Chapter 21: Variety Show Recording
On the day of the variety show recording, the main livestream room of “Infinite Heartbeat” was crowded with fans early on. The livestream hadn’t started yet, but they could chat heatedly even facing a black screen.
The most discussed topic was undoubtedly the pair Xie Shibai and Lu Ciheng.
[Why hasn’t it started yet? Could it be they didn’t manage to invite them at all?]
[How is that possible? Director Tan is a big director after all. The program team doesn’t need to risk being flamed to release fake news, right?]
[What if they got stood up? Don’t forget neither of their Weibos has posted a single thing until now. Maybe they regretted it again.]
[Start broadcasting quickly ahhhhh can’t wait. I just want to see what exactly is going on with them!]
[Could they be that kind of contract romance in the industry?]
[What are they after? Their relationship is so bad, is signing a contract romance just to prank fans?]
“Infinite Heartbeat” was hot before it even aired. Before it officially started broadcasting, the trending search already went straight to number one, directly saving astronomical promotion fees. The program team didn’t need to guide anything; countless “tap water” (spontaneous fans) pushed the livestream link everywhere.
Tan Rongxuan looked at the backend data and couldn’t close his mouth from smiling. “Little Xu did a good job. If you hadn’t called me overnight, we would have missed this wave of heat.”
Almost as soon as it was announced that Xie Shibai and Lu Ciheng were going on “Infinite Heartbeat,” Tan Rongxuan’s phone was about to explode. First, various investors asked if he still needed investment, even wanting to spend money to buy advertising slots, even just one. Then came various peers calling to curse and greet him, saying his hands were really fast. Tan Rongxuan took it all as a compliment.
Mixing in the entertainment industry required being fast. If Xu Zhengyu hadn’t informed him overnight, waiting until he woke up from his beauty sleep would have been too late for everything.
Xu Zhengyu pushed his glasses up. “I’ll go confirm with the filming side. Once the actors are all present, we’ll start preparing to broadcast. The livestream traffic distribution must be done well. Last time, the exposure in the middle of the night paralyzed Weibo for half an hour. If there’s a problem with the livestream streaming, the loss to us will be great.”
The staff nodded.
After confirming the preparations, the livestream officially began.
[Here it comes! Finally here!]
[Where are the people, where are the people!]
[Why isn’t it on time! What time is it now?]
In the livestream room, only Tan Rongxuan was reading the rules.
The main focus of “Infinite Heartbeat” was the honeymoon travel genre. The purpose promoted from the beginning was to help lovers who had been married for a long time and experienced the trials of marriage regain the feeling of passionate love.
However, due to the livestream format, many couples in the circle refused to participate. The first season of “Infinite Heartbeat” had everything from drama to mix-ups; out of four couples, five collapsed. Even the trainee couples couldn’t withstand the long-term livestream camera.
Netizens loved to watch, but people in the circle avoided it like the plague. Unable to find enough people, Tan Rongxuan could only gather whoever he could count. The first season screened for how long they had been married; the second season just required being married. He also added a gameplay rule that the first season didn’t have.
Among the four pairs of couples/husbands, there was one hidden pair of trainee couples/husbands. Finally, after voting by netizens, it would be unveiled. Netizens who guessed correctly would have the opportunity to participate in a lottery to share a million in prize money.
Hearing the rules, the netizens in the livestream room immediately discussed.
[Director Tan really invested heavily this time.]
[Does this even need a final unveiling? It’s definitely Xie Shibai and Lu Ciheng.]
[If only the final exam could be this simple. Send money.]
[Can we get something more difficult?]
[Laughing to death, Director Tan, are you doing charity?]
[Looks like the previous analysis was correct. They couldn’t be married, at most just dating.]
[Don’t be led astray! Isn’t their biggest problem that they are dating?]
[What prize money or not, quickly tell me they are fake! They came on the show to make up the numbers!]
Tan Rongxuan left a big cliffhanger: “Of course, regarding the trainee couple/husbands this time, this ‘Infinite Heartbeat’ can be renamed ‘Birth of the Actor.’ No matter what, hope the two of you do your best!”
