Chapter 107

Once people leave school and enter society, time seems to speed up. What used to feel like ten or eight years is now just a blink of an eye when people look back in middle age.

Ten years after the premiere of "Meet Your Heartbeat", a trailer that shocked many people was released.

The production team invited eight guests who participated in the first episode of the variety show ten years ago to return to the Heartbeat House and create a special episode called "Old Friends Reunion" using a combination of live streaming and recording.

The trailer focuses on nostalgia, starting with random street interviews asking passersby if they had watched the show.

"I think I've heard of it before?" A vibrant high school girl shook her head, looking confused. "It's supposed to be a variety show from a long time ago, but I've never watched it."

A business professional, sipping afternoon tea with a cup of coffee, smiled slightly and said, "I've seen it. I was in college back then and I really liked Su Su. I've been following her news over the years, but unfortunately she's not a celebrity, so I can only see her in some business reports."

“I watched it with my ex-girlfriend,” a man wearing glasses and carrying a shopping bag replied. “She got married later, but I wasn’t the groom.”

There were also young couples picking up their children from school. When asked, they exchanged a mysterious smile. The wife said, "Of course I've seen it. When my husband proposed, he imitated a male guest from a variety show and spent three years drawing 99 portraits of me."

...

People of different genders, ages, and professions reminisced about the variety shows and their past selves through these brief comments.

The scene then shifts to show glimpses of the guests from the first episode.

The story begins with Qin Su's first self-introduction upon entering the Heartbeat House: "Hello everyone, I am Qin Su." It ends with Qin Su turning her head while holding onto the car door on the day of her selection, saying in the night breeze, "I look forward to the surprise of our reunion."

Finally, the video spins rapidly and freezes on the terrace dinner the guests had on the eve of their date.

Handsome men and beautiful women raised their glasses in celebration under the bright moon, their laughter clear and far-reaching.

The trailer's release was like a heavy stone thrown into a calm lake, attracting a lot of attention and being shared widely.

Many people exclaimed, "My youth is back!"

[Oh my god, I can't believe I'm actually seeing the after-sales service for this variety show in my lifetime.]

[It turns out that the ordinary people who appeared on dating reality shows back then were all more attractive than today's celebrities. The entertainment industry today is just too cruel.]

[As expected, the longer you live, the more you can wait. My motivation to live increases by 1000]

[Am I just a naive middle schooler? At first glance, I thought it was some kind of boy or girl group debut video. But upon closer inspection, I realized it was just ordinary people on a variety show. Are those faces for real? I thought Qin Su was an early, stunningly beautiful celebrity. Is this the level of beauty that all participants in dating reality shows are at? Suddenly, I've become interested in dating reality shows.]

[Don't misunderstand! Not all participants in dating reality shows look like this! This season of dating reality shows is legendary!]

[It's ironic that this season of dating reality shows became so popular, leading to a flood of similar shows, most of which imitated it with live streaming and recording. However, these shows were plagued with problems, resulting in significantly lower popularity and critical reception. Even the production team themselves struggled to improve after four seasons. It's unexpected that they've managed to bring back the guests from the first season.]

[This season's guests are probably the highest quality of all dating reality show guests, both in terms of looks and future development.]

[Follow-up developments? I only seem to know Qin Su, because she's done quite a few charity projects over the years, and my hometown even received a donation from her company last year.]

That was a joint venture between her and the Ye family; her connection with Ye Yan can be traced back to their work on a variety show.

What? Who? Qin Su ended up with Ye Yan? Didn't she not choose anyone?

[The village has internet access now. The two sisters got together several years after the variety show ended. They were spotted by passersby and even trended on social media. It's said they got their marriage certificate three years ago.]

[Shocking! This is the first time I've heard this!]

Speaking of which, ten years have passed now. Do the guests from back then still look good?

Do the guests from back then still look good?

No one needs to answer this question; everyone saw it after the program started its live broadcast.

Chu Ge and Cheng Fubai were the first to arrive, and their vehicles stopped one after the other.

Chu Ge's smile was as warm and bright as ever. He opened his arms and hugged Cheng Fubai, saying, "Long time no see, Lao Cheng."

"Tch." Xu Shishi got out of the sports car behind, tossed her long hair, and said jokingly, "Back then you called me Fu Bai, now you call me Lao Cheng."

The aura between people is strange. Chu Ge and Xu Shishi didn't get along well ten years ago. They've met occasionally at Qin Su's place over the past ten years, but they still don't get along.

Chu Ge glanced at her and deliberately said loudly, "After all, we're all approaching forty. You were Sister Shishi back then, and now you're Aunt Shishi, aren't you?"

Xu Shishi, who is over 30, can't stand hearing people mention her age. She said with a black line, "Who is auntie? I went to get Thermage the other day, and the receptionist at the beauty salon asked me if I was in my early 20s."

"Which one?" Xue Jianxing asked curiously. "How effective is it? I've been thinking about getting some anti-aging treatments lately."

"What anti-aging?" Jin Xiao and Gu Chiyan arrived as well, only to hear the end of the sentence.

