??
!
Lu Wenhao was having dinner inside the room.
"On a dark and windy night, Lu Wenhao, why did you sneak into my sunroom?"
A sharp question pierced the air, and the noodles he was holding slipped off his chopsticks.
This caused the hot soup to splash onto his face.
He bit down on the empty chopsticks with a crunch.
It was pretty painful.
He could feel the pain in his teeth.
And so did his face.
"You... you're talking nonsense!"
"Oh-ho, I already have evidence against you."
[hhhhh]
[Bwahahaha!]
[Help me, I can't stop laughing.]
[My cheekbones are rising! My facial muscles are cramping~]
---
Jingtian Studio.
The ultra-unique rooftop of the Jiangcheng Seaview Building.
Lush greenery covered the entire top floor, making it look like a floating garden in the sky.
By the central fountain stood a leather-covered sofa.
A pair of long, straight legs stretched out among the vines and foliage.
Xue Jing pushed up his gold-rimmed glasses. "Have you finalised the deal for her to be the tourism ambassador for Hengshan?"
Chen Feng frowned. "Hengshan said they need three months to evaluate her before officially appointing her."
This decision was made because of the negative online buzz about her before.
The Hengshan officials hesitated to use her so quickly and preferred to wait and see.
"However, I have scheduled a face-to-face meeting with Liu Cheng this afternoon to discuss the Hengshan residential area's development and negotiate a resource swap for Xiao Baozi. It shouldn't be a big problem. The estimated investment is 10 million."
Xue Jing's almond-shaped eyes flickered for a moment.
As the Hengshan ambassador, her appearance fee would definitely not exceed 1 million.
Now, they would have to use a 10-million investment to secure it.
Still, it was worth it.
This opportunity would lay a solid foundation for her and boost her positive reputation.
In the future, the vast oceans will be hers to leap into!
"Alright," Xue Jing waved his hand. "Increase the budget for the Hengshan residential development to 20 million."
Chen Feng let out a surprised cry. "Boss, have you shed your exploitative nature... No, I mean, you're really generous to Xiao Baozi!"
Xue Jing's eye twitched. "I'm talking about work."
"Just kidding—"
Chen Feng was about to leave when his phone rang.
"Secretary Liu? Oh, yes, it's Xiao Chen. I'll arrive at 4 pm... What? I don't need to come anymore?"
Chen Feng's face changed dramatically. He became incredibly tense.
"Has something happened, Secretary Liu?"
"Huh? You've decided to directly appoint our Xiao Bao as the ambassador? Secretary Liu, maybe you should reconsider..."
Before he could finish speaking, Chen Feng froze.
Directly appoint her as the ambassador.
Directly appoint.
Appoint.
"Huh? Secretary Liu, you've approved it? Great, great! Please send the contract to my email."
He hung up and felt the corners of his mouth twitch—like they were about to fly off.
He suppressed it. Then it twitched again, trying to soar.
He held it down.
His cheekbones seemed to spasm, leaving him crying and laughing at the same time.
"Boss, Xiao Baozi just saved us 20 million!"
Xue Jing's almond-shaped eyes flickered. "Continue improving the residential district. As for the ambassador deal, investigate what exactly—"
Before he could finish, his phone screen lit up.
Trending topic: #BaoRuanruanDemonstratesHowSingleWomenCanProtectThemselves#
Xue Jing: "!"
Chen Feng: "!!"
Xue Jieng clicked on the trending topic, which was a post shared by Hengshan Police and Jiangcheng Police:
[During the live broadcast of Chasing Dreams, Bao Ruanruan demonstrated how single women can enhance their self-defence awareness:
1. Stay informed about social news and increase safety awareness.
2. If you encounter suspicious individuals or danger, call 110 immediately for police assistance. Do not confront anyone alone.
3. Pay attention to any stairway abnormalities or your home's layout.
4. Always lock your door when you leave your home and properly close your windows before going for long trips.
5...]
