Chapter 52 Outing
The contents of these three pages of letters are entirely the heartfelt expression of a young woman with a scholarly air and sensitive nature, pouring out her unrequited love.
At first, the comments section was filled with teasing about Ling Zhao's "little tricks," while also lamenting that Mu Jiu had completely misjudged Ling Zhao's popularity.
But watching Mu Jiu's performance, everyone was unconsciously drawn into the story described in the letter.
[Mu Jiu's gaze was so incredibly lifelike, it was practically a personality switch; it gave me goosebumps.]
[It's supposed to be a dating reality show, but why does it feel like an art film monologue?]
[I've been revisiting Mu Jiu's old dramas lately. Her acting is truly superb, but to bring such depth to an impromptu, unprepared letter... I'm impressed.]
Just as the comments section was filled with emotion, the room fell silent once again as the last syllable faded away.
A few seconds later, the executive director's voice came over the loudspeaker: "The segment is over. Everyone has passed the test."
This sentence is like the sound of the clapperboard during a performance.
When she looked up again, Mu Jiu blinked very lightly. The atmosphere that had been surrounding her receded like the tide, and her face returned to its usual expression.
In several live-streaming rooms, under the guidance of staff, the guests took cue cards and read familiar advertising slogans, and everything seemed to gradually return to the atmosphere of an impending end.
Just when the audience thought the live stream was about to end, the executive director reappeared on screen, holding a brand new cue card, and said in an upbeat tone: "Before the live stream ends, there is one more important thing to announce."
"This time, all the guests' dates will be a 'three-day, two-night travel date'!"
On one side of the screen, exquisite animation effects unfold: a suitcase icon slides across, transforms into a small airplane, and finally settles on a travel map with a soft glow.
"At the same time, viewers of 'Our Past' will no longer be mere bystanders."
The background of the live stream room changed instantly.
Under the eye-catching hashtag #TravelWithMyCouple# is a whimsical event poster. Four pairs of cute, cartoon-style guests leap off the page, surrounded by silhouettes of several distinct travel landmarks:
There are forest sunset boardwalks bathed in warm sunlight and maple leaves, winding cobblestone streets, ancient town alleys lit by lanterns, romantic city night scenes with dazzling neon lights and bustling traffic, and a mysterious, blank option with a question mark: "It's up to you."
"The Weibo interactive event will officially begin from now until 5:00 AM tomorrow."
"Participate in the event and vote for your favorite couple's travel destination. The city with the most votes will become their travel destination."
"We will randomly select lucky winners from among the viewers who participated in the voting. Your ID and sincere blessings will have the chance to appear on their travels, and may even bring them to your city for a special, in-depth experience!"
Upon hearing this bombshell news, the number of comments on the live stream skyrocketed.
What kinds of places are there?
[The production team is pretty trendy; several recently popular tourist cities are included in the show.]
[Taking a walk at sunset on the beach... Hurry up and make up for all the romantic scenes from idol dramas for Meng Xiangcheng's dates.]
[There's also the Hanfu (traditional Han clothing) walk in the ancient city; I really want to see that! Deng Minzhou and Guo Zifu seem perfect for this kind of segment!]
[Morning and Evening, can my morning and evening finally be spent together for three days straight? Hehehe, hehehehe/drooling]
Why is everyone so optimistic? Won't the scenes with exes be painful?
Shut up, don't say anymore!
Just then, a colorful comment with a calm and sarcastic tone slowly floated by:
Wait a minute... my enthusiastic ladies, has anyone considered how much money your product has in your wallet right now?
The lively barrage of comments fell silent for a moment.
Oh right, I forgot about that.
Isn't this more than enough? Are people really this extravagant on short trips?
[Are you serious? Do you want to see the popular destinations voted on by the show's producers?]
[After deducting airfare, they still need to eat and stay! Do you think your company's travel packages are just like special forces soldiers touring tourist attractions?]
[It instantly transformed from a romantic idol drama into a survival reality show?!]
[I'm already laughing. With this budget, it looks like we'll be camping and eating nothing but steamed buns!]
Even after the live stream ended, the bizarre trip and date with an ex, which involved cutting the budget in half, immediately climbed into the top five trending topics.
This night is destined to be a sleepless one for many.
But sunshine and the early morning don't wait for those who can't sleep.
As soon as it was light, many fans rushed into the live stream with great enthusiasm, only to be bombarded with flashback clips from the preview of "Our Past".
Wow! The production team actually made a special intro for this trip/date!
[The production team was smart; this was Meng Xiangcheng's first real date!]
"Some journeys are destined to be shared with specific people. Returning to places where we once saw the scenery together, or exploring the paths the other person may have taken during the time we were apart."
"This time, it's not about going back to the past, but about taking 'our' present to see the scenery of 'that time'. Let's use a trip to measure the distance from 'past' to 'present'."
"It might be closer than we imagine, or perhaps we'll discover a completely new intersection."
