Bao Ruanruan's performance in the variety show 'With Dreams as Horses' left viewers with an inexplicable sense of ease.
While fans of each celebrity eagerly searched for scenes of their idols, she remained absent from their screen time.
Yet whenever their idols were in trouble, she magically appeared to help them out.
She was also surprisingly funny.
Even though everyone knew she had a love brain, the viewers still went wild whenever she appeared on screen.
In Tang Yurou's main fan group, everyone was currently discussing her.
[HongTang1 Admin #39: I've finished compiling her traits from her cuts; everyone, let's add more to it together.
1. Rescue – She seems genuinely kind.
2. Self-sufficient, doesn't take advantage – She only takes what she earns. Even when Xiao gave her something, she refused to accept it unless it was something she had personally earned.
3. Knowledgeable – She talked about exercise, nutrition, and even the medicinal uses of pig dung. She was clearly not an ignorant person.]
[BaiTang2: The admin's points already break a few stereotypes about her — 1. Bao Ruanruan is a bad person; 2. she wants to get something without doing anything by clinging to President Lu; 3. she's all beauty and no brains.]
[HongTang1 No. 235: There's one more:
4. Timid, afraid of the Lu family – When Lu Wenhao got angry with Xiao, she didn't dare go in for fear of getting involved. Later, she even told him not to get angry before dinner.]
[BaiTang2: Isn't number 4 just a sign that she has a guilty conscience? After she posted on social media, Huangtai cut all ties with her. The Lu family won't let her off the hook.]
[Brown Sugar #235: If the Lu family is really after her, why would they put her and Lu Wenhao on the same show? Doesn't this suggest the Lu family doesn't actually have the power to do anything to her? They may not like her, but all they can do is tolerate her presence while she is under their watch.]
[BaiTang2: ! Sister, your reasoning…]
[HongTang1 No. 235: In fact, Superfan TangChao has confirmed my previous thought - Lu Wenyao is not a good marriage match.
How many shows have Lu Wenhao and Bao Ruanruan appeared on together? 3.
The first two could be coincidences since she was in disguise, but what about the third?
In 'With Dream', whether it's the Lu family wanted to use her appearance to boost Lu Wenhao's popularity, or she insisted on going herself while the Lu family, feeling guilty, didn't dare to stop her.
Either way, it shows that......something is off about Lu Wenyao.]
[BaiTang2: !!]
[HongTang1 Admin No. 39: "@235, you may have uncovered the truth.]
[HongTang1 No. 695: !]
[HongTang1 No. 050: !]
[BaiTang2: So what do we do now?! Tangtang hasn't registered her marriage yet, has she?]
[HongTang1 No. 050: She mentioned that she hoped to get married on her birthday, the 25th of December, which is still four months away!]
[HongTang1 Admin No. 39: @all, everyone, please dig for more material; don't overlook any clues.
I'll compile all the evidence and send them to Tangtang's studio.
Also, if any insiders have information, please send me a private message.
We're just looking for the truth to protect Tangtang.]
[BaiTang2: Group 2 is on it.]
[HongTang1 No. 050: Group 3 received.]
...
[HongTang1 No. 1304: Group 24 received.]
Another wave of Tang fans quickly joined the live chat for 'With Dreams As Horses'.
Meanwhile, Bao Ruanruan had no idea that a large group had come specifically for her.
She was busy picking out the two biggest shrimp and putting them in Xiao Mengfei's bowl.
Her current body was a bit weak.
Until the results of her physical examination and blood tests came back, she couldn't be sure if she was allergic to shellfish, so it was best not to eat them too much.
Besides, in the game, when you were in a team, it was natural to share the spoils. The resources belonged to everyone.
"You should have some as well."
Bao Ruanruan used serving chopsticks to transfer the shrimp and smiled at Xiao Mengfei.
"I can't eat it all by myself."
Xiao Mengfei, who had just returned from a phone call with Ji Fei, was instantly moved.
So, this is the friendship everyone was talking about?
She gave it to Bao Ruanruan, and Bao Ruanruan gave it back to her.
Happiness knew no bounds.
Her eyes crinkled into a smile as she hummed and popped the sweet shrimp into her mouth. "It's delicious~~"
Bao Ruanruan chuckled, "I think so too."