Xue Jing: "......!"
"So that's how it is! Boss, the officials have endorsed her. That's why the Hengshan Tourism Bureau was willing to make her the ambassador!" Chen Feng let out a loud laugh as he threw his head back. "Xiao Baozi is truly a walking lucky charm!"
But Xue Jing just raised an eyebrow, his peach blossom eyes narrowing as he clicked on the Weibo video.
She's demonstrating self-protection... in a slow-paced variety show?
This Weibo video had already climbed the hot search rankings.
A wave of netizens who hadn't seen Chasing Dreams clicked on it out of curiosity, and they all laughed hysterically.
Some of Bao Ruanruan's former fans saw her name in the title and instinctively clicked—and once they did, they couldn't leave.
[What on earth happened to you, sister, to make you so cautious? I'm dying of laughter.]
[This variety show seems pretty fun!]
[Is this the same wall head1 whom I used to stan2? Why, after I climbed over the wall3, did I discover the charm of my ex! Sob, sob, sob, I kinda want to climb back now.]
[She's so funny. Is this really a variety show, not a public safety awareness video?]
[No need to say more. Bao Ruanruan, I'm crawling back to you. This time... you better make me proud. Hahahaha. I can't believe you weren't great as an actress, but you're a natural comedian!]
[Wow, she's so beautiful and so hilarious. Why did I only discover such a gem in the entertainment industry today?]
[Got the tips for staying safe while living alone, thanks, sis~]
Before this video, Bao Ruanruan's Weibo followers were growing steadily.
Now, this hot search caused her follower count to skyrocket from 850,000 to 920,000.
No bought followers, no water army4.
These were all real fans and casual followers.
And the ratings for Chasing Dreams went up again!
Back in Hengshan Village, director Zheng Mingchang wiped the sweat from his brow.
After glancing at the monitor and seeing the standoff between Lu Wenhao and Bao Ruangruan, he now waved his hand decisively despite his earlier headache.
"Let them deal with it themselves. We won't interfere!"
When left to her own devices, Bao Ruanruan became a traffic magnet!
The PDs on both sides got the memo and immediately backed off.
Meanwhile, in Lu Wenhao's study room.
A heavy silence hung in the air.
The accompanying PD, who had originally planned to mediate, now said nothing.
The silence was tonight's punchline.
Finally, Lu Wenhao's trembling hands broke the silence.
He was struggling to come to terms with the fact that Bao Ruanruan had carried out a full series of defensive measures in what was essentially an empty sunroom and, worse, had even caught evidence of him sneaking into the courtyard.
Now, he began to process the next thing.
It was something that would outrage both humans and gods alike.
"You're telling me... you didn't even open your task card?"
He had been waiting all afternoon.
He spent the waiting time watching videos to learn strategies until his brain felt fried!
And she never showed up... because she didn't even bother with the task?!
[Stay strong, kid, hhhh!]
"You can refuse a task like that?" Lu Wenhao looked at the crew beside him, questioning his entire life.
Bao Ruanruan blinked innocently. "Why not?"
"D*mn it! Then I won't do the tasks either!" Lu Wenhao slapped the table.
But one staff member awkwardly said softly, "Teacher Bao doesn't do the tasks because she has declined the programme's resources. Teacher Lu, what about you? Are you giving up the resources, too? Like the books and the computer for your study?"
Lu Wenhao froze.
He was utterly stunned.
He needed those.
D*mn it!
Bao Ruanruan let out a casual "Oh," then said, "So, you're still going to help me? Can I switch it to something else then?"
Lu Wenhao: "???"
Right on the spot, Bao Ruanruan pulled a pen and paper out of her little bag, along with an A4 sheet that looked painfully familiar to Lu Wenhao.
It was fate.
A haunting sense of déjà vu.
Three bold words:
"LIFE-SAVING AGREEMENT."
[Hhhhh, who would have thought we'd end up here!]
[I swear I will die laughing watching this show tonight!]
