Chapter 58
Bad luck
On the morning of the recording, it was still barely light.
Staff members carrying equipment rang the doorbell of Jiang Fengyi's new house.
[CP's Travel Guide] The pilot episode was filmed at the guests' homes. The production team had notified them in advance and confirmed the filming time.
Xu was so excited about appearing on the show that she barely slept all night. The moment the doorbell rang, she jumped out of bed, only to find that Jiang Fengyi next to her also sat up.
Did I wake you up?
"No, I'm not used to sleeping in this bed."
The two had just moved into their new house yesterday. Jiang Fengyi was particular about her bed, and even though the furniture and bedding were from the same brand, she still didn't sleep well.
She rubbed her eyes and yawned lazily.
"It's okay, we can catch up on sleep during the day. The show definitely won't be filmed all day."
Xu opened the door to welcome the staff into the house.
After reading the script provided by the director, she exclaimed in surprise.
"What, we have to record all day?"
Staff member: "Yes, in order to record more footage of the guests, we usually record for a whole day. Then we will edit it in post-production and extract the interesting clips."
The staff member cautiously inquired, "Is there something inconvenient for you two?"
"No, no, it's my first time recording a variety show, I don't know the process." Xu waved his hands repeatedly, "I'm just surprised that the show takes so long to record, even though it's only airing for a short time."
Others have started installing cameras in various corners of the house.
Jiang Fengyi glanced around and saw a bunch of external machines in her unfamiliar home, making her feel even more alienated from this already unfamiliar place.
The only familiar face was Xu Que, standing right in front of him.
As she looked over, Xu quietly took Jiang Fengyi's hand behind the machine. Her body stiff with tension, she turned around to comfort Jiang Fengyi.
"Don't be nervous, just act like usual."
A warm palm covered the back of her hand. Jiang Fengyi met Xu Que's comforting gaze. She no longer worried about whether they were strangers or not. Home was wherever Xu Que was.
The staff member continued, "The script only roughly outlines the itinerary, such as the start time, the order of activities, the rules to be followed, and the penalties for violations."
"The rules stipulate that each guest can only bring 20kg of luggage, and it cannot exceed the weight limit." Xu put down the script. "I don't have much stuff, so I'll give you a larger share of dresses."
"My things too..."
Jiang Fengyi answered subconsciously, but then quickly shut her mouth when she thought of her elaborately made, bulky long dresses.
A 20kg baggage allowance is indeed a bit low for her.
"...Thank you."
After the equipment is properly set up, the camera lights up a red light and begins working.
Xu's limbs moved unnaturally, as if they had just been installed, and he needed Jiang Fengyi to push him to walk.
Do you need me to wind you up?
Upon hearing Jiang Fengyi's voice, Xu's nervousness about recording a variety show for the first time eased, and she spoke in the voice of a TV host.
"Hello everyone, let's go pack our luggage first."
Jiang Fengyi patted her on the shoulder: "Speak properly, don't try to create a variety show effect."
Xu was on the verge of tears: "I really didn't mean to be funny."
He followed Jiang Fengyi into the dressing room, his steps unsteady. As the cabinet door opened, the fragrance of toiletries mixed with Jiang Fengyi's unique floral scent wafted into his nostrils.
Xu volunteered, "I'll help you pack the clothes you need in your suitcase."
Jiang Fengyi ran her fingertips over the rows of clothes hanging there; they were all the latest seasonal styles from various brands, delivered to her as soon as possible.
"This one, this one... um... and this one too."
She walked around picking out clothes as she went. The clothes in the dressing room had already been arranged by color and category by the auntie, and it was easy to see them at a glance.
Xu followed behind Jiang Fengyi, taking each item Jiang Fengyi picked out and holding it in her arms.
Jiang Fengyi hadn't finished choosing yet; she was almost buried in all sorts of dresses.
"We've picked out almost everything here, let's go take a look over there."
Jiang Fengyi turned around and saw that her skirt was piled up in layers, forming a mountain of clothes, with a pair of legs growing out from the bottom and following behind her.
She burst out laughing.
Why didn't you remind me when I couldn't take them all?
"Who says we can't win?"
Xu Que's voice came out muffledly from under his clothes, his hands waving frantically at both sides.
"I can still take two more items with me."
"Let's spread these clothes on the bed in the bedroom first."
Jiang Fengyi stepped forward to help and pulled off the skirt that had accidentally covered the other person's head.
Even after the floral fragrance on her face had faded, Xu still felt a little unsatisfied.
"It looks like a lot when you're carrying it around, but when you fold it up and put it in your suitcase, there aren't actually that many items."
Xu advised her, "We rarely get to be on TV, so we should prepare a few more beautiful outfits."
A hint of hesitation flashed across Jiang Fengyi's face: "Then let me choose again?"
"Go take another look over there. I'll take these out for you first."
Next,
Xu came out several times with clothes in his arms until the spacious double bed was piled with Jiang Fengyi's clothes.
"Why are all these my clothes? Where are yours?"
"Here you go!"
Xu pointed in that direction.
"My clothes are there."
Jiang Fengyi looked in the direction Xu Que was pointing and saw that there were only a few sets of Xu Que's clothes on the bed, in the small area where the pillows were placed.
Moreover, the styles are similar, and there is no difference unless you look closely.
Xu then explained, "Basic styles are versatile. The stylist carefully prepared these outfits for us. Look at my suit, doesn't it look like a matching couple outfit if I pair it with any of your skirts?"