[Have you ever traveled or gone on dates with your ex?]
Fang Yucheng: "No, our schedules never match."
Meng Shuning: "If we count business trips together... once at the airport, we sat in the VIP lounge for twenty minutes?"
[Please, Meng Xiangcheng, don't suddenly start making things tragic QAQ]
My heart aches for the two babies, but thankfully they've met again at the top.
Just as the barrage of comments was scrolling rapidly, the scene shifted to a post-interview with Xiang Wan and Qi Youxiang, where the scores were plummeting to rock bottom.
Xiang Wan: "Yes, I have."
"She would find out in advance in the cities where I was touring that only locals knew about these shops."
Qi Youxiang glanced at her and said somewhat awkwardly, "I was exhausted after finishing backstage, so she brought over a bunch of food and distributed it to everyone. At the time, I thought... it was pretty normal."
Is this guy still hanging around on the show? Why hasn't he quit yet?
Belated affection is worth less than grass.
[“Quite ordinary” is underlined and bolded]
"Now you know you regret it? Too late, little brother."
[These are all details that only come to mind after they've been lost. Didn't you care at all about what Wanwan did before? :)]
【Qi Youxiang, what's the point of saying all this now?! Why did you betray Wanwan's feelings in the first place?!】
Surprisingly, the discussion about other couples in the live stream overshadowed that of Fang Yucheng and Meng Shuning.
The live stream discussion, which had been steadily rising since Xiang Wan and Qi Youxiang appeared, did not decrease even after Guo Zifu and Deng Minzhou appeared in the next scene.
Of course!
Guo Zifu almost blurted out, "Isn't dating all about going out and having fun! And taking beautiful photos and eating delicious food too!"
Deng Minzhou said quietly from the side, "I don't think so. I feel a lot of pressure every time I go out with you."
"Where is the pressure?" Guo Zifu glared at him.
“Take that time in D City a year ago, for example. He dragged me out of bed at five in the morning to go to the beach to wait for the sunrise, just to film that fifteen-second ‘boyfriend’s back’ vlog.”
Deng Minzhou started counting on his fingers, "Eating ice cream requires eight different angles, and I can't even swallow what's in my mouth; when we go to the night market, I have to carry more than a dozen bags for you, and I also have to be ready to find the perfect angle for you to take pictures..."
Guo Zifu reached out and covered his mouth: "Shut up! That's a record of love!"
With her covering his mouth, Deng Minzhou mumbled, "Yes, yes, yes, the torment of love."
[Haha, this is so true!]
[The daily life of an online celebrity couple: Content is the primary source of productivity.]
[Deng Minzhou: My handsome face is just a prop for the shoot.]
[That sounds so sweet! Why did you two break up?]
Following this order, are Director Mo and President Qi next?
[Those two... I can't even imagine what their travel date would be like /laughing and crying]
"All things considered, we've only traveled together once."
Mo Chuhe leaned back on the sofa and said calmly, "Her phone rang as soon as she got off the plane. From the airport to the hotel, she answered five calls and replied to three emails. When we got to the room, she said she would wait for me for ten minutes, but it turned out she was having a video conference in the bathroom."
"You think I make too many phone calls?"
She slightly raised her eyes, her tone carrying a hint of teasing: "And what makes you any better?"
As she spoke, Qi Qing shook her head at the camera: "I finally finished my work and wanted to look at the scenery, but when I turned my head, I saw him setting up a tripod and shooting time-lapse for two hours."
When asked if the scenery was beautiful, he said, "The speed at which the clouds move is amazing; it can be used as transition material."
Mo Chuhe nodded in agreement: "The sea view and sky that time were worth taking pictures of... but you can't completely ignore your female companion when you go on a trip."
"So later on, we simply stopped going out."
Qi Qing raised an eyebrow: "Easy."
Mo Chuhe paused for a moment, then shrugged helplessly: "The more I tried to save trouble, the more problems I encountered, and I almost never had a chance to find her. So later I moved my studio to the building next to her company, so at least we could have lunch together and not go a whole month without seeing her."
"But now I have to go out for three days."
Mo Chuhe shrugged: "I'm worried about whether the rest of the trip can be completed normally."
Qi Qing: "I told the agent in advance not to contact me unless it's about the company going bankrupt."
[Why do two workaholics dislike each other, yet somehow find themselves strangely likable?]
[Director Mo's move to relocate his studio is a very practical move]
Their conversation sounded like a project coordination meeting.
Doesn't anyone find this romantic?
If what I said above is true, then it can be diagnosed as late-stage work-related brain damage.
...
Just as the comments section was still buzzing with discussions about other people's interactions, the scene shifted to Ling Zhao and Mu Jiu.
In the back room, the two exchanged a glance.
Mu Jiu calmly asked, "Do we need to answer this question?"
【！！！】
Forget about going on trips, we even have to sneak around to meet up in the neighborhood. It makes me want to cry just thinking about it.