[Someone please take my Ruanruan away—I can't even sleep because of her tonight!]
As the saying goes, one more IOU doesn't matter when you're deep in debt.
What's the difference between signing one life-saving agreement or two?
Lu Wenhao was now absolutely certain that he wouldn't harm Bao Ruanruan.
After all... he knew she was a genuine fan of his, and he knew how hard she worked to live her life. He couldn't bring himself to hurt her.
Yes. He couldn't do it.
Especially not after witnessing her tug-of-war strength.
Even his middle school Sanda training was no match for her.
"I'll sign."
"It's just a promise not to mess with you for three days and to help you one more time, right?"
The original task card was about helping her once anyway!
He had nothing to lose.
Lu Wenhao flamboyantly signed his name and then looked up to see Bao Ruanruan staring at him with a shocked expression.
There was sympathy in her gaze.
And a look that screamed, 'If you were in a palace drama, you wouldn't make it past the second episode'.
"?"
Sensing that something was off, he immediately flipped over the back of the life-saving agreement.
And there it was, a line of small text:
Life-Saving Agreement V2 – Upgraded Version.
!!!
[Oh, hell no!]
[Hhhhh!]
Bao Ruanruan sighed. "Rule #23 of staying alive: Always read the terms of any document carefully before signing it. Otherwise, you could very well sell your soul to the devil."
You ARE the devil!
Lu Wenhao was dumbfounded.
She started to read the text out loud:
"Life-Saving Agreement V2 – Upgraded Version. The terms are as follows——"
"1. Lu Wenhao must unconditionally assist Bao Ruanruan in overcoming two difficulties.
2. In any environment where Lu Wenhao is present, if any of his relatives or friends try to harm Bao Ruanruan, he must intervene on the spot and protect her at all costs!"
Lu Wenhao: "?!"
"P.S.: Relatives and friends are defined as direct family members, sworn brothers, co-workers, or mentors/mentees from the same company... subject to further additions. The final right of interpretation rests solely with Bao Ruanruan."
After reading, Bao Ruanruan's fair little face practically glowed with satisfaction.
"If you have any objections, please feel free to bring them up," she said as she carefully folded the precious V2 agreement paper and tucked it neatly into the inner pocket of her bag.
"But I won't accept them."
"!! D*mn it—!" Lu Wenhao groaned, clutching his head.
[Very happy, very happy, hehe~]
[Today's such a sunny day, everything feels so bright~~~]
[Bao Ruanruan is something else, hhhhh!]
[I'm laughing so hard I sound like a duck!]
[Brother Lu: The rain keeps falling~]
[I've learned my lesson! Sis! The last time I wanted to rent an apartment, I signed the contract without reading the terms carefully because I trusted the landlord too much. As it turned out, the terms said I had to do all the repairs and pay for them myself. I almost cried out of frustration.]
[Exactly, you can't just sign things carelessly. The last time I bought a house, the seller promised to leave the appliances for me... but he almost went back on his word. Luckily, I noticed and got him to add it to the terms and conditions!]
[Ah! I'm signing an insurance contract tomorrow, and I'll remember to read the terms and conditions carefully!]
[Mom's safety grows stronger with every tear her son sheds~]
[After Bao Bao's wellness class, another safety class has been added. Very good~]
The comments section was buzzing.
The core theme in the comments section was laughter.
But many people also felt that they had 'learned something'.
Amidst the laughter, this farce finally came to an end.
Bao Ruanruan collected the life-saving document, made Lu Wenhao pay a painful price, and forgave him for sneaking into the sunroom at night.
Just like that, she happily led the show's staff and cameraman back to her room.
The camera soon switched to footage of the other guests.
[Oh my, my cheeks can finally take a break.]
[I'm taking Golden Throat Lozenges5https://baike.baidu.com/item/%E9%87%91%E5%97%93%E5%AD%90%E5%96%89%E5%AE%9D/9798335) right now.]
