Chapter 13 Temporary Grouping

Meng Xinqiu is the youngest actor to have won all three major film awards in the industry. He is not formally trained in acting and is a typical example of a natural talent. His debut film won three awards, making him one of the most watched newcomers. He continued to work hard, rising from Best Newcomer to Best Actor in all three major film awards.

Despite her impressive achievements, Meng Xinqiu is a low-key person.

Previously, Meng Xinqiu had only participated in two variety shows. One was a cultural promotion program he participated in to repay a favor to his alma mater, Nandu University, and the other was a competitive program that focused on performance. Therefore, when the marketing accounts first spread the rumor that he would participate in "Star 3", almost no one believed it until the marketing accounts released photos of him, Gu Jiming, and the program director having dinner.

While Meng's fans were overjoyed at their idol's return to the spotlight, they couldn't understand why Meng Xinqiu would participate in "Star 3". After all, he has no shortage of resources and popularity, and has always maintained a low-key and powerful image. Participating in a variety show might actually ruin his public image.

There have been examples of talented people having a disastrous experience on variety shows before.

The fans may not know, but Fu Yanle does.

Meng Xinqiu came to participate in the program for the same reason as Gu Jiming: Lin Qingtong.

In their past lives, these two appeared on TV shows and created a romantic pairing with Lin Qingtong, helping him skyrocket in popularity. Afterwards, they supported him within the industry while simultaneously scheming against him, their unfortunate nemesis, outside of it. In the end, they each achieved success in both their love lives and careers. They were truly cunning and manipulative, meticulously plotting their way to becoming despicable figures.

Fu Yanle's lips flattened, and the dimples on both sides disappeared in an instant, like a fleeting moment.

【Huh? Something feels off about the atmosphere.】

[Who is Fu Yanle with, and is the atmosphere appropriate? This is one aspect of "Fu Studies"—the realm of Fu's "dogs."]

[Isn't the main point that Teacher Meng actually knows Fu Yanle? Have these two had any interaction before?]

But didn't Fu Yanle say he hadn't met Teacher Meng before? Perhaps this is just small talk.

I have a strange intuition that I'll reach out and slap anyone who's smiling at me!

[...]

Meng Xinqiu withdrew her hand nonchalantly, her tone still gentle, but with a hint of grievance, "It's been two months since we last met, and Yanle doesn't even remember what I look like. It seems that I'm practically nothing to you."

What color trash bag are you? How can you hold so much trash?

What level of idiot are you, acting so well?

You want to pretend you have a good relationship, huh?

Fu Yanle smiled slightly and said, "I was just kidding you. How could I not remember what Teacher Meng looks like? Hehe."

Hearing this, Meng Xinqiu breathed a sigh of relief, pointed at Fu Yanle, and said indulgently, "You, you just know how to fool around. You're happy when I'm sad, right?"

Fu Yanle smiled like a naive and innocent girl, "Hehe."

[Aww, Meng Xinqiu is so doting! What's the relationship between him and Fu Yanle?]

[A seven-year longtime fan of Meng Xinqiu: I have no idea either, I've never heard of any connection between these two...]

[Their relationship doesn't matter, they look so good together! Gentle and doting top vs. cute and mischievous bottom, I love this kind of pairing!]

Meng Xinqiu has always had a very good temper, but why is Fu Yanle so well-behaved?

[Hey ladies, don't use such a weird word like "well-behaved" to describe Fu Yanle, it's creepy!]

[...]

As the audience wondered what was going on, the third guest walked in, and it was none other than Gu Jiming.

Strictly speaking, it is Gu Jiming with black hair.

"People really do emphasize what they lack," Fu Yanle thought with pity.

Gu Jiming greeted Meng Xinqiu, then plopped down next to Fu Yanle, grinning as he said, "Good afternoon, Brother Yanle."

"Good afternoon." Fu Yanle shrank back a little, moving further away from the birds and beasts on his left and right.

Gu Jiming noticed his reaction and was extremely displeased: Damn it! He's been taking his anger out on me for half a month now, and Su Fengyao, who cheated on you, has cheated on me too! We're neighbors on the grasslands, okay!

Meng Xinqiu unscrewed the cap and took a sip, feeling somewhat puzzled. Fu Yanle was acting strangely today, as if... he didn't like him?