Xu Shishi said, "I won't tell you the secret between us women."

She looked around and asked curiously, "Why are you all here, but Su Su isn't here yet?"

Jin Xiao instantly forgot about the previous question: "Su Su hasn't arrived yet? That shouldn't be the case. I called her this morning when I left home and she said she had already left."

Xu Shishi immediately glared at him: "You're bothering Su Su first thing in the morning!"

Jin Xiao retorted, "It's not like you haven't made a phone call this morning!"

The two glanced at each other, then turned their heads away in disgust, unwilling to bring up the embarrassing incident of their car accident when they called Qin Su in front of others.

Just as the group was catching up and reminiscing, laughter and conversation came from around the bend in the side path.

When the group turned around, they saw that Qin Su and Ye Yan had come side by side, and the host Zhang Wenyan was following them.

Behind Zhang Wenyan are Tan Ling, a Grand Slam winner of Best Actor awards who has now basically retired from the entertainment industry; Xiang Shuangshuang, who transitioned from singing to acting; and Shi Yi, a leading lady in Qingyi roles—all of whom were once celebrity observers.

"I'm late." Qin Su casually pushed her sunglasses up to her forehead, revealing her even more dazzling eyes.

Ten years have passed, and she seems to have been forgotten by time, almost unchanged. She still has snow-white skin and black hair, and her long, curled eyelashes shimmer slightly in the sunlight, giving her a dazzling and mesmerizing beauty.

The moment this group appeared in the camera's field of view, the number of comments on the screen exploded.

Holy crap, what a stunningly beautiful woman!

I was utterly shocked. Does Qin Su really not age? She looks exactly the same as she did ten years ago!

Ahhh, she really is with Ye Yan! After ten years, I'm heartbroken.

[I originally watched this show because it's rare for actor Tan to appear on a variety show these days, but I was completely captivated by the beautiful women. They're so gorgeous! I'm definitely going to watch this show!]

[Debut? Debut?! Sister, debut!]

[Don't dream about it, upstairs. Her and Ye Yan's combined net worth exceeds 100 billion. They make money even while lying down; there's no way they would work hard to debut.]

[I cried. I'm a mother of two now, and my goddess is still as stunning as she was back then. It feels like she's frozen in my youth. Tears.]

Tan Ling took two steps forward and smiled, "I never thought that after ten years, we who participated in the same variety show would finally meet in person."

Zhang Wenyan looked at everyone one by one and exclaimed, "I said as soon as I saw Qin Su, time never defeats beauty. The first season truly deserves to be the peak of variety show looks. You guys are even younger than us celebrities."

“It’s a pity…” he said with a slight sadness, “Ten years is too long. Things have changed, and we’re missing one person on our side.”

Of the original five celebrity observers, only four remain now, because Zuo Fei has retired from the entertainment industry.

The innocent and carefree young man who appeared on a dating reality show back then couldn't resist the temptations of the entertainment industry and quickly changed. Last year, he was exposed for cheating and promiscuity, which had a terrible impact, and he has since left the industry and disappeared from the public eye.

The guests weren't familiar with the celebrities, so they didn't know what to say. Tan Ling patted Zhang Wenyan on the shoulder and said, "It's such a wonderful day, let's not talk about those things."

“Exactly.” Xiang Shuangshuang was no longer as impulsive as before; a mature woman’s charm had appeared in her eyes. She naturally changed the subject, saying, “I came here today with a gossipy mindset. Everyone, tell me what’s been going on lately. I heard everyone’s made a fortune?”

Everyone laughed and chatted as they walked into the Heartbeat House.

"What kind of fortune?" Chu Ge said. "I've been the same all these years, spending half the year traveling."

Xue Jianxing smiled and said, "Working for only half a year is already enough to make people envious."

Shi Yi seemed to have a good impression of Xue Jianxing, the gentle female guest, and asked, "I heard you own several flower shops?"

Xue Jianxing spoke softly as always: "Indeed, we opened a few stores."

Xu Shishi, who was sitting next to Qin Su with her arm around her, said upon hearing this, "Don't listen to her modesty. Her flower shop has become a chain brand and is now a popular online store. The brand is called 'Star and Moon'."

Shi Yi was first surprised, not expecting that Xue Jianxing, who was like the girl next door ten years ago, would be so successful in her work now. Then she felt that the name "Xingyue" was rather subtle.

She subconsciously looked at Qin Su, but Qin Su was talking quietly to Ye Yan. Judging from the expressions of the other guests, they were all unsurprised, so they must have known all along.

Zhang Wenyan had just been speaking to Gu Chiyan: "Mr. Gu, your business has grown bigger and bigger in the past few years. Even I, who only works in the entertainment industry, have heard about it. When will you invest in film and television projects?"

Gu Chiyan said politely, "Not at all, it's just small business."

“Mr. Gu is a winner in both career and family,” Tan Ling said. “I heard that Mr. Gu had a baby boy at the beginning of the year.”

Gu Chiyan stiffened for a moment.