The shrimp were simply boiled in water.
They had pure and healthy flavour, without any artificially produced seasonings.
They were two kindred spirits who shared the same taste.
Satisfied, Bao Ruanruan picked up another shrimp for Xiao Mengfei.
Xiao Mengfei grinned so wide that she could barely close her mouth.
The two of them, beautiful and youthful, were like a harmonious, friendly duo, surrounded by an aura so charmingly cheerful that no one else could break in.
"Ahem." Lu Wenhao choked a little.
Suddenly, the shrimp in his own bowl didn't taste as good.
Bao Ruanruan was supposed to be his fan.
Even if she had faked it before, she was the one who tried to please him first.
So, why was she now serving food to Xiao Mengfei instead?
Was she smashing a cracked pot3 by no longer trying to win his favour?
He glanced around the dining table. Lan Zhi was not there, as she did not eat at night.
Only Cheng Yao was beside him, nibbling at the white rice in his bowl, eagerly watching their interaction as he did.
One was Bao Ruansoft, who wanted to please him; the other was his junior sister from the same company.
!
How could they treat him the same as Cheng Yao?
Lu Wenhao felt annoyed.
But as soon as he lowered his head, he saw the rose chrysanthemum tea in his hand and immediately understood.
"What's wrong?" Cheng Yao turned his head curiously.
"So it turns out I'm the only one who has it." Lu Wenhao couldn't help himself from grinning, but he quickly suppressed it.
"What do you mean by the only one?"
Lu Wenhao pursed his lips. "Oh, nothing, just a line from a rap song."
He glanced meaningfully at Bao Ruanruan.
Bao Ruanruan was chewing on pork belly in small bites when her gaze inexplicably collided with his.
She blinked. "? "
After dinner, Cheng Yao, who was in charge of cooking, rested, and the others volunteered to do the dishes.
Lu Wenhao's eyes immediately fell on Bao Ruanruan.
However, Bao Ruanruan had already stood up, completely unaware of his eager gaze.
"Actually, washing dishes is also a good way to keep fit. It helps digestion after eating and prevents weight gain."
Bao Ruanruan added as she reached for the plates. "It also gives your fingers a good workout. With consistent practice, your finger dexterity will improve, and your brain will get some exercise, too."
Xiao Mengfei's eyes lit up. "Is that so? Then let me wash them. I've been wanting to learn finger dancing lately!"
Lu Wenhao, who was about to return to his room, suddenly stopped in his tracks.
Finger dance!
Lu Wenhao looked at Bao Ruanruan with mixed emotions.
In his first talent show, he performed a finger dance.
He thought it was cool, but his manager said he wasn't a professional and the moves weren't suitable for a boy group.
He was very upset at the time.
Later, in every performance after his debut, he would sneak in a segment of finger dancing, breaking down the moves and incorporating them into the choreography.
Most of his fans had no idea of this!
Only the original fans who had followed him from the auditions knew about his love for finger dancing.
Did Bao Ruanruan actually know?
Did she also know that he hadn't given up until now and had been secretly practising his fingers' flexibility all this time?
So, was she hinting that he could also practice it by washing the dishes?
Was she really his fan?
Lu Wenhao froze.
It wasn't until Xiao Mengfei passed by carrying a stack of bowls and plates that he shouted.
"Put them down - I'll do it!"
Xiao Mengfei: "!"
Bao Ruanruan: "!!"
[??]
[?]
Lu Wenhao took the dirty dishes and looked deeply at Bao Ruanruan, "I'll wash the dishes every day from now on."
Xiao Mengfei opened her mouth in surprise.
Bao Ruanruan looked stunned.
It was just washing the dishes; why was he looking at her?
"Don't worry, I won't fight you for it."
Got it.
You personally gave it to me.
Lu Wenhao snorted, "What nonsense!"
He turned and entered the kitchen.
He also hummed a cheerful rap song.
[?]
[......?]
[What's going on? Why is my precious boy suddenly doing the dishes and looking incredibly happy about it?]
[My precious boy has finally grown to an age that this mummy can no longer understand. Sob sob.]
