As Xi Yu was speaking, Luo Cheng’an dodged his hand, grabbed the suitcase, and started running. “It’s too heavy. I’ll handle this kind of rough work.”
Heavy…
Xi Yu recalled how he had once carried dozens of pounds of weight under the overpass while dodging the city inspectors, moving as nimbly as if he were flying, and fell silent.
However, he did not dwell on it. He would carry it himself once Luo Cheng’an could no longer manage it.
There was not much time. There was no point arguing over this now.
It was a seven-day, nonstop livestream, with no script and an exploration game.
This lukewarm variety show had already become a hit before it even aired because of Lu Zhixing’s participation.
The variety show was being broadcast live. Although the agreed-upon time was ten o’clock, the production crew was quite sneaky. The moment they saw the first guest arrive, they turned on the cameras.
Even though the livestream had started half an hour ahead of schedule without any warning, a huge crowd still flooded in.
【Traffic darling Luo Shujing, hot-topic amateur Xi Yu, scandal-ridden Luo Cheng’an, national movie emperor Lu Zhixing, popular singer Yu Qian, and rising tech tycoon Shen Linchuan. This lineup…】
【Brother Lu is so handsome!!!】
【Why hasn’t Ugly Son arrived yet? I want to see just how awesome the resource-backed guy who even my Brother Lu is cheering for really is.】
【Don’t Q the person upstairs. It’s friendship between mom-generation people. Brother Lu is beautiful and kindhearted, so give him some face.】
【No, seriously? Movie Emperor Lu is already here, but Ugly Son and Civet Cat aren’t here yet?】
【Ugly Son and Civet Cat really are people with no status trying to act important.】
Because of Xi Yu and Luo Cheng’an’s identities, netizens jokingly called it “the civet cat replacing the crown prince.” Luo Cheng’an had happily earned the nickname Civet Cat, while Xi Yu’s nickname, Ugly Son, had become one of the entertainment industry’s two biggest running jokes.
As the earliest to arrive, Luo Shujing greeted the other guests, especially Lu Zhixing.
Not long ago, he had been made a fool of by Xi Yu at the Jiang family’s home, and he figured he had probably left a bad impression on Lu Zhixing.
This variety show was his chance to turn things around.
Although Lu Zhixing was in the entertainment industry, aside from filming one television series and one movie every year, he accepted no other engagements.
Even now, Luo Shujing did not have Lu Zhixing’s private contact information.
If he wanted to win Lu Zhixing over, this variety show had become his only opportunity.
Not only that, because of the backlash from his actions, his health had been getting worse recently. He could no longer wait for Luo Cheng’an’s luck to slowly be depleted.
The Lost Forest was full of dangers. If something happened to Luo Cheng’an, that would be perfectly normal, right?
That brainless idiot was even late for an occasion like this.
In reality, Xi Yu and the others were not late at all.
They had simply arrived right on time, yet that made them the last ones there. Thus, the moment Xi Yu and Luo Cheng’an stepped onto the final stone step, more than a dozen gazes landed on them.
At the stone gate of the Lost Forest, a large group of people were looking over from various angles.
Luo Cheng’an carried a suitcase in each hand. He wanted to shout “Woo-hoo!” to celebrate getting them all the way up, but when he encountered so many gazes, he swallowed the words right back down.
“Wait, we’re not late, are we?” Luo Cheng’an glanced at his watch. After confirming that they were not late, he breathed a sigh of relief and said carelessly, “You guys came really early.”
Luo Cheng’an was naturally outgoing. Once he recovered, he went around greeting everyone.
“Hi, everyone. I’m Luo Cheng’an.”
After greeting them, he looked toward Xi Yu with bright, sparkling eyes.
Xi Yu: …
“My name is Xi Yu.”
The instant Xi Yu finished speaking, the air froze for a moment, accompanied only by several sharp gasps.
Most of the staff present had never seen Xi Yu before, and two of the guests had not seen him either.
Actually, it was not just the netizens who were curious. The production crew and the other two people who had never met Xi Yu were curious as well.
There was also quite a bit of disdain. Xi Yu’s sudden addition was, after all, an eyesore to them.
Because Lu Zhixing’s status had elevated the level of Peerless Secret Realm, the caliber of the participants afterward could no longer be lowered. That was how the current lineup had formed, where any one of them could make the trending searches for three days straight.
These people naturally had some pride. They disdained associating with someone like Xi Yu, and they had also seen the jokes online about Ugly Son and Civet Cat.
The staff were even more annoyed. If not for Luo Cheng’an relying on his investment connections, he would never have gotten in. And now they had stuffed Xi Yu in as well.
Although Luo Cheng’an was famous for his scandals, he was still part of the entertainment industry. Xi Yu, an amateur who had never even shown his face, had also managed to get in.
Who knew what his purpose was?
But the moment they saw Xi Yu, all that disdain and suspicion instantly disappeared.
Xi Yu wore a light-green satin shirt with loose white wide-legged pants, looking casual and relaxed. His clear, moist eyes gazed lazily at the crowd.
Well, what purpose could he possibly have? With looks like that, he ought to enter the entertainment industry.
It was not just the people present. When the camera shifted toward Xi Yu and Luo Cheng’an, the barrage of comments actually vanished for two seconds—a rare occurrence—before immediately flooding in so overwhelmingly that it nearly covered the entire livestream screen.
【Who? This handsome guy says he’s who!!!! Is this Ugly Son????】
【Heaven help me, the capitalist’s handsome son!】
【The screen is dirty. Let me lick it clean…】
【Now that I know the whole story, I take full responsibility for all the insults I made.】
【What the hell is going on with this face that looks even more AI-generated than AI itself!!!】
Lu Zhixing stood among the crowd dressed entirely in black, looking toward Xi Yu.
