious monk at Yue Lao Temple, who invited them to write marriage wishes on blank slips. Pei Yubai wrote three characters and tied the slip to the tree, while the chapter ended with the livestream camera turning back toward the marriage tree and viewers spotting Qiguan Yuan.

  • The monk approached the guests, explained that visitors could write wishes for Yue Lao, and pointed them to blank slips and vermilion brushes.
  • Shen Yuzhou, Cheng Yanqiu, Ji Shiyu, Lin Yanru, and Jiang Wantang each wrote on a slip, while Pei Yubai wrote three characters and hid them from the others.
  • Pei Yubai tied his slip to the marriage tree, and the monk glanced at its three characters before reminding the guests to sleep early before morning prayers.
  • The guests left for the courtyard behind the temple, and Pei Yubai paused to look back at the lantern-lit clearing.
  • After Pei Yubai walked away, the camera operator turned the livestream toward the marriage tree, prompting viewers to call out Qiguan Yuan.

Ch. 16Answers

The livestream briefly captured Qiguan Yuan sitting in the marriage tree before he climbed down and tied an old marriage lot to a branch. After watching the guests depart, Qiguan Yuan returned to the temple, while the night’s lanterns and the temple bell marked the clearing’s quiet end.

  • The cameraman turned the livestream toward the marriage tree, revealing Qiguan Yuan sitting among its branches as viewers reacted excitedly.
  • Qiguan Yuan took a worn marriage lot from his sleeve and tied it to the tree after the monk warned him not to break a branch.
  • Qiguan Yuan told the monk he had come early because he had encountered things he could not make sense of, then paused to look toward the guests’ courtyard.
  • Shen Yuzhou and Cheng Yanqiu entered the rear courtyard, while Pei Yubai went to his private courtyard and shut the door.
  • The temple bell rang as the final lantern rose, its red silk catching on a branch; the monk left, and the clearing grew quiet.

Ch. 17Morning

Pei Yubai spent a peaceful night in his courtyard in Cloud-Hidden Town and woke feeling unusually rested. While running through the woods, he discovered Qiguan Yuan bathing in a hot spring, and Qiguan Yuan approached him after getting dressed.

  • Pei Yubai read his script in his courtyard, then slept through the night without his usual insomnia.
  • Pei Yubai messaged his assistant to check for houses for sale in Cloud-Hidden Town.
  • Pei Yubai went for an early morning run along a path beside the woods.
  • Pei Yubai found Qiguan Yuan bathing in a secluded hot spring and froze when he recognized him.
  • Qiguan Yuan put on a red robe and walked toward Pei Yubai.

Ch. 18Shoes and socks

Pei Yubai encountered Qiguan Yuan bathing in the hot spring and, flustered by his closeness, helped him put on his shoes and socks. After Qiguan Yuan left, Pei Yubai returned to his courtyard, still blushing and shaken.

  • Qiguan Yuan confronted Pei Yubai for peeking while he bathed and asked for his name.
  • Pei Yubai told Qiguan Yuan his name, and Qiguan Yuan teased him before asking him to put on his shoes and socks.
  • Pei Yubai carefully dressed Qiguan Yuan's feet, then watched him leave through the trees.
  • Qiguan Yuan asked whether Pei Yubai was staying in a private courtyard at the temple, and Pei Yubai nodded.
  • Pei Yubai returned to his courtyard and leaned against the gate, realizing his ears were still red.

Ch. 19Trending

Pei Yubai struggled to focus on his script after his intimate encounter with Qiguan Yuan, then searched Weibo and found Qiguan Yuan trending for his appearance in a livestream. He saved a GIF of Qiguan Yuan before returning to his script.

  • Pei Yubai took a cold shower, but memories of Qiguan Yuan kept distracting him from reading his monologue.
  • Pei Yubai opened Weibo and watched a trending GIF of Qiguan Yuan sitting on the matchmaking tree in red robes.
  • Pei Yubai read comments praising Qiguan Yuan's looks and voice, while viewers discussed his clothes and the variety show Travel to Those Little-Known Places.
  • Pei Yubai searched Qiguan Yuan's name and read posts analyzing his handmade-looking robes and identifying the area around his home.
  • Pei Yubai downloaded and saved the GIF of Qiguan Yuan, then picked up his script again.

Ch. 20Qiguan Yuan's breathtaking beauty

Pei Yubai encountered Qiguan Yuan outside their courtyards during the livestream and explained how the broadcast worked. Qiguan Yuan’s appearance sent the viewers into a frenzy before he walked away, and Pei Yubai followed him toward the Yue Lao Temple.

  • Pei Yubai changed into a light gray shirt before stepping outside as the livestream began.
  • Qiguan Yuan emerged from the opposite courtyard in a dark red changshan and asked why a camera was following Pei Yubai.
  • Pei Yubai explained that the show was livestreamed and that millions of people could watch in real time.
  • Qiguan Yuan leaned close to the camera, stunning viewers, including Wang Miao, with his appearance.
  • Qiguan Yuan called the livestream interesting, told Pei Yubai to enjoy filming, and walked away.
  • Pei Yubai followed Qiguan Yuan along the gravel path toward the Yue Lao Temple’s front hall.

Ch. 21Interpreting fortune sticks

During a task-hunting challenge at the Yue Lao Temple, Pei Yubai accepted a task from Qiguan Yuan and buried a fortune slip beneath an old plum tree, earning five points. He returned to the front hall as the other contestants came back, where Jiang Wantang and Ji Shiyu shared a tense, silent moment.

  • Meng Xu explained that the contestants had to find task givers around the Yue Lao Temple and complete tasks to earn points.
  • Pei Yubai found Qiguan Yuan interpreting marriage fortunes and agreed to take a task from him.
  • Qiguan Yuan instructed Pei Yubai to bury a fortune slip beneath the old plum tree marked with the character for "hidden."
  • Pei Yubai buried the slip and received five points from Meng Xu.
  • Pei Yubai returned to the front hall and noticed Jiang Wantang and Ji Shiyu exchange a brief glance before looking away.

Ch. 22Fans

Meng Xu announced Jiang Wantang as the top-ranked guest and awarded her a privilege at the next travel destination. Pei Yubai went to the side hall, found Qiguan Yuan away from the fortune-telling table, and explained that fans had come to his livestream to see him.

  • Meng Xu announced that Jiang Wantang had placed first and would receive a special privilege at the next travel destination.
  • The guests dispersed to explore Yue Lao Temple, while Pei Yubai headed for the side hall.
  • Pei Yubai found a monk at the fortune-telling table and spotted Qiguan Yuan sitting by the back door with a red thread.
  • Pei Yubai told Qiguan Yuan that his fans were watching the livestream and had wanted to see him.

Ch. 23Bullet comment interaction

Qiguan Yuan watched Pei Yubai’s livestream and read fans’ comments, playfully flirting with viewers while saying he would soon leave to meet an old acquaintance. After spotting a comment suggesting Pei Yubai liked him, Qiguan Yuan turned to Pei Yubai and asked whether it was true.

  • Qiguan Yuan asked Pei Yubai to show him the livestream and began reading the viewers’ comments aloud.
  • Qiguan Yuan flirted with fans who called him their wife, sending the livestream’s viewer count past the show’s previous record.
  • Qiguan Yuan gently told a fan not to travel to see him because he would be leaving soon.
  • Qiguan Yuan said he could not join the show because he had promised to meet an old acquaintance.
  • Qiguan Yuan read a comment suggesting Pei Yubai liked him, then asked Pei Yubai directly whether he did.

Ch. 24Until fate brings us together again

Qiguan Yuan left the temple after teasing Pei Yubai with a question about whether he liked him, telling the viewers they would meet again if fate allowed. Pei Yubai returned to his courtyard, lingered over the paper Qiguan Yuan had given him, and began reading his script.

  • Qiguan Yuan took Pei Yubai's phone, told him there was no need to give his love to someone just passing through, and said goodbye to him and his fans.
  • Pei Yubai remained alone in the side hall after Qiguan Yuan left, then folded the blank paper wrapper from the marriage fortune stick and put it back in his pocket.
  • Shen Yuzhou, Cheng Yanqiu, Jiang Wantang, Ji Shiyu, and Lin Yanru each noticed Pei Yubai as he left the temple hall.
  • Pei Yubai returned to his private courtyard, unfolded and studied the paper, and watched the closed courtyard where Qiguan Yuan had stayed.
  • Pei Yubai picked up his script, opened it to act four, and began reading the first line.

Ch. 25Looking for someone

At Yue Lao Temple, Jiang Wantang learned that Qiguan Yuan had already left after interpreting three ill-fated bonds, while Pei Yubai watched the lanterns and later set out alone toward the back mountain. The chapter ended with Pei Yubai walking deeper into the woods along a remote dirt road.

  • Meng Xu gathered the guests to release wish lanterns on their last night at Yue Lao Temple.
  • Jiang Wantang asked the monk about Qiguan Yuan, but he told her Qiguan Yuan had left after interpreting fortunes for three people.
  • The monk explained that Qiguan Yuan interpreted only ill-fated bonds, and Jiang Wantang thanked him before leaving.
  • Ji Shiyu watched Jiang Wantang walk away while Pei Yubai stayed behind to watch the lanterns fade into the sky.
  • At dawn, Pei Yubai left a message for Meng Xu saying he would wait in town, then headed down the mountain alone.
  • Pei Yubai followed a remote road toward the back mountain and continued into the woods.
Arc 1 of 8
Arc 1 of 8