[I think I get it. My Bro Lu is probably relieved that his junior, Xiao Mengfei, has finally matured, right? Woo woo woo, he really has the demeanour of a senior brother!]
[So that's how it is!]
[He'll be doing the dishes from now on, just like a man]
[The company owner's silly son, hehehe. His wish to be self-reliant is about to come true.]
Many Lu Di4 fans laughed and discussed this in the bullet comments.
The screen also cut to the scene of Lu Wenhao washing dishes.
Bao Ruanruan was happy to be relaxed and went back to her room to sleep.
The next day, as soon as she woke up, Director Zheng Mingchang called her aside, away from the cameras.
"Is the Director going to mess with me again?"
"..." Zheng Mingchang didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "What are you talking about?"
Bao Ruanruan frowned. The last time they had a private conversation, her headgear fell off.
"Hengshan wants you to shoot a promotional video as their first tourism ambassador. Your agent has already agreed."
"Xue the Exploiter has agreed?"
"Er, ahem... Anyway, filming starts in half an hour. We will record your general situation each day, from the first day you enter Hengshan Village until the fifth day. Morning, noon, and evening, like a diary."
Bao Ruanruan raised an eyebrow, retrieved her phone from the director, sent a quick text to Xue the Exploiter, and then fell into deep thought.
What did she do every day?
*
During his lunch break, Xue Jing took some time off to play tennis.
He had just taken out his racket when his phone vibrated.
[An additional unplanned task will result in an additional 0.02~5% accident rate.]
[With the increased risk, my life safety is under greater threat (crying) (crying) (crying)]
Xue Jing: "..."
"Who is it, boss? Come on, let's play!" Chen Feng waited anxiously beside him.
Xue Jing's peach blossom eyes flickered.
He didn't even need to look at the sender.
He knew who it was... Apart from the little drama queen he'd picked up, no one else would bother him that much.
He'd been careless.
He hadn't consulted the astrological calendar that day.
[Xue Jing: The entire commission is yours. Plus 500G of Premium Snow Lotus and Cordyceps.]
Fortunately, he had figured out what she wanted.
[Bao Ruanruan: Thanks, but you should add two more voice messages—
The twenty-four character mantra of socialism and the Six Character Mantra of Buddhism.
This time, recite them slowly and clearly; don't be lazy. It's disrespectful to Buddha and socialism and will affect the blessings.]
Xue Jing: "............"
His slender forefinger pressed his closed, peach-blossomed eye.
Sorry, he hadn't really figured her out.
He didn't actually understand her at all.
She could even be more dramatic than usual!
*
After clicking on the voice message and listening to it once, Bao Ruanruan grinned.
Although it wasn't as husky as the brother's voice who helped her complete the game, the languid and calm tone, with a hint of elegance and intellect, was exactly like his.
Since she couldn't find the original, she could only listen to a substitute.
But this substitute's voice was almost similar, at least by 90%.
Bao Ruanruan played it once and then listened to it again.
This voice gave her a sense of security.
She couldn't stop.
Listening to his voice had become an addiction.
After 20 minutes of looping, it was time for the scheduled shoot.
Director Zheng Mingchang arrived on time.
"Xiao Ruan, let's start shooting from the inside. We'll start from your room, capturing scenes from when you wake up in the morning to when you go to bed at night, and then we'll move outside."
"Okay, Director." Bao Ruanruan was full of energy and immediately followed his instructions.
Back in her room, she took out multivitamin tablets, cod liver oil, grape seed extract pills, calcium tablets, effervescent vitamin C tablets, seaweed throat soothing tea bags...
Along with those things, she brought out a portable foot bath, eye drops, eye rinsing solution, alcohol disinfectant, massage eye mask, cervical massager...
Fortunately, she had been educated about this and knew to cover up the brand names with tape.
But—these things took up two whole desktops!
"Wait, wait," Zheng Mingchang quickly intervened. "We only need scenes of you waking up and going to sleep; we don't need all of these."
Bao Ruansoft blinked, "Oh, right, I use these things the first five minutes after waking up and the last half hour before falling asleep."
Zheng Mingchang: "............?"
*
Lu Corporation.
President's office.
"President Lu," the assistant rushed in with a grim look, "Jingtian International has snatched the bid for the Hengshan land."
