After recording 'Island Restaurant', Bao Ruanruan leisurely got into the nanny car, preparing to leave.
"Was everything okay with the recording? If there's anything, let me know beforehand so I can take care of the public relations."
Chen Feng asked as part of his routine.
I have passed through it safely.
Bao Ruanruan confidently replied, "Nothing happened."
Chen Feng felt reassured.
However, to their surprise, before the car could even drive away, Qu Feifei and Lu Wenhao's assistants rushed over and knocked on the car window.
Chen Feng immediately became alert.
The two usually reserved and dignified celebrity assistants beamed as the car window rolled down.
Their smiles were genuine, "Teacher Mao."
......?
Chen Feng was stunned.
Qu Feifei's assistant smiled even more beautiful than a flower, "Thank you, Teacher, for saving our Feifei. Feifei would like to add your contact information."
Chen Feng: "?"
Did she save someone again?
Wait, why did he use the word 'again'?
But before he could figure it out, Lu Wenhao's assistant, beside the car window, also leaned in.
"Teacher Mao, our brother Lu also wants to add you on WeChat. Here's his phone; please scan it."
Chen Feng: "!"
What's going on again?
He glanced disapprovingly at Bao Ruanruan, who claimed that nothing had happened.
Bao Ruanruan looked innocent.
She had already given them her 'safety guidelines' as a parting gift. Why was it not over yet?
Luckily, she still had her headgear on.
"Dear ones, I suggest not. They will regret it after meeting the real me."
"It's for peace & love1."
Two assistants: "......?"
Chen Feng: "........."
Three days later, Chen Feng accompanied Bao Ruanruan to the film set.
While waiting for Bao Ruanruan, a message popped up on Weibo.
Trending topic #10: Mascot Steals the Show, Backed by Capital?
Trending topic #20: Restaurant Cat Takes C-position Debut
Chen Feng let out a curse.
Holy sh*t, it's like the mother of all surprises! I can't believe this!
Oh my God, nothing happened, she said!
"What the hell did you do?"
*
Under the Weibo topic, fans from all sides were in an uproar, especially Qu Feifei's fans.
At 10 am, 'Island Restaurant' released a short preview video.
In the video, Qu Feifei grabbed the mascot's arm, but the mascot pulled it away without giving her any face.
Qu Feifei said she wanted to give the mascot more screen time, but the mascot ruthlessly refused.
Qu Feifei asked the mascot to help her cut the ginger into slices, but the mascot refused again, saying that being near her would bring misfortune.
For this arrogant attitude, the show team even bought a trending topic called #Da Mao C-position Debut#. Qu Feifei's fans were furious.
[Fists clenched! What the hell?!]
[The mascot is so rude?! C-position your head!]
[Stepping on my Feifei to get to the top? What kind of plot is this?]
[This preview made me angry!]
[Does the mascot have a background? Why are they messing with my Feifei?]
Qu Feifei debuted in the C-position of a girl group, where she served as the captain. Her cute appearance and excellent dancing skills attracted a considerable number of devoted fans.
As her fans started to create a stir, fans of other guests on the show joined in.
The two-minute preview video devoted almost a minute to Feifei's 'love-hate' relationship with Da Mao, leaving minimal screen time for the other four guests.
Didn't the other members deserve more screen time as well?
Did their brothers not deserve the show team to buy a hot search promotion?
Unexpectedly, a mascot took over a prime promotional spot, causing an uproar among fans from different camps!
[Did she pay her way into the group?!]
[Is she so ugly that she has to wear a headgear to hide her face?]
[Was last week's dishwashing liquid a pre-written script? I had a good impression then, but this week... gross!]
[Cut the act!]
[Even with capitalist backing, basic principles should be upheld! Those forcefully promoted because of this will be struck down by thunder!]
[Is it still possible to cancel the endorsement deal with OZ dishwashing liquid now?]
Several groups joined forces to push the mascot onto the black trending topics. By the time the show team discovered it, it was already too late.
They panicked and tried to spend money to counter the black trending topics, but the abusive comments in the comments section gradually decreased.
This was because the main episode of the show had just aired at 8 pm.
[??]