He was getting on in years, and his family was pressuring him to get married. He should have gotten married long ago, but for some reason, he dragged it out until the year before last before he met a socialite from a similar family and arranged a marriage.

The couple treated each other with respect after marriage and lived a harmonious life. They also had a son at the beginning of this year.

Over the past six months, many people have congratulated him after hearing the news, and he has always dealt with it easily. But at this moment, he inexplicably doesn't want to mention it.

So he mumbled, "I can't be considered a winner, I'm not as good as Jin Xiao. I fought hard when I was young, now I'm much more relaxed."

Jin Xiao said, "If I weren't too old to keep up, I would have liked to play for a few more years. But I can't keep up with my physical condition, so I can only move behind the scenes. I go fishing with Lao Cheng from time to time."

"In middle age, all one can do is tend to flowers and fish," Cheng Fubai said with a gentle smile, his demeanor refined. "And maybe work out a bit more, so I don't end up as a greasy old man."

Tan Ling laughed and said, "If you guys are considered greasy old men, then I'm out of a job. Call me next time you go fishing, I've recently become interested in it too."

Xiang Shuangshuang looked around and laughed, "So this whole room is full of bosses, and only Shi Yi and I are employees."

“I can only be considered half a boss,” Xu Shishi said. She is now a partner in a beauty company.

Zhang Wenyan said, "Even a half-boss is still a boss."

Xiang Shuangshuang: "I think the production team went in the wrong direction. That season of the show was not a dating show at all, but a training camp for bosses."

Everyone burst into laughter.

The guests have kept in touch over the years and know each other's situations, so they don't feel awkward when they get together.

The atmosphere inside the cabin was cheerful, instantly transporting everyone, both inside and outside the situation, back to ten years ago.

[Tears welling up; reuniting with old friends is truly one of the most beautiful things in the world.]

[How wonderful! Everyone is doing well. This is the best interpretation of a peaceful and tranquil life.]

Their stories, our memories—they represent an amazing era.

[I wish we could meet like this again twenty years from now!]

Everyone ate and chatted, and their enthusiasm for the conversation remained undiminished even into the afternoon.

However, as they chatted, Zhang Wenyan suddenly asked, "So, since you bosses are all so successful in your careers, how are your love lives?"

For a moment, everyone fell silent, some looking up at the sky, others drinking water.

“Qin Su and Ye Yan…” Zhang Wenyan looked over.

Ye Yan grasped Qin Su's hand, raised it and shook it, saying in an unusually calm but undisguised tone of pride, "The wedding ring was put on three years ago, and Su Su designed it herself."

Zhang Wenyan: "..." Excuse me, did anyone ask you about your wedding ring?

He was speechless, so he simply skipped over the two people and called out the names of the others one by one, "Gu Chiyan, um, has a child, skip him."

"Jin Xiao, what about you?"

Jin Xiao replied dryly, "Single."

Zhang Wenyan then looked at Chu Ge: "Where is Chu Ge?"

Chu Ge said, "I am a non-marriage advocate."

"Xue Jianxing?"

Xue Jianxing lowered his eyelids and said softly, "I haven't met the right person all these years."

"Xu Shishi?"

Xu Shishi shrugged: "I have money and free time, what do I need a man for?"

Zhang Wenyan thought to himself, "You didn't say that when you participated in the show back then." He then looked at Cheng Fubai and said, "Boss Cheng is single too."

Cheng Fubai held up his cup, nodding calmly amidst the rising steam: "Better to have none than something of poor quality."

The room, which was just bustling, is now so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Everything is understood without words.

Zhang Wenyan sighed deeply, "What a fine saying, 'Better to have none than something bad.'"

Xiang Shuangshuang was also somewhat shocked. She secretly glanced at them and found that there was no resentment or unwillingness on their faces, but rather a sense of relief and self-reconciliation.

She seemed to have realized something.

Perhaps it has nothing to do with romance or beauty, it's just that I don't want to settle.

Those who have witnessed the brilliance of the sun and moon would not linger over a candle flame.

In life, everyone has some obsessions.

...

The recording didn't end until eight or nine o'clock in the evening, when it was already dark.

Rows of vehicles were parked outside as people said goodbye to each other.

Tonight is also a full moon night, just like when we raised our glasses to celebrate back then.

Everyone tacitly saw Qin Su off first. Qin Su waved to them and said, "See you another day."

Everyone laughed and said, "See you another day."

It was like a simple gathering and a simple farewell.

Cheng Fubai stood at the back of the crowd, his gaze sweeping over Xu Shishi, Jin Xiao, Xue Jianxing, Gu Chiyan, Chu Ge, Ye Yan and others, pausing for a few seconds on Qin Su, before finally looking into the darkness.

He suddenly remembered a poem he had read when he was young.

"The autumn wind is clear and bright; fallen leaves gather and scatter, startled crows perch and hide."

"When will we meet again? This night, I am filled with unbearable longing."

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P.S.: It started with a variety show, ended with a variety show, and ended with a romance variety show. Tomorrow, a new world begins—this time, it's the ancient era!