Lu Wenyao paused with the pen in his hand.
His eyebrows furrowed.
Jingtian.
It's Jingtian again.
Ever since the investment company with unknown backers appeared last year, it always seemed to be against him!
Every time Lu Wenyao set his sights on an industry, Jingtian would interfere.
At first, Jingtian and Lu Corporation could coexist peacefully within this one big industry, but recently, tensions between them have escalated.
From elevators to dishwashing liquid to natural gas stoves... Jingtian had meddled every step of the way, seizing market opportunities whenever Lu Corporation suffered a setback.
This time, they both set their sights on developing Hengshan as a vacation resort.
Like Bao Ruanruan, this rival company had become a lingering spirit that wouldn't disappear5!
"They offered 160 million, and their development plan, which focused on a wellness theme, was chosen by the Hengshan Tourism Bureau."
"Wellness?" Lu Wenyao frowned.
He frowned, then chuckled after a while, "Then let them have it."
The people of Hengshan were already accustomed to a leisurely pace.
A wellness-themed resort wouldn’t attract modern young people; it would only turn Hengshan Village into a destination for senior tour groups.
Senior tours tended to have low-profit margins and lacked long-term growth potential.
At 160 million, the capital recovery rate was estimated to be less than 80%, with losses likely to reach 30 million.
In contrast, Lu Corporation's family-friendly theme could give the resort maximum development potential by appealing to both young and old alike.
This was in line with the prevailing trend in modern vacation needs.
"Let's focus on securing the bid for the Yuquan Resort area."
Lu Wenyao narrowed his eyes.
In fact, he'd always favoured the Yuquan Resort.
It was only 46 kilometres away from Hengshan.
Not only did Yuquan have mountains and water, but it also featured a number of artificial hot springs with low development costs and a quick return on investment.
It could also be coordinated with the Lu Corporation's hotel in Yuquan.
Currently, big data shows that 30% more people were willing to travel to Yuquan Village for tourism than to Hengshan.
Lu Wenyao smiled.
Three days later, Lu Corporation successfully won the development rights for Yuquan Resort.
Lu Wenyao formally invited Tang Yuxin to his home for lunch with his parents to celebrate this significant bid success.
But just as they arrived at his home, after flashing Tang Yuxin a relaxed smile as he waited for her to present the Lu'an tea gift to his father, he saw his father answering a phone call.
Father Lu's face turned serious.
"You spent 150 million to secure the development rights for Yuquan?"
"Yes—"
"Hengshan cost 160 million, Yuquan cost 150 million. But, the number of tourists willing to visit Yuquan Village is 70% less than to Hengshan. What were you thinking!"
Lu Wenyao was about to speak but hesitated, "Father, shouldn't the information be the other way around?"
Father Lu's face turned even darker as he tossed his phone to him.
"President Lu, the With Dreams As Horses production team has released a short video series every day for the past three days, sparking discussions about Hengshan and drawing away Yuquan's target tourist audience."
"?!"
"From yesterday evening to today, our travel brand has received 784 incoming calls asking if there are any holiday packages for the Hengshan route."
"Among them, VIP and VVIP users account for 24.6%."
Lu Wenyao: "!!"
He instantly let go of Tang Yuxin's hand without noticing her slight trembling, then quickly turned around to search for the 'With Dreams As Horses' promotional videos.
As soon as the video started, Lu Wenyao froze.
On the screen, it was none other than Bao Ruanruan.
From the pure white bedding, she stretched out a milky-white, slender wrist. The sleeve of her pale green, loose cotton pyjamas slipped down to her snow-white forearm.
Her long, crow-black hair cascaded around her oval face.
Even in summer, her face was as delicate as jade, showing no signs of heat or sweat. Her pores were invisible, her skin smooth and fine, and her pale pink lips looked incredibly refreshing.
Her sleepy eyes, slightly red at the corners, held a hint of pink moisture—nine parts fragile, one part alluring.
She brightened up the otherwise ordinary farmhouse room.
Lu Wenyao was stunned.
This was different from the 'airhead woman' he had in his mind.
[So beautiful!]
[A beauty is waking up! I could watch this all day!]
[Are you sure this is a tourism promotional video? Isn't it just a beauty vlog?]