The three remained eerily silent until Lin Qingtong pushed open the door and entered.

Lin Qingtong first shook hands with Meng Xinqiu, and when they looked at each other, she gave her a gentle and obedient smile. Then she turned to the side and reached out her hand to Fu Yanle, but it just brushed against the top of Fu Yanle's head.

He looked down and saw Fu Yanle tying his shoelaces.

"..."

Lin Qingtong felt somewhat embarrassed. At this moment, Gu Jiming let out a barely audible snort and reached out to shake her hand, saving the situation for her. Lin Qingtong breathed a sigh of relief, smiled gently at Gu Jiming, and tried to reach out to Fu Yanle again.

"Director!" Fu Yanle stood up, "Where's the restroom?"

The director coldly said, "You're not allowed to leave during work hours. Solve your own problems."

"You want me to do a live stream? It's so revealing..." Fu Yanle wondered, then reached up and lifted his shirt, revealing a section of pure black trousers. "It's not entirely impossible—"

"Damn!" The director quickly entered the scene and dragged Fu Yanle away.

[I'm the director, and I'm going to beat Fu Yanle to death in the toilet right now! Don't come to collect his body, let it rot and stink!]

[The director is such a nuisance! Make him take his clothes off! I want to see VIP content!]

[However, am I the only one who thinks Fu Yanle deliberately avoided Lin Qingtong twice?]

Lin Qingtong is a cosmic-level garbage bag; people just don't want to be near her.

What kind of person is Fu Yanle? My Tongtong wasn't even angry when she was scammed, but he's acting like a mother jerk?

Whether she was impersonating his mother or not, I don't know, but she was definitely impersonating yours, which is why you're such an orphan.

[Hey! Little Fu said: Don't use "mother" in your speech, let's all be civilized! Follow Fu's rules!]

[...]

Just as Fu Yanle was being dragged back by the director, the last guest walked in.

Their eyes met, and An Shigou suddenly rushed towards him, then slammed on the brakes, jumping up and yelling, "What are you doing here!"

"How did I get here?" This time Fu Yanle was genuinely surprised. "Have you been to the hospital? Do you have enough money? Do you need any help?"

The director, standing to the side, looked at An Shigou with some concern: Is this kid alright in the head?

Hold!

An Shigou awkwardly curled up his arms and legs, wishing he could take off on the spot and use his stupid head to break through the earth!

An Shigou didn't know why he wanted to rush in front of Fu Yanle as soon as he saw him, and he didn't know what to say. He couldn't very well say "hello" to Fu Yanle, could he?

This doesn't fit his aloof persona!

Fu Yanle openly took out eye drops and squeezed them into his lower eyelids. With a blink of an eye, two pitiful tears slid down his cheeks. He patted An Shigou's shoulder, his voice trembling, "Young man, if you're sick, get treatment. Don't be afraid to seek medical help, don't be afraid of being laughed at, and don't give up on yourself. A bright tomorrow will always be waiting for you!"

Damn it! An Shigou gritted his teeth in anger, and the two rows of teeth collided with a cruel thud.

The production team interjected promptly and kindly: "Welcome the six guests to our Star House. We'll skip the self-introductions and fake socializing and go straight to announcing the room assignments for this episode, based on the flowers you have. The first group: red flower, green flower."

It was Gu Jiming and An Shigou.

Fu Yanle could clearly sense the disappointment that welled up from the depths of Gu Jiming's heart, and the joy that sprouted from the depths of Meng Xinqiu's heart.

Clearly, the two main characters' joys and sorrows are not the same.

"The second group, orange blossoms, yellow blossoms."

It was Lin Qingtong and Meng Xinqiu.

Fu Yanle once again sensed three parts disappointment, three parts jealousy, two parts fear, and two parts anger in Gu Jiming's heart, and Meng Xinqiu's great joy.

"The third group, blue flowers, purple flowers."

Meanwhile, in the live stream:

【Aaaaaaah, Fu Yanle, I'll kill you! If you dare bully my son, I'll fucking fight you to the death!】

[Sisters in front, don't be afraid.]

How could I not be scared? Even if you gave my Wanwan a hundred more mouths, he still couldn't out-argue Fu Yanle!

Good heavens, Fu Yanle is terrifying!