So dazzling…
Sometimes Lu Zhixing really hated how dazzling his master was.
Whenever he appeared, everyone’s gazes would inevitably follow him.
He hated the gazes those people cast upon his master—the astonishment, infatuation, and admiration.
“Oh my god…” Yu Qian exclaimed. Her sour expression from waiting for people had turned into astonishment. “He’s way too good-looking.”
The production crew knew that Xi Yu’s appearance would be a small climax, so the camera kept following the guests’ expressions.
The comments flew by at an astonishing speed.
【This woman Yu Qian—she’s thirsting again!】
【Hahahahahahaha, don’t say that about our heroine! She’s beautiful, gorgeous, and talented. What’s wrong with being a little thirsty for handsome men!】
【I second the motion.】
【But I didn’t expect Shen Linchuan to be this handsome either. The few pictures before were all pretty blurry. I heard he’s also a total wife-spoiler. I’m so jealous~】
Luo Shujing gripped his bottle of mineral water, the smile on his face almost impossible to maintain.
Xi Yu again!
Why was it that every time Xi Yu appeared, everyone’s attention would fall on him?!
A beggar from beneath an overpass—did he really deserve to compete with him?
Luo Shujing was so furious his teeth itched, but he was still the first to approach them. He greeted them warmly and gently.
“Xiao Yu, Cheng’an, you finally made it. We’ve been waiting for you for quite a while.”
As Luo Shujing spoke, he reached out to take Luo Cheng’an’s hand.
Luo Cheng’an jolted and hurriedly stepped backward.
Chapter 33: The Livestream Begins
Luo Cheng’an’s reaction was entirely instinctive.
Ever since the Life-Exchange Lock, he had been afraid of Luo Shujing. On top of what had happened at the Pei family’s banquet, he now simply did not dare get too close to Luo Shujing, afraid that he might accidentally be framed again.
That was how Luo Cheng’an thought about it, but in the eyes of the viewers, it was an entirely different matter.
【I’m seriously done. What is Civet Cat acting like this for? Isn’t bullying people enough already?】
【I really feel sorry for Shushu. Every time some scandal about Luo Cheng’an comes out, he’s always the first one to come forward and clarify it. I’m not being conspiratorial, but the head of the Luo family is Civet Cat’s father. Who knows whether Civet Cat’s dad is forcing Shushu to clean up his own son’s messes.】
【They both have the surname Luo, so how can the difference be this huge? Shushu is famously honest in the entertainment industry. Everyone who works with him praises him, yet every time he’s around Luo Cheng’an, he gets treated badly.】
……
Luo Shujing had been in the entertainment industry for a long time. Even without seeing the comments, he could imagine how badly Luo Cheng’an’s reputation would cause him to be attacked by comparison.
An idiot was an idiot. He could not even pretend properly.
Luo Shujing put on an awkward expression, withdrew his hand dejectedly, and spoke to the production crew as if trying to ease the atmosphere.
“Director, everyone’s here, right? Should we get started? I’m so excited!”
Only then did the director come out and briefly explain the rules.
Xi Yu had already familiarized himself with these procedures before coming, so now they were simply being explained for the netizens.
“Peerless Secret Realm will last for seven days and will use a twenty-four-hour livestream format, taking everyone inside the Lost Forest to uncover its dangerous and thrilling secrets.”
“To ensure everyone’s experience, the production crew has already prepared food and water, as well as tents and some other necessities inside. Considering the dangers of the Lost Forest, please reduce your luggage within ten minutes until it can fit inside this backpack.”
The moment the production crew finished speaking, the only female guest let out a sharp cry.
“What?!”
Yu Qian stared at the travel bag in the staff member’s hand.
It was not particularly small.
But compared with her two completely stuffed suitcases, the travel bag looked unbelievably tiny.
How could that possibly be enough?!
The production crew met Yu Qian’s almost murderous gaze, guiltily turned their heads away, then slowly continued.
“Additionally, there is no signal inside the Lost Forest. Everyone must hand over their phones. The production crew has prepared special communication devices for everyone. Because the interior of the Lost Forest is too complicated, staff members cannot accompany you. All filming will be done by drones following you. If you encounter a situation you cannot resolve, please use the communication device to call us. Finally, everyone, please stay safe. We’ll meet at the exit in seven days.”
Everyone: ????
“What do you mean? There are no staff members?” someone asked uncertainly.
Xi Yu followed the voice and looked over. It was the only other person there who was not from the entertainment industry.
He had been introduced earlier. His name was Shen Linchuan.
Xi Yu looked at him with interest.
From the inside out, this ordinary human was saturated with demonic aura.
Interesting.
Xi Yu did not care about any of the production crew’s arrangements. He was not here to enter the entertainment industry.
He had come this time solely for the Flowing Cloud Whip.
His own possession was in someone else’s hands and had even become a prize.
But almost everyone else was left dumbfounded by this sudden move from the production crew.
Even Luo Cheng’an was somewhat astonished. He quietly leaned close to Xi Yu’s ear and said, “They’re way too damn sneaky.”
Even professional explorers would suffer quite a bit making a trip through the Lost Forest, let alone these people who had never participated in anything like this before.
Wouldn’t that make for a ton of hilarious moments?
But what followed would be an even bigger gimmick.
Without staff members, everyone’s character, abilities, and reactions would be put to the test, and their shortcomings would also be exposed much more.