Lu Wenyao frowned slightly.
He also had the same question as this viewer.
Before he could think any further, Bao Ruanruan stretched out, revealing a long-sleeved cotton and linen pyjama set as she slowly sat up.
Her pyjamas were fully exposed when she properly sat.
The light green background of the pyjamas had a pattern of evergreen pines.
There were also faint words on it—'Health', 'Longevity', 'Hundred Years'...
Lu Wenyao's eye twitched.
But a second later, he remembered Jingtian's health and wellness development plan.
He frowned.
The barrage of comments went wild, filled with laughter.
[OMG! Hahahahaha! Bao Ruanruan is actually this dedicated to health!]
[I'm dying of laughter! What's with these pajamas? Are they a free gift from some health product?]
[My grandma just walked by and asked me to order her a pair! She thinks it's auspicious to wear them at home.]
[Hahahaha! I know what gift to get for Grandpa's birthday this year!]
In the video, Bao Ruanruan finally put her feet on the floor.
After having breakfast, she opened various bottles of nutritional supplements, brewed a pot of Pang Da Hai, and drank Vitamin C effervescent tablets before going out.
After a day of working, chatting, and walking, she returned to the courtyard as the sun set.
She soaked her feet, used an eye and a neck massager, did some yoga, and then went to sleep.
—#Day1#
[?]
[Wow, how many vitamins did she take? So many steps at night? She's a true health enthusiast!]
[What's going on with this documentary? Isn't it supposed to promote Hengshan's scenery? Why do we see so much of Bao Ruanruan? I want to see the sunrise and sunset!]
[There are only fleeting glimpses of the beauty of the countryside. Can the director film them for a second longer? Have they been paid by Bao Ruanruan?]
Lu Wenyao wanted to turn off the noisy comments.
But the last comment stopped him.
That's right.
At least some netizens were smart.
What's the relationship between Bao Ruanruan and Jingtian International?
Did Jingtian ask her to film this health video?
Can this ridiculous 'eating vitamin tablets and soaking feet in Hengshan' increase Hengshan's popularity by 100%?
Lu Wenyao suspected that the netizens' IQs were questionable.
But the next second, his own IQ was utterly crushed by Bao Ruanruan!
—#Day2#
In the video, Bao Ruanruan continued her 'early to bed, early to rise' routine, spending the day walking and chatting with the elderly.
On the second morning, she drank one less effervescent tablet, and at night, she skipped using the neck massager once.
—#Day3#
Bao Ruanruan spent the day sitting in the fields, enjoying the breeze and the scenery, and chatting with the village elderlies.
She didn't drink her Pang Da Hai throat soothing tea that day, and she skipped her eye drops and eye massager that night.
—#Day4#
She visited the pigsty and helped feed the chickens.
That day, she woke up naturally without setting the alarm, and her face was noticeably rosier.
At night, she even skipped soaking her feet and put the emergency heart medication in her luggage.
—#Day5#
...
She woke up, opened her eyes, and her expression was clear and bright, without the previous sluggishness.
She didn't even do yoga that night.
!
!!
Lu Wenyao was stunned.
He understood.
At the end of the video, there was a sound of dialogue without visuals.
Director: "Xiao Ruan, we want you to show your true condition, not fake it..."
"Well, yeah, this is just how I am~"
A line of text gradually appeared at the end of the dialogue.
———#So that's how it is. It's not that hard to be healthy when you come to Hengshan.#
[!]
[!!]
A flurry of exclamation points floated across the end of the video.
[Wow, the ending is brilliant!]
[What a unique advertisement—because there's lots of greenery, eyes won't get tired, so you won't need eye drops. When you walk in the fields, you won't have backaches or neck pain, so you don't need to use a massager or do any yoga. The air is good, no sore throats... Working in the fields keeps your feet warm at night, so you don't have to soak them... I get it!]
[I have severe neck pain; I want to go.]
[I have chronic pharyngitis sufferer, so I can't stand the city smog. I'm going on holiday to Hengshan this year!]
[My eyes feel comfortable... I, a programmer, am seriously tempted!]
Lu Wenyao took a deep breath.
Whoever came up with this publicity strategy was a genius. The Lu Corporation's publicity department needed this kind of person.