[Why throat lozenges? Learn from Ruanruan's essence—go for some pang da hai🔗.]
[I'm going to pour myself a glass of water and come back to watch.]
[Finally, after all this time, I can go to the bathroom!]
[Haha, that was really intense just now. I couldn't bear to leave the screen~ Finally, I can catch my breath.]
The audience in the comment section was exhausted.
They were all tired from laughing so hard.
As the camera moved on to other guests, they breathed a sigh of relief, feeling that the show's pace was just right.
Fans of the other guests were also satisfied.
In the director's room, Zheng Mingchang finally leaned back comfortably in his chair and calmly took control of the whole situation.
Bao Ruanruan, who had disrupted the show, had finally gone home to rest!
Zheng Mingchang smiled and picked up his teapot.
But just as he was about to take a sip, he almost spat it out.
Xiao Mengfei and Lan Zhi had actually brought their own lounge chairs and stools from their rooms to the sunroom to look for Bao Ruanruan.
The camera had panned back to Bao Ruanruan again!
Zheng Mingchang: Already panicking.
On the screen.
"Bao Bao, I haven't seen you all day. I missed you so much."
Xiao Mengfei cheerfully placed her self-brought lounge chair in the roofless sunroom and smiled sweetly at Bao Ruanruan.
Now, she copied everything Bao Ruanruan did.
Since Bao Ruanruan hadn't hung out with her all day, Xiao Mengfei had diligently participated in the show, resisting the urge to chat with Bao Ruanruan.
But by nightfall, she couldn't hold back any longer and came over to talk.
"Xiao Bao, I've thought about it, and you're right. Those tea tables we brought in probably contain formaldehyde. It's better not to use them," said Lan Zhi, who was now also paying attention to her health.
"So, as for the programme tasks, Xiao Xiao doesn't have to do them tomorrow either."
"In that case, Brother Cheng doesn't need to do them either. I don't need him to help me with my stage anymore," Xiao Mengfei quickly followed Lan Zhi's lead.
Zheng Mingchang: "!"
[!]
[Pfft!]
[Production Team: We're doomed.]
Bao Ruanruan, who had just about to start reading her second health book, froze when she saw them arrive.
And with chairs, no less.
In the game, few people ever came to her small house.
But after a moment's hesitation, she dashed into her bedroom and quickly dragged the mattress from her large bed out into the roofless sunroom.
She patted it a few times.
"Sitting in chairs and looking up at the sky for too long is bad for your neck."
"Lie down."
[Ohhh, I see now!]
[Taking notes.]
[Secretly recording this.]
Lan Zhi and Xiao Mengfei's eyes lit up at her words.
Without hesitation, they lay down on either side of Bao Ruanruan.
The three of them were all slim and didn't take up much space, as they shared pillows embroidered with the words 'Longevity' and 'A Hundred Years'.
Three distinct beauties, each with her own unique charm:
Lan Zhi, with her strong and mature presence;
Xiao Mengfei, youthful and sweet;
Bao Ruanruan, with delicate features and an air of fragility.
They were in different stages of life.
But now they were lying together, wrapped in a soft, dark green blanket and dressed in white, red, and green pyjamas.
They looked like three flower buds perched on a lush green branch.
Amid this beautiful, harmonious collision, there was a subtle charm.
As the camera captured the scene, it looked like a painting of timeless beauty—peaceful, serene, and utterly comfortable.
[Ahhh!]
[I'm screaming—BEAUTIES!]
[This shot is incredible! Easily the best moment in Chasing Dream!]
[Beauties should always stick together like this~]
Beside them was a pot of fragrant tea; above them, the stars twinkled in the night sky.
In the background, soothing, light music came from Bao Ruanruan's speaker.
Lan Zhi hadn't been lying down for long before she closed her eyes in relaxation.
"Finally, this really feels like a vacation~"
"Xiao Bao, this pillow of yours is quite comfortable, huh? It feels like it's cradling my neck."