[??? What does that mean?]
[Means the trainee couple/husbands are acting? Fake?]
[Holy crap holy crap, doesn’t that mean LCH and XSB are fake?]
[I said how could they be dating!]
[That short video wouldn’t be deliberately released for warm-up too, right? Otherwise, how could they be photographed the night before yesterday and announce appearing on a post-marriage variety show the next day?]
[How could two incompatible internal entertainment Kings of Solitude be together? Definitely a gimmick Director Tan invited them to participate in the variety show for!]
[How is that possible? Fans don’t lie to yourselves. They are definitely dating. Maybe the trainee husbands are them, it’s just that they aren’t married and have to act.]
[Yeah, I really can’t understand the bullet comments above. Deceiving yourselves at a time like this. Your two brothers are sleeping together.]
[What sleeping together! CP fans are ecstatic.]
[Cult fans get lost!!!]
[They are definitely a contract!]
[What are they after with a contract? Neither lacks status or topic degree.]
[Director Tan really will do anything for heat. Letting two actors who broke up long ago go on a post-marriage variety show, and even creating a trainee couple thing, isn’t it just to leech heat?]
A confusing sentence successfully pushed the popularity of the program to a climax. Netizens were already skeptical about Xie Shibai and Lu Ciheng being together, and some fans firmly disbelieved it. Everyone rubbed their fists and palms, squatting in the livestream room to see how the two got along, ready to analyze frame by frame with a magnifying glass.
At the beginning of the variety show, makeup photos and promotional photos had to be taken first for the editing of the regular version. The livestream version simply filmed these together, equivalent to a pilot episode.
The program’s camera introduced everyone one by one.
The first group was boy band member Mi Qiran, who had been popular on the internet for many years. A few years ago, his romantic relationship with teammate Qiao Jiayi was exposed.
Mi Qiran was putting on makeup, smiling and greeting the camera: “Long time no see. I am Mi Qiran, and this is my lover and teammate Qiao Jiayi.”
Qiao Jiayi’s makeup and styling were already done. The smile on his face was flat, maintaining a very long distance from Mi Qiran: “I am Qiao Jiayi.”
[It’s actually Mi Qiran. Are they still dating? Wasn’t it rumored long ago that the two broke up?]
[Qiran is here ahhh!]
[Why does it feel like the two aren’t familiar with each other?]
[Brother Qiran is still so energetic! But what is Qiao Jiayi doing? Standing so far away makes it look like the two aren’t close.]
Next was the well-known actor Yu Rui and his non-celebrity wife Wu Ke.
Yu Rui smiled confidently at the camera: “Hello everyone, I am Yu Rui.”
Facing the camera for years made him calm and unhurried.
[It’s actually Yu Rui! ]
[This season is okay, actually even invited Yu Rui. I remember he protects his wife very much, right? He even angrily denounced paparazzi when exposed.]
[Protected so well before, now he’s willing to go on a variety show?]
[Brother Yu said on Weibo that his wife likes watching the first season and proposed herself that she wanted to come film, so he contacted Director Tan.]
In contrast was his non-celebrity wife.
Wu Ke appeared a bit cramped: “Hello everyone, I am Wu Ke.”
[So petty/ungenerous looking.]
[Didn’t she ask to participate herself? Why look so timid facing the camera? So annoying.]
[Exactly, looking like she’s really embarrassing my Brother Yu.]
[? Isn’t it just a layperson not adapting to the camera? What’s there to scold?]
[Why can’t we say it? It was her own request. How can you want to be famous without getting scolded?]
Yu Rui hid the impatience in his eyes, smiling gently: “My lover isn’t used to the camera, please bear with her everyone.”
[Ahhh so gentle!]
[The older, tolerant type, this flavor is too right.]
[This sister’s luck is too good. Where do you find this kind of man!]
The third group were both actors, preparing for the shoot. Seeing the camera come over, they waved hello.
Xu Xiangming: “Hi, my name is Xu Xiangming.”
The girl beside him also introduced herself: “My name is Mu Zhenzhen.”
[Ahhh it’s actually Zhenzhen!]
[She actually got together with Xu Xiangming?]