[I'm dying of laughter; I actually fell for it! If it were anyone else, I wouldn't believe it, but since Bao Ruanruan is in this ad, I believe it.]
Lu Wenyao: "?"
[Yes. In this show, Bao Ruanruan's health persona is unshakable.]
[Yeah, she really cares about health; she always does her research on health tips, and you can always trust Bao Ruanruan.]
Lu Wenyao: "???"
[I want to go to Hengshan now. I happen to be on my annual leave this week.]
[I'll check the official website. Is there any accommodation available in Hengshan now?]
[Let's start right away!]
At the end of the video, the comments section was filled with such enthusiastic remarks.
Every one of them was a potential customer for tourism products.
Most of them wouldn't travel alone; they would invite friends or go with their partners or families.
This meant that each order would involve at least 2-3 people.
Lu Wenyao glanced at the video's view count—34.95 million.
His vision darkened.
Lu Corporation had no tourist routes to Hengshan Village, which meant a loss of at least 30 million!
Then he thought of Yuquan Resort, less than 50 kilometres from Hengshan...
So close.
One man's loss was another man's gain.
The 150 million yuan development costs he had just signed for...
Lu Wenyao felt a tightness in his chest as if he had been punched.
When he closed his eyes, Bao Ruanruan's pure and delicate face appeared.
She was holding a bottle of fast-acting heart relief pills in her small, fair hand as if mocking him!
A miscalculation.
This time, he had seriously miscalculated.
Jingtian.
Bao Ruanruan.
"You better give me and the board an explanation!" Lu Wenyao's father slammed the table.
At that time, Lu Wenyao tasted blood in his throat.
Hengshan Village.
Bao Ruanruan packed her luggage, said goodbye to the other guests, and happily boarded the waiting van.
"Phew, I'm so tired."
As soon as she got into the car, Bao Ruanruan sprawled out on the seat.
Struggling, she used the last of her strength to fasten her seatbelt.
Then, with watery, soft eyes, she looked weakly and pitifully at Xue Jing, who was reading documents in the back seat.
"Do you still remember the Cordyceps from Daming Lake? It is said to weigh 500 grams and grows alongside a 500-gram snow lotus."
Xue Jing: "..."
His peach blossom eyes twitched as he tossed her a box from the back seat.
Bao Ruanruan was quite tired, but when it came to unboxing skincare products, she could still open another 500 packages.
She solemnly received it with both hands as if it were a treasure.
She even disinfected the lid of the box.
Then she carefully opened it.
As soon as she opened it, her delicate face lit up as if she had won the lottery, and she exclaimed, "Wow!"
Her watery eyes instantly awoke from their slumber as they shone brightly like searchlights.
Inside the box, on the red velvet lining, lay a reddish, block-like object.
Thin strands curled together, each one exuding the preciousness of 'longevity'.
With one look, she was completely captivated.
She had fallen under the spell of the precious bird's nest.
“This… could this be the legendary Blood Swallow's Nest that nourishes yin, boosts energy, fights cancer, and even surpasses the White Swallow's Nest?"
Her sparkling eyes and soft, sweet voice carried a hint of awe.
Xue Jing's peach blossom eyes twitched slightly.
If they were to drive to Hengdian right now, she could probably walk right into an audition for a role as a money-loving woman—no script needed.
"Yes, it was just flown in."
Chen Feng turned around with a chuckle. “I knew you'd like it. Bro Xue went out of his way to find this premium swallow's nest. Most people can't even get it; he said it was a reward for your amazing work on the travel video.”
The value of Hengsan's development had skyrocketed because of the video.
It was conservatively estimated that their first-year return rate would be between 5-10% in the first year and doubling by the second year, not to mention the positive relationships they'd build locally.
Not only did Brother Xue want to give Bao Ruanruan a gift, but even Chen Feng was thinking of preparing one for her.
"Premium?" Bao Ruanruan's lips parted slightly, and her eyes lit up as she immediately took out her phone.
"Oh, to post it on social media?"
"No, I'm checking its nutritional value—whether it’s better to have it for breakfast or in the evening."
“..................”
Xue Jing closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, there was a hint of amusement in his typically laid-back gaze.