[A naive and innocent bottom vs. a foul-mouthed and wicked top, ladies, are you shipping them?]

[...]

Tang Wanbai was sitting next to Gu Jiming. Hearing this, he clenched the flowers in his hand. He had not only heard about it, but also witnessed firsthand Fu Yanle's verbal battle against the "Confucian scholars." To be honest, he was a little scared, but he still subconsciously looked at Fu Yanle and stammered, "Yanle, it's a pleasure to cooperate with you."

Fu Yanle looked at Tang Wanbai's frightened face and was quite puzzled.

Is he really that scary?

Alas, the world has misjudged me, Fu Yanle!

Fu Yanle suppressed his sorrow, raised an eyebrow and smiled at Tang Wanbai, "It's a pleasure to cooperate."

Ugh! Oh! Ah!

Tang Wanbai stared blankly at Fu Yanle, only snapping out of her daze when the production crew's voices rang out again. She quickly turned her head away and hid her head.

Gu Jiming glanced at Tang Wanbai's flushed face out of the corner of his eye and couldn't help but scoff: "Superficial!"

Then I couldn't help but compare Fu Yanle's attitude towards Tang Wanbai with his attitude towards me... Damn, so infuriating!

"Now, let's announce everyone's payment status: Group 1, Gu Jiming chose the 'sky' type of apartment for loan, An Shigou the same; Group 2, Meng Xinqiu chose the 'earth' type of apartment for loan, Lin Qingtong chose the 'human' type of apartment for loan; Group 3, Tang Wanbai chose the 'human' type of apartment for loan, Fu Yanle chose the 'sky' type of apartment for payment."

An Shigou immediately jumped up and yelled, "You've illegally hidden money!"

"Heh." Fu Yanle nodded, his expression a mixture of contempt and pity. "Young man, don't limit your thinking."

With An Shigou being confronted first, Tang Wanbai was a little nervous, but still asked curiously, "Yanle, how did you do that?"

“It’s simple.” Fu Yanle turned to him and smiled. “Use my assistant’s money.”

Tang Wanbai immediately realized, "A loophole in the text! Yanle, you're so smart, I'm so stupid."

Although Fu Yanle felt that anyone could find fault with the production team's laziness and exploit loopholes in the rules, he still comforted them, saying, "It's okay, it's just that the production team is too cunning, it has nothing to do with your naivety."

"..." The director clenched his fist, a murderous intent rising within him once more.

At the same time, An Shigou, realizing he was being treated differently, puffed up his cheeks, looking as angry as a pufferfish, and shut his mouth to silently moan.

The program team announced: "Based on everyone's debt situation, here are the results of the dormitory competition: Lowest debt - Tang Wanbai and Fu Yanle, Tang Wanbai has a debt of 400 yuan and will move into the 'Sky' room; Highest debt - Gu Jiming and An Shigou, each with a debt of 1000 yuan, will move into the 'Human' room; Meng Xinqiu has a debt of 700 yuan and Lin Qingtong has a debt of 400 yuan, both will move into the 'Earth' room!"

"I refuse to accept this!" An Shigou shouted again, "Why are we owed room fees for rooms that weren't even booked? The production team is ripping us off, they have no morals!"

Gu Jiming nodded coldly in agreement: "We must be given an explanation."

"Life is a gamble; whether you win or lose is entirely up to fate." The director was utterly ruthless. "You shouldn't be yelling at the production team; you should be glaring at each other—why! You chose a luxury room despite being poor? Don't you have any self-awareness? Why! Why did we have to be paired together, compounding our mistakes? Whywhywhy!"

Gu Jiming and An Shigou suddenly stared at each other, simultaneously transforming into two pufferfish.

"Heh." The director looked away dismissively, but the next second he met Fu Yanle's eyes. The guy actually showed a gratified and kind smile and even gave him a thumbs up.

Ha, don't get too excited yet.

Director He Shan smiled and said: You'll get what's coming to you tonight.

Author's Note:

Da Yu: What night? (Draws sword.jpg)

Director... Oops! Don't come any closer! (Embarrassed, pigeon-toed face.jpg)

Xiao Fu: Hehe!

Did everyone have a happy Chinese New Year? Did you play with firecrackers? I didn't dare go out in the streets to avoid the firecrackers.

No update tomorrow, see you the day after tomorrow night, hehe.