"Right?" Bao Ruanruan snuggled into the soft edge of her blanket, humming contentedly in her soft, small voice.
"It's filled with buckwheat husks and cassia seeds~"
"The loose buckwheat husks conform to the shape of our heads, distributing the pressure on the neck and protecting the cervical spine."
"And the cassia seeds help to expel dampness."
Lan Zhi exclaimed, "That's amazing. Send me the shopping link right now."
"I want one too!" Xiao Mengfei raised her hand eagerly.
"After all that dance practice the other day, I woke up with a stiff neck from my pillow."
[Xiao Xiao, be sure to share the link with us as well!]
[Girl, post it on Weibo for us, or drop it in the fan group!]
[Sis Lan, just ask for the brand already! You're killing me with the suspense!]
Unfortunately, their nighttime girl talk soon shifted to the show itself.
"This production team is too much—this house-building task is ridiculous." Lan Zhi sat up and sipped her tea.
"I will tell the director that none of us will do this task anymore."
They would go on strike together.
Xiao Mengfei immediately raised her hand in support.
But surprisingly, Bao Ruanruan, who everyone thought would back the strike, hesitated this time.
Her snow-white face showed a rare moment of contemplation. After a long pause, she shook her head.
"No, some tasks are still worth completing."
"For example... that learn to be self-reliant house."
[?]
[Huh?]
The next morning, Lu Wenhao dragged himself out of bed with dark circles under his eyes and yawned thrice.
He looked utterly exhausted.
He sat on the bed and zoned out.
Last night, he dreamt that Bao Ruanruan was chasing him with a broadsword, forcing him to write ten pledges of allegiance, swearing to support her for life.
He spent the whole night running for his life.
When he woke up in the morning, he was drenched in sweat and still shaken.
"So... what am I supposed to do today?"
Lu Wenhao was utterly lost now.
The Learn How to Build Your Own Shelter task was a segment the production team designed to match his aspirations of 'self-reliance and independence'.
Well then... fine. Since Bao Ruanruan wasn't going to help him, and neither was the crew, he might as well do it himself.
Lu Wenhao immediately opened his shopping app.
"Isn't it just a matter of filling the room with books? I'll buy them myself then."
He loaded his cart with bestsellers and trending books.
One-click checkout.
Submit payment.
— Total Amount: ¥11,930
— Insufficient Balance.
— Would you like your friend, 'Assistant Liu', to pay?
Lu Wenhao froze.
Assistant Liu was his older brother's assistant.
Usually, when he ran out of money, Assistant Liu would pay the bill for him.
But recently, he'd just realised... he still owed his brother 5 million yuan!
In an instant, he was overcome with hesitation.
Hesitation leads to defeat.
Acting on impulse leads to... disaster.
Gritting his teeth, he turned to the production team.
"Hey, will this show reimburse expenses?"
"Nope," his accompanying PD replied bluntly, shaking her head.
Lu Wenhao: "!"
[Come on, man, pull yourself together!]
[Stay strong! Don't pass out, you've got this!]
[Hang in there! Didn't Bao Ruanruan say last night that she might do a task to help you? Maybe there's a surprise coming today!]
Early in the morning, the livestream chat was already buzzing with activity.
The next moment, on camera, Lu Wenhao heard someone knocking on the door from outside.
"Hey, is that actor guy in there?"
"What are you talking about? He's not an actor; he's a dancer!"
"Oh, whatever! The tug-of-war guy! Are you awake? Are you in there?"
The lively voices of a group of elderly men and women rang out.
Lu Wenhao, utterly confused, rubbed his messy bedhead and reluctantly put on a baseball cap to save face.
Only then did he open the door.
The moment he opened it, he was stunned by the stack of books shoved into his face.
"Young man, we heard you're setting up a library. Here, take these books!"
"You said it was for learning, right? I've got two books to donate."
"I've got some too—take them!"