【Aaaaaaah, these haters have done so many bad things!!!】
An unsettling atmosphere lingered, causing the voice-over to pause, as if realizing the question was inappropriate and hastily withdrawing it.
[Have you ever thought about what the most likely scene would be during your trip?]
After these words were spoken, the two of them visibly breathed a sigh of relief.
Even the background music that had just stopped started playing again.
However, just as the audience began to anticipate what romantic response the two would deliver.
Ling Zhao pondered for a few seconds, seemingly puzzled as to why the other party would ask such a simple question, but in the end he still answered honestly.
Ling Zhao: "No money?"
[Thanks for the invitation. I was drinking water when I was nearly given a heart attack by what I thought was a knife in the face. After the next sentence, I was coughing so hard I was completely out of it.]
[Hahahaha, best player of the game!]
All emotions, loves and hates, are equal before poverty!
[Our Past Turns into Survival Show]
[Director team, look at this! You've driven people to this state!]
I'm already looking forward to it!
The preview ended with a change in the background music.
Back to the live stream.
The golden rays of sunlight, like melting honey, were splashed across the pristine blue sky. A few wisps of fluffy clouds hung lazily, as if spoiled by the beautiful weather and had lost their shape.
The small house was in a state of chaos in the early morning.
Almost simultaneously with the text message notification of arrival, the executive director's voice came over the loudspeaker: "Please take your luggage and leave the cabin within one hour to proceed to the airport. Flight information has been sent to your mobile phones."
The round-trip airfares were purchased in advance, and this amount has been automatically deducted.
From the next room, one could faintly hear Guo Zifu jumping up and down in a panic, along with Meng Shuning's words of comfort.
When Mu Jiu came downstairs with her simplified backpack, she found Ling Zhao already waiting in the living room.
He leaned back on the sofa with his eyes closed, a large hiking backpack beside him.
The light inside the room clearly illuminated the faint bluish shadows in his eyes and the deep weariness within them.
Just as Mu Jiu was hesitating whether to wake the other person, Ling Zhao suddenly opened her eyes.
Mu Jiu: "...Good morning?"
His gaze was unfocused for a few seconds before slowly refocusing.
"Eat breakfast first."
His voice was low and hoarse from just waking up. He pointed behind him to the sandwiches and hot milk on the table, "Let's eat before we set off."
Mu Jiu put down her bag and looked him over: "Didn't you get enough rest yesterday?"
Ling Zhao slightly raised his eyes to look at her, his expression somewhat complicated.
After a moment of silence, he mumbled an "um": "Packing my luggage... I'm a little late."
Hearing this, Mu Jiu nodded, asked no further questions, and went straight to sit down at the dining table.
[He got up at 5 a.m. to make breakfast, and the live stream ended at 11 p.m. last night. It's reasonable to suspect that An Shuang didn't sleep.]
[He's probably reminiscing about last night's confession /laughs /laughs /laughs]
[Netizens really know how to ship things! All I can think of is whether he's too excited about his trip the next day to sleep.]
[Ling Zhao, this is no good. If you're so eager to hear a confession, you should step up and do it. Why are you so timid and hesitant?]
[Is it because you feel unworthy of Mu Jiu after incurring debt?]
[Hey, don't attack our own people!]
...
After quickly finishing breakfast, Mu Jiu picked up his phone to check the traffic situation on the map, his brows furrowing slightly: "It's quite a distance from here to the airport. The safest way is to take a taxi, but it's rush hour after all, and there's a possibility of traffic jams. Besides, we're already short on funds."
"But if we rush to catch the subway now, we might not be able to squeeze onto the nearest one. And then there's the time it takes to walk to the subway station, enter and exit the station, transfer, and walk to the terminal... It's a bit rushed, we might have to run a bit."
After listening, Ling Zhao didn't answer directly, but asked a question: "You only have one bag in your luggage?"
Mu Jiu took off her backpack and lifted it with one hand to show him: "Just a few changes of clothes and necessities, it's very light. I just wore the thicker coat to try and reduce the weight of my luggage... What's wrong?"
Ling Zhao: "If it's just a bag, you forgot there's another option."
Mu Jiu blinked and suddenly realized something. She then swiped her phone to check something. After a minute, she breathed a sigh of relief: "You're right. There's a spot nearby, less than a hundred meters from the airport."
Their eyes met, and they hit it off immediately. After finishing breakfast, they quickly slung their backpacks over their shoulders and rushed to the nearest street.
The belatedly aware viewers in the live chat began to sense the unusual atmosphere:
Wait, what are these two talking about in an encrypted call?
I have a bad feeling about this.
Ling Zhao: I have an idea.
I remember now, I remember everything. I pay attention to the dawn and dusk because—
The two of them skillfully scanned the QR codes on two shared bikes, climbed onto the seats, turned the handlebars, and started speeding away.
【？？？？？？】
[Seriously, ladies, who's so nice that they're going on a trip or date and have to ride a shared electric scooter to catch their flight?!]
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