She was indeed a blessing.
He didn't find her occasional little health quirks to be a problem.
"By the way, what about the promised cordyceps and snow lotus? Have they returned from their trip to Daming Lake?"
Xue Jing: "......"
He took back his statement.
Her quirks were a big problem.
He took a deep breath, suppressing the temper he had controlled for years, yet now felt dangerously close to breaking free.
"They're on their way."
"They'll arrive tonight after you finish a livestream interview."
"Hmm?"
*
This livestream interview was a surprise.
The drama 'Dawn', in which Bao Ruanruan had a guest role, had just started airing.
By the sixth episode, it had risen to 7th place in the nationwide viewership with excellent feedback.
The production team decided to host a livestream with the main cast.
The livestream featured eight slots in total, including the main male and female leads, the second male and female leads… down to the third and fourth supporting roles.
Bao Ruanruan was definitely not one of them.
She'd only played a minor role, a young underground agent who died shortly after appearing—a brief 35th character.
With only eight livestream slots, she wasn't even close to being included.
But then something unexpected happened.
A few days ago, the cast of another drama did a livestream interview. A supporting actor playing an enemy soldier was paired with a female lead for a fun game.
The game not only involved them acting out scenes from the show but also ended with them showering each other with compliments.
The livestream was immediately bombarded by viewers.
Fans couldn't accept that an actor playing an enemy soldier was shown 'excessive respect' during the livestream.
The incident went viral on social media and even attracted official government attention.
So, when it came time for Bao Ruanruan's drama, 'Dawn' livestream, no cast playing the villain dared to fill the eighth spot.
Half of the 34 people waiting in line before Bao Ruanruan were eliminated for this reason.
Of the remaining half, some were busy filming and couldn't participate, and some were veteran actors who didn't like live streams.
Some hadn't appeared in the drama yet because it had only aired for six episodes... Even if they joined the livestream, the audience wouldn't know who they were!
The production team went back and forth, consulting with the director.
Ultimately, the eighth spot went to Bao Ruanruan, whose character would appear in the seventh episode!
"This livestream is for you to give an on-camera reaction to the seventh episode of the drama."
After Xue Jing finished speaking, he sent her some related reaction videos.
This was a very popular video format at that time.
There were a number of YouTubers and other content creators doing it, both domestically and internationally. Simply put, it was a video of someone reacting to a TV show or movie.
On the one hand, reaction videos allow viewers to experience the joy of watching the drama along with the uploader. On the other hand, they were very entertaining; for example, when watching horror movies, people looked forward to seeing the uploader's terrified reactions to the video.
"Can this be considered work?" Bao Ruanruan's eyes widened.
She had been working herself to death in the game, constantly on edge and being treated terribly.
Yet, in this world, simply watching TV with others could be considered work.
How wonderful.
Xue Jing's eyebrow twitched. "Watch all the videos I've sent you so you can understand how to do it."
Bao Ruanruan nodded.
For the sake of the Premium Bird's Nest, she would work hard today!
She immediately clicked on the videos he sent and studied them.
There was one content creator who was watching a romance drama held her face, did a groundhog squeal and shouted 'howpay6!' when the main couple hugged.
Another creator watching a crime drama immediately dropped his chicken leg and dry-heaved when the murderer dismembered a body.
Another uploader, who was watching a gourmet show, made exaggerated slurping noises and facial expressions.
Got it.
The key is to show your actual reactions to the drama.
Bao Ruanruan nodded.
She was full of confidence!
At 5:00 p.m. sharp, the livestream began.
All eight 'Dawn' casts joined in on the livestream.
The livestream video was divided into eight grids, each showing one of the casts.
The grids for the male and female leads, who were being greeted by the host and had the most screen time, were twice the size of the others.
Their expressions and every move were clearly visible to the audience.
The other supporting casts were a bit blurry.
Soon, a wave of online viewers poured in.
[I'm here! Bro Jin is the best forever! His acting has broken through again this time!]
[Domestic dramas, please give us more talented actors like Bro Jin!]
[Sister Xia, love you, love you. Calm and collected, I love your performance in this drama!]
[Every time I watch 'Dawn', I get so nervous! The plot is so thrilling!]
[Yeah, the supporting casts are also great! I've become a fan of Teacher Li!]
[Wuwuwu, I've also discovered a treasure, Teacher Chen Bin...]
Drama fans and cast fans began to flood the comments section.
After the cast briefly greeted the camera, the number of comments skyrocketed.
However, some unusual comments trickled through:
[Who's that in the eighth box? Looks like a beauty!]
[Hey, gorgeous, can you sit a little closer to the camera? I can hardly see you. But wow, your skin is so pale, and your face is so small - it's stunning!]
[Help, your introduction was so quiet, beautiful. What's your name? I couldn't hear you.]
Nonsense.
Of course, I can't let you hear me clearly.
Bao Ruanruan glanced at the comments scrolling across her phone screen and smirked.
She had plenty of rivals.
Ignoring the comments asking her to sit closer or speak louder, she knew she was only ranked thirty-fifth in the cast order—there was no need to steal the spotlight from the lead actress.
"Watching the show intently is the real work today," she reassured herself.
Soon, the host smiled and said, “All the teachers are here, so let's watch episode 7 together."
In the centre of the livestream screen, the seventh episode began to play.
At the start of this episode, both the male and female leads were in danger. One was under heavy enemy surveillance as she attempted to pass on information while disembarking, and the other was witnessing the imminent execution of their teacher.
The intense, dark storyline tugged at the heartstrings of every viewer.
On screen, the lead actors’ faces were filled with silent tension, each lost in the scene.
The other supporting actors also wore serious expressions.
[So quiet.]
[There are not many comments... is everyone still here?]
[Everyone is too focused on the drama to chat.]
This became one of the quietest and most awkward livestreams yet.
The host felt that whoever had chosen this as the livestream theme had made a terrible decision.
He was at a loss.
Trying to lighten the mood didn't seem right for this heavy storyline, but leaving it tense made the purpose of the livestream unclear.
If everyone wanted to watch the drama seriously, why wouldn't they just do it by themselves at home? What was the point of this livestream, then?
[emmmm, I want to leave the livestream.]
[Me too. I think watching alone would have kept me more immersed, but these eight extra faces keep distracting me.]
[Yeah, it's oddly uncomfortable.]
[So I'm not the only one feeling awkward.]
Host: "!"
He panicked.
All the cast were too absorbed in the drama.
Bao Ruanruan was no exception.
She had intended to keep her 'reaction' strategy in mind, but once the story started, she was entirely absorbed by the tragic, tense, and gripping plot.
She couldn't take her eyes off the main characters.
The male lead's acting was incredible.
He made her feel like she was right there, holding a suitcase containing a codebook... only to be stopped as she disembarked, a gun pointed at her, and forced to line up for inspection.
Oh, no!
What is he going to do?
If they checked his ID, wouldn't it match the surname 'Li' mentioned by the traitor?
If they opened the suitcase and found the codebook, it would be solid evidence—no escape for him!
Two enemy squads have surrounded the ship!
There is absolutely no way out.
This is a life-or-death situation; one bullet to each of them would mean they'd be dead on the spot!
'You, show me your ID.'
Aaaah!
Bao Ruanruan was losing it, her palms sweating.
"Merciful Buddha, Guan Yin, True Lord, please help!"
"Oh no, don't show it…!"
Her heart was in knots.
"Ugh, what to do, damn traitor!"
"Waaaah—"
A faint sound of sniffling and nose-wiping came through clearly in the livestream with her desperate cries.
It was a completely genuine reaction!
[!]
[!!]
Host: "!"
Author's Note:
Ruanruan: Please don't cue me while I'm watching the drama~
Footnotes Full List
- brown sugar
- White Sugar
- Chinese idiom: allowing things to get worse even though you know there are flaws or mistakes
- 陆地 lùdì, which literally means land—maybe Lu Wenhao's fandom name
- Chinese idiom: the influence still lingers
- In raw, this word was written in English. I don't know if the Chinese netizen spelled '厚皮 hòu pí (shameless)' this way or if it was for another word. If anyone knows about this, please enlighten me.
きつね's Musing
I never like to see floating comments while watching a drama because they are so distracting. That's why I always turn it off when I use WeTV, iQiyi etc.
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