Xie Li knew nothing of any of this. He sat with his eyes closed while the makeup artist worked on his face, listening to an audiobook through his phone.
The whole room had gone silent except for the sound of the story playing.
[Su Jing laughed like he'd just heard the funniest thing in the world and said sarcastically: "So you say you love me — and then you turn around and fall for someone else, who just happens to be the true heir of the Su family, Lin Ran."
Lin Ran stammered in explanation: "Brother, it's not what you think between me and Brother Xu."
Xu Zhi pulled Lin Ran's hand firmly and looked at Su Jing: "It's exactly what you think."
Crack — Su Jing delivered a hard slap to Xu Zhi and said, dripping with contempt: "A villain and a dog deserve each other. May you be together forever."]
Makeup artist and cameraman: …This blood-soaked soap opera dropped out of nowhere and we have no choice but to keep listening…
Nobody spoke. Silence as thick and frozen as ice.
Viewers joining the livestream: "?"
What on earth is Xie Li doing?
[He's obviously trying to build a persona]
[Xie Li is clearly here to be the comic relief]
[Qiao Qiao's handsome husband: What's he trying to imply with this novel? Who's he taking a dig at?]
By comparison, the atmosphere on Qiao Ming's side was warm and friendly. He had finished his makeup and was waving hello at the livestream camera when his phone buzzed. His eyes drifted to it for a brief moment; he didn't answer.
[Qiao baby's phone rang!]
[Oh my husband is so handsome! I came for the eye candy!]
Soon, all the cast members boarded the production's vans and headed to their first night's accommodation.
The summer scenery in Dali, Yunnan, was breathtaking. The sky looked like spilled blue paint, pure except for drifting clouds, the mountains green and lush. Viewers in the comment section were unanimous: absolutely stunning.
Their lodgings were a courtyard inn on the shores of Erhai Lake. Wild roses climbed over the fence, and inside the gate a riot of hydrangeas bloomed in every direction. Xie Li was the first to arrive. The moment he stepped inside, three small cats ran up and wound around his legs, mewing.
He set down his luggage, took a quick tour of the inn, then came back to feed the cats.
"It's so beautiful here." Xie Li didn't look up. Qiao Ming had appeared on the livestream behind him and, upon spotting Xie Li, made a show of warmth: "Brother, you were the first to arrive? Did you eat? My assistant has food."
"You didn't come home last night — Father was furious. He said he'd cut ties with you forever. Brother, Father was only speaking out of anger, please don't take it to heart…"
Xie Li kept his head down, scratching the cats behind their ears, calling out "here, kitty" with absolute disinterest. He didn't even glance up.
Qiao Ming: ?
[What's Xie Li's problem? Our Qiao baby came to talk to him on his own initiative. Who does he think he is?]
[Xie Li the rich-boy has no manners. Oh wait, I forgot — he isn't one anymore lol]
[Haha, I love watching Qiao baby say these things — serves Xie Li right]
Just then, the sound of someone at the gate came through. Xie Li looked up. "Hello… um, I'm… Xia Fangxing."
She stood at the entrance, pulling her suitcase with a nervous, uncertain air. Noticing her awkwardness, Xie Li walked over: "Hi, I'm Xie Li. Let me help with your luggage."
Xia Fangxing looked at him like he was a lifeline.
"Th… thank you."
Qiao Ming observed this, and quietly stepped back.
"Is there anyone home? No one came to greet me. What a long walk." Wang Shaoyue walked in and immediately peeled off his jacket, exposing the branded T-shirt of his latest endorsement underneath. An assistant in a mask immediately materialized to take it.
"Someone's here," called Qiao Ming, waving hello. "Shaoyue, it's me."
"Teacher Qiao, great to see you." As the two of them finished their small talk, Xia Fangxing and Xie Li stepped out together. All four made brief, slightly awkward eye contact.
Wang Shaoyue gave them a glance — didn't recognize one, and the other was Qiao Ming's "brother," that false young master. He lifted an eyebrow and walked right past Xie Li. Xia Fangxing's half-formed greeting died in her throat.
Xie Li wasn't interested in pointless social rituals either. He was thinking: that Teacher Liu who'd pulled the diva act last night and arrived late — was he planning to make a grand entrance now?
As if on cue, a curly-haired woman with a sweet, delicate face, draped in luxury brands, appeared in the doorway. She took off her sunglasses and waved at everyone: "Hello, everyone! I'm Yu Miao. I should be the youngest one here — I'm a Gen Z. Hello to my elders!" She was chatty and direct, but her energy was lively and genuine — exactly what the room needed to break the ice.
Xie Li recognized her. Yu Miao, newly minted young socialite, heir to the Yu family — old money from a real elite clan. They'd met at various family social functions over the years but weren't particularly close.
Qiao Ming, seeing it was her, made a point of going over to help with luggage: "I'm Qiao Ming — let me help."
Yu Miao barely glanced at him, spotted Xie Li at the far end of the courtyard, dropped everything, and ran over. "Xie-gege! You don't remember me? It's Miaomiao — we had dinner together last year. You've gotten so thin."
Xie Li's own situation felt too strange to bring up, so he hadn't known what to say first, but he hadn't expected Yu Miao to be completely unbothered by the change in his circumstances.
"Miaomiao, you get more beautiful every year." A few words and they were at ease. Yu Miao pointed at Xia Fangxing: "And this is?"