"Not enough? Just let Grandpa know, and I'll bring more!"
Lu Wenhao stood frozen in place.
The warm summer breeze seemed to sweep through his weary heart, blowing away all his troubles and doubts.
For the first time, he truly understood what it meant to receive help in a time of need.
He had never lacked anything in his life before.
But this one time, he lacked books—and he couldn't even afford them.
And yet, the villagers came through for him!
The people of Hengshan Village were amazing!
If someone asked him where he'd like to stay next time, he'd definitely still say Hengshan Village!
Overwhelmed with emotion, he said, "Thank you, Grandpa, thank you, Grandma. If you ever need help with anything, just ask me. I'm pretty strong."
The elderly man in front of him waved dismissively with a laugh.
"Thank me for what? These are all from that little girl Ruanruan—she told us to bring them over!"
Lu Wenhao: "!"
[Awwwww!]
[Knew it!]
[As expected of Bao Ruanruan, who has maxed out her favourability with every grandpa and grandma in the village from Day 1!]
[Let's all applaud the woman standing at the top of Hengshan Village's food chain!]
[Wuwuwu, I've become her fan. I'm officially joining Bao Ruanruan's fan club—how can she be so clever, kind, and adorable?!]
[She doesn't even need the reward, yet she still steps in to help my Brother Lu! What a little angel!]
Exactly. What a saint she was!
Even Lu Wenhao was shaken.
But he quickly lowered his head and looked at the books that Grandpa had stuffed into his hand.
His mouth twitched.
— The Dangers of Formaldehyde You Must Know
— Village Safety: Whose Responsibility?
— It's Best Not to Go Out at Night
— Illness Starts with What You Eat
— If You're Uncomfortable, Press Here
Lu Wenhao: "...???"
[!!!]
[So Bao Ruanruan turned Lu Wenhao's dream library into her own version? LOL!]
[Hahahaha! Brilliant!]
Author's Note:
Ruanruan: Just another day of working hard at life~~
Footnotes Full List
- 墙头 (qiáng tóu) is a popular internet slang term in China, especially within the fan community (饭圈 - fàn quān). It literally translates to 'wall head', but the meaning is figurative. It can be translated as 'fickle fan' or 'bandwagon fan'. It refers to someone who doesn't have a fixed favourite celebrity and is easily influenced, often switching their admiration from one star to another, much like a 'fence-sitter' or 'opportunist' in a broader context. This behaviour has been likened to that of a "墙头草" (qiáng tóu cǎo), which literally means 'grass on the top of a wall', symbolising someone who is easily swayed or who frequently changes loyalties. In this sentence, however, it refers to someone the speaker used to admire or support.)
- A "stan" is a passionate and devoted fan of a particular celebrity, group, or public figure. The term originated from Eminem's 2000 song "Stan," which tells the story of an obsessive fan. Over time, it has come to describe someone who strongly supports or admires someone or something, often to an intense degree.It can be used as a noun ("I'm a Taylor Swift stan") or a verb ("I stan this actor"). While it's usually positive, it can also carry connotations of excessive or overly intense admiration.
- become a fan to another idol after leaving former idol
- A "water army" refers to a group of paid individuals or bots hired to manipulate public opinion online. This term is commonly used in China and other regions to describe organised efforts to flood social media, forums, or comment sections with posts, likes, or comments to promote or attack a person, product, or idea.Water armies are often used for marketing campaigns, political propaganda, or reputation management to create the illusion of widespread support or criticism. The term implies that their activity "flows" like water, appearing natural but, in fact, coordinated.
Source | Baidu
きつね's Musing
Personally, my favourite part of the novel is Bao Ruanruan's interaction with those who have such an 'extreme dislike' for her. Their interactions tend to be comedic, mostly because Bao Ruanruan is not exactly what they originally imagined her to be. And those who thought they could trick or trap Bao Ruanruan into doing their bidding. She always, ALWAYS, finds the loophole. ALWAYS!
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