Addicted to watching Cheng Zhirang’s videos, Mu Qiu woke up at eleven on Friday, her eyes feeling a bit sore. She squinted, lifted the quilt, draped her hair, and wearing a nightgown like a ghost, slowly walked outside.
Just as she passed the living room doorway, she suddenly heard a knock on the door, very softly, followed by a familiar childish voice.
"Sister! It’s Chengcheng!"
"Sister, open the door!"
Mu Qiu picked up a knitted cardigan from the couch and put it on, taking a peek through the peephole before opening the door.
Outside was a little guy in overalls holding a small food box, struggling to lift it and hand it to her.
"Sister, I made these cookies myself. Please have so, sister."
Mu Qiu squatted down, widened her eyes, and looked at his small mouth, "Chengcheng, have you lost a tooth?"
Chengcheng imdiately covered his mouth. Since he was holding the small food box with both hands, he had to use his arm to cover his mouth, "No, I haven’t!"
Mu Qiu didn’t believe it; she had just heard his voice leaking air.
Chen Song, wearing high heels, quickly walked over from the opposite door, overhearing their conversation, and placed a Spiderman backpack on Chengcheng, then laughed and said, "He had a fever a few days ago, probably from inflad gums. His teeth were full of cavities, so they just pulled them out."
"Oh—" Mu Qiu stayed squatting, maintaining eye contact with Chengcheng, and exaggerated her expression, "Really lost a tooth, huh? Sneaking sweets, were we?"
Chengcheng pouted, "I didn’t!"
Then he shoved the food box into her hands, grabbed the Spiderman backpack strap, and turned around angrily, showing his back to her.
Holding back her laughter, Mu Qiu opened the food box, "Whoa, slls great. Thanks, Chengcheng, sister really loves these strange-looking cookies that look almost like Oreos."
Chengcheng: "......"
He stomped his feet and hid behind Chen Song, not wanting to speak.
Chen Song watched them with a smile, soothingly patted Chengcheng’s head, and then looked up at Mu Qiu, who just stood up, her smile fading slightly with a serious tone as if discussing business.
"Mu Qiu, you don’t mind calling you that, right?"
Mu Qiu shook her head, "Sister Chen, go ahead."
"This morning, our studio intercepted a rumor, concerning you and Cheng Zhirang."
"......Brother Cheng and ?"
Did last night’s dream co true?
Chen Song nodded and opened a video on her phone to show her.
"Soone took a photo of him taking you to the hospital two days ago. You both entered the hospital at the sa ti using a special passage that few people can access. Since you appeared in the sa place at the sa ti, the dia has a lot to make up stories about."
"Is this bad for Brother Cheng?"
Chen Song was a bit surprised that she asked about Cheng Zhirang first, but she still answered her seriously, "His fan base is loyal and sensible. As long as we prevent it from spreading, it’s fine. Issues might arise only among new or casual fans. But for you, the dia might have more people coming after you. Even though we stopped this one, who knows if anyone else caught it on cara. If it leaks, it could affect you more seriously, and the show’s producers might not be happy. Be prepared."
For those genuinely wanting to produce the show, they dislike constant negative incidents from guests, especially serious ones like this.
Mu Qiu frowned and asked, "What did they write in this rumor? What’s the headline?"
"......Headline?" Chen Song felt like she couldn’t keep up with the younger generation, "They’re saying you two are in a relationship."
"A man and a woman going to the hospital equals being in a relationship?"
The paparazzi who caught them have the poorest storytelling skills, don’t they?
Chen Song’s expression changed, and her face almost writ that it’s unbelievable.
"What did you think it was?"
"Based on the trending searches I saw these two days, usually, when a man and woman go to the hospital, it’s either premature pregnancy, abortion, or prenatal checkups."
Chen Song thought: I’ve only been away from Cheng Zhirang for a little over a week, and when did soone as bizarre as this pop up?
She dismissed it as a joke and said, "If it weren’t stopped, and if it got leaked, the headline might’ve been similar. Anyway, pay attention. Since you don’t have an agent, I’m just saying a bit more; be careful with the program team too. Protect your privacy while there."
Mu Qiu appreciated the advice and nodded sincerely, indicating she understood, "Thanks for the warning, Sister Chen, I’ll be careful."
"Then I’ll take Chengcheng away now."
"Okay," she squatted again, waving at Chengcheng, "Bye-bye, don’t you want to look at sister a bit more?"
Chengcheng clung to Chen Song’s leg and peeked out from behind.
"Bye-bye, sister, I’m going to work."
"Really?" Mu Qiu couldn’t help but laugh, "Then sister wishes you sucessful work and that you can return with another little red flower!"
Chengcheng flashed a toothless smile, covering his mouth with his chubby hand, giggling.
After Chen Song left with him, Mu Qiu closed the door and went inside, setting up her tablet and refreshing today’s news.
Turns out it was indeed stopped; no whispers online yet.
However, to her surprise, Mu Qiu found Cheng Zhirang had sent a ssage at 8:40 AM.
[Cheng Zhirang: Good morning. May I use that story snippet you sent for my acting class performance?]
Such story snippets perford by actors are generally excerpts from so book. Using a snippet without complete character imagery and plot is rare.
She subconsciously bit her lips and, after a mont, replied.
[Good morning, Brother Cheng.]
[Of course, it’s my pleasure.]
Cheng Zhirang didn’t reply to the ssage.
Mu Qiu didn’t wait for it either; she set her phone aside, scheduled the rice cooker for porridge, then pulled out her suitcase, packing for the program.
It was already Friday, and tomorrow was the third episode’s live broadcast; likely the director would issue reminders before leaving in the afternoon,
At eleven, the director released the third episode’s notes in the permanent guest group.
[Different’s Director: Guests, please be prepared. This recording will take place in Yun City, and we’ll stay for two to three days, so please bring your personal items and be at the airport by 7 PM tonight, where we’ll depart together.]
[Different’s Guan Yu: We’re leaving the province this ti! Aweso! Free travel!]
[Different’s Li Yang: Really, director? Is it really free travel?]
[Different’s Director: You can think of it that way]
[Different’s Director: Here’s "A Sensible Dream" for you]
[Different’s Li Yang:......]
Yun City?
Mu Qiu paused in her packing, then took out a set of folded clothes.
After two minutes, she sat cross-legged on the floor and quietly packed the clothes back into the suitcase, along with two more sets of undergarnts.
Following her packing, the director asked everyone to repost the program team’s Weibo.
[Official Weibo of "Different Variety Show": The third episode is coming! This ti, after the staff’s trial, they earnestly warn our guests: The earlier stages are nothing; it’s about to get real! We hope guests boarding the plane tonight won’t want to return~ here’s a silhouette image of this episode’s fly-in guests, guess who’s here?]
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