"I'm… I'm called—"
"Her name's Xia Fangxing. She's also an actress — you're both girls, I'm sure you'll find common ground."
Yu Miao nodded. "Oh, you're so shy, Fangxing! You're lovely — very classical looking. Come on, let's go in." She took Xia Fangxing's hand and headed inside.
Qiao Ming was left standing there, brow furrowed, looking fragile and forlorn.
His fans went into protective overdrive.
Not bothering to check who was responsible: [These trash fish really are alike — zero class between them]
Yu Miao and Xia Fangxing's fans pushed back: [Who was it who just blanked out Fangxing? And now it's suddenly a problem when someone doesn't fall at Qiao Ming's feet? Your "true young master" needs to get over himself]
[Qiao Ming sees who's worth his attention and acts accordingly — everyone knows Yu Miao comes from Hai City money. Now that you're "true young master," why is she still not impressed?]
While the comment sections fought, Liu Yuheng finally strolled in late.
The oldest male actor in the group, the most established, he had just skyrocketed to fame with his latest drama.
"Wow, looks like no one's here yet — am I the first?"
Xie Li came out and ran right into him. Given their brief clash the previous night, Xie Li hadn't even opened his mouth when Liu Yuheng — assuming he was a staff member — barked: "Hey, take my luggage inside."
Xie Li didn't move. His cool expression was unreadable: "You're Teacher Liu?"
Liu Yuheng looked at him. "Yes, I am. Is there a problem?"
"Not at all." Xie Li gestured toward the entrance. "Straight ahead. A grown man should have no trouble with his own suitcase."
Xiaoxiao, phone in hand, felt her brain short-circuit: Ge, please don't cause trouble!
Then she watched Xie Li walk right past Liu Yuheng without looking back and resume his conversation with Yu Miao like nothing had happened.
Xiaoxiao grimaced: Ge, where did your sweet, attentive little-brother persona go?!
This was the moment you were supposed to warmly volunteer to help carry the suitcase and score some goodwill!
The comment section thought Xie Li had completely lost it.
[Does he understand that Liu Yuheng's position in this industry is miles above his? That man is a senior figure…]
[Not going for the refined young-master angle, going for the cold-and-aloof angle now?]
But Xie Li wasn't there to answer the comments. He sat in the living room chatting with Yu Miao — and somehow, even Xia Fangxing had been drawn out of her shell.
Liu Yuheng had no choice but to swallow his pride and wheel his own luggage inside. Once all the regular cast members had assembled, the production team announced the first task.
Director: "Please draw a card. Whoever draws the 'Team Leader' card will serve as group guide — leading the team through the travel itinerary and completing all sightseeing tasks. The team leader is responsible for coordinating everything. All other cast members are to submit their wish lists — attractions they want to see, food they want to eat, landmarks they want to visit — and the team leader will plan accordingly."
"When the special guest arrives, the team leader must go and welcome them, and communicate with them in advance to ensure they enjoy the trip."
From the other side of the screen, the tension was palpable. However you looked at it, team leader was a thankless, exhausting role.
[Please don't let Qiao baby get team leader — don't want you to overwork yourself]
[Can we just make Xie Li permanent team leader? Not for any reason. Just want to watch him suffer haha]
[Hey, not a fan of anyone — but what exactly did Xie Li do to make you all hate him this much?]
"Who wants to go first?" Wang Shaoyue, sprawled against the sofa, let his body language speak for him.
Yu Miao stepped forward readily: "Me first! Me first! I think being team leader sounds fun. It'd be a good experience. I've done travel planning for friend groups before."
She drew her card. Xia Fangxing pressed her lips together and followed. Qiao Ming was about to reach for the pile when he said first: "Brother, let me let you go ahead."
"Teacher Liu first. Seniors first." Xie Li looked at Liu Yuheng.
Liu Yuheng blinked. He had planned on going last — now Xie Li had ruined his timing. And he also remembered that last night, Xie Li had let the staff go ahead without waiting for him — and had just given him a look. He was not pleased with Xie Li. But on camera, with his "gentleman" image to maintain, he couldn't exactly make a scene.
"No problem. I'll go."
Hmm. Playing gracious now, was he. Last night he'd treated Xie Li like a subordinate and then made a face about it.
Xie Li recalled Liu Yuheng's public persona and connected the dots: maintaining his image for the cameras.
Qiao Ming sat forgotten on the single sofa, watching the group fall into easy rapport, his gaze eventually fixed on Xie Li. Something had changed in him, Qiao Ming thought. He's different now.
When the cards were drawn, the Team Leader role ended up going to both Qiao Ming and Xie Li.
The fans who had been gleefully hoping Xie Li would end up saddled with the team leader role — and then Qiao Ming got it too — stared blankly at the screen.
[?? RIG! It must be rigged! The production team RIGGED this!]
[AHHH why is this rotten crab stuck to our husband again! Can he just stay away? He's always latching on!]
[Non-fan here: Xie Li doesn't seem to be "latching on" to anyone? He basically ignores Qiao Ming. It keeps being your guy who goes to HIM, right? (dog head, please protect)]
[0 people protecting this comment. For your reference]
"Two team leader cards out of ten — that's actually a relatively high probability." The director's comment was enough to put any speculation about fixing to rest.