[Wow, did you all watch the main episode?]
[Hold on, Fei Bings2, retreat! We accidentally injured our ally.]
[F*ck, no, we accidentally hurt our lifesaver!]
[Damn it, I'm on my knees... Mao Mao, is my kneeling posture still correct?]
The direction of the comments changed dramatically.
After watching the devilishly edited preview, everyone finally saw the truth in the main episode.
Where was Mao Mao 'resourceful'? She was definitely not!
[The scene where Mao Mao refused Feifei turned out to be about wanting to give my Feifei more screen time. How touching.]
[Da Mao, don't be self-deprecating, you're not just a side dish, you're actually quite adorable.]
There was a moment of embarrassment among Feifei's fans.
But there was more embarrassment to come.
As the kitchen caught fire, a pink, agile figure leapt up and descended from the sky like a guardian angel in front of Qu Feifei, leaving her fans stunned.
[Help, I'm sitting at home, and a hero has descended from the sky. Please kill me to make amends for Mao Mao. Thank you for saving my Feifei. I'm grateful.]
[The clown is actually me. Don't tell me that was qinggong3?]
[Everyone should pause from commenting and watch the action. It was awesome. Da Mao, you can sure fly! You deserve a place in the premiere! Thank you for being there.]
[I cried. Feifei almost had an accident. Thank you, Mao Mao. I wish I could go back half an hour ago and strangle myself for scolding you.]
[Wuwuwu, everyone, let's all make an effort to turn Mao Mao's black hot search into a square4 of gratitude and praise.]
[Production Team, I want to know the mascot's real name within a minute, don't force me to mail you razor blades... I will support the mascot girl from now on!]
Qu Feifei's fans were filled with endless regret.
After seeing the same fire scene, fans of other groups were also filled with fear.
[Lu Wenhao's fans, let's line up to express our gratitude to Mao Mao!]
Their brother was standing next to the burning gas stove at that time!
Meanwhile, veteran actor Zhou Minwen and young actor Zou Ke, the little fresh meat, had just finished shopping and walked through the door of the Island Restaurant when the fire broke out in the main episode.
They were only a few seconds away from the dangerous kitchen.
[Celery5 is grateful to Da Mao for putting out the fire.]
[All the seafood porridge6, bow down. Mao Mao, we love you~]
The wind changed direction in an instant.
Then came the final minute of the show.
When Da Mao, who never stole the spotlight and only showed her skills at crucial moments, presented everyone with a copy of 'Kitchen Safety Guidelines', the bullet comments were filled with laughter.
[High EQ: I'm giving you a present; Low EQ: If there's another fire, I don't want to have to save you again!! Hahahaha!]
[Take the bamboo shoot!7]
[She gave us too much hahaha]
[9 lives! It's already over, and I'm still laughing. How could it end so suddenly?!]
[Your friend ———————— Safety Supervisor Mao Mao is now online.]
Da Mao's popularity immediately shot up to third place on Weibo.
Many viewers who hadn't watched 'Island Restaurant' came to see the hype, were amused, and went to the platform to watch the main episode.
The viewership ratings reached a new high, surpassing 1.37%, making it the most-watched summer show on the platform.
"Da Mao, no, Xiao Ruan."
Director Zheng Mingchang called her personally, and how he addressed her had become more intimate.
"Next time, I'll give you a bit more screen time. Do well, okay?"
Bao Ruanruan frowned.
"I've requested a 50% increase in your performance fee."
The income had increased, but the danger remained the same.
She was just an ordinary worker dressed as a mascot in the restaurant.
She only had to do her job well and would be paid fairly.
Was this the happiness of an ordinary person?
It was a far cry from the life she had led before, fighting to survive in the storm, dying countless times a day, and taking risks on the tightrope.
She now felt comfortable, cosy.
Safe.
Bao Ruanruan was moved.
"Oh, by the way, I have a few friends who would also like to invite you to participate in their variety show..."
Bao Ruanruan: "?"
Chen Feng was deeply shocked as he listened on the side.
Boss Xue Jing is yyds!
An artist picked up from the garbage, and she had become incredibly popular in just a few days!?
*
Lu Corporation.