The two women mostly wore light-colored clothes, and the colors were already similar. The special designs used to decorate their tops or cuffs were all from the same series, making it clear at a glance that they had a close relationship.
Jiang Fengyi only noticed this detail after she pointed it out.
Xu casually picked up a piece of clothing: "Do you think the pattern on my collar is the same as the embroidery on your dress?"
"indeed."
Jiang Fengyi examined it carefully.
"I thought the styling team had just brought over all the new seasonal styles, but I didn't expect they had actually selected them."
Xu happily began to put on their matching couple outfits.
Two hours later, their luggage was packed. Xu was worried about being overweight, so he weighed it and found it was under 40kg.
Two 24-inch suitcases contained all the items they needed for the show.
As they prepared to depart, the production crew brought out a lottery box.
Staff: "Now, please have the guests draw a method of transportation to get to the next destination. There are three methods of transportation in the box. Which of the two teachers would like to draw one?"
Jiang Fengyi glanced at Xu Que, who immediately understood her meaning and stepped forward.
"I'll draw!"
Before pulling it out, Xu superstitiously blew two breaths into his palm before putting his arm into the box.
He took out the sphere from the box, opened it, and inside was a note that read—
— Shared bicycles.
Xu suddenly felt a darkness before his eyes.
She asked the production crew, "Can I take apart the other two balls to see what they are?"
After obtaining consent, Xu took out the remaining two spheres from the box one by one and disassembled them.
A sign that reads "Luxury RV"
One of them says "[Public Transportation]".
Compared to the shared bikes I drew, these are so much better.
Xu felt guilty for not meeting Jiang Fengyi's expectations and avoided her gaze: "I'm having bad luck, we need to go cycling."
"It's okay, just consider it exercise."
Jiang Fengyi turned to the production team and asked, "By the way, can we announce the next location yet? How far is it from here?"
"The next destination is the Lighthouse of Love, about 8 kilometers from here. Please proceed to the next mission point."
Jiang Fengyi last rode a bicycle in elementary school. More than ten years have passed, and she never expected that recording a TV show would make her get on a bicycle again.
"Let's go, let's set off!"
"You ride first, I'll watch you from behind."
Having not ridden a bicycle for many years, Jiang Fengyi initially rode wobbly, but after becoming more skilled, she moved forward at a steady pace.
The afternoon breeze, free from the heat and carrying the warmth of a few rays of sunlight, gently brushed against the wisps of hair on Jiang Fengyi's forehead.
At that moment, she sensed the path of the wind.
Xu, behind him, stomped his feet hard, his eyes following Jiang Fengyi closely, not even glancing at the road signs beside him, so much so that he didn't realize he had taken the wrong turn.
I kept riding forward like that.
Half an hour later,
Jiang Fengyi stopped to rest, panting.
"Aren't we there yet?"
She took out her phone, opened the map, and carefully compared the results before discovering...
We've gone to the wrong place!
"We should have turned left at the previous intersection, but we went straight instead, which made us take a lot of unnecessary detours."
Looking at a map is much harder than looking at a report.
"Then let's turn back up ahead."
This time, Xu took the lead, and after riding for another ten minutes or so, the two finally arrived at the destination set by the program team.
A beacon of love.
After parking their bicycles, the two walked towards the beach area in front of the Love Lighthouse. The production crew had already set up the venue there, and their pre-packed suitcases were already waiting for them.
"Congratulations on arriving at the starting point of this journey—the Lighthouse of Love. Under the witness of the lighthouse, you will face your first challenge. Please come forward and collect your task card."
Xu stepped forward, took the card from the staff member, and read out the contents word by word.
"Couples' Compatibility Challenge!"
"After the program team read out the question, the two guests gave the exact same answer to the same question without communicating with each other."
"You must answer within one second without thinking. One point is awarded for each correct answer. There are ten questions in total. You win the game if you accumulate six points, otherwise you fail the mission."
Staff member: "Love at first sight or love that grows over time?"
They both exclaimed in unison, "It was love at first sight!"
After she finished speaking, the two of them smiled at each other.
The experienced photographer immediately zoomed in, capturing the silent exchange between their eyes and brows.
Coffee or milk tea?
"coffee!"
"Should we meet every day or keep our distance?"
"See you every day!"
"You get up early but stay up late?"
"Get up early!"
......
With both of them getting one question right, they quickly accumulated six points and successfully completed the first task!
Xu couldn't believe it: "The task is so easy? Won't the light card be too simple and lack any challenge?"
Program team: ...
Staff: "Now, we invite our guests to come forward and draw their travel funds for tomorrow. Which of you two teachers would like to do this?"
"The funds for this trip will be provided by guests who earn chances to win prizes by completing tasks. The amount of funding depends entirely on the numbers drawn, which requires both skill and luck."
Xu fell silent instantly.
Jiang Fengyi stepped forward: "I'll do it this time."
Without making any unnecessary movements, she simply stretched her arm down.
He took out a round ball and showed it to the camera.
The note read "[1000]".
The production team handed the envelope marked with the number 1000 to Jiang Fengyi.
Jiang Fengyi glanced at the envelopes as she took them; the other two envelopes were labeled 10000 and 100000 respectively.
Can't both of them be unlucky?
The production team seemed to have just remembered and added, "We forgot to remind the guests that this 1000 miles also includes transportation costs to the next location."
Meanwhile, the production team announced the location of the next mission: an ancient capital city a thousand kilometers away.
"this......"
"We probably don't even have enough for both of our plane tickets, do we?"
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