[Where did Director Tan find these people?]
[The next group is them!]
[Coming, coming! Finally coming!]
When the livestream camera just switched over, before netizens had time to see the picture clearly, they heard a cold voice with no fluctuations.
“Let go.”
[????]
[This is Xie Shibai’s voice, right?]
[What’s happening, what happened? Why does it feel like they are quarreling right off the bat!]
[I said it! It’s them! They are fake! Impossible to be dating.]
[Quarreling?]
[Sure enough, they are the trainee husbands, right? Others are harmonious and beautiful, but when it gets to them, they quarrel at the start.]
[This is an open card, right? They are acting!]
[Fans must be crazy. Would they pretend to be together for a variety show?]
[Laughing to death, fans are stubborn again.]
The livestream camera adjusted, and the image instantly appeared on the screen. The excited netizens squatting in the livestream room saw the situation inside the studio clearly.
Xie Shibai stood in the shooting area under the fill light. The flickering light and shadow fell on him, paired with exquisite makeup and styling, appearing reserved and noble. His beautiful face was cold, eyes looking straight at the camera. His tall figure looked like a magazine cover wherever he stood.
The only difference was the strong, powerful arm around his waist. Xie Shibai’s height was officially recorded. His height of 1.8 meters appeared half a head shorter against the person next to him.
Lu Ciheng’s arm circled Xie Shibai’s waist, eyes looking straight at the camera. The aura around him was completely different from usual fan-taken photos, the corner of his lips hooked in a smile.
Obviously, the livestream camera cut in late. As the last group, Xie Shibai and Lu Ciheng had already started shooting.
Photographer: “We can start the solo shooting.”
Lu Ciheng narrowed his eyes, as if he didn’t want to let go so soon. “Finished shooting so quickly? Got the shots? Not taking a few more?”
“Shot perfectly. Every one is a keeper.” The photographer was super satisfied. It was the first time she had shot so refreshingly in all her time filming. Although she was a bit nervous when she learned she was shooting Xie Shibai and Lu Ciheng, having always thought the two were incompatible as rumored online. The result? Once she looked, it was completely a lie! Could they be incompatible like this?
Different from the initial worry, the photographer began to be distressed. The rumored “Cool Guy” seemed a bit clingy. From just now until now, the duo photos were basically holding hands or hugging; there were no other poses at all. Now that solo photos were about to be shot, he still wouldn’t let go.
Xie Shibai expressionlessly used his elbow to nudge Lu Ciheng, who was sticking to his body, away—neither lightly nor heavily. “Didn’t you hear? Told you to let go.”
[Hss, is XSB this fierce?]
[No, is their state serious? The first three groups looked like they had good relationships. Why when it comes to them, one is very impatient? Not even pretending just as the broadcast starts?]
[Is it a contract romance they haven’t adapted to yet? Who dates like this!]
[No, how are you talking to my brother? Can’t you speak properly?]
[What’s wrong? The photographer said let go twice and he didn’t hear? Even someone with such a good temper like Brother Xie acts like this, your brother has a big problem.]
[With this attitude, how do CP fans ship them????]
[I thought the exposed video was a coincidence. Are they really like this in private?]
[This mode of getting along, I always feel they would be the type to have hate sex… (literal meaning)]
The bullet comments all thought the two would quarrel because of this. Maybe they wouldn’t even shy away from the livestream camera; after all, too much news of their discord had spread.
Lu Ciheng covered the place he was hit, his tone pitiful, his black eyes curved and his tone hiding a smile: “So painful. Honey, quick, help me check if my ribs are broken.”
The netizens in the livestream room who were still worried the two would fight stared wide-eyed, and the confused bullet comments went blank for a few seconds.
[This is Lu Ciheng????]
[Ah?????? Brother, is this your persona in private?]
[What happened to the agreed-upon Cool Guy?????]
[What is going on??? Ah???? Did I enter the wrong livestream room???]
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Lu Ciheng doesn’t have to hide his personality anymore. How refreshing! (IMHO, they are the most real couple!)
Thank you for translating this series 💕
I love them so much. LOL. So funny.