Chu Yao was very grateful to the production team for arranging a busy, tightly packed schedule on the very day his thoughts were in complete disarray.
The van carried the guests to an ethnic-minority village. Looking out, they saw low whitewashed buildings scattered at different heights, filled with an old-fashioned charm. Roof tiles lay quietly beneath the sun, reflecting the light, while a stream flowed softly among clusters of flowers.
Today they would experience two forms of intangible cultural heritage: tie-dyeing and earthenware pottery. The production team wanted the guests to interact while also introducing the country’s intangible cultural heritage to the public.
Their first stop was the tie-dyeing workshop. Many handmade pieces were displayed inside, each with its own distinctive pattern. Every one was unique, filled with a rich artistic atmosphere.
In ancient times, tie-dyeing was known as knotted resist-dyeing. It was one of the country’s oldest textile-dyeing techniques, generally using white cotton or cotton-linen fabric. The main dye was plant indigo, locally known as isatis root.
The production team first invited an experienced local artisan to teach them. Afterward, the guests would work on their own. They could choose what to make—a hat, a T-shirt, accessories, or anything similar. They had two hours. Once they finished, seven experienced local elders would vote and select the best work. The winning pair would earn the chance to film a folk-culture promotional video to be displayed on a national media website.
No celebrity would turn down an opportunity to build a positive public image, especially one connected with national media.
Once competition was involved, everyone naturally became serious. It felt like being back at school—who did not want to come first?
Lu Yiwen and Wen Xu decided to make two tablecloths and send them home to their respective parents. People of their parents’ generation tended to enjoy handicrafts with this kind of traditional ethnic style.
After discussing it, Bai Jishen and Zhao Jing decided to make matching hats. The ultraviolet rays here were so strong that they could put them to immediate use.
Chu Yao and Jin Zhihan had barely spoken all morning. They had not even sat together in the van. Wen Xu had chatted with Chu Yao the whole way, saying how adorable he had been when drunk the night before and how Jin Zhihan was flawless as a husband, attentive in every possible way. Wen Xu had practically become a shipper himself.
Now that they had to make a decision, Jin Zhihan simply let Chu Yao choose. He was fine with whatever Chu Yao wanted to make.
When he was young, Chu Yao had played with something similar to tie-dyeing. His maternal grandmother used to make handmade dolls and carry them to scenic areas to sell. To save money, she dyed the cloth herself at home. Chu Yao had been at his most mischievous then and always insisted on helping. In the end, not only was he no help at all, he would turn the whole place into a mess and splash dye everywhere.
Among his few happy childhood memories, most were connected to his grandmother. Chu Yao lowered his head and thought for a long time before asking the old artisan, “I’d like to make a doll. Would that be all right?”
“Of course.” The artisan nodded quickly. “It’ll just be a little harder. You’ll need to sew too.”
Looking at how young Chu Yao and Jin Zhihan were, he did not think either of them looked like people with that sort of skill.
“I’ll give it a try.” With the cameras on him, Chu Yao did not dare boast.
Once all the materials were prepared, the three couples raced against the clock and began working.
Chu Yao planned to make a little rabbit doll. He first spread the fabric flat across the table and cut out the shape, then handed it to Jin Zhihan to dye.
The two worked together with remarkable coordination.
[Baby Yao looks so professional. Did he actually study this before?]
[Knowing Chu Yao, if he thought of making this, there has to be some special meaning behind it.]
[I want a doll handmade by Chu Yao so badly! I wonder who he’s going to give it to.]
[Do you even need to ask? Obviously his husband. They can take it home as a keepsake!]
[Watching them sit by the window doing handicrafts together is such a beautiful picture. Handsome people really are pleasing to look at.]
[Did none of you notice that President Jin secretly glanced at Chu Yao several times while he was dyeing the fabric? He really watches every little thing his wife does.]
Once the fabric was dyed, it had to be steam-set. They needed to wait thirty minutes before moving to the next step.
Chu Yao used the time to go look at Lu Yiwen’s group and Bai Jishen’s group.
Lu Yiwen said he had always harbored the dream of being an artistic young man. He treated the white cloth on the table as a complete free-for-all, smearing dye wherever he pleased with absolutely no method to speak of.
Compared with his chaos, Wen Xu was far more serious. He had dyed a landscape effect of mountains, water, and bamboo groves, and the result radiated artistic elegance.
Chu Yao could not help giving him a thumbs-up. “Teacher Wen, impressive. Your tablecloth looks so good I want to buy it and use it at home.”
“At least you know how to compliment people.” Wen Xu glanced at Lu Yiwen. “He just said mine looked like random scribbles.”
“How did Teacher Lu have the nerve to say that?” Chu Yao clicked his tongue. “His is the one that looks like scribbles to me.”
Still joking, he reached Bai Jishen and Zhao Jing’s table. Their two hats were nearly finished.
Their tie-dyeing had a printed, fashion-forward look. Chu Yao gave both of them a thumbs-up before returning to his own table.
Jiang Xizhe was essentially the director’s messenger. Whatever the director wanted asked, he had to go ask.
After being verbally skewered by Chu Yao before, he had become much more obedient and restrained and rarely dared provoke him anymore.
Walking over to Chu Yao’s table, Jiang Xizhe deliberately asked in a casual tone, “Brother Yao, you still haven’t said who you’re giving the doll to.”
