The production team's invitation to Yan Ruanning as a guest was not a spur-of-the-moment decision.
For a show to become popular, besides inviting big-name celebrities, it needs to create some interesting highlights.
The main attraction is usually conflict; early versions of " Divas Hit the Road " deliberately created conflict through editing.
But now that Cheng Che has achieved his legendary status, the production team doesn't dare to do anything to him.
But Yan Ruanning is different.
She is the only female celebrity in the entertainment industry who has had a rumored relationship with Cheng Che.
The two have appeared together in the documentary " Life Slowed Down," been photographed in the recording studio, and been photographed at the airport.
Although there's no concrete evidence, fans of the couple are already going crazy over it.
Wouldn't the production team be foolish not to invite someone like that?
Moreover, Yan Ruanning is a top-tier female celebrity who can sing and act, and has a solid fan base.
Her appearance as a guest star can both generate buzz and boost viewership.
When the higher-ups at the Mango TV saw her name, they immediately approved it.
So when Cheng Che saw Yan Ruanning's face at the airport, he understood everything.
" Teacher Yan," he said with a smile as he walked over, his tone very polite, "I didn't expect you to come."
This title surprised the other guests and the new guest stars.
The new guest star is a young male actor named Shen Chi. He has acted in several web dramas, has a clean-cut appearance, and doesn't talk much.
Upon hearing the words " Teacher Yan," he glanced at Yan Ruanning with curiosity.
Su Jianqiu was the first to approach. " Teacher Yan? You two know each other?"
Cheng Che nodded. "I learned music from Teacher Yan. She taught me to play guitar, taught me music theory, and even helped me revise songs."
Su Jianqiu's eyes lit up. She leaned close to Yan Ruanning's ear and whispered something.
Yan Ruanning's face flushed red instantly, and she glared at her fiercely.
Su Jianqiu smiled and stepped back, saying, "Wow, you like rebellious disciples, huh?"
Yan Ruanning ignored her, but the tips of her ears were bright red.
Cheng Che pretended not to hear and continued greeting the others.
Su Jianqiu, Ning Qing, Huang Ming, Zhou Yuan, Han Zheng, and the newcomer Shen Chi.
Everyone congratulated him on the success of the presentation, Cheng Che thanked them all.
Ning Qing stood to the side, her expression indifferent.
She nodded to Cheng Che and said, "Congratulations."
But she didn't even glance at Yan Ruanning.
Su Jianqiu watched from the side, muttering repeatedly, "Alright, here comes the battleground."
Nobody paid any attention to her.
The group boarded the plane.
The flight time from Magic City to Paris is approximately twelve hours.
The production team chartered a business jet with spacious seats that could be reclined.
Cheng Che put on an eye mask and started to sleep as soon as he boarded the plane.
Yan Ruanning sat two rows in front of him, occasionally glancing back at him before turning away again.
Ning Qing sat on the other side and never looked in that direction from beginning to end.
Su Jianqiu sat next to Yan Ruanning, muttering something to herself. Yan Ruanning would occasionally reply or give her a nudge.
Twelve hours later, the plane landed at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport.
February in Paris is warmer than in Capital City, but the sky is overcast and the wind is damp.
The production team arranged transportation to take the guests to a hotel in the city center.
The hotel is located on the right bank of the Seine River, very close to the Louvre Museum, about a ten-minute walk away.
After putting away their luggage, the PD called everyone to the hotel lobby.
"Everyone, this afternoon's itinerary is the Louvre Museum," the PD said. "The production team has given everyone one task card. You need to find three designated exhibits in the Louvre Museum and take a photo with them. The team that completes the task the fastest wins."
Cheng Che took the mission card and glanced at it.
The sign above lists three exhibits: the Mona Lisa, the Venus de Milo, and the Winged Victory of Samothrace.
These are all among the Louvre Museum's most prized possessions.
"What about grouping?" Su Jianqiu asked.
The PD smiled and said, "Free team formation."
Su Jianqiu immediately raised her hand. "I'll team up with Cheng Che!"
Yan Ruanning glanced at her but didn't say anything.
Ning Qing stood to the side, her expression indifferent, and did not speak.
Han Zheng took the initiative to come over, smiling and saying, " Teacher Cheng, we meet again. How about I team up with you this time?"
Before Cheng Che could answer, Su Jianqiu stepped in front of him. "I spoke first."
Han Zheng shrugged and took a step back.
The final group assignments are as follows: Cheng Che, Su Jianqiu, Yan Ruanning form one group; Ning Qing, Han Zheng, and Shen Chi form another group; and Zhou Yuan and Huang Ming form yet another group.
Cheng Che glanced at the group assignments but said nothing. Yan Ruanning stood next to him, a slight smile playing on her lips.
At 2 p. m., the group arrived at the Louvre Museum.
The entrance to the Louvre Museum is located beneath the Glass Pyramid, and there are long queues.
The production team booked group tickets in advance and used the fast track.
After entering the museum, Su Jianqiu pulled Yan Ruanning inside, muttering, "Hurry, hurry, let's find Mona Lisa first."
Cheng Che followed behind, his gaze sweeping across the exhibition halls on both sides.
The Louvre Museum is huge, with three galleries connected from the basement to the ground floor. The corridors are long, the walls are light gray, and huge oil paintings hang from the ceiling.
The Dali floor was polished to a high shine, and footsteps echoed very softly on it.
They found Mona Lisa first.
The exhibition hall was crowded. The painting was hanging on the wall in the center, covered by a layer of bulletproof glass.
The painting wasn't big; it was much smaller than I had imagined.
But when you stand in front of it, you can still feel a strange attraction.
Su Jianqiu took out her phone and took a picture of the painting.
Then she handed her phone to Yan Ruanning: "Take a picture of me and Cheng Che together."
Yan Ruanning took the phone and spoke to Su Jianqiu and Cheng Che.
Cheng Che stood beside the painting, tilting his head slightly to look at the camera, a faint smile on his lips.
Su Jianqiu made a peace sign.
Yan Ruanning pressed the shutter button and then handed the phone back.
"I'll take one too," she said.
Su Jianqiu glanced at her and smiled. She handed the phone to Cheng Che: "You take a picture for Teacher Yan."
Cheng Che took the phone and pointed it at Yan Ruanning.
Yan Ruanning stood in front of the Mona Lisa, not looking at the camera, but tilting her head to look at the painting.
The light fell on her face; her profile was serene.
Cheng Che pressed the shutter button and then handed the phone back to her.
Yan Ruanning glanced at the photo and a slight smile curved her lips.
Then they continued on their way to find the Venus de Milo.
Venus is in the Greece sculpture section, in a very spacious exhibition hall.
The statue stands in the center, surrounded by a circle of visitors.
Su Jianqiu stood in front of the statue, looked up at it for a while, then turned to Cheng Che and said, "She's so beautiful."
Cheng Che nodded.
The Venus de Milo's broken arm casts a deep shadow under the light, and the Dali surface gleams with a warm light.
Her posture was relaxed, her waist slightly twisted, as if she were walking from somewhere.
Cheng Che stood in front of the statue and looked at it for a long time.
Yan Ruanning stood beside him without saying a word.
The last one is the Winged Victory of Samothrace.
The statue stands at the corner of the stairs, its enormous wings spread wide, its robes billowing in the wind, as if it were about to take flight.
Cheng Che stood at the bottom of the stairs, looking up at the statue, and suddenly felt that the scene was very familiar.
Then he remembered.
He had seen a picture of the statue in his textbook when he was a child, and thought the wings were very beautiful.
Standing in front of the original now, the feeling is completely different.
After taking photos, Su Jianqiu pulled Yan Ruanning to wander around elsewhere.
Cheng Che stood alone at the bottom of the stairs, watching for a while longer.
Then he took out his phone and snapped a picture.
It was sent to Jiang Xue.
"Mom, the Winged Victory of Samothrace in the Louvre Museum. It's so beautiful."
Jiang Xue replied instantly, "It looks great! Have fun, and be careful."
Cheng Che smiled and put his phone away.
It was already dark when I came out of the Louvre Museum.
The lights on the Seine River came on, and the Glass Pyramid glowed with a warm yellow light in the night.
The group walked along the river for a while and then found a restaurant to eat at.
Dinner was French cuisine.
Snails, foie gras, steak, beef stew in red wine.
Su Jianqiu ate with gusto, her mouth greasy, Yan Ruanning quietly cut her steak. Ning Qing sat at the other end of the table, occasionally exchanging a few words with Han Zheng.
Cheng Che ate a steak and a foie gras, and thought the taste was okay, but not as good as the rice noodles in Spring City.
It was almost 10 o'clock when I got back to the hotel.
Cheng Che took a shower, lay in bed, scrolled through his phone for a while, then turned off the lights and went to sleep.
The next morning, he was woken up by his cell phone ringing.
He rolled over and picked up his phone. The screen showed a call from Qin Lie.
"Hello?"
" Cheng Che," Qin Lie said urgently, "Have you seen the news?"
What news?
" The Louvre Museum has been robbed."
Cheng Che was stunned for a moment, then exclaimed in surprise:
"Ah?"