The board meeting for the first half of the year was held as usual at the company's headquarters in Jiangcheng.
Lu Wenyao had just had lunch with Tang Yuxin, and he was in a good mood after listening to her gentle whispers in the private room.
Even if Bao Ruanruan stuck to him like a sticky cowhide plaster, tarnishing his reputation, he didn't regret it.
If she hadn't provoked Tang Yuxin, Tang Yuxin wouldn't be willing to take time off from the film crew to have lunch with him.
Although it was painful to pay the price of sacrificing a chariot to save the general📹8, it was still the right thing to do.
The wise only looked at the results.
Before entering the group meeting room, Lu Wenyao paused, wiped away his smug expression, straightened his well-tailored suit and walked into the 100-square-metre conference room on the top floor.
When he saw his father, Lu Zhengda, sitting at the head of the table, he walked over and said respectfully, "I have sent you the meeting materials."
Lu Zhengda was sixty years old this year. Since being diagnosed with diabetes last year, he had gradually relinquished control of the company's operations. Now, he only attended major meetings to receive periodic updates.
However, as the Chairman and the largest shareholder with a 52% stake in the company, Lu Zhengda's authority remained paramount.
Fully aware of his father's strictness and authority, Lu Wenyao had to be mentally prepared and tread everything carefully during the meeting.
"Take care of your personal affairs. If your unethical behaviour tarnishes the company's reputation, I will replace you with someone else," Lu Zhengda said disapprovingly as he looked at his eldest son.
Lu Wenyao's expression changed in an instant.
In his father's eyes, his biological son's happiness was less important than the company's.
Although he had worked like an ox and a horse9 for six years, in his father's eyes, he had no achievements and could be replaced at any time.
"Dad, I told you I want to practice dancing. Why do you want me to attend the board meeting?"
The atmosphere in the conference room was tense.
Lu Wenhao, with his light purple curly hair, dressed in a trendy black jacket, took off his sunglasses and reluctantly walked into the meeting room.
In an instant, he attracted everyone's attention.
Lu Zhengda became angry at his appearance. "You are not doing your job! Look at yourself! Don't you have a share in the company? Shouldn't you be contributing? If you don't want to come, fine! I will have Li Chen terminate your celebrity contract and withdraw all the resources!"
Lu Wenhao felt helpless.
He was managed by the Huangtai Talent Agency, which was invested by the Lu Group.
If his contract were terminated with just a word from his father, few talent agencies in Jiangcheng would dare take him in.
Ultimately, he relied on his family to help him make his debut. He couldn't have done it on his own.
"I was wrong."
A real man would admit his mistakes in a second.
Lu Zhengda's chest heaved. "Ungrateful son."
Lu Wenyao was instantly relieved.
Having an incompetent younger brother to take the blame was the only thing that satisfied him about this family.
Even if he made a few major business mistakes and had some blemishes in his personal life, it wouldn't be a big problem.
With Lu Wenhao's ridiculous behaviour as a point of comparison, as his older brother, he didn't seem so bad anymore.
"Dad, the executives will be arriving soon. Give Xiao An10 some face. Since he doesn't understand, I can teach him slowly."
Lu Zhengda obviously wasn't easily fooled. When the executives were all present, he pointed at his drowsy youngest son while talking about the five-star hotel business Lu Group had just acquired.
"Lu Wenhao, what do you think needs to be added to the management plan that Chief Chen just reported?"
Lu Wenhao looked confused and turned to his elder brother for help.
Lu Wenyao wanted to answer first, "Our biggest competitor right now is an emerging brand, Jingtian Hotel, so..."
"Let him speak!" Lu Zhengda interrupted with displeasure.
Lu Wenhao took a deep breath.
He chose to give up.
But as soon as he looked up, he saw the words "#Five-Star Food and Beverage Management#" written on the screen.
Lu Wenhao was startled.
He remembered the fluffy pink paw handing him the 'Kitchen Safety Guidelines' ...
The contents he had leafed through out of curiosity flooded his mind.
"Well, I think adding... safety hazards and emergency prevention measures is necessary."
The executives in the conference room were stunned.
Lu Wenhao continued to shake his head and sway his brain11, "For example, regularly inspect the rubber hoses, valve ports... Unplug high-powered appliances after use... Ensuring the most basic safety for cooks and guests."
The room full of disdainful gazes changed instantly.
It took at least three to five years of kitchen experience to come up with such detailed regulations!
"Young Master Lu seems quite knowledgeable, and he's right."
"That makes sense. I'll make a note of it and arrange for a daily safety inspector when I return."
"Young Master Lu is a hidden talent."
Everyone started to flatter him.
Safety was indeed a top priority for all the hotels.
A faint expression of surprise and satisfaction flashed across Lu Zhengda's wrinkled face.
"It's passable; it has some substance," he said, glancing at his youngest son with a hint of contentment. "It seems like experiencing life in the entertainment industry has been somewhat useful."
Lu Wenhao blushed for a second, then quickly became excited.
This was the first time Dad had praised him without looking down on him as a celebrity!
Thank you, Mao Mao!
"Well, I will continue to experience life and learn new things!"
"Hmph." Lu Zhengda gave a rare smile, feeling that his youngest son had finally used his brain.
Lu Wenyao: "......?"
"We have been implementing the safety measures Xiao Hao mentioned all along. I believe..." Lu Wenyao redirected the conversation.
But the Chairman's secretary's expression changed after he picked up his phone.
"Chairman Lu, our subsidiary, Haiming's gas stoves and kitchenware, are trending! The cookware caught fire in a variety show, and a viral content website listed 102 fire rescue incidents involving Haiming this year. They want us to provide an explanation!"
"Our spokesman, Han Mo, wants to terminate our cooperation."
Lu Wenyao: "?! "
The room fell silent.
Lu Wenyao, who had just claimed that there were no safety issues, looked as if he had been slapped, his face burning hot.
But Lu Wenhao was calm.
He knew the answer to this problem.
Improper operation.
"It's because our instructions manual wasn't written clearly enough."
Lu Wenyao: "......?"
Lu Zhengda narrowed his eyes and looked at his always confused youngest son, feeling a bit hopeful. "Explain in detail."
*
On the other side, Bao Ruanruan's ears were burning. She pressed the metal wall of her thermos cup against her earlobe and muttered, "I wonder who's talking about me."
Before she could figure it out, the production assistant of the Anti-Japanese Drama crew pointed at her. "This outfit is yours. Later, as a member of the underground party, you'll be given a confidential report in the crowd. But you'll be discovered by a spy and shot."
Bao Ruanruan: "......?"
Would things ever get better in her career?
Who exactly recommended her for this job?
Author's note:
Lu Wenhao: Didn't expect that, did you? My fan makes me better!
Footnotes Full List
- Bao Ruanruan said these words in English.
- Qu Feifei's fandom name that is based on a flying pastry in Chinese, like this:
I guess Qu Feifei's fans thought her agility and full of energy while dancing resembled the flying pastry or the one who makes it. - 'the art of lightness'. The body is trained to be 'light as a feather' so that a person can run at great speed, leap high, and land softly on the tip of their toes.
- something like this:
- Probably Zou Ke's fandom name, as the opposite of his title, Little Fresh Meat? Also, isn't celery always stir-fried with meat?
- Probably Zhou Minwen's fandom name. A pun on his surname Zhōu (周), since porridge is also called zhōu (粥) in Chinese.
- The phrase "夺笋啊" is a popular Internet slang expression meaning 'How mean!' or 'That's so harsh!' It originated from the online streamer 'Charming Ms Guo ('迷人的郭老师). - Baidu
- fig. to describe a situation where someone has to make a difficult decision and sacrifice something less important to save something more important.
I found an amazing video of an awesome play by a Chinese chess female player. She literally sacrificed her chariot (車) to save her general (帅) and at the same check-mate her opponent. Awesome move! Just click this 📹 icon on the original text to watch it. - fig. to work extremely hard
- xiao=young/little, an=dark/ignorant. I guess this is Lu Wenhao's nickname. I don't know why he is called this way when his real name, Wenhao, means refined (文 wén) and bright (皓 hào).
- Chinese idiom: look pleased with oneself; assume an air of self-approbation or self-satisfaction
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