Even though everyone could guess the answer, the director still wanted Chu Yao to say it aloud himself.
After several days of filming, the director had realized that this couple had far fewer sweet interactions than the other two. One stolen kiss the night before had been enough to explode on the trending topics. If they handed out more sweetness, the show’s popularity would soar even faster.
The other two couples stared directly at Chu Yao, waiting for his answer.
Chu Yao played idly with the scissors and smiled. “If I were making two, I’d give one to the fans too. But we don’t have enough time, so this one can only go to my husband.”
It was a watertight answer: he showed affection while still taking his fans’ feelings into account.
Lu Yiwen and Wen Xu exchanged looks. “Is this why he can become a top star?”
The two hours passed quickly, and all three couples finished their handmade tie-dye pieces.
Seven elderly local women who had previously worked in tie-dye workshops came in to critique and score the pieces.
Chu Yao’s little rabbit immediately drew attention. Its body was blue and white, somewhat like the popular fluid-art bears. Its belly was stuffed round and plump, and its two rabbit ears stood straight up. It was extremely cute.
Several of the elderly women spotted it at once and walked over to Chu Yao. “This handsome young man did very well.”
“Thank you, Grandma.” Chu Yao smiled brightly. Then another elderly woman beside her asked, “How do you know how to make this?”
“My grandmother used to make these to sell when I was little. After I grew up, I missed her, so I went and learned how to do it myself.”
Jin Zhihan listened quietly. He realized that his understanding of Chu Yao barely went beyond the surface. Everything he knew was also something the public knew. There was almost nothing that belonged only to him.
The final result held little suspense: Chu Yao and Jin Zhihan won.
The director announced that the groups would split in the afternoon. The winners would film the promotional video, while the losing teams would continue making handicrafts—this time, the more difficult earthenware pottery.
At lunchtime, the production team prepared a generous spread of farmhouse dishes in an open-air courtyard.
Chu Yao and Jin Zhihan were just about to go in when a familiar voice suddenly sounded behind them.
“Chu Yao.”
He turned around. Qin Yuan was smiling and waving at him as he strode over, then gave Jin Zhihan a slight nod. “President Jin.”
“Why did you suddenly come here?”
“There’s something I want to discuss with you.” Qin Yuan gave Chu Yao a look. “Want to talk in the car?”
There were cameramen following them here, making it inconvenient to discuss privately.
“Then you go eat first.” After saying that to Jin Zhihan, Chu Yao followed Qin Yuan into the car.
The moment the door closed, Qin Yuan pulled a thick stack of scripts from his bag. “Director Gao Guoping sent this to me two days ago. He wants you as the male lead in his new film. I told him you’d be filming this variety show for half a month and that I’d reply the moment it ended. He agreed at first, but then someone barged in halfway—Lin Xianzhe is interested in the script too. He secretly pulled some strings and met with Director Gao.”
Chu Yao flipped through the script. “How did you find out?”
“I have informants.” Qin Yuan’s tone was smug. “Director Gao’s assistant told me. I’ve given him plenty of benefits before.”
“Do you think this script suits me?” Chu Yao read seriously. “The story is interesting, but the protagonist seems far too controversial. I’ve only read this little bit and already find his personality unlikable.”
“I’ve read the whole script. He turns things around later. Besides, controversy creates discussion, and doesn’t that make it easier to sell tickets?” Qin Yuan was determined to get Chu Yao to take the film and continued persuading him with all his might. “This film is aiming for international awards. Shooting starts in six months. You enter Director Han’s production the month after next, so the schedules don’t conflict.”
Chu Yao had always worked extremely hard and never allowed himself an empty stretch in his schedule. He was the classic workaholic, which was why Qin Yuan kept lining up one film after another for him.
“Stop talking for a while. Let me finish reading the script.”
“Sure thing.” Qin Yuan leaned against the window and started playing on his phone.
The car became quiet. Chu Yao was immersed in the script when he suddenly heard a knock on the window. He looked over and saw Jin Zhihan.
Chu Yao lowered the window and asked what he wanted. Jin Zhihan passed a packed meal and a cup of hot soy milk through the opening. “Eat while you talk so you don’t upset your stomach.”
At that, teasing amusement appeared in Qin Yuan’s eyes. He deliberately joked, “President Jin cares so much about Chu Yao? I haven’t eaten yet either.”
“He’s my wife. Isn’t it natural for me to look after him?” Jin Zhihan completely ignored the second half of what Qin Yuan had said.
Qin Yuan watched Jin Zhihan walk away and could not help sighing. “Chu Yao, how did you □□ your husband into being this good? He spoils you way too much. There weren’t even any cameras here just now. Your relationship has warmed up at lightning speed since you came on this show!”
Chu Yao opened the lunch box. It was filled entirely with dishes he liked, and his eyes suddenly stung.
He had known Qin Yuan for many years, so there were plenty of things he would not feel embarrassed saying in front of him.
Chu Yao unwrapped the chopsticks, picked up a bite of food, and said in a slightly husky voice, “Brother Yuan, you know what? I can tell that the way Jin Zhihan takes care of me is genuine. Honestly… he treats me even better than my dad does…”
Qin Yuan had been staring absently out the window and misheard him. “What? You think of him as your dad?”
Author’s Note:
